Spirit Announces Sale of Fiber Materials Inc. (FMI) to Tex Tech Industries

Rhea-AI Summary

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings (NYSE: SPR) has announced the sale of Fiber Materials Inc (FMI) to Tex Tech Industries for $165 million in cash. FMI, based in Biddeford, Maine, and Woonsocket, Rhode Island, specializes in high-temperature materials and reinforced composites, particularly Carbon/Carbon composites.

FMI's products are important components in thermal protection systems, re-entry vehicle nose tips, and rocket motor components, serving both defense platforms and NASA programs including Stardust, Mars Curiosity, Orion, and Mars 2020. The business employs approximately 400 engineers and production personnel.

For Tex-Tech, this acquisition adds strategic value by expanding their portfolio of thermally protective materials, particularly in the growing space and defense industry. Morgan Stanley & Co. is serving as lead financial advisor to Spirit, while Lincoln International is advising Tex-Tech on the transaction.

Positive

• Immediate cash injection of $165 million strengthening Spirit's balance sheet
• Strategic divestment aligning with core aerospace manufacturing focus

Negative

• Loss of revenue stream from high-tech defense and space contracts
• Reduction in workforce by approximately 400 employees

Insights

Financial Analyst

The $165 million cash sale of FMI represents a strategic divestiture for Spirit AeroSystems, strengthening their balance sheet and aligning with ongoing portfolio optimization efforts. This transaction values FMI at approximately $412,500 per employee, which appears reasonable given the specialized nature of their operations and intellectual property portfolio. The deal's timing is particularly noteworthy as Spirit continues to focus on its core aerostructures business amid increasing commercial aviation demand.

The cash injection will improve Spirit's liquidity position, reducing their net debt and potentially providing additional flexibility for core business investments. With a market cap of $4 billion, this transaction represents approximately 4.1% of Spirit's total value, making it a material but not transformative deal. The sale of a non-core defense business signals a sharper focus on commercial aviation operations where Spirit maintains significant competitive advantages.

Aerospace Industry Expert

This divestiture reflects broader industry consolidation trends in specialized aerospace materials. FMI's high-temperature materials and composite capabilities, particularly in Carbon/Carbon technology, represent critical competencies for space and defense applications. The integration with Tex Tech's existing portfolio creates a more formidable supplier in the rapidly expanding space sector, where thermal protection systems are important for both commercial and military applications.

The strategic rationale is compelling - while FMI offers advanced capabilities, these specialized defense and space applications have different business cycles and customer requirements compared to Spirit's primary commercial aerostructures business. The transaction allows both companies to better focus on their core competencies, with Tex Tech potentially better positioned to invest in FMI's growth given their existing presence in high-performance materials.

WICHITA, Kan., Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) ("Spirit," "Spirit AeroSystems" or the "Company") announced the sale of Fiber Materials Inc ("FMI") business based in Biddeford, Maine, and Woonsocket, Rhode Island, to Tex Tech Industries, Inc. ("Tex-Tech") for $165 million in cash.

FMI is an industry leader in high-temperature materials and reinforced composites, with a focus on Carbon / Carbon and related composites. FMI's applications include thermal protection systems, re-entry vehicle nose tips, and rocket motor throats and nozzles. FMI's products are installed on critical defense platforms as well as NASA programs such as Stardust, Mars Curiosity, Orion, and Mars 2020. The program employs approximately 400 engineers and production personnel. 

"This transaction is in the best interest of Spirit, the FMI business and the customers it serves," said Irene Esteves, Spirit AeroSystems Chief Financial Officer.

"The acquisition of FMI is highly complementary and strategic for Tex-Tech," said Scott Burkhart, Tex-Tech Chief Executive Officer. "The addition of FMI adds a unique set of high-performance products to our robust portfolio of thermally protective materials. FMI's unique capabilities will allow us to better service the rigorous material requirements in the rapidly growing space and defense industry." 

Click the link to read the full press release from Tex-Tech: https://textechindustries.com/press-release/

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

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as lead financial advisor to Spirit. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal counsel to Spirit. Lincoln International LLC is serving as financial advisor and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP is serving as legal advisor to Tex-Tech.

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.

About Tex-Tech Industries, Inc.
Tex-Tech Industries is a global supplier of materials science-based solutions for demanding end use markets where performance and reliability are counted upon. With global headquarters located in Kernersville, North Carolina (USA) and manufacturing, R&D and sales sites located throughout North America and Europe, Tex-Tech is able to service our partners across the globe in key markets such as aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial. www.textechindustries.com 

About Fiber Materials, Inc.
FMI has served as a leading solutions provider of high-temperature materials and composites for over 50 years, catering to the Department of Defense and NASA. With facilities in Maine and Rhode Island, the focus is on multidirectional reinforced Carbon/Carbon (C/C) and Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), which enable high-temperature components such as protection systems, re-entry vehicle nose tips, and rocket throats and nozzles. They specialize in textile engineering and the manufacturing of 2D woven fabrics, 3D preforms, and-reinforced composites and work with the stiffest, strongest, and lightest fibers including carbon, glass, aramid (Kevlar), and ceramic. FMI materials are employed in groundbreaking space initiatives such as the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and the heat shield for NASA's Mars 2020 mission, as well as in significant missile programs, airfoils in commercial and military jet engines, and lightweight armor for U.S. military ground vehicles.   

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that may involve many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations or forecasts of future events. 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. These statements reflect management's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, including, but not limited to, those described in the "Risk Factors" sections of Spirit's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2024 (the "2023 Form 10-K") and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements and that should be considered in evaluating our outlook include, but are not limited to, the following:

• our ability to continue as a going concern and satisfy our liquidity needs, the success of our liquidity enhancement plans, operational and efficiency initiatives, our ability to access the capital and credit markets (including as a result of any contractual limitations, including the Merger Agreement (as defined below)), the outcomes of active 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 our dependence on our 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;
• our ability and our 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;
• our ability to maintain continuing, uninterrupted production at our manufacturing facilities and our suppliers' facilities;
• our ability, and our 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 our and our customers' products and services, on the industries and markets in which we operate 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 war in Israel and the Gaza Strip and the potential for expansion of the conflict in the surrounding region, which may impact certain suppliers' ability to continue production or make timely deliveries of supplies required to produce and timely deliver our products, and may result in sanctions being imposed in response to the conflict, including trade and transport restrictions;
• our relationships with the unions representing many of our employees, including our ability to successfully negotiate new agreements, and avoid labor disputes and work stoppages with respect to our union 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 our and our customers' products and services, the industries and the markets in which we operate 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;
• our reliance on The Boeing Company ("Boeing") and Airbus SE and its affiliates for a significant portion of our revenues;
• the business condition and liquidity of our customers and their ability to satisfy their contractual obligations to the Company;
• the certainty of our 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;
• our ability to accurately estimate and manage performance, cost, margins, and revenue under our contracts, and the potential for additional forward losses on new and maturing programs;
• our accounting estimates for revenue and costs for our contracts and potential changes to those estimates;
• our ability to continue to grow and diversify our business, execute our growth strategy, and secure replacement programs, including our 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 our accounting assumptions;
• competitive conditions in the markets in which we operate, including in-sourcing by commercial aerospace original equipment manufacturers;
• our ability to successfully negotiate, or re-negotiate, future pricing under our supply agreements with Boeing, Airbus SE and its affiliates and other customers;
• the possibility that our cash flows may not be adequate for our additional capital needs;
• any reduction in our credit ratings;
• our ability to avoid or recover from cyber or other security attacks and other operations disruptions;
• legislative or regulatory actions, both domestic and foreign, impacting our operations, including the effect of changes in tax laws and rates and our 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 our internal control over financial reporting;
• the outcome or impact of ongoing or future litigation, arbitration, claims, and regulatory actions or investigations, including our exposure to potential product liability and warranty claims;
• adequacy of our insurance coverage;
• our ability to continue selling certain receivables through the receivables financing programs;
• our ability to effectively integrate recent acquisitions, along with other acquisitions we pursue, and generate synergies and other cost savings therefrom, while avoiding unexpected costs, charges, expenses, and adverse changes to business relationships and business disruptions;
• 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; and
• risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed acquisition of Spirit by Boeing (the "Merger") pursuant to Spirit's agreement and plan of merger with Boeing (the "Merger Agreement"), the proposed sale of Fiber Materials Inc. to Tex-Tech Industries, Inc. (the "FMI Disposition") and the transactions contemplated by our term sheet with Airbus SE (the "Airbus Business Disposition" and, together with the Merger and the FMI Disposition, the "Transactions"), including, among others, the possibility that we are unable to negotiate and enter into definitive agreements with Airbus SE 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 (including, in the case of the Merger, approval of the Merger Agreement by Spirit stockholders) 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 Merger Agreement to terminate the Merger Agreement or a right of one or more of the parties to the agreement for the FMI Disposition to terminate such agreement; the risk that the Merger Agreement is terminated under circumstances requiring us to pay a termination fee; the risk that we are 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, failure to obtain Spirit stockholder approval of the Merger Agreement or failure to satisfy other conditions the closing of any of the Transactions; the potential for the announcement or pendency of the Transactions or any failure to consummate the Transactions to adversely affect the market price of Spirit common stock or our financial performance or business relationships; risks relating to the value of Boeing common stock to be issued in the Merger; 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 our 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 us or other parties to the Transactions instituted against us 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 our business, including business plans and operations; 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 our ability to pursue other business opportunities or strategic transactions; and competitors' responses to the Transactions.
  
  These factors are not exhaustive, and it is not possible for us to predict all factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in our 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 our business. As with any projection or forecast, these statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Except to the extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You should review carefully the sections captioned "Risk Factors" in the 2023 Form 10-K and Spirit's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a more complete discussion on these and other factors that may affect our business.

 

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SOURCE Spirit AeroSystems

FAQ

How much did Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) sell FMI for?

Spirit AeroSystems sold Fiber Materials Inc. (FMI) to Tex Tech Industries for $165 million in cash.

What products does FMI manufacture that Spirit AeroSystems is divesting?

FMI manufactures high-temperature materials and reinforced composites, including Carbon/Carbon composites used in thermal protection systems, re-entry vehicle nose tips, and rocket motor throats and nozzles.

How many employees are affected by Spirit's sale of FMI?

The sale affects approximately 400 engineers and production personnel employed by FMI.

Which NASA programs use FMI's products being sold by Spirit (SPR)?

FMI's products are used in NASA programs including Stardust, Mars Curiosity, Orion, and Mars 2020.

Who are the financial advisors for Spirit's (SPR) sale of FMI?

Morgan Stanley & Co. is serving as lead financial advisor to Spirit, while Lincoln International is advising Tex-Tech.