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Bombardier delays business jet, shares sink as cash burn rises

A new Bombardier CS100 passenger jet of Swiss airline flies over Zurich airport near the town of Kloten June 17, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

(Reuters) - Canadian plane and train maker Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO) reported lower earnings and sharply higher cash use on Thursday, and pushed back delivery of its new Global business jet, driving down its share price.

Bombardier, which has been spending heavily to bring its new CSeries jet into service, used $808 million in free cash flow in the quarter, up from $424 million a year earlier. It had $3.1 billion in cash and equivalents at the end of the quarter.

The stock dropped 11 percent to C$1.74 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Bombardier is preparing an initial public offering of a minority stake in its rail unit, which would help shore up its balance sheet, but on a call with analysts and investors Chief Executive Alain Bellemare said other options are still on the table.

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"We continue to explore strategic options for our rail business, given the ongoing industry consolidation," he said. Later, he said listing the unit could help in "getting ready for a strategic play" but selling the entire business is off the table.

The company said its Global 7000 business jet, previously scheduled to go into service in 2016, is now expected to do so in the second half of 2018.

Some analysts had suggested a delay was likely as the plane has yet to make its first flight. Bellemare said developing the large new jet has been challenging, but he is confident of the new schedule.

The company also announced a "Bombardier transformation plan" focused on reducing product cost, controlling working capital and using cash effectively.

The business jet division has been a key source of cash flow for the company, which is spending heavily to develop the narrow-body, medium-range CSeries. But in May Bombardier said it would cut production of Global 5000 and 6000 jets, citing weak demand from China, Latin America and Russia.

Net orders for business aircraft fell to eight during the second quarter from 30 a year earlier, while commercial aircraft orders dropped to three from 18.

Net income fell to $125 million, or 6 cents a share, in the quarter ended June 30, from $155 million, or 8 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 5.5 percent to $4.62 billion.

Adjusted earnings were $145 million, or 6 cents a share, down from $192 million, or 10 cents, a year earlier. Analysts had expected earnings of 5 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

(Reporting by Sneha Banerjee in Bengaluru and Allison Martell in Toronto; Editing by Simon Jennings, Chizu Nomiyama and Peter Galloway)