Responsibility Statement

In line with the Code, the Board of Directors, and the Management Board are responsible for preparing a reliable annual report and financial statements of the Company.

The Board of Directors and each member of the Board of Directors confirm that they recognise their responsibility for preparing and approving the annual report and financial statements, and consider the annual report and financial statements, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy.

Each member of the Board of Directors confirms that to the best of their knowledge:

• the financial statements, prepared in accordance with IFRS, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company and the subsidiary undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole;
• the Management Board’s report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the financial position of the Company and the subsidiary undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties they face.

In line with the Code, the Board of Directors has determined that Christopher Walton, Philip Holland and Timothy Miller are independent in character and judgement. The Board of Directors has also determined that there are no relationships or circumstances which are likely to affect, or could appear to affect, the directors’ judgement.