Tax payments in 2011 totaled € 436.0 million (2010: € 336.1 million). Tax refunds totaled € 78.3 million (2010: € 18.7 million). Interest paid totaled € 238.7 million (2010: € 134.7 million). This increase was due to the first interest payment for the bonds issued in 2010 in connection with the Millipore acquisition. Interest received totaled € 75.5 million (2010: € 38.1 million). Within the scope of a Contractual Trust Arrangement (CTA), € 520.0 million was transferred to a trustee, Merck Pensionstreuhand e.V., Darmstadt. This led to a corresponding decline in pension provisions and to a decrease in cash flows from operating activities. In 2011, provisions for litigation risks amounting to € 118.8 million were used. This lowered free cash flow by the same amount.
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