PARIS (Bloomberg) - Airbus SAS, the world's largest planemaker, said it broke off discussions on the sale of three German plants to OHB Technology AG's MT Aerospace unit.

Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. (EADS), ended negotiations because OHB's offer was not "economically and industrially sound," the Toulouse, France-based company said in a statement yesterday. Talks continue on the full or partial sale of three other plants in the UK, France and Germany.

Discussions with OHB ran into difficulties after the strength of euro made it tough for Airbus to get the German manufacturer to commit to contracting in dollars, a key requirement for the planemaker given that it accrues most of its costs in euros while selling aircraft in the US currency.

"We simply could not get there with OHB," Airbus CEO Tom Enders said in yesterday's statement. "We want to ensure the future of our sites with strong partners who share technology, development costs and capital investments and are able to deliver large work packages at competitive costs."

EADS rose as much as 31 cents, or 2.1 percent, to 14.85 euros and was trading at 14.72 euros as of 12.03pm in Paris. The stock has slumped 33 percent so far this year.

OHB was priced down 0.3 percent at 8.97 euros. The company referred calls seeking comment to MT Aerospace CEO Hans Steininger, who was not in his office.

Volatility in world financial markets and a euro valued at close to $1.60, compared with $1.35 when the divestment process began, has made tough to agree terms, Airbus said yesterday.

While selling the plants to risk-sharing partners may now require "different approaches or interim steps," the company said it will push ahead with a strategy that is integral to lowering the cost base to protect projects including the long- range, twin-engine A350 plane.

"What drives our schedule is the A350 timetable," Mr. Enders said. "We are launching the necessary investments to secure the timely entry into service of the A350 with our customers."

The A350 will seat around 300 passengers when it comes into service in 2013 and will challenge Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner, which is now scheduled for service entry early next year.