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Autoneum

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FY2015 Annual Report · Autoneum
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Annual Report 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Autoneum  is the global market and technology leader
in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles.
The company is a partner for the major light vehicle
manufacturers around the world. Autoneum develops
and produces multifunctional and lightweight com- 
ponents and systems for optimal protection against
noise and heat. Autoneum’s innovations make vehicles
quieter, lighter and safer and help to reduce fuel
consumption and emissions.

Key figures >

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Autoneum at a glance

Net sales

CHF million

1 954.7

2 085.9

EBIT

CHF million

135.1

158.0*

2014

2015

2014

2015

4%

9%

40%

Net sales
by region

47%

Net profit

CHF million

102.8

36.268.7

Operating cash flow

2014

2015

CHF million

138.2

143.2*

2014

2015

9%

15%

39%

Employees
by region

37%

Business Group Europe/Corporate

Business Group North America

Business Group Asia

Business Group SAMEA

*before non-recurring expenses

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Contents

1

  Group report

  02  Letter to shareholders
  10  Business year at a glance 
  15  Autoneum from A to Z
  42  Sustainability
  44  Corporate Governance

  Financial report

  62  Consolidated financial statements
 104  Remuneration report
 109  Financial statements  

  of Autoneum Holding Ltd

 119  Review 2011–2015 

 122  Important dates

 
 
 
2

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Letter to shareholders

   Strong sales growth –  
further increase in  
profitability

Dear shareholders

Operational excellence, innovation leadership 
and the globally balanced production network 
of Autoneum have once again paid off in the 
past financial year: Despite a challenging market 
environment with corresponding economic 
headwinds triggered by a slump in demand in 
South America and Russia, Autoneum not  
only increased sales remarkably but was also 
operationally more profitable than ever. 
Notwithstanding the lower year-on-year net 
profit due to non-recurring expenses and  
a normalized tax ratio, the Board of Directors 
proposes an unchanged dividend of CHF 4.50 
per share.

Strong sales growth in weak market  
environment
With 88.6 million light vehicles produced and  
a growth rate of only 1.4%, the global automotive 
industry in 2015 recorded its weakest growth 
momentum since the automotive crisis of 2009. 
While automobile production in Europe, North 
America and Asia grew, production volume in 
South America decreased due to the economic 
crisis and the related drop in demand over  
the previous year. In this low-impulse market 
environment, Autoneum was able to increase  
net sales in local currencies by 10.6% and thus 
significantly exceeded global market growth  
thanks to a good order situation and the corre-

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Letter to shareholders

3

Hans-Peter Schwald – Chairman of the Board

Martin Hirzel – Chief Executive Officer

sponding utilization of production capacities. 
Despite the strength of the Swiss franc, net sales 
in the company currency rose by 6.7% from  
CHF 1 954.7 million to CHF 2 085.9 million. 
Except Business Group SAMEA (South America, 
Middle East and Africa), all business groups 
contributed to this rise in sales.

margin of 10.7% surpassed the previous year’s 
already high level. EBITDA after non-recurring 
expenses totaled CHF 191.5 million (2014:  
CHF 201.6 million). EBIT before non-recurring 
expenses improved by CHF 22.8 million to  
CHF 158.0 million. The EBIT margin of 7.6% 
surpassed the previous year’s margin by  

Profitability further increased
Autoneum’s ongoing rise in profitability also 
continued through 2015. EBITDA increased  
by CHF 21.5 million to CHF 223.0 million before 
non-recurring expenses in relation to the 
payment of CHF 31.5 million to the German 
Federal Cartel Office. Accordingly, the EBITDA 

7.6%

The EBIT margin before non-recurring expenses  
improved from 6.9% to 7.6%.

4

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Letter to shareholders

High capacity  
utilization, material  
efficiency and  
operational excellence 
contributed to the  
once again improved 
results. 

0.7 percentage points and exceeded the 7% 
mark for the first time in company history. High 
capacity utilization in Europe, material efficiency 
in North America and Asia as well as the 
increased productivity thanks to operational 
excellence contributed to the once again 
improved results. EBIT after non-recurring 
expenses amounted to CHF 126.5 million 
(2014: CHF 135.1 million).

Investments in expansion of global presence
Net profit decreased on the previous year by  
CHF 34.1 million to CHF 68.7 million. Despite the 
further improved operating result, non-recurring 
expenses associated with the payment to the 
German Federal Cartel Office and a higher tax 
burden resulted in the lower net profit. Whereas 
benefits from loss carryforwards recognized  
in 2014 led to a disproportionately low tax ratio 
of 14.4%, after adjustment for non-recurring 
expenses in relation to the payment to the 
German Federal Cartel Office, the tax ratio again 
attained a sustainable level of 28.8%. Invest-
ments made predominantly to expand global 
presence, including in the US plants in  
Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Monroe, Ohio, and  
in the relocation of a Brazilian plant, amounted  

to CHF 120.7 million (2014: CHF 101.9 million). 
Operating cash flow decreased by CHF 26.5 
million to CHF 111.7 million (2014: CHF 138.2 
million) due to the payment to the German 
Federal Cartel Office, operational losses  
at Business Group SAMEA and the higher net 
working capital at December 31, 2015.  
The lower net profit also took effect on the total 
return on net assets (RONA), which at 17.7% 
before non-recurring expenses stood below the 
previous year’s level, but again significantly 
exceeded the cost of capital. The equity ratio of 
35.7% was unchanged compared to the prior 
year. The decisive cause of net debt rising to 
CHF 105.4 million (2014: CHF 53.9 million) 
was a payment of CHF 31.5 million to the 
German Federal Cartel Office in June 2015. 
Earnings per share before non-recurring expenses 
were at CHF 15.92 (2014: CHF 17.03), and cash 
and cash equivalents on December 31, 2015, to- 
taled CHF 78.7 million (2014: CHF 140.9 million).

Dividend payout at prior year’s level proposed
Despite the lower year-on-year net profit, the 
Board of Directors will propose to the Annual 
General Meeting on March 30, 2016, the 
payment of an unchanged dividend of CHF 4.50 
per share.

Business Groups
Net sales of Business Group Europe went up in 
2015 by 13.1% in local currencies due to 
numerous production ramp-ups and thus signi- 
ficantly surpassed the already dynamic market 
growth in this region. Due to pronounced 
currency effects, net sales in Swiss francs only 
grew by 3.7% to CHF 833.2 million (2014:  
CHF 803.3 million). Crucial to the rise in EBIT 
of Business Group Europe from CHF 31.7 
million to CHF 44.7 million was strong capacity 
utilization due to high-volume customer  
orders for models of European and Korean OEMs 
and gains in productivity through material 
efficiency, which among other things included 
lower scrap rates in production. The EBIT 

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Letter to shareholders

5

Financial highlights

CHF million

Autoneum Group
Net sales

EBITDA
EBITDA adjusted2

EBIT
EBIT adjusted2

Net profit
Net profit adjusted2
Return on net assets in % (RONA)3
Return on net assets in % (RONA) adjusted2,3

Operating cash flow
Operating cash flow adjusted2

Investments in tangible 
and intangible assets

Net debt at December 31
Employees at December 314

BG Europe
Net sales

EBIT

BG North America
Net sales

EBIT

BG Asia
Net sales

EBIT

BG SAMEA5
Net sales

EBIT

2015

2014

Change

2 085.9

100.0% 1 954.7

100.0%

Organic 
growth1

10.6%

191.5

223.0

126.5

158.0

68.7

100.2

12.7%

17.7%

111.7

143.2

120.7

105.4

11 423

9.2%

10.7%

6.1%

7.6%

3.3%

4.8%

5.8%

201.6

201.6

135.1

135.1

102.8

102.8

20.3%

20.3%

138.2

138.2

101.9

53.9

10 681

10.3%

10.3%

6.9%

6.9%

6.7%

–5.0%

10.6%

–6.4%

16.9%

5.3% –33.2%

5.3%

–2.5%

5.2%

6.9%

833.2

100.0%

803.3

100.0%

3.7%

13.1%

44.7

5.4%

31.7

3.9%

977.9

100.0%

882.7

100.0%

10.8%

8.8%

91.7

9.4%

75.1

8.5%

180.9

100.0%

145.3

100.0%

24.5%

20.6%

25.0

13.8%

19.9

13.7%

94.3

100.0%

123.9

100.0% –23.9%

–5.7%

–12.5

–13.3%

1.5

1.2%

Share AUTN
Share price at December 31 in CHF

Market capitalization at December 31

Basic earnings per share in CHF
Dividend per share in CHF6

202.40

938.1

9.12

4.50

169.50

783.0

17.03

4.50

19.4%

19.8%

–46.4%

1 Change in local currencies. 
2 EBITDA, EBIT, Net profit, RONA and Operating cash flow are disclosed before expenses in relation to the settlement with the German Federal Cartel Office 
in the amount of CHF 31.5 million in 2015. 
3 Net profit before interest expenses in relation to average equity plus interest bearing liabilities. 
4 Full-time equivalents including temporary employees but excluding apprentices. 
5 Including South America, Middle East and Africa. 
6 As proposed by the Board of Directors and subject to the approval of the Annual General Meeting. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Letter to shareholders

2 085.9

CHF million

Net sales increased by 6.7%  
to CHF 2 085.9 million.

In 2015, nearly 89 million light 
vehicles were produced globally.

Earnings per share were at  
CHF 15.92.* 

11 423

Autoneum employs more than  
11  000 people worldwide.

In a weak market environment, Autoneum  
not only increased net sales significantly in 2015,  
but was also operationally more profitable  
than ever before.

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Letter to shareholders

7

7.6 %

The EBIT margin reached a new 
peak at 7.6%.* 

10.6 %

Autoneum achieved a double  
digit growth in net sales in local  
currencies.

RONA

%
7
7.
1

WACC

%
5
8

.

158.0 

CHF million

EBIT rose by 16.9% to  
CHF 158.0 million.*

68.7

CHF million

Due to non-recurring  
expenses, net profit decreased  
to CHF 68.7 million.

The return on net assets (RONA) 
of 17.7% significantly surpassed 
the cost of capital (WACC).*

* before non-recurring expenses

8

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Letter to shareholders

margin accordingly reached 5.4% of net sales 
for the first time, surpassing the previous year’s 
margin by 1.4 percentage points.

Business Group North America grew 
organ ically by 8.8% in the reporting year. This  
was the result of supply for high-volume US and 
Japanese models. Almost all of the 15 best-
selling car models in the USA were equipped 
with Autoneum products. Net sales in Swiss 
francs rose by 10.8% to CHF 977.9 million 
(2014: CHF 882.7 million). EBIT increased by 
CHF 16.6 million to CHF 91.7 million (2014: 
CHF 75.1 million). The EBIT margin of 9.4% was 
0.9 percentage points above that of the previous 
year. The result achieved in North America 
improved thanks to lower material costs and  
the further expansion of vertical integration.

Almost all of the 15 best-selling car models in the 
 USA were equipped with Autoneum products.

Business Group Asia again reported striking 
sales growth of 20.6% in local currencies, 
achieved through extensive series start-ups for 
models of international and local OEMs and  
with Japanese customers who were overpropor-
tionately successful in China. In Swiss francs, 
sales improved by 24.5% to CHF 180.9 million 
(2014: CHF 145.3 million). EBIT of Business 
Group Asia rose by CHF 5.1 million to CHF 25.0 
million, corresponding to a further increase in 
the EBIT margin to 13.8%. Material efficiency 
and continuous improvement of production 
standards contributed to the high EBIT margin.
Net sales of Business Group SAMEA were 
decimated by the collapse in the main market 
Brazil. Whereas sales in local currencies 

declined by 5.7%, due to significant devaluation 
of the Brazilian real and Argentine peso, net 
sales in Swiss francs were reduced by 23.9%  
to CHF 94.3 million (2014: CHF 123.9 million). 
EBIT declined from CHF 1.5 million in the 
previous year to CHF –12.5 million. Burdening 
the result of Business Group SAMEA was the 
ongoing recession and associated massive drop 
in demand in Brazil, as well as non-recurring 
expenses associated with relocating a Brazilian 
plant. High production volumes in Turkey  
and South Africa were able to partly offset the 
declines in South American production.

Changes to the Group Executive Board
The Board of Directors of Autoneum Holding Ltd 
appointed Andreas Kolf as Head of Business 
Group Asia and member of the Group Executive 
Board of Autoneum Holding Ltd as of March 1, 
2016. Andreas Kolf has many years of experi-
ence as a managing director of international 
automotive suppliers and a profound knowledge 
of the Asian automotive market. He succeeds  
Dr Uwe Trautmann, who made a personal decision 
to leave the company at the end of February 
2016 and return to Europe after 20 years in 
Asia. Uwe Trautmann headed Business Group 
Asia from 2007 until 2011 as a member of the 
Executive Committee of the Automotive Systems 
Division of Rieter Holding Ltd and served on the 
Group Executive Board of Autoneum Holding Ltd 
since its foundation in May 2011. The Board  
of Directors of Autoneum Holding Ltd and CEO 
Martin Hirzel regret Uwe Trautmann’s resigna-
tion, thank him for his major contribution to the 
development of Business Group Asia and wish 
him all the best for this new stage in his life.
Volker Eimertenbrink, Head of Business 

Group SAMEA and member of the Group 
Executive Board of Autoneum Holding Ltd, left 
Autoneum at the end of 2015 to take on new 
professional challenges. He assumed manage-
ment of the Business Group SAMEA in March 
2012. From 2008 until the separation of 
Autoneum in 2011, Volker Eimertenbrink was 

 
 
 
Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Letter to shareholders

9

CFO and member of the Executive Committee of 
the Automotive Systems Division of Rieter 
Holding Ltd. The Board of Directors of Autoneum 
Holding Ltd and CEO Martin Hirzel thank Volker 
Eimertenbrink for the work he has done and his 
loyal service to the company and wish him all 
the best for the future. The Board of Directors  
has appointed Fausto Bigi as his successor and 
member of the Group Executive Board. Fausto 
Bigi has long-standing experience in the global 
automotive supplier industry. He was already in 
charge of the South American business of the 
Automotive Systems Division of Rieter Holding 
Ltd from 2008 to 2011 and following the 
separation additionally held office at Autoneum 
as Deputy Head of Business Group SAMEA  
until 2012. The Brazilian citizen has taken over 
management of Business Group SAMEA on 
March 1, 2016, from CFO Dr Martin Zwyssig, 
who held charge temporarily since January 1, 
2016. In order to ensure optimum control of the 
key SAMEA market of Brazil, the headquarters  
of the Business Group has been transferred from 
Winterthur, Switzerland, to São Paulo, Brazil.

Outlook
In 2016, a rise in global automobile production 
of 3% to approximately 91 million light vehicles 
is anticipated. By continuing its existing 
successful strategy implementation, Autoneum 
expects to increase net sales in local currencies 
in line with its mid-term financial targets by  
4% to 5%. The Group’s 2015 operating margin 
should be exceeded in 2016.

In 2016,  
Autoneum expects to  
increase net sales  
in local currencies by 
4% to 5% and to  
exceed the Group’s 
2015 operating  
margin.

Thank you
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the 
Group Executive Board, our thanks go to  
all associated with Autoneum: shareholders, 
customers and business partners with  
whom we share a trusting relationship, as  
well as to more than 11 000 employees 
worldwide who made the successes of the 
past years possible.

Winterthur, March 2, 2016

Hans-Peter Schwald 
Chairman of the Board   

  Martin Hirzel

Chief Executive Officer

10

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Business year at a glance

Shaping the future  
by innovation leadership

2015 demonstrated how Autoneum’s success rests on intrinsic strengths:  
Innovation leadership, a broad customer base and global presence  
were instrumental to Autoneum and enabled it to successfully balance out  
a cyclically-induced decline in demand in major automotive markets.  
While the number of vehicles produced worldwide has hardly increased,  
Autoneum showed not only significant organic growth but also gained  
new customers and implemented a record number of successful  
production launches.

Expertise at the service of consumers  
and the environment
2015 was focused more than ever on acoustic 
and thermal management for vehicles. Growth in 
regulation of traffic-related environmental 
burdens has led to continuing strong demand for 
lightweight components that combine noise  
and heat protection while reducing vehicle weight, 
fuel consumption and emissions. Looking  
ahead, demand for fuel-saving and aerodynamic 
Autoneum components will further intensify 
with the introduction of new vehicle test cycles 

that take into account higher speeds and 
accelerations. Measurement systems developed 
by Autoneum based on many years of expertise 
are now in worldwide use by the automotive 
industry, enabling automobile manufacturers to 
reliably predict the reduction potential of  
parts and systems even at the predevelopment 
stage. Faced with continuing high demand for  
the Isokell measuring system, in 2015 Autoneum 
launched a new version that measures the 
airborne noise insulation and the transmission 
loss of flat material samples as well as of 
formed components such as inner dashes or 
carpet systems. Beyond its products, Autoneum 
contributes to increasing driving comfort  
with measuring systems such as Isokell.

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Business year at a glance

11

provided barely any impulse with a year-on- 
year growth rate of only 1.4% and the automo-
bile industry in South America and Russia 
experienced significant slumps in demand and 
production, Autoneum profited from numerous 
successful production ramp-ups as well as from 
the diverse and balanced customer base. It was 
broadened again in 2015 with the addition of 
local and international OEMs. In accordance with 
the strategic priority not only to generate sales 
but also to grow profitably, the record highs in 
operational profitability attained in past years 
were again exceeded. Thus, the EBIT margin 
before non-recurring expenses in relation to the 
payment of CHF 31.5 million to the German 
Federal Cartel Office reached 7.6%, surpassing 
the 7% mark for the first time in company 
history. After non-recurring expenses and due to 
a normalized tax ratio, net profit declined to  
CHF 68.7 million.

There was also impressive confirmation of the 
company’s acoustics expertise in the reporting 
year. Once again, Autoneum was scientific 
leader of the Automotive Acoustics Conference 
held in June at the Swiss Federal Institute of 
Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland. At the 
2015 conference, more than 200 experts and 
representatives of car manufacturers, suppliers 
and research institutions from 20 countries 
discussed challenges associated with new 
regulations in the field of vehicle acoustics. 
Numerous international customers attended  
a regional edition of the conference held in 
Detroit, Michigan, USA. Autoneum mounts 
in-house exhibitions at automobile manufactur-
ers to present the extensive benefits of its 
product innovations to existing and potential 
customers. In 2015 these “Innovation Days” 
took place at various US OEMs in China and  
for the first time at a leading Korean OEM  
in its home market. Items on show included  
Theta-FiberCell engine encapsulations,  
underbody shields made of Ultra-Silent and  
Clean-Tuft technology for carpets.

Growth path continued
With a sales increase of more than 10% in local 
currencies, Autoneum achieved strong organic 
growth in 2015. Despite the strength of the Swiss 
franc, sales measured in the Group’s reporting 
currency also increased clearly. This market 
success was achieved in particular thanks to  
a good order situation and correspondingly high 
production volumes in Europe, North America 
and Asia. Whereas global automotive production 

Customer-driven expansion
Autoneum further expanded its global presence 
in 2015 in accordance with high demand. In 
Mexico, Autoneum laid the foundation for a third 
production site and thus strengthened its 
position in this important North American growth 
market. The plant located in San Luis Potosí, 
approximately 400 kilometers northwest of 
Mexico City, will start the production of inner 
dashes, floor insulators and carpet systems in 
early 2017. From this 26 000-square-meter 
facility, Autoneum is to supply US and German 
OEMs producing locally for the North American 

12

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Business year at a glance

market. US plants in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and 
Monroe, Ohio, which were newly put into 
operation in 2015, started the manufacturing  
of carpet systems and underbody shields for  
US and Japanese customers. Production capaci-
ties at the Chinese plants in Taicang, Shenyang 
and Guangzhou were further extended in order 
to industrialize extensive existing serial  
orders for European, US and Chinese customers. 
In order to provide internationally producing 
customers with the accustomed high product 
quality for their South American manufacturing 
facilities too, an existing plant within the 
metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil, was 
relocated and its machinery renewed in  
line with the latest production standards.

A variety of model ramp-ups resulted in 
high utilization of European, North American 
and Asian production capacity. Along with series 
production for models of European premium  
and volume OEMs, there was first-time supply  
of carpet systems, heatshields and hoodliners to  
a Korean OEM in Europe. In the USA, Autoneum 
shared in the market success of its customers, 
for example as evidenced by the fact that almost 
all of the 15 best-selling 2015 car models in the 
USA were fitted with products from Autoneum. 
New launches in China and India strengthened 
the market position of Autoneum at US custom-
ers, while sales to Chinese OEMs increased 
further through supply of heatshields.

Meanwhile, numerous large orders obtained 
in 2015 secure Autoneum’s future sales growth. 
These include high-volume orders for carpet 
systems from a German premium manufacturer 
in Europe as well as orders to supply textile 
underbody systems to the US production plants 
of German and Japanese customers and to 
produce carpet systems, heatshields and 
hoodliners for a Swedish OEM as part of its 
expansion program in China.

Driving innovation in multifunctional  
lightweight components
In the reporting year Autoneum again proved  
its innovation leadership in acoustic and thermal 
management with forward-looking products. 
With Clean-Tuft, the market leader extended its 
range of high-quality carpets by offering premi-
um-quality tufted carpets for compact and 
mid-class vehicles, too. The innovative Clean-Tuft 
technology offers significant added value in 
terms of cleanability and durability compared  
to the needlepunch carpets commonly found in 
these classes of vehicles. With Prime-Light,  
an innovative quantum leap in inner dashes and 
floor insulators was achieved. Prime-Light  
marks the latest advancement of Autoneum’s 
successful Ultra-Light technology: Compared to 
previous Ultra-Light variants, components made 
from Prime-Light are even lighter and can also 
be pressed into many different shapes and 
thicknesses. Thus they adjust perfectly to the 
individual body-in-white shapes and take 
account of increasingly complex manufacturing 
processes in vehicle construction. Prime-Light-
based inner dashes and floor insulators are made 
of thermoplastic cotton felt compounds, and 
depending on the specific application may contain 
up to 50% recycled materials. Prime-Light  
will be produced in series for models of US 
OEMs in North America and China as of 2016.
To support OEMs in meeting globally in - 
creasing requirements for vehicle emissions and 
noise reduction, Autoneum now offers multifunc-
tional engine covers made of Theta-FiberCell. 
This key technology takes into account 
 customer-specific product requirements such  
as optimum noise protection and integrated 
thermal insulation. Compared to conventional 
engine covers made of plastic, Theta-FiberCell 
engine covers are lighter by over 50%, which 

 
 
 
corresponds to a weight reduction of up to  
one kilogram per vehicle. At the same time they 
absorb engine noise and thus contribute to 
improved acoustics in the passenger compart-
ment, less exterior noise and enhanced  
driving comfort. Engine covers currently manu-
factured in Europe will be produced in Asia  
and the USA in future as well.

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Business year at a glance

13

this improves ergonomics for manufacturing 
staff, while on the other hand, recycling or reuse 
of industrial waste minimizes the environmental 
impact of the produced components. In addi-
tion, over 25 flawless new start-ups impressively 
demonstrated in 2015 the level of operational 
excellence that Autoneum has reached in its 
production processes since the separation in 
2011. This was only possible due to a consis-
tently implemented focus on process standard-
ization and global best practice sharing. Opera-
tional excellence was also decisive in maintaining 
profitability of the only Swiss production site  
in Sevelen, which produces predominantly for 
the eurozone, despite the abolishment of  
the euro/Swiss franc minimum exchange rate in 
January 2015 and the currency’s ensuing 
strength.

Operational excellence as key success factor 
Continuous efficiency improvements are not  
only a central pillar of an automotive supplier’s 
business model but also represent a decisive 
competitive factor. It follows that operational 
excellence in all business areas is indispensable. 
Autoneum has launched eight “Group Initia-
tives” encompassing various production-related 
topics, including recycling, maintenance and 
energy management and performs regular 
checks on their implementation at every site 
worldwide. One of these initiatives to implement 
standardized manufacturing processes in all 
plants is the Mizusumashi train. A Mizusumashi 
train is an electrically driven tugger that ensures 
optimal distribution of material on the shop-
floor, to and from workers at their machines, in 
alignment with production processes. Applying 
this rhythm to the material flow reduces costs 
and energy consumption and increases production 
safety as well by substituting for forklifts.

Another cost-saving effect is achieved 
through the use of exhaust systems for produc-
tion waste, which are being introduced gradually 
across all production sites. On the one hand,  

Living our values – commitment to  
social responsibility
The value-based High Performance Culture 
introduced in 2012 is both a framework and  
a guideline for the daily actions of our employ-
ees. It is to be exemplified by executives of  
the company and adapted accordingly by staff.  
At the same time, the strong focus on corporate 
values implies particular attention to the needs 
of employees. Consequently, based on results  
of an employee satisfaction survey first conducted 
in 2014, concrete measures were defined and 
introduced in 2015. Among them was the 
introduction of local “Kaizen” officers to ensure 
the systematic collection and implementation of 
suggestions for improvement at their respective 

 
14

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Business year at a glance

Autoneum sites. Within the scope of extending 
the company’s training and education program, 
executives at more than 20 plants for the  
first time received instruction in accordance  
with the “Engage Your Team” concept. In order  
to ensure full observance of legal and internal 
requirements in business transactions, 
Autoneum significantly expanded the 2015 
course program in the area of compliance, with 
mandatory e-learning programs and trainings 
being introduced.

Recognizing their social responsibility, 

almost all sites ran charitable CSR (Corporate 

Social Responsibility) activities in the reporting 
year. These included, for example, a golf 
tournament held annually at the Autoneum site 
in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. Around  
140 participants brought in more than 55 000 
US dollars, which was donated to a charitable 
organization. On the occasion of “Breast Cancer 
Awareness Month” employees at the British 
plants and North American headquarters collected 
donations that went to benefit cancer research. 
Personnel at the Chinese plant in Guangzhou 
organized a charity bazaar, with proceeds going 
to support the fire department in Tianjin.

Autoneumfrom  A to Z 
What does “Operational Excellence” mean? 
How do engine encapsulations reduce 
vehicle emissions? And how is “Kaizen” implemented? 
Discover the world of Autoneum from A to Z! 

Autoneumfrom  A to Z16

Customers of Autoneum:

17

A

The automotive industry is a growth 

Automotive Industry      
industry driven by innovation and one of the most important global economic 
sectors. As the leading supplier of acoustic and thermal management solutions  
and one of the world’s top 100 suppliers, Autoneum produces components for  
almost all automobile manufacturers that make cars quieter, lighter and safer.  
Thanks to Autoneum, OEMs offer their customers not only driving comfort but  
also a sustainable driving experience.

18

B

Autoneum is divided into four Business  

Business Groups      
Groups by region: Business Group Europe, Business Group North America, Business 
Group Asia and Business Group SAMEA (South America, Middle East and Africa). 
Almost 90% of Autoneum’s net sales are currently generated in Europe and North 
America. By 2020, the growth markets of Asia and SAMEA will already account for 
over 20% of the company’s sales. The decisive factor here is growth with global 
and regional customers in Asia – not only in China as the world’s largest automobile 
market, but also in Thailand, South Korea and India.

BG Europe

BG North America

BG Asia

BG SAMEA

C

CO2

CO2 emissions of vehicles are subject to increasing global regulation.  

For example, automobile manufacturers in the European Union are being required 
to reduce the average CO2 emissions of a vehicle from 130 grams at present  
to 95 grams per kilometer driven from 2021. The lightweight and aerodynamic 
products of Autoneum help to achieve this by reducing vehicle weight and fuel 
consumption, which in turn means lower emissions. 

      
19

D

While until now importance was attached primarily to reducing 

Decibel      
interior vehicle noise, in future the focus will be on reduction of exterior noise. 
Currently, light vehicles in the European Union are allowed to be up to 74 decibels  
loud – from 2025 onward, the limit will be 68 decibels. This means that four  
cars will then only be allowed to make as much noise as a single vehicle today.  
In order to achieve this reduction, Autoneum’s long-standing acoustics expertise  
is indispensable.

E

EHS – Environment, Health and Safety     
Whether on the shopfloor or in the office – safety always comes first at Autoneum.  
For this reason, training courses are held each year at all the company’s 50 locations 
that address various aspects such as the correct and safe operation of machines  
or power-saving work processes. The targeted further training of internal specialists 
to conduct these training courses makes a decisive contribution to the high safety 
standards at Autoneum.

  
 
F

Autoneum uses textile fibers  

Fibers      
for the manufacture of innovative Prime-Light 
inner dashes and floor insulators. Fiber-based 
products are particularly light and at the same 
time absorb interior and exterior vehicle  
noise. Lightweight Prime-Light insulators replace 
insulators made of heavy layer foam, thereby 
facilitating a weight saving of up to 50%. 

22

G

The global 

Global Presence      
presence of Autoneum is one of the company’s 
key success factors. With around 50 locations  
in over 20 countries, Autoneum stands for pro- 
duction in proximity to the customer and just-  
in-time delivery. Whether in the traditional key 
markets of Europe, North and South America and 
Asia or in growth markets such as Mexico, China 
and India – Autoneum is a reliable partner of 
automobile manufacturers throughout the world. 

Autoneum

Locations  
with minority 
shareholders

Investments in 
associates

Licensees

Argentina 
⋅ Córdoba

Belgium 
⋅ Genk

Brazil 
⋅ Betim 
⋅ Gravataí 
⋅ São Paulo 
⋅ Taubaté

Canada 
⋅ London, Ontario 
⋅ Tillsonburg,  
  Ontario

Czech Republic  
⋅ Bor 
⋅ Choceň 
⋅ Hnátnice

France 
⋅ Aubergenville 
⋅ Blainville 
⋅ Lachapelle-aux-Pots 
⋅ Moissac 
⋅ Ons-en-Bray

China 
⋅ Chongqing 
⋅ Shanghai 
⋅ Shenyang 
⋅ Taicang 
⋅ Guangzhou 
⋅ Tianjin 
⋅ Wuhan 
⋅ Fuzhou

Germany 
⋅ Großostheim 
⋅ Munich 
⋅ Roßdorf- 
  Gundernhausen 
⋅ Sindelfingen

Great Britain 
⋅ Halesowen 
⋅ Heckmondwike 
⋅ Stoke-on-Trent

India 
⋅ Behror 
⋅ Chennai

Indonesia 
⋅ Jakarta

Italy 
⋅ Santhià

Japan 
⋅ Aichi 
⋅ Higashi Kyushu  
⋅ Hiratsuka 
⋅ Hiroshima 
⋅ Kyushu 
⋅ Shizuoka 
⋅ Tokyo

23

Malaysia 
⋅ Shah Alam

Mexico 
⋅ Hermosillo 
⋅ Silao

Poland  
⋅ Katowice 
⋅ Nowogard

Portugal 
⋅ Setúbal

Russia 
⋅ Ryazan

South Africa 
⋅ Rosslyn  
⋅ Durban

Taiwan 
⋅ Taoyuan

Thailand 
⋅ Laem Chabang  
⋅ Chonburi

Turkey 
⋅ Bursa 

South Korea 
⋅ Incheon 
⋅ Daegu

Spain 
⋅ A Rúa 
⋅ Valldoreix

Sweden 
⋅ Göteborg

Switzerland 
⋅ Winterthur (HQ) 
⋅ Sevelen

USA 
⋅ Aiken, South Carolina 
⋅ Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania 
⋅ Farmington Hills, Michigan 
⋅ Jeffersonville, Indiana 
⋅ Oregon-Lallendorf, Ohio 
⋅ Oregon-Wynn, Ohio 
⋅ Chicago Heights, Illinois 
⋅ Jackson, Tennessee 
⋅ Monroe, Ohio 
⋅ Somerset, Kentucky 
⋅ Tinley Park, Illinois 
⋅ Valparaiso, Indiana

24

H

High Performance Culture      
A motivating company 
culture that simultaneously targets employee commitment and satisfaction  
makes a significant contribution to long-term business success. Autoneum’s High 
Performance Culture is based on specific values and behaviors. The employees  
at all locations practice these values in their decisions and actions. This enables  
Autoneum to remain loyal to its overarching principles “Delight your customers”, 
“Enjoy your work” and “Fight for profits”.

25

I

Innovation Leader      
has for decades been a global leader in the development and manufacture  
of components and systems for noise and heat protection with its innovative 
multifunctional products. Autoneum’s pioneering materials, technologies  
and products already offer OEMs today what the vehicle of tomorrow will need.

Thanks to its research expertise, Autoneum 

26

J

In addition to its own numerous production facilities, 

Joint Venture      
Autoneum also successfully participates in joint ventures. Autoneum operates  
six joint ventures around the world with its long-standing Japanese partner and 
automobile supplier Nittoku for the supply of Japanese OEMs in North America  
and Asia. In addition, Autoneum cooperates with local partners in growth markets 
such as Turkey, South Africa, Thailand and South Korea, thereby ensuring  
optimum global presence as well as further growth. 

K

The term “Kaizen” originates from Japanese and means “change  

Kaizen      
for the better”. Kaizen is based on the principle of continuous progress by means of  
a large number of individual measures. In 2015, Autoneum’s employees around  
the world submitted more than 10 000 improvement proposals including, among 
others, optimization possibilities for production processes.

27

L

Lightweight construction has today become an  

Lightweight      
indispensable component of automotive development. Autoneum not only has 
implemented this trend at an early stage but also played a pioneering role  
in shaping it. Thanks to its lightweight products, fuel consumption and vehicle 
emissions are reduced – with both automobile manufacturers and consumers 
benefiting from this. 

28

M

Multifunctional      
noise and heat protection. While noise reduction contributes to enhanced  
driving comfort and a reduced environmental impact, sensitive components are 
simultaneously protected against heat. In addition, the products are recyclable.  
One product – multiple benefits!

Autoneum’s products ideally combine vehicle 

N

Autoneum’s non-woven carpets contribute 

Non-Woven Carpets      
to enhanced driving comfort by reducing the level of road noise penetrating  
the passenger compartment. Moreover, they are also dirt-resistant, easy to clean 
and visually appealing. Non-woven carpets such as Di-Light are largely used in 
compact and mid-range cars. For higher vehicle classes, Autoneum additionally 
offers multifunctional tufted carpets.

30

O

Operational Excellence      
on a daily basis by our global workforce of over 11 000 employees. Whether best 
practice sharing, standardization of business and production processes, implementation 
of the Autoneum Production System (APS) or general efficiency and productivity 
enhancements – operational excellence is pursued throughout Autoneum. 

Operational excellence is practiced 

P

Profitable Growth      
Autoneum focuses constantly on profitable 
growth as one of its six strategic priorities. Thanks to the selective acceptance of 
orders, operational excellence and the expansion of vertical integration, the 
company not only has continuously increased sales since the separation back in 
2011, but with an operating margin of 7.6% is also an above-average successful 
automotive supplier.

Q

Quality orientation is the prerequisite for business success – this 

Quality      
particularly also applies to automotive suppliers as their components must satisfy  
the highest quality requirements of vehicle manufacturers. The quality of parts and 
 systems is measured in “parts per million” (ppm). “Ppm” refers to the number of faulty 
parts (error rates) in component production. This means that out of a million produced  
parts only a given very small number may be defective.

31

R

Autoneum keeps the environmental impact of its products  

Recycling      
as low as possible. To this end, the company focuses on production processes  
that facilitate a more efficient processing of the deployed raw materials and return 
production waste to the manufacturing cycle. At the same time, the application  
of reusable basic materials contributes to making a large share of the end products 
recyclable.

S

In order to support customers in the design phase of  

Simulation      
new models and in the further development of existing vehicles, Autoneum  
makes use of self-developed simulation software programs. This software serves  
to optimize the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) performance of vehicles.  
The products and systems developed on the basis of these simulations are tested 
by means of specially designed measurement systems. 

34

T

Theta-FiberCell      
a key technology for engine encapsulations. Engine encapsulations keep the  
engine warm over a longer period. This means less fuel consumption and therefore 
lower CO2 emissions at the next cold start. The fiber-foam combination withstands 
temperatures of up to 200°C and reduces engine noise.

With Theta-FiberCell, Autoneum has developed  

35

U

Underbody systems reduce the drag  

Underbody Systems      
of cars, thereby enhancing their aerodynamics. Autoneum’s Ultra-Silent underbody 
shields consist of textile fibers and offer various benefits compared with conven-
tional underbody components made of plastic. They weigh only half as much  
as plastic parts and offer optimum stone chip protection. In addition, as a textile 
material Ultra-Silent absorbs interior and exterior vehicle noise much more  
effectively than hard plastic. 

36

Vertical Integration  
as implemented in the 
Injection-Fiber-Process (IFP-R2)

1  Bale opener 
2  IFP-R2 tower 
3  IFP-R2 fiber cake 
4  Molding 
5  Cutting 
6  Recycling

5

4

6

37

3

2

V

1

Vertical Integration      
is the expansion of vertical integration. Specifically, this means to increase the  
vertical range of manufacture by enhancing the in-house production of basic materials. 
This enables the entire potential of the value chain – from the basic materials to  
the final component – to be optimally utilized.

An important success factor for Autoneum 

W

Winterthur      
and the research center are located in Winterthur, Switzerland,  
in the canton of Zurich.

Autoneum’s corporate headquarters  

40

X

With the separation and the going public of Autoneum, the year 

MM X I      
2011 marks the starting point of the market leader’s growth path. Since then the 
company has consistently implemented its guiding principle of “continuous  
improvement”, enhanced its global presence, acquired new customers and in doing 
so multiplied its profitability.

Y

The Yuan, officially also called renminbi, is the currency of world’s 

Yuan      
largest automobile market: Over 23 million light vehicles were produced  
in China in 2015, and an increase to 30 million vehicles is forecast by 2020.  
Autoneum has therefore expanded its presence in this Asian growth market  
in recent years and today operates five production facilities in China.

Z

Mi z  usumashi      
The Japanese 
term “Mizusumashi” means “water strider”.  
In a similar way as the water strider insect glides 
over the water’s surface, Mizusumashi trains 
move just as quickly and silently through the 
production facilities. These tugger trains ensure 
the continuous supply of shopfloor workers  
with materials and parts at their workstations. 
Compared with forklifts, Mizusumashi trains 
increase the cycle times of the material flow and 
facilitate more efficient and safer production.

42

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Sustainability

Sustainable action for  
long-term success

Entrepreneurial activity significantly impacts developments in society.  
With its comprehensive sustainability management, Autoneum  
contributes to shaping society sustainably while ensuring long-term  
corporate success at the same time. Ecological, economic and social  
aspects are all integral to corporate development.

Autoneum pursues the principle of responsible 
action consistently and across all its sites. 
Prudent management of employees and open 
dialogue with the public is just as much  
part of it as the careful use of natural resources. 
Accordingly, the company strives to minimize 
the environmental impact of its manufacturing 
processes. So in 2015, Autoneum implemented 
production-related measures to increase 
efficiency worldwide, in particular through 
cutting down consumption of energy and water 
as well as reducing waste. Thus, various sites  
of all four Business Groups increased the reuse 
of internal production scrap from the manu-
facture of damping materials and pieces of felt. 
In addition, heavy foam production waste  
from European plants has been centrally recycled 
in Roßdorf-Gundernhausen, Germany, since 2015.

For long-term reductions in energy consumption, 
systems for monitoring and analyzing electri- 
city consumption have been installed at several 
production sites in China. Improvements at  
the Chongqing plant alone led to a 10% decrease 
in consumption. Adjustments to production 
processes and equipment in Poland, Canada, 
China and the USA resulted in less water being 
consumed.

Eco-efficient products
In addition to Autoneum’s resource-saving 
production processes, its products also contribute 
to the sustainable protection of the environment: 
On the one hand, their lightweight construction 
reduces vehicle weight, resulting in lower  
fuel consumption and correspondingly lower CO2 
emissions. On the other hand, they reduce the 

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Sustainability

43

environmental impact of traffic by lessening  
the interior and exterior noise of vehicles. So for 
example, textile underbody shields made of 
Ultra-Silent decrease interior noise by up to two 
decibels and exterior noise by up to one decibel.
Autoneum is the market leader for  
lightweight underbody systems; its Ultra-Silent 
fiber technology was developed with this specific 
approach in mind. In the past, this technology 
has been available only in Europe. In the 
reporting year Autoneum introduced Ultra-Silent 
in the North American market, responding to  
big demand from international OEMs. Its launch 
in China is planned for 2017. 

Focus on occupational safety
The eco-efficiency of production sites is evaluated 
on a monthly basis according to specific indica-
tors (KPIs). This data is also used to document 
compliance with customers’ sustainability 
requirements. Social criteria are recorded as 
well, including KPIs that quantify the level  
of occupational safety. Autoneum aims to ensure 
the best possible safety conditions at all sites  
and constantly strives to prevent accidents at 
the workplace.

Numerous training courses and audits ensured 
that further extensions to the company’s     
environmental, health and safety management 
system, which were defined and implemen- 
ted at all production sites in 2014, were indeed 
applied according to specifications.

Intensified knowledge management
In line with its value of “continuous improve-
ment”, in all areas of business Autoneum strives 
to further expand innovation leadership in the 
field of vehicle acoustics and thermal manage-
ment. This calls for knowledge management 
within the company, an important part of this 
being regular transfer of know-how between 
specialists at different locations on specific 
products, technologies and production processes. 
In order to intensify this structured exchange  
of experience, existing expert networks 
dedicated to products such as tufted carpets 
and heatshields were augmented in 2015  
by some expert networks focused on production 
processes. In these global committees, experts 
in the fields of research & development, techno- 
logy and manufacturing discuss the latest 
in-house research findings, develop optimized 
production flows and evaluate global trends  
as they relate to the respective expert networks.

In 2015, Autoneum implemented worldwide measures  
to increase efficiency and hence  
reduce consumption of energy and water.

44

   Corporate Governance

Autoneum is a globally oriented company that is committed to creating  
long-term value. As such, it considers high standards of  
Corporate Governance of utmost importance. A policy of transparent  
information provision to its various stakeholder groups creates  
a basis for mutual trust.

The rules and regulations of Corporate Gover- 
nance are laid out in numerous Autoneum 
documents, in particular the Articles of Asso  - 
ciation1, the Organizational Regulations2 and  
the Board Committee Regulations. The content 
and structure of this report conform to  
the Corporate Governance guidelines and their 
related commentaries published by the SIX 
Swiss Exchange.

capitalization as of December 31, 2015, was  
CHF 938.1 million.

Autoneum Group consists of the four 
Business Groups Europe, North America, Asia, 
and SAMEA (South America, Middle East and 
Africa), the Corporate Finance department and 
those cross functions that report directly to  
the CEO. It includes all companies controlled by 
Autoneum Holding Ltd.

Unless stated otherwise, the data pertain 

Within the framework of internal regula- 

to December 31, 2015. Information will  
be updated regularly on www.autoneum.com/
investor-relations. Some data refer to the 
financial section of this Annual Report. The 
Remuneration report can be found from  
page 104 onwards.

1 Group structure and shareholders 

Group structure
Autoneum Holding Ltd is a company incorpo- 
rated under Swiss law, with its registered offices 
in Winterthur. Its shares are listed on the  
SIX Swiss Exchange (securities code 12748036, 
ISIN CH0127480363, symbol AUTN). Market 

1 www.autoneum.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/
2 www.autoneum.com/about-autoneum/

tions, the Business Groups are responsible for 
the profitability of each individual company  
with the exception of those business activities 
and companies that report directly to the CEO.

Each Business Group has been established 

for a clearly defined and demarcated specific 
market region. Each of these Business Groups 
conducts its business within the framework  
of the Organizational Regulations2 and under 
the leadership of the Business Group Head, who 
reports directly to the CEO of the Autoneum 
Group. The segment reporting information can 
be found on pages 78–80.

The Corporate Finance department and 
those cross functions that report directly to  
the CEO support the CEO, the Business Group 

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
 
 
45

Heads, and the Board of Directors in their 
management and supervisory functions, and 
are responsible for the activities outside the 
Business Groups such as management of holding 
companies and pension funds. Subsidiary 
companies are founded based on legal, business 
and financial considerations. One responsible 
person (Head of Legal Unit) is appointed  
for each company. He is responsible for local 
financial management as well as for compliance 
with national laws and regulations and internal 
guidelines.

ment organization of the Autoneum Group is 
independent of the legal structure of the Group 
and the individual companies.

Significant shareholders
As of December 31, 2015, Autoneum was  
aware of the following shareholders with 3%  
or more of all voting rights in the company:
 · Artemis Beteiligungen I Ltd; Centinox Holding 
Ltd; Michael Pieper, Hergiswil, Switzerland
 · PCS Holding Ltd, Warth-Weiningen; Peter  

Spuhler, Weiningen, Switzerland

Companies with participation of further 

 · Norges Bank (The Central Bank of Norway), 

shareholders are principally managed as 
described above and according to the respective 
agreements.

40 companies worldwide belonged to the 

Autoneum Group as of December 31, 2015.  
An overview on affiliates comprising the names, 
domiciles and share capital of the affiliates  
and the voting rights held by the Autoneum 
Group can be found on page 102. The manage-

Oslo, Norway

All notifications of shareholders with 3%  
or more of all voting rights in the company have 
been reported to the Disclosure Office of the  
SIX Swiss Exchange in accordance with Art. 20  
of SESTA (Swiss Stock Exchanges and Securities 
Trading Act) and published via its electronic 
publication platform on www.six-exchange-

Organization

As per December 31, 2015

Autoneum 
Holding Ltd
Board of Directors 

Autoneum 
Group
Martin Hirzel
CEO

Corporate Finance

Dr Martin Zwyssig
CFO 

Business Group 
Europe
Matthias Holzammer

Business Group 
North America
John T. Lenga
(as of March 1, 2015)

Business Group 
Asia
Dr Uwe Trautmann
(until February 29, 2016)

Business Group 
SAMEA
Volker Eimertenbrink
(until December 31, 2015)

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
46

regulation.com/en/home/publications/significant-
shareholders.html, where also further details 
can be found.

As of December 31, 2015, Autoneum 

Holding Ltd held 0.8% of the share capital  
(37 612 shares). 

Cross-holdings
Autoneum has no information about cross- 
holdings of capital or voting shares exceeding 
the limit of 5%.

2 Capital structure

Share capital
On December 31, 2015, the share capital of 
Autoneum Holding Ltd totaled CHF 233 618.15. 
This was divided into 4 672 363 fully paid up 
registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.05 
each. The shares are listed on the SIX  
Swiss Exchange (securities code 12748036,  
ISIN CH0127480363, symbol AUTN).

Authorized share capital
There is no authorized share capital available at 
Autoneum Holding Ltd.

Contingent capital for issuing convertible and/
or warranty bonds or granting shareholder 
options
The share capital may be increased by up to 
700 000 fully paid registered shares with  
a nominal value of CHF 0.05 each in an amount 
not to exceed CHF 35 000 through the voluntary 
or mandatory exercise of conversion rights  
and/or warrants granted in connection with the 
issuance of bonds or similar financial instru-
ments by the company or one of its Group com- 
panies on national or international capital 
markets, and/or through the exercise of option 
rights granted to the shareholders. The 
 preemptive rights of the shareholders on the 
issuance of bonds or other financial instru- 
ments with which conversion rights and/or 

3 www.autoneum.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/

warrants are connected shall be excluded. The 
then current owners of conversion rights  
and/or warrants shall be entitled to subscribe to 
the new shares. The conditions of the conversion 
rights and/or warrants shall be determined by 
the Board of Directors. The acquisition of shares 
through the voluntary or mandatory exercise of 
conversion rights and/or warrants as well as 
each subsequent transfer of shares are subject 
to the restrictions in §4 of the Articles of 
Association3. 

In connection with the issuance of bonds  

or similar financial instruments with which  
conversion rights and/or warrants are connected, 
the Board of Directors is empowered to restrict 
or exclude the advance subscription rights of 
shareholders if (1) such instrument is issued for 
the financing or refinancing of the acquisition  
of corporations, parts thereof, equity holdings or 
investments or if (2) such instrument is issued  
(i) on national or international capital markets 
or (ii) to one or more financial investors. If  
the advance subscription rights are restricted or 
excluded by the Board of Directors, the follow- 
ing shall apply: the issuance of such instrument 
shall be made at prevailing market conditions, 
and the new shares shall be issued pursuant to 
the relevant conditions of that financial instru-
ment. Conversion rights may be exercised during 
a maximum ten-year period, and warrants  
may be exercised during a maximum seven-year 
period, in each case from the date of the respec- 
tive issuance. The issuance of the new shares 
upon voluntary or mandatory exercise of conver- 
sion rights and/or warrants shall be made at 
conditions taking into account the market price 
of the shares and/or compara ble instruments 
with a market price at the time of issuance of 
the relevant financial instrument.

Contingent capital for employee  
participation shares
The share capital may be increased by a maxi- 
mum of CHF 12 500 through the issuance of  
up to 250 000 fully paid up registered shares 

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
47

is therefore no authorized share capital available 
at Autoneum Holding Ltd.

Participation and dividend-right certificates
Autoneum Holding Ltd has issued neither 
participation certificates nor dividend-right 
certificates.

Shares
Autoneum Holding Ltd has issued 4 672 363 
fully paid up registered shares with a nominal 
value of CHF 0.05 each. Each registered share  
is entitled to dividends and entitles the holder  
to one vote at General Meetings of Autoneum 
Holding Ltd shareholders. The Board of Directors 
maintains a share register in which the owners 
and usufructuaries are registered with name/
company name and address with the following 
conditions. Only those persons listed in the 
share register will be recognized as company 
shareholders or usufructuaries. Any changes  
of name or address must be communicated to 
the company. Those who acquire registered 
shares must make written application for entry 
in the share register. The company can refuse 
such entry to parties who do not expressly 
declare that they have acquired and will hold 
these registered shares in their own names and 
for their own account. If persons fail to expressly 
declare in their registration applications  
that they hold the shares for their own account 
(“nominees”), the Board of Directors shall enter 
such persons in the share register with the right 
to vote, provided that the nominee has entered 
into an agreement with the company concerning 
his or her status, and further provided that  
the nominee is subject to a recognized bank or 
financial market supervision. After hearing the 
registered shareholder or nominee, the Board of 
Directors may cancel any registration in the 
share register made based on incorrect informa-
tion with retroactive effect as of the date of 
registration. The relevant shareholder or nominee 
must be informed immediately of the cancella-
tion. The Board of Directors regulates the details 

There have been  
no changes to the share  
capital of Autoneum  
Holding Ltd since the 
company’s founding  
on December 2, 2010.

with a par value of CHF 0.05 each to employees 
of the company or one of its Group companies. 
The preemptive rights of the shareholders shall 
be excluded in connection with the issuance of 
convertible or warrant-bearing bonds or similar 
financial instruments. The issuance of these 
shares to employees will be in accordance with 
one or more regulations issued by the Board  
of Directors and will take appropriate account of 
employee performance, position and degree of 
responsibility, and economic viability criteria 
subject to §24 of the Articles of Association4. 
Shares or options may be issued to employees 
at a price lower than that quoted on the stock 
exchange. The acquisition of shares within the 
framework of the employee participation plan,  
as well as every subsequent transfer of these 
shares, is subject to the limitations set forth in 
§4 of the Articles of Association4.

Changes in share capital
There have been no changes to the share capital 
of Autoneum Holding Ltd since the company’s 
founding on December 2, 2010. The General 
Meeting of March 22, 2011, adopted a contingent 
share capital of CHF 35 000 (see page 46)  
and a contingent share capital of CHF 12 500 
(see pages 46 and 47). The authorized share 
capital of CHF 47 500 adopted at the same 
General Meeting of March 22, 2011, expired 
after two years on March 22, 2013, without 
being utilized. It was not extended, and there  

4 www.autoneum.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance48

and issues the instructions necessary for 
compliance with the provisions set forth above. 
In special cases, the Board of Directors  
may grant exemptions from the rule concerning 
nominees and may delegate its duties.

The company only recognizes one proxy per 

share. Voting rights and associated rights may 
only be exercised in relation to the company by  
a shareholder, usufructuary or nominee entered 
in the share register as having the right to vote.

The registered shares of Autoneum Holding 

Ltd are issued in the form of securities and 
registered as book-entry securities (in the sense 
of the Book-Entry Securities Act) at SIX SIS Ltd. 
Book-entry securities with underlying shares  
of the company may not be transferred by way of 
assignment. Security interests for these 
book-entry securities cannot be granted by means 
of assignment. The company is entitled to 
convert at any time and without the approval of 
shareholders shares issued in the form of 
uncertificated securities into individual share 
certificates or global share certificates. 
Shareholders are not entitled to have shares 
issued in one particular form transformed into 
another form. Any shareholder is, however, 
entitled to request at any time that the company 
issues a certificate stating the number of shares 
registered in his or her name.

Restrictions on share transfers and nominee 
registrations
Those persons entered in the shareholders’ 
register are recognized as voting shareholders. 
Autoneum shares can be bought and sold 
without any restrictions. In accordance with
§4 of the Articles of Association5, entry in  
the register of shareholders can be denied in  
the absence of an explicit declaration that the 
shares are held in the applicant’s own name
and for the applicant’s own account. There are 
no other registration restrictions.

Shares held in a fiduciary capacity are not 

principally entered in the shareholders’  
register. However, as an exception to this rule,  

5 www.autoneum.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/ 
6 www.autoneum.com/about-autoneum/

a nominee is entered in the register if the 
nominee in question has concluded a nominee 
agreement with Autoneum and is subject  
to a recognized bank or financial supervisory 
authority. The nominee exercises voting  
rights at the Annual General Meeting of sharehol-
ders. At the request of Autoneum Holding Ltd, 
the nominee is obliged to disclose the name of 
the person on whose behalf it holds shares.

A resolution of the General Meeting 
approved by the absolute majority of the voting 
shares represented is required in order to cancel 
the restrictions on share transfers.

Convertible bonds and options
Autoneum Holding Ltd has no convertible bonds 
or options outstanding.

3 Board of Directors

The composition, general rights, duties and 
responsibilities of the Board of Directors of 
Autoneum Holding Ltd are pursuant to the  
Swiss Code of Obligations and the Autoneum 
Holding Ltd Articles of Association5 and 
Organizational Regulations6.

Board membership
Pursuant to the Articles of Association5,  
the Board of Directors of Autoneum Holding Ltd 
consists of no less than three and no more  
than nine members. As of December 31, 2015,  
the Board of Directors comprised six members, 
none of whom performed executive duties.  
The functions of Chairman of the Board and CEO 
are separated in order to ensure a good  
balance between the company management and 
supervisory bodies.

Independence of non-executive members
The Board of Directors consists of non-executive 
members, and none of the members  
has exercised any operational activities for 
Autoneum in the three financial years preced- 

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
49

ing the reporting period. The members of  
the Board of Directors and the companies repre- 
sented by them do not have any significant  
business relationships with companies of the 
Autoneum Group (but see page 100).

cases. Nominations for election to the Board  
of Directors are made with due regard for  
the balanced composition of this body, taking 
industrial and international management 
experience and specialist knowledge into account.

Permissible activities outside the  
Autoneum Group
According to §20 of the Articles of Association7, 
no member of the Board of Directors may 
assume more than fifteen additional mandates 
and no more than five of these may be held  
with listed companies. This restriction does not 
apply to (a) mandates held with companies  
that control or are controlled by Autoneum 
Holding Ltd; (b) mandates assumed by a member 
of the Board of Directors by order of Autoneum 
Holding Ltd or companies under its control; (c) 
mandates held with companies that do not 
qualify as companies within the meaning of Art. 
727, para. 1, clause 2 of the Swiss Code of 
Obligations; (d) mandates held with nonprofit 
organizations and foundations as well as 
pension funds. The number of mandates pursuant 
to (c) and (d) is limited to a total of 20.

Mandates held with various legal entities 
that are under joint control or controlled by the 
same beneficial owner count as one mandate. 
Mandates held with the supreme management  
or administrative body of a legal entity that  
is required to be registered in the commercial 
register or an equivalent register abroad count 
as mandates. 

Election and term of office, principles of the 
election procedure
The Chairman and the other members of the 
Board are elected individually by the General 
Meeting and for a one-year term of office, 
meaning from one Annual General Meeting  
to the next one. 

Board members can be reelected. They 

Internal organization
The Board of Directors is responsible for the 
business strategy and supervisory management 
of the Autoneum Group and Group companies.  
It exercises a supervisory function over  
the persons who have been entrusted with the 
business management.

The Board of Directors is responsible for all 
transactions that are not explicitly reserved for 
the General Meeting or other bodies according  
to the law, the Articles of Association7 and the 
Organizational Regulations8. It prepares the 
Annual General Meeting and makes the neces- 
sary arrangements for implementing resolutions 
adopted by the Annual General Meeting. The 
Board of Directors has the following decision-
making authority:

 · composition of the business portfolio and 

strategic direction of the Group;
 · definition of the Group structure;
 · appointment and dismissal of the members  

of the Group Executive Board;

 · definition of the authority and duties of the 
Chairman and the committees of the Board  
of Directors as well as the CEO and CFO of the 
Autoneum Group and the Business Group 
Heads;

 · organization of accounting, financial control 

and financial planning;

 · approval of strategic and financial planning, 

the budget and the Annual Report  
with business review, financial statements, 
consolidated financial statements and  
Remuneration report;

retire at the Annual General Meeting following 
their 70th birthday, although the Board of 
Directors can lift the age limit in individual 

 · principles of financial and investment policy, 
personnel and social policy, management and 
communications;

7 www.autoneum.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/
8 www.autoneum.com/about-autoneum/

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance5050

Board of Directors

Hans-Peter Schwald (1959)
Chairman 
Swiss national

Rainer Schmückle (1959)
Vice Chairman
German national

Michael Pieper (1946)
Board member
Swiss national

First elected to the Board Board  
member since 2011 . Educational and  
professional background Lic. oec.  
HSG; owner and CEO of Artemis Holding  
Ltd . Other activities and interests  
Member of the Board of Directors of  
various Artemis and Franke subsidiaries 
worldwide; Board member, Berenberg 
Bank (Switzerland) Ltd, Zurich; Hero 
Ltd, Lenzburg; Forbo Holding Ltd, Baar; 
Adval Tech Holding Ltd, Niederwangen; 
Rieter Holding Ltd, Winterthur; AFG 
Arbonia-Forster-Holding Ltd, Arbon . 
Non-executive

First elected to the Board Board  
member and Chairman since 2011  
Educational and professional 
background Lic. iur. HSG, lawyer; 
Chairman of the Board of Directors of 
the legal practice of Staiger, Schwald  
& Partner Ltd, Zurich . Other activities 
and interests Chairman of the Board  
of Directors of Ruag Holding Ltd, Bern; 
Vice Chairman of the Board of 
Directors, Stadler Rail Ltd, Bussnang; 
Board member, Rieter Holding Ltd, 
Winterthur; Chairman, AVIA Association 
of Independent Importers of Petroleum 
Products, Zurich; Board member  
of other Swiss joint stock companies. 
Committees Chairman of the Strategy 
Committee; Member of the Audit,  
the Compensation and the Nomination 
Committee . Non-executive

First elected to the Board Board 
member and Vice Chairman since 2011 
Educational and professional 
background Dipl. Wirtsch.-Ing. 
University of Karlsruhe; from 1984 to 
1997 various positions at the Daimler 
Group, including CFO and Senior Vice 
President IT of Freightliner LLC;  
from 1998 to 2000 first CFO and then 
CEO of Adtranz LLC; from 2001 to 2005 
President and CEO of Freightliner LLC; 
from 2005 to 2010 COO of Mercedes 
Car Group; from 2010 to 2011 
Operating Partner of Advent Internatio-
nal; from 2011 to 2014 Chief Operating 
Officer and President Seating 
Components, Johnson Controls Inc.; 
from 2014 to 2015 CEO of MAG Group. 
Other activities and interests Member 
of the Board of Directors of Dometic 
Group Ltd, member of the Board of 
Directors of a privately held company. 
Committees Chairman of the Audit 
Committee; Member of the Strategy 
Committee . Non-executive

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
51

This E. Schneider (1952)
Board member
Swiss national

Peter Spuhler (1959)
Board member
Swiss national

Ferdinand Stutz (1957)
Board member
Swiss national

First elected to the Board Board 
member since 2011 . Educational and 
professional background Lic. oec. 
HSG; from 1991 to 1993 Chairman and 
CEO of listed company SAFAA,  
Paris; from 1994 to 1997 member of 
the Executive Board, Valora Group,  
as Managing Director of the Canteen 
and Catering Division; from 1997 to 
2002 Executive Chairman and CEO of 
the Selecta Group; from 2004 until 
March 2014 Executive Chairman and 
CEO, Forbo Group; since 2014  Executive 
Chairman of the Board of Directors  
of Forbo Group . Other activities and 
interests Board member, Galenica SA, 
Bern; Rieter Holding Ltd, Winterthur 
Committees Chairman of the Compen-
sation and the Nomination Committee . 
Non-executive

First elected to the Board Board 
member since 2011 . Educational and 
professional background Majority 
shareholder and CEO of Stadler Rail 
Ltd, Bussnang . Other activities and  
interests Chairman of the Board, 
Stadler Rail Ltd, Bussnang, and of 
several other companies of the Stadler 
Rail Group, Aebi-Schmidt Holding 
Ltd, Burgdorf, and PCS Holding Ltd, 
Warth-Weiningen. Board member, Walo 
Bertschinger Central Ltd, Zurich; Allreal 
Holding Ltd, Baar; Rieter Holding Ltd, 
Winterthur; DSH Holding Ltd, Warth-
Weiningen; Wohnpark Promenade 
Ltd, Frauenfeld; Vice Chairman of ZLE 
Betriebs Ltd, Zurich . Member of the  
National Council of the Swiss Parliament 
from 1999 to 2012 . Non-executive

First elected to the Board Board  
member since 2011 . Educational and 
professional background Dipl. 
Giesserei-Ing. University of Duisburg; 
from 1982 to 1989 Operations Manager 
and Deputy Manager Foundry for Rieter 
Ltd, Winterthur; from 1989 to 1994 
Department Manager and as of 1994 
co-partner and Executive Director of 
Schubert & Salzer; from 1995 to 1997 
Executive Director of Georg Fischer 
Eisenguss GmbH, Leipzig; from 1998 to 
2009 member of the Management 
Board of Georg Fischer Ltd and CEO of 
GF Automotive; since 2009 owner and 
founder of Stutz Improvement Ltd . 
Other activities and interests Member 
of the Advisory Board of Halder 
Be teiligungsgesellschaft GmbH,  
Frankfurt; member of the Board of 
Directors or Advisory Board of other 
joint stock companies . Committees 
Member of the Audit, the Strategy,  
the Compensa tion and the Nomination 
Committee . Non-executive

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance52

 · signature regulations and allocation  

of authority of Autoneum Holding Ltd;

 · principles of internal auditing;
 · decisions on investment projects involving 
expenditure in excess of CHF 10 million;
 · issuance of bonds and other significant 

financial market transactions;

 · incorporation, purchase, sale and liquidation 

of subsidiaries.

The Board of Directors comprises the Chairman, 
the Vice Chairman and the other members.  
The Chairman of the Board of Directors and the 
members of the Compensation Committee are 
elected for a one-year term of office by the 
General Meeting. Apart from this, the Board of 
Directors is self-constituting. The Board of 
Directors appoints a secretary who need not be  
a member of the Board of Directors. The Vice 
Chairman deputizes for the Chairman in his 
absence. The Board of Directors has a quorum  
if the majority of members are present or if  
the Board members are able to communicate 
with each other by telephone, video conference, 
Internet or other electronic means. Motions of 
the Board of Directors are approved by a simple 
majority of the votes of the members present.  
In the case of a tie, the Chairman has the casting 
vote.

Once a year the Board  
of Directors carries  
out a self-assessment.

In 2015, the members of the Board of Directors 
met for five regular meetings. They all lasted 
around half a day, one of which was held abroad 
followed by a visit of a production plant.  
The attendance rate was 93%. In addition, four 
telephone conferences were held.

The agendas for the Board meetings are drawn up 
by the Chairman. Any member of the Board can 
also propose items for inclusion on the agenda. 
Board meetings are generally also attended by 
the CEO and the CFO while the other members of 
the Group Executive Board attend as necessary 
regarding business matters concerning them. They 
give an overview of the results, outlook and 
budget of their operating units, and present those 
projects requiring the approval of the Board  
of Directors.

Once a year the Board of Directors reviews 
its performance, internal working methods and 
cooperation with the Group Executive Board. This 
takes the form of a self-assessment and includes 
an assessment of the state of information of 
Board members with regard to the Group and its 
business development.

Should there be a conflict of interest in the 
course of making decisions on business matters 
and items on the agenda, the respective Board 
member must stand aside prior to discussion of 
the matter in question and abstain from voting 
when passing a resolution.

Committees
Besides the Compensation Committee the Board 
of Directors has appointed an Audit, a Nomina- 
tion and a Strategy Committee from among its 
members in order to assist it in its duties.  
The committees are fundamentally advisory and 
preparatory bodies and have no decision- 
making powers; resolutions are passed by the 
Board as a whole. Each committee has written 
terms of reference specifying its tasks and 
responsibilities. The members of the Compensa-
tion Committee have been elected by the Annual 
General Meeting. The Chairman and further 
members of the other committees are elected by 
the Board of Directors. The committees meet 
regularly and are required to prepare minutes  
of their meetings and recommendations for 
perusal at the regular meetings of the Board of 
Directors. 

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance53

The Compensation Committee consists of three 
members. The Chairman of this committee is 
This E. Schneider. The other members are  
Hans-Peter Schwald and Ferdinand Stutz. The 
committee meets whenever the need arises,  
but at least twice a year. It draws up the   
principles for the remuneration of members of 
the Board of Directors, the Group Executive 
Board and senior management within the 
Autoneum Group, in particular bonus programs 
and share allocation plans (LTI), as well as  
the Remuneration report and the proposals con- 
cerning the total maximum remuneration 
amount for the Board of Directors and Group 
Executive Board to be submitted annually  
by the Board of Directors for approval by the 
share holders at the Annual General Meeting. 

The Nomination Committee consists of three 
members. This E. Schneider is Chairman of this 
committee, Hans-Peter Schwald and Ferdinand 
Stutz the other members. The committee  
meets whenever necessary, but at least twice  
a year. This committee stipulates the profile  
of requirements and the principles for selecting 
members of the Board of Directors and prepares 
the election of new members of the Group Execu- 
tive Board and their terms of employment. It  
is also briefed on succession plans for the Board  
of Directors, Group Executive Board and senior 
management, and the relevant development plans.

The members of the Compensation and the 
Nomination Committee held four regular    
meetings in 2015. Each meeting lasted one to 
four hours. All committee members attended  
all meetings. 

The Strategy Committee consists of three 
members: Hans-Peter Schwald is Chairman; 
Rainer Schmückle and Ferdinand Stutz are  
the other members.

The Strategy Committee meets at least 
twice a year. The meetings are also attended by 
the CEO and the CFO, and other members of  

The Audit Committee currently consists of 
three members of the Board. Its Chairman is 
Rainer Schmückle; the other members are 
Hans-Peter Schwald and Ferdinand Stutz.  
In the 2015 financial year none of the members 
of the Audit Committee performed executive 
duties. The Chairman is elected for one year. The 
Audit Committee meets at least twice each 
financial year. The meetings are also attended 
by the Head of Internal Audit, representatives  
of the statutory and Group auditors, the CEO and 
the CFO, and other members of the Group 
Executive Board and management as appropriate. 
The main duties of the Audit Committee are:

 · elaborating principles for external and internal 

audits for submission to the Board of Directors, 
and providing information on their implemen-
tation;

 · assessing the work of the external and internal 

auditors as well as their mutual cooperation and 
reporting to the Board of Directors;

 · assessing the reports submitted by the 

statutory auditors as well as the invoiced costs;

 · overall supervision of risk management and 

acceptance of the Group Executive Board’s risk 
report addressed to the Board of Directors;

 · assisting the Board of Directors in nominating 
the statutory auditors and the Group auditors 
for submission to the Annual General Meeting;

 · scrutinizing the results of internal audits, 

approving the audit schedule for the following 
year and nominating the Head of Internal Audit;

 · the Chairman of the Audit Committee is 

responsible for accepting complaints (whistle-
blowing) in connection with the Code of 
Conduct9.

The Audit Committee met for two regular meet- 
ings in 2015. Both meetings lasted three to 
four-and-a-half hours. All committee members 
attended these meetings and received regular 
written reports from the internal auditors. 

9 www.autoneum.com/about-autoneum/

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
 
54

the Group Executive Board and management as 
appropriate.

The main duties of the strategy committee 

are: supporting and assisting the Board of 
Directors in strategic planning, especially in 
assessing market changes and developments 
affecting the Group; assessing Autoneum’s 
short- and long- term strategic orientation, in 
particular with regard to markets, customers, 
competitors, products and technologies; as well 
as support of strategically important projects. 
The Strategy Committee met in 2015 for 

one regular meeting and a two-day strategy 
workshop with the entire Group Executive 
Board. The regular meeting lasted four hours. All 
committee members attended the meeting, in 
the strategy workshop one member could not 
participate.

The Strategy Committee 
met in 2015 for one 
regular meeting and  
a two-day strategy 
workshop with the entire 
 Group Executive Board.

Allocation of authority
The Board of Directors delegates operational 
business management to the CEO. The members 
of the Group Executive Board report to the CEO. 
The allocation of authority between the Board 
of Directors and the CEO is stipulated in the 
Organizational Regulations10, while details of 
the tasks reserved for the Board of Directors  
can be found on pages 49–52 (“Internal   
Organization”). The cooperation between the   
Board of Directors, the CEO and the Business 
Groups is stipulated in the Group’s Organizational 

10 www.autoneum.com/about-autoneum/

Regulations10, which include the following: The 
CEO draws up the strategic and financial planning 
statements and the budget with the Group 
Executive Board and submits them to the Board 
of Directors for approval. He reports regularly 
on the course of business as well as on risks and 
changes in personnel at the management level. 
In addition to periodic reporting, he is obliged 
to inform the Board of Directors immediately 
about any business transactions of fundamental 
importance.

Information and control instruments  
regarding the Group Executive Board
The Board of Directors receives a written 
monthly report on the key figures of the Group 
and the Business Groups from the Group 
Executive Board. This provides information on 
the balance sheet, cash flow and income 
statements as well as capital expenditure. The 
figures are compared with the budget and with 
the previous year. The Board of Directors is  
also informed at each meeting about the course 
of business, important projects and risks, as 
well as ongoing earnings and liquidity budget 
planning. Should the Board of Directors have  
to rule on major projects according to the Orga- 
nizational Regulations10, a written request is 
submitted prior to the meeting.

The projects approved by the Board of 

Directors are monitored within the context  
of a special project controlling submitted to the 
Board of Directors every quarter. Once a year, 
the Board of Directors discusses and decides on 
the strategic plans drawn up by the Group 
Executive Board and the financial plan. Financial 
statements for publication are drawn up twice  
a year. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Board 
of Directors has a regular monthly meeting  
with the CEO and the CFO with respect to all 
major issues of corporate policy.

The Board of Directors has initiated and 

implemented a comprehensive internal control 
system for risk monitoring in connection with 
business activities, which covers risk identifi-

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance55

Group Executive Board by order of Autoneum 
Holding Ltd or companies under its control;  
(c) mandates held with companies that do not 
qualify as companies within the meaning of 
Art. 727, para. 1, clause 2 of the Swiss Code of 
Obligations; (d) mandates held with nonprofit 
organizations and foundations as well as pension 
funds. The number of mandates pursuant to  
(c) and (d) is limited to a total of 20. Mandates 
held with various legal entities that are under 
joint control or controlled by the same beneficial 
owner count as one mandate. Mandates held 
with the supreme management or adminis trative 
body of a legal entity that is required to be regis- 
tered in the commercial register or an equivalent 
register abroad count as mandates.

Management contracts
There are no management contracts between 
Autoneum Holding Ltd and third parties.

5 Remuneration, shareholdings and loans

The content and process for determining remu- 
neration and equity participation programs as 
well as information on the remuneration, share- 
holdings and loans of the Board of Directors  
and the Group Executive Board can be found  
in the Remuneration report on page 104.

cation, analysis and control as well as risk 
reporting. Refer to pages 74–77 for details of 
this risk management process and on financial 
risk management.

The members of the Audit Committee, the 

CEO, the CFO and appointed members of the 
management receive the internal audit reports. 
Internal audit conducted twelve regular audits  
in 2015. The results were discussed in detail with 
the Business Groups and the companies con- 
cerned, and appropriate measures have been 
initiated and monitored accordingly. 

Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct is an integral part of  
every employment contract of every employee.  
The Code of Conduct is explained to employ- 
ees in the individual units, and compliance 
with the same is verified regularly in the  
context of internal audits and by additional 
audits. The Code of Conduct can be found  
at www.autoneum.com/en/about-autoneum/
code-of-conduct/.

4 Group Executive Board

The Group Executive Board had six members  
on December 31, 2015: the CEO, the CFO  
and the four Business Group Heads. For addi- 
tional information about the Group Executive 
Board members please refer to pages 56 and 57.

Permissible activities outside the  
Autoneum Group
According to §20 of the Articles of Association11, 
no member of the Group Executive Board  
may assume more than four additional man- 
dates and no more than five of these may  
be held with listed companies which are to be 
approved by the Board of Directors prior to  
the acceptance. This restriction does not apply  
to (a) mandates held with companies that 
control or are controlled by Autoneum Holding 
Ltd; (b) mandates assumed by a member of the 

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Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
 
 
 
56

Group Executive Board

Martin Hirzel (1970)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 
Swiss national

Dr Martin Zwyssig (1965)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) 
Swiss national

Dr Uwe Trautmann (1957)
Head Business Group Asia*
German national

Member of the Group Executive  
Board since 2011 . Educational and 
professional background Degree in 
business administration (HWV); Gen - 
eral Management Program at Harvard 
Business School; from 1989 to 1994 
Business Unit Controller of IBM  
(Switzerland) Ltd; from 1997 to 1999 
Chief Controller International of Divi- 
sion Textile Systems for Rieter Holding 
Ltd; from 2000 to 2007 General 
Manager China of Rieter Holding Ltd; 
from 2007 to 2011 Head Business 
Group SAMEA, member of the Executive 
Committee of the Division Automo- 
tive Systems of Rieter Holding Ltd; in 
the current function since 2011 .

Member of the Group Executive Board 
since 2014 . Educational and profes- 
sional background Master in Accounting 
and Finance, Dr oec. HSG, University of 
St. Gallen; from 1995 to 1997 Controller 
Swiss Bank Corporation; from 1997  
to 2001 Divisional Controller Sarna 
Kunststoff Holding Ltd; from 2001 to 
2002 Senior Vice President Finance & 
Controlling EMS-TOGO Group; from 
2003 to 2008 Group CFO Schaffner 
Holding Ltd; from 2008 to 2013 Group 
CFO Ascom Holding Ltd; in the current  
function since 2014 . Other activities 
and interests Member of the Board of 
Directors of Belimo Holding Ltd, Hinwil .

Member of the Group Executive Board 
since 2011 . Educational and profes- 
sional background Degree in mechanical 
engineering, Dr oec. Technische Hoch- 
schule Zwickau; from 1992 to 1997 
responsible for the regional operations 
of the German company Aesculap Ltd  
in Penang, Malaysia; from 1997 to 2004 
responsible for the Asian operations  
of the German company ZF Lenksysteme 
GmbH in Malaysia as well as in Shanghai 
as of 2002; from 2004 to 2007 CEO 
China operations of the German com- 
pany KGaA Hella & Co. in Shanghai; from 
2007 to 2011 Head Business Group 
Asia, member of the Executive Commit- 
tee of the Division Automotive Systems 
of Rieter Holding Ltd; in the current 
function since 2011 .

*until February 29, 2016

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance57

Volker Eimertenbrink (1959)
Head Business Group SAMEA
German national

Matthias Holzammer (1965)
Head Business Group Europe
German national

John T. Lenga (1970)
Head Business Group North 
America* . US national

Member of the Group Executive  
Board since 2012 . Educational and 
professional background Degree  
in business engineering; from 1985 to 
1995 production/value engineer and 
design engineer for Hymmen GmbH and 
Fr. Buschjost GmbH & Co.; from 1995  
to 2008 at Faurecia Autositze GmbH in 
various leading positions in control- 
ling and engineering; from 2008 to 2011 
CFO Automotive Systems Division of 
Rieter Holding Ltd; from 2011 to 2012 
Head Corporate Controlling and Deputy 
CFO of Autoneum Management Ltd;  
in the function as Head Business Group 
SAMEA from 2012 to December 31, 2015 . 

Member of the Group Executive  
Board since 2012 . Educational and 
professional background Degree  
in business engineering; from 1993 to 
2009 leading functions in opera- 
tions, plant management and general  
management at Brose Fahrzeugteile 
GmbH & Co. KG, Faurecia Sitztechnik 
GmbH & Co. KG and at Beru Ltd;  
from 2009 to 2011 Managing Director 
Production for Keiper GmbH & Co. KG 
(later Johnson Controls), last assignment 
as General Manager of the Product 
Business Unit “Metal Region Europe”;  
in the current function since 2012 .

Member of the Group Executive Board 
since 2015 . Educational and profes- 
sional background Master in Arts from 
Bowling Green State University, USA; 
from 1994 to 1997 Financial Analyst 
with Ford Motor Company; from 1997  
to 1999 Principal Business Analyst to the 
CEO for Little Caesar’s Enterprises;  
from 1999 to 2003 Financial Planning 
and Operational Analysis Leader US/
Canada for the US company Tower Auto- 
motive; from 2003 to 2005 Director  
of Financial Planning and Operational 
Analysis and from 2005 to 2007 Busi- 
ness Group Controller of Business Group 
North America for Rieter Holding Ltd; 
from 2007 to 2015 Chief Financial Officer 
Business Group North America of Rieter 
Holding Ltd/Autoneum Holding Ltd; in 
the current function since 2015 .

*as of March 1, 2015

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance58

6 Shareholders’ participatory rights

Voting restrictions
Autoneum Holding Ltd imposes no voting 
restrictions.

Autoneum Holding Ltd 
imposes no  
voting restrictions.

Statutory quorum
General Meetings of Shareholders adopt reso- 
lutions with the absolute majority of represented 
voting shares unless the law or Articles of   
Association12 stipulate otherwise. Remuneration 
is approved with the majority of votes cast 
regardless of potential abstentions.

Convocation of General Meeting, agenda  
publication, voting proxies 
General Meetings of Shareholders are called 
through publication in the Swiss Commercial 
Gazette by the Board of Directors at least  
20 days prior to the event, with details of the 
agenda, pursuant to §8 of the Articles of 
Association12. Pursuant to §9 of the Articles  
of Association12, shareholders representing 
shares with a par value of at least CHF 20 000 
can request the inclusion on the agenda of an 
item for discussion, with details of the relevant 
motions, by a closing date published by the 
company. Shareholders who do not attend Gen- 
eral Meetings personally can arrange to be 
represented by another shareholder by written 
power of attorney or by the independent vot- 
ing proxy by issuing written power of attorney and 
instructions pursuant to the signed registration 
form or electronically via the platform at  
https://autoneum.shapp.ch. The independent 
voting proxy is elected annually by the Annual 

12 www.autoneum.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/

General Meeting. Lic. iur. Ulrich B. Mayer, 
Attorney-at-Law, shall hold office as independent 
voting proxy until the closure of the 2016 
Annual General Meeting.

Entries in the shareholders’ register
In order to ensure an orderly procedure, the 
Board fixes the reference date shortly before the 
shareholders’ meeting, by which time share - 
holders need to be entered in the share register 
in order to exercise their participation rights  
at the meeting. This reference date is published 
in the Swiss Commercial Gazette together with 
the invitation to the General Meeting.

7 Change of control and defensive measures 

Change of control clauses
There are no change of control clauses in 
Autoneum contracts of employment and office. 
In the event of a change of control, all shares 
blocked within the framework of the Group Bonus 
Plan are vested. 

Obligation to submit an offer
The legal provisions according to Art. 22 of 
SESTA are applicable. This states that a share-
holder or a group of shareholders acting in 
concert who hold more than 33% of all shares 
must submit a takeover offer to the other 
shareholders.

8 Statutory auditors

Duration of mandate and term of office  
of the lead auditor
KPMG AG, Zurich, has been the statutory and 
Group auditor of Autoneum Holding Ltd and the 
Autoneum Group since the financial year 2011. 
Kurt Stocker, licensed audit expert, has been lead 
auditor for the Autoneum mandate at KPMG  
since the financial year 2011. The term of office 
of the lead auditor is limited to seven years.

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
 
59

annually, and discusses auditing results with the 
external auditors in each case. 

9 Information policy

Autoneum maintains regular, open communica-
tion with all stakeholders and relevant parties,  
in particular with investors, financial analysts 
and representatives of banks and the media. 
Communication takes place through the Annual 
Report and Semi-Annual Report, the Annual 
General Meeting and at least one media and    
financial analysts conference each year.

Reporting on the financial year 2015 
includes the Annual Report with review of the 
year, the annual and consolidated financial 
statements, the Corporate Governance report 
and Remuneration report, a media release  
as well as a presentation. The Annual Report  
can be ordered by shareholders using the  
form enclosed with the invitation to the Gener- 
al Meeting. It is also available for perusal at 
company headquarters no later than 20 days 
prior to the General Meeting. At the Annual 
General Meeting, the Board of Directors and 
the Group Executive Board provide informa- 
tion on the annual accounts and the course of 
company business and answer shareholders’ 
questions. 

Audit fees and additional fees
KPMG and other auditors charged Autoneum 
Holding Ltd approximately CHF 1.1 million in  
the financial year 2015 for services in connec- 
tion with auditing the annual financial state-
ments of the Group companies, the consolidated 
Autoneum Group accounts and the Remunera- 
tion report. KPMG and other auditors also charged 
Autoneum approximately CHF 0.5 million for   
additional services in the year under review, 
mainly for tax advisory services.

Information instruments of the  
external auditors
The external auditor informs the Audit Com-
mittee in writing and verbally at every meeting 
about relevant auditing activities and other 
important facts and figures related to the   
company. Representatives of the external and   
internal auditors attend Audit Committee 
meetings to explain their activities and answer 
questions. The statutory auditors have access  
to the minutes of the meetings of the Board of 
Directors.

Representatives of  
the external and internal 
auditors attend Audit 
Committee meetings.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors 
makes an annual assessment of the performance, 
fees and independence of the statutory and 
Group auditors. It submits a proposal to the 
Board of Directors regarding who should be 
proposed for election as statutory auditors at the 
General Meeting. In addition, the Audit Com-
mittee reviews the scope of external auditing, 
the auditing plans and relevant procedures 

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
60

Sources of information 

Autoneum provides extensive information to  
all interested parties. This is available online 
via the following links:

 · Articles of Association Autoneum Holding Ltd: 

www.autoneum.com/investor-relations/ 
corporate-governance

 · Organizational Regulations:  

www.autoneum.com/about-autoneum

 · Order of Annual Reports  

(printed version): www.autoneum.com/
investor-relations/reports

 · Share price: www.autoneum.com/ 

investor-relations/share

 · Presentations: www.autoneum.com/ 

investor-relations/presentations

 · Media releases: www.autoneum.com/investor-

relations/media-releases

 · Subscription to media releases:  

www.autoneum.com/media/subscription/

 · Sustainability: www.autoneum.com/ 

about-autoneum/sustainability

 · Contact: www.autoneum.com/contact

Shareholders and the capital market are in- 
formed by media releases of significant changes 
and developments in the company. Share-price-
relevant events are published in accordance with 
the ad hoc publicity requirements of the SIX 
Swiss Exchange. In addition, Autoneum maintains 
communication with investors, financial ana- 
lysts and representatives of the media at corre- 
sponding events.  

Should shareholders and other inter- 

ested parties wish to automatically receive  
the media releases, they may register at  
www.autoneum.com/media/subscription/.

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Corporate Governance 
Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Contents

61

  Financial report

  62  Consolidated financial statements
 104  Remuneration report
 109  Financial statements  

  of Autoneum Holding Ltd

 119  Review 2011–2015

 
 
62

Consolidated income statement

CHF million

Net sales

Material expenses

Employee expenses

Other expenses

Other income

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation 
and amortization (EBITDA)
Depreciation and amortization

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)
Financial income

Financial expenses

Share of profit of associated companies

Profit before taxes
Income taxes

Net profit
Attributable

to shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd

to non-controlling interests

Basic earnings per share in CHF

Diluted earnings per share in CHF

100.0%

47.8%

26.1%

17.6%

0.7%

9.2%
3.1%

6.1%

5.2%

3.3%

Notes

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(15)

(11)

(12)

(12)

2015
2 085.9

–998.1

–545.2

–366.6

15.5

191.5
–65.1

126.5
0.9

–20.2

1.9

109.2
–40.5

68.7

42.2

26.5

9.12

9.10

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

CHF million

Net profit

Currency translation adjustment

Changes in fair value of fin. instruments available for sale

Income taxes

Total items that will be reclassified to income statement
Remeasurement of defined benefit pension plans

Income taxes

Total items that will not be reclassified to income statement

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income
Attributable

to shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd

to non-controlling interests

The accompanying notes on pages 66–102 are part of the consolidated financial statements.

2015

68.7
–30.6

5.2

-

–25.4
–3.5

0.7

–2.8

–28.3

40.4

16.0

24.4

100.0%

49.3%

25.6%

15.6%

0.8%

10.3%
3.4%

6.9%

6.1%

5.3%

2014
1 954.7

–964.5

–499.8

–305.3

16.5

201.6
–66.5

135.1
1.0

–16.4

0.4

120.1
–17.3

102.8

78.9

23.9

17.03

16.97

2014

102.8
18.6

2.8

-

21.4
–18.8

5.3

–13.5

8.0

110.8

79.5

31.4

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statementsConsolidated balance sheet

CHF million

Assets
Tangible assets

Intangible assets

Investments in associated companies

Financial assets

Deferred income tax assets

Employee benefit assets

Other assets

Non-current assets
Inventories

Trade receivables

Current income tax receivables

Other assets

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Current assets

Assets

Shareholders’ equity and liabilities
Equity attributable to shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd

Equity attributable to non-controlling interests

Total shareholders’ equity
Borrowings

Deferred income tax liabilities

Employee benefit liabilities

Provisions

Other liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings

Current income tax liabilities

Provisions

Trade payables

Other liabilities

Liabilities of disposal group classified as held for sale

Current liabilities

Liabilities

63

Notes

31.12.2015

31.12.2014

(13)

(14)

(15)

(16)

(11)

(25)

(17)

(18)

(19)

(17)

(16)

(20)

(21)

(22)

(23)

(24)

(11)

(25)

(26)

(27)

(24)

(26)

(27)

(21)

433.5

409.6

9.8

8.3

35.3

31.7

1.0

33.7

553.6
130.9

254.9

7.4

77.4

0.8

78.7

11.0

10.0

6.4

31.2

32.0

6.2

40.9

536.2
130.5

220.3

4.7

65.9

0.9

140.9

-

561.1

1 114.7

563.0

1 099.3

301.3

96.2

397.5
170.9

10.8

28.8

54.4

19.9

284.8
14.0

10.0

14.8

243.3

148.1

2.2

432.3

717.1

303.5

89.0

392.5
175.3

9.9

31.7

42.8

17.1

276.8
20.4

8.5

11.7

250.4

139.0

-

430.0

706.8

Shareholders’ equity and liabilities

1 114.7

1 099.3

The accompanying notes on pages 66–102 are part of the consolidated financial statements.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements64

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Attributable to the shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd

CHF million

At December 31, 2013
Net profit

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income
Capital increase

Dividends paid1

Purchase of treasury shares

Share-based remuneration

Total transactions with owners

At December 31, 2014
Net profit

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income
Capital increase

Dividends paid1

Purchase of treasury shares

Share-based remuneration

Total transactions with owners

Share 
capital

Treasury 
shares

Capital 
reserves

0.2
-

–2.3
-

244.4
-

-

-
-

-

-

-

-

0.2
-

-

-
-

-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

–4.7

0.9

–3.7

–6.1
-

-

-
-

-

–0.1

1.9

1.7

-

-
-

–6.0

-

-

–6.0

238.3
-

-

-
-

–20.8

-

-

–20.8

Available 
for sale 
reserves

Retained 
earnings

2.5
-

2.8

2.8
-

-

-

-

-

5.3
-

5.2

5.2
-

-

-

-

-

1.8
78.9

–13.4

65.5
-

-

-

0.9

0.9

68.2
42.2

–2.8

39.4
-

-

-

0.9

0.9

Currency 
transl. 
adjustm.

–13.7
-

11.2

11.2
-

-

-

-

-

Total

232.9
78.9

0.6

79.5
-

–6.0

–4.7

1.9

–8.9

–2.5
-

303.5
42.2

–28.5

–26.2

–28.5
-

16.0
-

Attributable 
to non-
controlling 
interests

69.1
23.9

7.5

31.4
4.8

Total 
equity

302.0
102.8

8.0

110.8
4.8

–16.3

–22.3

-

-

–4.7

1.9

–11.5

–20.4

89.0
26.5

–2.1

24.4
0.1

392.5
68.7

–28.3

40.4
0.1

-

-

-

-

–20.8

–17.3

–38.1

–0.1

2.8

-

-

–0.1

2.8

–18.2

–17.2

–35.4

At December 31, 2015

0.2

–4.3

217.5

10.5

108.5

–31.1

301.3

96.2

397.5

1 Autoneum Holding Ltd paid a dividend of CHF 4.50 per share in 2015 (2014: CHF 1.30) as approved by the Annual General Meeting. 
The accompanying notes on pages 66–102 are part of the consolidated financial statements.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Consolidated statement of cash flows

Notes

(9)

(10)

(11)

(8)

(15)

(3)

(13)

(14)

(3)

(15)

CHF million

Net profit

Dividend income

Interest income

Interest expenses

Income tax expenses

Depreciation and amortization

Share of profit of associated companies

Other non-cash income and expenses

Change in net working capital

Change in post-employment benefit assets and liabilities

Change in non-current provisions

Change in operating receivables within other non-current assets

Change in operating liabilities within other non-current liabilities

Gain from disposal of subsidiary or business

Dividends received

Interest received

Interest paid

Income taxes paid

Cash flows from operating activities
Investments in tangible assets

Investments in intangible assets

Investments in non-current financial assets

Proceeds from disposal of tangible assets

Proceeds from disposal of subsidiary or business, net of cash disposed of

Investments in associated companies

Investments in non-consolidated companies

Investments in current financial assets

Proceeds from sale of current financial assets

Cash flows used in investing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

Proceeds from capital increase

Purchase of treasury shares

Proceeds from borrowings

Repayment of borrowings

Repayment of subordinated shareholder loans

Cash flows used in financing activities
Currency translation adjustment

Change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

(20)

The accompanying notes on pages 66–102 are part of the consolidated financial statements.

2015
68.7

–0.1

–0.7

12.3

40.5

65.1

–1.9

3.6

–48.7

–0.1

11.2

4.3

3.1

-

0.1

0.7

–12.0

–34.4

111.7
–119.1

–1.5

–1.5

0.8

–0.5

–0.5

–0.7

-

-

–123.1
–20.8

–17.3

0.1

–0.1

10.7

–16.0

-

–43.5
–7.3

–62.2
140.9

78.7

65

2014
102.8

–0.2

–0.8

13.8

17.3

66.5

–0.4

–4.8

–12.0

–2.4

9.2

–9.8

–0.5

–1.8

0.2

0.8

–13.8

–25.9

138.2
–98.7

–3.1

–1.2

3.1

–8.0

–0.6

–0.8

–0.5

1.1

–108.8
–6.0

–16.3

4.8

–4.7

48.5

–16.3

–25.0

–15.0
8.5

22.9
117.9

140.9

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
 
66

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

1.1  Significant accounting policies

Basis of preparation
Autoneum Holding Ltd (“the Company”) was 
 incorporated on December 2, 2010, as a Swiss 
corporation headquartered in Winterthur.  
The Company has been listed on the SIX Swiss 
 Exchange (AUTN, ISIN: CH0127480363) since 
May 13, 2011. Autoneum Holding Ltd  together 
with its subsidiaries will henceforth be referred 
to as “Autoneum Group”, “Group” or “Autoneum”. 
A list of subsidiaries and associated companies 
of Autoneum Group can be found in note 36  
on page 102.

The consolidated financial statements have 

been prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The 
 conso lidated financial statements are based on 
 his toric cost, with the exception of specific 
 financial instruments, which are measured at fair 
 value. The consolidated financial statements 
were  authorized for issue by the Board of Direc-
tors on March 2, 2016, and are subject to ap-
proval by the Annual General Meeting of share-
holders on March 30, 2016.

The consolidated financial statements are 

published exclusively in English. Due to round-
ing, numbers presented throughout this report  
may not add up precisely to the totals provided. 
All ratios and variances are calculated using  
the underlying amount rather than the presented 
rounded amount.

Significant accounting judgments,  
estimates and assumptions
Financial reporting requires management to 
make judgments, estimates and assumptions 
that  affect the application of the Group’s 
 accounting policies and the reported amounts  
of assets,  liabilities, contingent assets and 
 contingent liabilities at the date of the financial 
statements, and reported amounts of revenue 

and expenses during the reporting period. When 
such estimates and assumptions deviate  
from the actual circumstances, the estimates 
and  assumptions are  updated in the reporting 
period in which the circumstances have 
changed. The estimates, assumptions and judg-
ments relate primar ily to the areas of impair-
ment, tangible assets, inventories, employee 
 benefits, provisions, income taxes and whether 
Autoneum has control over an entity.

The most significant elements of estimates 

and assumptions are as follows:

Impairment losses on tangible assets are 
 assessed based on estimated cash flows, which 
may vary from actual cash flows. Important 
 assumptions to consider are useful lives, growth 
rates, achievable margins as well as discount 
rates.

When assessing inventories, estimates  
for their recoverability based on the expected 
 consumption of the corresponding item are 
 considered. The valuation adjustments for inven-
tories are determined for each item using a 
 coverage analysis. The parameters are checked 
annually and modified if necessary. Changes   
in sales or other circumstances can lead to an 
adjustment of the book value accordingly.

For defined benefit plans, actuarial valua-
tions are done regularly, which are the basis for  
the employee benefit assets and liabilities in  
the balance sheet. These calculations are based  
on statistical and actuarial assumptions. In 
 particular the present value of the defined bene-
fit obligation is affected by assumptions such  
as discount rate, expected future salary growth 
and the life expectancy. Other assumptions  
for the valuation are derived from statistical  
data such as mortality tables and staff turnover  
rates.  Actuaries are independent from  
Autoneum.  Assumptions made by actuaries may 
differ signifi cantly from actual results. These 
 deviations can ultimately have an effect on the 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements67

employee benefit assets or liabilities in future 
 periods.

In the course of the ordinary operating 
 activities of Autoneum Group, obligations from 
guarantee and warranty, litigation and tax  
risk, and environmental risk can arise. Provisions 
for these obligations are measured on the basis 
of estimated future cash outflow. The outcome of 
these business transactions may  result in claims 
against Autoneum that may be below or above 
the related provisions. Provisions for obligations 
from guarantee and warranty are recognized 
when damage has occurred and the related cash 
outflow can be estimated reliably, but a material 
uncertainty concerning the kind of damage  
and the kind of compensation exists. Provisions  
for litigation and tax risk comprise complex 
 cases that include material uncertainties. Environ-
mental provisions are recognized for the expec- 
ted costs for the cleanup and reconstruction of 
contaminated sites that are interdependent  
of many uncertainties, such as Autoneum’s share 
of the cost or the applicable approach for 
 determining these costs. The financial impact  
of these cases for future periods can only  
be  estimated, because uncertainties relating to 
amount and date of cash outflow exist.

Assumptions in relation to income taxes 
 include interpretations of the tax regulations  
in place in the relevant countries. The adequacy  
of these interpretations is assessed by the  
tax authorities. This can result, at a later stage,  
in changes in the income tax expenses. To 
 determine whether a deferred income tax asset 
on tax loss carryforwards may be recognized 
 requires judgment in assessing whether there will 
be future taxable profits against which these  
tax loss carryforwards can be offset.

Assessing whether Autoneum has control 

over an entity includes all facts and circum-
stances that may indicate that the Group is able 
to direct the relevant activities and key deci- 
sions. Autoneum concludes that it has control 
over the entities in which it holds 50% or  

more (refer to note 23, p. 91), based on specific 
rights allocated. Facts and circumstances 
 indicating that Autoneum controls an entity may 
change and lead to a reassessment of the man-
agement’s conclusion.

Scope and methods of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of 
 Autoneum Holding Ltd include the Company  
and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are entities 
controlled by the Group. The Group controls  
an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, 
variable returns from its involvement with the 
entity and has the ability to affect those returns 
through its power over the entity. The financial 
statements of subsidiaries are included in the 
 consolidated financial statements from the date 
on which control commences until the date on 
which control is lost. Acquisitions are accounted 
for using the acquisition method. Intercompany 
transactions are eliminated.

If Autoneum does not have control over 
 entities but significant influence, which is usually 
the case if Autoneum holds interests of between 
20% and 50%, these investments are classified 
as associated companies and accounted for 
 using the equity method. Interests of less than 
20% where Autoneum does not have significant 
influence are accounted for at fair value. The 
subsidiaries and associated companies are listed 
in note 36 on page 102.

Foreign currency translation
Items included in the financial statements of 
each Group company are measured using the 
 currency of the primary economic environment 
in which the company operates (“functional 
 currency”). The consolidated financial statements 
are prepared in Swiss francs, which is the 
 functional currency and the reporting  currency 
of  Autoneum Holding Ltd.

Transactions in foreign currencies are trans-

lated into the functional currency by applying  
the exchange rates prevailing on the date of the 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements68

transaction. Foreign exchange gains and losses 
resulting from the settlement of such transactions 
and from the translation at year-end exchange 
rates of monetary assets and liabilities de nomi-
nated in foreign currencies are recognized in  
the income statement.

For consolidation purposes, items in the 
 balance sheet of foreign subsidiaries are trans-
lated at year-end exchange rates, while income 
statement items are translated at average rates 
for the period. The resulting currency translation 
differences are recognized in other compre-
hensive income and, in the event of a disposal of 
a foreign operation, transferred to the income 
 statement as part of the gain or loss from disposal.

Tangible assets
Tangible assets are stated at historical cost less 
accumulated depreciation, which is recognized 
on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful 
life of the asset. Historical cost includes ex-
penditures that are directly attributable to the 
acquisition of the assets. Useful life is deter-
mined according to the expected utilization of 
each asset. The relevant ranges are as follows:
Factory buildings  
Machinery and plant equipment 
Tools/IT equipment/furniture 
Vehicles 

20–50 years
5–15 years
3–10 years
3–5 years
Components of certain assets with different 

useful lives are depreciated separately. All gains 
or losses arising from the disposal of tangible 
assets are recognized in the income statement. 
Costs of maintenance and repair are charged  
to the income statement as incurred. The residual 
values and useful lives of tangible assets are 
 reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each 
balance sheet date.

Leases
Leased assets where Autoneum substantially 
bears all the risks and rewards of ownership 
 (finance leases) are capitalized. Assets held 
 under such finance leases are depreciated  

over the shorter of their estimated useful life or 
the lease term. The corresponding lease obli-
gations, excluding finance charges, are included 
in borrowings. Lease installments are divided 
into an interest and a principal component.

All other leases are classified as operating 
leases. Payments in respect of operating leases 
are charged to the income statement on a straight- 
line basis over the duration of the lease.

Intangible assets
Intangible assets such as product licenses, 
 patents and trademark rights as well as software 
acquired from third parties are included in the 
balance sheet at acquisition cost and are amor-
tized on a straight-line basis over a period of  
up to eight years. The residual values and useful 
lives of intangible assets are reviewed, and 
 adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet 
date. Autoneum has neither in the current 
 reporting period nor in the prior period intangible 
assets that have an indefinite useful life 
 recorded in the balance sheet. Autoneum has no 
goodwill capitalized in the balance sheet.

Impairment of assets
Tan gible assets and intangible assets are tested 
for impairment if there are indications that,  
due to changed circumstances, their carrying 
value may no longer be fully recoverable. If such 
a situation arises, the recoverable amount is 
 determined. This is the higher of its value in use 
and its fair value less cost to sell. Value in use  
is based on the  estimated future cash flows, dis-
counted to their present value  using a pre-tax 
discount rate that  reflects current market assess-
ments of the time value of money and the risks 
specific to the asset. If the recoverable amount 
is below the carrying amount, a corresponding 
impairment loss is recognized in the income 
statement. Where the recoverable amount cannot 
be determined for an individual asset, it is 
 determined for the cash generating unit to which 
the asset belongs. To determine the value of an 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements69

asset, estimates of the expected future cash 
flows from both usage and disposal are made.

Research and development
Research costs are recognized in the income 
statement when incurred. Development costs for 
major projects are capitalized as intangible 
 assets if the cost can be measured reliably, if it 
can be demonstrated that the project is tech-
nically feasible and is expected to generate future 
economic benefits and if Autoneum plans to 
 provide sufficient resources in order to complete 
the development and to use or sell the intan-
gible asset.

Financial instruments
All financial assets not carried at fair value 
through profit or loss are initially recognized at 
fair value plus transaction costs. Financial assets 
carried at fair value through profit or loss are 
 initially recognized at fair value, and transaction 
costs are expensed in the income statement.

Subsequent valuation depends on the cate-
gory into which the financial assets are classified. 
Autoneum distinguishes between the following 
categories:

Financial assets at fair value through profit 

or loss include financial assets held for trading 
and those that are designated as such at incep-
tion. Assets in this category are presented as 
current assets if they are either held for trading 
or are expected to be realized within twelve 
months after the balance sheet date. For sub-
sequent valuation, changes in fair value are 
 recognized in the income statement. Derivative 
financial instruments with positive replacement 
value and marketable securities are assigned to 
this category.

Loans and receivables are non-derivative 

 presented as non-current assets. Subsequently, 
they are valued at amortized cost less impair-
ment losses.

Available-for-sale financial assets are 
non-derivative financial assets that are either 
classified as such or not assigned to any of the 
above categories. They are measured at market 
value as of the balance sheet date. Changes  
in the value are recorded in other comprehensive 
income prior to sale, and reclassified to income 
statement when they are sold. Any impairment 
is charged to the income statement immedi- 
ately. They are included in non-current assets 
unless management intends the disposal  
within twelve months after balance sheet date.
Autoneum has no financial instruments  

that are classified as held-to-maturity.

Financial liabilities at fair value through 
profit or loss are either held for trading purpos-
es or designated as such. At their initial recog-
nition and subsequently, financial liabilities at 
fair value through profit or loss are measured  
at fair value. Transaction costs directly identifiable 
to the purchase of these liabilities are immedi-
ately expensed. Derivative financial instruments 
with negative replacement values are assigned 
to this category. 

All other financial liabilities are measured 

at amortized cost. Mainly trade payables, bor-
rowings and other liabilities are assigned to this 
category. They are recognized initially at fair 
value, net of transaction costs incurred. Subse-
quently, these financial liabilities are stated  
at amortized cost. Any difference between the 
proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the 
 redemption value is recognized in the income 
statement over the period of the obligation 
 using the effective interest method.

 financial assets with fixed or determinable 
 payments that are not quoted in an active market. 
They are included in current assets, except for 
maturities greater than twelve months after the 
balance sheet date, in which case they are 

Inventories
Raw material, consumables and purchased parts 
are valued at the lower of average cost or net 
 realizable value. Semi-finished goods and finished 
goods are valued at the lower of manufacturing 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements70

cost or net realizable value. Valuation adjust-
ments are made for obsolete materials and 
 excess stock.

Trade receivables
Trade receivables are classified as “loans and 
 receivables” and are stated at amortized cost, 
which usually equals the original invoice value 
less any impairment loss. The loss is measured  
as the difference between the invoiced amount 
and the expected payment. The allowances  
are established based on maturity structure and 
identifiable solvency risks.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include bank accounts 
and time deposits with original  maturities  
from the date of acquisition of up to three months.

Equity
Ordinary shares are classified as equity since  
the shares are non-redeemable and any dividends 
are discretionary.

When shares are repurchased, the amount 

of the consideration paid is recognized as a 
 deduction from equity and presented as a sepa-
rate component in equity. When treasury shares 
are sold or reissued subsequently, the amount 
received is recognized as an increase in equity 
and the resulting surplus or deficit on the 
 transaction is recognized in retained earnings.

Provisions
Provisions are recognized when the Group has  
a present legal or constructive obligation as  
a result of past events, it is probable that an out-
flow of resources will be required to settle the 
 obligation, and the amount can be reliably esti-
mated. Provisions are discounted if the impact  
is significant.

Income taxes
Income taxes comprise both current and deferred 
income taxes. Normally income taxes are recog-

nized in the income statement, unless they are 
linked to a position that is recognized in other 
comprehensive income. In this case, the income 
taxes are also  recognized in other comprehen-
sive income.

Current income taxes are calculated and 

 accrued on the basis of taxable income for the 
year. Deferred income taxes on temporary 
 differences between carrying amounts of assets 
and liabilities for financial  reporting purposes 
and amounts determined for local tax purposes 
are calculated using the lia bility method. De-
ferred income taxes are measured at the tax rate 
expected to be applied to temporary differences 
when they reverse, using tax rates enacted  
or substantially enacted at the  reporting date. 
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities  
are offset to the extent that an entity has a legally 
enforceable right to offset current income taxes, 
and the deferred income taxes relate to income 
taxes levied by the same taxation authority and 
relate to the same taxable entity.

Temporary differences resulting from invest-

ments in Group companies are not considered  
if Autoneum is able to control the timing of the 
reversal of the temporary differences and if it  
is probable that these temporary differences will 
not reverse in future.

The tax impact of losses and deductible 

temporary differences is capitalized to the 
 extent it appears probable that such losses will 
be offset in the future by taxable income.

Employee benefits
Employee pension plans are operated by certain 
subsidiaries, depending upon the level of cover-
age provided by the government pension facilities 
in the various countries in which they are pres-
ent. Some are provided by independent pension 
funds. If there is no independent pension fund, 
the respective obligations are shown in the bal-
ance sheet under employee benefit liabilities.  
As a rule, pensions are funded by employees’ and 
employer’s contributions. Pension plans exist  

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements71

Share-based payments
Share-based payments to members of the Board 
of Directors, the Executive Board and senior 
management are measured at fair value at the 
grant date, and recognized in the income 
 statement over the vesting period. For share-
based payments that are settled with equity 
 instruments a corresponding increase in equity 
is recognized.

Revenue recognition
Sales resulting from business activities are 
 disclosed as revenue. Autoneum recognizes 
 revenue when the significant risks and rewards  
of ownership of the goods were transferred  
to the customer. Revenues arising from services  
are recorded based on the stage of completion  
of the services. Credits, discounts and rebates are 
already deducted from net sales.

Financing costs
Borrowing costs that are directly attributable  
to the acquisition, construction or production  
of a qualified asset are capitalized as a part  
of the acquisition costs of the qualified asset.  
All other financing costs are recognized directly 
in the  income statement.

on the basis of both defined contribution and 
 defined benefit. 

Pension liabilities arising from defined 
bene fit plans are calculated annually by inde-
pendent actuaries using the projected unit  
credit method. The discount rate used for the 
calculation is based on interest rates of 
high-quality corporate bonds that are denomi-
nated in the currency in which the benefits   
will be paid, and that have terms to maturity 
 approximating to the terms of the related 
 pension obligation. Remeasurement gains or 
losses are recognized in other comprehensive 
income. Pension costs relating to services 
 rendered in the reporting period are recognized 
in the income statement as current service 
costs. Pension costs relating to services ren-
dered in previous periods as a result of new or 
amended  pension benefits are recognized in  
the income statement as past service costs. The  
net interest expenses or income on the net 
 defined benefit  liability or asset for the period is 
determined by applying the discount rate used 
to measure the defined benefit obligation at the 
beginning of the period to the then net defined 
benefit  liability or asset, taking into account any 
changes in the net defined benefit liability 
 (asset) during the period as a result of contribu-
tions and benefit payments. The net interest 
 expenses or income is recognized in financial 
expenses or income. The fair value of plan 
 assets is  deducted from the defined benefit obli-
gations. Any asset resulting from this calcula-
tion is only capitalized up to an amount not 
 exceeding benefits from  future contribution re-
ductions or refunds.

In the case of defined contribution plans, 
the contributions are recognized as expense  
in the period in which they incurred.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements72

1.2  Changes in accounting policies and  
in presentation

Adopted changes in accounting policies
The adoption of new and revised standards had 
no effect on the consolidated financial state-
ments 2015.

Future changes in accounting policies
The following new and revised standards and 
 interpretations have been issued, but are not yet 
effective. They have not been applied early  
in these consolidated financial statements. How- 
ever, a preliminary assessment has been con-
ducted by Group Management, and the expected 
 impact of each standard and interpretation is 
presented in the table below.

IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” includes 
revised guidance on the classification and meas-
urement of financial assets and financial liabili-
ties, including a new expected credit loss model 
for calculating impairment, and supplements  
the new general hedge accounting requirements 
published in 2013. It also carries forward the 
guidance on recognition and derecognition of 
 financial instruments from IAS 39. The Group  
is yet to assess IFRS 9’s full impact. 

IFRS 15 establishes a comprehensive framework 
for determining whether, how much and  
when revenue is recognized based on a five-step 
approach. Under IFRS 15, an entity recognizes 
revenue when control of the promised goods and 
services is transferred to the customer at an 
amount that reflects the consideration to which 
the entity expects to be entitled. It replaces 
 existing revenue recognition guidance, including 
IAS 18, IAS 11 and IFRIC 13.

IFRS 16 “Leases” brings most leases on the 
balance sheet for lessees under a single model, 
eliminating the distinction between operating and 
finance leases. For lessors, however, the account-
ing remains largely unchanged. Under IFRS 16, a 
lessee recognizes a right-of-use asset and a lease 
liability. The right-of-use asset is treated similarly 
to other non-financial assets and depreciated 
 accordingly. The lease liability is initially measured 
at the present value of the lease payments 
 payable over the lease term, discounted at the 
rate implicit in the lease if this rate can be 
 readily determined. If the rate cannot be readily 
determined, the lessee’s incremental borrowing 
rate should be used. IFRS 16 supersedes IAS 17 
“Leases” and related interpretations.

New standards or interpretations
IFRS 15 Revenue from contracts with customers1

IFRS 9 Financial instruments1

IFRS 16 Lease1

Effective date

Planned 
application by 
Autoneum

 January 1, 2018   January 1, 2018 

 January 1, 2018   January 1, 2018 

 January 1, 2019   January 1, 2019 

Revisions and amendments of standards and interpretations
Accounting for acquisitions of interests in joint operations (amendments to IFRS 11)3

 January 1, 2016   January 1, 2016 

Clarification of acceptable methods of depreciation and amortization (amendments to 
IAS 16 and IAS 38)3

 January 1, 2016   January 1, 2016 

Sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture 
(amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28)3

Disclosure initiative (amendments to IAS 1)2

Annual improvements to IFRS 2012–2014 cycle2

 postponed 

 unknown 

 January 1, 2016   January 1, 2016 

 January 1, 2016   January 1, 2016 

1 The impact on the consolidated financial statements cannot yet be determined with sufficient reliability. 
2 The impact on the consolidated financial statements is expected to result in additional disclosures or changes in presentation. 
3 No impact or no significant impact is expected on the consolidated financial statements. 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
 
 
73

Adopted changes in presentation
The following changes in presentation were 
adopted in 2015:

Balance sheet line items were newly defined 

in 2015 to increase the transparency level as 
 described below. The prior year figures were ad-
justed accordingly.
•  Financial assets in current and non-current 

 assets are separated from other assets and are 
disclosed as a separate line item.

•  Post-employment benefit assets are separated 

from other assets and are disclosed as a separate 
line item.

•  Current income tax receivables are separated 

from other assets and are disclosed as a separate 
line item.

•  Advance payments to suppliers are included in 

the current portion of other assets.

•  Advance payments from customers are included 

in the current portion of other liabilities.

Bank debts in the amount of CHF 40.6 million 
were reported as current borrowings as per 
 December 31, 2014. Until December 31, 2019, 
the Group has the unconditional right to defer 
settlement as the liability cannot be called by 
the lender at any time without cause. Therefore, 
bank debts in the amount of CHF 40.0 million 
were disclosed as non-current borrowings at 
 December 31, 2015. The classification of the prior 
year amount was adjusted accordingly.

Due to changes in the Group’s reporting 
structure, a subsidiary that produces parts for 
Autoneum’s manufacturing lines, which was 
 included in BG Europe, is now included in Corpo-
rate. The prior year figures were adjusted ac-
cordingly. The impact of this reclassification for 
2015 is not materially different than for 2014. 
The major changes in the segment reporting are 
disclosed in the table below.

CHF million

Segment information BG Europe 2014
Net sales

EBITDA

EBIT

Number of employees

Reported

Adjustment

Restated

807.7

67.4

38.7

3 858

–4.4

–7.7

–7.0

–234

803.3

59.7

31.7

3 623

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statementsMarket and business risks resulting from 
 developments in the relevant markets and of the 
products offered therein are assessed as part  
of the strategic planning and the financial plan-
ning processes. On the other hand, these risks, 
as well as operational risks, are regularly reviewed 
at the monthly  meetings within the Business 
Groups and with the CEO and the CFO of the 
Group. As a part of these meetings, other risks 
impacting actual performance against budget 
are also dealt with, in order to identify and 
 implement corrective measures. Significant indi-
vidual risks are included in the monthly reports 
to the attention of the CEO.

Risks resulting from acquisitions, divest-
ments or other major projects are monitored  
at Group level within the framework of 
 competencies and approvals for the respective 
project. Such projects are reviewed in the 
 monthly meetings of the CEO and CFO with the 
Business Groups. Quarterly review reports  
were prepared for the attention of the Board of 
Directors.

Specific risks are addressed by periodic 
 reports. Such reports cover environmental and 
work safety risks at the various sites, treasury 
risks and risks from legal actions and legal com-
pliance.

An aggregate review of all identified risks 

and of the instruments and measures to ad-
dress these risks is performed on a semi-annual 
basis. The review results are reported to the 
Board of Directors and Group Executive Board.

74

2.1  Risk management process

Autoneum maintains an Internal Control System 
with the objective of ensuring effectiveness  
and efficiency of operations, reliability of finan-
cial reporting and compliance with applicable 
laws and regulations. The Internal Control System 
is an important part of the risk management 
 system.

The process of risk management is governed 

by the directive “Autoneum risk management 
 system”, which was adopted by the Board of 
 Directors. The directive defines the main cate-
gories of risks, which serve as a basis of the risk 
management, and the bodies that deal within 
the Group with the various risks. In addition, the 
policy defines the procedures for detecting, 
 reporting and managing risks, the criteria for 
quali tative and quantitative risk assessment  
as well as limits for reporting identified risks to 
the  appropriate management levels.

The directive defines the following main risk 

 categories: strategic risks (market and product), 
operational risks, financial risks, litigation and 
other risks (e.g. political, legal, organizational, 
environmental and work safety risks).

Besides the financial risks (refer to para-
graph 2.2), the following risks within the main 
risk categories are a focus of Autoneum:
•  Strategic risks (market and product): These 
risks result on the one hand from different 
 markets in which Autoneum is operating (local 
aspects, legal regulations, degree of maturity  
of markets). On the other hand, the risks result 
from the share of the customers in Autoneum’s 
sales, as well as from the technical and regula-
tory requirements on Autoneum products.

•  Operational risks: These risks result from the 
technical development of orders until end  
of production, from the need for cost-efficient 
 production and the possibility of interruptions 
in production.

•  Environmental and work safety risks.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements75

2.2  Financial risk management

Financial risk factors
As a result of its worldwide activities, Autoneum 
is exposed to various financial risks, such as 
fluctuations in exchange rates, interest rates and 
stock market prices, credit risks and liquidity 
risks. Autoneum’s financial risk management has 
the aim to minimize the potential adverse impact 
of the development of the financial markets on 
the Group’s financial performance and to secure 
its financial stability. This includes the use of 
 derivative financial instruments to hedge certain 
risk exposures.

Financial risk management is carried out 
centrally for the Group, in accordance with the 
directives adopted by the Board of Directors  
and the Group Executive Board. Financial risks 
are identified primarily locally and evaluated 
and managed centrally in close cooperation with 
the Group’s legal units. 

Foreign exchange risk
Foreign currency risks arise from investments in 
foreign subsidiaries (translation risk) and from 
transactions, assets or liabilities that are denom-
inated in a currency other than the functional 
currency of a legal unit (transaction risk). In order 
to hedge transaction risks that cannot be 
 reduced through offsetting transactions in the 
same foreign currency (natural hedging), sub-
sidiaries may use forward contracts and curren-
cy options, which are usually completed with  
the Group’s headquarters and from the latter by 
trading with banks.

The majority of the business transacted in 

Autoneum’s foreign subsidiaries is in their 
 functional currency. Nevertheless, the Group  
is  exposed to foreign currency risks, mostly 
against the euro. Assuming that the euro against 
the Swiss franc as at December 31, 2015, would 
have been 15% stronger, and all other parameters 
 remained the same, the profit before taxes  
would have been CHF 2.3 million higher (2014: 

CHF 0.9 million). In the opposite case, the profit 
before taxes would have been reduced to the 
same  extent. This would mainly have been due 
to  exchange gains/losses on trade receivables  
and  payables.

The companies’ cash holdings with banks 

are denominated mostly in the relevant 
 functional currency. The foreign currency risks of 
cash  positions in foreign currencies are reviewed 
 periodically.

Interest rate risk
The interest risk of the Group relates to interest 
bearing assets and liabilities. Assets and lia-
bilities with fluctuating interests result in cash 
flow risks, while fixed interest bearing assets 
and liabilities lead to a fair value interest risk if 
measured at fair value. Autoneum maintains,  
in consideration of seasonal fluctuations, a bal-
anced relation between fixed and fluctuating 
 interest bearing financial liabilities. The Group 
analyzes the interest risk on a net basis. A 1% 
higher interest rate would have reduced the profit 
before taxes of the Group by CHF 1.3 million 
(2014: CHF 1.2 million). 

No hedging of the interest rate risk was 
 performed in the reporting period or in the prior 
 period.

Price risk 
Holding marketable securities exposes Autoneum 
to a risk of price fluctuation. Since Autoneum 
held no significant shares (except for treasury 
shares) or options at the end of the reporting 
 period, no sensitivity analysis of fair value risk  
is prepared.

Credit risk
Credit risk arises from deposits and financial 
deriv atives held with financial institutions  
and from trade receivable accounts, other re ceiv-
ables and marketable securities and interest 
bearing receivables. The maximum risk of these 
positions corresponds to the book values and  

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statementsmedium- and long-term financing with a group  
of banks in the amount of CHF 150.0 million 
 (refer to note 24, p. 92), which expires in Decem-
ber 2019. Furthermore, a bond in the amount of 
CHF 125.0 million with maturity as of December 14, 
2017, was issued on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

76

is disclosed in note 30 on page 99. Significant 
 relationships with financial institutions are basi-
cally only entered into with counterparties  
rated no lower than “A” (according to Standard & 
Poor’s). Autoneum maintains business relation-
ships with all significant automotive manufac-
turers and, compared to the industry sector,  
has a geographically broad, diversified customer 
portfolio. Relevant risks of loss are considered 
low based on historical data. No customer 
 accounted for more than 20.0% (2014: 16.8%) 
of Autoneum’s sales. 

Capital risk
Autoneum Group maintains a healthy balance 
sheet with an adequate portion of equity. 
 Autoneum aspires that the equity ratio shall not 
fall below 30% over a longer period. As of 
 December 31, 2015, the equity ratio equaled  
35.7% (2014: 35.7%).

For the next few years, the dividend policy 
will depend on a number of factors, such as net 
profit and the financial situation of the Group, 
the demand for capital and liquidity, the general 
business environment as well as legal and  
contractual restrictions. Subject to the foregoing, 
the Group intends to distribute up to 30%  
of its net profit attributable to shareholders of  
Autoneum Holding Ltd.

Dividends, if any, are expected to be 

 declared and paid in Swiss francs.

Liquidity risk
The liquidity risk management of Autoneum 
 includes the maintenance of sufficient reserves 
of cash and time deposits and the availability  
of funding through an adequate amount of credit 
lines. Due to the dynamic business environment  
in which the Group operates, it is the aim of the 
Group to ensure the financial stability and to 
maintain the necessary flexibility in funding by 
generating sufficient free cash flow and holding  
a reasonable amount of unused credit lines. 
 Autoneum maintains a credit agreement for the 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statementsThe table below shows the contractual  maturities of Autoneum’s financial liabilities  (including interest):

77

Contractual undiscounted cash flows

Financial liabilities at December 31, 2015

CHF million

Bond

Bank debt

Finance leasing obligations

Other borrowings

Trade payables 

Accrued expenses

Non-income tax payables

Other payables

Total

Financial liabilities at December 31, 2014

CHF million

Bond

Bank debt

Finance leasing obligations

Other borrowings

Trade payables 

Accrued expenses

Non-income tax payables

Other payables

Total

Carrying 
amount

124.6

58.3

0.5

1.5

Less than 
1 year

5.5

17.3

0.5

0.1

243.3

243.3

51.2

12.0

29.7

51.2

12.0

28.3

521.2

358.2

Carrying 
amount

124.4

67.3

0.7

3.3

Less than 
1 year

5.5

20.9

0.2

2.2

250.4

250.4

42.2

14.4

33.2

42.2

14.4

31.4

535.8

367.2

1 to 5 
years

130.5

46.5

-

1.8

-

-

-

1.4

180.2

More 
than 5 
years

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1 to 5 
years

135.9

50.9

0.5

1.6

-

-

-

1.8

190.7

More 
than 5 
years

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total  
cash flow

136.0

63.8

0.5

1.8

243.3

51.2

12.0

29.7

538.4

Total  
cash flow

141.4

71.7

0.7

3.8

250.4

42.2

14.4

33.2

557.7

Contractual undiscounted cash flows

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
78

3 

  Change in scope of consolidation and significant transactions

In 2015, the companies Autoneum Mexico Operations, S. de R.L. de C.V., San Luis Potosí and 
 Autoneum Mexico Servicios, S. de R.L. de C.V., San Luis Potosí were established.

On July 23, 2014, Autoneum sold its subsidiary Porfima Due S.r.l., Torino (Italy), to the Italian  

automotive supplier STS acoustics S.p.A., Torino (Italy). The transaction resulted in a gain of 
CHF 1.8 million and a net cash outflow of CHF 8.0 million. Part of the purchase price was deferred.  
In 2015, the amount of CHF 0.5 million was paid as deferred purchase price.
In 2014, the company Autoneum Korea Ltd., Seoul, was established.

4 

  Segment information

Segment information is based on Autoneum Group’s internal organization and management structure 
as well as on the internal financial reporting to the Group Executive Board and to the Board of Directors. 
Chief operating decision maker is the CEO.

Autoneum is the globally leading automobile supplier in acoustic and thermal management for 
 vehicles. Autoneum develops and produces multifunctional and lightweight components and systems for 
noise and heat protection and thereby enhances vehicle comfort.

The reporting is based on the following four reportable segments (Business Groups): BG Europe, 

BG North America, BG Asia and BG SAMEA (South America, Middle East and Africa). Corporate 
 includes  Autoneum Holding Ltd and the corporate center with its respective legal entities, an ope-
ration that produces parts for Autoneum’s manufacturing lines, investments in  associates and 
 intersegment eliminations. Transactions between the Business Groups are made on the same basis 
as with independent third parties.

EBITDA and EBIT in Corporate include expenses in relation to the settlement with the German 

Federal Cartel Office in the amount of CHF 31.5 million in 2015 (refer to note 29, page 98).

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements7979

BG Europe

BG North 
America

BG Asia

BG SAMEA

Total 
segments

Corporate

Total  
Group

825.9

977.9

180.2

93.4

2 077.5

8.4

2 085.9

7.3

833.2

70.6

8.5%

-

977.9

117.8

0.7

180.9

32.8

0.9

94.3

–8.8

8.9

2 086.4

–8.9

–0.5

-

2 085.9

212.5

–20.9

12.1%

18.1%

–9.3%

10.2%

191.5

9.2%

–65.1

126.5

6.1%

n/a

–1.5

–22.5

n/a

–7.8

25.0

–3.7

–12.5

13.8% –13.3%

–63.5

148.9

7.1%

140.1

58.3

14.4

60.9

36.4

13.2

1 081.7

33.0

1 114.7

598.5

116.3

118.6

4.4

427

717.1

120.7

11 423

1 744

1 055

10 996

Segment information 2015

CHF million

Third-party net sales

Inter-segment net sales

Net sales

EBITDA

as a % of net sales

Depreciation and amortization

–25.9

–26.1

EBIT

as a % of net sales

Assets at December 311

Liabilities at December 31

Investments in tangible and intangible assets

Employees at December 312

44.7

5.4%

406.4

330.9

27.5

3 955

91.7

9.4%

474.3

172.9

61.2

4 243

Segment information 2014

CHF million

Third-party net sales

Inter-segment net sales

Net sales

EBITDA

as a % of net sales

BG Europe

BG North 
America

BG Asia

BG SAMEA

Total 
segments

Corporate

Total  
Group

795.4

882.7

145.2

123.3

1 946.6

8.0

1 954.7

-

0.1

0.6

8.6

145.3

123.9

1 955.3

7.9

803.3

59.7

7.4%

882.7

100.1

11.3%

18.6%

27.0

–7.1

19.9

13.7%

127.4

53.9

9.9

4.8

3.9%

–3.3

1.5

1.2%

75.5

55.8

13.6

191.7

9.8%

–63.4

128.3

6.6%

1 070.5

640.9

97.0

1 515

1 327

10 268

–8.6

–0.6

9.9

n/a

–3.1

6.9

n/a

28.8

65.9

4.9

413

-

1 954.7

201.6

10.3%

–66.5

135.1

6.9%

1 099.3

706.8

101.9

10 681

Depreciation and amortization

–28.1

–25.0

EBIT

as a % of net sales

Assets at December 311

Liabilities at December 31

Investments in tangible and intangible assets

Employees at December 312 

31.7

3.9%

413.2

328.0

25.3

3 623

75.1

8.5%

454.4

203.2

48.2

3 803

1 Assets in Corporate include investments in associated companies in the amount of CHF 8.3 million (2014: CHF 6.4 million), refer to note 15 (p. 85).
2 Full-time equivalents including temporary employees but excluding apprentices. 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
80

Net sales and non-current assets by country

CHF million

Switzerland1

USA

Germany

Great Britain

China

Remaining countries

Total

1 Domicile of Autoneum Holding Ltd.   

Net sales  
2015
2.3

745.3

198.6

183.5

162.2

794.1

Net sales  
2014
1.5

Non-current assets 
31.12.2015
37.7

Non-current assets 
31.12.2014
41.3

626.3

244.6

177.7

125.7

778.9

180.1

9.1

17.0

43.8

155.6

443.3

156.8

7.1

16.1

38.5

159.9

419.7

2 085.9

1 954.7

Net sales are disclosed by location of customers. Non-current assets consist of tangible assets  
and intangible assets.

The following customers accounted for more than 10% of annual net sales in 2015 or in 2014:

Net sales to major customers

CHF million

Ford

Honda

BMW

2015
416.7

223.6

197.9

2014
327.5

201.6

213.3

Information on sales by product group is not available. The major customers generate turnover  
in all geographic segments.

5 

  Employee expenses

CHF million

Wages and salaries

Social security expenses

Pension expenses for defined contribution plans

Pension expenses for defined benefit plans

Other personnel expenses

Total

2015
415.7

80.1

11.3

5.8

32.3

545.2

2014
389.1

65.7

7.4

5.1

32.5

499.8

Autoneum started a long-term incentive plan (LTI) for the management in 2012. Part of Autoneum’s 
net profit is converted into Autoneum shares, and the shares are allocated to defined beneficiaries. 
The shares become property of the beneficiaries after a vesting period of three years, if the benefi-
ciaries are then still employed by an Autoneum company. Immediate vesting occurs in case of death or 
retirement of the beneficiary. In case of employment termination, shares not yet vested lapse without 
compensation. Exceptions are possible at the discretion of the Nomination and Compensation Com-
mittee. The first vesting date was in spring 2015. Employee expenses resulting from share-based 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements8181

compensation are recognized over the vesting period. 3 783 shares (2014: 4 193 shares) valued at 
CHF 213.60 (2014: CHF 136.60) were granted in 2015, and expenses of CHF 0.6 million (2014: 
CHF 0.5 million) were recognized in wages and salaries.

The Board of Directors and the Group Executive Board receive part of their remuneration in 
Autoneum shares. These transactions are disclosed in the Remuneration report (page 104–107).

6 

  Other expenses

CHF million

Energy, maintenance and repairs

Marketing and distribution costs

Miscellaneous expenses

Operating leasing expenses

Settlement with the German Federal Cartel Office1

Audit and consulting expenses

IT and office expenses

Insurance and other charges

Total

1 Refer to note 29, page 98. 

7 

  Other income

2015
148.8

63.0

36.5

32.6

31.5

20.9

16.9

16.3

2014
141.3

51.4

28.5

31.3

-

18.8

18.9

15.1

366.6

305.3

Other income contains mainly income generated with by-products arising during the manufacturing 
process. In 2014, the gain of CHF 1.8 million from the sale of the former subsidiary Porfima Due S.r.l., 
Torino (Italy), is included (refer to note 3, p. 78).

8 

  Depreciation and amortization

CHF million

Depreciation of tangible assets

Amortization of intangible assets

Total

9 

  Financial income

CHF million

Interest income

Other financial income

Total

2015
63.4

1.7

65.1

2015
0.7

0.3

0.9

2014
65.5

1.0

66.5

2014
0.8

0.2

1.0

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
82

10   Financial expenses

CHF million

Interest expenses

Amortization of transaction costs

Interest expenses for defined benefit pension plans

Net foreign exchange losses

Other financial expenses

Total

11   Income taxes

CHF million

Current income taxes

Deferred income taxes

Total

2015
11.1

0.3

0.9

7.5

0.4

20.2

2015
39.6

0.8

40.5

2014
12.4

1.1

0.3

2.5

0.1

16.4

2014
33.3

–16.0

17.3

The decrease in the net deferred income tax assets by CHF 1.1 million (2014: decrease by CHF 21.4 
million) relates to the deferred income tax expense recognized in the consolidated income statement  
of CHF 0.8 million (2014: deferred income tax income of CHF 16.0 million), to the deferred income  
tax income recognized in other comprehensive income of CHF 0.7 million (2014: income tax income of  
CHF 5.3 million) and to a currency translation adjustment of CHF –1.0 million (2014: CHF 0.1 million).

Reconciliation of expected and actual income tax expenses:

CHF million

Profit before taxes

Expected average tax rate

Expected income tax expenses
Non-taxable income and non-deductible expenses

Current income taxes from prior periods

Current year tax losses for which no deferred tax assets were recognized

Utilization of previously unrecognized tax loss carry-forwards

Change in unrecognized tax losses and deductible temporary differences

Income taxes at other tax rates

Impact of changes in tax rates

Other effects

Actual income tax expenses

2015
109.2

30.4%

33.2
4.7

4.4

12.4

–8.6

–1.4

–4.9

0.8

–0.1

40.5

2014
120.1

28.5%

34.2
1.4

2.8

5.7

–11.1

–18.6

2.8

0.1

-

17.3

The change in the expected average tax rate is due to the different geographic composition of 
profit or loss before tax.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements8383

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities pertain to the following balance sheet line items:

CHF million

Tangible assets

Inventories

Other assets

Employee benefit liabilities

Provisions

Other liabilities

Tax loss carryforwards and tax credits

Subtotal
Offsetting

Total

Deferred income 
tax assets 
31.12.2015
3.4

Deferred income 
tax liabilities 
31.12.2015
–16.0

Deferred income 
tax assets 
31.12.2014
2.2

Deferred income 
tax liabilities 
31.12.2014
–12.9

5.4

2.5

1.8

3.7

5.0

27.0

48.8
–17.1

31.7

–0.8

–3.2

-

–1.5

–6.4

–27.9
17.1

–10.8

3.3

2.1

2.2

5.7

14.5

24.6

54.6
–22.6

32.0

–0.9

–2.7

-

–3.4

–12.6

–32.5
22.6

–9.9

No deferred tax assets have been recognized from deductible temporary differences in the amount  
of CHF 97.6 million (2014: CHF 107.6 million). Tax loss carryforwards in the amount of CHF 0.2 
million (2014: nil) are recognized for Group companies which incurred losses in 2015 or 2014 (2014 
or 2013) supported by increased future profitability and synergies as a result of restructuring.

The table below discloses tax loss carryforwards and tax credits by their year of expiry:

CHF million

Less than 3 years

In 3 to 7 years

Thereafter

Total 

Capitalized  
31.12.2015
0.3

Non-capitalized  
31.12.2015
2.8

Capitalized  
31.12.2014
2.3

Non-capitalized  
31.12.2014
15.6

8.7

66.9

75.9

19.4

300.3

322.5

1.0

64.9

68.2

14.1

328.6

358.3

The tax loss carryforwards for which no deferred income tax assets have been recognized originate 
 primarily from countries with a tax rate between 19% and 40%.

12   Earnings per share

Profit attributable to shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd1

CHF million

2015
 42.2 

2014
 78.9 

Average number of shares outstanding

Average number of shares outstanding diluted

Number of shares

Number of shares

 4 627 120 

 4 630 773 

 4 637 259 

 4 647 353 

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

CHF

CHF

 9.12 

 9.10 

 17.03 

 16.97 

1 The LTI does not lead to a dilution effect in profit attributable to shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd. 

The average number of shares outstanding is calculated based on the number of shares issued less 
the weighted average number of treasury shares held. The consideration of shares granted but  
not yet vested in the course of the management’s long-term incentive plan (LTI) leads to a diluted 
average number of shares outstanding.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
84

13   Tangible assets

CHF million

Cost at January 1, 2015

Additions

Disposals

Reclassification

Reclassification to assets of disposal group

Currency translation adjustment

Cost at December 31, 2015
Accumulated depreciation at January 1, 2015

Depreciation

Disposals

Reclassification

Reclassification to assets of disposal group

Currency translation adjustment

Acc. depreciation at December 31, 2015
Net book value at January 1, 2015

Net book value at December 31, 2015

CHF million

Cost at January 1, 2014

Additions

Disposals

Sale of subsidiary

Reclassification

Currency translation adjustment

Cost at December 31, 2014
Accumulated depreciation at January 1, 2014

237.6
–129.2

Depreciation

Disposals

Sale of subsidiary

Reclassification

Currency translation adjustment

Acc. depreciation at December 31, 2014
Net book value at January 1, 2014

Net book value at December 31, 2014

–8.5

7.9

0.2

–1.2

–2.7

–133.5
108.3

104.1

Land and 
buildings

237.6

Machinery 
and tools

934.4

0.9

–0.8

19.5

–9.3

–14.9

233.0
–133.5

–9.3

0.7

–2.4

8.0

8.5

–128.0
104.1

105.0

Land and 
buildings

237.5

2.1

–9.2

–2.5

5.0

4.7

Data 
processing 
equipment

Vehicles  
and 
furniture

Tangibles  
under 
construction

11.8

0.8

–0.4

1.2

-

–1.4

12.0
–9.8

–1.0

0.4

-

-

1.2

–9.3
2.0

2.7

16.2

0.4

–0.3

1.0

-

–1.2

16.1
–12.4

–1.0

0.2

0.6

-

1.0

–11.7
3.8

4.4

87.1

96.6

-

–80.0

–0.9

–4.5

98.3
-

-

-

-

-

-

-
87.1

98.3

20.3

–9.2

58.4

–31.8

–62.2

909.9
–721.7

–52.1

8.5

1.8

28.4

48.3

–686.8
212.7

223.1

Machinery 
and tools

Data 
processing 
equipment

Vehicles  
and 
furniture

Tangibles  
under 
construction

897.4

14.1

–42.8

-

38.0

27.6

934.4
–690.4

–55.1

41.6

-

1.2

–18.9

–721.7
207.0

212.7

12.8

1.0

–2.1

-

0.1

–0.1

11.8
–11.0

–1.0

2.1

-

-

0.1

–9.8
1.8

2.0

14.9

0.7

–0.4

-

0.8

0.3

16.2
–11.9

–0.8

0.5

-

-

–0.1

–12.4
3.0

3.8

47.5

80.9

–0.6

-

–43.9

3.3

87.1
-

-

-

-

-

-

-
47.5

87.1

Total

1 287.1

119.1

–10.7

-

–42.0

–84.2

1 269.3
–877.5

–63.4

9.8

-

36.4

58.9

–835.8
409.6

433.5

Total

1 210.1

98.7

–55.1

–2.5

-

35.8

1 287.1
–842.5

–65.5

52.1

0.2

-

–21.8

–877.5
367.6

409.6

Additions in tangible assets comprise mainly investments in production facilities. The book value  
of the tangible assets financed by long-term leasing contracts is nil (2014: CHF 0.3 million). In both 
the reporting year and the prior year no borrowing costs were capitalized.

Tangible assets in the amount of CHF 2.3 million (2014: CHF 0.1 million) are pledged as security 

for financial liabilities.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
 
 
 
14   Intangible assets

CHF million

Cost at January 1

Additions

Currency translation adjustment

Cost at December 31
Accumulated amortization at January 1

Amortization

Currency translation adjustment

Accumulated amortization at December 31
Net book value at January 1

Net book value at December 31

8585

2014
9.7

3.1

–0.1

12.7
–1.7

–1.0

0.1

–2.6
7.9

10.0

2015
12.7

1.5

–0.3

14.0
–2.6

–1.7

0.2

–4.1
10.0

9.8

Intangible assets comprise mainly investments in a new ERP system.

In 2015, CHF 60.7 million was spent on research and development (2014: CHF 57.1 million).

Autoneum Group invests in innovative materials and products, and in new efficient production 
 technologies to support vehicle manufacturers in meeting challenging targets in acoustic comfort, 
fuel consumption and environmental emissions, in an increasingly cost-competitive environment.  
The focus in the last few years was in the development of extremely lightweight and acoustically  
efficient solutions for carpet, interior insulation and underbody aerodynamic covers and heatshields. 
In addition, emphasis was given to further developing Autoneum’s pioneering powertrain encapsu-
lation solutions for the reduction of exterior noise and carbon dioxide emissions.

Development costs must meet several criteria to be recognized as an intangible asset. Technical 

and financial resources must be available to ensure the completion of the development, and the  
costs attributed to the development must be reliably measured. Although for all major development 
projects in 2015 and 2014 this was the case, and the intention and ability to complete the projects 
was confirmed by the management, no development costs could be capitalized as intangible assets 
during the reporting year as in the previous year. Due to rapid technological changes, the required 
proof of future economic benefits could not be sufficiently supported.

15    Investments in associated companies

Investments in associated companies comprise the 49% share in SHN CO., Ltd., Daegu (Korea),  
the 30% share in SRN Sound Proof Co., Ltd., Chonburi (Thailand), and the 25% share in Wuhan 
 Nittoku Autoneum Sound-Proof Co. Ltd., Wuhan (China). The investments are measured using  
the equity method. The net book value of investments in associated companies changed as follows:

CHF million

Net book value at January 1

Additions

Share of profit

Currency translation adjustment

Net book value at December 31

2015
6.4

0.5

1.9

–0.4

8.3

2014
4.9

0.6

0.4

0.5

6.4

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements86

16    Financial assets

CHF million

Investments in non-consolidated companies

Loans

Other financial assets

Total non-current portion
Loans

Marketable securities

Total current portion

17    Other assets

CHF million

Other receivables

Total non-current portion
Prepaid expenses and accruals

Advance payments to suppliers

Fair value of derivative financial instruments

Other receivables

Total current portion

Other receivables are non-interest bearing.

18    Inventories

CHF million

Raw materials and consumables

Purchased parts

Semi-finished and finished goods

Work in progress

Allowance

Total

31.12.2015
21.1

31.12.2014
15.3

7.1

7.2

35.3
0.7

0.1

0.8

7.7

8.2

31.2
0.8 

0.2 

0.9 

31.12.2015
33.7

31.12.2014
40.9

33.7
12.9

5.3

0.7

58.5

77.4

40.9
13.6

4.7

0.1

47.5

65.9

31.12.2015
31.3

31.12.2014
31.5

2.4

40.0

60.9

–3.7

130.9

2.7

36.8

62.4

–3.0

130.5

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements19   Trade receivables

CHF million

Trade receivables nominal

Allowance for doubtful trade receivables

Total

8787

31.12.2015
264.7

31.12.2014
227.8

–9.8

254.9

–7.5

220.3

The following summarizes the movement in the allowance for doubtful trade receivables:

CHF million

Allowance at January 1

Additions and release

Utilization

Reclassification to assets of disposal group

Currency translation adjustment

Allowance at December 31

2015
–7.5

–3.5

0.5

0.5

0.2

–9.8

2014
–6.3

–1.0

0.4

-

–0.6

–7.5

The collectability of trade receivables is monitored on an ongoing basis. An allowance for doubtful 
 trade receivables is recorded, which is calculated from the difference between the invoiced amount 
and the expected payment.

The table below sets forth the aging of trade receivables and the allowance for doubtful trade 
 receivables,  showing amounts that are not yet due as well as an analysis of overdue amounts. Trade 
receivables that are not due and that are not impaired are expected to be settled within the agreed 
 payment terms.

CHF million

Not due 

Overdue 1 to 89 days

Overdue 90 to 179 days

Overdue 180 to 359 days

Thereafter

Total

Nominal 
31.12.2015
238.5

Allowance 
31.12.2015
–9.2

Nominal 
31.12.2014
216.1

Allowance 
31.12.2014
–7.2

19.4

2.4

3.9

0.5

264.7

–0.1

–0.1

–0.2

–0.2

–9.8

8.3

1.3

0.9

1.1

227.8

0.0

–0.1

–0.1

–0.2

–7.5

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements88

Trade receivables comprise receivables due from customers with the following credit rating 
 (Standard & Poor’s long-term issuer rating):

CHF million

A– or higher

BBB– to BBB+

BB+ or lower

Not rated

Total

CHF million

Not due 

Overdue 1 to 89 days

Overdue 90 to 179 days

Overdue 180 to 359 days

Thereafter

Total

31.12.2015
72.4

31.12.2014
80.6

89.3

84.3

8.8

254.9

65.1

65.0

9.6

220.3

Nominal 
31.12.2015
238.5

Allowance 
31.12.2015
–9.2

Nominal 
31.12.2014
216.1

Allowance 
31.12.2014
–7.2

19.4

2.4

3.9

0.5

264.7

–0.1

–0.1

–0.2

–0.2

–9.8

8.3

1.3

0.9

1.1

227.8

-

–0.1

–0.1

–0.2

–7.5

At December 31, 2014, trade receivables with a book value of CHF 3.5 million (2014: CHF 5.4 million) 
were used as collateral for credit facilities with financing banks. In addition, trade receivables with  
a book value of CHF 2.5 million (2014: CHF 2.4 million) were sold to third parties based on factoring 
agreements and no material risks remain with Autoneum.

Trade receivables include amounts denominated in the following major currencies:

CHF million

EUR

USD

CNY

CAD

GBP

CHF

BRL

Other 

Total

20   Cash and cash equivalents

CHF million

Cash at banks

Time deposit with original maturities up to 3 months 

Total

31.12.2015
103.4

31.12.2014
80.6

90.9

30.1

9.4

6.6

4.2

3.7

6.6

254.9

73.2

26.8

10.8

5.9

3.3

6.2

13.5

220.3

31.12.2015
77.1

31.12.2014
112.9

1.6

78.7

27.9

140.9

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements8989

21   Assets and liabilities of disposal group classified as held for sale

Autoneum’s US subsidiary UGN Inc. has sold its business in Chicago Heights, Illinois, to an affiliate 
of Angeles Equity Partners, LLC, Delaware, on February 2, 2016. With this transaction,  UGN Inc. 
 adjusts its product portfolio in the USA. The related assets and liabilities are consequently classified 
as held for sale as of December 31, 2015.

The disposal group consists of the assets and liabilities listed below. Those assets and liabilities 
were reclassified to assets of disposal group classified as held for sale and liabilities of disposal 
group classified as held for sale.

CHF million

Tangible assets

Other assets

Non-current assets
Inventories

Trade receivables

Other assets

Current assets

Assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Other liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Trade payables

Other liabilities

Current liabilities

Liabilities of disposal group classified as held for sale

31.12.2015
5.6

0.3

5.9
1.1

3.8

0.2

5.1

11.0

0.1

0.1
1.9

0.1

2.0

2.2

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements90

22   Shareholders’ equity

Since the founding of Autoneum Holding Ltd on December 2, 2010, the number of registered shares 
has remained unchanged at 4 672 363, each with a nominal value of CHF 0.05 per share. The share 
capital amounts to CHF 233 618 and is as follows:

Shares outstanding

Treasury shares

Total shares issued
Nominal value per share

Share capital

Number of shares

Number of shares

Number of shares

CHF

CHF

31.12.2015
4 634 751

31.12.2014
4 619 183

37 612

4 672 363
0.05

233 618

53 180

4 672 363
0.05

233 618

Share capital
The holders of shares are entitled to receive dividends and are entitled to one vote per share at 
 general meetings of the Company. 

Conditional share capital
For issuing bonds and/or granting shareholder options, the share capital can be increased by a maxi-
mum of 700 000 paid registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.05 up to a maximum value of 
CHF 35 000. Furthermore, for the issue of shares to employees and subsidiaries, the share capital 
can be increased by a maximum of 250 000 paid registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.05  
up to a maximum value of CHF 12 500.

Treasury shares
The following transactions with treasury shares were performed during the financial year:

Treasury shares at January 1

Purchase of treasury shares

Transfer of treasury shares

Treasury shares at December 31

2015 
in shares
53 180

634

–16 202

37 612

2015 
in CHF million
6.1

0.1

–1.9

4.3

2014 
in shares
36 062

28 069

–10 951

53 180

2014 
in CHF million
2.3

4.7

–0.9

6.1

Capital reserves 
 Capital reserves arising from the contribution of the Autoneum companies to the Group in  
the course of the separation in 2011 as well as capital contributions from non-controlling interests. 

Available for sale reserves
The available for sales reserves contain changes in the fair value of non-consolidated investments.  
The reserves will be reclassified to the income statement at disposal.

Retained earnings
Retained earnings include accumulated earnings since the Group was established in December 2010.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements9191

Currency translation adjustment
The currency translation adjustment comprises all foreign exchange differences arising from the 
translation of the financial statements of foreign entities included in the consolidated financial 
statements.

23   Non-controlling interests

The non-controlling interests derive from UGN Inc. (USA), Autoneum Erkurt Otomotive AS (Turkey), 
Tianjin Autoneum Nittoku Sound-Proof Co. Ltd. (China), Autoneum Nittoku (Guangzhou) Sound-Proof 
Co. Ltd. (China), Autoneum Nittoku Sound Proof Products India Pvt. Ltd., Autoneum Feltex (Pty) Ltd. 
(South Africa), Autoneum Portugal Lda. and Autoneum Korea Ltd. Due to disclosure restrictions  
in shareholder agreements, information on significant non-controlling interests is only disclosed on 
an aggregated level.

The table below sets out aggregated financial information of the subsidiaries with non- controlling 
interests:

CHF million

Non-current assets

Current assets

Non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Net assets

Thereof non-controlling interests

Net sales

Net profit

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Thereof non-controlling interests

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash flows used in investing activities

Cash flows used in financing activities

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

31.12.2015
158.7

31.12.2014
149.5

166.6

–35.5

–90.4

199.4
96.2

2015
540.0

55.3

–5.0

50.4
24.4

68.5

–35.8

–43.6

–10.9

156.2

–34.0

–85.3

186.5
89.0

2014
467.6

50.5

14.8

65.3
31.4

60.2

–27.0

–29.3

4.0

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements92

24   Borrowings

CHF million

Bond

Bank debt

Finance lease obligations

Other borrowings

Total at December 31, 2015

CHF million

Bond

Bank debt

Finance lease obligations

Other borrowings

Total at December 31, 2014

Duration less than 
1 year
-

Duration 
1 to 5 years
124.6

Duration 5 and 
more years
-

13.4

0.5

0.1

14.0

44.9

-

1.4

170.9

-

-

-

-

Duration less than 
1 year
-

Duration 
1 to 5 years
124.4

Duration 5 and 
more years
-

18.0

0.2

2.2

20.4

49.3

0.5

1.0

175.3

-

-

-

-

Total
124.6

58.3

0.5

1.5

184.9

Total
124.4

67.3

0.7

3.3

195.6

On December 14, 2012, Autoneum Holding Ltd issued a fixed rate bond with a nominal value  
of CHF 125.0 million, which is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (AUT12, ISIN: CH0196770439).  
The bond carries a coupon rate of 4.375%, and has a term of five years with a final maturity  
on  December 14, 2017. On December 31, 2015, the market value of the bond was CHF 132.0 million 
(2014: CHF 133.9 million).

Autoneum maintains a long-term credit agreement with a banking syndicate in the amount of 
CHF 150.0 million, whereof CHF 40.0 million was drawn at year-end (2014: CHF 40.6 million). The 
line of credit may partly be used as a guarantee facility. The  final maturity date is December 31, 2019. 
The interest rate is based on the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin, which is determined based 
on the ratio of net debt to EBITDA. The credit agreement contains customary financial covenants, 
which include the ratio of net debt to EBITDA and a minimal financial equity. Compliance with finan-
cial  covenants is checked quarterly and reported to the banking syndicate. In fiscal years 2015 and 
2014, the minimum financial requirements were met at all times.

In addition to the aforementioned bond and the long-term credit agreement, local credit limits 

and borrowings exist in several countries with individual customary market conditions.
The borrowings are denominated in the following currencies:

CHF million

CHF

USD

BRL

Other

EUR

Total

31.12.2015
164.1 

31.12.2014
165.4 

8.2 

7.8 

4.8 

-

14.3 

11.1 

3.6 

1.2 

184.9 

195.6 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements25    Employee benefits

CHF million

Post-employment benefit liabilities

Other long-term employee benefits

Employee benefit liabilities

9393

31.12.2015
27.7

31.12.2014
30.1

1.1

28.8

1.6

31.7

The costs for pensions are charged to employee and interest expenses and for the current reporting 
year totaled CHF 18.1 million (2014: CHF 12.8 million).

Some employees participate in defined contribution plans whose insurance benefit results solely 
from the paid contributions and the return on investment on the plan asset. The other employees 
participate in  defined benefit plans that are based upon direct benefits of Autoneum Group.

Defined contribution plans
The expenses for defined contribution plans totaled CHF 11.3 million in the current reporting year 
(2014: CHF 7.4 million).

Defined benefit plans
Autoneum maintains defined benefit pension plans in Switzerland, Great Britain, the USA and 
 Canada. The most significant pension plans are the Swiss and the US pension plans. Those plans 
sum up to 81.7% (2014: 78.1%) of the Group’s defined benefit obligation and to 81.0% (2014: 
78.5%) of the Group’s plan assets. 

The status of the defined benefit plans at year-end was as follows:

CHF million

Switzerland

Fair value of plan assets at December 31

Present value of defined benefit obligation at December 31

Deficit at December 31

USA

Fair value of plan assets at December 31

Present value of defined benefit obligation at December 31

Deficit at December 31

Other countries

Fair value of plan assets at December 31

Present value of defined benefit obligation at December 31

Deficit at December 31

2015

2014

116.5

–122.3

–5.9

30.1

–47.2

–17.1

34.3

–38.0

–3.7

111.0

–111.1

–0.1

31.2

–49.4

–18.2

38.9

–44.5

–5.6

Total deficit at December 31

–26.7

–23.9

Recognized in the balance sheet

as employee benefit assets

as employee benefit liabilities

1.0

–27.7

6.2

–30.1

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements94

Swiss pension plans
Pension plans are governed by the Swiss Federal Law on Occupational Retirement, Survivors’ and 
Disability Pension Plans (BVG). The Group’s pension plans are administered by separate legal founda-
tions, which are funded by regular employee and company contributions. Plan participants are 
 insured against the financial consequences of old age, disability and death. The most senior govern-
ing body of the pension plan is the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is responsible for  
the  investment of the plan assets. All investment decisions made by the Board of Trustees need to 
be within the guidelines set out in a long term investment strategy. This strategy is based on legal 
 requirements, expected future contributions and expected future obligations and is reassessed at 
least once a year. All governing and administration bodies have an obligation to act in the interests 
of the plan participants. The final benefit is contribution-based with certain minimum guarantees. 
Due to these minimum guarantees, the Swiss plans are treated as  defined benefit plans for the purpos-
es of these IFRS financial statements, although they have many characteristics of defined contri- 
bution plans. Retirement benefits are based on the accumulated savings capital, which can either be 
drawn as a lifelong pension or as a lump sum payment. The  pension is calculated by multiplying  
the balance of the savings capital with the applicable conversion rate. The plan is exposed to actu-
arial risks, such as longevity risk, interest rate risk and market (investment) risk. In case of an  
underfunding, the Board of Trustees is required to take the necessary measures to ensure that full 
funding can be expected to be restored within a reasonable  period. The measures may include  
increasing employee and company contributions, lowering the interest rate on retirement account 
balances or reducing prospective benefits.

US pension plans
The Group’s major defined benefit plans in the USA have been closed to new members. New employ-
ees in the USA now join defined contribution plans. The defined benefit plans are subject to the 
 provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which defines minimum 
standards such as the statutory minimum funded status. 

Pension plans in other countries
Autoneum maintains defined benefit plans in Canada and in the Great Britain. The pension plan in 
Great Britain has been closed for new members. New employees join a defined contribution plan. 
The  pension plan in Canada is open for all Canadian employees. The plan is funded, and the majority 
of the contributions are paid by the employer.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statementsThe movement in the defined benefit obligation over the year was as follows:

CHF million

Defined benefit obligation at January 1

Current service cost

Past service cost

Interest expenses

Remeasurement gains and losses

Employee contributions

Benefits paid

Currency translation adjustment

9595

2014
163.9

5.1

-

5.5

28.0

2.9

–6.5

6.1

2015
205.0

6.3

–0.6

4.6

4.4

3.0

–8.9

–6.2

Defined benefit obligation at December 31

207.6

205.0

The movement in the fair value of plan assets over the year was as follows:

CHF million

Fair value of plan assets at January 1

Interest income

Return on plan assets excluding interest income

Employer contributions

Employee contributions

Benefits paid

Currency translation adjustment

Fair value of plan assets at December 31

2015
181.1

3.7

0.9

6.8

3.0

–8.9

–5.7

180.9

2014
158.3

5.2

9.2

7.8

2.9

–6.5

4.2

181.1

The major categories of plan assets as a percentage of total plan assets were as follows:

in %

Equity

Debt

Real estate

Other

All equity and debt instruments are listed on a stock exchange.

The amounts recognized in the income statement were as follows:

CHF million

Current service cost

Past service cost

Net interest expenses

Pension expenses for defined benefit plans

Recognized in the income statement:

as employee expenses

as interest expenses

31.12.2015
44

31.12.2014
44

33

10

13

2015
6.3

–0.6

0.9

6.6

5.8

0.9

31

6

19

2014
5.1

-

0.3

5.4

5.1

0.3

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements96

The amounts recognized in the income statement result from plans in the following regions:

CHF million

Expense from defined benefit plans in Switzerland

Expense from defined benefit plans in the USA

Expense from defined benefit plans in other countries

Total

2015
4.2 

1.4 

1.1 

6.6 

2014
3.4 

1.0 

1.0 

5.4 

The expected employer contributions for the Group’s defined benefit pension plans for 2016 amount 
to CHF 6.5 million. The expected benefit payments for 2016 are CHF 7.6 million.

The effect from remeasurement of the defined benefit pension plans recognized in other comprehen-
sive income is as follows:

CHF million

Remeasurement gains and losses

from changes in demographic assumptions

from changes in financial assumptions

from experience adjustment

Return on plan assets excluding interest income

Total

2015

2014

1.0

-

–5.4

0.9

–3.5

–3.9

–22.1

–2.0

9.2

–18.8

The table below discloses the main actuarial assumptions at year-end:

Weighted average of all pension plans

Discount rate

Expected future salary growth

Life expectancy for females at age of 65

Life expectancy for males at age of 65

in %

in %

in years

in years

31.12.2015
2.2

31.12.2014
2.4

0.6

24.5

22.1

0.5

23.9

21.5

At December 31, 2015, the weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation was 17.1 years 
(2014: 16.7 years). 

The table below shows the results of the sensitivity analysis. It was analyzed how expected changes 
in the discount rate and expected changes in the future salary growth would impact the defined 
 benefit obligation. A change in the discount rate by 0.25 points or a change in the future salary growth 
rate by 0.5 points would have had the following effect on the defined benefit obligation:

CHF million

Increase in discount rate by 0.25 percentage point

Decrease in discount rate by 0.25 percentage point

Increase in future salary growth by 0.5 percentage point

Decrease in future salary growth by 0.5 percentage point

31.12.2015
–8.2

31.12.2014
–8.0

8.7

2.1

–2.2

8.6

2.7

–2.7

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements26   Provisions

CHF million

Provisions at January 1, 2015

Additions

Utilization 

Release 

Reclassification

Currency translation adjustment

Provisions at December 31, 2015
Thereof non-current

Thereof current

Guarantee 
and warranty

Litigation and 
tax risk

Environ- 
mental

Restruc- 
turing

5.3

-

-

–2.9

-

-

2.4
2.0

0.4

27.4

17.5

–4.5

–2.9

-

–0.6

37.0
33.7

3.3

10.5

0.9

-

-

–0.8

–0.3

10.3
10.3

-

0.9

-

–0.8

-

-

–0.1

-
-

-

Other

10.4

6.0

–2.9

–0.2

6.5

–0.2

19.4
8.4

11.0

9797

Total

54.5

24.4

–8.3

–6.0

5.7

–1.1

69.1
54.4

14.8

Guarantee and warranty provisions are related to the production and supply of goods or services  
and are based on experience. The non-current guarantee and warranty provisions of CHF 2.0 million 
are expected to be used over a period of one to two years on average.

Litigation and tax risk provisions comprise provisions for expected costs resulting from 
 investigations and proceedings of government agencies, provisions for court cases, such as claims 
brought up by workers for health- or accident-related incidents, and provisions for tax risks. The 
 majority of litigation and tax risk provisions are expected to be used within the next two to three years.
Environmental provisions contain the estimated costs for the cleanup of contaminated sites  
due to past industrial operations. The majority of provisions stem from legal entities within Business 
Group Europe. Long-term environmental provisions are expected to be used mainly over the next  
five to ten years.

Restructuring provisions comprised legal and factual liabilities from restructuring. The provisions 

were fully utilized in 2015.

Other provisions are made for contracts where the unavoidable costs to fulfill the obligation are 

greater than the expected economic benefits, as well as for other constructive or legal liabilities  
of Group companies. Cases in the amount of CHF 5.7 million that were reported as accrual in the prior 
year do now classify as provision and are reclassed accordingly. The majority of the remaining other 
non-current provisions are expected to be used within the next two to three years.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements98

27   Other liabilities

CHF million

Advance payments from customers

Other payables

Total non-current portion
Advance payments from customers

Accrued holidays and overtime

Accrued expenses and deferred income

Fair value of derivative financial instruments

Non-income tax payables

Other payables

Total current portion

Other payables are non-interest bearing.

28    Other commitments

31.12.2015
18.5

31.12.2014
15.3

1.4

19.9
44.3

10.4

51.2

1.8

12.0

28.3

1.8

17.1
35.6

12.9

42.2

2.5

14.4

31.4

148.1

139.0

Some Group companies rent factory and office space under operating lease agreements. The leases 
have varying terms, escalation clauses and renewal rights.

The future, cumulated minimum lease payments for operating leases are due as follows:

CHF million

Less than 1 year

1 to 5 years

Thereafter

Total

31.12.2015
24.8

31.12.2014
25.1

70.4

59.8

154.9

68.4

41.2

134.7

In the reporting period, CHF 32.6 million was charged to the income statement under operating 
 leasing expenses (2014: CHF 31.3 million).

At year-end, open commitments for large investments in tangible assets summed up to CHF 29.3 mil-
lion (2014: CHF 24.9 million).

29    Contingent liabilities 

Along with other automobile suppliers, Autoneum Germany GmbH, a subsidiary of Autoneum 
Holding Ltd, was subject to investigations by the German Federal Cartel Office in 2013. The investiga-
tions affected, among others, the market for floor systems and trunk trim. The investigations were 
closed in 2015 and led to a settlement payment of CHF 31.5 million.

There are no single matters pending that Autoneum expects to be material in relation to the 

Group’s business, financial position or results of operations.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements9999

30   Financial instruments

The following tables summarize all financial instruments classified by categories according to IAS 39. 

CHF million

Marketable securities1

Fair value of derivative financial instruments2

Total financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Cash at banks

Time deposits with original maturities up to 3 months

Loans

Trade receivables

Other receivables

Other financial assets

Total loans and receivables
Investments in non-consolidated companies1

Total available-for-sale financial assets

Total

CHF million

Borrowings

Trade payables

Accrued expenses

Non-income tax payables

Other payables

Total financial liabilities at amortized cost
Fair value of derivative financial instruments2

Total financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

Total

1 Measured at fair values that are based on quoted prices in active markets (level 1). 
2 Measured at fair values that are calculated based on observable market data (level 2).   

31.12.2015
0.1

31.12.2014
0.2

0.7

0.9
77.1

1.6

7.7

254.9

92.2

7.2

440.7
21.1

21.1

462.6

0.1

0.3
112.9

27.9

8.4

220.3

88.3

8.2

466.1
15.3

15.3

481.6

31.12.2015
184.9

31.12.2014
195.6

243.3

51.2

12.0

29.7

521.2
1.8

1.8

523.0

250.4

42.2

14.4

33.2

535.8
2.5

2.5

538.3

Borrowings comprise the bond with a net book value of CHF 124.6 million (2014: CHF 124.4 million) 
and a fair value of CHF 132.0 million (2014: CHF 133.9 million) based on quoted prices in active 
 markets. Refer to note 24 (p. 92) for further information. The book values of other financial instruments 
measured at amortized cost correspond to their fair values.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
100

31    Related parties

Related parties are members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board or close members of 
that person’s family, pension funds, associated companies as well as companies controlled by 
 significant shareholders. Information on significant shareholders is disclosed in note 14 of the financial 
statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd on page 116.

The following transactions were carried out with related parties:

CHF million

Interest paid to shareholders on shareholder loans

Fees paid to the law firm of the Chairman of the Board of Directors

2015
-

0.1

2014
1.0

0.2

The total remuneration to the Board of Directors and to the Group Executive Board was as follows:

CHF million

Remuneration in cash

Remuneration in shares of Autoneum Holding Ltd

Employer contributions to pension plans

Social security expenses

2015
5.0

2.1

0.2

0.3

2014
4.7

1.7

0.5

0.3

The compensation of the Board of Directors and of the Group Executive Board is disclosed in the 
Remuneration report on pages 104–107.

Members of the Group Executive Board can deposit part of their cash remuneration as  
a receivable due from Autoneum Management Ltd. The interest rate of these deposits is in line 
with market conditions.

Subordinated shareholder loans of CHF 25.0 million and an interest rate of 6% per annum were 

repaid on August 21, 2014.

Year-end balances were as follows:

CHF million

Bonus accruals for Group Executive Board

Liabilities due to Group Executive Board

32   Net debt

CHF million

Cash and cash equivalents

Current financial assets

Borrowings

Net debt

31.12.2015
2.2

31.12.2014
2.1

0.1

1.0

31.12.2015
–78.7

31.12.2014
–140.9

–0.8

184.9

105.4

–0.9

195.6

53.9

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements101101

33   Exchange rates for currency translation

CHF

Argentine peso

Brazilian real

Canadian dollar

Chinese yuan

Czech koruna

Euro

Pound sterling

Indian rupee

Polish zloty

United States dollar

ISO 
code
ARS

Units
1

Average rate 
2015
0.10

Average rate 
2014
0.11

Year-end rate 
2015
0.08

Year-end rate 
2014
0.12

BRL

CAD

CNY

CZK

EUR

GBP

INR

PLN

USD

1

1

100

100

1

1

100

100

1

0.30

0.76

15.38

3.94

1.07

1.48

1.50

25.64

0.97

0.39

0.83

14.86

4.41

1.21

1.51

1.50

28.97

0.92

0.25

0.71

15.25

4.00

1.08

1.47

1.49

25.51

0.99

0.37

0.85

15.94

4.34

1.20

1.54

1.56

27.91

0.99

34   Events after balance sheet date

Autoneum’s US subsidiary UGN Inc. has sold its business in Chicago Heights, Illinois, to an affiliate 
of Angeles Equity Partners, LLC, Delaware, on February 2, 2016. With this transaction, UGN Inc. 
 adjusts its product portfolio in the USA. The sale price of USD 43.7 million was received in cash at 
closing date of the transaction. Acquisition related costs in the amount of USD 0.3 million were 
 recorded in the income statement of the reporting period. Refer to note 21 on page 89 for further in-
formation. 

There were no other events between December 31, 2015, and March 2, 2016, which would 
 necessitate adjustments to the book value of the Group’s assets or liabilities, or which require addi-
tional disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

35   Proposal of the Board of Directors

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting 
on March 30, 2016, a dividend of CHF 4.50 per share entitled to dividends. This represents a   
total distribution up to CHF 21.0 million. In 2015, a total dividend of CHF 20.8 million (CHF 4.50 per 
share entitled to dividends) was distributed to the shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements102

36   Subsidiaries and associated companies

Switzerland

Autoneum Holding Ltd, Winterthur

Argentina

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

China

Autoneum International Ltd, Winterthur

Autoneum Management Ltd, Winterthur

Autoneum Switzerland Ltd, Sevelen

Autoneum Argentina SA, Córdoba

Autoneum Belgium N.V., Genk

Autoneum Brasil Têxteis Acústicos Ltda., São Bernardo do Campo

Autoneum Canada Ltd., Tillsonburg

Autoneum (Chongqing) Sound-Proof Parts Co. Ltd., Chongqing

Autoneum (Shenyang) Sound-Proof Parts Co. Ltd., Shenyang

Autoneum Nittoku (Guangzhou) Sound-Proof Co. Ltd., Guangzhou

Tianjin Autoneum Nittoku Sound-Proof Co. Ltd., Tianjin

Wuhan Nittoku Autoneum Sound-Proof Co. Ltd., Wuhan

Czech Republic

Autoneum CZ s.r.o., Choceň

France

Autoneum Holding France SASU, Lyon

Autoneum France SASU, Aubergenville

Germany

Autoneum Germany GmbH, Roßdorf

Great Britain

Autoneum Great Britain Ltd., Stoke-on-Trent

India

Italy

Korea

Autoneum India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

Autoneum Nittoku Sound Proof Products India Pvt. Ltd., Chennai

Porfima Uno S.r.l., Torino

SHN CO., Ltd., Daegu

Autoneum Korea Ltd., Seoul

Mexico

Autoneum Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., Hermosillo

Autoneum Mexico Operations, S. de R.L. de C.V., San Luis Potosí 1

Autoneum Mexico Servicios, S. de R.L. de C.V., San Luis Potosí 1

UGN de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., Silao

Servicios de Acoustical Solutions, S. de R.L. de C.V., Silao

Netherlands

Autoneum Netherland B.V., Weert

Poland

Portugal

Russia

Autoneum Poland Sp.z.o.o., Katowice

Autoneum Portugal Lda., Setúbal

Autoneum Rus LLC, Ryazan

South Africa

Autoneum Feltex (Pty) Ltd., Durban

Spain

Thailand

Turkey

USA

Autoneum Spain S.A.U., Terrassa

SRN Sound Proof Co., Ltd., Chonburi

Summit & Autoneum (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Rayong

Autoneum Erkurt Otomotive AS, Bursa

Autoneum America Corporation, Farmington Hills

Autoneum North America Inc., Farmington Hills

UGN Inc., Tinley Park

1 The companies were established in 2015.
2 Autoneum has 49% of the capital rights.

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EUR

BRL

CAD

CNY

CNY

CNY

CNY

CNY

CZK

EUR

EUR

EUR

GBP

INR

INR

EUR

0.2 •

7.0 •

1.3 •

0.3 •

22.5 •

8.0 •

147.7 •

0.0 •

49.3 •

49.2 •

75.8 •

47.2 •

76.9

206.2 •

39.8 •

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EUR

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RUB

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THB

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USD

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240.0 •

0.0 •

49.5 •

0.1 •

0.1 •

0.1 •

2.0 •

20.8 •

1.2 •

0.8 •

11.1 •

10.8 •

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130.4 •

47.2 •

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Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
103103

Report of the statutory auditor on the consolidated financial statements  
to the General Meeting of Shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd, Winterthur

As statutory auditor, we have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd,  
which comprise the balance sheet, income statement, statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity, 
statement of cash flows and notes on pages 62 to 102 for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Board of Directors’ responsibility
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with 
 International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the requirements of Swiss law. This responsibility includes 
 designing, implementing and maintaining an internal control system relevant to the preparation of consolidated financial 
statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. The Board of Directors is  further 
 responsible for selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies and making accounting estimates that are reason-
able in the circumstances.

Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We conduct-
ed our audit in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards as well as International Standards on Auditing. 
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the consolidated 
financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated 
financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the  
risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those 
risk assessments, the auditor considers the internal control system relevant to the entity’s preparation of the consoli-
dated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the 
purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control system. An audit also includes 
evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made, 
as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that the audit   
evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, give a true and fair view 
of the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows in accordance with International Financial 
 Reporting Standards (IFRS) and comply with Swiss law.

Report on other legal requirements
We confirm that we meet the legal requirements on licensing according to the Auditor Oversight Act (AOA) and inde-
pendence (article 728 CO and article 11 AOA) and that there are no circumstances incompatible with our independence.

In accordance with article 728a paragraph 1 item 3 CO and Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm that an internal 
control system exists, which has been designed for the preparation of consolidated financial statements according to the 
instructions of the Board of Directors.

We recommend that the consolidated financial statements submitted to you be approved.

KPMG AG

Kurt Stocker 
Licensed audit expert 
Auditor in charge

Zurich, March 2, 2016

Kathrin Schünke
Licensed audit expert

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Consolidated financial statements104

Remuneration report

Authority and definition process
The basic features of the remuneration policy are elaborated by the Compensation Committee (COC) 
and approved by the Board of Directors, which also approves the Group bonus plan and the long-
term incentive plan (LTI). The Board of Directors fixes annually the remuneration of the Directors and 
of the members of the Group Executive Board, based on suggestions of the COC and within the 
 limits approved by the shareholders. The Directors, whose remuneration is decided on, also partici-
pate in the meeting. The Board of Directors reviews annually the main features of the remuneration 
policy, approves the fixed portion of the remuneration of the Group Executive Board members  
and defines the targets for the Group bonus plan as well as the parameters for the LTI. The Board of 
Directors has not engaged third-party consultants for the elaboration of the salary policy or of 
 compensation programs. The Board of Directors annually submits the proposal for the maximum 
 aggregate total compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and the Group Executive 
Board to the Annual General Meeting for prospective approval by the shareholders. For a detailed 
description of the rules on the vote on pay at the Annual General Meeting, reference is made to §14  
of the Articles of Association (http://www.autoneum.com/fileadmin/user_upload/autoneum/Investor_
Relations/Articles_of_Association.pdf).

For the rules in the Articles of Association on the principles applicable to performance-related 

pay and to the allocation of equity securities as well as the additional amount for payments to new 
members of the Group Executive Board appointed after the vote on pay at the Annual General Meet ing 
as well as on loans, credit facilities and post-employment benefits for members of the Board  
of  Directors and the Group Executive Board, reference is made to §24 of the Articles of Association.

Remuneration of the Board of Directors
The remuneration of the Board of Directors consists of the annual fee and of the compensation for 
representation expenses. The remuneration is determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors, 
taking into consideration the remuneration at companies with comparable size, industry and 
 globalization.

The members of the Board of Directors may opt to obtain all or part of their remuneration in cash 

or in Autoneum shares. The cash component is paid out in December of the related business  
year. The shares are delivered in the respective year and blocked for three years. The share price appli-
cable for the conversion of the remuneration into shares is based on the average trading price of  
the ten trading days following the dividend payment, discounted to reflect a three-year blocking period.

Remuneration of the Group Executive Board
Remuneration of the Group Executive Board consists of a fixed component, a performance-related 
bonus and the participation in the long-term incentive plan (LTI). Remuneration is determined at the 
discretion of the Board of Directors taking into consideration function, responsibility and experience, 
as well as remuneration at comparable industrial companies for which information is publicly 
 avail able or known to the Directors from their experience or office at similar companies. Industrial 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Remuneration report105

companies are considered comparable with Autoneum if they are similar in terms of business 
 sector, structure, size and international activity.

The Board of Directors may define each year a portion of the basic salary which shall be paid 

in Autoneum shares. The number of shares is calculated considering the average trading price  
of the first ten trading days of the respective year. The granted shares are delivered in December 
of the respective year and blocked for three years.

The members of the Group Executive Board may reach a performance-related remuneration  

of up to 80% of their basic salary, subject to the achievement or exceeding of defined minimum 
 profitability and liquidity targets of the Group or of the Business Groups (BG), as well as to the 
achievement of agreed individual targets. The targets for the CEO and the CFO refer to the Group net 
profit margin (weighted with 52.5%), Group RONA (22.5%) and individual targets (25%). For  
the heads of the BG the targets refer to the Group net profit  margin (17.5%), Group RONA (7.5%), BG 
EBIT margin (35%), BG free cash flow (15%) and individual targets (25%). Minimum and maximum 
limits are defined for the weighted targets. Achievement of the minimum limit is a condition for the 
bonus, while maximum bonus is achieved at the maximum limit. Bonus develops linearly between  
the two limits. Irrespective of the other targets, a bonus is only earned in case of a positive Group net 
profit. At least 40% of the bonus is paid in shares of Autoneum. Each member of the Group Execu-
tive Board can opt for receiving up to 100% of the bonus in shares. The calculated bonus is multipli-
ed by 1.4 and then converted into shares considering the average trading price of the first ten 
 trading days in January of the following year. The resulting shares are blocked for three years.

The long-term incentive plan (LTI) allows the Board of Directors to allocate part of the Group’s 

net profit to the beneficiaries defined in advance. Beneficiaries are the upper management of the 
Group, including the Group Executive Board. An allocation is only granted if Group net profit is posi-
tive and exceeds a defined threshold. The total amount of Group net profit dedicated to the LTI is 
converted into Autoneum shares and the shares are allocated to the beneficiaries at fixed per centage 
rates,  corresponding to the internal function levels. The shares become property of the beneficiaries 
after a vesting period of three years, if the beneficiaries are then still employed by an Autoneum 
company. Due to the three-year vesting period, the value of the LTI is in strong correlation to the 
 Autoneum share price performance. Immediate vesting occurs in case of death or retirement of  
a beneficiary. In case of employment  termination, shares not yet vested lapse without compensation. 
Exceptions are possible at the discretion of the COC. For the year 2015, 1% of Group net profit has 
been allocated (2014: 1%).

There are no share options or share purchase plans.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Remuneration report106

Remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors and Group Executive Board in 2015

CHF

Board of Directors
Hans-Peter Schwald, Chairman

Fixed remuneration
in shares1

in cash

-

280 000

Rainer Schmückle, Vice Chairman

190 000

-

Michael Pieper

This E. Schneider

Peter Spuhler

Ferdinand Stutz

Total

CHF

Group Executive Board
All members

-

-

-

100 000

130 000

100 000

120 000

50 000

310 000

660 000

Fixed remuneration Variable remuneration4
in shares5

in shares3

in cash

in cash

Other2

Total

49 800

329 800

25 000

215 000

25 239

125 239

29 591

159 591

27 396

127 396

32 310

202 310

189 336 1 159 336

LTI6

Other7

Total

3 274 004

32 108

989 824

1 198 512

206 892

773 743 6 475 083

Thereof Martin Hirzel, CEO

668 000

32 108

225 176

315 236

70 117

148 937 1 459 574

1 The applicable share price (average trading price during the defined period, less 16% for the three-year blocking period) was CHF 182.84. The transfer 
took place after deduction of applicable social security contributions and withholding taxes. 
2 Other remuneration includes the employer’s portion of social insurance contributions as well as lump-sum remuneration for representation expenses.
3 The applicable share price during the defined period was CHF 174.50. 
4 For the bonus calculation, the net profit has been adjusted for the settlement with the German Federal Cartel Office in the amount of CHF 31.5 million in 2015.
5 The part of the bonus opted to be paid out in shares (at least 40%) is multiplied by the factor 1.4 and then converted into shares using the average trading 
price for the first ten days in January 2016 (CHF 192.10).
6 The rights allocated in April 2016 will vest end of February 2019. 
7 Other remuneration includes the employer’s portion of social insurance contributions, the employer’s portion of contributions to pension funds and other 
fringe benefits. 

Total remuneration to the Group Executive Board in 2015 includes remuneration to Volker  
Eimertenbrink (Head Business Group SAMEA until December 31, 2015), payable in 2016.  
Richard Derr who  resigned from the Group Executive Board in 2015 has the bonus settled in cash.

Remuneration to former members of the Board of Directors and of the Group Executive Board
There has been no remuneration to former members of the Board of Directors or Group  Executive 
Board.

Directorships at other companies
The Board of Directors decides on directorships of members of the Group Executive Board or 
 senior management at other companies. When the directorship is exercised outside the contractual 
working time, the director’s remuneration received must not be surrendered to Autoneum.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Remuneration report 
 
107

Other2

Total

50 066

330 066

25 000

215 000

25 322

125 322

29 721

159 721

27 496

127 496

32 480

202 480

190 085 1 160 085

Remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors and Group Executive Board in 2014

CHF

Board of Directors
Hans-Peter Schwald, Chairman

Fixed remuneration
in shares1

in cash

-

280 000

Rainer Schmückle, Vice Chairman

106 523

83 477

-

100 000

65 000

65 000

-

100 000

100 000

70 000

271 523

698 477

Michael Pieper

This E. Schneider

Peter Spuhler

Ferdinand Stutz

Total

CHF

Group Executive Board
All members

Thereof Martin Hirzel, CEO

Fixed remuneration

in cash

in shares

Variable remuneration
in shares3

in cash

LTI4

Other5

Total

2 893 853

636 542

- 1 209 989

887 905

190 303

863 664 6 045 714

-

293 654

274 008

70 075

174 790 1 449 069

1 The applicable share price (average trading price during the defined period, less 16% for the three-year blocking period) was CHF 156.52. The transfer 
took place after deduction of applicable social security contributions and withholding taxes. 
2 Other remuneration includes the employer’s portion of social insurance contributions as well as lump-sum remuneration for representation expenses.
3 The part of the bonus opted to be paid out in shares (at least 40%) is multiplied by the factor 1.4 and then converted into shares using the average trading 
price for the first ten days in January 2015 (CHF 174.75).
4 The rights allocated in April 2015 will vest end of February 2018.
5 Other remuneration includes the employer’s portion of social insurance contributions, the employer’s portion of contributions to pension funds and other 
fringe benefits. 

Loans to directors or officers
No loans have been granted to members of the Board of Directors or of the Group Executive Board.

Other remuneration and payments to related parties
There has been no further remuneration or payments to members of the Board of Directors or  
Group Executive Board in 2015 or in 2014. In 2015, CHF 87 678 (2014: CHF 211 138) of fees were paid 
to the law firm managed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for legal services provided.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Remuneration report 
108

Report of the Statutory Auditor on the remuneration report  
to the General Meeting of Shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd, Winterthur

We have audited the accompanying remuneration report dated March 2, 2016, of Autoneum Holding Ltd for the year 
 ended December 31, 2015. The audit was limited to the information according to articles 14–16 of the Ordinance against 
Excessive Compensation in Stock Exchange Listed Companies (Ordinance) contained in the tables “Remuneration to  
the members of the Board of Directors and of the Group Executive Board in 2015” and “Remuneration to the members of  
the Board of Directors and of the Group Executive Board in 2014” on pages 106 to 107 of the remuneration report. 

Responsibility of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and overall fair presentation of the remuneration report in  
accordance with Swiss law and the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation in Stock Exchange Listed Companies.  
The Board of Directors is also responsible for designing the remuneration system and defining individual remuneration 
packages.

Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the accompanying remuneration report. We conducted our audit in 
 accordance with Swiss Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements  
and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the remuneration report complies with 
Swiss law and articles 14–16 of the Ordinance.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence on the disclosures made in the remuneration report 
with regard to compensation, loans and credits in accordance with articles 14–16 of the Ordinance. The procedures 
 selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatements in the  
remuneration report, whether due to fraud or error. This audit also includes evaluating the reasonableness of the methods 
applied to value components of remuneration as well as assessing the overall presentation of the Remuneration report.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Opinion
In our opinion, the remuneration report for the year ended December 31, 2015, of Autoneum Holding Ltd complies  
with Swiss law and articles 14–16 of the Ordinance.

KPMG AG

Kurt Stocker 
Licensed audit expert 
Auditor in charge

Zurich, March 2, 2016

  Kathrin Schünke
  Licensed audit expert

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Remuneration report 
Income statement of Autoneum Holding Ltd

CHF million

Income
Dividend income

Other financial income

License income

Total income

Expenses
Financial expenses

Administration expenses

Loss from disposal of subsidiary

Taxes

Total expenses

Net profit for the year

109

Notes

2015

2014

(2)

(3)

25.3

10.4

5.6

41.3

16.6

4.7

-

0.2

21.4

19.8

6.6

19.9

5.3

31.8

9.1

3.9

6.9

0.1

19.9

11.9

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd  
110

Balance sheet of Autoneum Holding Ltd

CHF million

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Loans and receivables due from subsidiaries

Loans and receivables due from third parties

Accruals due from subsidiaries

Accruals due from third parties

Current assets
Loans due from subsidiaries

Loans due from third parties

Investments

Non-current assets

Total assets

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Financial liabilities due to subsidiaries

Accruals due to subsidiaries

Accruals due to third parties

Current liabilities
Bond

Financial liabilities due to banks

Provisions

Non-current liabilities

Liabilities
Share capital

Legal capital reserves

Retained earnings

   Balance brought forward

   Net profit for the year

Treasury shares

Shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Notes

31.12.2015

31.12.2014

(4)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(9)

(9)

1.9

146.5

0.6

5.9

1.7

156.5
175.0

6.3

332.5

513.8

670.3

95.9

2.0

4.7

102.6
125.0

37.4

-

162.4

265.1
0.2

350.0

39.5

19.8

–4.3

405.2

670.3

10.3

107.8

0.7

5.5

1.4

125.7
234.1

7.6

267.1

508.9

634.6

52.2

1.7

6.0

59.9
125.0

33.3

11.9

170.2

230.1
0.2

370.8

27.7

11.9

–6.1

404.5

634.6

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd 111

Notes to the financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd

1 

  Principles

General
Autoneum Holding Ltd was incorporated on December 2, 2010, as a Swiss corporation headquartered 
in Winterthur. The company does not have any employees.
These financial statements were prepared according to the provisions of the Swiss Law on Accoun-
ting and Financial Reporting (32nd title of the Swiss Code of Obligations) for the first time. The 
 presentation of the prior year figures was adjusted accordingly to allow comparability. Where not 
prescribed by law, the significant accounting and valuation principles applied are described below.

Loans
Loans granted in foreign currencies are translated at the rate at the balance sheet date, whereby 
 unrealized losses are recorded but unrealized profits are not recognized. In the case where the 
currency effect of loans is hedged, both unrealized losses and profits are recognized.

Treasury shares
Treasury shares are recognized at acquisition cost and deducted from shareholders’ equity at  
the time of acquisition. In case of a sale, the gain or loss is recognized in the income statement as 
 financial income or financial expenses.

Financial liabilities due to banks and bond
Financial liabilities are recognized in the balance sheet at nominal value. The issue costs for the 
bond and for finance agreements are recognized as accruals due from third parties and amortized  
on a straight-line basis over the maturity period.

2 

  Other financial income

CHF million

Interest income

Net foreign exchange gains

Other financial income

Total

3 

  Financial expenses

CHF million

Interest expenses

Net foreign exchange losses

Other financial expenses

Total

2015
10.3

-

0.1

10.4

2015
7.3

8.6

0.7

16.6

2014
15.0

4.0

0.8

19.9

2014
9.1

-

-

9.1

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd  
112

4 

  Loans and receivables due from subsidiaries

Loans due from subsidiaries in current assets contains both current loans and cash pool receivables. 
The split at year-end is as follows:

CHF million

Current loans

Cash-pool receivables

Total

31.12.2015
118.9

31.12.2014
96.9

27.6

146.5

10.9

107.8

Non-current loans due from subsidiaries in the amount of CHF 10.6 million are subordinated.

5 

  Investments

Autoneum Holding Ltd recapitalized subsidiaries by converting loans into equity in 2015 and 2014. 
Participation levels were increased accordingly. The subsidiaries and associated companies are listed 
in note 13 on page 115. They are owned directly or indirectly by Autoneum Holding Ltd.

6 

  Financial liabilities due to subsidiaries

Financial liabilities due to subsidiaries in current liabilities contain both short-term loans and cash 
pool liabilities. The split at year-end is as follows:

CHF million

Current loans

Cash-pool liabilities

Total

7 

  Bond

31.12.2015
59.1

31.12.2014
10.3

36.8

95.9

41.8

52.2

On December 14, 2012, Autoneum Holding Ltd issued a fixed rate bond with a nominal value  
of CHF 125.0 million, which is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (AUT12, ISIN: CH0196770439). 
The bond carries a coupon rate of 4.375%, and has a term of five years with a final maturity on 
December 14, 2017. 

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd 113

8 

  Financial liabilities due to banks

Autoneum maintains a long-term credit agreement with a banking syndicate in the amount of 
CHF 150.0 million. The line of credit may partly be used as a guarantee facility. The  final maturity 
date is December 31, 2019. The interest rate is based on the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin, 
which is determined based on the ratio of net debt to EBITDA.

The credit agreement contains customary financial covenants, which include the ratio of net 

debt to EBITDA and a minimal financial equity. Compliance with financial  covenants was checked 
quarterly and reported to the banking syndicate. In fiscal years 2015 and 2014, the minimum financial 
requirements were met at all times.

9 

  Shareholders’ equity

Share capital
The share capital amounts to CHF 233 618.15. It is divided into 4 672 363 fully paid registered shares 
with a par value of CHF 0.05 each.

Conditional share capital
For issuing bonds and/or granting shareholder options, the share capital can be increased by  
a maximum of 700 000 paid registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.05 up to a maximum value 
of CHF 35 000. Furthermore, for the issue of shares to employees and subsidiaries, the share capital 
can be increased by a maximum of 250 000 paid registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.05  
up to a maximum value of CHF 12 500.

Legal capital reserves
These reserves include an amount of CHF 0.1 million (2014: CHF 21.0 million) whose distribution as 
dividends is not subject to income taxes in Switzerland and can be effected free of Swiss with- 
holding tax. The remaining part of the legal capital reserve does not benefit from the Swiss capital 
contribution principle. 

Treasury shares
The following transactions with treasury shares were performed during the financial year:

Treasury shares at January 1

Purchase of treasury shares

Sale of treasury shares

Transfer of treasury shares

Treasury shares at December 31

2015 
in shares
53 180

634

–12 891

–3 311

37 612

2015 
in CHF million
6.1

2014 
in shares
36 062

2014 
in CHF million
2.3

0.1

–1.5

–0.4

4.3

28 069

–6 846

–4 105

53 180

4.7

–0.6

–0.4

6.1

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd 114

10   Guarantees and collateral provided

Autoneum Holding Ltd has guaranteed CHF 27.2 million (2014: CHF 24.1 million) to financial institu-
tions for granting credit facilities to direct and indirect subsidiaries and CHF 28.1 million (2014: 
CHF 23.8 million) to other third parties for securing transactions they entered into with direct and 
 indirect subsidiaries. Furthermore, a financing commitment in the amount of CHF 12.2 million 
(2014: CHF 13.6 million) was given in favor of a subsidiary.

11   Shares allocated to the Board of Directors

Part of the remuneration of the Board of Directors is paid in shares of Autoneum Holding Ltd.  
In 2015, 3 311 shares (2014: 4 105 shares) with a total value of CHF 660 000 (2014: CHF 698 447) 
were allocated.

12   Shares held by the Board of Directors or by the Group Executive Board

The following shares were held by the Board of Directors or by the Group Executive Board  
including parties related to them (Art. 663c Swiss Code of Obligations):

Number of shares

Hans-Peter Schwald, Chairman

Rainer Schmückle, Vice Chairman

Michael Pieper

This E. Schneider

Peter Spuhler

Ferdinand Stutz

Total Board of Directors

Martin Hirzel

Martin Zwyssig

Matthias Holzammer

Richard Derr

John T. Lenga

Uwe Trautmann

Volker Eimertenbrink

Total Group Executive Board

31.12.2015
35 000

31.12.2014
33 000

2 171

947 768

4 338

802 871

2 113

2 171

947 245

3 850

853 035

1 756

1 794 261

1 841 057

9 796

780

3 650

n/a

170

2 575

2 565

7 512

-

2 593

3 480

n/a

2 818

1 645

19 536

18 048

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd 13   Subsidiaries and associated companies

Switzerland

Autoneum International Ltd, Winterthur

Argentina

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

China

Autoneum Management Ltd, Winterthur

Autoneum Switzerland Ltd, Sevelen

Autoneum Argentina SA, Córdoba

Autoneum Belgium N.V., Genk

Autoneum Brasil Têxteis Acústicos Ltda., São Bernardo do Campo

Autoneum Canada Ltd., Tillsonburg

Autoneum (Chongqing) Sound-Proof Parts Co. Ltd., Chongqing

Autoneum (Shenyang) Sound-Proof Parts Co. Ltd., Shenyang

Autoneum Nittoku (Guangzhou) Sound-Proof Co. Ltd., Guangzhou

Tianjin Autoneum Nittoku Sound-Proof Co. Ltd., Tianjin

Wuhan Nittoku Autoneum Sound-Proof Co. Ltd., Wuhan

Czech Republic

Autoneum CZ s.r.o., Choceň

France

Autoneum Holding France SASU, Lyon

Autoneum France SASU, Aubergenville

Germany

Autoneum Germany GmbH, Roßdorf

Great Britain

Autoneum Great Britain Ltd., Stoke-on-Trent

India

Italy

Korea

Autoneum India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

Autoneum Nittoku Sound Proof Products India Pvt. Ltd., Chennai

Porfima Uno S.r.l., Torino

SHN CO., Ltd., Daegu

Autoneum Korea Ltd., Seoul

Mexico

Autoneum Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., Hermosillo

Autoneum Mexico Operations, S. de R.L. de C.V., San Luis Potosí 1

Autoneum Mexico Servicios, S. de R.L. de C.V., San Luis Potosí 1

UGN de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., Silao

Servicios de Acoustical Solutions, S. de R.L. de C.V., Silao

Netherlands

Autoneum Netherland B.V., Weert

Poland

Portugal

Russia

Autoneum Poland Sp.z.o.o., Katowice

Autoneum Portugal Lda., Setúbal

Autoneum Rus LLC, Ryazan

South Africa

Autoneum Feltex (Pty) Ltd., Durban

Spain

Thailand

Turkey

USA

Autoneum Spain S.A.U., Terrassa

SRN Sound Proof Co., Ltd., Chonburi

Summit & Autoneum (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Rayong

Autoneum Erkurt Otomotive AS, Bursa

Autoneum America Corporation, Farmington Hills

Autoneum North America Inc., Farmington Hills

UGN Inc., Tinley Park

1 The companies were established in 2015. No other changes in voting or capital rights took place. 
2 Autoneum has 49% of the capital rights.

115

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o

y
l
t
c
e
r
i
D

CHF

CHF

CHF

ARS

EUR

BRL

CAD

CNY

CNY

CNY

CNY

CNY

CZK

EUR

EUR

EUR

GBP

INR

INR

EUR

7.0 •

1.3 •

0.3 •

22.5

8.0 •

147.7 •

0.0

49.3

49.2

75.8

47.2

76.9

206.2 •

39.8 •

8.0

11.2 •

41.8 •

293.6

220.0

0.0 •

KRW 2 640.0

KRW

MXN

MXN

MXN

MXN

MXN

EUR

PLN

EUR

RUB

ZAR

EUR

THB

THB

TRY

USD

USD

USD

240.0

0.0

49.5 •

0.1 •

0.1

0.1

2.0 •

20.8

1.2 •

0.8 •

11.1

10.8 •

100.0

10.0

3.1

130.4 •

47.2

1.0

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

100%

100% •

100% •

100%

100%

100% •

100%

100% •

100%

51%

51%

25%

100%

100%

100% •

100% •

100%

100%

51%

100%

49%

60%

100%

100%

100%

50%

50%

100%

100% •

87%

100%

51%

100%

30%

51%2

51%

100%

100% •

50% •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
116

14   Significant shareholders

At December 31, Autoneum knew that the following shareholders had more than 3% of the Company 
voting rights (in accordance with Art. 663c Swiss Code of Obligations):

Artemis Beteiligungen I Ltd, Hergiswil, Switzerland, Centinox Holding Ltd,  
Hergiswil, Switzerland, and Michael Pieper

PCS Holding Ltd, Weiningen, Switzerland, and Peter Spuhler

Norges Bank (the Central Bank of Norway), Norway

31.12.2015

31.12.2014

20.28%

17.18%

3.00%

20.27%

18.26%

n/a

Details of the disclosures can be found at:  
www.six-exchange-regulation.com/de/home/publications/significant-shareholders.html

15   Events after balance sheet date

There were no events between December 31, 2015, and March 2, 2016, which would necessitate 
 adjustments to the book value of the Company’s assets or liabilities, or which require additional 
 disclosure in the financial statements.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd Dividend proposal

for the appropriation of profit

CHF

Balance brought forward

Net profit for the year

At the disposal of the Annual General Meeting

Proposal
Distribution of a dividend1

Carried forward to new account

117

2015
39 545 567

19 825 122

59 370 689

21 025 633

38 345 056

59 370 689

1 Shares held by Autoneum Holding Ltd at the time of dividend distribution are not entitled to dividends. The amount distributed will be reduced 
accordingly at the time of distribution. 

The Board of Directors proposes that a dividend of CHF 4.50 is paid per registered share.

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd  
118

Report of the statutory auditor on the financial statements to the General Meeting 
of Shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd, Winterthur

As statutory auditor, we have audited the accompanying financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd, which comprise 
the balance sheet, income statement and notes on pages 109 to 116 for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Board of Directors’ responsibility
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements 
of Swiss law and the Company’s articles of incorporation. This responsibility includes designing, implementing and 
maintaining an internal control system relevant to the preparation of financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. The Board of Directors is further responsible for selecting and applying 
 appropriate accounting policies and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our 
 audit in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform 
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial 
statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of 
 material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, 
the  auditor considers the internal control system relevant to the entity’s preparation of the financial statements in 
 order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an 
opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control system. An audit also includes evaluating the appropri-
ateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made, as well as evaluating 
the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient 
and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion
In our opinion, the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, comply with Swiss law and the Company’s 
articles of incorporation.

Report on other legal requirements
We confirm that we meet the legal requirements on licensing according to the Auditor Oversight Act (AOA) and inde-  
pendence (article 728 CO and article 11 AOA) and that there are no circumstances incompatible with our independence.

In accordance with article 728a paragraph 1 item 3 CO and Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm that an internal 
 control system exists, which has been designed for the preparation of financial statements according to the instructions 
of the Board of Directors.

We further confirm that the proposed appropriation of available earnings complies with Swiss law and the Company’s 
 articles of incorporation. We recommend that the financial statements submitted to you be approved.

KPMG AG

Kurt Stocker 
Licensed audit expert 
Auditor in charge

Zurich, March 2, 2016

Kathrin Schünke
Licensed audit expert

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Financial statements of Autoneum Holding Ltd  
Review 2011–2015

Consolidated income statement

CHF million

Net sales

BG Europe

BG North America

BG Asia

BG SAMEA2

EBITDA

as a % of net sales

EBIT

as a % of net sales

Net profit

as a % of net sales

Return on net assets in % (RONA)

Return on equity in % (ROE)

Consolidated balance sheet at December 31
Non-current assets

Current assets

Equity attributable to shareholders of AUTN

Equity attributable to non-controlling interests

Total shareholders’ equity

Non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Total assets

Net debt

Shareholders’ equity in % of total assets

Consolidated statement of cash flows
Cash flows from operating activities

Cash flows used in investing activities

Cash flows used in financing activities

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Review 2011–2015

119

2015
2 085.9

20141
1 954.7

2013
2 053.3

2012
1 940.9

2011
1 682.4

833.2

977.9

180.9

94.3

191.5

9.2%

126.5

6.1%

68.7

3.3%

12.7%

17.4%

553.6

561.1

301.3

96.2

397.5

284.8

432.3

803.3

882.7

145.3

123.9

201.6

10.3%

135.1

6.9%

102.8

5.3%

20.3%

29.6%

536.2

563.0

303.5

89.0

392.5

276.8

430.0

1 114.7

1 099.3

105.4

35.7%

53.9

35.7%

901.6

892.4

128.3

138.4

184.3

9.0%

79.2

3.9%

36.2

1.8%

10.3%

12.5%

440.7

549.9

232.9

69.1

302.0

234.9

453.8

990.6

75.0

901.2

800.0

101.4

144.7

146.4

7.5%

77.3

4.0%

29.6

1.5%

10%

11.1%

434.4

517.5

213.2

62.3

275.5

237.0

439.4

951.9

123.0

888.0

571.3

91.8

140.6

104.2

6.2%

34.9

2.1%

2.3

0.1%

4.1%

0.9%

417.0

566.2

200.4

56.4

256.8

228.9

497.5

983.2

154.8

30.5%

28.9%

26.1%

111.7

–123.1

–43.5

138.2

–108.8

–15.0

165.7

–98.6

–20.7

114.9

–66.8

–36.4

35.6

–82.5

–10.6

Employees at December 313

 11 423 

 10 681 

 10 816 

 10 799 

 10 424 

1 Restated. 
2 Including South America, Middle East and Africa. 
3 Full-time equivalents including temporary employees but excluding apprentices. 

 
 
 
120

Autoneum     Financial Report 2015     Review 2011–2015

Information for investors

CHF million

Number of issued shares

Share capital of Autoneum Holding Ltd

Net profit of Autoneum Holding Ltd

Market capitalization at December 31

as a % of net sales

2015
4 672 363

2014
4 672 363

2013
4 672 363

2012
4 672 363

2011
4 672 363

0.2

19.8

938.1

45.0%

0.2

11.9

783.0

40.1%

0.2

13.4

633.3

30.8%

as a % of equity attr. to shareholders of AUTN

311.3%

258.0%

271.9%

Data per share (AUTN)

CHF

Basic earnings per share

Dividend per share1

Shareholders’ equity per share2

Share price at December 31

Share price development during the year

High

Low

2015
9.12

4.50

65.01

202.40

226.40

148.40

2014
17.03

4.50

65.71

169.50

209.30

129.10

2013
3.12

1.30

50.24

136.60

140.00

43.30

1 As proposed by the Board of Directors and subject to the agreement of the Annual General Meeting. 
2 Equity attributable to shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd per share outstanding at December 31.   

0.2

8.2

207.1

10.7%

97.2%

2012
2.61

0.65

45.65

44.35

57.95

36.00

0.2

14.2

228.6

13.6%

114.1%

2011
–2.13

-

49.38

48.95

119.00

43.75

 
122

Autoneum     Annual Report 2015     Important dates

Important dates
 · Annual General Meeting 2016:  March 30, 2016
 · Semi-Annual Report 2016: 
 · Annual General Meeting 2017:  March 30, 2017

July 26, 2016

Investors and Financial Analysts
Dr Martin Zwyssig
CFO
T +41 52 244 82 82 
investor@autoneum.com 

Media
Dr Anahid Rickmann
Head Corporate Communications
T +41 52 244 83 88
media@autoneum.com

All statements in this report which do not
refer to historical facts are forecasts for
the future which offer no guarantee whatsoever
with respect to future performance; they
embody risks and uncertainties which in- 
clude – but are not confined to – future global
economic conditions, exchange rates, legal
provisions, market conditions, activities
by competitors and other factors which are
outside the company’s control.

March 2016

This is a translation of the original
German text.
© Autoneum Holding Ltd, Winterthur,
Switzerland

Text:  
Autoneum Management Ltd, Winterthur

Design:  
atelier MUY, Zurich

Illustration: 
Martin Mörck, Copenhagen 
Christoph Fischer, Lucerne 
Hokolo 3D, Hanover

Photography:  
flashpoint studio, Freiburg i. Br. 

Publishing System:
Multimedia Solutions AG, Zurich

Printing:  
Druckmanufaktur, Urdorf 

Our Product Portfolio

Engine Bay
·  Engine Encapsulations 
·  Engine Covers
·  Hoodliners
·  Outer Dashes
·  Water Box Shields

Interior Floor
·  Tufted Carpets 
·  Non-Woven Carpets
·  Inner Dashes
·  Floor Insulators
·  Floor Mats

Underbody
·  Underbody Shields 
·  Heatshields 
·  Wheelhouse Outer Liners
·  Floor Pans
·  Outer Tunnel Insulators

Body Treatment
·  Dampers/Stiffeners
·  Sealants
·  Other Acoustic Parts

July  Market introduction of Prime-Light, 
a multifunctional lightweight technology 
for inner dashes and floor insulators.

Highlights

2015

August  Groundbreaking of new plant  
in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

October  Successful launch of weight- 
and noise-reducing engine covers based 
on Theta-FiberCell.

June  Around 220 experts attend the 
internationally leading specialist event 
“Automotive Acoustics Conference”  
under the scientific direction of  
Autoneum in Zurich, Switzerland. 

September  Opening of two new US 
production facilities in Jeffersonville, 
Indiana, and in Monroe, Ohio (UGN).

< Product Portfolio

Autoneum. Mastering sound and heat.

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Autoneum Management Ltd
Dr Anahid Rickmann
Head Corporate Communications
T +41 52 244 83 88
media@autoneum.com

www.autoneum.com