To complement the launch of its European defence bonds segment in May 2025, Euronext also created a European Defence Bond Label, enabling fast-track admission process for the issuance of European defence bonds on Euronext. Both initiatives are designed to accelerate access to capital and to finance the growing needs of European aerospace and defence companies.
Stéphane Boujnah, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext, said: “European aerospace and defence companies are facing urgent needs to invest in their innovation and production capacities to guarantee Europe’s strategic autonomy for the next decade. As a capital market infrastructure, our role is to connect these financing needs with investment capabilities arising from the growing investor appetite in European markets. By creating tailored financing solutions and by bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and financial experts, Euronext effectively accelerates the financing of the aerospace and defence sector.”
First European aerospace and defence funding days
Euronext provides tailored financing solutions for European companies operating in strategic sectors and gives them unprecedented tools to meet their financing needs through easier access to capital. In return, Euronext also gives asset managers, institutional investors and retail investors more investment opportunities in high-growth segments within the aerospace and defence industry.
On 7 and 8 July 2025, Euronext successfully organised the first European aerospace and defence funding days. This initiative aims to accelerate access to capital for companies operating across the aerospace and defence industry, spanning diverse sectors such as aeronautics, cybersecurity, drones, land defence and new space. The event was designed to accelerate connections and facilitate direct engagement with long-term investors and financial experts. Throughout the funding days, companies deepened their understanding of equity and debt capital market tools, from equity to debt financing, and gained valuable insights from specialised financial institutions.
This event brought together 25 aerospace and defence companies seeking financing with over 90 investors and financing experts from across Europe, including Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. 190 meetings were organised between companies, investors and financing experts.
Philippe Bottu, CEO and Chairman of D.A.T.E.1, said: “Participating in Euronext’s first European aerospace and defence funding days was a decisive opportunity to affirm D.A.T.E strategic role and accelerate access to the capital needed to support our industrial ambitions.”
Ezequiel Sánchez, Executive President of PLD Space2, said: “We are understanding the needs of the financial markets to better anticipate the best solution. Company-Market fit in technology is the outcome of a maturity process. We are doing our homework.”
New European Defence Bond Label
Euronext also introduces the new European Defence Bond Label. This label is a voluntary, market-driven initiative for listed bonds aimed at directing private capital towards eligible Defence and Security projects in Europe.
Developed in close consultation with investors, issuers and financial institutions, the European Defence Bond Label offers clear eligibility criteria based on the use of proceeds. It is set to be used for the issuance of European defence bonds on Euronext markets and will serve as the basis for granting the fast-track admission process announced earlier in May 2025 to qualifying bonds.
European defence bonds already benefit from enhanced visibility and accessibility on Euronext. As of June 2025, over €7 billion has been raised through the listing of more than 15 bonds from five issuers across Euronext markets. In June 2025, the bond programme from Italian aerospace and defence company Leonardo has been approved by CONSOB to issue up to €4 billion in listed bonds.
