Eurocopter to double sales, seeks takeovers - paper

FRANKFURT, May 18 (Reuters) - Helicopter maker Eurocopter aims to double its annual sales to 10 billion euros ($15.5 billion) between 2010 and 2020, partly via acquisitions, a German newspaper quoted Chief Executive Lutz Bertling as saying.

The EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) division also intends to boost its operating profit margin to between 8 and 12 percent by 2010 from 5 percent now, the Euro am Sonntag paper reported that he told a group of journalists.

The world's biggest helicopter manufacturer was looking for takeovers primarily in the service sector, such as maintenance and pilot training, because anti-trust issues would arise if it bought other manufacturers, the paper quoted him as saying.

Companies with sales of 20-100 million euros were potential targets, he said, adding the first deals would come this year.

He said Eurocopter was feeling the pinch from the weak dollar but not as badly as parent EADS. Eurocopter was shifting costs of around 100 million euros a year into the dollar zone by switching suppliers and outsourcing work.

He said Eurocopter expected 600-650 orders this year after booking 350 orders so far. That would put 2008 orders below the 802 orders it got in what he called an "extraordinary" 2007. (Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Alan Raybould) (michael.shields@thomsonreuters.com, Reuters Messaging: michael.shields.reuters.com@reuters.net; +49 69 7565 1266)) ($1=.6461 Euro)