Risks due to the divestment, acquisition, and integration of companies and businesses
Irrespective of the fact that acquisitions made in the past have been successfully completed, the risk of conducting acquisitions and subsequent integration exists for future transactions. This includes, among other things, the inability to meet sales volume targets, and higher integration costs than expected, as well as the failure to meet synergy goals. The divestment of companies and businesses can lead to liability vis-à-vis the buyer or additional expenses, for instance through indemnity clauses and guarantee commitments or long-term supply contracts. Through strong due diligence processes and closely managed integration processes, we seek to reduce the probability of occurrence of this risk. Therefore, we classify this as a low risk with an unlikely probability of occurrence and potentially moderate negative effects on the net assets, financial position, and results of operations.