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Komax

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FY2013 Annual Report · Komax
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Annual Report 13

THE WAY TO MAKE IT

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Brief profile

The Komax Group is a globally active technology company 
that focuses on markets in the automation sector. As a lead-
ing manufacturer of innovative and high-quality solutions  
for the wire-processing industry, for the production of mod-
ules 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 pharmaceutical 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, Komax Wire provides an extensive range of quality  
assurance modules and test equipment as well as networking solutions for the safe 
and efficient production of wire harnesses. Moreover, with a sophisticated service  
offering, Komax Wire continues to support its customers worldwide after their  
systems have been commissioned, thereby ensuring high availability and low impair-
ment 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.

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Key figures

in TCHF

Order intake
Revenues2)

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

Headcount (at year-end)

Total assets

Non-current assets

Current assets

Intangible assets

Net cash
Shareholders’ equity3)
in % of total assets

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised). 
2) Revenues: net sales + other operating income. 
3) Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company.

2013

368 273

341 669

203 413

59.5

43 766

12.8

33 224

9.7

25 129

7.4

31 734

8 032

24 545

27 048

7.9

7.33

1 381

357 591

136 616

220 975

49 518

22 616

263 985

73.8

20121)

+/− in %

287 922

288 216

170 188

59.0

22 189

7.7

13 617

4.7

9 426

3.3

45 222

9 033

27 627

24 633

8.5

2.81

1 330

359 533

141 231

218 302

50 989

938

236 111

65.7

27.9

18.5

19.5

97.2

144.0

166.6

–29.8

–11.1

–11.2

9.8

160.9

3.8

–0.5

–3.3

1.2

–2.9

n.s.

11.8

No.

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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

2009

2010

2011

20124)

2013

2009

2010

2011

20124)

2013

  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

2009

2010

2011

20124)

2013

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

  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.

4) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

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

  Business Units 

  14   Wire 
  20   Medtech
  26   Solar 

  32   Sustainability and 

  Social Responsibility

  35   Corporate

 Governance

  45   I nformation for 

  Investors

  49  Financial  
 Report

  50  Consolidated  Financial 

  Statements

 101  Financial Statements
  of Komax Holding AG

 110  Corporate Structure

  Further Information

 114  Glossary
 116  Five-Year Overview

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2

Significant improve-
ment in results

Dear shareholders,

We can look back on a year that proved to be both challenging and successful. Komax Wire was again  
able to build on the good results of the previous year, while Komax Medtech and Komax Solar recorded a 
pleasingly strong improvement in their operating results. In addition, we have set the future course of our 
business on a new path through our decision to sell the Solar business and focus the Group more strongly 
on the high-income business of Komax Wire. Against this backdrop, Komax shares performed very 
strongly, closing the year more than 90% up.

The Komax Group’s consolidated revenues increased to CHF 341.7 million in 2013 (2012: CHF 288.2 mil-

lion). The overall growth rate of 18.5% was split by acquisition effects (+7.0%), currency effects (+0.1%) 
and internal growth of +11.4%. The operating profit (EBIT) increased by an impressive 144.0% to CHF 33.2 
million (2012: CHF 13.6 million). Corporate costs declined by CHF 1.9 million, primarily as a result of lower 
pension obligations under IAS 19. On the other hand, the operating result was impaired by significant write-
downs on customer receivables as well as expenditure in connection with the sale of the Solar segment 
amounting to around CHF 4.5 million. Nonetheless, the EBIT margin reached 9.7% (2012: 4.7%). The cur-
rency effect here was equivalent to –0.1 percentage points. Group profit after taxes (EAT) rose by 166.6% to 
CHF 25.1 million (2012: CHF 9.4 million). Basic earnings per share therefore increased to CHF 7.33 (2012: 
CHF 2.81).

The Komax Group has a very strong financial footing. As at the balance sheet date, shareholders’ equity 

was CHF 264.0 million (2012: CHF 236.1 million) while the equity ratio stood at 73.8% (2012: 65.7%).  
Free cash flow totalled CHF 24.5 million (2012: CHF 27.6 million) while net cash increased to CHF 22.6 mil-
lion (2012: CHF 0.9 million).

Wire persistently strong
Komax Wire enjoyed another very good year. Thanks to broad geographic diversification, the business unit 
was able to compensate for weaker market development in certain regions and benefit from the flourishing 
automotive markets in the US and China. In the cyclical automotive business, the business unit’s global 
presence once again paid off. Other end consumer markets such as the household goods, electronics and 
telecommunication industries likewise displayed robust development, albeit without matching the momen-
tum of the automotive industry. At CHF 268.9 million (CHF 248.6 million after adjustment for acquisitions), 
order intake remained at a high level (2012: CHF 231.1 million). Net sales came in at CHF 253.8 million 
(2012: CHF 228.3 million), or CHF 233.6 million after adjustment for acquisition effects. EBIT amounted to 
CHF 47.4 million (2012: CHF 52.7 million). The partnership with the recently acquired companies is pro-
gressing well.

We are not concerned by the lower margin compared to the previous year. Our decision to drive forward 

business growth and exploit opportunities as they arise has led to temporary pressure on margins. The  
reasons for this decrease include the generally lower margins that the acquired companies currently have, 
higher investment in research and development, increased marketing expenditure and changes in the  
customer mix.

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3

Medtech enjoying an upturn, Solar holding up well
After the disappointing results of the previous year, Komax Medtech was able to improve its result consider-
ably. A large number of orders that had been postponed in 2012 were finally given the green light during  
the year under review. In addition, a number of other lucrative projects were acquired. The number of repeat 
projects as a proportion of the overall volume increased once again. Given the relatively high proportion  
of value creation in Switzerland, however, Komax Medtech continues to suffer from the effects of the strong 
Swiss franc when competing for business with its international competitors. Order intake increased by 
56.9% to CHF 75.0 million (2012: CHF 47.8 million). Net sales totalled CHF 68.1 million (2012: CHF 49.8 
million) while EBIT increased sharply by 135.5% to CHF 3.1 million (2012: CHF –8.6 million).

Solar module manufacturers continued to suffer from excess capacity. Furthermore, numerous produ cers 

were heavily indebted and unable to invest. The demand for new production equipment was accordingly 
modest in 2013. Despite this difficult environment, Komax Solar performed well. The order intake increased 
to CHF 24.4 million (2012: CHF 9.0 million) and net sales came in at CHF 20.2 million (2012: CHF 9.9 mil-
lion). At the same time, EBIT improved from CHF –21.2 million to CHF –9.7 million.

Relations with shareholders and thanks
The necessary adjustments to the company’s Articles of Association – the result of the Minder Initiative  
accepted by the Swiss electorate in March 2013 and the Ordinance against Excessive Remuneration  
in Listed Companies – will be put to a vote at the next Annual General Meeting of 7 May 2014. We are en-
deavouring to implement these requirements in a pragmatic way that takes account of the interests of  
our shareholders, does not diminish the attractiveness of the company, and guarantees the company’s 
legal security. We believe we have a comprehensible compensation system that is conducive to appropri-
ate yet attractive remuneration in line with the market. Shareholders will be able to vote on this system  
for the first time at the 2015 Annual General Meeting.

This year’s convincing result owes a huge amount to the strong motivation, great dedication, and  
professional expertise of all Komax Group employees, who deserve our acknowledgement and thanks for 
their exemplary performance. We would also like to thank our customers and business partners for their 
confidence and constructive partnership. Last but not least, we also thank you, our valued shareholders, 
for your continuing confidence and unwavering loyalty in our company.

The Board of Directors is adhering to its attractive dividend policy, and will propose to the Annual  

General Meeting a distribution from the capital contribution reserves of CHF 4.50 per share (2012:  
CHF 2.00). The payout ratio is therefore 63%. The dividend yield on the date of the Board resolution stood 
at an attractive 3.2%.

Outlook
We continue to expect an economic environment that is characterized by uncertainty, and envisage a year 
full of challenges. We will meet these challenges with a focused strategy that is geared to resolutely pursue 
opportunities.

From today’s standpoint, the Group expects to build on the success of the previous year and achieve 

another good result in 2014.

Leo Steiner 

Beat Kälin

Chairman of the Board of Directors  

Chief Executive Officer

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  Annual Report 6 Business Model 14 Wire  20 Medtech  26 Solar  35 Corporate Governance 45 Investors  49 Financial Report 110 Corporate Structure4

Komax is where  
its customers are

Proximity is what counts. This determines timescales, efficiency  
and quality. That’s why Komax produces in Europe, North and  
South America, Asia and Africa, and provides sales and service  
support in some 60 countries through its subsidiaries and inde-
pendent agents.

The Komax Group therefore has a 
presence in all key production  
centres of its customers. It has its 
finger on the pulse of industry  
and develops needs-driven, high-
value and innovative automation 
solutions for local requirements in 
global markets by drawing on more 
than 35 years’ experience. With  
its global sales and service organi-
zation, Komax guarantees short  
supply and response times.

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5

  Komax production site
  Komax sales and service
  Komax participation

  Sales representative

Headquarters
Komax Holding AG
Dierikon, Switzerland

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  Annual Report 6 Business Model 14 Wire  20 Medtech  26 Solar  35 Corporate Governance 45 Investors  49 Financial Report 110 Corporate Structure6

Business model  
and strategy

The Komax Group is a globally active technology company that  
specializes in automation solutions for selected processes in  
the automotive, solar and pharmaceutical industries. The Group’s  
core competency is mechatronics/robotics, i.e. the inter  - 
disciplinary interaction of precision engineering, electronics  
and information technology.

In operational terms, the business is split into three 
segments (business units). These operate as largely 
autonomous, self-contained brands in a number of 
different markets and fields of application:
−   Komax Wire offers a comprehensive range of in-
novative solutions for all wire-processing applica-
tions, as well as for testing harnesses and ready-
to-install vehicle modules.

−   Komax Solar focuses on the critical processes in 

the value chain 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.

As  part  of  its  annual  strategy  review,  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Komax  Group  decided  to  sell  the 
solar business in August 2013. In its view, the risk 
profile of these activities does not fit with the object-
ives of the Group and ties up resources that could 
be deployed more effectively elsewhere.

Strategy geared to profitability and growth
Komax  is  keen  to  create  value  for  all  stakeholder 
groups, and aims to combine business activity that 
is successful in the long term with environmentally 
and  socially  responsible  conduct.  Based  on  these 
premises,  the  Group  is  pursuing  a  strategy  that  is 

conducive to above-average profitability and further 
growth.  This  strategy  primarily  revolves  around  a 
stronger  focus  on  the  core  business  of  wire  pro-
cessing.

Group  strategy  is  implemented  by  way  of  indi-
vidually defined measures in the individual business 
units. These measures are set out in more detail on 
pages 19, 23, 24 and 30 of the Annual Report.

Sales growth and EBIT margin targets
Komax  has  published  measurable  medium-term 
sales growth and EBIT margin targets for the indi-
vidual  business  units.  These  targets  differ  from 
business unit to business unit, as the correspond-
ing  end-customer  markets  have  different  growth 
momentum, and differentiating factors such as mar-
ket  positioning,  business  model,  and  capital  em-
ployed also have to be taken into account. We will 
not go into further detail on the targets and results 
of the Solar segment here. 

Komax  Wire  recorded  sales  growth  of  11.2% 
and an EBIT margin of 18.7% in the year under re-
view. The growth target of 3% to 5% was exceeded 
thanks to acquisitions in particular. Internal growth 
amounted to around 2%. At 18.7%, the EBIT mar-
gin was within the target area of around 20%. The 
profitability  of  Komax  Wire,  which  is  high  by  the 
standards  of  the  machining  industry,  reflects  the 

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Net sales
by segment

6%
Solar

20%
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  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Report 
 110  Corporate Structure

74%
Wire

2012

+/− in %

24.8

26.9

–2.2

28.6

18.9

2012

5

–41

2013

7 021

5 624

179 828

141 736

79 821

74 280

81 626

57 739

340 950

286 725

Revenue growth target

in %

Komax Wire

Komax Medtech

Target

2013

~3–5
–1)

11

37

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.

EBIT margin target

in %

Komax Wire

Komax Medtech

Target

2013

~20

~5

18.7

4.5

2012

23.1

n.s.

competitiveness  of  the  customer  solutions  offered 
and  the  efficiency  of  the  business  unit’s  operating 
activities.  It  is  also  the  result  of  ongoing  improve-
ments  to  processes  and  pronounced  cost  aware-
ness.  The  decline  in  the  EBIT  margin  is  primarily  
attributable  to  the  first-time  consolidation  of  ac-
quired  companies.  Other  influencing  factors  here  
include above all higher investment in research and 
development, increased marketing expenditure and 
changes in the customer mix.

Komax  Medtech  reported  a  sharp  increase  in 
sales  and  an  EBIT  margin  of  4.5%  in  2013.  The  
initiatives  to  improve  profitability  are  yielding  fruit, 
with the EBIT margin closing in on its medium-term 
target  of  5%.  No  growth  target  was  defined  for 
Komax Medtech, as the development of sales and 
profitability depends almost entirely on projects for 
sophisticated  customer-specific  systems.  The  de-
cisive  criterion  for  success  here  is  the  ability  to  
select  the  right  projects  and  implement  them  effi-
ciently.

Selective acquisitions
Komax’s main focus is on internal growth. In addi-
tion, potential acquisition candidates and any take-
over opportunities that arise are carefully examined 
as part of a clearly defined acquisition strategy. With 
the acquisition of TSK Group and MCM Cosmic KK 
in 2012, and the signing of an agreement to acquire 
the majority of SLE quality engineering as of 1 Janu-
ary 2014, Komax has recently acquired a few com-
panies which strengthen the Wire business unit and 
open up additional growth potential.

Global production, local distribution and  
service network
Komax has 15 production sites worldwide, namely 
in  Switzerland,  Germany,  the  US,  Brazil,  Tunisia, 
Turkey,  China,  Malaysia  and  Japan.  Furthermore, 
the  Group  provides  sales  and  service  support  in 
around 60 countries through subsidiaries and inde-
pendent  agents.  It  can  therefore  provide  efficient 
and  competent  support  to  its  customers,  most  of 
whom operate globally, at all times. Komax is stead-
ily  expanding  its  presence  in  the  emerging  econ-
omies  in  line  with  the  rise  in  demand  from  these 
markets,  as  client  proximity  is  crucial.  This  allows 
Komax  to  keep  its  finger  on  the  pulse  of  industry 
and develop needs-driven, high-value and innova-
tive  automation  solutions  for  local  requirements  in 
global markets by drawing on more than 35 years’ 
experience. Moreover, with its global sales and ser-
vice  organization,  Komax  guarantees  short  supply 
and response times.

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8

High degree of innovation
For many years now, Komax has been continuously 
investing  in  innovations  to  optimize  its  existing 
product range, as well as in new developments with 
the  aim  of  increasing  the  efficiency  and  safety  of 
customer processes. For example, skilfully combin-
ing  different  processes  and  technologies  reduces 
interfaces  and  lead  times  and  also  increases  pro-
cessing reliability. Over the last few years, the Group 

Strategically well-positioned
Recently completed acquisitions complement  
the activities of Komax Wire perfectly and open up  
interesting growth opportunities.

has  invested  around  8%  of  its  sales  in  research  
and  development  per  year,  and  in  2013  employed 
around  145  staff  in  this  area.  Furthermore,  some 
210  engineers  make  a  substantial  contribution  to 
innovation at Komax thanks to experience gained in 
developing customer-specific applications.

Markets and customers
Komax Wire now generates more than 80% of its 
sales  with  customers  in  the  automotive  industry. 
Due to the sheer size of this customer segment and 
the unrelenting momentum of the automotive indus-
try,  this  share  of  business  is  likely  to  increase  
further.  Market  estimates  indicate  that  some  60%  
of  globally  processed  wiring  is  used  in  automotive 
manufacturing.  This  high  proportion  is  explained  
by the fact that the automotive industry is peerless 
when it comes to standardization and automation. 
The  high  volume  of  wires  needed  for  large-batch 

Attractive markets
The markets served by Komax enjoy a profile of  
structural growth. The global need for automation  
solutions will increase further.

processing and the stringent requirements in place 
with regard to finish quality make automated solu-
tions the favoured option for this sector.

The  automotive  industry  is  also  experiencing 
structural growth. The research institute IHS Global 
Insight anticipates that the quantity of vehicles pro-
duced and sold worldwide will grow by an average 

of  3%  to  4%  a  year  between  2014  and  2020.  In 
2015,  indeed,  growth  is  expected  to  be  closer  to 
5%. However, the demand for automation solutions 
for  processing  the  individual  wires  and  wire  har-
nesses  installed  in  vehicles  is  not  only  determined 
by  the  number  of  cars  produced  and  sold.  More  
relevantly,  technical  innovations  such  as  increas-
ingly  complex  functionalities  and  security  equip-
ment,  as  well  as  optimized  or  new  drive  systems, 
are driving the trend towards more electronic com-
ponents in vehicles. At the same time, the ongoing 
process  of  miniaturization  is  leading  to  demand  
for  ever  thinner  wires  and  smaller  housings,  which 
remain difficult to process and insert by hand. Devel-
opments of this kind, together with the gradual rise 
in quality demands from automotive manufacturers, 
are  driving  supplier  companies’  investments  in  
automation  solutions  more  strongly  than  vehicle 
manufacturing volume growth alone. Komax Wire is 
positioned to benefit from this development. In the 
past,  the  business  unit  has  grown  around  a  third 
faster than the automotive industry itself. 

Furthermore,  the  increasingly  widespread  prin-
ciple  of  zero-error  tolerance  is  driving  up  demand 
for  testing  systems  capable  of  ensuring  that  the 
wire harnesses and assemblies installed in vehicles 
work perfectly. This is understandable, as defective 
wire  harnesses  and  components  require  consider-
able time and expense – at the cost of productivity 
and  profitability  –  to  repair  or  replace  once  they 
have been fitted in a vehicle. In addition, functional 
defects  in  the  electronic  systems  of  delivered  
vehicles can also result in reputational risks.

The  other  markets  serviced  by  Komax  Wire, 
such as industrial appliances (control cabinet man-
ufacturing),  consumer  goods,  computer  and  office 
equipment,  as  well  as  tele  and  data  communica-
tion,  today  account  for  around  20%  of  the  unit’s 
sales. Komax Wire is seeking to increase penetra-
tion in these markets, as they offer attractive growth 
opportunities in the longer term.

Komax Wire is very well positioned in the market 
for wire-processing machines, with a global market 
share of around 40%. The business unit’s customer 
base includes all the globally active wire-processing 
companies  and  it  is  well  represented  in  the  frag-
mented  market  for  small-business  customers. The 
acquisitions of TSK Group and MCM Cosmic KK in 
2012 and the takeover of the majority of SLE quality 
engineering  with  effect  from  1  January  2014,  as 
agreed  in  November  2013,  have  greatly  strength-
ened  Komax’s  market  position.  These  companies’ 
products ideally complement Komax Wire’s product 
range.

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9

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Report
 110  Corporate Structure

63%
Automotive

Komax Wire

Competitor 1

Komax  Medtech  primarily  advises  and  sup-
plies  customers  from  the  pharmaceutical  industry. 
Final  demand  for  medical  devices  is  enjoying  a 
long-term growth trend. This is due partly to general 
demographic  developments,  and  partly  to  the  in-
creasing trend towards self-medication.

Demand  for  automation  solutions  for  the  pro-
duction  of  self-medication  devices  is  linked  to  the 
investment behaviour of the pharmaceuticals indus-
try. As a rule, new projects are awarded as part of 
invitations to tender. In the majority of cases, these 
are  for  solutions  that  are  custom-developed  for  a 
specific customer or product. Success in this busi-
ness  is  very  heavily  dependent  on  careful  project 
selection and the establishment of a balanced pro-
ject  portfolio.  A  well-structured  project  portfolio 
contains a substantial proportion of projects provid-
ing  repeat  business,  plus  some  new  projects  with 
the potential for repeat business.

Komax Solar operates in the field of renewable 
energies.  Today,  renewables  and  solar  energy  in 
particular  have  attained  worldwide  recognition  as 
safe and reliable energy sources. Although the solar 
industry has been in crisis since the middle of 2011, 
it is still reasonable to assume that the medium- and 
long-term  prospects  for  robust  growth  remain  in-
tact. Falling prices have resulted in the cost of solar 
energy  closing  in  on  grid  parity,  thereby  further  
increasing  its  appeal.  However,  the  industry  is  
currently confronted with massive surplus capacity 
worldwide,  and  this  will  first  have  to  be  eliminated 
before  the  industry  can  invest  in  new  equipment. 
This is likely to be the case from 2015 onwards.

Komax  Solar  is  one  of  the  top  suppliers  of 

stringer systems worldwide.

Net sales
by industry

12%
Others

19%
Medtech

6%
Solar

Market shares
Komax Wire

Others

Competitor 4

Competitor 3

Competitor 2

Market shares
Komax Medtech

Others

Komax Medtech

Competitor 1

Competitor 2

Competitor 4

Competitor 3

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10

Board of Directors

Leo Steiner (1943)  

Max Koch (1949)  

Daniel Hirschi (1956)  

Non-executive, independent mem-
ber of the Board of Directors since 
1997, Chairman of the Board of  
Directors since 2007, elected until 
2014, Swiss national, resident in 
Steinhausen.

Leo Steiner holds a degree in  
engineering from ETH Zurich.  
Before joining Komax, he worked 
at Hayek Engineering & Manage-
ment 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  
Management 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 electri-
cal 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 Manage-
ment or had any material business 
relationships with the Komax 
Group.

Non-executive, independent mem-
ber 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, and member of  
the Board of Directors of listed  
company Gavazzi Holding AG,  
Steinhausen, and the privately 
owned company Benninger AG, 
Uzwil.

Daniel Hirschi holds a degree in  
engineering. 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 
Delegate of the Board of Directors. 
From 2006 to 2009, Daniel Hirschi 
was CEO and Delegate 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 mem-
ber of Group Management or had 
any material business relationships 
with the Komax Group.

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11

Hans Caspar von der Crone 
(1957)

Non-executive, independent mem-
ber of the Board of Directors since 
1997, elected until 2014, 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 Univer-
sity of Zurich and was an employee 
and later a partner at law firm  
Homburger Rechtsanwälte, Zurich. 
Since 1997, he has been a Profes-
sor 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 member of Group Manage-
ment or had any material business 
relationships with the Komax 
Group.

Kurt Haerri (1962)  

Roland Siegwart (1959)  

Non-executive, independent  
member of the Board of Directors 
since 2012, elected until 2014, 
Swiss national, resident in Birrwil. 

Non-executive, independent  
member of the Board of Directors 
since 2013, elected until 2014, 
Swiss national, resident in Schwyz.

Roland Siegwart is Professor of  
Robotics at ETH Zurich since July 
2006 and Vice President Research 
and Corporate Relations since  
January 2010. He holds a master’s 
and PhD degree from ETH Zurich. 
After a research stay at Stanford 
University and the establishment of 
a spin-off company he was profes-
sor at EPFL Lausanne from 1996 to 
2006. In the last three years, Roland 
Siegwart has not been a member  
of Group Management nor had he 
any material business relationships 
with the Komax Group.

Kurt Haerri holds a degree in 
mechanical engineering from 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 is responsible  
for Global Marketing and Sales at 
Schindler Management AG. From 
2006 to 2013, Kurt Haerri was the 
President of the Swiss-Chinese 
Chamber of Commerce. He is a lec-
turer at the ETH Zurich, responsible 
for the Asia module of an executive 
MBA programme. In the last three 
years, Kurt Haerri has not been a 
member of Group Management  
or had any material business rela-
tionships with the Komax Group.

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  Annual Report 6 Business Model 14 Wire  20 Medtech  26 Solar  35 Corporate Governance 45 Investors  49 Financial Report 110 Corporate Structure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  
Certified Expert in Accounting and 
Controlling. Before joining Komax, 
he worked at von 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  
national, 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-Gesell-
schaft 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.

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13

Walter Nehls (1957)

René Ronchetti (1968)

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

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

Walter Nehls holds a bachelor’s  
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 (Ger-
many) and Mania Technologie AG  
in Weilrod (Germany).

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 Balz-
ers in Paris and Ascom Autelca  
in Berne and Paris.

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  Annual Report 6 Business Model 14 Wire  20 Medtech  26 Solar  35 Corporate Governance 45 Investors  49 Financial Report 110 Corporate Structure14

Wire business unit

The trend  
is your friend

Komax Wire generates more than 80%  
of its sales with customers in the automotive  
industry. Historically, however, demand  
for the business unit’s systems has outpaced  
car sales by about 30%. The key drivers of  
this phenomenon are the increasing number  
of complex functions in vehicles, constantly  
rising quality requirements and ongoing mini- 
aturization. All demand innovative automation  
solutions and more capacity – as well as  
generating further growth at Komax Wire. 

Alpha 355

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16

Market rewards  
outstanding performance

The business unit enjoyed another very good year in 2013. Thanks to the  
robust health of the automotive industry, Komax Wire was able to consolidate 
its market position as a universal provider of state-of-the-art technology  
solutions. Predominantly as a result of acquisitions, net sales rose by 11.2%  
to CHF 253.8 million (2012: CHF 228.3 million), while EBIT amounted to  
CHF 47.4 million (2012: CHF 52.7 million). At 18.7%, the EBIT margin remains  
in the target area of around 20%.

Komax Wire specializes in automated intelligent so-
lutions for all modern wire-processing applications. 
The emphasis is on processes such as measuring, 
cutting, stripping, and fitting contacts and connec-
tor housings to cables. In addition to both standard 
and  customer-specific  systems,  it  offers  an  exten-
sive  range  of  quality  assurance  modules  and  net-
working  solutions  for  reliable  and  efficient  produc-
tion. Test systems measure and compare electrical 
and other physical properties of harnesses and as-
semblies such as doors, seats, cockpits and bump-
ers, and test their functionality.

Thanks to this spectrum, Komax Wire can provide 
its  customers  with  a  comprehensive  offering  of  effi-

Long-term growth prospects
Continually rising safety requirements and quality  
demands in production are increasing demand for 
Komax Wire’s automation solutions.

cient and reliable automation solutions. Here Komax 
Wire relies not only on proprietary developments, but 
also on the expertise of established partners through 
takeovers  or  the  creation  of  networks.  For  example, 
the business unit has recently boosted its competen-
cies significantly through various acquisitions and new 
partnerships,  particularly  in  the  area  of  test  systems 
for  wire  harness  testing  and  processing  of  high- 
frequency data transmission wires for cars.

Komax  Wire  produces  wire-processing  systems 
at  two  locations  in  Switzerland,  as  well  as  in  China 
and Japan. The TSK brand of test systems is manu-
factured in Germany, Turkey, the United States, Brazil, 
China  and  Tunisia,  in  order  to  ensure  short  supply 
times for test fixtures.

Once  systems  and  equipment  have  been  com-
missioned, Komax Wire provides a full range of ser-
vices  to  guarantee  installations’  performance  and 
preserve their value.

Customers are for the most part companies from 
the  automotive  supply  industry.  The  high  degree  of 
standardization,  the  huge  quantities  of  wires  and  
cables  to  be  processed,  and  the  high  quality  de-
mands that are typical of the industry all favour auto-
mated  and  systematic  production  processes  and 
methods.  Furthermore,  Komax  Wire  systems  are 
used  by  manufacturers  of  household  appliances, 
consumer electronics and computers, by producers 
of  telephone  and  data  communications  equipment, 
and  in  control  cabinet  manufacturing.  Komax  Wire 
differentiates  itself  from  its  competitors  through  its 
leading  technologies,  comprehensive  range  of  wire- 
processing solutions and test systems, and its global 
service  and  distribution  network.  With  an  estimated 
market share of 40%, Komax Wire is the world leader 
in the markets it serves.

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17

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Report
 110  Corporate Structure

Key figures

in TCHF

2013

2012

+/− in %

Order intake

Net sales

268 895

231 107

253 782

228 255

16.4

11.2

Operating profit (EBIT)

47 388

52 729

–10.1 

in %

EBIT margin

18.7

23.1

As at 31 Dec.

Headcount

Net sales
by region

23%
Asia

29%
North/South
America

989

921

7.4 

2%
Switzerland

37%
Europe

9%
Africa

margin was broadly in line with the previous year’s 
very good figure.

EBIT  in  the  year  under  review  came  in  at  CHF 
47.4 million (2012: CHF 52.7 million). The EBIT mar-
gin amounted to 18.7% (2012: 23.1%). This decline 
was primarily attributable to generally lower margins 
that the acquired companies currently have, higher 
investment in research and development, increased 
marketing  expenditure  and  changes  in  the  cus-
tomer mix.

Operations
At operating level, the focus in the year under review 
lay  primarily  on  optimizing  resource  allocation  at 
both locations in Central Switzerland, and integrating 
TSK’s six production sites into the Komax production 
network. In Shanghai, the Komax and TSK sites were 
merged.  In  addition,  a  number  of  further  measures 
were taken to increase operating efficiency. Capacity 
utilization remained high in the year under review. 

Market trends and business performance
Komax Wire once again enjoyed a very good year in 
2013 thanks to the continued strength of the auto-
motive  industry.  The  business  unit  generates  a 
good 80% of its sales in the automotive sector.

Globally,  the  number  of  vehicles  produced  and 
sold  in  the  year  under  review  rose  by  3%.  There 
were  considerable  differences  in  regional  develop-
ment,  however.  Year  on  year,  sales  increased  by 
23% in China and 8% in the US. By contrast, West-
ern  Europe  recorded  a  decline  of  around  2%,  
although there were signs of a recovery in the sec-
ond  half  of  the  year.  Sales  volumes  stagnated  in 
Japan and Brazil, while they declined by a good 7% 
in India and by 5% in Russia.

Thanks to its extensive worldwide access to its 
customers,  Komax  was  able  to  compensate  for 
these regional differences and benefit from flourish-
ing automotive markets in the US and China. In the 
cyclical  automotive  business,  the  business  unit’s 
global presence once again paid off. Furthermore, a 
long-term  comparison  shows  that  Komax  Wire  is 
growing  around  a  third  more  strongly  than  sales  
of new vehicles. This is because technological ad-
vances are resulting in an ongoing rise in the num-
ber of cables installed in each vehicle, and automo-
tive suppliers’ production processes are becoming 
steadily more automated. The business unit’s other 
end-customer markets, such as household goods, 
consumer electronics, and telecommunication prod-
ucts, developed well, albeit not with the same dyna-
mism of the automotive industry. 

Komax  Wire  was  again  very  successful  in  the 
year  under  review.  The  order  intake  of  CHF  268.9 
million  was  a  sharp  improvement  on  the  previous 
year (CHF 231.1 million), while net sales increased 
by  11.2%  to  CHF  253.8  million  (2012:  CHF  228.3 
million). Internal growth (i.e. adjusted for acquisition 
and currency effects) amounted to around 2%. The 
book-to-bill  ratio  at  the  end  of  the  year  was  1.06. 
There was a broad-based spread of business with 
respect to both the product and the customer mix. 
The proportion of business accounted for by major 
customers  rose.  However,  in  2013,  Komax  Wire’s 
10  largest  customers  accounted  for  more  than  a 
third of net sales. The business with crimp-to-crimp 
machines  and  the  associated  accessories  proved 
strong  as  usual.  Thanks  to  the  installed  base  of 
some  20 000  crimp-to-crimp  machines,  both  the  
replacement  parts  business  and  the  service  busi-
ness  again  performed  strongly.  The  business  with 
value-added projects likewise developed pleasingly. 
This business revolves around the development of 
tailor-made  solutions  for  individual  customers  on 
the  basis  of  standard  machinery.  The  gross  profit 

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18

Marketing and distribution
The marketing and sales areas refined their targeted 
focus on existing customer segments and markets. 
At the same time, Komax Wire was positioned even 
more strongly as a complete solutions provider. The 
business  unit  impressively  demonstrated  its  com-
prehensive  competencies  and  the  strength  of  its 
network  at  this  year’s  Productronica,  the  world’s 
largest  trade  fair  for  the  wire-processing  industry, 
and at more than 20 other trade fairs. Another focus 
took the form of initiatives to profile Komax Wire as 
a  professional  and  efficient  partner  to  companies 
outside the automotive industry. 

In  2013,  Komax  Wire  conducted  a  survey  of 
more than 500 customers  in 34 countries. The re-
sponses showed that Komax Wire has a very good 
image  and  enjoys  a  high  level  of  customer  loyalty. 
Moreover,  the  survey  threw  up  important  findings 
for the further development of business. 

Global diversification
In the cyclical automotive business, the business  
unit’s global presence once again paid off.

Innovation
In acknowledgement of the value it attaches to in-
novation, Komax Wire has updated its innovation vi-
sion statement. It sensitizes employees to the stra-
tegic significance of innovation, and motivates them 
to continue to focus all their activities on solutions 
that will deliver strong added value for customers. 

Research and development expenditure in 2013 
amounted to some 8% of net sales. In the year under 
review, Komax Wire employed some 130 staff in this 
area worldwide, and they once again came up with a 
number of pioneering innovations. These innovations 
are  also  the  result  of  extensive  customer  feedback 
and  regular  experience-sharing  with  professional 
communities within the industry, as well as with train-
ing  centres.  Furthermore,  the  people  who  work  in 
marketing and product management as well as some 
90  engineers  make  a  substantial  contribution  to  in-
novation within the business unit, thanks to the ex-
perience  they  have  gained  in  developing  customer-
specific applications.

Trends
The  development  trends  that  have  emerged  in  re-
cent years will accelerate and intensify in the future. 
The  automotive  industry  is  increasingly  calling  for 
subsystems  and  components  that  deliver  more, 
weigh  less,  take  up  less  space,  and  operate  ex-
tremely reliably, while at the same time being cheap 
to procure. These demands are not only confronting 
direct suppliers 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  demands  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 1 200 cables, 
with a good 2 000 crimp contacts and a total length 
of  three  kilometres.  Developments  in  vehicle  con-
struction,  new  functionalities,  and  an  ever-rising  fit-
out level in all vehicle classes are leading to a further 
increase  in  demand  for  cables  and  crimp  contacts. 
Furthermore, the individual subsystems and assem-
blies,  particularly  harnesses,  are  becoming  ever 
more  complex.  In  addition,  given  the  growing  trend 
towards  miniaturization  with  a  view  to  reducing 
manu facturing  costs,  weight  and  fuel  consumption, 
the individual components to be processed are be-
coming ever smaller, which makes manual process-
ing difficult and in extreme cases even impossible.

As  systems  become  increasingly  complex,  the 
potential sources of error in manual wire processing 
and  assembly  become  more  numerous.  Manual 
processes  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 produc-
tion process. This has been recognized by automo-
tive manufacturers, who are increasingly calling on 
their suppliers to further automate their production 
processes.

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 know-how, the 
market proximity of its product range, and its mar-
keting expertise, Komax Wire is extremely well posi-
tioned to make further inroads into these markets. 

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19

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Report
 110  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.

Strategy
In  addition  to  the  goal  of  continuously  increasing 
operating effectiveness and efficiency, Komax Wire 
pursues four key strategic priorities. First, it pursues 
the further development of existing business along 
the  value  chain.  This  involves  fully  automatic  and 
semi-automatic  solutions  with  integrated  quality  
assurance.  Solutions  for  increasing  availability  and 
testing  the  productivity  of  installed  systems  are  as 
much  a  part  of  this  priority  as  new  intelligent  soft-
ware  interfaces  and  expanded  quality  testing  cap-
abilities. In the development of innovations, the sec-
ond strategic priority, Komax Wire focuses on new 
solutions for the demands of the automotive indus-
try  and  on  further  optimizing  its  product  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 
in  particular  and  break  into  new  application  areas 
outside the automotive industry.

cations from Komax Wire, a feature that makes the 
business unit unique in the world. The multifaceted 
competencies that are united under a single roof at 
Komax Wire will give rise to new innovative produc-
tion concepts that will further simplify the processes 
of wire harness assembly.

Outlook
The demand for Komax solutions is favoured by the 
persistent dynamism of the automotive industry, the 
ongoing  trend  towards  automation  of  production 
processes, and the higher quality demands that ve-
hicle  manufacturers  are  placing  on  their  suppliers. 
However, visibility in this area does not extend more 
than three months into the future at most.

On  the  basis  of  the  information  currently  avail-
able, Komax Wire is expecting net sales for the first 
half  of  2014  to  be  broadly  on  a  par  with  the  very 
strong  first  semester  of  the  previous  year  when  
adjusted for acquisitions.

Komax  Wire’s  offering  covers  the  most  capital-
intensive  and  critical  processes  of  its  customers’ 
value  creation  chains.  Customers  receive  single-
source  solutions  for  the  key  wire-processing  appli-

In  2014,  Komax  Wire  will  continue  to  invest  in 
innovation,  marketing  and  market  development  in 
order  to  preserve  its  unique  market  position  and 
strengthen its competitiveness. 

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20

Medtech business unit

Quality of life  
in your pocket

The World Health Organization (WHO)  
expects the number of people with asthma  
or diabetes worldwide to rise sharply.  
There are already around 350 million people  
with diabetes, most of them in the emerging  
and developing countries. The increased  
prevalence of these conditions is also pushing  
up the demand for self-medication solutions.  
As a manufacturer of state-of-the-art production  
systems for insulin delivery applications and  
inhalers, Komax Medtech is fully equipped  
for the global trend.

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22

Profitable recovery

The markets relevant to Komax Medtech largely normalized in 2013. Whereas 
the previous year was characterized by restrained investment behaviour on  
the part of customers, orders bounced back during the period under review. 
Accordingly, net sales rose by 36.8% to CHF 68.1 million (2012: CHF 49.8 mil-
lion). The relatively high proportion of repeat orders, combined with the impact 
of measures initiated in 2012 to further increase efficiency, led to a significant 
improvement in the result, with EBIT recording an encouraging rise to  
CHF 3.1 million (previous year: CHF –8.6 million).

Komax  Medtech  develops  customer-specific  ma-
chine systems for the automatic assembly of mass-
produced medical products. The products assem-
bled  on  Komax  machines  include  inhalers  and 
insulin delivery or injection systems. In addition, the 
business  unit  also  produces  systems  for  the  effi-

Structural growth
The trend towards self-medication will continue and 
drive investment in automation solutions.

cient  mass  production  of  inkjet  printer  cartridges. 
The  purchase  price  of  such  systems  ranges  be-
tween a few hundred thousand and several million 
Swiss francs, depending on their 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  in 
Switzerland,  the  United  States  and  Malaysia.  With 
production  sites  in  the  most  important  market  re-
gions  of  the  world,  the  business  unit  is  well  pos-
itioned  to  meet  the  expectations  of  its  customers, 
who are increasingly demanding that suppliers have 
a local presence.

Market trends and business performance
Customers’  investment  behaviour  largely  normal-
ized in 2013. The business unit kicked off the year 
with  a  relatively  strong  order  book.  Numerous  
orders that had been postponed the previous year 
were given the green light in the year under review. 
Furthermore,  Komax  Medtech  won  a  number  of  
additional lucrative projects. By contrast, the inkjet 
business  performed  modestly  in  2013.  Pleasingly, 
the overall volume of projects with repeat potential 
increased  as  a  proportion  of  overall  orders.  Net 
sales  amounted  to  CHF  68.1  million  (2012:  CHF 
49.8 million). A substantial proportion of these were 
generated with major customers in Ireland, Scandi-
navia, Germany and the US.

Given its relatively large share of value creation 
in Switzerland, Komax Medtech continues to suffer 
from the strength of the Swiss franc. Nonetheless, 
the higher proportion of repeat business and further 
efficiency gains led to a pleasing improvement in the 
result, with EBIT coming in at CHF 3.1 million (2012: 
CHF –8.6 million).

Operations
In  the  2013  financial  year,  the  business  unit  intro-
duced a number of different measures to strengthen 
its  internal  organization  and  ensure  the  optimal  
allocation of resources. As a result, the dependency 
of the US and Asian sites on the parent company in 
Switzerland  was  reduced.  Modules,  procurement 
management and project management were further 
standardized  at  all  sites,  while  cost  controlling  
was optimized. Moreover, following a cost analysis, 
Komax  Medtech  relinquished  its  activities  in  the 
area of laboratory automation at the Rotkreuz site. 

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23

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Report
 110  Corporate Structure

Key figures 

in TCHF

2013

2012

+/− in %

Order intake

Net sales

Operating  
profit/loss (EBIT)

in %

74 999

68 133

47 806

49 804

56.9

36.8

3 053

–8 600

135.5

EBIT margin

4.5

n.s.

As at 31 Dec.

Headcount

Net sales 
by region

4%
Asia

13%
North/South
America

262

256

2.3 

2%
Switzerland

81%
Europe

Trends and strategy
It is a regrettable fact that the number of individuals 
suffering  from  diabetes  worldwide  will  rise  further 
over the next few years. In its estimate of October 
2013,  the  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  as-
sumes  that  the  number  of  afflicted  individuals  will 
rise by two thirds from today’s 347 million by 2030. 
The  main  drivers  of  this  trend  are  high-fat  diets, 
obesity and a lack of physical activity. The number 
of asthma sufferers, which according to a WHO re-
port of November 2013 is currently around 235 mil-
lion people, is also set to rise.

Diabetes  and  asthma  patients  are  already  able 
to treat their conditions themselves. And the trend 
towards self-medication is set to continue, as new 
applications  and  treatments  make  this  form  of  ad-
ministration ever simpler and safer. The unrelenting 
pressure to contain health care costs and efforts to 

The affected employees were almost all integrated 
into the Komax Wire business unit.

Thanks  to  a  pick-up  in  order  intake  which  first 
manifested  itself  in  the  last  quarter  of  2012,  the  
centre of excellence at La Chaux-de-Fonds enjoyed 
healthy  capacity  utilization  throughout  the  year 
under review. At the Rockford site too, capacity util-
ization was good after a rather sluggish start to the 
year. Only the Penang site suffered from the problem 
of excess capacity as a result of stagnating demand 
for inkjet printer cartridges and a decline in demand 
for the corresponding assembly systems. The sur-
plus capacity was utilized for projects from the two 
other production locations insofar as possible.

Marketing and distribution
Komax Medtech was present at five trade fairs and 
numerous medical technology conferences in 2013. 
In addition, a number of customer surveys and sys-
tematic analyses were conducted in the year under 
review, in  order  to  align  the services and  products 
offered by Komax Medtech even more closely with 
customer requirements. Furthermore, the business 
unit strengthened its regional distribution organiza-
tions in order to further improve customer proximity. 

Innovation
In the customer-specific systems business, the lion’s 
share of value is created by engineering services that 
model handling and process solutions in a variety of 
combinations.

In 2013, Komax Medtech undertook a detailed 
analysis  of  the  many  different  alternatives  and  de-
veloped a number of standardized engineering so-
lutions, in some cases in collaboration with custom-
ers. For example, this included a system to identify 
the  tiniest  pressure  changes  in  the  assembly  pro-
cess for filigree medical devices, and an innovative 
process  that  verifies  whether  inhalers  work  cor-
rectly. 

Komax  Medtech  today  possesses  four  plat-
forms for the assembly of medical devices, covering 
the  entire  manufacturing  cycle  from  clinical  trials 
through  to  mass  production.  These  have  been  
further  developed  to  open  up  the  possibility  of  in-
corporating  new  solutions.  At  the  same  time, 
Komax  Medtech  has  succeeded  in  increasing  the 
number  of  processes  that  can  be  integrated  on  a 
single  platform,  and  reducing  the  production  area 
required  in  customers’  premises.  Above  all,  these 
steps addressed needs that emerged from customer 
surveys.

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24

Outlook
Komax  Medtech  started  2014  with  a  strong  order 
book, and order intake in the first few weeks of the 
year was in line with expectations. These orders re-
veal a balanced mix of projects with repetitive nature 
and  projects  involving  new  customers  or  applica-
tions. Nonetheless, the risks inherent to the systems 
business are still present.

Given  the  prevailing  parameters,  we  believe 
Komax Medtech will build on the success of 2013 
this  year.  For  the  first  half  of  2014,  we  expect  a 
posi tive EBIT.

increase the quality of life of the affected individuals 
are  driving  forward  the  development  of  new  appli-
cations  for  administering  treatments,  which  is  in 
turn increasing the demand for medical product as-
sembly systems. The global market for automation 
solutions  for  self-medication  applications  is  there-
fore likely to grow further. The volume of investment 
orders  placed  in  any  individual  year  can  fluctuate 
heavily, however, as this is dependent on the rate of 
innovation in end products, the approval processes 
of national authorities, and the need to renew exist-
ing assembly lines.

With  its  many  years  of  experience  and  strong 
technical  expertise,  Komax  Medtech  is  one  of  the 
recognized global market leaders in systems for the 
manufacture of insulin delivery applications and in-
halers.  Komax  Medtech  is  determined  to  preserve 
this  position.  Moreover,  the  business  unit  will  in-
creasingly  be  using  existing  platforms,  processes, 

Consistent customer  
orientation
The results of customer surveys are regularly incorp-
orated into the further development of platforms.

and  competencies  to  target  further  niche  markets 
as a way of smoothing out market fluctuations more 
effectively.

Stabilizing  profitability  is  Komax  Medtech’s  top 
priority.  This  cannot  be  achieved  through  sales 
growth alone, however, as an increasing number of 
projects  has  the  effect  of  multiplying  rather  than  
diversifying  risks  in  the  customer-specific  systems 
business. Commercial success therefore hinges on 
carefully  selecting  the  projects  to  be  acquired  and 
processing them efficiently. With this strategy hav-
ing now proven its value in 2013, it will be pursued 
with even greater focus on the future.

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25

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Report
 110  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.

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26

Solar business unit

Four out of every five solar modules  
are manufactured in China. It is  
therefore particularly important for  
manufacturers of machinery for the  
solar industry to have a strong foothold  
in this market. This is true of Komax  
Solar, which has production facilities  
and its own service and sales organ- 
ization in both the US and China. Komax  
is one of the world’s leading suppliers  
of stringers, which link up individual  
solar cells and solder them into strings. 

XCELL X2 Turbo

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28

Evading the negative  
industry trend

Although the demand for solar modules is rising, the industry once again  
suffered from significant excess capacity in 2013. The demand for new  
equipment was correspondingly modest. Komax Solar was able to evade this 
trend. Results have improved, even though they remain very much in negative 
territory. Net sales amounted to CHF 20.2 million (2012: CHF 9.9 million)  
while the loss at EBIT level halved to CHF –9.7 million (2012: CHF –21.2 million).  
In August 2013, Komax decided to sell the solar business, as its risk profile 
does not fit with the Group’s objectives.

Komax  Solar  focuses  on  the  automation  of  a  few 
core processes for crystalline solar module produc-
tion. This includes stringers, which link up individual 
solar  cells  and  solder  them  into  what  are  known  
as  strings;  lay-up  systems,  which  form  individual 

Sale of the solar business
The risk profile of the solar business does not fit with 
the Group’s objectives.

strings  into  a  matrix;  and  laminators,  which  take 
care of the final stage of heat sealing the solar mod-
ules.  Komax  Solar  has  production  facilities  in  the 
United States and China. In addition, there are ser-
vice and distribution locations in China, Singapore, 
India  and  Switzerland.  Komax  Solar  is  among  the 
leading manufacturers in the markets it serves, par-
ticularly  in  stringers.  The  brand  is  very  well-estab-
lished  worldwide  and  in  particular  well  recognized  
in China, the world’s largest market for equipment.

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
As  a  result  of  excess  capacity  and  dramatic  price 
erosion, the solar industry has been mired in a crisis 
since the middle of 2011. Globally installed capacity 
for the production of solar energy currently amounts 
to  some  140  gigawatts  (GW).  This  represents  a 
year-on-year increase of around 40 GW.

After  years  of  strong  capacity  expansion,  
Europe  is  expected  to  record  more  moderate 
growth rates in the future. Instead, it is other coun-
tries like China, the United States, Japan and India 
that  are  driving  industry  growth.  In  the  medium 
term,  government  subsidy  programs  will  continue 
to have a significant impact on growth. On the other 
hand, persistent price erosion throughout the solar 
industry’s  value  creation  chain  coupled  with  rising 
electricity  prices  is  further  boosting  solar  energy’s 
appeal and reducing its dependency on subsidies. 
This  trend  is  expected  to  continue.  In  the  medium 
term, the sector will develop into a mature industry 
with sustainable growth rates.

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29

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Report
 110  Corporate Structure

Key figures 

in TCHF

2013

2012

+/− in %

Order intake

Net sales

24 379

20 206

9 009

9 873

Operating loss (EBIT)

−9 746

−21 171

170.6

104.7

54.0

in %

EBIT margin

n.s.

n.s.

As at 31 Dec.

Headcount

Net sales 
by region

59%
Asia

116

140

–17.1 

37%
Europe

4%
North/South 
America

However, the rise in demand for solar modules 
in 2013 was not enough to eradicate existing struc-
tural  imbalances  in  the  solar  industry.  As  demand 
was  in  the  region  of  around  40  GW,  it  was  insuffi-
cient  to  fully  utilize  production  capacity  of  some  
50 GW. All the same, module prices stabilized thanks 
to an improvement in capacity utilization compared 
to 2012, which also resulted in stronger cash flows 
for  module  manufacturers.  However,  numerous 
module  producers  remained  heavily  in  debt  and 
were  therefore  in  no  position  to  invest.  Conse-
quently, global demand for machinery for the manu-
facture of solar modules recorded another year-on-
year decline. Against such a backdrop, new orders 
generally  came  with  significant  payment  default 
risk.  Given  these  parameters,  Komax  Solar  exer-
cised maximum caution, only accepting orders that 
were backed by sufficient financial security.

In  contrast  to  the  industry  trend  described 
above, Komax Solar’s net sales more than doubled 
to CHF 20.2 million (2012: CHF 9.9 million). Further-
more, thanks to comprehensive cost-cutting meas-
ures, the loss at EBIT level was halved to CHF –9.7 
million  (2012:  CHF  –21.2  million).  This  figure  also  
includes  write-downs  on  customer  receivables  as 
well  as  expenditure  in  connection  with  the  sale  of 
the  business  unit  amounting  in  total  to  some  
CHF 4.5 million.

Operations
The focusing of core activities at the York (PA) site, 
which was initiated some years ago, the streamlin-
ing  of  the  product  range,  and  other  organizational 
adjustments  enabled  Komax  Solar  to  adapt  its 
structure to the changed market parameters to the 
greatest  extent  possible,  leading  to  a  huge  reduc-
tion in the cost base. At the same time, the business 
unit  retained  virtually  all  of  the  expertise  needed  to 
continue  the  development  of  processes  and  prod-
ucts.

Komax Solar is therefore in a position to defend 
its strong competitive position successfully in antici-
pation of the market recovery.

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This has resulted in a module constructed in collab-
oration  with  the  Fraunhofer  Institute  for  Solar  En-
ergy  Systems  in  Freiburg  i.B.  which  has  superior 
qualities  to  a  standard  module.  Specifically,  these 
include 40% less shadowing, a 35% reduction in sil-
ver consumption, and 60% lower electrical losses. 
Compared to a standard module, this module there-
fore delivers 5% greater efficiency at 2% lower cost. 
It  made  its  public  debut  at  the  SNEC  trade  fair  in 
Shanghai. This concept underscores the pioneering 
spirit and innovative strength of Komax Solar. As a 
leading  producer  of  machinery,  the  business  unit 
also focuses on conceptual process improvements 
that deliver measurably superior results.

Trends and strategy
There is no doubt that the photovoltaic industry will 
retain its appeal in the long term. 

However,  as  announced  back  in  August  2013, 
Komax  is  willing  to  sell  the  solar  business  and  is 
currently in contact with interested parties. 

30

Marketing and distribution
Komax Solar took part in four trade fairs around the 
world in 2013, thereby highlighting its professional 
image to attendees from the industry. The key event 
attended  by  the  business  unit  was  SNEC,  the 
world’s largest photovoltaic trade fair, which takes 
place annually in Shanghai.

Komax  Solar’s  local  service  and  distribution  
organization in China is a key element in the overall 
global marketing and distribution concept, and en-
ables  the  business  unit  to  provide  the  necessary 
support  to  customers  in  this  key  market.  At  the 
same time, Komax Solar continues to observe new 
markets, with a view to participating in any build-up 
of module manufacturing in these markets right from 
the start.

Pressing ahead with  
innovations
Conceptual progress improvements lead  
to measurably superior results. 

Innovation
An independent market study by ENF in 2013 con-
firmed Komax Solar’s leading global position in the 
market for stringers. In order to maintain this pos-
ition,  Komax  Solar  once  again  invested  continu-
ously  in  research  and  development  in  the  year 
under  review.  This  involved  focusing  on  the  en-
hancement of machine efficiency and further devel-
opment  of  the  induction  soldering  process  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  reduction  of  product  costs  on 
the other. At this year’s SNEC trade fair, the busi-
ness unit unveiled the latest generation of stringers 
in the form of the XCELL X2 Turbo, which can pro-
cess up to 1 500 solar cells an hour. The business 
unit  is  therefore  remaining  competitive  against  its 
Asian competitors in particular.

Solar cell technology is likely to develop further 
over  the  next  few  years  towards  what  are  known  
as  backside-contact  cells.  Komax  Solar  has  been 
working for some time with leading module manu-
facturers to develop ways of processing such cells. 

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31

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Report
 110  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.

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32

Sustainability and  
Social Responsibility

The Komax Group upholds its responsibilities towards its different stakeholder 
groups. This 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 sustainability and social responsibility as an integral  
part of its corporate strategy.

The  basic  tenets  underlying  the  Komax  Group’s 
business  practices  are  set  out  in  its  guiding  prin-
ciples.  It  exercises  responsibility  towards  people 
and  the  environment,  and  is  keen  to  continuously 
develop its competencies in matters relating to sus-
tainability and social responsibility.

Komax obliges its suppliers to comply with legisla-
tion and to act in an environmentally aware and eth-
ical way. Compliance with these defined guidelines is 
reviewed on a regular basis through supplier audits. 
If  violations  are  uncovered,  a  supplier  partnership 
may be immediately terminated as a result.

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  

Integrated  
management system
Komax regards all company processes, the environ-
ment, health protection and safety at work as part of  
a holistic system.

dependent to a significant degree on the conduct of 
Komax’s employees. In 2009 Komax therefore intro-
duced a code of conduct which applies to all Group 
employees.  These  principles  are  periodically  re-
viewed to ensure that they are up to date. 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. The same applies to the employ-
ees of acquired companies. Furthermore, in another 
code  of  conduct  drawn  up  specially  for  suppliers, 

Product sustainability
The  systems  developed  by  Komax  are  character-
ized by their exceptionally high quality and longev-
ity. The Group’s global service network ensures that 
these  systems  are  professionally  maintained.  This 
has  a  positive  impact  on  their  performance,  value 
retention and lifespan, as well as saving resources. 
Thanks to their modular construction, the systems 
can usually be adapted to new technological devel-
opments 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  fuel-saving  propul-
sion concepts such as electric and hybrid vehicles. 
Moreover,  the  innovative  technologies  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.  The  Medtech  business  unit,  which 
develops  systems  for  medical  device  manufactur-
ing, is indirectly helping to reduce health care costs, 
improve access to medicines and thereby increase 
people’s  quality  of  life.  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. 

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  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Report
 110  Corporate Structure

Key figures1) 

2013

2012

Electric power consumption in MWh

5 691

6 507

Electric power consumption per head 
in MWh

6.1

7.9

Water consumption (potable and 
industrial water) in m3

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

7 432

8 087

7.9

9.8

1)  Covering the Komax production sites in Dierikon (CH),  
Rotkreuz (CH), La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH), York (USA),  
Rockford (USA), Penang (MY) and Shanghai (RC).

Employees by business unit

Komax Wire

Komax Medtech

Komax Solar

Corporate

Total

2013

2012

989

262

116

14

921

256

140

13

1 381

1 330

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

2013

2012

530

146

210

356

139

517

140

199

339

135

1 381

1 330

2013

2012

581

244

55

252

249

563

240

47

228

252

1 381

1 330

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. Around half of value creation is procured ex-
ternally,  i.e.  the  majority  of  production  consists  of 
component  assembly.  State-of-the-art  production 
facilities also ensure the efficient use of resources. 
More than 40% of the production equipment at our 
sites  in  Central  Switzerland  has  been  newly  ac-
quired  over  the  last  five  years.  Wherever  possible, 
Komax  uses  renewable  energies  such  as  solar  or 
hydroelectric  power.  For  example,  one  of  the 
Group’s  sources  of  electricity  is  RegioMix  green 
power  from  small  utilities  in  Central  Switzerland. 
Komax’s  commitment  to  the  environment  is  also  
underscored by its own photovoltaic power plant on 
the roof of its production building in Rotkreuz. Fur-
thermore,  Komax  actively  encourages  its  employ-
ees  to  use  public  transport.  Waste  materials  from 
production  activities,  such  as  swarf  and  operating 
materials  waste,  are  separated  out  and  disposed  
of  or  recycled  appropriately.  Waste  volumes  are 
continuously  reduced  as  part  of  optimization  pro-
grammes.  Komax’s  products  do  not  contain  any 
ecologically harmful components. The company fa-
vours suppliers which demonstrate an environmen-
tally aware approach and whose products conform 
to sustainability criteria.

In 2011, a working group was formed to system-
atically  develop  the  company’s  commitment  to  sus-
tainability. Among other things, this group dealt with 
the  certification  of  the  Dierikon  and  Rotkreuz  loca-
tions  under  ISO  14001  and  OHSAS  (Occupational 
Health and Safety Assessment Series) 18001, which 
was  completed  on  schedule  in  2013.  The  working 
group  will  now  seek  certification  for  other  locations 
on  a  step-by-step  basis.  Dierikon  and  Rotkreuz, 
which together employ more than 420 people, are the 
Group’s  largest  production  sites.  The  ISO  14001 
standard  sets  out  recognized  requirements  for  the 
environmental  management  systems  of  companies 
worldwide. OHSAS 18001 is one of the most signifi-
cant  and  best-known  standards  for  occupational 
health and safety management systems.

Thanks to these additional certifications, Dierikon 
and Rotkreuz have integrated management systems 
that encompass all company processes, the environ-
ment, health protection and safety at work. Further-
more, in collaboration with the Energy Agency for the 
Economy  (Energie-Agentur  der  Wirtschaft,  EnAW), 
Komax has established resource and energy savings 
targets  for  2017  and  2020  for  the  Dierikon  and  
Rotkreuz sites. For example, the target is to reduce 
energy consumption by a further 5% by 2017. EnAW 

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management  attended  a  five-day  training  module  
as  part  of  the  management  training  programme. 
Komax also encourages international exchanges to 
allow  its  staff  to  gain  new  experiences  and  career 
perspectives.  At  the  same  time,  Komax  invests  in 
tomorrow’s workforce. In 2013, 47 apprentices were 
undergoing  training  in  seven  professions  at  the 
Swiss locations (2012: 45).

Employee  satisfaction  is  systematically  meas-
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 de-
veloping and implementing improvement measures. 
It goes without saying that Komax satisfies all legal 
requirements  governing  working  conditions  in  the 
countries  it  operates  in.  As  in  previous  years,  re-
ported  absences  due  to  accidents  in  2013  were 
mainly the result of accidents suffered by employees 
while  engaging  in  leisure  activities.  Komax  actively 
encourages  employees  at  site  level  to  pursue  a 
healthy lifestyle through initiatives such as sport and 
exercise offerings.

34

uses  a  systematic  approach  to  help  some  3 000  
manufacturing  firms,  industrial  plants  and  service 
companies  increase  energy  efficiency  and  reduce 
their CO2 emissions. 

Contribution to regional development
Komax  has  been  firmly  rooted  in  the  Canton  of  
Lucerne since 1975, and is one of the canton’s big-
gest employers. Its other operating facilities world-
wide have been based at the same sites since their 
establishment,  and  this  has  generated  a  strong 
sense  of  identification  with  the  local  area.  Among 
other  things,  this  manifests  itself  in  the  fact  that  a 
large number of employees can be recruited region-
ally and preference can be given to local suppliers 
wherever  this  is  feasible  and  makes  commercial 
sense.

Attractive employer
At  the  end  of  2013,  Komax  employed  1 381  staff 
worldwide  (2012:  1 330).  The  increase  of  around  
50 employees is essentially attributable to a further 
strengthening  of  the  organization  of  Komax  Wire. 
Personnel  expenses  in  the  year  under  review 
amounted  to  CHF  111.4  million  (2012:  CHF  103.6 
million).

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. Par-
ticipation  in  the  pay  comparison  survey  conducted 
by industry association Swissmem showed that pay 
at both of the Wire business unit’s Swiss production 
sites  is  in  line  with  market  averages  and  that  men 
and  women  receive  equal  pay.  The  proportion  of 
women  in  the  Group’s  global  workforce  stood  at 
18% in 2013 (2012: 13%). 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  positions  within  the  company, 
for which the recruitment potential among women is 
limited.

The  Group’s  staff  turnover  rate  in  2013  was  
grati fyingly low. As in previous years, it amounted to 
less than 9%. Komax has a very good reputation as 
an  attractive  employer.  Among  other  things,  this  is 
highlighted  by  the  fact  that  vacancies  can  be  filled 
quickly,  even  in  the  tight  market  for  management 
and skilled staff.

As  part  of  an  active  staff  development  policy, 
Komax  organizes  regular  management  seminars 
and training for its employees, as well as providing 
financial  support  for  individual  training  activities.  In 
2013,  for  example,  around  80  members  of  middle 

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35

  Corporate 
 Governance

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36

1  Corporate structure and shareholders
Corporate structure
The corporate structure is set out on pages 110 and 
111 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 46 (“Information for investors”).

2  Capital structure 

Capital 

in CHF

Ordinary capital

Conditional capital

Authorized capital

352 378.00

32 622.00

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% 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  2013, 
the company had the following significant shareholders with voting rights 
of more than 3% of the share capital:

Shareholder/shareholder group

Max Koch, Meggen, Switzerland

Leo Steiner, Steinhausen, Switzerland 

Standard Life Investments, Edinburgh 

Number of shares 
31 Dec. 2013

% as at  
31 Dec. 20131)

232 4012)
118 6503) 
106 1584)

6.75

3.45

3.08

1)   The calculation is based on the 3 443 789 registered shares listed in the Commercial 

Register as at 31 December 2013.

2)   Plus stock options from the employee share incentive scheme (0.12%): 
0.03% 1 000 call options, CHF 75.68, duration 1.1.2010 – 31.12.2014 
0.03% 1 000 call options, CHF 94.25, duration 1.1.2011 – 31.12.2015 
0.03% 1 000 call options, CHF 66.21, duration 1.1.2012 – 31.12.2016 
0.03% 1 000 call options, CHF 67.03, duration 1.1.2013 – 31.12.2017 
All stock options are subject to a three-year lock-in period and a two-year exercise 
 period, exchange ratio 1:1, effective fulfilment.

3)   Plus stock options from the employee share incentive scheme (0.27%): 
0.06% 2 000 call options, CHF 75.68, duration 1.1.2010 – 31.12.2014 
0.07% 2 500 call options, CHF 94.25, duration 1.1.2011 – 31.12.2015 
0.07% 2 500 call options, CHF 66.21, duration 1.1.2012 – 31.12.2016 
0.07% 2 500 call options, CHF 67.03, duration 1.1.2013 – 31.12.2017 
All stock options are subject to a three-year lock-in period and a two-year exercise 
 period, exchange ratio 1:1, effective fulfilment. 

4)  Reported figure as of 30 October 2013.

All  shareholdings  reported  to  Komax  Holding 
AG  and  the  Disclosure  Office  of  SIX  Swiss  Ex-
change  AG  during  the  2013  financial  year  as  per 
Art.  20  of  the  SESTA  and  the  provisions  of  the 
SESTO-FINMA  and  published  on  SIX  Swiss 
 Exchange 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 105, and Art. 3.2 of the Articles 
of Association.

The  Annual  General  Meeting  of  13  May  2009 
approved the creation of new conditional capital up 
to a maximum of CHF 18 000.00, whereby the share 
capital  of  the  company  may  rise  by  up  to  CHF 
46 248.00 to cover the exercising of option or sub-
scription 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  con-
verted into shares with a par value of CHF 0.10. In 
2011,  no  options  were  exercised,  and  in  2012, 
42 909  options  were  exercised.  The  number  of  
options  exercised  in  2013  amounted  to  79 991. 
Conditional  capital  therefore  amounted  to  CHF 
32 622.00 as at 31 December 2013.

The  newly  created  capital  was  entered  in  the 
Commercial 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 2013.

Capital changes
Details of capital changes in 2013 and 2012 can be 
found on page 58 of the Financial Report. The cor-
responding  information  for  2011  can  be  found  on 
page 56 of the financial section of the 2012 Annual 
Report.

Shares, participation certificates and bonus  
certificates
As  at  31  December  2013,  Komax  Holding  AG  had 
fully  paid-up  capital  of  CHF  352 378.00,  distributed 
over 3 523 780 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 trans-

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37

ferability  of  shares  and  nominee  registrations”).  
Registered  shares  are  fully  entitled  to  receive  divi-
dends.

Komax  Holding  AG  has  not  issued  any  partici-

Convertible bonds and options
Komax Holding AG has no outstanding convertible 
bonds.  See  pages  43,  94  and  95  of  the  Financial 
Report for information on employee share options.

pation certificates or bonus certificates.

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 “vot-
ing  shareholder”  may  be  refused  under  Komax 
Holding  AG’s  Articles  of  Association  if,  as  a  result  
of  such  recognition,  the  acquirer  would  directly  or 
indir ectly 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,  manage-
ment 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 acquirer for the purposes of this provision. 
This limitation also applies in the case of the acqui-
sition  of  registered  shares  through  the  exercising  
of  subscription  rights,  option  rights  or  conversion 
rights. This restriction does not apply to the acquisi-
tion of shares through inheritance, division of an es-
tate 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  en-
tries in the share register if such entries occurred in 
consequence  of  false  statements  by  the  acquirer. 
The  acquirer  must  be  informed  of  the  deletion  im-
mediately.

An agenda request for the next Annual General 
Meeting  on  7  May  2014  has  been  received  from 
zCapital,  Zug,  which  is  calling  for  the  abolition  of  
the 5% registration and voting restriction.

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 28 reports were submitted 
in the year under review. Published reports can be 
found on the website of the SIX Swiss Exchange.

3  Board of Directors
The  Ordinance  against  Excessive  Remuneration  in 
Listed  Companies,  which  entered  into  force  on 
1  January  2014,  has  particular  repercussions  for 
the  election  and  period  of  office  of  the  Board  of  
Directors,  as  well  as  for  its  internal  organization. 
Any required adjustments to the Articles of Associa-
tion and regulations will be made within the dead-
lines prescribed by Art. 27 of the Ordinance against 
Excessive Remuneration.

The  Board  of  Directors  has  six  members.  No 
member 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 rela-
tionship with any Group companies.

Members of the Board of Directors

 Appointed

Term 
expires

Committees

1997

1997

1997

2005

2012

2013

AC, RC (Chairman)

RC

AC (Chairman)

RC

AC

2014

2014

2014

2014

2014

2014

Leo Steiner, Chairman 

Max Koch

Hans Caspar von der Crone

Daniel Hirschi

Kurt Haerri

Roland Siegwart

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.

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  Annual Report 6 Business Model 14 Wire  20 Medtech  26 Solar  35 Corporate Governance 45 Investors  49 Financial Report 110 Corporate Structure38

Election and term of office
The Board of Directors of Komax Holding AG con-
sists  mainly  of  independent,  non-executive  mem-
bers and is elected by the Annual General Meeting. 
Under the Articles of Association it consists of three 
to  seven  members.  Each  member  is  elected  indi-
vidually. With the entry into force of the Ordinance 
against  Excessive  Remuneration  as  per  1  January 
2014, the Annual General Meeting now also elects 
the  Chairman.  The  period  of  office  now  ends  with 
the  conclusion  of  the  next  ordinary  General  Meet-
ing.  Members  may  be  re-elected.  As  a  result  of  
the  new  regulations,  all  members  of  the  Board  of  
Directors  will  be  re-elected  at  the  Annual  General 
Meeting of 7 May 2014. Max Koch is not standing 
for  re-election  as  a  member  of  the  Board.  In  his 
place, the Board of Directors is proposing that the 
Annual General Meeting of 7 May 2014 elect David 
Dean.

Internal organization
The  Board  of  Directors  consists  of  the  Chairman 
and the other members of the Board. With the ex-
ception of the Chairman, who is elected by the An-
nual General Meeting unless that position becomes 
vacant  during  the  year,  the  Board  of  Directors  or-
ganizes itself. If the office of Chairman becomes va-
cant during the period of office, the Board of Direc-
tors will nominate a new Chairman for the remaining 
period of office, whereby this person must be an ex-
isting member of the Board of Directors. The Chair-
man is responsible for chairing meetings. The Board 
of  Directors  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 demand 
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  present, 
subject to a minimum of three. In the event of a tie, 
the Chairman casts the deciding vote. All resolutions 
are  minuted.  In  cases  of  urgency,  a  meeting  of  the 
Board of Directors may be held by telephone or other 
appropriate  medium.  Resolutions  by  circular  letter 
are permissible provided no Board Member calls for 
verbal  discussion.  All  members  were  present  at  the 
five  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Directors  that  took 
place  in  2013.  On  average,  these  meetings  lasted 
around six hours. However, these average times per-

tain to the duration of the meetings 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),  Kurt  Haerri  and 
Leo  Steiner.  The  committee  meets  at  least  twice  
a  year.  In  2013,  the  committee  met  twice,  with  all 
members being present on both occasions. On aver-
age, these meetings lasted three hours. These aver-
age  times  do  not  include  the  extensive  preparatory 
and follow-up work done by the individual members. 
The tasks of the Audit Committee include the overall 
supervision of the external and internal 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  also 
evaluates the reliability of the internal control system 
together  with  Risk  Management,  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 Exec-
utive  Committee.  The  detailed  tasks  of  the  Audit 
Committee are set out in the Organizational Regula-
tions for the Audit Committee.

−  Remuneration/Nomination Committee
The Remuneration/Nomination Committee presently 
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 2013, the commit-
tee  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 individual members. The tasks of the Remunera-
tion/Nomination  Committee  include  providing  ad-
vice  on  basic  HR  questions,  determining  the  com-
pensation regulations and models for the Executive 
Committee,  and  drawing  up  proposals  for  the 
amount  of  the  compensation  paid  to  members  of 
the Board of Directors and the CEO. The tasks of the 

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39

Remuneration/Nomination Committee are set out in 
detail  in  the  Organizational  Regulations  of  Komax 
Holding AG.

Following  entry  into  force  of  the  Ordinance 
against Excessive Remuneration on 1 January 2014, 
the members of the Remuneration Committee will in 
future  be  elected  by  the  Annual  General  Meeting. 
The  period  of  office  will  then  be  one  year,  and  will 
end with the conclusion of the next ordinary General 
Meeting.  The  Board  of  Directors  is  proposing  that 
the Annual General Meeting of 7 May 2014 elect Leo 
Steiner, Daniel Hirschi and Roland Siegwart.

Definition of areas of responsibility
Under Art. 716a Para. 1 CO, the Board of Directors 
must 
following  non-transferable  and  
the 
fulfil 
inalienable 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 execut-
ing the resolutions passed by the Annual General 
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  Articles  of  
Association  as  well  as  the  Organizational  Regula-
tions  of  Komax  Holding  AG.  These  also  define  
the  rights,  obligations  and  competencies  of  the 
CEO and Executive Committee. The Organizational  
Regulations  are  reviewed  on  a  regular  basis  and 
recent 
amended  where  necessary.  The  most 
amendment  was  undertaken  in  August  2011.  Fol-
lowing the entry into force of the Ordinance against 
Excessive  Remuneration  as  per  1  January  2014, 
the  Articles  of  Association  and  the  Organizational 
Regulations  will  be  adjusted  within  the  deadlines 
prescribed under Art. 27 of that Ordinance.

to  the  CEO  of  the  Komax  Group.  The  Executive 
Committee is made up of the CEO and four further 
members. The members of the Executive Commit-
tee are appointed by the Board of Directors at the 
proposal  of  the  Remuneration/Nomination  Com-
mittee.

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. 
Moreover,  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  meeting.  In  addition,  the  Chairman  of  the 
Board of Directors and the CEO are in regular con-
tact  to  discuss  important  questions  of  company 
policy.

The risks associated with the Group’s commer-
cial activities are systematically identified, analysed, 
monitored  and  managed  every  year  through  an  
institutionalized  risk  management  function. These 
risks  are  amalgamated  into  groups  according  to 
their nature, namely general external risks, business 
risks, financial risks, risks arising in connection with 
corporate  governance  and  IT  risks.  The  Executive 
Committee  is  responsible  for  the  operational  side  
of  risk  management,  whereby  specially  appointed 
process  owners  are  assigned  responsibility  for  the 
management of key individual risks. These individ-
uals  take  specific  measures  and  monitor  their  im-
plementation. Every year, the Executive Committee  
informs the Audit Committee of the risks identified 
and  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 attainability against the quarterly statements for 
each  individual  company  and  on  a  consolidated 
basis.

To  the  extent  permitted  by  law  and  by  the  
Articles  of  Association,  the  Board  of  Directors  has 
delegated operational management of the company 

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

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and  errors,  and  ensures  accurate  and  complete  
accounting records as well as timely preparation of 
reliable  financial  information.  A  report  setting  out 
the  results  of  these  investigations  and  the  corre-
sponding measures taken is submitted to the Audit 
Committee.

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.  
Internal  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  
directly 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

Biographies  of  the  individual  members  of  the  Ex-
ecutive Committee are provided on pages 12 and 13.

Other activities and interests
Aside from the mandates listed on pages 12 and 13, 
the members of the Executive Committee do not ex-
ercise  any  activities  on  management  or  supervisory 
bodies  of  significant  Swiss  and  foreign  corporate  
entities,  institutions  or  foundations  under  private  or 
public  law  outside  the  Komax  Group  (as  at  31  De-
cember  2013).  Some  members  of  the  Executive 
Committee  exercise  Board  functions  at  subsidiary 
companies of Komax Holding AG.

 Compensations, shareholdings and loans

5 
Method of determining compensation 
The Remuneration/Nomination Committee is made 
up of three members of the Board of Directors. The 
Committee is tasked with
−   determining  the  compensation  policy  for  the  Ex-

ecutive Committee and Board of Directors 

−   submitting proposals for the compensation to be 
paid  to  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and 
the CEO to the Board of Directors

−   determining  the  compensation  to  be  paid  to  the 
remaining members of the Executive Committee
−   submitting  proposals  for  any  necessary  adjust-

ments to shareholding schemes

The basis for determining compensation for the 
Board  of  Directors  and  Executive  Committee  in 
2013  was  unchanged  from  the  previous  year.  The 
committee took into consideration on the one hand 
the  standard  rates  of  compensation  paid  by  other 
international industrial companies based in Switzer-
land,  insofar  as  these  companies  are  comparable  
in  terms  of  complexity,  size  and  geographic  reach. 
Here it relied on publicly available information such 
as  the  lists  of  compensation  disclosed  in  annual  
reports.  On  the  other  hand,  when  determining  the 
compensation to be paid, the committee also took 
into account the development of business and indi-
vidual performance during the past financial year.

The Remuneration/Nomination Committee met 
on  two  occasions  in  2013.  All  members  of  the  
committee attended these two meetings. The CEO 
and  other  members  of  the  Executive  Committee 
may attend these meetings in an advisory capacity. 
However,  they  do  not  take  part  in  discussions  
concerning their own compensation. The committee 
Chairman  reports  to  the  Board  of  Directors  on  the 
activities  of  the  committee  after  every  committee 
meeting.  The  minutes  of  committee  meetings  are 
made  available  to  members  of  the  Board  of  
Directors.

Further details on the Remuneration Committee 
can  be  found  on  pages  38  and  39  of  this  Annual  
Report.

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41

Structure of compensation 
Board of Directors
The compensation of the Board of Directors is fixed. 
It  consists  of  a  fixed  component  paid  in  cash  and  
a proportion provided in the form of options. Upon  
request  from  the  Remuneration  Committee,  the 
Board  of  Directors  determines  the  amount  of  the 
fixed  compensation  to  which  individual  members 
are entitled on an annual basis, at its own discretion 
and commensurate with the recipient’s involvement 
and degree of responsibility. Additional compensa-
tion  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  Directors  for  additional 
services.

The standard social security deductions apply to 
compensation  paid  to  members  of  the  Board  of  
Directors; these do not give rise to any entitlement 
to a pension.

CEO and Executive Committee
The compensation of the CEO is determined annu-
ally by the Board of Directors upon request from the 
Remuneration Committee. The Remuneration Com-
mittee decides on the overall compensation paid to 
the individual members of the Executive Committee.
The compensation of the CEO and members of 
the Executive Committee consists of a fixed compo-
nent,  a  performance-based  cash  bonus  and  share 
options. The annual fixed component together with 
a  proportion  of  the  cash  bonus  represents  the  so-
called  target  salary  (100%).  The  fixed  component 
amounts  to  between  65%  and  70%  of  the  target  
salary. The target salary is measured on the basis of
−   the tasks and responsibilities of the relevant func-

tions,

−   the externally perceived value of the function, 
−   the  individual  capabilities,  experience,  and  per-

formance of the function holder.

The performance-based cash bonus is depend-
ent on the company’s performance in relation to the 
annual plan (70%) and the individual performance of 
the function holder (30%).

The  bonus  components  that  depend  on  the 
company’s performance are calculated on the basis 
of  the  following  key  figures  for  the  company  as  a 
whole  and/or  the  relevant  business  unit:  Sales, 
EBIT, EAT and RONCE.

The individual performance component is based 
on the attainment of personal targets agreed earlier 
as  part  of  the  annual  performance  management 
process.  The  variable  performance-dependent 
bonus  may  be  a  maximum  of  170%  of  this  previ-
ously agreed target.

In  addition  to  their  salary,  members  of  the  
Executive  Committee,  middle  management  and 
other  staff  of  the  Komax  Group  (a  total  of  some  
160  employees)  receive  share  options  as  deter-
mined by the Remuneration Committee. These are 
determined in accordance with the company’s share 
option guidelines. These options have a duration of 
five  years  and  are  subject  to  a  three-year  lock-in  
period.  The  exercise  price  of  the  options  corre-
sponds to the lower of the following two values: the 
average price of the fourth quarter of the preceding 
year and the average price in March of the year the 
option was issued. The exercise price for the 2013 
financial year was CHF 67.03. The individual alloca-
tion  of  options  is  at  the  discretion  of  the  Board  of  
Directors  and  senior  management.  The  options  
allocated to the CEO in the year under review have 
a value of 33% of the fixed annual salary, and were 
calculated  according  to  the  Enhanced  American 
Model Binomial Evaluation. For the other members 
of  the  Executive  Committee,  the  value  of  the  allo-
cated options amounted to between 18% and 39% 
of fixed annual salary.

Members of the Executive Committee belong to 
Komax’s ordinary staff pension plan in Switzerland. 
The benefits of the plan go beyond the statutory re-
quirements  of  the  Swiss  Federal  Law  on  Occupa-
tional Retirement, Survivors’ and Disability Pension 
Plans (BVG/LPP), and are set in line with the market 
practice  of  other  industrial  companies  in  Switzer-
land. 

Members  of  the  Executive  Committee  are  en-
titled to a company car allowance and representa-
tion expenses according to the expense regulations 
that apply to all employees at middle management 
level in Switzerland.

The  employment  contracts  of  members  of  the 
Executive  Committee  are  concluded  for  an  indef-
inite period and stipulate a maximum notice period 
of 12 months. They do not contain any agreement 
on severance payments.

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Compensation payments relating to 2013
In  the  2013  financial  year,  the  variable  compen-
sation  component  for  members  of  the  Executive 
Committee amounted to between 40% and 56% of 
the fixed salary component. 

The  increase  in  compensation  is  essentially  
attributable  to  the  increase  in  the  variable  salary 
component  resulting  from  the  higher  Group  result, 
and the higher tax value of the options allocated in 
the  2013  financial  year.  Details  on  the  compensa-
tion, option allocations, as well as share and option 
holdings  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  Executive  
Committee can be found on pages 99, 107 and 108 
of the Financial Report. 

No benefits or special advantages were granted 
upon  the  departure  of  members  of  the  Board  of  
Directors or Executive Committee. 

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 right 
to  representation  by  the  independent  proxy  is  re-
served.  The  Board  of  Directors  may  grant  excep-
tions to this rule for good cause.

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 or the independent 
proxy.

Compensation for former members of  
governing bodies 
No  compensation  was  paid  to  former  members  of 
governing bodies in the 2013 financial year. 

An agenda request for the next Annual General 
Meeting  on  7  May  2014  has  been  received  from 
zCapital, Zug, which is calling for the abolition of the 
5% registration and voting restriction.

Loans granted by governing bodies
Komax  Group  companies  have  not  granted  any 
guarantees, loans, advances or credits to members 
of  the  Board  of  Directors  or  Executive  Committee  
or  parties  closely  linked  to  such  persons  as  at  
31 December 2013.

No  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  or  
Executive  Committee  or  persons  closely  linked  to 
them  take  or  have  taken  part  in  Komax  Group  
transactions outside their normal duties.

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

the  provisions  of 

Voting rights and representation restrictions
Shareholders  registered  in  the  Komax  Holding  AG 
share  register  are  entitled  to  vote;  each  share  is  
entitled  to  one  vote.  No  single  shareholder  may  
directly 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  persons  and 
groups with joint legal status which are connected 
through  capital,  voting  rights,  management  or  in 

Statutory quorums
The  Annual  General  Meeting  votes  and  passes  its 
resolutions with the absolute majority of votes rep-
resented, 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  
required  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 represent-
ing 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 

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43

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

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 auditor has 
been responsible for the audit mandate since 2010.

invoiced 

Auditing and additional fees
PricewaterhouseCoopers 
the  Komax 
Group  CHF  704 088  in  the  2013  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 com-
pany  invoiced  a  fee  amounting  to  a  total  of  CHF 
55 171 during 2013 financial year. This breaks down 
into a fee of CHF 3 034 for tax advisory services and  
CHF 52 137 for legal advice.

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  declare,  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  company  may  delete  entries  in 
the share register if such entries occurred in conse-
quence of false statements by the acquirer. The ac-
quirer must be informed of the deletion immediately. 
Nominees  are  listed  in  the  share  register  as  “non-
voting shareholders”.

Invitation to the Annual General Meeting of  
7 May 2014
All  shareholders  registered  in  the  Komax  Holding 
AG share register as per 5 May 2014 are entitled to 
vote in respect of the number of shares registered in 
their name at the Annual General Meeting of 7 May 
2014.  Shareholders  registered  on  18  March  2014 
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  5  May  2014  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  
additional  shares,  the  entry  ticket  received  should 
be exchanged at the front desk on the date of the 
Annual General Meeting.

 Changes of control and defence measures

7 
Duty to make an offer
Upon reaching or exceeding a threshold of 33¹/³%, 
a shareholder must submit an offer to all sharehold-
ers 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.

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erisches  Handelsamtsblatt”).  Information  on  share 
price  trends,  annual  and  half-year  reports,  the  fi-
nancial  calendar,  the  minutes  of  the  most  recent 
Annual General Meeting, press releases and Komax 
Holding  AG’s  Articles  of  Association  are  available  
at  www.komaxgroup.com.  Press  conferences  and 
presentations  for  analysts  are  held  at  least  once  
a year. 

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

44

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  and  Management.  At  least 
two  consultations  are  held  each  year  between  the 
external auditors and the Audit Committee, at which 
the  material  findings  for  each  company  (manage-
ment  letters)  and  the  consolidated  financial  state-
ments  covered  by  the  audit  report  are  discussed  
in  detail.  The  auditors  also  explain  the  audits  con-
ducted (audit and review) for each company along 
with  recent  changes  in  the  IFRS  (International  
Financial  Reporting  Standards)  and  their  impact  
on  the  Komax  Group’s  consolidated  annual  state-
ments.  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 internal audit team. 
The  independence  of  the  auditors  is  verified  by 
comparing  the  fee  for  additional  services  charged 
by  the  external  auditors  with  the  audit  fee,  taking 
into account the scope of these additional services. 
The  external  auditors  are  selected  by  tender,  and 
the selection process is repeated or the selection is 
confirmed  annually.  In  addition  to  the  minimum  
statutory requirements, the selection criteria applied 
are  professional  qualifications,  industry  experience 
and  value  for  money.  Further  details  on  the  Audit 
Committee can be found under section 3.

Information policy

9 
Komax Holding AG is committed to providing swift, 
transparent  and  simultaneous  information  for  all 
stakeholders. The CEO, CFO and the Head Investor 
Relations and Corporate Communications are avail-
able 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 the full year. 
In addition to the financial results, shareholders and 
financial  markets  are  regularly  kept  informed  of  
significant  changes  and  developments.  Komax 
Holding  AG  publishes  facts  relevant  to  its  share 
price  in  conformity  with  the  disclosure  policies  of 
SIX Swiss Exchange AG (ad hoc publicity, Art. 72 of 
the  Listing  Rules). The  Listing  Rules  can  be  found  
at www.six-exchange-regulation.com (under Admis-
sion). The official publication for company notices is 
the “Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce” (“Schweiz-

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45

  Information 
 for investors

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46

2013 was a good year for equities. The majority of 
stock  markets  recorded  strong  gains.  On  the  one 
hand,  stock  market  sentiment  was  shaped  by  im-
proving economic data in the US, signs of a recov-
ery in Europe, and interventions on the part of cen-
tral  banks,  which  continued  their  expansionary 
monetary policy. On the other, political uncertainties 
in  the  year  under  review,  together  with  investor 
fears that the Federal Reserve would soon reverse 
its  ultra-loose  monetary  policy,  repeatedly  led  to 
price corrections that were in some cases severe.

Komax  shares  likewise  performed  very  well  in 
2013. Given the prospect of a significant increase in 
profitability,  and  supported  by  the  intended  with-
drawal from the solar business, the price surged and 
closed the year 90% up. The year-end closing price 
on 30 December 2013 was CHF 135.30 (2012: CHF 
71.00).

Share price development 
in CHF

170

150

130

110

90

70

50

January

June

December

 Komax 
 Vontobel Small Cap Index

Listing 
Komax  is  listed  on  SIX  Swiss  Exchange.  Market 
capitalization  at  the  end  of  2013  was  CHF  476.8 
million.

ISIN

Security number

Bloomberg code

Thomson Reuters code

CH0010702154

1070215

KOMN SW

KOMN.S

Geographical distribution of shareholdings 

Switzerland

Other countries

Shares pending registration of 
transfer

56%

12%

32%

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

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

Breakdown of shareholders by number of 
registered shares held

1–100

101–1 000

1 001–10 000

10 001–50 000

> 50 000

1559

1338

190

32

6

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

Dividends 
The Board of Directors is adhering to its attractive 
dividend policy, and will propose to the Annual Gen-
eral Meeting of 7 May 2014 a distribution from the 
capital contribution reserves of CHF 4.50 per share 
(2012:  CHF  2.00).  The  payout  ratio  is  therefore 
63%. The  dividend  yield  on  the  date  of  the  Board 
resolution stood at an attractive 3.2%. 

Dividend payments from the capital contribution 
reserves  are  tax-free  for  natural  persons  living  in 
Switzerland who hold shares as part of their private 
assets.

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47

  Annual Report
  6  Business Model 
  14  Wire 
  20  Medtech 
  26  Solar 
  35  Corporate Governance
  45  Investors 
  49  Financial Statements 
 110  Corporate Structure

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 
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%  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.

Key data Komax registered share 

Share capital as at 31 Dec.

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.

%

Financial calendar 

Annual General Meeting

Dividend payment

Half-year results 2014

7 May 2014

15 May 2014

19 August 2014

First information on the year 2014

20 January 2015

Annual media conference/analysts’ 
presentation

Annual General Meeting

24 March 2015

8 May 2015

2013

352

2012

344

2011

340

2010

340

2009

339

3 523 780

3 443 789

3 400 880

3 400 880

3 387 520

3 458 379

3 404  850 3 375  217

3 349 278

3 319 791

0.10

7.33

12.42

9.43

74.92
4.502)

138.00

72.35

135.30

9 999

18.5
3.332)

0.10
2.811)
6.441)
3.951)
68.561)

2.00

97.10

61.25

71.00

6 608

25.31)

2.82

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

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).  
2)  Proposal of the Board of Directors of Komax Holding AG: distribution of CHF 4.50 per registered share  

from capital contribution reserves. 

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49

  Financial
 Report
  Consolidated 
  Financial Statements 

  50  Comments
  54  Consolidated 
  Balance Sheet
  55  Consolidated 

  Income Statement

  56   Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income

  57   Consolidated 

  Cash Flow Statement
  58   Consolidated Statement
  of Shareholders’ Equity

  59   Notes
 100   Report of the Auditors 

  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG

 101   Comments
 103  Balance Sheet
 104  Income Statement
 105  Notes
 110  Corporate Structure
 112   Proposal for the 

  Appropriation of Profit
 113  Report of the Auditors

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50

Comments on the consolidated  
financial statements

Income statement

Order intake
Order intake totalled CHF 368.3 million in 2013, compared with CHF 287.9 million in 2012, which repre-
sents an increase of 27.9% (20.9% after adjustment for acquisitions). All business units reported a higher 
order intake compared to the previous year.    

Revenues (net sales and other operating income)
Komax  generated  revenues  of  CHF  341.7  million  in  the  2013  financial  year,  representing  an  increase  of 
18.5% compared to the previous year. The following is a breakdown of net sales by currency in 2013 (per-
centages in brackets are for the previous year):

– CHF 30% (33%)   
– USD 27% (28%)  

– EUR 29% (24%)
– Other foreign currencies 14% (15%)

The percentage proportion of revenues in CHF remained virtually unchanged in the year under review. Al-
though  the  EUR  barely  fluctuated  against  the  CHF  thanks  to  the  support  of  the  SNB,  the  currencies  re-
mained a challenge in 2013. This is primarily due to the increasing significance of currencies of the emerg-
ing markets, whose exchange rates came under considerable pressure in 2013. Moreover, the majority of 
foreign currencies lost some ground against the CHF once again towards the end of the year. Overall, how-
ever, average exchange rates proved relatively stable. At +0.1%, the foreign currency impact at net sales 
level was in positive territory (previous year: +1.8%). 

Gross sales in the EU rose by over 45% to CHF 134.2 million in the year under review. This dramatic rise in 
sales in the EU is also the principal factor driving the sharp overall year-on-year increase in sales. In Europe 
as a whole, gross sales amounted to CHF 164.5 million in 2013, which corresponds to a share of 47.8%. In 
the  previous  year,  sales  in  Europe  accounted  for  41.7%  of  the  total.  In  the  Africa  region,  gross  sales 
amounted to CHF 22.9 million, most of which were once again generated in Morocco. Komax suffered its 
greatest decline in activity in South America, where sales fell by 20%. This was attributable to difficult eco-
nomic conditions in Brazil, which is by far the most important market for Komax in South America, as well 
as to depreciation of the Brazilian real. By contrast, Komax was able to increase sales significantly in Asia 
(+27.7%  compared  to  the  previous  year),  above  all  in  China.  In  North  America,  Komax  reported  another 
very good result in the year under review, with gross sales amounting to CHF 67.1 million. The purchasers 
of products in North America are split between Mexico (around 66%) and the US (around 34%).

Gross profit
The gross profit margin (gross profit as a percentage of revenues) amounted to 59.5% in the year under re-
view,  0.5  percentage  points  higher  than  the  previous  year’s  margin  of  59.0%.  The  improvement  in  gross 
profit as a proportion of revenues was the result of margin improvements at Komax Solar and Komax Med-
tech.  Both  these  business  units  were  able  to  increase  gross  profit  significantly  in  the  year  under  review. 
Komax Wire once again posted a very good gross profit figure, which was barely below that of the previous 
year. At –0.1%, the impact of foreign currencies was slightly negative compared to the previous year. 

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51

Operating expenses
Personnel expenses amounted to 32.6% of revenues in the year under review, compared to 36.0% in 2012. 
A sharp decrease in personnel expenses as a percentage of revenues is attributable to the significant im-
provement in the businesses of Komax Solar and Komax Medtech. By contrast, Komax Wire reported a 
slightly higher level of personnel expenses as a proportion of revenues, which is the result of increased mar-
keting and sales costs, as well as development costs. Komax Wire is specifically strengthening its market-
ing and sales activities worldwide, and, in the development area, we have also significantly increased ex-
penditure for new innovative products. The Komax Group generated revenues per employee of TCHF 255 in 
2013, compared to TCHF 246 in 2012. As at 31 December 2013, the Komax Group employed a total of 
1 381 people compared to 1 330 at the end of 2012. The increase is spread relatively evenly between the re-
porting areas. As in 2012, 42% of employees worked in Switzerland in 2013. The Europe, America and Asia 
regions each account for around 18% of the workforce, while Africa accounts for 4%.  

Research and development expenditure
Research and development expenditure amounted to CHF 27.0 million versus CHF 24.6 million in 2012. It 
therefore amounted to 7.9% of revenues in 2013, compared to 8.5% the previous year. The “Other operating 
expenses” item in the income statement includes CHF 5.2 million for third-party development services. The 
lion’s share of development expenses of CHF 21.8 million primarily comprises own work on the part of our 
development staff. The increase in research and development expenditure compared to the previous year is 
primarily attributable to higher expenditure at Komax Wire. As at 31 December 2013, the Komax Group em-
ployed a total of 146 staff in research and development – the vast majority of them in Switzerland. The 210 
employees listed under the Engineering area work directly on customer projects. Their staff costs are there-
fore not included in research and development expenditure. 

Operating profit (EBIT)
The Komax Group generated an operating profit of CHF 33.2 million in the year under review. This corres-
ponds to a return of 9.7% and is therefore significantly higher than the previous year’s result of 4.7%. This is 
mainly attributable to an improved year-on-year result at Komax Medtech and a significantly reduced loss at 
Komax Solar. With an EBIT margin of just under 19%, Komax Wire once again reported a very good result. 
Further details on segment reporting can be found on pages 92 and 93. 

Financial result
The  financial  result  amounted  to  CHF  –3.1  million,  of  which  CHF  –1.2  million  net  related  to  interest  ex-
penses. Net interest expenses in the previous year amounted to CHF –1.3 million. The reduction in interest 
costs was primarily due to the lower utilization of the syndicated loan facility. Other financial result  comprised 
both unrealized and realized exchange rate gains and losses mainly in EUR, BRL and USD. Compared with 
exchange rates on 31 December 2012, a number of currencies were valued even lower against the CHF. 
This resulted in high unrealized exchange rate losses, particularly on financial loans to Group companies. 

Group result
In  the  2013  financial  year,  earnings  before  taxes  (EBT)  reached  CHF  30.1  million  (8.8%  of  revenues),  as 
against  CHF  10.2  million  (3.5%  of  revenues)  in  the  previous  year.  The  tax  rate  for  the  year  under  review 
amounted to 16.5% (previous year: 7.7%). The sharp rise in the tax rate is primarily the result of the signifi-
cant decline in capitalized tax loss carryforwards in countries with significantly higher tax rates than Switzer-
land. For the next few years we continue to anticipate a tax rate of around 20% in the absence of extraordi-
nary influences. 

Group profit after taxes (EAT) amounted to CHF 25.1 million in 2013 (previous year: CHF 9.4 million), with 
basic earnings per share coming in at CHF 7.33, compared to CHF 2.81 in the previous year. Basic earnings 
are therefore 160.9% higher than in 2012.

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  Financial Report 50 Consolidated   Financial Statements 101 Financial Statements   of Komax Holding AG 110 Corporate Structure 52

Balance sheet

Assets
As at 31 December 2013, current assets had increased by 1.2% to CHF 221.0 million, of which cash and cash 
equivalents amounted to CHF 52.2 million. Current assets therefore rose significantly less than revenues. Ac-
cordingly, as at the balance sheet date, the Komax Group can report significantly higher net cash of CHF 22.6 
million (previous year: CHF 0.9 million). All business units contributed to the improvement in current assets as 
a proportion of sales. The figure of CHF 95.8 million for trade receivables also includes underfinanced projects 
of CHF 18.2 million net according to the POC method. This represents an increase of just CHF 1.7 million from 
the level at 31 December 2012. Overdue receivables are also reported in the notes to the consolidated finan-
cial statements. As at 31 December 2013 these amounted to CHF 20.5 million, of which 17.6% were overdue 
by more than 120 days. At the end of 2012, overdue receivables amounted to CHF 18.1 million, but the pro-
portion of receivables overdue by more than 120 days had fallen sharply. The difficult commercial and financial 
environment at Komax Solar is the key reason for the relatively high level of value adjustments in the area of re-
ceivables.

Liabilities
Current liabilities amounted to CHF 63.4 million as at 31 December 2013. This amount also includes over-
financed projects amounting to CHF 5.7 million net valued according to the POC method (previous year: 
CHF 5.6 million). 

Furthermore, current liabilities also include provisions amounting to CHF 4.5 million (previous year: CHF 6.1 
million). The reduction in provisions is the result of the lower valuation of project risks at Komax Medtech 
and Komax Solar as well as the restructuring provision at Komax Solar which was utilized in 2013. The fig-
ure for the reversal of provisions no longer required was CHF 1.3 million, which is higher than in previous 
years. This is primarily the result of positive developments in construction contracts. 

Non-current liabilities include deferred tax liabilities and financial loans. As at 31 December 2013, the latter 
amounted to CHF 25.5 million, which represents a significant decline of CHF 31.2 million compared to the 
previous year. The reduction is attributable to the positive development of business in 2013 at Komax Wire 
and Komax Medtech. The Komax Group continues to have access to a CHF 120 million syndicated loan fa-
cility, as well as other local credit lines up to a maximum of CHF 15 million. All covenants were again fully 
complied in 2013. 

The shareholders’ equity attributable to shareholders of the parent company amounted to CHF 264.0 mil-
lion as at 31 December 2013 (73.8% of the balance sheet total), compared with CHF 236.1 million as at 
31 December 2012. The conversion differences of CHF –3.1 million (previous year: CHF –2.5 million) had a 
more noticeable impact because the balance sheet date exchange rates were generally lower against CHF 
than a year previously.

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53

Cash flow statement

Cash flow from operating activities
Cash flow from operating activities prior to the change in net current assets and provisions amounted to 
CHF 37.7 million (previous year: CHF 17.2 million), or CHF 31.7 million after changes in net current assets 
and provisions (previous year: CHF 45.2 million). The positive cash flow is the result of the strong increase in 
Group profit after taxes and the moderate rise in current assets despite the significant increase in revenues.

Cash flow from investing activities
The cash outflow from investing activities amounted to CHF 7.2 million net, which represents a decline of 
CHF 10.4 million on the previous year. The significant fall in investment is mainly attributable to investment 
in Group companies and participations, which worked out CHF 8.1 million lower in 2013 than in the previ-
ous year. In the year under review, these amounted to just CHF 0.6 million for a down payment on the take-
over of the majority of SLE quality engineering GmbH & Co. KG as per 1 January 2014. In 2013, Komax 
made its key gross investments in the following investment categories:  

Machinery/tools

Infrastructure/offices

Buildings/land

IT

CHF 2.8 million

CHF 0.3 million

CHF 1.7 million

CHF 3.2 million

Free cash flow, i.e. the cash flow from operating activities after deduction of net investments, amounted to 
CHF 24.5 million, which represents a decline of CHF 3.1 million compared to the previous year.   

Cash flow from financing activities
Bank loans amounting to CHF 27.5 million net were repaid in 2013. In addition, positive cash flow of CHF 
4.9 million was generated through the exercising of options by employees. The dividend distribution out of 
reserves for capital contributions amounted to CHF 6.9 million in 2013. The cash flow statement shows a 
decline of just CHF 5.5 million despite the large-scale repayment of financial loans. 

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  Financial Report 50 Consolidated   Financial Statements 101 Financial Statements   of Komax Holding AG 110 Corporate Structure 54

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

Investments in associates

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Total non-current assets

Total assets

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Financial liabilities 

Trade payables

Other payables and accrued expenses / deferred income

Current income tax liabilities

Provisions

Total current liabilities

Financial loans

Deferred tax liabilities

Defined benefit plan 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

31.12.2013

31.12.20121)

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

14

15

16

18

19

20

21

22

11

13

23

52 203

0

95 751

19 751

53 270

0

57 655 

48

86 945

14 788

58 207

659

220 975

218 302

14 096

287

2 128

70 587

49 518

14 862

359

2 027

72 994

50 989

136 616

141 231

357 591

359 533

4 044

15 697

33 576

5 586

4 454

63 357

25 543

4 040

0

29 583

0

14 335

27 481

6 095

6 110

54 021

56 765

3 221

8 521

68 507

92 940

122 528

352

−2 919

37 345

229 207

263 985

666

264 651

344

−3 086

39 399

199 454

236 111

894

237 005

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

357 591

359 533

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised). 

The notes on pages 59 to 99 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

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55

Notes

2013

20121)

24

25

26

15/16

28

29

30

30

31

340 950

286 725

719

1 491

138 256

111 414

4 974

7 610

10 656

10 542

24 993

118 028

103 625

5 732

6 397

11 018

8 572

19 546

308 445

272 918

33 224

0

33 224

4 329

−7 447

30 106

4 977

15 298

1 681

13 617

4 554

−7 955

10 216

790

25 129

9 426

25 362

−233

25 129

32

32

7.33

7.16

9 557

−131

9 426

2.81

2.78

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)

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

The notes on pages 59 to 99 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

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  Financial Report 50 Consolidated   Financial Statements 101 Financial Statements   of Komax Holding AG 110 Corporate Structure 56

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

in TCHF

Group profit after taxes

Revaluation of defined benefit plans 

Income taxes

Items that will not be reclassified to the income statement

Currency translation differences from foreign subsidiaries

Currency translation differences from investments in associates

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to the income statement 

2013

25 129

6 533

−860

5 673

−3 104

33

−3 071

20121)

9 426

3 717

−647

3 070

−2 477

−17

−2 494

Other comprehensive income after taxes

2 602

576

Comprehensive income after taxes

27 731

10 002

Of which attributable to:

– Equity holders of the parent company

– Non-controlling interest

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

27 959

−228

27 731

10 149

−147

10 002

The notes on pages 59 to 99 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated cash flow statement

in TCHF

Notes

2013

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

Sale of non-current assets held for sale

Investments in intangible assets 
Investments in Group companies and participations2)

Total cash flow from investing activities

Cash flow from financing activities

Increase in financial liabilities

Decrease in financial liabilities

Sale of securities 

Sale of treasury shares

Capital increase (share-based payments)

Distribution out of reserves from capital contributions

Total cash flow from financing activities

31

15

16

30

15

16

18/22

18/22

25 129

4 977

6 644

3 898

−328

1 769

−1 988

3 118

−90

682

−1 399

−4 670

37 742

−1 653

−10 264

3 391

1 649

869

31 734

−5 410

534

930

−2 622

−621

−7 189

1 550

−29 096

70

192

4 863

−6 909

−29 330

57

20121)

9 426

790

5 806

2 766

183

1 700

685

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

0

−2 058

−8 694

−17 595

14 640

−23 678

0

0

1 631

−13 633

−21 040

Effect of currency translations on cash and cash equivalents

−667

−1 074

Increase (+) / decrease (–) in funds

−5 452

5 513

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December

57 655

52 203

5

52 142

57 655

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).  
2) Less cash and cash equivalents acquired.

The notes on pages 59 to 99 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

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58

Consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity

2013

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 2013

Other comprehensive income

Group profit after taxes

Comprehensive income after taxes

Capital increase from exercise of options

Distribution out of reserves from capital 
contributions

Transactions in treasury shares

Share-based payments

344

−3 086

39 399

−26 007

225 461

0

8

−3 076

0

0

−3 076

4 855

−6 909

167

5 673

25 362

31 035

25

1 769

894

5

−233

−228

237 005

2 602

25 129

27 731

4 863

−6 909

192

1 769

Balance on 31 December 2013

352

−2 919

37 345

−29 083

258 290

666

264 651

20121)

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 – reported

340

−3 086

51 405

−23 529

Restatement due to IAS 19 (revised)

Balance on 1 January 2012 – restated

340

−3 086

51 405

−23 529

221 864

−10 730

211 134

3 070 

9 557

−2 478

0

0

−2 478

12 627

1 627

−13 633 

1 700

1 041

1 041

−16

−131

−147

248 035

−10 730

237 305

576

9 426

10 002

1 631

−13 633

1 700

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

0

4

Balance on 31 December 2012

344

−3 086

39 399

−26 007

225 461

894

237 005

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

The notes on pages 59 to 99 are an integral component of these consolidated financial statements.

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59

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

General information 

1 
The  Komax  Group  is  active  in  the  manufacture  of  machines  and  as  at  31  December  2013  employed  
1 381 people worldwide (2012: 1 330 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 appliance, electronics, telecom-
munication,  solar  energy  and  medical  technology  sectors.  The  Komax  Group  sells  to  the  world  market. 
Komax has a network of 22 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 6 March 2014 and released for publication. Their approval by the Annual General Meeting, scheduled 
for 7 May 2014, 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 2013. 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 2013.

– IAS 1, “Presentation of Financial Statements”
– IAS 19, “Employee Benefits”
– IFRS 10, “Consolidated Financial Statements”
– IFRS 11, “Joint Arrangements”
– IFRS 12, “Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities”
– IFRS 13, “Fair Value Measurement”

With the exception of the revision of IAS 19, these amendments have no significant impact on the consoli-
dated financial statements of the Komax Group.

The adjustments to IAS 19 (revised) resulted in several changes. The most important change is that actuar-
ial gains and losses have to be entered directly under the other comprehensive income. The previous choice 
between immediate entry in the income statement, in the other comprehensive income or deferred entry 
using the “corridor” method no longer exists. Furthermore, the annual costs for defined benefit retirement 
plans now include net interest expenses or income calculated on the basis of the net position of the plan 
using the discount rate for defined benefit obligations.

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The transfer between the results published previously for 2012 (using the former accounting and valuation 
methods) and the restated amounts that will be shown as comparative figures in 2013 (using the new ac-
counting and valuation methods) is shown below.

Consolidated balance sheet
in TCHF

Prepaid pension assets

Deferred tax assets

Total assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Defined benefit plan liabilities

Total liabilities

31.12.2012
Reported

Application of  
IAS 19 (revised)

31.12.2012
Restated

1 019

14 499

360 189

4 118

0

114 904

−1 019

363

−656

−897

8 521

7 624

0

14 862

359 533

3 221

8 521

122 528

Total shareholders’ equity

245 285

−8 280

237 005

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

360 189

−656

359 533

Consolidated income statement
in TCHF

Net sales

Personnel expenses

Operating profit before interest and taxes

Group profit before taxes

Taxes

Group profit after taxes

Basic earnings per share (in CHF)

Diluted earnings per share (in CHF)

2012
Reported

Application of 
IAS 19 (revised)

2012
Restated

286 725

102 890

14 352

10 951

905

10 046

2.99

2.96

0

735

−735

−735

−115

−620

−0.18

−0.18

286 725

103 625

13 617

10 216

790

9 426

2.81

2.78

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
in TCHF

2012
Reported

Application of 
IAS 19 (revised)

2012
Restated

Group profit after taxes

Revaluation of defined benefit plans

Income taxes

Items that will not be reclassified to the income statement

Currency translation differences from foreign subsidiaries 

Currency translation differences from investments in associates

Items that may be reclassified subsequently  
to the income statement

10 046

0

0

0

−2 477

−17

−2 494

−620

3 717

−647

3 070

0

0

0

9 426

3 717

−647

3 070

−2 477

−17

−2 494

Other comprehensive income after taxes

−2 494

3 070

576

Comprehensive income after taxes

7 552

2 450

10 002

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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

The Group is currently reviewing the possible repercussions of other new and revised standards and inter-
pretations that will take effect from 1 January 2014 or at a later date. Komax is not applying these early. 
Based on an initial analysis, we are not expecting these interpretations and standards to have a material im-
pact on the overall result or financial situation of the Group.

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  110  and  111. 
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 2013, Komax closed its 100% subsidiary Komax SA Pty. Ltd. in Port Elizabeth (South Africa). In 2012, 
Komax acquired 100% of the Japanese company MCM Cosmic KK, as well as 100% of TSK Beteiligungs 
GmbH and all its subsidiary companies. Further details of the acquisitions made in 2012 are provided in 
Note 34 on pages 98 and 99. 

The above-mentioned closing in 2013 and acquisitions in 2012 aside, there were no changes in the scope 
of consolidation either in the 2013 reporting year or in the prior-year period. 

As announced in August 2013, Komax intends to withdraw from the solar business. The process was initi-
ated  in  2013  and  is  proceeding  in  line  with  expectations.  The  cumulative  requirements  of  IFRS  5  (“Non- 
current  Assets  Held  for  Sale  and  Discontinued  Operations”)  for  reporting  the  Solar  business  unit  as  a 
 disposal group held for sale were not met either as at 31 December 2013 or when the Group’s financial 
statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 6 March 2014. For this reason, IFRS 5 is not  applied 
in this report. 

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.

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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”.

As  at  31  December  2013  and  31  December  2012,  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 85.

Komax held no investments below 20% and no interests in joint ventures at either 31 December 2013 or  
31 December 2012.

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 maintenance 
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.

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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
31.12.2013

Average rate 
2013

Year-end rate
31.12.2012

Average rate  
2012

0.900 

1.240

0.380

0.148

0.273

0.940

1.240

0.443

0.152

0.300

0.920 

1.220 

0.452 

0.148 

0.302

0.950 

1.220 

0.494

0.150

0.306 

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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 sub-
jected to a semi-annual impairment test and measured at the original acquisition cost less cumulative im-
pairments. 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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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

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

0

0

52 203

95 751

16 134

287

48

48

57 655

86 945

10 878

359

164 375

155 837

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

151

151

29 587

15 697

6 182

51 466

353

353

56 765

14 335

6 695

77 795

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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.

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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); 

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  cap-
acity). 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 ser-
ious  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.

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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 difference 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 at 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 US 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. 

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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. The DBO is cal-
culated annually by an independent actuary according to the projected unit credit method. The recognition 
of pension assets is limited to the present value of any economic benefits available from refunds from the 
plans or reductions in future contributions to the plans. 

Past service costs are recognized immediately in income.

Actuarial gains and losses, which are based on experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assump-
tions, are recognized in the other comprehensive income.

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.

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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 complies 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.

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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 2013 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.

With the exception of the revision of IAS 19, no changes were made either during the 2013 financial year or 
the previous year that have a material impact on the Group financial statements of the Komax Group. The 
impact of IAS 19 is disclosed in Note 2.1.1 on page 60.

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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, the Komax Group prepares an extensive report each quarter on cur-
rency, 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 in 2013, 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 2013 and that all other parameters had 
been largely unchanged, the EBIT margin would have been 0.6 percentage points (2012: 0.4 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 
2013 and that all other parameters had been largely unchanged, the EBIT margin would have been 0.9 per-
centage points (2012: 0.8 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. 

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.

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.

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Management does not anticipate any significant losses on the receivables outstanding as at 31 December 
2013 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) 
Deutsche Bank1)
UBS1)

Customer A

Customer B

Customer C

Rating

Credit limit

Amount held

Credit limit

Amount held

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

A

A+

A

Group 2

Group 2

Group 2

25 000

11 898

24 000

n/a

n/a

n/a

8 182

7 945

7 618

8 544

6 732

4 444

25 000

8 739

24 000

n/a

n/a

n/a

14 538

6 369

8 293

3 860

3 284

2 690

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 2013 and 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 2013. 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 2013.

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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

31.12.2013
Financial liabilities (current and non-current)1)

Trade payables

Other payables

Derivative financial instruments

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

Trade payables

Other payables

Derivative financial instruments

0

13 850

3 981

0

0

10 236

3 669

0

1 550

1 223

496

8

0

2 409

580

8

0

261

435

0

0

1 007

582

0

0

317

499

0

0

449

544

0

2 494

25 543

46

771

70

0

0

258

0

56 765

234

1 320

68

0

0

340

29 587

15 697

6 182

336

56 765

14 335

6 695

416

1)  The cash outflow from future interest payments amounts to CHF 0.4 million for outstanding financial liabilities as at 31 December 2013 and CHF 0.7 million for 

outstanding financial liabilities as at 31 December 2012.

Interest rate risk

3.5 
Neither at 31 December 2013 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 2013 had been 
utilized to the amount of CHF 26.0 million (31 December 2012: CHF 54.6 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 22.6 million as at 31 December 2013 (31 December 2012: CHF 0.9 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.

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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 as well as 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, re-
organization, 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 add-
itionally 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.

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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 52.2 million (2012: CHF 57.7 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

INR

JPY

SGD

Total 

6 

Securities 

in TCHF

Shares

Total 

Interest rate

31.12.2013
TCHF

Interest rate

31.12.2012
TCHF

0.00%

8.44%

0.00%

0.10%

0

293

0

105

398

1.20%

7.00%

0.02%

0.06%

29

69

13

112

223

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

0

0

48

48

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 2013, an interest 
rate swap with a notional principal amount of CHF 20.0 million and a negative fair value of CHF 0.2 million 
(31 December 2012: CHF 20.0 milion with a negative fair value of CHF 0.4 million) was outstanding. The fol-
lowing volumes were transacted in the corresponding financial year:

2013: EUR 1.5 million, USD 4.0 million
2012: EUR none, USD 4.1 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”. 

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31.12.2013

31.12.2012

79 673

−2 156

74 797

−56 563

18 234

75 509

−5 136

80 005

−63 433

16 572

7 

Trade receivables

in TCHF

Trade receivables 

less provision for impairment

Accruals for systems1)

less prepayments for systems

Receivables arising from POC

Total

95 751

86 945

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 85.6 million as at 31 December 2013 (2012: CHF 122.7 million). Overfinanced projects 
totalling  CHF  10.8  million  (2012:  CHF  42.7  million)  are  included  in  the  “Other  payables  and  accrued 
 expenses / deferred income” item (see Note 20), while underfinanced projects in the amount of CHF 74.8 
million (2012: CHF 80.0 million) are stated under “Trade receivables”. Net sales for 2013 include sales on  
manufacturing contracts which remained outstanding on the balance sheet date and amounted to CHF 63.9 mil-
lion (2012: CHF 37.6 million), equivalent to 18.7% of net sales for 2013 (2012: 13.1%). CHF 52.6 million 
(2012: CHF 36.3 million) of this represents costs incurred and CHF 11.3 million (2012: CHF 1.3 million) rec-
ognized contribution margins.

Overdue trade receivables that had not been written down amounted to CHF 20.5 million on 31 December 2013 
(31 December 2012: CHF 18.1 million). Their maturity structure is set out in the following table:

in TCHF

as at 31.12.2013

as at 31.12.2012

0–30

10 926

4 748

31–60

3 392

3 552

61–90

1 910

2 061

91–120

661

1 684

>120

3 597

6 090

Total

20 486

18 135

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 2.2 million were recognized for trade receivables as at 31 December 2013 
(31 December 2012: CHF 5.1 million). The table shows the change in valuation allowances:

in TCHF

Total as at 1 January

Allowances for doubtful accounts

Change in scope of consolidation

Depreciation of irrecoverable receivables

Unused amounts reversed

Currency differences

Total as at 31 December

2013

5 136

932

0

−3 537

−437

62

2 156

2012

4 061

1 568

107

−213

−265

−122

5 136

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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

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

32 342

15 450

19 147

12 734

26 184

11 702

23 313

14 310

Total trade receivables (gross)

79 673

75 509

8 

Other receivables and accrued income / prepaid expenses

in TCHF

Other receivables

Prepayments to suppliers

Accruals

Total

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

12 623

3 511

3 617

9 164

1 714

3 910

19 751

14 788

Other receivables mainly comprise tax credits due from state authorities (tax authorities) and bills receiv-
able. The accruals include among 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 as at 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 as at 31 December

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

29 595

4 251

19 424

30 629

3 614

23 964

53 270

58 207

2013

12 271

2 691

0

−4 659

−1 203

−172

2012

9 903

4 714

561

−1 931

−790

−186

8 928

12 271

The  expenditure  recognized  in  the  income  statement  in  connection  with  the  value  adjustments  of  inven-
tories amounts to CHF 1.5 million (2012: CHF 3.9 million).

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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 was a 
building in Rousset (France) which was no longer used for its original purpose. As at 31 December 2012, 
there were no liabilities in connection with the building earmarked for sale. The building was sold in the re-
porting period 2013.

Deferred taxes

11 
11.1   Statement of carrying values

in TCHF

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)

Offset against deferred tax assets

Balance sheet deferred tax liabilities

31.12.2013

31.12.20122)

1 352

3 408

1 257

8 414

3 082

1 033

1 470

5 262

1 320

7 614

2 176

1 789

18 546

19 631

−4 450

−4 769

14 096

14 862

5 357

2 500

615

18

8 490

5 288

1 897

634

171

7 990

−4 450

−4 769

4 040

3 221

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

10 056

11 641

1) Including unrealized intragroup profit. 
2) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised). 

11.2   Statement of changes

in TCHF

Net total as at 1 January

Credited (+) respectively charged (–) to the income statement

Credited (+) respectively charged (–) to the other comprehensive income

Change in scope of consolidation

Currency translation differences

2013

11 641 

−337

−860

0

−388

20121)

4 684 

5 834

−647

2 206

−436

Net total as at 31 December

10 056

11 641

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

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80

The total of the temporary differences relating to investments in affiliated companies for which no deferred 
taxes have been reported came to CHF 33.9 million as at 31 December 2013 (2012: CHF 35.2 million). As 
at 31 December 2013, deferred tax assets of CHF 5.0 million (2012: CHF 4.9 million) in connection with tax-
loss  carryforwards of CHF 15.8 million (2012: CHF 16.6 million) were not capitalized. Thereof CHF 4.2 mil-
lion will expire between 1–5 years and CHF 11.6 million in more than 5 years.

12 

Other non-current receivables

in TCHF

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

Present value of minimum lease payments

Rent deposit and other non-current receivables

Total

105

182

287

178

181

359

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

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

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

220

−18

−21

181

0–1 year

1–5 years

90

76

130

105

0–1 year

1–5 years

143

122

217

178

360

−17

−43

300

31.12.2013

Total

220

181

31.12.2012

Total

360

300

As at 31 December 2013, just as on the previous year’s balance sheet date, no value adjustments needed 
to be recognized for irrecoverable minimum lease payments.

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81

Employee benefits (IAS 19)

13 
13.1   Defined benefit plans 
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 below. Benefits respectively 
liabilities in accordance with IAS 19 are recognized in the balance sheet of the Komax Group under “Prepaid 
pension  assets”  respectively  “Defined  benefit  plan  liabilities”  and  in  the  consolidated  income  statement 
under “Personnel expenses”.

in TCHF

Current service cost

Interest cost

Gains (–) / losses (+) from plan adjustments

Total employee benefits expenditure of the Komax Group

Interest income on plan assets

Employee contributions

Total employee benefits income of the Komax Group

2013

6 164

2 424

−1 051

7 537

2 272

2 674

4 946

20121)

7 401

3 079

0

10 480

2 762

2 584

5 346

Employee benefits result of the Komax Group2)

−2 591

−5 134

Employer contributions

Prepayments to the employee benefits plan during the financial year

4 579

1 988

4 449

−685

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised). 
2)  The employee benefits expenditure of CHF 2.6 million (2012: CHF 5.1 million) is recognized under personnel expenses.

The effect of the revaluation of defined benefit retirement schemes on the other comprehensive income is 
shown in the table below:

in TCHF

Actuarial gains (+) and losses (–)

Gains (+) and losses (–) from the revaluation of pension fund assets

Change to the asset ceiling of pension fund assets  

2013

3 031

7 043

−3 541

20121)

−1 355

5 072

0

Impact on other comprehensive income

6 533

3 717

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

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Benefits agreements for employees in Switzerland are concluded on the basis of pension plans regulated by 
the Federal Law on Occupational Old-Age, Survivors’ and Disability Insurance (“BVG”). The pension plans 
of the Group are managed by a legally independent foundation which is financed by regular employee and 
employer  contributions.  The  final  pension  benefits  are  dependent  on  contributions  and  involve  specified 
minimum guarantees. On the basis of these minimum guarantees, the pension plans in Switzerland are as-
signed to defined benefit pension plans in this year’s accounts, even though they exhibit many of the char-
acteristics of defined contribution pension plans. Any shortfall in cover can be eliminated through a variety 
of  methods,  such  as  increasing  employee  and  employer  contributions,  lowering  the  interest  rate  for  re-
tirement assets, reducing future benefits claims, or suspending the right to make advance withdrawals.

Responsibility for the investment strategy of the funded pension plans lies with the Board of Trustees of the 
pension fund. Asset-liability studies are conducted on a regular basis. These studies review the liabilities 
arising from the pension plans and evaluate different investment strategies with respect to the interdepend-
ent key variables such as expected profits, expected risks, expected contributions, and the expected fi-
nancing status of the plan. The aim of the asset-liability study is to ensure the appropriate diversification of 
assets within the plan. The investment strategy is being developed with a view to optimizing the expected 
profits, controlling risks and restricting fluctuations in the statutory cover ratio in an effective, sustainable 
manner. The asset-liability study contains strategies for aligning the cash flows of the underlying assets with 
the anticipated liabilities of the plans.

The pension fund assets are managed by both internal and external asset managers. The investment results 
are monitored by the management bodies of the pension fund on a regular basis.

Defined benefit obligations developed as follows:

in TCHF

Total as at 1 January

Current service cost

Interest cost

Payments made to and by beneficiaries (net)

Gains (–) / losses (+) from plan adjustments

Remeasurements:

– experience adjustments

– changes in demographic assumptions

– changes in financial assumptions

2013

2012

120 338

111 974

6 164

2 424

−987

−1 051

−5 895

1 702

1 162

7 401

3 079

−3 471

0

1 355

0

0

Total as at 31 December 

123 857

120 338

In 2013, the Board of Trustees of the Komax pension fund in Switzerland decided to modify the conversion 
rate in response to the continuing rise in life expectancy and expected returns over the next few years. 

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83

2013

20121)

111 817

100 421

2 272

2 674

4 579

−987

7 043

2 762

2 584

4 449

−3 471

5 072

The present value of plan assets developed as follows:

in TCHF

Total as at 1 January

Interest income on plan assets 

Employee contributions

Employer contributions

Payments made to and by beneficiaries (net)

Remeasurements on plan assets

Total as at 31 December

127 398

111 817

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

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

in TCHF

Present value of funded obligations

Fair value of plan asset

2013

20121)

123 857

−127 398

120 338

−111 817

Overfunding (–) / underfunding (+) as at 31 December

−3 541

8 521

Limitation of the recognition of plan assets as at 1 January 

Change to the limitation of the recognition of plan assets

Limitation of the recognition of plan assets as at 31 December

0

3 541

3 541

0

0

0

Recognized liability as at 31 December

0

8 521

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

The recognition of pension plan assets is limited to the cash value of all available economic benefits of reim-
bursements from the plans or reductions in future contributions to the plans. As future contributions exceed 
the value of future service costs, no retirement assets are applied. However, no liability arises either. 

Available assets break down as follows:

%

Assets held in shares

Assets held in bonds

Assets held in real estate

Other assets

Total

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

33.8

21.8

28.5

15.9

31.0

23.4

29.7

15.9

100.0

100.0

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The staff pension scheme of Komax AG invests in the following different asset categories with the aim of 
achieving an appropriate balance between risk and return:
–  shares and bonds, most of which are listed on an exchange;
– 

real  estate,  which  primarily  comprises  Swiss  properties  held  by  a  foundation  whose  investors  are  
exclusively pension funds;

–  other  investments,  including  cash  assets  and  money  market  instruments  whose  issuers  are  financial  
institutions with a credit rating of at least “A”, as well as other, primarily alternative investments. These  
are used for risk management purposes and in some cases have exchange-listed prices.

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

%

Discount rate

Estimated wage growth rate

Increase in current pensions (expectancy of future benefits)

2013

2.00

1.00

0.00

2012

2.00

1.00

0.00

At a value of 10.6, the average remaining service period for the calculations as at 31 December 2013 is just 
above ten years. Average life expectancy on reaching retirement at age 65 or 64, respectively:

Retirement at end of the reporting period:

Years

Men

Women

Retirement 20 years after the end of the reporting period:

Years

Men

Women

2013

19.8

23.0

2013

21.6

24.8

2012

18.9

22.3

2012

21.6

24.8

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85

The valuation of the net defined benefit obligations is particularly sensitive to changes in the discount rate, 
life expectancy and wage growth rate, and the increase in current pensions. The following table summarizes 
the repercussions of a change in these assumptions on the cash value of the defined benefit obligation:

in TCHF

Life expectancy

1 year increase

1 year decrease

Discount rate

1.0% increase

1.0% decrease

Wage growth rate

1.0% increase

1.0% decrease

Increase in current pensions

1.0% increase

2013

2012

2 146

−1 702

−21 019

27 788

6 225

−6 015

12 772

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

According to the most recent actuarial estimates, the Group expects employer contributions amounting to 
CHF 4.6 million for 2014. The expected cash outflows for benefits to be paid within the next year amount to 
CHF 1.8 million, while those for benefits to be paid within the next 2–5 and 5–10 years amount to CHF 6.8 
million and CHF 7.6 million respectively. 

13.2   Defined contribution plans 
No material costs for defined contribution plans of foreign subsidiaries had to be recognized in the income 
 statement under personnel expenses, neither in the 2013 business year nor in the previous year. The liabil-
ities  aris  ing  from  these  retirement  benefit  plans  amounted  to  CHF  0.1  million  as  at  31  December  2013 
(31 December 2012: CHF 0.1 million). They are recognized in the balance sheet under “Other payables and 
accrued expenses / deferred income”.

Investments in associates

14 
As  at  31  December  2013  and  31  December  2012,  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 2013 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  2.1  million  reported  as  at  
31 December 2013 (previous year: CHF 2.0 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”. 

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Property, plant and equipment

15 
15.1  Property, plant and equipment 2013

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

Buildings

Land

Prepayments for real estate
Total real estate

Costs
1.1.2013

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Additions

Disposals

Costs
31.12.2013

18 899

6 044

1 862

2 872

7 719

4 998

260

42 654

75 449

11 820

54
87 323

−206

−14

−58

−44

−104

−44

0

−470

−325

−121

0
−446

167

−40

93

0

0

40

−260

0

54

0

−54
0

1 795

328 

3

731

176

572

107

−928

−259

−4

−540

−392

−867

0

19 727

6 059

1 896

3 019

7 399

4 699

107

3 712

−2 990

42 906

1 647

0

51
1 698

−25

0

0
−25

76 800

11 699

51
88 550

Total 

129 977

−916

0

5 410

−3 015

131 456

Changes in depreciation
in TCHF
Asset category

Accumulated
depreciation
1.1.2013

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Accumulated
depreciation
on disposals

Depreciation 
2013

Accumulated 
depreciation
31.12.2013

Net value property, 
plant & equipment 
31.12.2013

Movables

Machinery

Tools / operating equipment

Warehouse equipment

Vehicles

Office furnishings

Information technology

Prepayments for movables

Total movables

Real estate

Buildings

Land

Prepayments for real estate

Total real estate

9 554

3 774

1 186

1 490

4 396

3 991

0

−58

−6

−22

−12

−62

−27

0

24 391

−187

32 592

0

0

32 592

−28

0

0

−28

Total 

56 983

−215

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

−664

−259

−4

−439

−332

−822

0

1 898

10 730

453

99

453

689

451

0

3 962

1 259

1 492

4 691

3 593

0

8 997

2 097

637

1 527

2 708

1 106

107

−2 520

4 043

25 727

17 179

−23

0

0

−23

2 601

35 142

0

0

0

0

2 601

35 142

41 658

11 699

51

53 408

−2 543

6 644

60 869

70 587

No impairments had to be booked on property, plant and equipment during the 2013 reporting year. As at 
31 December 2013, no contractual obligations were existing in respect of the acquisition of property, plant and 
equipment. Future liabilities arising from operating lease agreements amount to: 
CHF 2.4 million due in 2014,
CHF 6.2 million due in 2015–2018.

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87

15.2   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)
Land1)

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

−110

−610 

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

75 449

11 820

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

42 857

11 820

54

54 731

−2 082

5 806

56 983

72 994

1)  The reclassifications include the building and the land 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 amounted to: 
CHF 2.5 million due in 2013,
CHF 6.4 million due in 2014–2017.

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16 
16.1  

Intangible assets
Intangible assets 2013

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
1.1.2013

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Additions

Disposals

Costs
31.12.2013

13 574

4 146

30 562

17 351

46

−70

−1

−165

0

0

46

0

0

0

1 455

−1 056

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

−46

1 167

13 949

4 145

30 397

17 351

1 167

65 679

−236

0

2 622

−1 056

67 009

Accumulated
depreciation
1.1.2013

Currency 
differences

Reclassifi-
cations

Accumulated
depreciation
on disposals

Depreciation 
2013

Accumulated 
depreciation
31.12.2013

Net value  
intangible assets 
31.12.2013

8 884

4 130

0

1 676

0

−40

−1

0

0

0

14 690

−41

0

0

0

0

0

0

−1 056

1 900

0

0

0

0

10

0

1 988

0

9 688

4 139

0

3 664

0

4 261

6

30 397

13 687

1 167

−1 056

3 898

17 491

49 518

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

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

Wire

Solar

Medtech

Medtech

14 895

3 591

9 957

1 954

14 942

3 661

10 005

1 954

30 397

30 562

The recoverable amount of a CGU is obtained from the calculation of its fair value less costs to sell. These 
calculations are based on projected cash flows derived from the five-year plan issued by the Board of Dir-
ectors. Assumptions for the calculation of the fair value less costs to sell were as follows:

2013

Gross profit margin

Average growth rate

Discount rate (pre-tax)

Wire

62.2% 

4.9%

7.4%

Solar

39.1%

37.4%

8.0%

MTS

51.6%

3.2%

6.9%

INJ

36.8%

17.8%

7.7%

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89

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%

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 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

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)

Real estate consists of land and buildings in Switzerland and USA.

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

45 587

52 494

30 044

46 772

52 710

57 350

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90

18 

Financial liabilities 

M&T Bank, York (PA)

Deutsche Bank, Minden 

Total

Currency

USD

EUR

2013
Interest rate

31.12.2013
in TCHF

2012
Interest rate

31.12.2012
in TCHF

3.75%

0.96%

2 494

1 550

4 044

0.00%

0.00%

0

0

0

The fair value of current financial liabilities as at 31 December 2013 essentially corresponds to the book 
value. The average interest on financial liabilities was 2.48% in the reporting year.

Trade payables

19 
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

20 

Other payables and accrued expenses / deferred income

in TCHF

Other payables

Liabilities for social security and pension funds

Prepayments by customers

Accrual for personnel expenses

Commission payments to representatives

Invoices not yet received

Other accruals

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

7 705

3 329

2 835

1 828

7 335

2 840

2 069

2 091

15 697

14 335

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

6 182

313

6 770

9 517

1 928

1 208

1 925

6 695

300

1 624

8 344

1 455

813

2 658

Accrued expenses / deferred income

21 348

14 894

Prepayments on systems1)

less accruals/deferrals in respect of systems

Liabilities arising from POC

Total

1) See also Note 7.

16 496

−10 763

5 733

48 299

−42 707

5 592

33 576

27 481

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

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

4 348

460

101

1 273

6 182

4 857

388

49

1 401

6 695

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91

2013

2012

4 646

3 915

0

−2 842

−1 256

−9

3 280

4 446

259

−3 057

−216

−66

21 

Provisions

in TCHF
Warranty provisions

Total as at 1 January

Additional provisions

Change in scope of consolidation

Amounts utilized during the year

Unused amounts reversed

Currency differences

Total as at 31 December

4 454

4 646

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 as at 1 January

Additional provisions

Amounts utilized during the year

Unused amounts reversed

Currency differences

Total as at 31 December

2013

2012

1 464

0

−1 488

0

24

0

0

1 464

0

0

0

1 464

As at 31 December 2012, the other provisions included the provision for restructuring charges that were 
completely utilized during 2013. 

22 

Financial loans

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

M&T Bank, York (PA)

Total

Currency

2013
Interest rate

31.12.2013
in TCHF

2012
Interest rate

31.12.2012
in TCHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

EUR

USD

0.82%

0.80%

0.80%

0.00%

0.00%

16 000

4 543

5 000

0

0

25 543

0.83%

0.80%

0.00%

1.43%

3.75%

20 000

19 415

0

14 640

2 710

56 765

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 5.0 million as at 31 December 2013 (31 December 2012: CHF 20.0 million) less transaction  

costs of CHF 0.5 million (31 December 2012: CHF 0.6 million).

As at 31 December 2013, the Komax Group had unutilized credit lines of CHF 87.1 million (31 December 
2012: CHF 60.9 million). The average interest on financial loans was 0.82% in 2013, compared with 1.29% 
in the previous year. The fair value of non-current financial loans corresponds to their carrying value.

Share capital

23 
As at 31 December 2013, the share capital amounted to CHF 352 378. This comprised 3 523 780 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 7 999 in relation to 2012 (2012: CHF 4 291).

As at 31 December 2013, the Group held 26 000 treasury shares (2012: 27 483 treasury shares).

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24  
24.1  

Segment reporting
Information by segment

2013
in TCHF

Wire

Solar

Medtech

Corporate2)

Group

Net sales from external customers

Net sales from other segments

252 877

905

20 133

73

67 909

224

31

−1 202

340 950

0

Total net sales

253 782

20 206

68 133

−1 171

340 950

EBIT

47 388

−9 746

3 053

−7 471

33 224

Investment in non-current assets

Sale of non-current assets

Depreciation

7 459

330

7 828

48

154

1 681

441

37

1 009

84

13

24

8 032

534

10 542

20121)
in TCHF

Wire

Solar

Medtech

Corporate2)

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

−9 341

13 617

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

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised). 
2) 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

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

2013

 33 224

4 329

−7 447

30 106

4 977

20121)

 13 617

4 554

−7 955

10 216

790

25 129

9 426

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93

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.

24.2  

Information by geographical area

2013

2012

252 908

227 130

20 133

60 396

5 117

2 396

9 873

35 985

13 028

709

340 950

286 725

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. 
2) Without deferred tax assets.

2013
in TCHF

7 021

179 828

79 821

74 280

340 950

2013
in TCHF

129 738

53 087

99 058

59 067

340 950

2013
in TCHF

94 283

7 392

17 873

2 972

%

2.1

52.7

23.4

21.8

100.0

%

38.0

15.6

29.1

17.3

100.0

%

77.0

6.0

14.6

2.4

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

122 520

100.0

126 369

100.0

+/−
%

24.8

26.9

−2.2

28.6

18.9

+/−
%

11.9

9.7

34.4

21.4

18.9

+/−
%

−3.0

10.6

−5.9

−13.9

−3.0

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 Tunisia and  Morocco).

24.3   Significant customers
Neither in the 2013 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.

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25 

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

26 
26.1   Personnel expenses

in TCHF

Wages and salaries

Share-based payments

Social security and pension contributions

Other personnel costs (training and development)

2013

303

9

407

719

2013

90 551

1 769

15 627

3 467

2012

1 277

150

64

1 491

20121)

82 317

1 700

16 966

2 642

Total personnel expenses

111 414

103 625

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

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

26.2  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 
share 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

2013

No.

282 207

95 363

−79 991

−3 260

−2 160

292 159

Weighted average  
exercise price
CHF

73.93

67.03

61.42

73.22

42.78

75.34

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

Of  the  292 159  outstanding  options  (2012:  282 207),  32 106  were  exercisable  as  at  31  December  2013 
(2012:  36 832).  Options  exercised  in  2013  led  to  the  issue  of  79 991  shares  (2012:  42 909)  at  a  price  of  
CHF 61.42 per share. The weighted average share price at the time of exercising was CHF 106.30 (2012: 
CHF 86.04). 

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95

The following table summarizes information on options granted and not yet exercised as at 31 December 2013:

Expiry date
31 December

2014

2015

2016

2017

Total

Number

32 106

81 546

83 810

94 697

292 159

Exercise price
CHF

75.68

94.25

66.21

67.03

The fair value of the options granted in the 2013 financial year – as determined by the Enhanced American 
Model, an approach based on the binomial model concept – amounted to CHF 17.27 (2012: CHF 16.28). 
The key parameters for the valuation model are the share price of CHF 71.00 (2012: CHF 68.75) on the day 
granted, the exercise price listed above, the standard deviation for the expected share price return of 43.2% 
(2012: 46.6%), the option term of five years, and the risk-free interest rate of 0.18% (2012: 0.32%). The an-
ticipated dividend yield is 4.37% (2012: 5.54%). The volatility of 43.2% used in these calculations repre-
sents an arithmetic average of the historical volatility of Komax Holding AG for the last four years and that of 
a representative peer group.

26.3   Breakdown of employees by country and areas of activity

2013

Production

Research and development

Engineering

Marketing and sales
Administration6)

Total headcount at 31 December 2013

2012

Production

Research and development

Engineering

Marketing and sales
Administration6)

Total headcount at 31 December 2012

CH1)

Europe2) Americas3)

Asia4)

Africa5)

Total

222

109

83

117

50

581

98

19

38

66

23

85

7

55

76

29

102

11

27

78

31

244

252

249

23

0

7

19

6

55

530

146

210

356

139

1 381

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

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, Tunisia. 
6) Including management/IT.

26.4   Average number of employees
The average number of employees in 2013 was 1 342 compared with 1 170 in the previous year.

Development expenditure

27 
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 27.0 million, equivalent to 7.9% of revenues, compared with CHF 24.6 million or 8.5% of revenues in 
the previous year.

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Other operating expenses

28 
Other operating expenses amount to CHF 25.0 million (2012: CHF 19.5 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

2013

4 745

5 205

2 848

2 487

9 708

2012

4 545

3 905

3 122

2 147

5 827

Total other operating expenses

24 993

19 546

Extraordinary restructuring charges

29 
No  extraordinary  restructuring  charges  incurred  in  the  reporting  period  2013.  In  the  previous  reporting 
 period the extraordinary charges of CHF 1.7 million comprised additional personnel expenses arising from 
the release of staff necessitated by the poor market situation. Furthermore, these also included the costs 
resulting from social plans drawn up for the staff in question. 

30 

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

2013

2012

157

368

3 804

4 329

1 315

142

5 990

7 447

480

145

3 929

4 554

1 808

171

5 976

7 955

−3 118

−3 401

The financial income includes no gains in the current year (2012: CHF 0.01 million) on financial assets held for 
trading. Exchange rate losses amounting to CHF –0.04 million (2012: CHF –0.07 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.

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31 

Taxes

in TCHF

Current income taxes

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

Total

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

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 

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

2013

30 106

4 238

18

22

529

204

−197

147

16

4 977

%

14.1

0.1

0.1

1.7

0.7

−0.7

0.5

0.0

16.5

2013

4 640

337

4 977

20121)

10 216

155

380

161

−41

293

−320

205

−43

790

97

20121) 

6 624

−5 834

790

%

1.5

3.7

1.6

−0.4

2.9

−3.1

2.0

−0.5

7.7

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.

32 

Earnings per share (EPS)

in CHF

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

1) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised).

2013

20121)

25 361 681

3 458 379

7.33

25 361 681

3 458 379

84 498

9 556 293

3 404 850

2.81

9 556 293

3 404 850

29 360

3 542 877

3 434 210

7.16

2.78

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

33 
Guarantees in favour of subsidiaries amounting to CHF 11.6 million (2012: CHF 7.9 million) are listed in the 
notes  to  the  financial  statements  of  Komax  Holding  AG.  Apart  from  additional  guarantees  amounting  to 
CHF 0.8 million (2012: CHF 0.6 million) in favour of third parties at subsidiaries, there were no other contin-
gent liabilities towards third parties or Group companies. Sureties comprise almost exclusively guarantees 
granted to customers for advance payments.

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Business combinations

34 
34.1   Acquisitions 2013
Komax did not make any acquisitions in 2013. The sole payment made in this context was the sum of CHF 
0.6 million as a down payment on the takeover of the majority of SLE quality engineering GmbH & Co. KG as 
per 1 January 2014. 

34.2   Acquisitions 2012
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 employs 15 employees. It develops and markets wire 
stripping machinery. As a result of this takeover, Komax Wire added entry-segment machines and coaxial 
cable processing applications to its product range. The acquisition also gave Komax Wire better access to 
Japanese customers. The repercussions of the acquisition of MCM Cosmic KK for the presentation of the 
consolidated financial statements were not significant.

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

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The transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition amounted to CHF 0.5 million. These were re-
ported in the operating result in 2012 under the “Other operating expenses”.

The agreement has involved no contingent consideration arrangement.

No contingent liabilities were taken over from the acquired companies.

The fair value of trade receivables and other receivables amounted to CHF 5.1 million, of which CHF 4.0 
million related to trade receivables. Their gross value amounted to CHF 4.1 million, of which CHF 0.1 million 
were presumed to be uncollectable.

The acquired company contributed CHF 13.7 million towards net sales in the period 1 August to 31 Decem-
ber 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 in 2012 would have amounted to CHF 305.1 million, while profit after taxes would have amounted to 
CHF 9.8 million.

Events after the balance sheet date

35 
No material events occurred between the balance sheet date and the approval of the consolidated financial 
statements by the Board of Directors on 6 March 2014 which might adversely affect the information content 
of the 2013 consolidated financial statements or which would require disclosure. 

Related parties

36 
36.1   Transactions with related parties
Aside from a loan of CHF 1.1 million granted to an associated company, there were no outstanding items 
with  respect  to  related  parties  (2012:  CHF  0.6  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 (2012: none). However, rental payments amounting to CHF 0.1 million (2012: 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 (2012: none).

36.2   Compensation for the Executive Committee and Board of Directors
In fiscal 2013, the Group’s Executive Committee comprised five (2012: five) members. In conformity with IFRS 2 

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

six (2012: six) directors, is as follows:

in TCHF

Executive Committee 

Board of Directors

Total

Total

Salaries and bonus payments1)

Share-based payments

2013

2 339

394

2012

1 968

326

2013

724

131

2012

680

114

2013

3 063

525

2012

2 648

440

Total

2 733

2 294

855

794

3 588

3 088

1) Including the post-employment benefits of CHF 0.2 million for the financial year 2013 (2012: CHF 0.2 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 107 and 108.

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  Financial Report 50 Consolidated   Financial Statements 101 Financial Statements   of Komax Holding AG 110 Corporate Structure 100

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 54 to 99), for the year ended 31 December 2013.

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 

 misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor 

considers the internal control system relevant to the entity’s preparation 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 consolidated financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide 

a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2013 give a true and fair view of the financial 

position, 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, 10 March 2014

Sven Rumpel

Audit expert

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101

Comments on the financial statements of  
Komax Holding AG

Balance sheet

The Federal Council enacted the new accounting legislation with effect from 1 January 2013. A transitional 
period of two years has been granted for the application of this legislation. The Group’s financial statements 
will therefore be drawn up in accordance with the new regulations for the first time in 2015.

Assets

1 
Current loans increased by CHF 4.0 million in total. This increase is the result of newly granted loans to sub-
sidiaries. 

The value of the stake in Komax Systems LCF SA, Switzerland was increased in the year under review. In 
addition, the values of the stakes in TSK Beteiligungs GmbH, Germany, and in TSK Prüfsysteme GmbH, 
Germany, were increased as a result of reclassification of participation loans granted by Komax Holding AG 
as equity capital. The closure of Komax SA Pty. Ltd., South Africa, was legally completed. The value of this 
stake was accordingly removed from the accounts.

Both Komax Systems LCF SA, Switzerland, and TSK Prüfsysteme GmbH, Germany, made repayments on 
their long-term financial loans. By contrast, new long-term financial loans were granted to TSK do Brasil 
Ltda., Brazil, and to Komax Comercial do Brasil Ltda., Brazil.

Liabilities

2 
The current account debt of Komax Holding AG towards Komax AG was increased to CHF 77.8 million in 
the 2013 financial year as a result of the increase in the stake in Komax Systems LCF SA, Switzerland, and 
the reduction in the level of credit utilized under the syndicated loan agreement. The dividend of Komax AG, 
Switzerland, for the 2012 financial year (CHF 26.0 million) was offset against the current account debt.

The “Loans Group” balance sheet item relates to a financial loan amounting to USD 4.0 million granted by 
Komax Corp., USA. 

In 2012, Komax Holding AG and a syndicate of banks led by Credit Suisse concluded a lending agreement 
for a credit limit of CHF 120.0 million that is valid until 31 July 2017. This line of credit provides the Group 
with the necessary entrepreneurial flexibility, guarantees the financing of commercial operations, and en-
sures the continued implementation of corporate strategy. CHF 26.0 million of this credit line was being util-
ized as at 31 December 2013.

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 increased by 4.4 percentage points, from 64.0% in 2012 to 68.4% as per 31 De-
cember 2013.

The reserves for treasury shares were increased from CHF 3.1 million in the previous year to CHF 3.5 million 
to  reflect  holdings  at  31  December  2013.  These  reserves  are  valued  at  the  market  value  of  the  treasury 
shares held as at the balance sheet date.

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Income statement

Revenues

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

The other income from Group companies comprises revenues from services and licences.

Financial income includes interest on loans granted to Group companies, exchange rate gains on current 
 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 contain interest on loans payable to third parties and Group companies as well as real-
ized and unrealized exchange rate losses.

The “Other expenditure“ item contains investor relations expenses, hospitality expenses and insurance pre-
miums.

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103

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

1 330

2 919

14

1 914

19

496

1 951

15

1 849

11

108 432

104 394

1 116

649

610

36

116 393

109 362

155 746

2 228

11 195

57 025

226 194

141 455

2 228

19 085

58 798

221 566

342 587

330 928

430

77 774

398

1

3 600

82 203

26 000

26 000

193

59 601

610

1

4 168

64 573

54 640

54 640

108 203

119 213

352

2 100

3 518

18 333

185 185

182

24 714

234 384

344

2 100

3 086

20 387

162 816

196

22 786

211 715

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

342 587

330 928

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Income statement

in TCHF

Dividend income

Other income from Group companies

Financial income

Total income

Administrative expenses

Financial expenses

Other expenses

Total expenses

Profit before taxes

Taxes

Profit after taxes

2013

26 280

452

5 391

32 123

2 457

4 151

785

7 393

2012

26 250

465

4 747

31 462

2 358

5 552

734

8 644

24 730

22 818

16

32

24 714

22 786

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105

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

p.m.

p.m.

402

1 454

9 760

11 616

42

455

7 355

7 852

Notes to the 2013 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

Conditional capital

2 
As at 1 January 2013, the conditional capital consisted of 406 211 registered shares, each with a par value 
of CHF 0.10, created for management and employee share ownership schemes. 79 991 options were con-
verted into shares in 2013 (2012: 42 909). There was no increase in the conditional  capital.

Change in conditional share capital 

Opening amount as at 1 January 2013

Reduction in conditional share capital as a result of 
exercise of options in 2013 

Closing amount as at 31 December 2013

Number of conditional 
registered shares

Par value
CHF

Conditional 
share capital
CHF 

406 211

−79 991

326 220

0.10

0.10

0.10

40 621

−7 999 

32 622

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106

3 

Treasury shares

Change in 2013

Opening amount 

Purchases (avg. CHF 0.00/share) 

Sales (avg. CHF 130.39/share) 

Closing amount

Total

Change in 2012

Opening amount 

Purchases (avg. CHF 0.00/share) 

Sales (avg. CHF 0.00/share) 

Closing amount

Total

4 

Major shareholders

at 31 December 2013
Shareholder / shareholder group

Max Koch, Meggen

at 31 December 2012
Shareholder / shareholder group

Max Koch, Meggen

1.1.2013

Additions

Disposals

31.12.2013

27 483

27 483

0

0

−1 483

26 000

−1 483

26 000

1.1.2012

Additions

Disposals

31.12.2012

27 483

27 483

0

0

0

0

27 483

27 483

No. of shares 

Interest1)

232 401

6.7%

No. of shares 

Interest1)

231 401

6.8%

1) Calculated on the basis of 3 443 789 shares that were registered as at the balance sheet date of 31 December 2013 (2012: 3 400 880).

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 2013 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 2013. Within the scope of the syndicated loan agreement, Komax Holding AG guarantees for 
the liabilities of any member of the Komax Group.

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107

Risk assessment

6 
A detailed description of risk management can be found on pages 72 to 74 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 programme. 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 2013 and 2012 financial years:

CHF

Board of Directors

Leo Steiner

Daniel Hirschi

Max Koch

Hans Caspar von der Crone
Kurt Haerri1)
Roland Siegwart2)
Melk M. Lehner3)

Total Board of Directors

Executive Committee
Beat Kälin4)

Total other members of Executive Committee

Gross value of  
salaries and fees 
 during the  
financial year 

Chairman

237 500

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

97 500

97 500

100 000

92 500

62 500

36 250

723 750

Gross value 
of cash  
bonuses

Allocation 
number of 
options

Tax value of 
options5)

BVG 
contribu-
tions

Total
remuner  ation
2013

Total
remuneration
2012

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2 500

1 000

1 000

1 000

1 000

666

416

31 625

12 650

12 650

12 650

12 650

8 425

5 262

7 582

95 912

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

269 125

110 150

110 150

112 650

105 150

70 925

41 512

256 200

104 480

104 480

109 480

67 240

n.s.

104 480

819 662

746 360

CEO

423 138

1 019 170

236 278

457 052

8 000

14 799

101 200

187 207

62 400

823 016

140 790

1 804 219

627 378

1 530 070

Total Executive Committee

1 442 308

693 330

22 799

288 407

203 190

2 627 235

2 157 448

1) Member of the Board of Directors since 3 May 2012. 
2) Member of the Board of Directors since 3 May 2013. 
3) Member of the Board of Directors until 3 May 2013. 
4) Highest-compensated member of Executive Committee. 
5)  The options were valued on the basis of their tax value. This is CHF 12.65 for the 2013 options, which have an exercise price of CHF 67.03 and a duration  

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

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8 

Holdings of shares and options

Assets in units

Board of Directors

Leo Steiner

Daniel Hirschi

Max Koch

Chairman

Member

Member

Hans Caspar von der Crone

Member

Kurt Haerri
Roland Siegwart1)
Melk M. Lehner2)

Member

Member

Member

31.12.2013
Shares

Options

31.12.2012
Shares

Options

118 650

1 200

232 401

10 300

25

0

n.s.

9 500

4 000

4 000

4 000

1 500

666

n.s.

118 650

200

231 401

9 300

25

n.s.

11 000

7 000

4 000

4 000

4 000

500

n.s.

4 000

Total Board of Directors

362 576

23 666

370 576

23 500

Executive Committee

Beat Kälin

Andreas Wolfisberg

Walter Nehls

Matijas Meyer

René Ronchetti

CEO

CFO

Head of BU Solar 

Head of BU Wire

Head of BU Medtech

6 300

1 000

1 500

0

0

31 000

9 000

11 799

9 000

4 000

7 300

1 100

1 200

0

0

27 000

9 000

10 000

7 500

1 000

Total Executive Committee

8 800

64 799

9 600

54 500

1) Member of the Board of Directors since 3 May 2013. 
2) Member of the Board of Directors until 3 May 2013. 

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 2013 and 2012 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.

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110

Komax Group Companies

Direct and indirect equity participation as at 31 December 2013

Komax Holding AG
Dierikon, Switzerland

Purpose: Holding of equity interests
Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange
Swiss security ID code: 001070215
Share capital: CHF 352 378.00
Market capitalization: 
CHF 476.8 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 Shanghai Co. Ltd.

Komax Systems Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Komax Japan K.K.

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

Shanghai, China

Penang, Malaysia

Tokyo, Japan

Singapore

Gurgaon, India

Porta Westfalica, Germany

Porta Westfalica, Germany

El Paso, Texas, USA

Colombo, Brazil

Tunis, Tunisia

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

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111

  Financial Statements
  50  Financial Statements 

  of Komax Group

 101  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG
 110  Corporate Structure 

Purpose

Participation

Ordinary capital

Group services and management

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

Sales

Sales

Sales

Holding of equity interests

R&D, engineering, production, marketing, sales

Engineering, production, marketing, 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%

51%

30%

30%

CHF

CHF

CHF

EUR

EUR

EUR

USD

USD

USD

USD

BRL

MAD

USD

MYR

JPY

SGD

INR

EUR

EUR

USD

BRL

TND

TRY

CNY

CNY

EUR

EUR

100 000

5 000 000

10 750 000

1 500 000

400 000

1 500 000

8 160 000

150

10 000

1 000 000

200 000

10 000 000

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

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112

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 4.50 per registered share  
(2012: CHF 2.00) which is not subject to withholding tax1)

Allocation to free reserves

Profit carried forward

Total

31.12.2013

31.12.2012

181 539

24 713 672

15 857 010

40 752 221

195 845

22 785 694

6 887 578

29 869 117

15 857 010

24 700 000

195 211

6 887 578

22 800 000

181 539

40 752 221

29 869 117

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 2014 upon exercise of options are also entitled to the payout from capital reserves. 
Therefore, the stated amount may be subject to changes. 

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113

  Financial Report

  50  Consolidated 

  Financial Statements
 101  Financial Statements 
  of Komax Holding AG

 110  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 103 to 111), for the year ended 31 December 2013.

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 2013 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 retained earnings and reserves comply 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, 10 March 2014

Sven Rumpel

Audit expert

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114

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. 

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115

  Further Informations

 114  Glossary 
 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.

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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.

2013

20125)

2011

2010

2009

341 669

203 413

288 216

170 188

371 424

200 837

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

17 780

−19 835

59.5

43 766

12.8

33 224

9.7

25 129

7.4

10 542

31 734

8 032

24 545

27 048

7.9

357 591

136 616

220 975

263 985

73.8

352

92 940

26.0

25 543

4 044

22 616 

No.

1 381

255 

114

106

3 524

0.10

138.00

72.35

135.30

No. 1 000

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

59.0

22 189

7.7

13 617

4.7

9 426

3.3

8 572

45 222

9 033

27 627

24 633

8.5

359 533

141 231

218 302

236 111

65.7

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

122 528

113 413

106 175

34.1

56 765

0

938

1 330

246

108

100

3 444

0.10

97.10

61.25

71.00

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

−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

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. 
5) Prior-year figures restated owing to application of IAS 19 (revised). 

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

Financial calendar 

Annual General Meeting

Dividend payment

Half-year results 2014

7 May 2014

15 May 2014

19 August 2014

First information on the year 2014 

20 January 2015

Annual media conference/analysts’ 
presentation

Annual General Meeting

24 March 2015

8 May 2015

Forward-looking statements
The present Annual Report contains 
forward-looking statements in  
relation to Komax which are based on 
current assumptions and expectations.  
Unforeseeable events and develop-
ments could cause actual results to  
differ materially from those anticipated.  
Examples include: changes in the  
economic and legal environment, the 
outcome of legal disputes, exchange 
rate fluctuations, unexpected market 
behaviour on the part of our competi-
tors, negative publicity, and the depar-
ture of members of management.  
The forward-looking statements are 
pure assumptions, made on the basis 
of information that is currently availa-
ble. This Annual Report is available  
in English and German. The original 
German version is binding.

Imprint

Published by:  
Komax Holding AG, Dierikon

Concept and realization:  
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.

0343850

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3

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Komax Holding AG
Industriestrasse 6
6036 Dierikon
Switzerland

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

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