(1) Legal basis of the consolidated financial statements

Pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 July 2002, companies governed by the law of a member state of the European Union have to prepare their consolidated financial statements for financial years beginning after 31 December 2004 in conformity with the accounting standards adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 6 of the Regulation if, at the balance sheet date, their shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market in the European Union.