26 Feb 14. Airbus Group (stock exchange symbol: AIR), known as EADS until 31 December 2013, reported improved full year revenues and profits, driven by increased aircraft deliveries and operational improvement across the Group.

Group order intake(4) in 2013 rose sharply to € 218.7bn (FY 2012: €102.5bn), reflecting strong commercial momentum at Airbus and major contracts in the space business. As of 31 December 2013, the order book(4) was worth €686.7bn (year-end 2012: €566.5bn). The defence order book was worth € 47.3bn (year-end 2012: €49.6bn).

“2013 was an important and eventful year for the Group, not least because of the far-reaching make-over of our governance, shareholder structure and strategy. On the business and operational side we again increased revenues and profits, achieved record aircraft deliveries, the A350 XWB’s first flight and initial A400M deliveries,” said Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders. “Order intake was particularly strong for our Airbus commercial aircraft and provides a solid platform for the future growth of our Group. Strong demand allows us now to increase the single-aisle production rate. The restructuring and transformation efforts of Airbus Defence and Space as well as Airbus Helicopters are progressing well and will enhance the competitiveness and profitability of these businesses. We remain strongly focused on programme execution across the whole company.”

In 2013, revenues increased five percent to €59.3bn (FY 2012: €56.5bn), mainly reflecting higher commercial aircraft deliveries and the A400M ramp-up. Defence revenues were stable and reflected the portfolio mix of development and long-term defence contracts.

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 – increased to €3.6bn (FY 2012: €3.0bn) and to €2.3bn for Airbus (FY 2012: €1.8bn). The overall improvement was driven by Airbus, which achieved good margin evolution despite the ramp up in A350 XWB support costs while the transformation efforts launched at the former Cassidian and Astrium Divisions have started to deliver results. The Group EBIT* before one-off margin increased to 6.0 percent.

Reported EBIT*(2) increased to € 2,661m (FY 2012: €2,144ma) despite €913m in total one-off charges for the year. The fourth quarter of 2013 included a €434m net charge to reflect the higher level of costs on the A350 XWB programme as well as a € 292m provision related to the restructuring of the Airbus Defence and Space Division and Headquarters. The finance result was €-630m (FY 2012: €-453m) while net income(3) increased to €1,465m (FY 2012: € 1,197ma), or earnings per share of €1.85 (earnings per share FY 2012: €1.46a). Self-financed research & development (R&D) expenses were stable at € 3,160 m (FY 2012: €3,142m).

Based on earnings per share (EPS) of €1.85, the Airbus Group Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting the payment to shareholders of a dividend of € 0.75 per share on 3 June 2014 (FY 2012: € 0.60 per share). The record date should be 2 June 2014.

“In December we announced our dividend policy and we are now implementing this following the solid progress we made during the year,” said Harald Wilhelm, CFO of Airbus Group. “For our shareholders, this proposed dividend represents a pay-out ratio of 40 percent and a year-on-year dividend per share growth of 25 percent.”

Free cash flow before acquisitions amounted to €-818m (FY 2012: €1,449m) and reflected the increased investment required to support programmes in production and development. The last quarter of 2013 benefited from a very strong cash performance.

Capital expenditure of €2.9bn was mainly driven by progress on A350 XWB development aircraft and includes development costs capitalised under IAS 38 of € 354m for the A350 XW