To New Levels Business and Legal Description 2003 BOOK3-791-IFC 29 MARCH 2004 This Reference Document was filed in French with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers on April 1, 2004 pursuant to Règlement No. 98-01 of the Commission des opérations de bourse. It may be used in support of a financial transaction only if it is supplemented by a transaction note approved by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Warning The AMF draws the attention of the public to the fact that: European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. (“EADS” or the “Company”) is a Dutch company, which is listed in France, Germany and Spain. Given this fact, the applicable regulations with respect to public information and protection of investors, as well as the commitments made by the Company to securities and market authorities, are described in this Reference Document. This document contains information which forms an integral part of EADS’ Reference Document filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers on April 1, 2004. When used as a Reference Document, it must be read in conjunction with the document entitled Financial Statements and Corporate Governance – 2003 (Reference Document Part 1), containing, among other things, the Company’s financial statements and the notes thereto. On the cover: wing of Multi-Role Tanker Transport Aircraft (MRTT) BOOK3-791-1 29 MARCH 2004 European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. Chapter 1 – Information on EADS 3.2.5 Changes in the Issued Share 58 Activities Capital Since Incorporation Business and 1.1 Presentation of the EADS 2 ofthe Company Legal Description — 2003 Group 1.1.1 Overview 2 3.3 Shareholdings and Voting 58 Reference Document (Part 2) 1.1.2 Airbus 7 Rights 1.1.3 Military Transport Aircraft 16 3.3.1 Shareholding Structure 58 Financial Year 2003 1.1.4 Aeronautics 19 3.3.2 Relationships with Principal 60 1.1.5 Defence and Security Systems 24 Shareholders 1.1.6 Space 34 3.3.3 Form of Shares 65 1.1.7 Investment 40 3.3.4 Changes in the Shareholding 65 of the Company Since its 1.2 Intellectual Property 41 Incorporation 3.3.5 Persons Exercising Control 66 1.3 Employees 41 over the Company 3.3.6 Simplified Group Structure 66 1.4 Research and Development 41 Chart 3.3.7 Purchase by the Company of 66 1.5 Risk Factors 42 its Own Shares 1.5.1 Market Risks 42 1.5.2 Business-Related Risks 43 3.4 Stock Exchange Information 67 1.5.3 Legal Risks 45 1.5.4 Industrial and Environmental 46 3.5 Dividends 71 Risks 3.5.1 Dividends and Cash 71 1.5.5 Insurance 46 Distributions Paid since the Incorporation of the Company Chapter 2 – Recent Developments 48 3.5.2 Dividend Policy of EADS 71 3.5.3 Unclaimed Dividends 71 Chapter 3 – General Description of 3.5.4 Taxation 71 the Company and its Share Capital 3.1 General Description of the Chapter 4 – Information Concerning Company 49 Securities Issued (Not Applicable) 3.1.1 Corporate Name, Seat and 49 Registered Office Chapter 5 – Persons Responsible 3.1.2 Legal Form 49 for the Reference Document and 3.1.3 Governing Law – Dutch 49 Persons Responsible for the Audit Regulations of the Financial Statements 3.1.4 Date of Incorporation and 52 Duration of the Company 5.1 Persons Responsible for 74 3.1.5 Objects of the Company 52 the Reference Document 3.1.6 Commercial and Companies 52 Registry 5.2 Statement of the Persons 74 3.1.7 Inspection of Corporate 52 Responsible for the Reference Documents Document 3.1.8 Financial Year 52 3.1.9 Allocation and Distribution of 52 5.3 Persons Responsible for 74 Income the Audit of the Financial 3.1.10 General Meetings 53 Statements 3.1.11 Disclosure of Holdings 54 5.3.1 Persons Responsible for 74 3.1.12 Mandatory Tender Offers 55 the Review of EADS’ Financial Statements 3.2 General Description of 56 5.3.2 Statement of the Auditors 74 the Share Capital 3.2.1 Modification of Share Capital 56 5.4 Information Policy 76 or Rights Attaching to theShares 5.5 Undertakings of the 76 3.2.2 Issued Share Capital 57 Company Regarding 3.2.3 Authorized Share Capital 57 Information 3.2.4 Securities Granting Access to 57 the Company’s Capital Reference Document Thematic 77 Index EADS 2003 Table of contents 1 BOOK3-791-2 29 MARCH 2004 Chapter 1 Information on EADS Activities 1.1 Presentation of the EADS Group intends to position EADS as a leading company in major global 1.1.1 Overview aerospace and defence markets. The following elements Except where stipulated otherwise, all the data provided below constitute the four stepping stones of the EADS strategy: were prepared on the basis of information from the Company. • Continue to strengthen EADS’ competitive position With consolidated revenues of E 30.1 billion in 2003, EADS is EADS intends to further position itself as a global company Europe’s premier aerospace and defence company and the with a highly visible domestic presence in all major second largest aerospace and defence company in the world. In aerospace and defence markets. While EADS already has a terms of market share, EADS is among the top two manufacturers global presence in such markets as commercial aircraft of commercial aircraft, civil helicopters, commercial space through Airbus, helicopters through Eurocopter, missiles launch vehicles and missiles, and a leading supplier of military through MBDA and LFK and commercial space launchers aircraft, satellites and defence electronics. In 2003, it generated through EADS Space Transportation, it is seeking to approximately 76% of its total revenues in the civil sector and strengthen or to capitalise on its existing line of platforms 24% in the military sector. and systems to meet the global demand for defence-related products such as military helicopters, combat and transport 2003 Highlights aircraft, defence electronics systems and secure In 2003, EADS continued to pursue its strategic lines of communications. development and the rebalancing of its business activities in favour of defence. The rebalancing is aimed at reducing the impact on Supported by programmes such as the A400M military EADS of business cycles in the civil aircraft market, as well as at transport aircraft, Eurofighter, Tiger helicopter, the Meteor reinforcing the successful dynamics of EADS’ young portfolio of and Aster missile programmes and Skynet 5/Paradigm well-targeted products through sustained R&D efforts. The record secure communications network, and based on its year-end order book of E 179.3 billion at the end of the year constitutes a 2003 defence backlog of approximately E 45.7 billion, EADS considerable asset for EADS. 2003 was a year of across the board is targeting E 10 billion in defence-related sales by 2005 in growth and included the signature of the E 19.7 billion A400M an effort to gain ground against its key competitors in the contract and the Paradigm/Skynet-5 contracts. In addition, 2003 defence and space sectors. was the first year since Airbus’ creation that it surpassed Boeing in terms of both deliveries and order book. In 2003 the Airbus A380 • Enlarge EADS’ global reach programme, a source of long-term growth for sales and EADS is a leading actor in its four home countries: France, profitability, moved into the component and major subassembly Germany, Spain and the U.K. Here, and throughout Europe, production phase. 34 new orders for the A380 in 2003, bringing EADS’ main challenge is to make the most efficient use of its the total order backlog to 129 aircraft, highlight the continued customers’ defence budgets. The Company aims to attractiveness of this product. harmonise procurement efforts and to participate in research and technology efforts to narrow the capability gap between The economic climate in 2003 continued to be a difficult one, the U.S. and Europe. with concerns over the SARS virus contributing to disruptions in the travel market and exacerbating the terrorism-related impact EADS will vigorously pursue opportunities to establish local on demand for air travel. Operational measures implemented by industrial footholds and technological co-operations in key airlines in response to decreasing passenger numbers and export markets. The Company intends to make use of its continuing market uncertainties created downward pressure on established reputation as a technology leader and its orders and deliveries in 2003. Notwithstanding these growing credibility as a systems integrator to support its challenges, EADS met and exceeded its planned 2003 delivery regional commercial endeavours. goal of 300 aircraft at Airbus. In 2003, EADS implemented a E 1.5 billion cost-reduction plan at Airbus to address In the U.K., EADS has approximately 12,000 employees, and uncertainties over the evolution of the Euro-U.S. dollar it is exploring opportunities to increase its local presence exchange rate and its impact on future profitability. through acquisitions and strategic partnerships in the Restructuring activities within EADS Space continued and were defence sector. EADS intends to strengthen its position as a reinforced in 2003, aimed at breaking even in 2004. defence prime contractor in the U.K. whose defence Owing to active cash management policies, an ongoing focus on procurement budget is the fastest growing in Europe. To this managing sales financing exposure and the weakening U.S. end, EADS is leading key projects such as Paradigm/Skynet 5, dollar’s impact on the cost of its U.S. dollar-denominated debt, the future strategic tanker aircraft (“FSTA”) and ground- EADS ended the year with positive net cash of E 3.1 billion.