Bender sells minority stake in Austal USA

Mobile’s Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. has sold its 30 percent stake in Austal USA to Austal Ltd., Bender President Tom Bender and Austal USA Chief Executive Officer Greg Metcalf confirmed Tuesday.

The deal, which Metcalf said was struck last week, was valued at $20.6 million, according to a report in a Perth, Australia, newspaper. Metcalf would not confirm that figure, and Tom Bender called it incorrect.

“We agreed that the terms of that agreement would be kept confidential,” Bender said. “It was great working with them over the years — we just had other interests that we decided to pursue.”