Free Cash Flow $3.09 Billion, Including $1.88 Billion Proceeds From Dassault Aviation Stake Sale

Airbus Group SE reported solid 2015 results with its guidance achieved for all key performance indicators, reflecting continued operational improvement.

“The 2015 results reflect our solid financial and operational performance. We have delivered on our commitments and have maintained our outlook for 2016 and beyond,” said Tom Enders (pictured), Airbus Group Chief Executive Officer.

“Revenues and EBIT increased from a year earlier, delivering earnings per share growth while free cash flow improved. The record order book supports our commercial aircraft ramp-up plans and we are driving operational efficiency.

"We have now decided to increase the A330 production rate back to seven aircraft a month in 2017. There was also strong momentum in defence and space, with a book-to-bill ratio above 1. Operational highlights included reaching breakeven on the A380 programme for the first time, delivering 14 A350s in the first year of industrialisation and receiving dual certification for the A320neo. We remain focused on programme execution and managing the challenges we face with the acceleration of the A350 and A400M ramp-ups and A320neo transition. We will increase shareholder returns with a proposed dividend of 1.30 euros (approx $1.43) a share and our current share buyback.”

Airbus received 1,080 net commercial aircraft orders (2014: 1,456 net orders), including 136 A330s. The 2015 gross orders of 1,190 aircraft included three A380s for new customer ANA. After 50 governmental helicopter cancellations, Airbus Helicopters received 333 net orders (2014: 369 units) including 107 H145s and 36 H175s. Order intake by value rose 18 percent.

Airbus Defence and Space, with bookings including 14 additional A330 MRTTs and five telecommunications satellites. During the year, an agreement was also signed with OneWeb for 900 small telecommunications satellites.

As the basis for its 2016 guidance, Airbus Group expects the world economy and air traffic to grow in line with prevailing independent forecasts and assumes no major disruptions.

2016 earnings and free cash flow guidance is based on a constant perimeter.

In 2016, Airbus expects to deliver more than 650 aircraft, and the commercial order book is expected to grow.

In 2016, before M&A, Airbus Group expects stable EBIT* before one-off and EPS* before one-off compared to 2015.

In 2016, before M&A, Airbus Group expects to deliver stable free cash flow compared to 2015.

(Source: Airbus news release. Images from file)

FMI: www.airbus.com