(17) Income tax assets

The act on fiscal measures accompanying the introduction of the European Company and the amendment of other fiscal regulations (SEStEG) entered into effect on December 13, 2006. Consequently, as of December 31, 2006 a legally unconditional claim was created for the refund of corporate tax credits stemming from the previous tax credit system (cf. Sec. 37 of the German Corporate Income Tax Act, as amended, KStG). The distribution-dependent realization of the credit applicable in the past was replaced by a procedure by which payments are made in instalments over a period of 10 years (2008 to 2017). As a rule, payments are effective September 30. Since this receivable is non-interest bearing, it is stated at present value.