EADS uses an asset and liability management approach with the objective of limiting its interest rate risk. EADS attempts to match the risk profile of its assets with a corresponding liability structure. The remaining net interest rate exposure is managed through several types of instruments in order to minimise risks and financial impacts. Therefore, EADS may use interest rate derivatives for hedging purposes.

Hedging instruments that are specifically related to debt instruments (such as the notes issued under the EMTN programme) have at most the same nominal amounts, as well as the same maturity dates, as the corresponding hedged item.

Regarding the management of its cash balance, EADS invests mainly in short-term instruments and/or floating rate instruments in order to further minimise any interest risk in its cash and securities portfolio.

The contract or notional amounts of EADS’ interest rate derivative financial instruments shown below do not necessarily represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not necessarily a measure for the exposure of the Group through its use of derivatives.

The notional amounts of such interest rate derivative financial instruments are as follows, specified by expected maturity.

For further information relating to market risk and the ways in which EADS attempts to manage this risk, see “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (IFRS) — Note 30a: Information about Financial Instruments — Financial risk management”.