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Despite a general economic turndown AgustaWestland revenues were EUR 3,480 million in 2009, up EUR 445 million (+15%) on the EUR 3,035 million reported the previous year, mainly as a result of greater production volumes in the civil/government helicopters business, in particular the AW139 and the AW101. Product support also performed well, increasing 8%, partly due to IOS contracts with the British MoD. Adjusted EBITA were EUR 371 million, an increase of EUR 18 million (+5%) versus EUR 353 million the previous year. However, the figure was negatively affected by exchange rate differences (EUR 8 million) arising on the conversion of non-euro balance sheets, as well as by lower profitability resulting from changes in the revenue mix. As a result, the EBIT margin was 10.7%, slightly lower than the 11.6% recorded in 2008 as a result of the above mentioned factors.

New orders totalled EUR 3,205 million, a decrease of EUR 1,873 million (-37%) on the EUR 5,078 million posted in 2008. Helicopters (new aircraft and upgrades) accounted for 50% of new orders, product support (spare parts and services) for 42%, and engineering for the remaining 8%. The main contracts were 12 Lynx Mk 9 helicopters for the British Ministry of Defence; integrated operational support for the British army’s 67 Apache AH-MK1 helicopters; the order from the General Directorate of Air Armaments (ARMAEREO) to provide the Italian army with 16 ICH-47F Chinook helicopters and the related logistics support, with an option for a further four units; orders for a total of 97 helicopters in the civil government segment for various countries including Cyprus, Malaysia, the US, Oman, Brazil and Italy.

The order backlog was EUR 9,786 million, in line with the figure at 31 December 2008 (EUR 10,481 million) and sufficient to guarantee around two and a half years of production. The order backlog comprises helicopters (73%), product support (23%) - half of which is accounted for by the IOS contracts with the British Ministry of Defence - and 4% of which relates to engineering. The headcount was 10,343 at 31 December 2009, an increase of 54 on the figure of 10,289 recorded at 31 December 2008, mainly due to normal employee turnover.