Bombardier offloads Alstom stake for $608.4 million

MONTREAL (Reuters) -Bombardier Inc sold its 3.1% stake in French rail giant Alstom SA for 506.2 million euros ($608.4 million) through a book building process to institutional investors, the Canadian business jet maker said on Tuesday.

The stake was acquired as part of a 5.5 billion euro sale of its rail business to the French firm. The deal, which was completed in January, has turned Bombardier into a pure play business jet maker.

Bombardier said following the settlement of the offering, the company will have fully exited its stake in Alstom.

Montreal-based Bombardier said its holdings of 11.5 million shares in Alstom were sold at 44 euros each.

The offering will take place on May 7, the company said.

Bombardier closed down 2.11% in Toronto trading, while Alstom shares ended flat in Paris.

($1 = 0.8320 euros)

(Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and Sabahatjahan Contractor in Bengaluru; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Anil D'Silva)