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Arbitrators have sided with Air Canada in a cost dispute with Chorus Aviation.Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press

Chorus Aviation Inc. could be forced to cut its dividend after the regional partner of Air Canada said it lost an arbitration decision on markups that will cost it millions of dollars and trim its cash flow, an analyst warned Wednesday.

Under the decision, the panel accepted Air Canada's methodology involving benchmarking provisions in Chorus' capacity purchase agreement with Air Canada.

The provisions compare the rate of growth of controllable costs at Chorus's operating subsidiary, Jazz Aviation, to those of a specified group of similar operators in the U.S. The markup rate is reduced if Chorus's costs exceed those of its peers.

Although a majority on the arbitration panel ruled that the current 12.5-per-cent markup is too high, it didn't agree to the 9.48 per cent that Air Canada was seeking.

The award is retroactive to 2010 and will require Chorus to repay millions of dollars in markups to Air Canada.

The amount owed wasn't clear but under the worse-case scenario, Chorus has estimated that it would be required to repay $24.4-million for 2010 and $24.7-million for 2011.

Chorus said it will seek clarification on the panel's decision, which agreed that "certain controllable cost adjustments" are to be made in its favour.

"The benchmarking exercise and the subsequent award are very complicated. There are a number of issues within the decision that require clarity," spokeswoman Manon Stuart said in an e-mail.

She said Chorus can't provide a comprehensive overview of the result because of the lack of clarity on these other issues.

"However, we can confirm that Air Canada will not receive its full claim in the arbitration. We will not speculate on the possible outcomes and will confirm our position once issues have been clarified."

The Halifax-based company's shares fell on news of the ruling, down more than 10 per cent, or 38 cents, to $3.30 in afternoon trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Cameron Doerksen of National Bank Financial said the ruling could force Chorus to cut its dividend by 25 to 35 per cent even though the decision isn't the worst of possible outcomes.

"(There) will be cash implications so expect a dividend cut," he said in a research note.

Mr. Doerksen had previously estimated the amount Chorus would have to pay to Air Canada in 2013 would range between $15-million and $20-million.

Chorus had $97.1-million in cash at the end of the second quarter, but lower free cash flow stemming from a lower markup and capital requirements for new aircraft purchases could force the substantial dividend cut from its payout of 60 cents per share, Mr. Doerksen added.

Mr. Doerksen said a total loss by Chorus would have forced him to cut his current valuation of $3.50 per share by 30 per cent.

"Given that the financial impact will not be as severe as the worst case, we do not expect to reduce our target by that magnitude. Nevertheless, our valuation will be reduced and we await further details from Chorus before fully assessing the financial impact," he wrote, adding that most, if not all, analysts assumed a positive outcome for Chorus in the arbitration.

Chorus is expected to announce its next dividend payout in December.

The ruling continues Air Canada's string of successful arbitration rulings. Earlier, it won separate arbitration rulings with its pilots, flight attendants and machinists to end months of labour disputes.

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Tickers mentioned in this story

Study and track financial data on any traded entity: click to open the full quote page. Data updated as of 18/03/24 4:00pm EDT.

SymbolName% changeLast
AC-T
Air Canada
+0.44%18.35
CHR-T
Chorus Aviation Inc
-1.44%2.05

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