Responsibility statement

To the best of our knowledge, and in accordance with the applicable accounting principles for financial reporting, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Group, and the Group management report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and position of the Group, together with a description of the principal opportunities and risks associated with the expected development of the Group.

Mannheim, February 20, 2009

The Executive Board

Herbert Bodner	Joachim Müller	Dr. Joachim Ott	Klaus Raps
Kenneth D. Reid	Prof. Hans Helmut Schetter	Dr. Jürgen M. Schneider