Shareholders who cannot attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) can exercise their voting right by authorized persons, e.g., financial institution or association of shareholders. Powers of attorney which are not issued to a financial institution or an association of shareholders must be issued in writing.

This year we again offer our shareholders the opportunity prior to the AGM to appoint proxies named by the company who are bound by proxy voting instructions. Shareholders wishing to appoint a proxy named by the company require an AGM admission card. To ensure timely receipt of the admission card, it should be ordered from the depository bank as early as possible. Shareholders appointing a proxy named by the company are required to issue proxy voting instructions. Without such instructions, the power of attorney is invalid. The proxies are obliged to vote according to the instructions.

Further information on appointments of and instructions to proxies named by the company are contained in the admission card sent to the shareholders.