Transparency & Governance Report of the Supervisory Board 
Report of the Supervisory Board
In 2008, the Supervisory Board performed the duties assigned to it by law and by the Company’s Articles of Association, regularly advising and monitoring the Management Board. It was closely involved in all decisions that were of major importance to the Group.
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT BOARD AND THE SUPERVISORY BOARD
Carrying out its monitoring and advisory activities, the Supervisory Board was kept regularly informed by the Management Board – in a timely manner and comprehensively, both in writing and orally – about the business development, the economic and financial position, and the profitability of the Company and the Group, the corporate strategy and planning, the risk situation and compliance, and important business events. In all, the Supervisory Board of Fresenius SE convened seven times in 2008. It convened for an extraordinary meeting in January 2008. A regular meeting was held in March 2008 and a constitutive meeting of the newly elected Supervisory Board was held after the Annual General Meeting in May 2008. The Supervisory Board met for a briefing in June 2008. A further extraordinary meeting was held in July 2008. This was followed by two regular meetings of the Supervisory Board in October and December 2008. Before all the Supervisory Board meetings detailed Management Board reports and comprehensive approval documents concerning the agenda were distributed to its members. At each of its regular meetings the Supervisory Board used the Management Board’s reports as the basis for its comprehensive discussions about business development and important corporate decisions. All matters requiring Supervisory Board approval were submitted with sufficient time for proper scrutiny. After reviewing the related approval documents and after detailed consultation with the Management Board, the Supervisory Board was able to give its approval in all matters submitted to it. The Supervisory Board was also informed about any important business events occurring between meetings and, in urgent cases, was requested to pass resolutions by written proceeding. In addition, the chairman of the Management Board informed in individual discussions the chairman of the Supervisory Board regularly about the latest business developments and forthcoming decisions. Every member of the Supervisory Board attended at least half of the Supervisory Board meetings during their term of office in 2008.
