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Komax

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FY2012 Annual Report · Komax
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annual  Report 12

The way To make iT

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brief profile

The Komax Group is a globally active technology company 
that focuses on markets in the automation sector. As a leading 
manufacturer of innovative and high-quality solutions for the 
wire-processing industry, for the production of modules for 
the photovoltaics market and for systems for the manufacture 
of self-medication solutions, Komax helps its customers to 
implement economical and safe manufacturing processes, 
 especially in the automotive supply, solar panel and pharma-
ceutical sectors.

Wire business unit
With its comprehensive product range, Komax Wire offers automated, intelligent 
 solutions for all wire-processing applications. In addition to both standard and 
 customer-specific systems, we offer an extensive range of quality assurance modules 
and test equipment as well as networking solutions for safe and efficient  production. 
Moreover, with our sophisticated service offering, we continue to support our customers 
after their systems have been commissioned, thereby ensuring high availability and 
low impairment for their investment.

Solar business unit
Komax Solar focuses on process automation systems for the production of solar 
 modules. These include stringers, which link individual solar cells together and solder 
them into what are known as strings, lay-up systems, which form individual strings 
 into a matrix, and laminators, which take care of the final stage of sealing the fragile 
matrices.  

Medtech business unit
Komax Medtech develops sophisticated, customer-specific machine systems for the 
automatic assembly of mass-produced medical devices, such as inhalers or insulin 
 delivery and injection systems. Komax Medtech also provides systems for the efficient 
mass production of cartridges for inkjet printers.

key figures

in TCHF

Order intake
Revenues1)

Gross profit

in % of revenues

EBITD

in % of revenues

Operating profit (EBIT)

in % of revenues

Group profit after taxes (EAT)

in % of revenues

Cash flow from operating activities

Investments in non-current assets

Free cash flow

Research and development

in % of revenues

Basic earnings per share in CHF

Number of employees 31.12.

Total assets

Non-current assets

Current assets

Intangible assets

Net cash
Shareholders’ equity2)
in % of total assets

1) Revenues: net sales + other operating income. 
2) Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company. 

2012

287 922

288 216

170 188

59.0

22 924

8.0

14 352

5.0

10 046

3.5

45 222

9 033

27 627

24 566

8.5

2.99

1 330

360 189

141 887

218 302

50 989

938

244 391

67.9

2011

+/− in %

380 432

371 424

200 837

54.1

54 906

14.8

47 536

12.8

39 280

10.6

10 055

13 536

–61

23 526

6.3

11.68

1 140

361 448

112 454

248 994

34 339

5 604

246 994

68.3

–24.3

–22.4

–15.3

–58.2

–69.8

–74.4

349.7

–33.3

n.s.

4.4

–74.4

16.7

–0.3

26.2

–12.3

48.5

−83.3

–1.1

operating profit/loss (eBiT)
in TCHF

Shareholders’ equity and equity ratio
in TCHF

40 000

20 000

0

−20 000

16.0%

300 000

8.0%

200 000

0%

100 000

−8.0%

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

  EBIT  
  EBIT in % of revenues1)

  Shareholders’ equity2) 
  Equity in % of total assets

Group profit/loss after taxes (eaT)
in TCHF

Net working capital (NwC)
in TCHF

40 000

20 000

0

−20 000

16.0%

150 000

8.0%

100 000

0%

50 000

−8.0%

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

  EAT  
  EAT in % of revenues1)

  NWC3) 
  NWC in % of revenues1)

90.0%

60.0%

30.0%

0%

60.0%

40.0%

20.0%

0%

1) Revenues: net sales + other operating income.

2) Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company.

3) Net working capital: receivables + inventories . /. current liabilities.

  annual Report
  2   Shareholders’ Letter
  4   Locations
  6   Business Model
  and Strategy
  10   Board of Directors
  12   Executive Committee

  Business Units 

  14   Wire 
  20   Solar 
  26   Medtech

  32   Sustainability and 

  Social Responsibility

  35   Corporate  
Governance

  44   Information for 

  Investors

  47  Financial  
 Report

  48  Consolidated  Financial 

  Statements

  97  Financial Statements
  of Komax Holding AG

 106  Corporate Structure

  Further Information

 110  Glossary
 112  Addresses
 116  Five-Year Overview

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2

all in all well performed 
in 2012

Dear Shareholders,

2012 was a year of many challenges. On the one hand, it was characterized by the extremely pleasing mo-

mentum enjoyed by Komax Wire. Here, we further strengthened an already good market position by making 

two acquisitions. On the other hand, market conditions meant that both Komax Solar and Komax Medtech 

posted declining sales, and far-reaching measures had to be taken in response. All in all, however, Komax 

performed well last year.

Consolidated revenues by the Komax Group amounted to CHF 288.2 million in 2012 (2011: 

CHF 371.4 million). Of the overall change of –22.4%, the above-mentioned acquisitions contributed +4.5% 

and currency influences +1.8%, which means that internal growth amounted to –28.7% in a year-on-year 

comparison. The operating profit (EBIT) declined by 69.8% to CHF 14.4 million (2011: CHF 47.5 million). 

However, this figure includes restructuring costs of CHF 1.7 million. In addition, provisions and allowances 

were increased by CHF 4.8 million as a result of existing risks. The EBIT margin amounted to 5.0% (2011: 

12.8%). The currency influence here was equivalent to +0.6 percentage points. Despite the challenging 

envir onment and negative currency developments affecting the financial result, Group profit after taxes 

(EAT) came in at CHF 10.0 million (2011: CHF 39.3 million). Accordingly, basic earnings per share 

amounted to CHF 2.99 (2011: CHF 11.68).

The Komax Group is still on a very solid financial footing. On the balance sheet date, shareholders’ 

equity amounted to CHF 244.4 million (2011: CHF 247.0 million) while the equity ratio stood at 67.9% 

(2011: 68.3%). Free cash flow increased to CHF 27.6 million (2011: CHF –0.1 million). Net cash stood at 

CHF 0.9 million (2011: CHF 5.6 million).

Market position strengthened

Komax Wire was able to build on the good results of the previous year to a significant extent, and once again 

posted an excellent result in 2012. The key end consumer markets such as the automotive, household 

goods, electronics, and telecommunication products industries proved stable. A global presence combined 

with an outstanding profile in local markets to smooth out the often different demand trends in the indi-

vidual regions. Order intake amounted to CHF 231.1 million (2011: CHF 232.3 million), or CHF 214.1 million 

when adjusted for acquisitions. Net sales amounted to CHF 228.3 million (2011: CHF 217.8 million), or 

CHF 211.5 million when adjusted for acquisitions. EBIT came in at a high CHF 52.7 million (2011: CHF 57.1 

million). As part of our growth strategy, we expanded the market position of Komax Wire strongly in the  

year under review. This was achieved on the one hand through the acquisitions of TSK Group and MCM 

Cosmic KK, which will enable us to grow along the value chain and perfectly complement our existing  

product portfolio. On the other hand, several innovative solutions became ready for market last year. Moreover, 

we further increased the efficiency and responsiveness of our organization through numerous initiatives.

3

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

Measures to improve profitability implemented

At Komax Solar and Komax Medtech, by contrast, we pursued defensive strategies aimed at preserving 

value and steering the two business units out of the loss zone. It is widely known that the solar industry  

has been in crisis for a considerable period of time. As a result of significant surplus capacity among module 

producers, order intake of equipment manufacturers recorded a year-on-year decline of around 90% 

in 2012. Komax Solar could not escape the consequences of this collapse. Overall, net sales amounted to 

CHF 9.9 million (2011: CHF 70.8 million), while EBIT came in at CHF –21.2 million (2011: CHF –3.4 million). 

This figure includes restructuring costs of CHF 1.7 million. However, cash flow from operating activities was 

even slightly positive. We responded with far-reaching measures, namely reducing headcount by more than 

50% in a year-on-year comparison, closing certain sites, and streamlining the product range. This has laid 

the basis for improving the income situation and safeguarding our competitive position when the anticipated 

market recovery arrives.

Komax Medtech suffered as a result of reticent investment activity on the part of numerous custom-
ers who postponed projects. As a result, net sales declined to CHF 49.8 million (2011: CHF 83.8 million).  
In  addition, the proportion of business with repeat character, which typically generates more attractive margins, 
declined in the year under review. This development, together with low capacity utilization, a negative 
 currency  situation, and unexpected additional expenses  incurred on individual projects, ultimately led to a 
disappointing EBIT of CHF –8.6 million (2011: CHF 3.8 million). The measures to improve profitability in-
itiated the  previous year were therefore pursued vigorously and expanded. In addition, Komax Medtech has 
embarked on a cooperation with a partner company, and this will provide further impulses to strengthen  
its market  position.

A word of thanks

We would like to thank our customers and business partners for their confidence and constructive partner-

ship. A special thank goes to our employees for their excellent work. Last but not least, we also thank you, 

our valued shareholders, for your trust and unwavering loyalty to our company.

Payout ratio increased

The Board of Directors would like to adhere to its attractive dividend policy and is therefore proposing to the 

Annual General Meeting a distribution of CHF 2.00 per share from the capital contribution reserves. The pay-

out ratio will therefore rise in a year-on-year comparison. The dividend yield on the date of the Board reso-

lution stood at an attractive 2.5%.

Outlook

The macroeconomic outlook remains uncertain, and visibility is still poor. Making predictions for the future 

is therefore anything but easy. That notwithstanding, Komax has laid the foundations for the continued 

growth of profitability at Komax Wire and a sustainable improvement in the income situation of the other 

two business units. As things stand, the Group is set to deliver a significantly improved year-on-year result 

in 2013.

Leo Steiner 

Beat Kälin

Chairman of the Board of Directors  

Chief Executive Officer

 
4

komax is where its  
customers are

Komax has production plants in Europe, North and South America, 
Asia, and Africa, and provides sales and service support in some 
60 countries through its subsidiaries and independent agents.

This carefully cultivated proximity 
to its markets and customers 
 allows Komax to identify needs and 
trends at an early stage. Fur-
thermore, with its many years of 
experience in the development  
of automation solutions, Komax is 
in a position to transform these 
 insights rapidly into needs-oriented 
and efficient solutions for its 
 customers all around the world. At 
the same time, its global distri-
bution and service network guaran-
tees fast response times.

5

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

  komax production site
  komax sales and service
  komax participation

  Sales representative

headquarters
Komax Holding AG
Dierikon, Switzerland

 
6

Business model  
and strategy

The komax Group is a global technology company  
that focuses on automation solutions for selected 
processes in the automotive, solar, and pharma - 
ceutical industries. The Group’s core competency  
is mechatronics, i.e. the interdisciplinary interaction  
of precision engineering, electronics and informa- 
tion technology.

In operational terms, the business is split into three 
segments 
(business  units).  These  operate  as 
autono mous  brands  in  a  number  of  different  mar-
kets and fields of application:
−   Komax  Wire  offers  a  comprehensive  range  of  
automated,  intelligent  solutions  for  all  wire-pro-
cessing applications as well as the testing of har-
nesses and installation-ready vehicle modules.
−   Komax Solar focuses on the core processes that 
make up the back end of solar module production.
−   Komax  Medtech  develops  sophisticated,  cus-
tomer-specific machine systems primarily for the 
automatic  assembly  of  mass-produced  medical 
devices, such as insulin pens and syringes.

Komax Wire is the Group’s strongest business unit 
in terms of revenues. The wire-processing industry 
is  where  Komax  has  its  roots.  This  business  has 
been built up and continuously developed over the 
last 35 years. The origins of Komax Solar and Komax 
Medtech go back to acquisitions made around a de c-
ade ago. The range of products and services offered 
in the area of automated assembly at the time were 
then gradually concentrated into today’s activities. 

Growth-oriented strategy
Komax pursues a strategy based on internal growth 
that  is  profitable  in  the  long  term,  supplemented 
by selective acquisitions. Within this framework, the 
company is keen to create value for all its stakehold-
ers and endeavours to combine successful long-term 
business activity and commercial growth with envir-
onmentally aware and socially responsible conduct.
Group strategy is implemented by way of individu-
ally  defined  strategic  measures  at  business  unit 
level.  The  individual  business  units’  main  strategic 
areas of focus are outlined on pages 18, 19, 24 and 
30 of the Annual Report.

Selective acquisitions
Komax’s  main  focus  is  on  internal  growth.  In  add-
ition, potential acquisition candidates and any take-
over opportunities that arise are carefully examined as 
part of a clearly defined acquisition strategy. Komax 
is generally interested in companies with the poten-
tial to help the Group achieve its strategic goals. In 
the year under review, Komax acquired two compan-
ies whose businesses ideally complement that of the 
Wire  business  unit  and  strengthen  its  market  posi-
tioning  further,  namely  TSK  Group  and  MCM  
Cosmic KK, Tokyo.

Net sales
by segment

3%
Solar

18%
Medtech

Net sales by region

in TCHF

Switzerland

Europe (incl. Africa)

North/South America

Asia

Total

7

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

79%
Wire

2012

2011

+/– in %

5 624

16 267

141 736

172 653

81 626

57 739

286 725

74 583

106 526

370 029

–65.4

–17.9

9.4

–45.8

–22.5

2011

12%

12%

1%

Revenue growth target

in %

Komax Wire

Komax Solar

Komax Medtech

Target

2012

~3–5%

5%

~20% –86%

–1)

–41%

1)  The Medtech business unit is in the systems business, i.e. it mainly manu-
factures complex, customer-specific systems. In this business, targeted 
selection of the projects to be acquired is more important than sales growth 
per se. For that reason, no sales growth target has been defined for this unit 
for the time being.

eBiT margin target

in %

Komax Wire

Komax Solar

Komax Medtech

Target

2012

2011

~20% 23.1%

~8%

~5%

n.s.

n.s.

26.2%

–4.9%

4.6%

Global production, local distribution,  
and service network
Komax has 15 production sites worldwide, namely 
in  Switzerland,  Germany,  France,  the  US,  Brazil,  
Tunisia,  Turkey,  China,  Malaysia  and  Japan.  Fur-
thermore,  the  Group  provides  sales  and  service 
support in around 60 countries through subsidiaries 
and independent agents. It can therefore provide an 
efficient  and  competent  service  to  its  customers, 
most of whom operate globally, at all times. Komax 
is  steadily  expanding  its  presence  in  the  emerging 
economies  in  line  with  the  steep  rise  in  demand 
from  these  markets.  This  carefully  cultivated  prox-
imity to its markets and customers allows Komax to 
identify needs and trends at an early stage. Further-
more, with its many years of experience in the de-
velopment  of  automation  solutions,  Komax  is  in  a 
position  to  transform  these  insights  rapidly  into 
needs-oriented  and  efficient  solutions  for  its  cus-
tomers  all  around  the  world.  At  the  same  time,  its 
global distribution and service network guarantees 
fast response times.

Sales growth and EBIT margin targets
Komax has further increased its transparency vis-à-
vis  its  stakeholder  groups,  publishing  comprehen-
sible  medium-term  sales  growth  and  EBIT  margin 
targets for the individual business units. The diver-
gent  business  models  used  by  the  three  business 
units  call  for  different  degrees  of  capital  commit-
ment. The EBIT margins required to generate value 
for the Group thus differ from one business unit to 
another.

Komax Wire managed to exceed its targets for 
EBIT. In 2012, the business unit generated growth 
of 4.8% and an EBIT margin of around 23%, being 
within the sales target range of 3–5% and surpass-
ing  the  20%  margin  target  respectively.  This  high-
lights  the  strong  competitiveness  of  the  customer 
solutions  offered  and  the  business  unit’s  excellent 
efficiency,  which  has  been  achieved 
through 
continu ous  improvements  to  operating  processes 
and pronounced cost awareness. However, it would 
be  very  ambitious  to  maintain  the  EBIT  margin  at 
this  level  in  the  long  run.  Komax  expects  planned 
product and market developments coupled with the 
seizing of additional growth opportunities to further 
push up the business unit’s absolute sales and EBIT 
figures so that the EBIT margin levels off at around 
its target level of 20% in the medium term.

Komax Solar was unable to achieve its target of 
+20% for sales and around 8% for EBIT margin. In-
deed,  sales  declined  sharply  at  –86.1%  and  only 
reached  CHF  9.9  million.  EBIT  came  in  at  CHF 
–21.2 million, which resulted in a negative operating 

 
8

profit  margin.  Significant  surplus  capacity  and  a 
downward trend in solar module prices triggered a 
crisis for the solar industry in mid-2011 from which 
it has yet to recover. An indication of the extent of 
this slump can be gleaned from investment in new 
equipment, which posted another year-on-year de-
cline  of  around  90%.  Komax  Solar  was  unable  to 
utilize sufficient  capacity  to generate a positive re-
sult.  Measures  to  rapidly  adjust  structures  to  the 
prevailing  demand  situation  were  unavoidable. 
Moreover, the business unit’s range was even more 
rigorously aligned with its core products (stringers, 
lay-up  systems,  and  laminators).  Komax  Solar  has 
thereby fulfilled a number of key prerequisites to re-
main  competitive  in  key  segments  and  participate 
actively in future market developments.

Komax Medtech was unable to build on the pre-
vious year’s good results in 2012, falling well short 
of its EBIT margin target of around 5%. With EBIT 
coming in at CHF –8.6 million, the operating profit 
margin  proved  negative.  The  strategy  of  focusing 
increasingly on projects offering repeat business in 
specific  market  segments  may  have  reduced  indi-
vidual project risk, but it also increased the depend-
ency  of  this  business  unit  on  a  potentially  smaller 
number of customers and orders. In the year under 
review,  a  number  of  customers  postponed  their 
planned  investments  as  a  result  of  the  continued 
economic  uncertainty.  Due  to  the  tighter  business 
focus  described  above,  it  proved  impossible  to 
compensate for these unimplemented projects. The 
resulting  underutilization  of  capacity,  together  with 
additional expenses incurred on individual projects 
and primarily currency-related pressure on margins, 
ultimately resulted in the above-mentioned negative 
operating result for 2012. Komax is working inten-
sively  on  solutions  to  improve  the  unsatisfactory 
 income situation.

Innovative strength
For many years now, Komax has been continuously 
investing  in  innovations  that  optimize  its  existing 
product  range  and  in  new  developments  with  the 
aim of increasing the efficiency and safety of its cus-
tomers’ processes.

But  Komax  is  determined  to  do  more  than  just 
develop  improved  machinery  and  software  plat-
forms.  It  intends  to  develop  holistic  and  innovative 
machine  and  production  concepts  that  will  create 
value  for  customers  which  goes  beyond  the  costs 
savings  achieved  by  improving  the  performance  of 
individual  machines.  Over  the  last  few  years,  the 
Group  has  invested  more  than  5%  of  its  sales  in 

doing  so,  and  in  2012  employed  no  less  than  140 
staff  in  research  and  development.  Furthermore, 
some 200 engineers make a substantial contribution 
to  innovation  thanks  to  the  experience  they  have 
gained in developing customer-specific applications.

Markets and customers
Komax  Wire  generates  around  80%  of  its  sales 
through customers in the automotive industry. This 
is  attributable  to  the  fact  that  this  industry  is  the 
most  advanced  in  terms  of  automation.  The  high 
volume of wires it needs to process in large batches 
and the stringent requirements in place with regard 
to  finish  quality  make  automated  solutions  the 
 favoured option for this sector.

The  automotive  industry  is  experiencing  struc-
tural growth. IHS Global Insight anticipates that the 
quantity  of  vehicles  produced  and  sold  worldwide 
will grow by an average of 4% a year between 2012 
and 2019. However, the demand for automation so-
lutions for processing the wires and wire harnesses 
installed in vehicles is not determined solely by the 
number  of  cars  produced  and  sold,  but  also  by 
technical innovations such as increasingly complex 
functionalities and safety equipment, as well as op-
timized and new drive systems. This is resulting in a 
higher level of electronic systems in vehicles and an 
increasing number of wire connectors. At the same 
time, the ongoing process of miniaturization is lead-
ing  to  demand  for  ever  thinner  wires  and  smaller 
housings, which remain difficult to process and in-
sert by hand. Developments of this kind are leading 
automotive  industry  suppliers  to  invest  in  automa-
tion solutions that go beyond the level of investment 
required by vehicle volume growth alone. 

The  other  markets  serviced  by  Komax  Wire, 
such  as  control  cabinet  manufacturing,  household 
appliances,  electronic  devices  and  components, 
and  solar  cables,  account  for  around  20%  of  the 
unit’s  sales  today.  However,  in  view  of  the  an-
nounced  intention  to  increase  penetration  in  these 
markets, they have the potential for higher than pro-
portional growth in the longer term. Komax Wire is 
very well positioned in the market for wire-process-
ing machines, with a global market share of around 
40%. Komax Wire’s customer base includes all the 
globally  active  wire-processing  companies  and  is 
well represented in the fragmented market for small-
business  customers.  Thanks  to  the  acquisition  of 
TSK Group and MCM Cosmic KK, Tokyo, the busi-
ness unit has been able to significantly strengthen its 
market  position  once  more.  The  products  of  these 
two companies perfectly complement Komax Wire’s 
product range.

Komax Solar operates in the field of renewable 
energies. Today renewables, and in particular solar 
energy, have attained worldwide recognition as safe 
and reliable energy sources. Although the solar in-
dustry  has  been  in  crisis  since  mid-2011,  it  is  still 
reasonable to assume that the medium- and long-
term prospects for robust growth remain intact. Re-
cently, falling prices have brought the costs of solar 
energy closer to grid parity, thus further increasing 
its attractiveness. However, the industry is currently 
confronted  with  massive  surplus  capacity  world-
wide, and this will first have to be eliminated before 
the industry can invest in new equipment.

In  the  last  few  years,  solar  module  production 
has  shifted  to  Asia,  and  especially  China.  Today,  
China’s  share  of  global  manufacturing  volumes 
stands at around 80%, making it the key market for 
equipment suppliers. Komax Solar is very well repre-
sented in China and is focusing its market cultivation 
efforts  on  the  so-called  tier  1  manufacturers.  The 
business unit is one of the top suppliers of stringer 
systems worldwide.

The  majority  of  Komax  Medtech’s  customers 
operate  in  the  pharmaceuticals  industry.  Final  de-
mand  for  medical  devices  is  enjoying  a  long-term 
growth  trend.  This  is  due  partly  to  general  demo-
graphic  developments,  and  partly  to  the  increasing 
trend towards self-medication. Demand for automa-
tion  solutions  for  the  production  of  self-medication 
devices is linked to the investment behaviour of the 
pharmaceuticals industry. As a rule, new projects are 
awarded as part of invitations to tender. In the major-
ity of cases, these are for solutions that are custom-
developed for a specific customer or product. Suc-
cess in this business is very heavily dependent on the 
careful selection of projects and the establishment of 
a  balanced  project  portfolio.  A  well-structured  pro-
ject  portfolio  is  founded  upon  a  substantial  pro por    - 
t ion of projects providing repeat business, plus some 
new projects with the potential for repeat business.

9

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report
 106  Corporate Structure

63%
Automotive

Komax Wire

Competitor 1

Net sales
by industry

17%
Others

17%
Medtech

3%
Solar

market shares
Komax Wire

Others

Competitor 4

Competitor  3

Competitor 2

market shares
Komax Medtech

Others

Komax Medtech

Competitor 4

Competitor 3

Competitor 1

Competitor 2

 
10

Board of Directors

Leo Steiner (1943) 

Max Koch (1949) 

Melk M. Lehner (1947) 

Non-executive, independent mem-
ber of the Board of Directors since 
1997, Chairman of the Board of  
Directors since 2007, elected until 
2015, Swiss national, resident in 
Steinhausen.

Leo Steiner holds a degree in engin-
eering from ETH Zurich. Before join-
ing Komax, he worked at Hayek En-
gineering & Management  
Consulting, Zurich, Landis & Gyr, 
Zug, and Sulzer Escher-Wyss,  
Zurich. From 1992 to 2007, he was 
CEO of the Komax Group. In the 
last three years, Leo Steiner has not 
been a member of Group Manage-
ment or had any material business 
relationships with the Komax Group.

Non-executive, independent  
member of the Board of Directors 
since 1997, elected until 2014, 
Swiss national, resident in Meggen.

Max Koch holds a degree in elec-
trical engineering from ETH Zurich. 
After founding Komax in 1975, he 
headed the company until 1991  
as CEO, and was Chairman of the 
Board of Directors until 1997.  
In the last three years, Max Koch 
has not been a member of Group 
Management or had any material 
business relationships with the 
Komax Group.

Non-executive, independent  
member of the Board of Directors 
since 1997, elected until 2013, 
Swiss national, resident in Zumikon, 
Chairman of the Board of Directors 
of Sihl Manegg Immobilien AG,  
Zurich, member of the Board of  
Directors of Landert Motoren AG, 
Bülach.

Melk M. Lehner holds a degree in 
mechanical engineering from  
ETH Zurich. He has held various 
management positions at  
Mettler-Toledo AG in Greifensee 
and Saurer AG in Arbon. In the  
last three years, Melk M. Lehner has 
not been a member of Group  
Management or had any material 
business relationships with the 
Komax Group.

11

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

Daniel Hirschi (1956) 

Hans Caspar von der Crone 
(1957)

Kurt Haerri (1962)

Non-executive, independent mem-
ber of the Board of Directors since 
1997, elected until 2015, Swiss  
national, resident in Zurich, mem-
ber of the Board of Directors of 
Heineken Beverages Switzerland 
AG, Chur, and Heineken Re AG, 
Zug, a Swiss subsidiary of the 
Heineken Group.

Hans Caspar von der Crone is an  
attorney at law. Following his studies, 
he lectured at the University of  
Zurich and was an employee and 
later a partner at law firm Hom-
burger Rechtsanwälte, Zurich. Since 
1997, he has been a Professor of 
Private, Commercial and Corporate 
Law at the University of Zurich. He 
is also a partner at law firm von der 
Crone Rechtsanwälte AG, Zurich.  
In the last three years, Hans Caspar 
von der Crone has not been a mem-
ber of Group Management or had 
any material business relationships 
with the Komax Group.

Non-executive, independent mem-
ber of the Board of Directors since 
2012, elected until 2015, Swiss  
national, resident in Birrwil.

Kurt Haerri holds a degree as a 
Mech anical Engineer of the Lucerne 
University of Applied Sciences and 
graduated at the University of 
St.Gallen as an Executive MBA 
HSG. Kurt Haerri has been working 
at Schindler since 1987, from 1996 
to 2003 in China. Today, he leads 
the Top Range Division, a world-
wide competence and profit center 
for high-rise elevators of Schindler 
Elevators Ltd. Since 2006, Kurt 
Haerri has been the President of the 
Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Com-
merce. In addition, he is a lecturer 
at the Swiss Federal Technical Insti-
tute Zurich. In the last three years, 
Kurt Haerri has not been a member 
of Group Management or had any 
material business relationships with 
the Komax Group.

Non-executive, independent  
member of the Board of Directors 
since 2005, elected until 2014, 
Swiss national, resident in Biel, 
Chairman of the Board of Directors 
of listed company Schaffner  
Holding AG, Luterbach, member  
of the Board of Directors of listed 
company Gavazzi Holding AG, 
Steinhausen, and of the privately 
owned company Benninger AG, 
Uzwil.

Daniel Hirschi holds a degree in en-
gineering. From 1983 to 2005, 
among others he was Head of the 
Switches business area at Saia-
Burgess in Murten, and later Head 
of the Automotive Division. From 
2001, he was CEO, and from 2003 
member of the Board of Directors. 
From 2006 to 2009, Daniel Hirschi 
was CEO and member of the Board 
of Directors of Benninger AG in 
Uzwil, he has been a member of the 
Board of Directors since March 
2009. In the last three years, Daniel 
Hirschi has not been a member of 
Group Management or had any ma-
terial business relationships with 
the Komax Group.

 
12

executive Committee

Beat Kälin (1957)

Andreas Wolfisberg (1958)

Matijas Meyer (1970)

Chief Financial Officer since 1996, 
at Komax since 1991, Swiss  
national, resident in Adligenswil.

Head Business Unit Wire since 
2010, at Komax since 2007,  
Swiss national, resident in Ebikon.

Andreas Wolfisberg is a Swiss Cer-
tified Expert in Accounting and 
Controlling. Before joining Komax, 
he worked at Moos Stahl AG in  
Lucerne.

Matijas Meyer holds a degree in  
engineering from ETH Zurich and an 
MBA from Cranfield University (UK). 
Prior to his current position, he 
was Head of the site in Rousset 
(France). Before joining Komax, he 
worked at Tornos SA in Moutier and 
Unaxis/ESEC in Cham.

Chief Executive Officer since 2007, 
at Komax since 2006, Swiss na-
tional, resident in Birmensdorf, 
member of the Board of Directors of 
listed company Huber + Suhner AG, 
Pfäffikon (ZH).

Beat Kälin holds a doctorate in  
engineering from ETH Zurich and an 
MBA from INSEAD. Until 1999, he 
held various management positions 
in the Elektrowatt Group, from  
1999 to 2004, he was a member of 
the Group Executive Board of  
SIG Schweizerische Industrie- 
Gesellschaft Holding AG, Neuhausen, 
and from 2004 to 2006 a member  
of the Board of Management respon-
sible for the Packaging Technology 
Division at Robert Bosch GmbH, 
Stuttgart.

13

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

Walter Nehls (1957)

Serge Peguiron (1961)

René Ronchetti (1968)

Head Business Unit Solar and  
at Komax since 2008, German  
national, resident in Udligenswil.

Walter Nehls holds a bachelor  
degree from the University of  
Applied Sciences and Arts North-
western Switzerland and an  
MBA from Lucerne University of  
Applied Sciences and Arts.  
Before joining Komax, he worked at 
ESEC SA in Cham, Schindler AG in 
Ebikon, Forbo/Siegling in Hannover 
(Germany) and Mania Technologie 
AG in Weilrod (Germany).

Head Business Unit Medtech and 
at Komax from 2005 until end of 
 August 2012, Swiss national, resi-
dent in Neuchâtel.

Head Business Unit Medtech since 
September 2012, at Komax since 
September 2012, Swiss national, 
resident in Murten.

Serge Peguiron holds a degree in 
engineering from ETH Zurich.  
Before joining Komax, he worked at 
Ismeca in La Chaux-de-Fonds,  
Valtronic in Les Charbonnières and 
Kudelski in Cheseaux.

René Ronchetti holds a degree in 
engineering (computer science) 
from Berne University of Applied 
Sciences. He is also an industrial 
engineer and holds an MBA from 
Strathclyde University (UK). The 
most important positions before 
joining Komax were at RUAG in 
Berne and Geneva, Oerlikon  
Balzers in Paris and Ascom  
Autelca in Berne and Paris.

 
14

wire business unit

Long live  
the cable!

The global demand for the kind of ready- 
assembled cables manufactured by komax  
systems knows neither geographical nor  
technical boundaries. Buoyed by demand  
from new markets, global automotive sales  
are growing relentlessly. at the same time,  
environmental and safety considerations  
together with the ever more complex equip- 
ment installed in vehicles are increasing  
the demand for thin cables. anyone who be- 
lieves the future is completely wireless  
is very wrong. 

Alpha 355

16

market position strengthened

Komax Wire followed on from 2011’s good results with an excellent year.  
The business unit benefited from its leading technology, global presence,  
and strong profile in local markets, as well as from the continued robust  
health of large parts of the automotive industry. In addition, Komax Wire  
further strengthened its position in the year under review through its ac-
quisitions of TSK Group and MCM Cosmic KK. Net sales amounted to CHF 
228.3 million (+4.8%), while EBIT came in at CHF 52.7 million.

Komax Wire specializes in automated intelligent so-
lutions for all wire processing applications. The em-
phasis is on processes such as measuring, cutting, 
stripping, and fitting contacts and connector hous-
ings to cables. In addition to both standard and cus-
tomer-specific systems, it offers an extensive range 
of quality assurance modules and networking solu-
tions for reliable and efficient production.

In  August  2012,  Komax  Wire  acquired  TSK 
Group,  thereby  expanding  its  competencies  in  the 
area  of  quality  testing.  TSK  operates  in  the  same 
markets  and  has  an  identical  customer  base.  Its 
products  are  complementary.  TSK’s  test  systems 
measure and compare electrical and other physical 
properties  of  harnesses  and  assemblies  such  as 
doors, seats, cockpits, and bumpers, and test their 
functionality.

Komax  Wire  produces  solutions  for  wire  pro-
cessing  at  two  production  sites  in  Switzerland  as 
well as in China and Japan. TSK’s test systems are 
manufactured  in  Germany,  Turkey,  the  US,  Brazil, 
China, and Tunisia. Very short lead times for the de-
livery  of  test  adapters  demand  geographical  prox-
imity to customers.

Once systems and equipment have been com-
missioned, both Komax Wire and TSK provide a full 
range  of  services  to  guarantee  installations’  per-
form ance and preserve their value.

Komax Wire’s wire processing and test systems 
are  primarily  used  in  the  automotive  supply  indus-
try. The large volume of wiring used by this industry, 
coupled with its traditionally high quality demands, 
favours automated and systematic production pro-
cesses and methods.

Komax  Wire’s  systems  are  also  used  in  manu-
facturing household appliances and consumer elec-
tronics, producing solar panel cabling and building 
control cabinets.

With  market  shares  estimated  to  be  in  the  re-
gion of 40%, both Komax Wire and TSK are global 
leaders in the niche markets they cover.

Market trends and business performance
The  global  automotive  market  was  stable  in  2012 
and  generated  a  sales  volume  of  68  million  units 
(+4%).  With  the  exception  of  Western  Europe,  all 
key  markets  enjoyed  growth:  the  US  with  a  good 
13%, China with around 8%, and India and Russia 
with about 10% each. State support programs and 
the need to catch up after the nuclear catastrophe 
of  Fukushima  saw  demand  in  Japan  rise  by  30%. 
Against  a  backdrop  of  continuous  economic 
growth, vehicle sales in Brazil rose by 6%. In West-
ern Europe, by contrast, the situation remained dif-
ficult.  France,  Italy,  and  Spain  suffered  significant 
falls in demand, while Germany experienced a de-
cline  of  3%.  The  only  exception  was  the  United 
Kingdom, which generated growth of 5%.

Thanks  to  its  worldwide  presence  and  global 
access to clients, Komax Wire was able to balance 
out  the  varying  rates  of  development  in  individual 
geographic  markets,  benefiting  in  particular  from 
the healthy state of the North American automotive 
market.  Moreover,  the  business  unit  also  enjoyed 
stable  sales  development  outside  the  automotive 

industry, such as in the areas of household goods, 
electronics, control cabinet construction, and tele-
communications.

Following the record result of the previous year, 
Komax Wire once again performed very successfully 
in the year under review. Order intake amounted to 
CHF 231.1 million (2011: CHF 232.3 million), while 
net sales came in at CHF 228.3 million (2011: CHF 
217.8 million). When adjusted for acquisitions, these 
figures work out at CHF 214.1 million and CHF 211.5 
million respectively. The book-to-bill ratio at the end 
of  the  year  was  1.01.  There  was  a  broad-based 
spread of business with respect to both the product 
and the customer mix. In addition to the traditionally 
strong-selling  products,  the  Gamma  253  and  263, 
which had been launched the previous year, lived up 
to  their  high  sales  expectations.  Another  pleasing 
development  was  the  demand  for  fully  automated 
cable  processing  and  twisting  solutions.  Komax 
Wire offers the market a unique solution in the form 
of the Alpha 488.

In 2012, Komax Wire generated around a third of 
its net sales with its ten largest customers. The rela-
tionships  with  these  key  accounts  have  been  built 
up over many years and are characterized by a very 
open,  partnership-based  dialogue.  This  motivates 
clients to provide prompt and direct feedback, which 
Komax  Wire  in  turn  uses  to  optimize  its  products 
and services on an ongoing basis.

EBIT  in  the  year  under  review  came  in  at 
CHF 52.7 million (2011: CHF 57.1 million). The dilu-
tion of margins is essentially attributable to the gen-
erally  lower  margins  of  the  acquired  businesses, 
 integration costs, and investments in business de-
velopment.

Operations
The process of focusing production at the Dierikon 
and Rotkreuz sites in Central Switzerland was suc-
cessfully completed in the middle of the year. This 
involved the reorganization and optimization of both 
operating processes and internal logistics. Capacity 
utilization  remained  high  in  the  year  under  review. 
Flexible working time models and access to a large 
pool  of  external  staff  enabled  the  organization  to 
 respond flexibly to periods of peak demand.

Thanks to the acquisition of TSK Group, which 
was consolidated as of 1 August 2012, Komax Wire 
now has six further production sites. The integration 
of  these  locations  into  the  organization  of  Komax 
Wire is proceeding according to plan.

17

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

key figures

in TCHF

2012

2011

+/– in %

Order intake

Net sales

231 107

232 319

228 255

217 792

Operating profit (EBIT)

52 729

57 073

–0.5

4.8

–7.6 

in %

EBIT margin

23.1%

26.2 %

As at 31 Dec.

Headcount

Net sales
by region

19%
Asia

30%
North/South
America

921

541

70.2

2%
Switzerland

38%
Europe

11%
Africa

Marketing and distribution
This  year’s  three-day  in-house  show  in  Dierikon  at-
tracted  no  less  than  900  visitors.  In  addition  to  the 
established  product  range,  the  visitors  were  shown 
20 new developments, primarily intended for quality 
monitoring in the manufacturing process. Moreover, 
the products of the new acquisitions TSK Group and 
MCM Cosmic KK were premiered, as were those of 
partner  company  SLE  quality  engineering.  In  other 
words, visitors were given an impressive demonstra-
tion of Komax Wire’s wide range of competencies in 
wire  processing  and  quality  testing.  In  addition, 
Komax Wire participated in 20 trade fairs around the 
world. Furthermore, efforts to develop business out-
side the automotive industry were intensified.

In  order  to  ensure  client  proximity,  Komax  Wire 
further  expanded  its  distribution  and  service  organ-
ization and embarked on the integration of the TSK lo-
cations.

  
 
18

Innovation
In  2012,  research  and  development  expenditure 
amounted to some 8% of net sales. Komax Wire and 
TSK  employed  some  120  staff  in  this  area  world-
wide,  and  they  duly  came  up  with  a  number  of  pi-
oneering innovations. These innovations are also the 
result  of  extensive  client  feedback  and  regular  ex-
perience-sharing  with  training  centers  and  profes-
sional communities within the industry. Furthermore, 

Good prospects for growth
Growing trend towards further automation of produc-
tion processes and higher quality requirements are all 
contributing to industrial investment in the solutions 
manufactured by Komax Wire.

some 80 engineers make a substantial contribution 
to innovation within the business unit thanks to the 
experience  they  have  gained  in  developing  cus-
tomer-specific applications.

Trends
The  development  trends  that  have  been  observed 
over the last few years are set to accelerate and in-
tensify. The automotive industry is increasingly call-
ing  for  subsystems  and  components  that  deliver 
more, weigh less, take up less space, and operate 
extremely  reliably,  while  being  cheap  to  procure. 
These demands are not only confronting direct sup-
pliers to the automotive industry but also upstream 
suppliers  and  business  partners.  For  a  group  like 
Komax, which continually operates at the forefront 
of technological development, these increasing de-
mands  first  and  foremost  represent  opportunities 
and potential growth drivers.

The electrical systems in today’s premium pas-
senger  cars  are  made  up  of  as  many  as  1200  
cables, with a good 2000 crimp contacts and a total 
length of three kilometres. Developments in vehicle 
construction, new functionalities, and an ever-rising 

fit-out level in all vehicle classes will push these fig-
ures up further in the future. Moreover, the individ-
ual  subsystems  and  assemblies,  particularly  har-
nesses,  are  becoming  ever  more  complex.  In 
addition, given the growing trend towards miniatur-
ization with a view to reducing manufacturing costs, 
weight and fuel consumption, the individual compo-
nents  to  be  processed  are  becoming  ever  smaller 
and more challenging to handle.

A large part of the cable harness manufacturing 
process today may still be done by hand, but inex-
orably rising wage costs are making it worthwhile to 
invest  in  automation  solutions.  Moreover,  growing 
complexity is increasing potential sources of error in 
manual wire processing and assembly. Manual pro-
cesses are becoming less capable of meeting these 
demands.  Intelligent  automated  solutions,  quality 
assurance tools, and systems for testing harnesses 
before they are installed in assemblies and vehicles, 
are  solutions  that  can  guarantee  and  increase  the 
efficiency and reliability of the production process.

Furthermore, wire processing is required in nu-
merous other sectors of industry too. Particularly in 
sectors that use largely standardized, high-volume 
processes, the challenges are similar to those faced 
by  the  automotive  industry.  With  its  expertise  and 
current  product  range  as  a  basis,  Komax  Wire  is 
ideally  placed  to  establish  a  foothold  in  such  mar-
kets  in  the  course  of  existing  marketing  activities 
and further innovations.

Strategy
Komax Wire pursues four strategic priorities: First,  
it pursues further development of existing business 
along  the  value  chain.  This  includes  semi-auto-
mated and fully automated solutions with integrated 
quality assurance. Solutions for increasing availabil-
ity and testing the productivity of installed systems 
are  as  much  part  of  this  priority  as  new  intelligent 
software  interfaces  and  expanded  quality  testing 
capabilities. In the development of innovations, the 
second  strategic  priority,  Komax  Wire  focuses  on 
developing  new  solutions  for  the  demands  of  the 
automotive industry and further optimizing its prod-
uct portfolio with a clear product platform strategy. 
Under  the  third  and  fourth  strategic  priorities, 
Komax Wire will further strengthen its position in the 
Asian markets and break into new application areas 
outside the automotive industry.

19

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

Groundbreaking competencies in the value chain

Komax Wire systems

Measuring/cutting
Stripping
Crimping 
Twisting 
Connector insertion

Harness  
sub-assembly

Wire harness  
test systems

Function 
test systems

Cables  
Contacts 
Housings

Component
manufacturer

Cutting 
Preprocessing

Final assembly

Testing

Warehouse
Shipping

Installation  
Assembly

Wire harness manufacturer

Original equipment 
manufacturer (OEM)

Wires, contact parts, and housings (connectors) are vendor 
parts for wire harness manufacturers. Finished wire har-
nesses are used in vehicle electrical systems, household 
appliances, and other electronic devices. Komax Wire 
 supplies wire harness manufacturers with solutions for 
 automated and efficient wire processing. De pending  
on complexity and safety standards, which are especially

 stringent in the automotive industry, wire harnesses cannot 
always be produced by machine. In final assembly, finished 
harnesses are assembled and tested by hand before being 
delivered to the OEM, who installs it in the final product.

The acquisition of TSK supports several of these 
strategic  priorities  at  the  same  time,  areas  offering 
attractive  synergies  for  good  measure.  The  ex-
panded  offering  covers  the  most  capital-intensive 
and  critical  processes  of  the  value  chain.  This  will 
make  it  possible  to  offer  customers  single-source 
solutions for the most important wire processing ap-
plications.  The  amalgamation  of  distribution  func-
tions  is  strengthening  the  market  positions  of  both 
organizations.  In  addition,  collaboration  between 
Komax Wire und TSK will result in unique production 
concepts  that  will  further  simplify  wire  harness 
manu facturer’s processes. 

MCM Cosmic KK enhances the product portfolio 
by adding machines that are used above all for wire 
processing in the telecommunications sector. In ad-
dition, Komax Wire now has a presence in Japan in 
the form of a local company.

Outlook
The  dynamic  growth  of  the  automotive  industry,  
further  increases  in  production  volumes,  and  the 
growing  trend  towards  further  automation  of  pro-
duction processes and higher quality requirements 
are  all  contributing  to  industrial  investment  in  the 
solutions  manufactured  by  Komax  Wire.  However, 
visibility in this area still does not extend more than 
two to three months into the future. On the basis of 
all  the  information  currently  available,  we  are  ex-
pecting  Komax  Wire’s  net  sales  in  the  first  half  of 
2013 to be in the area with those of the very good 
first  semester  of  the  previous  year  when  adjusted 
for acquisitions.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20

Solar business unit

energy-laden  
points

The energy produced by the sun is  
as reliable as are systems built by  
komax for the automated manufac- 
ture of solar modules. with the  
sun as its partner, komax is paving  
the way for solutions which can  
provide people around the world with  
low-cost electricity. The fact that  
solar energy is also environmentally  
friendly is a truly warming thought. 

XCELL X2 plus

22

Consolidation in  
the solar industry

Following the massive decline suffered by the solar industry in 2011, particularly 
in the second half of the year, the ongoing crisis in the year under review 
 resulted in huge losses for manufacturers of solar modules. As a consequence, 
the demand for solar module production equipment virtually collapsed,  
which in turn left its mark on Komax Solar’s results. Net sales in 2012 amounted 
to CHF 9.9 million (2011: CHF 70.8 million), while EBIT came in at   
CHF –21.2 million (2011: CHF –3.4 million).

Komax  Solar  focuses  on  the  automation  of  a  few 
core  solar  module  production  processes.  This  in-
cludes stringers, which link up individual solar cells 
and  solder  them  into  what  are  known  as  strings; 
lay-up systems, which form individual strings into a 
matrix; and laminators, which take care of the final 

Strategic competitive 
 positions assured
Komax Solar has created the prerequisites to survive in 
a challenging market.

stage  of  heat  sealing  the  solar  modules.  Komax 
Solar has production facilities in the United States, 
China,  and  France.  In  addition,  there  are  service 
India,  Singapore, 
and  distribution 
China, and Switzerland. Komax Solar is among the 
leading manufacturers in the markets it serves, par-
ticularly in stringers.

locations 

in 

Thanks to its innovative solutions, Komax Solar 
helps  to  ensure  that  production  processes  in  the 
photovoltaic  industry  are  efficient  and  reliable, 
thereby  minimizing  reject  rates.  Komax  Solar  is 
therefore  at  the  forefront  of  attempts  to  establish 
solar  technology  as  an  alternative  to  conventional 
methods of power generation.

Market trends and business performance
The solar industry has been in a severe crisis since 
the middle of 2011. The demand for solar modules 
has  increased,  however,  despite  a  decline  in  state 
sponsorship programs in Europe. The main reason 
for  the  current  crisis  is  the  dramatic  price  erosion 
triggered  by  the  huge  expansion  in  global  produc-
tion  capacity.  Globally  installed  capacity  for  solar 
power generation has now reached some 100 giga-
watts (GW), an increase of more than 30 GW on the 
previous year. This made solar energy the most in-
stalled  resource  among  renewable  energy  sources 
in 2012. It is now the third most important alternative 
energy source after hydropower and wind energy.

Europe is the key market in this area, account-
ing  for  some  75%  of  installed  capacity.  However, 
other global markets have far from exhausted their 
potential. The strongest growth in the future is ex-
pected to come from China, India, parts of South-
east  Asia,  the  Middle  East,  Latin  America,  and 
North  Africa.  Given  that  the  strength  of  growth  is 
less dependent on state subsidies than on the tech-
nology  itself,  experts  are  expecting  the  industry  to 
develop into a mature industry in the medium term, 
with more sustainable growth rates.

In  2012,  however,  the  strong  increase  in  in-
stalled  solar  modules  was  unable  to  offset  the 
structural imbalances apparent in the solar industry. 
Demand of more than 30 GW fell a long way short of 
filling the available production capacity of some 50 
GW. The attempt by solar module manufacturers to 
increase market share through lower prices sparked 
off  a  ruinous  competitive  struggle  that  resulted  in 

23

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

key figures

in TCHF

2012

2011

+/– in %

Order intake

Net sales

9 009

9 873

Operating loss (EBIT)

–21 171

63 742

70 791

–3 439

–85.9

–86.1

n.s.

in %

EBIT margin

n.s.

−4.9 %

As at 31 Dec.

Headcount

Net sales
by region

30%
Asia

140

285

–50.9 

24%
Europe

46%
North/South 
America

Marketing and distribution
It  is  especially  crucial  to  retain  an  ongoing  profes-
sional  presence  in  the  market  and  with  customers 
when conditions are difficult. For this reason, Komax 
Solar took part in six trade fairs in 2012, albeit to a 
reduced  extent  in  view  of  the  challenging  market 
situ ation.  The  service  and  distribution  organization 
in China, which has its own exhibition area and train-
ing center, is a key platform from which to offer cus-
tomers in this key market the necessary support. At 
the  same  time,  Komax  Solar  is  keeping  its  eye  on 
new markets such as South America with a view to 
participating in any build-up of module manufactur-
ing in these markets right from the start.

huge  losses  for  all  producers.  At  the  same  time, 
solar module manufacturers cut their investment in 
new  production  systems  to  an  absolute  minimum, 
which led to a year-on-year decline of around 90% 
in equipment manufacturers’ order intake.

Komax Solar was unable to escape the repercus-
sions  of  this  collapse,  particularly  as  the  business 
unit started the year with a comparatively weak order 
book as a result of the crisis, which first broke out in 
2011.  Total  net  sales  amounted  to  a  modest  CHF 
9.9 million (2011: CHF 70.8 million). The geographic 
breakdown  of  this  figure  is  fairly  meaningless,  as 
sales were primarily generated through replacement 
parts and service orders. Komax Solar continuously 
adapted its structures to the prevailing demand situ-
ation throughout the year and reduced its cost base 
massively.  As  the  impact  of  all  these  measures  is 
subject to a time lag, however, there was no prevent-
ing EBIT (CHF –21.2 million) from once again falling 
well  short  of  the  previous  year’s  equivalent  (2011: 
CHF –3.4 million). However, cash flow from operating 
activities was even slightly positive.

A further negative factor for the business devel-
opment of Komax Solar was the fact that many of 
its  customers  found  themselves  facing  serious 
 financial difficulties. All solar module manufacturers 
reported huge losses in the year under review, and 
a number of them even declared themselves insolv-
ent.  For  Komax  Solar  this  meant  that  any  new  
orders involved significant default risks. Against this 
backdrop,  the  business  unit  adopted  a  highly  cir-
cumspect  approach,  only  accepting  orders  that 
were financially secure.

Operations
Thanks to the concentration of the core activities of 
Komax Solar in York, Pennsylvania (USA) – a strat-
egy that was initiated in previous years –, the busi-
ness unit was able to adapt its structure to the ser-
ious  deterioration  in  market  conditions  relatively 
swiftly. Headcount was reduced most heavily in the 
US. The distribution organization in the key market 
of  China  was  less  affected  by  these  measures,  so 
as  not  to  jeopardize  Komax  Solar’s  presence  and 
excellent positioning in this market. Despite radical 
adjustments affecting around 50% of the workforce 
worldwide, the expertise required to ensure the on-
going development of processes and products was 
kept largely intact in York. Komax Solar is therefore 
in a position to successfully defend its strong com-
petitive position once the anticipated market recov-
ery materializes.

 
24

Innovation
In order to maintain its leading position in the mar-
ket for stringers, Komax Solar once again invested 
continuously in research and development in 2012. 
The main areas of focus were the further develop-
ment  of  the  induction  soldering  procedure  on  the 
one hand and the reduction of product costs on the 
other. The business unit is therefore remaining com-
petitive against its Asian competitors in particular. 

Solar  cell  technology  is  likely  to  progressively 
develop over the next few years towards what are 
known  as  backside-contact  cells.  Komax  is  al-
ready  cooperating  with  leading  module  manufac-
turers to develop ways of processing of such cells.

Trends and strategy
The  current  situation  in  the  solar  industry  is  char-
acterized by massive surplus capacity and major fi-
nancial difficulties on the part of module manufac-
turers. The consolidation of the industry is likely to 
continue. A proportion of the surplus capacity can 

Pressing ahead with  
innovations
Komax Solar is working with customers to realize 
 pioneering concepts.

be found in Europe and the US, where attempts are 
being  made  to  reduce  the  cost  disadvantages  of 
local manufacturers by imposing punitive tariffs on 
Chinese imports. However, a far greater proportion 
of  the  surplus  capacity  can  be  found  in  Asia,  and 
particularly in China. Accordingly, consolidation be-
tween  the  large  Chinese  module  manufacturers  is 
another prerequisite for a reduction in the substan-
tial supply overhang.

The current state aside, the long-term drivers of 
the  solar  industry  remain  unchanged  and  intact. 
Major  climate  events  and  serious  pollution  prob-
lems in major urban areas are increasingly highlight-
ing the necessity of making greater use of renewa-
ble energies. Other key factors that will drive growth 
in  the  solar  industry  and  the  business  of  Komax 
Solar  include  the  world’s  growing  energy  require-

ments and the need to safeguard energy supply in 
the longer term. The collapse in solar module prices 
has  brought  grid  parity  closer;  in  fact,  it  has  even 
been reached in a number of countries. This is one 
of the key milestones that needs to be achieved for 
solar  energy  to  establish  itself  as  an  alternative  to 
traditional  energy  sources  for  a  wider  group  of 
users.

In the 2012 financial year, Komax Solar focused 
its  activities  and  adapted  its  structures  to  market 
conditions,  without  jeopardizing  its  exceptional 
pos ition in either its core product – the stringer – or 
its  key  market  of  China.  Innovations  that  promise 
future success are being selectively driven forward. 
Komax  Solar  is  therefore  well  placed  to  benefit 
when the expected market recovery kicks in.

Outlook
Solar will remain an attractive market in the longer 
term. However, the major supply overhang in cap-
acity for solar module manufacturing is preventing a 
short-term  improvement  in  the  competitive  envir-
onment, which means that the investment activity of 
solar  module  manufacturers  is  likely  to  remain  re-
strained in 2013 too.

As  a  supplier  to  solar  module  manufacturers, 
Komax  Solar  is  directly  affected  and  therefore 
antici pates another difficult year in 2013. Thanks to 
adjustments  to  structures  and  a  dramatically  re-
duced cost base, the business unit expects a signif-
icantly  better  EBIT  figure  this  year,  albeit  without 
reaching positive territory. 

25

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

Groundbreaking competencies in the value chain

Komax Solar  
systems

Stringers 
Lay-up systems 
Bussing systems 
Laminators 
Test equipment

Silicon crystal 
or ingot

Wafer production

Solar cell
production

Solar modul e 
production

Installation

Electricity

Monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon ingots are  
produced from quartz sand. These ingots are then sliced 
into micron-thin wafers. Next, the wafers are chemically 
treated and coated to make solar cells. The cells are then 
grouped, connected together, and installed in frames to 
form solar modules. This stage of manufacturing consists  
of many steps. Komax Solar produces machines to carry  

out these processes. Once the solar modules have been  
installed on rooftops or in solar farms, they generate electric 
power.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26

medtech business unit

For a better life 

among the many tools available for  
containing costs in the health care  
industry, it is self-responsibility and  
self-medication that stand out most.  
komax promotes both – the latter  
through highly efficient systems that  
produce inhalers, injection systems,  
and other medical applications. komax  
machinery is used all around the world,  
helping millions of people to enjoy  
a better quality of life. 

28

Break in the upward trend

In 2012, Komax Medtech was unable to build on the good results of the previous 
year. Reticent investment activity on the part of customers, which had been 
 evident for some time, led to projects being postponed. This phenomenon, com-
bined with additional expenses incurred on individual projects and currency-
related pressure on margins, led to unsatisfactory results. Net sales amounted 
to CHF 49.8 million (2011: CHF 83.8 million), while EBIT came in at  CHF –8.6 
 million (2011: CHF 3.8 million).

Komax  Medtech’s  systems  are  mainly  used  in  the 
pharmaceutical industry. The business unit develops 
complex,  customer-specific  machine  systems  pri-
marily for the automatic assembly of mass-produced 
medical products, such as inhalers or insulin delivery 
and  injection  systems.  Komax  Medtech  also  pro-
duces  systems  for  the  efficient  mass  production  of 
inkjet  printer  cartridges.  The  purchase  prices  for 
these kinds of systems, which are for the most part 

a highly attractive market
The trend towards self-medication is set to continue.

developed  as  part  of  customer-specific  projects, 
range from a few hundred thousand to several mil-
lion Swiss francs, depending on complexity.

Medical  devices  in  particular  are  subject  to  
especially  rigorous  cleanliness,  quality,  and  safety 
requirements.  Komax  Medtech  has  many  years  of 
experience  in  this  field,  and  has  standardized  and 
certified validation processes in place to ensure that 
its systems comply with all relevant standards.

Komax Medtech has production facilities at two 
locations in Switzerland, in the United States, and in 
Malaysia. Komax Systems LCF SA in La Chaux-de-
Fonds, Switzerland, is the largest location in terms 
of  employee  headcount  and  is  the  business  unit’s 
center of excellence.

Market trends and business performance
For  Komax  Medtech,  the  2012  financial  year  was 
heavily  influenced  by  persistent  uncertainties  with 
respect  to  economic  development  in  Europe.  The 
reticent investment behaviour of numerous custom-
ers, a phenomenon that was already evident during 
the fourth quarter of 2011 and led to projects being 
postponed,  continued  during  the  first  half  of  2012 
and beyond. Given the prevailing backdrop, visibil-
ity was extremely poor, which made capacity plan-
ning commensurately challenging.

The strategy implemented back in 2011, namely 
to focus resolutely on projects for the self-medica-
tion sector with repeat business or the potential for 
repeat  business,  was  pursued  consistently.  How-
ever,  this  strategy  restricts  the  market  being  tar-
geted,  which  can  lead  –  particularly  in  an  environ-
ment  like  that  of  2012  –  to  temporary  surplus 
capacity. Another difficulty was the continued rela-
tive  strength  of  the  Swiss  franc,  which  prompted 
Komax  Medtech  to  abandon  certain  projects  for 
which it could no longer expect to generate reason-
able margins.

Order  intake  was  slow  to  develop  in  both  the 
first  and  second  semesters,  before  gathering  mo-
mentum towards the end of each period. In the final 
quarter  of  2012,  there  were  increasing  signs  that 
the  market  was  beginning  to  normalize.  A  number 
of anticipated projects were then definitively added 
to  the  order  books,  and  customers  provided  con-
crete indications that further orders would follow in 
the first quarter of 2013. Net sales for the 2012 fi-
nancial  year  amounted  to  CHF  49.8  million  (2011: 
CHF 83.8 million). The lion’s share of this sum was 
generated with key account customers. From a re-
gional  perspective,  Asia,  the  US,  and   Europe  re-

mained the key areas, with the United Kingdom, Ire-
land,  and  Scandinavia  particularly  important  in  the 
latter.  As  a  result  of  the  above-mentioned  project 
postponements,  the  project  mix  in  2012  experi-
enced a decline in the share of business with repeat 
potential, which typically generates more attractive 
margins.  This  increase  in  the  risk  profile,  together 
with  the  capacity  underutilization,  a  negative  cur-
rency  situation,  and  unexpected  additional  ex-
penses incurred on individual projects, led to a dis-
appointing EBIT of CHF –8.6 million (2011: CHF 3.8 
million).

Operations
The  business  unit’s  center  of  excellence,  which  is 
based in La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH), was hardest hit 
by the difficult market environment. Once it became 
clear  that  the  order  situation  would  not  improve  in 
the short term, Komax Systems LCF SA introduced 
short-time  working  for  its  workforce  in  June.  This 
option enabled the company to avoid having to initi-
ate redundancies as a result of the temporarily inad-
equate order situation, and it was thus able to retain 
the full expertise of its workforce. Short-time work-
ing was finally suspended at the end of November 
once the situation improved.

The  programs  initiated  in  2011  in  the  areas  of 
standardization, cost-controlling, procurement man-
agement and project management for the purpose 
of improving profitability were pursued resolutely at 
all  locations  in  2012.  Organization  was  strength-
ened  at  both  Komax  Rockford,  Illinois  (USA),  and 
the plant in Penang (MY) in order to reduce depend-
ency  on  the  parent  company.  The  Rotkreuz  site, 
which  specializes  in  laboratory  automation  sys-
tems,  optimized  its  internal  operational  processes 
and duly received ISO 13485 certification in Octo-
ber.  This  standard  defines  the  requirements  to  be 
satisfied  by  comprehensive  management  systems 
for  the  design  and  manufacture  of  medical  prod-
ucts.

Marketing and distribution
Komax  Medtech  was  present  at  ten  trade  fairs  in 
the  year  under  review.  Furthermore,  the  marketing 
and  sales  organization  was  strengthened  in  2012, 
particularly in the area of key account management, 
with a view to being able to respond even more ef-
fectively to the needs of key customers.

29

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report
 106  Corporate Structure

key figures

in TCHF

2012

2011

+/– in %

Order intake

Net sales

Operating  
loss/profit (EBIT)

in %

47 806

49 804

84 371

83 778

–43.3

–40.6

–8 600

3 840

–324.0

EBIT margin

n.s.

4.6%

256

302

–15.2

5%
Switzerland

48%
Europe

As at 31 Dec.

Headcount

Net sales 
by region

25%
Asia

22%
North/South
America

Innovation
Komax  Medtech  possesses  four  platforms  for  the 
assembly of a wide range of different medical equip-
ment  devices,  covering  the  entire  manufacturing 
cycle  from  clinical  trials  to  mass  production.  In 
2012,  these  platforms  were  further  improved  and 
optimized.

Moreover,  Komax  Medtech  again  succeeded  in 
automating  a  number  of  its  customers’  key  pro-
cesses by delivering innovative solutions. Notewor-
thy examples here include a process for accurately 
affixing complex labelling on a metered-dose aero-
sol or contact-free dispensers on the tips of insulin 
needles.  In  addition,  Komax  Medtech  created  a 
complete assembly line that meets the high stand-
ards  required  for  approval  for  use  in  cleanroom 
labor atories.  This  assembly  line  forms  the  ends  of 
plastic cannulas for insulin patch pumps. These in-

 
 
 
 
 
30

jection  needles  are  the  core  element  of  these 
pumps, which are worn on the skin and deliver insu-
lin  to  people  with  diabetes  over  period  of  several 
days.

Trends and strategy
It is a regrettable fact that the number of individuals 
suffering  from  diabetes  worldwide  will  continue  to 
rise over the next few years. In its report of Septem-
ber  2012,  the  World  Health  Organization  assumes 
that  the  number  of  afflicted  individuals  will  have 
risen by two thirds from today’s 347 million by 2030. 
The number of asthma sufferers, which is currently 
around 235 million people, is also set to rise.

There  are  already  a  number  of  suitable  treat-
ments that allow diabetes and asthma sufferers to 
manage their conditions themselves, and this trend 

Outlook
Thanks  to  the  pleasing  order  intake  in  the  fourth 
quarter  of  2012  and  the  first  few  months  of  2013, 
the foundation has been laid for a good start to the 
current year. The key factor for success going for-
ward is whether and when customers place further 
orders  in  order  to  implement  anticipated  projects. 
The  risk  profile  of  these  projects  is  appealing,  as 
they involve a high proportion of business with re-
peat character. Furthermore, it is expected that the 
programs  initiated  in  2012  to  improve  operating 
performance  will  make  a  positive  contribution  to 
business in 2013. As an additional factor, collabora-
tion  with  Doerfer  Companies  will  enable  Komax 
Medtech  to  further  strengthen  its  market  position. 
Subject  to  these  pre-requisites,  and  based  on  the 
assumption  that  customers  will  continue  to  ap-
praise the market more positively, we are confident 
that  we  can  once  again  generate  positive  EBIT  in 
2013.

Strategic cooperation
Cooperation with Doerfer Companies is strengthening 
the market position of Komax Medtech.

towards  self-medication  will  likewise  strengthen  in 
the future. New applications and treatments will fur-
ther  increase  the  safety  and  cost  efficiency  of  this 
form of administration, which in turn will make them 
accessible to a larger number of people. Moreover, 
industrialized nations in particular are being forced 
to address the growing problem of continually rising 
health care costs, and are also looking to further im-
prove the quality of life and reduce the unpleasant-
ness of administering medication. These factors are 
driving the development of new applications to ad-
minister treatments, and laying the basis for further 
demand for medical product assembly systems.

Inhaler  and  insulin  administration  applications 
are  a  strategic  focus  of  Komax  Medtech,  which  is 
one of the globally acknowledged market leaders in 
these segments thanks to its long-standing experi-
ence and strong technical skills. Komax Medtech is 
determined  to  preserve  this  position.  In  addition, 
new niche markets are being specifically developed 
on the basis of existing competencies to enable the 
business unit to better compensate for market fluc-
tuations in the future.

31

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report
 106  Corporate Structure

Groundbreaking competencies in the value chain

Komax  
Medtech systems

Pre-assembly 

Final assembly

Test

Packaging

Final product

Raw material for device 
assembly

Drug

Device development

Drug development

Medical devices are products used to help diagnose or treat 
disease. Many of these devices contain active substances  
or medicines that are administered to patients with certain 
conditions or disease symptoms. Before a new medicine 
that is combined with a medical device can be launched, it 
has to undergo preclinical and clinical studies and gain 
 approval from the competent regulatory authority. Komax 
Medtech plays an important role in this process: the 
 business unit plans and builds assembly systems that put 
together the individual components of such medical  
products (raw materials, plastic parts for the devices, pre-

filled medicines) in several steps on a semi-automated or 
fully  automated basis. Komax Medtech then tests and 
packages the fully assembled final product (device plus 
medicine) and prepares it for shipping. When Komax  
Medtech delivers equipment to customers, a full qualifica-
tion/testing package is performed, documenting with  
evidence that expected results will be achieved at the end 
of the thorough acceptance procedures, to run safely  
the validation of the device, which is owned by the customer.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32

Sustainability and  
social responsibility

The Komax Group is committed to upholding its responsibilities towards its 
 different stakeholder groups. This commitment is expressed through the 
 products and services it provides on the one hand and through the objectives 
and approach the company adopts on the other. Komax regards sustain - 
ability and social responsibility as an integral part of its corporate strategy.

The basic tenets underlying Komax’s business prac-
tices are set out in its guiding principles. The Komax 
Group  exercises  responsibility  towards  people  and 
the  environment  and  is  keen  to  continuously  de-
velop  its  competencies  in  matters  relating  to  sus-
tainability and social responsibility.

Group-wide code of conduct
The way Komax is perceived by customers and sup-
pliers,  other  business  partners,  shareholders,  and 
the  general  public,  and  the  respect  for  and  confi-
dence in the company that these groups feel is de-
pendent  to  a  significant  degree  on  the  conduct  of 
Komax’s  employees.  In  2009,  Komax  therefore  in-

People and  
the environment
Komax is keen to continuously build on its commit-
ment to sustainability and social responsibility.

troduced  a  code  of  conduct  which  applies  to  all 
Group  employees.  The  code  of  conduct  defines 
general ethical rules of behaviour and guidelines on 
how  to  act  towards  the  Group’s  business  partners 
and competitors. All employees are given training on 
the  code  of  conduct  when  they  join  the  company. 
Furthermore, in another code of conduct drawn up 
specially  for  suppliers,  Komax  obliges  its  suppliers 
to comply with legislation and to act in an environ-
mentally  aware  and  ethical  way.  Compliance  with 
these  defined  guidelines  is  reviewed  on  a  regular 

basis  through  supplier  audits.  If  violations  are  un-
covered, a supplier partnership may be immediately 
terminated as a result.

Product sustainability
The  systems  developed  by  Komax  are  character-
ized by their exceptionally high quality. The Group’s 
global service network ensures that the systems are 
professionally  maintained.  This  has  a  positive  im-
pact on their performance, value retention, and life 
span,  as  well  as  on  saving  resources.  Thanks  to 
their modular construction, the systems can usually 
be adapted to new technological developments or 
changing needs.

The  Wire  business  unit  supplies  solutions  for 
wire  processing  applications,  in  particular  for  the 
automotive  supply  industry.  These  solutions  are 
also  used  to  process  wiring  for  new  vehicle  con-
cepts  such  as  electric  and  hybrid  vehicles,  among 
other  applications.  Moreover,  the  innovative  tech-
nologies used by Komax mean that ever smaller wire 
cross sections can be machine-processed, thereby 
contributing to a reduction in vehicle weight and, as 
a result, fuel consumption. By providing solutions for 
solar  module  manufacturing,  the  Solar  business 
unit’s  activities  in  the  renewable  energies  field  are 
actively  helping  to  provide  an  environmentally 
friendly and reliable energy supply for the future. The 
 Medtech business unit, which develops systems for 
medical  device  manufacturing,  is  indirectly  helping 
to  reduce  health  care  costs,  improve  access  to 
medicines  and  thereby  increase  people’s  quality  of 
life.

33

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

Sustainability in production
Since the Komax Group’s business focuses mainly 
on the production of machines and systems, it gen-
erates few emissions in comparison to other indus-
tries. These are further reduced by our use of state-
of-the-art  production  facilities.  Around  50%  of  the 
production  equipment  at  our  sites  in  Central  Swit-
zerland  has  been  newly  acquired  over  the  last  five 
years.  Wherever  possible,  Komax  uses  renewable 
energies such as solar or hydroelectric power. In re-
cent years, one of the Group’s sources of electricity 
has been RegioMix green power from small utilities 
in Central Switzerland. Komax’s commitment to the 
environment is also underscored by its own photo-
voltaic  power  plant  on  the  roof  of  its  production 
building  in  Rotkreuz.  Furthermore,  Komax  actively 
encourages  its  employees  to  use  public  transport. 
Waste materials from production activities, such as 
swarf and operating materials waste, are separated 
and  disposed  of  or  recycled  appropriately.  Waste 
volumes  are  continuously  reduced  as  part  of  opti-
mization programs. Komax’s products do not con-
tain any ecologically harmful components. The com-
pany  favours  suppliers  which  demonstrate  an 
environmentally  aware  approach  and  whose  prod-
ucts conform to sustainability criteria.

In  2011,  a  working  group  was  formed  to  sys-
tematically  develop  the  company’s  commitment  to 
sustainability. Among other things, it is charged with 
preparing  the  Dierikon  and  Rotkreuz  sites  for  ISO 
14001  and  OHSAS  18001  certification.  These  two 
sites  are  the  Group’s  largest  production  facilities, 
together  employing  more  than  400  staff.  Work  is 
now so far advanced that we are expecting to com-
plete the certification processes in the second half 
of  2013.  The  ISO  14001  standard  sets  out  recog-
nized  requirements  for  the  environmental  manage-
ment  systems  of  companies  worldwide.  OHSAS 
(Occupational  Health  and  Safety  Assessment  Ser-
ies) 18001 is one of the most significant and best-
known standards for occupational health and safety 
management systems. Once Dierikon und Rotkreuz 
have  been  fully  certified,  further  Group  sites  will  
undergo  this  process.  In  2012,  the  Rotkreuz  site 
obtained  ISO  13485  certification.  This  standard  
defines the requirements to be satisfied by compre-
hensive  management  systems  for  the  design  and 
manufacture of medical products. 

key figures1) 

2012

2011

Electric power consumption in MWh

6 704

 6 701

Electric power consumption per head 
in MWh

7.9

7.4

Water consumption (potable and 
industrial water) in m3

Water consumption (potable and 
industrial water) per head in m3

8 450

8 086

10.0

8.9

1)  Covering the Komax production sites in Dierikon (CH), Rot-

kreuz (CH), La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH), Rousset (F), York (USA), 
Rockford (USA), Penang (MY) and Shanghai (RC).

employees by business unit 

Komax Wire

Komax Solar

Komax Medtech

Corporate

Total

2012

2011

921

140

256

13

541

285

302

12

1 330

1 140

employees by area of activity

Production

Research and development

Engineering

Marketing and sales

Administration

Total

employees by region

Switzerland

Europe

Africa

North/South America

Asia

Total

2012

2011

517

140

199

339

135

482

134

149

273

102

1 330

1 140

2012

2011

563

240

47

228

252

569

65

12

266

228

1 330

1 140

 
34

In  2011,  the  La  Chaux-de-Fonds  site  received 
an award from Energo for having cut its energy con-
sumption  by  10%  compared  to  the  previous  year. 
Energo is a Swiss non-profit organization financed 
by cantons, cities, municipalities, and private sector 
entities. It works in partnership with EnergieSchweiz 
to  promote  the  federal  government  program  for  a 
20% reduction in CO2 by 2020.

In  addition,  a  number  of  different  projects  fo-
cusing  on  protecting  the  environment  were  either 
launched  or  advanced.  For  example,  in  2012,  this 
resulted  in  a  reduction  in  energy  consumption  of 
around 10% at the Group’s sites in Central Switzer-
land. Associated initiatives are also in place to fur-
ther sensitize employees to environmental issues.

Contribution to regional development
Komax has been firmly rooted in the Canton of Lu-
cerne since 1975, and is one of the canton’s biggest 
employers.  Its  other  operating  facilities  worldwide 
have been based at the same sites since their estab-
lishment, and this has generated a strong sense of 
identification with the local area. This sense of iden-
tification is expressed in various ways, notably con-
sidering local suppliers wherever economically pos-
sible and reasonable.

Attractive employer
As at the end of 2012, Komax employed 1330 staff 
worldwide, 17% more than in the previous year. This 
increase  is  primarily  attributable  to  the  takeover  of 
TSK Group and MCM Cosmic KK, Tokyo. However, 
the persistent crisis in the solar industry has meant 
that  both  structures  and  headcount  in  the  Solar 
business  have  had  to  be  adjusted  to  the  changing 
demand  situation.  The  associated  redundancies 
were  implemented  in  the  most  socially  acceptable 
way.  Personnel  expenses  amounted  to  CHF  102.9 
million  in  the  reporting  year  (2011:  CHF  103.6  mil-
lion).

The companies of the Komax Group ensure that 
their  employees  enjoy  equal  opportunities,  equal 
treatment, and fair employment conditions, receive 
pay that is in line with the market, and benefits that 
are  in  line  with  national  and  industry  standards.  
Participation  in  the  pay  comparison  survey  con-
ducted by industry association Swissmem last year 
revealed that pay at both of the Wire business unit’s 
Swiss  production  sites  is  in  line  with  market  aver-

ages  and  that  men  and  women  receive  equal  pay. 
The  proportion  of  women  in  the  Group’s  global 
workforce  stood  at  13%  in  2012  (2011:  12%). 
Komax  is  not  alone  within  the  industry  in  having  a 
relatively low proportion of women in its workforce. 
This  is  due  to  the  large  number  of  technical  pos-
itions within the company, for which the recruitment 
potential among women is limited.

The  Group’s  staff  turnover  rate  in  2012  was 
gratifyingly low. As in 2011, it amounted to less than 
9%.  Komax  has  a  very  good  reputation  as  an  at-
tractive employer. Among other things, this is high-
lighted by the fact that we were able to fill vacancies 
quickly  in  2012,  even  in  the  tight  market  for  man-
agement and skilled staff. As part of an active staff 
development policy, Komax organizes regular train-
ing for its employees and provides financial support 
for individual training activities. Komax also encour-
ages  international  exchanges  to  allow  its  staff  to 
gain  new  experiences  and  career  perspectives.  At 
the same time, Komax invests in tomorrow’s work-
force.  In  2012,  45  apprentices  were  undergoing 
training  in  seven  professions  at  the  Group’s  Swiss 
sites.

Employee  satisfaction  is  systematically  mea s-
ured and evaluated in the course of annual perform-
ance  review  meetings.  Komax  uses  the  results  of 
regular  employee  surveys  as  a  valuable  basis  for 
developing  and  implementing  improvement  mea s-
ures. It goes without saying that Komax satisfies all 
legal requirements governing working conditions in 
the countries it operates in. Reported absences due 
to accidents in 2012 were mainly the result of acci-
dents suffered by employees while engaging in leis-
ure  activities.  Komax  actively  encourages  employ-
ees at site level to pursue a healthy lifestyle through 
initiatives such as sport and exercise offerings.

35

  Corporate 
  Governance

36

1  Corporate structure and shareholders
Corporate structure
The corporate structure is set out on pages 106 and 
107 of the Annual Report.

Komax Holding AG, the holding company of the 
Komax  Group,  has  its  headquarters  in  Dierikon 
(CH). Details on the place of listing, market capital-
ization, securities number, and ISIN number are set 
out on page 44 (“Information for investors”).

2  Capital structure 

Capital 

in CHF

Ordinary capital

Conditional capital

Authorized capital

344 378.90

40 621.10

0.00

Significant shareholders 

Shareholders whose share of the company's share capital exceeds or falls 
below the thresholds of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 331∕3, 50, and 662∕3 percent 
have  a  reporting  obligation  under  the  Federal  Act  on  Stock  Exchanges 
and Securities Trading (SESTA) and the Stock Exchange Ordinance of the 
Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (SESTO-FINMA).

According  to  these  disclosure  requirements,  at  31  December  2012, 
the company had the following significant shareholders with voting rights 
of more than 3%:

Shareholder/shareholder group

Number of shares 
31 Dec. 2012

% as at  
31 Dec. 2012

Max Koch, Meggen, Switzerland

Sarasin Investmentfonds AG, Basel, Switzerland

Leo Steiner, Steinhausen, Switzerland 

231 4011)
144 919     
118 6502)

6.72

4.21

3.45

1)   Plus stock options from the employee share incentive scheme (0.12%): 
0.03% 1000 call options, CHF 42.78, duration 1.1.2009 – 31.12.2013 
0.03% 1000 call options, CHF 75.68, duration 1.1.2010 – 31.12.2014 
0.03% 1000 call options, CHF 94.25, duration 1.1.2011 – 31.12.2015 
0.03% 1000 call options, CHF 66.21, duration 1.1.2012 – 31.12.2016 
All stock options are subject to a three-year lock-in period and a two-year exercise 
 period, exchange ratio 1:1, effective fulfilment.

2)   Plus stock options from the employee share incentive scheme (0.20%): 
0.06% 2000 call options, CHF 75.68, duration 1.1.2010 – 31.12.2014 
0.07% 2500 call options, CHF 94.25, duration 1.1.2011 – 31.12.2015 
0.07% 2500 call options, CHF 66.21, duration 1.1.2012 – 31.12.2016 
All stock options are subject to a three-year lock-in period and a two-year exercise 
 period, exchange ratio 1:1, effective fulfilment. 

All  shareholdings  that  have  been  reported  to 
Komax Holding AG and the Disclosure Office of SIX 
Swiss Exchange as per Art. 20 of the Federal Act on 
Stock  Exchanges  and  Securities  Trading  (SESTA) 
and the provisions of the Stock Exchange Ordinance 
of  the  Swiss  Financial  Market  Supervisory  Authority 
(SESTO-FINMA)  and  published  on  SIX  Swiss  Ex-
change AG’s electronic publication platform can be
viewed at www.six-exchange-regulation.com/ 
obligations/ disclosure/major_shareholders_en.html.

Cross-shareholdings
There are no cross-shareholdings. 

Further details are provided in the sections below.

Authorized and conditional capital in particular
For  information  on  conditional  capital,  please  refer 
to  the  individual  financial  statements  of  Komax 
Holding AG, page 101, and Art. 3.2 of the Articles 
of Association.

The  Annual  General  Meeting  of  13  May  2009 
approved the creation of conditional capital up to a 
maximum of CHF 46 248.00 to cover the exercising 
of option or subscription rights issued as part of the 
Executive  and  Employee  Participation  Program  of 
Komax Holding AG. The subscription and advance 
subscription rights of the remaining shareholders in 
the company are excluded. In 2010, 13 360 options 
were  converted  into  shares  with  a  par  value  of 
CHF 0.10. In 2011, no options were exercised, and 
in 2012, 42 909 options were exercised. Conditional 
capital therefore amounted to CHF 40 621.10 as at 
31 December 2012.

The newly created capital was entered in the Com-
mercial  Register  within  the  deadline  stipulated  under 
Art. 635h of the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO).

The Komax Group had no authorized capital as 

at 31 December 2012.

Capital changes
Details of capital changes in 2012 and 2011 can be 
found on page 56 of the Financial Report. The corre-
sponding information for 2010 can be found on page 
56 of the financial section of the 2011 Annual Report.

Shares, participation certificates, and  
profit-sharing certificates
As at 31 December 2012, Komax Holding AG had 
fully paid-at capital of CHF 344 378.90, distributed 
over 3 443 789 registered shares with a par value of 
CHF  0.10  each.  Each  registered  share  entitles  the 
holder  to  vote  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting  as 
long as the shareholder is listed in the share register 
as a “voting shareholder” (see also “Restrictions on 
transferability of shares and nominee registrations”). 
Registered  shares  are  fully  entitled  to  receive  divi-
dends.

Komax  Holding  AG  has  not  issued  any  partici-

pation certificates or bonus certificates.

37

   Annual Report
  6  Business Model
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

Restrictions on transferability of shares  
and nominee registrations
The Komax Holding AG share register is divided into 
the  categories  of  “non-voting  shareholders”  and 
“voting  shareholders”.  “Non-voting  shareholders” 
may exercise all property rights, but not the right to 
vote or rights associated with that of voting. “Voting 
shareholders”  may  exercise  all  rights  associated 
with the share.

Registration of an acquirer of shares as a “voting 
shareholder” may be refused under Komax Holding 
AG’s Articles of Association if, as a result of such rec-
ognition, the acquirer would directly or indirectly hold 
more than 5% of the total number of shares recorded 
in  the  Commercial  Register.  Legal  entities  and 
groups  with  joint  legal  status  which  are  connected 
through  capital,  voting  rights,  management,  or  in 
some  other  manner,  along  with  all  natural  persons, 
legal entities, and groups with joint legal status which 
act in concert by virtue of agreement, syndicate, or in 
some  other  manner,  are  regarded  as  a  single  ac-
quirer for the purposes of this provision. This limita-
tion also applies in the case of the acquisition of reg-
istered shares through the exercising of subscription 
rights,  option  rights,  or  conversion  rights.  This  re-
striction does not apply to the acquisition of shares 
through  inheritance,  division  of  an  estate,  or  joint 
marital  property.  The  Board  of  Directors  may  grant 
exceptions to the 5% limitation for good cause.

Komax Holding AG’s Articles of Association also 
empower  the  Board  of  Directors  to  refuse  entry  in 
the share register if the acquirer does not expressly 
declare, at the request of the Board, that the shares 
were acquired in their own name and for their own 
account.  Nominees  are  listed  in  the  share  register 
as “non-voting shareholders”.

After hearing the affected party, Komax Holding 
AG  may  delete  entries  in  the  share  register  if  such 
entries occurred in consequence of false statements 
by the acquirer. The acquirer must be informed of the 
deletion immediately.

Convertible bonds and options 
Komax Holding AG has no outstanding convertible 
bonds. See pages 42, 90 and 91 for information on 
employee share options.

Management transactions
The Listing Rules of SIX Swiss Exchange stipulate a 
disclosure obligation for management transactions. 
The Board of Directors has issued a set of regula-
tions to comply with these provisions. Members of 
the  Board  of  Directors  and  Executive  Committee 
have a disclosure obligation towards the company 
in this respect. A total of 13 reports were submitted 
in the year under review. Published reports can be 
found on the website of SIX Swiss Exchange.

3  Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has six members. No mem-
ber of the Board of Directors was a member of the 
Executive Committee in the three years prior to the 
reporting period, nor do any members of the Board 
of Directors have any material business relationship 
with any Group companies.

members of the Board of Directors

 Appointed

Term 
expires

Committees

1997

1997

1997

1997

2005

2012

AC, RC (Chairman)

AC

RC

AC (Chairman)

RC

2015

2013

2014

2015

2014

2015

Leo Steiner, Chairman

Melk M. Lehner

Max Koch

Hans Caspar von der Crone

Daniel Hirschi

Kurt Haerri

AC: Audit Committee 
RC:  Remuneration/Nomination Committee

There  are  no  cross-involvements  among  the 
Board  of  Directors.  Biographies  of  the  individual 
Board Members are provided on pages 10 and 11.

Election and term of office 
The  Board  of  Directors  of  Komax  Holding  AG  con-
sists mainly of independent, non-executive members 
and is elected by the Annual General Meeting. Under 
the  Articles  of  Association  it  consists  of  three  to 
seven  members.  Each  member  is  elected  individu-
ally. The maximum term of office is three years; each 
member’s  term  of  office  is  determined  at  the  time  
of  election.  Individual  terms  are  staggered  so  that 
roughly one-third of all Board members, but no more 
than three, are elected each year. Members may be 
re-elected. The term of office is not restricted.

The  term  of  office  of  Melk  M.  Lehner  expires  in 
2013. Melk M. Lehner is not standing for re-election. 
In his place, the Board of Directors is proposing that 
the Annual General Meeting of 3 May 2013 elect Prof. 
Dr Roland Siegwart.

 
38

ual members. The tasks of the Audit Committee in-
clude the overall supervision of the external and in-
ternal  auditors,  as  well  as  financial  reporting.  The 
Audit Committee sets out the scope and schedule 
of  the  audit  to  be  carried  out  by  the  two  auditing 
bodies  and  also  coordinates  their  work.  Both  the 
external  and  internal  auditors  draw  up  a  report  on 
their audit work, and the Audit Committee monitors 
implementation  of  the  audit  findings.  Furthermore, 
the Audit Committee evaluates the reliability of the 
internal control system together with Risk Manage-
ment, and acquires a picture of the extent to which 
statutory and internal regulations are being adhered 
to (compliance). The CEO and the CFO both attend 
meetings  of  the  Audit  Committee.  On  occasions, 
the  external  auditor  is  invited  to  attend.  The  CFO 
represents the internal audit unit. Both bodies have 
access to the minutes of the meetings of the Boards 
of Directors and Executive Committee. The detailed 
tasks of the Audit Committee are set out in the Or-
ganizational Regulations for the Audit Committee.

−   Remuneration/Nomination Committee
The  Remuneration/Nomination  Committee  pres-
ently consists of Leo Steiner (Chairman), Max Koch, 
and Daniel Hirschi. Meetings of the Remuneration/
Nomination Committee take place as required and 
may  be  called  by  any  member.  In  2012,  the  Com-
mittee  met  twice,  with  all  members  being  present 
on  both  occasions.  On  average,  these  meetings 
lasted three hours. These average times do not in-
clude the extensive preparatory and follow-up work 
done  by  the  individual  members.  The  tasks  of  the 
Remuneration/Nomination  Committee  include  pro-
viding  advice  on  basic  HR  questions,  determining 
the  compensation  regulations  and  models  for  the 
Executive Committee, and drawing up proposals for 
the  amount  of  the  compensation  paid  to  the  CEO 
and members of the Board of Directors. The tasks 
of the Remuneration/Nomination Committee are set 
out  in  detail  in  the  Organizational  Regulations  of 
Komax Holding AG.

Internal organization
The  Board  of  Directors  consists  of  the  Chairman 
and the other members of the Board. The Board of 
Directors  organizes  itself  and  elects  its  Chairman 
from among its ranks. If the Chairman is prevented 
from  exercising  his  duties  through  illness  or  pro-
longed absence, the Board of Directors will appoint 
a  Deputy.  The  Chairman  –  or  if  he  is  unable  to  
attend,  the  Deputy  Chairman  –  is  responsible  for 
chairing the meetings. The Board of Directors add-
itionally appoints a Secretary, who does not need to 
be a member of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors meets as often as busi-
ness requires, but no less than four times per year. 
Meetings are called by the Chairman of the Board. 
Each  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  may  de-
mand that a meeting be called by the Chairman to 
discuss a particular topic.

The  Board  of  Directors  is  deemed  to  have  a 
quorum  if  an  absolute  majority  of  its  members  are 
present.  The  resolutions  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
are adopted by an absolute majority of votes pres-
ent, subject to a minimum of three. In the event of a 
tie, the Chairman casts the deciding vote. All reso-
lutions are minuted. In cases of urgency, a meeting 
of the Board of Directors may be held by telephone 
or other appropriate medium. Resolutions by circu-
lar letter are permissible provided no Board member 
calls for verbal discussion. All members were pres-
ent  at  the  six  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
that  took  place  in  2012.  On  average,  these  meet-
ings lasted around six hours. However, these aver-
age times pertain to the actual duration of the meet-
ings themselves, and do not take into account the 
extensive preparatory and follow-up work done by 
the individual members.

The Board of Directors has formed two Committees 
from among its ranks.
−    Audit Committee
The  Audit  Committee  presently  consists  of  Hans 
Caspar von der Crone (Chairman), Melk M. Lehner 
and  Leo  Steiner.  The  Committee  meets  at  least 
twice  a  year.  In  2012,  the  Committee  met  twice, 
with all members being present on both occasions. 
On  average,  these  meetings  lasted  three  hours. 
These  average  times  do  not  include  the  extensive 
preparatory and follow-up work done by the individ-

39

   Annual Report
  6  Business Model
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

Definition of areas of responsibility
Under Art. 716a Para. 1 CO, the Board of Directors 
must  fulfill,  the  following  non-transferable  and  in-
alienable duties:
−   Overall  management  of  the  company  and  issu-

ance of the necessary directives

−   Defining the company’s organizational structure
−   Determining  the  principles  of  accounting,  finan-
cial controlling, and financial planning, insofar as 
this is necessary for the management of the com-
pany

−    Appointing  and  removing  the  persons  entrusted 
with managing and/or representing the company
−   Ultimate  supervision  of  the  persons  entrusted 
with  managing  the  company,  specifically  with  
respect  to  prevailing  legislation,  the  Articles  of 
Association, regulations, and directives

−   Producing  the  Annual  Report,  making  prepara-
tions  for  the  Annual  General  Meeting,  and  exe-
cuting the resolutions passed by the Annual Gen-
eral Meeting

−   Informing the courts in the event of excessive in-

debtedness

The tasks, obligations, and powers of the Board 
of Directors, its Chairman, and the above-mentioned 
Committees are set out in detail in the Organizational 
Regulations  of  Komax  Holding  AG.  These  regula-
tions also define the rights, obligations, and compe-
tencies  of  the  CEO  and  Executive  Committee.  The 
Organizational Regulations are reviewed on a regular 
basis and amended where necessary. The most re-
cent amendment was undertaken in  August 2011.

To the extent permitted by law and by the Art-
icles of Association, the Board of Directors has del-
egated operational management of the company to 
the CEO of the Komax Group. The Executive Com-
mittee is made up of the CEO and four further mem-
bers. The members of the Executive Committee are 
appointed by the Board of Directors at the proposal 
of the Remuneration/Nomination Committee.

Information and control instruments  
vis-à-vis the Executive Committee
The  CEO  informs  the  Board  of  Directors  at  each 
meeting about the course of business, the Group’s 
most  important  transactions,  and  the  status  of  the 
tasks  delegated  to  the  Executive  Committee.  The 
key data generated by the management information 
system  (MIS)  is  discussed  at  length  at  meetings  of 
the Board of Directors with the CEO and CFO. More-
over, the Board of Directors is also provided with full 
details  of  the  current  course  of  business  and  the  
financial situation of the Group between each meet-
ing. In addition, the Chairman of the Board of Direc-
tors and the CEO are in regular contact to discuss 
important questions of company policy.

The risks associated with the Group’s commer-
cial activities are systematically identified, analysed, 
monitored,  and  managed  through  an  institutional-
ized  risk  management  function.  These  risks  are 
amalgamated into groups according to their nature, 
namely general external risks, business risks, finan-
cial risks, risks arising in connection with corporate 
governance, and IT risks. The Executive Committee 
is responsible for the operational side of risk man-
agement,  whereby  specially  appointed  process 
owners are assigned responsibility for the manage-
ment of key individual risks. These individuals take 
specific  measures  and  monitor  their  implementa-
tion.  Every  year,  the  Executive  Committee  informs 
the  Audit  Committee  of  the  risks  that  have  been 
identified  and  the  measures  taken  as  part  of  risk 
management activities.

The  MIS  of  the  Komax  Group  is  organized  as 
follows:  Each  subsidiary’s  key  balance  sheet  and 
profit  and  loss  figures  are  compiled  and  consoli-
dated  once  a  month.  The  subsidiaries’  balance 
sheets,  income  statements,  cash  flow  statements, 
and  various  indicators  are  compiled  and  consoli-
dated on a quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly basis. A 
comparison  is  then  made  with  the  previous  year 
and the budget. The budget forecast is checked for 
attain ability  against  the  quarterly  statements  for 
each  individual  company  and  on  a  consolidated 
basis. 

Using key controls, the internal control system 
(ICS)  ensures  proper  and  efficient  management, 
safeguards assets, prevents and identifies offences 
and errors, and ensures accurate and complete ac-

 
40

counting  records  as  well  as  timely  preparation  of 
reliable  financial  information.  A  report  setting  out 
the  results  of  these  investigations  and  the  corres-
ponding measures taken is submitted to the Audit 
Committee.

Business relationships with related companies 
and persons
The members of the Executive Committee have not 
entered  into  any  commercial  transactions  with  re-
lated companies and persons.

The internal audit function evaluates the effect-
iveness  of  the  ICS  as  well  as  management  and 
monitoring  processes.  It  also  supports  the  Execu-
tive Committee in the risk management process. In-
ternal  audit  duties  are  performed  by  the  Finance 
and  Accounting  unit  of  Komax  Management  AG,  
Dierikon. This unit scrutinizes the individual operat-
ing  units  of  the  Group  and  the  various  business 
areas of the parent entity at regular intervals and on 
the basis of an annually updated audit plan. The in-
ternal auditors report the results of their investiga-
tions to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee 
reviews  and  approves  the  scope  of  the  audit,  the 
audit plan, and the corresponding responsibilities. It 
also  decides  on  any  measures  to  be  implemented 
as a result of internal audit findings.

4  Executive Committee 
The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Group  comprises 
the  CEO,  the  business  unit  heads  who  report  di-
rectly to him, and the Chief  Financial Officer (CFO).

Function exercised since

Dr Beat Kälin, CEO

Andreas Wolfisberg, CFO

Matijas Meyer, Head Business Unit Wire

Walter Nehls, Head Business Unit Solar

2007

1996

2010

2008

René Ronchetti, Head Business Unit Medtech

1 September 2012

Serge Peguiron, Head Business Unit Medtech

2005 to 31 August 2012

Biographies of the individual members of the Exec-
utive Committee are provided on pages 12 and 13.

Other activities and interests
Aside from the mandates listed on pages 12 to 13, 
the  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  do  not 
exercise any activities on management or supervis-
ory bodies of significant Swiss and foreign corpor-
ate  entities,  institutions,  or  foundations  under  pri-
vate or public law outside the Komax Group (as at 
31 December 2012). Some members of the Execu-
tive Committee exercise Board functions at subsidi-
ary companies of Komax Holding AG.

Management contracts
The  Komax  Group  has  not  entered  into  any  man-
agement contracts with third parties.

5 

 Compensations, shareholdings,  
and loans

Content and method of determining the compen-
sation and the participation programs 
The compensation of the Board of Directors is fixed. 
The  Board  of  Directors  determines  the  amount  of 
the  fixed  compensation  to  which  individual  mem-
bers are entitled on an annual basis, at its own dis-
cretion,  and  commensurate  with  their  involvement 
and  degree  of  responsibility.  The  compensation 
consists  of  a  fixed  component  paid  in  cash  and  a 
proportion  provided  in  the  form  of  options.  Add-
itional  compensation  may  be  granted  for  efforts 
above  and  beyond  normal  Board  activities.  In  the 
year  under  review,  no  invoices  were  submitted  to 
the Komax Group by members of the Board of Dir-
ectors for additional services.

The  salary  and  bonus  of  the  CEO  are  deter-
mined  annually  by  the  Board  of  Directors  on  the 
basis of the proposal submitted by the Remunera-
tion  Committee.  The  overall  compensation  of  the 
mem bers of the Executive Committee is decided by 
the Remuneration Committee (see also the general 
marks  on  the  Remuneration  Committee  on  page 
38).

The members of the Executive Committee of the 
Komax Group receive performance-based compen-
sation. The target salary (100%) consists of a fixed 
component  (65  to  70%),  a  remuneration  compon-
ent which depends on the company’s result in com-
parison to the annual plan, and an individual perfor-
mance  component.  The  remuneration  component 
that depends on the company’s result is calculated 
on  the  basis  of  key  corporate  figures  (sales,  EBIT, 
EAT,  RONCE).  The  individual  performance  compo-
nent  is  based  on  the  attainment  of  previously 
agreed  objectives.  There  is  a  70/30  split  between 
operating objectives and individual objectives. The 
variable salary component achievable by a member 
of the Executive Committee may not exceed the set 
target by more than 70%. In the 2012 financial year, 

41

   Annual Report
  6  Business Model
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

the variable compensation component for members 
of the Executive Committee amounted to between 
10 and 55% of the fixed salary component. 

The compensation models for other members of 
management within the Komax Group also contain 
a performance-related component.

In  addition  to  their  salary,  members  of  the 
Execu tive  Committee,  middle  management  and 
other staff of the Komax Group (a total of some 160 
employees)  may  –  in  accordance  with  the  compa-
ny’s share option guidelines – receive share options 
as  determined  by  the  Remuneration  Committee. 
These options have a duration of five years and are 
subject to a three-year lock-in period. The exercise 
price of the options corresponds to the lower of the 
following two values: the average price of the fourth 
quarter of the preceding year or the average price in 
March of the year the option was issued. The indi-
vidual allocation of options is at the discretion of the 
Board of Directors and senior management.

The basis for determining compensation for the 
Board  of  Directors  and  Executive  Committee  was 
unchanged from the previous year. The decrease in 
compensation  is  primarily  due  to  the  reduction  in 
the  variable  salary  component  resulting  from  the 
lower Group results and the lower taxable value of 
the options allocated in the 2012 financial year.

Details on the compensation, option allocations, 
as well as share and option holdings of the Board of 
Directors  and  Executive  Committee  can  be  found 
on pages 95, 103, and 104 of the Financial Report. 
No shares were allotted in the year under review.

No benefits or special advantages were granted 
upon  the  departure  of  members  of  the  Board  of  
Directors  or  Executive  Committee.  No  agreements 
regarding severance payments exist with members 
of  the  Board  of  Directors  or  with  members  of  the 
Executive Committee.

Compensation for former members  
of governing bodies
No  compensation  was  paid  to  former  members  of 
governing bodies in the 2012 financial year. 

Loans granted by governing bodies
Komax  Group  companies  have  not  granted  any 
guarantees,  loans,  advances,  or  credits  to  mem-
bers of the Board of Directors or Executive Commit-
tee  or  parties  closely  linked  to  such  persons  as  at 
31 December 2012.

No members of the Board of Directors or Execu-
tive  Committee  or  persons  closely  linked  to  them 
take  or  have  taken  part  in  Komax  Group  trans-
actions outside their normal duties.

6  Shareholder participation rights 
The fundamental participation rights of shareholders 
are  set  out  in  the  Swiss  Code  of  Obligations  (CO) 
and supplemented by the provisions of the compa-
ny’s Articles of Association. The Articles of Associa-
tion of Komax Holding AG are available in electronic 
form on the website www.komaxgroup.com.

Voting rights and representation restrictions
Shareholders  registered  in  the  Komax  Holding  AG 
share register are entitled to vote; each share is en-
titled  to  one  vote.  No  single  shareholder  may  dir-
ectly  or  indirectly  exercise  the  votes  of  more  than 
5%  of  the  total  number  of  shares  recorded  in  the 
Commercial Register for his own registered shares 
and  shares  voted  by  proxy.  Legal  entities  and 
groups with joint legal status which are connected 
through  capital,  voting  rights,  management,  or  in 
some other manner, along with all natural persons, 
legal  entities,  and  groups  with  joint  legal  status 
which act in concert by virtue of agreement, syndi-
cate, or in some other manner, are regarded as one 
person for the purposes of this provision. The Board 
of  Directors  may  grant  exceptions  to  this  rule  for 
good  cause.  This  voting  rights  limitation  does  not 
apply to proxy holders of deposited shares, repre-
sentatives of governing bodies or independent rep-
resentatives pursuant to CO Art. 689c and 689d.

This  voting  rights  limitation  does  not  apply  to 
shareholders who were registered as holding regis-
tered  shares  amounting  to  more  than  5%  of  votes 
for  all  shares  at  the  time  that  the  provision  of  the  
Articles of Association regarding limitation of voting 
rights was passed.

Shareholders may be represented at the Annual 
General Meeting on the basis of a written power of 
attorney  by  other  shareholders,  a  proxy  holder  of 
deposited  shares,  a  representative  of  a  governing 
body, or an independent proxy pursuant to CO Art. 
689c and 689d.

The  voting  rights  limitation  may  only  be  re-
scinded by a resolution of the Annual General Meet-
ing, which requires a majority of votes cast.

 
 
42

Statutory quorums
The  Annual  General  Meeting  votes  and  passes  its 
resolutions with the absolute majority of votes repre-
sented,  unless  prevailing  legislation  or  the  Articles  
of  Association  contain  mandatory  provisions  under 
which  resolutions  have  to  be  passed  in  a  different 
way.

In addition to the resolutions specified in CO Art. 
704,  under  the  Articles  of  Association  of  Komax 
Holding AG, a two-thirds majority of votes cast and 
an absolute majority by value of shares voted is re-
quired to dismiss members of the Board of Directors.

Convocation of the Annual General Meeting  
of Shareholders
The  convocation  of  the  Annual  General  Meeting  is 
governed  by  applicable  law.  Shareholders  repre-
senting at least 1% of the share capital can request 
that  items  be  placed  on  the  agenda  for  discussion 
by submitting the proposed motions in writing within 
the deadline published by the company.

Entries in the share register
In principle, any shareholder can be entered in the 
Komax  Holding  AG  share  register.  Any  person  ac-
quiring shares is listed as a “shareholder with voting 
rights” up to a maximum of 5% of the total number 
of  shares  published  in  the  Commercial  Register. 
Any person owning more than 5% of the published 
shares will be entered as a “non-voting shareholder” 
for the portion in excess of 5% (Komax Holding AG 
Articles of Association, Art. 6 Para. 4). This restric-
tion  does  not  apply  to  the  acquisition  of  shares 
through  inheritance,  division  of  an  estate,  or  joint 
marital property. The Board of Directors may grant 
exceptions for good cause.

The  Board  of  Directors  can  refuse  entry  in  the 
share register if the acquirer does not expressly de-
clare,  at  the  request  of  the  Board,  that  the  shares 
were acquired in their own name and for their own 
account. After hearing the affected party, the com-
pany may delete entries in the share register if such 
entries  occurred  in  consequence  of  false  state-
ments  by  the  acquirer.  The  acquirer  must  be  in-
formed  of  the  deletion  immediately.  Nominees  are 
listed  in  the  share  register  as  “non-voting  share-
holders”.

Invitation to the Annual General Meeting  
of 3 May 2013
All  shareholders  registered  in  the  Komax  Holding 
AG share register as per 2 May 2013 are entitled to 
vote in respect of the number of shares registered in 
their name at the Annual General Meeting of 3 May 
2013.  Shareholders  registered  on  14  March  2013 
will receive an invitation indicating the proposals of 
the Board of Directors and a reservation and entry 
ticket  coupon.  Shareholders  who  acquire  shares 
later and whose registration application is received 
by  the  Komax  Holding  AG  share  register  no  later 
than  2  May  2013  will  receive  the  invitation  at  that 
time,  or  ballot  materials  will  be  waiting  for  them  
at  the  front  desk  of  the  Annual  General  Meeting. 
Shareholders  who  dispose  of  their  shares  before 
the Annual General Meeting are not entitled to vote. 
In  the  event  of  a  partial  sale  or  purchase  of  add-
itional  shares,  the  entry  ticket  received  should  be 
exchanged  at  the  front  desk  on  the  date  of  the  
Annual General Meeting.

7 

 Changes of control and  
defence measures

Duty to make an offer
Upon  reaching  or  exceeding  a  threshold  of  33 ¹/³ 
percent,  a  shareholder  must  submit  an  offer  to  all 
shareholders  for  the  purchase  of  their  shares  (Art. 
32, Federal Act on Stock Exchanges and Securities 
Trading). The Articles of Association do not include 
“opting out” or “opting up” rules.

Clauses on change of control
At the Komax Group, change-of-control clauses are 
not included in employment contracts.

Options
The  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  Executive 
Committee, and middle management are entitled to 
exercise their options in part or in full, without regard 
to the time limits, in the following cases:
−   if Komax Holding AG or its subsidiaries sell(s) all 

assets relevant to the business

−   if  one  or  more  persons  or  companies  merge(s) 
and  conclude(s)  a  legally  binding  agreement  for 
the purpose of acquiring shares in Komax Hold-
ing AG, as a result of which they hold more than 
50%  of  the  voting  rights  (including  any  previous 
shareholdings)

−   if another case of legal or economic disposal or 

liquidation of Komax Holding AG occurs

−   if Komax Holding AG is no longer traded on the 
stock exchange and no publicly traded shares of 
the company are available

 
43

   Annual Report
  6  Business Model
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Report 
 106  Corporate Structure

Information policy

9 
Komax Holding AG is committed to providing swift, 
transparent,  and  simultaneous  information  for  all 
stakeholders.  The  CEO,  CFO,  and  the  Head 
Invest or Relations and Corporate Communications 
are  available  as  contact  partners  for  information 
purposes.

The consolidated financial statements are com-
piled  in  conformity  with  IFRS  standards.  Komax 
Holding  AG  publishes  comprehensive  financial  re-
sults  twice  a  year,  for  the  first  half  and  for  the  full 
year. In addition to the financial results, sharehold-
ers  and  financial  markets  are  regularly  kept  in-
formed  of  significant  changes  and  developments. 
Komax  Holding  AG  publishes  facts  relevant  to  
its share price in conformity with the disclosure poli-
cies of SIX Swiss Exchange. The Listing Rules can 
be 
found  at  www.six-exchange-regulation.com  
(Admission).

The official publication for company notices is the 
“Swiss  Official  Gazette  of  Commerce”  (“Schweize-
risches  Handelsamtsblatt”).  Information  on  share 
price trends, annual and half-year reports, the finan-
cial calendar, the minutes of the most recent General 
Meeting,  press  releases,  and  Komax  Holding  AG’s 
Articles  of  Association  are  available  at  www.komax-
group.com. Press conferences and presentations for 
analysts are held at least once a year.

Contact
Komax Holding AG 
Marco Knuchel
Industriestrasse 6 
CH-6036 Dierikon 
Phone +41 41 455 06 16 
marco.knuchel@komaxgroup.com

8  Auditors
Duration of the mandate and term of  
office of the lead auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers  AG,  Basel,  has  been  the 
statutory  auditor  of  Komax  Holding  AG  and  the 
Komax  Group’s  consolidated  financial  statements 
since 1994. Pursuant to the provisions of the Swiss 
Code  of  Obligations,  the  lead  auditor  is  replaced 
after a maximum term of seven years. The lead au-
ditor  has  been  responsible  for  the  audit  mandate 
since 2010.

Auditing and additional fees
PricewaterhouseCoopers invoiced the Komax Group 
CHF 627 886 in the 2012 financial year for services 
in  connection  with  auditing  the  annual  statements 
of Komax Holding AG and the Group companies, as 
well  as  the  consolidated  statements  of  the  Komax 
Group. In addition, the auditing company invoiced a 
fee amounting to a total of CHF 171 278 during the 
2012 financial year. This breaks down into a fee of 
CHF  25 367  for  tax  advisory  services,  CHF  78 540 
for  legal  advice,  and  CHF  67 371  for  transaction 
services.

Supervisory and control instruments  
pertaining to the audit
The  Audit  Committee  is  responsible  for  evaluating 
the external auditors, who submit an audit report to 
the Board of Directors. At least one consultation is 
held  each  year  between  the  external  auditors  and 
the Audit Committee, at which the material findings 
for  each  company  (management  letters)  and  the 
consolidated  financial  statements  covered  by  the 
audit  report  are  discussed  in  detail.  The  auditors 
also explain the audits conducted (audit and review) 
for  each  company  along  with  recent  changes  in 
IFRS  (International  Financial  Reporting  Standards) 
and  their  impact  on  the  Komax  Group’s  consoli-
dated annual statements. The services provided by 
the  statutory  auditors  are  evaluated  by  the  Audit 
Committee  on  the  basis  of  the  quality  of  reporting 
and  the  audit  reports,  the  implementation  of  the 
audit plan, and the level of cooperation with the in-
ternal audit team. The independence of the auditors 
is  verified  by  comparing  the  fee  for  additional  ser-
vices charged by the external auditors with the audit 
fee,  taking  into  account  the  scope  of  these  addi-
tional services. The external auditors are selected by 
tender, and the selection process is repeated or se-
lection is confirmed annually. In addition to the min-
imum  statutory  requirements,  the  selection  criteria 
applied  are  professional  qualifications,  industry  ex-
perience and value for money. Further details on the 
Audit Committee can be found under section 3.

 
 
44

information  
for investors

Equity  market  sentiment  in  2012  was  on  the  one 
hand affected negatively by the European debt cri-
sis  and  global  economic  risks.  On  the  other  hand, 
stock markets received a boost from the extremely 
expansive  monetary  policy  of  central  banks,  with 
the result that they ultimately performed much bet-
ter than had been expected at the beginning of the 
year.

Share price development 
in CHF

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

January

June

December

 Komax 
 Vontobel Small Cap Index

Komax shares enjoyed a very good start to the year. 
However,  growing  doubts  over  the  strength  of  the 
automotive industry and the weaker-than-expected 
performance of Komax Solar and Komax Medtech 
triggered a reversal in the share price in the second 
quarter. The shares recovered with pleasing trading 
volumes towards the end of 2012, finally closing 3% 
up  on  the  year.  The  closing  share  price  on  
28 December 2012 stood at CHF 71.00 (2011: CHF 
68.75).

Listing 
Komax is listed on SIX Swiss Exchange. Market cap-
italization at the end of 2012 was CHF 244.5 million.

ISIN

Security number

Bloomberg code

Thomson Reuters code

CH0010702154

001070215

KOMN SW

KOMN.S

Geographical distribution of shareholdings  

Switzerland

Other countries

Shares pending registration of transfer

70%

6%

24%

The  majority  of  shares  not  held  in  Switzerland  is 
held  in  the  United  Kingdom,  Germany,  and  the 
United States.

Significant shareholders 
Information on significant shareholders can be found 
on page 36 of this report.

 
45

  A nnual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Solar 
  26  Medtech 
  35  Corporate Governance
  44  Investors 
  47  Financial Statements 
 106  Corporate Structure

Breakdown of shareholders by number of 
registered shares held

1–100

101–1 000

1 001–10 000

10 001–50 000

> 50 000

1 673

1 811

261

27

3

Free float 
The  free  float  as  defined  by  SIX  Swiss  Exchange 
stands at 93%.

Dividends 
The  Board  of  Directors  would  like  to  adhere  to  its 
attractive dividend policy and is therefore proposing 
to  the  General  Meeting  a  distribution  of  CHF  2.00 
per  share  from  capital  contribution  reserves.  The 
payout  ratio  will  therefore  rise  in  a  year-on-year 
comparison.  The  dividend  yield  on  the  date  of  the 
Board resolution stood at an attractive 2.5%.

Information on the Komax registered share
Further information on the Komax registered share 
can be found on the internet at: 
www.komaxgroup.com

Disclosure of shareholdings
Under Art. 20 of the Swiss Federal Act on Stock Ex-
changes  and  Securities  Trading  (Stock  Exchange 
Act)  and  the  Stock  Market  Ordinance  of  the  Swiss 
Financial  Market  Supervisory  Authority  (SESTO-
FINMA), whosoever directly, indirectly or in concert 

key data komax registered share 

Share capital as at 31 Dec.

in TCHF

Number of shares as at 31 Dec.

Average number of outstanding shares

Par value per share

Basic earnings per share

EBITD per share

EBIT per share

Shareholders’ equity per share

Dividend per share

High

Low

Closing price as at 31 Dec.

Average daily trade volume

P/E (price-earnings ratio) as at 31 Dec.

Dividend yield as at 31 Dec. 

No.

No.

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

No.

%

with third parties acquires or disposes of shares, for 
his  own  account,  in  a  company  incorporated  in 
Switzerland  whose  equity  securities  are  listed,  in 
whole or in part, in Switzerland and thereby attains, 
falls below or exceeds the threshold of 3, 5, 10, 15, 
20, 25, 331⁄3, 50, or 662⁄3 percent of the voting rights, 
whether or not such rights may be exercised, shall 
notify  the  company  and  the  stock  exchanges  on 
which the  equity securities in question are listed.

Financial calendar 

Annual General Meeting

Dividend payment

Half-year results 2013

3 May 2013

10 May 2013

20 August 2013

First information on the year 2013

21 January 2014

Annual media conference/analysts’ 
presentation

Annual General Meeting

26 March 2014

7 May 2014

2012

344

2011

340

2010

340

2009

2008

339

339

3 443 789

3 400 880

3 400 880

3 387 520

3 387 520

3 404  850

3 375  217

3 349 278

3 319 791

3 323 199

0.10

2.99

6.66

4.17

70.97
2.001)

97.10

61.25

71.00

6 608

23.7
2.821)

0.10

11.68

16.14

13.98

72.63

4.00

0.10

5.31

10.72

8.56

62.49

2.00

120.00

103.00

59.00

68.75

8 383

5.9

5.82

73.10

102.00

6 173

19.5

1.96

0.10

−5.97

−4.28

−6.69

59.01

0.00

80.00

36.05

72.00

6 341

−12.1

0.00

0.10

6.99

11.54

9.18

65.56

2.00

175.00

48.95

53.90

8 932

7.7

3.71

1)  Proposal of the Board of Directors of Komax Holding AG: distribution of CHF 2.00 per registered share from 

capital contribution reserves. 

 
This page has been intentionally left blank.

47

  Financial
 Report
  Consolidated 
  Financial Statements 

  48  Comments
  52  Consolidated 
  Balance Sheet
  53  Consolidated 

  Income Statement

  54   Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income

  55   Consolidated 

  Cash Flow Statement
  56   Consolidated Statement
  of Shareholders’ Equity

  57   Notes
  96   Report of the Auditors 

  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG

  97   Comments
  99  Balance Sheet
 100  Income Statement
 101  Notes
 106  Corporate Structure
 108   Proposal for the 

  Appropriation of Profit
 109  Report of the Auditors

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48

Comments on the consolidated  
financial statements

Income statement

Acquisitions 
The Komax Group acquired MCM Cosmic KK in Japan as of 1 April 2012 and TSK Beteiligungs GmbH as of  
1 August 2012, including six subsidiaries located in Germany, Brazil, China, Tunisia, Turkey, and the US. The 
newly acquired businesses generated an order intake of CHF 17.0 million (5.9% of the overall order intake) 
and revenues of CHF 16.7 million (5.8% of total revenues). Due to the relatively small proportion of overall vol-
umes accounted for by the acquisitions in 2012, no breakdown of figures with/without acquisitions is provided 
in the following commentary. Both acquisitions have been integrated into the Wire business unit. 

Order intake
Orders  totalled  CHF  287.9  million  in  2012,  compared  with  CHF  380.4  million  in  2011.  This  represents  a  
decrease of 24.3%. The sharp decline in the order intake is above all attributable to the virtual collapse of 
the Solar business unit and the sharp decline recorded in the Medtech business unit. By contrast, the order 
intake continued to hold up well in the Wire business unit. The order book amounted to CHF 70.5 million as 
at 31 December 2012 (2011: CHF 80.4 million).  

Revenues (net sales and other operating income)
Komax  generated  revenues  of  CHF  288.2  million  in  the  2012  financial  year,  representing  a  decline  in  
revenues of 22.4% compared to the previous year. The following is a breakdown of net sales by currency in 
2012 (percentages in brackets are for the previous year):

– CHF 33% (33%)   
– USD 28% (36%)  

– EUR 24% (20%)
– Other foreign currencies 15% (11%)

The percentage proportion of revenues in CHF remained unchanged in the year under review. Although the 
EUR barely fluctuated against the CHF – in contrast to previous years – thanks to the support of the SNB, 
the currency impact remained a challenge in 2012. This is primarily due to the increasing significance of cur-
rencies of certain emerging markets, such as Brazil, China, and Morocco. In addition, although the majority 
of currencies lost a certain amount of ground against the CHF towards the end of the year, the average ex-
change  rates  were  significantly  higher  than  in  2011  when  viewed  in  overall  terms.  The  foreign  currency  
impact at net sales level returned to positive territory in 2012 when compared to 2011, with a plus of 1.8% 
contrasting with –6.9% the previous year. 

Gross sales in the EU declined by 21.1% to CHF 92.4 million in the year under review. In Europe as a whole, 
they amounted to CHF 122.1 million, or 41.7% of gross sales. This means that the share of sales accounted 
for by Europe declined only minimally in overall terms, despite the sharp absolute decline. In the African re-
gion, gross sales amounted to CHF 26.1 million, most of which were generated in Morocco. Komax experi-
enced by far the greatest decline in sales in Asia, which suffered a fall of 46.2%. This was attributable to a col-
lapse in sales at Komax Solar and a strong decline in sales in Malaysia. By contrast, Komax booked significant 
sales increases in North and South America. Sales growth in this region overall amounted to just under 15%. 
After Europe, the Americas contributed the greatest share to business volumes in 2012, namely 29.4%.

Gross profit
The gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of revenues) amounted to 59.0% in the year under re-
view, 4.9 percentage points higher than the previous year’s margin of 54.1%. This sharp improvement in 
profitability  as  a  proportion  of  revenues  was  the  result  of  margin  improvements  at  Komax  Wire  and  the 
much  lower  share  of  business  accounted  for  by  the  Solar  and  Medtech  business  units,  which  generate 
lower gross margins than the Wire business unit and the newly acquired TSK Group. Foreign currency de-
velopments also contributed to the improvement in the gross margin to the tune of 1.3 percentage points.

 
 
49

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Operating expenses
Personnel expenses rose to 35.7% of revenues. This sharp increase in personnel expenses as a proportion 
of sales is attributable to cost legacies resulting from the reduction of headcount at the Solar business unit 
during the 2012 financial year to 140 employees as at 31 December 2012. In addition, Komax Solar booked 
restructuring expenses amounting to CHF 1.7 million, which are separately displayed in the income state-
ment. The increase in personnel expenses as a proportion of sales is also attributable to the sharp decline in 
sales at the Medtech business unit. The Komax Group generated revenues per employee of TCHF 246 in 
2012, compared to TCHF 343 in 2011. As at 31 December 2012, a total of 1 330 employees were employed 
by  the  Komax  Group  (previous  year:  1 140  employees).  The  increase  is  solely  attributable  to  the  newly  
acquired companies. From a geographical perspective, 42% of the workforce was employed in Switzerland, 
while the remainder was divided relatively evenly between the Europe, US, and Asia regions. In addition, 5% 
of the workforce was employed in Africa and Brazil. In terms of individual areas, 39% of Komax staff were 
employed in production/procurement in 2012, while 26% worked in marketing/sales (including customer 
service). Engineering accounted for 15%, research and development for a further 10%. Employees in the 
engineering area are primarily active in project business, whereas employees in research and development 
work  in  the  innovation  area  of  standard  business.  The  remaining  10%  were  engaged  in  administration,  
including management and IT. 

The “Other operating expenses” item also includes costs from changes to provisions and value adjustments 
amounting to CHF −0.6 million. 

Research and development expenditure
R&D expenditure amounted to CHF 24.6 million in 2012, compared to CHF 23.5 million in 2011. R&D ex-
penditure  therefore  amounted  to  8.5%  of  revenues,  compared  to  6.3%  the  previous  year.  In  the  income 
statement,  the  “Other  operating  expenses”  item  contains  third-party  development  services  amounting  to 
CHF 3.9 million. The lion’s share of the figure for development services (CHF 20.7 million) comprises own 
work capitalized  on the part  of  our development staff. The increase in R&D expenditure compared to the  
previous  year  is  the  result  of  an  increase  in  expenses  of  CHF  2.9  million  in  the  Wire  business  unit.  As  at  
31 December 2012, the Komax Group employed a total of 140 staff in R&D – the vast majority of them in 
Switzerland.

Operating profit (EBIT)
The  Komax  Group  generated  operating  profits  of  CHF  16.0  million  in  the  year  under  review,  after  taking  
restructuring costs into account CHF 14.4 million. This equates to a margin of 5.0% at EBIT level, a signifi-
cant decline on the 2011 equivalent of 12.8%. The main reasons for this development are the collapse in 
business at Komax Solar and the strong decline in sales at Komax Medtech. Further details on segment  
reporting can be found on pages 88 and 89. 

Financial result
The financial result amounted to CHF −3.4 million, of which CHF −1.3 million related to interest expenditure 
(2011: CHF −1.5 million). The reduction in interest costs was due to lower interest rates on the syndicated 
loan. Other financial income of CHF −2.1 million mainly comprised realized and unrealized exchange rate 
gains in EUR, USD and BRL. These currencies were still trading at a low level against the CHF as at the bal-
ance sheet date. The lower valuation against the CHF as at 31 December 2011 resulted in high valued- 
exchange rate losses, particularly on the financial loans to Group companies.

Group result
In the 2012 financial year, earnings before taxes (EBT) came in at CHF 11.0 million (3.8% of revenues), as 
against CHF 46.1 million the previous year. The tax rate for the year under review amounted to 8.3% (2011: 
14.8%). The sharp fall in the tax rate is primarily the result of capitalized tax loss carryforwards in countries 
with  significantly  higher  tax  rates  than  Switzerland.  In  addition,  the  Komax  Group  benefits  from  being 
granted reduced tax rates. We are therefore expecting low tax rates to apply over the next few years too,  
although  these  can  be expected to revert towards the long-term average of around 20%. Earnings after 
taxes (EAT) amounted to CHF 10.0 million in 2012, with basic earnings per share coming in at CHF 2.99 
compared to CHF 11.68 in the previous year.

 
 
 
50

Balance sheet

Assets
As at 31 December 2012, current assets had declined by 12.3% to CHF 218.3 million, of which cash and cash 
equivalents amounted to CHF 57.7 million. As at the balance sheet date, the Komax Group can once again  
report a net cash position of CHF 0.9 million (2011: CHF 5.6 million), which means that the net cash situation 
has deteriorated only slightly, despite the acquisitions. A key factor behind the pleasing development of the 
net cash position is the massive decline in the net working capital of Komax Solar of some CHF 25 million to 
just  over  CHF  23  million.  The  figure  of  CHF  86.9  million  for  trade  receivables  also  includes  underfinanced  
projects of CHF 16.6 million net according to the POC method. This represents a decline of CHF 18.0 million 
from the level at 31 December 2011. Overdue receivables are also reported in the notes to the consolidated  
financial statements. As at 31 December 2012, these amounted to CHF 18.1 million, of which 33.6% were 
overdue by more than 120 days. At the end of 2011, overdue receivables amounted to CHF 34.1 million. The 
main reason for higher value adjustments in the area of receivables was the difficult commercial and financial 
environment, particularly in the photovoltaics area. 

Liabilities
Current liabilities amounted to CHF 54.0 million as at 31 December 2012. This amount also includes over-
financed projects amounting to CHF 5.6 million net valued according to the POC method. At the end of 
2011, the equivalent figure was CHF 8.9 million net.  

In addition, provisions for warranties and individual risks amounting to CHF 6.1 million (previous year: CHF 
3.3 million) are also booked under current liabilities. The significant increase in provisions is attributable to a 
combination  of  project  business,  the  extraordinary  charge  resulting  from  the  restructuring  of  the  Solar  
business  unit,  and  higher  guarantee  costs  in  the  Wire  business  unit  in  2012.  Furthermore,  provisions  of  
CHF 5.9 million were created in the year under review, and CHF 3.1 million of provisions were used. The  
figure for the reversal of provisions no longer required was negligible (CHF 0.2 million).

Non-current liabilities include deferred tax liabilities and financial loans. As at 31 December 2012, the latter 
were CHF 10.2 million higher than the previous year and amounted to CHF 56.8 million. The increase is  
attributable to the acquisitions made in 2012. The Komax Group continues to have access to a syndicated 
loan facility amounting to CHF 120 million (a new syndicated loan facility was agreed in July 2012 with a 
credit limit increase  of CHF  20 million), as well as other local  lines of credit amounting to a maximum of  
CHF 15 million. Here too there was a limit increase of CHF 5.0 million compared to last year.  

The Group’s shareholders’ equity amounted to CHF 244.4 million as at 31 December 2012 (67.9% of the 
total  assets),  compared  with  CHF  247.0  million  at  the  end  of  2011.  Compared  to  the  previous  year,  the  
impact  of  currency  translation  differences  was  significantly  higher  at  CHF  −2.5  million  (previous  year:  
CHF −0.3 million), as the reference date exchange rates against the CHF were generally lower than a year 
ago.

51

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Cash flow statement

Cash flow from operating activities
Cash flow from operating activities totalled CHF 17.2 million (2011: CHF 48.0 million) before the change in 
net current assets and provisions, and CHF 45.2 million after the change in net current assets and provi-
sions (2011: CHF 10.1 million). The positive cash flow is attributable to the strong decrease in net working 
capital following the decline in sales in 2012. 

Cash flow from investing activities
The cash outflow from investing activities amounted to CHF 17.6 million net, which represents an increase 
of CHF 7.5 million on the previous year. In addition to the acquisition of TSK Group for CHF 8.5 million net 
and MCM Cosmic KK for CHF 0.2 million net (see pages 94 and 95 for more information), the key gross  
investments of Komax in 2012 were effected in the following asset categories:

Machinery/tools

Infrastructure/offices

Buildings/land

IT

CHF 4.4 million

CHF 0.6 million

CHF 1.4 million

CHF 2.6 million

Free cash flow, i.e. the cash flow from operating activities after deduction of net investments, amounted to 
CHF 27.6 million, which represents an increase of CHF 27.7 million compared to the previous year.  

Cash flow from financing activities
Financial loans amounting to CHF 9.0 million net were taken out in 2012. This is explained by the repayment 
of  loans  that  were  taken  over  as  a  part  of  acquisition  activity.  In  addition,  positive  cash  flow  of  CHF  1.6  
million  was  generated  through  the  exercising  of  options  by  employees.  The  dividend  distribution  out  of  
reserves from capital contributions amounted to CHF 13.6 million in 2012. Despite the acquisitions and the 
significantly higher distribution out of reserves from capital contributions, the cash flow statement recorded 
an increase in cash and cash equivalents of CHF 5.5 million. 

 
 
 
52

Consolidated balance sheet

in TCHF

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Securities

Trade receivables

Other receivables and accrued income / prepaid expenses

Inventories

Non-current assets held for sale

Total current assets

Deferred tax assets

Other non-current receivables

Prepaid pension assets

Investments in associates

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Total non-current assets

Total assets

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Trade payables

Other payables and accrued expenses / deferred income

Current income tax liabilities

Provisions

Total current liabilities

Financial loans

Deferred tax liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Share capital

Treasury shares

Capital surplus (premium)

Other reserves

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company

Non-controlling interest

Total shareholders’ equity

Notes

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

18

19

20

21

11

22

57 655 

48

86 945

14 788

58 207

659

52 142 

33

127 272

13 922

55 625

0

218 302

248 994

14 499

359

1 019

2 027

72 994

50 989

141 887

6 874

161

969

2 085

68 026

34 339

112 454

360 189

361 448

14 335

27 481

6 095

6 110

54 021

56 765

4 118

60 883

20 812

33 660

5 108

3 280

62 860

46 571

3 982

50 553

114 904

113 413

344

−3 086

39 399

207 734

244 391

894

245 285

340

−3 086

51 405

198 335

246 994

1 041

248 035

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

360 189

361 448

The notes on pages 57 to 95 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

53

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Consolidated income statement

in TCHF

Net sales

Other operating income

Cost of materials

Personnel expenses

Rental expenses

Maintenance and repair expenses

Representation and advertising expenses

Depreciation

Other operating expenses

Operating expenses

Operating profit before interest, taxes,  
and extraordinary charges

Extraordinary restructuring charges

Operating profit before interest and taxes

Financial income

Financial expenses

Group profit before taxes

Taxes

Group profit after taxes

Of which attributable to:

– Equity holders of the parent company

– Non-controlling interest 

Attributable to equity holders of the parent company

Basic earnings per share (in CHF)

Diluted earnings per share (in CHF)

Notes

2012

2011

23

24

25

15/16

27

28

29

29

30

286 725

370 029

1 491

1 395

118 028

102 890

5 732

6 397

11 018

8 572

19 546

170 587

103 632

4 109

5 796

11 270

7 370

21 124

272 183

323 888

16 033

1 681

14 352

4 554

−7 955

10 951

905

47 536

0

47 536

7 418

−8 861

46 093

6 813

10 046

39 280

10 177

−131

10 046

31

31

2.99

2.96

39 413

−133

39 280

11.68

11.48

The notes on pages 57 to 95 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
54

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

in TCHF

Group profit after taxes

Currency translation differences from foreign subsidiaries

Currency translation differences from investments in associates

Other comprehensive income after taxes

2012

10 046

 −2 477

 −17

−2 494

2011

39 280

 −102

 −115

−217

Comprehensive income after taxes

7 552

39 063

Of which attributable to:

– Equity holders of the parent company

– Non-controlling interest

7 699

−147

7 552

39 104

−41

39 063

The notes on pages 57 to 95 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

55

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Consolidated cash flow statement

in TCHF

Notes

2012

2011

Cash flow from operating activities

Group profit after taxes

Adjustment for non-cash items 

− Taxes

− Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment

− Depreciation and impairment of intangible assets

− Profit (–) / loss (+) from sale of non-current assets

− Expense for share-based payments

− Employee benefits

− Net financial result

− Other non-cash items

Interest received and other financial income

Interest paid and other financial expenses

Taxes paid

Cash flow before change in net current assets and provisions

Increase (+) / decrease (–) in provisions

Increase (–) / decrease (+) in trade receivables

Increase (–) / decrease (+) in inventories

Increase (+) / decrease (–) in trade payables

Increase (–) / decrease (+) in other net current assets

Total cash flow from operating activities

Cash flow from investing activities

Investments in property, plant and equipment

Sale of property, plant and equipment

Investments in intangible assets

Investments in associates
Investments in Group companies and participations1)

Total cash flow from investing activities

Cash flow from financing activities

Increase in financial liabilities

Decrease in financial liabilities

Purchase of treasury shares

Sale of treasury shares

Capital increase (share-based payments)

Purchase of non-controlling interests in Group companies

Distribution out of reserves from capital contributions

Total cash flow from financing activities

10 046

39 280

30

15

16

29

15

16

21

21

905

5 806

2 766

183

1 700

−50

3 401

29

876

−2 960

−5 481

17 221

2 643

43 282

1 555

−8 419

−11 060

45 222

−6 975

132

−2 058

0

−8 694

−17 595

14 640

−23 678

0

0

1 631

0

−13 633

−21 040

6 813

5 705

1 665

−631

1 730

843

1 443

45

1 228

−1 982

−8 093

48 046

−131

−27 815

−10 116

4 224

−4 153

10 055

−5 268

3 420

−6 040

−2 228

0

−10 116

4 000

−158

−693

1 083

0

1 082

−6 753

−1 439

Effect of currency translations on cash and cash equivalents

−1 074

−707

Increase (+) / decrease (–) in funds

5 513

−2 207

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December

1)  Less cash and cash equivalents acquired.

52 142

57 655

5

54 349

52 142

The notes on pages 57 to 95 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
56

Consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity

2012

in TCHF

Attributable to equity holders of the parent company

Other reserves

Share
capital

Treasury
shares

Premium 

Currency
differences

Retained
earnings

 Non-control-
ling interest

Total share-
holders’ equity

Balance on 1 January 2012

Other comprehensive income

Group profit after taxes

Comprehensive income after taxes

Capital increase from exercise of options

Distribution out of reserves from capital 
contributions

Share-based payments

340

−3 086

51 405

−23 529

221 864

0

4

−2 478

0

0

−2 478

1 627

−13 633 

10 177

10 177

1 700

1 041

−16

−131

−147

248 035

−2 494

10 046

7 552

1 631

−13 633

1 700

Balance on 31 December 2012

344

−3 086

39 399

−26 007

233 741

894

245 285

2011

in TCHF

Attributable to equity holders of the parent company

Other reserves

Share
capital

Treasury
shares

Premium 

Currency
differences

Retained
earnings

 Non-control-
ling interest

Total share-
holders’ equity

Balance on 1 January 2011

Other comprehensive income

Group profit after taxes

340

−3 543

58 158

−23 220

180 788

−309

Comprehensive income after taxes

0

0

0

−309

Distribution out of reserves from capital 
contributions

Transactions in treasury shares

Share-based payments

Purchase of non-controlling interest in 
Group companies

−6 753

457

39 413

39 413

−67

1 730

0

92

−133

−41

212 523

−217

39 280

39 063

−6 753

390

1 730

1 082

1 082

Balance on 31 December 2011

340

−3 086

51 405

−23 529

221 864

1 041

248 035

The notes on pages 57 to 95 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
57

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

General information 

1 
The  Komax  Group  is  active  in  the  manufacture  of  machines  and  as  at  31  December  2012  employed  
1 330 people worldwide (2011: 1 140 employees). The parent company, Komax Holding AG, is domiciled in 
Dierikon, Canton Lucerne (Switzerland). The Komax Group’s business activities are focused on the devel-
opment, production, and sale of high-quality capital goods for precision engineering, electronics, and infor-
mation technology in the areas of wire-processing and automated production and assembly. The focus here 
is on highly automated production systems for the automotive, household appliances, electronics, telecom-
munication,  solar  energy,  and  medical  technology  sectors.  The  Komax  Group  sells  to  the  world  market. 
Komax has a network of 23 operating subsidiaries and around 50 independent agencies to ensure on-the-
spot sales and service support.

The present consolidated financial statements were adopted by the Board of Directors of Komax Holding 
AG on 5 March 2013 and released for publication. Their approval by the Annual General Meeting, scheduled 
for 3 May 2013, is pending.

Summary of significant accounting policies

2 
The  significant  recognition  and  measurement  policies  used  in  compiling  the  consolidated  financial  state-
ments are presented in the paragraphs below. Unless otherwise stated, the methods described are always 
applied to the periods reviewed.

Accounting policies

2.1 
The consolidated financial statements of the Komax Group are based on the individual financial statements 
of the Group companies, compiled in accordance with uniform standards, as at 31 December 2012. The 
Group’s accounting is based on historical purchase or production cost. Exceptions to this rule relate to the 
marking to market of financial assets available for sale, and the valuation of financial assets and liabilities  
at  agreed  fair  value  with  effect  on  the  Income  Statement  (including  derivative  financial  instruments).  The 
consolidated financial statements are structured in accordance with the International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS) published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and comply with Swiss 
law and the Listing Rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange.

2.1.1 

 New standards and interpretations and amendments to published standards adopted  
by the Group

Komax adopted the following new standards and amendments to existing standards in accordance with the 
requirements for the financial year commencing 1 January 2012.

– IFRS 7, “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”. Amendment to the disclosure requirements for transfers of 
financial assets.  

– IAS 12, “Income Taxes”. Amendment to the measurement of deferred tax on the recovery of underlying 
assets.

The changes to these standards currently have no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the 
Komax Group. 

 
 
 
58

2.1.2 

 New standards and interpretations and amendments to published standards that are not yet 
obligatory and are not being applied by the Group at an early stage

– IAS 1, “Presentation of Financial Statements” (applicable from 1 July 2012). The amendment relates to the 
disclosure of the statement of comprehensive income. No material changes are anticipated for the consoli-
dated financial statements of Komax.

– IFRS 9, “Financial Instruments” (applicable from 1 January 2015). This standard introduces new require-
ments in relation to the classification and measurement of financial instruments. The impact on the financial 
statements of the Komax Group cannot yet be fully ascertained; from the current standpoint, however, no 
material changes or influences are anticipated.

– IFRS 10, “Consolidated Financial Statements” (applicable from 1 January 2013). The standard replaces 
the previous standard IAS 27, “Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements”, as well as the interpreta-
tion SIC 12, “Consolidation – Special Purpose Entities”, and introduces changes in the assessment of how 
subsidiary companies are controlled. This may have an impact on a company’s scope of consolidation. No 
material changes are expected for the consolidated financial statements of Komax.

– IFRS 11, “Joint Arrangements” (applicable from 1 January 2013). The new standard replaces the following 
guidelines  that  have  hitherto  applied  for  questions  of  accounting  for  joint  ventures:  IAS  31,  “Interests  in 
Joint Ventures”, and SIC 13, “Jointly Controlled Entities – Non-Monetary Contributions by Venturers”. It sets 
out the conditions under which an investor is deemed to control a joint venture and must add it to the scope 
of consolidation, as well as what information must be disclosed. No material changes are expected for the 
consolidated financial statements of Komax.

– IFRS 12, “Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities” (applicable from 1 January 2013). The standard sets 
out the information that must be disclosed in order to assess the existence of an interest in other entities as 
well  as  the  associated  risks  and  repercussions  for  a  company’s  asset,  financing,  and  income  situation. 
Above all, this is likely to lead to additional disclosures or to amendments to the presentation of the consoli-
dated financial statements. 

– IFRS 13, “Fair Value Measurement” (applicable from 1 January 2013). The standard defines what is meant 
by fair value, how market values should be measured, and what information should be reported. It is applied 
when  another  IFRS  considers  that  a  fair  value  measurement  is  required.  From  today’s  perspective,  no 
 material changes or impact on the consolidated financial statements of Komax are expected. 

– IAS 19, “Employee Benefits” (applicable from 1 January 2013). In this revised standard, the corridor ap-
proach (i.e. the immediate recognition of gains or losses in earnings) is no longer permissible; instead, the 
actuarial gains or losses have to be recognized at the point they arise in other comprehensive income. The 
annual costs of defined benefit plans now include the net interest expense or income as per the net position 
of the plan while taking into account the discount rate for defined benefit obligations. Furthermore, both the 
disclosure regulations and the definition of benefits arising from the termination of employment contracts 
have been adjusted. As a result of the revised standard, the Komax Group expects greater volatility in pen-
sion plan assets and employee benefit liabilities, as well as in consolidated shareholders’ equity.

A number of other miscellaneous changes and improvements were made to numerous standards. None of 
these changes are expected to have any significant impact on the financial statements of the Group.

59

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Scope of consolidation

2.2  
2.2.1   Subsidiaries
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the individual financial statements of Komax Holding AG, 
Dierikon,  and  its  subsidiaries.  The  individual  consolidated  subsidiaries  are  listed  on  pages  106  and  107. 
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated if Komax Holding AG exercises control over their financial and business 
policies. As a rule, this is the case if Komax Holding AG directly or indirectly holds over 50% of the subsid-
iary’s voting capital. Subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements (fully consolidated) 
from the date when the Group assumes control. They are deconsolidated from the date when control ends.

Acquired subsidiaries are accounted for according to the acquisition method. Acquisition costs are equal to 
the fair value of the assets assumed, equity instruments issued, and liabilities incurred or assumed at the 
date of exchange. Costs directly assignable to acquisitions will be directly booked to the income statement. 
Assets,  liabilities,  and  contingent  liabilities  identified  during  a  merger  are  recognized  at  fair  value  on  first 
consolidation, regardless of the extent of minority interests. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the 
fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of 
acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired (negative goodwill), the dif-
ference is recognized directly in the income statement.

Intragroup transactions, balances, and unrealized gains and losses from transactions between Group com-
panies are eliminated.

2.2.2   Changes in the scope of consolidation
In  2012,  Komax  acquired  100%  of  the  Japanese  company  MCM  Cosmic  KK,  as  well  as  100%  of  TSK 
Beteiligungs GmbH and all its subsidiaries. Further details on the acquisitions made in 2012 are provided in 
Note  33  on  pages  94  and  95.  In  the  previous  year  2011,  Komax  signed  a  joint  venture  agreement  with  
Yingkou Jinchen Machinery Co. Ltd., Yingkou City (Liaoning Province, China), as a result of which it ac-
quired 51% of the ordinary share capital of Komax Jinchen Solar Equipment (Yingkou) Co. Ltd. The com-
pany commenced its operating activity in the first half of 2011.

The above-mentioned acquisitions and new company foundation in 2011 aside, there were no changes in 
the scope of consolidation either in the 2012 reporting year or in the prior year period.

2.2.3   Transactions with non-controlling interests
Komax  treats  transactions  with  non-controlling  interests  as  equity  capital  transactions  with  the  owners. 
When non-controlling interests are acquired, the difference between the equivalent value paid per share and 
the corresponding acquired interest in the carrying value of the net assets of the subsidiary company is rec-
ognized  in  shareholders’  equity.  Any  profit  from  the  sale  of  non-controlling  interests  is  likewise  booked 
under shareholders’ equity.

2.2.4   Shares in joint ventures and associates
Ownership interests of between 20% and 50% and joint ventures over which Komax Holding AG exercises 
significant influence are accounted for according to the equity method and initially recognized at acquisition 
cost. Cumulative changes in the value of such holdings after acquisition are reported in the income state-
ment and charged against the carrying value of the holding. If a cumulative loss equals or exceeds the value 
of the Group’s interest in an associate, no further losses are recorded unless the Group has assumed obli-
gations  for  the  associate  or  made  payments  on  its  behalf.  Unrealized  profits  from  transactions  between 
Group companies and associates are eliminated in proportion to the Group’s interest in the affiliate.

Interests  of  less  than  20%  are  treated  as  held  for  trading  and  measured  at  fair  value.  They  are  reported 
within “Securities”.

 
 
 
60

As  at  31  December  2012  and  31  December  2011,  Komax  held  a  30%  stake  in  SLE  quality  engineering 
GmbH & Co. KG and a 30% stake in SLE quality engineering Verwaltungs GmbH. Further details on these 
associated companies are provided in Note 14 on page 81.

Komax held no investments below 20% and no interests in joint ventures at either 31 December 2012 or  
31 December 2011.

Segment reporting

2.3  
Komax’s reportable segments are based on the Group’s strategic business areas, in which products using 
different  technologies  are  manufactured  and  sold  on  the  basis  of  independent  marketing  strategies.  The  
internal organizational structure is fully geared towards the individual business areas, each of which comes 
under the responsibility of a separate head.

The Executive Committee of the Komax Group is designated as the chief operating decision-maker. The 
Board  receives  financial  information  on  the  individual  segments  on  a  regular  basis,  enabling  it  to  assess 
their profitability and decide the operational allocation of resources to the various areas.

The financial data of the operating segments is established according to the same accounting principles set 
out here. Transfer prices between the operating segments are set on an “arm’s length” basis. The Executive 
Committee  assesses  the  profitability  of  the  segments  on  the  basis  of  their  earnings  before  interest  and 
taxes (EBIT). Information on the assets and liabilities of the individual segments is not reported to the chief 
operating decision-maker, which is why such information is also not disclosed in external reporting.

In accordance with internal reporting to the chief operating decision-maker, the Group has been disclosing 
information for its three business segments of Wire, Solar, and Medtech from the 2009 financial year on-
wards.  The  Wire  segment  essentially  comprises  the  development,  production,  distribution,  and  mainte-
nance of wire processing machines and systems used primarily for wire production in the automotive and 
electronics industries. The Solar segment develops and produces machinery and customer-specific pro-
cess solutions for the manufacturing of photovoltaic modules. The Medtech segment includes the design 
and production of assembly systems for the pharmaceutical industry (Medtech) as well as the manufactur-
ing of assembly lines for inkjet cartridges (Inkjet). The development and manufacturing of systems for the 
assembly of mechanical and electronic components in the automotive and electronics sector (Mechanical 
and Electronic Systems Assembly) is also assigned to this segment.

61

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Currency conversion

2.4 
2.4.1   Functional currency and reporting currency
Items included in the financial statements of each entity are measured using the currency that best reflects 
the economic substance of the underlying events and circumstances relevant to that entity (the functional 
currency). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Swiss francs, which is the functional cur-
rency of the parent company, Komax Holding AG.

2.4.2   Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency at the rate prevailing on the date of 
the transaction. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and 
from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized in 
the income statement, except when taken to shareholders’ equity as a qualifying cash flow hedge.

2.4.3   Group companies
The earnings and balance sheet figures of foreign business units with a functional currency other than the 
Swiss franc are translated to Swiss francs as follows:

a)   Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date for each such date.
b)   Revenues and expenses are translated at the weighted average exchange rate for each income statement.
c)    All  exchange  rate  gains  and  losses  are  reported  on  a  separate  line  within  the  other  reserves  under 

shareholders’ equity.

Exchange rate differences arising from the translation of net investments in foreign business units are rec-
ognized under comprehensive income. When a foreign company is sold, these exchange rate differences 
are reported in income as part of the gain or loss from the sale.

Goodwill and fair value adjustments occurring during the acquisition of a foreign company are treated as  
assets and liabilities of the unit and translated at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date.

The most important year-end and average exchange rates were as follows:

Currency

USD

EUR

BRL

CNY

MYR

Year-end rate
31.12.2012

Average rate 
2012

Year-end rate
31.12.2011

Average rate  
2011

0.920 

1.220 

0.452 

0.148 

0.302

0.950 

1.220 

0.494 

0.150

0.306 

0.950 

1.230 

0.511 

0.151 

0.300

0.900 

1.250 

0.545 

0.139

0.295 

 
 
 
62

Property, plant and equipment

2.5  
Property, plant and equipment are accounted for at historical acquisition or production cost less accumu-
lated  depreciation.  Depreciation  is  linear  over  the  expected  service  lifetime.  The  specific  depreciation  
periods for various asset categories are:

Asset category 

Machinery

Tools

Measuring, testing, and controlling devices

Operating installations

Warehouse installations

Vehicles

Office furnishings and office machines

Information technology

Factory buildings

Office buildings

Land

Years 

7–10

7

5

10

10–14

5–8

5–10

3–5

33

40

no depreciation

Maintenance, repair, and minor renovation costs are charged directly to the income statement as expenses 
when incurred. Renovation work that increases the value and extends the service life of a tangible asset is 
capitalized if it is likely to generate future economic benefits for the Group, and the costs associated with 
the asset value can be reliably measured.

Property, plant and equipment which have been eliminated from the business or sold are cleared from the 
property, plant and equipment account at their acquisition cost and with the associated accumulated depreci-
ation. Any profits or losses resulting from the disposal of property, plant and equipment are recognized in the 
income statement. Financing costs for property, plant and equipment under construction are capitalized.

Intangible assets

2.6  
2.6.1   Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of a company over the fair value of the Group’s 
share of the net assets of the acquired company at the date of acquisition. Goodwill created through acqui-
sition of a company is reported under intangible assets. Goodwill carried on the balance sheet is subjected 
to  a  semi-annual  impairment  test  and  measured  at  the  original  acquisition  cost  less  cumulative  impair-
ments. Impairments may not be reversed.

For purposes of the impairment test, goodwill is broken down across cash-generating units (CGUs). The 
value is distributed over those CGUs or groups of CGUs that are expected to benefit from the merger that 
gave rise to the goodwill.

2.6.2   Patents
Patents are recognized at historical acquisition cost less cumulative amortization.

2.6.3   Software
Purchased software licenses are capitalized at acquisition or production cost plus costs incurred in ready-
ing them for use. The total acquisition cost is amortized on a linear basis over three to five years. Costs as-
sociated with the development or maintenance of software are recorded as expenses at the time they are 
incurred.

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  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

2.6.4   Research and development expenditure
Research and development costs are capitalized and written off on a straight-line basis over their useful life, 
provided the criteria for capitalization are met. No such expenses were capitalized in the year under review 
or in the previous year, as the future economic benefits of these expenses cannot be accurately estimated.

2.6.5   Technology
Acquired technology assets are recognized if they bring the company measurable benefits over a period of 
several years. They are valued at acquisition cost minus linear depreciation. Acquisition costs are written 
down in a linear way over a period of five to ten years.

Impairment of non-monetary assets

2.7  
Assets with an indeterminate service lifetime are not amortized according to plan but subjected to an annual 
impairment test. Assets subject to planned amortization are also tested for impairment if events or changes 
in  circumstances  create  a  presumption  that  the  carrying  value  can  potentially  no  longer  be  realized.  An  
impairment is recorded in the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds its realizable value. The 
realizable value is the greater of the asset’s fair value less disposal costs and its use value. In determining 
impairments, assets are grouped according to the smallest separately identifiable cash-generating units.

Financial assets

2.8  
Financial assets are classified into the following categories: recognized at fair value through profit or loss, 
loans and receivables, held to maturity, and available for sale. The classification depends on the purpose for 
which  a  given  financial  asset  was  acquired.  The  financial  assets  recognized  in  the  consolidated  balance 
sheet are assigned to the following categories:

in TCHF

Securities

Total held for trading

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade receivables

Other receivables

Other non-current receivables

Total loans and receivables

The financial liabilities are allocated to the following categories:

in TCHF

Derivative financial instruments

Total held for trading

Financial liabilities (current and non-current)

Trade payables

Other payables

Total at amortized cost

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

48

48

57 655

86 945

10 878

359

155 837

33

33

52 142

127 272

9 821

161

189 396

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

353

353

56 765

14 335

6 695

77 795

305

305

46 571

20 812

7 346

74 729

 
 
 
 
 
 
64

2.8.1   Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
This category comprises two subcategories: assets classified as “Held for trading” from the beginning, and 
those classified as “At fair value through profit or loss” from the beginning. A financial asset is assigned to 
this category if it was purchased in principle with the intent of short-term resale or designated as such by 
management.  Derivatives  also  belong  to  this  category  if  they  are  not  qualified  as  hedges.  Assets  in  this  
category  are  reported  as  current  assets  if  they  are  either  held  for  trading  or  are  expected  to  be  realized 
within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

The  “Securities”  item  reported  separately  in  the  balance  sheet  of  the  Komax  Group  is  classified  as  
“Financial assets held for trading”. Securities comprise capital market investments acquired for short-term 
resale. Securities purchases are recorded at their market price on the date of purchase and subsequently 
measured at fair value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses from changes in fair value are recognized 
directly in income.

2.8.2   Loans and receivables
Loans  and  receivables  are  non-derivative  financial  assets  with  fixed  or  calculable  payments  that  are  not 
listed on an active market. They are regarded as current assets if they mature within 12 months of the bal-
ance sheet date. If the period to maturity exceeds 12 months, they are carried as non-current assets. Short-
term loans and receivables are reported in the consolidated balance sheet under “Cash and cash equiva-
lents”,  “Trade  receivables”,  and  “Other  receivables  and  accrued  income  /  prepaid  expenses”,  whereas 
long-term receivables are reported under “Other long-term receivables”.

2.8.3   Financial investments held to maturity
Financial investments held to maturity are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or calculable payments 
and a fixed maturity that the entity wishes and is able to hold to the maturity date. The Komax Group con-
solidated balance sheet does not include any financial assets in this category.

2.8.4   Financial assets available for sale
Financial assets available for sale are non-derivative assets that were either assigned to this category or not 
assigned  to  any  of  those  described  above.  They  are  carried  as  non-current  assets  unless  management  
intends to dispose of them within 12 months of the balance sheet date. Komax does not hold any financial 
assets in this category.

Purchases and sales of financial assets are posted at the settlement date, i.e. the date when the asset is 
transferred. Financial assets in the “At fair value through profit or loss” category are carried at fair value, 
both at acquisition and after they are recognized for the first time. Associated transaction costs and gains 
and losses from financial assets are reported on the income statement for the corresponding period. Loans 
and receivables are carried at historical purchase price using the effective interest rate method.

Fair  values  of  listed  investments  are  based  on  current  offer  prices.  For  assets  without  an  active  market, 
Komax applies suitable valuation measures to determine the fair value. These include reference to recent 
“arm’s-length”  transactions,  current  market  prices  of  other  similar  assets,  discounted  cash  flow  
procedures, and option price models based as far as possible on market data and as little as possible on 
company-specific data.

At each balance sheet date, a determination is made as to whether objective indications exist of impairment 
of a financial asset or group of assets. Any impairments are charged to income in the corresponding period.

65

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities

2.9 
Derivative financial instruments are initially measured at fair value as at the date when the contract is concluded. 
Subsequent measurement is likewise at fair value as at each balance sheet date. The method used to measure 
gains and losses depends on whether the derivative financial instrument was designated as a hedging instru-
ment and, if so, on the type of item hedged. Derivative financial instruments may be designated as:

a)   hedges of fair value of a balance sheet asset or liability or off-balance-sheet fixed obligation (fair value hedge);
b)    hedges against risks of payment flow fluctuations associated with a balance sheet asset or liability or an 

anticipated and highly probable future transaction (cash flow hedge); or

c)   hedges of a net investment in a foreign business operation (net investment hedge).

Since  the  Komax  Group  uses  derivative  financial  instruments  only  to  hedge  against  existing  foreign  ex-
change and interest rate risks, such instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting in terms of IAS 39. 
Foreign currency surpluses are hedged in accordance with financial planning (economic hedges), so that 
changes in fair value are charged directly to income as realized and unrealized gains or losses for the rele-
vant period. Only standardized instruments (currency forward and option contracts, interest rate and cur-
rency swaps) are used for hedging. Financing and hedging instruments are utilized in accordance with uni-
form rules throughout the Group.

Inventories

2.10  
Inventories are measured at the lower of purchase or production cost and net sales price. Purchase or pro-
duction costs are determined using the weighted average method. Internally produced finished and semi-
finished  goods  are  measured  at  production  cost  in  accordance  with  the  state  of  completion.  Production 
costs of finished and unfinished products include costs for product design, raw materials, direct personnel 
costs, other direct costs, and overhead costs allocated to production (based on normal operating capac-
ity). Purchase and production costs do not include costs of debt capital since products do not qualify as  
assets in the sense of IAS 23, “Borrowing Costs”, and any costs of debt capital cannot therefore be directly 
attributed to products. The net sales price is the estimated proceeds of sale attainable in the normal course 
of business, less the necessary variable selling costs.

2.11   Trade receivables
Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the original billed amount less provisions for bad debt. Bad debt 
provisions are formed if there are objective indications that not all the Group’s accounts receivable will be 
settled. Indications that an amount may not be recoverable include signs that the customer may be in seri-
ous  financial  difficulties  or  if  bankruptcy  or  financial  reorganization  appears  probable.  The  allowance  is 
stated  separately  and  comprises  the  difference  between  the  carrying  amount  of  the  receivable  and  the  
recoverable amount. The amount of the allowance is charged to the income statement. An impairment loss 
is posted if the receivable is no longer recoverable. Non-current receivables are discounted to account for 
current value if the effects are material.

2.12   Manufacturing contracts
Manufacturing contracts in the automated assembly and production business units, involving the customer-
specific manufacture of systems, are valued according to the percentage-of-completion method (POC). On 
the balance sheet, these are reported either under “Trade receivables” or “Other payables and accrued ex-
penses / deferred income”, depending on the degree to which they are underfinanced or overfinanced. The 
percentage of completion is calculated according to the cost-to-cost method (costs incurred in relation to 
overall estimated costs of the contract). Anticipated project losses are fully expensed in the income state-
ment. Any costs of debt capital are capitalized provided debt capital is raised for the purpose of financing 
the project and provided its costs can be directly attributed to a manufacturing contract.

 
 
 
66

2.13   Non-current assets held for sale
Non-current  assets  held  for  sale  are  reported  separately  under  current  assets.  Immediately  before  their 
first-time classification as assets held for sale, the value of the assets is determined in accordance with pre-
vailing accounting principles. Subsequently, non-current assets held for sale are reported at the lower of 
carrying  amount  and  fair  value  minus  cost  to  sell.  Non-current  assets  held  for  sale  are  not  depreciated/ 
amortized. 

2.14   Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes banknotes, sight deposits and other current, highly liquid financial as-
sets with an original maturity of no greater than three months. Utilized current account overdrafts are shown 
on the balance sheet as payables to credit institutions under current financial liabilities.

2.15   Shareholders’ equity
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. No preferred shares have been issued to date. 

Costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares are disclosed in equity as a net deduction from the 
proceeds. 

Treasury shares are recognized at the average weighted cost of acquisition, including the transaction costs 
assignable to them, and offset against equity. When treasury shares are purchased or sold, the considera-
tion paid or received will be offset against equity.

2.16   Dividend payment
Dividend distribution to the shareholders of Komax Holding AG is recognized as a liability in the consoli-
dated financial statements in the period in which the dividend distribution is approved by the company’s 
shareholders.

2.17   Trade payables
Trade payables are valued initially at fair value, which is normally the amount originally invoiced, and sub-
sequently measured at amortized cost.

2.18   Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are initially recognized at fair value after deducting any transaction costs. In subsequent 
periods, they are measured at historical purchase price. Any differences between the amount paid out and 
the amount due is reported in income over the duration of the liability. 

Borrowings  are  classified  as  current  liabilities  unless  the  Group  has  an  unconditional  right  to  postpone 
 settlement of the debt until al least 12 months after the balance sheet date.

2.19   Deferred taxes
All the consolidated companies of the Komax Group are independently subject to tax, except for the com-
panies in the USA that are affiliated to Komax Holding Corp. (Komax Systems Rockford Inc., Komax Solar 
Inc. and Komax Corp.). In the case of the other companies, it is not possible to offset the taxable profit of 
one consolidated company with the loss of another. This should be remembered when comparing earnings 
with the tax burden. 

67

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Deferred and future tax expenses are calculated on the basis of the comprehensive liability method. This 
method is based on the tax rates and tax regulations applicable on the balance sheet date or which have in 
essence been enacted and are expected to apply at the time the deferred tax claim is realized or the de-
ferred tax liability is settled. Deferred and future taxes are calculated on the basis of the temporary differ-
ences  in  value  between  the  individual  balance  sheets  and  balance  sheets  for  tax  purposes.  Such  differ-
ences  primarily  exist  in  the  case  of  non-current  assets,  inventories,  and  some  provisions.  Deferred  tax 
assets are recognized in the amount corresponding to the probability that the Group companies in question 
will generate sufficient future taxable income to absorb the relevant positive differences in the tax assets.

Deferred tax liabilities are provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and as-
sociates, except where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference cannot be determined by the 
Group and it is consequently probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. 

2.20   Payments to employees
2.20.1  Employee benefits
Employee  pension  and  retirement  benefits  are  based  on  the  regulations  and  prevailing  circumstances  in 
those countries in which Komax is represented. In Switzerland, pension and retirement benefits are based 
on the defined benefit model in conformity with IAS 19, “Employee Benefits”. The consequences of compli-
ance with IAS 19 for retirement benefits are detailed in Note 13. In the other countries, pension and retire-
ment benefits are provided under defined contribution schemes.

The  provision  for  defined  benefit  plans  stated  in  the  balance  sheet  represents  the  present  value  of  the 
 defined benefit obligation (DBO) on the balance sheet date less the fair value of plan assets, adjusted for 
 cumulative, non-recognized actuarial gains and losses. The DBO is calculated annually by an independent 
actuary according to the projected unit credit method.

Past service costs are recognized immediately in income, unless the changes in the pension plan depend 
on the employee remaining with the company for a predefined period (until the vesting period). In such an  
event, the past service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

Actuarial gains and losses, which are based on experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assump-
tions, are recognized in the income statement over the employee’s expected remaining period of service 
through the corridor approach.

In the case of defined-contribution plans, the Group funds public or private retirement plans on the basis of 
statutory  or  contractual  obligations  or  voluntary  contributions.  The  Group  has  no  payment  obligations 
 beyond the payment of contributions. Contributions are recognized in personnel expenses as they become 
due. Prepayments of contributions are recognized as assets to the extent that a right to repayment or a 
 reduction in future payments exists.

2.20.2  Share-based compensation
The Komax Group has initiated a share-based compensation plan involving grants of its own shares by way 
of a capital increase. The fair value of the employee services received for the options is included in person-
nel expenses. The total amount of the expenses to be charged for employee options issued after 7 Novem-
ber  2002  and  still  locked  in  is  amortized  over  the  vesting  period  and  recognized  in  expenses.  At  each  
balance sheet date, the number of options expected to become exercisable and on which the reportable 
current value is based is estimated. The effects of any potentially relevant changes in initial estimates are 
taken into account in the income statement and by a corresponding charge to shareholders’ equity during 
the remaining time to the vesting date. Payments received upon exercise of the options are credited to sub-
scribed capital (at par) and to capital reserves after deducting directly attributable transaction costs.

 
 
 
68

2.20.3  Other payments after termination of employment
There are no liabilities for payments to pensioners after termination of employment.

2.20.4  Payments triggered by termination of employment
In some countries, in which the Komax Group operates its own companies, there are local regulations for 
payment triggered by termination of employment. Komax complied with these legal requirements. The cor-
responding expenses are booked under personnel expenses.

2.20.5  Profit sharing and bonus plans
For bonus payments and profit sharing, a liability is recognized based on an appraisal procedure involving 
Group profit after certain adjustments and the beneficiary’s individual targets. A provision is recorded in the 
consolidated financial statements in cases where a contractual liability exists. The expense is recognized in 
income under personnel expenses.

2.21   Provisions
Provisions are recorded if the Group has a current legal or constructive obligation arising from a past event 
and it is probable that settling this obligation will impact the asset base, and if the amount of the provision 
can be reliably estimated. 

Provisions for warranties are based on past payments, sales revenues in previous years, and current con-
tracts. Komax normally gives a one-year warranty on machines and systems. 

The other provisions relate to various obligations and liabilities associated with past events, the perform-
ance of which will in all probability result in an outflow of funds.

2.22   Revenue recognition
The Komax Group’s consolidated income statement is compiled using the nature of expense method. Net 
sales comprise the fair value of considerations received or receivable for the sale of goods and services in 
the course of ordinary business activities after deducting VAT, returns, discounts and price reductions, and 
eliminating intragroup sales. Revenues are recognized as described below.

2.22.1  Sale of goods
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognized when risk and rewards of ownership have been transferred to 
the buyer. All expenses connected with sales are recognized on an accrual basis.

2.22.2  Sale of services
Revenue from the sale of services is recognized in accordance with progress on the service according to 
the ratio of completed to still outstanding service to be performed during the financial year in which the ser-
vices are rendered.

2.22.3  Revenue recognition using the POC method
In the automated assembly and production field, revenue is recognized according to the POC method. The 
Komax Group calculates the percentage of completion according to the ratio of production costs already 
incurred to forecast total production costs.

2.22.4  Interest and dividend income 
Interest income is accrued using the effective interest rate method. Dividend income is recognized at the 
date when the right to receive the payment originates.

69

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

2.23   Leases
A lease under which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership remains with the lessor is 
 regarded  as  an  operating  lease.  Payments  under  operating  leases  (less  any  incentives  provided  by  the 
 lessor) are charged to income on a linear basis over the duration of the lease agreement.

The Komax Group does not assume material liabilities from financial lease contracts.

Contractual relationships in which Komax acts as lessor are reported as financial leases if all risks and re-
wards associated with ownership are essentially transferred to the lessee. At the beginning of the lease, 
lease payments are recognized in the balance sheet in the amount of the net investment value arising from 
the lease. Revenue is recorded in the same way as the direct sale of goods. Financial income is spread over 
the term of the lease.

Assets that are the subject of operating leases are reported in the balance sheet in accordance with their 
properties and are written down at the normal rates for similar assets. Lease income is recognized in the in-
come statement on a linear basis over the term of the lease. Komax did not possess any significant assets 
that were the subject of operating leases in either the 2012 reporting year or the previous year.

2.24   Government grants
Government grants are recognized if it is likely that the payments will be received and Komax can fulfil the 
conditions  attached  to  such  subsidies.  These  are  recognized  in  “Other  operating  income”,  regardless  of 
when payment is received, and on a pro-rata basis in the period in which the associated costs are incurred, 
and charged to the income statement as an expense. Grants relating to an asset are deducted from the  
carrying amount.

2.25   Restatement of previous years’ figures
To ensure that figures are comparable, prior-year figures are restated if it becomes necessary when new 
provisions of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are applied or existing standards are 
amended, or when changes are made in the presentation and structure of the financial statements during 
the reporting period.

In the 2012 financial year, no changes were made that had a significant impact on the amounts stated in the 
balance sheet, income statement or cash flow statement of the Komax Group.

 
 
 
70

Financial risk management

3 
The Komax Group is exposed to various financial risks, for example currency, credit, liquidity, and interest 
rate risks, through its business activities. The Group’s overall risk management strategy is focused on the 
unpredictability of developments in the financial markets and is intended to minimize the potential negative 
impact on the Group’s financial position. The Group uses derivative financial instruments to protect itself 
against interest rate, currency, and credit risks. The risks are monitored and reported. Risk management is 
conducted by the finance department of Komax Holding AG in conformity with the guidelines issued by the 
Board of Directors. These guidelines set out procedures for the use of derivatives as well as dealing with 
foreign currency, interest rate, and credit risks. The guidelines are binding for all subsidiaries of the Komax 
Group.

In addition, Komax conducts extensive annual analyses of financial risks as part of its risk management. The 
principal financial risks form an integral part of the internal control system (ICS) and are therefore subject to 
systematic, periodic review. Further, in consultation with a bank, the Komax Group prepares an extensive 
report each quarter on currency, interest, country, and customer risks, using the value-at-risk method. Due 
to the increased volatility, the Group continually improved and extended its risk management, particularly in 
relation to foreign exchange and country risks in emerging markets. 

3.1   Currency risk
The Komax Group operates internationally and is therefore exposed to a variety of foreign-exchange risks. 
Foreign currency risks arise from future cash flows, assets and liabilities recognized in the balance sheet, 
and investment in foreign companies.

Foreign currency items are assessed centrally by Group Treasury as part of the rolling financial planning pro-
cess. Corporate guidelines specify that at least one third of foreign currency profits must be hedged through 
forward rate contracts. Up to 100% of the amount must be hedged if the current exchange rate is below  
the budgeted rate and the exchange rate for the foreign currency is expected to drop further relative to the 
functional currency.

Komax is mainly exposed to currency risks relating to the US dollar and the euro. Assuming that the euro 
had been 10% weaker against the Swiss franc on 31 December 2012 and that all other parameters had 
been largely unchanged, the EBIT margin would have been 0.4 percentage points (2011: 0.2 percentage 
points) lower. Conversely, if this exchange rate had been 10% higher, the margin would have risen by the 
same amount. Assuming that the US dollar had been 10% weaker against the Swiss franc on 31 December 
2012 and that all other parameters had been largely unchanged, the EBIT margin would have been 0.8 per-
centage points (2011: 1.0 percentage points) lower. Conversely, if this exchange rate had been 10% higher, 
the margin would have risen by the same amount. The main reasons for these changes would have been 
currency gains and losses on receivables, payables, and other current receivables and liabilities. 

The Komax Group generated around 24% of sales in euros. The largest customer grouping in the eurozone 
area is based in Germany, followed at some distance by customers in France, Italy, and Austria. Sales in the 
other eurozone countries are relatively insignificant. As a result of the ongoing debt crisis, the Komax Group 
has further tightened its credit policy and adjusted its processes accordingly. The Group is not currently 
 exposed  to  any  exceptional  default  risks  as  a  result  of  the  difficult  ongoing  situation  in  certain  eurozone 
countries.

3.2   Credit risk
Credit risks may exist with regard to bank account balances, derivative financial instruments and receiv-
ables from customers. Banks must have a minimum credit rating of “A” before the Komax Group will enter 
into a material business relationship with them. Moreover, all risks pertaining to cash and cash equivalents 
are further minimized by using a variety of banks rather than one single bank.

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  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

There is no significant concentration of potential credit risks within the Group. There are binding policies to 
ensure that sales to customers are made only if the customer has shown reasonable payment performance 
in  the  past.  Moreover,  outstanding  receivables  are  monitored  at  the  corporate  level  on  a  monthly  basis. 
Contracts for derivative financial instruments and financial transactions are only entered into with banks of 
the highest financial solidity. The Group also has a business policy that limits credit risk associated with indi-
vidual financial institutions through use of multiple banks.

Management does not anticipate any significant losses on the receivables outstanding as at 31 December 
2012 that have not already been taken into account in the value adjustments as per Note 7.

The following table shows the receivables and credit limits of the main counterparties as of the reporting date:

in TCHF

Counterparty
Credit Suisse1) 
UBS1)
Deutsche Bank1)

Customer A

Customer B

Customer C

Rating

Credit limit

Amount held

Credit limit

Amount held

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

A

A

A+

Group 2

Group 2

Group 2

25 000

24 000

8 739

n/a

n/a

n/a

14 538

8 293

6 369

3 860

3 284

2 690

20 000

20 000

12 357

n/a

n/a

n/a

10 333

10 321

11 621

5 326

4 973

3 006

1)  Creditor as part of the CHF 120.0 million syndicated loan agreement under the stewardship of Credit Suisse (participating banks: 

Basler Kantonalbank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Luzerner Kantonalbank, UBS, and Zürcher Kantonalbank).

Komax assigns its customers to the following groups:

Group 1:  New customer (business relationship established within the past 12 months).
Group 2:  Existing customer (business relationship established more than 12 months ago) without defaults 

in the past.

Group 3:  Existing  customer  (business  relationship  established  more  than  12  months  ago)  with  defaults 

in the past.

3.3   Capital risk
In the management of its capital, the Komax Group pays special attention to ensuring that the Group is able 
to  continue  to  operate,  that  shareholders  receive  an  appropriate  return  for  their  risks,  and  that  financial  
ratios are optimized, taking the cost of capital into account. To achieve these targets, Komax may adjust its 
dividend payment, issue new shares, or sell assets in order to scale back its debt.

Komax monitors its capital structure principally through the gearing factor and net debt. The latter is calcu-
lated from the total outstanding interest-bearing debts of the Group, including liabilities from finance leas-
ing, minus cash and cash equivalents. The gearing factor is calculated by dividing net debt at the balance 
sheet date by the operating profit before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) over the 
last  12  months  (rolling).  This  resulted  in  a  net  cash  position  (previous  year:  net  cash)  at  the  end  of  the  
reporting  year,  as  cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  securities  exceeded  existing  financial  liabilities  as  at  
31 December 2012.

The Group’s financial liabilities are subject to externally regulated capital requirements (covenants). These 
essentially provided for a maximum gearing factor of 2.75 as at 31 December 2012. In addition, the self- 
financing ratio (i.e. the Group’s reported equity plus subordinated loans minus goodwill divided by total as-
sets less goodwill) may not fall below 50% at any balance sheet date.

The Komax Group has complied with all capital requirements since the contract signing date as well as at 
31 December 2012.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
72

Liquidity risk

3.4  
Prudent liquidity risk management involves maintaining sufficient reserves of cash and cash equivalents and 
liquid securities as well as financing capacity through an adequate volume of approved lines of credit. The 
amount  of  cash  required  for  operations  is  reviewed  annually  and  monitored  on  a  monthly  basis  by  the  
finance department. Given the business environment in which Komax operates, it is also essential for the 
Group to maintain the necessary flexibility in financing by maintaining sufficient unused lines of credit.

The table below provides a breakdown of the Komax Group’s primary and derivative financial liabilities by 
maturity, based on the remaining maturity from the reporting date until the contractually agreed payment 
date. The table shows carrying amounts as the impact of discounting is negligible. 

in TCHF

0–30 days

31–60 days

61–90 days 91–120 days

121 days
−1 year

1–5 years

Total

31.12.2012
Financial liabilities (current and non-current)1)

Trade payables

Other payables

Derivative financial instruments

31.12.2011
Financial liabilities (current and non-current)1)

Trade payables

Other payables

Derivative financial instruments

0

10 236

3 669

0

0

16 163

4 342

0

0

2 409

580

8

0

2 658

882

19

0

1 007

582

0

0

1 922

1 072

0

0

449

544

0

0

43

947

0

0

56 765

234

1 320

68

0

26

103

168

0

0

340

46 571

0

0

56

56 765

14 335

6 695

416

46 571

20 812

7 346

243

1)  The cash outflow from future interest payments amounts to CHF 1.417 million for outstanding financial liabilities as at 31 December 2012 and CHF 0.777 million 

for outstanding financial liabilities as at 31 December 2011.

Interest rate risk

3.5 
Neither at 31 December 2012 nor at the previous year’s balance sheet date did the Komax Group possess 
any assets that were subject to any material rate of interest.

The Group’s financial risk policy is to finance long-term investments with long-term liabilities, which gives 
rise to an interest rate risk. If there is a significant interest rate risk, the related cash flow risks are hedged 
through interest rate swaps. With respect to the syndicated loan, which as at 31 December 2012 had been 
utilized to the amount of CHF 54.6 million (31 December 2011: CHF 44.0 million), an interest rate swap with 
a notional principal amount of CHF 20.0 million was concluded for the entire contract period of around five 
years which fixes the LIBOR rate at a level of 0.4875% p.a. Furthermore, the interest margin is dependent 
on the level of indebtedness of the Group. As lending amounts are in each case drawn on in tranches with a 
term of one to six months, the Komax Group is only subject to short-term fluctuations in LIBOR. The overall 
risk with respect to changes in the market rate of interest is low. Moreover, there was a net cash position of 
CHF  0.9  million  as  at  31  December  2012  (31  December  2011:  net  cash  of  CHF  5.6  million).  For  these 
 reasons, no sensitivity analysis of interest rate risk was undertaken.

3.6   Determination of fair value
The fair value of financial assets that are traded on an active market is calculated as the number of  securities 
held, multiplied by the closing price on the reporting date.

The  fair  value  of  financial  assets  that  are  not  traded  on  an  active  market  is  determined  with  the  aid  of  a 
 var iety of valuation methods.

73

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Key recognition and measurement assumptions

4  
4.1   Key assumptions and sources of uncertainty in relation to estimates
Preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the Board of Directors 
and Group Management to make estimates and assumptions, whereby such estimates and assumptions 
have an effect on the accounting principles applied and are reflected in the amounts stated under assets,  
liabilities, income, and expenses. Their estimates and assumptions are based on past experience and on 
various other factors deemed applicable in the current situation. These form the basis for reporting those 
assets and liabilities that cannot be measured directly from other sources. The actual values may differ from 
these estimates.

Estimates and assumptions are reviewed at least on a quarterly basis. Changes in estimates are required 
when the circumstances on which the estimates are based have altered, or when new or additional informa-
tion is available. These changes are recognized in the reporting period in which the estimate was adjusted.

The most important assumptions about future developments and most important sources of uncertainty in 
relation to estimates that could necessitate significant adjustments to reported assets and liabilities over the 
coming 12 months are shown below.

4.2   Recognition of revenue according to POC method
Automated assembly and production contracts are measured according to the POC method, provided the 
assessment meets the requirements of IAS 11. Although projects are assessed monthly and in good faith in 
accordance with comprehensive project management guidelines, subsequent corrections may be required. 
These corrections are made in the following period and may have a positive or negative impact on revenue 
in this period.

Impairment of non-current assets

4.3  
Property, plant and equipment, goodwill, and intangible assets are tested for impairment at least twice each 
year. To determine whether impairment exists, estimates are made of the expected future cash flows arising 
from use. Actual cash flows may differ from the discounted future cash flows based on these estimates. 
Factors such as changes in the planned use of property, plant and equipment, restructuring, reorganization, 
and closure of facilities, changes in the market situation, technical deficiencies in relation to machinery and 
systems, or sub-projected sales of machines, spare parts, and systems, may shorten useful life or result in 
an impairment.

Employee benefits

4.4  
Employees of the Group in Switzerland are insured under defined benefit retirement schemes in conformity 
with IAS 19. Calculations of the reported credits and liabilities in relation to these schemes are based on 
 dynamic  actuarial  calculations  as  well  as  the  expected  return  on  the  assets  of  the  retirement  plans.  The 
 present value of the liabilities relating to the defined benefit schemes is particularly dependent on assump-
tions such as the discount rate used to calculate the present value of future pension liabilities, future rises in  
salary, and increases in other compensation paid to employees. The Group’s independent actuaries addi-
tionally use statistical data such as the likelihood of departure and mortality rate of insured individuals. The 
actuaries’ assumptions may differ substantially from actual events due to changes in market conditions and 
the economic environment, higher or lower rates of departure, longer or shorter life expectancy of insured 
individuals, as well as other estimated factors. These differences may have an influence on the assets and 
 liabilities stated in relation to employee benefits in future reporting periods.

 
 
 
74

Provisions

4.5  
In relation to machines and systems already delivered, Komax calculates the necessary warranty provisions 
on the balance sheet date on the basis of analysis and estimates in conformity with IAS 37. The actual costs 
may differ from the provisions stated. Any differences may affect the provision carried for warranty events in 
future reporting periods and therefore the reported result for the period.

Current and deferred income taxes

4.6 
In determining the assets and liabilities from current and deferred income taxes, estimates must be made 
on the basis of existing tax laws and ordinances. Numerous internal and external factors may have favour-
able and unfavourable effects on the assets and liabilities from income taxes. These factors include changes 
in tax laws and ordinances, as well as the way they are interpreted, in addition to changes in tax rates and 
the total amount of taxable income for the particular location. Any changes may affect the assets and liabil-
ities from current and deferred income taxes carried in future reporting periods. 

Cash and cash equivalents

5  
The cash and cash equivalents amounting to CHF 57.7 million (2011: CHF 52.1 million) include demand  
deposits and call money. The composition of the call money and the applicable interest rates can be found 
in the table below.

Currency

EUR

EUR

INR

JPY

SGD

Total 

6 

Securities 

in TCHF

Shares

Total 

Interest rate

31.12.2012
TCHF

Interest rate

31.12.2011
TCHF

1.200%

0.000%

7.000%

0.020%

0.063%

1.200%

0.700%

0.000%

0.000%

0.050%

29

0

69

13

112

223

65

1 169

0

0

108

1 342

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

48

48

33

33

The Komax Group uses forex forward and option contracts as well as interest rate and currency swaps to 
hedge currency and interest rate risks on cash and cash equivalents. As at 31 December 2012, an interest 
rate swap with a notional principal amount of CHF 20.0 million and a negative fair value of CHF 0.35 million 
(31 December 2011: CHF 20.0 milion with a negative fair value of CHF 0.31 million) was outstanding.

The following volumes were transacted in the corresponding financial year:

2012: EUR none, USD 4.1 million
2011: EUR 0.8 million, USD 12.8 million

Negative fair values are included in the “Other payables and accrued expenses / deferred income” item,  
positive fair values under “Other receivables and accrued income / prepaid expenses”. 

75

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

7 

Trade receivables

in TCHF

Trade receivables 

less provision for impairment

Accruals for systems1)

less prepayments for systems

Receivables arising from POC

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

75 509

−5 136

80 005

−63 433

16 572

96 762

−4 061

130 243

−95 672

34 571

Total

86 945

127 272

1)  For manufacturing contracts of systems, the inventory includes all costs associated with the systems as well as the production 
costs. The order costs comprise all costs attributable to the contract from the date the order is received until the balance sheet 
date. The order proceeds per manufacturing contract are recorded as at 31 December according to the POC.

The carrying value of trade receivables corresponds to the fair value of the goods and services in question. 
The total amount of costs incurred and profits disclosed (less disclosed losses) on manufacturing contracts 
amounted to CHF 122.7 million as at 31 December 2012 (2011: CHF 170.7 million). Overfinanced projects 
totalling  CHF  42.7  million  (2011:  CHF  40.5  million)  are  included  in  the  “Other  payables  and  accrued 
 expenses / deferred income” item (see Note 19), while underfinanced projects in the amount of CHF 80.0 
million (2011: CHF 130.2 million) are stated under “Trade receivables”. Net sales for 2012 include sales on  
manufacturing contracts which remained outstanding on the balance sheet date and amounted to CHF 37.6 mil-
lion (2011: CHF 113.0 million), equivalent to 13.1% of net sales for 2012 (2011: 30.5%). CHF 36.3 million 
(2011: CHF 90.6 million) of this represents costs incurred and CHF 1.3 million (2011: CHF 22.4 million) rec-
ognized contribution margins.

Overdue trade receivables that had not been written down amounted to CHF 18.1 million on 31 December 2012 
(31 December 2011: CHF 34.1 million). Their maturity structure is set out in the following table:

in TCHF

as at 31.12.2012

as at 31.12.2011

0–30

4 748

10 031

31–60

3 552

6 565

61–90

2 061

8 357

91–120

1 684

2 390

>120

6 090

6 748

Total

18 135

34 091

Number of days

No collateral has been received as security for overdue trade receivables for which no valuation allowance 
has been made.

Valuation allowances totalling CHF 5.1 million were recognized for trade receivables as at 31 December 2012 
(31 December 2011: CHF 4.1 million). The table shows the change in valuation allowances:

in TCHF

Total 1 January

Allowances for doubtful accounts

Change in scope of consolidation

Depreciation of irrecoverable receivables

Unused amounts reversed

Currency differences

Total 31 December

2012

4 061

1 568

107

−213

−265

−122

5 136

2011

1 537

2 645

0

−114

−108

101

4 061

 
 
 
 
 
 
76

Trade receivables are classified into the three main currencies used by the Group, with a fourth group for all 
other currencies.

in TCHF

CHF

EUR

USD

Other currencies

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

26 184

11 702

23 313

14 310

34 102

12 140

33 754

16 766

Total trade receivables (gross)

75 509

96 762

8 

Other receivables and accrued income / prepaid expenses

in TCHF

Other receivables

Prepayments to suppliers

Accruals

Total

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

9 164

1 714

3 910

6 850

2 971

4 101

14 788

13 922

Other receivables mainly comprise tax credits due from state authorities (tax authorities). The accruals in-
clude amongst others prepayments for insurance benefits and credits for maintenance and servicing work 
not yet carried out.

9 

Inventories

in TCHF

Manufacturing components and spare parts

Semi-finished goods / work in process

Finished goods

Total

The inventories are not pledged to third parties.

The change in write-downs of inventories is as follows:

in TCHF

Total 1 January

Write-downs charged to income statement

Change in scope of consolidation 

Used to write off obsolete inventories

Unused amounts reversed

Currency differences

Total 31 December

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

30 629

3 614

23 964

24 332

8 433

22 860

58 207

55 625

2012

9 903

4 714

561

−1 931

−790

−186

2011

7 428

5 813

0

−2 247

−1 013

−78

12 271

9 903

The  expenditure  recognized  in  the  income  statement  in  connection  with  the  value  adjustments  of  inven-
tories amounts to CHF 3.9 million (2011: CHF 4.8 million).

77

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

10   Non-current assets held for sale
The non-current asset held for sale with a carrying value of CHF 0.7 million as at 31 December 2012 (2011: 
CHF 0) is a building in Rousset (France) which is no longer used for its original purpose. The search for a 
buyer was commenced in 2012, and the sale of this building is expected within the next 12 months. As at 
31 December 2012, there were no liabilities in connection with the building earmarked for sale. 

Deferred taxes

11 
11.1   Statement of carrying values

in TCHF

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

Property, plant and equipment / intangible assets
Trade receivables and inventories1)

Provisions

Tax-loss carryforwards

Tax credits

Other items

Total deferred tax assets (gross)

Offset against deferred tax liabilities

Balance sheet deferred tax assets

Property, plant and equipment / intangible assets

Trade receivables and inventories

Provisions

Other items

Total deferred tax liabilities (gross)

1 470

5 262

1 320

7 614

2 176

859

620

4 877

647

1 359

2 300

924

18 701

10 727

−4 202

−3 853

14 499

5 288

1 897

634

501

8 320

6 874

4 605

2 128

659

443

7 835

Offset against deferred tax assets

−4 202

−3 853

Balance sheet deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax assets (+) / tax liabilities (–)

1) Including unrealized intragroup profits.

11.2   Statement of changes

in TCHF

Net total as at 1 January

Deferred tax income (+) / tax expense (–)

Change in scope of consolidation

Currency translation differences

Net total as at 31 December

4 118

10 381

2012

2 892

5 719

2 206

−436

10 381

3 982

2 892

2011

−715

3 513

0

94

2 892

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
78

The total of the temporary differences relating to investments in affiliated companies for which no deferred 
taxes have been reported came to CHF 35.2 million as at 31 December 2012 (2011: CHF 18.3 million). All 
changes  in  deferred  taxes  are  included  in  the  income  statement  for  the  corresponding  periods.  As  at  
31 December 2012, deferred tax assets of CHF 4.9 million (2011: CHF 3.0 million) in connection with tax-
loss  carryforwards of CHF 16.6 million (2011: CHF 9.3 million) were not capitalized. Thereof CHF 5.9 million 
will expire between 1–5 years and CHF 10.7 million in more than 5 years.

12 

Other non-current receivables

in TCHF

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

Present value of minimum lease payments

Rent deposit and other non-current receivables

Total

178

181

359

54

107

161

Komax has lease agreements with various customers for the financing of machine purchases. The leasing 
period is normally between 36 and 60 months. The agreements are subject to termination, with the lessee 
being required to bear the cost of termination. All agreements envisage the purchase of the leased asset at 
the end of the term, either as a fixed agreement or in the form of a purchase option. It is the duty of the les-
see to ensure that the leased asset is properly insured. Non-current receivables from financing leases are 
recognized  in  the  “Other  non-current  receivables”  item,  current  receivables  from  financing  leases  in  the 
“Trade receivables” item. Details can be found in the table below: 

in TCHF

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

Gross investment in the lease

less unguaranteed residual value in favour of lessor

less unearned finance income

Present value of minimum lease payments

in TCHF

Gross investment in the lease

Present value of minimum lease payments

in TCHF

Gross investment in the lease

Present value of minimum lease payments

360

−17

−43

300

0–1 year

1–5 years

143

122

217

178

0–1 year

1–5 years

124

108

56

54

180

0

−18

162

31.12.2012

Total

360

300

31.12.2011

Total

180

162

As at 31 December 2012, just as on the previous year’s balance sheet date, no value adjustments needed 
to be recognized for irrecoverable minimum lease payments.

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

79

2011

8 363

3 026

269

2012

7 401

3 079

269

13 

Employee benefits (IAS 19)

in TCHF

Current service cost

Interest cost

Amortization of service cost not yet recorded

Total employee benefits expenditure of the Komax Group

10 749

11 658

Expected return on plan assets

Employee contributions

Total employee benefits income of the Komax Group

3 766

2 584

6 350

3 886

2 573

6 459

Employee benefits result of the Komax Group1)

−4 399

−5 199

Employer contributions

Prepayments to the employee benefits plan during the financial year

4 449

50

4 355

−844

1)  The employee benefits expenditure of CHF 4.399 million (2011: CHF 5.199 million) is recognized in the income statement under 

personnel expenses.

Komax maintains retirement benefit plans for its employees in Switzerland and abroad. In conformity with 
IFRS,  the  retirement  benefit  plans  in  Switzerland  are  defined  benefit  schemes.  For  the  principal  defined 
 benefit pension schemes, the net expenditure for employee benefits is shown above. Benefits in accord-
ance with IAS 19 are recognized in the balance sheet of the Komax Group under “Prepaid pension assets” 
and in the consolidated income statement under “Personnel expenses”.  

The changes in prepayments recorded in the consolidated balance sheet with respect to the defined benefit 
schemes were as follows:

in TCHF

Total 1 January

Employee benefits costs of the Komax Group

Employer contributions

Total 31 December

Defined benefit obligations developed as follows:

in TCHF

Total 1 January

Current service cost

Interest cost

Payments made to and by beneficiaries (net)

Actuarial gains (–) / losses (+)

Total 31 December

2012

969

−4 399

4 449

2011

1 812

−5 199

4 355

1 019

969

2012

2011

111 974

110 032

7 401

3 079

−3 471

1 355

8 363

3 026

−6 348

−3 099

120 338

111 974

 
 
 
80

The present value of plan assets developed as follows:

in TCHF

Total 1 January

Expected return on plan assets

Employee contributions

Employer contributions

Payments made to and by beneficiaries (net)

Actuarial gains (+) / losses (–)

2012

2011

100 421

103 628

3 766

2 584

4 449

−3 471

4 068

3 886

2 573

4 355

−6 348

−7 673

Total 31 December

111 817

100 421

Available assets break down as follows:

%

Assets held in shares

Assets held in bonds

Assets held in real estate

Other assets

Total

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

31.0

23.4

29.7

15.9

31.9

25.1

32.1

10.9

100.0

100.0

The available assets of the retirement benefit scheme of Komax AG do not include shares of Komax Holding 
AG or real estate properties used by the Group. The expected return on assets is based on the investment 
policy of the Board of Trustees. Expected returns on fixed-interest investments are based on the effective 
gross interest rates at the balance sheet date. Expected returns from equity securities reflect the effective 
returns empirically determined as obtainable in the long term on the respective markets. 

The following table contains information concerning the current state of overfunding or underfunding of the 
retirement benefit schemes operated in Switzerland and the figures in the consolidated balance sheet:

in TCHF

Fair value of plan assets

Present value of funded obligations

Overfunding (+) / underfunding (–)

Unrecognized actuarial gains (–) / losses (+)

Unrecognized past service cost

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

111 817

−120 338

−8 521

1 391

8 149

100 421

−111 974

−11 553

10 862

1 660

Recognized as assets in the consolidated balance sheet

1 019

969

The return on plan assets in the 2012 reporting year was CHF 7.834 million (2011: CHF –3.787 million). 
 Employer contributions for the 2013 business year are expected to amount to CHF 4.449 million.

81

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

The following table shows the degree of cover (funding) of defined benefit obligations, the effect of differ-
ences in the expected and the effective return on plan assets, and the actuarial adjustments to benefit obli-
gations in the past five years:

in TCHF

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

31.12.2010

31.12.2009

31.12.2008

Fair value of plan assets

Present value of funded obligations

Overfunding (+) / underfunding (–)

Difference between expected and effective 
return on plan assets

Actuarial adjustments to benefit obligations

111 817

−120 338

−8 521

4 068

1 587

100 421

−111 974

−11 553

−7 673

4 552

103 628

−110 032

−6 404

388

2 341

102 123

−105 584

−3 461

5 206

3 335

95 266

−105 297

−10 031

−25 153

−354

The retirement benefit liabilities are valued using assumptions based on the following economic and demo-
graphic parameters (weighted average):

%

Discount rate

Estimated wage growth rate

Increase in current pensions (expectancy of future benefits)

Expected return on plan assets

Average life expectancy on reaching retirement at age 65 or 64, respectively:

Years

Men

Women

2012

2.00

1.00

0.00

3.75

2012

18.9

21.4

2011

2.75

1.00

0.00

3.75

2011

18.9

21.4

Defined-contribution retirement schemes
No costs for defined-contribution plans of foreign subsidiaries had to be recognized in the income  statement 
under personnel expenses, neither in the 2012 business year nor in the previous year. The liabilities aris  ing 
from these retirement benefit plans amounted to CHF 0.09 million as at 31 December 2012 (31 December 
2011: CHF 0.11 million). They are recognized in the balance sheet under “Other payables and accrued ex-
penses/deferred income”.

Investments in associates

14 
As  at  31  December  2012  and  31  December  2011,  Komax  held  a  30%  stake  in  SLE  quality  engineering 
GmbH & Co. KG and a 30% stake in SLE quality engineering Verwaltungs GmbH. The investment value in 
the  associated  company  is  calculated  via  the  equity  method.  The  valuation  of  investments  as  at  
31 December 2012 was based on the unaudited financial statements. Any changes in these statements will 
be  taken  into  account  in  the  following  period.  The  investment  value  of  CHF  2.0  million  reported  as  at  
31 December 2012 (previous year: CHF 2.1 million) is equivalent to the proportion of equity held. There are 
no contingent liabilities. The proportion of profit is negligible and included in the “Other operating expenses” 
under “Other expenditure”. 

 
 
 
82

Property, plant and equipment

15 
15.1  Property, plant and equipment 2012

Changes in gross values
in TCHF
Asset category

Movables

Machinery

Tools / operating equipment

Warehouse equipment

Vehicles

Office furnishings

Information technology

Prepayments for movables

Total movables

Real estate
Buildings1)

Land

Prepayments for real estate
Total real estate

Costs
1.1.2012

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Additions

Change in 
scope of con-
solidation

Disposals

Costs
31.12.2012

15 446

−179

5 844

1 764

2 428

7 557

4 628

14

−33

−11

−35

−58

−30

0

37 681

−346

72 263

11 625

0
83 888

−350

−57

0
−407

0

0

0

0

14

0

−14

0

−720

0

0
−720

3 489

449 

109

448

238

539

260

1 094

56

4

326

134

20

0

−951

−272

−4

−295

−166

−159

0

18 899

6 044

1 862

2 872

7 719

4 998

260

5 532

1 634

−1 847

42 654

1 389

0

54
1 443

2 838

862

0
3 700

−581

0

0
−581

74 839

12 430

54
87 323

Total 

121 569

−753

−720

6 975

5 334

−2 428

129 977

Changes in depreciation
in TCHF
Asset category

Accumulated
depreciation
1.1.2012

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Accumulated
depreciation
on disposals

Depreciation 
2012

Accumulated 
depreciation
31.12.2012

Net value property, 
plant & equipment 
31.12.2012

Movables

Machinery

Tools / operating equipment

Warehouse equipment

Vehicles

Office furnishings

Information technology

Prepayments for movables

Total movables

Real estate
Buildings1)

Land

Prepayments for real estate

Total real estate

8 973

3 532

1 097

1 349

3 933

3 770

0

−36

−16

−5

−16

−36

−21

0

22 654

−130

30 889

0

0

30 889

−93

0

0

−93

Total 

53 543

−223

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

−61

0

0

−61

−61

−828

−192

−4

−230

−164

−159

0

1 445

450

98

387

663

401

0

9 554

3 774

1 186

1 490

4 396

3 991

0

9 345

2 270

676

1 382

3 323

1 007

260

−1 577

3 444

24 391

18 263

−505

2 362

32 592

0

0

0

0

0

0

−505

2 362

32 592

42 247

12 430

54

54 731

−2 082

5 806

56 983

72 994

1)  T he reclassifications include the building that was reclassified under “Non-current assets held for sale”.

No impairments had to be booked on property, plant and equipment during the 2012 reporting year. As at 
31 December 2012, no contractual obligations were existing in respect of the acquisition of property, plant and 
equipment. Future liabilities arising from operating lease agreements amount to: due 2013: CHF 2.5 million; 
due 2014–2017: CHF 6.4 million.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
83

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

15.2   Property, plant and equipment 2011

Changes in gross values
in TCHF
Asset category

Movables

Machinery

Tools / operating equipment

Warehouse equipment

Vehicles

Office furnishings

Information technology

Prepayments for movables

Total movables

Real estate
Buildings1)

Land

Prepayments for real estate
Total real estate

Costs
1.1.2011

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Additions

Disposals

Costs
31.12.2011

15 588

5 775

1 956

2 145

7 099

6 100

526

39 189

74 776

11 656

46
86 478

−13

63

−15

−18

1

−15

0

3

−97

−31

0
−128

205

−2

0

0

323

0

−526

0

46

0

−46
0

1 743

1 261 

0

717

366

374

14

−2 077

−1 253

−177

−416

−232

−1 831

0

15 446

5 844

1 764

2 428

7 557

4 628

14

4 475

−5 986

37 681

793

0

0
793

−3 255

0

0
−3 255

72 263

11 625

0
83 888

Total 

125 667

−125

0

5 268

−9 241

121 569

Changes in depreciation
in TCHF
Asset category

Accumulated
depreciation
1.1.2011

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Accumulated
depreciation
on disposals

Depreciation 
2011

Accumulated 
depreciation
31.12.2011

Net value property, 
plant & equipment 
31.12.2011

Movables

Machinery

Tools / operating equipment

Warehouse equipment

Vehicles

Office furnishings

Information technology

Prepayments for movables

Total movables

Real estate
Buildings1)

Land

Prepayments for real estate

Total real estate

9 749

3 832

1 176

1 404

3 501

5 168

0

−16

−6

−4

−9

−11

−17

0

24 830

   −63

29 563

0

0

29 563

−40

0

0

−40

Total 

54 393

−103

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

−2 004

1 244

−863

−176

−406

−223

−1 831

0

−5 503

569

101

360

666

450

0

8 973

3 532

1 097

1 349

3 933

3 770

0

6 473

2 312

667

1 079

3 624

858

14

3 390

22 654

15 027

−949

2 315

30 889

0

0

0

0

0

0

−949

2 315

30 889

41 374

11 625

0

52 999

−6 452

5 705

53 543

68 026

1)  Restatement: adjustment of gross prior-year figures for disposals without impact on net values of buildings.

No impairments had to be booked on property, plant and equipment during the 2011 reporting year. As at 
31 December 2011, no contractual obligations were existing in respect of the acquisition of property, plant and 
equipment. Future liabilities arising from operating lease agreements amounted to: due 2012: CHF 2.5 million; 
due 2013–2016: CHF 6.8 million.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
84

16 
16.1  

Intangible assets
Intangible assets 2012

Changes in gross values
in TCHF
Asset category

Intangible assets

Software

Patents

Goodwill

Technology

Prepayments

Total 

Changes in depreciation
in TCHF
Asset category

Intangible assets

Software

Patents

Goodwill

Technology

Prepayments

Total 

Costs
1.1.2012

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Additions

Change in 
scope of con-
solidation

Disposals

Costs
31.12.2012

11 488

4 147

26 126

4 523

348

−47

−1

−248

0

0

348

2 012

0

0

0

−348

0

0

0

46

111

0

4 684

12 828

0

−338

0

0

0

0

13 574

4 146

30 562

17 351

46

46 632

−296

0

2 058

17 623

−338

65 679

Accumulated
depreciation
1.1.2012

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Accumulated
depreciation
on disposals

Depreciation 
2012

Accumulated 
depreciation
31.12.2012

Net value  
intangible assets 
31.12.2012

7 741

4 121

0

431

0

−30

−1

0

0

0

12 293

−31

0

0

0

0

0

0

−338

1 511

0

0

0

0

10

0

1 245

0

8 884

4 130

0

1 676

0

4 690

16

30 562

15 675

46

−338

2 766

14 690

50 989

Goodwill impairment test
Goodwill acquired through previous acquisitions is allocated to the cash generating units at operating seg-
ment level. The allocation is determined by the strategic intention behind the acquisition of each entity.

Cash-Generating Unit (CGU)
in TCHF

Wire

Solar

Medtech (MTS)

Inkjet (INJ)

Total

Segment

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

Wire

Solar

Medtech

Medtech

14 942

3 661

10 005

1 954

10 330

3 765

10 076

1 955

30 562

26 126

The recoverable amount of a CGU is obtained from the calculation of its value in use. These calculations are 
based on projected cash flows derived from the five-year plan issued by the Board of Directors. Assump-
tions for the calculation of value in use were as follows:

2012

Gross profit margin

Average growth rate

Discount rate (pre-tax)

Wire

59.6% 

8.2%

6.2%

Solar

42.1%

61.2%

6.5%

MTS

50.6%

14.2%

5.7%

INJ

31.2%

4.2%

6.2%

 
 
 
85

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

2011

Gross profit margin

Average growth rate

Discount rate (pre-tax)

Wire

58.5% 

0.5%

6.7%

Solar

44.0%

16.4%

6.8%

MTS

50.7%

3.7%

6.2%

INJ

35.6%

−9.0%

6.5%

Management has determined the budgeted gross profit margin based on past developments and expect-
ations regarding the future development of the market. The discount rates applied are interest rates before 
taxes and reflect the specific risks of the operating segments in question.

The  impairment  test  performed  showed  that  the  value  of  the  goodwill  was  sustainable  and  revealed  no 
signs of any impairment. 

16.2  

Intangible assets 2011

Changes in gross values
in TCHF
Asset category

Intangible assets

Software

Patents

Goodwill

Technology

Prepayments

Total 

Changes in depreciation
in TCHF
Asset category

Intangible assets

Software

Patents

Goodwill

Technology

Prepayments

Total 

Costs
1.1.2011

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Additions

Disposals

Costs
31.12.2011

10 918

4 147

26 126

0

16

−13

0

0

0

0

16

0

0

0

−16

1 169

−602

0

0

4 523

348

0

0

0

0

11 488

4 147

26 126

4 523

348

41 207

−13

0

6 040

−602

46 632

Accumulated
depreciation
1.1.2011

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Accumulated
depreciation
on disposals

Depreciation 
2011

Accumulated 
depreciation
31.12.2011

Net value  
intangible assets 
31.12.2011

7 130

4 112

0

0

0

−12

0

0

0

0

11 242

−12

0

0

0

0

0

0

−602

1 225

0

0

0

0

9

0

431

0

7 741

4 121

0

431

0

3 747

26

26 126

4 092

348

−602

1 665

12 293

34 339

Ownership restrictions for own liabilities

17 
Assets pledged to secure own liabilities:

in TCHF

Book value real estate

Lien on real estate

Utilization (indemnification syndicated loan)

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

46 772

52 710

57 350

47 733

52 965

46 963

Real estate consists of land and buildings in Switzerland and North America.

 
 
 
 
 
86

Trade payables

18 
The carrying amounts of trade payables are allocated to the currencies shown in the table. The carrying 
amounts reflect their fair value.

in TCHF

CHF

EUR

USD

Other currencies

Total trade payables

19 

Other payables and accrued expenses / deferred income

in TCHF

Other payables

Liabilities related to defined contribution plans

Prepayments by customers

Accrual for personnel expenses

Commission payments to representatives

Invoices not yet received

Other accruals

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

7 335

2 840

2 069

2 091

8 735

4 222

4 209

3 646

14 335

20 812

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

6 695

300

1 624

8 344

1 455

813

2 658

7 346

265

2 211

8 607

1 909

1 741

2 654

Accrued expenses / deferred income

14 894

17 122

Prepayments on systems1)

less accruals/deferrals in respect of systems

Liabilities arising from POC

Total

1) See also Note 7.

48 299

−42 707

5 592

49 406

−40 479

8 927

27 481

33 660

Other payables mainly comprise amounts due to state authorities (tax authorities). Their carrying amounts 
are allocated to the currencies shown in the table:

in TCHF

CHF

EUR

USD

Other currencies

Total other payables

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

4 857

388

49

1 401

6 695

4 776

421

127

2 022

7 346

 
87

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

20 

Provisions

in TCHF
Warranty provisions

Total 1 January

Additional provisions

Change in scope of consolidation

Amounts utilized during the year

Unused amounts reversed

Currency differences

2012

2011

3 280

4 446

259

−3 057

−216

−66

3 430

2 490

0

−2 304

−327

−9

Total 31 December

4 646

3 280

Warranty provisions include material and personnel costs in relation to warranty work. Provisions for war-
ranty are reviewed and adjusted annually.

in TCHF
Other provisions

Total 1 January

Additional provisions

Amounts utilized during the year

Unused amounts reversed

Currency differences

Total 31 December

2012

2011

0

1 464

0

0

0

1 464

0

0

0

0

0

0

As at 31 December 2012, the other provisions include the provision for restructuring charges. 

21 

Financial loans

Credit Suisse, Zurich1)
Credit Suisse, Zurich1) 2)
Credit Suisse, Zurich1)
Credit Suisse, Zurich1)

M&T Bank, York (PA)

Total

Currency

2012
Interest rate

31.12.2012
in TCHF

2011
Interest rate

31.12.2011
in TCHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

EUR

USD

1.30%

0.80%

0.00%

1.43%

3.75%

20 000

19 415

0

14 640

2 710

56 765

2.06%

0.89%

0.88%

0.00%

3.75%

20 000

18 606

5 000

0

2 965

46 571

1)  Utilized credit facilities as part of the CHF 120.0 million syndicated loan agreement under the stewardship of Credit Suisse  

(participating banks: Basler Kantonalbank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Luzerner Kantonalbank, UBS, and Zürcher Kantonalbank).

2)  Utilized credit line amounting to CHF 20.0 million as at 31 December 2012 (31 December 2011: CHF 19.0 million) less transaction  

costs of CHF 0.6 million (31 December 2011: CHF 0.4 million).

As at 31 December 2012, the Komax Group had unutilized credit lines of CHF 60.9 million (31 December 
2011: CHF 56.5 million). The average interest on financial loans was 1.29% in 2012, compared with 2.08% 
in the previous year. The fair value of non-current financial loans corresponds to their carrying value.

Share capital

22 
As at 31 December 2012, the share capital amounted to CHF 344 379. This comprised 3 443 789 fully paid-
up registered shares, each with a par value of CHF 0.10. As a result of the exercising of option rights, the 
share capital increased by CHF 4 291 in relation to 2011 (2011: no increase).

As at 31 December 2012, the Group held 27 483 treasury shares (2011: 27 483 treasury shares).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
88

23  
23.1  

Segment reporting
Information by segment

2012
in TCHF

Wire

Solar

Medtech

Corporate1)

Group

Net sales from external customers

Net sales from other segments

227 088

1 167

9 873

0

49 722

82

42

−1 249

286 725

0

Total net sales

228 255

9 873

49 804

−1 207

286 725

EBIT

52 729

−21 171

−8 600

−8 606

14 352

Investment in non-current assets

Sale of non-current assets

Depreciation

5 994

120

6 033

2 493

6

1 421

546

6

1 084

0

0

34

9 033

132

8 572

2011
in TCHF

Wire

Solar

Medtech

Corporate1)

Group

Net sales from external customers

Net sales from other segments

216 482

1 310

70 343

448

82 914

864

290

−2 622

370 029

0

Total net sales

217 792

70 791

83 778

−2 332

370 029

EBIT

57 073

−3 439

3 840

−9 938

47 536

Investment in non-current assets

Sale of non-current assets

Depreciation

5 517

2 979

4 454

5 139

1

1 388

591

440

1 483

2 289

0

45

13 536

3 420

7 370

1) Including elimination of intersegment revenues.

Costs allocated to Corporate include expenses arising in conjunction with the Komax Group’s option plan, 
expenses and income arising from bookings for defined benefit pension schemes according to IAS 19, the 
salaries of Group management, compensation for the Board of Directors, as well as the costs of Komax 
Holding AG.

The table shows the reconciliation of the total of the reportable segments’ EBIT to the Group profit after 
taxes:

in TCHF

EBIT

Financial income

Financial expenses

Group profit before taxes

Taxes

Group profit after taxes

2012

 14 352

4 554

−7 955

10 951

905

2011

 47 536

 7 418

−8 861

46 093

6 813

10 046

39 280

 
 
 
 
89

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Net sales from external customers were generated in the following five operating segments:

in TCHF

Wire1)

Solar

Medtech (MTS)

Inkjet (INJ)

Mechanical and Electronic Systems Assembly (MES/EES)

Total

1) Including Corporate sales.

23.2  

Information by geographical area

2012

2011

227 130

216 772

9 873

35 985

13 028

709

70 343

54 680

22 468

5 766

286 725

370 029

Net sales by location of 
purchasing party

Switzerland
Europe1)

North and South America

Asia/Pacific

Total 

Net sales by location of 
service provider

Switzerland
Europe1)

North and South America

Asia/Pacific

Total 

Non-current assets by location of 
service provider2)

Switzerland
Europe1)

North and South America

Asia/Pacific

Total 

1) Including Africa.

2012
in TCHF

5 624

141 736

81 626

57 739

286 725

2012
in TCHF

115 941

48 390

73 723

48 671

286 725

2012
in TCHF

97 239

6 683

18 996

3 451

%

2.0

49.4

28.5

20.1

100.0

%

40.4

16.9

25.7

17.0

100.0

%

77.0

5.3

15.0

2.7

2011
in TCHF

16 267

172 653

74 583

106 526

370 029

2011
in TCHF

159 847

45 045

110 691

54 446

370 029

2011
in TCHF

80 971

3 918

17 018

2 704

%

4.4

46.6

20.2

28.8

100.0

%

43.2

12.2

29.9

14.7

100.0

%

77.4

3.7

16.3

2.6

126 369

100.0

104 611

100.0

+/−
%

−65.4

−17.9

9.4

−45.8

−22.5

+/−
%

−27.5

7.4

−33.4

−10.6

−22.5

+/−
%

20.1

70.6

11.6

27.6

20.8

2) Without deferred tax assets and prepaid pension assets.

Domiciled in Switzerland, the Komax Group is active in three other geographical areas where it is repre-
sented  with  its  own  companies.  The  commercial  revenues  of  the  Group  are  predominantly  generated  in  
Europe, North and South America, and the Asia/Pacific region. Net sales are assigned on the basis of the 
country in which the customer is based (location of purchasing party). In addition, reporting is also under-
taken on the basis of the country in which the sales company has its headquarters (location of service pro-
vider). Assets are listed as per the headquarters of the company to which they belong. The Europe region 
also  includes  the  sales  generated  and  assets  located  in  Africa  (particularly  South  Africa,  Tunisia,  and 
 Morocco).

23.3   Significant customers
Neither in the 2012 reporting year nor in the previous year did the Komax Group generate sales amounting 
to 10% or more of Group revenues with any individual customer.

 
 
 
90

24 

Other operating income

in TCHF

Own work capitalized

Government grants

Gains from the disposal of property, plant and equipment

Total other operating income

Information on personnel

25 
25.1   Personnel expenses

in TCHF

Wages and salaries

Share-based payments

Social security and pension contributions

Other personnel costs (training and development)

2012

1 277

150

64

1 491

2012

82 317

1 700

16 231

2 642

2011

479

285

631

1 395

2011

82 442

1 730

16 857

2 603

Total personnel expenses

102 890

103 632

Personnel  expenses  include  all  performance-related  compensation  for  the  past  business  year.  Further 
 details on employee benefits are given in Note 13.

25.2  Share option plan of the Komax Group
The  executive  share  ownership  scheme  for  directors  and  management  of  the  Komax  Group  includes  a 
share option plan. The option plan was introduced in 1998 and is designed to give executives and selected 
employees added interest in shareholder value and enable them to share in the company’s success. The 
stock option plan takes the form of share-based compensation settled in equity instruments by means of a 
capital increase (equity-settled plan). The number of options allocated depends on the individual perform-
ance  of  the  entitled  employee.  The  options  granted  entitle  holders  to  subscribe  one  Komax  Holding  AG 
share per option and are valid for five years. They have a predetermined exercise price and are subject to a 
three-year lock-in period.

Outstanding at beginning of year

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

Expired

Outstanding at end of year

2012

No.

327 328

87 525

−42 909

−9 433

−80 304

282 207

Weighted average  
exercise price
CHF

89.70

66.21

42.78

85.63

145.06

73.93

2011

No.

315 749

88 525

0

−3 423

−73 523

327 328

Weighted average  
exercise price
CHF

100.38

94.25

0.00

70.57

141.94

89.70

Of  the  282 207  outstanding  options  (2011:  327 328),  36 832  were  exercisable  as  at  31  December  2012 
(2011:  80 304).  Options  exercised  in  2012  led  to  the  issue  of  42 909  shares  (2011:  none)  at  a  price  of  
CHF 42.78 per share. The weighted average share price at the time of exercising was CHF 86.04. 

91

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

The following table summarizes information on options granted and not yet exercised as at 31 December 2012:

Expiry date
31 December

2013

2014

2015

2016

Total

Number

36 832

77 425

82 342

85 608

282 207

Exercise price
CHF

42.78

75.68

94.25

66.21

The fair value of the options granted in the 2012 financial year – as determined by the Enhanced American 
Model, an approach based on the binomial model concept – amounted to CHF 16.28 (2011: CHF 30.16). 
The key parameters for the valuation model are the share price of CHF 68.75 (2011: CHF 102.00) on the 
day granted, the exercise price listed above, the standard deviation for the expected share price return of 
46.6% (2011: 45.8%), the option term of five years, and the risk-free interest rate of 0.32% (2011: 1.04%). 
The anticipated dividend yield is 5.54% (2011: 3.23%). The volatility of 46.6% used in these calculations 
represents an arithmetic average of the historical volatility of Komax Holding AG for the last four years and 
that of a representative peer group.

25.3   Breakdown of employees by country and areas of activity

2012

Production

Research and development

Engineering

Marketing and sales
Administration6)

Total headcount at 31 December 2012

2011

Production

Research and development

Engineering

Marketing and sales
Administration6)

Total headcount at 31 December 2011

CH1)

Europe2) Americas3)

Asia4)

Africa5)

Total

230

102

73

109

49

563

91

20

42

64

23

71

8

50

74

25

102

10

31

76

33

240

228

252

23

0

3

16

5

47

517

140

199

339

135

1 330

CH1)

Europe2) Americas3)

Asia4)

Africa5)

Total

245

102

81

96

45

569

6

10

0

42

7

65

121

110

13

46

61

25

9

22

63

24

266

228

0

0

0

11

1

12

482

134

149

273

102

1 140

1) Komax AG, Dierikon (including operating facility in Rotkreuz), Komax Systems LCF SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds. 
2) Komax companies in Europe: Germany, France, Portugal, Turkey. 
3) Komax companies in North and South America: USA, Brazil. 
4) Komax companies in Asia: Singapore, China, Malaysia, India, Japan. 
5) Komax companies in Africa: Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia. 
6) Including management/IT.

25.4   Average number of employees
The average number of employees in 2012 was 1 170 compared with 1 081 in the previous year.

Development expenditure

26 
The  aggregate  development  expenditure  for  new  and  further  development  of  Komax  products  contains  
personnel  expenses,  material  costs,  and  costs  for  third-party  development  contracts.  They  amount  to  
CHF 24.6 million, equivalent to 8.5% of revenues, compared with CHF 23.5 million or 6.3% of revenues in 
the previous year.

 
 
 
92

Other operating expenses

27 
Other operating expenses amount to CHF 19.5 million (2011: CHF 21.1 million) and comprise the following 
positions:

in TCHF

Expenditure on operating equipment and energy

Third-party services for development expenses

Legal and consultancy expenses 

Expenditure on administration and sales

Other expenditure

2012

4 545

3 905

3 122

2 147

5 827

2011

4 611

3 170

3 419

2 121

7 803

Total other operating expenses

19 546

21 124

Extraordinary restructuring charges

28 
The extraordinary charges of CHF 1.7 million (2011: none) comprise additional personnel expenses arising 
from  the  release  of  staff  necessitated  by  the  poor  market  situation.  Furthermore,  these  also  include  the 
costs resulting from social plans drawn up for the staff in question. 

29 

Financial result

in TCHF

Financial income

Interest income

Income from securities

Exchange rate gains on foreign currencies

Total financial income

Financial expenses

Interest expenses

Securities expenses

Exchange rate losses on foreign currencies

Total financial expenses

Total financial result

2012

2011

480

145

3 929

4 554

1 808

171

5 976

7 955

211

45

7 162

7 418

1 712

25

7 124

8 861

−3 401

−1 443

The financial income includes gains of CHF 0.01 million (2011: CHF 0.10 million) on financial assets held for 
trading. Exchange rate losses amounting to CHF –0.07 million (2011: CHF –0.23 million) resulting from finan-
cial liabilities held for trading are taken into account in the financial expenses. The positions include both book 
gains and losses and realized gains and losses.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
93

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

30 

Taxes

in TCHF

Current income taxes

Deferred tax income (–) / tax expenses (+)

Total

Analysis of the tax rate 

in TCHF

Group profit before taxes 

Expected tax expenses

Impact of non-capitalized tax-loss carryforwards

Effect of changes in tax rate

Tax credits/charges from previous years

Effect of non-deductible expenses

Effect of non-taxable income

Non-reclaimable withholding taxes

Others

Effective tax expenses 

2012

6 624

−5 719

2011

10 326

−3 513

905

6 813

2012

10 951

270

380

161

−41

293

−320

205

−43

905

%

2.5

3.5

1.5

−0.4

2.7

−2.9

1.9

−0.5

8.3

2011

46 093

8 716

777

−47

−3 268

82

−84

752

−115

6 813

%

18.9

1.7

−0.1

−7.1

0.2

−0.2

1.6

−0.2

14.8

As the Group is internationally active, its income taxes are dependent on a number of different tax juris-
dictions. The expected average Group tax rate is equivalent to the weighted average of tax rates of those 
countries in which the Group is active. Due to the composition of the taxable income of the Group, as well 
as changes in local tax rates, this Group tax rate varies from year to year.

31 

Earnings per share (EPS)

in CHF

2012

2011

Group profit (attributable to equity holders of the parent company)

Weighted average number of outstanding shares

Basic earnings per share 

Group profit (attributable to equity holders of the parent company)

Weighted average number of outstanding shares

Adjustment for dilutive effect of share options

Weighted average number of outstanding shares for calculating  
diluted earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

10 176 293

3 404 850

2.99

10 176 293

3 404 850

29 360

3 434 210

2.96

39 412 969

3 375 217

11.68

39 412 969

3 375 217

56 670

3 431 887

11.48

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the consolidated net earnings by the average number of 
shares outstanding during the fiscal year, excluding treasury shares. Diluted earnings per share are calcu-
lated by adding all option rights which would have had a dilutive effect to the average number of shares out-
standing.

Contingent liabilities

32 
Guarantees in favour of subsidiaries amounting to CHF 7.9 million (2011: CHF 3.3 million) are listed in the 
notes  to  the  financial  statements  of  Komax  Holding  AG.  Apart  from  additional  guarantees  amounting  to 
CHF 0.6 million (2011: CHF 1.5 million) in favour of third parties at subsidiaries, there were no other contin-
gent liabilities towards third parties or Group companies.

 
 
 
 
 
94

Business combinations

33 
33.1   MCM Cosmic KK
In the first half of 2012, Komax acquired 100% of the share capital of the Japanese company MCM Cosmic 
KK.  This  company  was  founded  in  Tokyo  in  1992  and  currently  employs  15  employees.  It  develops  and 
markets wire stripping machinery. As a result of this takeover, Komax Wire is adding entry-segment machi-
nes and coaxial cable processing applications to its product range. The acquisition will also give Komax 
Wire better access to Japanese customers. The repercussions of the acquisition of MCM Cosmic KK for the 
presentation of the consolidated financial statements are not significant.

33.2   TSK Group 
In August 2012, Komax acquired 100% of the share capital of TSK Beteiligungs GmbH, Porta Westfalica, 
Germany, as well as all its subsidiaries. TSK is one of the world’s leading suppliers of products and services 
for the quality assurance of electrical and electronic assemblies and components, particularly cable harnes-
ses. The company has a workforce of around 350. TSK’s product and service offering is a perfect match for 
Komax  Wire’s  activities.  Furthermore,  there  are  synergies  as  regards  customers,  distribution,  and  the 
 service business.

in TCHF

Acquired net assets at fair value

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade receivables

Other receivables and accrued income / prepaid expenses

Inventories

Deferred tax assets

Other non-current receivables

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Total assets

Financial liabilities

Trade payables

Other payables and accrued expenses / deferred income

Provisions

Financial loans

Deferred tax liabilities

Total liabilities

Acquired net assets

Goodwill

Purchase price paid

less acquired cash and cash equivalents

Net cash out

1 017

3 963

1 422

5 013

2 317

1

4 379

12 350

30 462

−11 406

−1 604

−6 207

−203

−6 050

−184

−25 654

4 808

4 684

9 492

−1 017

8 475

95

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

The  transaction  costs  directly  attributable  to  the  acquisition  amounted  to  CHF  0.5  million.  These  are  re-
ported in the operating result for the current period under the “Other operating expenses”.

The agreement involves no contingent consideration arrangement.

No contingent liabilities were taken over from the acquired companies.

The  fair  value  of  trade  receivables  and  other  receivables  amounts  to  CHF  5.1  million,  of  which  CHF  4.0 
million relate to trade receivables. Their gross value amounts to CHF 4.1 million, of which CHF 0.1 million 
is presumed to be uncollectable.

The acquired company contributed CHF 13.7 million towards net sales in the period 1 August to 31 December 
2012, as well as CHF 0.1 million to Group profit after taxes. The acquired company generated EBITD of 10.5% 
for this period. Had the acquisition been implemented as of 1 January 2012, the net sales of the Komax Group 
would have amounted to CHF 305.1 million, while profit after taxes would have amounted to CHF 10.4 million.

Events after the balance sheet date

34 
No material events occurred between the balance sheet date and the approval of the consolidated financial 
statements by the Board of Directors on 5 March 2013 which might adversely affect the information content 
of the 2012 consolidated financial statements or which would require disclosure. 

Related-party transactions

35 
Aside from a loan of CHF 0.6 million granted to an associated company, there were no outstanding items 
with  respect  to  related  parties  (2011:  CHF  0.4  million).  In  the  year  under  review,  no  transactions  were 
 entered into with members of management in key positions in connection with the sale and purchase of 
goods and services (2011: none). However, rental payments amounting to CHF 0.1 million (2011: CHF 0.1 
million) were made in relation to a production facility. With the exception of the regular employer contribu-
tions to the pension fund, no transactions were effected with related parties (2011: none).

Compensation for the Executive Committee and Board of Directors
In fiscal 2012, the Group’s Executive Committee comprised five (2011: five) members. In conformity with IFRS 2 

for the statement of share-based payments, the total compensation for the Executive Committee, including the 

six (2011: five) directors, is as follows:

in TCHF

Executive Committee 

Board of Directors

Total

Total

Salaries and bonus payments1)

Share-based payments

2012

1 968

326

2011

2 530

603

2012

680

114

2011

603

196

2012

2 648

440

2011

3 133

799

Total

2 294

3 133

794

799

3 088

3 932

1) Including the post-employment benefits of CHF 0.20 million for the financial year 2012 (2011: CHF 0.19 million).

A detailed breakdown of the compensation paid to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee is 
provided in the notes to the financial statements of Komax Holding AG on pages 103 and 104.

 
 
 
96

Report of the statutory auditor to the general meeting of Komax Holding AG, Dierikon

Report of the statutory auditor on the consolidated financial statements
As statutory auditor, we have audited the consolidated financial statements of Komax Holding AG, which comprise the balance 

sheet, income statement, statement of comprehensive income, cash flow statement, statement of changes in equity, and notes 

(pages 52 to 95), for the year ended 31 December 2012.

Board of Directors’ Responsibility

The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance 

with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the requirements of Swiss law. This responsibility includes de-

signing, implementing, and maintaining an internal control system relevant to the preparation and fair presentation 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 reasonable in 

the circumstances. 

Auditor’s Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit 

in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards as well as the 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 misstate-

ment 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 and fair presentation of the consolidated 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 consoli-

dated 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 31.12.2012 give a true and fair view of the financial posi-

tion, the results of operations, and the cash flows in accordance with the 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 independence 

 (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.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd

Gerd Tritschler 

Audit expert 

Auditor in charge

Basel, 11 March 2013

Sven Rumpel

Audit expert

 
 
 
97

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements
  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG

 106  Corporate Structure 

Comments on the financial statements of  
Komax Holding AG

Balance sheet

Assets

1 
The financial loans Group rose by CHF 1.6 million in total. This increase is the result of newly granted loans 
to subsidiaries.

Two acquisitions were made in the year under review, namely TSK Beteiligungs GmbH, Germany, together 
with all its subsidiaries, and MCM Cosmic KK, Japan. 100% stakes were acquired in both cases. In  addition, 
the investment values of Komax Systems LCF SA, Switzerland, Komax France Sàrl., France, and Komax 
Maroc Sàrl., Morocco, were increased. 

In conjunction with the takeover of TSK Beteiligungs GmbH and its subsidiaries, existing loans were trans-
ferred to the accounts of Komax Holding AG as participation loans. This development aside, no new partici-
pation loans were granted in 2012.

The increase in non-current loans Group is attributable to loans granted to TSK companies.

Liabilities

2 
Komax Holding AG’s current account debt toward Komax AG, Switzerland, increased to CHF 59.6 million in 
the  2012  financial  year  as  a  result  of  the  above-mentioned  acquisitions.  The  dividend  of  Komax  AG, 
 Switzerland, for the 2011 financial year (CHF 26.0 million) was offset against the current account debt.

The credit agreement concluded in 2009 between Komax Holding AG and a syndicate of banks for a credit 
limit of CHF 100.0 million (valid until 31 January 2013) was renewed early with effect from 31 July 2012. The 
new syndicated loan agreement, which has a credit limit of CHF 120.0 million, is led by Credit Suisse and 
valid until 31 July 2017. This line of credit provides the Group with the necessary entrepreneurial flexibility, 
guarantees the financing of commercial operations, and ensures the continued implementation of corporate 
strategy. CHF 54.6 million of this credit line was being utilized as at 31 December 2012.

The “Group loans” balance sheet item relates to a financial loan amounting to USD 4.0 million granted by 
Komax Corp., USA, and a loan of EUR 0.4 million granted by Komax France Sàrl., France.

In accordance with the prevailing capital contribution principle, capital contributions (share premiums) made 
after 31 December 1996 are disclosed in the separate equity item “Capital contribution reserves”. Repay-
ments to shareholders from this account are treated as equal to the repayment of nominal capital and are 
therefore not subject to withholding tax.

The self-financing ratio decreased by 3.7 percentage points from 67.7% in 2011 to 64.0% in 2012.

Reserves  for  treasury  shares  remained  unchanged  at  CHF  3.1  million  as  at  31  December  2012.  These 
 reserves are valued at the weighted average acquisition value of the treasury shares held.

 
 
 
98

Income statement

Revenues

3 
Komax Holding AG’s dividend income comes from Komax AG, Switzerland (CHF 26.0 million), and Komax 
Management AG, Switzerland (CHF 0.3 million).

Services to Group companies comprise revenues from holding fees and licences.

Financial income includes interest on loans granted to Group companies, exchange rate gains on short-
term financial loans, and realized and unrealized gains on securities held.  

Expenditure

4 
Administration  expenses  comprise  compensation  for  the  Board  of  Directors,  patent  and  licensing  costs, 
legal and advisory expenses, and other operating expenses. 

Financial expenses include interest on loans payable to third parties and Group companies, as well as real-
ized and unrealized exchange rate losses. As there were no major changes in the EUR and USD exchange 
rates against local currency CHF, exchange rate losses were CHF 5.1 million lower than in the previous year, 
resulting  in  financial  expenses  of  CHF  2.1  million  (exchange  rate  losses  in  USD)  and  CHF  0.4  million 
 (exchange rate losses in EUR). The valuation of treasury shares added CHF 0.7 million to financial expenses, 
whereas this valuation adjustment weighed on the financial result to the tune of CHF 1.1 million in 2011.

99

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements
  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG

 106  Corporate Structure 

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

496

1 951

15

1 849

11

1 786

1 889

23

1 660

4

104 394

102 827

610

36

369

240

109 362

108 798

141 455 

2 228

19 085

58 798

221 566

126 195 

2 228

11 433

48 013

187 869

330 928

296 667

193

59 601

610

1

4 168

64 573

54 640

54 640

249

46 550

519

3

4 415

51 736

44 000

44 000

119 213

95 736

344

2 100

3 086

20 387

162 816

196

22 786

211 715

340

2 286

3 086

32 207

148 816

0

14 196

200 931

Balance sheet

in TCHF

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Treasury shares

Other receivables third parties

Other receivables Group

Other receivables associates 

Financial loans Group

Financial loans associates

Accrued income / prepaid expenses

Total current assets

Investments in subsidiaries

Investments in associates

Participation loans Group

Financial loans Group

Total non-current assets

Total assets

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Other liabilities third parties

Other liabilities Group

Accrued expenses / deferred income

Provisions

Loans Group

Total current liabilities

Loans third parties

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Share capital

General statutory reserves

Reserves for treasury shares

Capital contribution reserves

Free reserves

Retained earnings

Profit after taxes

Total shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

330 928

296 667

 
 
 
100

Income statement

in TCHF

Dividend income

Services to Group companies

Financial income

Total income

Administrative expenses

Financial expenses

Other expenses

Total expenses

Profit before taxes

Taxes

Profit after taxes

2012

26 250

465

4 747

31 462

2 358

5 552

734

8 644

2011

21 588

814

4 828

27 230

1 895

10 312

660

12 867

22 818

14 363

32

167

22 786

14 196

101

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements
  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG

 106  Corporate Structure 

Notes to the 2012 financial statements

1 

Contingent liabilities

in TCHF

Joint liability for Group taxation value-added tax

Guarantees (in favour of subsidiaries)

in EUR

in USD

in CHF

Total

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

p.m.

p.m.

42

455

7 355

7 852

173

1 054

2 071

3 298

Conditional capital

2 
As at 1 January 2012, the conditional capital consisted of 449 120 registered shares, each with a par value 
of CHF 0.10, created for management and employee share ownership schemes. 42 909 options were con-
verted into shares in 2012 (2011: none). There was no increase in the conditional  capital.

Change in conditional share capital 

Opening amount as at 1 January 2012

Reduction in conditional share capital as a result of 
exercise of options in 2012 

Closing amount as at 31 December 2012

Number of conditional 
registered shares

Par value
CHF

Conditional 
share capital
CHF 

449 120

−42 909

406 211

0.10

0.10

0.10

44 912

−4 291

40 621

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
102

3 

Treasury shares

Change in 2012

Opening amount 

Purchases (avg. CHF 0.00/share) 

Sales (avg. CHF 0.00/share) 

Closing amount

Total

Change in 2011

Opening amount 

Purchases (avg. CHF 102.92/share) 

Sales (avg. CHF 108.50/share) 

Closing amount

1.1.2012

Additions

Disposals

31.12.2012

27 483

27 483

0

0

0

0

27 483

27 483

1.1.2011

Additions

Disposals

31.12.2011

30 800

6 683

10 000

27 483

Total

30 800

6 683

10 000

27 483

4 

Major shareholders

at 31 December 2012
Shareholder / shareholder group

Max Koch, Meggen

at 31 December 2011
Shareholder / shareholder group

Max Koch, Meggen

No. of shares 

Interest

231 401

6.7%

No. of shares 

Interest

231 401

6.8%

Externally regulated capital requirements (covenants)

5 
The  Group’s  financial  liabilities  are  subject  to  the  following  externally  regulated  capital  requirements 
 (cov enants) as per the syndicated loan agreement:

–  The gearing factor may not exceed 2.75 either at 31 December 2012 or thereafter at each quarter-end 

balance sheet date.

–  The self-financing ratio (i.e. the Group’s reported equity plus subordinated loans less goodwill divided by 

total assets less goodwill) may not fall below 50% at any balance sheet reference date.

The Komax Group has complied with all capital requirements since the contract signing date as well as at 
31 December 2012. Within the scope of the syndicated loan agreement, Komax Holding AG guarantees for 
the liabilities of any member of the Komax Group.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
103

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements
  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG

 106  Corporate Structure 

Risk assessment

6 
A detailed description of risk management can be found on pages 70 to 72 of Note 3 to the consolidated  
financial statements.

Remuneration of Board of Directors and Executive Committee

7 
The compensation paid to the members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee includes, in 
particular, fees, wages, bonuses, and the allocation of options in the context of the share-based compensa-
tion  from  the  employee  participation  program.  The  variable  remuneration  is  dependent  on  the  business 
 result and the fulfilment of key individual tasks. All amounts are gross and include social security contribu-
tions  payable  by  employees.  Of  the  employer’s  contribution  towards  social  security,  pension  fund  con-
tributions are shown.

The following benefits were paid out in the 2012 and 2011 financial years:

CHF

Board of Directors

Leo Steiner

Daniel Hirschi

Max Koch

Melk M. Lehner

Hans Caspar von der Crone
Kurt Haerri1)

Total Board of Directors

Executive Committee
Beat Kälin2)

Gross value of  
salaries and fees 
 during the  
financial year 

Gross value 
of cash  
bonuses

Allocation 
number of 
options

Tax value of 
options3)

BVG 
contribu-
tions

Total
remuner  -
ation
2012

Total
remuneration
2011

Chairman

232 500

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

95 000

95 000

95 000

100 000

62 500

680 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2 500

1 000

1 000

1 000

1 000

500

23 700

9 480

9 480

9 480

9 480

4 740

7 000

66 360

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

256 200

104 480

104 480

104 480

109 480

67 240

281 800

114 220

114 220

114 220

119 220

n.s.

746 360

743 680

Total other members of Executive Committee

1 012 474

266 977

12 000

113 760

136 859

1 530 070

CEO

423 138

66 000

8 000

75 840

62 400

627 378

1 016 561

1 948 295

Total Executive Committee

1 435 612

332 977

20 000

189 600

199 259

2 157 448

2 964 856

1) Member of the Board of Directors since 3 May 2012. 
2) Highest-compensated member of Executive Committee. 
3)  The options were valued on the basis of their tax value. This is CHF 9.48 for the 2012 options, which have an exercise price of CHF 66.21 and a duration  

of five years (three years to vest, two years to exercise).

 
 
 
104

8 

Holdings of shares and options

Assets in units

Board of Directors

Leo Steiner

Daniel Hirschi

Max Koch

Melk M. Lehner

Hans Caspar von der Crone
Kurt Haerri1)

Chairman

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

31.12.2012
Shares

Options

31.12.2011
Shares

118 650

200

231 401

11 000

9 300

25

7 000

4 000

4 000

4 000

4 000

500

116 650

200

231 401

11 000

9 300

n.s.

Options

11 500

4 000

4 000

4 000

4 000

n.s.

Total Board of Directors

370 576

23 500

368 551

27 500

Executive Committee

Beat Kälin

Andreas Wolfisberg

CEO

CFO

Walter Nehls

Matijas Meyer
René Ronchetti2)
Serge Peguiron3)

Head of BU Solar 

Head of BU Wire

Head of BU Medtech

Head of BU Medtech

7 300

1 100

1 200

0

0

n.s.

27 000

9 000

10 000

7 500

1 000

n.s.

2 300

700

400

600

n.s.

620

32 000

13 000

10 000

6 100

n.s.

11 500

Total Executive Committee

9 600

54 500

4 620

72 600

1) Member of the Board of Directors since 3 May 2012. 
2) Member of the Executive Committee since 1 September 2012. 
3) Member of the Executive Committee until 31 August 2012.

No loans or credits were granted to members of the Board of Directors, members of the Executive Commit-
tee, or related parties of these persons during the 2012 and 2011 financial years. There are no outstanding 
loans or credits to these persons.

There are no other items requiring disclosure under sections 663b, 663bbis , and 663c of the Swiss Code of 
Obligations.

 
This page has been intentionally left blank.

106

Komax Group Companies

Direct and indirect equity participation as at 31 December 2012

Komax Holding AG
Dierikon, Switzerland

Purpose: Holding of equity interests
Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange
Swiss security ID code: 001070215
Share capital: CHF 344 378.90
Market capitalization: 
CHF 244.5 million

Company

Komax Management AG

Komax AG

Komax Systems LCF SA

Komax France Sàrl.

Komax Deutschland GmbH

Komax Portuguesa S.A.

Komax Holding Corp.

Komax Solar Inc.

Komax Systems Rockford Inc.

Komax Corp.

Komax Comercial do Brasil Ltda.

Komax Maroc Sàrl.

Komax SA Pty. Ltd.

Komax Shanghai Co. Ltd.

Komax Systems Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

MCM Cosmic KK

Komax Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Komax Automation India Pvt. Ltd.

TSK Beteiligungs GmbH

TSK Prüfsysteme GmbH

TSK Innovations Co.

TSK do Brasil Ltda.

TSK Tunisia s.a.l.

TSK Test Sistemleri Ltd. Sti.

TSK Test Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.

Place

Dierikon, Switzerland

Dierikon, Switzerland

La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland

Epinay-sur-Seine, France

Nuremberg, Germany

S. Domingos de Rana, Portugal

Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USA

York, Pennsylvania, USA

Rockford, Illinois, USA

Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USA

São Paulo, Brazil

Mohammédia, Morocco

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Shanghai, China

Penang, Malaysia

Tokyo, Japan

Singapore

Gurgaon, India

Porta Westfalica, Germany

Porta Westfalica, Germany

El Paso, Texas, USA

Colombo, Brazil

Tunis, Tunesia

Velimese Corlu, Turkey

Shanghai, China

Komax Jinchen Solar Equipment (Yingkou) Co. Ltd.

Yingkou, China

SLE quality engineering Verwaltungs GmbH

SLE quality engineering GmbH & Co. KG

Grafenau, Germany

Grafenau, Germany

Purpose

Participation

Ordinary capital

Sales

Sales

Sales

Sales

Sales

Sales

Sales

Sales

Group services and management

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

Holding of equity interests

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

Engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, production, sales

Engineering, production, sales

R&D, production, marketing, sales

Holding of equity interests

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

Engineering, production, marketing, sales

Engineering, production, marketing, sales

Engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production

Administration

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

51%

30%

30%

CHF

CHF

CHF

EUR

EUR

EUR

USD

USD

USD

USD

BRL

MAD

ZAR

USD

MYR

JPY

SGD

INR

EUR

EUR

USD

BRL

TND

TRY

CNY

CNY

EUR

EUR

100 000

5 000 000

4 500 000

1 500 000

400 000

1 500 000

8 160 000

150

10 000

1 000 000

200 000

10 000 000

200

200 000

3 000 000

30 000 000

100 000

10 000 000

4 000 000

1 764 700

1 000 000

362 500

366 000

265 500

3 275 902

16 000 000

25 000

5 700 000

107

  Financial Statements
  48  Financial Statements 

  of Komax Group

  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 106  Corporate Structure 

Company

Komax Management AG

Komax AG

Komax Systems LCF SA

Komax France Sàrl.

Komax Deutschland GmbH

Komax Portuguesa S.A.

Komax Holding Corp.

Komax Solar Inc.

Komax Systems Rockford Inc.

Komax Corp.

Komax Comercial do Brasil Ltda.

Komax Maroc Sàrl.

Komax SA Pty. Ltd.

Komax Shanghai Co. Ltd.

Komax Systems Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

MCM Cosmic KK

Komax Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Komax Automation India Pvt. Ltd.

TSK Beteiligungs GmbH

TSK Prüfsysteme GmbH

TSK Innovations Co.

TSK do Brasil Ltda.

TSK Tunisia s.a.l.

TSK Test Sistemleri Ltd. Sti.

TSK Test Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.

Place

Dierikon, Switzerland

Dierikon, Switzerland

La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland

Epinay-sur-Seine, France

Nuremberg, Germany

S. Domingos de Rana, Portugal

Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USA

York, Pennsylvania, USA

Rockford, Illinois, USA

Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USA

São Paulo, Brazil

Mohammédia, Morocco

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Shanghai, China

Penang, Malaysia

Tokyo, Japan

Singapore

Gurgaon, India

Porta Westfalica, Germany

Porta Westfalica, Germany

El Paso, Texas, USA

Colombo, Brazil

Tunis, Tunesia

Velimese Corlu, Turkey

Shanghai, China

Komax Jinchen Solar Equipment (Yingkou) Co. Ltd.

Yingkou, China

SLE quality engineering Verwaltungs GmbH

SLE quality engineering GmbH & Co. KG

Grafenau, Germany

Grafenau, Germany

Purpose

Participation

Ordinary capital

Group services and management

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

Sales

Sales

Holding of equity interests

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

Engineering, production, marketing, sales

Sales

Sales

Sales

Sales

R&D, production, sales

Engineering, production, sales

R&D, production, marketing, sales

Sales

Sales

Holding of equity interests

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

Engineering, production, marketing, sales

Engineering, production, marketing, sales

Engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production

Administration

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

51%

30%

30%

CHF

CHF

CHF

EUR

EUR

EUR

USD

USD

USD

USD

BRL

MAD

ZAR

USD

MYR

JPY

SGD

INR

EUR

EUR

USD

BRL

TND

TRY

CNY

CNY

EUR

EUR

100 000

5 000 000

4 500 000

1 500 000

400 000

1 500 000

8 160 000

150

10 000

1 000 000

200 000

10 000 000

200

200 000

3 000 000

30 000 000

100 000

10 000 000

4 000 000

1 764 700

1 000 000

362 500

366 000

265 500

3 275 902

16 000 000

25 000

5 700 000

 
 
 
108

Proposal for the appropriation of profit

The Board of Directors proposes the following appropriation of profit and payout (which is not subject to 
withholding tax) from the capital contribution reserves:

in CHF

Balance carried forward from previous year

Profit after taxes

Transfer from capital contribution reserves

Total available for distribution

Payout from capital contribution reserves of CHF 2.00 per registered share  
(2011: CHF 4.00) which is not subject to withholding tax1)

Allocation to free reserves

Profit carried forward

Total

31.12.2012

31.12.2011

195 845

22 785 694

6 887 578

29 869 117

0

14 195 845

13 603 520

27 799 365

6 887 578

13 603 520

22 800 000

14 000 000

181 539

195 845

29 869 117

27 799 365

1)  The stated amount covers the requirement for the payout from capital reserves for all registered shares outstanding. Registered 
shares which will be issued after 1 January 2013 upon exercise of options are also entitled to the payout from capital reserves. 
Therefore, the stated amount may be subject to changes. 

109

  Financial Report

  48  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements
  97  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG

 106  Corporate Structure 

Report of the statutory auditor to the general meeting of Komax Holding AG, Dierikon

Report of the statutory auditor on the financial statements
As statutory auditor, we have audited the financial statements of Komax Holding AG, which comprise the balance sheet, income 

statement, and notes (pages 99 to 107), for the year ended 31 December 2012.

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 accord -

ance 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 appropriateness 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 31 December 2012 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 independence 

 (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.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd

Gerd Tritschler 

Audit expert 

Auditor in charge

Basel, 11 March 2013

Sven Rumpel

Audit expert

 
 
 
 
 
110

Glossary

Mechatronics 

Crimping 

 The term mechatronics describes the synergistic interaction between 
the  specialist  disciplines  of  mechanical  engineering,  electrical  engin-
eering, and computer engineering in the design and manufacture of in-
dustrial products and in process design.

 Crimping is a bonding technique whereby two components are joined 
together  by  plastic  deformation.  It  thus  constitutes  an  alternative  to 
conventional  bonding  methods  such  as  soldering  or  welding.  Crimp 
connections are predominantly used in mass production settings with 
non-stop assembly of single strands.

Crimp force monitoring 

 Measurement and monitoring of crimping processes during wire con-
nector crimping.

Micrograph laboratory 

Stripping 

Twisting 

Solar cell 

Solar module 

Stringing 

 Micrographs  are  an  important  criterion  for  analysing  the  quality  of 
crimp connections and ensuring traceability in production. Micrograph 
laboratories analyse and document the quality of crimp connections, 
using colour pictures.

 Process  whereby  a  section  of  the  insulating  cover  (or  “insulation 
sleeve/sheath”) of an electrical conductor (wire or flex) is removed up 
to a specific required length to allow the wire to be connected to an-
other component.

 Process  whereby  wires  are  twisted  against  one  another  and  wound  
together into a spiral. Twisted pairs are a low-cost way of preventing 
electromagnetic interference.

 A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electronic component that con-
verts short-wave radiation energy, usually sunlight, directly into elec-
tricity.

 A solar module, or photovoltaic module, converts sunlight directly into 
electricity. Its most important components are a number of solar cells.

 Process whereby individual solar cells are joined together in individual 
“strings” using soldering strips. 

111

  Further Informations

 110  Glossary 
 112  Addresses 
 116  Five-Year Overview

Wafer 

Inhaler 

Pen 

 Wafers  are  circular  discs  of  less  than  1  mm  in  thickness.  They  are 
 manufactured  from  mono-  or  polycrystalline  (semiconductor)  blanks 
(so-called ingots) and are usually used as a substrate (base plate) for 
electronic components. 

 Device used in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic 
or acute respiratory diseases.

 Injection  device,  for  example  for  administering  insulin,  characterized 
by its ease of use.

Self-medication 

Self-treatment with medicines.

 
112

Addresses

Headquarters
Komax Holding AG 
CH-6036 Dierikon
Phone  +41 41 455 04 55
+41 41 450 42 66
Fax 
info.din@komaxgroup.com

Botswana
 Komtech
ZA-4391 Salt Rock Ballito
Phone  +27 32 525 5155
+27 86 766 1572
Fax  
u.petry@komtech.co.za

Angola
Komax Portuguesa
PT-2785-034 S. Domingos de Rana
Phone  +351 21 444 8480
Fax 
+351 21 444 8499
miguel.peres@komaxgroup.com

Brasil
Komax Comercial do Brasil Ltda.
BR-06440-110 Barueri/São Paulo
Phone  +55 11 3028 1112
Fax 
+55 11 4689 1221
andre.pedroni@komaxgroup.com

Argentina
El Proveedor S.R.L.
AR-Buenos Aires
Phone  +54 11 476 136 07
Fax 
+54 11 476 136 07
nmatus@elproveedorsrl.com.ar

Australia
Suba Engineering Pty. Ltd.
AU-2200 Bankstown N.S.W. 
Phone  +61 297 900 900
+61 297 083 040
Fax 
subasyd@suba.com.au

Austria
Thonauer GmbH
AT-1230 Wien
Phone  +43 1 804 28 710
Fax 
info@thonauer.at

+43 1 804 28 7110

Belarus
Asber
BY-220018 Minsk
Phone  +375 17 258 1166
Fax 
+375 17 258 2550
info@asber.by

Belgium
Smans N.V.
BE-2300 Turnhout
Phone  +32 1442 4401
Fax 
+32 1442 6072
info@smans.com

     TSK do Brasil Ltda.
BR-83404 Colombo
Phone  +55 413 621 1794
Fax  
+55 413 621 1794
tsk@tskbrasil.com.br

Bulgaria
Tekuni Eood
BG-1415 Dragalevtsi
Phone  +359 897 761 159
Fax 
info@tekuni.biz

+359 297 530 32

Canada
Komax Corporation
US-Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-4507
Phone  +1 847 537 6640
Fax 
+1 847 537 5751
info.buf@komaxgroup.com

China

     Komax Shanghai Co. Ltd.
CN-201108 Shanghai
Phone  +86 21 2416 5668
Fax 
+86 21 2416 5669
info.shi@komaxgroup.com

Beijing Office
Phone  +86 10 5162 7825
+86 10 5278 6140
Fax 

Changchun Office
Phone  +86 431 8455 2252
+86 431 8455 2251
Fax  

Chendu Office
Phone  +86 28 8738 24 85
+86 28 8738 24 86
Fax 

  Guangzhou Office

Phone  +86 20 2886 0648
Fax 
+86 20 3878 0400

Shandong Office
Phone  +86 631 5990 475
Fax 
+86 631 5990 465

Komax Jinchen Solar Equipment
(Yingkou) Co. Ltd.
CN-115000 Yingkou
Phone  +86 417 3252 372
Fax 
+86 417 3252 402

     TSK Test Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.

CN-201111 Shanghai
Phone  +86 21 5159 5228 
+86 21 5159 5227
Fax  
info@t-s-k.com.cn

Croatia
  Mikom D.O.O.

HR-49247 Zlatar Bistrica Hrvatska
Phone  +385 49 462 034
Fax 
+385 49 461 839
mikom@mikom.hr

Czech Republic
Komax Deutschland GmbH
DE-90449 Nuremberg
Phone  +49 911 32 49 50
Fax 
+49 911 32 49 550
matthias.klaus@komaxgroup.com

TSK Services
CZ-34901 Stříbro
Phone  +420 374 623 896
Fax  
+420 374 627 897
tskservicecz@tiscali.cz

Denmark

  Matech Systems ApS
DK-7190 Billund
Phone  +45 75 33 89 49
Fax 
+45 75 33 89 46
info@matechsystems.dk

Dubai
Contax Automatin Ltd.
GB-W5 3BU London
Phone  +44 208 354 9923
Fax  
+44 208 9988 771
morteza@contaxautomation.com

  Production 

  Sales and service 

  Participation 

  S ales representative

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
113

  Further Informations

 110  Glossary 
 112  Addresses 
 116  Five-Year Overview

Egypt
Sigma Group Egypt
EG-11361 Cairo
Phone  +202 2644 7245
+202 2642 3604
Fax 
info@sigma-g.com

El Salvador
Komax Service Office
HN-San Pedro Sula
Cortes Honduras
Phone  +1 9932 5200
guillermo.lopez@komaxgroup.com

Estonia
Gammeter OU
EE-76606 Keila
Phone  +372 671 22 52
Fax 
+372 671 22 53
info@gammeter.ee

Finland
AD Contact AB Gammeter
FI-33560 Tampere
Phone  +358 3380 2211
Fax 
+358 3380 2244
info@gammeter.fi

France
Komax France
FR-93806 Epinay-sur-Seine
Phone  +33 14 940 1313
Fax 
+33 14 940 1329
denis.loizon@komaxgroup.com

     Komax France

FR-13106 Rousset
Phone  +33 44 229 1200
Fax  
+33 44 229 1212
info.ros@komaxgroup.com

Germany
Komax Deutschland GmbH
DE-90449 Nuremberg
Phone  +49 911 32 49 50
Fax 
+49 911 32 49 550
matthias.klaus@komaxgroup.com

     TSK Prüfsysteme GmbH

DE-32457 Porta Westfalica
Phone  +49 571 79 580
+49 571 79 540
Fax  
info@t-s-k.de

SLE quality engineering
GmbH & Co. KG 
DE-94481 Grafenau
Phone  +49 911 32 49 50
Fax 

+49 911 32 49 550

AAT Aston GmbH
DE-90257 Nuremberg
Phone  +49 911 32 66 210
Fax 
+49 911 32 66 299
info@aston.de

Great Britain
KPE Ltd.
GB-Hants SO31 5QA
Phone  +44 845 519 2418
+44 238 045 4675
Fax 
bthornton@kpeltd.co.uk

Honduras
Komax Service Office
HN-San Pedro Sula
Cortes Honduras
Phone  +1 9932 5200
guillermo.lopez@komaxgroup.com

Hungary
Thonauer Kereskedelmi és Szerviz Kft.
HU-1113 Budapest
Phone  +36 1372 7700
Fax 
+36 1372 7709
hungary@thonauer.net

India
Komax Automation India Pvt. Ltd.
IN-122016 Gurgaon
Phone  +91 124 4599 100
Fax 
+91 124 4599 101
pradeep.kaura@komaxgroup.com

Japan

     MCM Cosmic KK

JP-Tokyo 191-0062
Phone  +81 42 582 7911
+81 42 582 7922
Fax 
info@mcmcosmic.co.jp

Korea
Hansung Tech Cc. Ltd.
KR-463-828 Kyunggi-Do
Phone  +82 31 781 3971 
Fax 
+82 31 781 3975
hiin@hansungtech.co.kr

Latvia
Gammeter OU
EE-76606 Keila
Phone  +37 2671 2251
Fax 
+37 2671 2253
info@gammeter.ee

Luxembourg
Smans N.V.
BE-2300 Turnhout
Phone  +32 1442 4401
Fax 
+32 1442 6072
info@smans.com

TSK Sales and Services
IN-411051 Pune
Phone  +91 20 24 345 888
pramod.pawar@t-s-k.in

Indonesia
Komax Singapore Pte. Ltd.
SG-368357 Singapore
Phone  +65 6285 9713
Fax 
+65 6285 9714
larry.wee@komaxgroup.com

Ireland
Kinetic Electronics Ltd.
IE-Co. Offaly
Phone  +353 5793 21014
Fax 
+353 5793 21014
sean@kinetic.ie

Israel
Tamir Engineering & 
Development Ltd. 
IL-49170 Petach-Tiqva
Phone  +972 3922 9422
+972 3922 9411
Fax 
tamireng@netvision.net.il

Italy
Cofilimacchine S.R.L.
IT-20853 Biassono
Phone  +39 039 232 41 25
+39 039 232 21 45
Fax 
info@cofilimacchine.it

Macedonia
  Mikom D.O.O.

HR-49247 Zlatar Bistrica Hrvatska
Phone  +385 49 462 034
Fax 
+385 49 461 839
mikom@mikom.h

Malaysia
Komax KL
MY-58000 Kuala Lumpur
Phone  +60 37981 2662
Fax 
+60 37987 8662
barron@pc.jaring.my

     Komax Systems Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

MY-11900 Penang
Phone  +60 4627 2233
Fax  
+60 4627 2231
gerard.probst@komaxgroup.com

Mexico
Komax Corporation
US-El Paso, TX 79936
Phone  +1 915 591 4551
+1 915 591 5868
Fax 
enrique.romero@komaxgroup.com

TSK Services
MX –72590 Puebla
Phone  +52 222 31 12 398
+52 222 31 12 398
Fax  
damian.tsk.mex@prodigy.net.mx

Montenegro
  Mikom D.O.O.

HR-49247 Zlatar Bistrica Hrvatska
Phone  +385 49 462 034
Fax 
+385 49 461 839
mikom@mikom.hr

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
114

Morocco
Komax Maroc
MA-20800 Mohammédia
Phone  +212 5 2330 5285
+212 5 2330 5173
Fax 
miguel.peres@komaxgroup.com

Netherlands
Smans N.V.
BE-2300 Turnhout
Phone  +32 1442 4401
Fax 
+32 1442 6072
info@smans.com

New Zealand
Suba Engineering Ptv. Ltd.
AU-2200 Bankstown N.S.W. 
Phone  +61 297 900 900
Fax  
+61 297 083 040
subasyd@suba.com.au

Nicaragua
Komax Service Office
HN-San Pedro Sula
Cortes Honduras
Phone  +1 9932 5200
guillermo.lopez@komaxgroup.com

Norway
Adcontact AB
SE-17207 Sundbyberg
Phone  +46 8445 3600
Fax 
+46 8445 3610
info@adcontact.se

Paraguay
Komax Comercial do Brasil Ltda.
BR-06440-110 - Barueri / Sao Paulo
Phone  +55 11 3028 1112
Fax  
+55 11 4689 1221
andre.pedroni@komaxgroup.com

Philippines
Neuftech Philippines Inc.
PH-4027 Calamba Laguna
Phone  +63 49 545 4056
Fax 
+63 49 545 4262
jdcntech@pldtdsl.net

Poland
Evoltec
PL-02-676 Warschau
Phone  +48 22 550 27 40-44
Fax 
tomasz.pawlowski@evoltec.pl

+48 22 550 27 45

Portugal
Komax Portuguesa
PT-2785-034 S. Domingos de Rana
Phone  +351 21 444 8480
+351 21 444 8499
Fax 
miguel.peres@komaxgroup.com

Romania
SC Thonauer Automatic S.R.L.
RO-024011 Bukarest
Phone  +40 21335 1287
+40 21336 9534
Fax 
sales@thonauer.ro

Slovenia
  Mikom-si D.O.O.
SI-3320 Velenje
Phone  +386 3 8919 310
+386 3 8919 311
Fax 
mikom-si@siol.net

SC Amaprest SRL
RO-420005 Bistrita
Phone  +40 263 228 025
Fax 
+40 263 228 025
adrian_miclea@t-s-k.ro

Russia
Komax Moscow
RU-125190 Moscow
Phone  +7 495 221 2943
Fax 
+7 495 221 2943
info.rus@komaxgroup.com

Ostec
RU-121467 Moscow
Phone  +7 495 788 4444
Fax 
+7 495 788 4442
golubyev.a@ostec-group.ru

Ostec
RU-195009 St. Petersburg
Phone  +7 911 849 7986
Fax  
+7 495 788 4442
eugene.belov@ostec-group.ru

Serbia
 Mikom Electronic D.O.O
SRB-34210 Raca 
Phone  +381 34 752 760 
Fax  
+381 34 752 760 
info@mikomgroup.com

Singapore
Komax Singapore Pte. Ltd.
SG-368357 Singapore
Phone  +65 6285 9713
Fax 
+65 6285 9714
larry.wee@komaxgroup.com

Slovakia
TSK Services
SK-066 01 Humenné
Phone  +421 57 776 77 61
igor.sramko@mail.t-com.sk

Thonauer SPOL S.R.O.
SK-81339 Bratislava
Phone  +421 2527 33664
+421 2527 33665
Fax 
info@thonauer.sk

South Africa
TSK Sales & Services SA
SA-6001 Port Elizabeth
Phone  +27 82 046 9484
Fax  
+27 86 607 5088
theo@blousolutions.co.za

 Komtech
ZA-Salt Rock Ballito 
Phone  +27 32 525 5155 
Fax  
+27 86 766 1572 
u.petry@komtech.co.za

Spain
Estanflux S.A.
ES-08023 Barcelona
Phone  +34 9 3351 6151
Fax 
+34 9 3352 3845
comercial@estanflux.es
sat@estanflux.com

Sweden
Adcontact AB
SE-17207 Sundbyberg
Phone  +46 8445 3600
Fax 
+46 8445 3610
info@adcontact.se

Switzerland

     Komax AG

CH-6036 Dierikon
Phone  +41 41 455 04 55
Fax 
+41 41 450 42 66
info.din@komaxgroup.com

     Komax AG

CH-6343 Rotkreuz
Phone  +41 41 799 45 00
Fax  
+41 41 799 45 01
info.rok@komaxgroup.com

     Komax Systems LCF SA

CH-2301 La Chaux-de-Fonds
Phone  +41 32 924 71 11
+41 32 924 71 15
Fax  
info.lcf@komaxgroup.com

Taiwan
Chain Year Industr. Corp.
RC-221 Taipei Hsien
Phone  +886 22 691 3568
+886 22 691 3586
Fax 
sales@chainyear.com.tw

  Production 

  Sales and service 

  Participation 

  S ales representative

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
115

  Further Informations

 110  Glossary 
 112  Addresses 
 116  Five-Year Overview

     Komax Systems Rockford Inc.
US-Rockford, IL 61109
Phone  +1 815 229 3800
Fax  
+1 815 229 5491
bill.hoff@komaxgroup.com

     Komax Solar Inc.

US-York, PA 17402
Phone  +1 717 755 6800
+1 717 755 4300
Fax  
brian.micciche@komaxsolar.com

     TSK Innovations Co.

US-9922 El Paso, Texas
Phone  +1 915 581 9718
+1 915 581 9768
Fax  

Uzbekistan
Ostec
RU-121467 Moscow
Phone  +7 495 788 4444
Fax  
+7 495 788 4442
igor.volkov@ostec-group.ru

Vietnam
DKSH Technology Co. Ltd.
VN-Ho Chi Minh City
Phone  +84 38 125 806
Fax 
+84 38 125 807
ngoc.thihong.vu@dksh.com

DKSH Technology Co. Ltd.
VN-Hanoi
Phone  +84 34 9424 725
Fax 
+84 34 9424 730
huu.viet.nguyen@dksh.com

All other countries
Komax AG 
CH-6036 Dierikon
Phone  +41 41 455 04 55
Fax 
+41 41 450 42 66
info.din@komaxgroup.com

Thailand
DKSH (Thailand) Ltd.
TH-10310 Bangkok
Phone  +66 2254 4900 1696
+66 2652 9417 1550
Fax  
weilun.tsao@dksh.com

Tunesia

     TSK Tunisia s.a.l.
TN-8603 Tunis
Phone  +216 71 770 506
Fax  
+216 71 770 424
ahmed.hamdouni@tsk.com.tn

Reemi
TN-2000 Le Bardo
Phone  +216 71 222 811
Fax 
+216 71 519 913
reemi@planet.tn

Turkey

     TSK Test Sistemleri Ltd. Sti.
TR-59860 Velimese Corlu
Phone  +90 282 691 12 27
Fax  
+90 282 691 12 33
yuksel@tsktr.com

Unitek Elektrik San. Ve Tic. 
Ltd. Sti.
TR-34852 Maltepe – Istanbul
Phone  +90 216 518 9440
+90 216 518 9436
Fax 
info@unitek-elektrik.com

UAE
Contax Automatin Ltd.
GB-W5 3BU London
Phone  +44 208 354 9923
Fax  
+44 208 9988 771
morteza@contaxautomation.com

Ukraine
  Wireworks

UA-79015 Lviv
Phone  +38 067 673 0314
Fax 
+38 032 245 1193
andriy.tytomyr@wireworksua.com

Uruguay 
EL PROVEEDOR S.R.L.
AR-Buenos Aires
Phone  +54 11 476 136 07
+54 11 476 136 07
Fax  
nmatus@elproveedorsl.com.ar

USA
Komax Corporation
US-Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-4507
Phone  +1 847 537 6640
+1 847 537 5751
Fax 
info.buf@komaxgroup.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
116

Five-year overview

in TCHF

Revenues1)

Gross profit

in % of revenues

EBITD

in % of revenues

Operating profit/loss (EBIT)

in % of revenues

Group profit/loss after taxes (EAT)

in % of revenues

Depreciation

Cash flow from operating activities

Investments in non-current assets

Free cash flow

Research and development

in % of revenues

Total assets

Non-current assets

Current assets
Shareholders’ equity 2)

in % of total assets

Share capital

Total liabilities

in % of total assets

Non-current financial loans

Current financial loans

Net cash (+) / net indebtedness (−)

Headcount (at year-end)
Revenues per employee 3)
Gross value added per employee3)
Net value added per employee3)

Shares4)

Par value

High

Low

Closing price on 31.12.

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

340 172

178 559

52.5

211 504

120 169

56.8

36 443

−14 504

10.7

−6.9

29 110

−22 672

8.6

−10.7

342 733

192 636

56.2

39 091

11.4

31 119

9.1

17 780

−19 835

23 226

288 216

170 188

371 424

200 837

59.0

22 924

8.0

14 352

5.0

10 046

3.5

8 572

45 222

9 033

27 627

24 566

8.5

360 189

141 887

218 302

244 391

67.9

344

54.1

54 906

14.8

47 536

12.8

39 280

10.6

7 370

10 055

13 536

−61

23 526

6.3

361 448

112 454

248 994

246 994

68.3

340

5.2

7 333

24 546

5 890

19 500

20 511

6.0

318 698

107 162

211 536

212 523

66.7

340

−9.4

8 168

−8 196

14 414

−21 513

20 101

9.5

290 855

114 187

176 668

199 899

68.7

339

90 956

31.3

44 524

0

−6 270

987

209

87

79

3 388

0.10

80.00

36.05

72.00

6.8

7 972

29 268

8 744

21 717

25 248

7.4

322 086

108 397

213 689

222 098

69.0

339

99 988

31.0

2 000

24 680

19 683

1 138

309

137

130

3 388

0.10

175.00

48.95

53.90

114 904

113 413

106 175

31.9

56 765

0

938

1 330

246

108

100

3 444

0.10

97.10

61.25

71.00

No.

No. 1 000

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

31.4

46 571

0

5 604

1 140

343

147

140

3 401

0.10

120.00

59.00

68.75

33.3

42 374

0

12 026

1 023

333

135

127

3 401

0.10

103.00

73.10

102.00

1) Revenues: net sales + other operating income. 
2) Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company. 
3) Calculated on the basis of average headcount. 
4) Changes resulting from the exercising of option rights. 

 
Komax Holding AG
Investor Relations and  
Corporate Communications 
Marco Knuchel
Industriestrasse 6
CH-6036 Dierikon
Phone +41 41 455 06 16
marco.knuchel@komaxgroup.com

Financial calendar 

Annual General Meeting

Dividend payment

Half-year results 2013

3 May 2013

10 May 2013

20 August 2013

First information on the year 2013 

21 January 2014

Annual media conference/analysts’ 
presentation

Annual General Meeting

26 March 2014

7 May 2014

Forward-looking statements
The present Annual Report contains 
forward-looking statements in relation 
to Komax which are based on current 
assumptions and expectations. Unfore- 
seeable events and developments 
could cause actual results to differ ma- 
terially from those anticipated. Exam-
ples include: changes in the economic 
and legal environment, the outcome  
of legal disputes, exchange rate fluctu-
ations, unexpected market behaviour  
on the part of our competitors, negative 
publicity, and the departure of mem-
bers of management. The forward-
looking statements are pure assump-
tions, made on the basis of information 
that is currently available. This Annual 
Report is available in English and Ger-
man. The original German version is 
binding.

Imprint

Published by:  
Komax Holding AG, Dierikon

Concept and realisation: 
Linkgroup, Zurich 
www.linkgroup.ch 
Publishing platform/PublishingSuite® 
Linkgroup, Zurich 
www.linkgroup.ch 
Steiner Communications, 
Zurich/Uitikon 
www.steinercom.ch

Illustrations:  
Corinna Staffe, Lyon 
www.corinnastaffe.com

Portraits:  
Bernd Schifferdecker, Stuttgart 
www.berndschifferdecker.com

Produced on a climate-neutral basis  
by Linkgroup.

0336008

 
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Komax Holding AG
Industriestrasse 6
CH-6036 Dierikon
Switzerland

Phone +41 41 455 04 55
www.komaxgroup.com