Canadian manufacturing group Bombardier announced Thursday it was selling its aerostructures business to US firm Spirit AeroSystems, involving operations in Belfast, Casablanca and Dallas, in a cash-plus-debt deal exceeding USD 1 billion.
Bombardier announced its willingness to sell these assets last May as part of a broad restructuring to focus on trains and business aircraft.
In a statement, Bombardier said the US firm would take over operations in Belfast, which assembles the wings for the Airbus A220.
Spirit AeroSystems will also acquire Bombardier's operations in Casablanca and a plant in Dallas specialising in maintenance and repairs.
The price includes USD 500 million (450 million euros) in cash and around USD 700 million in debt.
The 2019 revenues for the three operations are expected to be approximately USD 1 billion.
The British trade union Unite welcomed the deal for the Belfast plant, which employs more than 3,500 people.
"We are pleased that Bombardier has heeded our call to be a responsible seller and the need for Bombardier aerostructures production to be transferred as a whole to a company with an excellent track record in aerospace rather than a short-termist hedge fund," said assistant general secretary Steve Turner.
"It is a sale that offers hope for a positive future for Bombardier workers in Northern Ireland and their colleagues in the supply chain."
Bombardier, which has been in a difficult financial situation for several months, has decided to consolidate all of its aeronautical activities into a single entity named Bombardier Aviation, with operations in Montreal, Mexico and Texas.
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