Advertisement
Australia markets open in 7 hours 59 minutes
  • ALL ORDS

    7,937.90
    +35.90 (+0.45%)
     
  • AUD/USD

    0.6479
    +0.0028 (+0.43%)
     
  • ASX 200

    7,683.50
    +34.30 (+0.45%)
     
  • OIL

    82.76
    +0.86 (+1.05%)
     
  • GOLD

    2,334.70
    -11.70 (-0.50%)
     
  • Bitcoin AUD

    102,539.77
    +598.73 (+0.59%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,431.30
    +16.54 (+1.17%)
     

Takeaways from the government's C$5.9 bln aid package for Air Canada

TORONTO, April 12 (Reuters) - The Canadian government announced on Monday a financial aid package for Air Canada that allows the country's largest airline to access up to C$5.9 billion ($4.7 billion) in funds through a loan program launched during the pandemic. Here are some takeaways.

* The Canadian government to buy C$500 million worth of Air Canada shares at C$23.1793 each, or a 14.2% discount to Monday's close and about 6% of the airline's expanded share capital.

* Air Canada to get C$1.5 billion in the form of a secured revolving credit facility at a 1.5% premium to the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate. The facility is secured against certain Air Canada assets, including certain intellectual property relating to the Aeroplan loyalty program

* Air Canada has issued 14.6 million warrants exercisable for the purchase of an equal number of Air Canada shares at a price of C$27.2698 per share during a 10-year term.

ADVERTISEMENT

* The airline to secure about C$1.4 billion in the form of an unsecured credit facility to support customer refunds of non-refundable tickets. The facility will have a seven-year term and carry an annual interest rate of 1.211%.

* Air Canada has agreed to resume all regional services suspended due to COVID-19.

* The airline has agreed to certain restrictions on expenses, dividends, share buybacks, and capped senior executive compensation at C$1 million a year each.

* Air Canada has committed to maintain employment at the current level, which is about 14,859.

* The airline agreed to complete the purchase of 33 Airbus A220 aircraft, manufactured at Airbus' Mirabel, Quebec, facility and its existing order of 40 Boeing Co 737 Max aircraft. ($1 = 1.2563 Canadian dollars) (Compiled by Denny Thomas; Editing by Peter Cooney)