Boeing in talks to buy ex-unit Spirit AeroSystems

“We believe that the reintegration of Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems’ manufacturing operations would further strengthen aviation safety, improve quality and serve the interests of our customers, employees and shareholders,” Boeing said Friday in a statement.

Buying back Spirit, which Boeing spun off in 2005, would mark the most dramatic step yet by the US planemaker to stabilize its supply chain after a series of damaging production faults. The latest and most serious lapse occurred early in January when a 737 Max 9 model lost a large fuselage panel during flight. While Spirit built the airframe in question, Boeing has said ultimate responsibility for safety and the right production protocols reside with the planemaker.

Spirit issued a separate statement confirming the talks, which were reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

Shares of Spirit rose 2.2% in postmarket trading following a 15% jump in the regular session, giving it a market value of about $3.8 billion. Boeing fell 1.8% Friday and is down about 23% this year, the worst performer on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Wichita, Kansas-based Spirit is separately exploring the sale of a business in Northern Ireland that makes wings for Airbus SE, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential. The European planemaker has held preliminary discussions with the supplier about buying the business, the people said.

Selling its Wichita operations to Boeing would be a “coup” for troubled Spirit, and give the planemaker a chance to fix the problems that have plagued its key supplier, Vertical Research Partners analyst Rob Stallard said in a client note….