Spirit AeroSystems Shareholders Approve Acquisition by Boeing

Rhea-AI Summary

Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE: SPR) shareholders have approved the proposed acquisition by Boeing during a special meeting held on January 31, 2025. The transaction, which was initially announced in summer 2024, is expected to close in mid-2025, pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

Spirit's CFO Irene Esteves highlighted the shareholder approval as a significant milestone in the planned merger with Boeing, emphasizing continued focus on safety, compliance, and quality during the transition period. The company will maintain independent operations until the transaction closes.

Spirit AeroSystems is a major manufacturer of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets, specializing in fuselages, integrated wings, pylons, and nacelles using aluminum and advanced composite manufacturing solutions.

Positive

• Shareholder approval secured for Boeing acquisition
• Transaction expected to close in mid-2025
• Company maintains operational independence during transition

Negative

• Deal still subject to regulatory approvals
• Extended closing timeline creates execution uncertainty

Insights

M&A Strategy Analyst

The shareholder approval of Boeing's acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems represents a landmark vertical integration move in the aerospace industry, with far-reaching implications for the sector's competitive landscape. This strategic consolidation brings Boeing's key supplier in-house, potentially offering significant advantages in cost control, production efficiency and supply chain resilience.

The timing of this acquisition is particularly strategic, coming as the aerospace industry faces unprecedented challenges in meeting production targets and managing supply chain complexities. By bringing Spirit's manufacturing capabilities under its direct control, Boeing stands to gain several critical advantages:

• Enhanced control over production schedules and quality management for critical aerostructures
• Improved cost synergies through vertical integration
• Streamlined innovation and development processes for next-generation aircraft components

However, the regulatory review process ahead presents notable hurdles. Antitrust regulators will likely scrutinize the deal's impact on market competition, particularly considering Spirit's role as a supplier to other aircraft manufacturers. The mid-2025 closing timeline suggests expectations of a thorough regulatory review process.

From an industry perspective, this consolidation could trigger similar strategic moves among competitors, potentially reshaping the aerospace supply chain landscape. The deal's success could set a precedent for further vertical integration in the industry, particularly as manufacturers seek to strengthen their control over critical component production.

WICHITA, Kan., Jan. 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) today announced that, at the special meeting of its shareholders held earlier today, its shareholders voted to approve the proposed acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems by The Boeing Company. The transaction, announced last summer, is expected to close in mid-2025, subject to closing conditions including the receipt of regulatory approvals.

"Our shareholder's resounding approval today represents an important milestone in our carefully planned merger with Boeing," said Irene Esteves, Spirit AeroSystems Chief Financial Officer. "As we continue executing our transition planning, we remain focused on Spirit's foundational principles of safety, compliance and quality."

Spirit will continue to operate as an independent company until the transaction closes.

On the web: www.spiritaero.com
On Twitter: @SpiritAero

About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.
Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world's largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets. With expertise in aluminum and advanced composite manufacturing solutions, the company's core products include fuselages, integrated wings and wing components, pylons, and nacelles. We are leveraging decades of design and manufacturing expertise to be the most innovative and reliable supplier of military aerostructures, and specialty high-temperature materials, enabling warfighters to execute complex, critical missions. Spirit also serves the aftermarket for commercial and business/regional jets. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit has facilities in the U.S., U.K., France, Malaysia and Morocco. More information is available at www.spiritaero.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes "forward-looking statements" that involve many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "continue," "designed," "ensure," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "might," "model," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "target," "will," "would," and other similar words, or phrases, or the negative thereof, unless the context requires otherwise. Forward-looking statements are based on circumstances as of the date on which the statements are made and they reflect management's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. ("Spirit" and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the "Company") by The Boeing Company ("Boeing") (the "Boeing Merger Transaction") and the proposed divestiture of a portion of the Company's business to Airbus SE ("Airbus") and its affiliates (the "Airbus Business Disposition") in connection with the Boeing Merger Transaction as contemplated by the term sheet between Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Spirit, and Airbus (together, the "Transactions," and each a "Transaction"), including, among others: the possible inability of the Company to negotiate and enter into definitive agreements with Airbus and its affiliates with respect to the Airbus Business Disposition; the possible inability of the parties to a Transaction to obtain the required regulatory approvals for such Transaction and to satisfy the other conditions to the closing of such Transaction on a timely basis or at all; the possible occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of one or more of the parties to the Boeing Merger Transaction merger agreement to terminate such merger agreement; the risk that the Company is unable to consummate the Transactions on a timely basis or at all for any reason, including, without limitation, failure to obtain the required regulatory approvals or failure to satisfy other conditions the closing of either of the Transactions; the potential for the pendency of the Transactions or any failure to consummate the Transactions to adversely affect the market price of Spirit's common stock or the Company's financial performance or business relationships; risks relating to the value of Boeing's common stock to be issued in the Boeing Merger Transaction; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the Transactions cannot be realized in full or at all or may take longer to realize than expected; the possibility that costs or difficulties related to the integration of the Company's operations with those of Boeing will be greater than expected; risks relating to significant transaction costs; the intended or actual tax treatment of the Transactions; litigation or other legal or regulatory action relating to the Transactions or otherwise relating to the Company or other parties to the Transactions instituted against the Company or such other parties or Spirit's or such other parties' respective directors and officers and the effect of the outcome of any such litigation or other legal or regulatory action; risks associated with contracts containing provisions that may be triggered by the Transactions; potential difficulties in retaining and hiring key personnel or arising in connection with labor disputes during the pendency of or following the Transactions; the risk of other Transaction-related disruptions to the business, including business plans and operations, of the Company; the potential for the Transactions to divert the time and attention of management from ongoing business operations; the potential for contractual restrictions under the agreements relating to the Transactions to adversely affect the Company's ability to pursue other business opportunities or strategic transactions; and competitors' responses to the Transactions.

Additional important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements and that should be considered in evaluating the Company's outlook include, but are not limited to, the following: the Company's ability to continue as a going concern and satisfy its liquidity needs, the success of the Company's liquidity enhancement plans and operational and efficiency initiatives, the Company's ability to access the capital and credit markets (including as a result of any contractual limitations, including under the merger agreement for the Boeing Merger Transaction), the outcomes of discussions related to the timing or amounts of repayment for certain customer advances and the costs and terms of any additional financing; the continued fragility of the global aerospace supply chain including the Company's dependence on its suppliers, as well as the cost and availability of raw materials and purchased components, including increases in energy, freight, and other raw material costs as a result of inflation or continued global inflationary pressures; the Company's ability and its suppliers' ability and willingness to meet stringent delivery (including quality and timeliness) standards and accommodate changes in the build rates or model mix of aircraft under existing contractual commitments, including the ability or willingness to staff appropriately or expend capital for current production volumes and anticipated production volume increases; the Company's ability to maintain continuing, uninterrupted production at its manufacturing facilities and its suppliers' facilities; the Company's ability, and its suppliers' ability, to attract and retain the skilled work force necessary for production and development in an extremely competitive market; the effect of economic conditions, including increases in interest rates and inflation, on the demand for the Company's and its customers' products and services, on the industries and markets in which it operates in the U.S. and globally, and on the global aerospace supply chain; the general effect of geopolitical conditions, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resultant sanctions being imposed in response to the conflict, including any trade and transport restrictions; the conflict in the Middle East could impact certain suppliers' ability to continue production or make timely deliveries of supplies required to produce and timely deliver the Company's products, and may result in sanctions being imposed in response to the conflict, including trade and transport restrictions impact certain suppliers' ability to continue production or make timely deliveries of supplies required to produce and timely deliver the Company's products, and may result in sanctions being imposed in response to the conflict, including trade and transport restrictions; the Company's relationships with the unions representing many of its employees, including the Company's ability to successfully negotiate new agreements, and avoid labor disputes and work stoppages with respect to its union-represented employees; the impact of significant health events, such as pandemics, contagions or other public health emergencies (including the COVID‑19 pandemic) or fear of such events, on the demand for the Company's and its customers' products and services and on the industries and markets in which the Company operates in the U.S. and globally; the timing and conditions surrounding the full worldwide return to service (including receiving the remaining regulatory approvals) of the B737 MAX, future demand for the aircraft, and any residual impacts of the B737 MAX grounding on production rates for the aircraft; the Company's reliance on Boeing and Airbus and its affiliates for a significant portion of its revenues; the business condition and liquidity of the Company's customers and their ability to satisfy their contractual obligations to the Company; the certainty of the Company's backlog, including the ability of customers to cancel or delay orders prior to shipment on short notice, and the potential impact of regulatory approvals of existing and derivative models; the Company's ability to accurately estimate and manage performance, cost, margins, and revenue under its contracts, and the potential for additional forward losses on new and maturing programs; the Company's accounting estimates for revenue and costs for its contracts and potential changes to those estimates; the Company's ability to continue to grow and diversify its business, execute its growth strategy, and secure replacement programs, including its ability to enter into profitable supply arrangements with additional customers; the outcome of product warranty or defective product claims and the impact settlement of such claims may have on the Company's accounting assumptions; competitive conditions in the markets in which the Company operates, including in-sourcing by commercial aerospace original equipment manufacturers; the Company's ability to successfully negotiate, or re-negotiate, future pricing under its supply agreements with Boeing, Airbus and its affiliates and other customers; the possibility that the Company's cash flows may not be adequate for its additional capital needs; any reduction in the Company's credit ratings; the Company's ability to avoid or recover from cyber or other security attacks and other operations disruptions; legislative or regulatory actions, both domestic and foreign, impacting the Company's operations, including the effect of changes in tax laws and rates and the Company's ability to accurately calculate and estimate the effect of such changes; spending by the U.S. and other governments on defense; pension plan assumptions and future contributions; the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting; the outcome or impact of ongoing or future litigation, arbitration, claims, and regulatory actions or investigations, including the Company's exposure to potential product liability and warranty claims; adequacy of the Company's insurance coverage; the Company's ability to continue selling certain receivables through its receivables financing programs; the Company's ability to effectively integrate recent acquisitions, along with other acquisitions it pursues, and generate synergies and other cost savings therefrom, while avoiding unexpected costs, charges, expenses, and adverse changes to business relationships and business disruptions; and the risks of doing business internationally, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, impositions of tariffs or embargoes, trade restrictions, compliance with foreign laws, and domestic and foreign government policies.

The factors described above are not exhaustive, and it is not possible for Spirit to predict all factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in its forward‑looking statements. These factors speak only as of the date hereof, and new factors may emerge or changes to the foregoing factors may occur that could impact the Company's business or the Transactions. As with any projection or forecast, these statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Except to the extent required by law, Spirit undertakes no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Refer to the sections captioned "Risk Factors" in Spirit's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 22, 2024, in Spirit's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 26, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 5, 2024, and in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus related to the Boeing Merger Transaction filed by Spirit with the SEC on December 20, 2024 for a more complete discussion of the factors described above and other factors that may affect the Company's business or the Transactions.

 

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SOURCE Spirit Aerosystems

FAQ

When did Spirit AeroSystems shareholders approve the Boeing acquisition?

Spirit AeroSystems shareholders approved the Boeing acquisition on January 31, 2025, during a special shareholder meeting.

When is the Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) and Boeing merger expected to close?

The merger between Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing is expected to close in mid-2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

Will Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) continue operations independently during the transition?

Yes, Spirit AeroSystems will continue to operate as an independent company until the transaction with Boeing closes.

What regulatory approvals are needed for the Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) acquisition?

While specific regulatory approvals weren't detailed in the announcement, the transaction's closing is contingent upon receiving necessary regulatory approvals.

When was the Boeing acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) first announced?

The acquisition was initially announced in summer 2024.