PriceSensitive

Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) cuts spending and increases credit amid aviation downturn

Transport
TSX:BBD
22 July 2020 14:47 (EDT)
Bombardier - CEO, Eric Martel

Source: 660 News

Transport giant Bombardier (BBD.B) has cut approximately C$500 million from its second quarter cash usage to conserve liquidity during the pandemic.

Alongside these cash savings, the company has secured a three-year term loan from HPS Investment Partners for up to $1 billion. The credit facility will come into effect during the third quarter to further bolster Bombardier’s cash float.

According to the terms of the facility, Bombadier must draw down atleast $750 million over three years. Further, if the company sells its Bombardier Transportation sector it must repay at least 50 per cent of the loan’s outstanding balance. 

The company will use the funds to undertake a capital restructuring, which it previously announced following a steep plunge on the TSX, earlier this year. 

Headquartered in Montreal, Bombardier has engineering and production operations in more than 25 countries, and it has been one of the companies most substantially hit by the onset of COVID-19.

Between the end of February and late March, the company’s share price fell more than 65 per cent, as pandemic-induced travel bans ravaged the airline industry around the globe. 

Though Bombardier’s shares have somewhat recovered in the intervening months, it is still currently trading more than 30 per cent lower than before the onset of COVID-19. 

To help weather the airline industry’s downturn, the company currently has around $1.7 billion in cash and $2.4 billion in liquidity.

With prolonged damage to the airline industry expected to last over the next few years, numerous transport companies are scrambling to sure up cashflow for the foreseeable future.

Bombardier (BBD.B) is up 9.89 per cent and is trading at 50 cents per share at 2:25pm EDT.

Related News