Since 1999, we have prepared our consolidated financial statements in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP). This ensures direct comparability with the financial statements of our international competitors. In addition to the many disclosures required under U.S. GAAP, the notes to our statements contain a great deal of extra detail that we provide voluntarily. The review of operations meets the requirements of the German Commercial Code or Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB), but it also contains additional voluntary information. We are committed to increasing transparency, as the international financial community rightly demands.