General information

Accounting policies and restatements

This interim financial report is in compliance with IAS 34 “Interim Financial Reporting”. This report is unaudited. As of January 2014, IFRS 10 “Consolidated Financial Statements” and IFRS 11 “Joint Arrangements” have been implemented, which had no impact on our consolidated financial statements. Otherwise the accounting principles are as applied in the 2013 financial statements.

Seasonality

Revenue and results in Decorative Paints are impacted by seasonal influences. Revenue and profitability tend to be higher in the second and third quarter of the year as weather conditions determine whether paints and coatings can be applied. In Performance Coatings, revenue and profitability vary with building patterns from original equipment manufacturers. In Specialty Chemicals, the Functional Chemicals and the Surface Chemistry businesses experience seasonal influences. Revenue and profitability are affected by developments in the agricultural season and tend to be higher in the first half of the year.

Other activities

In other activities, we report activities which are not allocated to a particular Business Area. Corporate costs are the unallocated costs of our head office and shared services center in the Netherlands. Pensions reflects pension costs after the elimination of interest cost (reported as financing expenses). Insurances are the results from our captive insurance companies. Other includes the cost of share-based compensation, the results of treasury and legacy operations as well as the unallocated cost of some country organizations.