other German professional responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe
that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis
for our audit opinions on the consolidated financial statements and on the group manage-
ment report.
Other Information
The executive directors are responsible for the other information. The other information com-
prises the following nonaudited parts of the group management report:
– the declaration of corporate governance pursuant to § 289 f Abs. 4 HGB included in section
“Innovation and Employees” of the group management report
– the corporate governance report.
The other information comprises further the remaining parts of the Corporate Report – exclud-
ing crossreferences to external information – with the exception of the audited consoli-
dated financial statements, the audited group management report and our auditor’s report.
Our audit opinions on the consolidated financial statements and on the group management
report do not cover the other information, and consequently we do not express an
audit opinion or any other form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in so
doing, to consider whether the other information
– is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements, with the group man-
agement report or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or
– otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
Responsibilities of the Executive Directors and the Supervisory Board for the
Consolidated Financial Statements and the Group Management Report
The executive directors are responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial state-
ments that comply, in all material respects, with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and the addi-
tional requirements of German commercial law pursuant to § 315 e Abs. 1 HGB and that the
consolidated financial statements, in compliance with these requirements, give a true and
fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position, and financial performance of the Group.
In addition the executive directors are responsible for such internal control as they have
determined necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are
free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the executive directors are respon-
sible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. They also have the
responsibility for disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern. In addition, they
are responsible for financial reporting based on the going concern basis of accounting
unless there is an intention to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or there is no real-
istic alternative but to do so.
Furthermore, the executive directors are responsible for the preparation of the group
management report that, as a whole, provides an appropriate view of the Group’s position
and is, in all material respects, consistent with the consolidated financial statements,
complies with German legal requirements, and appropriately presents the opportunities and
98 Independent Auditors’ Report