Bombardier has reported its fourth quarter (Q4) and full-year 2019 results, in line with previously announced preliminary results. The company also confirmed it is still actively pursuing options to accelerate deleveraging, strengthen its balance sheet and enhance shareholder value.
Bombardier has entered into an agreement with Airbus SE and the Government of Quebec, under which Bombardier transferred its shares in the Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (ACLP) to Airbus and the Government of Quebec, improving Bombardier's cash position. This includes cash proceeds of ~$600 million from Airbus, of which $531 million was paid upon closing with the balance to be paid over 2020-21, and the elimination of all future capital requirements for the A220 program, estimated at ~ $700 million.
Bombardier's decision to sell its stake in the A220 partnership completes its exit from commercial aerospace, a significant undertaking.
According to Alain Bellemare, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc. "We are proud of the responsible way in which we have exited commercial aerospace, preserving jobs and reinforcing the aerospace cluster in Québec and Canada. And, we are confident that the A220 program will enjoy a long and successful run under Airbus' and Québec's stewardship."
The sale of our interest in the ACLP, combined with the previously announced aerospace divestitures, will generate more than $1.6 billion in cash proceeds and eliminate close to $2 billion in liabilities and future commitments. Liquidity remains strong, with Pro Forma cash-on-hand of more than $4 billion and $5.5 billion in liquidity, providing the necessary flexibility to complete the turnaround. Both the CRJ program sale to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc. and sale of the aerostructures business to Spirit AeroSystems, Holding Inc are expected to close in the first half of 2020. Revenues from our sustaining business aircraft and Transportation activities in 2020 are expected to grow organically by double-digit percentage over the $13.7 billion revenues recorded from these businesses in 2019(1). The strong growth is driven mainly from the acceleration of Global 7500 deliveries contributing to a total of 160 aircraft or more for the year at Aviation.
Free cash flow is expected to be positive in 2020, excluding Credit and RVG payments.