Press News

Highlights from Finmeccanica's Press Conferences.
 
 
 

PRESS CONFERENCE - HELICOPTERS

12.00 - 20.06.2007

Summary of main points
 
Mr Orsi  - Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland

• AgustaWestland has achieved considerable success internationally in recent years, as can be seen from the company's economic data. The upswing in 2006 revenues was due not only to the programme for the US presidential fleet, but also to the commercial success of several products, amongst which the AW139 stands out.
  
• The provisional figures for 2007 confirm the positive trend and the end-of-year results should be even better, thanks to the fact that the Turkish Army has chosen the AW129 for the ATAK programme, and the decision by the British MoD to purchase six AW101s, which are currently being used by the Royal Danish Air Force. The deal should be finalised by the spring of 2008.
• The AW139 will become a more and more important part of our sales in the commercial sector. And we expect similar results for sales of the AW149. For the AW139 we already have a portfolio of more than 250 orders, with production running at 90 helicopters a year. And we are counting on reaching even higher production levels thanks to the new facility in Philadelphia.
• The US firm Aero Toy Store has recently ordered twelve of our helicopters (four AW119s, four Grands and four AW139s), and we are expecting a new order for the AW139 from Asia in the near future.
  
• AgustaWestland is working hard with Bell to speed up the BA609 programme for the convertiplane, currently the most innovative product in the sector, one step ahead of our customers' requirements. We expect to get full certification for this aircraft by 2010, and we already have 70 orders for the BA609. This figure is expected to go up significantly after the test flights here at Le Bourget.
• Here in Paris, our AW119 Ke has obtained EASA certification. And again today, Avion ApS has ordered a Grand helicopter.
• Discussions are underway with the Australian authorities who are thinking of using the AW109 helicopter for their Armed Forces' training; by autumn this year, we expect to set up agreements with local partners for promotion in Australia.
• Contacts with the British MoD are moving ahead within a partnership framework involving discussions on all the ways of upgrading the entire UK helicopter fleet.
• Talks are also underway with our Russian partners regarding not only the commercial prospects for our helicopters, but also possible investment opportunities and industrial cooperation which may involve Russia in the future.

 
 
 

PRESS CONFERENCE - AERONAUTICS

15.00 - 19.06.2007

Summary of main points
 
Mr Bertolone  - Chief Executive Officer, Alenia Aeronautica

• Alenia Aeronautica has a series of advanced skills and know-how regarding various systems and platforms both for civil and military use. We have our own products such as the C-27J as well as important roles in the JSF and Eurofighter programmes; and we supply advanced aero-structures in composite materials for the Airbus A380 and for the Boeing B787. We have achieved considerable success with the ATR and we are about to finalize a partnership agreement with Sukhoi for the production and commercialization of the Superjet 100, a new plane for regional transport. For several months now, frequent and very close contacts having been taking place regarding engineering matters and plans of a commercial nature. In the very near future, we shall be able to announce the second customer for this product, after the orders received from Aeroflot.
  
• The rapid growth of Alenia Aeronautica is borne out by the prospects for 2006-2010 where we foresee not only doubling our turnover but also balancing our revenues between the civil and military sectors, as well as a more geographically diversified clientele.
• Alenia Aeronautica creates its strategies and partnerships according to the technologies it uses and the excellent skills it has in certain sectors such as composite materials and UAV systems.
• Regarding products, we can imagine a brilliant future for the Eurofighter programme; we have just set up an agreement with Lockheed Martin for the Final Assembly Chain for the JSF at Cameri; we have received many compliments for the technological excellence of our production facility at Grottaglie for the B787; and we can announce that Romania has confirmed its order for seven aircraft, following the success of the C-27J in the JCA tender in the USA. Clearly, we expect further international sales for this plane, in the wake of these successes; negotiations are underway with our partners to work out ways of promoting the aircraft internationally.

Mr Cosentino  - Chief Executive Officer, Alenia Aermacchi

• Alenia Aermacchi is proud of its consolidated leadership in the sector of advanced training systems, with a range of products which meets the requirements of all stages of pilot training.
• Our two leading products, the M311 and the M346, have been short-listed in several countries which are planning to acquire trainers. In particular, we shall be in the United Arab Emirates between July and August 2007, for an evaluation of our aircraft under extreme conditions, carried out by the local Air Force. Many other international opportunities, ranging from Europe to Southeast Asia, are being evaluated for both aircraft.
• I'd like to take this opportunity of announcing that the order for fourteen M346s has been confirmed by the Italian Air Force, to be delivered in two batches of seven aircraft. The contract will be finalized by the end of 2007.

 
 
 

PRESS CONFERENCE - DEFENCE ELECTRONICS

12.15 - 19.06.2007

Mr Pertica - co-Chief Operating Officer, Finmeccanica

• Finmeccanica intends to boost its role in the defence electronics sector and is moving ahead with more integration of its companies operating in the field of supplying ever-more complex systems.
• I would like to take this opportunity of saying that negotiations are underway for an agreement with Honeywell to commercialize our products on the US market focusing on the LOAM system.

 
Mr Gualdaroni - Chief Executive Officer, Elsag Datamat

• The final stage of integration between Elsag and Datamat is now underway. From a legal point of view, the operation will be completed by 1 August 2007. At present, the business perimeter is being redefined, and we are looking into the possibility of selling off activities in the banking and insurance fields, since these are the only sectors that are not consistent with our activities. The time frame for this operation has not yet been set. Elsag Datamat is moving ahead along the road of internationalisation not only for large systems - following the guidelines for Finmeccanica programmes - but also with its own traditional products in the field of postal automation and security, as shown by the success of the system for reading vehicle licence plates, both in the United States and in Italy.

 
Mrs Grossi - Chief Executive Officer, Selex Sistemi Integrati

• Finmeccanica has assigned Selex Sistemi Integrati with the mission of being the integrator of large systems, in close collaboration with other Group companies. Internationally, we are pursuing many opportunities for Homeland Security, Border Control and VTS systems, following the recent success in Yemen. In addition, we are confirming our commitment and our technological capability in the traditional radar business: the new Kronos radar in C band has very interesting sales prospects internationally, confirming our levels of excellence in this field.

 
Mr Tucci - Chief Executive Officer, Selex Communications

• The contract worth 20 million euros recently signed with the Emilia Romagna Regional Authority for a TETRA local network, opens up a whole new series of opportunities for this type of capability within our company. Furthermore, regarding the LOAM system which Mr Pertica mentioned, negotiations are underway with Lockheed Martin to adapt it to the new technical requirements of helicopters, including the AW101.

Mr Mogford - Chief Executive Officer, Selex S&AS

• The final stages of full integration between Selex S&AS and Galileo Avionica are taking place in this period. My short time with Finmeccanica has given me the chance to see the high technological level achieved by Group companies and to check out several business opportunities following on from Finmeccanica's important participation in the Eurofighter project, supplying 70% of the plane's avionics. But there are also many opportunities in the United Kingdom and in the UAV sector where Finmeccanica has excellent skills. The aim is to integrate the common factors of intra-group capabilities as witnessed by leading edge products such as Falcon and Neuron.

 

FINMECCANICA PRESS CONFERENCE

12.15 - 18.06.2007

Summary of points made by President Guarguaglini

• In the coming years, Finmeccanica will be showing significant growth in revenues and in EBIT.
• After the success of the JCA in the USA, our aim is for the C-27J to become the international requisite for the type of missions it is designed for, rather than expecting a direct and immediate effect on our turnover.
• There will be further integration in Defence Electronics, especially in the avionics sector, and more acquisitions in the markets where we are interested in selling our products. In 2007 there could well be commercial successes with integrated systems.
• Finmeccanica will pursue a strategy on a global scale. We shall certainly try to have an industrial presence wherever necessary (USA, UK, Russia or other countries).
• In Europe, Finmeccanica will focus on structural alliances as far as possible. We are open to all possibilities, with French companies too. We already have a number of collaboration agreements in France - for instance, the Galileo, Cosmo-SkyMed, Neuron, and Eurofighter programmes. We are an Italian and European group but we are open to and interested in all markets, first and foremost the USA.
• In the near future, there could be new acquisitions of hi-tech companies which fit in well with our assets and which have direct access to end-users. We are prepared to invest 3.5 billion euros in whatever manner best meets our growth requirements, with no exceptions.
• In Russia we already have several activities in the civil sectors of AD&S and transportation. In addition to the projects with Sukhoi, we intend to continue investing in Russia to consolidate our presence in the helicopter sector, in communications and in ATC.
• Regarding our programmes with Sukhoi, we have complete faith in our product and we are not worried about competition from other companies.
• We are expecting strong confirmation of the M-346 in Italy, after which we may also launch it on the US market, first directly and then by setting up deals with local partners.
• The C-27J is a highly versatile aircraft, conceived for tactical transport but also good for Search&Rescue missions and for providing medical assistance in areas which are difficult to reach. For example, it would have been very useful during the New Orleans floods in 2005.
• The C-27J is a good example of Italian technology and should help pave the way for Italy to increase its investment in R&D - something which pays off in the long run, as shown by Finmeccanica's recent history.
• The fragmentation of European industry is determined to some extent by the fragmentation of the market: if there were only one customer, there would necessarily be a higher level of industrial integration.
• The first point about the Convertiplane is to meet the production schedule; then we expect a major commercial success throughout the world, with as many as 50% of the orders coming from the USA.

Summary of points made by Chief Operating Officer Mr Zappa

• There will not be any competition between the Superjet 100 and the ATR turboprop because they serve two different market segments and come into two different price bands. The turboprops are more suitable for capacities of up to 70-75 seats, while the Superjets become competitive over 90 seats.
• We are keeping a close watch on Japan. It is a country of great opportunities and has strong technological capabilities; therefore our activities will not be only commercial, instead there will be the possibility of agreements for technological cooperation and for direct investments, in the energy sector too.