Airbus sales chief John Leahy and former EADS human resources director Erik Pillet have been placed under investigation by French judicial authorities for alleged insider trading.
EADS has issued a statement strongly supporting the current and former executives.
The development is part of a long-running investigation into allegations that 17 individuals made use of their positions to gain advantage in share trading before knowledge of problems with the Airbus A380 became public in 2006.
A parallel investigation by the rapporteur of the French stock exchange regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) into the allegations initially recommended fines against several executives including Leahy and former Airbus chief Noel Forgeard, as well as EADS itself.
However, the AMF sanctions commission, the organisation's final arbiter, dismissed them almost exactly a year ago.
This latter point is taken up by EADS in its statement.
It notes that although the AMF ruled there had been no wrongdoing, the 2006 judicial investigation "based on the very same facts and charges is, nevertheless, still ongoing".
EADS adds that the latest steps by the French judicial authorities "are purely procedural judicial steps taken by the investigating judges within the framework of this continuing investigation".
The current and past executives "have already proven their innocence once before the AMF Sanctions Commission. EADS is convinced they will be proven innocent once again".
The statement goes on to express EADS' gratitude for the continuing "very high degree of professionalism" exhibited by the executives despite the length of the legal proceedings.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
