AIRBUS : Group Reports Improved Nine-Month (9m) Results 2014

Airbus Group Reports Improved Nine-Month (9m) Results 2014 

• Financial performance reflects operational progress, guidance confirmed
• Revenues increase four percent to € 40.5 billion
• EBIT* before one-off rises 12 percent to € 2.6 billion
• Net income up 16 percent to € 1.4 billion
• Free cash flow before acquisitions positive in Q3 2014

            
Amsterdam, 14 November 2014 - Airbus Group (stock exchange symbol: AIR) reported improved results for the first nine months of 2014, driven by an enhanced operational performance across the company.

Demand for the Group's products remains strong overall with a net book-to-bill for commercial aircraft above 1 at the end of September, already fulfilling the full-year target, and continued momentum seen in defence and space. Group order intake⁽²⁾  in the first nine months of 2014 was € 78.7 billion (9m 2013: € 137.0 billion⁽¹⁾), with the order book⁽²⁾ worth € 765.4 billion
on 30 September 2014 (year-end 2013: € 680.6 billion⁽¹⁾). Airbus received 791 net commercial aircraft orders (9m 2013: 1,062 net orders⁽¹⁾). Net order intake at Airbus Helicopters was 208 units
(9m 2013: 276 units), including 19 Super Pumas. Airbus Defence and Space's order intake by value rose 16 percent, with strong demand seen for light and medium transport aircraft and third quarter contracts including three telecommunications satellites.

"An improved operational performance drove revenues and profitability higher over the first
nine months of 2014. We achieved key operational targets such as the certification of the A350 and first flight of the A320neo while improving our overall cash flow profile,"
said Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders. "Nevertheless, keep in mind that going forward we still face a number of challenges such as the transition to the A330neo and the ramp-up of the A350
and A400M programmes, which continue to require strong management focus."

Group revenues increased four percent to € 40.5 billion (9m 2013: € 38.9 billion⁽¹⁾).
Commercial Aircraft revenues rose 5.5 percent, reflecting the delivery mix with 21 A380s delivered compared to 14 in the first nine months of 2013 and 443 aircraft delivered in total
(9m 2013: 445 deliveries). Revenues at Helicopters rose three percent with 295 deliveries
(9m 2013: 312 units), including the initial EC145 T2. Defence and Space's revenues were stable with two successful Ariane 5 launches in the third quarter and another taking place in October. In mid-November, the Philae lander of the Rosetta spacecraft performed a world first by successfully touching down on a comet.

Group EBIT* before one-off - an indicator capturing the underlying business margin by excluding material non-recurring charges or profits caused by movements in provisions related to programmes and restructurings or foreign exchange impacts - improved to € 2,590 million (9m 2013: € 2,320 million⁽¹⁾). Commercial Aircraft EBIT* before one-off reached € 1,780 million (9m 2013: € 1,712 million⁽¹⁾), driven by operational improvement, including progress on the A380 programme towards breakeven, and the favourable evolution of maturing U.S. dollar hedges despite higher research and development expenses and A350 XWB support costs.
Helicopters' EBIT* before one-off was € 241 million (9m 2013: € 217 million), reflecting the Super Puma recovery. Defence and Space's EBIT* before one-off was € 370 million (9m 2013: € 356 million⁽¹⁾). Headquarters/Eliminations and Others' EBIT* rose to € 199 million (9m 2013:
€ 35 million) and included the sale of the Paris Headquarters building in the first half of 2014. Group EBIT* before one-off return on sales was 6.4 percent (9m 2013: 6.0 percent⁽¹⁾).

The A350 XWB programme is gaining momentum with EASA and FAA type certification achieved and remains on track for entry-into-service by year-end. The Group continues to work on the efficient production ramp-up with the focus on maturity and recurring cost convergence. The A320neo made its first flight in the third quarter in line with the initial launch schedule. Entry-into-service is expected in the fourth quarter of 2015. At Helicopters, the EC175
is progressing towards entry-into-service in the final quarter of 2014. The restructuring programme at Defence and Space is on track while the outcome of the portfolio review was announced in September. Resulting disposals are under preparation. The A400M programme industrial ramp-up is ongoing and entering into progressive enhancements of military capabilities but with some delays incurred. The sequence of progressive enhancements
and deliveries is under negotiation with customers and related costs, risks and mitigation actions are under assessment. A contractual termination right became exercisable on
1 November 2014. However, management judges that it is highly unlikely that this termination right is exercised. Four aircraft have been delivered this year with first deliveries now being prepared for the U.K. and Germany.

Reported EBIT*⁽³⁾ increased 21 percent to € 2,583 million (9m 2013: € 2,131 million⁽¹⁾)
with one-offs limited to a € 7 million charge from the dollar pre-delivery payment mismatch
and balance sheet revaluation. The finance result was € -612 million (9m 2013: € -435 million⁽¹⁾)
while net income⁽⁴⁾ rose to € 1,399 million (9m 2013: € 1,203 million⁽¹⁾), or earnings per share (EPS) of € 1.79 (EPS 9m 2013: € 1.51⁽¹⁾). Net income and EPS included € -178 million of negative foreign exchange revaluation before taxes, particularly in the third quarter. Group self-financed R&D expenses totalled € 2,376 million (9m 2013: € 2,152 million⁽¹⁾). Free cash flow before acquisitions improved significantly to € -2,090 million (9m 2013: € -4,749 million⁽¹⁾), reflecting tight cash control while investing in production and development programmes. Third quarter free cash flow before acquisitions was positive at € 180 million (Q3 2013: € -686 million⁽¹⁾).
The net cash position on 30 September 2014 was € 5.3 billion (year-end 2013: € 8.5 billion⁽¹⁾)
after the 2013 dividend payment of € 587 million and € 349 million pension plan contribution.
The gross cash position on 30 September 2014 was € 12.4 billion.

Outlook
As the basis for its 2014 guidance, Airbus Group expects the world economy and air traffic to grow in line with prevailing independent forecasts and assumes no major disruptions. In 2014,
Airbus deliveries should be about the same level as in 2013, including the first A350 XWB delivery.
Net commercial aircraft orders will be above the level of deliveries. Assuming an exchange rate of
€ 1 = $ 1.35, Airbus Group's revenues should be stable compared to 2013⁽⁵⁾.
Using EBIT* before one-off, Airbus Group expects moderate return on sales growth in 2014⁽⁵⁾.
The 2015 return on sales target of 7-8 percent ⁽⁶⁾ is unchanged pre A330neo development, which
 is assessed to have a net impact of around -70 basis points. The EBIT* and EPS* performance
of Airbus Group will depend on the Group's ability to limit "one-off" charges. Going forward,
from today's point of view, the one-offs should be limited to potential charges on the A350 XWB programme and foreign exchange effects linked to the pre-delivery payment mismatch and balance sheet revaluation. The A350 XWB programme remains challenging. Any change to the schedule and cost assumptions could lead to an increasingly higher impact on provisions.
On A400M, negative cost and risk evolution mostly driven by military functionalities challenges, delays in aircraft acceptance and industrial ramp-up together with associated mitigation actions are under assessment and will be finalised for the 2014 full year accounts.
Airbus Group is targeting breakeven free cash flow before acquisitions in 2014.

* Airbus Group uses EBIT pre-goodwill impairment and exceptionals as a key indicator of its economic performance. The term "exceptionals" refers to such items as depreciation expenses of fair value adjustments relating to the EADS merger, the Airbus Combination and the formation of MBDA, as well as impairment charges thereon.

Airbus Group

Airbus Group is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2013, the Group - comprising Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Helicopters - generated revenues of € 57.6 billion (restated) and employed a workforce of around 138,000 (restated).

 Airbus Group Investor Relations contacts:
 Philippe BALDUCCHI tel. +33 5 82 05 57 57 philippe.balducchi@airbus.com:
mailto:philippe.balducchi@airbus.com
 Julie KITCHER tel. +33 5 82 05 53 01 julie.kitcher@airbus.com:
mailto:julie.kitcher@airbus.com
 Christopher HIGGINS tel. +33 5 61 93 33 50 christopher.higgins@airbus.com:
mailto:christopher.higgins@airbus.com
Airbus Group - Nine Month (9m) Results 2014
(Amounts in euro)

For footnotes please refer to page 8.

For footnotes please refer to page 8.

 Airbus Group - Third Quarter Results (Q3) 2014

Q3 2014 revenues were stable compared to the third quarter of 2013.

Q3 EBIT* increased 14 percent to € 744 million, driven by the performance of Headquarters, which included a more positive contribution from Dassault Aviation. In the third quarter of 2014, net income was reduced by negative foreign exchange revaluation on U.S dollar liabilities.

For footnotes please refer to page 8.

Footnotes:

1)         The 2013 figures have been restated to reflect the application of IFRS 10 and 11. Wherever necessary, Divisional figures are also restated to reflect the new Group structure as of 1 January 2014.             

2)      Contributions from commercial aircraft activities to Order Intake and Order Book based on list prices.

3)      Earnings before interest and taxes, pre goodwill impairment and exceptionals.

4)      Airbus Group continues to use the term Net Income. It is identical with Profit for the period attributable to equity owners of the parent as defined by IFRS Rules.

5)      Compared to 2013 reported figures (pre IFRS 11 restatements).

6)      Return on sales for EBIT* before one-off, including A350 XWB dilution with a €/$ exchange rate of 1.35.

7)      Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation and exceptionals.

 Safe Harbour Statement:

Certain statements contained in this press release are not historical facts but rather are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's beliefs. These statements reflect Airbus Group's views and assumptions as of the date of the statements and involve known and unknown risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.

When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "intend", "plan to" and "project" are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

This forward looking information is based upon a number of assumptions including without limitation: assumption regarding demand, current and future markets for Airbus Group's products and services, internal performance, customer financing, customer, supplier and subcontractor performance or contracts negotiations, favourable outcomes of certain pending sales campaigns.

Forward looking statements are subject to uncertainty and actual future results and trends may differ materially depending on variety of factors including without limitation: general economic and labour conditions, including in particular economic conditions in Europe, North America and Asia, legal, financial and governmental risk related to international transactions, the cyclical nature of some of Airbus Group's businesses, volatility of the market for certain products and services, product performance risks, collective bargaining labour disputes, factors that result in significant and prolonged disruption to air travel worldwide, the outcome of political and legal processes, including uncertainty regarding government funding of certain programs, consolidation among competitors in the aerospace industry, the cost of developing, and the commercial success of new products, exchange rate and interest rate spread fluctuations between the euro and the U.S. dollar and other currencies, legal proceeding and other economic, political and technological risk and uncertainties. Additional information regarding these factors is contained in the Company's "registration document" dated 4 April 2014. For more information, please refer to www.airbusgroup.com:
http://www.airbusgroup.com.