Supervision and control instruments
vis-à-vis the auditors

The Board Committee, in its capacity as audit committee and on behalf of the Board of Directors, supervises the credentials, independence and performance of the statutory auditors and their audit experts. It obtains information at least once a year from the audit managers and the Executive Board concerning planning, implementation and results of the audit work. The auditors draw up for the Board of Directors a comprehensive report with findings on accounting practices, internal controls, as well as the performance and results of the audit. The items and improvements discussed in the report are reviewed by the auditors in an interim audit and the results presented to the Board Committee. Representatives of the external auditors participated in three meetings of the Board Committee in its capacity as audit committee in 2010.