EADS with Biggest Order Book Worldwide
Le Bourget, le 17 juin 2001
-
Driving force in European Consolidation
-
Strong transatlantic ties
-
Partnership with Russia
-
A400M Signature at Le Bourget
-
Investment in New Products and Technology
-
Tremendous Potential for Profitable Growth
With currently more than 170 bn Euro, EADS has the biggest order backlog relative to its revenues in the aerospace industry. 65 percent of the order backlog of EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is generated by non European customers.
The strong order book, covering about six years of production and the portfolio of newly developed products - many of them just now reaching the production stage - leads to a strong performance outlook for EADS. Leading edge programmes are the A340-500/600, the A380, the A400M, the military helicopters Tiger and NH90 and export programmes of MBDA (in formation).
The expected signature of the governmental memorandum of understanding for the military transport aircraft A400M, which will take place in Le Bourget, is a further step towards the official project launch. This will lead to another multi billion order intake for EADS in due course.
With the Airbus integration and the successful launch of the A380 superjumbo, EADS has paved the way towards a bright economic future for its core business, Airbus. “Our ability to grow businesses worldwide indicates that we are a truly global company,” stated the CEOs of EADS, Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, at the EADS press conference on Monday at the 44th Salon International de l’Aeronautique et de l’Espace at Le Bourget near Paris. “Because we have a well-structured product portfolio, our products and services are sold everywhere in the world. This also means that our global presence is geographically balanced”, said the CEOs. “EADS is known for innovation and quality, but we also believe in being a good corporate citizen in each market in which we are active.”
As a leader in global aerospace and defence industry, EADS sees great potential for transatlantic cooperation and competition. “We are actively promoting and pursuing transatlantic cooperation wherever opportunities arise,” said Camus and Hertrich. “Our joint pavilion with Northrop Grumman at the Le Bourget airshow is the most visible example of our promising ´building-block´strategy.” EADS has initiated projects with Northrop Grumman in defence electronics, has teamed up with Boeing in the Meteor missile programme and with Lockheed Martin in Meads.
EADS is also part of the two transatlantic teams recently selected by NATO for Tactical Balistic Missile Defence studies (ATBM) in partnership with Lockheed Martin and Boeing. EADS-owned aeroframe services company, Sogerma, has set up a joint venture with Northrop Grumman for passenger aircraft maintenance in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
EADS has been the driving force in European consolidation by finalising the integration of Airbus, ATR and the missile manufacturer MBDA (in formation). A stake in the Finnish company Patria, an alliance with the Brasilian manufacturer Embraer, a partnership agreement with the Russian aerospace industry, and a strong foothold in Japan are further examples of the global strategy of EADS. “We have the competence, the abilities and the experience in building transnational relationships,” said Camus and Hertrich. “Therefore, EADS is consistently analyzing new markets and co-operation opportunities around the world.” EADS is consistently investing in innovative products like on-board information systems for passenger aircraft, the development of unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite navigation or reusable space launch craft and future technologies like tiltrotor, scramjet, active phased array radar, thrust vector control, smart structures or inflatable reentry and descent space technology. “We have a proven track record of technological leadership,” said the CEOs. “and our goal is to be the technology leader of the future”.
“For 2001, we confirm our target of 20% revenues growth, following full consolidation of Airbus and with the US-Dollar remaining on the current level,” said Hertrich and Camus. “At our annual shareholders meeting in May, we had increased this target from 15 to 20%.” In the following years, EADS expects revenues growth of ten percent per year. This strong outlook allowed EADS to increase the EBIT margin – that is the return on sales target – for 2004 from eight to ten percent.
Contacts for Communications:
Dr. Rainer Ohler
+ 49 171 37 23 197 Miguel Sanchez
+34 649 460 970 Roland Sanguinetti
+33 (0) 607 065 798
