DASSAULT RELASES FIGURES FOR FIRST HALF OF 2010

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Among the highlights of the first six months of 2010 at Dassault Aviation include the order of two Falcon jets (compared to a negative order of 56 aircraft for the same period last year) and the delivery of 45 Falcons (compared to 26 last year). Add to this net sales of 1,990 million – up 44 percent – and one can say things are looking up.
According to company chairman and CEO Charles Edelstenne "The 1st half year was characterized by our Group’s achievements both in FALCON deliveries and profitability. However, due to the persistent crisis, we are still facing uncertainties. For example, even though FALCON orders cancellations are decreasing, new orders are taking time to pick up again.”
“The unpredictability of the worldwide economy has reinforced our preference for a cautious industrial policy. It also urges us to prepare for the market recovery with the best possible
assets: an even more improved competitiveness, cutting edge products and ambitious processes," continues Edelstenne.
Focusing on the Falcon program, in the 1st half of 2010 orders for new aircraft, minus cancellations, were slightly positive (2 FALCONs). Due to the crisis, 1st half year 2009 net orders were negative ((-) 56 FALCONs). The company’s order book is valued using the closing €/$ exchange rate and includes currency hedging. As €/$ parity had favorably developed between December 31, 2009 (1.44
$/€) and June 30, 2010 (1.23 $/€), a favorable differential was taken into account through the Euro amount of new orders.
More so, Falcon net sales were up by 66 percent between the two 1st half years.
In particular, 45 brand new aircraft were delivered in the 1st half year 2010, compared to 26 in the 1st half year 2009.
Other highlights for this period include the type certification for the Falcon 7X from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, certification for the Falcon 2000 EX/LX automatic braking, and boosted Falcon aircraft maintenance capacities in Asia.
Looking to the remainder of 2010, the company predicts net sales should be comparable to 2009 net sales, with deliveries of the order of 85 Falcons scheduled. Owing to the significant number of available-for-sale pre-owned aircraft on a worldwide scale, Dassault does not predict a Business Aviation market recovery in the short term.