Cancellation of Treasury Shares / Reduction in Share Capital

Filderstadt, 20 December 2010 – Based on the authorisations granted by the company’s annual general meetings of 26 June 2001, 27 May 2003, 19 May 2004, 20 May 2009 and 11 March 2010, the management board, with the approval of the supervisory board, has decided to cancel the treasury shares that were acquired and reduce the amount of share capital accordingly.

This decision will cancel a total of 540,000 registered shares with an arithmetic nominal value of EUR 3.00 each. The number of issued shares will thus decline by 540,000 from 5,400,000 shares to 4,860,000 shares. The company’s share capital will be reduced accordingly by an amount of EUR 1,620,000.00 from EUR 16,200,000.00 to EUR 14,580,000.00. The arithmetic nominal value of the shares outstanding will remain unchanged at EUR 3.00 per share.