Option programme (2000) 

The Board of Directors decided to continue the annual rolling incentive programme initiated in 1999. Some 200 Group key employees from about 15 different countries were offered options in 2000. The strike price of the options is EUR 12.25 per share. The options may be exercised between 1st April 2003 and 31st March 2007. The option programme comprises a total of some 3,000,000 options. Depending on local circumstances, participants will either receive a payment in cash (difference between the strike price and the share price at the time of exercise) or an option to purchase already issued shares (not new). Options are not transferable and expire if the employee leaves the company. Since these options are synthetic, there is no dilution on outstanding shares.