G-SQUARE
Annual accounts 2025
micro format, filed on 27-08-2026, 27 days lateTurnover and EBIT margin are not published. The micro format does not require them. The turnover shown is an estimate from the gross margin.
Turnover ≈ €140,000. Estimated: probably between €120,000 and €180,000.
Balance sheet
balance sheet total €1.3m on 31-12-2025in euro
in euro
Position in the sector
9.0%
Higher than 14% of 21,208 companies in 2025.
0.38
Lower than 95% of 20,571 companies in 2025.
-2.3%
Higher than 14% of 20,746 companies in 2025.
Net result: bottom quarter · Equity: middle half · Balance sheet total: top quarter · Working capital: bottom quarter
Staff
Staff costs divided by the average number of full-time equivalents.
Filed annual accounts
as filed with the National Bank, click a year to choose it| Line | Trend | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance sheet: assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||
20/58 |
1.3m | 1.3m | 1.7m | 666,862 | 792,856 | 551,466 | 792,373 | 716,210 | 604,016 | 530,124 | 530,600 | 256,299 | 227,054 | 199,160 | 163,788 | 96,604 | 94,735 | 100,809 | 98,047 | 104,801 | 111,350 | |
21/28 |
1.1m | 1.1m | 1.2m | 207,573 | 237,718 | 258,533 | 248,469 | 278,935 | 293,823 | 316,935 | 399,233 | 48,732 | 55,247 | 65,423 | 63,307 | 62,861 | 67,535 | 75,819 | 87,212 | 96,636 | 81,665 | |
22/27 |
1.1m | 1.1m | 1.2m | 207,573 | 237,718 | 258,533 | 248,469 | 278,935 | 293,823 | 316,935 | 399,233 | 48,732 | 55,247 | 65,423 | 63,307 | 62,861 | 67,535 | 75,819 | 87,212 | 96,636 | 81,665 | |
22 |
1.0m | 1.1m | 1.1m | 172,835 | 197,475 | 215,393 | 239,286 | 263,179 | 287,072 | 310,964 | 386,453 | 42,585 | 48,720 | 54,855 | 51,630 | 52,364 | 56,170 | 59,977 | 63,808 | 67,122 | 70,056 | |
23 |
1,256 | 4,048 | 4,514 | 2,824 | 3,039 | 4,905 | 8,786 | 15,261 | 6,132 | 5,196 | 6,995 | 5,735 | 5,665 | 9,008 | 11,036 | 9,636 | 9,323 | 13,455 | 20,034 | 25,782 | 11,609 | |
24 |
20,486 | 28,341 | 36,830 | 2,178 | 3,143 | 3,169 | 397 | 496 | 620 | 775 | 5,785 | 412 | 862 | 1,560 | 640 | 861 | 2,041 | 2,386 | 3,370 | 3,731 | - | |
26 |
30,329 | 21,086 | 25,411 | 29,736 | 34,061 | 35,067 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
29/58 |
184,468 | 195,377 | 536,243 | 459,288 | 555,138 | 292,932 | 543,904 | 437,275 | 310,193 | 213,188 | 131,367 | 207,567 | 171,807 | 133,737 | 100,481 | 33,744 | 27,200 | 24,991 | 10,835 | 8,166 | 29,686 | |
29 |
20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
291 |
20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
40/41 |
52,421 | 34,522 | 356,579 | 155,608 | 364,355 | 178,684 | 370,617 | 352,641 | 298,958 | 191,246 | 116,830 | 95,732 | 146,644 | 111,557 | 63,399 | 5,021 | 12,285 | 17,773 | 8,315 | 4,549 | 28,098 | |
40 |
22,860 | 4,961 | 154,269 | 155,608 | 364,355 | 2,443 | 203,435 | 185,459 | 131,776 | 20,482 | 41,580 | 95,729 | 146,644 | 111,557 | 63,399 | 5,021 | 12,285 | 17,652 | 4,315 | 468 | 2,340 | |
41 |
29,561 | 29,561 | 202,310 | - | - | 176,241 | 167,182 | 167,182 | 167,182 | 170,765 | 75,250 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | 121 | 4,000 | 4,081 | 25,758 | |
50/53 |
85,864 | 73,215 | 60,953 | 47,917 | 35,048 | 23,723 | 11,250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | - | - | - | - | |
54/58 |
26,183 | 67,640 | 85,377 | 255,763 | 155,735 | 90,525 | 162,037 | 84,384 | 10,985 | 21,692 | 14,287 | 111,585 | 24,912 | 21,930 | 22,601 | 16,881 | 1,458 | 5,680 | 2,520 | 3,616 | 1,588 | |
490/1 |
- | - | 13,333 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14,231 | 11,592 | 13,208 | 1,537 | - | - | - | |
| Balance sheet: equity and liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
10/49 |
1.3m | 1.3m | 1.7m | 666,862 | 792,856 | 551,466 | 792,373 | 716,210 | 604,016 | 530,124 | 530,600 | 256,299 | 227,054 | 199,160 | 163,788 | 96,604 | 94,735 | 100,809 | 98,047 | 104,801 | 111,350 | |
10/15 |
114,077 | 161,836 | 231,743 | 232,165 | 251,555 | 180,515 | 251,016 | 218,041 | 160,667 | 150,081 | 146,511 | 131,182 | 98,185 | 73,166 | 24,643 | 14,378 | 1,677 | 31 | -7,201 | 5,636 | 30,332 | |
10/11 |
- | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | |
100 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | 18,600 | |
13 |
198,565 | 213,565 | 213,565 | 213,565 | 232,955 | 232,416 | 232,416 | 199,441 | 142,067 | 131,481 | 127,911 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 14,637 | 14,637 | 14,637 | 14,637 | 14,637 | |
130/1 |
- | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
130 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | |
1311 |
- | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,860 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
132 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12,777 | 12,777 | 12,777 | 12,777 | 12,777 | |
133 |
198,565 | 211,705 | 211,705 | 211,705 | 231,095 | 230,556 | 230,556 | 197,581 | 140,207 | 129,621 | 126,051 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
14 |
-84,488 | -70,329 | -422 | - | - | -70,501 | - | - | - | - | - | 110,722 | 77,725 | 52,706 | 4,183 | -6,082 | -31,561 | -33,206 | -40,438 | -27,601 | -2,905 | |
17/49 |
1.2m | 1.2m | 1.5m | 434,697 | 541,302 | 370,951 | 541,356 | 498,169 | 443,350 | 380,043 | 384,089 | 125,117 | 128,869 | 125,994 | 139,145 | 82,226 | 93,058 | 100,778 | 105,248 | 99,165 | 81,018 | |
17 |
605,770 | 678,309 | 937,147 | 50,503 | 87,826 | 124,679 | 161,068 | 207,130 | 252,785 | 297,777 | 308,595 | - | - | - | - | 2,679 | 11,107 | 21,536 | 35,964 | 44,393 | 54,822 | |
170/4 |
605,770 | 678,309 | 937,147 | 50,503 | 87,826 | 124,679 | 161,068 | 207,130 | 252,785 | 297,777 | 308,595 | - | - | - | - | 2,679 | 11,107 | 21,536 | 35,964 | 44,393 | 54,822 | |
42/48 |
485,535 | 426,852 | 498,760 | 317,443 | 386,725 | 148,933 | 349,701 | 255,526 | 152,760 | 82,266 | 75,495 | 124,117 | 127,869 | 124,994 | 138,035 | 78,547 | 80,951 | 78,242 | 68,284 | 53,772 | 25,197 | |
42 |
38,658 | 12,706 | 32,034 | 37,323 | 36,853 | 36,389 | 46,062 | 45,598 | 44,992 | 44,506 | 32,508 | - | - | - | 2,679 | 8,428 | 10,429 | 14,429 | 14,429 | 14,429 | 12,429 | |
44 |
1,948 | 6,348 | 4,094 | 5,107 | - | 2,742 | 11,340 | 7,515 | 11,759 | 3,287 | 5,446 | 8,171 | 23,670 | 790 | 61,279 | 5,874 | 2,840 | 3,421 | 6,134 | 4,209 | 10,260 | |
440/4 |
1,948 | 6,348 | 4,094 | 5,107 | - | 2,742 | 11,340 | 7,515 | 11,759 | 3,287 | 5,446 | 8,171 | 23,670 | 790 | 61,279 | 5,874 | 2,840 | 3,421 | 6,134 | 4,209 | 10,260 | |
45 |
8,829 | 10,004 | - | 12,181 | 53,963 | - | 65,764 | 62,038 | 28,196 | 23,499 | 37,540 | 43,673 | 35,176 | 76,386 | 10,144 | 9,335 | 3,973 | 7,229 | 3,453 | 239 | 2,508 | |
450/3 |
8,829 | 10,004 | - | 9,483 | 53,963 | - | 60,170 | 59,273 | 28,196 | 20,853 | 37,540 | 39,491 | 23,595 | 55,329 | 10,144 | 9,335 | 3,973 | 7,229 | 3,453 | 239 | 2,508 | |
454/9 |
- | - | - | 2,698 | - | - | 5,593 | 2,764 | - | 2,647 | - | 4,182 | 11,581 | 21,057 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
47/48 |
436,099 | 397,793 | 462,632 | 262,832 | 295,909 | 109,802 | 226,535 | 140,376 | 67,813 | 10,974 | - | 72,273 | 69,022 | 47,818 | 63,932 | 54,910 | 63,710 | 53,163 | 44,269 | 34,895 | - | |
492/3 |
66,755 | 66,751 | 66,751 | 66,751 | 66,751 | 97,339 | 30,588 | 35,513 | 37,805 | - | - | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,110 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | |
| Income statement | ||||||||||||||||||||||
76A |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1,498 | - | - | 2,455 | - | - | 215 | |
9900 |
60,388 | 39,704 | 49,806 | 25,145 | 463,151 | -44,201 | 190,364 | 212,975 | 87,342 | 95,657 | 124,106 | 80,054 | 68,634 | 106,895 | 32,281 | 29,898 | 19,121 | 23,360 | 7,709 | -7,254 | 10,500 | |
62 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11,219 | 18,258 | 11,361 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7,372 | |
630 |
64,532 | 64,659 | 41,943 | 31,631 | 33,933 | 32,643 | 32,820 | 35,939 | 32,156 | 34,673 | 79,442 | 11,151 | 13,146 | 11,096 | 11,294 | 8,720 | 12,132 | 12,873 | 13,722 | 9,788 | 8,444 | |
640/8 |
152 | 5,539 | 3,628 | 10,679 | 159 | 10,053 | 8,713 | 4,319 | 462 | 46,751 | 4,229 | 2,357 | 2,941 | 3,528 | 5,457 | 3,155 | 2,135 | 1,857 | 2,057 | 2,724 | 4,155 | |
66A |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 268 | |
9901 |
-4,296 | -30,494 | 4,235 | -17,166 | 429,059 | -86,897 | 148,831 | 172,717 | 54,724 | 14,232 | 40,435 | 55,327 | 34,289 | 80,910 | 15,530 | 18,023 | 4,854 | 8,631 | -8,070 | -19,766 | -9,470 | |
75/76B |
9,558 | 582 | 3,498 | 875 | 30,952 | 926 | 4,041 | 3,375 | 902 | 82 | 408 | 54 | 37 | 13 | 161 | 588 | 0 | 14 | 27 | 281 | 218 | |
75 |
9,558 | 582 | 3,498 | 875 | 30,952 | 926 | 4,041 | 3,375 | 902 | 82 | 408 | 54 | 37 | 13 | 161 | 588 | 0 | 14 | 27 | 281 | 218 | |
65/66B |
34,086 | 39,649 | 7,803 | 2,382 | 383,146 | 1,070 | 99,206 | 97,622 | 38,502 | 7,076 | 5,458 | 4,707 | 5,380 | 2,439 | 824 | 1,469 | 3,209 | 3,872 | 4,911 | 5,311 | 4,385 | |
65 |
34,086 | 39,649 | 7,803 | 2,382 | 383,146 | 1,070 | 99,206 | 97,622 | 38,502 | 7,076 | 5,458 | 4,707 | 5,380 | 2,439 | 824 | 1,469 | 3,209 | 3,872 | 4,911 | 5,311 | 4,385 | |
9903 |
-28,825 | -69,561 | -71 | -18,672 | 76,866 | -87,041 | 53,666 | 78,471 | 17,124 | 7,239 | 35,385 | 50,675 | 28,947 | 78,483 | 16,365 | 17,142 | 1,645 | 7,228 | -12,955 | -24,796 | -13,690 | |
67/77 |
334 | 347 | 351 | 718 | 5,827 | -16,540 | 20,691 | 21,096 | 6,538 | 3,669 | 20,056 | 15,353 | 1,602 | 27,636 | 6,100 | 4,441 | 0 | -4 | -118 | -100 | 32 | |
9904 |
-29,159 | -69,907 | -422 | -19,390 | 71,040 | -70,501 | 32,975 | 57,375 | 10,586 | 3,570 | 15,329 | 35,322 | 27,344 | 50,848 | 10,265 | 12,701 | 1,645 | 7,232 | -12,837 | -24,696 | -13,723 | |
789 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12,777 | - | - | - | - | - | |
9905 |
-29,159 | -69,907 | -422 | -19,390 | 71,040 | -70,501 | 32,975 | 57,375 | 10,586 | 3,570 | 15,329 | 35,322 | 27,344 | 50,848 | 10,265 | 25,479 | 1,645 | 7,232 | -12,837 | -24,696 | -13,723 | |
| Appropriation of the result | ||||||||||||||||||||||
9906 |
-99,488 | -70,329 | -422 | -19,390 | 538 | -70,501 | 32,975 | 57,375 | 10,586 | 3,570 | 126,051 | 113,047 | 80,050 | 55,031 | 4,183 | -6,082 | -31,561 | -33,206 | -40,438 | -27,601 | -2,905 | |
14P |
-70,329 | -422 | - | - | -70,501 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
791/2 |
15,000 | - | - | 19,390 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
691/2 |
- | - | - | - | 538 | - | 32,975 | 57,375 | 10,586 | 3,570 | 126,051 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
6921 |
- | - | - | - | 538 | - | 32,975 | 57,375 | 10,586 | 3,570 | 126,051 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
694/7 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2,325 | 2,325 | 2,325 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
694 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2,325 | 2,325 | 2,325 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Social balance sheet | ||||||||||||||||||||||
9087 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
Hours worked1013 |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 554 | 851 | 557 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Document | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The accounts for financial year 2004 were filed as a document without figures as data, a scan for example.
The notes to these accounts have 5 items, including the statement of assets and debts, the cost breakdown and rights and commitments. You find them in the accounts filed with the NBB.
Source: Annual accounts 2025 at the NBB, filed on 27-08-2026.
Filings
each dot is a set of accounts, on the day it reached the National Bank2025 annual accounts filed 27 days after the deadline. Filed on 27 August 2026, deadline 31 July 2026 (7 months after the close on 31 December 2025, Companies Code art. 3:10). Source: NBB, 2026-00433810.
| Financial year | Type | Filed | Reference | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-12-2025 | micro format | 27-08-2026 | 2026-00433810 | |
| 31-12-2024 | micro format | 10-09-2025 | 2025-00487954 | |
| 31-12-2023 | micro format | 19-06-2025 | 2025-00153730 | |
| 31-12-2022 | micro format | 07-07-2023 | 2023-00212306 | |
| 31-12-2021 | micro format | 26-08-2022 | 2022-20330310 | |
| 31-12-2020 | micro format | 27-08-2021 | 2021-55200074 | |
| 31-12-2019 | micro format | 20-08-2020 | 2020-42700153 | |
| 31-12-2018 | micro format | 19-08-2019 | 2019-47300325 | |
| 31-12-2017 | micro format | 25-06-2018 | 2018-22600408 | |
| 31-12-2016 | abbreviated format | 21-06-2017 | 2017-19600594 | |
| 31-12-2015 | abbreviated format | 29-04-2016 | 2016-11200293 | |
| 31-12-2014 | abbreviated format | 30-09-2015 | 2015-63100314 | |
| 31-12-2013 | abbreviated format | 28-11-2014 | 2014-68100410 | |
| 31-12-2012 | abbreviated format | 10-10-2013 | 2013-62300145 | |
| 31-12-2011 | abbreviated format | 31-08-2012 | 2012-49800008 | |
| 31-12-2010 | abbreviated format | 31-08-2011 | 2011-47800018 | |
| 31-12-2009 | abbreviated format | 24-08-2010 | 2010-43100440 | |
| 31-12-2008 | abbreviated format | 27-08-2009 | 2009-63400216 | |
| 31-12-2007 | abbreviated format | 25-08-2008 | 2008-59700139 | |
| 31-12-2006 | abbreviated format | 28-08-2007 | 2007-61100251 | |
| 31-12-2005 | abbreviated format | 04-07-2007 | 2007-33800015 | |
| 31-12-2004 | abbreviated format | 25-10-2005 | 2005-83404273 |
Subsidies and aid
Flemish government 2023, 1 entry, €1,080 awarded, €1,080 paid
Key figures and ratios
per financial year, computed from the annual accounts| Line | Trend | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60,236 | 34,165 | 46,177 | 14,466 | 462,992 | -54,254 | 181,651 | 208,656 | 86,880 | 48,905 | 119,877 | 66,478 | 47,435 | 92,005 | 26,824 | 26,743 | 16,986 | 21,503 | 5,652 | -9,978 | -1,027 | ||
| 35,373 | -5,249 | 41,521 | 12,242 | 104,973 | -37,858 | 65,796 | 93,314 | 42,742 | 38,243 | 94,770 | 46,473 | 40,490 | 61,944 | 21,559 | 21,421 | 13,777 | 20,105 | 885 | -14,909 | -5,279 | ||
| 13,832 | 4,870 | 1.0m | 1,487 | 13,118 | 42,707 | 2,354 | 21,052 | 9,044 | 5,754 | 429,943 | 4,636 | 2,970 | 13,212 | 11,740 | 4,046 | 3,848 | 1,479 | 4,298 | 24,759 | 53,351 | ||
| -41,457 | -17,737 | -170,386 | 100,028 | 65,210 | -71,511 | 77,653 | 73,399 | -10,707 | 7,405 | -97,298 | 86,673 | 2,982 | -670 | 5,720 | 15,423 | -4,223 | 3,160 | -1,096 | 2,028 | - | ||
| -301,067 | -231,474 | 37,483 | 141,846 | 168,414 | 143,999 | 194,203 | 181,749 | 157,433 | 130,923 | 55,873 | 83,450 | 43,938 | 8,743 | -37,554 | -44,804 | -53,751 | -53,251 | -57,449 | -45,607 | 4,489 | ||
| 9.0% | 12.1% | 13.4% | 34.8% | 31.7% | 32.7% | 31.7% | 30.4% | 26.6% | 28.3% | 27.6% | 51.2% | 43.2% | 36.7% | 15.0% | 14.9% | 1.8% | 0.0% | -7.3% | 5.4% | 27.2% | ||
| 0.38 | 0.46 | 1.08 | 1.45 | 1.44 | 1.97 | 1.56 | 1.71 | 2.03 | 2.59 | 1.74 | 1.67 | 1.34 | 1.07 | 0.73 | 0.43 | 0.34 | 0.32 | 0.16 | 0.15 | 1.18 | ||
| 10.15 | 7.24 | 6.48 | 1.87 | 2.15 | 2.05 | 2.16 | 2.28 | 2.76 | 2.53 | 2.62 | 0.95 | 1.31 | 1.72 | 5.65 | 5.72 | 55.51 | - | - | 17.59 | 2.67 | ||
| -25.6% | -43.2% | -0.2% | -8.4% | 28.2% | -39.1% | 13.1% | 26.3% | 6.6% | 2.4% | 10.5% | 26.9% | 27.8% | 69.5% | 41.7% | 88.3% | 98.1% | - | - | -438.2% | -45.2% | ||
| -2.3% | -5.2% | 0.0% | -2.9% | 9.0% | -12.8% | 4.2% | 8.0% | 1.8% | 0.7% | 2.9% | 13.8% | 12.0% | 25.5% | 6.3% | 13.1% | 1.7% | 7.2% | -13.1% | -23.6% | -12.3% | ||
| 1.77 | 0.86 | 5.92 | 6.07 | 1.21 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A Belgian filing has no cash-flow statement. Cash flow is therefore an approximation, derived from the income statement. Investment is the acquisitions in the notes and, without them, the balance-sheet move.
Investments
fixed assets acquired| Item | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible fixed assets | €13,832 | €4,870 | €1.0m | €1,487 | €13,118 |
| €64,532 | €64,659 | €41,943 | €31,631 | €33,933 |
Source: notes to the 2021 to 2025 annual accounts (statement of fixed assets)
Insights on G-SQUARE
The operating result for 2025 is a loss of €4,296, smaller than the loss of €30,494 in 2024.
Debt's share of the balance-sheet total rises from 87.9% to 91.0%. Equity and debt are lower.