EADS eyes new government offer on military plane

[February 16, 2010]  PARIS (AP) -- European defense and aerospace company EADS says it has received a new offer from seven member governments hoping to save the troubled A400M military transport plane program.

EADS spokesman Alexander Reinhardt says the company is now studying the offer and "we will answer it in due time." He did not elaborate on the offer's details or a timetable for a response.

Reinhardt said Tuesday that EADS received the offer Monday evening.

The company is pressing the governments of Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey for clarity about the program that is billions over budget.

EADS has said it needs a decision so it can book its share of the cost overruns in its 2009 financial results to be released on March 9.

[Associated Press]

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