Air Canada’s bid for transat gets extended EU merger probe

Air Canada’s bid for tour operator Transat AT Inc faces an extended probe from EU regulators who said the deal may hamper competition by combining the two biggest airlines linking Europe and Canada. The EC set a Sept. 30 deadline to rule on the deal, citing concerns that the “transaction could significantly reduce competition on 33” routes, according to an emailed statement on Monday. One potential rival to the combined company, WestJet, is unlikely to be able to compete strongly on the routes that regulators see as problematic, the EU said. Transat agreed in August to be acquired for C$18 a share in cash. Shares have since slumped well below that level, suggesting investors are questioning whether the C$720m deal will happen in light of the coronavirus crisis, which has hammered the prospects for travel companies. Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s antitrust chief, said the pandemic shouldn’t prevent careful scrutiny of deals. “This is a challenging time, especially in markets severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, but a return to normal and healthy market conditions must be based on markets that remain competitive,” she said. <br/>