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SGS S.A.

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FY2013 Annual Report · SGS S.A.
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EXTENSIVE 
& detailed

ANNUAL REPORT 2013

 
SGS IS THE WORLD’S LEADING 
INSPECTION, VERIFICATION, TESTING 
AND CERTIFICATION COMPANY.  
SGS IS RECOGNISED AS THE GLOBAL 
BENCHMARK FOR QUALITY AND 
INTEGRITY. WITH MORE THAN  
80 000 EMPLOYEES, SGS OPERATES A 
NETWORK OF OVER 1 650 OFFICES AND 
LABORATORIES AROUND THE WORLD. 
We provide competitive advantage,  
drive sustainability and deliver trust.  
At SGS, we are continually pushing 
ourselves to deliver innovative services  
and solutions that help our customers 
move their businesses forward.

FINANCIAL 
HIGHLIGHTS 
from 2013

LETTER 
from the  
Chairman  
& CEO

05

06

SGS AT  
A GLANCE

10

BUSINESS 
REVIEW

CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE

SGS GROUP  
RESULTS

12

20

48

SGS SA  
RESULTS

104

DATA

124

104  Income statement

124  SGS Group – five year  

105  Balance sheet

106  Notes to the financial statements

120  Proposal of the Board of Directors 

for the appropriation of available 
retained earnings

121  Report of the statutory auditor to 

the General Meeting of SGS SA

statistical data consolidated 
income statements

125  SGS Group – five year statistical 
data consolidated balance sheets

126  SGS Group – five year statistical 

share data

126  SGS Group share information

128  SGS Group principal operating 
companies and ultimate parent

48  Consolidated income statement

48  Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income

49  Consolidated balance sheet

50  Consolidated statement of 

cash flows

51  Statement of changes in 
consolidated equity

52  Notes to the consolidated  
financial statements

101  Report of the statutory auditor to 

the General Meeting of SGS SA

SHAREHOLDER 
information

134

FINANCIAL 
HIGHLIGHTS 
from 2013 and
LETTER from  
the Chairman  
& CEO

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2013

4.4

5.8

6.5

organic revenue growth in % 1

total revenue in CHF billion

total revenue up in % 1

16.8

adjusted operating income  
margin in %

600

net profit for the year in CHF million

12

acquisitions

78.43

basic earnings per share in CHF

103

total cash consideration in CHF million 
for the acquisitions

948

65

cash flow from operating activities  
in CHF million

proposed dividend per share in CHF

5

1. Constant currency basis.

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN & CEO

DEAR SHAREHOLDERS,

The SGS Group results for 2013 
demonstrate a year of continued solid 
achievement. Revenues of CHF 5.8 billion  
for the year 2013, up 6.5% over prior 
year (constant currency basis), were 
supported by an organic revenue 
growth of 4.4% and an additional 
2.1% contributed by recently acquired 
companies. On a reported basis, 
revenues for the year increased 4.7% 
in comparison with the restated figures 
for 2012, reflecting a 1.8% negative 
foreign exchange impact from the overall 
appreciation of the Swiss franc during 
the year.

Challenging market conditions persisted 
throughout the year, with the slow 
economy in Europe hampering most 
activities in the region, particularly 
Industrial Services and Systems 
& Services Certification. At the same 
time, the cyclical downturn in the global 
mining industry heavily impacted our 
Minerals Services division and, to some 
extent, Environmental Services. Excluding 
the Minerals business, which experienced 
an organic revenue decline of 7.8%, and 
the winding-down of Life Science clinical 
trial operations in Paris, the remaining 
businesses delivered organic growth 
of 6.9%. Consumer Testing, Oil, Gas & 
Chemicals, Automotive and Governments 
& Institutions Services all achieved  
either double-digit or high single-digit 
organic growth.

Operating cash flows remained strong  
at CHF 948 million, up 18.8% from  
the CHF 798 million in prior year,  
and corresponding to 16.3% of Group 
revenues versus 14.3% in prior year.  
The Board of Directors proposed 
a dividend of CHF 65 per share, 
representing a 12% increase in 
distribution in comparison with 2013.

The Board remains committed to the 
strategic priorities identified in 2010 for 
each business at the inception of the 2014 
Plan, and confident that these priorities 
remain the best way for the Group to 
maintain its successful growth path.

We would also like at this time to extend 
our thanks to the Agnelli family who 
have owned a significant stake in SGS 
during the last 13 years, first through 
the Worms Group, then Sequana, IFIL, 
and finally EXOR, which decided in 
2013 to divest from SGS. The strong 
representation and commitment from 
the Agnelli family helped to maintain the 
stability within the SGS Group during 
challenging economic times and ensured 
the Group had clear strategic goals for 
achieving ongoing success year-on-year.

CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY IN 2013

2013 marked the third year of The 
Plan and the challenge we set each 
operational region was to maximise 
returns from the preceding two years 
of investment. Each region faced its 
own unique geographical challenge in 
terms of delivering advantage for our 
customers, but across the SGS Group 
we remained focused on leveraging 
our industry-leading position into new 
business opportunities for growth.

Collaboration and increased cooperation 
between SGS industries and a strong 
team ethic proved decisive in bringing 
new technologies, new service offerings 
and added value to the marketplace.

Our willingness to share information 
between SGS geographies enabled 
many new synergies to be created in 
2013. These new connections within the 
Group created global opportunities for 
more efficient, profitable and sustainable 
solutions, which positively impacted on 
our customers’ operations.

During the past year we concentrated 
our efforts on improving operational 
excellence through the continuation of 
previously initiated programmes, and the 
implementation of new systems and 
processes. We remained engaged with 
each one of our 80 000 employees and 
1 650 offices and laboratories around 
the world through CATALYST, our 
employee survey tool. As in its first year, 
2012, CATALYST in 2013 gave us an 
insight into the ongoing thinking of  
our employees. This knowledge is 
invaluable in helping us accurately 
assess and meet the needs of our  
ever-increasing workforce. Crystal, our 
new incident reporting system which 
was rolled-out by the Operational 
Integrity (OI) global function, helped 
to unify and harmonise our worldwide 
incident reporting methods. It included 
for the first time the use of Risk 
Assessment Matrix (RAM) ratings to 
proactively apply the experience of 
actual events or incidents in the past 
to assess risks in the future. The new 
SGS Operational Integrity Management 
System (OIMS) provided us with a 
holistic management system based on 
the best operational risk, health, quality, 
safety, and environmental management 
practices. We organised the first SGS 
Safety Day in 2013, an event aimed at 
informing each employee of their role 
in building a stronger safety culture 
within SGS towards ‘Goal Zero’: no harm 
to people, the environment, assets, 
communities, or SGS reputation. We 
introduced a new CCLAS G6 Laboratory 
Information Management System (LIMS)  
to ‘future-proof’ our laboratory  
systems and protect our ability to deliver  
cutting-edge data management and 
delivery from the laboratories we 
managed and operated in 2013. The 
new system increased our web-based 
interactivity, improved automation of 

6

tasks and allowed for more efficient 
data transfer between both internal 
and customer systems. Finally, with 
the wellbeing of employees a priority 
in 2013, we registered 247 SGS 
teams comprising 1 715 employees 
from 33 countries into the Global 
Corporate Challenge® (GCC), a global 
workplace health and wellness 
programme. The teams participated in 
a 16-week challenge that promoted 
healthier lifestyles via the wearing of a 
personalised interactive device that 
logged each individual’s’ daily activity 
and provided results online.

THE SGS GROUP ACQUIRED  

12 BUSINESSES ACROSS 10 COUNTRIES

During 2013 we acquired 12 businesses  
across 10 countries, further strengthening  
our market presence and the expansion 
of our service portfolio in North America 
and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, 
and Australia and New Zealand.

RDFI Group, representing nine vehicle 
test stations in France, was one 
of our first acquisitions of the year in 
February 2013. This move enhances our 
worldwide statutory vehicle inspection 
capabilities, which achieved healthy 
results in all regions. The related 
acquisition in June 2013 of Qingdao 
Yuanshun Automotive Services Ltd.,  
a vehicle inspection company based in 

the Shandong province, extended our 
services into one of the world’s biggest 
automotive markets, China.

Better balance between our testing 
and inspection services in the materials 
testing space was achieved with five 
acquisitions in 2013: Grupo Labmat in 
Brazil, MSi Testing & Engineering in 
North America, Civil Quality Assurance 
Pty in Australia, MIS Testing Ltd. in the 
UK, and Industrial Valve Engineering 
limited in New Zealand. The acquisition 
of Enger Engerharia SA, headquartered 
in Brazil, allowed us to complement our 
materials testing expertise with 
industry leading project supervision 
and management, as well as technical 
consultancy, for the infrastructure and 
building market in South America.

In April 2013, our acquisition of the  
Time Mining Group based in South 
Africa, a supplier of process plant 
design, project management, and 
commissioning and optimisation 
services for minerals processing 
plants opened up Plant Services to our 
already broad and resilient portfolio 
of offerings in the minerals industry. 
During the year, our environmental 
portfolio in Europe was increased with 
two acquisitions: Umweltanalytik RUK 
GmbH, a Germany based company 
providing biogas, stack and fugitive 
emission testing services, and MIS 

Environmental Ltd., a UK based 
laboratory offering a vast spectrum of 
experience in asbestos, environmental 
and health and safety testing and 
consultancy services.

Across the SGS Group we ensured  
the challenge of integrating each new 
acquisition resulted in immediate 
benefits and new opportunities for our 
customers. Well-defined and proven 
integration procedures helped us bring 
the additional resources and expertise of 
new acquisitions into the SGS network 
in a timely manner.

THE YEAR AHEAD

As we enter the final year of the 2014 
Plan, we have undertaken a strategic 
review of the SGS portfolio of services, 
and we remain focused on expanding 
our offerings along the value chain of 
each market sector, and on replicating 
successful services across our 
geographies. Enhancing economies of 
scale and capturing growth opportunities 
in emerging markets is key for growth, 
as is maintaining tight control over costs 
and focusing on efficiency of execution 
in mature economies such as Europe. 
With the commitment and dedication 
of each employee in 2014, we know 
SGS can continue as the world’s leading 
testing, inspection, certification and 
verification company.

Sergio Marchionne 
Chairman of the Board 

Christopher Kirk 
Chief Executive Officer

7

SGS AT  
A GLANCE  
and  
BUSINESS  
REVIEW

SGS AT A GLANCE

OUR VISION

OUR VALUES

We seek to be epitomised by our 
passion, integrity, entrepreneurship 
and our innovative spirit, as we 
continually strive to fulfil our vision. 
These values guide us in all that we 
do and are the bedrock upon which 
our organisation is built.

We aim to be the most competitive 
and the most productive service 
organisation in the world. Our 
core competencies in inspection, 
verification, testing and certification 
are being continuously improved 
to be best-in-class. They are at the 
heart of what we are. Our chosen 
markets will be solely determined 
by our ability to be the most 
competitive and to consistently 
deliver unequalled service to our 
customers all over the world.

SGS is the best-in-class provider of innovative solutions for inspection, 
verification, testing and certification services. Our unrivalled ability to 
leverage a truly global network drives operational excellence and increases 
profitability in organisations around the world.

We deliver sustainable business advantage through our unique understanding 
of how to overcome the complex challenges faced by industries today.  
Our customers rely on our expertise, experience and proven track record  
of delivering tailored, independent services that exceed expectations.

Every day, SGS delivers business benefits which improve quality,  
safety, efficiency, productivity, and speed to market in our customers' 
operations, while reducing risk and building trust in the sustainability of their 
long-term performance.

10

OUR  
MANAGEMENT

SENIOR MANAGEMENT*

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTS

Christopher Kirk
Chief Executive Officer & IT

Michael Belton
Minerals Services

SGS is led by a dynamic group 
of individuals with many years of 
experience in their respective fields, 
and who are committed to our 
success as a company and to the 
success of our customers.

We are organised into ten lines 
of business and operate across 
ten geographic regions. Each 
business is led by an Executive Vice 
President (EVP), and each region 
is led by a Chief Operating Officer 
(COO). The EVPs and the COOs, 
in conjunction with the functional 
Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs) and 
the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, 
Chief Financial Officer and General 
Counsel, make up the Operations 
Council, which meets regularly 
throughout the year to determine 
Group-wide strategies and priorities 
and review performance.

Geraldine Matchett
Chief Financial Officer

Olivier Merkt
General Counsel & 
Chief Compliance Officer 

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS

Teymur Abasov
Eastern Europe and Middle East

Helmut Chik
China and Hong Kong

Pauline Earl
Western Europe

Alejandro Gomez de la Torre
South America

Anthony Hall
South Eastern Asia and Pacific

Dirk Hellemans
Northern and Central Europe

Frédéric Herren
Africa

Jeffrey McDonald
North America

Ladislav Papik
Southern Central Europe

Dennis Yang
Eastern Asia

Olivier Coppey
Agricultural Services 

Anne Hays
Life Science Services

Frédéric Herren
Governments & Institutions Services

Thomas Klukas
Automotive Services

François Marti
Systems & Services Certification 

Frankie Ng
Industrial Services

Peter Possemiers
Environmental Services

Malcolm Reid
Consumer Testing Services

Alim Saidov
Oil, Gas & Chemicals Services

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS

Dominique Ben Dhaou
Human Resources

Jean-Luc de Buman
Corporate Development,
Corporate Communications 
& Investor Relations

François Marti
Strategic Transformation

* Denotes members of the Operations Council 

directly supervised by the Board of Directors 

(Senior Management).

11

BUSINESS REVIEW

REVENUE AND ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME BY BUSINESS

REVENUE 1

GIS 4.7 %

AUTO 5.2 %

ENVI 5.6 %

IND 16.5 %

SSC 6.9 %

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 2

GIS 7.0 %

AUTO 6.7 %

ENVI 3.5 %

IND 11.0 %

SSC 7.5 %

AGRI 6.5 %

MIN 13.6 %

OGC 19.6 %

LIFE 3.5 %

CTS 17.9 %

AGRI 6.7 %

MIN 12.6%

OGC 15.8 %

LIFE 2.8 %

CTS 26.4 %

1. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements). 

2. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 

REVENUE BY REGION

Europe / Africa /  
Middle East 46.2 %

Asia Pacific 29.0 %

Americas 24.8 %

12

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES

Agricultural Services delivered 
comparable revenue growth of 5.5% (of 
which 3.8% organic) to CHF 381 million  
for the year, supported by strong growth 
in Seed & Crop and Fumigation services 
combined with moderate growth in 
trade inspections.

Revenue growth from trade-related 
services, which were hampered in the 
first semester by low export volumes 
in the Black Sea and Danube Corridor 
due to drought and an aflatoxins crisis, 
recovered in the second half of the 
year. North America also saw high 
Trade activity in the second semester, 
however, this was partially offset by  
a downturn in Asia Pacific, particularly  
in India where exports of sugar and  
non-basmati rice remained low. 

Non-trade related activities performed 
well throughout the year. Seed & Crop 
and Fumigation services delivered high 
double digit growth rates, benefiting 

MINERALS SERVICES

The difficulties experienced by Minerals 
Services in the first semester continued 
throughout the balance of the year, 
with the cyclical downturn in the mining 
sector impacting primarily Geochemistry 
and Metallurgy volumes. The Group 
however successfully limited the 
Minerals Services revenue decline to 
5.2%. This was achieved thanks to a 
broad geographical footprint, an increase 
in revenues from dedicated on-site 
laboratories as well as double-digit 
growth in trade-related services boosted 
by geographical expansion and market 
share gains. Growth contributed by 
the recently acquired E&S Engineering 
Solutions in the USA and Time Mining 
Group in South Africa also partially offset 
an organic revenue decline of 7.8%.

The adjusted operating margin for the 
year declined from 18.7% (constant 
currency basis) in prior year to 15.6%, 
impacted mainly by the drop in 
Geochemistry volumes and an adverse 
shift in revenue mix. Since the beginning 

from the 2012 acquisitions of Gravena 
and WareCare, both performing ahead 
of expectation, as well as investments 
made to replicate these activities  
across geographies. 

Despite a difficult first semester 
in Eastern Europe for trade-related 
activities, the full year adjusted operating 
margin increased to 17.1% from 16.4% 
in prior year (constant currency basis), 
reflecting the positive impact of cost 

saving initiatives in the USA and 
profitable growth in Canada following 
the deregulation of the Canadian Wheat 
Board and Canadian Grain Commission. 

During the year, the business 
continued to invest in the expansion 
of inland services in addition to new 
lab capabilities in Central and Eastern 
Europe which are expected to come 
online in 2014.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

2013  
RESULTS

381.3

65.3

17.1

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

361.3

5.5

59.4

9.9

16.4

369.5

3.2

60.9

7.2

16.5

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

of the year, the Group has focused on 
restructuring the operations. Costs 
were gradually aligned to the declining 
volumes, particularly in Australia, Africa 
and North America where mining 
companies have significantly reduced 
exploration expenditure and capital 
projects. Market conditions are not 
expected to improve in 2014. However, 
the measures taken should enable  
a partial margin recovery.

During the year, the Group completed 
the acquisition of the Time Mining Group 
based in South Africa, specialised in 
providing process plant design, project 
management and commissioning and 
optimisation services for minerals 
processing plants. Through this 
acquisition and that of E&S Engineering 
Solutions in the USA, the Group has 
now added Plant services to its portfolio.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

2013  
RESULTS

791.9

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

123.4

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

15.6

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

835.1

(5.2)

156.0

(20.9)

18.7

868.0

(8.8)

162.1

(23.9)

18.7

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

13

BUSINESS REVIEW

OIL, GAS & CHEMICALS SERVICES

Oil, Gas and Chemical Services 
delivered a very good year with  
double-digit comparable revenue growth 
of 10.3% (of which 9.4% organic)  
to CHF 1 140 million, supported by  
the expansion of non-trade related 
services across the network. 

Similar trends to those experienced 
during the first semester continued  
for the balance of the year, with 
trade-related services remaining flat 
while all other activities performed 
well. Upstream services delivered 
growth in excess of 30% mainly 
driven by Australia, the Middle East, 
Malaysia and Mexico, and through solid 
growth in sub-surface consultancy. 
Plant & Terminal Operations grew 
at a high double digit rate, with the 
continued expansion of operations in 
the USA and Canada. Other non-trade 
related services such as Metering & 
Instrumentation also delivered strong 
growth, gradually expanding into  
new geographies. 

LIFE SCIENCE SERVICES

Life Science Services delivered 
significantly improved results with 
comparable revenues of CHF 205 million 
representing a growth, once adjusted  
for the winding-down of the Paris  
clinical trial activities, of 11.1% (of which 
8.8% organic). 

In line with the first semester, laboratory 
activities continued to deliver strong 
results across most geographies, 
with an overall growth of 12.9%. 
Performance in Europe remained solid 
thanks primarily to the biologics-related 
expertise of M-Scan in three countries 
and Vitrology in UK, while the North 
American laboratories also continued 
to deliver strong profitable growth 
supported by investments made in prior 
periods. A strong global key account 
management approach started to gain 
traction, helping to increase revenues for 
our facilities in India and China.

Excluding the Paris clinical trial activities, 
revenues from Clinical Research 

The adjusted operating margin for the 
period increased to 13.5% from 13.1% 
in prior year (constant currency basis), 
despite the margin on trade activities 
in Europe remaining under pressure 
due to flat volumes and a struggling 
refining industry. This was offset by 
positive trends in all other geographies, 
supported by the increasing scale of 
non-trade related activities in addition 
to operational efficiency initiatives and 
the restructuring of under-performing 
operations in Europe.

On 31 December 2012, the Group 
acquired Herguth Laboratories in 
USA, a leading independent laboratory 
with strong expertise in lubricants, 
petroleum-based substance testing 
and tribological research, primarily 
serving the energy and transportation 
industries. The addition of this important 
location to our lubricant testing network 
makes SGS a truly global oil condition 
monitoring service provider.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

2013  
RESULTS

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

1 139.9

1 033.8

1 046.0

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

154.0

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

13.5

10.3

135.6

13.6

13.1

9.0

137.1

12.3

13.1

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

increased 6.7%, with late phase activities 
in North America and Belgium benefiting 
from new contracts and the integration of 
the Exprimo acquisition. However, early 
phase clinical trial revenues continued 
to face flat demand with limited 
opportunities for revenue growth. 

reflecting the winding-down of the Paris 
clinical trial activities as well as higher 
profitability in the recently acquired 
M-Scan and Vitrology companies. North 
American laboratories also performed 
well following operational efficiency 
initiatives carried out in 2012. 

The adjusted operating margin for the 
period increased to 13.2% from 8.4%  
in prior year (constant currency basis), 

During the second semester, the Group 
recognised an additional restructuring 
expense in relation to the clinical trial 
operations in Paris.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

2013  
RESULTS

205.0

27.1

13.2

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

200.6

2.2

16.9

60.4

8.4

199.3

2.9

17.0

59.4

8.5

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

14

CONSUMER TESTING SERVICES

Consumer Testing Services delivered 
strong double-digit comparable revenue 
growth of 12.0% (of which 11.2% 
organic) to CHF 1 042 million for the 
year, becoming the second business 
division to exceed CHF 1.0 billion in 
annual turnover. This very solid growth 
was driven primarily by the operations 
in Asia, South America and Eastern 
Europe, offsetting a difficult year in 
some European countries. 

All segments of the business performed 
well. Electrical & Electronics activities 
delivered the strongest growth overall 
for the year, leveraging the substantial 
capital investments made in Wireless 
testing in Asia and significantly enhanced 
capabilities in North America. Softlines 
testing also remained strong, supported 
by new global customers and the launch 
of new services across an expanded 
network following investments made 
to increase laboratory capacity in 
several countries. Newer segments also 
performed well, with automotive parts 
testing in particular delivering revenue 

growth of nearly 50% after capacity 
expansions in China and India.

The adjusted operating income margin 
for the period remained broadly stable 
at 24.8% (constant currency basis), 
despite continued pressure from labour 
cost increases in some Asian countries, 
the short-term impact of new laboratory 
expansions not yet at full capacity, as 
well as disappointing results in Germany. 
Overall market conditions in Europe 
remained challenging both in terms of 

growth and margin, however this was 
mostly offset by sustained profitable 
growth in all other important geographies.

During the year, capital investments 
amounted to CHF 87 million including 
the relocation of our flagship laboratory 
in Hong Kong to new premises, and 
continued investments in our Electrical & 
Electronics capabilities in Korea and the 
USA. In addition, restructuring plans were 
completed in Europe in order to address 
areas of sub-optimal performance.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

2013  
RESULTS

1 041.9

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

258.3

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

24.8

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

930.6

12.0

231.7

11.5

24.9

936.2

11.3

232.4

11.1

24.8

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

SYSTEMS & SERVICES CERTIFICATION

Systems and Services Certification 
delivered comparable revenue growth 
of 4.1% (of which 3.9% organic) to CHF 
402 million for the year, as weak market 
conditions in Europe and Japan, as well 
as the loss of an important contract in 
Australia for the mining industry, offset 
in part the strong growth achieved in 
other geographies.

In line with the first semester, 
performance across Europe remained 
disappointing where the market for 
Management and Environmental 
Systems certification is mature. 
However, this was offset by strong 
performance in other regions including 
Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa 
and South America which all delivered 
double digit growth, along with 
increasing demand in new areas such 
as medical devices certification, food 
safety schemes and performance 
assessment activities.

The adjusted operating income margin 
for the year increased slightly to 18.3% 
from 18.2% in prior year (constant 

currency basis), despite the lack of 
growth in mature countries and related 
pricing pressure. This was achieved 
through the introduction of cost saving 
programmes in Europe and Japan, as 
well as operational efficiency initiatives. 
Other regions also contributed 
significantly to this margin performance, 
with many countries still having 
significant up-side in terms of service 
diversification and operational leverage 
compared to mature markets.

During the year, the Group acquired 
Hart Aviation, a global leader in aviation 
safety based in Melbourne, Australia. 
Hart Aviation conducts more than 700 
auditing and advisory projects annually  
in over 60 countries, serving clients 
across all sectors and industries, to help 
them minimise their exposure to aviation 
risk. This acquisition will enable SGS  
to rapidly expand its offering to the 
aviation industry.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

2013  
RESULTS

401.6

73.3

18.3

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

385.7

4.1

70.1

4.6

18.2

394.9

1.7

72.2

1.5

18.3

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

15

BUSINESS REVIEW

INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

Industrial Services delivered comparable 
revenue growth of 8.3% (of which 2.1% 
organic) to CHF 960 million, as soft 
market conditions in Europe offset an 
organic growth in excess of 10.0% for 
the rest of the network. 

The slowdown in Europe that impacted 
this business in the first semester 
continued throughout the balance 
of the year, with difficult market 
conditions persisting in Spain and Italy, 
project delays affecting Germany and 
Benelux, as well as a few important 
contracts having ended. Restructuring 
activities have been undertaken in all 
these countries to align organisational 
structures to changing market demand.

Other regions performed well, with 
investments carried out in prior periods 
delivering double digit growth in North 
America, Africa, South America and Asia.

The adjusted operating income margin 
for the period remained stable at 11.2% 
(constant currency basis), supported by 
tight cost control and restructuring plans 
in Europe combined with profitable 
growth from testing activities in North 
America, South America and Africa. 

During the year, the Group completed 
six acquisitions in Industrial Services 
with a strong focus on achieving a 
balance between inspection and testing 

services. Labmat in Brazil, MSi in USA, 
Civil Quality Assurance in Australia and 
the laboratories of MIS Testing in the UK 
all contributed to increasing the Group’s 
presence in the material testing space. 

Also in Brazil, the Group acquired Enger, 
a leader in project supervision and 
technical consultancy for infrastructure, 
building and industrial projects which 
employs 410 staff.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

2013  
RESULTS

960.3

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

107.3

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

11.2

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

886.5

8.3

99.0

8.4

11.2

898.6

6.9

100.2

7.1

11.2

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Environmental Services delivered 
comparable revenue growth of 3.0% 
to CHF 328 million for the year, with 
two acquisitions during the past twelve 
months countering an organic revenue 
decline of 0.3%.

The uneven regional growth trends from 
the first semester continued throughout 
the second half of the year. Solid growth 
and margin improvements were achieved 
in Asia, South America and Australia 
where Environmental Services developed 
at a fast pace across all industrial sectors. 
In Africa opportunities also continued 
to grow mainly in the mining and the 
oil & gas sectors, albeit at a slow pace, 
reflecting the current downturn in mining. 
These positive developments were 
not sufficient to offset the impact of 
the weak market and prolonged winter 
conditions at the start of the year in 
Europe. Volumes in Spain, France, Italy 
and Belgium declined, and only Poland 
and the Netherlands succeeded in 
growing revenues. 

Despite the situation in Europe, 
the adjusted operating margin only 
decreased slightly from 10.5% (constant 
currency basis) in the prior year to 
10.3%, benefiting from ongoing efforts 
made to restructure operating costs 
as certain markets continue to decline, 
particularly in Spain, France, Italy and 
the Czech Republic. Profitable growth 
in other regions also contributed to 
maintaining overall margins. 

During the year, the Group invested 
organically to continue geographical and 
service diversification, with new market 
entries in Asia and Africa. The Group 
also optimised the European laboratory 
network by introducing an improved 
regional sample distribution model to 
increase efficiency and profitability.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

2013  
RESULTS

328.0

33.8

10.3

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

318.5

3.0

33.5

0.9

10.5

322.7

1.6

34.2

(1.2)

10.6

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

16

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

Automotive Services delivered 
comparable revenue growth of 11.4% (of 
which 10.4% organic) to CHF 305 million 
for the year, sustained by strong results 
from statutory inspection activities and 
other new contracts.

Vehicle inspection operations 
achieved healthy results in all regions, 
including Western Europe where the 
large networks in France and Spain 
maintained revenues despite the 
economic conditions. Operations in 
Africa also performed well, with new 
centers being opened in Morocco during 
the year, and in South America revenues 
remain in line with expectations despite 
high inflation in Argentina.

Other activities also developed well, 
with a new weighbridge management 
contract for axle load control being 
rolled out in Kenya and a vehicle and 
boat tax collection contract launched 
in Ivory Coast. In the USA, commercial 
inspection volumes also started to pick 
up after difficult market conditions in 
the past two years, while in Europe a 

new contract with the Irish Road Safety 
Authority has partially replaced revenues 
lost following the end of the Transport 
for London concession.

The adjusted operating margin for the year 
declined from 22.2% (constant currency 
basis) in prior year to 21.6%, impacted 
by the loss of the Transport for London 
contract and increased competition 
in Spain following the transition to a 
liberalised model in the Madrid region. 

During the year, the Group successfully 
tendered for a ten year concession in 
Ecuador to establish and run statutory 
inspection services in the city of 
Guayaquil. These stations will become 
operational in 2014. The Group also 
acquired RDFI, a privately owned group 
of nine vehicle inspection test stations 
in France, and Yuanshun, the leading 
vehicle inspection company in Qingdao, 
Shandong province, representing a first 
step into the growing Chinese vehicle 
inspection market.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

2013  
RESULTS

305.1

65.8

21.6

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

273.8

11.4

60.8

8.2

22.2

277.4

10.0

60.9

8.0

22.0

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

GOVERNMENTS & INSTITUTIONS SERVICES

Governments & Institutions Services 
delivered solid organic revenue growth 
of 11.1% (constant currency basis) for 
the year to CHF 275 million, sustained 
by increasing volumes on all Product 
Conformity Assessment (PCA) 
programmes and solid growth from 
TradeNet solutions in Africa.

Local Solution services, now 
representing 70% of total revenues 
for the division, delivered an organic 
revenue growth of 14.7% (constant 
currency basis) over prior year. This 
was achieved mainly through the 
strong performance of well established 
TradeNet solutions in Ghana and 
Madagascar, as well as an excellent 
start in Mozambique. PCA programmes 
also performed well, with increasingly 
high volumes in Kenya and Tanzania, as 
well as in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the 
Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Global Solution activities also delivered 
solid results, generating an organic 
revenue growth of 10.4% for the 

year, with volumes in the major Pre-
shipment Inspection (PSI) programmes 
in Cameroon and Haiti leading the 
growth in addition to the extension of 
the Destination Inspection programme in 
Nigeria. The PSI mandates in Bangladesh 
and Angola were discontinued.

The adjusted operating margin for the year 
increased to 24.8% from 20.3% (constant 
currency basis), supported by economies 
of scale achieved through high volumes on 
all key PCA and PSI programmes.

During the year, and in line with its 
strategy of diversifying away from PSI, 
the business continued to invest in 
new activities. Following pilot schemes 
in Haiti and Uganda, a new full scale 
telecoms monitoring programme 
has been signed with the Tanzanian 
authorities for a period of five years.  
In addition, for Global Solutions,  
the Group secured new PCA 
programmes with Uganda and Ethiopia.

(CHF million)

REVENUE

Change in %

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME 1

Change in %

MARGIN % 1

2013  
RESULTS

274.7

68.2

24.8

2012  
PRO-FORMA 2 

2012  
RESTATED 3 

247.2

11.1

50.3

35.6

20.3

256.0

7.3

53.7

27.0

21.0

1. Before amortisation of acquisition intangibles, restructuring, transaction and integration-related costs. 
2. Restated figures on a constant currency basis. 
3. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

17

CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

GROUP 
STRUCTURE 
and  
Shareholders

CAPITAL 
STRUCTURE

BOARD OF 
DIRECTORS

1

2

3

1.1  Group Structure

2.1  Issued Share Capital

3.1  Members of the Board of Directors

1.2  Significant Shareholders

2.2  Authorised and Conditional  

3.2 Cross Involvement

1.3  Cross-shareholdings

Share Capital

2.3  Changes in Capital

2.4  Shares and Participation Certificates

2.5  Profit Sharing Certificates

2.6  Limitations on Transferability  
and Admissibility of Nominee 
Registrations

2.7  Convertible Bonds and  
Warrants/Options

3.3 Elections and Terms of Office

3.4 Internal Organisational Structure

3.4.1  Allocation of Board Member Tasks

3.4.2  Committees

3.4.3  Board Meetings

3.5 Definition of Areas of Responsibility

3.6  Information and Control 

Instruments vis-à-vis  
the Management

CHANGE 
OF CONTROL 
AND DEFENCE 
MEASURES

AUDITORS

INFORMATION 
POLICY

7

8

9

7.1  Duty to Make an Offer

8.1  Duration of the Mandate and Term 

7.2  Clauses on Change of Control

of Office

8.2 Audit Fees

8.3 Additional Fees

8.4 Supervisory and Control 

Instruments vis-à-vis the Auditors

20

OPERATIONS 
COUNCIL

COMPENSATION, 
SHAREHOLDINGS 
AND LOANS

SHAREHOLDERS' 
PARTICIPATION 
RIGHTS

4

5

6

4.1  Members of the Operations Council

5.1  Company’s Remuneration Policies

6.1  Voting Rights and  

4.2 Other Activities and Functions

5.2 Compensation for Members  

4.3 Management Contracts

of Governing Bodies

5.2.1  Board of Directors

5.2.2  Compensation to the 
Operations Council,  
Senior Management and  
Chief Executive Officer

5.2.3  Company's Performance

Representation Restrictions

6.2 Statutory Quorums

6.3 Convocation of General Meetings 

of Shareholders

6.4 Agenda

6.5 Registration in the Share Register

This Corporate Governance Report informs shareholders, prospective 
investors and the public at large on SGS policies in matters of corporate 
governance such as the structure of the Group, shareholders' rights, roles 
and duties of the Board of Directors and its Committees and Management, 
internal controls and audits as well as directors and executive compensation. 
This report has been prepared in compliance with the Swiss Exchange (SIX) 
Directive on Information Relating to Corporate Governance of October 29, 
2008 as amended and related commentary issued by the SIX. 

This report includes the SGS Compensation Report for 2013 (section 5), 
which is subject to an advisory vote at the Annual General Meeting of 
Shareholders following the recommendations of the Swiss Code of Best 
Practice for Corporate Governance in this matter. 

The SGS Corporate Governance framework aims to achieve an efficient 
allocation and management of resources, clear mechanisms for setting 
strategies and targets in order to maximise and protect shareholder value. 
SGS strives to attain this goal by defining clear and efficient decision-making 
processes, fostering a climate of performance and accountability among 
managers and employees alike and aligning employees’ remuneration with 
the long-term interests of shareholders.

21

 
1.2. SIGNIFICANT SHAREHOLDERS

As at 31 December 2013,  
Group Bruxelles Lambert acting  
through Serena Sàrl held 15.00%,  
Mr. August von Finck and members of 
his family acting in concert held 14.97%  
(2012: 14.97%), the Bank of New York 
Mellon Corporation held 3.18%  
(2012: 3.26%), of the share capital  
and voting rights of the Company. 

SGS SA, together with certain of its 
subsidiaries, held 2.19% (2012: 2.43%)  
of the share capital of the company. 

During 2013, the Company has 
published regularly on the electronic 
platform of the Disclosure Office of the 
SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd. all disclosure 
notifications received from shareholders 
of transactions subject to the disclosure 
obligations of Article 20 SESTA. Such 
disclosure notifications can be accessed 
at http://www.six-swiss-exchange.com/
shares/companies/.

1.3. CROSS-SHAREHOLDINGS

Neither SGS SA nor its direct and 
indirect subsidiaries has any  
cross-shareholding in any other entity, 
whether publicly traded or privately held.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

1
GROUP STRUCTURE  
AND SHAREHOLDERS

At 31 December 2013, geographic 
operations were organised as follows:

Europe, Africa, Middle East

•  Western Europe

•  Northern and Central Europe

1.1. GROUP STRUCTURE

•  Southern Central Europe

SGS SA, registered in Geneva (CH), 
also referred to as the “Company”, 
controls directly or indirectly all entities 
worldwide belonging to the SGS Group, 
which provides independent inspection, 
verification, testing, certification and 
quality assurance services.

The shares of SGS SA are listed on  
the SIX Swiss Exchange and are traded 
on SIX Europe (Swiss Security  
Number: 249745; ISIN: CH0002497458). 
On 31 December 2013, the market 
capitalisation of SGS SA was  
CHF 16 052 million.

None of the companies under the direct 
or indirect control of SGS SA has listed 
its shares or other securities on any 
stock exchange. 

The principal legal entities consolidated 
within the Group are listed on pages 128 
to 131 of the Annual Report, with details 
of the share capital, the percentage of 
shares controlled directly or indirectly 
by SGS SA and the registered office or 
principal place of business.

Details of acquisitions made by the SGS 
Group during 2013 are provided in note 3 
to the consolidated financial statements 
included in the section  
SGS Group Results (pages 48 to 100)  
of this Annual Report.

The operations of the Group are divided 
into 10 regions, each led by a Chief 
Operating Officer who is responsible for 
the SGS businesses in that region and 
for the local implementation of Group 
policies and strategies.

•  Eastern Europe & Middle East

•  Africa

Americas

•  North America

•  South America

Asia Pacific

•  East Asia

•  China & Hong Kong

•  South Eastern Asia & Pacific

The Group is also structured into  
10 lines of business. Each business 
line is responsible for the global 
development of Group activities within 
its own sphere of specialisation and 
for the execution of strategies with the 
support of the Chief Operating Officers.

At 31 December 2013, the business 
lines were organised as follows:

•  Agricultural

•  Minerals

•  Oil, Gas & Chemicals

•  Life Science

•  Consumer Testing

•  Systems & Services Certification

•  Industrial

•  Environmental

•  Automotive

•  Governments & Institutions

Each line of business is led by an 
Executive Vice President.

Chief Operating Officers and Executive 
Vice Presidents are members of the 
Operations Council, the Group's most 
senior management body.

22

2
CAPITAL STRUCTURE

2.1. ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL

The share capital of SGS SA is  
CHF 7 822 436 and comprises  
7 822 436 fully paid-in, registered  
shares of a par value of CHF 1. 

On 31 December 2013, SGS SA held, 
directly or indirectly, 171 596 treasury 
shares (2012: 190 394).

In 2013, 37 201 treasury shares were 
sold or released to cover option rights. 
These shares were sold at an average 
price of CHF 1 147. During the year,  
18 403 treasury shares were purchased 
for an average price of CHF 2 088 in 
application of a CHF 250 million Share 
Buy-Back programme valid from  
12 March 2012 to 31 December 2014.

2.2. AUTHORISED AND CONDITIONAL 

SHARE CAPITAL

The Board of Directors has the authority 
to increase the share capital of the 
Company by a maximum of 500 000 
registered shares with a par value of  
CHF 1 each, corresponding to a 
maximum increase of CHF 500 000 in 
share capital. The Board is authorised 
to issue the new shares at the market 
conditions prevailing at the time of 
issue. In the event that the new shares 
are issued for the purposes of an 
acquisition, the Board is authorised to 
waive the shareholders’ preferential 
right of subscription or to allocate such 
subscription rights to third parties. The 
authority delegated by the shareholders 
to the Board of Directors to increase the 
share capital is valid until 19 March 2014.

The shareholders have conditionally 
approved an increase of share capital 
by an amount of CHF 1 100 000 divided 
into 1 100 000 registered shares 
with a par value of CHF 1 each. This 
conditional share capital increase is 
intended to obtain the shares necessary 
to meet the Company’s obligations 
with respect to employee share option 
plans and option or conversion rights 
of convertible bonds or similar equity-
linked instruments that the Board 
is authorised to issue. The right to 
subscribe to such conditional capital is 
reserved to beneficiaries of employee 
share option plans and holders of 
convertible bonds or similar debt 
instruments and therefore excludes 
shareholders’ preferential rights of 
subscription. The Board is authorised  
to determine the timing and conditions 
of such issues, provided that they 
reflect prevailing market conditions. 
The term of exercise of the options or 
conversion rights may not exceed 10 
years from the date of issuance of the 
equity-linked instruments.

2.3. CHANGES IN CAPITAL

There have been no changes to the 
Company’s share capital in the last  
six years. 

2.4. SHARES AND  

PARTICIPATION CERTIFICATES

All shares, other than treasury shares 
held directly or indirectly by SGS SA, 
have equal rights to the dividends 
declared by the Company and have 
equal voting rights.

The Company has not issued any 
participation certificates (bons de 
participation/Partizipationsscheine).

2.5. PROFIT SHARING CERTIFICATES

The Company has not issued any profit 
sharing certificates.

2.6. LIMITATIONS ON  

TRANSFERABILITY AND ADMISSIBILITY 

OF NOMINEE REGISTRATIONS

SGS SA does not limit the transferability 
of its shares. The registration of shares 
held by nominees is not permitted by 
the Company’s Articles of Association, 
except by special resolution of the Board 
of Directors. By decision of the Board, 
made public in a note issued by SAG 
(then SEGA) on 4 October 2001, the 
Company’s shares can be registered 
in the name of a nominee acting in a 
fiduciary capacity for an undisclosed 
principal. Such shares do not carry 
voting rights except with the approval 
of the Board of Directors. On 23 March 
2005, the Board of Directors decided to 
approve the registration of such shares 
with voting rights of up to 5% of the 
aggregate share capital of the Company. 
This decision was communicated to SAG.

The Company has a single class of  
shares and no preferential rights, 
statutory or otherwise, have been 
granted to any shareholder.

2.7. CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND 

WARRANTS/OPTIONS

No convertible bonds have been issued 
by the Company or by any entity under its 
direct or indirect control. Options granted 
to senior managers and Directors of the 
Group are detailed in section 5. Details 
of all options outstanding are provided 
in note 31 to the consolidated financial 
statements of the Group. No other 
options or similar instruments have been 
issued by the Company nor by any of  
the Group’s subsidiaries.

23

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

3
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors is the highest 
governing body within the Group.  
It is the ultimate decision-making 
authority except for those decisions 
reserved by law to the General Meeting 
of Shareholders. 

SERGIO MARCHIONNE (1952)

Canadian/Italian

Function in SGS

Chairman:

•  Board of Directors

•  Audit Committee

•  Nomination and  

Remuneration Committee

*Exor S.p.A., Turin (IT), Member of  
the Board since 2010

European Automobile Manufacturers’ 
Association (ACEA), Brussels (BE), 
Member of the Board since 2004

PAUL DESMARAIS, JR (1954)

Canadian

•  Professional Conduct Committee

Function in SGS

3.1. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD  

Initial appointment to the Board

OF DIRECTORS

May 2001

In 2013, Rui Brandolini d'Adda and  
John Elkann stepped down with 
effect on the day of an Extraordinary 
Shareholders Meeting convened on  
July 10. On that date, Paul Desmarais,  
Ian Gallienne and Gérard Lamarche were 
elected to the Board of Directors of  
the Company. This section presents  
the Members of the Board of Directors 
of the Company, with their functions in 
the Group, their professional background 
and all their material positions in 
governing and supervisory boards, 
management positions and consultancy 
functions, official tenures and political 
commitments, both in Switzerland and 
abroad, as at 31 December 2013  
(an * denotes a listed company).

Olivier Merkt, General Counsel & Chief 
Compliance Officer of the Group, acts  
as the Company Secretary; he is not  
a Member of the Board of Directors. 

Professional Background 

Chief Executive Officer of FIAT S.p.A. 
Turin (IT), since 2004 and Chrysler 
Group LLC, Auburn Hill, Michigan (USA), 
since 2009, Chairman since 2011.

Sergio Marchionne holds a BA in 
Philosophy and Economics from the 
University of Toronto, and an LLB 
degree from Osgoode Law School, 
York University, Toronto. He also has an 
MBA and B.Com from the University of 
Windsor, in Canada. 

A barrister, solicitor and chartered 
accountant Mr Marchionne began his 
career in Canada in 1983. More recently, 
in 2011, he was appointed Chairman and 
Chief Executive Officer of Chrysler Group 
LLC, Chief Operating Officer at NAFTA 
and Chairman of Fiat Industrial S.p.A, 
including CNH, Iveco and FPT Industrial. 

His relationship with Chrysler dates back 
to 2009 when he was appointed Chief 
Executive Officer, a post he still holds.  
At Fiat, Mr Marchionne continues 
to fulfill the roles of Chief Executive 
Officer, Fiat Group Automobiles (2005 
to present), Chief Executive Officer, 
Fiat S.p.A. (2004 to present) and Board 
Member, Fiat S.p.A (2003 to present).  
In addition he is also Chairman of CNH 
and has been since 2006.

Other Activities and Functions

*Fiat S.p.A., Turin (IT), Member of  
the Board since 2003

*CNH Industrial N.V., Amsterdam (NL), 
Chairman since 2013

*Philip Morris International SA, 
Lausanne (CH), Member of the Board 
since 2008

24

Member:

•  Board of Directors

Initial appointment to the Board 

July 2013

Professional Background 

Chairman and Co-Chief Executive 
Officer, Power Corporation of Canada

Paul Desmarais, Jr. has a degree in 
Business Studies from McGill University, 
Montréal and an MBA from the Institut 
Européen d'Administration des Affaires 
(INSEAD) in Fontainebleau. He has 
received honorary doctorates from 
various Canadian universities.

He began his career in England with S.G. 
Warburg & Co, moving on to Standard 
Brands Incorporated in New York. In 
1981, he joined Power Corporation of 
Canada, where he is now Chairman 
of the Board and Co-Chief Executive 
Officer. He is a Director of many Power 
group companies in North America.

Other Activities and Functions

*Group Bruxelles Lambert, Brussels (BE),  
Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors

*GDF SUEZ, Paris (F), Board Member

*Great-West Lifeco Inc., Winnipeg (Can),  
Member of the Board (including those  
of its major subsidiaries)

*IGM Financial Inc., Winnipeg (Can), 
Member of the Board (including those of 
its major subsidiaries)

*Lafarge SA, Paris (F), Board Member

*Pargesa Holding SA, Geneva, (CH), 
Board Member since 1992, Chairman  
of the Board since 2013

*Power Financial Corporation,  
Montreal (Can), Co-Chairman and 
Member of the Board

*Total S.A., Paris (F), Board Member

Founder and member of the International 
Advisory Board of l’Ecole des Hautes 
Etudes Commerciales (HEC) (Can)

Founder and Honourary Member of 
the Desautels Faculty of Management 
International Advisory Board

Member of the Principal’s International 
Advisory Board of McGill University (Can)

Member of the Advisory Council of 
the European Institute of Business 
Administration (INSEAD)

Trustee of the Brookings Institution and 
a Co-Chair of the Brookings International 
Advisory Council (USA)

Based in Munich, the member of the 
third generation of the von Finck family 
belongs to several Boards of directors 
and holds interests in a number of 
German, Swiss, Austrian companies as 
well as in groups from other countries.

In Switzerland, August von Finck's 
participations include Mövenpick 
Holding A.G. and Von Roll Holding A.G.

IAN GALLIENNE (1971)

French

Function in SGS

Member:

•  Board of Directors

•  Nomination and  

Remuneration Committee

Other Activities and Functions

Initial appointment to the Board

Generali Holding Vienna AG, Vienna 
(AT), Member of the Board since 1974

AUGUST FRANÇOIS VON FINCK (1968)

July 2013

Professional Background 

Ian Gallienne has a degree in 
Management and Administration, with 
a specialization in Finance, from Ecole 
Supérieure des Dirigeants d'Entreprises 
(ESDE) in Paris and an MBA from Institut 
Européen d'Administration des Affaires 
(INSEAD) in Fontainebleau.

In 1992 he began his career in Spain 
as Co-Founder of a sales company. 
From 1995 to 1997, he was a member 
of management for a consulting firm, 
specialising in turning around struggling 
businesses in France. From 1998 to 
2005, he was Manager of the private 
equity funds Rhône Capital LLC in New 
York and London. From 2005 to 2012, 
he has been Founder and Managing 
Director of the private equity funds 
Ergon Capital Partners in Brussels.

He is a Director of Groupe Bruxelles 
Lambert since 2009 and Managing 
Director since 2012.

Other Activities and Functions

Chairman of the Investment Committee 
of the private equity funds Ergon Capital 
Partners in Brussels since 2012

Gruppo Banca Leonardo SpA Milan (IT), 
Member of the Board

*Imerys, Paris (F), Member of the Board 
and Member of the Strategic Committee

*Lafarge, Paris (F), Member of the 
Board, Member of the Corporate 
Governance and Nominations 
Committee, Member of the 
Remuneration Committee

*Pernod Ricard S.A., Paris, (F),  
Member of the Board and Member  
of the Remuneration Committee

Steel Partners, (BE), Member  
of the Board

Member of the Global Board of Advisers 
of the Council on Foreign Relations (USA)

Swiss

Chairman of the Board of Governors of 
The International Economic Forum of the 
Americas (Can)

Member of the Global Advisory Council 
of Harvard University (USA)

Chairman of the Canadian Council of 
Chief Executives (Can)

AUGUST VON FINCK (1930)

German

Function in SGS

Member:

•  Board of Directors

•  Nomination and  

Remuneration Committee

Initial appointment to the Board

October 1998

Professional Background 

August von Finck, descends from 
the banking family von Finck. His 
grandfather, Wilhelm von Finck,  
founded Merck, Finck & Co. in 1870,  
the private bank which was at the origin 
of companies including Munich Re, 
Allianz insurance and the Löwenbräu 
breweries, among others.

Function in SGS

Member:

•  Board of Directors

•  Audit Committee

Initial appointment to the Board

May 2002

Professional Background 

François Von Finck holds a Master 
of Business Administration from 
Georgetown University, Washington 
D.C. He has a banking background  
and is currently Managing Director  
of Carlton Holding in Basel.

Other Activities and Functions

*Custodia Holding, Munich (DE), 
Member of the Board since 1999

Carlton Holding, Allschwil (CH), Member 
of the Board since 2001

*Staatl. Mineralbrunnen AG, Bad 
Brückenau (DE), Member of the Board 
since 2001

Bank von Roll, Zürich (CH),  
Vice-President of the Board since 2009

*Von Roll Holding AG, Breitenbach (CH), 
Member of the Board since 2010

25

Science and a specialisation in Business 
Administration and Management. 
He also completed the Advanced 
Management Program for Suez Group 
Executives at the INSEAD Business 
School and took part in the 1998-99 
Wharton International Forum, Global 
Leadership Series.

He began his professional career in 
1983 with Deloitte Haskins & Sells in 
Belgium, and became M&A Consultant 
in the Netherlands in 1987. In 1988, he 
joined the Venture Capital Department 
of Société Générale de Belgique as 
Investment Manager. He was promoted 
to Controller in 1989, and in 1992 was 
appointed Advisor to the Director of 
Strategic Planning.

He became Secretary of the Suez 
Executive Committee (1995-1997); 
he was later appointed Senior Vice 
President in charge of Planning, Control 
and Accounting.

In July 2000, Gérard Lamarche joined 
NALCO (US subsidiary of the Suez 
Group and world leader in industrial 
water treatment) as Director, Senior 
Executive Vice President and CFO.

He was appointed CFO of the Suez 
Group in March 2004.

He is a Director of Group Bruxelles 
Lambert since 2011 and Managing 
Director since 2012.

Other Activities and Functions

*Lafarge, Paris (F), Member of the 
Board, Member of the Strategic 
Committee, Member of the Audit 
Committee

*Legrand, Limoges (F), Member of 
the Board and Chairman of the Audit 
Committee

*Total S.A., Paris (F), Board Member and 
Member of the Audit Committee

*GDF SUEZ, Paris (F), Censor

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

CORNELIUS GRUPP (1947)

Austrian

Function in SGS

Member:

•  Board of Directors

Initial appointment to the Board

March 2011

Professional Background 

Dr. Grupp holds a Doctorate in law and  
a Master in Business Administration.

He is the owner and general manager 
of Tubex Holding GmbH, Stuttgart, 
Germany a company active in the 
packaging industry and specialised in  
the production of aluminum aerosol 
cans, aluminum tubes and plastic tubes 
and of CAG Holding GmbH, Lilienfeld, 
Austria, active in the field of aluminum, 
glass and fibers.

Other Activities and Functions

Schoellerbank AG, Vienna (AT),  
Member of the Board since 1999

Stölzle Oberglas, Koeflach (AT),  
Member of the Board since 1989

Honorary Consul of Austria to the  
Land of Baden-Württemberg

PETER KALANTZIS (1945)

Swiss/Greek 

Function in SGS

Member:

•  Board of Directors

•  Audit Committee

Initial appointment to the Board

March 2009

Professional Background 

Peter Kalantzis holds a Ph.D. in Economics 
and Political Sciences from the University 
of Basel and engaged in research as 
a member of the Institute for Applied 
Economics Research at the University of 
Basel between 1969 and 1971.

Prior to 2000, Peter Kalantzis was 
responsible for Alusuisse-Lonza Group's 
corporate development and actively 
involved in the de-merger and stock 
market launch of Lonza, as well as the 

merger process of Alusuisse and Alcan. 
Dr. Kalantzis served as head of the 
Chemicals Division of Alusuisse-Lonza 
Group from 1991 until 1996. In 1991 Dr. 
Kalantzis was appointed Executive Vice-
President and Member of the Executive 
Committee of the Alusuisse-Lonza Group.

Dr. Kalantzis has worked as an 
independent consultant since 2000.

Other Activities and Functions

Mövenpick/Holding AG, Baar (CH), 
Chairman of the Board since 2001

Clair AG, Cham (CH), Chairman of  
the Board since 2004

*CNH Industrial NV, Amsterdam (NL), 
Member of the Board since 2013

Degussa Sonne/Mond Goldhandel AG, 
Cham (CH), Chairman of the Board  
since 2012

Lamda Consolidated Holdings Ltd., 
Luxembourg (LU), Member of the Board 
since 2003 

*Lamda Development Ltd., Athens (GR),  
Chairman of the Board since 2010, 
Member since 2004

Elpe-Thraki, Athens (GR), Member  
of the Board since 2007

Paneuropean Oil and Industrial  
Holdings SA, Luxembourg (LU),  
Member of the Board since 2002

*Von Roll Holding AG, Breitenbach 
(CH), Chairman of the Board since 2010, 
Member of the Board since 2007

Transbalkan Pipeline BV, Amsterdam (NL),  
Member of the Supervisory Board  
since 2008

Hardstone Services SA, Geneva (CH), 
Member of the Board since 2009

GÉRARD LAMARCHE (1961)

Belgian

Function in SGS

Member:

•  Board of Directors

•  Audit Committee

Initial appointment to the Board

July 2013

Professional Background 

Gérard Lamarche graduated from the 
University of Louvain-la-Neuve with 
a Bachelor’s degree in Economic 

26

SHELBY R. DU PASQUIER (1960)

Swiss 

Function in SGS

Member:

•  Board of Directors

•  Professional Conduct Committee

Initial appointment to the Board

March 2006

Professional Background 

Attorney at law, Partner Lenz & 
Staehelin law firm, Geneva

Shelby R. du Pasquier, holds degrees 
from Geneva University Business 
School and School of Law as well as 
from Columbia University School of Law 
(LLM). He was admitted to the Geneva 
Bar in 1984 and to the New York Bar in 
1989. He became a partner of Lenz & 
Staehelin in 1994.

Other Activities and Functions

*Swiss National Bank, Member of  
the Board since 2012

Stonehage Trust Holdings (Jersey) 
Limited, Member of the Board since 2012

Pictet & Cie Group SCA, Chairman of the 
Supervisory Board since 2013

The Directors bring a wide range of 
experience and skills to the Board. 
They participate fully in decisions on 
key issues facing the Group. Their 
combined expertise in the areas of 
finance, commercial law, strategy, and 
their respective position of leadership in 
various industrial sectors are important 
contributing factors to the successful 
governance of an organisation of the 
size and complexity of SGS. The Board 
undertakes a periodic review of the 
Directors’ interests in which all potential 
or perceived conflicts of interests and 
issues relevant to their independence 
are considered. Based on this review, 
the Board has concluded that all the 
non-executive Directors (including 
the Chairman) are independent from 
management and free of any relationship 
that could materially interfere with the 
exercise of their independent judgement. 
With the exception of Sergio Marchionne, 
who was Chief Executive Officer of the 
Group between February 2002 and June 
2004, none of the Directors or their close 
relatives has or had any management 
responsibility within the SGS Group. 
None of the Members of the Board of 
Directors or their close relatives has or 
had any material business connections 
with the Company or its affiliated 
companies. The remuneration of the 
Members of the Board of Directors is 
detailed in section 5.2.1.

The Chairman of the Board, jointly with 
members of the Board of Directors, 
reviews periodically the performance of 
the Board as a whole, of its Committees 
and of each of its individual members. 
On the basis of this periodic assessment, 
changes to the composition of the Board 
membership are regularly proposed 
to the Company's Annual General 
Meeting of Shareholders. This periodic 
performance evaluation is designed 
to ensure that the Board is always in a 
position to provide an effective oversight 
and leadership role to the Group. 

3.2. CROSS INVOLVEMENT

No member of the Board of Directors 
or of the Operations Council is also a 
member of the executive bodies of 
entities or organisations with which 
the Group has material business or 
commercial relations.

27

3.3. ELECTIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE

The Articles of Association of SGS 
SA provide that the Members of the 
Board of Directors are elected by the 
shareholders for a maximum term of 
four years. Each Member of the Board 
is individually elected at the Annual 
Meeting of Shareholders. There is no 
limit to the number of terms a Director 
may serve. The term of office of all 
the current Board Members will expire 
at the 2014 Annual General Meeting 
of Shareholders, from which time 
all Board positions will be subject to 
annual election by the shareholders. 
There is no provision for partial, rotating 
or staggered renewal of the Board of 
Directors. By-elections may be held 
before the end of the term of office  
in the event of vacancies.

The initial date of appointment of each 
Board Member is indicated in section 3.1.

3.4. INTERNAL  

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The duties of the Board of Directors 
and its Committees are defined in the 
Company’s internal regulations which 
are reviewed periodically. They set out all 
matters for which a decision by the Board 
of Directors is required. In addition to the 
decisions required by Swiss company 
law, the Board of Directors approves 
the Group’s strategies and key business 
policies, investments, acquisitions, 
disposals and commitments in excess of 
delegated limits.

3.4.1. Allocation of Board Member tasks

The Board of Directors elects its 
Chairman, currently Sergio Marchionne 
(see section 3.1.) and the members of 
its committees at the beginning of each 
term, at its first meeting after the Annual 
General Meeting of shareholders.

3.4.2. Committees

The Board has established the  
following committees:

•  Nomination and Remuneration

•  Audit

•  Professional Conduct

Each committee acts within terms of 
reference established by the Board of 
Directors and set out in the internal 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

regulations of the Company. The minutes 
of their meetings are available to all 
Directors. The Chairman of the Board also 
chairs each of the Board Committees.

Section 3.1. indicates the membership of 
each Board Committee.

Nomination and  

Remuneration Committee

Section 5.1. of this report describes 
the terms of reference and activities 
during 2013 of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee. In 2013,  
the Committee held one meeting which 
lasted one hour, with all committee 
members attending.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee supports the Board 
of Directors in discharging its duties in 
relation to financial reporting and control. 
Such duties include consideration of the 
appropriateness of accounting policies, 
the adequacy of internal controls and risk 
management and regulatory compliance. 
It is also responsible for the supervision 
of the internal and external auditors of the 
Group, each of which provides regular 
reports to the committee on findings 
arising from their work. The committee 
reports regularly to the Board of Directors 
on its findings. In 2013, the Audit 
Committee held three meetings with an 
average duration of meetings of one and 
a half hour. Every meeting of the Audit 
Committee in 2013 was attended by all 
members of the Committee.

Professional Conduct Committee

The Professional Conduct Committee 
assists the Board of Directors and 
Management in establishing policies 
relating to professional conduct and 
oversees their implementation. The 
Group’s professional conduct policies 
are embodied in the Code of Integrity 
which sets out the principles governing 
business conduct, which are applied 
across the whole SGS Group. These 
principles reflect the Business Principles 
for Countering Bribery issued by 
Transparency International and Social 
Accountability International and 

3.5. DEFINITION OF AREAS  

OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Board of Directors is responsible 
for the ultimate direction of the Group. 
The Board discharges all duties and 
responsibilities which are attributed to it 
by law. In particular, the Board: 

•  Leads and oversees the conduct, 
management and supervision of  
the Group

•  Determines the organisation of  

the Group

•  Assesses risks facing the business 
and reviews risk management and 
mitigation policies

•  Appoints and removes the Group’s 
Chief Executive Officer and other 
members of Management

•  Defines the Group’s accounting and 

control principles

•  Decides on major acquisitions, 

investments and disposals

•  Discusses and approves the Group’s 
strategy, financial statements and 
annual budgets

•  Prepares the General Meetings of 
Shareholders and implements the 
shareholders’ resolutions

•  Notifies the judicial authorities in the 
event of insolvency of the Company, 
as required by Swiss law

In accordance with the Company’s 
internal regulations, operational 
management of the Group, a function 
which the Board of Directors has 
delegated, is the responsibility of the 
Operations Council. The Operations 
Council has the authority and 
responsibility to decide on all issues 
which are not attributed to the Board 
of Directors. In the event of uncertainty 
on a particular issue regarding the 
separation of responsibility between 
the Board of Directors and the 
Management, the final decision is taken 
by the Chairman of the Board.

The Chairman is regularly informed of 
the activities of the Operations Council 
by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief 
Financial Officer and General Counsel.

incorporate the rules adopted by the 
International Federation of Inspection 
Agencies (IFIA), the professional 
association for the inspection industry. 
The Committee met twice in 2013 and 
passed several resolutions in writing. 
Meetings of the Professional Conduct 
Committee in 2013 were attended by all 
members and had an average duration 
of one hour.

In addition to the Board Members 
indicated in the section 3.1., the 
Professional Conduct Committee  
also comprises the Chief Executive 
Officer and the General Counsel &  
Chief Compliance Officer (General 
Counsel). The head of Internal Audit 
attends all meetings of the Professional 
Conduct Committee.

3.4.3. Board Meetings

The Board of Directors convenes 
regularly scheduled meetings at least 
once every quarter with additional 
meetings held as and when required, in 
person or by phone conference. It may 
pass resolutions by written consent. 

The Chairman plans and defines the 
agenda of the meetings of the Board 
and its Committees. Each Board 
Member has the right to request that 
a meeting be held or that an item for 
discussion and decision be included 
in the agenda of a meeting. Board 
and Committee members receive 
supporting documentation in advance 
of the meetings and are entitled to 
request further information from the 
Management in order to assist them to 
prepare for the meetings.

To be adopted, resolutions need a 
majority vote of the members of the 
Board or Committee, with the Chairman 
having a casting vote.

The Board of Directors held seven 
physical meetings in 2013 and one 
meeting by phone conference. Meetings 
of the Board of Directors had an average 
duration of two and half hours. With 
the exception of one member who was 
excused at one of the meetings, all 
members of the Board of Directors have 
attended every meetings of the Board of 
Directors in 2013.

28

The Operations Council is chaired by 
the Chief Executive Officer and consists 
of those individuals entrusted with the 
operational management of the Group’s 
activities, as follows:

•  The Chief Operating Officers (COOs) 
are responsible for operations in the 
Group’s 10 regions (see section 1.1.)

•  The Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs) 
are entrusted with the management 
and development of the Group’s 10 
business lines (see section 1.1.)

•  The Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs) 

represent the principal Group support 
functions (Finance, Human Resources, 
IT, Communications & Investor 
Relations, Corporate Development, 
Legal & Compliance and Strategic 
Transformation)

The composition, role and organisation 
of the Operations Council are detailed in 
section 4.

3.6. INFORMATION AND CONTROL 

INSTRUMENTS VIS-À-VIS  

THE MANAGEMENT

A. Responsibility of the Board

The Board of Directors has ultimate 
responsibility for the system of internal 
controls established and maintained 
by the Group and for periodically 
reviewing its effectiveness. Internal 
controls are intended to provide 
reasonable assurance against financial 
misstatement and/or loss, and include 
the safeguarding of assets, the 
maintenance of proper accounting 
records, the reliability of financial 
information and the compliance with 
relevant legislation, regulation and 
industry practice.

B. Governance framework

The Company has an established 
governance framework which is 
designed to oversee its operations 
and assist the Group in achieving its 
objectives. The main principles of this 
framework include the definition of the 
role of the Board and its Committees, 
an organisational structure with 
documented delegated authority 
from the Board to Management and 
procedures for the approval of major 
investments, acquisitions and other 
capital allocations.

The Chief Executive Officer participates 
in the meetings of the Board of 
Directors and of the Committees; with 
the exception of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee; the Chief 
Financial Officer participates in the 
meetings of the Board of Directors 
and of the Audit Committee; the 
Group Controller and the Head of the 
Internal Audit Function participate in the 
meetings of the Audit Committee; the 
Head of Human Resources participates 
in the meetings of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee and the 
General Counsel & Chief Compliance 
Officer attends all meetings of the Board 
of Directors and its Committees. The 
other members of the Operations Council 
and other members of management only 
participate in the Board and Committee 
meetings by invitation.

C. Information to the Board

The Board of Directors is constantly 
informed about the operational and 
financial results of the Group by way of 
detailed monthly management reports 
which describe the performance of the 
Group and its divisions. During each 
Board meeting, the Chief Executive 
Officer and the Chief Financial Officer 
present a report to the Board of directors 
on the operations and financial results, 
with an analysis of deviations from prior 
year and from current financial targets. 
During Board Meetings, the Board is 
updated on important issues facing  
the Group. The Chief Executive 
Officer, the Chief Financial Officer 
and the General Counsel & Chief 
Compliance Officer (hereafter “Senior 
Management”) attend all of the Board 
of Directors meetings, while other 
Operations Council members attend 
from time to time to discuss matters 
under their direct responsibility.  
The Board of Directors meets with all 
members of the Operations Council 
at least twice a year. During Board 
Meetings or Committee Meetings, 
Board members can require any 
information concerning the Group.

The Board reviews and monitors regularly 
and formally, once a year, all previous 
acquisitions and large investments as 
well as the implementation of related 
Group strategies. 

29

The Group has a dedicated Internal  
Audit function, reporting to the 
Chairman of the Board and the Audit 
Committee, which assesses the 
effectiveness and appropriateness of 
the Group’s risk management, internal 
controls and governance processes 
as well as the reliability of internal 
financial and operational information and 
ensures that the standards and policies 
of the Group are respected. Internal 
Audit reviews and identifies areas of 
potential risk associated with the key 
business activities performed by a 
particular office, highlights opportunities 
for improvement and proposes 
constructive control solutions to reduce 
any exposures. All key observations 
are communicated to the Operations 
Council and the Chairman of the Board 
through formal and informal reports.

The Audit Committee is regularly 
informed about audits performed and 
important findings, as well as the 
progress on implementing the agreed 
actions by management.

D. General Counsel & Chief 

Compliance Officer

Furthermore, the Group has a 
compliance function, headed by the 
General Counsel & Chief Compliance 
Officer, who is a member of the 
Professional Conduct Committee and 
has direct access to the Chairman of 
the Board. The compliance function 
supports the implementation of a 
compliance programme based on the 
SGS Code of Integrity, available in 30 
languages. The goal of the programme is 
to ensure that the highest standards of 
integrity are applied to all of the Group’s 
activities worldwide in accordance with 
international best practices.

E. Other

In addition, the main business lines  
have specialised technical governance 
units, which ensure compliance with 
internally set quality standards and 
industry best practices. 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

F. Risk Assessment

The Board conducts on a yearly basis 
an assessment of the risks facing the 
Group. This process is conducted with 
the active participation and input by the 
Management. Once identified, risks are 
assessed according to their likelihood, 
severity and mitigation.

The Board deliberates on the adequacy 
of measures in place to mitigate 
and manage risks and assigns 
responsibility to designated managers 
for implementation of such measures. 
As part of this process, the ownership 
and accountability for identified risks 
are assigned to named members 
of management, and actions for 
mitigation or remediation of identified 
risks are approved by the Board. The 
implementation of such actions is 
audited by Internal Audit. These findings 
are communicated to the Board of 
Directors so that progress and identified 
risks can be monitored objectively and 
independently from Management.

The risks identified and monitored by the 
Board fall broadly into three categories: 
first, environment risks which include 
circumstances outside the Group's direct 
sphere of influence, such as competition 
and economic or political landscape, 
second, process risks which include risks 
linked to the operations of the business, 
the management of the Group and the 
integrity of its reputation in the market 
place and thirdly, risks associated with 
information and decision-making.

30

4
OPERATIONS COUNCIL

The Operations Council (as defined in 
section 3.5.) meets on a regular basis, 
in principle at least six times a year. 
Between meetings, it holds regular phone 
conferences and may make decisions on 
such calls or by electronic voting. 

4.1. MEMBERS OF  

THE OPERATIONS COUNCIL

The members of the Operations Council 
at 31 December 2013 were as follows:

CHRISTOPHER KIRK (1956)

British

Chief Executive Officer & IT

Bachelor of Science

Joined SGS in 1981

Previous responsibilities

2003 – 2006: EVP, Minerals and 
Environmental Services

2002 – 2003: COO, South Eastern Asia  
& Pacific

2000 – 2002: Managing Director and 
Sub-regional Manager, Singapore

1998 – 1999: Managing Director, Thailand

GERALDINE MATCHETT (1972)

Swiss/British/French

Chief Financial Officer 

Master in Sustainable Development

Chartered Accountant

Joined SGS in 2004

Previous responsibilities

2004 – 2010: Group Financial Controller

Other work experience

2001 – 2004: Deloitte, Geneva

1997 – 2001: KPMG, London

OLIVIER MERKT (1962)

DOMINIQUE BEN DHAOU (1965)

Swiss

Swiss

General Counsel &  
Chief Compliance Officer 

SVP, Human Resources 

Degree in Hotel Industry Management

Doctorate in Law, admitted to the bar  
in Switzerland

Joined SGS in 2001

Joined SGS in 2001

Previous responsibilities

2006 – 2008: VP, Corporate Development

2001 – 2006: Senior Counsel

Other work experience

1993 – 2001: Senior Manager Legal, 
Ernst & Young, Geneva

TEYMUR ABASOV (1972)

Azeri

Previous responsibilities

2008 – 2010: Vice President,  
Human Resources

2003 – 2005: additional role as Africa 
Regional Human Resources Manager

2003 – 2008: Assistant Vice President 
Human Resources

2001 – 2003: International 
Compensation & Benefits and  
HQ HR Manager

Other work experience

International Human Resources positions:

2000 – 2001: Firmenich

COO, Eastern Europe & Middle East

1999 – 2000: Novartis Consumer Health

Degree in Electrical Engineering

1991 – 1998: Levi Strauss

Joined SGS in 1994

Previous responsibilities

2006 – 2007: Managing Director, 
Kazakhstan & Caspian Sub-Region

2004 – 2006: Managing Director, 
Azerbaijan and Georgia

JEAN-LUC DE BUMAN (1953)

Swiss

SVP, Corporate Communications, Investor 
Relations & Corporate Development

2003 – 2004: Managing Director, Georgia

2001 – 2003: Operations Manager, Oil 
Gas & Chemicals Services, Azerbaijan

Legal studies

Joined SGS in 1998

Other work experience

1978 – 1998: Country Head Switzerland, 
Sales Fixed Income, UBS

HELMUT CHIK (1966)

Chinese

COO, China & Hong Kong

Master in Business Administration

Joined SGS in 1991

Previous responsibilities

2003: Managing Director, Hong Kong

2002: Global Business Manager, 
Softline, Consumer Testing Services

2000 – 2001: Director Greater China, 
SBU Softline, Consumer Testing Services

1999: Director, Hong Kong, Consumer 
Testing Services

MICHAEL BELTON (1960)

British

EVP, Minerals Services

BSc Chemistry

Joined SGS in 2002

Previous responsibilities

2005 – 2007: Managing Director, 
Minerals Services, North America

2002 – 2005: Vice President,  
Global Non-Ferrous Minerals Services

Other work experience

1995 – 2002: EVP, Alfred H. Knight 
North America Ltd.

31

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

OLIVIER COPPEY (1972)

ANTHONY HALL (1963)

FRÉDÉRIC HERREN (1955)

Swiss

Australian

Swiss

EVP, Agricultural Services  
(since February 2013)

MSc Economics

Joined SGS in 1994

Previous responsibilities

2009 – 2012: Vice President Seed  
& Crop, Agricultural Services

2006 – 2008: Vice President North 
America, Agricultural Services, USA

1994 – 2006: Managerial positions, 
Agricultural Services, Switzerland/ 
India/Cameroon

COO, South Eastern Asia & Pacific 

EVP, Governments & Institutions Services

Chemist, laboratory technician

COO, Africa 

Joined SGS in 2001

Master in Economics

Previous responsibilities

2007 – 2009: Managing Director, Australia

2005 – 2006: National Business 
Manager Australia, OGC, Industrial  
and Automotive

1997 – 2005: General Manager 
Environmental Services, Redback 
Drilling Tools, Expertest OGC Services 
Australia, Gearhart United Australia

Initially joined SGS in 1986, rejoined  
in 1999

Previous responsibilities

2003 – 2006: EVP, Automotive Services

1999 – 2003: Head of Global Marketing, 
Trade Assurance Services (now 
Governments & Institutions Services)

Other work experience

1995 – 1998: CEO, Unilabs International

PAULINE EARL (1961)

ANNE HAYS (1959)

British

French

COO, Western Europe 

EVP, Life Science Services 

BSc in Food Science

Joined SGS in 1995

PhD in Pharmacy

Joined SGS in 1984

Previous responsibilities

Previous responsibilities

THOMAS KLUKAS (1965)

German

EVP, Automotive Services 

PhD Engineering Science

Joined SGS in 2005

Previous responsibilities

2008 – 2010: VP Automotive Services

2005 – 2008: Automotive Services 
Regional Manager, North America

Other work experience

Manager DEKRA AG Stuttgart and Atlanta

2008 – 2010: Vice President Business 
Development R&D QC, Life Science 
Services

2001 – 2007: Global Sales QC,  
Life Science Services

1992 – 2000: General Manager, 
Laboratory Simon, France

DIRK HELLEMANS (1958)

FRANCOIS MARTI (1968)

Belgian

Swiss

COO, Northern and Central Europe

EVP Systems & Services Certification 

Degree in Chemical Engineering and 
Master in Business Administration

SVP, Strategic Transformation 

Degree in International Relations

Joined SGS in 1988

Previous responsibilities

2002 – 2004: COO, Central & North 
West Europe

1997 – 2002: Managing Director, Belgium

Initially joined SGS in 2003, rejoined  
in 2011

Previous responsibilities

2003 – 2005: VP Continuous Improvement

Other work experience

2005 – 2011: CEO Fiat Services  
Senior Manager PWC and IBM

32

2007 – 2010: Managing Director,  
United Kingdom

2004 – 2007: SSC Business Manager, 
United Kingdom

ALEJANDRO  

GOMEZ DE LA TORRE (1959)

Peruvian

COO, South America

Degree in Business Administration, 
Postgraduate Specialisation in 
International Commerce

Joined SGS in 1986

Previous responsibilities

1996 – 2001: National Chief Executive, 
Peru and Manager Central Sub-Region, 
Latin America (1998 – 2001)

JEFFREY MCDONALD (1964)

PETER POSSEMIERS (1962)

ALIM SAIDOV (1964)

Australian

Australian & Belgian

Azeri

EVP, Environmental Services  
(since February 2013)

EVP, Oil, Gas & Chemicals Services and 
Environmental Services

BSc Chemistry and Microbiology

PhD in Science

Joined SGS in 1983

Joined SGS in 1993

Previous responsibilities

Previous responsibilities

2007 – 2012: Global Sales, OGC 

2005 – 2007: Managing Director, Korea

2003 – 2005: OGC Business 
Development Manager Asia Pacific, China

2001 – 2003: OGC Business Development 
Manager Asia Pacific, Australia

1998 – 2000: OGC Manager, Singapore

2005 – 2007: COO, Eastern Europe & 
Middle East

2004: COO, North America and 
Managing Director, Canada

2001 – 2004: Managing Director, 
Kazakhstan & Manager Caspian Region

MALCOLM REID (1963)

British

DENNIS YANG (1949)

Taiwanese

COO, East Asia

EVP, Consumer Testing Services 

Master in Business Administration

BSc Chemistry

Joined SGS in 1987

Previous responsibilities

2008 – 2011: EVP Systems &  
Services Certification 

2005 – 2007: Managing Director, Australia

2000 – 2005: Managing Director, Thailand

1997 – 2000: Managing Director, 
Philippines

Joined SGS in 1975

Previous responsibilities

2000 – 2002: Managing Director, Taiwan

1992 – 2000: Assistant General 
Manager, Taiwan

Additional information, including 
biographical details can be found on  
the Company’s website: 
http://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/
About-SGS/Board-and-Executive-
Management/Operations-Council.aspx.

4.2. OTHER ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS

The following list presents all material 
activities in governing and supervisory 
boards, management positions and 
consultancy functions, official tenures 
and political positions held by each 
member of the Operations Council 
outside the Group, both in Switzerland 
and abroad.

COO, North America

Postgraduate Diploma in Education

Joined SGS in 1995

Previous responsibilities

2004 – 2007: EVP, Systems &  
Services Certification

2003: Global Project Manager,  
Systems & Services Certification

1995 – 2003: Systems & Services 
Certification, South Eastern Asia & 
Pacific, Regional Manager (Bangkok)

FRANKIE NG (1966)

Swiss/Chinese

EVP, Industrial Services 

BA in Economics and  
Electronics Engineering

Joined SGS in 1994

Previous responsibilities

2005 – 2011 EVP, Consumer  
Testing Services 

2002 – 2004: Managing Director,  
US Testing

2000 – 2002: Director, Consumer Testing 
Services, China and Global Hardlines

1997 – 2000: Operations Manager, 
Consumer Testing Services, China

LADISLAV PAPIK (1953)

Slovak

COO, Southern Central Europe  
(since February 2013)

Engineering degree in Metallurgy

Joined SGS in 1992

Previous responsibilities

2006 to date: Managing Director, Hungary

1998 to date: Managing Director, Slovakia

1993 – 1998: Systems & Services 
Manager, Slovak Republic

1992: Lead Auditor, Systems & 
Services, Czechoslovak Republic

33

The Board of Directors is assisted in its 
work by a Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee (the Committee), which 
consists of independent non-executive 
Directors. The Committee acts in part in 
an advisory capacity to the Board, and 
in part as a decision-making body on 
matters that the Board has delegated 
to the Committee. The Committee 
reviews regularly, at least once a year, 
the compensation of each member of 
the Operations Council (other than the 
Chief Executive Officer), and decides on 
all matters relating to the remuneration 
of these executives. 

The Chairman of the Board is not 
allowed to participate in discussions and 
decisions on his own compensation. 
General executive remuneration policies, 
including the implementation of  
long term incentive plans, are decided 
by the Board, on the recommendation  
of the Committee.

The following Directors served on 
the Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee in 2013:

•  Sergio Marchionne (Chairman)

•  August von Finck

•  John Elkann (until July 2013 

•  Ian Gallienne (since July 2013)

The following chart summarises the 
authorisation levels for the main decisions 
relating to compensation of Board and 
Operations Council Members.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

CHRISTOPHER KIRK

Compass Limited, Hamilton, Bermuda, 
Member of the Board since 2011

Geneva Trading & Shipping Association 
(GTSA), Member of the Executive Board 
since 2006

5
COMPENSATION, 
SHAREHOLDINGS  
AND LOANS

JEAN-LUC DE BUMAN

Association pour le Développement des 
Compétences Bancaires, Geneva (CH), 
Member of the Board since 1999

Hyposwiss Private Bank Genève SA, 
Geneva (CH), Member of the Board 
since 2006

Federal Accreditation Commission,  
Bern (CH), Member since 2012

ALEJANDRO GOMEZ DE LA TORRE

Swiss-Peruvian Chamber of Commerce, 
Lima (Peru), Director

THOMAS KLUKAS

CITA, International Motor Vehicle 
Inspection Committee, Brussels (BE), 
Member of the Bureau Permanent  
since 2011

FRANÇOIS MARTI

Member of the Board of IIOC 
(Independent International Organisation 
for Certification) since 2012

4.3. MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

The Company is not party to any 
management contract delegating 
management tasks to companies or 
individuals outside the Group.

This section of the Corporate 
Governance Report serves as the 
Company’s remuneration report.

In accordance with the recommendations 
of the Swiss Code of Best Practice for 
Corporate Governance in this matter, this 
section of the Report will be subject to 
a consultative vote at the next Annual 
General Meeting of Shareholders.

5.1. COMPANY’S  

REMUNERATION POLICIES

The Company's remuneration policies 
are defined by the Board of Directors. 
The objectives of these policies are 
twofold: a) to attract and retain the best 
talent available in the industry; and b)  
to motivate employees and managers to 
create and protect value for shareholders 
by generating long-term sustainable 
financial achievements.

The Board of Directors is responsible  
for determining the remuneration  
of the Chairman and the directors.  
It also decides on the remuneration 
and terms of employment of the Chief 
Executive Officer, based upon the 
recommendations of the Nomination 
and Remuneration Committee.  
It additionally determines the financial 
targets upon which the variable 
element of the remuneration of the 
Operations Council and other Group 
senior executives is based, and defines 
the conditions of all share option plans 
(including Long Term Incentive (LTI) 
plans) as well as the allocation of such 
options and the conditions of their 
granting, vesting and exercise. All 
general executive remuneration policies, 
including the criteria and weighting 
of financial targets relevant to the 
assessment of the variable element of 
executive remuneration, are approved by 
the Board of Directors. 

34

SUBJECT MATTER

RECOMMENDATION

DECISION

Compensation of Board Members

Compensation of Chairman

Remuneration of CEO 

Remuneration of other Operations Council Members

Issuance of Long Term Incentive Plans

Setting of annual financial targets for variable remuneration  
of Operations Council Members

Issuance of Annual Share Options Plans

Committee 1

Committee 1

Committee 1

CEO

Committee 1

CEO

CEO

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Committee 1

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Committee 1

1. Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

When reviewing and deciding on 
executive remuneration policies, the 
Committee and the Board have access 
to Group Human Resources staff 
and may use third party consultants 
specialising in compensation matters.  
In 2013, neither the Committee nor  
the Board had recourse to such  
external advisors. 

Benchmark

A global business in a broad range 
of sectors, SGS’s business success 
is driven by the commitment and 
engagement of its key employees. Our 
compensation policy must take account 
of both global and local practices, whilst 
allowing for individual variations. We 
therefore compare our practices with 
those of other, similar organisations.

The Group performs periodic 
benchmarks against companies which 
satisfy the following criteria

•  All SMI listed companies

•  Internationally active companies within 
and outside Switzerland which operate 
in one or more of the industry sectors 
in which SGS is active, including the 
energy, mining, industrial, chemical, 
medical goods, pharmaceutical, 
durable and non-durable goods, 
and food sectors, such as Alstom, 
GlencoreXstrata, Siemens, DuPont, 
Baxter, Actelion, Schindler, Amcor

•  Competitors in the testing, inspection 
and certification industry, such as 
Bureau Veritas, Intertek, DNV, TÜV.

Elements of executive remuneration 
benchmarked include annual base salary, 
allowances, short-term and long-term 
incentive compensation, and benefits  
as set out elsewhere.

To arrive at these benchmarks we use 
proprietary job sizing methodology in 
order to obtain publicly and commercially 
available information. Since nearly half 
of our Operations Council members are 
based outside Switzerland, we utilise 
information published by reputable  
data providers, including Mercer and 
Towers Watson, who are able to  
supply information on both a local and  
a global basis.

Compensation Principles

a) Board of Directors

The members of the Board of Directors 
are entitled to a fixed annual Board 
Membership fee and additional 
annual fees for participation in Board 
Committees. Board members do not 
receive additional compensation for 
attending meetings. With the exception 
of the Chairman, Board members do 
not receive any variable remuneration, 
options or shares.

The Chairman receives a fixed annual 
fee and additional fixed fees for chairing  
the Board Committees. He also receives 
share options issued by the Company 
under its annual and long term incentive 
plans. The conditions of grant, vesting 
and exercise of options awarded to 
the Chairman are the same as those 
applicable to the members of the 
Operations Council. The Board decides 
the number of such options on the  
basis of an assessment of the 
Company's finance performance and  
the Chairman's personal contribution. 
The Chairman does not receive any 
variable cash remuneration.

35

b) Operations Council

The remuneration earned by the Chief 
Executive Officer and by members  
of the Operations Council comprises:  
(i) a fixed base salary including benefits; 
(ii) an annual performance bonus, settled 
in part in cash and in part by way of 
options with deferred vesting, granted 
under annual share options plan; and (iii) 
long term incentive plan(s). The Company 
considers that payment of variable 
remuneration in the form of equity linked 
instruments whose vesting and exercise 
is deferred is a key mechanism to align 
management’s incentives to the interests 
of shareholders.

Employment Contracts

Directors do not hold service contracts 
and are not entitled to any termination 
or severance payments. They do not 
participate in the Company’s share 
option plans (except for the Chairman) 
or other benefit schemes and the 
Company does not make any pension 
contributions on their behalf. 

Employment contracts of Operations 
Council members have no fixed term 
and can be terminated at any time by 
either party, provided a standard notice 
period (six months) is respected. The 
Chief Executive Officer’s employment 
contract provides for a severance 
payment equivalent to two years' total 
remuneration payable in the event that 
the employment contract is terminated 
or constructively terminated (including 
in the event of a change of control) by 
the Company, other than for cause. 
No severance payment is due if the 
employment relationship is terminated 
in any other circumstance. No other 
executive contract provides for any 
material change of control protection.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The table below summarises the various components of the compensation of Operations Council members, including the  
Chief Executive Officer: 

COMPENSATION ELEMENT

COMPENSATION VEHICLE

DRIVERS

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

PURPOSE

Base Salary

Monthly cash salary

Annual Bonus

50% cash / 50% 
allocation of stock 
options, with  
deferred vesting and 
blocking periods

Discretionary Bonus

Cash

Long Term Incentives

Stock options award, 
with vesting conditional 
upon achieving the 
Group objectives

Position and 
experience,  
market practice

Achievement of  
annual business and 
financial objectives

Rewarding individual 
achievements 
or exceptional 
performance

Achievement of long-
term strategic plans 
stated by the Group

Market practice,  
executive benchmark of 
international companies  
in relevant markets

Financial targets: (i) Group 
Net Profit After Tax and 
Adjusted Operating Income 
for the Group as a whole, for 
regional or business units;  
(ii) measures of Economic 
Value Added; and (iii) 
Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Discretionary allocations  
do not exceed 10%  
of Operations Council  
overall remuneration

Earnings Per Share targets

Attract and retain  
key executives

Pay for performance

Attract and retain key 
executives, recognise 
individual performance

Align executive 
compensation 
with interests of 
shareholders

Base salary

The base salaries of the Chief Executive 
Officer and of each Operations Council 
member are reviewed annually on  
the basis of market data for similar 
positions in those companies and 
geographies against which the Group 
benchmarks itself.

In addition to individual performance 
and contribution, business performance 
and results, the deciding body takes into 
account the scope and complexity of  
the areas of responsibility of the 
position, skill sets and experience, and 
relevant market practice in the industry.

Additional employment benefits such 
as allowances or memberships may be 
awarded in accordance with prevailing 
practice in the locations of employment 
of individual Operations Council 
members. Retirement benefits are  
set out elsewhere in this Report.

Geneva based Operations Council 
members participate, on the same basis 
as other Swiss employees of the Group, 
in the Company’s pension scheme. In 
view of the increased life expectancy 

and challenges brought about by 
investment volatility, the defined benefit 
scheme and the defined contribution 
scheme have been merged into one 
unique defined contribution scheme, 
effective 1 May 2013. This enables 
better risk sharing, cost savings on 
administration and asset management 
fees. The new scheme also brings our 
employees more transparency and 
equality of treatment. New features 
have been introduced to provide 
them with more flexibility in their 
retirement benefit through a modern and 
competitive plan.

Employees contribute 8% of their base 
salary and the Company contributes an 
amount equal to one and a half times 
the contributions paid by all employees 
to the scheme. Employees have the 
possibility to increase their contribution 
rate by 2% above the standard rate. 
More flexibility have also been granted 
to employees who wish to fund a 
potential retirement before the normal 
age, or for those who wish to continue 
working after the age of 65.

Annual bonus

In addition to the base salary, members 
of the Operations Council (including the 
Chief Executive Officer) are entitled to 
a performance-related annual bonus. 
For this purpose, the Company defines 
annual targets at the beginning of the 
year for the Chief Executive Officer and 
for each Operations Council member. 
Relevant targets for the calculation of 
the Annual Bonus of the CEO are based 
on the Group Earnings Per Share (EPS). 
For the heads of corporate functions 
(SVPs) targets are based 100% on the 
Group Net Profit After Tax. For EVPs, 
the relevant targets relate for 50% to 
the Adjusted Operating Income of their 
respective business and for 50% to the 
Group Net Profit After Tax. For COOs, 
the relevant targets are for 62.5% their 
respective region's Adjusted Operating 
Income and Economic Value Added and 
for 37.5% the Group Net Profit After Tax. 
Bonuses are assessed and awarded to 
the Operations Council members on the 
basis of the actual performance against 
the predefined targets.

36

If targets are achieved they trigger 
the entitlement to an annual incentive 
bonus. Once the amount of a bonus 
is determined, it is settled 50% in 
cash and 50% in options. The cash 
component of the bonus is payable 
immediately. The economic value of the 
options which is used to convert a bonus 
entitlement into a number of options is 
fixed by the Company on the basis of a 
calculation of the value of the options 
at grant, taking into account a discount 
for the three years blocking period 
during which the options cannot be 
traded or exercised. The share options 

are granted immediately, but they vest 
rateably in three equal instalments over 
a period of three years and are only 
exercisable in the fourth and fifth year 
after grant. Unvested options are subject 
to forfeiture if the beneficiary leaves the 
Group for reasons other than retirement, 
disability or death.

For this purpose, the Company issues 
Annual Share Option plans, in the 
form of traded warrants which are 
listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange. 
These warrants incorporate a right 
to buy shares in the Company at a 
predetermined fixed price through the 

grant of traded options. The strike price 
is determined for each plan on the 
basis of the average trading price of 
the Company’s shares in the last three 
months prior to the year of grant.

These Annual Share Option plans serve 
(i) to pay part of the annual performance 
bonuses to Members of the Operations 
Council; (ii) to allocate options to the 
Chairman; and (iii) to be awarded as an 
incentive to other selected employees 
of the Group. All beneficiaries receive 
these options under the same conditions 
of vesting and exercise.

The table below summarises the components of the annual performance targets and how these components are weighted, 
depending on the function of the respective Operations Council member:

Annual bonus formula

CEO

SVPs (heads of corporate functions)

EVPs

COOs

EARNINGS 
PER SHARE 

(EPS)

100%

-

-

-

PERFORMANCE  
OF THE GROUP 

(Net Profit After Tax)

BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

(Adjusted Operating Income  
of the relevant business)

REGIONAL PERFORMANCE

(Adjusted Operating Income 
and Economic Value Added  
of the relevant region)

-

100%

50%

37.5%

-

-

50%

-

-

-

-

62.5%

Discretionary bonus

Long Term Incentive Plans

In addition to the performance-related 
Annual Bonus which is structured 
to take account of quantitative 
performance targets, the Board of 
Directors and the Compensation 
Committee may also grant individual 
Operations Council members a 
discretionary bonus, based on qualitative 
individual performance.

Discretionary bonuses are granted at 
the same time as the Annual Bonus 
and are awarded on an exceptional 
basis to reward outstanding personal 
achievement, recognising extraordinary 
achievement in developing and 
integrating new business and  
cross-business improvements.

The total of discretionary bonuses does 
not exceed 10% of the Operations 
Council's overall remuneration costs.

For 2013, a total of CHF 1 210 000 in 
discretionary bonuses was awarded to 
Operations Council members.

In addition to the annual bonus, the 
Group periodically sets Long Term 
Incentive (LTI) Plans. Such plans are 
designed to motivate the leadership 
team to achieve the long-term stated 
objectives of the Group. They consist of 
options granted to a selected number 
of senior executives of the Group, the 
vesting of which is conditional upon:  
(1) the Group achieving or exceeding 
stated earnings per share targets; and 
(2) the beneficiary being employed by 
the Group on the vesting date. 

In 2011, the Company introduced a  
long term incentive plan (the 2011 LTI 
Plan) for which vesting is conditional  
upon the Group achieving or exceeding  
in 2014 EPS targets ranging from  
CHF 115 (minimum performance 
allowing a partial vesting of 50% of 
options granted under the Plan) to  
CHF 140 (full vesting of options granted 
under the Plan). In 2013, the Board of 
Directors reviewed these EPS targets 
and decided to introduce a normalisation 

37

in order to exclude material distortions 
caused by foreign exchange fluctuations, 
the issuance of corporate bonds and the 
adoption of new accounting standards 
since the inception of the LTI plan.

The 2011 LTI Plan involved the granting of 
options to acquire shares of the Company 
at a strike price of CHF 1 617. Such 
options are in the form of traded warrants, 
with 100 warrants required to purchase 
one share. The Group originally set aside  
9 000 000 such warrants for this incentive 
plan. This plan is designed to motivate the 
leadership team to achieve the long-term 
stated objective by 2014.

Full details of this long term incentive  
plan are provided in note 31 to the  
Group consolidated financial statements 
(pages 97 to 99 of the Annual Report). 
In 2013, no new Long Term Incentive 
Plan was introduced by the Group and 
no additional options were granted to 
members of the Operations Council in 
2013 under the existing 2011 LTI Plan. 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The following table shows the strike price, the vesting period and the exercisable period of the options ¹ granted to the Chairman of 
the Board and to the members of the Operations Council under each plan. It includes options granted in January 2014 with respect 
to performance and financial results in 2013:

I  Annual Share Option Plans

TYPE OF OPTIONS  
  (Year of issue)

SGSOP (2010) 

SGSMF (2011)

SGSKF (2012)

SGSWS (2013)

SGSPF (2014) 3

STRIKE PRICE (CHF) 2

VESTING DATE  
1/3 OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED

VESTING DATE  
1/3 OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED

VESTING DATE  
1/3 OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED

1 339

1 617

1 497

2 013

2 059

01.2010

01.2011

01.2012

01.2013

01.2014

07.2011

07.2012

07.2013

07.2014

07.2015

01.2013

01.2014

01.2015

01.2016

01.2017

PERIOD OF EXERCISE

01.2013 - 01.2015

01.2014 - 01.2016

01.2015 - 01.2017

01.2016 - 01.2018

01.2017 - 01.2019

II  Long Term Incentive Plan

SGSMF-2011 LTI (2011) 

1. One hundred options give the right to acquire one share. 

2. Before adjustment for capital reductions and special dividends. 

3. Granted in 2014 in settlement of 2013 annual variable remuneration. 

4. Vesting conditional on minimum EPS target reached in 2014. 

01.2015 4

01.2015 - 01.2016

38

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANNUAL VARIABLE COMPENSATION AND BASE SALARY

The portion of fixed and variable remuneration, as a percentage of the total remuneration in any given year, depends on the extent 
to which pre-defined targets and objectives have been achieved. Assuming achievement of targets, the annual variable component 
of the Operations Council members' remuneration (annual bonus including cash and options award), expressed as a percentage of 
their respective annual remuneration ranges between 32% and 48% of their total annual compensation.

If targets are exceeded, annual bonuses are increased on a multiplier basis with a maximum payout which could correspond to a 
range between 54% and 70% of their respective total annual compensation.

In the event of underperformance against targets, the bonus is rateably reduced on a multiplier basis, so that no bonus is paid in 
the event that a pre-established minimum target is not achieved.

TOTAL COMPENSATION (EXCLUDING LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLANS) FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Below Minimum Target Performance

On Target Performance

Maximum Performance

100%

52%

24%

24%

30%

35%

35%

  Base Salary

Variable cash compensation

Variable Annual Option allocation (value at grant date)

In 2013, the variable cash element 
of the Chief Executive Officer’s 
compensation represented 26% of the 
total compensation (2012: 32%) and the 
allocation of options represented 31% of 
the total compensation (2012: 7%).

For the Operations Council as a whole, 
the variable cash element of the 
compensation in 2013 amounted to 24% 
of the total compensation (2012: 25%) and 
the allocation of options represented 18% 
of the total compensation (2012: 18%).

Total compensation includes the 
guaranteed part (base salary) and the 
variable part of the compensation.  
It excludes fringe and social benefits.

5.2. COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS OF 

GOVERNING BODIES

The bonus settled in options is disclosed 
as part of the compensation for the year 
to which it relates (and not for the year  
it was approved). 

5.2.1. Board of Directors

In 2013, the annual board membership 
fee was CHF 150 thousand for all board 
members, unchanged from the prior 
year. Members of the Board serving on a 
Committee were entitled to an additional 
fee of CHF 30 thousand per committee, 
unchanged from last year.

The annual fee payable to the Chairman 
was CHF 300 thousand, unchanged 
from the prior year. 

The Chairman was awarded, by decision 
of the Board of Directors 75 000 options 
under the 2014 Annual Share Options 
Plan in consideration of the 2013 
annual performances (2012: 40 000 
SGSWS options under the 2013 Annual 
Share Options Plan). The conditions of 
vesting and exercise of these options 
are the same as those granted to the 
management under these plans.

39

  
  
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The following chart details the fees, other cash benefits and share options granted to each of the Directors for their tenure  
in 2013 and 2012:

(CHF thousand)

BOARD FEE

COMMITTEE 
FEE

OTHER 
BENEFITS

TOTAL CASH 
COMPENSATION 
2013

SHARE 
OPTIONS

TOTAL 2013 
COMPENSATION 
(INCLUDING 
OPTIONS)

TOTAL 2012 
COMPENSATION 
(INCLUDING 
OPTIONS)

S. Marchionne

T.R. Brandolini d'Adda 3

P. Desmarais 3

J. Elkann 3

A. von Finck

A.F. von Finck

I. Gallienne 3

C. Grupp

P. Kalantzis

G. Lamarche 3

S.R. du Pasquier

TOTAL

300

75

75

75

150

150

75

150

150

75

150

1 425

90

15

-

15

30

30

15

-

30

15

30

270

25

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
25

415

90

75

90

180

180

90

150

180

90

180

1 720

189 1

604 1

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
189

90 2

75

90 2

180

180

90

150

180

90

180

1 909

504 1

180 2

-

180 2

180

180

-

150

180

-

180

1 734

1. 75 000 SGSPF granted in January 2014 in relation to the 2013 financial results (2012: 40 000 SGSWS: CHF 89 thousand granted for the 2012 financial results). 
2. Board and committees fees for T.R. Brandolini d'Adda and J. Elkann have been paid to Exor Investissements SA, Luxembourg. 
3. 2013 fees paid prorata temporis.

The following table shows the details of the options¹ granted to the Chairman of the Board under each Annual Share Option Plans and 
Long Term Incentive Plans:

TYPE OF OPTIONS  
(YEAR OF ISSUE) (CHF)

STRIKE PRICE 2 
(CHF)

TOTAL NUMBER OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED UNDER EACH PLAN

MARKET VALUE AT GRANT 
(THOUSAND)

NUMBER VESTED ON 
31 DECEMBER 2013

238

155

142

133

89

189

570

96 619

50 000

33 332

33 333

13 334

-

-

SGSGU (2009)

SGSOP (2010)

SGSMF (2011)

SGSKF (2012)

SGSWS (2013)

SGSPF (2014) 3

SGSMF-2011 LTI (2011) 4

1 064

1 339

1 617

1 497

2 013

2 059

1 617

1. One hundred options give the right to acquire one share. 

2. Before adjustment for capital reductions and special dividends. 

3. Granted in 2014 on the basis of 2013 financial results. 

4. Vesting conditional on minimum EPS target reached in 2014.

96 619

50 000

50 000

50 000

40 000

75 000

200 000

40

5.2.2. Compensation to the Operations Council, Senior Management and Chief Executive Officer

This section sets out the global remuneration which was paid to the Operations Council as a whole, to the three Operations  
Council members who make up Senior Management and to the Chief Executive Officer during 2013. All amounts disclosed in  
this section include cash bonuses payable and options granted in January 2014 with respect to performance in 2013 and the related 
financial results.

5.2.2.1. Cash compensation

(CHF thousand)

2013

2012

To the Operations Council (including Senior Management)

To Senior Management (including Chief Executive Officer)

To the Chief Executive Officer

CHF 12 245

CHF   2 582

CHF   1 672

CHF 12 140

CHF   2 509

CHF   1 545

The total cash compensation paid to the Operations Council excludes severance payments (see section 5.2.2.5.). Post employment 
benefits of CHF 1 298 thousand are not included (2012: CHF 1 567 thousand).

5.2.2.2. Share options

Annual Share Options Plans

In settlement of 2013 annual bonus entitlements, a total of 926 061 SGSPF options (2012: 1 057 102 SGSWS options granted in 
January 2013) were granted to the Operations Council (including Senior Management) in January 2014 on the basis of 2013 results.

Such SGS options grant the right to acquire shares of SGS at a strike price of CHF 2 059 (100 options give the right to acquire one share). 
They vest in tranches of one-third in 2014, 2015 and 2017 and are subject to a blocking period ending in January 2017. All options granted 
to the Operations Council on the basis of the 2013 results had a fair value at grant of CHF 2 335 thousand (2012: CHF 2 357 thousand). 

The Senior Management was awarded a total of 354 020 SGSPF options granted in January 2014 (2012: 163 223 SGSWS options 
granted in January 2013). This number includes 282 818 SGSPF options (2012: 48 577 SGSWS options granted in January 2013) 
awarded to the Chief Executive Officer.

Long Term Options Plan

Under the 2011 LTI Plan, a total of 4 320 000 SGSMF-2011 LTI options were granted to the Operations Council members as at  
31 December 2013 (including Senior Management) in 2011. The vesting of such options in January 2015 is conditional upon  
the Group achieving or exceeding EPS targets ranging between CHF 115 (minimum performance allowing a partial vesting under 
the Plan) and CHF 140 (full vesting of options granted under the Plan) in 2014. In 2013, the Board of Directors reviewed these EPS 
targets and decided to introduce a normalisation in order to exclude material distortions caused by foreign exchange fluctuations, 
the issuance of corporate bonds and the adoption of new accounting standards since the inception of the LTI plan. If targets 
defined by the plan are not reached, they will be forfeited. 

The Senior Management was awarded a total of 1 120 000 SGSMF-2011 LTI options under the 2011 LTI Plan. This number includes 
800 000 options awarded to the Chief Executive Officer.

The following table presents details of the share options awarded to members of the Operations Council, Senior Management 
and the CEO, and shows those options which have been granted, vested and/or became exercisable in 2013. It includes options 
granted in January 2014 with respect to performance and financial results in 2013. 

In 2013, no new Long Term Incentive Plan was introduced by the Group and no additional options were granted to members of  
the Operations Council in 2013 under the existing 2011 LTI Plan.

41

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

This table relates to the individuals who were members of the Operations Council as at 31 December 2013:

TYPE OF OPTIONS 1 
(YEAR OF ISSUE)

STRIKE PRICE (CHF) 2

TOTAL NUMBER OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED UNDER EACH PLAN

MARKET VALUE AT GRANT 
(THOUSAND)

NUMBER VESTED ON  
31 DECEMBER 2013

OPERATIONS COUNCIL (INCLUDING SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)

SGSOP (2010)

SGSMF (2011)

SGSKF (2012)

SGSWS (2013)

SGSPF (2014) 3

SGSMF-2011 LTI 4

1 339

1 617

1 497

2 013

2 059

1 617

594 741

872 389

986 587

1 036 765

926 061

4 320 000

SENIOR MANAGEMENT (INCLUDING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)

SGSOP (2010)

SGSMF (2011)

SGSKF (2012)

SGSWS (2013)

SGSPF (2014) 3

SGSMF-2011 LTI 4

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

SGSOP (2010)

SGSMF (2011)

SGSKF (2012)

SGSWS (2013)

SGSPF (2014) 3

SGSMF-2011 LTI 4

1 339

1 617

1 497

2 013

2 059

1 617

1 339

1 617

1 497

2 013

2 059

1 617

1. One hundred options give the right to acquire one share. 

2. Before adjustment for capital reductions and special dividends. 

3. Granted in 2014 in settlement of 2013 bonus entitlements. 

4. Vesting conditional on minimum EPS target reached in 2014.

92 803

246 769

282 863

163 223

354 020

1 120 000

42 647

174 920

180 225

48 577

282 818

800 000

1 844

2 486

2 624

2 312

2 335

12 312

288

703

752

364

893

3 192

132

499

479

108

713

2 280

594 741

581 593

657 725

345 588

-

-

92 803

164 512

188 575

54 408

-

-

42 647

116 614

120 150

16 192

-

-

5.2.2.3. Total compensation to the Operations Council, Senior Management and Chief Executive Officer 

The table below presents all components of the remuneration earned in 2013 by the Operations Council, by the Senior Management 
and by the Chief Executive Officer. It does not take into account the potential value of options granted in 2011 under the 2011  
Long Term Incentive Plan, whose vesting in 2015 is conditional upon the Group achieving minimum normalised EPS targets in 2014.

(CHF thousand)

To the Operations  
Council (including  
Senior Management)

To Senior Management 
(including Chief  
Executive Officer)

To the Chief  
Executive Officer

BASE  
SALARY 

CONTRIBUTION 
TO PENSION 
BENEFITS

OTHER 
EMPLOYMENT 
BENEFITS 

ANNUAL  
CASH  
BONUS

ANNUAL 
GRANT 
OF SHARE 
OPTIONS

DISCRETIONARY 
CASH BONUS

TOTAL 2013 
COMPENSATION 
(INCLUDING 
OPTIONS)

TOTAL 2012 
COMPENSATION 
(INCLUDING 
OPTIONS)

7 737

1 298

1 291

2 007

2 335

1 210

15 878

14 498 1

1 679

332

1 000

178

92

72

751

893

600

713

60

-

3 807

2 872 1

2 563

1 652 1

1. 2012 figures did not include contribution to pension benefits. 

42

5.2.2.4. Highest total compensation

In the year under review, the highest compensation paid by the Group was awarded to the CEO (see 5.2.2.3). 

5.2.2.5. Severance payments

In 2013, an amount of CHF 150 thousand was recognised as severance payments to Operations Council members  
(2012: CHF 626 thousand).

5.2.2.6. Loans to members of governing bodies

As at 31 December 2013, no loan, credit or outstanding advance was due to the Group from members of its governing bodies 
(unchanged from prior year).

5.2.3. Company’s Performance

The following graph compares the TSR (Total Shareholder Return) of the Company with the TSR of the Swiss Market Index (SMI) 
for the three year period 2011 to 2013. The company measures its performance against the SMI index because this index tracks 
the performance of large companies based in Switzerland, which are also active internationally.

Comparison of relative returns between SGS and the SMI index, assuming that SGS dividends are re-invested to purchase additional 
equity at the closing price on the date of payment of dividends for the period 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013 is as follow:

SGS SA

SMI INDEX

)
0
0
1
O
T
D
E
X
E
D
N

I
(

N
R
U
T
E
R
L
A
T
O
T

250%

240%

230%

220%

210%

200%

190%

180%

170%

160%

150%

140%

130%

120%

110%

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

143%

139%

JAN 2011

MAY 2011

AUG 2011

DEC 2011

MAY 2012

AUG 2012

DEC 2012

MAY 2013

AUG 2013

DEC 2013

43

 
 
 
 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

6
SHAREHOLDERS' 
PARTICIPATION RIGHTS

All registered shareholders receive a 
copy of the half year and full year results 
upon the publication of such results by 
the Company. They can request a copy 
of the Company’s Annual Report and are 
personally invited to attend the Annual 
General Meeting of Shareholders.

6.1. VOTING RIGHTS AND 

REPRESENTATION RESTRICTIONS

All registered shareholders can attend 
the General Meetings of Shareholders 
and exercise their right to vote.  
A shareholder may also elect to grant 
power of attorney to an independent 
proxy appointed by the Company, 
to a bank or a regulated financial 
intermediary or to any other registered 
shareholder. There are no voting 
restrictions, subject to the exclusion 
of nominee shareholders representing 
undisclosed principals, as detailed in 
section 2.6.

6.2. STATUTORY QUORUMS

6.3. CONVOCATION OF GENERAL 

The General Meeting of Shareholders can 
validly deliberate regardless of the number 
of shares represented at the meeting. 

Resolutions are adopted by the absolute 
majority of votes cast. If a second ballot is 
necessary, a relative majority is sufficient.
In addition to the specific provisions 
of Swiss company law, the following 
resolutions require a majority of two thirds 
of votes cast (“Special Majority”): 

•  Increase in share capital

•  Election and removal of a member  

of the Board of Directors

•  Changes in the maximum number  

of Members of the Board of Directors

•  Amendment of the requirement for  

a Special Majority

MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

The rules regarding the convocation of 
General Meetings of Shareholders are in 
accordance with Swiss company law.

6.4. AGENDA

The Agenda of the General Meeting of 
Shareholders is issued by the Board of 
Directors. Shareholders representing 
shares with a minimum par value of  
CHF 50 thousand may request the 
inclusion of an item on the agenda of the 
General Meetings, provided that such a 
request reaches the Company at least 
40 days prior to the General Meeting.

6.5. REGISTRATION  

IN THE SHARE REGISTER

The Company does not impose any 
deadline for registering shares prior to a 
General Meeting. However, a technical 
notice of two business days is required 
to process the registration.

44

7
CHANGE OF CONTROL 
AND DEFENCE 
MEASURES

No restriction on changes in control  
is included in the Company’s Articles  
of Association.

7.1. DUTY TO MAKE AN OFFER

In the absence of any specific rules in 
the Company’s Articles of Association, 
any investor or group of investors 
acquiring more than 33.3% of the 
shares and voting rights of the Company 
has the duty to make a public offer in 
compliance with the applicable Swiss 
takeover rules.

7.2. CLAUSES ON CHANGE OF CONTROL

There are no general plans or standard 
agreements offering specific protection 
to Board Members, Senior Management 
or employees of the Group in the event 
of a change of control, subject to the 
standard rules regarding termination  
of employment. 

The employment contract of the 
Chief Executive Officer includes 
specific provisions which may trigger 
a severance payment of two years 
remuneration and the immediate vesting 
of options granted in the event there is 
a change of control in the Company. No 
other executive contract provides for any 
material change of control protection.

8
AUDITORS

8.1. DURATION OF THE MANDATE 
AND TERM OF OFFICE

Following a competitive process in 2000, 
Deloitte SA was appointed auditor of the 
Company and of the SGS Group by the 
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders 
upon recommendation of the Board of 
Directors. The auditors of the Company 
are subject to re-election at the Annual 
General Meeting every year. 

The current lead auditor, James Baird, 
has acted in this capacity since 2012.  
He assumed this position after 
agreement by the Company's  
Audit Committee.

9
INFORMATION POLICY

The policy of the Group is to provide 
individual and institutional investors, 
directly or through financial analysts, 
business journalists or investment 
consultants (financial community) 
and the employees with financial and 
business information in a consistent, 
broad, timely and transparent manner. 
The Group website has a section fully 
dedicated to Investor Relations,  
http://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/
Investor-Relations/At-a-Glance.aspx 
where all financial information and 
presentations are available. This includes 
an updated version of the Articles of 
Association, current information on Share 
Buy-Back programmes and minutes of 
shareholders’ meetings. SGS meets 
regularly with institutional investors, 
holds results presentations, road shows, 
presentations at broker-sponsored 
country or industry conferences as well 
as one-on-one meetings.

The Group publishes consolidated half 
year unaudited and yearly audited results 
in print and on-line formats. These 
documents are sent to each registered 
shareholder and are available in English 
(binding version) and in French. The 
Annual Report is published in English 
(binding version) and in French and is 
available upon order or on the Internet. 
The current list of publication dates is 
available on the Internet.

The Group acknowledges the Directives 
on the Independence of Financial 
Research issued by the Swiss Bankers 
Association, particularly articles 26 and 
29-32. In addition, the Group complies 
with rules regarding information and 
reporting of the Federal Act on Stock 
Exchange and Securities Trading, and 
the Ordinance on Stock Exchanges and 
Securities Trading.

8.2. AUDIT FEES

Total audit fees paid to Deloitte for the 
audit of the Company and the Group 
financial statements in 2013 amounted to 
CHF 6.1 million (2012: CHF 5.8 million).

8.3. ADDITIONAL FEES

An aggregate amount of  
CHF 1.1 million (2012 CHF 1.1 million)  
was paid to Deloitte for other 
professional services, unrelated to  
the statutory audit activity. This  
amount includes CHF 0.6 million  
(2012: CHF 0.6 million) for tax  
compliance services and CHF 0.5 million 
(2012: CHF 0.5 million) for non-statutory 
reporting and assurance services.

8.4. SUPERVISORY AND CONTROL 

INSTRUMENTS VIS-A-VIS THE AUDITORS

The Audit Committee is responsible 
for evaluating the external auditor on 
behalf of the Board of Directors, and 
conducts assessments of the audit 
services provided to the Group during 
its regular meetings. It meets with the 
auditor at least three times per year, 
including private sessions without the 
presence of management. The duties of 
the committee include consideration of 
the audit plan, regular assessment of the 
performance of the auditor and approval 
of audit fees on the basis of the amount 
of work required in order to perform the 
audit. The auditor regularly presents his 
findings, both during the deliberations 
of the Audit Committee and in written 
reports, to the attention of the Board of 
Directors which summarise key findings. 

The Group strives to safeguard and 
support the independence of the auditor 
by avoiding conflicts of interests.

In applying this policy, the attribution 
of other consultancy assignments is 
carefully reviewed to ensure that such 
assignments do not endanger the 
auditor’s independence.

45

SGS GROUP  
RESULTS

SGS GROUP RESULTS

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER

(CHF million) 

 NOTES 

REVENUE 
Salaries and wages 
Subcontractors’ expenses 
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment 
Other operating expenses 
OPERATING INCOME (EBIT)

Analysis of operating income 

Adjusted operating income 
Restructuring costs
Amortisation of acquisition intangibles
Transaction and integration-related costs

Operating income

Financial income 
Financial expenses 
PROFIT BEFORE TAXES 
Taxes 
PROFIT FOR THE YEAR 

Profit attributable to: 
Equity holders of SGS SA 
Non-controlling interests 
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE (IN CHF) 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (IN CHF) 
DIVIDENDS PER SHARE (IN CHF) 

 10 & 12 
 5 

 6 
 7 

 8 

 9 
 9 

 2013 

 5 830 
 (2 871)
 (357)
 (298)
 (1 392)
 912 

 977 
 (33)
 (20)
 (12)
 912 

 18 
 (56)
 874 
 (236)
 638 

600
38
 78.43 
 77.84 
65.00 2

1. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2).

2. As proposed by the Board of Directors.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER

(CHF million) 

Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefits plans 
Income tax on actuarial gains/(losses) taken directly to equity 

Items that will not be subsequently reclassified to income statement

Exchange differences and other 2

Items that will be subsequently reclassified to income statement

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR 
Profit for the year 
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR 
Attributable to: 
Equity holders of SGS SA 
Non-controlling interests 

 2013 

 71 
 (23)
 48 
 (132)
 (132)
 (84)
 638 
 554 

 516 
 38 

2012 1

 5 569 
 (2 733)
 (338)
 (280)
 (1 384)
 834 

 931 
 (68)
 (17)
 (12)
 834 

 17 
 (58)
 793 
 (214)
 579 

545
34
 71.52 
 71.06 
58.00

2012 1

 (38)
 11 
 (27)
 (48)
 (48)
 (75)
 579 
 504 

 472 
 32 

1. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2).

2. In 2013, exchange differences included net exchange losses of CHF 32 million on long-term loans treated as net investment in a foreign entity according to International 

Accounting Standard (IAS) 21 (2012: losses of CHF 8 million).

48

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AT 31 DECEMBER (BEFORE APPROPRIATION OF AVAILABLE RETAINED EARNINGS)

(CHF million) 

ASSETS

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Land, buildings and equipment

Goodwill 

Other intangible assets

Investments in associated and other companies

Deferred tax assets

Other non-current assets

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Unbilled revenues and inventories

Trade accounts and notes receivable

Other receivables and prepayments

Marketable securities

Cash and cash equivalents

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

TOTAL ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

CAPITAL AND RESERVES

Share capital

Reserves

Treasury shares

EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF SGS SA

Non-controlling interests

TOTAL EQUITY

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Loans and obligations under finance leases

Deferred tax liabilities

Retirement benefit obligations

Provisions

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Loans and obligations under finance leases

Trade and other payables

Provisions

Current tax liabilities

Other creditors and accruals

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

TOTAL LIABILITIES

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

1. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2).

49

NOTES

2013

 2012 1

10

11

12

8

13

14

15

16

17

18

22

22

23

8

24

25

23

26

25

27

 1 029 

 1 009 

 207 

 18 

 173 

 42 

 2 478 

 330 

 952 

 306 

 9 

 964 

 2 561 

 5 039 

 8 

 2 314 

 (179)

 2 143 

 69 

 2 212 

 1 293 

 66 

 94 

 96 

 1 549 

 15 

 502 

 18 

 142 

 601 

 1 278 

 2 827 

 5 039 

 1 015 

 959 

 213 

 17 

 224 

 42 

 2 470 

 302 

 977 

 255 

 17 

 970 

 2 521 

 4 991 

 8 

 2 228 

 (176)

 2 060 

 58 

 2 118 

 1 305 

 72 

 176 

 97 

 1 650 

 17 

 492 

 23 

 103 

 588 

 1 223 

 2 873 

 4 991 

SGS GROUP RESULTS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER

(CHF million) 

Profit for the year

Non-cash items

(Increase) in working capital

Taxes paid

CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

NOTES

19

19

Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and other intangible assets

10 & 12

Acquisition of businesses

3 & 19

(Increase)/decrease in other non-current assets

Decrease/(increase) in marketable securities

Interest and dividends received

Sales of land, buildings and equipment

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Dividends paid to equity holders of SGS SA

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

Cash received on treasury shares

Cash (paid) on treasury shares

Interest paid

Net flows related to Interest Rate Swaps

Increase/(decrease) in borrowings

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Currency translation

(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR

(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

18

1. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2).

2013

 638 

 552 

 (29)

 (213)

 948 

 (357)

 (108)

 (4)

 8 

 12 

 24 

 (425)

 (444)

 (27)

 42 

 (38)

 (46)

 2 

 (5)

 (516)

 (13)

 (6)

 970 

 (6)

 964 

 2012 1

 579 

 501 

 (73)

 (209)

 798 

 (386)

 (182)

 - 

 (9)

 10 

 10 

 (557)

 (497)

 (24)

 88 

 (12)

 (46)

 37 

 (12)

 (466)

 (5)

 (230)

 1 200 

 (230)

 970 

50

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CONSOLIDATED EQUITY

(CHF million) 

SHARE 
CAPITAL 

TREASURY 
SHARES 

 CAPITAL 
RESERVE 

 CUMULATIVE 
TRANSLATION 
ADJUSTMENTS 

 CUMULATIVE 
GAINS/(LOSSES) ON 
DEFINED BENEFIT  
   PLANS 2

 RETAINED 
EARNINGS 
AND GROUP 
RESERVES 

 EQUITY 
HOLDERS  
OF SGS SA 

 NON-
CONTROLLING 
INTERESTS 

 TOTAL 
EQUITY 

ATTRIBUTABLE TO

BALANCE AT  
1 JANUARY 2012 RESTATED 1

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income 
for the year

Total comprehensive income 
for the year

Dividends paid

Share-based payments

Movement in  
non-controlling interests

Movement on treasury shares

BALANCE AS AT  
31 DECEMBER 2012 RESTATED 1

BALANCE AT  
1 JANUARY 2013

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income 
for the year

Total comprehensive income 
for the year

Dividends paid

Share-based payments

Movement in  
non-controlling interests

Movement on treasury shares

BALANCE AS AT  
31 DECEMBER 2013

 8 

 (232)

 92 

 (580)

(154)

 2 861 

 1 995 

-

-

 - 

-

-

-

-

-

-

 - 

-

-

-

 56 

-

-

 - 

-

 14 

-

-

-

 (46)

 (46)

-

-

-

-

-

 545 

 545 

 (27)

-

 (73)

 50 

 34 

 (2)

 2 045 

 579 

 (75)

 (27)

 545 

 472 

 32 

 504 

-

-

-

-

 (497) 3

 (497)

 (24)

 (521)

-

-

 14 

 - 

 20 

 76 

-

-

-

 14 

 - 

 76 

 8 

 (176)

 106 

 (626)

 (181)

2 929

 2 060 

 58 

 2 118 

 8 

 (176)

 106 

 (626)

 (181)

2 929

 2 060 

-

-

 600 

 600 

 (132)

 48 

-

 (84)

 58 

 38 

 - 

 2 118 

 638 

 (84)

 (132)

 48 

 600 

 516 

 38 

 554 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 (444) 3

 (444)

 (27)

 (471)

-

 2 

 7 

 5 

 2 

 4 

 - 

-

 - 

 5 

 2 

 4 

 8 

 (179)

 111 

 (758)

 (133)

 3 094 

 2 143 

 69 

 2 212 

-

-

 - 

-

-

-

-

-

-

 - 

-

-

-

 (3)

-

-

 - 

-

 5 

-

-

1. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2).

2. Net of tax. 

3. The amounts available for dividends are based on the SGS SA’s statutory standalone shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with the legal provisions of  

the Swiss Code of Obligations.

51

SGS GROUP RESULTS

NOTES

1
ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUP

SGS SA and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) 
operate around the world under the name 
SGS. The head office of the Group is 
located in Geneva, Switzerland. 

SGS is the global leader and innovator 
in inspection, verification, testing 
and certification services supporting 
international trade in agriculture, minerals, 
petroleum and consumer products. It also 
provides these services to governments, 
international institutions and to 
customers engaged in the industrial, 
environmental and life science sectors.

2
SIGNIFICANT  
ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF PREPARATION OF THE 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The consolidated financial statements 
of the Group are stated in millions of 
Swiss Francs. They are prepared from 
the financial statements of the individual 
companies within the Group with all 
significant companies having a year-end 
of 31 December 2013. The consolidated 
financial statements comply with the 
accounting and reporting requirements 
of the International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS) as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards 
Board (IASB). 

The accounting conventions and 
accounting policies are the same as 
those applied in the 2012 consolidated 
financial statements, except for the 
Group’s adoption of new IFRS effective 
1 January 2013.

The financial statements are prepared  
on an accrual basis and under the 
historical cost convention, modified  
as required for the revaluation of certain 
financial instruments.

ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED 
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL 
REPORTING STANDARDS

In the current year, the Group has 
adopted the following Standards  
and Interpretations:

•  IAS 19 (amended) Employee benefits:

In the current year, the Group applied 
IAS 19 Employee Benefits (as revised 
in 2011) and the related consequential 
amendments for the first time.

IAS 19 (amended) changes the 
accounting for defined benefit plans and 
termination benefits. The most significant 
change relates to the interest cost and 
expected return on plan assets used 
in the previous version of IAS 19, and 
are replaced with net interest expenses 
under IAS 19 amended, which are 
calculated by applying the discount rate 
to the net defined liability or asset.  
This change had an impact on the figures 
recognised in the income statement 
and other comprehensive income in 
prior years. In addition, IAS 19 amended 
introduces certain changes in the 
presentation of the defined benefit cost 
including more extensive disclosures. 

Due to this amendment, the 2012  
figures were restated. In this regard,  
the salaries and wages increased by  
CHF 9 million and the financial expenses 
by CHF 6 million, the taxes decreased by 
CHF 4 million, the actuarial gains/(losses)  
on defined benefits plans decreased  
by CHF 15 million and the income tax  
on actuarial gains/(losses) decreased  
by CHF 4 million, the non-cash items  
in the cash flow statement increased  
by CHF 11 million and the opening  
balance of the cumulative remeasurement  
gains/losses on defined benefit in 
equity decreased by CHF 89 million. 
The notes to the financial statements 
were accordingly restated. All the other 
balances in the 2012 primary statements 
remain unchanged from last year  
annual report. 

The impact of this restatement is 
not material and therefore the Group 
considers that it is not necessary  
to present a third balance sheet. 

•  Package of five: 

  IAS 27 (revised) Separate financial 

statements

  IAS 28 (revised) Investments  

in associates and joint ventures

52

  IFRS 10 Consolidated financial 

statements

  IFRS 11 Joint arrangements 

  Joint ventures previously recognised 
using proportional consolidation are 
now recognised using the equity 
method. The 2012 figures were 
restated. These changes decreased 
the 2012 revenues by CHF 9 million 
and decreased the expenses by 
CHF 9 million. Assets and liabilities 
decreased by CHF 3 million, the 
cash flow from operating activities 
decreased by CHF 2 million and the 
cash flow from investing activities 
increased by CHF 2 million.

  IFRS 12 Disclosures of interests  

in other entities

The Group additionally adopted: 

•  IFRS 7 (amendment) Disclosures 
– Offsetting financial assets and 
financial liabilities

•  IFRS 13 Fair value measurement

•  IAS 1 (amendment) Presentation of 

financial statements – Presentation of 
items of other comprehensive income

The application of these changes had  
no material impact on consolidated 
balance sheet and on the consolidated 
income statement but extended  
specific disclosures.

At the date of authorisation of these 
financial statements, the following 
Standards and Interpretations were 
issued, but not yet effective:

•  IAS 32 (amendment) Financial 

Instruments Presentation – Offsetting 
financial assets and financial liabilities

•  IFRS 9 Financial Instruments

•  Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12,  

IAS 27: Investment entities

•  Amendments to IAS 39  

Financial Instruments – Novation  
of derivatives and continuation  
of hedge accounting

•  IAS 36 (amendment) Impairment 
of Assets – Recoverable amount 
disclosures for non-financial assets

•  IFRIC 21 Levies

•  IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Accounts

The Directors anticipate that the 
adoption of these new standards  
and interpretations will have no  
material impact on the consolidated 
financial statements.

BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION

Subsidiaries

The consolidated financial statements 
incorporate the financial statements of 
the Company and the entities controlled 
by the Group. Control is achieved when 
the Group:

•  has power over the investee;

•  is exposed, or has right, to variable 
return from its involvement with  
the investee; and

joint operator recognises in relation to its 
interest in a joint operation:

•  its assets, including its share of any 

assets held jointly;

•  its liabilities, including its share of any 

liabilities incurred jointly;

•  its revenue from the sale of its  
share of the output arising from  
the joint operation;

•  its share of the revenue from the sale 

of the output by the joint operation; and

•  has the ability to use its power  

•  its expenses, including its share of any 

to affect its return.

expenses incurred jointly.

The Company reassesses whether or 
not it controls an investee if facts and 
circumstances indicate that there are 
changes to one or more of the three 
elements of control listed above.

Consolidation of a subsidiary begins 
when the Group obtains control over 
the subsidiary and ceases when the 
Company loses control of the subsidiary.

The principal operating companies of the 
Group are listed on pages 128 to 131.

Associates

Associates are entities over which the 
Group has significant influence, but no 
control or joint control over the financial 
and operating policies. The consolidated 
financial statements include the Group’s 
share of the earnings of associates on an 
equity accounting basis, from the date 
that significant influence commences until 
the date that significant influence ceases.

Joint ventures

A joint venture is a joint arrangement 
whereby the parties that have joint 
control of the arrangement have rights to 
the net assets of the arrangement.  
The consolidated financial statements 
include the Group’s share of the earnings 
of associates on an equity accounting 
basis, from the date that joint control 
commences until the date that joint 
control ceases.

Joint operations

A joint operation is a joint arrangement 
whereby the parties that have joint 
control of the arrangement have rights 
to the assets and the liabilities. When 
a Group entity undertakes its activities 
under joint operations, the Group as a 

Investments in companies not 

accounted for as subsidiaries, 

associates or jointly controlled entities

Investments in companies not accounted 
for as subsidiaries, associates or jointly 
controlled entities (normally below 20% 
shareholding levels) are stated at cost 
less any provision for impairment. The 
fair value of these investments cannot 
be reliably measured. Dividends received 
from these investments are included in 
financial income.

Transactions eliminated on consolidation

All intra-group balances and transactions, 
and any unrealised gains and losses 
arising from intra-group transactions, are 
eliminated in preparing the consolidated 
financial statements. Unrealised gains 
and losses arising from transactions with 
associates and jointly controlled entities 
are eliminated to the extent of the 
Group’s interest in those entities.

Foreign currency transactions

Transactions in foreign currencies are 
recorded at the foreign exchange rate 
prevailing at the date of the transaction. 
Monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies at 
the balance sheet date are translated at 
the foreign exchange rate prevailing at 
that date. Exchange differences arising 
on the settlement of monetary items 
or on reporting monetary items at rates 
different from those at which they were 
initially recorded during the period or 
in previous financial statements, are 
recognised in the income statement.

53

Consolidation of foreign companies

All assets and liabilities of foreign 
companies that are consolidated are 
translated using the exchange rates 
in effect at the balance sheet date. 
Income and expenses are translated 
at the average exchange rate for the 
year. Translation differences resulting 
from the application of this method are 
classified as equity until the disposal of 
the investment.

Average exchange rates are used 
to translate the cash flows of 
foreign subsidiaries in preparing the 
consolidated statement of cash flows.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Group reports its operations by 
business segment, according to the 
nature of the services provided. 

The Group operates in ten business 
segments. The Chief Operating Decision 
Maker evaluates segment performance 
and allocates resources based on several 
factors, of which revenue, adjusted 
operating income and return on capital 
are the main criteria. 

For the Group, the Chief Operating 
Decision Maker is the Senior 
Management composed of: the Chief 
Executive Officer, the Chief Financial 
Officer and the General Counsel.

All segment revenues reported are from 
external customers. Segment revenue 
and operating income are attributed to 
countries based on the location in which 
the services are rendered. 

Segment assets and liabilities comprise 
all assets and all liabilities held by 
the Group’s operating affiliates after 
elimination of inter-company balances. 

Capital additions represent the total  
cost incurred to acquire land, buildings 
and equipment as well as other 
intangible assets. 

Depreciation and amortisation of 
segment assets include depreciation 
of buildings and equipment as well as 
other intangible assets. Impairment of 
segment assets includes impairment 
related to land, buildings and equipment, 
goodwill and other intangible assets 
when incurred.

SGS GROUP RESULTS

LAND, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT

Land is stated at historical cost and 
is not depreciated. Buildings and 
equipment are stated at historical 
cost less accumulated depreciation. 
Subsequent expenditures are capitalised 
only if they increase the future economic 
benefits embodied in the related item 
of property and equipment. All other 
expenditures are expensed as incurred. 
Depreciation is calculated on a straight-
line basis over the estimated useful life 
of the assets as follows:

•  Buildings 12 – 40 years

•  Machinery and equipment 3 – 10 years

•  Other tangible assets 3 – 10 years

LEASES

Assets acquired under finance lease 
agreements, which provide the Group 
with substantially all the risks and 
rewards of ownership, are capitalised 
at fair value or, if lower, at amounts 
equivalent to the estimated present 
value of the underlying minimum  
lease payments. The corresponding 
liabilities are included in long- and  
short-term loans. These leased assets 
are depreciated over the lease period or 
their estimated useful lives, whichever 
is shorter. 

Leases where the lessor retains 
substantially all the risks and rewards of 
ownership of the assets are classified 
as operating leases. Operating lease 
expenditures are expensed on a  
straight-line basis over the lease terms.

GOODWILL

In the case of acquisitions of businesses, 
the acquired identifiable assets, liabilities 
and contingent liabilities are recorded 
at fair value. The difference between 
the purchase price and the fair value is 
classified as goodwill and recorded in the 
balance sheet as an intangible asset.

Goodwill arising from business 
combinations is measured at cost less 
any accumulated impairment losses. 

If the initial accounting for a business 
combination is incomplete by the end 
of the reporting period in which the 
combination occurs, the Group reports 
provisional amounts for the items for 
which the accounting is incomplete. 
Those provisional amounts are adjusted 

during the measurement period, 
or additional assets or liabilities are 
recognised, to reflect new information 
obtained about facts and circumstances 
that existed at the acquisition date that, 
if known, would have affected amounts 
recognised at that date.

Goodwill arising on the acquisition of a 
foreign entity is recorded in the relevant 
foreign currency and is translated using 
the end of period exchange rate. 

On disposal of part or all of a business 
which was previously acquired and which 
gave rise to the recording of acquisition 
goodwill, the relevant amount of residual 
goodwill is included in the determination 
of the gain or loss on disposal. 

Goodwill and other intangible assets 
with indefinite useful lives acquired 
as part of business combinations are 
tested for possible impairment annually 
and whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate their value may 
not be fully recoverable. 

For the purpose of impairment testing, 
the Group has adopted a uniform 
method for assessing goodwill and 
other intangibles recognised under 
the acquisition method of accounting. 
These assets are allocated to the 
cash generating unit (CGU) or group 
of CGUs that are expected to benefit 
from the business combination. The 
recoverable amount of a CGU is 
determined through a value-in-use 
calculation. The key assumptions for 
the value-in-use calculations are those 
regarding the discount rates, growth 
rates and expected changes to selling 
prices or direct costs during the period. 
Pre-tax discount rates used are based 
on the Group’s weighted average cost 
of capital, adjusted for specific risks 
associated with the CGU’s cash flow 
projections. The growth rates are based 
on industry growth forecasts.

Expected changes in selling prices and 
direct costs are based on past practices 
and expectations of future changes in 
the market.

For all CGUs, a value-in-use calculation 
is performed using cash flow projections 
covering the next 10 years. The cash 
flows for the first five years take into 
account the most recent financial  
results and outlook approved by 
management, while the subsequent  

54

five years are extrapolated based on  
the estimated long-term growth rate  
for the relevant activity.

If the recoverable amount of the CGU 
is less than the carrying amount of the 
unit, the impairment loss is allocated 
first to reduce the carrying amount of 
any goodwill allocated to the unit and 
then to the other assets of the unit. An 
impairment loss recognised for goodwill 
is not reversed in a subsequent period.

Even if the initial accounting for an 
intangible asset acquired in the reporting 
period is only provisional, this asset is 
tested for impairment.

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible assets, including software, 
licences, trademarks and customer 
relationships are capitalised and 
amortised on a straight-line basis over 
their estimated useful lives, normally 
not exceeding 20 years. Indefinite life 
intangible assets are not amortised but 
are subject to an annual impairment test. 
The following useful lives are used in the 
calculation of amortisation:

•  Trademarks 5 – 20 years

•  Customer relationships 5 – 20 years

•  Computer software 1 – 4 years

Other intangible assets acquired as 
part of an acquisition of a business are 
capitalised separately from goodwill if 
their fair value can be measured reliably. 
Internally generated intangible assets 
are recognised if the asset created can 
be identified, it is probable that future 
economic benefits will be generated 
from it, the related development costs 
can be measured reliably and sufficient 
financial resources are available to 
complete the development. These 
assets are amortised on a straight-line 
basis over their useful lives, which 
usually do not exceed four years. All 
other development costs are expensed 
as incurred.

IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS  

EXCLUDING GOODWILL

At each balance sheet date or whenever 
there is an indication that an asset may 
be impaired, the Group reviews the 
carrying amounts of its tangible and 
intangible assets to determine whether 
they have suffered an impairment loss. 

If indications of impairment are present, 
the assets are tested for impairment. 
If impaired, the carrying value of the 
asset is reduced to its recoverable 
value. Where it is not possible to 
estimate the recoverable amount of an 
individual asset, the Group estimates the 
recoverable amount of the CGU to which 
the asset belongs. 

The recoverable amount of an asset is 
the greater of the net realisable value  
and its value-in-use. In assessing its 
value-in-use, the pre-tax estimated 
future cash flows are discounted to  
their present value using a pre-tax 
discount rate that reflects current market 
assessments of the time value of money 
and the risks specific to the asset.

REVERSAL OF IMPAIRMENT LOSSES

Where an impairment loss on assets 
other than goodwill subsequently 
reverses, the carrying amount of the 
asset or CGU is increased to the revised 
estimate of its recoverable amount, but 
not in excess of the carrying amount 
that would have been recorded had 
no impairment loss been recognised. 
A reversal of an impairment loss is 
recognised as income immediately.

UNBILLED REVENUES AND INVENTORIES

Completed but unbilled services are 
recorded at net selling prices.

Work-in-progress is measured at the 
lower of the costs incurred in providing 
the service and its ultimate invoice price 
less costs to complete. 

Inventories are recorded at the lower 
of cost and net realisable value. Cost is 
determined using the first-in, first-out 
(FIFO) method. Net realisable value 
represents the estimated selling price less 
all estimated costs to complete and costs 
to be incurred in selling and distribution.

RECEIVABLES

Trade receivables are recognised and 
carried at original invoice amount less an 
allowance for any uncollectible amounts. 
An allowance for doubtful debts is made 
when collection of the full amount is no 
longer probable. Bad debts are written 
off when identified.

MARKETABLE SECURITIES

Marketable securities are recorded in the 
balance sheet at fair value. Movements 
in the fair value of marketable securities 
held for trading are reported in the 
income statement as financial income/
expenses. For marketable securities 
designated as being available for sale, 
the movements in fair value are recorded 
as a component of shareholders’ equity 
and recognised in the income statement 
at the time of disposal. Marketable 
securities designated as available for 
sale are those that are not classified as 
at fair value through profit and loss.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents comprise 
cash, deposits held with banks 
and investments in money market 
instruments with an original maturity of 
three months or less. Bank overdrafts 
are included within current loans.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

AND HEDGING

The Group uses derivative financial 
instruments to hedge its exposure to 
foreign exchange and interest rate risks 
arising from operational, financing and 
investment activities. In accordance 
with its treasury policy, the Group does 
not hold or issue derivative financial 
instruments for trading purposes. 
Derivatives are accounted for on a  
mark-to-market basis. 

Derivative financial instruments are 
initially recognised at fair value and 
subsequently re-measured at fair value 
at each balance sheet date. The gains 
and losses resulting from the fair value 
re-measurement are recognised in the 
income statement. 

The fair value of forward exchange 
contracts is determined with reference to 
market prices at the balance sheet date.

The Group designates and documents 
certain derivatives as hedging 
instruments against changes in fair 
value of recognised liabilities. The 
effectiveness of such hedges is assessed 
at inception and verified at regular 
intervals, at least each semester, using 
prospective and retrospective testing.

55

SGS GROUP RESULTS

CORPORATE BONDS

The corporate bonds issued by the 
Group are measured at amortised cost 
using the effective interest method, 
with interest expense recognised on an 
effective yield basis.

The effective interest method is a 
method of calculating the amortised cost 
of a financial liability and of allocating 
interest expense over the relevant period. 
The effective interest rate is the rate that 
exactly discounts estimated future cash 
payments through the expected life of 
the financial liability to the net carrying 
amount on initial recognition.

The Group uses fair value hedges to 
mitigate interest rate risks relating to its 
corporate bonds. The changes in fair value 
of hedging instruments are recognised in 
the income statement.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Pension plans

The Group maintains several defined 
benefit and defined contribution pension 
plans in accordance with local conditions 
and practices in the countries in which it 
operates. Defined benefit pension plans 
are based on an employee’s years of 
service and remuneration earned during 
a pre-determined period. Contributions 
to these plans are normally paid into 
funds which are managed independently 
of the Group, except in rare cases where 
there is no legal obligation to fund. In 
such cases, the liability is recorded in 
the Group’s consolidated balance sheet. 

The Group’s obligations towards 
defined benefit pension plans and the 
annual cost recognised in the income 
statement is determined by independent 
actuaries using the projected unit credit 
method. Remeasurement gains and 
losses are immediately recognised in 
the consolidated balance sheet with 
the corresponding movement being 
recorded in the consolidated statement 
of comprehensive income. 

Past service costs are immediately 
recognised as an expense. Payments 
to defined contribution plans are 
recognised as an expense in the income 
statement as incurred. Net interest 
expense is calculated by applying  
the discount rate at the beginning  
of the period to the net defined benefit 
liability or asset.

The retirement benefit obligation 
recognised in the balance sheet 
represents the present value of the 
defined benefit obligation reduced by 
the fair value of plan assets. Any asset 
resulting from this calculation is limited 
to the present value of available refunds 
and reductions in future contributions  
to the plan.

Post-employment plans other  

than pensions

The Group operates some post-
employment defined benefit schemes, 
mainly healthcare plans. The method 
of accounting and the frequency of 
valuations are similar to those used for 
defined benefit pension plans.

Equity compensation plans

The Group provides additional benefits to 
certain senior executives and employees 
through equity compensation plans (see 
note 31). An expense is recognised in 
the income statement for shares and 
options granted to senior executives and 
employees under these plans.

TRADE PAYABLES

Trade payables are recognised at 
nominal value that approximates the  
fair value.

PROVISIONS

The Group records provisions when:  
it has an obligation, legal or constructive, 
to satisfy a claim; it is probable that 
an outflow of Group resources will be 
required to satisfy the obligation; and  
a reliable estimate of the amount can  
be made.

In the case of litigation and claims 
relating to services rendered, the 
amount that is ultimately recorded 
is the result of a complex process of 
assessment of a number of variables, 
and relies on management’s informed 
judgement about the circumstances 
surrounding the past provision of 
services. It also relies on expert legal 
advice and actuarial assessments. 
Changes in estimates are reflected in 
the income statement in the period in 
which the change occurs.

56

REVENUE RECOGNITION

Revenue is recognised to the extent that 
it is probable that the economic benefits 
will flow to the Group and the revenue 
can be reliably measured. 

Revenues represent fees for services 
rendered to third parties after the 
deduction of discounts and are 
recognised when the service has been 
completed. In certain circumstances, 
revenue is recognised in proportion 
to the stage of completion, normally 
determined by reference to costs 
incurred to date in comparison with the 
total estimated costs of the transaction 
at the balance sheet date. No margin 
is recognised on work-in-progress. 
Completed, but unbilled, services are 
recorded at net selling prices. 

BORROWING COSTS

Borrowing costs directly attributable 
to the acquisition, construction or 
production of qualifying assets, which 
are assets that necessarily take a 
substantial period of time to get ready 
for their intended use or sale, are added 
to the cost of those assets, until such 
time as the assets are substantially 
ready for their intended use or sale. 

Investment income earned on the 
temporary investment of specific 
borrowings pending their expenditure on 
qualifying assets is deducted from the 
borrowing costs eligible for capitalisation.

All other borrowing costs are recognised 
in the income statement in the period in 
which they are incurred.

RESTRUCTURING COSTS

The Group recognises costs of 
restructuring against operating income 
in the period in which management has 
committed to a formal plan, the costs 
of which can be reliably estimated, 
and has raised a valid expectation 
in those affected that the plan will 
be implemented and the related 
costs incurred. Where appropriate, 
restructuring costs include impairment 
charges arising from implementation of 
the formal plan.

income and withholding taxes that could 
arise on the remittance of subsidiary 
retained earnings are only made where 
there is a current intention to remit 
such earnings. Other taxes not based 
on income, such as property taxes 
and capital taxes, are included within 
operating expenses.

Deferred taxes are provided using the 
full liability method. They are calculated 
on all temporary differences that arise 
between the tax base of an asset or 
liability and the carrying values in the 
consolidated financial statements except 
for non tax-deductible goodwill and for 
those differences related to investments 
in subsidiaries where their reversal will 
not take place in the foreseeable future. 
Deferred income tax assets relating to 
the carry-forward of unused tax losses 
and tax credits are recognised to the 
extent that it is probable that future 
profits be available against which they 
can be utilised. 

Current income tax assets and liabilities 
are offset when the income taxes are 
levied by the same taxing authority and 
where there is a legally enforceable 
right of offset. Deferred tax assets 
and liabilities are determined based 
on enacted or substantively enacted 
tax rates in the respective jurisdictions 
in which the Group operates that are 
expected to apply to taxable income 
in the years in which those temporary 
differences are expected to be 
recovered or settled.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share are calculated 
by dividing the Group’s profit by the 
weighted average number of shares 
outstanding during the year, excluding 
treasury shares. For diluted earnings per 
share, the weighted average number of 
shares outstanding is adjusted assuming 
conversion of all potential dilutive shares. 
Group profit is also adjusted to reflect the 
after-tax impact of conversion.

DIVIDENDS

Dividends are reported as a movement 
in equity in the period in which they are 
approved by the shareholders.

TREASURY SHARES

Treasury shares are reported as a 
deduction to equity. The original cost 
of treasury shares and the proceeds of 
any subsequent sale are recorded as 
movements in equity.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING 

JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES

Judgements

In the process of applying the entity’s 
accounting policies described above, 
management has made the following 
judgements that have a significant  
effect on the amounts recognised in  
the financial statements.

Legal and warranty claims  

on services rendered

The Group is subject to litigation and other 
claims as described in note 25. 

Management bases its judgements on the 
circumstances relating to each specific 
event, internal and external legal advice, 
knowledge of the industries and markets, 
prevailing commercial terms and legal 
precedent and evaluation of the insurance 
cover where appropriate. The Group’s 
legal and warranty claims are reviewed,  
at a minimum, on a quarterly basis  
by a cross-functional representation  
of management.

Use of estimates

The key assumptions concerning 
the future, and other key sources of 
estimation at the balance sheet date 
that have a risk of causing a material 
adjustment to the carrying amount of 
assets and liabilities within the next 
financial year, are discussed below.

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

Capital comprises equity attributable 
to equity holders, loans and obligations 
under finance leases and cash and  
cash equivalents. 

The Board of Directors’ policy is to 
maintain a strong capital base in order 
to maintain investor, creditor and market 
confidence and to sustain the future 
development of the business. The 
Board also recommends the level of 
dividends to be distributed to ordinary 
shareholders on an annual basis. 

The Group maintains sufficient liquidity 
at the Group and subsidiary level to 
meet its working capital requirements, 
fund capital purchases and small and 
medium-sized acquisitions. 

Cash and cash equivalents as well as 
loans and obligations under finance 
leases are disclosed in notes 18 and 23. 

In 2012, the Group initiated a new Share 
Buy-Back programme for a total of  
CHF 250 million, valid from 12 March 
2012 to 31 December 2014. 

Treasury shares are intended primarily to 
be used to cover the Group’s employee 
share option programmes and/or 
convertible bonds that may be issued. 
Decisions to buy or sell are made  
on an individual transaction basis  
by management.

There were no changes in the Group’s 
approach to capital management during 
the year. 

The Group is not subject to any externally 
imposed capital requirements.

TAXES

Income taxes include all taxes based 
upon the taxable profits of the Group 
including withholding taxes payable 
on the transfer of income from Group 
companies and tax adjustments from 
prior years. Taxes on income are 
recognised in the income statement 
except to the extent that they relate to 
items directly charged or credited to 
equity or other comprehensive income, 
in which case the related income tax 
effect is recognised in equity or other 
comprehensive income. Provisions of 

57

SGS GROUP RESULTS

Recoverability of trade accounts  

Estimations of employee post-

Income taxes

and notes receivable

employment benefits obligations

The Group maintains several defined 
benefit pension plans in accordance 
with local conditions and practices 
in the countries in which it operates. 
The related obligations recognised 
in the balance sheet represent the 
present value of the defined benefit 
obligations calculated annually by 
independent actuaries. These actuarial 
valuations include assumptions such as 
discount rates, salary progression rates 
and mortality rates. These actuarial 
assumptions vary according to the 
local prevailing economic and social 
conditions. Details of the assumptions 
used are provided in note 24.

Trade accounts and notes receivable 
are reflected net of an estimated 
allowance for doubtful accounts (see 
note 15). These allowances for potential 
uncollectible amounts are estimated 
based primarily on the Group’s ageing 
policy guidelines, individual client analysis 
and an analysis of the underlying risk 
profile of each major revenue stream  
by business and geography.

Impairment of goodwill

The Group determines whether goodwill 
is impaired at a minimum on an annual 
basis. This requires an estimation of 
the value-in-use of the CGUs to which 
the goodwill is allocated. Estimating 
the value-in-use requires the Group to 
make an estimate of the expected future 
cash flows from the CGU that holds the 
goodwill at a determined discount rate 
in order to calculate the present value of 
those cash flows.

The Group is subject to income taxes 
in numerous jurisdictions. Significant 
judgement is required in determining 
the worldwide provision for income 
taxes. There are many transactions and 
calculations for which the ultimate tax 
determination is uncertain. The group 
recognises liabilities for anticipated 
tax audit issues based on estimates 
of whether additional taxes will be 
due, including estimated interest and 
penalties where appropriate. Where the 
final tax outcome of these matters is 
different from the amounts that were 
initially recorded, such differences will 
impact the current and deferred income 
tax assets and liabilities in the period in 
which such determination is made.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Disclosures on the Group’s risk 
assessment process as required by 
Swiss law are presented in the notes to 
the accounts of SGS SA on page 106 of 
this report.

The most significant currencies for the Group were translated at the following exchange rates into Swiss Francs:

Australia

Brazil

Canada

Chile

China

Eurozone

AUD

BRL

CAD

CLP

CNY

EUR

United Kindgom GBP

Hong Kong

India

Taiwan

USA

HKD

INR

TWD

USD

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

YEAR-END RATES

ANNUAL AVERAGE RATES

2013

79.57

37.85

83.98

0.17

14.70

122.76

146.93

11.50

1.44

2.98

89.20

2012

94.79

44.65

91.74

0.19

14.64

120.90

147.10

11.77

1.67

3.14

91.24

2013

89.85

43.20

90.09

0.19

15.08

123.09

145.01

11.95

1.59

3.12

92.72

2012

97.12

48.19

93.84

0.19

14.87

120.55

148.63

12.09

1.76

3.17

93.80

58

3 
BUSINESS 
COMBINATIONS AND 
OTHER SIGNIFICANT 
TRANSACTIONS

The following business combinations 
and other significant transactions 
occurred during 2013 and 2012:

ACQUISITIONS 2013

In 2013, the Group completed 12 
acquisitions for a total purchase price  
of CHF 118 million (note 20).

Enger Engenharia S.A.

Effective 1 May 2013, SGS acquired,  
for a purchase price of CHF 32 million,  
100% of Enger Engerharia SA, 
headquarted in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 
The consulting engineering company 
serves the infrastructure & building 
market, performing project supervision 
and management as well as technical 
consultancy.

Other

In 2013, other acquisitions included: 

•  100% of RDFI Group, which operates 
vehicle inspection test stations in 
France (effective 1 February 2013);

•  100% of Umweltanalytik RUK GmbH, 
Germany, a provider of biogas, stack 
and fugitive emission testing services 
(effective 1 February 2013);

•  100% of Grupo Labmat, based 
in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. Grupo 
Labmat serves many markets in 
providing materials testing, welding 
and engineering services as well 
as metallurgy project inspections 
(effective 1 March 2013);

•  100% of Time Mining Group in South 
Africa, a supplier of process plant 
design, project management, but 
also commissioning and optimisation 
services for minerals processing plants 
(effective 1 April 2013);

•  100% of MSi Testing & Engineering 
Inc., a US-based laboratory in the 
fields of Metallurgical Testing and 
Failure Analysis (effective 1 April 2013);

•  100% of Civil Quality Assurance Pty. 
Ltd., Australia, a geotechnical and 
environmental consultancy and testing 
business (effective 1 June 2013);

•  100% of Qingdao Yuanshun 

Automotive Services Ltd., in Qingdao, 
China, a vehicle inspection company 
of the Shandong province, China 
(effective 1 June 2013);

•  100% of MIS Environmental Ltd.,  

a laboratory offering a vast 
spectrum of experience in asbestos, 
environmental and health and safety 
testing and consultancy services, 
based in Consett, United Kingdom 
(effective 1 September 2013);

•  100% of MIS Testing Ltd., a mechanical 

and material testing laboratory,  
based in Consett, United Kingdom 
(effective 1 September 2013);

•  100% of Industrial Valve Engineering 

limited, based in Tokoroa, New Zealand,  
a industrial valve testing & certification 
provider (effective 1 November 2013);

•  The business of Hart Aviation, based  
in Melbourne, Australia, a provider  
of aviation audit and advisory services 
to specifically mitigate aviation risks 
(effective 1 November 2013).

These companies were acquired for  
a purchase price of CHF 86 million  
and the total goodwill generated  
on these transactions amounted  
to CHF 57 million (note 20).

Total

All the above acquisitions contributed 
in total CHF 65 million in revenues and 
CHF 11 million in operating income 
during the year for the Group. Had all 
acquisitions been effective 1 January 
2013, the Group revenues for the  
period would have been increased by 
CHF 42 million and the Group operating 
income for the period would have been 
increased by CHF 7 million. None of 
the goodwill arising on acquisitions is 
expected to be tax deductible.

59

DIVESTMENTS 2013

There were no significant disposals  
in 2013.

ACQUISITIONS 2012

In 2012, the Group completed  
18 acquisitions for a total purchase  
price of CHF 203 million.

CIMM Tecnologías y Servicios S.A. 

(CIMM T&S)

Effective 6 January 2012, SGS acquired, 
for a purchase price of CHF 37 million, 
100% of CIMM Tecnologías y Servicios 
S.A. (CIMM T&S), a leading provider of 
technical services to the mining industry 
in Chile. The accounting for the business 
combination is completed and the values 
of the identifiable assets and liabilities 
reflect the final amounts. Goodwill on 
acquisition amounted to CHF 19 million.

Other

In 2012, other acquisitions included: 

•  100% of Roplex Engineering Ltd.,  
a UK-based company specialising  
in engineering support and test 
services for vapour recovery systems 
(effective 1 February 2012);

•  100% of Estudios Técnicos SA, 

(ETSA), a leading engineering project 
supervision and management 
company based in Bogota, Colombia 
(effective 15 March 2012);

•  100% of Metlab (Pty) Ltd., an 

independant metallurgical testing in 
laboratory in Boksburg, South Africa, 
(effective 1 April 2012);

•  100% of Environ Cientifica Ltda,  

a leading Occupational Health and 
Industrial Hygiene (OIH) laboratory 
based in Sao Paulo, Brazil (effective  
1 April 2012); 

•  100% of Analytical Perspectives of 
North Carolina, LCC, a laboratory 
specialised in the ultra-trace analysis 
of various persistent organic pollutants 
(POPs) based in Wilmington, USA 
(effective 1 April 2012);

•  100% of Vitrology Limited, an 

organisation specialising in biosafety 
testing for the pharmaceutical 
industry, based in Glasgow, UK 
(effective 18 May 2012);

Total

All the above acquisitions contributed 
in total CHF 151 million in revenues 
and CHF 18 million in operating income 
during the year for the Group. Had all 
acquisitions been effective 1 January 
2012, the Group revenues for the  
period would have been increased by  
CHF 61 million and the Group operating 
income for the period would have been 
increased by CHF 11 million. None of 
the goodwill arising on acquisitions is 
expected to be tax deductible.

DIVESTMENTS 2012

There were no significant disposals  
in 2012.

SGS GROUP RESULTS

•  75% of Gravena Pesquisa, conultoria  

e Treinamento Agricola Ltda (Gravena), 
a leading field trial contract research 
service provider in Brazil, based in Sao 
Paolo, Brazil (effective 1 July 2012);

•  100% of Exprimo NV, a Belgium-
based life science consultancy 
company, based in Mechelon, 
Belgium (effective 1 July 2012);

•  100% of Sercovam, a test laboratories 
group based in Etupes and Cestas, 
France (effective 1 July 2012);

•  100% of Gladstone Testing Lab,  
a well established construction 
material testing business based in 
Gladstone (Queensland), Australia 
(effective 1 August 2012);

•  100% of the Ludwig Group,  

a material and metallurgical testing 
laboratory, based in Calgary and 
Edmonton (Alberta), Canada  
(effective 1 September 2012); 

•  100% of Australian Radiation Services 
Pty. Ltd. (ARS), a provider of radiation 
calibration, monitoring, testing and 
consulting, based in Melbourne, 
Australia (effective 1 October 2012);

•  100% of Sentinel Services 

(Proprietary) Limited, a provider 
of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) 

services and consulting, based in 
Johannesburg, South Africa (effective 
1 October 2012); 

•  100% of EMICS Ltd., (effective  
1 August 2011), an independent 
UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation 
Service) calibration laboratory,  
based in Nottingham, UK (effective  
1 November 2012);

•  100% of Ware Care Group, a provider 

of Integrated Pest Management 
services (IPM) and fumigation services, 
based in Beuningen, The Netherlands 
(effective 1 November 2012);

•  100% of E&S Engineering Solutions 
Inc. a company specialised in the 
development of mineral processing 
facilities for the mining industry  
in Tucson (Arizona), USA (effective  
31 December 2012);

•  100% of Herguth Laboratories,  

Inc. a state-of-the-art petroleum and 
lubricant testing laboratory in Vallejo 
(California), USA (effective  
31 December 2012).

These companies were acquired for  
a purchase price of CHF 166 million  
and the total goodwill generated  
on these transactions amounted to  
CHF 120 million.

60

4 
INFORMATION BY BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENT

(CHF million)

2013

Agricultural Services

Minerals Services

Oil, Gas & Chemicals Services

Life Science Services

Consumer Testing Services

Systems & Services Certification

Industrial Services

Environmental Services

Automotive Services

Governments & Institutions Services

TOTAL

(CHF million)

2012 RESTATED

Agricultural Services

Minerals Services

Oil, Gas & Chemicals Services

Life Science Services

Consumer Testing Services

Systems & Services Certification

Industrial Services

Environmental Services

Automotive Services

Governments & Institutions Services

TOTAL

REVENUE

ADJUSTED  
OPERATING INCOME

AMORTISATION 
OF ACQUISITION 
INTANGIBLES

OPERATING INCOME  
BY BUSINESS

381

792

1 140

205

1 042

402

960

328

305

275

5 830

65

124

154

27

258

73

108

34 

66

68

977

-

(1)

(3)

(2)

(1)

 - 

(5)

(1)

(7)

 - 

(20)

Unallocated costs

GROUP OPERATING INCOME

65

123

151

25

257

73

103

33

59

68

957

(45)

912

REVENUE

ADJUSTED  
OPERATING INCOME

AMORTISATION 
OF ACQUISITION 
INTANGIBLES

OPERATING INCOME  
BY BUSINESS

370

868

1 046

199

936

395

899

323

277

256

5 569

61

162

137

17

233

72

100

34

61

54

931

 - 

 (1) 

 (2) 

 (2) 

(1)

 - 

 (4) 

(1)

(6)

 - 

(17)

Unallocated costs

GROUP OPERATING INCOME

61

161

135

15

232

72

96

33

55

54

914

(80)

834

The revenues reported represent revenue generated from external customers.

Revenue in Switzerland from external customers for 2013 amounted to CHF 267 million (2012: CHF 264 million). No country 
represented more than 15% of revenues from external customers in 2013 or 2012.

61

SGS GROUP RESULTS

UNALLOCATED COSTS 2013

In 2013, the Group incurred CHF 12 million of integration-related costs and transaction-related costs that have been expensed in 
accordance with IFRS 3 (revised). At the same time, the Group incurred a pre-tax restructuring charge of CHF 33 million, largely as 
a result of personnel reorganisation due to the decline in market conditions in certain businesses and geographies (CHF 28 million) 
as well as fixed impairment and other charges (CHF 5 million).

UNALLOCATED COSTS 2012

In 2012, the Group incurred a pre-tax restructuring charge of CHF 68 million, including a provision of CHF 21 million (net of tax) in 
view of the intended closure of the Paris clinic. These pre-tax restructuring costs are largely a result of personnel reorganisation due 
to the decline in market conditions in certain businesses and geographies (CHF 43 million) as well as fixed asset impairment and 
other charges (CHF 25 million). At the same time, the Group incurred CHF 12 million of integration-related costs and transaction-
related costs that have been expensed in accordance with IFRS 3 (revised).

(CHF million) 

2013

%

2012 RESTATED

%

REVENUE FROM EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS BY GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENT

Europe/Africa/Middle East

Americas

Asia Pacific

TOTAL

2 694

1 448

1 688

5 830

46.2

24.8

29.0

100.0

2 618

1 360

1 591

5 569

47.0

24.4

28.6

100.0

MAJOR CUSTOMER INFORMATION

In 2013 and in 2012, no external customer represented 10% or more of the Group’s total revenue.

(CHF million) 

OPERATING ASSETS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Agricultural Services

Minerals Services

Oil, Gas & Chemicals Services

Life Science Services

Consumer Testing Services

System & Services Certification

Industrial Services

Environmental Services

Automotive Services

Governments & Institutions Services

TOTAL

2013

244

683

898

241

672

179

676

262

404

157

4 416

%

2012 RESTATED

%

5.5

15.5

20.3

5.5

15.2

4.1

15.3

5.9

9.1

3.6

100.0

 255 

 690 

 779 

 291 

 656 

 176 

 582 

 311 

 383 

 222 

 4 345 

5.9

15.8

17.9

6.7

15.1

4.0

13.4

7.2

8.8

5.1

100.0

(CHF million) 

2013

2012 RESTATED

RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING ASSETS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT TO THE BALANCE SHEET

Assets by business segment as above

Non-operating assets

TOTAL ASSETS PER BALANCE SHEET

4 416

623

5 039

4 345

646

4 991

Assets by business segment comprise all assets held by the Group’s operating affiliates after elimination of inter-company balances.

62

SPECIFIC NON-CURRENT ASSETS BY MATERIAL COUNTRIES

Specific non-current assets by material countries:

(CHF million)

Switzerland

Other countries

TOTAL

2013

81

2 224

2 305

%

3.5

96.5

100.0

2012 RESTATED

95

2 150

2 245

%

4.2

95.8

100.0

No country represented more than 15% of the specific non-current assets in 2013 or 2012.

RECONCILIATION WITH TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

(CHF million)

Specific non-current assets as above

Deferred tax assets

Non-current loans to third parties

TOTAL

(CHF million) 

OPERATING LIABILITIES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Agricultural Services

Minerals Services

Oil, Gas & Chemicals Services

Life Science Services

Consumer Testing Services

System & Services Certification

Industrial Services

Environmental Services

Automotive Services

Governments & Institutions Services

TOTAL

2013

121

250

360

65

329

127

303

104

96

87

1 842

2013

2 305

173

-

2 478

2012 RESTATED

2 245

224

1

2 470

%

2012 RESTATED

%

6.6

13.6

19.6

3.5

17.9

6.9

16.4

5.6

5.2

4.7

100.0

127

297

358

68

321

135

308

111

94

88

1 907

6.6

15.5

18.7

3.6

16.9

7.1

16.1

5.8

5.1

4.6

100.0

(CHF million) 

2013

2012 RESTATED

RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING LIABILITIES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT TO THE BALANCE SHEET

Liabilities by business segment as above

Non-operating liabilities

TOTAL LIABILITIES PER BALANCE SHEET

1 842

985

2 827

1 907

966

2 873

63

SGS GROUP RESULTS

(CHF million) 

CAPITAL ADDITIONS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Agricultural Services

Minerals Services

Oil, Gas & Chemicals Services

Life Science Services

Consumer Testing Services

System & Services Certification

Industrial Services

Environmental Services

Automotive Services

Governments & Institutions Services

TOTAL

(CHF million) 

2013

15

60

68

16

91

5

32

22

25

23

357

2013

DEPRECIATION AND AMORTISATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Agricultural Services

Minerals Services

Oil, Gas & Chemicals Services

Life Science Services

Consumer Testing Services

System & Services Certification

Industrial Services

Environmental Services

Automotive Services

Governments & Institutions Services

TOTAL

13

46

52

17

68

5

36

20

23

12

292

%

2012 RESTATED

%

4.2

16.8

19.0

4.5

25.5

1.4

9.0

6.2

7.0

6.4

100.0

23

90

76

19

82

5

32

21

9

29

386

5.9

23.2

19.6

4.9

21.2

1.4

8.3

5.4

2.3

7.5

100.0

%

2012 RESTATED

%

4.4

15.7

17.7

5.8

23.3

1.7

12.3

7.2

7.8

4.1

100.0

12

43

46

13

59

5

33

20

23

13

267

4.5

15.9

17.2

4.9

22.1

1.9

12.4

7.5

8.7

4.9

100.0

(CHF million) 

2013

%

2012 RESTATED

%

IMPAIRMENT BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Minerals

Consumer Testing Services

Life Science Services

System & Services Certification

Industrial Services

TOTAL

1

 - 

 - 

2

3

6

16.7

-

-

33.3

50.0

100.0

AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES BY GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENT 

Europe/Africa/Middle East

Americas 

Asia Pacific 

TOTAL 

Number of employees at year end 

64

3

1

8

1

-

13

23.1

7.7

61.5

7.7

-

100.0

2013

2012 RESTATED

32 485

18 754

29 271

80 510

81 948

31 779

18 045

26 967

76 791

79 208

5 
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES

(CHF million) 

Rental expense, insurance, utilities and sundry supplies 

Consumables, repairs and maintenance 

Communication costs 

Travel costs 

Miscellaneous operating income and expenses 

TOTAL 

6 
FINANCIAL INCOME

(CHF million) 

Interest income

Foreign exchange gains

Other financial income

TOTAL

7 
FINANCIAL EXPENSES

(CHF million) 

Interest expense

Loss on derivatives at fair value

Loss/(gain) arising on an Interest Rate Swap 1

(Gain)/loss arising on adjustment for hedged item 1

Other financial expenses

Net financial expenses on defined benefit plans

TOTAL

1. In a designated fair value hedge accounting relationship.

2013

 282 

 379 

 107 

 372 

 252 

 1 392 

2013

 16 

 1 

 1 

 18 

2013

 37 

 11 

 10 

 (10)

 3 

 5 

 56 

65

2012 RESTATED

 265 

 374 

 107 

 363 

 275 

 1 384 

2012 RESTATED

 14 

 3 

 - 

 17 

2012 RESTATED

 38 

 10 

 (5)

 5 

 4 

 6 

 58 

SGS GROUP RESULTS

8 
TAXES

(CHF million) 

MAJOR COMPONENTS OF TAX EXPENSE 

Current taxes 

Deferred tax (credit)/expense relating to the origination and 
reversal of temporary differences 

TOTAL 

2013

223

13

236

2012 RESTATED

 209 

 5 

 214 

The Group has operations in various countries that have differing tax laws and rates. Consequently, the effective tax rate on 
consolidated income varies from year to year. A reconciliation between the reported income tax expense and the amount that 
would arise using the weighted average statutory tax rate of the Group is as follows:

(CHF million) 

RECONCILIATION OF TAX EXPENSE 

Profit before taxes 

Tax at the domestic rates applicable to the profits earned  
in the country concerned 

Tax effect of non-deductible or non-taxable items 

Tax charge from unrecognised tax losses 

Non-creditable foreign withholding taxes 

Other

TAX EXPENSE 

2013

 874 

 181 

 5 

 12 

 32 

 6 

 236 

2013

2012 RESTATED

793

 156 

 11 

 17 

 30 

 - 

 214 

2012 RESTATED

(CHF million) 

 ASSETS 

 LIABILITIES 

 ASSETS 

 LIABILITIES 

COMPONENTS OF DEFERRED INCOME TAX BALANCES 

Fixed assets 

Inventories and receivables 

Remeasurement on actuarial gains and losses on pensions 

Provisions and other 

Intangible assets 

Tax loss carry-forwards 

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 

 22 

 10 

 72 

19

7

 43 

 173 

 10 

 14 

 - 

 19 

 23 

 - 

 66 

 26 

 10 

 105 

 49 

 6 

 28 

 224 

 19 

 17 

 - 

 28 

 8 

 - 

 72 

66

8 

TAXES

(CHF million) 

TOTAL 

MAJOR COMPONENTS OF TAX EXPENSE 

Current taxes 

Deferred tax (credit)/expense relating to the origination and 

reversal of temporary differences 

(CHF million) 

RECONCILIATION OF TAX EXPENSE 

Profit before taxes 

Tax at the domestic rates applicable to the profits earned  

in the country concerned 

Tax effect of non-deductible or non-taxable items 

Tax charge from unrecognised tax losses 

Non-creditable foreign withholding taxes 

Other

TAX EXPENSE 

2013

223

13

236

2013

 874 

 181 

 5 

 12 

 32 

 6 

 236 

2013

 209 

 5 

 214 

793

 156 

 11 

 17 

 30 

 - 

 214 

(CHF million) 

 ASSETS 

 LIABILITIES 

 ASSETS 

 LIABILITIES 

2012 RESTATED

COMPONENTS OF DEFERRED INCOME TAX BALANCES 

Remeasurement on actuarial gains and losses on pensions 

Fixed assets 

Inventories and receivables 

Provisions and other 

Intangible assets 

Tax loss carry-forwards 

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 

 22 

 10 

 72 

19

7

 43 

 173 

 10 

 14 

 - 

 19 

 23 

 - 

 66 

 26 

 10 

 105 

 49 

 6 

 28 

 224 

 19 

 17 

 - 

 28 

 8 

 - 

 72 

The Group has operations in various countries that have differing tax laws and rates. Consequently, the effective tax rate on 

2012 RESTATED

Net change in deferred tax assets/(liabilities):

(CHF million) 

 NET DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET (LIABILITY) AT 1 JANUARY 2012 (RESTATED)

 (Charged)/credited to the income statement 

 (Charged)/credited to the shareholders' equity 1

 Exchange differences and other 

 NET DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET (LIABILITY) AT 31 DECEMBER 2012 (RESTATED)

 (Charged)/credited to the income statement 

 (Charged)/credited to the shareholders' equity 1

consolidated income varies from year to year. A reconciliation between the reported income tax expense and the amount that 

 Exchange differences and other 

would arise using the weighted average statutory tax rate of the Group is as follows:

 NET DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET (LIABILITY) AT 31 DECEMBER 2013 

2012 RESTATED

1. Relate to remeasurement gains and losses on pensions. 

TOTAL

 143 

(5)

11

3

 152 

(13)

 (23)

(9)

 107 

(CHF million) 

2013

2012 RESTATED

REFLECTED IN THE BALANCE SHEET AS FOLLOWS: 

Deferred tax assets 

Deferred tax liabilities 

TOTAL 

 173 

 (66)

 107 

 224 

 (72)

 152 

The Group has unrecognised tax losses carried forward amounting to CHF 50 million (2012: CHF 67 million) of which none will 
expire within the next five years. No tax losses carried forward expired in 2013. 

At 31 December 2013, consolidated retained earnings include approximately CHF 3 729 million (2012: CHF 3 725 million) of 
undistributed earnings associated with investments in subsidiaries and foreign incorporated joint ventures that may be subject  
to tax if remitted to the parent company. As a Group policy, no deferred tax is recognised in respect of these amounts until the 
point at which the distributable earnings are determined and foreign statutory requirements, allowing the distribution, are fulfilled. 
Until that time, the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that they will not reverse  
in the foreseeable future.

67

 
 
 
 
SGS GROUP RESULTS

9 
EARNINGS PER SHARE

Changes in accounting standards described in detail in note 2 had an impact of CHF 11 million on profit attributable to equity 
holders of SGS SA reported for 2012, representing a CHF 1.45 adjustment to the reported basic earnings per share and diluted 
earnings per share. 

Those changes also had an impact of CHF 1.59 and CHF 1.57 respectively on the adjusted basic earnings per share and on  
the adjusted diluted earnings per share. 

Basic earnings per share are calculated as follows:

Profit attributable to equity holders of SGS SA (CHF million)

Weighted average number of shares

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE (CHF)

2013

 600 

2012 RESTATED

 545 

 7 649 642 

 7 622 043 

 78.43 

 71.52 

Diluted earnings per share are calculated as basic earnings per share except that the weighted average number of shares includes 
the dilutive effect of the Group’s share option plans (see note 31):

Profit attributable to equity holders of SGS SA (CHF million)

Diluted weighted average number of shares

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (CHF)

2013 

 600 

 7 708 047 

 77.84 

2012 RESTATED

 545 

 7 670 714 

 71.06 

Adjusted earnings per share are calculated as follows:

Profit attributable to equity holders of SGS SA (CHF million)

Amortisation of acquisition intangibles (CHF million)

Restructuring costs net of tax (CHF million)

Transaction and integration-related costs net of tax (CHF million)

Adjusted profit attributable to equity holders of SGS SA (CHF million)

ADJUSTED BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE (CHF)

ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (CHF)

2013 

 600 

 20 

 23 

 9 

 652 

 85.27 

 84.63 

2012 RESTATED

 545 

 17 

 47 

 8 

 617 

 81.06

 80.55

68

 LAND & BUILDINGS 

 MACHINERY & 
EQUIPMENT 

 OTHER TANGIBLE 
ASSETS 

TOTAL

 608 

 102 

 5 

 (41)

 (31)

 643 

 355 

 59 

 2 

 2 

 (33)

 (13)

 372 

 271 

 1 

 1 

 - 

 2 521 

 327 

 21 

 (114)

 (114)

 2 641 

 1 506 

 244 

 6 

 11 

 (95)

 (60)

 1 612 

 1 029 

 6 

 5 

 1 

10 
LAND, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT

(CHF million) 

2013

COST

At 1 January

Additions

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND IMPAIRMENTS

At 1 January

Depreciation

Impairment

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December

NET BOOK VALUE AT 31 DECEMBER

 453 

 19 

 1 

 (7)

 (13)

 453 

 204 

 17 

 - 

 - 

 (3)

 (4)

 214 

 239 

 1 460 

 206 

 15 

 (66)

 (70)

 1 545 

 947 

 168 

 4 

 9 

 (59)

 (43)

 1 026 

 519 

INCLUDED IN LAND, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT ARE LEASED ASSETS AS FOLLOWS

Purchase cost of leased tangible assets

Accumulated depreciation

NET BOOK VALUE AT 31 DECEMBER

 - 

 - 

 - 

 5 

 4 

 1 

69

SGS GROUP RESULTS

(CHF million) 

2012 RESTATED

COST

At 1 January

Additions

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND IMPAIRMENTS

At 1 January

Depreciation

Impairment

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December

NET BOOK VALUE AT 31 DECEMBER

 LAND & BUILDINGS 

 MACHINERY & 
EQUIPMENT 

 OTHER TANGIBLE 
ASSETS 

TOTAL

 421 

 28 

 11 

 (4)

 (3)

 453 

 185 

 17 

 3 

 5 

 (2)

 (4)

 204 

 249 

 1 270 

 251 

 25 

 (69)

 (17)

 1 460 

 851 

 153 

 1 

 17 

 (65)

 (10)

 947 

 513 

 7 

 5 

 2 

 564 

 73 

 16 

 (32)

 (13)

 608 

 334 

 52 

 - 

 4 

 (29)

 (6)

 355 

 253 

 1 

 - 

 1 

 2 255 

 352 

 52 

 (105)

 (33)

 2 521 

 1 370 

 222 

 4 

 26 

 (96)

 (20)

 1 506 

 1 015 

 8 

 5 

 3 

INCLUDED IN LAND, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT ARE LEASED ASSETS AS FOLLOWS

Purchase cost of leased tangible assets

Accumulated depreciation

NET BOOK VALUE AT 31 DECEMBER

 - 

 - 

 - 

At 31 December 2013, the Group had commitments of CHF 9 million (2012: CHF 12 million) for the acquisition of land, buildings  
and equipment.

Included in the other tangible assets are construction-in-progress assets amounting to CHF 46 million (2012: CHF 30 million).

The values of buildings and equipment for fire insurance purposes are as follows:

(CHF million) 

Buildings

Machinery, equipment and other tangible assets

2013

541

2 047

2012 RESTATED

523

1 916

70

11 
GOODWILL

(CHF million) 

COST

At 1 January 

Additions

Exchange differences

AT 31 DECEMBER 

In 2013, the Group reviewed the CGU’s 
disclosed. In order to align the CGUs 
with the organisational structure, the 
lowest level of a CGU is a country and  
a business. 

Goodwill impairment reviews have 
been conducted for goodwill balances 
allocated to more than 57 specific cash 
generating units (CGU). The goodwill 
balances tested account for 99.5% 
of the total goodwill net book value 
reported as at 31 December 2013. 

No goodwill impairment exposure was 
identified and therefore no impairment 
charge was recorded (2012: nil). 

Detailed results of the impairment tests 
are presented below for larger goodwill 
balances (representing 50.0% of all 
goodwill items tested). These tests have 
all been performed in accordance with 
the Group's uniform method described 
on page 54.

AUTOMOTIVE SPAIN AND ARGENTINA

Goodwill recognised on the acquisition 
of the vehicle inspection businesses of 
General de Servicios ITV (Inspección 
Técnica de Vehículos) SA in Spain and 
Argentina (2010) has been allocated 
to the Automotive Services Spain and 
Argentina CGU for impairment testing 
purposes. The carrying amount of 
the goodwill allocated to the CGU is 
expressed in EUR for an equivalent of 
CHF 143 million as at 31 December 2013.

2013

2012 RESTATED

 959 

 83 

 (33)

 1 009

 830 

139

(10)

959

The recoverable amount of the CGU, 
determined based upon a value-in-use 
calculation, is higher than its carrying 
amount. Cash flow projections were 
used in this calculation, discounted at 
a pre-tax rate of 8.5%. The cash flows 
for the first five years were based 
upon financial plans approved by Group 
Management while the subsequent 
years assume a long-term growth rate 
of 1.0% and stable operating margins. 
The overall assumptions used in the 
calculation are consistent with the 
expected average growth rate of the 
vehicle inspection business served in 
Europe and South America.

The key sensitivity for the impairment 
test is the growth in sales and operating 
margin. Reducing the expected annual 
revenue growth rates for the first five 
years by 200 basis points would not 
result in the carrying amount exceeding 
the recoverable amount. Reducing the 
operating margin by 25 basis points 
would not result in the carrying amount 
exceeding the recoverable amount.

An increase of 1% in the discount rate 
assumption would not change the 
conclusions of the impairment test.

LIFE SCIENCE SERVICES, EUROPE

Goodwill recognised on the following 
main acquisitions has been allocated 
to the Life Science Services, Europe 
CGU for impairment testing purposes: 
Medisearch International (2003); Cibest 
(2004); Aster Cephac (2006); M-Scan 
Group (2010), Exprimo (2011) and 
Vitrology (2012). The carrying amounts 

71

of the goodwill items allocated to  
this CGU are expressed in EUR for  
an equivalent of CHF 105 million as at  
31 December 2013.

The recoverable amount of the CGU, 
determined based upon a value-in-use 
calculation, is higher than its carrying 
amount. Cash flow projections were 
used in this calculation, discounted at 
a pre-tax rate of 7.6%. The cash flows 
for the first five years were based 
upon financial plans approved by Group 
Management while the subsequent 
years assume a long-term growth rate 
of 1.0% and stable operating margins. 
The overall assumptions used in the 
calculation are consistent with the 
expected average growth rate of the Life 
Science Services business in Europe.

The key sensitivity for the impairment 
test is the growth in sales and operating 
margin. Reducing the expected annual 
revenue growth rates for the first five 
years by 200 basis points would not 
result in the carrying amount exceeding 
the recoverable amount. Reducing the 
operating margin by 25 basis points 
would not result in the carrying amount 
exceeding the recoverable amount.

An increase of 1% in the discount rate 
assumption would not change the 
conclusions of the impairment test.

INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, NORTH AMERICA

Goodwill mainly recognised on the 
following main acquisition of Pfinde 
(2011), FTS US (2007) and MSI (2013) 
has been allocated to the Industrial 
Services North America CGU for

SGS GROUP RESULTS

impairment testing purposes.  
The carrying amount of the goodwill 
allocated to this CGU is expressed in 
USD and CAD for an equivalent of  
CHF 67 million as at 31 December 2013.

The recoverable amount of the CGU, 
determined based upon a value-in-use 
calculation, is higher than its carrying 
amount. Cash flow projections were 
used in this calculation, discounted at 
a pre-tax rate of 7.0%. The cash flows 
for the first five years were based 
upon financial plans approved by Group 
Management while the subsequent 
years assume a long-term growth rate  
of 1.0% and stable operating margins. 
The overall assumptions used in  
the calculation are consistent with  
the expected average growth rate  
of the Industrial Services business in 
North America.

The key sensitivity for the impairment 
test is the growth in sales and operating 
margin. Reducing the expected annual 
revenue growth rates for the first five 
years by 200 basis points would not 
result in the carrying amount exceeding 
the recoverable amount. Reducing the 
operating margin by 25 basis points 
would not result in the carrying amount 
exceeding the recoverable amount.

An increase of 1% in the discount rate 
assumption would not change the 
conclusions of the impairment test.

MINERALS SERVICES, NORTH AMERICA

Goodwill recognised on the following 
main acquisitions has been allocated to 
the Minerals Services North America 
CGU for impairment testing purposes: 
Lakefield group (2002) and Minnovex 
group (2005), SMPN-CEMI (2008) and 
E&S Engineering (2012). The carrying 
amounts of the goodwill items allocated 
to this CGU are expressed in various 
currencies for an equivalent of  
CHF 64 million as at 31 December 2013.

The recoverable amount of the CGU, 
determined based upon a value-in-use 
calculation, is higher than its carrying 
amount. Cash flow projections were 
used in this calculation, discounted at 
a pre-tax rate of 7.9%. The cash flows 
for the first five years were based upon 
financial plans approved by Group 

the recoverable amount. Reducing the 
operating margin by 25 basis points 
would not result in the carrying amount 
exceeding the recoverable amount.

An increase of 1% in the discount rate 
assumption would not change the 
conclusions of the impairment test.

OIL, GAS & CHEMICALS SERVICES, 

NETHERLANDS AND MALAYSIA

Goodwill recognised on the following 
main acquisitions of Horizon Energy 
Partners (2008) and AKZO (2008) 
has been allocated to the Oil, Gas & 
Chemicals Services, Netherlands and 
Malaysia CGU for impairment testing 
purposes. The carrying amount of 
the goodwill allocated to the CGU is 
expressed in EUR for an equivalent of 
CHF 58 million as at 31 December 2013.

The recoverable amount of the CGU, 
determined based upon a value-in-use 
calculation, is higher than its carrying 
amount. Cash flow projections were 
used in this calculation, discounted at 
a pre-tax rate of 8.5%. The cash flows 
for the first five years were based 
upon financial plans approved by Group 
Management while the subsequent 
years assume a long-term growth rate  
of 1.0% and stable operating margins. 
The overall assumptions used in  
the calculation are consistent with  
the expected average growth rate  
of the Oil, Gas & Chemicals Services, 
Netherlands and Malaysia segment 
served by the Group.

The key sensitivity for the impairment 
test is the growth in sales and operating 
margin. Reducing the expected annual 
revenue growth rates for the first five 
years by 200 basis points would not 
result in the carrying amount exceeding 
the recoverable amount. Reducing the 
operating margin by 25 basis points 
would not result in the carrying amount 
exceeding the recoverable amount.

An increase of 1% in the discount rate 
assumption would not change the 
conclusions of the impairment test.

Management while the subsequent 
years assume a long-term growth rate  
of 1.0% and stable operating margins. 
The overall assumptions used in  
the calculation are consistent with  
the expected average growth rate  
of the Minerals Services business  
in North America.

The key sensitivity for the impairment 
test is the growth in sales and operating 
margin. Reducing the expected annual 
revenue growth rates for the first five 
years by 200 basis points would not 
result in the carrying amount exceeding 
the recoverable amount. Reducing the 
operating margin by 25 basis points 
would not result in the carrying amount 
exceeding the recoverable amount.

An increase of 1% in the discount rate 
assumption would not change the 
conclusions of the impairment test.

MULTIBUSINESS SERVICES, GERMANY

Goodwill mainly recognised on the 
following main acquisition of Institut 
Fresenius AG (2004) and Merlot Nokia 
Siemens network (2008), has been 
allocated to a specific cross-business 
CGU for impairment testing purposes. 
The carrying amount of the goodwill 
allocated to this CGU is expressed in 
EUR for an equivalent of CHF 65 million 
as at 31 December 2013.

The recoverable amount of the CGU, 
determined based upon a value-in-use 
calculation, is higher than its carrying 
amount. Cash flow projections were 
used in this calculation, discounted at 
a pre-tax rate of 7.3%. The cash flows 
for the first five years were based 
upon financial plans approved by Group 
Management while the subsequent 
years assume a long-term growth rate  
of 1.0% and stable operating margins. 
The overall assumptions used in  
the calculation are consistent with  
the expected average growth rate  
in Multibusiness Services in Germany.

The key sensitivity for the impairment 
test is the growth in sales and operating 
margin. Reducing the expected annual 
revenue growth rates for the first five 
years by 200 basis points would not 
result in the carrying amount exceeding 

72

12 
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

(CHF million) 

2013

COST

At 1 January

Additions

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December 

ACCUMULATED AMORTISATION AND IMPAIRMENT

At 1 January

Amortisation

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December 

NET BOOK VALUE AT 31 DECEMBER

 30 

 8 

-

-

 (1)

 37 

 45 

(CHF million) 

2012 RESTATED

COST

At 1 January

Additions

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December 

ACCUMULATED AMORTISATION AND IMPAIRMENT

At 1 January

Amortisation

Impairment

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December 

NET BOOK VALUE AT 31 DECEMBER

 14 

 8 

 8 

 - 

 - 

 30 

 54 

 84 

-

-

-

 (2)

 82 

 86 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 (2)

 84 

TRADEMARKS  
AND OTHER

CUSTOMER 
RELATIONSHIPS

INTERNALLY 
GENERATED 

PURCHASED

TOTAL

COMPUTER SOFTWARE  
AND OTHER ASSETS

TRADEMARKS  
AND OTHER

CUSTOMER 
RELATIONSHIPS

INTERNALLY 
GENERATED 

PURCHASED

TOTAL

COMPUTER SOFTWARE  
AND OTHER ASSETS

 138 

-

 20 

-

 (5)

 153 

 38 

 12 

-

-

 (1)

 49 

 104 

 73 

 5 

-

-

-

 78 

 62 

 5 

-

-

 - 

 67 

 11 

 225 

 25 

 1 

 (6)

 (5)

 240 

 177 

 23 

 1 

 (5)

 (3)

 193 

 47 

 520 

 30 

 21 

 (6)

 (12)

 553 

 307 

 48 

 1 

 (5)

 (5)

 346 

 207 

 69 

 5 

 - 

 - 

 (1)

 73 

 56 

 5 

 1 

 - 

 - 

 62 

 11 

 202 

 29 

 1 

 (3)

 (4)

 225 

 159 

 22 

 - 

 (3)

 (1)

 177 

 48 

 462 

 34 

 36 

 (3)

 (9)

 520 

 258 

 45 

 9 

 (3)

 (2)

 307 

 213 

 105 

 - 

 35 

 - 

 (2)

 138 

 29 

 10 

 - 

 - 

 (1)

 38 

 100 

73

SGS GROUP RESULTS

SIGNIFICANT INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The Group is implementing global management information systems focusing on contract management, finance and sales order 
processing. In particular, additions relating to the Group's ERP system amount to CHF 6 million (2012: CHF 4 million) and are being 
amortised over a period of four years. 

Incremental costs relating to internally generated assets are capitalised when incurred and amortised over a period of four years 
from the time of occurrence. Purchased intangible assets mainly consist of purchased computer software and consultancy services 
required for implementations.

13 
OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS

(CHF million) 

Non-current loans to third parties

Other non-current assets

TOTAL

2013

 1 

 41 

 42 

2012 RESTATED

 1 

 41 

 42 

Depending on the nature of the loan, currency and date of maturity, interest rates on long-term loans to third parties range between 
0% and 15.0%. 

Other non-current assets consist mainly of deposits for guarantees and include CHF 13 million (2012: CHF 14 million) of restricted 
cash. Typical examples of restricted cash are cash deposits for performance bonds, rentals and other operating obligations.

At 31 December 2013 and 2012, the fair value of the Group's other non-current assets approximates the carrying value.

14 
UNBILLED REVENUES AND INVENTORIES

(CHF million) 

Work-in-progress

Unbilled revenues

Inventories

TOTAL

2013

43

232

55

330

2012 RESTATED

40

207

55

302

74

15 
TRADE ACCOUNTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE

(CHF million) 

Trade accounts and notes receivable 

Allowance for doubtful accounts 

TOTAL 

Ageing of trade accounts and notes receivables not impaired: 

Not overdue 

Past due not more than two months 

Past due more than two months but not more than four months

Past due more than four months but not more than six months

Past due more than six months but not more than one year

Past due more than one year 

TOTAL 

2013

 1 111 

 (159)

 952 

365

413

86

47

41

-

952

2012 RESTATED

 1 136 

 (159)

 977 

406

389

91

48

43

-

977

The nominal value, less impairment provisions, of trade accounts and notes receivable is considered to approximate their fair value. 

The movement of allowance for doubtful accounts is analysed as follows:

(CHF million) 

Balance at beginning of the year 

Acquisition of subsidiaries 

Increase in allowance recognised in the income statement 

Utilisations 

Exchange differences 

TOTAL 

2013

 (159)

 (1)

 (17)

 14 

 4 

 (159)

2012 RESTATED

 (145)

 (2)

 (26)

 12 

 2 

 (159)

Receivables aged less than 360 days are provided when the creditworthiness review indicates that the amounts may have  
become unrecoverable.

The Group provides fully for all receivables over 360 days as historical experience shows that receivables aged more than 360 days 
are generally not recoverable.

The Group has no significant concentration of credit risk, with exposure spread over a large number of counterparties and 
customers. Accordingly, management believes that there is no further credit provision required in excess of the allowance for 
doubtful debts.

Credit risks arise mainly from the possibility that customers may not be able to settle their obligations as agreed. The Group 
periodically assesses the creditworthiness of customers. 

The Group’s credit risk is diversified due to the large number of entities that make up the Group’s customer base and the 
diversification across many different industries and geographic regions. 

The maximum credit risk to which the Group is theoretically exposed at 31 December 2013 is represented by the carrying amounts 
of receivables in the balance sheet. 

No customer accounts for 5% or more of the Group’s total receivables at balance sheet date.

75

SGS GROUP RESULTS

16 
OTHER RECEIVABLES AND PREPAYMENTS

(CHF million) 

Prepayments

Derivative assets

Interest Rate Swap designated in a fair value hedge accounting relationship

Other receivables

TOTAL

2013

68

8

-

230

306

2012 RESTATED

77

6

5

167

255

The Group has no significant concentration of credit risk, with exposure spread over a large number of counterparties.

Other receivables consist mainly of sales and other taxes recoverable as well as advances to suppliers and prepaid income tax. 

17 
MARKETABLE SECURITIES

(CHF million) 

Available for sale

TOTAL

2013

9

9

2012 RESTATED

17

17

Unrealised gains or losses on marketable securities designated as available for sale and which are recorded in equity amounted to 
nil for 2013 (2012: nil).

18 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

(CHF million) 

Cash and short-term deposits 

Short-term loans 

TOTAL 

2013

 964 

 - 

 964 

2012 RESTATED

 969 

 1 

 970 

Cash and cash equivalents do not include restricted cash, which is reported within other non-current assets (note 13).

76

19
CASH FLOW STATEMENT

19.1. NON-CASH ITEMS

(CHF million) 

Depreciation of buildings and equipment

NOTES

10

Impairment of land, buildings and equipment and other intangible assets

10 & 12

12

Amortisation of intangible assets

Net financial expenses

(Decrease) in provisions and employee benefits

Share-based payment expenses

(Gain) on disposals of land, buildings and equipment

Share of results from associates and other entities

Taxes

NON-CASH ITEMS

19.2 INCREASE IN WORKING CAPITAL 

(CHF million) 

(Increase) in unbilled revenues and inventories

(Increase) in trade accounts and notes receivable

(Increase) in other receivables and prepayments

Increase in trade and other payables

Increase in other creditors and accruals

(Decrease)/increase in other provisions

(INCREASE) IN WORKING CAPITAL

19.3. CASH FLOWS ARISING FROM ACQUISITIONS OF BUSINESSES

(CHF million) 

Tangible and other long-term assets 

Intangible assets 

Current assets excluding cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 

NET IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS ACQUIRED

Acquired cash and cash equivalents 

SUBTOTAL 

Goodwill 

Consideration payable 

Payments on prior year aquisitions

NET CASH FLOWS 

2013

 244 

 6 

 48 

 38 

 (16)

 5 

 (5)

 (4)

 236 

 552 

2013

 (42)

 (6)

 (31)

 23 

 33 

 (6)

 (29)

2012 RESTATED

 222 

 13 

 45 

 40 

 (45)

 14 

 (1)

 (1)

 214 

 501 

2012 RESTATED

 (43)

 (91)

 (22)

 27 

 20 

 36 

 (73)

2013 ACQUISITIONS 

2012 ACQUISITIONS 
RESTATED

 (11)

 (20)

 (19)

 (14)

 18 

 11 

 (35)

 14 

 (21)

 (83)

 1 

 (5)

 (108)

 (32)

 (36)

 (58)

 (19)

 59 

 22 

 (64)

 19 

 (45)

 (139)

 8 

 (6)

 (182)

Note 3 provides further information regarding acquisitions and divestments of businesses. All acquisitions were settled in cash.

77

SGS GROUP RESULTS

20
ACQUISITIONS

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES ARISING FROM THE 2013 ACQUISITIONS

(CHF million)

FAIR VALUE ON ACQUISITION 

FAIR VALUE ON ACQUISITION 

FAIR VALUE ON ACQUISITION 

ENGER

OTHER

TOTAL

Tangible and other long-term assets 

Intangible assets 

Trade accounts and notes receivable 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Other current assets 

Current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 

NET ASSETS ACQUIRED 

Goodwill 

TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE 

Acquired cash and cash equivalents 

Consideration payable at date of acquisition

Consideration paid in the period

NET CASH OUTFLOW ON ACQUISITIONS 

 - 

 9 

 2 

 2 

 4 

 (6)

 (5)

 6 

 26 

 32 

 (2)

(4)

4

 30 

 11 

 11 

 10 

 12 

 3 

 (12)

 (6)

 29 

 57 

 86 

 (12)

 (1)

-

 73 

 11 

 20 

 12 

 14 

 7 

 (18)

 (11)

 35 

 83 

 118 

 (14)

 (5)

4

 103 

The goodwill arising on these acquisitions relates mainly to the value of expected synergies and the value of the qualified workforce 
that do not meet the criteria for recognition as separable intangible assets.

Consideration payable relates mainly to environmental and commercial warranty clauses.

The Group incurred transaction-related costs of CHF 5 million (2012: CHF 5 million) related to external legal fees, due diligence 
expenses as well as the costs of maintaining an internal acquisition department. These expenses are reported within Other 
Operating Expenses in the consolidated income statement.

78

21
FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

RISK MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES

The Group’s activities expose it primarily to market, credit and liquidity risk. Market risk includes foreign exchange, interest rate  
and equity price risks. 

The risk management policies and objectives are governed by the Group’s policies approved by the Board of Directors. 

The Group’s risk management policies are designed to identify and analyse these risks, to set appropriate risk limits and controls 
and to monitor the risk and limits continually by means of reliable and up-to-date administrative and information systems. 

The Audit Committee oversees how management monitors compliance with the Group’s risk management policies. The Audit 
Committee is assisted in its oversight role by Internal Audit.

RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

The Group uses foreign exchange contracts to manage the Group’s exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. 
These activities are carried out in accordance with the Group’s risk management policies and objectives in areas such as  
counter-party exposure and hedging practices. Counter parties to these agreements are major international financial institutions 
with high credit ratings and positions are monitored using market value and sensitivity analyses. The associated credit risk is 
therefore limited. These agreements generally include the exchange of one currency for a second currency at a future date.

The following table summarises foreign exchange contracts outstanding at year-end. The notional amount of derivatives 
summarised below represents the gross amount of the contracts and includes transactions which have not yet matured. Therefore 
the figures do not reflect the Group’s net exposure at year-end. The market value approximates the costs to settle the outstanding 
contracts. These market values should not be viewed in isolation but in relation to the market values of the underlying hedged 
transactions and the overall reduction in the Group’s exposure to adverse fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. 

Currently, the Group has limited exposure to interest risk and no exposure to equity price risks.

(CHF million)

2013

2012 RESTATED

2013

2012 RESTATED

2013

2012 RESTATED

NOTIONAL AMOUNT

BOOK VALUE

MARKET VALUE

FOREIGN EXCHANGE FORWARD CONTRACTS 
Currency: 
Australian Dollar (AUD) 
Brazilian Real (BRL) 
Canadian Dollar (CAD) 
Chilean Peso (CLP) 
Chinese Renminbi (CNY) 
Colombian Peso (COP) 
Czech Koruna (CZK) 
Euro (EUR) 
British Pound Sterling (GBP) 
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) 
Japanese Yen (JPY) 
Kenyan Shilling (KES) 
Korean Won (KRW) 
New Zealand Dollar (NZD) 
Philippines Peso (PHP) 
Polish Zloty (PLN) 
Russian Rubble (RUB) 
Turkish New Lira (TRY) 
US Dollar (USD) 
South African Rand (ZAR) 
Other 
TOTAL 

 (30)
(25)
 (19)
 (21)
21
(14)
(4)
(126)
(10)
235
1
(3)
 - 
(1)
(7)
(7)
(9)
(17)
(72)
(40)
-
 (148)

 - 
 1 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 (1)
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 (1)
 1 
 - 
 - 

 (2)
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
-
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
(1)
 - 
(1)
 - 
1
 (3)

 - 
 1 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 (1)
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 (1)
 1 
 - 
 - 

(2)
-
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
(1)
 - 
(1)
 - 
1
 (3)

 (49)
-
(15)
1
15
 - 
 - 
(230)
(1)
145
(1)
 - 
(12)
(3)
(7)
(8)
(14)
(20)
(66)
(8)
(8)
(281)

79

SGS GROUP RESULTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT RECOGNISED IN THE BALANCE SHEET

Marketable securities and derivative assets and liabilities are the only financial instruments measured at fair value subsequent to 
their initial recognition.

Marketable securities (2013: CHF 9 million; 2012: CHF 17 million) qualify as Level 1 fair value measurement category. Derivative 
assets (2013: CHF 8 million; 2012: CHF 11 million) and liabilities (2013: CHF 10 million; 2012: CHF 9 million) qualify as Level 2 fair 
value measurement category in accordance with the fair value hierarchy.

Level 1 fair value measurements are those derived from the quoted price in active markets. Level 2 fair value measurements are 
those derived from inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset and liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or 
indirectly (i.e. derived from prices).

Derivative assets and liabilities consist of foreign currency forward contracts that are measured using quoted forward exchange 
rates and yield curves derived from quoted interest rates matching maturities of the contract. In addition, the Interest Rate Swap is 
measured using quoted interest rates and yield curves derived from quoted interest rates matching maturities of the contract.

The fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities included in the level 2 above have been determined in accordance with 
generally accepted pricing models.

CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT

Credit risk arises from the possibility that customers may not be able to settle their obligations as agreed. It arises principally from 
the Group’s commercial activities. The Group has dedicated standards, policies and procedures to control and monitor such risks.

As part of financial management activities the Group enters into various types of transactions with international banks, usually with 
a credit rating of at least A. Exposure to these risks is closely monitored and kept within predetermined parameters. The Group 
does not expect any non-performance by these counter parties.

The maximum credit risk to which the Group is theoretically exposed at 31 December 2013 is the carrying amount of financial 
assets including derivatives.

Analysis of financial assets by class and category at 31 December 2013:

 AMORTISED 
COST LOANS AND 
RECEIVABLES 

 FAIR VALUE 

 AVAILABLE FOR SALE 

AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH P&L 

 TOTAL 

(CHF million)

 CARRYING 
AMOUNT 

 FAIR VALUE 

 CARRYING 
AMOUNT 

 FAIR VALUE 

 CARRYING 
AMOUNT 

 FAIR VALUE 

CARRYING 
AMOUNT

 FAIR VALUE 

Cash and cash-equivalents 

Trade receivables 

Other receivables

Unbilled revenues 

Loans to 3rd parties - current 

Loans to 3rd parties - non-current 

Marketable securities 

Derivatives

 964 

 952 

 130 

 232 

 - 

 1 

 - 

 - 

 964 

 952 

 130 

 232 

 - 

 1 

 - 

 - 

TOTAL FINANCIAL ASSETS 

 2 279 

 2 279 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 9 

 - 

 9 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 9 

 - 

 9 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 8 

 8 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 8 

 8 

 964 

 952 

 130 

 232 

 - 

 1 

 9 

 8 

 964 

 952 

 130 

 232 

 - 

 1 

 9 

 8 

 2 296 

 2 296 

1. Excluding VAT and other tax related items. 

In the fair value hierarchy, marketable securities qualify as level 1 and the remaining financial assets qualify as level 2.

80

Analysis of financial assets by class and category at 31 December 2012 (restated):

 AMORTISED 
COST LOANS AND 
RECEIVABLES 

 FAIR VALUE 

 AVAILABLE FOR SALE 

AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH P&L 

 TOTAL 

(CHF million)

 CARRYING 
AMOUNT 

 FAIR VALUE 

 CARRYING 
AMOUNT 

 FAIR VALUE 

 CARRYING 
AMOUNT 

 FAIR VALUE 

CARRYING 
AMOUNT

 FAIR VALUE 

Cash and cash-equivalents 

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 1 

Unbilled revenues 

Loans to 3rd parties - current 

Loans to 3rd parties - non-current 

Marketable securities 

Derivatives 2

970

 977 

 107 

 207 

 1 

 1 

 - 

 - 

970

 977 

 107 

 207 

 1 

 1 

 - 

 - 

TOTAL FINANCIAL ASSETS 

2 263

2 263

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 17 

 - 

 17 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 17 

 - 

 17 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 11 

 11 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 11 

 11 

970

 977 

 107 

 207 

 1 

 1 

 17 

 11 

970

 977 

 107 

 207 

 1 

 1 

 17 

 11 

2 291

2 291

1. Excluding VAT and other tax related items. 

2. Including an Interest Rate Swap designated in a fair value hedge accounting relationship of CHF 5 million.

In the fair value hierarchy, marketable securities qualify as level 1 and the remaining financial assets qualify as level 2.

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT

The objective of the Group liquidity and funding management is to ensure that all its foreseeable financial commitments can be 
met when due. Liquidity and funding is primarily managed by Group Treasury in accordance with practices and limits set in the risk 
management policies and objectives approved by the Board of Directors.

The nature of the Group’s business requires keeping a significant part of the cash reserves in the operating units.

Due to the significant cash position liquidity risk is limited. The Group has various committed and uncommitted bilateral credit 
facilities with its banks.

Analysis of financial liabilities by class and category at 31 December 2013:

 AMORTISED COST AND 
OTHER LIABILITIES 

 FAIR VALUE 

 AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH P&L 

 TOTAL 

 CARRYING 
AMOUNT 

 FAIR VALUE 

 CARRYING 
AMOUNT 

 FAIR VALUE 

 CARRYING 
AMOUNT 

 FAIR VALUE 

(CHF million)

Trade payables 

Other payables and financial liabilities 1 

Advances from clients 

 198 

 152 

 36 

 198 

 152 

 36 

Loans and obligations under finance leases 

 1 307 

 1 307 

Derivatives 2

Bank overdrafts 

 - 

 1 

 - 

 1 

TOTAL FINANCIAL LIABILITIES 

 1 694 

 1 694 

 - 

 - 

 - 

-

10

 - 

10

 - 

 - 

 - 

-

10

 - 

10

 198 

 152 

 36 

 198 

 152 

 36 

 1 307 

 1 307 

10

 1 

10

 1 

1 704

1 704

1. Excluding VAT and other tax related items.

2. Including an Interest Rate Swap designated in a fair value hedge accounting relationship of CHF 5 million.

In the fair value hierarchy, all financial liabilities qualify as level 2.

81

SGS GROUP RESULTS

Analysis of financial liabilities by class and category at 31 December 2012 (restated):

 AMORTISED COST AND 
OTHER LIABILITIES 

 FAIR VALUE 

 AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH P&L 

 TOTAL 

CARRYING 
AMOUNT

FAIR VALUE

CARRYING 
AMOUNT

FAIR VALUE

CARRYING 
AMOUNT

FAIR VALUE

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 9 

 - 

 9 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 9 

 - 

 9 

 201 

 152 

 30 

 201 

 152 

 30 

 1 319 

 1 319 

 9 

 3 

 9 

 3 

 1 714 

 1 714 

(CHF million)

Trade payables 

Other payables and financial liabilities 1 

Advances from clients 

 201 

 152 

 30 

 201 

 152 

 30 

Loans and obligations under finance leases 

 1 319 

 1 319 

Derivatives 

Bank overdrafts 

 - 

 3 

 - 

 3 

TOTAL FINANCIAL LIABILITIES 

 1 705 

 1 705 

1. Excluding VAT and other tax related items.

In the fair value hierarchy, all financial liabilities qualify as level 2.

Contractual maturities of financial liabilities including interest payments at 31 December 2013:

(CHF million)

On demand or within one year 

Within the second year 

Within the third year 

Within the fourth year 

Within the fifth year 

After five years 

BORROWINGS 
3RD PARTY LT 
AND ST 

 BANK 
OVERDRAFTS 
AND OTHER 
LIABILITIES 

GROSS SETTLED 
DERIVATIVE 
FINANCIAL 
INSTRUMENTS 
OUTFLOWS 

GROSS SETTLED 
DERIVATIVE 
FINANCIAL 
INSTRUMENTS 
INFLOWS 

TRADE 
PAYABLES  
AND OTHERS 

FINANCE 
LEASES 

 44 

 29 

 651 

 17 

 17 

 696 

 8 

 4 

 2 

 - 

 - 

 1 

 1 134 

 (1 134)

 330 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 - 

 3 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 1 

 1 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

TOTAL

 383 

 34 

 656 

 17 

 17 

 697 

The Group hedges its foreign exchange exposures on a net basis. The net gross settled derivative financial instruments of 
CHF 0 million (2012: minus CHF 5 million) represents the net nominal value expressed in CHF of the Group’s foreign contracts 
outstanding at 31 December 2013. 

Contractual maturities of financial liabilities including interest payments at 31 December 2012 (restated):

(CHF million)

On demand or within one year 

Within the second year 

Within the third year 

Within the fourth year 

Within the fifth year 

After five years 

BORROWINGS 
3RD PARTY LT 
AND ST 

 BANK 
OVERDRAFTS 
AND OTHER 
LIABILITIES 

GROSS SETTLED 
DERIVATIVE 
FINANCIAL 
INSTRUMENTS 
OUTFLOWS 

GROSS SETTLED 
DERIVATIVE 
FINANCIAL 
INSTRUMENTS 
INFLOWS 

TRADE 
PAYABLES  
AND OTHERS 

FINANCE 
LEASES 

 42 

 31 

 28 

 648 

 16 

 732 

 11 

 564 

 (569)

 324 

 5 

 4 

 3 

 - 

 - 

-

-

-

-

-

82

-

-

-

-

-

 1 

 - 

-

-

 - 

 2 

 1 

-

-

-

-

TOTAL

 374 

 38 

 32 

 651 

 16 

 732 

SENSITIVITY ANALYSES

The estimated changes in the value of net foreign currency positions are based on an instantaneous 5% weakening of the Swiss Franc 
against all other currencies from the level applicable at 31 December 2013 and 2012, with all other variables remaining constant.

Sensitivity analysis at 31 December 2013 and 2012:

(CHF million)

US Dollar (USD) 

Euro (EUR) 

CFA Franc BEAC (XAF) 

British Pound Sterling (GBP) 

Australian Dollar (AUD) 

Canadian Dollar (CAD) 

New Metical (MZN)

Brazilian Real (BRL)

Colombian Peso (COP)

Korean Won (KRW) 

Chilean Peso (CLP) 

2013

2012

INCOME STATEMENT 
IMPACT INCOME/(EXPENSE)

EQUITY IMPACT INCREASE/
(DECREASE)

INCOME STATEMENT 
IMPACT INCOME/(EXPENSE)

EQUITY IMPACT INCREASE/
(DECREASE)

-

 (2)

 (1)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 5 

 - 

 - 

 2 

 2 

 5 

 1 

 2 

 1 

 1 

 2 

(1)

(2)

2

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 6 

-

 - 

 2 

 2 

5

1

1

1

-

2

INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT

The Group is exposed to fair value interest rate risk because the Group borrows funds at fixed interest rates. The risk is managed 
by the Group by the use of Interest Rate Swap contracts. Hedging activities are evaluated regularly to align with interest rate views 
and defined risk appetite, ensuring the most cost-effective hedging strategies are applied.

On 27 May 2011, the Group entered into an Interest Rate Swap agreement, which hedges the 10 year CHF 275 million corporate 
bond with a coupon of 3.0% issued at the same date. In this case, the Group designated and documented the Interest Rate Swap 
exchanging fixed rate interest for floating interest as a hedging instrument against changes in fair value of recognised liability  
(fair value hedge). 

On 18 July 2012, the Group received a cash amount of CHF 33 million in relation with the re-setting of the Interest Rate Swap 
agreement to market rates.

These cash proceeds were recognised against the carrying amount of the corporate bond and will be amortised within interest 
expense over the remaining life of the corporate bond by adjusting the effective interest rate under the effective interest method.  
At the same date, the Group has also re-designated the hedge accounting relationship in compliance with fair value hedge  
accounting requirements.

If interest rates were 50 basis points higher/lower, the profit for the year ended 31 December 2013 would increase/decrease  
by nil (2012: nil), excluding the Interest Rate Swap.

83

SGS GROUP RESULTS

22
SHARE CAPITAL AND TREASURY SHARES

SHARES IN CIRCULATION

TREASURY SHARES

TOTAL SHARES ISSUED

TOTAL SHARE CAPITAL 
(CHF million)

BALANCE AT 1 JANUARY 2012

Treasury shares released into circulation

Treasury shares purchased

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2012

Treasury shares released into circulation

Treasury shares purchased

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2013

7 563 860

74 859

(6 677)

7 632 042

37 201

(18 403)

7 650 840

258 576

(74 859)

6 677

190 394

(37 201)

18 403

171 596

 7 822 436 

 - 

 - 

 7 822 436 

 - 

 - 

 7 822 436 

 8 

 - 

 - 

 8 

 - 

 - 

 8 

ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL

SGS SA has a share capital of CHF 7 822 436 (2012: CHF 7 822 436) fully paid in and divided into 7 822 436 (2012: 7 822 436) 
registered shares of a par value of CHF 1. All shares, other than own shares, participate equally in the dividends declared by  
the Company and have equal voting rights.

TREASURY SHARES

On 31 December 2013, SGS SA held, directly or indirectly, 171 596 treasury shares. 

In 2013, 37 201 treasury shares were sold or released to cover option rights. During the year, 18 403 treasury shares were 
purchased for an average price CHF 2 088.

In 2012, the Group initiated a new Share Buy-Back programme for a total of CHF 250 million, valid from 12 March 2012 to  
31 December 2014.

AUTHORISED AND CONDITIONAL ISSUE OF SHARE CAPITAL

The Board has the authority to increase the share capital of SGS SA by a maximum of 500 000 registered shares of a par value 
of CHF 1 each, corresponding to a maximum increase of CHF 500 000 in share capital. The Board is mandated to issue the new 
shares at the market conditions at the time of issue. In the event that the new shares are issued for an acquisition, the Board is 
authorised to waive the shareholders’ preferential right of subscription or to allocate such subscription right to third parties.  
The authority delegated by the shareholders to the Board of Directors to increase the share capital is valid until 19 March 2015. 

The shareholders have conditionally approved an increase of share capital in the amount of CHF 1 100 000, divided into  
1 100 000 registered shares of a par value of CHF 1 each. This conditional share capital increase is intended to procure the 
necessary shares to satisfy employee share option plans and option or conversion rights to be incorporated in convertible bonds  
or similar equity-linked instruments that the Board is authorised to issue. The right to subscribe to such conditional capital is 
reserved for beneficiaries of employee share option plans and holders of convertible bonds or similar debt instruments and 
therefore excludes shareholders’ preferential rights of subscription. The Board is authorised to determine the timing and conditions 
of such issues, provided that they reflect prevailing market conditions. The term of exercise of the options or conversion rights may 
not exceed 10 years from the date of issuance of the equity-linked instruments.

84

23
LOANS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER LEASES

(CHF million) 

Bank loans 

Bank overdrafts 

Corporate bonds

Finance lease obligations 

TOTAL 

Current 

Non-current 

2013

 17 

 1 

 1 288 

 2 

 1 308 

 15 

 1 293 

2012 RESTATED

 16 

 3 

 1 299 

 4 

 1 322 

 17 

 1 305 

Depending on the nature of the loan, currency and date of maturity, interest rates on long-term loans from third parties range 
between 0% and 12.0% and on short-term loans from third parties range between 0% and 12.0%.

The loans from third parties exposed to fair value interest rate risk amount to CHF 1 007 million (2012: CHF 1 003 million) and the 
loans from third parties exposed to cash flow interest rate risk amount to CHF 298 million (2012: CHF 319 million).

At 31 December 2013, the fair value of the hedged bond issued 27 May 2011 approximated the carrying value. The fair value of  
the other corporate bonds was CHF 1 056 million (2012: CHF 1 076).

SGS SA issued the following corporate bonds listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange:

DATE OF ISSUE

 19.08.2010 

 08.03.2011 

 27.05.2011 1

 27.05.2011 3

FACE VALUE  
IN CHF MILLION

COUPON IN %

EFFECTIVE 
INTEREST RATE

YEAR OF MATURITY

ISSUE PRICE IN %

REDEMPTION  
PRICE IN %

 550 

 375 

 275 

 75 

1.875

2.625

3.000

1.875

2.091

2.799

1.751 2

2.232

2016

2019

2021

2016

100.346

100.832

100.480

99.591

100.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

1. SGS SA entered into an Interest Rate Swap (IRS) agreement related to this bond. 

2. Change in the effective interest rate due to the re-setting of the Interest Rate Swap (IRS). 

3. Re-opening of the six-year bond issued on 19 August 2010.

Loans and finance lease obligations mature as follows:

 BANK LOANS, OVERDRAFTS  
AND CORPORATE BONDS 

 LEASE OBLIGATIONS 

(CHF million) 

On demand or within one year 

Within the second year 

Within the third year 

Within the fourth year 

Within the fifth year 

After five years 

TOTAL 

2013

14

4

 622 

 - 

 - 

 666 

 1 306 

2012 RESTATED

2013

2012 RESTATED

1

1

-

-

-

-

2

1

1

-

-

-

2

4

15

 3 

-

 620 

 - 

 680 

1 318

85

SGS GROUP RESULTS

The currency composition of loans and finance lease obligations is as follows:

(CHF million) 

Swiss Franc (CHF) 

Euro (EUR) 

US Dollar (USD) 

Indian Rupee (INR) 

Colombian Peso (COP) 

Malagasy Ariary (MGA) 

Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) 

Brazilian Real (BRL) 

Turkish New Lira (TRY) 

Zloty (PLN) 

Other

TOTAL 

 BANK LOANS, OVERDRAFTS  
AND CORPORATE BONDS 

2013

 1 295 

2012

 1 299 

 1 

 1 

 - 

 1 

 2 

 - 

 3 

-

-

3

2

1

1

4

3

-

6

-

-

2

1 306

1 318

24
RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS

 LEASE OBLIGATIONS 

2013

-

 1 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 1 

 2 

2012 RESTATED

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

4

The Group mainly operates defined benefit pension plans in Switzerland, the United States of America, the United Kingdom,  
the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France and Taiwan. Contributions to most plans are paid to pension funds that are legally  
separate entities. 

The Group also operates post-employment benefit plans, principally healthcare plans in the United States of America and  
in Switzerland. They represent a defined benefit obligation at 31 December 2013 of CHF 12 million (2012: CHF 13 million).  
The method of accounting and the frequency of valuation are similar to those used for defined benefit pension plans. Healthcare 
cost trend assumptions do not have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the income statement.

The Group's material defined benefit plans are in Switzerland, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

SWITZERLAND

The Group jointly operates with the employees a retirement foundation in Switzerland. The assets and liabilities of the retirement 
foundation are held separately from the Group. The foundation board is equally composed of representatives of the employee 
and representatives of the employer. This foundation covers all the employees in Switzerland and provides benefits on a defined 
contribution basis.

Each employee has a retirement account to which the employee and the Group contribute at a rate set out in the foundation rules 
based on a percentage of salary. Every year, the foundation decides the level of interest, if any, to apply to retirement accounts based 
on the agreed policy. At retirement, an employee can take the retirement account or have this paid as a pension.

Because the foundation board is expected to eventually pay out all of the foundation’s assets as benefits to employees and former 
employees, no surplus is deemed to be recoverable by the Group. Similarly, unless the assets are insufficient to cover minimum 
benefits, the Group does not expect to make any deficit contribution to the foundation.

According to IFRS, the foundation has to be classified as a defined benefit plan due to underlying benefit guarantees and has to be 
accounted for on this basis.

The weighted average duration of the expected benefit payment is approximately 8 years. 

The Group expects to contribute CHF 7 million to this plan in 2014.

86

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Group operates a noncontributory defined benefit plan which is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement  
Income Security Act (ERISA).

The assets of the plan are held separately from the Group by the trustee-custodian, and the plan’s third party pension administrator 
who disburses payments directly to retirees or beneficiaries under the plan. Both the trustee-custodian and the administrator 
ensure adherence to ERISA rules.

Funding valuations are calculated on an actuarial basis and contributions are made as necessary. The funding target is to provide 
the plan with sufficient assets to meet future plan obligations.

Effective 16 March 2004, non-exempt participants ceased accruing any additional benefits; only exempt employees of certain  
SGS business units in the United States of America are eligible for annual benefit accrual. In addition, the pension benefit was 
changed and is defined as percentage of the current year’s pensionable compensation; the cost of additional benefit accrual 
is evaluated annually. The Group reserves the right to make future changes to the benefit accrual structure of the plan. Eligible 
employees become participants in the plan after the completion of one year of service and after reaching the age of 21. Participants 
become fully vested in the plan after five years of service. 

The weighted average of duration of the expected benefit payment is approximately 10 years.

The Group expects to contribute CHF 11 million to this plan in 2014.

UNITED KINGDOM

The Group operates two defined benefit plans through a trust. The assets of the plans are held separately from the Group and have 
trustees who ensure the plan’s rules are strictly adhered to. One plan has been closed to new entrants since 2002. Since then 
new employees have been offered membership of defined contributions plans which have been operated by the Group. The other 
plan has no active members. Under the defined benefit plans, each member’s pension at retirement is related to their pensionable 
service and final salary.

Funding valuations of the defined benefit plans are carried out and agreed between the Group and the plan trustees at least once 
every three years. The funding target is for the plans to hold assets equal in value of the accrued benefits based on projected 
salaries. As part of the valuation process, if there is a shortfall against this target, then the Group and trustees will agree on deficit 
contributions to meet this deficit over a specified period.

There is a risk to the Group that adverse experience could lead to a requirement for the Group to make additional contributions  
to recover any deficit that arises.

The weighted average of duration of the expected benefit payments from the combined plans is approximately 20 years.

The Group expects to contribute CHF 7 million to this plan in 2014.

OTHER COUNTRIES

The Group sponsors defined retirement benefits plans in other countries where the Group operates. No individual countries other 
than those described above are considered material and need to be separately disclosed.

The Group expects to contribute CHF 13 million to those plans in 2014.

The assets and liabilities recognised in the balance sheet at 31 December for defined benefit obligations and for  
post-employment benefit plans are as follows:

(CHF million) 

2013

Fair value of plan assets

Present value of funded defined benefit obligation

FUNDED/(UNFUNDED) STATUS

Present value of unfunded defined benefit obligation

Limit on pension asset

(NET LIABILITY)/NET ASSET AT 31 DECEMBER

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

 316 

 (300)

 16 

 (7)

 (16)

 (7)

 207 

 (179)

 28 

 - 

 - 

 28 

 203 

 (228)

 (25)

 (8)

 - 

 (33)

 68 

(99)

(31)

 (51)

 - 

(82)

 794 

 (806)

 (12)

 (66)

 (16)

 (94)

87

SGS GROUP RESULTS

(CHF million) 

2012 RESTATED

Fair value of plan assets

Present value of funded defined benefit obligation

FUNDED/(UNFUNDED) STATUS

Present value of unfunded defined benefit obligation

Limit on pension asset

(NET LIABILITY)/NET ASSET AT 31 DECEMBER

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

 292 

 (302)

 (10)

 (7)

 - 

 (17)

 183 

 (166)

 17 

 - 

 - 

 17 

 187 

 (270)

 (83)

 (9)

 - 

 (92)

 63 

(96)

(33)

 (51)

 - 

(84)

725

 (834)

(109)

 (67)

 - 

 (176)

Amounts recognised in the income statement:

(CHF million) 

2013

Service cost expense

Net interest expense on defined benefit plan

Administrative expenses

TOTAL EXPENSE DUE TO DEFINED BENEFIT OBLIGATION AT 31 DECEMBER

Expense charged in:

Salaries and wages

Financial expense

TOTAL EXPENSE DUE TO DEFINED BENEFIT OBLIGATION AT 31 DECEMBER

(CHF million) 

2012 RESTATED

Service cost expense

Net interest expense on defined benefit plan

Administrative expenses

TOTAL EXPENSE DUE TO DEFINED BENEFIT OBLIGATION AT 31 DECEMBER

Expense charged in:

Salaries and wages

Financial expense

TOTAL EXPENSE DUE TO DEFINED BENEFIT OBLIGATION AT 31 DECEMBER

CH

 7 

-

-

 7 

 7 

-

7

CH

 3 

-

-

 3 

 3 

-

 3 

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

 2 

 (1)

-

 1 

 2 

 (1)

 1 

 1 

 3 

1

5

2

 3 

5

11

3

-

 14 

11

3

 14 

21

5

1

27

22

5

27

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

 2 

-

-

2

 2 

-

 2 

 2 

 4 

1

7

 3 

 4 

 7 

11

2

-

13

11

2

 13 

18

6

1

25

19

 6 

 25 

88

Amounts recognised in the statement of the comprehensive income:

(CHF million) 

2013

Remeasurement on net defined benefit liability

Change in demographic assumptions

Change in financial assumptions

Experience adjustments

Actual return on plan assets excluding net interest expense

Change in limit on pension asset

TOTAL RECOGNISED IN THE STATEMENT OF OTHER COMPREHENSIVE 
INCOME AT 31 DECEMBER

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

7

(12)

(2)

(21)

16

(12)

-

9

1

(14)

-

(4)

-

(32)

-

(22)

 - 

(54)

(1)

(2)

2

 - 

 - 

(1)

6

(37)

1

(57)

16

(71)

(CHF million) 

2012 RESTATED

Remeasurement on net defined benefit liability

Change in demographic assumptions

Change in financial assumptions

Experience adjustments

Actual return on plan assets excluding net interest expense

Change in limit on pension asset

TOTAL RECOGNISED IN THE STATEMENT OF OTHER COMPREHENSIVE 
INCOME AT 31 DECEMBER

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

 6 

 19 

 1 

 (17)

 (3)

 6 

 - 

-

-

 (12)

 - 

 (12)

 - 

 37 

 2 

 (11)

 - 

 28 

 - 

 24 

 1 

 (9)

 - 

 16 

 6 

 80 

 4 

 (49)

 (3)

 38 

Movements in the net liability during the period:

(CHF million) 

2013

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

NET (LIABILITY)/ASSET AT 1 JANUARY

Expense recognised in the income statement

Remeasurements recognised in other comprehensive income

Contributions paid by the Group

Exchange differences

NET (LIABILITY)/ASSET AT 31 DECEMBER

(17)

(7)

 12 

 7 

(2)

(7)

 17 

 (1)

 4 

 8 

-

 28 

 (92)

(5)

 54 

 10 

-

(33)

 (84)

 (14)

 1 

 14 

1

 (82)

 (176)

 (27)

 71 

 39 

(1)

 (94)

(CHF million) 

2012 RESTATED

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

NET (LIABILITY)/ASSET AT 1 JANUARY

Expense recognised in the income statement

Remeasurements recognised in other comprehensive income

Contributions paid by the Group

Exchange differences

NET (LIABILITY)/ASSET AT 31 DECEMBER

 (15)

 (3)

 (6)

 7 

-

 (17)

 (1)

 (2)

12

 8 

-

 17 

 (80)

 (7)

 (28)

 20 

3

 (92)

 (72)

 (13)

 (16)

 19 

(2)

 (84)

 (168)

 (25)

 (38)

 54 

1

 (176)

89

 
 
SGS GROUP RESULTS

Change in the defined benefit obligation is as follows:

(CHF million) 

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

2013
Opening present value of the defined benefit obligation

 309 

 166 

Current service cost

Interest cost

Plan participants' contributions

Past service cost

Settlements

Net benefit payments

(Gains)/losses due to changes in demographic assumptions

(Gains)/losses due to changes in financial assumptions

Experience (gains)/losses

Exchange differences

DEFINED BENEFIT OBLIGATION AT 31 DECEMBER

5

 6 

 4 

 2 

 - 

 (13)

 7 

 (12)

 (2)

1

 307 

 2 

 8 

 1 

 - 

 - 

 (7)

 - 

 9 

 1 

(1)

179

279

1

 11 

 1 

 - 

 (8)

 (14)

-

 (32)

-

 (2)

 236 

147

 901 

11

 5 

-

-

 - 

 (12)

 (1)

 (2)

 2 

1

150

19

 29 

 6 

2

 (8)

 (46)

 6 

 (37)

 1 

 (1)

 872 

(CHF million) 

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

2012 RESTATED
Opening present value of the defined benefit obligation

 303 

 161 

Current service cost

Interest cost

Plan participants' contributions

Past service cost

Settlements

Net benefit payments

(Gains)/losses due to changes in demographic assumptions

(Gains)/losses due to changes in financial assumptions

Experience (gains)/losses

Exchange differences

DEFINED BENEFIT OBLIGATION AT 31 DECEMBER

 3 

 8 

 4 

-

 (15)

 (20)

 6 

 19 

 1 

-

309

 2 

 8 

 1 

 - 

 - 

 (6)

 - 

-

-

-

166

 248 

 2 

 12 

 1 

 - 

 - 

 (13)

 - 

 37 

 2 

 (10)

279

 116 

11

 5 

-

-

 (1)

 (10)

 - 

 24 

 1 

1

147

 828 

18

 33 

 6 

-

 (16)

 (49)

 6 

 80 

 4 

(9)

901

Change in fair value of plan assets is as follows:

(CHF million) 

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

2013
Opening fair value of plan assets

Interest income on plan assets

Return on plan assets excluding amounts included in net  
interest expense

Employer contributions

Plan participants' contributions

Net benefit payments

Admin expenses paid

Settlements

Exchange differences

FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS AT 31 DECEMBER

 292 

 6 

 21 

 7 

 4 

 (13)

-

 - 

(1)

 316 

 183 

 9 

 14 

 8 

 1 

 (7)

-

 - 

(1)

 207 

 187 

 7 

 22 

 10 

 1 

 (14)

 (1)

 (8)

 (1)

 203 

 63 

 2 

-

 14 

-

 (12)

-

 - 

1

 68 

 725 

 24 

 57 

 39 

 6 

 (46)

(1)

 (8)

 (2)

 794 

90

(CHF million) 

2012 RESTATED

Opening fair value of plan assets

Interest income on plan assets

Return on plan assets excluding amounts included in net  
interest expense

Employer contributions

Plan participants' contributions

Net benefit payments

Admin expenses paid

Settlements

Exchange differences

FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS AT 31 DECEMBER

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

 291 

 8 

 17 

 7 

 4 

 (20)

-

 (15)

-

 292 

 159 

 8 

 12 

 8 

 1 

 (6)

-

 - 

1

 183 

 167 

 9 

 11 

 20 

 1 

 (13)

 (1)

 - 

 (7)

 187 

 45 

 2 

 9 

 19 

-

 (10)

-

 (1)

(1)

 63 

 662 

 27 

 49 

 54 

 6 

 (49)

 (1)

 (16)

 (7)

 725 

There are no reimbursement rights included in plan assets. The actual return on plan assets was a gain of CHF 81 million  
(2012: gain of CHF 75 million).

Changes in the amount not recognised due to the asset limit are as follows:

(CHF million) 

2013

ASSET LIMIT AT 1 JANUARY

Other changes in unrecognised asset due to the asset ceiling

Exchange differences

ASSET LIMIT AT 31 DECEMBER

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

 - 

 16 

 - 

 16 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 16 

 - 

 16 

(CHF million) 

2012 RESTATED

ASSET LIMIT AT 1 JANUARY

Other changes in unrecognised asset due to the asset ceiling

Exchange differences

ASSET LIMIT AT 31 DECEMBER

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

3

 (3)

 - 

-

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

3

 (3)

 - 

-

91

SGS GROUP RESULTS

The major categories of plan assets at the balance sheet date are as follows:

(CHF million) 

2013

Cash and cash equivalent

Equity securities

Debt securities

Insurance policies

Property

Investment funds

Other

TOTAL PLAN ASSETS AT 31 DECEMBER

(CHF million) 

2012 RESTATED

Cash and cash equivalent

Equity securities

Debt securities

Insurance policies

Property

Investment funds

Other

TOTAL PLAN ASSETS AT 31 DECEMBER

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

 27 

 83 

 71 

 - 

 116 

 19 

 - 

 316 

 1 

 122 

 84 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

1

 136 

 65 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 207 

203

10

3

 1 

55

-

-

 - 

68

39

344

 221 

55

 116 

19

 - 

 794 

CH

UK

USA

OTHER

TOTAL

 - 

 82 

 - 

 - 

 106 

 73 

 30 

291

 - 

 103 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 77 

 3 

 183 

 - 

 117 

 53 

 - 

 - 

 6 

 12 

188

 - 

-

 - 

 42 

 - 

 - 

 21 

 63 

 - 

302

 53 

 42 

 106 

 156 

66

725

In 2012, the “Other” assets consist mainly of cash and cash equivalents and assets related to insurance contracts.

SGS occupies property that is included in the Plan assets with a fair value of CHF 6 million (2012: CHF 5 million). The property  
is rented at fair market rental rates. There are no SGS SA shares or any other financial securities used by the Group included  
in plan assets.

The plan assets are primarily held within instruments with quoted market prices in an active market, with the exception of the 
property and insurance policy holdings.

The investment strategy in Switzerland is to invest, within the statutory and legal requirements, in a diversified portfolio which 
provides a long-term return strategy which will enable the board of the foundation to provide increases to the accounts of the 
members of the pension fund, whilst taking on the lowest possible risk in order to do so.

In the United States of America, the Pension Plan Target Policy is determined by both quantitatively and qualitatively assessing 
the risk tolerance level and return requirements of the Plan as determined by the Investment Committee. The investment portfolio 
asset allocation and structure are developed based on the results of this process.

In the United Kingdom, the Trustees review the investment strategy of the Scheme and the Plan on a regular basis in order to 
ensure that they remain appropriate. The last review for both the Scheme and Plan has recently been undertaken and is in the 
process of being implemented.

92

Actuarial assumptions vary according to local prevailing economic and social conditions. The principal weighted average actuarial 
assumptions used in determining the cost of benefits for both 2013 and 2012 are as follows:

(Weighted average %)

2013

Discount rate

Mortality assumption

Salary progression rate

Future pension increases

Healthcare cost trend assumed for the next year

Ultimate trend rate

Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate

(Weighted average %)

2012

Discount rate

Mortality assumption

Salary progression rate

Future pension increases

Healthcare cost trend assumed for the next year

Ultimate trend rate

Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate

CH

2.4

LPP 2012

2.0

0.5

4.0

4.0

-

CH

2.1

LPP 2010

2.0

0.5

4.0

4.0

-

UK

USA

OTHER

4.6

S1NA

3.8

2.3

 - 

 - 

-

4.9

IRS 2014

3.2

-

7.5

5.0

2022

3.31

-

2.3

0.5

-

-

-

UK

USA

OTHER

4.8

S1NA

3.8

2.3

 - 

 - 

-

3.9

IRS 2013

3.2

-

8.0

5.0

2019

3.2

-

2.5

0.6

-

-

-

The weighted average rate for each assumption used to measure the benefits obligation is also shown. The assumptions used  
to determine end-of-year benefits obligation are also used to calculate the following year’s cost.

In Switzerland, a decrease in the discount rate of 0.5% per annum would, all other things being equal, increase the obligation  
by CHF 21 million; a 0.5% increase in assumed salary increases would increase the obligation by CHF 1 million and a one-year 
increase in members’ life expectancy would increase the obligation by approximately CHF 6 million. 

In the United States of America a decrease in the discount rate of 0.5% per annum would, all other things being equal, increase the 
obligation by CHF 15 million; a 0.5% increase in assumed salary increases would increase the obligation by less than CHF 1 million 
and a one-year increase in members’ life expectancy would increase the obligation by approximately CHF 9 million.

In the United Kingdom, a decrease in the discount rate of 0.5% per annum would, all other things being equal, increase the 
obligation by CHF 18 million; a 0.5% increase in assumed salary increases would increase the obligation by CHF 3 million and  
a one-year increase in members’ life expectancy would increase the obligation by approximately CHF 5 million. 

These sensitivities have been calculated to show the movement in the defined benefit obligation in isolation, and assuming no 
other changes in market conditions at the accounting date. This is unlikely in practice; for example, a change in discount rate is 
unlikely to occur without any movement in the value of the assets held by the plans.

The amount recognised as an expense in respect of defined contribution plans during 2013 was CHF 61 million (2012: CHF 46 million).

93

SGS GROUP RESULTS

25
PROVISIONS

(CHF million) 

AT 1 JANUARY 2013

Acquisitions of subsidiaries 

Charge to income statement 

Release to income statement 

Payments 

Exchange differences 

AT 31 DECEMBER 2013

Analysed as: 

Current liabilities 

Non current liabilities 

TOTAL

LEGAL AND WARRANTY 
CLAIMS ON SERVICES 
RENDERED

DEMOBILISATION AND 
REORGANISATION

OTHER PROVISIONS

TOTAL

 45 

 - 

 23 

 (12)

 (10)

 (1)

 45 

 38 

 - 

 14 

 (2)

 (11)

 (2)

 37 

 37 

 3 

 9 

 (11)

 (5)

 (1)

 32 

2013

 18 

 96 

 114 

 120 

 3 

 46 

 (25)

 (26)

 (4)

 114 

2012 RESTATED

 23 

 97 

 120 

A number of Group companies are subject to litigation and other claims arising out of the normal conduct of their business that 
can be best viewed as claims on services rendered. The claim provision represents the sum of estimates of amounts payable on 
identified claims and of losses incurred but not yet reported. They therefore reflect estimates of the future payments required to 
settle both reported and unreported claims.

The process of estimation is complex, dealing with uncertainty, requiring the use of informed estimates, actuarial assessment, 
evaluation of the insurance cover where appropriate and the judgement of management. Any changes in these estimates are 
reflected in the income statement in the period in which the estimates change.

The timing of cash outflows from pending litigation and claims is uncertain since it depends, in the majority of cases, on the 
outcome of administrative and legal proceedings. The Group does not discount its provisions, as the timing of the cash outflows 
cannot be reasonably and reliably determined.

In the opinion of management, based on all currently available information, the provisions adequately reflect exposure to legal and 
warranty claims on services rendered. The ultimate outcome of these matters is not expected to materially affect the Group’s 
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

For specific long-term contracts, typically with two to five years’ duration, the Group is required to dismantle infrastructure and 
terminate the services of personnel upon completion of the contract. These demobilisation costs are provided for during the life  
of the contract. Experience has shown that these contracts may be either extended or terminated earlier than expected. The timing  
of these demobilisation outflows is difficult to assess. The amounts are therefore not discounted. 

Other provisions relate to various present legal or constructive obligations of the Group toward third parties, such as termination 
payment to employees upon leaving the Group, which in some jurisdictions are a legal obligation.

95

SGS GROUP RESULTS

26
TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

(CHF million) 

Trade payables

Other payables

Other financial liabilities

TOTAL

2013

198

120

184

502

2012 RESTATED

201

114

177

492

Trade accounts and other payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing operating costs.

At 31 December 2013 and 2012, the fair value of the Group’s trade accounts and other payables approximates the carrying value.

27
OTHER CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS

(CHF million) 

Accrued expenses

Advance billings

Advances from clients

Interest Rate Swap designated in a fair value hedge accounting relationship

Derivative liabilities

Total

2013

506

49

36

5

5

601

2012 RESTATED

490

59

30

-

9

588

At 31 December 2013 and 2012, the fair value of the Group’s other creditors and accruals approximates the carrying value.

28
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

In the normal course of business, the Group and its subsidiaries are parties to various lawsuits and claims. Management does not 
expect that the outcome of any of these legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial position, 
results of operations or cash flows.

96

29
GUARANTEES

(CHF million) 

Guarantees

Performance bonds

TOTAL

2013 ISSUED

2012 ISSUED

144

228

372

113

99

212

The Group has issued unconditional guarantees to certain financial institutions that have provided credit facilities (loans and guarantee 
bonds) to its subsidiaries. In addition, it has issued performance bonds and bid bonds to commercial customers on behalf of its 
subsidiaries. Management believes the likelihood that a material payment will be required under these guarantees is remote.

30
OPERATING LEASES

Operating lease rentals are payable as follows:

(CHF million) 

Less than one year

Between one and five years

More than five years

TOTAL

2013

127

237

69

432

2012 RESTATED

108

247

67

422

The Group leases the majority of its office and laboratory space, as well as vehicles and equipment. During the year ended  
31 December 2013, CHF 154 million was recognised as an expense in the income statement in respect of operating leases  
(2012: CHF 100 million).

31
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

Selected directors and employees of the SGS Group are entitled to participate each year in a share option plan. The benefits consist 
of the right to buy SGS SA shares (accounted for as equity-settled share-based payment transactions) at a predetermined fixed 
price through a traded option plan.

i) Grants to Directors and members of the Operations Council

A total of 1 133 018 options granting the right to acquire shares of SGS SA at a strike price of CHF 2 013, [100 options give the right 
to acquire one share and each option expires in January 2018 (these options hereinafter referred to as SGSWS)] were granted to the 
members of the Operations Council and the Board of Directors in 2013. One-third of these options vest or have vested in each of  
the years 2013, 2014 and 2016 and can be exercised or sold between January 2016 and January 2018. At the date of grant, these 
options had an aggregated value (calculated on the basis required for Swiss tax reporting purposes) of CHF 1 031 046. The estimated 
fair value at the time of grant of the options granted was CHF 2 526 630.

97

SGS GROUP RESULTS

ii) Grants to other employees

In 2013, an additional 2 066 113 SGSWS options were granted to employees, other than members of the Operations Council and the 
Board of Directors. One-third of these options vest or have vested in each of the years 2013, 2014 and 2016 and can be exercised or sold 
between January 2016 and January 2018. At the date of grant, these options had an aggregate value (calculated on the basis required for 
Swiss tax reporting purposes) of CHF 1 880 163. The estimated fair value at the time of grant of the options granted was CHF 4 607 432.

iii) Long Term Incentive Plans (LTI)

In 2013, no additional grant of options of the discretionary long term incentive plan (SGSMF-2011 LTI) has been made in addition  
of options granted in 2011 for the same plan to members of the Operations Council and Directors. At the date of grant in 2011, these 
options had an aggregated value (calculated on the basis required for Swiss tax reporting purposes) of CHF 7 285 000. The estimated 
fair value of those options granted is CHF 13 395 000. Additional information is disclosed under the Director’s report on Corporate 
Governance in this report (pages 34 to 43).

DESCRIPTION

EXERCISE PERIOD
FROM

TO

STRIKE 
PRICE 1

OPTIONS 
OUTSTANDING AT 
31 DECEMBER 2012

GRANTED

CANCELLED

EXERCISED  
OR ADJUSTED

OPTIONS 
OUTSTANDING AT 
31 DECEMBER 2013

SGSMO-ordinarily issued

Jan.11

Jan.13

1 239.50

 106 663 

 - 

 (106 663)

 - 

SGSGU-2009

SGSOP-2010

SGSMF-2011

Jan.12

Jan.14

973.57

 935 413 

 (8 000)

 (814 252)

 113 161 

Jan.13

Jan.15

1 240.70

 2 757 854 

 (16 672)

 (1 804 564)

 936 618 

Jan.14

Jan.16

1 528.78

2 992 429

 (29 869)

 (3 500)

 2 959 060 

SGSMF-2011 LTI

Jan.15

Jan.16

1 528.78

8 250 000

 (140 000)

 8 110 000 

SGSKF-2012

SGSWS-2013

TOTAL

Jan.15

Jan.17

1 448.85

3 252 371

 - 

(47 579)

 (3 500)

 3 201 292 

Jan.16

Jan.18

1 989.31

3 199 131

 (16 001)

 3 183 130 

 18 742 359 

 3 199 131 

 (705 750)

 (2 732 479)

 18 503 261 

Of which exercisable 

 1 042 076 

 897 483 

1. The strike price of the options has been adjusted in accordance with market practice for capital reductions and special dividends.

The fair value of share options granted during the year is based on their market value at grant date. All options are publicly traded. 
The exercise dates are not known to the Group. Correspondingly, the weighted average share price at the date of exercise cannot 
be calculated.

The Group recognised during the year a total expense of CHF 14 million in relation to all equity-settled share-based payment plans. 
However, the Board considered by the end of the year that the fulfilment in 2014 of the normalised EPS target [additional information 
is disclosed under the Director’s report on Corporate Governance in this report (pages 34 to 43)] in relation to the 2011 LTI incentive 
plan was unlikely to reach 100% and has consequently decided to reverse part of the expense recognised since 2011 for these 
options, resulting in a total net expense for the year of CHF 5 million (2012: CHF 14 million).

Shares available for future option plans:

AT 1 JANUARY 2012

Repurchased shares 

Options granted (SGSKF Plan and adjustments)

Options cancelled

AT 31 DECEMBER 2012

Repurchased shares 

Options granted (SGSWS Plan and adjustments)

Options cancelled

AT 31 DECEMBER 2013

98

 TOTAL 

 (56 543)

 6 677 

 (41 619)

 67 033 

 (24 452)

 18 403 

 (37 537)

 10 397 

 (33 189)

At 31 December, the Group had the following shares available to satisfy the option and share purchase plan programmes: 

(CHF million) 

Number of shares held

Shares allocated to 2008 option plans

Shares allocated to 2009 option plans

Shares allocated to 2010 option plans

Shares allocated to 2011 option plans

Shares allocated to 2012 option plans

Shares allocated to 2013 option plans

SHARES (REQUIRED) FOR FUTURE OPTION PLANS AT 31 DECEMBER

2013 TOTAL

2012 TOTAL

 171 596 

 190 394 

-

 (6 636)

 (15 713)

 (117 114)

 (33 112)

 (32 211)

 (33 189)

 (9 858)

 (20 280)

 (29 414)

 (117 514)

 (37 780)

-

 (24 452)

The Group has entered into agreements with various banks, whereby the Group has an obligation to offer to sell to the banks the 
shares underlying the option programme at the relevant strike price whenever these shares become unblocked. The banks are not 
obliged to purchase these shares.

32
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties of the Group, have been eliminated on 
consolidation and are not disclosed in the note.

COMPENSATION TO DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF THE OPERATIONS COUNCIL

The remuneration of Directors and members of the Operations Council during the year was as follows:

(CHF million) 

Short-term benefits

Post-employment benefits

Share-based payments 1

Severance payments

TOTAL

1. Market value at grant date.

2013

14

1

3

-

18

2012 RESTATED

14

1

2

1

18

The remuneration of Directors and members of the Operations Council is determined by the Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee. Additional information is disclosed under the Directors’ report on Corporate Governance in this report (pages 34 to 43).

During 2013 and 2012, no member of the Board of Directors or of the Operations Council had a personal interest in any business 
transactions of the Group.

The Chairman of the Board and the Operations Council (including Senior Management) participate in the share option plans as 
disclosed in note 31.

In 2013, Directors’ fees were CHF 1 720 000 (2012: CHF 1 645 000). In addition, the Chairman of the Board received options  
for a total value of CHF 189 000 (2012: CHF 89 200).

99

SGS GROUP RESULTS

The total compensation (cash and options, excluding severance payments) received by the Operations Council (including Senior 
Management) amounted to CHF 15 878 000 (2012: CHF 14 498 000 including long term incentive options granted).

Disclosure of compensation paid to the Board of Directors and Senior Management, as required by Swiss law is presented in  
the notes to the accounts of SGS SA on pages 110 to 119 of this report.

LOANS TO MEMBERS OF GOVERNING BODIES

As at 31 December 2013, no loan, credit or outstanding advance was due to the Company from members of its governing bodies 
(unchanged from prior year).

TRANSACTIONS WITH OTHER RELATED PARTIES

During the year, the Group performed inspection, verification, testing and certification services for other related parties on normal 
commercial terms generating total revenues of CHF 9.0 million (2012: CHF 13.6 million). Related trade receivable balances unpaid 
as at 31 December 2013 amounted to CHF 0 million (2012: CHF 5.2 million). No expense was incurred in 2013 and in 2012  
in respect of any bad or doubtful debts due from these related parties.

33
SIGNIFICANT SHAREHOLDERS

As at 31 December 2013, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert acting through Serena Sàrl held 15.00% (2012: 0%), Mr. August von Finck  
and members of his family acting in concert held 14.97% (2012: 14.97%) and the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation held 3.18% 
(2012: 3.26%) of the share capital and voting rights of the Company.

At the same date, SGS Group held 2.19% of the share capital of the Company (2012: 2.43%).

34
APPROVAL OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the financial statements. These financial statements 
were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 31 January 2014, and will be submitted for approval by the Annual General 
Meeting of Shareholders’ to be held on 13 March 2014.

On 16 January 2014, the Group announced the acquisition of 100% of Nemko Oy, the Finnish subsidiary of the Nemko Group, 
based in Finland (effective 1 January 2014).

100

REPORT OF THE STATUTORY AUDITOR

To the General Meeting of 

SGS SA, GENEVA

REPORT OF THE STATUTORY AUDITOR ON THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As statutory auditor, we have audited the consolidated financial statements of the SGS Group presented on pages 48 to 100,  
which comprise the consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated balance 
sheet, consolidated statement of cash flows, consolidated statement of changes in equity and notes to the consolidated financial 
statements for the year ended 31 December 2013.

Board of Directors’ Responsibility

The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the requirements of Swiss law. This responsibility includes designing, implementing and 
maintaining an internal control system relevant to the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. The Board of Directors is further responsible for selecting and applying appropriate 
accounting policies and making accounting estimates that are 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, Swiss Auditing Standards and International Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we plan and 
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement. 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial 
statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material 
misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the 
auditor considers the internal control system relevant to the entity’s preparation of the 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 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 Code of Obligations (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.

DELOITTE SA

James Baird 
Licensed Audit Expert 
Auditor in Charge

Geneva, 31 January 2014

Fabien Bryois
Licensed Audit Expert

101

SGS  
SA RESULTS

SGS SA RESULTS

INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER

(CHF million)

INCOME

Dividends from subsidiaries

Financial income

Other income

TOTAL INCOME

EXPENSES

Administrative expenses

Liquidation of subsidiaries, net

Depreciation

Financial expenses

Other expenses

Exchange loss, net

TOTAL EXPENSES

PROFIT

Profit before taxes

Taxes

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

NOTES

5

5

2013

 744 

 36 

 1 

 781 

 (4)

0

0

 (37)

 (3)

 (11)

 (55)

 726 

 (9)

 717 

2012

 341 

 61 

2

 404 

 (4)

 - 

0

 (35)

 (4)

 (8)

 (51)

 353 

 (9)

 344 

104

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER
(BEFORE APPROPRIATION OF AVAILABLE RETAINED EARNINGS)

(CHF million)

ASSETS

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Land and buildings 

Financial assets

Investments in subsidiaries

Loans to subsidiaries

Other financial assets

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Amounts due from subsidiaries

Other current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

TOTAL ASSETS

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

CAPITAL AND RESERVES

Share capital

General reserve

Reserve for own shares

Retained earnings

TOTAL EQUITY

LIABILITIES

Non-current liabilities

Corporate bonds

Current liabilities

Provisions

Amounts due to subsidiaries

Other liabilities and accruals

TOTAL LIABILITIES

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

NOTES

2013

2012

3

 1 131 

 1 156 

1

 2 291 

 354 

 16 

 268 

 638 

 2 929 

 8 

 34 

 204 

 839 

1 085

 1 275 

 36 

514

 19 

 1 844 

 2 929 

 3 

 1 117 

 597 

1

 1 718 

 801 

 9 

 297 

 1 107 

 2 825 

 8 

 34 

 208 

 562 

 812 

 1 275 

 36 

 681 

 21 

 2 013 

 2 825 

2 & 3

2

2

2

4

105

SGS SA RESULTS

SGS SA (“the Company”) is the ultimate parent company of the SGS Group 
which owns and finances, either directly or indirectly, its subsidiaries and 
joint ventures throughout the world. The financial statements are prepared in 
accordance with the accounting principles required by Swiss law. During the 
year, there were no changes to the accounting policies.

NOTES

1
SIGNIFICANT  
ACCOUNTING POLICIES

INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

Investments in subsidiaries are valued 
at acquisition cost less an adjustment 
for impairment where appropriate.

FOREIGN CURRENCIES

included in the determination of the net 
profit except long-term unrealised gains 
which are deferred.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Risks potentially threatening the Group’s 
ability to meet its strategic objectives 
are monitored on an ongoing basis 
by the Board of Directors through the 
approval of all major investments, 
transactions and changes by the 
Operations Council. In addition, in 
conjunction with the Operations Council, 
an annual risk assessment process 
is conducted to ensure the Group is 
responding effectively to changes in 
economic conditions, market dynamics 
and internal developments.

Balance sheet items denominated in 
foreign currencies are converted at year 
end exchange rates with the exception 
of investments in subsidiaries which are 
valued at the historical exchange rate. 
All unrealised gains and losses arising 
on foreign exchange transactions are 

The annual risk assessment process is 
conducted in three stages. Individual 
members of the Operations Council, 
on a rotation basis, are requested to 
identify the key risks for their areas of 
responsibility that could prevent the 
Group from delivering its strategy and 

achieving its business objectives. All 
such risks are then ranked according to 
their potential significance, their likelihood 
and how effectively management is able 
to manage the exposure. By applying 
this framework, the key business risks 
profile of the Group across geographies 
and business segments is identified and 
tracked from one year to the next.

On behalf of the full Board of Directors, 
the Audit Committee reviews and 
discusses with management, and in the 
presence of the external auditors, the 
outcome of the above risk assessment 
process. Special focus is placed on 
ensuring that the risk profile covers all 
areas of concern identified by the Board 
and that the Operations Council has  
put in place internal controls to monitor 
the evolution of such risks and mitigate 
their likely impact at an early stage.  
The outcome of the above process was 
approved by the Board of Directors on 
18 October 2013.

2
TOTAL EQUITY

(CHF million)

SHARE  
CAPITAL

GENERAL  
RESERVE

RESERVE FOR  
OWN SHARES

RETAINED  
EARNINGS

BALANCE AT 1 JANUARY 2012

Dividends paid

Decrease in the reserve for own shares

Profit for the year

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2012

Dividends paid

Decrease in the reserve for own shares

Profit for the year

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2013

 8 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 8 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 8 

 239 

 - 

(31)

 - 

 208 

 - 

 (4)

 - 

 204 

 683 

 (496)

31

 344 

 562 

(444)

 4 

 717 

 839 

 34 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 34 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 34 

106

TOTAL

 964 

 (496)

 - 

 344 

 812 

(444)

 - 

 717 

1 085

 
 
3
SHARE CAPITAL

BALANCE AT 1 JANUARY 2012

Treasury shares released into circulation

Treasury shares purchased, net

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2012

Treasury shares released into circulation

Treasury shares purchased, net

BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2013

SHARES IN 
CIRCULATION

 7 563 860 

 74 859 

 (6 677)

 7 632 042 

 37 201 

 (18 403)

 7 650 840 

TREASURY SHARES

TOTAL SHARES ISSUED

TOTAL SHARE CAPITAL 
CHF (MILLION)

 258 576 

 (74 859)

 6 677 

 190 394 

 (37 201)

 18 403 

 171 596 

 7 822 436 

 - 

 - 

 7 822 436 

 - 

 - 

 7 822 436 

 8 

 - 

 - 

 8 

 - 

 - 

 8 

Issued share capital 

Authorised and conditional issue  

SGS SA has a share capital of  
CHF 7 822 436 (2012: CHF 7 822 436) 
fully paid-in and divided into 7 822 436 
(2012: 7 822 436) registered shares of a 
par value of CHF 1. All shares, other than 
own shares, participate equally in the 
dividends declared by the Company and 
have equal voting rights.

Treasury shares

On 31 December 2013, SGS SA, 
indirectly, held 171 596 of its own 
shares for which SGS SA has recorded  
a “reserve for own shares”.

In 2013, 37 201 treasury shares were 
sold or released to cover option rights 
and 18 403 treasury shares have been 
purchased for an average price of  
CHF 2 088. A corresponding movement 
in the reserve for own shares, has  
been recorded.

of share capital

The Board of Directors has the authority 
to increase the share capital of the 
Company by a maximum of 500 000 
registered shares of a par value of  
CHF 1 each, corresponding to a 
maximum increase of CHF 500 000 in 
share capital. The Board is authorised 
to issue the new shares at the market 
conditions prevailing at the time of 
issue. In the event that the new shares 
are issued for an acquisition, the Board 
is authorised to waive the shareholders’ 
preferential right of subscription, or to 
allocate such subscription rights to third 
parties. The authority delegated by the 
shareholders to the Board of Directors  
to increase the share capital is valid until 
19 March 2015.

The shareholders have conditionally 
approved an increase of share capital in 
the amount of CHF 1 100 000 divided 
into 1 100 000 registered shares of a par 
value of CHF 1 each. This conditional 
share capital increase is intended 
to obtain the necessary shares to 
satisfy employee share option plans 
and option or conversion rights to be 
incorporated in convertible bonds or 
similar equity-linked instruments that 
the Board is authorised to issue. The 
right to subscribe to such conditional 
capital is reserved to beneficiaries 
of employee share option plans and 
holders of convertible bonds or similar 
debt instruments and therefore excludes 
shareholders’ preferential rights of 
subscription. The Board is authorised  
to determine the timing and conditions 
of such issues, provided that they  
reflect prevailing market conditions.  
The term of exercise of the options  
or conversion rights may not exceed  
10 years from the date of issuance of 
the equity-linked instruments.

107

SGS SA RESULTS

4
CORPORATE BONDS

Bonds are recorded at nominal value. SGS SA issued the following bonds:

DATE OF ISSUE

19.08.2010

08.03.2011

27.05.2011 ¹

27.05.2011 ²

FACE VALUE IN  
CHF MILLION

COUPON IN %

YEAR OF  
MATURITY

550

375

275

75

1.875

2.625

3.000

1.875

2016

2019

2021

2016

ISSUE  
PRICE IN %

100.346

100.832

100.480

99.591

REDEMPTION  
PRICE IN %

100.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

1. SGS SA entered into an Interest Rate Swap (IRS) agreement for the duration of this bond. 

2. Re-opening of the six-year bond issued on 19 August 2010.

The Group has listed all the bonds on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

5
FINANCIAL INCOME AND FINANCIAL EXPENSES

(CHF million)

FINANCIAL INCOME

Interest income 3rd party

Interest income Group

TOTAL FINANCIAL INCOME

FINANCIAL EXPENSES

Interest expenses 3rd party

Interest expenses Group

Other financial expenses

TOTAL FINANCIAL EXPENSES

2013

0

 36 

 36 

 (28)

 (2)

 (7)

 (37)

2012

 34 

 27 

 61 

 (27)

 (3)

 (5)

 (35)

On 18 July 2012, the Group received a cash amount of CHF 33 million in relation with the re-setting of the Interest Rate Swap 
agreement to market rates. These cash proceeds were recognised in 2012 as interest income in the income statement.

108

 
6
GUARANTEES AND COMFORT LETTERS

(CHF million)

Guarantees

Performance bonds

TOTAL

2013 ISSUED

2013 UTILISED

2012 ISSUED

2012 UTILISED

 184 

 22 

 206 

 92 

 22 

 114 

 154 

 14 

 168 

 87 

 14 

 101 

The Company has unconditionally guaranteed or provided comfort to financial institutions providing credit facilities (loans and guarantee 
bonds) to its subsidiaries. In addition, it has issued performance bonds to commercial customers on behalf of its subsidiaries. 

The Company is part of a VAT Group comprising itself and other Group companies in Switzerland.

7
FIRE INSURANCE VALUE OF FIXED ASSETS

(CHF million)

Buildings

8
SUBSIDIARIES

2013

 15

2012

 15

The list of principal group subsidiaries appears in the Annual Report on pages 128 to 131.

109

SGS SA RESULTS

The Board of Directors is assisted in its 
work by a Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee (the Committee), which 
consists of independent non-executive 
Directors. The Committee acts in part in 
an advisory capacity to the Board, and 
in part as a decision-making body on 
matters that the Board has delegated 
to the Committee. The Committee 
reviews regularly, at least once a year, 
the compensation of each member of 
the Operations Council (other than the 
Chief Executive Officer), and decides on 
all matters relating to the remuneration 
of these executives. 

The Chairman of the Board is not 
allowed to participate in discussions and 
decisions on his own compensation. 
General executive remuneration policies, 
including the implementation of  
long term incentive plans, are decided 
by the Board, on the recommendation  
of the Committee.

The following Directors served on 
the Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee in 2013:

•  Sergio Marchionne (Chairman)

•  August von Finck

•  John Elkann (until July 2013)

•  Ian Gallienne (since July 2013)

The following chart summarises 
the authorisation levels for the main 
decisions relating to compensation of 
Board and Operations Council Members.

9
COMPENSATION, 
SHAREHOLDINGS  
AND LOANS

This section of the Corporate 
Governance Report serves as the 
Company’s remuneration report.

In accordance with the recommendations 
of the Swiss Code of Best Practice for 
Corporate Governance in this matter,  
this section of the Report will be subject 
to a consultative vote at the next  
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

9.1. COMPANY’S  

REMUNERATION POLICIES

The Company's remuneration policies 
are defined by the Board of Directors. 
The objectives of these policies are 
twofold: a) to attract and retain the best 
talent available in the industry; and b)  
to motivate employees and managers to 
create and protect value for shareholders 
by generating long-term sustainable 
financial achievements.

The Board of Directors is responsible  
for determining the remuneration  
of the Chairman and the directors.  
It also decides on the remuneration 
and terms of employment of the Chief 
Executive Officer, based upon the 
recommendations of the Nomination 
and Remuneration Committee.  
It additionally determines the financial 
targets upon which the variable 
element of the remuneration of the 
Operations Council and other Group 
senior executives is based, and defines 
the conditions of all share option plans 
(including Long Term Incentive (LTI) 
plans) as well as the allocation of such 
options and the conditions of their 
granting, vesting and exercise. All 
general executive remuneration policies, 
including the criteria and weighting 
of financial targets relevant to the 
assessment of the variable element of 
executive remuneration, are approved by 
the Board of Directors. 

110

SUBJECT MATTER

RECOMMENDATION

DECISION

Compensation of Board Members

Compensation of Chairman

Remuneration of CEO 

Remuneration of other Operations Council Members

Issuance of Long Term Incentive Plans

Setting of annual financial targets for variable remuneration  
of Operations Council Members

Issuance of Annual Share Options Plans

Committee 1

Committee 1

Committee 1

CEO

Committee 1

CEO

CEO

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Committee 1

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Committee 1

1. Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

When reviewing and deciding on 
executive remuneration policies, the 
Committee and the Board have access 
to Group Human Resources staff 
and may use third party consultants 
specialising in compensation matters.  
In 2013, neither the Committee nor  
the Board had recourse to such  
external advisors. 

Benchmark

A global business in a broad range 
of sectors, SGS’s business success 
is driven by the commitment and 
engagement of its key employees. Our 
compensation policy must take account 
of both global and local practices, whilst 
allowing for individual variations. We 
therefore compare our practices with 
those of other, similar organisations.

The Group performs periodic 
benchmarks against companies which 
satisfy the following criteria

•  All SMI listed companies

•  Internationally active companies within 
and outside Switzerland which operate 
in one or more of the industry sectors 
in which SGS is active, including the 
energy, mining, industrial, chemical, 
medical goods, pharmaceutical, 
durable and non-durable goods, 
and food sectors, such as Alstom, 
GlencoreXstrata, Siemens, DuPont, 
Baxter, Actelion, Schindler, Amcor

•  Competitors in the testing, inspection 
and certification industry, such as 
Bureau Veritas, Intertek, DNV, TÜV.

Elements of executive remuneration 
benchmarked include annual base salary, 
allowances, short-term and long-term 
incentive compensation, and benefits  
as set out elsewhere.

To arrive at these benchmarks we use 
proprietary job sizing methodology in 
order to obtain publicly and commercially 
available information. Since nearly half 
of our Operations Council members are 
based outside Switzerland, we utilise 
information published by reputable  
data providers, including Mercer and 
Towers Watson, who are able to  
supply information on both a local and  
a global basis.

Compensation Principles

a) Board of Directors

The members of the Board of Directors 
are entitled to a fixed annual Board 
Membership fee and additional 
annual fees for participation in Board 
Committees. Board members do not 
receive additional compensation for 
attending meetings. With the exception 
of the Chairman, Board members do 
not receive any variable remuneration, 
options or shares.

The Chairman receives a fixed annual 
fee and additional fixed fees for chairing  
the Board Committees. He also receives 
share options issued by the Company 
under its annual and long term incentive 
plans. The conditions of grant, vesting 
and exercise of options awarded to 
the Chairman are the same as those 
applicable to the members of the 
Operations Council. The Board decides 
the number of such options on the  
basis of an assessment of the 
Company's finance performance and  
the Chairman's personal contribution. 
The Chairman does not receive any 
variable cash remuneration.

111

b) Operations Council

The remuneration earned by the Chief 
Executive Officer and by members  
of the Operations Council comprises:  
(i) a fixed base salary including benefits; 
(ii) an annual performance bonus, settled 
in part in cash and in part by way of 
options with deferred vesting, granted 
under annual share options plan; and (iii) 
long term incentive plan(s). The Company 
considers that payment of variable 
remuneration in the form of equity linked 
instruments whose vesting and exercise 
is deferred is a key mechanism to align 
management’s incentives to the interests 
of shareholders.

Employment Contracts

Directors do not hold service contracts 
and are not entitled to any termination 
or severance payments. They do not 
participate in the Company’s share 
option plans (except for the Chairman) 
or other benefit schemes and the 
Company does not make any pension 
contributions on their behalf. 

Employment contracts of Operations 
Council members have no fixed term 
and can be terminated at any time by 
either party, provided a standard notice 
period (six months) is respected. The 
Chief Executive Officer’s employment 
contract provides for a severance 
payment equivalent to two years' total 
remuneration payable in the event that 
the employment contract is terminated 
or constructively terminated (including 
in the event of a change of control) by 
the Company, other than for cause. 
No severance payment is due if the 
employment relationship is terminated 
in any other circumstance. No other 
executive contract provides for any 
material change of control protection.

SGS SA RESULTS

The table below summarises the various components of the compensation of Operations Council members, including the  
Chief Executive Officer: 

COMPENSATION ELEMENT

COMPENSATION VEHICLE

DRIVERS

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

PURPOSE

Base Salary

Monthly cash salary

Annual Bonus

50% cash / 50% 
allocation of stock 
options, with  
deferred vesting and 
blocking periods

Discretionary Bonus

Cash

Attract and retain  
key executives

Pay for performance

Position and 
experience,  
market practice

Achievement of  
annual business and 
financial objectives

Market practice,  
executive benchmark of 
international companies  
in relevant markets

Financial targets: (i) Group 
Net Profit After Tax and 
Adjusted Operating Income 
for the Group as a whole, for 
regional or business units;  
(ii) measures of Economic 
Value Added; and (iii) 
Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Rewarding individual 
achievements 
or exceptional 
performance

Discretionary allocations  
do not exceed 10%  
of Operations Council  
overall remuneration

Attract and retain key 
executives, recognise 
individual performance

Long Term Incentives

Stock options award, 
with vesting conditional 
upon achieving the 
Group objectives

Achievement of long-
term strategic plans 
stated by the Group

Earnings Per Share targets

Align executive 
compensation 
with interests of 
shareholders

Base salary

The base salaries of the Chief Executive 
Officer and of each Operations Council 
member are reviewed annually on  
the basis of market data for similar 
positions in those companies and 
geographies against which the Group 
benchmarks itself.

In addition to individual performance 
and contribution, business performance 
and results, the deciding body takes into 
account the scope and complexity of  
the areas of responsibility of the 
position, skill sets and experience, and 
relevant market practice in the industry.

Additional employment benefits such 
as allowances or memberships may be 
awarded in accordance with prevailing 
practice in the locations of employment 
of individual Operations Council 
members. Retirement benefits are  
set out elsewhere in this Report.

Geneva based Operations Council 
members participate, on the same basis 
as other Swiss employees of the Group, 
in the Company’s pension scheme. In 
view of the increased life expectancy 

and challenges brought about by 
investment volatility, the defined benefit 
scheme and the defined contribution 
scheme have been merged into one 
unique defined contribution scheme, 
effective 1 May 2013. This enables 
better risk sharing, cost savings on 
administration and asset management 
fees. The new scheme also brings our 
employees more transparency and 
equality of treatment. New features 
have been introduced to provide 
them with more flexibility in their 
retirement benefit through a modern and 
competitive plan.

Employees contribute 8% of their base 
salary and the Company contributes an 
amount equal to one and a half times 
the contributions paid by all employees 
to the scheme. Employees have the 
possibility to increase their contribution 
rate by 2% above the standard rate. 
More flexibility have also been granted 
to employees who wish to fund a 
potential retirement before the normal 
age, or for those who wish to continue 
working after the age of 65.

Annual bonus

In addition to the base salary, members 
of the Operations Council (including the 
Chief Executive Officer) are entitled to 
a performance-related annual bonus. 
For this purpose, the Company defines 
annual targets at the beginning of the 
year for the Chief Executive Officer and 
for each Operations Council member. 
Relevant targets for the calculation of 
the Annual Bonus of the CEO are based 
on the Group Earnings Per Share (EPS). 
For the heads of corporate functions 
(SVPs) targets are based 100% on the 
Group Net Profit After Tax. For EVPs, 
the relevant targets relate for 50% to 
the Adjusted Operating Income of their 
respective business and for 50% to the 
Group Net Profit After Tax. For COOs, 
the relevant targets are for 62.5% their 
respective region's Adjusted Operating 
Income and Economic Value Added and 
for 37.5% the Group Net Profit After Tax. 
Bonuses are assessed and awarded to 
the Operations Council members on the 
basis of the actual performance against 
the predefined targets.

112

If targets are achieved they trigger 
the entitlement to an annual incentive 
bonus. Once the amount of a bonus 
is determined, it is settled 50% in 
cash and 50% in options. The cash 
component of the bonus is payable 
immediately. The economic value of the 
options which is used to convert a bonus 
entitlement into a number of options is 
fixed by the Company on the basis of a 
calculation of the value of the options 
at grant, taking into account a discount 
for the three years blocking period 
during which the options cannot be 
traded or exercised. The share options 

are granted immediately, but they vest 
rateably in three equal instalments over 
a period of three years and are only 
exercisable in the fourth and fifth year 
after grant. Unvested options are subject 
to forfeiture if the beneficiary leaves the 
Group for reasons other than retirement, 
disability or death.

For this purpose, the Company issues 
Annual Share Option plans, in the 
form of traded warrants which are 
listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange. 
These warrants incorporate a right 
to buy shares in the Company at a 
predetermined fixed price through the 

grant of traded options. The strike price 
is determined for each plan on the 
basis of the average trading price of 
the Company’s shares in the last three 
months prior to the year of grant.

These Annual Share Option plans serve 
(i) to pay part of the annual performance 
bonuses to Members of the Operations 
Council; (ii) to allocate options to the 
Chairman; and (iii) to be awarded as an 
incentive to other selected employees 
of the Group. All beneficiaries receive 
these options under the same conditions 
of vesting and exercise.

The table below summarises the components of the annual performance targets and how these components are weighted, 
depending on the function of the respective Operations Council member:

Annual bonus formula

CEO

SVPs (heads of corporate functions)

EVPs

COOs

EARNINGS 
PER SHARE 

(EPS)

100%

-

-

-

PERFORMANCE  
OF THE GROUP 

(Net Profit After Tax)

BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

(Adjusted Operating Income  
of the relevant business)

REGIONAL PERFORMANCE

(Adjusted Operating Income 
and Economic Value Added  
of the relevant region)

-

100%

50%

37.5%

-

-

50%

-

-

-

-

62.5%

Discretionary bonus

Long Term Incentive Plans

In addition to the performance-related 
Annual Bonus which is structured 
to take account of quantitative 
performance targets, the Board of 
Directors and the Compensation 
Committee may also grant individual 
Operations Council members a 
discretionary bonus, based on qualitative 
individual performance.

Discretionary bonuses are granted at 
the same time as the Annual Bonus 
and are awarded on an exceptional 
basis to reward outstanding personal 
achievement, recognising extraordinary 
achievement in developing and 
integrating new business and  
cross-business improvements.

The total of discretionary bonuses does 
not exceed 10% of the Operations 
Council's overall remuneration costs.

For 2013, a total of CHF 1 210 000 in 
discretionary bonuses was awarded to 
Operations Council members.

In addition to the annual bonus, the 
Group periodically sets Long Term 
Incentive (LTI) Plans. Such plans are 
designed to motivate the leadership 
team to achieve the long-term stated 
objectives of the Group. They consist of 
options granted to a selected number 
of senior executives of the Group, the 
vesting of which is conditional upon:  
(1) the Group achieving or exceeding 
stated earnings per share targets; and 
(2) the beneficiary being employed by 
the Group on the vesting date. 

In 2011, the Company introduced a  
long term incentive plan (the 2011 LTI 
Plan) for which vesting is conditional  
upon the Group achieving or exceeding  
in 2014 EPS targets ranging from  
CHF 115 (minimum performance 
allowing a partial vesting of 50% of 
options granted under the Plan) to  
CHF 140 (full vesting of options granted 
under the Plan). In 2013, the Board of 
Directors reviewed these EPS targets 
and decided to introduce a normalisation 

113

in order to exclude material distortions 
caused by foreign exchange fluctuations, 
the issuance of corporate bonds and the 
adoption of new accounting standards 
since the inception of the LTI plan.

The 2011 LTI Plan involved the granting of 
options to acquire shares of the Company 
at a strike price of CHF 1 617. Such 
options are in the form of traded warrants, 
with 100 warrants required to purchase 
one share. The Group originally set aside  
9 000 000 such warrants for this incentive 
plan. This plan is designed to motivate the 
leadership team to achieve the long-term 
stated objective by 2014.

Full details of this long term incentive  
plan are provided in note 31 to the  
Group consolidated financial statements 
(pages 97 to 99 of the Annual Report). 
In 2013, no new Long Term Incentive 
Plan was introduced by the Group and 
no additional options were granted to 
members of the Operations Council in 
2013 under the existing 2011 LTI Plan. 

SGS SA RESULTS

The following table shows the strike price, the vesting period and the exercisable period of the options ¹ granted to the Chairman of 
the Board and to the members of the Operations Council under each plan. It includes options granted in January 2014 with respect 
to performance and financial results in 2013:

I  Annual Share Option Plans

TYPE OF OPTIONS  
  (Year of issue)

SGSOP (2010) 

SGSMF (2011)

SGSKF (2012)

SGSWS (2013)

SGSPF (2014) 3

STRIKE PRICE (CHF) 2

VESTING DATE  
1/3 OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED

VESTING DATE  
1/3 OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED

VESTING DATE  
1/3 OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED

1 339

1 617

1 497

2 013

2 059

01.2010

01.2011

01.2012

01.2013

01.2014

07.2011

07.2012

07.2013

07.2014

07.2015

01.2013

01.2014

01.2015

01.2016

01.2017

PERIOD OF EXERCISE

01.2013 - 01.2015

01.2014 - 01.2016

01.2015 - 01.2017

01.2016 - 01.2018

01.2017 - 01.2019

II  Long Term Incentive Plan

SGSMF-2011 LTI (2011) 

1. One hundred options give the right to acquire one share. 

2. Before adjustment for capital reductions and special dividends. 

3. Granted in 2014 in settlement of 2013 annual variable remuneration. 

4. Vesting conditional on minimum EPS target reached in 2014. 

01.2015 4

01.2015 - 01.2016

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANNUAL VARIABLE COMPENSATION AND BASE SALARY

The portion of fixed and variable remuneration, as a percentage of the total remuneration in any given year, depends on the extent 
to which pre-defined targets and objectives have been achieved. Assuming achievement of targets, the annual variable component 
of the Operations Council members' remuneration (annual bonus including cash and options award), expressed as a percentage of 
their respective annual remuneration ranges between 32% and 48% of their total annual compensation.

If targets are exceeded, annual bonuses are increased on a multiplier basis with a maximum payout which could correspond to  
a range between 54% and 70% of their respective total annual compensation.

In the event of underperformance against targets, the bonus is rateably reduced on a multiplier basis, so that no bonus is paid  
in the event that a pre-established minimum target is not achieved.

TOTAL COMPENSATION (EXCLUDING LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLANS) FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

BELOW MINIMUM TARGET 
PERFORMANCE

ON TARGET PERFORMANCE

MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE

Base salary

Variable cash compensation 

Variable Annual Option allocation 
(value at grant date)

100%

0%

0%

52%

24%

24%

30%

35%

35%

In 2013, the variable cash element of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation represented 26% of the total compensation 
(2012: 32%) and the allocation of options represented 31% of the total compensation (2012: 7%).

For the Operations Council as a whole, the variable cash element of the compensation in 2013 amounted to 24% of the total 
compensation (2012: 25%) and the allocation of options represented 18% of the total compensation (2012: 18%).

Total compensation includes the guaranteed part (base salary) and the variable part of the compensation. It excludes fringe and 
social benefits.

114

9.2. COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS OF GOVERNING BODIES

The bonus settled in options is disclosed as part of the compensation for the year to which it relates (and not for the year  
it was approved). 

9.2.1. Board of Directors

In 2013, the annual board membership fee was CHF 150 thousand for all board members, unchanged from the prior year. Members of 
the Board serving on a Committee were entitled to an additional fee of CHF 30 thousand per committee, unchanged from last year.

The annual fee payable to the Chairman was CHF 300 thousand, unchanged from the prior year. 

The Chairman was awarded, by decision of the Board of Directors 75 000 options under the 2014 Annual Share Options Plan in 
consideration of the 2013 annual performances (2012: 40 000 SGSWS options under the 2013 Annual Share Options Plan).  
The conditions of vesting and exercise of these options are the same as those granted to the management under these plans.

The following chart details the fees, other cash benefits and share options granted to each of the Directors for their tenure in 2013:

(CHF thousand)

BOARD  
FEE

COMMITTEE  
FEE

OTHER  
BENEFITS

TOTAL CASH 
COMPENSATION 
2013

SHARE  
OPTIONS

TOTAL 2013 
COMPENSATION 
(INCLUDING 
OPTIONS)

S. Marchionne

T.R. Brandolini d'Adda 3

P. Desmarais 3

J. Elkann 3

A. von Finck

A.F. von Finck

I. Gallienne 3

C. Grupp

P. Kalantzis

G. Lamarche 3

S.R. du Pasquier

TOTAL

300

75

75

75

150

150

75

150

150

75

150

1 425

90

15

-

15

30

30

15

-

30

15

30

270

25
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
25

415

90

75

90

180

180

90

150

180

90

180

1 720

189 1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
189

604 1

90 2

75

90 2

180

180

90

150

180

90

180

1 909

1. 75 000 SGSPF granted in January 2014 in relation to the 2013 financial results. 
2. Board and committees fees for T.R. Brandolini d'Adda and J. Elkann have been paid to Exor Investissements SA, Luxembourg. 
3. 2013 fees paid prorata temporis.

The following chart details the fees, other cash benefits and share options granted to each of the Directors for their tenure in 2012:

(CHF thousand)

BOARD  
FEE

COMMITTEE  
FEE

OTHER  
BENEFITS

TOTAL CASH 
COMPENSATION 
2012

SHARE  
OPTIONS

TOTAL 2012 
COMPENSATION 
(INCLUDING 
OPTIONS)

S. Marchionne
T.R. Brandolini d'Adda 2

J. Elkann 2

A. von Finck

A.F. von Finck

C. Grupp

P. Kalantzis

S.R. du Pasquier

TOTAL

300
150

150

150

150

150

150

150

1 350

90
30

30

30

30

-

30

30

270

25
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
25

415
180

180

180

180

150

180

180

1 645

89 1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
89

504
180

180

180

180

150

180

180

1 734

1. 40 000 SGSWS granted in January 2013 in relation to the 2012 financial results. 
2. Board and committees fees for T.R. Brandolini d'Adda and J. Elkann have been paid to Exor Investissements SA, Luxembourg. 

115

SGS SA RESULTS

The following table shows the details of the options¹ granted to the Chairman of the Board under each Annual Share Option Plans and 
Long Term Incentive Plans:

TYPE OF OPTIONS  
(YEAR OF ISSUE) (CHF)

STRIKE PRICE 2 
(CHF)

TOTAL NUMBER OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED UNDER EACH PLAN

MARKET VALUE AT GRANT 
(THOUSAND)

NUMBER VESTED  
ON 31 DECEMBER 2013

SGSGU (2009)
SGSOP (2010)
SGSMF (2011)
SGSKF (2012)
SGSWS (2013)
SGSPF (2014) 3
SGSMF-2011 LTI (2011) 4

1 064
1 339
1 617
1 497
2 013
2 059
1 617

96 619
50 000
50 000
50 000
40 000
75 000
200 000

238
155
142
133
89
189
570

96 619
50 000
33 332
33 333
13 334
-
-

1. One hundred options give the right to acquire one share. 

2. Before adjustment for capital reductions and special dividends. 

3. Granted in 2014 on the basis of 2013 financial results. 

4. Vesting conditional on minimum EPS target reached in 2014.

9.2.2. Compensation to the Operations Council, Senior Management and Chief Executive Officer

This section sets out the global remuneration which was paid to the Operations Council as a whole, to the three Operations  
Council members who make up Senior Management and to the Chief Executive Officer during 2013. All amounts disclosed in  
this section include cash bonuses payable and options granted in January 2014 with respect to performance in 2013 and the related 
financial results.

9.2.2.1. Cash compensation

(CHF thousand)

2013

2012

To the Operations Council (including Senior Management)

To Senior Management (including Chief Executive Officer)

To the Chief Executive Officer

CHF 12 245

CHF   2 582

CHF   1 672

CHF 12 140

CHF   2 509

CHF   1 545

The total cash compensation paid to the Operations Council excludes severance payments (see section 5.2.2.5.). Post employment 
benefits of CHF 1 298 thousand are not included (2012: CHF 1 567 thousand).

9.2.2.2. Share options

Annual Share Options Plans

In settlement of 2013 annual bonus entitlements, a total of 926 061 SGSPF options (2012: 1 057 102 SGSWS options granted in 
January 2013) were granted to the Operations Council (including Senior Management) in January 2014 on the basis of 2013 results.

Such SGS options grant the right to acquire shares of SGS at a strike price of CHF 2 059 (100 options give the right to acquire one share). 
They vest in tranches of one-third in 2014, 2015 and 2017 and are subject to a blocking period ending in January 2017. All options granted 
to the Operations Council on the basis of the 2013 results had a fair value at grant of CHF 2 335 thousand (2012: CHF 2 357 thousand). 

The Senior Management was awarded a total of 354 020 SGSPF options granted in January 2014 (2012: 163 223 SGSWS options 
granted in January 2013). This number includes 282 818 SGSPF options (2012: 48 577 SGSWS options granted in January 2013) 
awarded to the Chief Executive Officer.

116

Long Term Options Plan

Under the 2011 LTI Plan, a total of 4 320 000 SGSMF-2011 LTI options were granted to the Operations Council members as at  
31 December 2013 (including Senior Management) in 2011. The vesting of such options in January 2015 is conditional upon  
the Group achieving or exceeding EPS targets ranging between CHF 115 (minimum performance allowing a partial vesting under 
the Plan) and CHF 140 (full vesting of options granted under the Plan) in 2014. In 2013, the Board of Directors reviewed these EPS 
targets and decided to introduce a normalisation in order to exclude material distortions caused by foreign exchange fluctuations, 
the issuance of corporate bonds and the adoption of new accounting standards since the inception of the LTI plan. If targets 
defined by the plan are not reached, they will be forfeited. 

The Senior Management was awarded a total of 1 120 000 SGSMF-2011 LTI options under the 2011 LTI Plan. This number includes 
800 000 options awarded to the Chief Executive Officer.

The following table presents details of the share options awarded to members of the Operations Council, Senior Management 
and the CEO, and shows those options which have been granted, vested and/or became exercisable in 2013. It includes options 
granted in January 2014 with respect to performance and financial results in 2013. 

In 2013, no new Long Term Incentive Plan was introduced by the Group and no additional options were granted to members of  
the Operations Council in 2013 under the existing 2011 LTI Plan.

This table relates to the individuals who were members of the Operations Council as at 31 December 2013:

TYPE OF OPTIONS 1 
(YEAR OF ISSUE)

STRIKE PRICE (CHF) 2

TOTAL NUMBER OF OPTIONS 
GRANTED UNDER EACH PLAN

MARKET VALUE AT GRANT 
(THOUSAND)

NUMBER VESTED ON  
31 DECEMBER 2013

OPERATIONS COUNCIL (INCLUDING SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)

1 844

2 486

2 624

2 312

2 335

12 312

288

703

752

364

893

3 192

132

499

479

108

713

2 280

594 741

581 593

657 725

345 588

-

-

92 803

164 512

188 575

54 408

-

-

42 647

116 614

120 150

16 192

-

-

SGSOP (2010)

SGSMF (2011)

SGSKF (2012)

SGSWS (2013)

SGSPF (2014) 3

SGSMF-2011 LTI 4

1 339

1 617

1 497

2 013

2 059

1 617

594 741

872 389

986 587

1 036 765

926 061

4 320 000

SENIOR MANAGEMENT (INCLUDING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)

SGSOP (2010)

SGSMF (2011)

SGSKF (2012)

SGSWS (2013)

SGSPF (2014) 3

SGSMF-2011 LTI 4

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

SGSOP (2010)

SGSMF (2011)

SGSKF (2012)

SGSWS (2013)

SGSPF (2014) 3

SGSMF-2011 LTI 4

1 339

1 617

1 497

2 013

2 059

1 617

1 339

1 617

1 497

2 013

2 059

1 617

1. One hundred options give the right to acquire one share. 

2. Before adjustment for capital reductions and special dividends. 

3. Granted in 2014 in settlement of 2013 bonus entitlements. 

4. Vesting conditional on minimum EPS target reached in 2014.

92 803

246 769

282 863

163 223

354 020

1 120 000

42 647

174 920

180 225

48 577

282 818

800 000

117

SGS SA RESULTS

9.2.2.3. Total compensation to the Operations Council, Senior Management and Chief Executive Officer 

The table below presents all components of the remuneration earned in 2013 by the Operations Council, by the Senior Management 
and by the Chief Executive Officer. It does not take into account the potential value of options granted in 2011 under the 2011  
Long Term Incentive Plan, whose vesting in 2015 is conditional upon the Group achieving minimum normalised EPS targets in 2014.

(CHF thousand)

To the Operations  
Council (including  
Senior Management)

To Senior Management 
(including Chief  
Executive Officer)

To the Chief  
Executive Officer

BASE  
SALARY 

CONTRIBUTION 
TO PENSION 
BENEFITS

OTHER 
EMPLOYMENT 
BENEFITS 

ANNUAL  
CASH  
BONUS

ANNUAL 
GRANT 
OF SHARE 
OPTIONS

DISCRETIONARY 
CASH BONUS

TOTAL 2013 
COMPENSATION 
(INCLUDING 
OPTIONS)

TOTAL 2012 
COMPENSATION 
(INCLUDING 
OPTIONS)

7 737

1 298

1 291

2 007

2 335

1 210

15 878

14 498 1

1 679

332

1 000

178

92

72

751

893

600

713

60

-

3 807

2 872 1

2 563

1 652 1

1. 2012 figures did not include contribution to pension benefits. 

9.2.2.4. Highest total compensation

In the year under review, the highest compensation paid by the Group was awarded to the CEO (see 5.2.2.3). 

9.2.2.5. Severance payments

In 2013, an amount of CHF 150 thousand was recognised as severance payments to Operations Council members  
(2012: CHF 626 thousand).

9.2.2.6. Loans to members of governing bodies

As at 31 December 2013, no loan, credit or outstanding advance was due to the Group from members of its governing bodies 
(unchanged from prior year).

9.3. SHARES AND OPTIONS HELD BY MEMBERS OF GOVERNING BODIES

9.3.1. Shares and options held by Members of the Board of Directors

The following table shows the shares and vested options held by Members of the Board of Directors as at 31 December 2013:

NAME

S. Marchionne

A. von Finck

A.F. von Finck

C. Grupp

P. Kalantzis

S.R. du Pasquier

P. Desmarais

I. Gallienne

G. Lamarche

SGSOP

50 000

SGSMF

33 332

SGSKF

33 333

SGSWS

13 334

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

118

SHARES

700

19 670

439 515

1

20

10

10

1

25

The following table shows the shares and vested options held by Members of the Board of Directors as at 31 December 2012:

NAME

SGSGU

S. Marchionne

T.R. Brandolini d’Adda

J. Elkann

A. von Finck

A.F. von Finck

C. Grupp

P. Kalantzis

S.R. du Pasquier

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

SGSOP

33 332

SGSMF

33 332

SGSKF

16 666

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

SHARES

700

1

1

19 670

439 515

1

20

10

9.3.2. Shares and options held by Senior Management

The following table shows the shares and vested options held by Senior Management as at 31 December 2013:

NAME

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

SGSOP

SGSMF

SGSKF

SGSWS

SHARES

C. Kirk

Chief Executive Officer

42 647

116 612

120 150

G. Matchett

Chief Financial Officer

-

O. Merkt

General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer

11 000

25 284

22 614

41 055

27 370

16 192

23 794

14 421

1 199

-

45

The following table shows the shares and vested options held by Senior Management as at 31 December 2012:

NAME

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

SGSGU

SGSOP

SGSMF

SGSKF

SHARES

C. Kirk

Chief Executive Officer

380 000

G. Matchett

Chief Financial Officer

O. Merkt

General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer

-

-

28 430

15 747

17 690

116 612

25 284

22 614

60 075

20 528

13 685

1 199

-

45

119

SGS SA RESULTS

10
SIGNIFICANT SHAREHOLDERS

As at 31 December 2013, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert acting through Serena Sàrl held 15.00% (2012: 0%), Mr. August von Finck and 
members of his family acting in concert held 14.97% (2012: 14.97%) and the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation held 3.18%  
(2012: 3.26%) of the share capital and voting rights of the Company.

At the same date, SGS Group held 2.19% of the share capital of the Company (2012: 2.43%).

PROPOSAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF AVAILABLE  
RETAINED EARINGS

(CHF)

Profit for the year

Balance brought forward from previous year

Dividend paid on own shares released into circulation in 2012 prior  
the Annual General Meeting on 22 March 2012

Dividend paid on own shares released into circulation in 2013 prior  
the Annual General Meeting on 19 March 2013

Reversal from the reserve for own shares

TOTAL RETAINED EARNINGS AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION

Proposal of the Board of Directors:

Dividends ¹

BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD

Ordinary gross dividend per registered share

Additional gross dividend per registered share

TOTAL DIVIDEND PER REGISTERED SHARE

1. No dividend is paid on own shares held directly or indirectly by SGS SA.

2013

2012

716 901 451

119 625 639

344 300 612

189 002 408

 - 

 (2 935 141)

 (1 650 158)

 4 305 538 

839 182 470

 - 

 31 916 195 

562 284 075

(497 304 600)

 (442 658 436)

341 877 870

119 625 639

65.00

-

65.00

30.00

28.00

58.00

120

REPORT OF THE STATUTORY AUDITOR

To the General Meeting of 

SGS SA, GENEVA

REPORT OF THE STATUTORY AUDITOR ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As statutory auditor, we have audited the financial statements of SGS SA presented on pages 104 to 120, which comprise the 
income statement, balance sheet and notes 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 accordance 
with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable 
assurance whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. 
The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the 
financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers the internal control 
system relevant to the entity’s preparation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in 
the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control system. An 
audit also includes evaluating the 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 Code of Obligations (CO) and article 11 AOA) and that there are no circumstances incompatible with our independence.

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

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

DELOITTE SA

James Baird 
Licensed Audit Expert 
Auditor in Charge

Geneva, 20 January 2014

Fabien Bryois
Licensed Audit Expert

121

DATA

DATA

SGS GROUP – FIVE YEAR STATISTICAL DATA CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS  
FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER

(CHF million)

REVENUES

Salaries and wages

Subcontractors’ expenses

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

Other operating expenses

OPERATING INCOME (EBIT)

Analysis of operating income 

Adjusted operating income 

Restructuring costs 

Amortisation of acquisition intangibles

Transaction and integration-related costs

Other non-recurring items

Operating income

Financial income/(expense)

PROFIT BEFORE TAXES

Taxes

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

Profit attributable to:

Equity holders of SGS SA

Non-controlling interests

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME MARGINS IN %

2013

2012 1

2011

 5 830 

 (2 871)

 (357)

 (298)

 5 569 

 (2 733)

 (338)

 (280)

 4 797 

 (2 304)

 (331)

 (225)

2010

 4 757 

2009

 4 712 

 (2 228)

 (2 229)

 (313)

 (225)

 (319)

 (228)

 (1 392)

 (1 384)

 (1 147)

 (1 155)

 (1 142)

 912 

 834 

 790 

 836 

 794 

 977 

 (33)

 (20)

 (12)

 912 

 (38)

 874 

 (236)

 638 

 600 

 38 

 16.8 

 930 

 (68)

 (16)

 (12)

 834 

 (41)

 793 

 (214)

 579 

 545 

 34 

 16.7 

 815 

 - 

 (16)

 (9)

 790 

 (26)

 764 

 (203)

 561 

 534 

 27 

 17.0 

 848 

 - 

 (8)

 (4)

 836 

 (7)

 829 

 (215)

 614 

 588 

 26 

 17.8 

 822 

 (20)

 (8)

 - 

 794 

 (3)

 791 

 (200)

 591 

 566 

 25 

 17.4 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

 80 510 

 76 790 

 67 633 

 60 321 

 57 153 

1. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

124

SGS GROUP – FIVE YEAR STATISTICAL DATA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
AT 31 DECEMBER

(CHF million)

2013

2012 1

Land, buildings and equipment

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Investments in associated and other companies

Deferred tax and other non-current assets

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Unbilled revenues and inventories

Trade accounts and notes receivable

Other receivables and prepayments

Cash and marketable securities

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

TOTAL ASSETS

Share capital

Reserves

Equity attributable to equity holders of SGS SA

Non-controlling interests

TOTAL EQUITY

Loans and obligations under finance leases

Deferred tax liabilities

Provisions and retirement benefit obligations

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Loans and obligations under finance leases

Trade and other payables

Current tax liabilities

Provisions, other creditors and accruals

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

TOTAL LIABILITIES

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

 1 029

 1 216

 18

 215

 2 478

 330

 952

 306

 973

 2 561

 5 039

 8

 2 135

 2 143

 69

 2 212

 1 293

 66

 190

 1 549

 15

 502

 142

 619

 1 278

 2 827

 5 039

 1 015

 1 172

 17

 266

 2 470

 302

 977

 255

 987

 2 521

 4 991

 8

 2 052

 2 060

 58

 2 118

 1 305

 72

 273

 1 650

 17

 492

 103

 611

 1 223

 2 873

 4 991

2011

888

1 044

1

247

2 180

257

868

244

1 211

2 580

4 760

 8

1 987

1 995

50

2 045

1 299

58

275

1 632

6

447

86

544

1 083

2 715

4 760

2010

756

982

2

235

1 975

217

772

202

815

2 006

3 981

 8

2 061

2 069

39

2 108

553

63

254

870

3

401

91

508

1 003

1 873

3 981

2009

 751

 777

 1

 228

 1 757

 201

 812

 174

 792

 1 979

 3 736

 8

 2 065

 2 073

 37

 2 110

 8

 77

 249

 334

 308

 388

 72

 524

 1 292

 1 626

 3 736

Land, buildings and equipment

357

386

345

261

221

1. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements).

125

DATA

SGS GROUP – FIVE YEAR STATISTICAL SHARE DATA

(CHF unless indicated otherwise)

2013

2012 1

2011

2010

2009

SHARE INFORMATION

REGISTERED SHARES

Number of shares issued

7 822 436

7 822 436

7 822 436

7 822 436

7 822 436

Number of shares with dividend rights

7 650 840

7 632 042

7 596 871

7 629 482

7 568 664

PRICE

High

Low

Year-end

Par value

KEY FIGURES BY SHARES

Equity attributable to equity holders of SGS 
SA per share in circulation at 31 December

Basic earnings per share 2

Dividend per share ordinary

Dividend per share special

Total dividend per share

DIVIDENDS (CHF MILLIONS)

Ordinary

Special

Total

2 450

 1 952

 2 052

1

 2 156

 1 559

 2 026

 1

1 724

1 255

1 555

1

1 704

1 332

1 569

1

1 400

1 036

1 351

1

 280.08 

 269.95 

263.75

272.53

276.36

78.43

 65.00 3 

- 3

65.00

497 3

- 3

497

 71.52 

 30.00 

 28.00

58.00

229

214

443

70.52

 30.00 

 35.00

65.00

228

266

494

77.64

 30.00 

 35.00

65.00

229

267

496

75.48

30.00

 30.00

60.00

227

227

454

1. Restated figures as a result of changes in accounting standards (see Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements). 

2. Calculation of the basic earnings per share (weighted average for the year) is disclosed in note 9, page 68. 

3. As proposed by the Board of Directors.

SGS GROUP SHARE INFORMATION

SHARE TRANSFER

SGS SA has no restrictions as to share ownership, except that registered shares acquired in a fiduciary capacity by third parties may  
not be registered in the shareholders’ register, unless a special authorisation has been granted by the Board of Directors.

MARKET CAPITALISATION

At the end of 2013, market capitalisation was approximately CHF 16 052 million (2012: CHF 15 848 million). Shares are quoted  
on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

126

CLOSING PRICES FOR SGS AND THE SMI 2012 – 2013

SGS SA

2 500

2 400

2 300

2 200

2 100

2 000

1 900

1 800

1 700

1 600

1 500

1 400

1 300

1 200

1 100

1 000

900

J   F   M   A   M   J   J   A   S   O   N   D J   F   M   A   M   J   J   A   S   O   N   D

2012

HIGH PRICE

CLOSE

LOW PRICE

SGS SA

2013

SWISS MARKET INDEX (MONTHLY CLOSE)

127

SMI

9 750

9 500

9 250

9 000

8 750

8 500

8 250

8 000

7 750

7 500

7 250

7 000

6 750

6 500

6 250

6 000

5 750

DATA

SGS GROUP PRINCIPAL OPERATING COMPANIES AND ULTIMATE PARENT

COUNTRY

NAME AND DOMICILE

ISSUED CAPITAL 
CURRENCY

ISSUED CAPITAL 
AMOUNT

% HELD BY 
GROUP

DIRECT / 
INDIRECT

Albania

Albania

Algeria

Algeria

Angola

Argentina

Argentina

Australia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

SGS Albania Ltd., Tirana

SGS Automotive Albania sh.p.k., Tirana

Qualitest Algérie SPA, Alger

Société de Contrôle Technique Automobile S.A.,  
Rouiba-Alger

SGS Angola Limitada, Luanda

SGS Argentina S.A., Buenos Aires

ITV SA, Buenos Aires

SGS Australia Pty. Ltd., Perth

Gearhart Australia Limited, Perth

SGS Austria Controll-Co. Ges.m.b.H., Vienna

SGS Azeri Ltd., Baku

SGS Bahamas Ltd., Freeport

Bangladesh

SGS Bangladesh Limited, Dhaka

Belarus

Belgium

Benin

Bolivia 

SGS Minsk Ltd., Minsk

SGS Belgium N.V., Antwerpen

SGS Bénin S.A., Cotonou

SGS Bolivia S.A., La Paz

Bosnia-Herzegovina

SGS Bosna i Hercegovina (d.o.o.) Ltd., Sarajevo

Botswana 

SGS Botswana (Proprietary) Limited, Gaborone

Brazil

Brazil

Bulgaria

SGS do Brasil Ltda., São Paulo

SGS Enger Engenharia Ltda, Barueri-SP

SGS Bulgaria Ltd., Sofia

Burkina Faso

SGS Burkina S.A., Ouagadougou

Cameroon

Canada

Chile

Chile

China

Colombia

Colombia

Congo

Croatia 

SGS Cameroun S.A., Douala

SGS Canada Inc., Missisauga

SGS Chile Limitada, Santiago de Chile

CIMM Tecnologias y Servicios S.A.,  
Santiago de Chile

SGS-CSTC Standards Technical  
Services Ltd., Beijing

SGS Colombia S.A., Bogota

Estudios Técnicos S.A., (ETSA), Bogota

SGS Congo S.A., Pointe-Noire

SGS Adriatica, w.l.l., Zagreb

Czech Republic 

SGS Czech Republic s.r.o., Praha

Denmark 

SGS Danmark A / S, Glostrup

Democratic  
Republic of Congo

SGS RDC SPRL, Kinshasa

Dubai 

Ecuador 

Egypt 

Estonia 

(see United Arab Emirates)

SGS del Ecuador S.A., Guayaquil

SGS Egypt Ltd., Cairo

SGS Estonia Ltd., Tallinn

ALL

ALL

DZD

DZD

AOA

ARS

ARS

AUD

AUD

EUR

USD

BSD

BDT

USD

EUR

XOF

BOB

BAM

BWP

BRL

BRL

BGN

XOF

XAF

CAD

CLP

CLP

USD

COP

COP

XAF

HRK

CZK

DKK

USD

USD

EGP

EUR

100 000

190 000 100

50 000 000

173 600 000

8 000 000

4 171 536

1 500 000

200 000

5 609 210

185 000

100 000

5 000

10 000 000

20 000

2 178 200

10 000 000

41 900

2 151

1 000

68 009 486

3 000 000

10 000

10 000 000

10 000 000

20 900 000

9 394 781 237

6 715 706 117

3 966 667

29 084 965 360

265 739 000

10 000 000

1 300 000

7 707 000

700 000

50 000

147 680

1 500 000

42 174

100

100

100

77

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

85

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

D

I

D

D

D

D

I

I

I

D

D

D

D

D

I

D

D

I

D

D

I

D

D

D

D

D

I

I

D

I

D

I

I

I

D

D

D

I

128

COUNTRY

NAME AND DOMICILE

ISSUED CAPITAL 
CURRENCY

ISSUED CAPITAL 
AMOUNT

% HELD BY 
GROUP

DIRECT / 
INDIRECT

Ethiopia 

Finland 

Finland 

France 

France 

France 

Georgia 

Germany 

Germany 

Germany 

Germany

Ghana 

Ghana 

SGS Ethiopia Private Limited, Addis Abeba

SGS Inspection Services Oy, Helsingfors

SGS Fimko Oy, Helsingfors

SGS Oil, Gas & Chemicals, SAS, Arcueil

SGS Qualitest Industrie SAS, Orsay

Securitest S.A., Paris

SGS Georgia Ltd., Batumi

SGS Gottfeld NDT Services GmbH, Herne

SGS Germany GmbH, Hamburg

SGS Institut Fresenius GmbH, Taunusstein

SGS-TÜV GmbH, Sulzbach 

SGS Ghana Limited, Accra

Ghana Community Network  
Services Limited, Accra

Great Britain 

Great Britain

Greece 

Guam 

SGS United Kingdom Limited, Ellesmere Port

SGS M-Scan Limited, Ellesmere Port

SGS Greece SA, Peristeri

SGS Guam, Guam

Guatemala 

SGS Cenral America S.A., Guatemala-City

Guinea-Conakry

SGS Guinée Conakry S.A., Conakry

Guinea-Equatorial

Compañia de Inspecciones y  
Servicios G.E., Malabo

Hong Kong 

SGS Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong

Hungary 

India 

Indonesia 

Iran 

Ireland 

Italy 

Ivory Coast 

Ivory Coast 

Jamaica

Japan 

Jordan 

SGS Hungária Kft., Budapest

SGS India Private Ltd., Mumbai

P.T. SGS Indonesia, Jakarta

SGS Iran (Private Joint Stock) Limited, Tehran

SGS Ireland (Holdings) Limited, Dublin

SGS Italia S.p.A., Milan

SGS Côte d’Ivoire S.A., Abidjan

Société Ivoirienne de Contrôles Techniques 
Automobiles et Industriels S.A., Abidjan

SGS Supervise Jamaica Limited, Kingston

SGS Japan Inc., Yokohama

SGS (Jordan) Private Shareholding Company, 
Amman

Kazakhstan 

SGS Kazakhstan Limited, Almaty

Kenya 

SGS Kenya Limited, Mombasa

Korea (Republic of) 

SGS Korea Co., Ltd., Seoul

Kuwait 

Latvia 

Lebanon 

SGS Kuwait W.L.L., Kuwait

SGS Latvija Limited, Riga

SGS (Liban) S.A.L., Beirut

ETB

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

USD

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

GHS

GHS

GBP

GBP

EUR

USD

GTQ

GNF

XAF

HKD

HUF

INR

USD

IRR

EUR

EUR

XOF

XOF

JMD

JPY

JOD

KZT

KES

KRW

KWD

LVL

LBP

15 000

102 000

260 000

2 320 000

200 000

100

100

100

100

100

2 745 000

92.14

80 000

750 000

1 210 000

7 490 000

750 000

4 005 202

1 978 604

8 000 000

139

301 731

25 000

1 068 000

50 000 000

10 000 000

200 000

518 000 000

800 000

200 000

50 000 000

62 500

2 500 000

300 000 000

200 000 000

1 569 520

100 000 000

100 000

146 527

2 000 000

9 617 540 000

50 000

83 200

100

100

100

100

74.9

100

60

100

100

100

100

100

100

51

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

95

100

100

50

100

100

100

49

100

30 000 000

99.99

D

I

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I

I

I

D

I

I

I

I

D

D

I

I

D

D

D

D

D

D

I

D

D

D

I

I

D

D

D

D

D

D

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129

DATA

COUNTRY

NAME AND DOMICILE

ISSUED CAPITAL 
CURRENCY

ISSUED CAPITAL 
AMOUNT

% HELD BY 
GROUP

DIRECT / 
INDIRECT

Liberia

Lithuania 

SGS Liberia Inc, Monrovia

SGS Klaipeda Ltd., Klaipeda

Luxembourg 

SGS Luxembourg S.A., Windhof

Madagascar 

Madagascar

Malawi 

Malaysia 

Malaysia 

Mali 

Mauritius 

Mexico 

Moldova 

Mongolia 

Morocco 

Morocco

SGS Madagascar SARL, Antananarivo

Malagasy Community Network Services S.A.,  
Antananarivo

SGS Malawi Limited, Blantyre

Petrotechnical Inspection (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.,  
Kuala Lumpur

SGS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur

SGS Minéral Mali Sàrlu, Kayes

SGS (Mauritius) LTD, Phoenix

SGS de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Mexico

SGS (Moldova) S.A., Chisinau

SGS Mongolia LLC, Ulaanbaatar

SGS Maroc S.A., Casablanca

SGS Maroc Automotive SA, Casablanca

Mozambique 

SGS Mozambique, Limitada, Maputo

Myanmar 

Namibia 

Netherlands 

Netherlands

SGS (Myanmar) Limited, Yangon

SGS Inspection Services Namibia 
(Propietary) Limited, Windhoek

SGS Nederland B.V., Spijkenisse

SGS Horizon B.V., Gravenhage

New Zealand 

SGS New Zealand Limited, Auckland-Onehunga

Nigeria 

Norway 

Oman

Pakistan 

Panama 

SGS Inspection Services Nigeria Limited, Lagos

SGS Norge A / S, Austrheim

SGS Gulf Upstream, Oman (Branch office)

SGS Pakistan (Private) Limited, Karachi

SGS Panama Control Services Inc., Panama

Papua-New-Guinea 

SGS PNG Pty. Limited, Port Moresby

Paraguay 

Peru 

SGS Paraguay S.A., Asunción

SGS del Perú S.A.C., Lima

Philippines 

SGS Philippines, Inc., Manila

Poland 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Russia 

Saudi Arabia 

SGS Polska Sp.z o.o., Warsaw

SGS EKO-PROJEKT Sp. z.o.o., Pszczyna

SGS Portugal - Sociedade Geral de  
Superintendência SA, Lisboa

SGS Romania S.A., Bucharest

SGS Vostok Limited, Moscow

SGS Inspection Services Saudi Arabia Ltd., 
Jeddah

LRD

LTL

EUR

MGA

MGA

MWK

MYR

MYR

XOF

MUR

MXN

MDL

USD

MAD

MAD

MZM

MMK

NAD

EUR

EUR

NZD

NGN

NOK

-

PKR

USD

PGK

PYG

PEN

PHP

PLN

PLN

EUR

RON

RUB

SAR

100

40 000

38 000

20 000 000

10 000 000

30 000

500 000

60 000

2 500 000

100 000

7 065 828

488 050

10 000

12 000 000

33 000 000

100 000

300 000

100

250 000

45 000

4 522 190

200 000

803 000

-

2 300 000

850 000

2

1 962 000 000

11 738 890

24 620 000

10 144 200

2 559 000

500 000

100 002

8 000 000

1 000 000

100

100

100

100

70

100

70

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

75

100

100

100

100

100

100

50

100

-

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

75

D

I

I

I

D

D

D

I

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

D

I

I

I

D

D

I

-

D

D

I

D

D

D

I

I

I

I

D

D

130

COUNTRY

NAME AND DOMICILE

ISSUED CAPITAL 
CURRENCY

ISSUED CAPITAL 
AMOUNT

% HELD BY 
GROUP

DIRECT / 
INDIRECT

Senegal 

Serbia 

SGS Sénégal S.A., Dakar

SGS Beograd d.o.o., Beograd

Sierra Leone

SGS (SL) Ltd., Freetown

Singapore 

Slovakia 

Slovenia 

South Africa 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain

Sri Lanka 

Sweden 

Switzerland 

SGS Testing & Control Services  
Singapore Pte Ltd., Singapore

SGS Slovakia spol.s.r.o., Kosice

SGS Slovenija d.o.o. - Podjetje za  
kontrol blaga, Koper

SGS South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, 
Johannesburg

SGS Española de Control S.A., Madrid

SGS Tecnos, S.A., Sociedad Unipersonal, Madrid

General de Servicios ITV, S.A., Madrid

SGS Lanka (Private) Limited, Colombo

SGS Sweden AB, Göteborg

SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA, 
Geneva

Switzerland 

SGS SA, Geneva

Switzerland 

SGS Group Management SA, Geneva

Taiwan 

Tanzania 

Thailand 

Togo 

Tunisia 

Turkey 

SGS Taiwan Limited, Taipei

SGS Tanzania Superintendence Co. Limited, 
Dar-es-Salaam

SGS (Thailand) Limited, Bangkok

SGS Togo S.A., Lomé

SGS Tunisie S.A., Tunis

SGS Supervise Gözetme Etud Kontrol 
Servisleri Anonim Sirketi, Istanbul

Turkmenistan 

SGS Turkmen Ltd., Ashgabat

Uganda 

Ukraine 

SGS Uganda Limited, Kampala

SGS Ukraine, Foreign Enterprise, Odessa

United Arab Emirates  SGS Gulf Limited, Abu Dhabi, (Branch office)

United States 

SGS North America Inc., Wilmington

Uruguay 

Uruguay 

Uzbekistan 

Venezuela 

Vietnam 

Zambia 

SGS Uruguay Limitada, Montevideo

Sociedad Uruguaya de Control Técnico de 
Automotores Sociedad Anónima, Montevideo

SGS Tashkent Ltd., Tashkent

SGS Venezuela S.A., Caracas

SGS Vietnam Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City 

SGS Inspections Services Ltd., Lusaka

Zimbabwe 

SGS Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Harare

XAF

EUR

SLL

SGD

EUR

EUR

ZAR

EUR

EUR

EUR

LKR

SEK

CHF

CHF

CHF

TWD

TZS

THB

XOF

TND

TRY

USD

UGX

USD

–

USD

UYU

UYU

USD

VEF

USD

ZMK

ZWD

35 000 000

66 161

200 000 000

100 000

19 917

10 432

5 100 006

240 000

92 072 034

4 559 657

9 000 000

1 500 000

10 000 000

7 822 436

100 000

62 000 000

250 000

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

20 000 000

99.99

10 000 000

49 500

6 550 000

50 000

5 000 000

400 000

–

73 701 996

1 500

24 000

50 000

162 980

288 000

5 000 000

5 000

100

50

100

100

100

100

–

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

D

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Ultimate  
parent 
company

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131

SHAREHOLDER 
information

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

SGS SA CORPORATE OFFICE

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

INVESTOR RELATIONS SGS SA

Carole Streng

Jean-Luc de Buman

1 place des Alpes

P.O. Box 2152

CH – 1211 Geneva 1

t   +41 (0)22 739 93 31

f   +41 (0)22 739 92 00

www.sgs.com

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING  

OF SHAREHOLDERS

The Annual General Meeting  
of Shareholders will be held  
on 13 March 2014 in Geneva.

CONCEPT, DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPHY, 

REALISATION AND PRODUCTION 

Group Charlescannon Sàrl 
Geneva, Switzerland

PRINTED BY

Hertig Print SA 
Lyss, Switzerland

The 2013 results and financial  
statements are also pu  blished in French.

The English version is binding.

Printed on woodfree offset paper made 
from eucalyptus globulus fibre, whitened 
using PCC (Precipitated Calcium 
Carbonate), February 2014.

1 place des Alpes

P.O. Box 2152

CH – 1211 Geneva 1

t  +41 (0)22 739 91 11

f   +41 (0)22 739 98 86

e   sgs.investor.relations@sgs.com

www.sgs.com

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING

SIX Swiss Exchange, SGSN

STOCK EXCHANGE TRADING

SIX Swiss Exchange

COMMON STOCK SYMBOLS

Bloomberg: Registered Share: SGSN.VX

Reuters: Registered Share: SGSN.VX

Telekurs: Registered Share: SGSN

ISIN: Registered Share: CH0002497458

Swiss security number: 249745

134

135

WWW.SGS.COM

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