(34) Contingent liabilities

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The contingent liabilities cannot be quantified.

Litigation

In connection with the closure of Mécanique Industrie Chimie MIC S.A, Rungis (France) and the insolvency proceedings initiated at the end of 2005, various lawsuits filed above all by affected employees against Group companies are pending, or may be filed or asserted in the future. Since it is still impossible to predict the outcome of such litigation and its effect on Group companies, no provisions had to be recognized as a liability in the consolidated financial statements.

Furthermore, no Group companies are involved in ongoing legal or arbitration proceedings that could have a considerable impact on the Group’s economic situation, are likely to become involved in such litigation, or have done so within the last two years.

The respective Group companies have accrued provisions sufficient to cover financial burdens potentially resulting from other legal or arbitration proceedings.

Contingencies

There were no reportable contingencies as of the balance sheet date.