Boeing-Embraer joint venture

The Embraer E-Jet E2

On July 5, 2018, Boeing and Embraer announced a joint venture for Embraer's airliners, after Airbus acquired a majority of the competing Bombardier CSeries on October 16, 2017.

History

In December 2017, the Wall Street Journal reported Boeing has been in takeover talks with the 18,000 employee strong Embraer, valuing it over its $3.7 billion market value, awaiting Brazilian government approbation.^[1] The two companies confirmed that a potential combination was being discussed, with a transaction subject to approval by the Brazilian government and regulators, the two companies’ boards and shareholders^[2] The potential deal is seen as a reaction to the Airbus-Bombardier deal on the CSeries.^[3]

On December 22, 2017, Brazilian President Michel Temer said the sale of Embraer to Boeing was "out of the question", adding that the government is in favor of partnerships with the company, but warning that it will veto changes in stock control.^[4] On December 28, defense minister Raul Jungmann opposed transferring control of Embraer SA as its the defense business cannot be separated from its commercial operations, but would welcome a deal maintaining local control of the company.^[5] On January 2, 2018, Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico reported that forming joint ventures, sharing costs and income in definite areas, was preferable to avoid changing control of Embraer.^[6]

Embraer’s engineers could work on Boeing’s future developments, the New Midsize Airplane (NMA) or a New Small Airplane, but it wants to control at least Embraer's airliners to avoid repeating the B787 debacle: it partnered with major subcontractors and handed them engineering work, but those weren’t up to the task, resulting in unprecedented delays, overruns of billions of dollars and Boeing was forced to buy out some.^[7]

On July 5, 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding was announced for a strategic partnership: for $3.8 billion Boeing will hold 80% of a joint venture for Embraers's airliners and services, valued at $4.75 billion, and Embraer will own the remaining 20%. It should generate $150 million synergies by year three and add to Boeing's earnings per share from 2020. Boeing will control the new company, managed from Brazil and reporting to Dennis Muilenburg, another defense joint venture will market the KC-390. After negotiation of definitive details, shareholder and regulatory approval is expected by the end of 2019.^[8]

The July 5 memorandum leaked in October, the deadline to finalise the transaction is set for December 5, for a closure by the end of 2019. Embraer would receive payments for five years before the joint venture would distribute 50% of its profits to shareholders. A lock-up agreement would prevent Embraer or Boeing from selling their shares for 10 years. A put option would protect the minority stake value, allowing Embraer to sell its shares at the same price, inflation adjusted. The new company scope include the designs, manufacturing, certification and sales of the ERJs, E-Jets and E-Jets E2. Embraer will retain its executive business jet and its defence business, but a joint venture for the KC-390 freighter will be explored.^[9]

References

Further reading

• Ghim Lay Yeo (5 July 2018). "Embraer aims for Brazil approval of JV by early November". Flightglobal.
• Stephen Trimble (5 July 2018). "Boeing, Embraer form separate joint venture to boost KC-390". Flightglobal.
• Julie Johnsson and Fabiola Moura (5 July 2018). "Boeing Revs Up Airbus Challenge on $4.75 Billion Embraer Venture". Bloomberg.CS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link)
• Ernest S. Arvai (July 5, 2018). "Boeing and Embraer: What it Means". AirInsight.
• Dominic Gates (5 July 2018). "Boeing's Embraer deal is a key strategic play for the future". Seattle Times.
• Jens Flottau and Guy Norris (Jul 20, 2018). "Boeing And Embraer Plan Holistic Partnership". Aviation Week & Space Technology.CS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link)