Obligations not appearing in the balance sheet

General guarantees as referred to in Section 403, Book 2, of the Dutch Civil Code, have been given by the Company on behalf of several group companies in the Netherlands. The liabilities of these companies to third parties and equity-accounted investees totaled EUR 1,038 million as of year-end 2009 (2008: EUR 1,249 million). Guarantees totaling EUR 294 million (2008: EUR 266 million) have also been given on behalf of other group companies and credit guarantees totaling EUR 33 million (2008: EUR 42 million) on behalf of unconsolidated companies and third parties. The Company is the head of a fiscal unity that contains the most significant Dutch wholly-owned group companies. The Company is therefore jointly and severally liable for the tax liabilities of the tax entity as a whole. For additional information, please refer to note (24) Contingent liabilities.