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Bombardier’s has sold 201 C Series jets, with a goal of 300 sales before delivery of the first planes in mid to late 2015.Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press

Bombardier Inc. raised its C Series cost estimate by more than $1-billion and forecast weaker profit margins this year, prompting concerns about the company's finances as it struggles with development delays and uncertain demand for aircraft.

The Montreal transportation giant added development costs of about $750-million and interest charges of about $300-million to the C Series, following a series of delays in bringing the narrow-body passenger jet to market. Bombardier had previously calculated a total cost of $3.9-billion for the program.

C Series is the centrepiece of Bombardier's growth plan, but delays in performance tests of the jet after its maiden flight last year have led to higher costs amid slow sales. Still, the company is hoping to win solid market share in the narrow-body segment as it targets the second half of 2015 for entry into service of the jet.

"We remain confident that we have a good business case for the C Series," said Bombardier president and chief executive officer Pierre Beaudoin on a conference call, adding the company can absorb the additional costs.

But the higher cost outlook and pressure on profit margins are raising concerns about Bombardier's financial performance and future cash needs. Shares of the company, already down sharply in recent months, tumbled about 9 per cent to $3.68 a share on the Toronto Stock Exchange Thursday.

Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's trimmed their corporate debt ratings on Bombardier one more notch, to three levels below investment grade.

"The downgrade of Bombardier's ratings is driven by its higher than expected cash consumption in 2013 and our view that the company's negative cash flow and elevated leverage will persist longer than we previously expected," said Moody's senior credit officer Darren Kirk.

The aerospace division is expected to post a profit margin before interest and taxes (EBIT) this year in the 5-per-cent range, down from previous guidance of 6 per cent, the company said Thursday. On the rail side, EBIT is now expected to come in at 6 per cent instead of 8 per cent.

The company reported fourth-quarter net earnings on an adjusted basis of $129-million (U.S.) or 7 cents per share, down from $181-million or 10 cents in the year earlier period. Analysts had been expecting earnings per share of 11 cents. On a non-adjusted basis, profit was $97-million or 5 cents, compared to a net loss of $4-million or 1 cent. Revenues were $5.3-billion, up from $4.6-billion.

"Overall, this was a weak quarter on many different levels. [Free cash flow] and aero [capital expenditures] will be the key areas of concern," RBC Dominion Securities analyst Walter Spracklin said in a research note Thursday.

"We continue to believe that [Bombardier] remains in a challenging liquidity position and today's lower than anticipated [free cash flow] generation will likely add to funding concerns."

Bombardier executives said on the call that the lower aerospace target is due to a lack of recovery in the business jet segment and the fact that deliveries of the new C Series jet have been put off to the second half of 2015.

"We haven't seen any significant recovery in the business aircraft market," said chief financial officer Pierre Alary.

Meanwhile, Bombardier Transportation has been experiencing problems on some contracts and is working on resolving the issues and restructuring the division, said Mr. Beaudoin.

Pressed to provide a date on when Bombardier Transportation expects to reach its objective of an 8 per cent margin, Mr. Beaudoin said, "I want to feel confident that this reorganization is in place before I give you a specific date."

Mr. Beaudoin said the C Series is "now well into its extensive flight test program."

Last month, Bombardier announced the layoff of 1,700 employees across all operations of its aerospace division as it seeks to cut costs.

So far, Bombardier has booked firm orders for 201 C Series planes from 17 customers. The target is to have 300 firm orders by first delivery.

As for Bombardier's existing aerospace products, the company delivered 60 business aircraft in the fourth quarter, the same as in the year-earlier period. The number of commercial planes delivered was 21, up from 16.

Chief financial officer Pierre Alary said the finances are in good shape.

Available short-term capital resources at the end of the quarter were $4.8-billion, including cash and cash equivalents of $3.4-billion, compared with $4-billion and $2.6-billion respectively in the year-earlier period.

"This is a level we feel is adequate given the investments we still have to make," Mr. Alary said on the conference call.

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