Aerospace giant Boeing is facing fraud charges from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) for breaching a deferred prosecution agreement following fatal plane crashes. At the same time, Boeing announced its intention to acquire Spirit AeroSystems for $4.6 billion, in a deal expected to close in mid-2025.
Under the terms of the deal, Spirit AeroSystems will divest its Airbus-related business for a symbolic one dollar, while paying Spirit $559 million. The deal is seen as a win-win for Airbus, enabling it to secure its supply chain in difficult times.
For Boeing, the acquisition marks the return of a former unit that was the source of numerous quality problems. The company hopes to improve alignment on quality issues and strengthen its position.
However, the threat of fraud charges could put Boeing under pressure, particularly in relation to government contracts, and the alternative would be a potentially more damaging lawsuit for the company.
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