MONTREAL -- Bombardier's new CEO says the company has enough financial flexibility to complete its development projects including the CSeries commercial jet without selling assets at "fire sale" prices.
Alain Bellemare said the aircraft and railway manufacturer doesn't feel pressure to act hastily now that it has raised $935 million from issuing new shares and US$2.25 billion in new debt.
After winning shareholder support Friday for the financing, he said the company is examining all its "strategic options."
That includes joint ventures as part of consolidation in the railway sector and potential asset sales.
Bellemare told reporters that there are no "sacred cows" that must be preserved as it make decisions that will affect the company's long-term future.
Industry analysts have suggested Bombardier could sell its Learjet business aircraft operations for as mush as US$750 million. Bombardier stopped work earlier this year on its Learjet 85 as it looked to preserve cash.
Meanwhile, he said the company continues to hope for certification of the new CSeries this year with deliveries beginning in early 2016. A slight delay in the entry into service was first mentioned last month as the larger CS300 aircraft had its first flight.
An early 2016 entry into service is not significant for an aircraft that will be in service for 30 years if it delivers the promised performance including operating cost savings, Bellemare added.
