Annual and consolidated financial statements audited

The auditors appointed by the AGM, PricewaterhouseCoopers Aktiengesellschaft Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (PwC), Düsseldorf, audited the annual and consolidated financial statements for financial year 2008, including the respective management reports, and issued unqualified audit opinions.

Following a detailed preliminary assessment by the Finance and Audit Committee, the Supervisory Board reviewed the annual and consolidated financial statements and the management reports for financial year 2008 in the financial statements meeting on 25 February 2009. The auditors’ reports were made available to all Supervisory Board members and were discussed in detail at the meeting with the Board of Management and the auditors in attendance. The audit included a review of the Board of Management’s proposal for the appropriation of the unappropriated surplus. The Supervisory Board concurred with the results of the audit of the annual and consolidated financial statements and the management reports, and at today’s meeting approved the annual and consolidated financial statements for financial year 2008 after detailed discussion with the Board of Management and the auditor’s representative. Based on the final outcome of the examination of the annual and consolidated financial statements, the management reports and the proposal for the appropriation of the unappropriated surplus by the Supervisory Board and the Finance and Audit Committee, there are no objections to be raised. The Supervisory Board endorses the Board of Management’s proposal for the appropriation of the unappropriated surplus and the payment of a dividend of €0.60 per share.

We would like to thank the Board of Management and all the employees of the Group for their commitment and successful efforts throughout 2008. The Supervisory Board would particularly like to thank Dr Klaus Zumwinkel for his extraordinary service for the Group.

Bonn, 25 February 2009
The Supervisory Board 

Prof. Dr Wulf von Schimmelmann
Chairman

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