Rockwell Collins' fiscal year 2008 earnings per share increase 21% to $4.16 on 8% revenue growth to $4.77 billion

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (November 03, 2008) - Rockwell Collins, Inc. (NYSE: COL) today reported net income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 of $678 million, an increase of $93 million, or 16% over fiscal year 2007 net income of $585 million. Earnings per share improved 21% to $4.16 compared to earnings per share of $3.45 a year ago. Earnings per share growth exceeded the growth rate in net income due to the favorable effect of the company's share repurchase program.

Fiscal year 2008 revenues increased $354 million, or 8%, to $4.77 billion compared to revenues of $4.42 billion last year. Cash provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2008 totaled $620 million compared to $607 million of cash provided by operating activities last year.

For the fiscal year 2008 fourth quarter, net income increased $26 million, or 17%, to $182 million from $156 million last year. Earnings per share improved 20 cents, or 22%, to $1.13 compared to earnings per share of 93 cents for the same period a year ago. Included in fourth quarter 2008 net income was a reduction in the company's effective tax rate related to the renewal of the Federal Research & Development tax credit signed into law on the last day of the company's fiscal year. This credit, net of related incentive compensation cost, increased earnings per share by about 8 cents. Revenues in the quarter increased $51 million, or 4%, to $1.28 billion from revenues of $1.23 billion last year.

"Despite the impact of strikes at Hawker Beechcraft and Boeing, we were able to post continued growth in revenues and earnings across the entire business," said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Clay Jones. "Fiscal year 2008 was our fourth consecutive year of growth in earnings per share in excess of 20%. Even with moderating revenue growth our efficient operating structure enabled both businesses to expand segment operating margins. This was achieved while also increasing our investment on research and development initiatives aimed at fueling future growth opportunities."

Following is a discussion of fiscal year 2008 fourth quarter sales and earnings for each business segment.

Commercial Systems

Commercial Systems, which provides aviation electronics systems, products and services to air transport, business and regional aircraft manufacturers and airlines worldwide, achieved fourth quarter sales of $641 million, an increase of $36 million, or 6%, compared to sales of $605 million reported for the same period last year. 

Sales to airlines and aircraft OEMs related to new aircraft production increased $33 million, or 11%, to $333 million, due to market share gains and increased demand for new aircraft despite the estimated impact of approximately $25 million from the strikes at Boeing and Hawker Beechcraft. Commercial Systems aftermarket revenues increased $28 million, or 12%, to $265 million due to higher modification programs and service revenues and increased sales of visual systems equipment in the simulation business. Wide body in-flight entertainment products and systems sales declined $25 million, or 37%, to $43 million due to the company's decision in 2005 to cease investing in those products.

Commercial Systems' fourth quarter operating earnings increased $14 million to $144 million, generating an operating margin of 22.5%, compared to operating earnings of $130 million, or an operating margin of 21.5%, for the same period a year ago. The increase in operating earnings and operating margin was primarily due to the positive impact of higher sales, lower employee incentive compensation costs and productivity improvements.

Government Systems

Government Systems, which provides communication and electronic systems, products and services for airborne and surface applications to the U.S. Department of Defense, other government agencies, civil agencies, defense contractors and foreign ministries of defense, achieved fourth quarter sales of $636 million, an increase of $15 million, or 2%, compared to the $621 million reported for the same period last year. Incremental acquisition related revenues contributed $7 million of the increase.

Airborne solutions sales increased $2 million to $459 million primarily due to higher military simulation and Common Range Integrated Instrumentation System (CRIIS) program revenues, partially offset by lower sales on international C-130 programs. Surface solutions sales increased $13 million, or 8%, to $177 million primarily due to higher Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) program and Ground-Based GPS Receiver Application Module (GB-GRAM) sales, partially offset by lower legacy Link 16 product sales.

Government Systems' fourth quarter operating earnings increased $4 million to $125 million, resulting in an operating margin of 19.7%, compared to operating earnings of $121 million, or an operating margin of 19.5%, for the same period last year. The increase in operating earnings and operating margin was principally due to higher sales volume and lower employee incentive compensation costs.

Financial Highlights

Based on the strength of its balance sheet and operating cash flow, during fiscal year 2008 the company continued executing on a capital deployment strategy targeted at enhancing shareowner value.

• Athena Technologies, a privately-held engineering and products company that provides flight control systems for applications on commercial aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), target drones and missiles, was acquired in a cash transaction approximating $107 million. Founded in 1989, Athena's focus is the development of cutting-edge autonomous control capabilities for application across various vehicle platforms.
• Dividends paid to shareowners in 2008 totaled $129 million. Effective with the June 2, 2008 dividend the company increased quarterly dividends by 8 cents per share, or 50%, to  24 cents per share.
• The company deployed $576 million to repurchase 9 million shares of its common stock during the 2008 fiscal year. As of the fiscal year end the company had $165 million of authorized share repurchases remaining.

Fiscal Year 2009 Outlook

Commenting on the company's ability to manage through the current global economic crisis, Mr. Jones said, "The balance between our Commercial Systems and Government Systems businesses gives us a diverse set of markets, customers and products which helps minimize exposure to weakness in any one area and provides multiple opportunities for growth. With a shared services business structure that emphasizes Lean operating principles, we have great insight to our costs and the ability to effectively manage our resources across varying market conditions. Entering 2009, we are in a strong financial position with a healthy balance sheet and high credit ratings that facilitate access to credit markets despite their recent turbulence.  Our credit and cash flow profile provide us the ability to continue funding a comprehensive research and development program, to pursue strategic acquisition opportunities, and to return excess funds to investors through dividends and share repurchases.  As a result of these items and our long standing operating strategies, we believe Rockwell Collins is positioned to grow and perform well in these challenging market environments."

Regarding updates to the fiscal year 2009 outlook, Mr. Jones said, "Clearly, conditions have changed since we announced our fiscal year 2009 financial guidance on September 10th. The Boeing strike lasted longer and global economic activity has slowed more than we had planned. As a result, our current assessment suggests we are likely to see no growth in airline passenger traffic and a lower number of commercial OEM deliveries than previously projected. Although we expect to see an impact from the cancellation or deferral of some key defense programs such as the KC-X tanker, and the ARH and CSAR-X helicopter programs, we still believe our Government Systems business will deliver solid growth this year. Therefore, we are adjusting our fiscal year 2009 sales expectations to reflect these changes. However, we are also taking aggressive cost reduction actions that will enable us to maintain previously forecasted total segment operating margins."

The following table is a complete summary of the company's fiscal year 2009 financial guidance, which is updated from the guidance provided on September 10, 2008:

(1) Based on an expected effective income tax rate in the range of 31.5% to 32.5%.
(2) The company's defined benefit retirement plan income is expected to not materially change due to the increase in the discount rate used to measure pension liabilities more than offsetting the impact of losses in pension assets.
(3) The projected cash provided by operating activities range includes a planned discretionary qualified defined benefit pension plan contribution of $75 million.

Fourth Quarter Business Highlights

Xiamen Airlines selected Rockwell Collins avionics for Boeing aircraft. Xiamen Airlines selected a suite of Rockwell Collins avionics for 12 Boeing 737NG aircraft, with an option for an additional 25 aircraft. Delivery begins in 2009 and continues through 2013.

Bombardier selected Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion™ for CSeries. Rockwell Collins' Pro Line Fusion™ integrated avionics were selected for Bombardier's CSeries family of new generation commercial aircraft. Entry into service is scheduled for 2013.

Rockwell Collins' information management, navigation capabilities selected for Airbus A350 XWB. Airbus selected Rockwell Collins to provide information management and navigation capabilities for the A350 XWB aircraft. This award comes in addition to Rockwell Collins' fully integrated Communication Global Work package, the Avionics Data Network, Landing Guidance Systems and the Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer Actuator (THSA) for the A350 XWB. Rockwell Collins expects the potential value of the entire program to be $2.5 billion.

VSI awarded contract from Boeing to provide the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System for the F-15E. Vision Systems International, LLC (VSI), a joint venture between Rockwell Collins and Elbit Systems Ltd., was awarded an initial contract valued at more than $17 million from Boeing for the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) in 145 F-15E Strike Eagles. The contract includes dual-seat capable JHMCS hardware and pilot equipment to include helmets and visors. Initial deliveries have already commenced and will continue through mid-2009.

easyJet debuted Rockwell Collins dPAVES™ IFE system. easyJet recently debuted the first aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins' new dPAVES™ in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The system, which entered into service on an Airbus A321 aircraft, will be installed on up to 13 additional easyJet aircraft.

Oman Air selected Rockwell Collins Tailwind multi-region TV system. Oman Air selected Rockwell Collins' Tailwind 560 in-flight TV system for a fleet of seven Airbus A330s with delivery starting July 2009. The Tailwind 560 is the only proven and certified multi-region Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) airborne TV system available for the air transport market.

Rockwell Collins selected to provide E-2D Integrated Training System. Rockwell Collins was selected by the U.S. Navy to provide the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Integrated Training System for Aircrew (HITS-A). The initial contract award is $68 million, with a total target price of $164 million.

Rockwell Collins to provide EFB Class 2 hardware for A320 family. Airbus selected Rockwell Collins to provide side displays and docking stations for the new Class 2 electronic flight bag (EFB) on its A320 family of aircraft for both production and aftermarket applications. The system helps improve operational efficiency by electronically connecting airline and pilot operations.

Data Link Solutions received $32 Million Naval Information Distribution contract. Data Link Solutions, a joint venture between Rockwell Collins and BAE Systems, will provide Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS)-on-ship systems to the U.S. Navy and international naval forces under a $32 million Navy contract. The systems will equip command-and-control platforms with time-critical targeting and Blue Force Tracking - a system of software and computers that links satellites, sensors, communications devices, vehicles, aircraft, and weapons in a digital network.

Air Arabia selected Rockwell Collins to supply avionics for 59 aircraft. Air Arabia selected Rockwell Collins to provide a comprehensive package of communication, navigation and surveillance avionics for 59 new Airbus A320 family aircraft. Deliveries of these aircraft are scheduled from 2009 through 2013.

Norwegian Air Shuttle selected Rockwell Collins avionics for Boeing fleet. Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA selected Rockwell Collins to provide avionics for 42 Boeing 737NG aircraft with an option for an additional 42 aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2009.

Raytheon and Rockwell Collins selected for Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS). Rockwell Collins, as a member of the Raytheon, Rockwell Collins, Northrop Grumman and SAIC team, has been selected by the U.S. Navy to execute the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) Increment 1 program. The program value for Rockwell Collins is $94 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and CEO Clay Jones and Senior Vice President and CFO Patrick Allen will conduct an earnings conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on November 3, 2008. Individuals may listen to the call and view management's supporting slide presentation on the Internet at www.rockwellcollins.com. Listeners are encouraged to go to the Investor Relations portion of the web site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary software. The call will be available for replay on the Internet at www.rockwellcollins.com through December 5, 2008.

Rockwell Collins is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, information management, and simulation and training is delivered by 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network that crosses 27 countries. To find out more, please visit www.rockwellcollins.com.

This press release contains statements, including certain projections and business trends, that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the financial condition of our customers (including major U.S. airlines); the health of the global economy, including further or continued deterioration in the currently volatile economic and financial market conditions; delays related to the award of domestic and international contracts; the continued support for military transformation and modernization programs; additional adverse impact of oil prices on the commercial aerospace industry; the impact of the global war on terrorism on U.S. government military procurement expenditures and budgets; changes in domestic and foreign government spending, budgetary and trade policies adverse to our businesses; market acceptance of our new and existing technologies, products and services; reliability of and customer satisfaction with our products and services; favorable outcomes on or potential cancellation or restructuring of contracts, orders or program priorities by our customers; customer bankruptcies and profitability; recruitment and retention of qualified personnel; regulatory restrictions on air travel due to environmental concerns; effective negotiation of collective bargaining agreements by us and our customers; performance of our suppliers and subcontractors; risks inherent in development and fixed price contracts, particularly the risk of cost overruns; risk of significant reduction to air travel or aircraft capacity beyond our forecasts; our ability to execute to our internal performance plans such as our productivity improvement and cost reduction initiatives; achievement of our acquisition and related integration plans; continuing to maintain our planned effective tax rates; our ability to develop contract compliant systems and products on schedule and within anticipated cost estimates; risk of fines and penalties related to noncompliance with export control regulations; risk of asset impairments and government claims related to our pension plan freeze; our ability to win new business and convert those orders to sales within the fiscal year in accordance with our annual operating plan; and the uncertainties of the outcome of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed herein and from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof and the company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Media Contact:
Pam Tvrdy
319.295.0591
pjtvrdy@rockwellcollins.com

Investor Contact:
Dan Swenson
319.295.7575
investorrelations@rockwellcollins.com

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