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Safran shares rise as French jet engine maker raises outlook

Safran, the French aerospace company, raised its annual forecasts on Thursday after reporting higher-than expected first-half profit. Its shares rose more than 4% thanks to a brisk demand of spare parts for jet engine.

Safran, who together with GE Aerospace produce engines for Airbus medium-haul aircraft and Boeing long-haul jets reported higher maintenance profits, and its cabin interiors business, which had been struggling, saw further progress in the black.

After certain adjustments, the company's closely-watched recurring operating income increased 27% to 2,51 billion euros ($2,87 billion) as revenues rose 13% to 14,77 billion euros.

According to a consensus compiled by the company, analysts expected an average operating profit of 2,39 billion euros for the first half of 2014 on revenues of 14,74 billion euros.

Safran has raised its forecast for the full year of the same profit measure from 4.8 to 4.9 billion euros to a range between 5.0 and 5.1 billion euro. This is an increase over a previously stated range. It forecast revenue growth of the low teens instead of 10%.

Analysts at Bernstein said that Safran's aftermarket indicators, which are used to determine how much money engine manufacturers make during their regular visits to engine shops, exceeded expectations.

Analysts say that the growing demand for air travel and the shortage of planes caused by a lack of deliveries from aircraft manufacturers have forced airlines into flying planes longer. This has led to extra maintenance.

Safran shares rose 3.9% at midday. Shares of UK engine manufacturer

Rolls-Royce rose also

After improvements in its large wide-body engines led to strong first-half performance, it raised targets.

ENGINE AGREEMENT

Airbus, a jet maker that has been firing at engine manufacturers for delays in delivering new engines into jet factories because parts are diverted to repair shops to keep existing aircraft flying.

Airbus and CFM have been strained by the tug-of-war between airplane hangars and aircraft factories over parts, while Pratt & Whitney, a rival engine manufacturer is gaining ground.

Also under scrutiny

Safran CEO Olivier Andries admitted that CFM was behind on deliveries to Airbus, partly due to a French strike. But he told reporters that the plans to catch up were "challenging, but totally achievable".

He confirmed that CFM and Airbus had reached an agreement on the number of engines to be delivered in the remainder of the year, as the planemaker strives towards its delivery target.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury

On Wednesday

The engine makers have agreed to help meet its delivery targets.

Safran announced separately plans to build a carbon brakes plant in France, near Lyon. This follows a competition with Quebec and Oregon State, U.S.A. for the new major site.

Safran, which was founded 20 years ago by the merger of Snecma, a state-owned engine manufacturer, and Sagem Electronics (now part of Sagem), acquired the Collins Aerospace actuation and control business for $1.8 billion last week.

The company also sold a small U.S. operation to comply with the demands of regulators for the Collins acquisition.

Safran estimated that the combined transactions will add between 600 and 700 millions of euros to the group's revenues for the remainder of the year.

(source: Reuters)