Investors | Hedging & Debt Information

Credit Ratings

Rating
 

To assist debt and fixed income investors to better evaluate the risk of any given investment, the capital market uses the publicly available independent assessments of rating agencies. Through regular discussions with the senior management of companies, rating agencies gain an insight into the strategy and planning of the companies that they rate. Using this information as a base, supplemented by quantitative analysis, rating agencies evaluate the creditworthiness of the issuer companies through a system of rating classifications. Companies which want to raise money in the capital markets in the form of bonds, commercial paper and other debt instruments normally need a minimum of one or, better, two ratings.

The leading international rating agencies are Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings.

The higher the rating classification is, the smaller is the potential risk that a company cannot meet its debt obligations (interest and principal). The debt investors charge a higher rate of interest for financing a higher risk investment. Thus a company with a strong rating can raise capital more advantageously than a company which has a less favourable rating. Additionally, the outlook given by a rating agency provides a supplementary reference point for the investor in assessing the probable development of the rating.

Current Ratings
 

Rating History

USD Exposure Coverage

Airbus’ currency hedge policy

In 2021, more than 70% of Airbus' revenues are denominated in US dollars with approximately 60% of such currency exposure 'naturally hedged' by US dollar-denominated costs. The remainder of costs is incurred primarily in euro, and to a lesser extent, in pounds sterling.

As Airbus intends to generate profits only from its operations and not through speculation on foreign currency exchange rate movements, Airbus uses hedging strategies solely to manage and minimise the impact on its EBIT from the volatility of the US dollar.

Airbus manages a long-term hedge portfolio with a maturity of several years covering its net exposure to US dollar sales, mainly from the activities of Airbus Commercial Aircraft and, to a lesser extent, of the Airbus Helicopters and Airbus Defence and Space Divisions. The net exposure is defined as the total firm audited currency exposure (US dollar-denominated revenues), net of the part that is 'naturally hedged' by US dollar-denominated costs. The hedge portfolio covers nearly all of the Airbus hedging transactions.

In parallel, Airbus is proactively increasing the number of euro deals wherever suitable.

The tables below set forth the notional amount of foreign exchange hedges in place and the US dollar rates applicable to corresponding EBIT.

FX Global Code

The FX Global Code is a voluntary code of conduct having been developed in a joint effort between major central banks and private sector market participants (one of them being Airbus) on a global scale in order to restore trust and to ensure integrity, fairness, liquidity, transparency and effective functioning of the foreign exchange market. Due to its business model and in order to protect its activities from currency fluctuations, Airbus maintains a significant portfolio of foreign exchange hedges. Airbus is therefore committed to the FX Global Code and has already previously been acting in accordance with its leading principles and will continue to do so.

Airbus sees adherence to the code as a way to demonstrate towards its stakeholders compliant behaviours in the context of a wider ethics and compliance framework.

Read more on the Global Foreign Exchange Committee website.

Debt Profile & Portfolio

Further information

Airbus Finance B.V.

Airbus Finance B.V. was merged into Airbus SE on 31 December 2021. With effect on and from that date, Airbus SE was substituted in place of Airbus Finance B.V. as issuer and principal debtor of the 2024 Notes, 2029 Notes and 2031 Notes (please refer to the Announcement of Substitution).