Revised Offer from Air Canada (TSX:AC) Sends Transat Shares 26% Higher

Even if the revised price is notably lower, it seems like the Air Canada (TSX:AC) merger is the only option for the struggling company Transat (TSX:TRZ).

| More on:

Shares of Transat A.T. (TSX:TRZ) rose more than 26% on October 13 on increased odds of its merger going through. Air Canada (TSX:AC), the country’s biggest airline, revised its offer to buy Transat at $5 per share over the weekend. Notably, the modified price is 72% lower than its previous offer of $18 per share in August 2019.

Air Canada-Transat deal

Even if the revised price is substantially lower, it seems like the merger is the only option for the embattled company. Transat’s revenues evaporated almost entirely in the second quarter of 2020 amid Canada’s stringent travel restrictions. It has already laid off a sizable chunk of its workforce and is afraid of more of such measures to remain afloat.

Kudos to Air Canada management that waited for months and hurled the new offer close to Transat’s all-time lows.

Transat shares have fallen almost 70% so far this year. So, the recent surge must have soothed investors to some extent. In comparison, Air Canada stock has been largely trading in a narrow range for the last six months. It has lost more than 60% so far in 2020 and seems to be taking the support of $15-$16 levels.

Transat shares witnessed a huge trading volume surge Tuesday after the flag carrier suggested that it is still interested in the purchase. More than 2.4 million Transat shares exchanged hands yesterday against its three-month average volume of close to 140,000.

Will the competition commission play spoilsport?

Notably, the pandemic or the bargain offer from Air Canada is not a hindrance to the merger completion. However, the bigger obstacle is the approval of the competition authorities. Competition commissions are claiming that the transaction would give Air Canada a dominating share of the transatlantic air travel, which will diminish competition.

The final verdict from the competition authorities is expected to come by December this year or early 2021. However, parties expect the deal to close by February 15, 2021.

The renewed offer is indeed a positive sign for Air Canada investors as well. The airline has been bleeding for the last seven months amid the pandemic and ensuing travel curbs. However, its interest in buying Transat signifies that Air Canada is still financially sound, and survival is not a concern.

Air Canada will report its third-quarter earnings early next month. It has already lost around $3 billion so far this year. The upcoming quarterly earnings are also expected to fall on similar lines on the back of the travel curb extensions. As economies re-open, air travel restrictions will ease in the short term, lowering the airlines’ financial burden.

The final thoughts

If the deal goes through, the synergy benefits might not be notably visible in the short term. But over the long term, Air Canada will extend its presence in the vacation travel and might reap significant benefits with Transat’s decently sized fleet. Importantly, the deal, especially with the revised offer, looks extremely lucrative for the flag carrier.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Vineet Kulkarni has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Stocks for Beginners

The virtual button with the letters AI in a circle hovering above a keyboard, about to be clicked by a cursor.
Tech Stocks

Emerging Canadian AI Companies With Big Potential

These tech stocks are paving the way to an AI-filled future, but still offer enough growth ahead for a strong…

Read more »

Young Boy with Jet Pack Dreams of Flying
Tech Stocks

Is Constellation Software Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for 2025?

CSU stock has long been a strong option for high growth, high value stocks. But are there now too many…

Read more »

hand stacks coins
Dividend Stocks

3 Ultra-High-Yield Dividend Stocks You Can Buy and Hold for a Decade

These three high-yield dividend stocks still have some work to do, but each are in steady areas that are only…

Read more »

Asset Management
Stocks for Beginners

TFSA: 4 Canadian Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever

Thinking about what to buy with the new TFSA contribution space in 2025? These four Canadian stocks are worth holding…

Read more »

concept of real estate evaluation
Stocks for Beginners

2 No-Brainer Real Estate Stocks to Buy Right Now for Less Than $1,000

These two real estate sector-focused stocks have the potential to deliver strong returns on your investments in the coming years.

Read more »

engineer at wind farm
Energy Stocks

Invest $20,000 in This Dividend Stock for $100 in Monthly Passive Income

This dividend stock has it all – a strong outlook, monthly income, and even more to consider buying today.

Read more »

stocks climbing green bull market
Stocks for Beginners

3 TSX Stocks Soaring Higher With No Signs of Slowing

Don't ignore stocks just because they look like they're at a high price. Instead, see exactly why they've driven so…

Read more »

Middle aged man drinks coffee
Dividend Stocks

Here’s the Average TFSA Balance at Age 35 in Canada

At age 35, it might not seem like you need to be thinking about your future cash flow. But ideally,…

Read more »