Aimia CE opens door to Aeroplan deal with Air Canada-led group

Aimia is leaving the door open to reaching an agreement with the Air Canada-led group that sought to acquire the company’s Aeroplan rewards program, seeking a sweetened offer from the airline. Aimia said late Thursday it wants at least C$450m (US$347m) for Aeroplan after the Air Canada group boosted its bid to $325m from an initial proposal of C$250m. The lower offers don’t reflect “the value of the Aeroplan business to members and stakeholders,” according to Aimia. Air Canada said Thursday its enhanced $325m offer “would have ensured value and continuity for Aeroplan members as well as customers of Air Canada, TD, CIBC and Visa.” <br/>“We never stop negotiating. Should the consortium want to engage with us in a constructive dialogue, we would be happy to entertain that,” Aimia CE Jeremy Rabe said Friday. <br/>