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Subsequent Events

At MaterialScience in Germany we have initiated a reduction in the working hours of payscale employees for a limited period, accompanied by a corresponding salary reduction, along with equivalent pay-related measures for managerial staff. We have taken this action in response to the drop in orders and the resulting decline in capacity utilization. Measures such as temporarily shutting down certain plants and cutting back production at others, bringing forward planned maintenance work and making greater use of flextime arrangements were already adopted at an early stage. Comparable measures are being implemented at our sites in other countries in line with local collective agreements and statutory regulations.