1.

Who is liable for the consequential damage of mining today

The RAG Corporation and former mining companies or their legal successors will bear the costs of acute damage, for instance, due to mining tremors. The RAG Foundation is solely responsible for financing long-term liabilities on the part of the RAG Corporation arising as from 2019. Hence, one of the RAG Corporation’s departments, especially set up for this purpose, is responsible for damage due to mining subsidence, which addresses each case individually. For more information on procedures, contacts and potential support at RAG Corporation, please click here

2.

What does the RAG Foundation do in order to protect and redevelop the region in the sense of sustainability?

The Foundation’s primary mission is to monitor the termination of subsidised hard-coal mining operations as well as to finance corresponding long-term liabilities as from 2019. It is not within our competence to solve structural problems within mining regions; however, we strive to set impulses regarding the development of coal-mining regions.

4.

What does the future timetable look like regarding a possible sale of shares in Evonik Industries AG?

Our aim is to list Evonik Industries AG on the stock exchange by 2013 and/or find additional shareholders. It depends on the macroeconomic development, on the situation on capital markets and on the economic development of the company whether and how this aim will be achieved. An IPO is currently being prepared; the sale is to lay the foundation to finance the existing long-term liabilities. In the long term, the RAG Foundation will retain its stake in the company as shareholder with not less than 25.1 per cent. However, the Board of Trustees will finalise a decision on this matter in due course.

5.

How does the RAG Foundation invest the money raised trough dividends and the sale of shares?

When investing capital, the RAG Foundation has to adhere to strict directives that also have been verified by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht); in accordance with the proviso: safety takes precedence over yield. Proceeds that have been generated so far were predominantly invested in term deposits and fixed-interest securities. The Foundation´s capital investment strategy also approves the acquisition of shares. In order to minimise the risk, our capital assets are broadly diversified. We pursue a security-oriented investment strategy emphasising on a distinct risk management.

6.

Isn’t it the taxpayer who will have to pay extra in the end?

From today’s point of view, the RAG Foundation will be able to carry out its mission to finance the existing long-term liabilities on a sustained basis. Only in the unlikely event that this mission cannot be achieved, the Legacy Agreement will come into effect: North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland committed themselves towards the RAG Foundation to finance the existing long-term liabilities in their respective region, in case the Foundation’s funds should be insufficient. Additionally, in such case, the German Federal Government will contribute one-third of the incurring costs.