By Bjorn Fehrm

Feb 27 2015: Airbus Group has released its 2014 results before a press conference in Munich later today. The group which is active in civil airliners, helicopters, defense and space posted the following results:

• Revenue increased 5% to € 60.7 billion
• Earnings before interest and tax increased 54% to € 4.0 billion, return on sales was 6.4%
• Earnings per share up 61% to € 2.99 after A400M charge
• Free cash flow of € 2.0 billion whereof € 0.9 billion from divestments
• Dividend up to € 2.10 per share from € 0.75
• Production rate of A320 raised to 50 per month from Q1 2017,
  UPDATE from press conference; Airbus is studying rate 60.
• Production rate of A330 further reduced to 6 per month from Q1 2016

Airbus group has a civil aviation side which is generating record sales and deliveries, it constitutes the majority of an annual order intake of € 166.4 billion and backlog is at € 857.4 billion. Problem area is defense where the A400M delays caused a charge of € 551 million, revised delivery schedules and functionality commitments are in negotiation with customers.

Airbus helicopters is experiencing a bleak year with deliveries down from 497 to 471 units, revenues increased slightly with 4% mainly due to military deliveries, the civil side is weak in a down market. EBIT was € 417 million.

Only positive area in Defense and Space is space which contributed to a stable EBIT at € 920 million.

More from the press conference in a couple of hours.