Could AC Buy Transat? 16May19 Update: AC enters into agreement to buy Transat
Apr 30, 2019, 6:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 53
Could AC Buy Transat? 16May19 Update: AC enters into agreement to buy Transat
Some analysts think it should:
https://business.financialpost.com/t...group-analysts
https://business.financialpost.com/t...group-analysts
Apr 30, 2019, 6:27 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
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"Air Canada" has some limitations on its cost structure, from its enabling legislation, and union arrangements.
Could AC pull a NSPI/Emera type inversion, encapsulating its legislated/regulated/union business inside a more free dealing ownership structure? One that operates non-union, non-regulated specialty services, maintenance, etc? I have no idea, from a legal or other perspective.
But some inverted organization could, with management skills, in theory do well running both an entirely different kind of airline, as well as running (with non-union crews, and selling to others) ancillary operations, competing against, with a major customer locked in, Swissport, Gate Gourmet, etc.
Could AC pull a NSPI/Emera type inversion, encapsulating its legislated/regulated/union business inside a more free dealing ownership structure? One that operates non-union, non-regulated specialty services, maintenance, etc? I have no idea, from a legal or other perspective.
But some inverted organization could, with management skills, in theory do well running both an entirely different kind of airline, as well as running (with non-union crews, and selling to others) ancillary operations, competing against, with a major customer locked in, Swissport, Gate Gourmet, etc.
Apr 30, 2019, 6:31 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2018
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I believe AC will be an active bidder. I think they would sell off the tourism business and shut down the airline (and adding the A330s and A321s into AC/Rouge). The A310s would be parked almost immediately.
Lots of variables at play, including how long the MAX is out of service. Would AC take the A321NEOs? Stay tuned.
Lots of variables at play, including how long the MAX is out of service. Would AC take the A321NEOs? Stay tuned.
Apr 30, 2019, 6:38 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canada
Programs: *G
Posts: 2,304
"Airline analyst Robert Kokonis, president at AirTrav Inc., who is not involved in the transaction, said it could be a “good fit” if Air Canada were to buy Transat due to the similar asset mix. Both airlines operate Airbus aircraft, whereas WestJet uses Boeing planes, he said."
Maybe said analyst should update his information....
Maybe said analyst should update his information....
Apr 30, 2019, 6:44 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,154
"Air Canada" has some limitations on its cost structure, from its enabling legislation, and union arrangements.
Could AC pull a NSPI/Emera type inversion, encapsulating its legislated/regulated/union business inside a more free dealing ownership structure? One that operates non-union, non-regulated specialty services, maintenance, etc? I have no idea, from a legal or other perspective.
But some inverted organization could, with management skills, in theory do well running both an entirely different kind of airline, as well as running (with non-union crews, and selling to others) ancillary operations, competing against, with a major customer locked in, Swissport, Gate Gourmet, etc.
Could AC pull a NSPI/Emera type inversion, encapsulating its legislated/regulated/union business inside a more free dealing ownership structure? One that operates non-union, non-regulated specialty services, maintenance, etc? I have no idea, from a legal or other perspective.
But some inverted organization could, with management skills, in theory do well running both an entirely different kind of airline, as well as running (with non-union crews, and selling to others) ancillary operations, competing against, with a major customer locked in, Swissport, Gate Gourmet, etc.
Seriously, if the buying entity was Rouge, not mainline, then that would fit your requirements, no?
Apr 30, 2019, 7:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2018
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Air Canada was mandated by law to keep their maintenance bases open in YYZ, YUL, and YWG. Today they are closed. AC made a deal with the Quebec government to guarantee Cseries maintenance work be done in QC. Deals can be made in order to obtain bureau approval.
I have a feeling AC is looking for aircraft more than the tourism business. They can sell the tourism business and absorb the aircraft and routes into AC/AC rouge.
I have a feeling AC is looking for aircraft more than the tourism business. They can sell the tourism business and absorb the aircraft and routes into AC/AC rouge.
Apr 30, 2019, 9:23 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2017
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But just brainstorming, not suggesting.
Apr 30, 2019, 9:45 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Well this sucks, TS has their Club (PY esque) offering for around the $2k YYZ LGW routes RT which is far less than AC PY on any dates around there. Was seriously considering trying it.
Less competition is great for AC, and bad for customers.
Less competition is great for AC, and bad for customers.
Apr 30, 2019, 10:05 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Delta, BC
Posts: 1,646
I believe AC will be an active bidder. I think they would sell off the tourism business and shut down the airline (and adding the A330s and A321s into AC/Rouge). The A310s would be parked almost immediately.
Lots of variables at play, including how long the MAX is out of service. Would AC take the A321NEOs? Stay tuned.
Lots of variables at play, including how long the MAX is out of service. Would AC take the A321NEOs? Stay tuned.
If Transat was on the verge of insolvency that would be a different story.
Apr 30, 2019, 10:17 pm
#13
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May 1, 2019, 12:18 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: YXE
Posts: 3,050
If AC bids and pushes up the price, such has the effect of weakening a potential non-AC acquisitor. So basically its in AC's best interest to put a bid pretty no matter what happens.
A cursory look at the financials shows ~$600M of book value of the company, and a current market cap of ~$320M. So there's definitely value there . The aircraft, minus the end of life A310's, basically integrate cleanly into their fleet (the 737-800s could even survive pending AC's determination of the 737Max outcome).
A cursory look at the financials shows ~$600M of book value of the company, and a current market cap of ~$320M. So there's definitely value there . The aircraft, minus the end of life A310's, basically integrate cleanly into their fleet (the 737-800s could even survive pending AC's determination of the 737Max outcome).
May 1, 2019, 1:20 am
#15
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Transat's underlying business has been unprofitable for years. They've eked out some net income due to one-off asset sales a couple of times, but flipping assets like that is generally not a way to build a sustainably profitable business. Especially if you're earning your gains on sale by selling off the best bits of the company (I don't know their assets well enough to say whether that's the case, but it's a common occurrence for companies that aren't doing well to sell off some of their best assets that are away from the core business, in order to fund an attempt to reinvest in the core business).
If they can keep selling off tour operators, hotels, and other assets, maybe there's profit to be had in a break-up, but there's also a massive off-balance sheet liability in the operating leases, which have future obligations of $2.4 billion.
If I were AC, I would definitely kick the tires, but I would be wary not only of the Competition Bureau (almost certain problems there), but also the ragtag collection of tour operators, hotels, etc that Transat owns. Some very different businesses from running an airline.
If anything, I would expect AC would have interest in buying the airline business (roll it in to rouge) and perhaps leave Eustache & Co. to go run the remainder of the business on its own. Whether that stuff is viable without an airline sitting in the group, who knows.