By Anandita Mehrotra
(Reuters) -TransDigm Group said on Thursday it would buy the components and subsystems business of Communications & Power Industries (CPI) for about $1.39 billion in cash to deepen its presence in the booming aircraft repair market.
CPI’s electron device business, which makes electronic components and subsystems primarily for the aerospace and defense markets, reported sales of $300 million in fiscal 2023, a majority of which came from aftermarket.
Airlines, grappling with a shortage of planes amid surging demand for air travel, are flying jets for longer, necessitating more repairs and services.
“We expect (commercial aerospace market) recovery to continue in our fiscal 2024,” TransDigm CEO Kevin Stein said in a statement.
Shares rose as much as 7.6% to hit a record high of $965.25 in early trading after the company authorized a special cash dividend of $35 per share and projected an upbeat 2024.
Ohio-based TransDigm makes mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and other parts for the aerospace market. It has been on the hunt for deals to beef up its offerings.
The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of TransDigm’s third quarter of fiscal 2024, will be financed through existing cash, as well as new long-term debt.
Separately, the aerospace supplier on Thursday forecast fiscal 2024 revenue above estimates after posting strong fourth-quarter results.
The company estimated annual sales of $7.48 billion to $7.68 billion, above expectations of $7.40 billion, per LSEG data.
Full-year adjusted profit per share is expected to be $31.00 to $32.94, compared with estimates of $31.23.
(Reporting by Anandita Mehrotra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)