Questions and answers on registration and participation

Can only shareholders attend the Annual General Meeting?

The Annual General Meeting is the most important annual event of a stock corporation during which shareholders and company management exchange views. Thus the AGM is most of all an event for shareholders.

Can a shareholder bring someone, e.g. his/her spouse or adult daughter/son?

The shareholder may do so. The best solution is to have an extra admission card issued for the accompanying person at his/her own registration (proxy).

Who is allowed to attend?

In general, the Annual General Meeting is the assembly of the corporation’s shareholders. Shareholders can participate in person or by a representative. Generally, common shareholders and preferred stockholders have the right to attend the AGM under the same conditions. For detailed conditions concerning participation and voting rights, please consult the invitation to the AGM.

Generally, depot banks assume the registration formalities for their clients if the latter order an admission card. In order to comply with the aforementioned conditions of participation and to obtain an admission card the shareholders are requested to get in touch with their respective depot bank, preferably at an early stage.

How can you register as a shareholder to the Annual General Meeting?

From May 6, 2009 the shareholders will obtain the invitation to the Annual General Meeting with the detailed agenda from their depot bank.

Which shareholders are allowed to participate / to vote?

In general, holders of both common as well as preferred stocks are allowed to participate under the same conditions (please consult „Who is allowed to attend?“). During the AGM, however, only common shareholders are entitled to vote. A seperate meeting is required, if any agenda items of the AGM require the consent of preferred stockholders. Within the AGM 2009 for the financial year 2008 this is planned immediately after the AGM of June 4, 2009.

What if a shareholder has registered in time for the Annual General Meeting but has not received an admission card?

A shareholder who has registered in time but has not received an admission card can still attend the AGM. If the admission card was issued and did not arrive in time via mail, the shareholder is on the registration list. This can be checked at the info desk in the entrance area and, if necessary, a replacement admission card will be issued.

Will shares be blocked when the shareholder registers for the Annual General Meeting?

No, shares will not be blocked. The registration is based on the deadline principle, meaning that the shareholder was shareholder at the beginning of the 21st day prior to the AGM (Record Day), i.e. May 14, 2009 at 00:00 CET. A selling of stocks after the deadline is possible and does not impact the right to attend the AGM.

Can I attend the Annual General Meeting if I have already sold my shares?

The significant deadline (Record Day) for shareholding is the beginning of the 21st day prior to the AGM, i.e. May 14, 2009 at 00:00 CET. A sale carried out after this date does not affect the right to attend the AGM.

Can shareholders leave the Annual General Meeting for some time and then return later?

You can leave the AGM temporarily through the exit counter. While leaving, you have to sign off at the exit control and register anew for re-admission so that the attendance register can be updated accordingly.

How long before the AGM can stocks be bought with a dividend entitlement?

The declaration date is the day of the AGM, i.e. June 4, 2009. Preferred stocks that were bought after this date and still hold on the AGM's day are not entitled to participate in the AGM but are entitled to dividends.

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