see Note 22
Other Financial Commitments
The Group has other financial commitments for promotion
and advertising contracts, which mature as follows:
| Financial Commitments for Promotion and Advertising | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| € in millions |
| Dec. 31 2007 |
Dec. 31 2006 |
|
| Within 1 year | 443 | 364 |
| Between 1 and 5 years | 1,134 | 970 |
| After 5 years | 176 | 218 |
| Total | 1,753 | 1,552 |
Commitments with respect to advertising and promotion maturing after five years have remaining terms of up to 15 years from December 31, 2007.
Information regarding commitments under lease and service contracts is also included in
these Notes. see Note 22
Litigation
The Group is currently engaged in various lawsuits resulting from the normal course
of business, mainly in connection with license and distribution agreements as well as competition
issues. The risks regarding these lawsuits are covered by provisions when a reliable estimate
of the amount of the obligation can be made. see Note 16 In the opinion of Management, the
ultimate liabilities resulting from such claims will not materially affect the consolidated financial
position of the Group.