The major goal of our financing policy is to minimize the Group’s financial expenses while ensuring sufficient liquidity reserves at all times to meet the Group’s payment commitments.
Historically, EBITDA/Net debt has remained within the range of 1.0x to 3.0x, and below the 3.5x stipulated in the Group’s covenants.
Millions of Euro
June 30,
|
Sept. 30,
|
∆ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Net US$ debt(1) | (2,124) | (2,048) |
76 |
| Net € debt(1) | (1,130) | (1,017) | 112 |
| Translation adj. | 61 | ||
|
€ 1 = US$ |
1.4019 | 1.4629 | |
| Net debt(1) (€) | (2,627) | (2,414) | 213 |
| Net debt/EBITDA(1) | 2.8x | 2.7x | |
| Net debt/EBITDA(1) (2) excluding exchange rate effect |
32.8x | 2.8x |
_________________________
(1) Free cash flow, EBITDA, Net debt and Net debt/EBITDA are not US GAAP measures. For additional disclosure regarding non-US GAAP measures and a reconciliation to US GAAP measures, see Appendix contained in the May 7° presentation
(2) The ratio is calculated using the twelve-month average exchange rate as of December 31, 2008 and three-month average exchange rate as of March 31, 2009, respectively
For additional disclosure regarding non-US GAAP measures and a reconciliation to US GAAP measures, see referring presentations: 2009, 2008, 2007,2006.

