Airlines

Overwhelming Approval

Transat A.T. Inc. advises that at the special meeting of its shareholders held on Dec. 15, 2020, an overwhelming majority of shareholders voted in favour of the special resolution (the “Arrangement Resolution”) approving the plan of arrangement under Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act appended to the arrangement agreement entered into between Air Canada and Transat on Oct. 9, 2020 and pursuant to which Air Canada will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Class A variable voting shares and Class B voting shares of Transat (together, the “Shares”) for $5.00 per share, payable at the holder’s option either in cash or shares of Air Canada or a combination thereof (the “Arrangement”).

Air Canada shares issuable under the share payment election will be issued on the basis of a price of $17.47 per Air Canada share, translating into an exchange ratio of 0.2862 Air Canada shares per Transat share.

Shareholders carrying an aggregate of 22,763,632 votes, representing approximately 60.31% of votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting, were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting.

The Arrangement Resolution was approved by 91.05% of the votes cast by Shareholders, voting together as a single class, as well as 90.88% of the votes cast by Shareholders, voting together as a single class, excluding the votes of Jean-Marc Eustache whose votes are required to be excluded in determining minority approval pursuant to Regulation 61-101 respecting Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions.

Jean-Marc Eustache, president and chief executive officer of Transat, said: “We are pleased with the shareholder support for this revised arrangement that will create a Montreal-based global leisure leader with the scope necessary to overcome the current turbulence in the industry and to thrive beyond. We are more convinced than ever that it is in the best interests of all our stakeholders to join forces with Air Canada.”

The transaction remains subject to the approval of the Superior Court of Québec and the applicable regulatory approvals such as the approvals under the Canada Transportation Act and the European Union Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004, as well as certain other customary closing conditions.

The parties are working collaboratively with the objective of securing the requisite approvals before Feb. 15, 2021, which has been set as the outside date for the closing of the transaction.

Based on information currently available, the European Commission’s decision is expected on Feb. 9, 2021.

The Government of Canada has not indicated when it would render its decision.