Business Review Sales of €7,660 million, slightly below prior-year level despite higher volumes due to negative currency effects EBIT before special items of €970 million, down 11% from the 2019 figure mainly due to currency effects At €7,660 million, sales to third parties in the Agricultural Solutions segment were €154 million below the prior-year level in 2020. Sales performance was significantly weighed down by negative currency effects, particularly in the region South America, Africa, Middle East. This contrasted with volume growth in a challenging market environment. Overall, prices were slightly above the prior-year level. (XLSX:) XLS Factors influencing sales – Agricultural Solutions Volumes 5% Prices 2% Portfolio 0% Currencies –9% Sales –2% In Europe, sales declined by €85 million year on year to €2,035 million. This was largely attributable to lower volumes, especially of herbicides and fungicides, mainly as a consequence of dry weather conditions in large parts of Europe. Sales were also reduced by negative currency effects, primarily in Turkey and eastern Europe. Prices were on a level with the previous year. Sales in North America decreased by €104 million to €3,004 million. Prices were slightly below the prior-year level in a continued challenging market environment, especially for herbicides and fungicides. Sales development was also weighed down by negative currency effects. This was partially offset by higher sales volumes, particularly for fungicides, after the distributor destocking and challenges relating to weather conditions and trade conflicts that dominated the previous year. (XLSX:) XLS Segment data – Agricultural Solutions (Million €) 2020 2019 +/– Sales to third parties 7,660 7,814 –2% Intersegment transfers 91 197 –54% Sales including transfers 7,751 8,011 –3% Income from operations before depreciation, amortization and special items 1,680 1,809 –7% Income from operations before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) 1,582 1,647 –4% EBITDA margin % 20.7 21.1 – Depreciation and amortizationa 1,000 719 39% Income from operations (EBIT) 582 928 –37% Special items –388 –167 . EBIT before special items 970 1,095 –11% Return on capital employed (ROCE) % 3.6 5.3 – Assets 14,840 16,530 –10% Investments including acquisitionsb 459 320 43% Research and development expenses 840 879 –4% a Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (including impairments and reversals of impairments) b Additions to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets Sales in Asia rose by €59 million to €844 million. This was largely attributable to higher sales volumes, especially of herbicides and fungicides, primarily in India, China and Australia. Slightly higher price levels contributed to the positive sales development, while negative currency effects had a dampening impact. Sales in the region South America, Africa, Middle East amounted to €1,777 million, €24 million below the previous year. This was primarily due to significantly negative currency effects, mainly from the depreciation of the Brazilian real. Considerably higher volumes in all indications and sectors, especially in Brazil, and higher price levels were unable to fully offset the negative currency developments. Agricultural Solutions – Sales by region Location of customer Income from operations (EBIT) before special items was €970 million, €125 million below the 2019 figure. This was mainly due to currency effects. EBIT amounted to €582 million, €346 million less than in the previous year. This figure included special charges in the amount of €388 million, primarily from impairments in connection with measures to streamline the global glufosinate-ammonium production network. Outlook for 2021 back next