Air Canada renews normal course issuer bid

May 27, 2017: Air Canada has renewed its normal course issuer bid for its Class A variable voting shares and Class B voting shares authorising, between May 31, 2017, and May 30, 2018, the purchase of up to 22,364,183 Shares, representing 10 percent of the public float of 223,641,836 Shares as at May 17, 2017. Air Canada received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) for the renewal of its normal course issuer bid.

The renewal will follow on the conclusion of Air Canada's current normal course issuer bid expiring May 29, 2017 and pursuant to which Air Canada has purchased and cancelled since May 30, 2016 a total of 6,849,600 Shares, representing approximately 3 percent of the public float as at May 16, 2016, at a volume-weighted average Share price of approximately USD 10.89 for an aggregate consideration of USD 74,580,072. As at May 17, 2017, a total of 271,297,556 Shares were issued and outstanding.

"Our continued success provides compelling evidence of our transformation to achieve long-term, sustainable profitability, and also provides us with the foundation to renew a normal course issuer bid. In line with our capital allocation strategy, the share repurchase program will be employed opportunistically and will serve as a useful tool for increasing shareholder value," said Michael Rousseau, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Air Canada believes that, from time to time, the market price of its Shares may not fully reflect the underlying value of its business and future prospects. In such circumstances, Air Canada may purchase for cancellation outstanding Shares, thereby benefitting all shareholders by increasing the underlying value of the remaining Shares.

Air Canada is authorised to make purchases under its renewed normal course issuer bid during the period from May 31, 2017, to May 30, 2018, in accordance with the requirements of the TSX.  Purchases will be made by means of open market transactions on the TSX or alternative trading systems, if eligible, or such other means as the TSX or securities regulatory authorities may permit, including pre-arranged crosses, exempt offers and private agreements under an issuer bid exemption order issued by a securities regulatory authority. The price to be paid by Air Canada for any Share will be the market price at the time of acquisition, plus brokerage fees or such other price as the TSX may permit.  Any purchases made under an issuer bid exemption order would be at a discount to the prevailing market price of the Shares in accordance with the terms of the order.

The average daily trading volume of Air Canada's Shares was 1,190,613 Shares over the period between November 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017. Consequently, under TSX rules, Air Canada is allowed under its renewed normal course issuer bid to purchase daily, through the facilities of the TSX, a maximum of 297,653 Shares representing 25 percent of the average daily trading volume, as calculated per the TSX rules. In addition, Air Canada may make, once per week, a block purchase of Shares not directly or indirectly owned by insiders of Air Canada, in accordance with TSX rules. All Shares purchased pursuant to the normal course issuer bid are cancelled.