Aimia shares plunge amid $214.7M loss

Loyalty card operator plans further cost cutting after break with Air Canada

Aimia Inc. shares plunged 27 per cent Thursday after the operator of the Aeroplan loyalty card reported a wider quarterly loss and plans to pursue deeper cost cutting.

The Montreal-based company plans to trim its costs by $70 million per year by 2019 as it continues to adjust to Air Canada’s decision not to renew its long-term partnership in 2020. It has already sold several businesses, including its British Nectar coalition, and cut staffing in half since 2015 to about 1,600 people.

Chief executive David Johnston said efforts to simplify its business to drive further savings will come in ways other than further large layoffs.

“We’ve done quite a bit of that this year but there’s some corporate simplification we’re doing — properties, technology — I’m not envisaging material further job cuts,” he said in an interview Thursday.

Shares of Aimia Inc. fell more than 27 per cent in mid-afternoon trading after it reported a $214.7-million loss in its latest quarter, hurt by a charge related to the sale of its Nectar program and related assets.

Aimia shares closed down 67 cents at $1.71 in trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Johnston declined to comment on the stock movement but said the company delivered good 2017 results despite the challenges of having to deal with Air Canada’s decision in May, which raised questions about Aimia’s future.

“The Aeroplan team and the Aimia team have delivered a fantastic financial performance in what was undoubtedly a tough year.”

Michael Goldberg of DBRS said the stock decline is due to concerns about the quarterly results, including higher fourth-quarter redemptions, than lingering concerns about the company’s future after Air Canada.

The company plans to unveil changes to Aeroplan in the coming months that will focus the card beyond 2020 more on leisure travel of its premium members. It will offer broader choice with multi-airline awards, tailored experiences beyond flights and a simpler customer experience.