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Alain Bellemare

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SUMMARY: Bombardier finally sees that “aggressive” pricing for the CSeries is a must, as the “game changer” has no new order since September, 2014 and it is now perfectly clear to all that the fuel efficiency of the CSeries will be closely matched by Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Comac and Irkut as they will all incorporate new generation fuel efficient engines in their new aircraft programs. This year, 2016, is the make it or break it year for Bombardier, all eyes are on sales, EIS (entry into service) and production ramp up, 12 months from now the future of the company will be clearer, one way or the other. The CSeries has now lost its main competitive advantage, its value proposition (most fuel efficient airliner) and like all the others it will have to seriously discount it’s price to win any new order, and it is not prepared or capable of waging a price war. A major price war is looming as the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing, will not only have to deal with Bombardier’s CS100/300 and Embraer’s E195-E2 at the low end, but head on competition from China’s Comac C919 and Russia’s Irkut MC-21narrow-body airliners as well within the next 5 years. It is going to get ugly for Bombardier, as surely it “hopes” that Airbus and Boeing will not continue with the slow selling A319neo or Boeing the Max7 programs (a segment that is NOT very big, and was overestimated by many), but the duopoly will stay in the segment, for if anything, just to make sure Bombardier does not get a foothold in the BIG league of commercial aircraft. A price war with the likes of Airbus, Boeing and the Chinese and Russian Governments spells disaster for Bombardier in the long run, it cannot sustain regular discounts of +40% and continue as a going concern, they just cannot compete on price at this level, where even today before the new entrants arrive, discounts of 50% from List Price are ‘common’ from Airbus and Boeing on large orders . The current United Airlines requirement for 30 new 100+ seat jets will be an example of what is to come, as United is a huge Boeing customer, with 310 x B737’s (700/800/900’s) in service today and another 100 B737Max9’s on order, there is NO way hell, Boeing will allow Bombardier to win over this customer, and the deal will probably go for $US 40+/- million per unit (50% off List Price) for the B737-700 as the NG line still needs to be filled before the MAX line takes over,. To win with United Airlines, Bombardier will be required to offer a huge discount on the $US 71.8 million CS100 and the $US 82.0 million CS300, that it would create a huge loss for the company, as it has no way of getting that loss back from its product line (unlike Airbus & Boeing that delivered 1,397 aircraft in 2015) yet a major North American order for the future success of the CSeries is a MUST if the program is to have a future. Bombardier unlike the duopoly, will have a low production rate of 10 units per month by 2020, not enough to spread its costs/losses, while the duopoly is planning on producing 122+ A320/B737’s per month by 2018, a greatly reducing unit costs, and they will fight to keep Bombardier out of it’s “turf”, especially after it announced it may go with the larger CS500 (165+ seat) jet down the road, a direct challenge to the A320/B737. Anyway, Airbus believes the CSeries will become an “orphan” aircraft, “a nice little plane”, that was probably forever doomed to be a poor seller, and Airbus should know, they were the first OEM Bombardier went to, in their attempt to sell the program last year ! All the indications are there that the market is not there, up-gauging of aircraft, low sales in the 100-150 segment by all to a lack of interest from lessors. Lastly, while the CSeries will have to deal with the duopoly, the $75 million a piece Global G7000 business jet will also have to deal with the duopoly if it plans on selling a lot, as the ACJ319/320 (Airbus Corporate Jets) and the BBJ (Boeing Business Jets) are in the same segment, a segment that has averaged only 16 units a year for the past 18 years, so the G7000 may sadly not be the “game changer” either.

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I have been quiet for awhile on Bombardier, watching what will unfold, with a heavy heart, seems that the new year is not going to be much better than last year, when Bombardier’s stock (TSX:BBD.B) lost 60.9% of its value, ROI (return on investment) was -44.0% and market capitalization is down to $2.51 billion, cash … Continue reading →

SUMMARY: Bombardier’s stock (TSE:BBD.B) hit a new 22 year low again today at $C 1.46 a share, a 62% drop from a year ago, market capitalization is now $C 3.25 billion (less than CAE and just above WestJet Airlines) for a $US 20 billion a year company, that is just unacceptable for any public company. The company just announced a 2 year delay in its new $US 75 million per unit Global 7000 business jet program (already behind by 2 years), right after it announced a 30% production reduction from 80 to 55 units per year of its “cash cow” Global 5000/6000 business jet brand due to a ‘softening’ market globally but also very much due to competition from the #1 OEM in the ultra-long range segment (+/- 48% market share), Gulfstream Aerospace, which is having a very strong sales year (book to bill ratio is 1.0+) with its new G500/600’s and existing G650/G650ER’s , and # 3 OEM (+/- 15% market share), Dassault, with its new Falcon 8X and 5X. Bombardier’s CEO Alain Bellemare is doing a great job keeping the “Titanic” afloat, but 1st half results are worrying, both Commercial and Business Aircraft did have slightly better revenues than last year, BUT most worrying are the Book to Bill ratios (orders/deliveries), Commercial had 0.67 (CRJ line only 0.26) while Business Aircraft had 0.29, in short, both Commercial and Business Jet divisions are seeing very few new firm orders, yet Embraer posted book to bill ratio of 2.64 for its E-Jets (124 firm orders, 47 deliveries) in the first half of this year, the 124 E-Jet orders vs 7 CRJ orders (7 x CRJ-900’s for Mesa) so far this year, says novels about the two products attractiveness, their marketing, promotion and sales, a very serious downward trend indeed for the CRJ brand. Now Bombardier will see deteriorating revenue and cash flow numbers from Commercial and Business aircraft divisions at a time it needs lots and lots of cash, as it “Burned” over $US 1.553 billion in free cash-flow (FCF) in the first 6 months of this year on the CSeries and G7000/8000 programs, and is on target to “Burn” another $US 1.5 billion by year’s end, which wipes away all the new equity and debt it raised in February of this year. An IPO (initial public offering) of Transportation division (trains) is set for the 4th quarter this year which will raise lots of cash (up to $US 5.0 billion for 100%, but only a minority will be sold, most likely to Siemens), so around $US 2.0+ billion is possible as debt is very high at almost $US 10 billion, so where is Bombardier heading ? Many analyst and investors believe there is NO clear path to recovery in sight, while Macquarie Financial lowers BBD.B target stock price to $C 1.00 and yet its own subsidiary, AirFinance (commercial aircraft lessor) has 40 CS300’s on order worth $US 3.14 billion ?? On the bright side, the CSeries is 3+/- months away from certification, and new orders will start coming in after that and the stock will rebound on any positive news. More liquidity is badly needed by 2017, but the Beaudoin family’s control 54% of Bombardier through special class shares, a situation many investors find unacceptable, and many of them may not be lining up next year when Bombardier will need to raise more equity and debt once again, and NOW is the best time for ex-CEO Pierre Beaudoin who created the current mess, and who is now Bombardier’s Executive Chairman of the Board, to go ! It is what is best for the future of the company, as many tough times are still ahead, and there should only be one ‘master’ at the helm at this time as the company’s future is at a crossroad.

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Well I am back to writing about Bombardier, my last article was on July 16, 2015 when Bombardier’s stock (TSE:BBD.B) was at a 22 year low of $C 1.84 a share, and I thought it had hit rock bottom, having laid off up to 6,950 employees since January 2014 in 4 rounds and a 5th … Continue reading →

MAYDAY ! As if the situation was not bad enough at Bombardier following the Paris Air Show, where NO new orders for any of it’s 3 commercial aircraft were announced, and this week, it’s stock (TSX:BBD.B) hit a 22 year low at $C1.90 per share, down 49.3% in the past 12 months, and down 61.3% in the past 5 years ! another 49% drop and its a “penny stock” (<$C1.00). Meanwhile market capitalization of the company is now at an extremely low $C 4.3 billion for a company with $US 20+ billion in revenue. The latest bad news was that there is a "review" and a 18+ month delay in the new Global G7000/G8000 business jet programs. The Global brand is Bombardier's "cash cow", it is the light at the end of the tunnel today, as it provides the best margins, 60% of business jet revenue, 43% of Bombardier aerospace revenue with just 27% of total aircraft deliveries, trouble there means bigger troubles for the whole company, especially now. The ultra-long range business jet segment is weakening all over the world, new competitors are coming in like the new Gulfstream G500/G600's and Dassault's 8X and 5X, while the current Global G5000/G6000's badly need a "revamp" (e.g. Challenger 300 to 350 and 605 to 650), but everything is on the back burner these days because of the CSeries, a program that has changed the company for the worst, and a program that may yet destroy the company directly or indirectly in the end. Yet they want to stretch it into a 160 seater (CS500) and go toe to toe with Airbus and Boeing in the largest and most contested and price discounted aviation market segment today, the single aisle narrow-body, which will be joined by the Comac C919 and Irkut MC-21 in the next 5 years ? oh boy !

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I thought things could not get worst for Bombardier after the Paris Air Show last month, but they have, as investors have seen the share price (TSX:BBD.B) hit a 22 year low last week of $C 1.84 and as of yesterday it closed at $C 1.90 per share as investors sell and lose confidence in … Continue reading →

SUMMARY: Paris Air Show 2015 is done, the winners were again the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing with 752 orders ($US 107.2 billion at “list price”) out of a total of 958 orders. The BIG loser was surely Bombardier which finally after 7 years from its launch, made its debut with both the CS100 and CS300 airliners, but left the show with 0 (zero) in new orders for their CSeries, Q400 and CRJ’s brands, which should be worrying, but after the show Bombardier said it was “absolutely satisfied”, with what ? The fact it had to choose the little known, barely profitable, Latvian government owned airBaltic as its launch customer for the CS300 (13 x CS300’s on order and 7 options) says novels about the poor quality of its order book. The airline’s order has a “list price” value of $US 1.44 billion, yet this airline has made a profit of only $US 11 million in the past 5 years on revenues of $US 688 million (1.6% net profit margin) ? unfortunately they have no “better” airline for such an important role. Meanwhile Bombardier now seriously talks of a stretched 160-180 seat CS500 to challenge Boeing and Airbus ? really ? it’s stock price keeps dropping, (TSE:BBD/B) is at $C 2.25 today down 45.8% YTD (year to date) and the corresponding drop in market capitalization to only $US 5.11 billion, investors are worried and Bombardier wants to spend more money on a CS500 to take on the big duopoly of Boeing and Airbus head on in the most lucrative market, the single-aisle/narrow-body segment ? Individual losers were the A380, A350-1000 and the MRJ, with no new orders, while little known Viking Air of Canada announces 50 “orders” from China for its pricey $US +7.5 million Series 400 Twin Otter even though the Chinese have a similar, good performing, FAA certified and cheaper Y-12E ? Embraer celebrated its 2 year anniversary at Paris of its E2 launch, booked 25 E2 orders at the show and now has 325 firm orders, while the CSeries is now 7 years past its launch (July 18, 2008) with only 243 firm orders, but realistically it is only 130 orders at best. ATR books 46 orders and 35 options at the show, as it solidifies its market dominance in the large turboprop market segment after 160 firm orders in 2014. Sukhoi’s SSJ-100/95 gets an order for 3 as shamefully up to 33 “white tails” (out of 85 delivered, or 39% of delivered aircraft) await customers even with price discounts of 56%, while the program struggles with production, sales, marketing, corporate governance and politics, as 51% partner Finmeccanica (Italy) is restructuring and understandably contemplating its exit from the Italian-Russian joint venture and surprisingly it also has doubts on its future with the very successful ATR program where its fully owned subsidiary Alenia-Aermacchi is a 50% partner with Airbus Group. Airbus and Boeing want to increase production of single aisle/narrow-body airliners (B737Max now has 2,773 orders and A320neo has 3,854 orders) to a possible 115 per month (Boeing to 52, Airbus to 63) by 2018 ! is that over optimism in this unprecedented period of growth ? can the already over extended supply chain even handle the extra work ? With an average monthly delivery of 112 aircraft in 2014 of all sized aircraft by both OEM’s (1,349 units), the latest Boeing 20 year forecast of 35,560 aircraft would translate to an average of 148 aircraft per month for all sized aircraft by both OEM’s, an increase of 32% on 2014 delivery numbers, with new orders in 1st half of 2015 already down on 2014 ? What role do speculative orders play in this order frenzy ? Deals at Paris are always quoted in List Prices but who is getting a good deal ? are you getting a good deal ? how do you know you got a good deal when almost everyone gets a discount, no one pays List Price and it is all so secretive, so how low can Boeing and Airbus go ? how about 64% off on big orders ? yup, enough to make sure that new competitors like the CS500, C919 and MC-21 do not win orders based on price. Lastly, Russia’s aggressive stand against NATO is seriously raising tensions in European countries on the Russian border, since 2008 Russia has annexed and integrated 4 Russian speaking enclaves/territories from 3 of its neighbors (Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine), now open conflict is a real possibility, and Russia’s military thinks a small tactical nuclear response today is possible without triggering a WW III ! in this political environment it is time for tough economic sanctions on Russia and especially its aerospace industry, the Sukhoi SSJ-100 is getting lots of financial support from President Putin, as it is the only Russian commercial aircraft ever built with any western appeal. It is time to stop buying Russian aircraft and stop ALL support for Russia’s aerospace industry, as any military conflict with Russia will make corporate profits absolutely irrelevant anyway !

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With the 2015 Paris Air Show now behind us, it is worth to look at the final results of the big aerospace event and analyze the winners and the losers as it gives a pulse on which OEM’s are on top of their game and those that are not. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– The battle in the narrowbody … Continue reading →

ABSTRACT: Bombardier Aerospace is changing its top management for the better and hopefully mediocrity within it’s ranks is on its way out at all levels, new CEO Alain Bellemare has ditched his President of Commercial Aircraft, Mike Arcamone and replaced him with Fred Cromer (ex-President of ILFC) while Swiss Global Air Lines will be the CSeries launch customer in 3Q/2016. The CSeries still has many issues ahead, flight testing schedule will change, entry into service (EIS), deep price discounting by Boeing and Airbus (40% to +50%). A major slow down in demand for business jets in China and Russia spells trouble for the Global brand, while Russia’s IFC is reviewing its order for 32 CS300’s and another 75 orders are highly questionable (in fact 44% of orders are questionable), just as more CSeries orders are badly needed, especially a BIG North American customer. Future of Learjet is up in the air, as some big changes are a must for restructuring the company, as stock price languishes below CAD$ 3.00 since February 10th and compared against it’s peers Bombardier financial performance is very poor, how long will it remain the world’s only manufacturer of trains and planes ? The good news is that there is change, and with that comes hope for everyone, new people bring new ideas, new enthusiasm and new energy, Bombardier for too long did the same things over and over again, expecting different results and off course failed to produce different results, now I see a some light at the end of the dark tunnel for Bombardier Aerospace, in the end success in business is ALL about having the right people in the right positions !

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For the regular readers of my Blog, you know that I have been very critical of Bombardier Aerospace for some time, and I do take pride in the fact that I believe I was spot on for calling for BIG changes at the top. Back on January 20, 2015, I was the first to call … Continue reading →

ABSTRACT: Bombardier has gone outside the company and family for its new President/CEO, Mr. Alain Bellemare from UTC, his main task has to be the radical turnaround of the $10.49 B a year Aerospace Division, as the $US 3.4 B CSeries program is now $US 5.4 B ! and EIS is NOT until 2016, in 2014 Aerospace lost $995 M, free cash flow was a $ -1.059 B, Commercial Aircraft’s CRJ and Q400 sales slowly fading even with +30% discounts (only 27% of revenue) while business jet orders are down 59% in 2014 from 2013 with a disappointing Order to Bill Ratio of only 0.6 (sold less than it delivered), Business Aircraft has always been strong (72% of revenue) now facing new competing aircraft programs that are going to challenge it’s sacred high margin ‘Cash Cow’ Global brand ($4.5 B in sales on 80 delivered and 43% of total revenue), off course more liquidity is needed to finish the CSeries and Global 7000/8000’s, so $US 2.1 B in new in debt and equity will be raised, while the struggling CSeries order book of 243 units now needs at least 550 orders to break-even, it is time to fix Bombardier Aerospace from the top down and possibly JV with China’s Comac (aka “Combardier”)

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Following up my blog article on Bombardier Aerospace on January 20th, where I dared to ask the question if it was time for Bombardier to look outside Bombardier and the family for a new CEO, like they did back in 2002, the answer came Feb 11th, when Mr. Alain Bellemare was hired as the new … Continue reading →

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