AMSTERDAM - Airbus SE in Amsterdam has finalized an agreement to acquire several Spirit AeroSystems facilities that manufacture components for its aircraft, coinciding with Boeing's $8.3 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, the companies announced.
Under the agreement, Airbus will assume control of Spirit facilities in Kinston, N.C., and St. Nazaire, France, which produce fuselage sections for the A350; Casablanca, Morocco, for A321 and A220 components; and Wichita, Kan, for A220 pylons. Additionally, Airbus will acquire operations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, responsible for A220 wings and mid-fuselage sections. The Belfast mid-fuselage operations may be excluded if Spirit identifies a suitable buyer. Airbus will also take over wing component production for the A320 and A350 in Prestwick, Scotland. Spirit plans to sell its Subang, Malaysia, site to a third party.
As part of the transaction, Airbus will receive $439 million from Spirit AeroSystems, subject to adjustments at closing. Airbus has also agreed to provide Spirit with $200 million in non-interest-bearing credit lines to support ongoing Airbus programs.
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These acquisitions are part of a broader restructuring following Boeing's decision to reacquire Spirit AeroSystems, a company it spun off in 2005. Boeing's all-stock deal, valued at $4.7 billion in equity and $8.3 billion including debt, announced in July 2024, aims to enhance safety and quality by reintegrating Spirit's operations, which supply approximately 70% of Spirit's revenue.
The transactions are expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals.
