Allegiant to buy rival budget airline Sun Country in $1.5 billion cash and stock deal

Group 1 - Allegiant is acquiring Sun Country in a cash deal valued at $1.5 billion [1] - The acquisition implies a value of $18.89 per share for Sun Country, with shareholders receiving 0.1557 shares of Allegiant stock and $4.10 in cash for each share [1] - The deal represents a nearly 20% premium over Sun Country's closing stock price prior to the announcement [2] Group 2 - The merger will test the current administration's stance on airline consolidations, following previous challenges to other airline mergers [2] - The Biden administration previously blocked JetBlue Airways' acquisition of Spirit Airlines, indicating a cautious regulatory environment for airline mergers [2]