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Sulzer AG

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FY2014 Annual Report · Sulzer AG
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Annual Report 2014

BECOMING 
A LEADING 
EQUIPMENT 
AND SERVICE 
PROVIDER

Sulzer is a global partner with reliable and 
sustainable solutions for performance-critical 
applications.

We specialize in pumping solutions, rotating 
equipment maintenance and services as well 
as separation, reaction, and mixing techno-
logy. Combining engineering and application 
expertise, our innovative solutions add value 
and strengthen the competitive position of 
our customers.

Sulzer is a leading provider in its key markets: 
oil and gas, power, and water. We serve  
clients around the world through a network  
of over 150 locations.

Profitability Increased Before  
Goodwill Impairment

Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions, order intake de-
creased slightly and sales increased slightly from the previous 
year. Return on sales before goodwill impairment increased to 
8.4% from 8.1% in the year before.

Sales by division

Sales by region

Sales by market segments

55%
Pumps 
Equip- 
ment

23%
Chemtech

37%
Americas

2014

2014

22%
Rotating  
Equipment Services

24%
Asia-Pacific

20%
General 
industry

13%
Water

2014

54%
Oil and 
gas

13%
Power

39%
Europe, 
Middle 
East, and 
Africa

Key figures

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order backlog

Sales

Change 
in 

2014

2013

+/– % +/– %1)

3 160.8

3 249.9

1 699.6

1 672.1

3 212.1

3 263.9

– 0.6

0.7

1.9

– 2.7

1.6

– 1.6

2.5

1.1

0.5

2.6

Operating income before restructuring, impairment on goodwill, and depreciation/amortization

EBITDA

405.1

395.4

Operating income before restructuring, impairment on goodwill, and amortization

Operating income before restructuring and impairment on goodwill

Operating income before impairment on goodwill

Return on sales before restructuring, impairment on goodwill, and depreciation/amortization  
(EBITDA/sales)

Return on sales before restructuring, impairment on goodwill, and amortization (EBITA/sales)

Return on sales before restructuring and impairment on goodwill (EBITR/sales)

Return on sales before impairment on goodwill (EBIT/sales)

Return on capital employed (EBIT before impairment on goodwill/capital employed)

EBITA

325.9

322.4

EBITR

282.2

280.8

EBIT

271.0

264.0

ROSDA

12.6%

12.1%

ROSA

10.1%

ROSR

ROS

8.8%

8.4%

9.9%

8.6%

8.1%

ROCE

13.0%

12.6%

Net income attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd 2)

Free cash flow 2)

Net liquidity 2)

Employees (number of full-time equivalents) as of December 31

1)   Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.
2)   Includes continuing and discontinued operations.

275.0

234.4

17.3

98.0

218.7

– 55.2

773.5

– 36.2

15 494

15 382

0.7

Strengthening the Competitive  
Position of Our Customers

Sulzer  holds  leading  positions  in  its  key  markets:  oil  and  gas, 
power, and water. We are dedicated to creating long-term value, 
providing sustainable solutions, and strengthening the compet-
itive position of our customers. 

The company at a glance

(EBITR)

Pumps Equipment
Pump technology and solutions
We offer a wide range of pumping solutions and related equipment. Customers benefit from extensive 
research  and  development  in  fluid  dynamics,  process-oriented  products,  and  reliable  services.  Our 
global manufacturing and support network ensures high customer proximity. Our market focus is on:
— Production, transport, and processing of crude oil and derivates
— Supply, treatment, and transport of water as well as wastewater collection
— Fossil-fired, nuclear, and renewable power generation

EBITA and ROSA

CHF 161m (2013: CHF 175m)
9.2% (2013: 9.6%)

Sales

CHF 1 755m (2013: CHF 1 822m)

Order intake
CHF 1 726m (2013: CHF 1 802m)

Rotating Equipment Services 
Service solutions for rotating equipment 
We offer a full range of services for turbines, pumps, compressors, motors, and generators. Customers 
benefit from reliable and efficient repair and maintenance services for pumps, gas and steam turbines, 
compressors, motors, and generators of any brand. Our global network ensures high-quality local serv ice. 
Our market focus is on:
— Industrial gas and steam turbines in the oil and gas and power market
— Turbocompressors
—   Generators and motors for the transportation (marine and rail), the power market, and many more 

industries 

—   Pumps in the oil and gas, the power market, and many more industries

EBITA and ROSA
CHF 78m (2013: CHF 71m)
10.8% (2013: 10.1%)

Sales

CHF 725m (2013: CHF 706m)

Order intake
CHF 725m (2013: CHF 699m)

Chemtech 
Separation, mixing, and service solutions 
We  offer  products  and  services  for  separation,  reaction,  and  mixing  technology.  Customers  benefit  
from  advanced  solutions  in  the  fields  of  process  technology  and  separation  equipment,  as  well  as  
two-component  mixing  and  dispensing  systems.  Our  global  footprint  ensures  local  knowledge  and 
competence. Our market focus is on:
— Separation solutions
— Tower field services
— Two-component mixing and dispensing systems

EBITA and ROSA

CHF 94m (2013: CHF 95m)
12.6% (2013: 12.8%)

Sales

CHF 742m (2013: CHF 744m)

Order intake
CHF 718m (2013: CHF 750m)

Contents

02

Introduction

Letter to the Shareholders 2

04

Focus

Becoming a Leading  
Equipment and  
Service Provider 4

Our Solutions in the Oil  
and Gas Market 6

Our Solutions in the  
Power Market 10

Our Solutions in the  
Water Market 14

61

Compensation 
Report

Compensation Governance  
and Principles 65

Compensation  
Architecture 68

Compensation of the Board  
of Directors and the Executive 
Committee 75

Shareholdings of the Board  
of Directors and the  
Executive Committee 78

Auditors’ Report 80 

81

Financial 
Statements

Consolidated Financial  
Statements 81

Notes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements 88

Five-Year Summaries 147

Financial Statements  
of Sulzer Ltd 150

Investor Information 159

19

Business 
Review

Our Company

Financial Review 21

Our Divisions

Pumps Equipment 26

Rotating Equipment  
Services 28

Chemtech 30 

Our Responsibility

41

Corporate 
Governance

Corporate Structure  
and Shareholders 44

Capital Structure 44

Board of Directors 45

Executive Committee 54

Shareholder Participation  
Rights 54

Takeover and Defense  
Measures 55

Sustainable Development 32

Auditors 55

Innovation and Technology 34

Risk Management 58 

Ecological Sustainability 36

Information Policy 60

Social Commitment 38

2

“We want to go to market as one focused, market- 
oriented company and become a leading equipment  
and service provider in our key markets.”

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Order 
Intake

Operational 
EBITA 

Winterthur, February 10, 2015

ROCE

EBITR

To further increase trans­

ployed before impairment 

restructuring and good­

parency, Sulzer introduces 

on goodwill (ROCE) was 

will impairment (EBITR) 

Return on capital em­

Operating income before 

Order intake was  

Sulzer looks back on over 180 years of industrial history. Since its 

with operational EBITA 

13.0% (2013: 12.6%). 

CHF 3.2 billion (2013: 

establishment in 1834, the company has changed dramatically. 

(op. operating income 

 Despite restructuring  

CHF 3.2 billion). On an 

Change and transformation is a constant companion and an in-

before amortization) a new 

expenses, we exceeded 

adjusted1) basis, this  

dispensable factor in becoming a leading equipment and service 

performance indicator. 

our internal value­creating 

is 0.6% less from 2013.

provider.

Operational EBITA was 

threshold. 

Achievements in 2014

CHF 303 million. Opera­

tional return on sales be­

We divested the Sulzer Metco division and systematically strength-

fore amortization (ROSA) 

FCF 

ened our focus on the three key markets. We created the integrated 

was 9.4% compared to 

service division Rotating Equipment Services. The new service 

9.3% in 2013.
divi sion offers services for gas and steam turbines, compressors, 

EPS

pumps, motors, and generators of any brand. The acquisition of 

Grayson Armature in Houston, TX, USA, and the joint venture with 

Free cash flow (FCF) of 

China Huadian Corporation also further strengthen the service offer-

Net income increased by 

CHF 98.0 million in 2014 

ing and regional footprint of the division. We streamlined our group 

17.7% to CHF 278.1 million 

is lower compared to 

functions at the headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, and adapted 

(2013: CHF 236.2 million) 

Dividend

the CHF 218.7 million 

our operational structure to become an integrated company.

due to the net income 

generated in the previous 

year. Main reason for the 

Go to market as one company

The Board of Directors 

from the Sulzer Metco 

divestiture. This results 

decline was the increase 

“You are doing the right thing,” was a customer’s feedback in 2014 

will propose an ordinary 

in basic earnings per 

in net working capital.

when we presented the new and integrated service division to the 

dividend increase to 

share (EPS) of CHF 8.09 

business. This sort of customer feedback and the positive opera-

 CHF 3.50 (2013: CHF 3.20) 

(2013: CHF 6.89) which  

tional development of the new Rotating Equipment Services division 

per share at the Annual 

is 17.4% higher from the 

are making us confident that we “are doing the right thing”.

General Meeting on 

previous year.

April 1, 2015.

1) Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.

— 1 —

was CHF 282 million. 

This is a slight increase 

of 1.9% from 2013 on 

an adjusted1) basis. The 

goodwill impairment in 

the Water business unit of 

CHF 340 million reduced 

the operating income to a 

negative CHF 69 million. 

Return on sales before 

goodwill impairment and 

restructuring increased 

to 8.8% (2013: 8.6%).

Sales

Sales were CHF 3.2 billion 

(2013: CHF 3.3 billion) 

which is 0.7% more from 

2013 and stable on an 

adjusted1) level.

2

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014

“We want to go to market as one focused, market- 
oriented company and become a leading equipment  
and service provider in our key markets.”

We need to go to market as one company and install single channels 

to market where appropriate as our customers expect a one-stop shop 

for products and services. We are taking advantage of divisional 

synergies and are now able to offer services for all kinds of rotating 

equipment to our customers. 

Maintaining financial discipline

We would like to point out that we will maintain financial discipline in 

merger and acquisition projects, and we will not compete in bidding 

wars. Sulzer is a strong brand with an excellent product and service 

offering. We are very capable of becoming even better in what we 

do and growing profitably. Besides that, Sulzer is always working on 

several merger and acquisition projects to pursue growth opportuni-

ties. In 2014, we were in discussions with the US company Dresser-

Rand about a potential non-cash merger of equals. We have ended 

these discussions with Dresser-Rand and Siemens has announced 

an all-cash takeover bid for Dresser-Rand. Focusing on the three 

key markets oil and gas, power, and water is the right strategy for 

Sulzer. Our strategic focus opens opportunities for us to expand 

our portfolio with complementary offerings—either for equipment or 

services—and, thus, make better use of our global sales channels 

and our manufacturing and service footprint. In 2014, orders in the 

oil and gas market increased whereas demand in the power, water, 

and the general industry were slightly lower. 

Financial performance in 2014

Order intake was CHF 3.2 billion (2013: CHF 3.2 billion). Adjusted 

for currency effects and acquisitions, this is 0.6% less from 2013. 

Sales were CHF 3.2 billion (2013: CHF 3.3 billion) which is stable 

on an adjusted level compared with the previous year. The goodwill 

impairment in the Water business unit of CHF 340 million reduced 

the operating income to a negative CHF 69 million. Return on sales 

before goodwill impairment increased to 8.4% (2013: 8.1%).

— 2 —

Order 
Intake

Operational 
EBITA 

ROCE

EBITR

The net income in 2014 increased by 17.7% to CHF 278.1 million 

Operating income before 

restructuring and good­

will impairment (EBITR) 

was CHF 282 million. 

(2013: CHF 236.2 million). This results in basic earnings per share of 

Return on capital em­

CHF 8.09 (2013: CHF 6.89) which is 17.4% higher from the previous 

To further increase trans­

ployed before impairment 

year. The Board of Directors will propose an ordinary dividend in-

parency, Sulzer introduces 

on goodwill (ROCE) was 

Order intake was  

crease to CHF 3.50 (2013: CHF 3.20) per share at the Annual General 

with operational EBITA 

13.0% (2013: 12.6%). 

We need to go to market as one company and install single channels 

to market where appropriate as our customers expect a one-stop shop 

for products and services. We are taking advantage of divisional 

synergies and are now able to offer services for all kinds of rotating 

equipment to our customers. 

Maintaining financial discipline

We would like to point out that we will maintain financial discipline in 

merger and acquisition projects, and we will not compete in bidding 

wars. Sulzer is a strong brand with an excellent product and service 

offering. We are very capable of becoming even better in what we 

do and growing profitably. Besides that, Sulzer is always working on 

several merger and acquisition projects to pursue growth opportuni-

ties. In 2014, we were in discussions with the US company Dresser-

Rand about a potential non-cash merger of equals. We have ended 

these discussions with Dresser-Rand and Siemens has announced 

an all-cash takeover bid for Dresser-Rand. Focusing on the three 

key markets oil and gas, power, and water is the right strategy for 

Sulzer. Our strategic focus opens opportunities for us to expand 

our portfolio with complementary offerings—either for equipment or 

services—and, thus, make better use of our global sales channels 

and our manufacturing and service footprint. In 2014, orders in the 

oil and gas market increased whereas demand in the power, water, 

and the general industry were slightly lower. 

Financial performance in 2014

Order intake was CHF 3.2 billion (2013: CHF 3.2 billion). Adjusted 

for currency effects and acquisitions, this is 0.6% less from 2013. 

Sales were CHF 3.2 billion (2013: CHF 3.3 billion) which is stable 

CHF 3.2 billion (2013: 

Meeting on April 1, 2015.

(op. operating income 

 Despite restructuring  

This is a slight increase 

CHF 3.2 billion). On an 

before amortization) a new 

expenses, we exceeded 

of 1.9% from 2013 on 

adjusted1) basis, this  

Market orientation of the divisions

performance indicator. 

our internal value­creating 

an adjusted1) basis. The 

is 0.6% less from 2013.

We prepared the new market-oriented setup for our biggest division 
threshold. 

Operational EBITA was 

last year. Since the beginning of 2015, Pumps Equipment is set up 

CHF 303 million. Opera­

according to the market segments oil and gas, power, and water. 

tional return on sales be­

We expect a direct benefit from this new operational setup on all our 

fore amortization (ROSA) 

FCF 

business units and for their customers around the world. It will not 

was 9.4% compared to 

only further enhance competitiveness, but also quality and delivery 
9.3% in 2013.
times. This year, we will also manage our factories globally and we 

EPS

will invest in organic growth as well as in external growth.

Free cash flow (FCF) of 

Our Chemtech division continues to provide its customers with 

Net income increased by 

CHF 98.0 million in 2014 

outstanding solutions for static equipment, such as separating and 

17.7% to CHF 278.1 million 

is lower compared to 

mixing solutions, including tower field services. The Chemtech divi-

(2013: CHF 236.2 million) 

Dividend

the CHF 218.7 million 

sion is already market-oriented. 

generated in the previous 

year. Main reason for the 

Volatility in the oil and gas market

The Board of Directors 

due to the net income 

from the Sulzer Metco 

divestiture. This results 

decline was the increase 

With a share of sales of 54% (2013: 51%), our exposure in the oil and 

will propose an ordinary 

in basic earnings per 

in net working capital.

gas market has increased. We are very well aware of our oil and 

dividend increase to 

share (EPS) of CHF 8.09 

gas customers showing more capital discipline. The recent oil price 

 CHF 3.50 (2013: CHF 3.20) 

(2013: CHF 6.89) which  

development does not help favorable investment decisions in the 

per share at the Annual 

is 17.4% higher from the 

short term. Nevertheless, the absolute level of investments is still 
April 1, 2015.
expected to remain high. We believe that in such an environment, 

General Meeting on 

previous year.

on an adjusted level compared with the previous year. The goodwill 

we should be able to benefit from our enhanced service offering. 

impairment in the Water business unit of CHF 340 million reduced 

In 2014, we achieved again a healthy level of 45% of our sales in 

the operating income to a negative CHF 69 million. Return on sales 

the service business (2013: 44%). In addition, we offer technolo-

before goodwill impairment increased to 8.4% (2013: 8.1%).

gies—for instance through Chemtech’s acquisition of ASCOM and 

1) Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.

— 2 —

— 3 —

goodwill impairment in 

the Water business unit of 

CHF 340 million reduced 

the operating income to a 

negative CHF 69 million. 

Return on sales before 

goodwill impairment and 

restructuring increased 

to 8.8% (2013: 8.6%).

Sales

Sales were CHF 3.2 billion 

(2013: CHF 3.3 billion) 

which is 0.7% more from 

2013 and stable on an 

adjusted1) level.

2

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014

“We want to go to market as one focused, market- 
oriented company and become a leading equipment  
and service provider in our key markets.”

ProLabNL—that support our customers in reducing their investment 

and operational costs significantly. These technologies further 

strengthen Sulzer’s position in the oil and gas market. Our share 

of sales of 42% (2013: 42%) in emerging markets demonstrates 

our comprehensive global footprint in both the equipment and the 

service businesses. 

Impact of the stronger Swiss franc

The Swiss National Bank’s decision to end its three-year policy of 

capping the Swiss franc at 1.20 per euro, makes the Swiss franc 

stronger. With a strong global footprint and over 150 service and 

production facilities around the world, Sulzer manufactures in large 

parts in the region for the region. Besides the currency translation 

effect, the impact of currency shifts is limited. 

Accelerating transformation

We have introduced a strategic program that frames and accelerates 

our transformation journey to become one focused, market-oriented, 

globally operating company. With this program called Sulzer Full 

Potential, we have an integrated approach on strategy, operating 

model, and operational excellence. We have identified measures 

how to reduce the complexity, maximize the synergies, and improve 

our efficiency. An integrated road map to execute the Sulzer Full 

Potential Program as well as tracking of the results is in place. We 

want to create an organization capable of adapting quickly to chang-

ing market conditions and support our aim to profitably grow. From 

2017 onwards, Sulzer targets to improve profitability by four to six 

percentage points. 

— 4 —

Operational 
EBITA 

ROCE

EBITR

Order 
Intake

Changes in the Board and the management

Peter Löscher was newly elected as member and Chairman of the 

Return on capital em­

Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting 2014. Matthias 

To further increase trans­

ployed before impairment 

Bichsel was also newly elected as member to the Board of Directors 

parency, Sulzer introduces 

on goodwill (ROCE) was 

Order intake was  

at the Annual General Meeting 2014. César Montenegro, Division 

with operational EBITA 

13.0% (2013: 12.6%). 

CHF 3.2 billion (2013: 

President of Sulzer Metco and member of the Executive Committee, 

(op. operating income 

 Despite restructuring  

CHF 3.2 billion). On an 

was appointed Division President of Pumps Equipment as of June 

before amortization) a new 

expenses, we exceeded 

adjusted1) basis, this  

2014, replacing Scot Smith. Thomas Dittrich was appointed Chief 

performance indicator. 

our internal value­creating 

is 0.6% less from 2013.

Financial Officer and member of the Executive Committee as of 

Operational EBITA was 

threshold. 

August 2014, replacing Jürgen Brandt.

CHF 303 million. Opera­

Outlook for 2015 (adjusted for currency effects)

fore amortization (ROSA) 

tional return on sales be­

FCF 

The markets are becoming increasingly volatile because of the cur-

was 9.4% compared to 

rent development of the oil price, regional conflicts, and geopoliti-
9.3% in 2013.
cal developments. The low oil price could influence our business 

EPS

negatively over time. However, our business mix is balanced through 

our 45% service share, our exposure to other markets, regions, and 

Free cash flow (FCF) of 

across customer segments. Activity in the power market is forecast 

Net income increased by 

CHF 98.0 million in 2014 

to remain stable and the general industry is expected to slightly 

17.7% to CHF 278.1 million 

is lower compared to 

increase. The water market is anticipated to slightly increase.

(2013: CHF 236.2 million) 

Dividend

the CHF 218.7 million 

due to the net income 

generated in the previous 

For the full year 2015, adjusted for currency effects, order intake  

from the Sulzer Metco 

year. Main reason for the 

is expected to slightly decrease and sales is anticipated to be flat. 

The Board of Directors 

divestiture. This results 

decline was the increase 

To further increase transparency, Sulzer introduces with operational 

will propose an ordinary 

in basic earnings per 

in net working capital.

EBITA (op. operating income before amortization) a new perfor-

dividend increase to 

share (EPS) of CHF 8.09 

mance indicator. Operational EBITA is forecast to be flat. From 

 CHF 3.50 (2013: CHF 3.20) 

(2013: CHF 6.89) which  

2017 onwards, Sulzer targets to improve profitability by four to six 

per share at the Annual 

is 17.4% higher from the 

Operating income before 

restructuring and good­

will impairment (EBITR) 

was CHF 282 million. 

This is a slight increase 

of 1.9% from 2013 on 

an adjusted1) basis. The 

goodwill impairment in 

the Water business unit of 

CHF 340 million reduced 

the operating income to a 

negative CHF 69 million. 

Return on sales before 

goodwill impairment and 

restructuring increased 

to 8.8% (2013: 8.6%).

Sales

Sales were CHF 3.2 billion 

(2013: CHF 3.3 billion) 

which is 0.7% more from 

percentage points.

General Meeting on 

previous year.

2013 and stable on an 

April 1, 2015.

adjusted1) level.

1) Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.

— 5 —

2

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014

“We want to go to market as one focused, market- 
oriented company and become a leading equipment  
and service provider in our key markets.”

Dear shareholder, we thank you for your confidence and continued 

support. We thank our employees for their outstanding agility and 

commitment, and we would also like to thank our customers and 

partners for their great and sustained cooperation. 

Yours sincerely,

Peter Löscher  

Klaus Stahlmann

Chairman of the Board 

CEO

— 6 —

 
 
 
 
 
Order 
Intake

Operational 
EBITA 

ROCE

EBITR

To further increase trans­

ployed before impairment 

restructuring and good­

parency, Sulzer introduces 

on goodwill (ROCE) was 

will impairment (EBITR) 

Return on capital em­

Operating income before 

Order intake was  

with operational EBITA 

13.0% (2013: 12.6%). 

was CHF 282 million. 

CHF 3.2 billion (2013: 

(op. operating income 

 Despite restructuring  

This is a slight increase 

CHF 3.2 billion). On an 

before amortization) a new 

expenses, we exceeded 

of 1.9% from 2013 on 

adjusted1) basis, this  

performance indicator. 

our internal value­creating 

an adjusted1) basis. The 

is 0.6% less from 2013.

Operational EBITA was 

threshold. 

CHF 303 million. Opera­

tional return on sales be­

fore amortization (ROSA) 

was 9.4% compared to 

9.3% in 2013.

Dividend

FCF 

Free cash flow (FCF) of 

CHF 98.0 million in 2014 

is lower compared to 

the CHF 218.7 million 

generated in the previous 

EPS

Net income increased by 

17.7% to CHF 278.1 million 

(2013: CHF 236.2 million) 

due to the net income 

from the Sulzer Metco 

year. Main reason for the 

The Board of Directors 

divestiture. This results 

decline was the increase 

will propose an ordinary 

in basic earnings per 

goodwill impairment in 

the Water business unit of 

CHF 340 million reduced 

the operating income to a 

negative CHF 69 million. 

Return on sales before 

goodwill impairment and 

restructuring increased 

to 8.8% (2013: 8.6%).

Sales

in net working capital.

dividend increase to 

share (EPS) of CHF 8.09 

Sales were CHF 3.2 billion 

 CHF 3.50 (2013: CHF 3.20) 

(2013: CHF 6.89) which  

(2013: CHF 3.3 billion) 

per share at the Annual 

is 17.4% higher from the 

which is 0.7% more from 

General Meeting on 

previous year.

2013 and stable on an 

April 1, 2015.

adjusted1) level.

1) Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.

4

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014

BECOMING 
A LEADING 
EQUIPMENT
AND SERVICE 
PROVIDER

HOW WE SERvE OuR KEy MARKETS

Sulzer  helps  fulfill  the  global  demand  for  oil  and  gas  and  the  related  industries.  Our  solutions  benefit 

customers  in  the  upstream,  midstream,  and  downstream  segments.  Our  customers  are  oil  and  gas 

majors, national oil companies, refineries, contractors, and local customers.

Sulzer  helps  satisfy  the  global  demand  for  energy.  Our  solutions  add  value  in  fossil-fired,  nuclear,  and 

 renewable  power  generation.  Our  customers  are  utility  providers,  contractors,  end  users,  and  local  

customers.

Sulzer helps meet the global demand for clean water. Our solutions are essential for water transport and 

use, as well as desalination and wastewater treatment. Our customers are municipalities, contractors, 

private water companies, and customers in agriculture.

BECOMING 

A LEADING 

EQUIPMENT

AND SERVICE 

PROVIDER

Focus — Becoming a Leading Equipment and Service Provider

5

FACTS AND FIGuRES

15 494

Number of employees (full-time 

equivalents) working for Sulzer as of 

December 31, 2014.

100

Number of service sites worldwide  

since merging the two existing service 

businesses into one service division 

called Rotating Equipment Services.

41Number of countries with at least one 

legal entity worldwide. Sulzer has a 

strong global footprint with service and 

production facilities.

45%

Share of sales in service in 2014. This 

underlines the positive impact of creating 

an integrated service division.

6

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014

REDUCING WEIGHT AND  
INVESTMENTS

Oil and water in the gas stream can lead to damage of equipment and the environment.  
To separate liquids from gas, Santos relies on Sulzer’s advanced inline technology. The 
Australian oil and gas producer benefits from big savings in investment, space, and weight.

Focus — Oil and Gas Market

7

FACTS AND FIGuRES

99%

Efficiency achieved with two separation 

stages and minimum space (as compared 

with conventional separation technology).

115%

Stable operation still achieved at 15 % 

over the design capacity.

90%

Reduction in weight from that of conven-

tional separator technology. Compact 

technology is very suitable for mature 

facilities modification, especially on oil 

and gas rigs, where space and weight 

are critical parameters.

50%

Reduced investments from those for 

conventional separation technology. 

With compact processing technologies, 

oil and gas processing equipment can 

be vastly reduced in size and weight, re-

sulting in reduced capital expenditures.

8

Plasma-cutting machine

The plasma-cutting process is used to  
cut steel and other metals of different 
thicknesses. Sulzer’s new plasma-cutting 
equipment shows the company’s 
commitment to technology leadership.

Our solutions in the oil  
and gas market

Pump systems both onshore and 
offshore (including subsea) for the 
production and transportation of 
crude oil, derivates, and liquefied 
natural gas

Process components such as 
fractionation trays, structured and 
random packings, liquid and gas 
distributors, gas-liquid separators, 
and internals for separation columns

Service for mechanical and electro-
mechanical rotating equipment 

Tray and packing installation, welding, 
tower maintenance, and plant 
turnaround projects

Polymerization technology for the 
production of PLA (polylactic acid) 
and EPS (expandable polystyrene)

Farbanpassung nötig

ProLabNL, acquired by Sulzer in 2014, offers one of the world’s most advanced multiphase flow loops.  
It simulates real oil field conditions under high- or low-pressure conditions.

The Wortel gas field is located offshore East Java, Indonesia, in the Indian Ocean. It was discovered in 
2006  and  is  operated  by  Santos,  an  Australian  oil  and  gas  producer.  Since  2012,  Santos  has  been 
producing gas predominantly from two wells that are drilled to a depth of over 2 000 meters.

Water and oil in the gas streams can lead to blockages and corrosion in the pipes, as well as damage 
to  compressors  and  other  downstream  equipment.  Moreover,  oil  in  the  water  raises  environmental 
concerns because this water is typically released into the environment. To separate the liquid from the 
gas stream, Santos requires special separation equipment. The oil and gas producer decided to use an 
inline separation system—the Twinline™ separator from ASCOM (acquired by Sulzer in 2014). With this 
advanced  technology,  Santos  benefits  from  big  savings  in  both  investment  and  overall  weight  and 
space, which are very important to all offshore suppliers.

The inline separator was installed early 2012 on the platform from Santos. It has been operational since 
March 2012 and is performing well, with over 99% predicted efficiency. In operation, the flow rate of gas 
has been increased to 15% above the nominal design rate, and the operational results are excellent. 
Santos  considers  it  a  proven  technology  with  high  performance.  The  Twinline—one  of  several  inline 
separators from ASCOM—makes compact offshore processing solutions feasible and achieves high 
separation efficiency. ASCOM expands the offering of the Chemtech division for gas-liquid, liquid-liquid, 
and gas-liquid-sand separation technologies.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
Focus — Oil and Gas Market

9

Sulzer is a leading provider of separation technologies. The company’s portfolio includes state-of-the-art products for distillation, 
absorption, stripping, evaporation, phase separation, liquid-liquid extraction, crystallization, and membrane separation.

 
10

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014

BOOSTING SERVICE IN 
CHINA’S POWER MARkET

Sulzer  and  the  China  Huadian  Corporation  have  joined  forces  to  boost  service  in  the  
Chinese  power  market.  The  two  companies  formed  a  joint  venture  that  will  become  a  
major player for rotating equipment service in China.

Focus — Power Market

11

bearbeiten

FACTS AND FIGuRES

350

Average number of gas turbine orders 

received and executed per year. Gas 

turbines have to be fired to highest 

possible temperatures to get the best 

efficiency and the highest output.

5%

Average boost in customers’ annual 

performance through Sulzer’s retrofit 

programs for rotating equipment.

275 000

Meters of copper used in the production 

of coils. Sulzer is one of the leading 

manufacturers of high-voltage coils in 

the world. 

9 000

Safety walks to improve safety for cus-

tomers and employees and to identify 

dangers before an accident happens. 

Safety walks are performed in manufac-

turing sites, service centers, and offices.

12

High-voltage coil manufacturing

Copper is the main ingredient in the 
manufacturing of high-voltage coils, which 
are used in motors and generators.

Farbanpassung nötig

Many gas turbines installed in the 1980s are still in operation. Sulzer’s combined global service division 
comprises 100 service and sales sites in over 25 countries.

Our solutions in the power market

Pumps for fossil-fired and nuclear 
power plants as well as renewable 
power generation

Advanced solutions for carbon 
capture and storage

Repair and maintenance services  
for turbines, compressors, pumps, 
generators, and motors

The  global  population  is  growing  steadily  and  the  mobility  of  those  people  is  also  on  the  rise.  The  
demand for electricity is increasing twice as fast as overall energy consumption. The world will need a 
greatly increased energy supply within the next twenty years. Sulzer meets this need with its unique 
service solutions for the power market. Innovative processes and products help to reduce the opera-
tional cost of power stations, increase the reliability of rotating equipment, and extend the lifetime of 
important machinery such as gas turbines.

Because China is rapidly industrializing, its need for energy is constantly growing. One of China’s 
biggest utility companies was looking for a partner for the service of its gas turbines. China Huadian 
Corporation (CHD) is the leader in gas turbine fleet development in China. CHD needed a partner to help 
them to provide fast and flexible service for their multiple brands of gas turbines and lower total cost of 
ownership. CHD decided to work with Sulzer to combine the expertise of both companies and provide 
a single-point solution.

Sulzer provides products and services for gas turbines including parts, field service, maintenance, and 
overhaul  services.  As  a  specialist  in  component  repair  and  component  manufacturing,  Sulzer  also 
provides services and know-how for lifetime extension of the equipment from its competence center in 
Venlo, the Netherlands. CHD’s main businesses are the generation and supply of electricity and heat, 
the development of power-related primary energy (such as coal), and the supply of pertinent techno-
logical service. The joint venture offers Sulzer the unique opportunity to become a major player for rotating 
equipment service in China’s power market.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Focus — Power Market

13

From inspection and coil manufacturing to complete rotor and stator rewinds and remanufacturing, Sulzer offers 
a full range of services for generators, motors, and other rotating electromechanical equipment. These services 
focus on fossil-fired plants as well as renewable power generation.

14

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014

REDUCING DOWNTIME AT 
A WATER UTILITy

Winslow Township in New Jersey, uSA, operates its own in­house water and sewer utility. 
The town sought relief from its clog­prone, unreliable pumps. Sulzer’s reliable submersible 
pumps and local service support solved the problems and enabled maintenance personnel 
to focus on other municipal maintenance issues.

Focus — Water Market

15

FACTS AND FIGuRES

520

Hours per year of service overtime and 

USD 20 000 saved since installation of 

Sulzer’s reliable sewage pumps. The 

contrablock impeller te chnology solved 

the clogging problems at the water 

station in Winslow Township, NJ, USA.

28%

Percentage of pumps from Winslow 

Township’s lift stations that have already 

been upgraded with pumps from Sulzer.

20 000

Units of these types of pumps that are 

installed annually in the USA. These 

pumps are essential for keeping North 

America’s sanitary systems operating. 

This represents 65% of all installed 

pumps in the country.

2 500

Residences that are now being serviced 

by pumps from Sulzer in the area of 

Winslow Township. The Sulzer facilities 

in Easley, SC, and Meriden, SC, are 

providing strong service and technical 

support to customers in this area.

16

Submersible sewage  
pump type ABS XFP

ABS XFP pumps provide reliable, 
economical pumping of heavily polluted 
sewage in commercial, industrial, and 
municipal applications.

The state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Easley, SC, USA, offers a top-notch test facility for submersible 
wastewater pumps.

Our solutions in the water market

Pumps and related equipment  
(such as lifters, mixers, aerators, 
compressors, control and monitoring 
equipment, as well as services) 

Pumps for water transport and use

Pumping solutions in desalination  
and wastewater treatment

Service for electromechanical 
equipment, e.g., motors as well as 
mechanical equipment such as 
pumps

Winslow Township is the largest town in Camden County, NJ, USA. The town runs its own in-house 
water and sewer utility. The pumps installed in the two pumps stations—Ivy Hall and Victoria Manor—
often clogged and experienced reliability issues. Even partially clogged pumps greatly reduce energy 
efficiency. Customer callout time and overtime to service these stations was very high.

Sulzer supported Winslow Township in the upgrade and expansion of its municipal water and sewer 
system by supplying Ivy Hall and Victoria Manor with more reliable submersible ABS XFP pumps. These 
pumps handle the tough solids better than the competitor’s clog-prone pumps did. Moreover, the cus-
tomer needed strong local service support and product technology from Sulzer to help solve its prob-
lem. To better service the market, Sulzer has invested by leveraging the state-of-the-art manufacturing 
facility in Easley, SC, for configuration and testing of submersible wastewater pumps.

The submersible sewage pumps with contrablock impeller were put into service at both of these sta-
tions  in  Winslow  Township.  The  Sulzer  pumps  immediately  solved  the  clogging  issue  and  Winslow 
Township has not experienced a clogging issue with these pumps in over a year of service. Maintenance 
personnel have had more time to attend to other municipal maintenance issues aside from unclogging 
or servicing pumps.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Focus — Water Market

17

“The Sulzer ABS XFP pumps have been performing exceptionally well without any problems at all. Their rag-handling 
ability has been exceptional, and our operators love them. We will definitely be adding more of these pumps to our 
system and would recommend them to others,” states the customer at Winslow Township, NJ, USA.

18

NUMBER OF LOCATIONS

150

SHARE OF SALES IN  
EMERGING MARkETS

42%

A Global Service 
and Production 
Footprint to Meet 
Customers’ Needs

Our  customers  require  the  best  products 
and  services  at  the  highest  quality  stand­
ards in the industry. We are present with over 
150 production and service sites around the 
world and generate more than 42% of sales 
in  emerging  markets.  We  are  close  to  our 
customers and help them meet their needs.

Major production and service locations

Sulzer — Annual Report 201419

Business 
Review

i

w
e
v
e
R
s
s
e
n
s
u
B

i

 
Business 
Review

Our Company

Financial Review 21

Our Divisions

Pumps Equipment 26

Rotating Equipment  
Services 28

Chemtech 30 

Our Responsibility

Sustainable Development 32

Innovation and Technology 34

Ecological Sustainability 36

Social Commitment 38

Business Review — Financial Review

21

Profitability Increased Before  
Goodwill Impairment 

Adjusted  for  currency  and  acquisition  effects,  order  intake  decreased  slightly 
and sales increased slightly from the previous year. Return on sales before good-
will  impairment  increased  to  8.4%  from  8.1%  in  the  year  before.  The  goodwill 
impairment  in  the  Water  business  unit  of  CHF  340  million  reduced  operating 
 income to a negative CHF 69 million. Net liquidity increased by CHF 810 million, 
mainly due to proceeds from the Sulzer Metco divestiture. 

Slight decrease of order intake despite a strong fourth quarter
Order intake, adjusted for currency translation effects as well as acquisition effects, decreased by 0.6%, 
while nominal total orders decreased by 2.7% to CHF 3.2 billion. 

The service business was strong, resulting in an adjusted growth of 4.8% for the Rotating Equipment 
Services  division.  The  higher  capital  discipline  of  the  oil  companies  affected  the  Pumps  Equipment 
 division, which generates more than 50% of its orders in the oil and gas segment. The division reported 
an adjusted decrease in order intake of 1.2%. Chemtech could not sustain the level of the previous year, 
mainly due to fewer large projects in the Process Technology business unit. 

In 2014, orders in the oil and gas market increased whereas the power, water, and the general industry 
were slightly lower. The Americas region reported strong order intake with an increase of 4% over the 
previous  year.  The  Asia-Pacific  region  weakened  in  2014  compared  with  2013,  while  the  activity  in 
 Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) remained fairly stable. 

The three divisions reported the following growth rates:
— Pumps Equipment: – 4.2% (– 1.2% adjusted)
— Rotating Equipment Services: 3.7% (4.8% adjusted)
— Chemtech: – 4.2% (– 3.2% adjusted)

The currency translation effect amounted to a negative CHF 89.9 million. Weakening of the Brazilian 
real, the Russian ruble, and the US dollar had an adverse effect, while the strengthening of the British 
pound  positively  influenced  the  nominal  order  intake.  The  effect  from  acquisitions  and  divestitures 
 contributed CHF 19.3 million in 2014, mainly from the Grayson acquisition in the Rotating Equipment 
Services division (CHF 11.2 million), ASCOM B.V. and ProLabNL B.V. (CHF 18.6 million) in the Chemtech 
division, and the divestiture of Innotec in Chemtech (CHF – 12.4 million).

Free cash flow 

CHF 98.0m

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order backlog as of December 31

2014

2013

3 160.8

3 249.9

1 699.6

1 672.1

Orders

The order backlog as of December 31, 2014 increased slightly to CHF 1 699.6 million (December 31, 
2013: CHF 1 672.1 million).

Slight sales increase on an adjusted basis
Sales of CHF 3.2 billion were recorded in 2014, a nominal decrease of 1.6% due to adverse currency 
translation effects (adjusted + 0.7%). The growth rates of the divisions are as follows: 
— Pumps Equipment: – 3.7% (– 0.6% adjusted)
— Rotating Equipment Services: 2.7% (3.4% adjusted)
— Chemtech: – 0.3% (1.6% adjusted)

The negative currency translation effect amounted to CHF 89.5 million, while acquisition effects added 
CHF 14.2 million. 

22

ROCE

13.0%

In 2014, sales in the oil and gas and the water market increased, but were lower in the power and the 
general industry. Sales in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region were up from previous year, and 
were down in EMEA. The share of sales in the emerging markets was stable at 42%.

Better gross margin despite lower volumes 
Gross  margin  increased  to  31.4%  compared  with  30.7%  in  2013.  Chemtech  and  Pumps  Equipment 
both reported better margins than in the previous year, while Rotating Equipment Services remained  
on a similar level to 2013. Total gross profit increased by CHF 6.9 million to CHF 1 009.9 million (2013: 
CHF 1 003.0 million) with higher margins being offset by slightly lower sales volumes.

Operating income: higher gross profit and stable operating expenses 
Operating income before goodwill impairment increased by 4.2% on an adjusted basis (nominal 2.6%). 
Total operating expenses—excluding goodwill impairment—remained on the same level as in 2013. Sell-
ing as well as general and administration expenses decreased from the previous year, largely resulting 
from the restructuring programs initiated in 2013. Restructuring measures continued in 2014, while re-
structuring costs of CHF 11.2 million were lower than the CHF 16.8 million in 2013. Rotating Equipment 
Services launched a restructuring program in 2014 in the UK, while Pumps Equipment further intensified 
the restructuring efforts in the Water business unit. 

Lower administration expenses were partially reinvested into R&D programs. A total of CHF 76.2 million 
was spent for research and development activities, which is an increase of 8% and, in relation to sales, 
an increase from 2.2% to 2.4% of sales. This supports the objective of achieving leading positions 
in  Sulzer’s  key  markets  through  continuing  investments  in  technology  and  innovation.  In  addition  to 
higher R&D costs, the other operating income was lower in 2014 resulting in total operating expenses of 
CHF 738.9 million (excluding goodwill impairment), flat on 2013 with CHF 739.0 million. 

With stable operating expenses, the higher gross profit of CHF 6.9 million directly improved operating 
income. This resulted in a slightly higher operating income before impairment of CHF 271.0 million (com-
pared to CHF 264.0 million in 2013).

Goodwill impairment in Water business unit
The goodwill impairment resulted from the change of estimated future growth and profitability assump-
tions in order to bring them in line with expected market developments. This affected the results of the 
Pumps Equipment division and the results of Sulzer overall. On a group level, the goodwill impairment 
of CHF 340 million resulted in a negative operating income of CHF 69.0 million as reported.

Adjusted for the goodwill impairment impact from the Water business unit, return on sales (ROS) in-
creased to 8.4% from 8.1% in the previous year, largely supported by cost reduction on group level. On 
an as-reported basis return on sales is – 2.1%.

The divisions achieved the following return on sales (ROS) figures:
—  Pumps Equipment: 7.8% (2013: 7.9%). Lower sales volumes and higher under-absorption costs were 
compensated by better margins and lower selling expenses. Including the goodwill impairment of 
CHF 340 million, the profitability dropped to – 11.6%.

—  Rotating  Equipment  Services:  9.0%  (2013:  9.1%).  Sales  volumes  and  margins  improved  but  were 
offset by under-absorption and higher selling costs. The restructuring expenses of CHF 7.2 million 
for a program in the UK were offset by the gain from a property sale in London that was included in 
other operating income. 

—  Chemtech: 10.6% (2013: 11.0%). Continuing high level of profitability. However, return on sales was 

slightly below the previous year due to a less favorable business mix. 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Business Review — Financial Review

23

Return on sales (EBIT/sales)

Return on sales before restructuring (EBITR/sales)

Operational return on sales before amortization (opEBITA/sales)

ROS

ROSR

opROSA

2014

8.4%

8.8%

9.4%

2013

8.1%

8.6%

9.3%

Key performance ratios  
before goodwill impairment

Return on capital employed (EBIT/capital employed)

ROCE

13.0%

12.6%

EBIT before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was CHF 393.9 million (12.3% of sales) compared 
with CHF 378.6 million in 2013 (11.6% of sales). Depreciation and amortization totaled CHF 122.9 million 
in 2014 plus the goodwill impairment of CHF 340 million. Compared with the previous year and before 
the goodwill impairment impact, this represents an increase of CHF 8.3 million, which includes higher 
acquisition-related depreciation and amortization. 

Introducing operational EBITA 
To further increase transparency, Sulzer introduces with operational EBITA (op. operating income before 
amortization)  a  new  performance  indicator.  Operational  EBITA  better  reflects  the  ongoing  business 
performance and allows for better comparability between periods and peers. 

millions of CHF

Reported EBIT

Amortization

Impairment on goodwill

Restructuring expenses

Adjustments for other non-operational items1)

Operational EBITA

Operational ROSA (opEBITA/sales)

2014

2013

– 69.0

264.0 

43.7

41.6 

340.0 

– 

11.2

16.8 

– 23.0

– 18.3

302.9 

304.1

9.4%

9.3%

Operational EBITA

r
e
n
n
e
r
t
l
e
t
i
p
a
K

1) Other non-operational items include significant acquisition-related expenses, gains, and losses from sale of 
businesses or real estate (including release of provisions), and certain non-operational items that are non-recurring 
or do not regularly occur in similar magnitude.

Divestiture of Sulzer Metco 
The divestiture of Sulzer Metco was successfully closed in June 2014. Sulzer Metco was already shown 
as discontinued operations in 2013, since the intention to divest Sulzer Metco was set and had been 
communicated during the financial year 2013. Proceeds from the divestiture increased the cash posi-
tions by CHF 870.4 million.

Financial income: increased cash position leads to higher interest income 
Higher cash positions from the divestiture of Sulzer Metco increased the interest income slightly from 
CHF  5.0  million  in  2013  to  CHF  6.8  million  in  2014.  The  decrease  in  interest  expenses  due  to  lower 
borrow ings contributed further. Included in the financial results 2014 are currency exchange gains of 
CHF  1.4  million,  while  in  2013  currency  exchange  losses  of  CHF  4.8  million  were  reported.  In  total,  
the  financial  income  is  CHF  – 16.7  million,  CHF  5.1  million  higher  than  in  the  previous  year  (2013: 
CHF – 21.8 million). 

Effective income tax rate increased, adjusted for goodwill impairment 
Pre-tax  income  increased  by  CHF  12.1  million  or  5.0%  to  CHF  254.3  million.  Income  tax  expenses 
 increased  by  CHF  6.0  million  or  9.1%  from  last  year,  resulting  in  a  higher  effective  tax  rate  of  28.3% 
(2013: 27.2%). The reported tax rate is inflated by the non-tax-deductible goodwill impairment.

24

Net income: Sulzer Metco divestiture offset by goodwill impairment 
Net  income  from  discontinued  operations  of  CHF  435.7  million  is  up  from  CHF  59.9  million  in  2013, 
which reflected Sulzer Metco’s operating result in 2013. The increase in 2014 is due to the book gain 
realized from the divestiture of Sulzer Metco. 

The positive one-time effect from the Sulzer Metco divestiture on the net income of CHF 4 35.7 million 
was  offset  in  part  by  the  goodwill  impairment  of  CHF  340  million.  The  net  income  from  continuing 
 operations,  excluding  goodwill  impairment,  was  slightly  better  compared  with  2013.  The  net  income 
increased by 17.7% to CHF 278.1 million in 2014 (2013: CHF 236.2 million). 

The increase in net income is also reflected in basic earnings per share, which increased by 17.4% from 
CHF 6.89 in 2013 to CHF 8.09 in 2014. 

Balance sheet: higher cash positions and increase of equity ratio to 52.6% 
Total assets as of December 31, 2014, amounted to CHF 4 648 million, which is an increase of CHF 104 mil-
lion over the figure from 2013. 

Non-current assets were reduced by CHF 216 million due to the goodwill impairment of CHF 340 million 
partly  offset  by  additions  resulting  from  acquisitions  and  investments.  Additions  to  assets  (capex)  of 
CHF  96.0  million  (2013:  CHF  80.5  million)  fall  mainly  into  the  following  categories:  expansion  (42%), 
 replacement (30%), IT investment (12%), and rationalization (6%). 

Current assets increased by CHF 320 million. Assets held for sale of CHF 569 million at the end of 2013 
were deconsolidated with the Sulzer Metco closing during the financial year 2014, and cash positions 
(CHF 666 million) and marketable securities (CHF 107 million) increased accordingly. Within net working 
capital, inventory increased by CHF 51 million, and trade receivables rose by CHF 78 million. 

Total liabilities remained practically unchanged at CHF 2 206 million as of December 31, 2014. The de-
consolidation of CHF 158 million liabilities held for sale (from the Sulzer Metco divestiture), was largely 
offset by an increase in non-current provisions of CHF 150 million (mainly resulting from higher provi-
sions for employee benefit plans). 

Equity increased by CHF 101 million to CHF 2 442 million driven by the net income of CHF 278 million 
which was partly affected by the dividend payment of CHF – 108.9 million.

Cash flow: improving net liquidity by CHF 810 million 
Change in net cash was positive at CHF 644.8 million in 2014. Proceeds from the Sulzer Metco divesti-
ture increased cash positions by CHF 870 million. The main impacts on cash flow were as follows:
—  Cash flow from operating activities was reduced to CHF 181.2 million due to increased net working 
capital. The increase in inventory of CHF 45.2 million related to manufacturing relocations and new 
product launches. The increase in accounts receivables of CHF 46.3 million was largely due to ship-
ments and invoicing late in the year. The decrease in advance payments of CHF 65.1 million resulted 
from fewer large orders compared to the previous year. Taxes paid of CHF 98.7 million in 2014 are 
lower than in 2013, when CHF 118.7 million were paid. 

—  Cash flow from investing activities includes the impact from the divestiture of Sulzer Metco and pay-
ments made for acquisitions (in 2014: Advanced Separation Company (ASCOM) B.V., ProLabNL B.V., 
Grayson Armature, and aixfotec) which were CHF 73.0 million and thereby higher than in the previ-
ous year (2013: CHF 23.8 million). Purchases of assets for property, plant, and equipment as well as 
intangible assets were on a similar level to previous years at CHF 104.6 million. An investment in 
marketable securities (short-term bank deposits) reduced cash by CHF 106.6 million but increased 
interest income slightly. 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Business Review — Financial Review

25

—  The cash flow from financing was a negative CHF 161.4 million. It included the dividend payment of 
CHF  108.9  million,  unchanged  from  last  year.  The  repayment  of  short-term  borrowings  reduced 
cash by CHF 52.8 million. 

—  Exchange gains on cash were CHF 19.7 million, mainly related to the cash balances held in US dollars 

(2013: CHF – 20.6 million). 

The free cash flow of CHF 98.0 million in 2014 is lower compared to the CHF 218.7 million generated in 
the previous year. Main reason for the decline was the increase in net working capital. 

Outlook 2015 (adjusted for currency effects)
The  markets  are  becoming  increasingly  volatile  because  of  the  current  development  of  the  oil  price, 
regional conflicts, and geopolitical developments. The low oil price could influence our business nega-
tively over time. However, our business mix is balanced through our 45% service share, our exposure 
to other markets, regions, and across customer segments. Activity in the power market is forecast to 
remain stable and the general industry is expected to slightly increase. The water market is anticipated 
to slightly increase.

For the full year 2015, adjusted for currency effects, order intake is expected to slightly decrease and 
sales is anticipated to be flat. To further increase transparency, Sulzer introduces with operational EBITA 
(op. operating income before amortization) a new performance indicator. Operational EBITA is forecast 
to be flat. From 2017 onwards, Sulzer targets to improve profitability by four to six percentage points.

Stable Sales and New Operational 
Setup

Sales were stable and order intake slightly decreased on an adjusted1) basis from 
the previous year. Excluding the goodwill impairment, the operating income be-
fore restructuring moderately decreased. Pumps Equipment is now organized in 
three business units oil and gas, power, and water.

Market-oriented operational setup and new pump manufacturing  
in Saudi Arabia
Since the beginning of 2015, Pumps Equipment has been structured with three business units focused 
on the market segments oil and gas, power, and water. Sulzer expects direct benefits from this new 
operational  setup  in  all  its  business  units  and  with  its  customers  around  the  world.  In  April  2014, 
Sulzer and Wetend Technologies Ltd launched a new hygienic injection pumps series as a result of a 
joint development project. The new pump series has been designed for demanding injection applica-
tions  in  the  pulp  and  paper  industry  and  is  suitable  as  well  for  the  oil  and  gas,  power,  and  water 
markets. In February 2014, Sulzer agreed to acquire the majority of Saudi Pump Factory and set up a 
local production joint venture under the name Sulzer Saudi Pump Company (SSPC). The SSPC joint 
venture is in line with Sulzer’s focus on its three key markets. These markets are major sectors of Saudi 
Arabia’s fast-growing economy.

Slightly decreased order intake on an adjusted1) basis
Order intake was CHF 1.7 billion, a slight decrease of 1.2% from the previous year on an adjusted1) basis. 
The order intake was impacted by lower demand in the water and the oil and gas market. Demand in 
the  engineered  water  business  decreased  significantly  because  of  challenging  market  conditions  in 
South Africa, Spain, and Brazil. Activity in the midstream oil and gas market was flat at a very high level. 
The  division  experienced  slight  growth  in  the  power  market.  The  general  industry  was  flat  in  2014. 
 Europe—impacted by economic stagnation—and the Asia-Pacific region—negatively affected by liquid-
ity issues—were generally flat. The Americas and the Middle East grew slightly in 2014.

Operating income impacted by goodwill impairment
Sales were CHF 1.8 billion, 0.6% less than the previous year on an adjusted1) basis. Sales were mainly 
affected by lower volume in the engineered water business. Lower sales in Europe, the Middle East, and 
Africa also further impacted the performance of the division. Excluding the CHF 340 million goodwill 
impairment in the water business, the operating income before restructuring was CHF 141 million. The 
return on sales before restructuring was 8.0%.

Market outlook (adjusted for currency effects)
For the full year 2015, Pumps Equipment expects a slight decrease in orders from the oil and gas market 
because  of  the  impact  of  falling  oil  prices.  Demand  in  the  power  market  and  the  general  industry  is 
forecast to be stable while the water market is expected to slightly grow. Activity in Europe, the Middle 
East, and Africa as well as in the Asia-Pacific region is projected to be flat. The division anticipates a 
decrease in orders from the Americas against the previous year. 

1) Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.

26

“We achieved stable sales  
in 2014. Supported by the  
new market-oriented setup  
of Pumps Equipment, we 
expect competitiveness, 
quality, and delivery times  
to further improve.”

César Montenegro,  
Division President Pumps Equipment

Sales by market segments
Sales by market segments

14%
14%
General 
General 
industry
industry

23%
23%
Water
Water

2014
2014

51%
51%
Oil and 
Oil and 
gas
gas

12%
12%
Power
Power

Sales by region
Sales by region

33%
33%
Americas
Americas

2014
2014

24%
24%
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific

43%
43%
Europe, 
Europe, 
Middle 
Middle 
East, and 
East, and 
Africa
Africa

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Business Review — Pumps Equipment

27

Our strategic priorities and 
achievements 2014

Technology leadership —  Further development of 3D design tools to improve the engineering 

process and standardization of pumps and packages

— Extension of product lines according to market requirements
— Development of new compressor type for wastewater applications
—  Launch of innovative, highly efficient, and cost-effective cooling water 

pumps and of ready-fitted mechanical seals for process pumps

—  Launch of the new hygienic injection pump series as a result of a joint 

development project with Wetend Technologies

Outstanding services

—  Joint venture in Iraq to become a major player in Southern Iraq’s 

market for the service of all rotating equipment

—  Implementation of global organization for parts, retrofit, and nuclear 

business to provide a more efficient and effective setup 

—  Establishment of close cross-divisional collaboration with the Rotating 
Equipment Services division for the benefit of common customers 
—  Further business development solutions for retrofit especially in the 

Asia-Pacific region

Continuous operational 
improvement

—  Optimizing factory layouts for better on-time delivery and reduced lead time 
—  Implementation of flow assembly and strengthening of 5S* and 

reduction of setup times at all sites

—  Investing to increase test-bed capacity in the USA, Mexico, Spain, and 
China and in state-of-the-art machining equipment to improve quality 
and reduce manufacturing time

Collaborative advantage —  Transition process towards industry-specific focused business units 

and global organization of operations and procurement 

—  Efficiency improvement of the product life cycle data in our enterprise 

resource planning (ERP) system

*  A workplace organization tool/process that maximizes the cleanliness, organization, and safety of all elements in a 
working environment. The 5S system is so named for its five primary undertakings: sort, set in order, shine, 
standardize, sustain.

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order backlog

Sales

2014

2013

1 725.5

1 801.5

1 209.4

1 190.8

1 754.9

1 821.6

+/–%

– 4.2

1.6

– 3.7

Change 
in 
+/–%1)

– 1.2

– 0.6

Key figures

Operating income before restructuring, impairment on goodwill, and 
depreciation/amortization

191.8

207.2

– 7.4

Operating income before restructuring, impairment on goodwill, and 
amortization

Operating income before restructuring and impairment on goodwill

Return on sales before restructuring, impairment on goodwill, and 
depreciation/amortization

Return on sales before restructuring, impairment on goodwill, and 
amortization

Return on capital employed

Employees

1)   Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.

160.6

140.9

175.2

153.6

– 8.3

– 8.3

– 6.5

10.9%

11.4%

9.2%

9.6%

10.4%

n/a

7 365

7 389

– 0.3

28

“We achieved a solid top-line 
growth in 2014 and success-
fully merged the former turbo 
service business with the 
pumps service business into 
one customer-focused service 
division called Rotating 
Equipment Services.”

Peter Alexander, Division President 
Rotating Equipment Services

Sales by market segments

25%
General 
industry

2%
Water

2014

45%
Oil and 
gas

28%
Power

Solid Increase in Order Intake and 
Successful Service Integration

On  an  adjusted1)  basis,  order  intake,  sales,  and  the  operating  income  before 
 restructuring  increased  in  2014.  The  company  successfully  merged  the  former 
turbo service business with the pumps service business into one service division.

Successful service integration, acquisition, and joint venture formation
The Rotating Equipment Services division was established in 2014. It offers services for turbines, gen-
erators, motors, compressors, and pumps. The solid top-line growth of the division is, in part, due to the 
merger of the two existing service businesses. With about 100 service centers around the world, Sulzer 
strengthened its position as the leading independent provider of rotating equipment services in its key 
markets.

In the first quarter of 2014, Sulzer signed a joint venture agreement with China Huadian Corporation for 
the service of gas turbines, including field service, component repair, and the delivery of new capital 
parts. This joint venture offers Sulzer the opportunity to become a major player in China’s power market 
for the service of rotating equipment.

In June  2014,  Sulzer acquired Grayson Armature.  The company is based in Houston, TX, USA, and 
adds  electromechanical  capabilities  to  Rotating  Equipment  Services  in  the  important  US  Gulf  Coast 
region.

Adjusted1) order intake increased
The order intake of Rotating Equipment Services was CHF 725 million. This is a solid increase of 4.8% 
from the previous year on an adjusted1) level. This result is partially due to the positive effect of the serv-
ice integration. Activity in the Americas was high. The Grayson Armature acquisition also contributed 
substantially to this region. Demand in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa slightly decreased from last 
year. The division reported fewer projects in this region because of tightening OPEX budgets and sig-
nificantly reduced use of gas turbines in Europe. Negative economic developments in Russia were also 
reflected in the regional performance. Demand in the Asia-Pacific region slightly decreased.

Solid adjusted1) sales growth 
Sales were CHF 725 million, a 3.4% increase from last year on an adjusted1) level. The sales growth was 
mainly driven by strong services business in the Americas. Activity from the oil and gas industry signifi-
cantly contributed to this result. Europe, the Middle East, and Africa showed slight growth for sales on 
an adjusted1) basis; sales were impacted by currency translation effects.

The  Asia-Pacific  region  showed  slight  growth  in  sales  on  an  adjusted1)  basis.  The  operating  income 
before restructuring was CHF 72 million and significantly increased by 10.6% from the previous year. 
Performance improvement measures initiated in Australia in 2013 showed positive results. Significant 
additional restructuring measures were launched in the UK, where several sites will be consolidated in 
2015. Return on sales before restructuring was 10.0%, which is a slight increase from 2013. 

1)   Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Business Review — Rotating Equipment Services

29

Technology leadership —  Development of replacement parts for F-Technology gas turbines 

(advanced industrial gas turbines) in the service centers in Venlo, NL, 
and Houston, USA

—  Improvement of rail network infrastructure through the development  

of parts (impedance bonds) in Australia

Outstanding services

—  Synergies through easier access to other services within Sulzer 

benefits customers

Continuous operational  
improvement

—  Inspecting and repairing process pumps on a fast track at the  

Los Angeles Service Center, USA 

—  Improving tendering process (shorter lead times) through lean 

processes

Collaborative advantage —  Improved services level and synergies for the customer through one 

access point for all services

—  Faster and more flexible service through mixed teams servicing one 

customer site

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order backlog

Sales

Operating income before restructuring and depreciation/amortization

Operating income before restructuring and amortization

Operating income before restructuring

2014

2013

+/–%

725.2

699.3

212.2

724.6

93.4

78.1

72.3

190.7

705.6

84.1

71.0

65.4

3.7

11.3

2.7

11.1

10.0

10.6

Change 
in 
+/–%1)

4.8

3.4

11.8

Return on sales before restructuring and depreciation/amortization

12.9%

11.9%

Return on sales before restructuring and amortization

Return on capital employed

Employees

10.8%

10.1%

14.7%

n/a

3 709

3 642

1.8

1)   Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.

Market outlook (adjusted for currency effects) 
For the full year 2015, Rotating Equipment Services expects stable order intake from the oil and gas 
industry and a slight increase from the power market and the general industry. Activity in the Americas 
and the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to grow. In Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, demand is 
forecast to be flat.

Our strategic priorities and 
achievements 2014

Key figures

Sales by region

2014

39%
Europe, 
Middle 
East, and 
Africa

49%
Americas

12%
Asia-Pacific

30

Double-Digit Profitability and New 
Separation Technologies

Adjusted1) sales slightly increased while the order intake on an adjusted1) basis 
moderately decreased from 2013. Return on sales before restructuring remained 
on a double-digit  level. Chemtech enhanced its portfolio with separation tech-
nologies for the oil and gas market.

“Sales slightly increased in 
2014 and profitability remained 
on a double-digit level despite 
lower demand and project 
delays in some of our markets. 
We have made targeted 
acquisitions to enhance our 
portfolio.”

New technologies reduce customers’ investments and operating costs
Sulzer made targeted acquisitions to strengthen its position in both the oil and gas market as well as in 
the  polymer  foams  industry.  In  the  third  quarter  of  2014,  Chemtech  acquired  Advanced  Separation 
Company (ASCOM) B.V. and ProLabNL B.V. ASCOM is one of the leading providers of oil, water, and 
gas separation equipment such as the inline separation system Twinline™. The Twinline, for instance, 
reduces investments and operating costs of Sulzer’s oil and gas customers (read more on page 6 – 9). 
ProLabNL offers one of the most advanced multiphase flow loops worldwide to test equipment in real 
oil field conditions under high or low pressure. Globally leading oil and gas companies are using these 
unique capabilities extensively for their conventional and subsea technology qualification programs.

Oliver Bailer,  
Division President Chemtech

Sales by market segments

26%
General 
industry

0%
Water

1%
Power

2014

73%
Oil and 
gas

In the first quarter of 2014, Sulzer acquired aixfotec, a company in the polymer foams industry. This 
acquisition strengthens Chemtech’s position as a technology leader and system supplier for polymer 
foams manufacturing. The division further expanded its production facilities in China to benefit from the 
Asian market for two-component mixing and dispensing systems as well as for process technology.

Moderately decreased order intake on an adjusted1) basis
In 2014, order intake was CHF 718 million. This is a moderate decrease of 3.2% from the previous year 
on an adjusted1) basis. Compared with the high base of 2013, the order intake was negatively impacted 
by fewer large projects in the mass transfer and the process technology business. The low demand in 
the process technology business—in particular for projects in the field of polymers—was partially com-
pensated  by  a  good  order  intake  level  in  the  tower  field  service  business.  This  demand  was  mainly 
driven by orders from North and South America. Activity in the oil and gas market was good. Demand 
in the general industry was stable. Chemtech noticed strong growth in the Americas compared with 
2013. Demand in Europe was stable. The Asia-Pacific region, particularly China, decreased from the 
previous year.

Adjusted1) sales slightly increased and double-digit profitability
Sales were CHF 742 million. This is a slight increase of 1.6% compared with the previous year on an 
adjusted1) basis. The operating income before restructuring was CHF 78 million which is a moderate 
decline of 3.6% compared with 2013. The lowered performance was mainly driven by reduced volume 
in the process technology business. Measures—such as organizational changes and short time work—
as well as initiatives to drive orders and sales of this business, have been initiated already in the first half 
of 2014 and will be ongoing into 2015. Return on sales before restructuring was with 10.6% on a double-
digit level but slightly decreased from 2013.

Market outlook (adjusted for currency effects)
For the full year 2015, Chemtech expects a slight decrease in orders from the oil and gas market because 
of the impact of falling oil prices. Demand in the general industry is forecast to slightly increase. Activity 
in Europe is expected to be flat, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to slightly decrease. The Americas 
is expected to continue on a high level. The changed currency environment will have an impact on certain 
parts of Chemtech’s businesses. 

1) Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions. 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Business Review — Chemtech

31

Technology leadership — Expansion of separator portfolio through acquisition of ASCOM

—  Incorporation of ProLabNL, which has unique capabilities to test 

equipment in actual oil field conditions

—  Expansion of process technology laboratory with crystallization test 

equipment

—  Acquisition of aixfotec extrusion systems to expand offerings in polymer 
value chain with technologies for the production of polymer foams

Outstanding services

— Large turnaround project for refinery in Ecuador received
—  Large service project for corrosion protection with thermal-sprayed  

aluminum in Saudi Arabia carried out

Continuous operational  
improvement

—  Completed skid-manufacturing expansion project in China and  

Switzerland

—  Started project for components manufacturing facility in Western China
—  Completed installation of Manufacturing Execution System (MES) in 

Sulzer Mixpac Systems operations globally

Collaborative advantage —  Order received for column internals for the world’s largest carbon  

capture project

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order backlog

Sales

Operating income before restructuring and depreciation/amortization

Operating income before restructuring and amortization

Operating income before restructuring

2014

2013

+/–%

718.4

749.9

282.0

290.5

741.5

119.3

93.6

78.4

743.7

120.4

95.0

81.3

– 4.2

– 2.9

– 0.3

– 0.9

– 1.5

– 3.6

Change 
in 
+/–%1)

– 3.2

1.6

– 3.2

Return on sales before restructuring and depreciation/amortization

16.1%

16.2%

Return on sales before restructuring and amortization

Return on capital employed

Employees

12.6%

12.8%

18.6%

19.7%

4 287

4 167

2.9

1)   Adjusted for currency effects and acquisitions.

Our strategic priorities and 
achievements 2014

Key figures

Sales by region

34%
Americas

2014

36%
Asia-Pacific

30%
Europe, 
Middle 
East, and 
Africa

32

Sulzer  — Annual Report 2014

ACTING RESPONSIBly FOR  
A SuSTAINABlE FuTuRE

Sulzer aims to be recognized for its leading technologies and services as well as for deliv-
ering innovative and sustainable solutions. The company continued its emphasis on acting  
responsibly and on supporting its customers in shaping a sustainable future.

Business Review — Sustainable Development 

33

FACTS AND FIGURES

7.2

In 2014, the voluntary attrition rate (VAR) 

amounted to 7.2 % (2013: 7.0%). 

2.6

The accident frequency rate (AFR) was 

2.6 cases per million working hours in 

2014 (2013: 3.2). Thus, Sulzer exceeded 

its target of 2.7.

37

Energy consumption increased  

by 10% to 37 GJ per 1 000 working 

hours compared with last year  

(2013: 34 GJ/1 000 working hours). 

0.17

Hazardous waste per 1 000 working 

hours increased by 125% to 0.17 tons in 

2014 (2013: 0.08 t/1 000 working hours). 

34

“Everything we do is based 
on what the customer wants, 
not on what Sulzer thinks the 
customer should have.”

Andy Smith, Operations Manager, 
Pumps Equipment Wastewater UK

Number of patents

36

(2013: 46)

R&D investments 

CHF 76m

(2.4% of sales) 
(2013: CHF 71m/2.2% of sales)

Innovative Technology for Clean  
Water and Renewable Energy

To become a leading equipment and service provider, Sulzer maintains a well-
stocked  innovation  pipeline.  The  company  partners  with  customers,   suppliers, 
industry  members,  and  universities  to  develop  new  solutions  that  maximize 
 efficiency, save energy, and address global needs.

During  Sulzer’s  180  years  of  industrial  history,  technology  has  always  formed  the  company’s  DNA. 
Maintaining technology leadership in its fields remains an integral strategic priority for Sulzer. In 2014, 
the company invested CHF 76 million in research and development (2013: CHF 71 million), which is 2.4% 
relative to sales (2013: 2.2% of sales). There were 36 patents filed in 2014. 

Addressing the needs of the water market
The company launched a series of new products in 2014. In Sulzer’s key markets, but especially in the 
water business, there is great potential and demand for more energy-efficient solutions. In many regions 
of the world, the increasing lack of clean water is a pressing problem. Seawater desalination is an im-
portant means of providing a sustainable supply of clean water. These days, the market trend is turning 
away from traditional technologies based on evaporation/distillation towards reverse osmosis. It needs 
much less energy and is, in  addition, more eco-friendly. Sulzer provides  pumps for reverse osmosis 
processes, covering the full range for medium-to-large plants in this segment. Recently, the company 
has developed new high-pressure feed pumps. They have been designed especially for reverse osmosis 
plants and will be introduced in 2015 (see www.sulzer.com/MBN-RO or www.sulzer.com/MSD-RO).

Maximizing efficiency without compromising flexibility
The oil and gas industry requires high-performance distillation columns. In many industrial applications, 
however,  distillation  towers  consume  a  large  amount  of  energy.  The  development  of  energy-saving 
mass transfer technologies is therefore becoming more and more important. Sulzer introduced a new 
generation  of  trays  in  2014—the  UFMPlus™  and  VGPlus™  (see  www.sulzer.com/ufmplus-vgplus). 
These new trays substantially improve distillation efficiency and capacity (up to 30% higher than con-
ventional trays) without compromising the operating range and flexibility of the column. The UFMPlus™ 
and  VGPlus™  chordal  downcomer  trays  save  energy,  which  results  in  a  reduction  of  both  operating 
costs and capital costs for customers.

Extending lifetime of products with new service solutions
Sulzer is not only concerned with innovation on the product side, but also continuously works on new 
service solutions. For example, the company designs and manufactures gas turbine replacement parts 
that  are  compatible  and  interchangeable  with  the  original  equipment.  In  this  way,  Sulzer  reduces 
 in-service issues as well as unnecessary expenditures while offering the required flexibility demanded 
by today’s market. Ultimately, this extends the lifetime of and improves the performance of gas turbines 
and thus reduces maintenance time and costs for Sulzer’s customers.

Collaborating with industry partners to develop new solutions
Sulzer works with competent partners to meet global environmental and societal challenges. The com-
pany participates in the Separation Technology Research (STAR) Program, a joint industry project for 
research,  systematic  testing,  and  the  qualification  of  separation  equipment.  Initiated  by  ExxonMobil, 
Shell, Chevron, and the non-profit organization Southwest Research Institute® in 2014, it combines the 
knowledge, effort, and resources of members in the energy sector.

Supporting companies to save energy
Also in 2014, Sulzer concluded a long-term frame agreement for the upgrade and supply of modern 
water injection pumps with a major oil and gas company. In the context of its energy-saving program, 
the company installed Sulzer centrifugal pumps at its fields. Thanks to Sulzer’s new, highly efficient, and 
energy-saving pumps, it was possible to reduce power consumption significantly. In addition, there was 
not a single failure requiring a major overhaul over the entire operation period.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Business Review — Innovation and Technology

35

Joining forces with industry partners and universities
By joining forces with other players in the industry, Sulzer continuously extends its portfolio and pres-
ence. To become a major player for rotating equipment services in China’s power market, the company 
signed a joint venture agreement with China Huadian Corporation. Also in 2014, Sulzer formed a joint 
venture with the Unaoil Group for the service of all rotating equipment for oil and gas and power custom-
ers in Southern Iraq.

In addition to collaborating with industry partners, Sulzer has maintained relationships with academic 
institutions such as the ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich) and Texas A&M for a 
long time. Furthermore, the company runs a project on standardized impeller design together with the 
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Thus, Sulzer benefits from research on topics relevant 
to the company and gains access to a large talent pool.

Managing extreme conditions for 
renewable power generation

The  global  power  industry  recognizes  the 

 demand  for  clean  and  dependable  energy 

from  renewable  resources.  Concentrated 

 solar power (CSP) generation is a sustainable 

solution for global energy needs, but it poses 

 extreme challenges to pump technology. The 

energy of the sun is used to heat up a fluid—

either thermal oil or molten salt—which is  then 

used to transfer or store heat. 

The  working  temperature  of  the  system  is  

in the range of 500 – 600°C. The molten salt 

freezes  at  220°C;  when  it  is  exposed  to  

the  environment,  it  becomes  rock  hard  and 

blocks  the  pumps  immediately.  Hence,  the 

requirements  for  the  pumps  are  extremely 

complex.  A  further  challenge  is  the  material 

growth because weight and space are always 

critical  elements  on  customers’  sites.  Sulzer 

developed a new pump for the hottest fluids; 

it  will  be  launched  in  2015.  The  molten-salt 

circulation pump SJT (VCN) is designed spe-

cifically  to  meet  the  extreme  requirements 

and needs of the solar power industry. 

36

Supporting Customers in Reducing 
Their Ecological Footprint

Energy consumption*

GJ in 1 000

GJ /1 000 whr

Sulzer has substantial expertise in providing energy-efficient solutions. The com-
pany educates its customers on the safe and efficient installation and operation 
of equipment. Sulzer also systematically aims to reduce its own environmental 
footprint.

Energy consumption*
1 600

1 400
GJ in 1 000

50

45
GJ /1 000 whr
40

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014

0

Total energy consumption in GJ 

Total energy consumption in GJ  
without Metco

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014

GJ /1 000 working hours (whr)
Total energy consumption in GJ 
GJ /1 000 working hours (whr) without Metco
Total energy consumption in GJ  
without Metco

GJ /1 000 working hours (whr)

GJ /1 000 working hours (whr) without Metco

Total greenhouse gas emissions*

t CO2 eq.  
Total greenhouse gas emissions*
in 1 000

t CO2 eq. / 
1 000 whr

160
t CO2 eq.  
140
in 1 000

5.0
t CO2 eq. / 
4.5
1 000 whr
4.0

1 200
1 600
1 000
1 400
800
1 200
600
1 000
400
800
200
600
0
400

200

120
160
100
140
80
120
60
100
40
80
20
60
0
40

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014

20

0

Total GHG emissions in CO2 eq. in t 

Total GHG emissions in CO2 eq. in t  
without Metco

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014

t /1 000 working hours (whr)
Total GHG emissions in CO2 eq. in t 
t /1 000 working hours (whr) without Metco
Total GHG emissions in CO2 eq. in t  
without Metco

t /1 000 working hours (whr)

t /1 000 working hours (whr) without Metco

50
35

45
30

40
25

35
20

30
15

25
10

20
5

15
0

10

5

0

5.0
3.5

4.5
3.0

4.0
2.5

3.5
2.0

3.0
1.5

2.5
1.0

2.0
0.5

1.5
0.0

1.0

0.5

0.0

Customers increasingly pay attention to the environmental impact of products. This is true in all market 
segments—but particularly in the water market. Municipalities often ask for environmental data to make 
investment decisions. Sulzer uses standardized environmental product declarations (EPD, prepared in 
accordance  with  the  International  EPD®  System  (IES)  framework),  which  supply  its  customers  with 
transparent and comparable environmental data and costs over the entire product lifetime. EPDs pro-
vide information on the consumption of resources such as materials, water, and energy. Moreover, they 
offer a deeper understanding of the environmental impact such as CO2 emissions and acidification of 
water and soil (find further information online at www.sulzer.com/epd).

Considering the entire life cycle of products and solutions
For Sulzer, the delivery of a product is not the end of the job. The company considers the entire life cycle 
of its products and solutions. It is important to avoid the unintended or incorrect use of the solutions, 
dispersion  of  chemical  substances  into  the  environment  during  maintenance  work,  or  improper  dis-
posal of a product. Hence, Sulzer collaborates and consults with its customers to select appropriate 
technologies and materials. Moreover, experts show the customers how to install, operate, and main-
tain their equipment safely and efficiently.

Harmonized reporting system for better coverage
Sulzer collects data systematically and continuously to report on both the environmental impact of its 
solutions and its own organizational footprint. In 2014, Sulzer consolidated its financial and extrafinancial 
data onto a single, harmonized, and centralized reporting platform. Thus, the number of assessed sites 
has grown, and there is better and more-consistent coverage across the company than in the past. 
Overall, 81% of total working hours report on environmental data. The coverage of occupational health 
and safety data is 98% (of total working hours), while 100% (of total working hours) report on HR data. 
However, the change of platform and the extended reporting scope make it difficult in the short term to 
compare this year’s figures with those from earlier years. 

Decrease of total energy consumption
Total energy consumption decreased by 5% to 965 814 GJ in 2014 (2013: 1 017 354 GJ), which reflects 
the  changes  in  the  product  mix  and  the  slight  reduction  in  business  activities.  The  disproportional 
 reduction  of  working  hours  (whr)  led  to  an  increase  of  energy  consumption  by  10%  to  37 GJ  per 
1 000 working hours (2013: 34 GJ/1 000 whr). Sulzer’s energy mix is still dominated by electricity (60%), 
followed by gas (24%, including natural gas, propane, and butane), and district heating (7%).
In 2014, the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remained stable at 97 500 tons (t) CO2 eq. (2013: 
98 200 t CO2 eq.). Sulzer did not meet its year-on-year rolling target to maintain or reduce GHG emis-
sions in CO2 eq. per 1 000 working hours compared with last year’s values. Due to the disproportional 
reduction of working hours and increased direct emissions, the greenhouse gas emissions increased 
by 15% to 3.8 tons CO2 eq. per 1 000 working hours (2013: 3.3 t CO2 eq./1 000 whr).

Increase of hazardous waste and water consumption
In 2014, the total production of hazardous waste doubled from the previous year to 4 442 tons (2013: 
2 282 t). Hazardous waste per 1 000 working hours also increased by 125% to 0.17 tons (2013: 0.08 t/ 
1 000 whr). The upswing was caused by a defective dewatering unit for hazardous waste and changes 
in activities such as sandblasting. Furthermore, construction activities resulting in the disposal of con-
taminated soils as well as natural fluctuations in hazardous waste production added to the increase. The 
main contributors to hazardous waste are emulsions and mixtures of oil-water material (47%) and sand-
blasting residues (20%).

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Business Review — Ecological Sustainability

37

Total water consumption remained stable at 1 581 631 m3 (2013: 1 591 611 m3), while the consumption 
per 1 000 working hours increased by 15% to 61 m3 (2013: 53 m3/1 000 whr). This rise is due to the dis-
proportional reduction of working hours. The main sources of water are groundwater (40%), municipal 
water (33%), and surface water (27%). About 65% of the water consumed is used for cooling purposes.

Sulzer experts educate their customers on the safe and efficient operation of the equipment they install. Sulzer 
monitors its own environmental footprint closely and compares its achievements with results from the past. 

Hazardous waste*
Hazardous waste*

t /1 000 whr
t /1 000 whr

0.45
0.45

0.40
0.40

0.35
0.35

0.30
0.30

0.25
0.25

0.20
0.20

0.15
0.15

0.10
0.10

0.05
0.05

0.00
0.00

Tons
Tons

14 000
14 000

12 000
12 000

10 000
10 000

8 000
8 000

6 000
6 000

4 000
4 000

2 000
2 000

0
0

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014
2010   2011   2012   2013   2014

Total hazardous waste in t (metric) 
Total hazardous waste in t (metric) 

Total hazardous waste in t (metric)  
Total hazardous waste in t (metric)  
without Metco
without Metco

t /1 000 working hours (whr)
t /1 000 working hours (whr)

t /1 000 working hours (whr)  
t /1 000 working hours (whr)  
without Metco
without Metco

Water consumption*
Water consumption*

m3 in 1 000
m3 in 1 000

m3/1 000 whr
m3/1 000 whr

3 000
3 000

2 500
2 500

2 000
2 000

1 500
1 500

1 000
1 000

500
500

0
0

100
100

90
90

80
80

70
70

60
60

50
50

40
40

30
30

20
20

10
10

0
0

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014
2010   2011   2012   2013   2014

Total water consumption in m3 
Total water consumption in m3 

Total water consumption in m3  
Total water consumption in m3  
without Metco
without Metco

m3/1 000 working hours (whr) 
m3/1 000 working hours (whr) 

m3/1 000 working hours (whr)  
m3/1 000 working hours (whr)  
without Metco
without Metco

* The charts display two different re porting 
scopes (2010 – 2013 vs. 2014). For more detailed 
information about scope and period of data, 
see Sustainability Report 2014 at  
www.sulzer.com/sustainability-report.

38

Sulzer’s workforce is diverse in gender, 
culture, and demography. The company 
believes that diverse teams create better 
solutions. 

Accidents*

No. of cases

AFR

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

5.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

Providing a Healthy and Safe Work-
place while Fostering Employees 

Sulzer attaches great importance to a safe workplace and to the health of its em-
ployees. The company intends to be a socially responsible employer and strives 
to offer its diverse workforce attractive opportunities for development.

Sulzer  places  considerable  emphasis  on  providing  a  safe  and  healthy  working  environment  and  on 
empowering all employees to act safely. The company’s Safe Behavior Program (SBP) is a cornerstone 
to achieving the long-term goal of zero accidents and towards establishing a preventive safety culture. 
In 2014, the focus of the program was on anchoring safe behavior at all operational levels. The SBP 
aspires to foster an attitude and understanding of safety ownership on all management levels. This will 
inspire employees to engage proactively in safety initiatives. 

In 2014, the rate of certified sites remained high—78% of Sulzer’s manufacturing and service centers 
were certified with OHSAS1) 18001 and/or SCC2) certification.

The accident frequency rate (AFR) and the accident severity rate (ASR) are the main safety indicators 
and relevant for bonus purposes. The AFR was 2.6 cases per million working hours in 2014 (2013: 3.2).
Hence, Sulzer was able to exceed its AFR target of 2.7. The ASR decreased by 12% to 53.9 lost days 
per million working hours (2013: 61.4); however, the target of 38 lost days was not met. Sulzer is committed 
to  further  reducing  the  AFR  and  ASR  and  to  improving  occupational  health  and  safety  systematically 
across the company.

Company-wide survey to collect ideas and thoughts
One of Sulzer’s values is having committed people. The company’s sustainable success is dependent 
on  the  commitment  of  all  employees.  Sulzer  considers  every  employee  as  an  individual  with  unique 
capabilities and competencies. Thus, the company aims to foster the well-being and employability of  
its people.

Sulzer encourages its employees to speak up. In autumn 2014, Sulzer launched a company-wide em-
ployee engagement survey (EES). The entire global workforce had the opportunity to give anonymous 
feedback on topics such as job content, working environment, leadership, values, and commitment.   
At 83.3%, the return rate was even higher than for the last EES, which was conducted in 2011 (81.4% 
return rate). The input will help Sulzer to improve its performance, leadership, and behavioral aspects 
 systematically.

Continued learning and development activities in times of change
Sulzer  steadily  develops  its  training  programs  for  employees.  In  2014,  the  company  invested  about 
390 000  hours  (2013:  440 000)  in  training.  As  a  result,  training  hours  per  full-time  equivalent  (FTE) 
 decreased from 30 hours in 2013 to 25 hours in 2014.

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014

Cases that last > 1 lost day due to 
 occupational accidents

Cases that last > 1 lost day due to 
 occupational accidents without Metco

Accident frequency rate (AFR) in cases per 
1 000 000 working hours

Accident frequency rate (AFR) in cases per 
1 000 000 working hours without Metco

The company’s leadership development initiative includes the Sulzer Management Training (SMT) for new 
leaders and the Leadership Program for Development and Impact (PDI). Centerpieces of the SMT are 
management basics as well as current leadership topics in order to support Sulzer’s strategic goals and 
the ongoing reorganization. The PDI focuses on fostering the capabilities of the individual, the team, and 
the business. More than 40 participants in mixed groups from all business units in Europe, Middle East, 
and Africa (EMEA) passed the SMT in 2014. A total of 79 managers and experts participated in one of the 
PDIs. Furthermore, Sulzer began implementing a learning management system (LMS) in 2013. The global 
rollout of this cloud-based platform for training and development administration will continue in 2015. With 
the LMS, online training is becoming an integral part of the learning activities of Sulzer employees.

1) Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series.
2) Safety Certificate Contractors.

Sulzer — Annual Report 201439

“We treat all people with 
respect, and we cooperate 
across the whole company. 
We believe that this respect 
fosters teamwork and 
 commitment.”

Marius Baumgartner,  
Head of Group Human Resources

Training hours*

Total hours  
in 1 000

hours / FTE

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014

Total number of training hours 

Total number of training hours  
without Metco

Training hours per employee (FTE)

Training hours per employee (FTE)  
without Metco

* The charts display two different re porting 
scopes (2010 – 2013 vs. 2014). For more detailed 
information about scope and period of data, 
see Sustainability Report 2014 at  
www.sulzer.com/sustainability-report.

Sulzer provides its workforce with attractive career opportunities. Leadership development initiatives as well as 
online training courses support employees in their professional development. The company is able to fill 
leadership positions with internal talent to a great extent.

40

Geographical spread  
of employees
Geographical spread  
of employees
28%
Asia- 
Pacific
28%
Asia- 
Pacific
29%
Americas

2014

2014

29%
Americas

In times of change, it is even more important to educate and train the workforce. For this reason, much 
cross-divisional and interdepartmental training took place. Consequently, a common understanding of 
each other’s business activities was developed and cross-selling enabled. A clear indicator of Sulzer’s 
successful  efforts  in  fostering  the  skills  of  its  employees  is  its  internal  leadership  pipeline.  In  2014, 
Sulzer filled 89% of leadership positions with internal talent.

Diverse teams to create better solutions
Sulzer believes that diverse teams with different backgrounds drive innovation and create better solu-
tions. Therefore, the company fosters diversity of gender, culture, and demography. In 2014, 14% of the 
workforce, 13% of all managers, and 12% of the Sulzer Management Group (top 100 managers) were 
female. 

43%
Europe, 
Middle  
43%
East, and 
Europe, 
Africa
Middle  
East, and 
Africa

Voluntary attrition rate*

Voluntary attrition rate*
Number of 
leavings

VAR  
in %

Sulzer engages 15 494 employees in over 150 locations and 41 countries. About 43% of employees 
work in the EMEA region, 29% work in the Americas, and 28% work in the Asia-Pacific region. This allows 
the company to be close to its customer base and to understand its specific needs. Sulzer’s teams are 
also diverse in terms of age; long-term and experienced employees work together with apprentices and 
recent university graduates. Bringing together younger and older employees increases the likelihood of 
new approaches to a solution.

Supporting one brand with strong values
Sulzer’s values—customer partnership, operational excellence, and committed people—are the foun-
dation of all interaction and business activities. They define who the company is and how it behaves.

Employees are passionate about the Sulzer brand. They are committed to representing the company 
with customers and partners. In 2014, Sulzer continued its efforts towards the one company strategy by 
integrating the divisional brands under the Sulzer umbrella brand, which is world renowned for experi-
ence, innovation, reliability, and quality.

VAR  
9.0
in %
8.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
5.0
6.0
4.0
5.0
3.0
4.0
2.0
3.0
1.0
2.0
0.0
1.0

0.0

Number of 
1 200
leavings

1 000
1 200

800
1 000

600
800

400
600

200
400

0
200

0

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014

Number of voluntary leavings

2010   2011   2012   2013   2014
Number of voluntary leavings without Metco

Number of voluntary leavings
Voluntary attrition rate (VAR) in %

Number of voluntary leavings without Metco
Voluntary attrition rate (VAR) in %  
without Metco
Voluntary attrition rate (VAR) in %

Voluntary attrition rate (VAR) in %  
without Metco

Sulzer encourages and empowers its 
employees to act safely in all circum­
stances. The company’s Safe Behavior 
Program (SBP) is a cornerstone towards 
establishing a preventive safety culture. 
This means that employees understand 
how to behave safely and to look after each 
other’s safety. In the long term, Sulzer 
strives to achieve a zero accident rate. 

Sulzer — Annual Report 201441

Corporate 
Governance

e
c
n
a
n
r
e
v
o
G
e
t
a
r
o
p
r
o
C

 
Corporate 
Governance

Corporate Structure 
and Shareholders 44

Capital Structure 44

Board of Directors 45

Executive Committee 54

Shareholder Participation 
Rights 54

Takeover and Defense 
Measures 55

Auditors 55

Risk Management 58

Information Policy 60

Corporate Governance

43

Committed to the Principles of 
Good Corporate Governance

Sulzer is committed to the principles of good corporate governance. They ensure 
a sound balance of power and support the company in creating sustainable value 
for its various stakeholders.

The rigorous application of sound corporate governance helps to consolidate and strengthen trust in 
the company. Sulzer is subject to Swiss corporate and stock exchange law and applies the Swiss Code 
of Best Practice for Corporate Governance.

The Board of Directors comprises seven members. Each member is elected individually. The term for 
members of the Board of Directors is one year. Except for the elections reserved to the Shareholders’ 
Meeting, the Board of Directors constitutes itself and appoints from among its members the Vice Chair-
man of the Board of Directors and the members of the board committees (except for the members of 
the Nomination and Remuneration Committee who are elected by the Shareholders’ Meeting). 

In brief

Core principles
— See page 44

Board composition 
— See pages 45 – 47

There are currently three standing committees within the Board of Directors:
—  The Audit Committee assesses the midyear and annual accounts and the activities of the internal 

Committees of the Board 
— See pages 47 – 50

and external auditors, the Internal Control System (ICS), and risk management.

—  The Nomination and Remuneration Committee assesses the criteria for the election and reelection 
of Board members and nominations for the top two management levels. It also deals with succes-
sion planning, compensation systems, and compensation for the members of the Board of Directors 
and the Executive Committee.

—  The Strategy Committee advises the Board of Directors on strategic matters (such as material ac-
quisitions, divestitures, alliances, and joint ventures) as well as strategic planning and definition of 
development priorities.

The following changes occurred in the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee:
—  Vladimir Kuznetsov, Chairman of the Board ad interim since January 1, 2014, did not stand for ree-

Changes
— See pages 45, 54

lection at the Annual General Meeting of March 20, 2014.

—  Peter Löscher was newly elected as member of the Board of Directors and Chairman at the Annual 

General Meeting on March 20, 2014. 

—  Matthias  Bichsel  was  newly  elected  to  the  Board  of  Directors  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting  on 

March 20, 2014.

—  All other board members were reelected for one-year terms.
—  Scot Smith, Division President of Pumps Equipment and member of the Executive Committee, left 

the company on April 30, 2014.

—  César Montenegro, Division President of Sulzer Metco and member of the Executive Committee, 

was appointed Division President of Pumps Equipment as of June 3, 2014.

—  Jürgen Brandt, Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Committee, left the company on 

August 29, 2014.

—  Thomas Dittrich was appointed Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Committee as 

of August 2, 2014.

44

Sulzer Ltd is subject to the laws of Switzerland, in particular, Swiss corporation and stock exchange law. 
The company also applies the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance. The rigorous 
application of sound corporate governance helps to consolidate and strengthen trust in the company. 
A single share class and the separation of the functions of Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO 
have been standard practice at Sulzer for many years. Since the Annual General Meeting of April 8, 
2009, the Board of Directors has been made up exclusively of individuals who have never held executive 
positions at Sulzer. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information refers to the situation on Decem-
ber 31, 2014. Further, information on corporate governance is published at www.sulzer.com/corpgov. 
The information in the following section is set out in the order defined by the SIX Swiss Exchange guide-
lines on corporate governance information (RLCG), with subsections summarized as far as possible. 
Sulzer’s  consolidated  financial  statements  comply  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards 
(IFRS), and in certain sections, readers are referred to the financial section in the Sulzer Annual Report 
2014. The compensation report can be found on pages 61 to 80. 

1  Corporate Structure and Shareholders

Corporate structure 
The operational corporate structure is shown in the graphic on page 50 and in the segment reports in 
the financial section on pages 114 to 116 (note 7). Sulzer Ltd is the only Sulzer company listed on a stock 
exchange.  It  is  based  in  Winterthur,  Switzerland.  Its  shares  are  listed  and  traded  on  the  SIX  Swiss 
 Exchange in Zurich (Securities No. 3838891 / ISIN CH0038388911). On December 31, 2014, the market 
capitalization of all registered shares was CHF 3 631 811 220. Information on the major subsidiaries in-
cluded in the consolidation can be found under note 39 on pages 144 to 145 of the financial section.

Significant shareholders 
According to notifications of Sulzer shareholders, four shareholders held more than 3% of Sulzer Ltd’s 
share capital on December 31, 2014. On December 31, 2014 (published on the SIX disclosure platform 
on January 30, 2015), Victor Vekselberg indirectly held 33.19 % in Sulzer shares; the shares are directly 
held by Lamesa Holding S.A., Liwet Holding AG, and Joint-Stock Company “Metkombank”. The latter 
two are part of the Renova Group. On December 8, 2014 (published on the SIX disclosure platform on 
December 17, 2014), Black Rock Inc. held 3.36% in Sulzer shares. On October 13, 2014 (published on 
the SIX disclosure platform on October 17, 2014), First Pacific Advisors, LLC held 5.01% in Sulzer shares. 
On September 29, 2014 (published on the SIX disclosure platform on October 6, 2014), FPA Funds Trust 
held 3.39% in Sulzer shares.

For detailed information, see the respective disclosure notifications on www.six-exchange-regulation.
com/obligations/disclosure/major_shareholders_en.html. For the positions held by Sulzer and informa-
tion on shareholders, see note 25 in the financial section (page 133). There are no cross-shareholdings 
where the capital or voting stakes on either side exceed the threshold of 3%.

2  Capital Structure 

Share capital 
The fully paid-up share capital of Sulzer Ltd amounts to CHF 342 623.70 and is divided into 34 262 370 
registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.01 per share. Each registered share entitles the holder to 
one  vote  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting  of  shareholders.  There  is  neither  any  authorized  nor  condi-
tional capital, nor are there any participation or dividend certificates. The latest version of the Articles of 
Association can be viewed online at www.sulzer.com/regulations. Information on capital changes can 
be found in the financial statements of Sulzer Ltd (page 152). 

Restrictions on transferability and nominee registrations 
Sulzer shares are freely transferable provided that, when requested by the company to do so, buyers 
declare that they have purchased and will hold the shares in their own name and for their own account. 
Nominees  shall  only  be  entered  in  the  share  register  with  the  right  to  vote  if  they  meet  the  following 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Corporate Governance — Corporate Structure and Shareholders

45

conditions:  The  nominee  is  subject  to  the  supervision  of  a  recognized  banking  and  financial  market 
regulator; the nominee has entered into a written agreement with the Board of Directors concerning its 
status; the share capital held by the nominee does not exceed 3% of the registered share capital en-
tered in the commercial register; and the names, addresses, and number of shares of those individuals 
for  whose  accounts  the  nominee  holds  at  least  0.5%  of  the  share  capital  have  been  disclosed.  The 
Board of Directors is also entitled, beyond these limits, to enter shares of nominees with voting rights   
in the share register if the above-mentioned conditions are met (see also paragraph 6a of the Articles  
of Association at www.sulzer.com/regulations). On December 31, 2014, nine nominees holding a total  
of 3 521 488 shares (10.28% of total shares) had entered into agreements concerning their status. No 
exceptions have been granted.

All of those shares have been entered in the share register with voting rights. There are no transfer re-
strictions and no privileges under the Articles of Association. A removal or amendment of the transfer 
restriction requires a shareholders’ resolution with a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes repre-
sented. 

Convertible bonds and options 
No convertible bonds or warrants are currently outstanding. Details of the options issued to members 
of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee (from 2002 up to and including 2008) and re-
stricted stock units (from 2009) as well as performance share units (in 2010 and 2013) are set out in the 
financial section under note 35 (page 142) and in the financial statements of Sulzer Ltd under note 110 
(page 155). 

3  Board of Directors 
None of the members of the Board of Directors has ever belonged to the management of a Sulzer com-
pany or to the Executive Committee, nor do any significant business relationships exist between mem-
bers of the Board of Directors and Sulzer Ltd or a subsidiary of Sulzer Ltd. Peter Löscher and Marco 
Musetti  have  a  close  relationship  with  Sulzer’s  largest  shareholder;  both  are  employees  of  Renova 
Management AG. Peter Löscher is Chief Executive Officer and Delegate of the Board of Directors of 
Renova Management AG and Marco Musetti is a member of the Supervisory Board of Renova U.S. 
Holdings Ltd. Business relationships in the low double-digit million range exist with companies that are 
directly or indirectly controlled by the Renova Group. For further information see financial section, note 
35 on page 142. There are no interlocking directorships.

Elections and terms of office 
The Articles of Association stipulate that the Board of Directors of Sulzer Ltd shall comprise five to nine 
members.

Each  member  is  elected  individually.  The  term  for  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  is  one  year. 
Vladimir Kuznetsov, Chairman ad interim since January 1, 2014, did not stand for reelection at the An-
nual General Meeting of March 20, 2014. Peter Löscher and Matthias Bichsel were newly elected to the 
Board of Directors and Peter Löscher was elected as the new Chairman. Accordingly, as of March 20, 
2014, the Board of Directors comprises seven members: two Austrians, two Italians, one Singaporean, 
and two Swiss. Professional expertise and international experience played a key role in the selection of 
the members. The CVs of the members of the Board of Directors can be viewed on pages 48 to 49 and 
online  at  www.sulzer.com/board.  According  to  the  Board  of  Directors  and  Organization  Regulations 
governing the Board of Directors, the term of office of a Board member ends no later than on the date 
of the Annual General Meeting in the year when the member reaches the age of 70.

Exceptions up to but not exceeding the year in which the member reaches the age of 73 can be made 
by the Board of Directors. 

 
 
46

Internal organization 
Pursuant to the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation with respect to Listed Stock Corporations 
of November 20, 2013 (OaEC; German: VegüV), the Board of Directors constitutes itself, except for the 
Chairman of the Board of Directors who is elected by the Shareholders’ Meeting. The Board of Directors 
appoints from among its members the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and the members of 
the board committees, except for the members of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee who 
are elected by the Shareholders’ Meeting. Since at the Annual General Meeting of March 20, 2014, the 
Board of Directors’ proposal to amend the Articles of Association accordingly was not approved  (i.e., 
the  66 2/3%  majority  required  for  changes  of  Sulzer’s  Articles  of  Association  was  not  achieved),  the 
Articles of Association do not fully reflect the internal organization as described above. The Board of 
Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting of April 1, 2015 to amend the Articles of Associa-
tion accordingly.

In the Board meeting following the Annual General Meeting of March 20, 2014, Luciano Respini was 
appointed as Vice Chairman. There are currently three standing board committees: the Audit Commit-
tee (AC), the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC), and the Strategy Committee (SC); for 
its constitutions, see page 47. The division of responsibilities between the Board of Directors and the 
CEO and the authorities and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and of the three 
standing board committees are defined in the Board of Directors and Organization Regulations and the 
relevant Committee Regulations, which are published online at www.sulzer.com/regulations.

Operating principles of the Board of Directors and its committees 
All decisions are taken by the full Board of Directors. For each application, written documentation is 
distributed to the members of the Board of Directors prior to the meeting. The Board of Directors and 
the committees meet as often as required by circumstances (the Board of Directors meets at least six 
times annually, the Audit Committee and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee meet at least 
three times annually, and the Strategy Committee meets at least twice annually). In 2014, two full-day 
meetings, two half-day meetings, and eleven shorter board meetings were held. The latter lasted about 
one to two hours on average. For further details, see the table below. Board meetings are generally 
also attended in an advisory role by the CEO, the CFO, and the Group General Counsel (who is the 
Secretary of the Board of Directors). Other members of the Executive Committee are invited to attend 

Board of Directors

Name

Nationality

Position

Age

Entry

Peter Löscher 

Austria

Chairman1), Chairman SC1)

Vladimir V. Kuznetsov

Russia

Chairman ad interim2), Chairman NRC2)

Jill Lee 

Singapore

Member, AC

Thomas Glanzmann

Switzerland

Member, Chairman NRC1), SC, AC2)

Marco Musetti

Luciano Respini

Italy

Italy

Member, AC1), NRC1), SC2)

Vice Chairman1), NRC, SC2) 

Klaus Sturany

Austria

Member, Chairman AC, SC1), NRC2)

Matthias Bichsel

Switzerland

Member1), SC1)

58

54

52

57

46

69

69

61

March 2014

December 2007

April 2011

April 2012

April 2011

April 2004

August 2009

March 2014

AC = Audit Committee, NRC = Nomination and Remuneration Committee, SC = Strategy Committee
1) as of March 20, 2014.
2) until March 20, 2014.

Attending meetings of the

Board

AC

NRC

SC

12

2

15

15

14

15

15

12

2

5

5

7

2

4

1

3

4

5

1

5

6

6

5

6

5

Elected 

until

2015

2014

2015

2015

2015

2015

2015

2015

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance — Board of Directors

47

Board of Directors

Peter Löscher (Chairman)
Luciano Respini (Vice Chairman)

Klaus Sturany
Matthias Bichsel
Thomas Glanzmann

Jill Lee
Marco Musetti

The Board of Directors  
and its committees

Audit Committee
Klaus Sturany (Chairman)
Jill Lee
Marco Musetti

Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee
Thomas Glanzmann (Chairman)
Luciano Respini 
Marco Musetti

Strategy Committee
Peter Löscher (Chairman)
Matthias Bichsel
Thomas Glanzmann
Klaus Sturany

Board  meetings as required to discuss the midterm planning, the strategy, and the budget, as well as 
division-specific items (such as large investments and acquisitions).

The committees do not take any decisions, but rather they review and discuss the matters assigned to 
them and submit the required proposals to the full Board of Directors for a decision. At the next full 
Board  meeting  following  the  committee  meeting,  the  chairmen  of  the  committees  report  to  the  full 
Board of Directors on all matters discussed, including key findings, opinions, and recommendations. 

Additional mandates of members of the Board of Directors outside the Sulzer group
The OaEC requires that as of the Annual General Meeting of April 1, 2015, Sulzer’s Articles of Association 
govern the maximum number of additional mandates held by members of the Board of Directors outside 
the Sulzer group. The Articles of Association do not yet contain such a provision. The respective proposal 
to amend the Articles of Association accordingly was not approved by the Annual General Meeting of 
March 20, 2014. A new proposal will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting of April 1, 2015.

Audit Committee 
The Audit Committee (members listed above) assesses the midyear and annual consolidated financial 
statements and, in particular, the activities—including effectiveness and independence—of the internal 
and external auditors as well as the cooperation between the two bodies. It also assesses the Internal 
Control System (ICS), risk management, and compliance with the applicable standards; at least one 
meeting per year is dedicated to risk management and compliance. The regulations of the Audit Com-
mittee can be viewed at www.sulzer.com/regulations. Meetings of the Audit Committee are attended  
by the CEO, the CFO, the Group General Counsel (at least partially), the Head of Group Internal Audit 
(who  is  also  the  Secretary  of  this  committee),  and  the  external  auditor-in-charge.  In  2014,  the  Audit 
Committee held four meetings. The external auditor-in-charge attended all of these meetings. Internal 
experts, such as Group General Counsel and the Heads of Group Internal Audit, Group Accounting, 
Group Controlling, Group Treasury, Group IT, Group ESH, Group Compliance and Risk Management, 
and Group Taxes gave presentations to the Audit Committee in 2014. 

In February, the Audit Committee receives and discusses a report addressing the exposures (results of 
periodic risk assessments) and compliance cases of the prior year. In September, the Audit Committee 
is briefed on the present state of risk management within the company and on the results of the risk 
management  process—a  process  to  systematically  identify  and  evaluate  significant  risks  and  initiate 
countermeasures. In the same meeting, an update on Sulzer’s compliance approach including the re-
spective ongoing and planned activities is provided. At each meeting, the major current compliance 
cases (if any) are reported to and discussed by the Audit Committee.

>

48

Board of Directors

The Sulzer Board of Directors consists of seven members who are elected individu-
ally for one-year terms. None of them has ever held an executive position at Sulzer. 
Peter Löscher was appointed Chairman and Matthias Bichsel was elected as new 
member of the Board of Directors in March. Vice Chairman Vladimir Kuznetsov did 
not stand for reelection at the Annual General Meeting 2014.

Peter Löscher (1957) Austria
Chairman of the Board/Chairman of the Strategy Committee
Peter Löscher joined the Sulzer Board of Directors and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Direc-
tors in 2014. Currently, he is CEO and Delegate of the Board of Directors of Renova Management AG 
Switzerland (since 2014). Previously, he was President and CEO of the German company Siemens AG 
(2007 to 2013), Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Siemens Stiftung Germany (2008 to 2014), and 
served as President of Global Human Health and member of the Executive Board of Merck & Co., Inc., 
USA (2006 to 2007). From 2004 to 2006, he was CEO of Healthcare Bio-Sciences and member of the 
Corporate Executive Council of General Electric in the USA. He was COO and member of the Board of 
Amersham  plc.,  UK  (2002  to  2004).  From  1999  to  2002,  he  acted  as  Chairman  and  CEO  of  Aventis 
Pharma  Ltd  in  Japan.  He  held  various  senior  leadership  positions  with  Hoechst  Group  in  Germany, 
Spain, the USA, and the UK (1987 to 1999).

Binding interests — Delegate of the Board of Directors, Renova Management AG, Switzerland; Member 
of the Supervisory Board, Deutsche Bank AG, Germany; Member of the Board, TBG AG, Germany
Educational  background  —  Diploma  in  Economics,  Vienna  University  of  Economics  and  Business, 
Austria, and Chinese University of Hong Kong, China; Advanced Management Program, Harvard Uni-
versity, USA; Honorary Professor at Tongji University Shanghai; Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from 
Michigan State University; Doctor Honoris Causa of Slovak University of Engineering in Bratislava 

Luciano Respini (1945) Italy
Vice Chairman of the Board/Member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Luciano Respini joined the Sulzer Board of Directors in 2004. Respini has held a number of key positions 
with the Dow Chemical Company, including President of Dow Europe (1998 to 2006) and of Dow Latin 
America  (1995  to  1997).  He  also  served  as  member  of  the  Office  of  the  Chief  Executive  of  the  Dow 
Chemical Company in the USA (2002 to 2006). In addition, he was member of the Board of Union Car-
bide Corporation, USA from 2003 to 2005. 

Educational background — Doctorate in Economics, Università Cattolica of Milan, Italy

Klaus Sturany (1946) Austria 
Chairman of the Audit Committee/Member of the Strategy Committee
Klaus Sturany joined the Sulzer Board of Directors and was appointed Chairman of the Audit Committee 
in 2009. He served as CFO of RWE (1999 to 2007) and as CFO (and subsequently CEO) for GEA (1996 
to 1999). He also held the position of CFO of Uhde (now ThyssenKrupp), and from 1971 to 1990, he 
acted in a number of positions with Hoechst, including Head of Controlling. 

Binding interests — Member of the Supervisory Board of Bayer AG; Member of the Supervisory Board 
of Hannover Rückversicherung AG 
Educational background — PhD, Mathematics (major) and Physics, University of Innsbruck, Austria

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Corporate Governance — Board of Directors

49

Matthias Bichsel (1954) Switzerland
Member of the Strategy Committee 
Matthias Bichsel joined the Sulzer Board of Directors in 2014. Currently, he is member of the Advisory 
Board  of  Chrysalix  EVC  in  Canada  (since  2015)  and  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Canadian 
 Utilities  in  Canada  (since  2014).  From  2009  to  2014,  he  was  Member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
Royal Dutch Shell plc and Director of its Projects and Technology Business, the Netherlands. Previously, 
he served as Executive Vice President Technical of Shell Exploration and Production (2006 to 2009) and 
was Executive Vice President for Shell’s Global Exploration (2002 to 2006). From 1999 to 2002, he was 
Managing Director of Shell Deepwater Services, USA. From 1995 to 1999, he was Exploration and Deep 
Oil Development Director of Petroleum Development Oman. He also held various positions with Shell 
Exploration and Production in Tanzania, Bangladesh, Oman, Canada, and Indonesia (1980 to 1995).

Binding interests — Member of the Advisory Board, Chrysalix EVC, Canada; Member of the Board of 
Directors, Canadian Utilities Ltd, Canada
Educational background — PhD in Earth Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland; Honorary Profes-
sor, Chinese University of Petroleum, China

Thomas Glanzmann (1958) Switzerland
Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee/Member of the Strategy Committee
Thomas Glanzmann joined the Sulzer Board of Directors in 2012. Previously, he was CEO and President 
of the Swedish company Gambro (2006 to 2011) and CEO and Managing Director of HemoCue, also in 
Sweden (2005 to 2006). From 2004 to 2005, he served as Senior Advisor to the Executive Chairman 
and as a Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, Switzerland. From 1988 to 2004, he held 
various positions with Baxter including Senior Vice President of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, USA 
(1999 to 2004), and President of Baxter Bioscience, USA (1998 to 2004) as well as CEO of Immuno 
 International, Austria (1996 to 1998).

Binding interests — Member of the Board, Grifols SA, Spain; Member of the Board, Sage Products Inc, USA
Educational background — MBA, IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland; BA in Political Science, Dartmouth Col-
lege, USA; Board of Directors Certification, UCLA Anderson School of Management, USA

Jill Lee (1963) Singapore
Member of the Audit Committee 
Jill Lee joined the Sulzer Board of Directors in 2011. Currently, she is the Group Senior Vice President 
and Head of Next Level Program Management of ABB Ltd. From 2012 to 2014, she was the Senior  
 Vice  President  and  CFO  for  ABB  China  and  North  Asia  Region.  Prior  to  this,  she  served  as  Senior   
Vice President, Finance Strategy and Investments for Neptune Orient Lines in Singapore (2010 to 2011). 
She has also held a number of positions with Siemens, including global Chief Diversity Officer (2008 to 
2010), CFO and Senior Executive Vice President of Siemens in China (2004 to 2008), CFO and Senior 
Vice President of Siemens in Singapore (2000 to 2004), CFO Asia-Pacific and General Manager of the 
Asia Regional Headquarters of Siemens Electromechanical Components in Singapore (1997 to 2000).

Educational background — MBA, Nanyang Business School, Singapore; BA in Business Administra-
tion, National University of Singapore

Marco Musetti (1969) Italy
Member of the Audit Committee/Member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Marco Musetti joined the Sulzer Board of Directors in 2011. Since 2014, he has been serving as member 
of the Board of Directors of CIFC Corp. and since 2013 he has been member of the Board of Directors 
of  Schmolz  +  Bickenbach  AG.  He  was  COO  and  deputy  CEO  of  Aluminium  Silicon  Marketing  (Sual 
Group) (2000 to 2007), Head of Metals and Structured Finance Desk for Banque Cantonale Vaudoise 
(1998 to 2000), and Deputy Head of Metals Desk for Banque Bruxelles Lambert (1992 to 1998). Since 
2009, he has been serving as member of the Supervisory Board of Renova U.S. Holdings Limited.

Binding interests — Member of the Supervisory Board, Renova U.S. Holdings Limited; Member of the 
Board of Directors, Schmolz + Bickenbach AG; Member of the Board of Directors, CIFC Corp.
Educational background — Master of Science in Accounting and Finance, London School of Econom-
ics and Political Science, UK; Major degree in Economics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

50

Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee (members listed on page 47) assesses the criteria for the 
election and reelection of Board members and the nomination of candidates for the top two manage-
ment levels. It also deals with succession planning, regularly assesses the compensation systems, and 
recommends compensation for the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee 
(including bonus targets for the latter) on behalf of the Board of Directors and in accordance with its 
specifications. It also carries out broadly based salary comparisons with international third-party com-
panies, supported by studies of the consulting firms such as Mercer and Towers Watson, and it scruti-
nizes the work of internal and external consultants. The members of the Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee are elected by the Shareholders’ Meeting. The regulations of the Nomination and Remu-
neration Committee (which were updated as per June 1, 2014 to reflect the changes required by the 
OaEC) can be viewed at www.sulzer.com/regulations. Meetings of the Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee are attended by the CEO and the Head of Corporate Human Resources (who is also the 
Secretary of this committee). In 2014, seven regular meetings were held. External experts from Towers 
Watson provided benchmarking services (see compensation report, pages 61 to 80) and supported the 
Nomination and Remuneration Committee in reviewing the compensation packages of the members of 
the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

Strategy Committee 
The Strategy Committee (members listed on page 47) advises the Board of Directors on strategic matters 
(such as material acquisitions, divestitures, alliances, and joint ventures) as well as strategic planning 
and  defining  of  development  priorities.  The  regulations  of  the  Strategy  Committee  can  be  viewed  at 
www.sulzer.com/regulations. In 2014, six meetings took place. The CEO attended six, the CFO five, and 
the three Division Presidents attended four meetings. The Group General Counsel attended two of 
these meetings.

Division of powers between the Board of Directors and the CEO 
The Board of Directors has largely delegated executive management powers to the CEO, but it is still 
responsible for matters that cannot be delegated in accordance with Art. 716a of the Swiss Code of 

Organizational structure

Board of Directors

Chief Executive Officer
Klaus Stahlmann

Chief Financial Officer
Thomas Dittrich

Pumps Equipment
César Montenegro

Rotating Equipment 
Services
Peter Alexander

Chemtech
Oliver Bailer

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Corporate Governance — Board of Directors

51

Obligations, such as corporate strategy, approval of midterm planning, and the annual budget, as well 
as key personnel decisions and creation of the compensation report. The same applies to acquisition 
and divestiture decisions involving an enterprise value exceeding CHF 15 million or CHF 20 million 
respectively, investments in fixed assets exceeding CHF 15 million, major corporate restructurings, 
approval of dispute settlements with an impact on operating income of more than CHF 20 million, 
approval of research and development projects exceeding CHF 10 million, as well as other matters 
relevant to the company, and decisions that must be made by law by the Board of Directors (including 
those defined in the Swiss Mergers Act). The competency regulations and the nature of the collabora-
tion between the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee can be viewed in the organizational 
regulations at www.sulzer.com/regulations.

Information and control instruments
Each member of the Board of Directors receives a copy of the monthly financial statements (January 
to May and July to November), plus the midyear and annual financial statements. These include infor-
mation about the balance sheet, income, and cash flow statements, as well as the key figures for the 
company and its divisions (incorporating comments on the respective business results and a six-month 
rolling forecast of the key figures). The CEO and CFO report at every Board meeting on business devel-
opments and all matters relevant to the company; once each year, the Board receives the forecasted 
annual results. The chairmen of the committees also report at these meetings on all matters discussed 
by their committees and on the key findings and assessments, and they submit proposals accordingly. 
Each year, the Board of Directors discusses and approves the budget for the following year, and every 
three years, it establishes a midterm plan, which is also subject to periodic review. The Chairman of the 
Board of Directors regularly consults with the CEO and other representatives of the Executive Commit-
tee. In addition, the Board of Directors receives an investor relations status report twice a year.

Group Internal Audit 
Group Internal Audit reports functionally directly to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, but adminis-
tratively to the CFO. Meetings between internal audit and external auditors take place on a regular basis 
to prepare for the meetings of the Audit Committee, to review the interim and final reports of the external 
auditors, to plan and coordinate internal and external audits, and to prepare audit instructions for the 
attention  of  external  auditors  of  the  individual  companies.  Group  companies  are  audited  by  Group 
 Internal Audit based on an audit plan that is approved by the Audit Committee; depending on the risk 
category such audits are carried out on a rotational basis either annually or every second, third, or fourth 
year. Group Internal Audit carried out 39 audits in the year under review. One of the focal points was 
again  the  Internal  Control  System  (ICS).  The  results  of  each  audit  are  discussed  in  detail  with  the 
 companies and (where necessary) the divisions concerned and key measures are agreed upon. The 
Chairman of the Board of Directors, the members of the Audit Committee, the CEO, the CFO, the Group 
General Counsel, as well as the respective Division President and other line managers of the audited 
unit  receive  a  copy  of  the  audit  report.  The  key  measures  agreed  upon  are  also  presented  to  and 
 discussed with the CEO, the CFO, the Group General Counsel, and the Division Presidents during the 
monthly Executive Committee meetings; twice annually, the divisions present the status of key meas-
ures agreed upon. A follow-up process is in place for all group internal audits which enables efficient 
and effective monitoring of the implementation of the improvement measures. Each year, the Head of 
Group Internal Audit compiles a report summarizing activities and results. This report is distributed to 
members of the Board of Directors and the members of the Executive Committee and presented to  the 
Executive  Committee  and  the  Audit  Committee.  It  is  discussed  in  both  committees  and  thereafter 
 reported to the Board of Directors. 

Risk management and compliance 
Sulzer has established and implemented a comprehensive and value-based compliance program that 
focuses on prevention. It consists of the following main elements: 

52

Strong values and “tone at the top and the middle”
Sulzer puts a high priority on carrying out its business with integrity, in compliance with all applicable 
laws and internal rules (“a clean deal or no deal”), and on accepting only reasonable contractual risks. 
The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee are convinced that compliant and ethical behavior 
in all aspects is a precondition for a successful and sustainable future. It also fosters a speak-up culture 
and encourages employees to address potentially non-compliant behaviors.

Risk assessment
As part of Sulzer’s integrated risk management process, compliance risks are assessed regularly, and 
the results are discussed both with the management within the Sulzer Risk Council as well as the Audit 
Committee, which dedicates at least one full meeting per year to risk management and compliance. An 
overview of the main risks and corresponding mitigation measures is provided on pages 58 to 59.

Internal rules and tools
In  2010,  Sulzer  introduced  a  new  Code  of  Business  Conduct,  which  can  be  viewed  online  at  www.
sulzer.com/regulations in 19 languages. Every employee of the company (including employees of newly 
acquired businesses) is required to confirm in writing that he or she has read and understood this code 
and will comply with it. Every member of the Sulzer Management Group (approximately 100 managers) 
as well as the heads of all operating companies and all headquarters, regional, and local compliance 
officers must reconfirm this compliance commitment in writing on an annual basis. Also in 2010, Sulzer 
joined  the  UN  Global  Compact  initiative.  The  latest  Communication  on  Progress  Report  in  respect 
thereto was delivered in 2014.

Rules 
Although Sulzer follows a behavior and principle based approach, it still requires internal rules discuss-
ing  “boundaries”,  defining  processes,  and  providing  guidance  and  decision  support.  In  this  respect 
Sulzer focuses on the major compliance risks, e.g.:
—  Bribery and corruption risks: Antibribery and anticorruption guidelines were introduced in 2010. In 
2011, a process addressing the due diligence of intermediaries was introduced. In 2012, this process 
was improved, the scope was extended, and the tool was made web-based. In the same year, a 
corporate-wide initiative that set maximum levels for offering and receiving gifts and hospitalities was 
carried out. The respective directive entered into force on January 1, 2013. In 2014, an e-training (in 
13 languages) was rolled out to make Sulzer employees enrolled in the e-training program familiar 
with the content of the directive. 

—  Antitrust  and  anticompetition  risks:  An  antitrust  guideline  was  introduced  in  2010  and  a  directive 
addressing behaviors in trade association followed in 2012. In 2013, the rollout of this directive took 
place, including collection of a compliance declaration from the employees representing Sulzer in 
trade association meetings.

—  Export control risks: Export control policies were established and rolled out in 2012 in most entities. 
In 2012/2013, an e-training in trade compliance was rolled out to the employees involved in export 
activities.

—  Further risks (e.g. stock exchange laws, human resource-related, intellectual property and know-
how,  privacy  and  data  protection  laws,  product  liability,  environmental,  quality  and  health,  etc.): 
These and many other potential risks are addressed by focused rules and processes. In 2012, new 
processes securing compliance with insider law risks and stock exchange reporting and notification 
risks were introduced. They were updated in 2013 because of changes in stock exchange laws.

Tools
Because of its strongly fostered speak-up culture, Sulzer provides a hotline that offers employees one 
of many options for reporting (potential) violations of the laws or internal rules (reports can be made 
anonymously  or  openly  via  a  free  hotline  or  a  dedicated  website).  The  company  also  introduced  a 
 directive  that  further  improves  internal  reporting  of  compliance  cases  and  sets  minimum  standards  
for internal investigation in 2012. Further tools are available to all employees on the Sulzer Legal and 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Corporate Governance — Board of Directors

53

Compliance intranet site (e.g., presentations addressing the major exposures; draft agreements; sales 
and procurement handbooks with compliance-specific explanations and standard clauses). In 2013, a 
new  type  of  antifraud  training  was  introduced,  mainly  addressed  to  Sulzer’s  finance  employees.  In 
 addition to that, an e-learning course related to fraud and business integrity was rolled out. In 2014, a 
compliance risk assessment process was established to identify and assess potential compliance risks 
on a local entity level and to define appropriate measures.

Organization 
Within the course of the organizational changes implemented during 2013, the “Legal, Compliance, and 
Risk Management” group function was established (headed by the Group General Counsel). Within this 
new  organization,  a  line  reporting  structure  was  established  for  the  three  regions:  Americas  (AME), 
 Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC). In this structure, the local compliance 
officers ultimately report—via regional compliance officers—to the Group General Counsel (who is also 
the Chief Compliance Officer). In addition, the “Risk Management and Compliance headquarters” was 
established to steer and administer the group-wide compliance program. The Head of Risk Manage-
ment and Compliance also reports to the Group General Counsel. In order to ensure consistent rollout 
of Group Compliance initiatives, a dotted reporting line exists between the regional compliance officers 
and the Head of Compliance and Risk Management. The Sulzer Risk Council, comprising the CFO, the 
Group General Counsel, the Head of Internal Audit, the Head of Compliance and Risk Management, 
and representatives of other group staff functions, held one meeting in 2014. The Sulzer Risk Council’s 
tasks  mainly  include  formulating  and  maintaining  adequate  risk  management  policies,  systems,  and 
guidelines; initiating and coordinating risk management activities; and advising the CEO and the Exec-
utive Committee on matters relating to risk management. Each member of the Executive Committee 
receives a copy of the minutes of the Sulzer Risk Council.

The Group General Counsel informs the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee regularly on 
legal matters and key changes in legislation that may affect Sulzer, as well as on important litigation. 
Twice a year, a report is also made to the Audit Committee about any pending or threatened litigation 
with worst-case exposure exceeding CHF 0.5 million. Further information on reports to the Audit Com-
mittee is provided under “Audit Committee” on page 47.

Awareness building and trainings
Sulzer puts substantial effort into the training of its employees. Training is carried out through e-learning
programs (between two and three new programs are rolled out every year), on a face-to-face basis or 
through web conferences. In 2014, a compliance training compendium was rolled out to provide training 
contents  to  the  local  compliance  officers.  Together  with  “train  the  trainers”  courses  provided  to  the 
compliance officers, this will support coverage of the organization and transfer of training contents to 
the local entities. Over 20 000 e-learning courses were conducted in 2014 and web conferences on 
specific compliance matters were carried out.

Controls and sanctions 
Headquarters Legal carried out thirteen legal audits in 2014. These audits were conducted within the 
framework of the audits done by Group Internal Audit and focused on contractual risks. The results of the 
audits were discussed with the responsible managers. Measures were agreed upon. Implementation of 
these measures is monitored (follow-up process; see under “Group Internal Audit”, page 51). The group 
function Environment, Safety and Health (ESH) carried out 11 audits and organized seven external safety 
and health compliance audits as well as eight external insurance audits. The focal points were primarily 
environmental  protection  and  workplace  safety.  The  results  of  each  of  these  audits  were  discussed 
 directly with the responsible managers and agreement was reached on any improvements required.

The latest status of the company’s risks relating to environment, safety, and health is reported to the 
Audit Committee once a year. Sulzer published its externally verified Sustainability Report 2014 parallel 
to  the  Sulzer  Annual  Report  2014  (see  www.sulzer.com/sustainability).  The  external  institute  SGS 

54

 (Société Générale de Surveillance) confirmed in its assurance statement that the report is in accordance 
with the highest GRI disclosure level A+. This was also confirmed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). 
Sulzer’s sustainability performance is regularly rated by various organizations. Sulzer is a recognized 
sustainability leader in its industry and meets industry-specific minimum requirements. 

Apart from these formal audits, many internal investigations (triggered by reports via the compliance 
hotlines, e-mails, telephone calls, or otherwise) were carried out during 2014 and at least 14 employees 
had to leave Sulzer because of non-compliant behavior with Sulzer’s Code of Business Conduct. Others 
received  warnings  or  were  internally  transferred.  However,  the  vast  majority  of  the  reports  received 
concerned non-material issues.

Continuous improvement
It  is  Sulzer’s  goal  to  constantly  improve  its  compliance  and  risk  management  approach.  Findings  of 
audits and internal investigations are assessed and internal processes and rules are adjusted, and/or 
training modules improved .

4  Executive Committee 
The Executive Committee consists of the CEO, the CFO, and the Division Presidents. Executive man-
agement  powers  are  delegated  by  the  Board  of  Directors  to  the  CEO.  The  Division  Presidents  are 
charged by the CEO with defining and attaining business targets for their respective divisions in accord-
ance with corporate goals. The appropriate powers have largely been delegated to the Division Presi-
dents by the CEO. The Board of Directors and Organization Regulations govern, among other things, 
the transfer of responsibilities from the Board of Directors to the CEO, and this regulation can be viewed 
at www.sulzer.com/regulations. The CFO supports the CEO in his corporate management tasks. There 
are  no  management  contracts  with  third  parties.  None  of  the  Executive  Committee  members  has  a 
contract with a notice period exceeding 12 months. The CVs of the members of the Executive Committee 
can be viewed on pages 56 to 57 and online at www.sulzer.com/management.

Additional mandates of members of the Executive Committee outside the Sulzer group
The OaEC requires that as of the Annual General Meeting of April 1, 2015, Sulzer’s Articles of Associa-
tion govern the maximum number of additional mandates held by members of the Executive Committee 
outside the Sulzer group. The Articles of Association do not yet contain such a provision. The respective 
proposal to amend the Articles of Association accordingly was not approved by the Annual General 
Meeting of March 20, 2014. A new proposal will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting of April 1, 
2015.

5  Compensation Report
Information on the compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee can be found 
in the compensation report (pages 61 to 80).

6  Shareholder Participation Rights

Restrictions and representation of voting rights
Only nominees are subject to restrictions (see “Capital structure”, page 44). No exceptions were granted 
during the reporting year, and no measures to remove these restrictions are planned.
In line with the OaEC, a shareholder may be represented at a Shareholders’ Meeting by his/her legal 
representative,  another  shareholder  with  the  right  to  vote,  or  the  independent  proxy.  Since  at  the  
Annual General Meeting of March 20, 2014, the Board of Directors’ proposal to amend the Articles of 
Association accordingly was not approved, the Articles of Association do not fully reflect the representa-
tion  of  a  shareholder  as  outlined  above.  The  Board  of  Directors  will  propose  to  the  Annual  General 
Meeting of April 1, 2015 to amend the Articles of Association accordingly. Shares held by a shareholder 
may be represented by only one person.

Statutory quorum

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Corporate Governance — Shareholder Participation Rights

55

Changes to the Articles of Association may only be approved by a majority of at least two-thirds of the 
voting rights represented; share capital increases are carried out, however, upon an absolute majority 
of the votes represented. The dissolution or a merger of the company can only be decided upon if at 
least half the shares issued are represented at the Shareholders’ Meeting and two-thirds thereof vote in 
favor of the corresponding proposal (see also paragraph 18 of the Articles of Association). 

Convocation of the Annual General Meeting and submission of agenda items
None of the applicable regulations deviate from the law regarding the convocation of a Shareholders’ 
Meeting. Shareholders representing at least 2% of the share capital may submit items for inclusion on the 
agenda of a Shareholders’ Meeting. Such submissions must be requested in writing at least two months 
prior to the meeting and must specify the agenda items and proposals of the shareholder concerned.

Entry in the share register
Voting rights may be exercised by shareholders who are registered in the share register no later than on 
the record date stated in the invitation to the respective Shareholders’ Meeting. 

Independent proxy
The Articles of Association do not contain a provision regarding election of the independent proxy by 
the Shareholders’ Meeting. At the Annual General Meeting on March 20, 2014, the Board of Directors’ 
proposal to change the Articles of Association (as per OaEC) was rejected. The Board of Directors will 
propose to the Annual General Meeting of April 1, 2015 to amend the Articles of Association accord-
ingly. Nevertheless, the Shareholders’ Meeting of March 20, 2014, elected Proxy Voting Services GmbH 
as the independent proxy in line with the new requirements of OaEC.

7  Takeover and Defense Measures
The Articles of Association contain no opting-out or opting-up clause. None of the contracts with mem-
bers of the Board of Directors contains a change of control clause. The contracts of the members of the 
Executive Committee who joined the Executive Committee prior to April 2009 contain a remuneration 
clause provided the contract is terminated or the member’s function is changed considerably within 
18 months after a change of control (see compensation report, pages 61 to 80). If there is a change of 
control (which, for members of the Executive Committee, also includes a replacement of the majority of 
the members of  the Board of Directors)  or a public  takeover bid that is not supported by the Board  
of Directors, all allocated restricted stock units (RSUs) are automatically vested and the performance   
share units (PSUs) are automatically converted into shares on a pro rata basis without being subject to 
blocking restrictions. 

8  Auditors
The statutory auditor is elected at the Annual General Meeting for a one-year term of office. KPMG AG 
has been acting as the statutory auditor since 2013. The acting external auditor-in-charge is François 
Rouiller (since March 27, 2013). The external auditor-in-charge is replaced every seven years. The Audit 
Committee is in charge of supervising and monitoring the statutory auditor, and it reports to the Board 
of Directors (see “Board of Directors”, page 45). The members of the Audit Committee receive sum-
maries of audit findings and improvement proposals at least once a year. The external auditor-in-charge 
is invited to attend meetings of the Audit Committee. In 2014, he attended four Audit Committee meet-
ings. The Audit Committee or its chairman meets separately with the Head of Group Internal Audit and 
the external auditor-in-charge at least once per year to assess (among other things) the independence 
of  the  internal  and  external  auditors.  The  Audit  Committee  evaluates  the  work  done  by  the  auditors 
based on the documents, reports, and presentations provided by the auditors as well as on the materi-
ality and objectivity of their statements. In order to do so, the committee gathers the opinions of the CFO 
and the Head of Group Internal Audit. The fee paid to the auditor is reviewed regularly and compared 
with the auditing fees paid by other internationally active Swiss industrial companies. The fee is negoti-
ated by the CFO, checked by the Audit Committee, and approved by the Board of Directors. Further 
information on the auditor, in particular, the amount of the auditor’s fees and any additional fees received 
>

56

Executive Committee

The  Sulzer  Executive  Committee  consists  of  the  CEO,  the  CFO,  and  the  three 
 Division Presidents. Thomas Dittrich has been appointed as new Chief Financial 
Officer  in  August.  César  Montenegro  was  appointed  Division  President  Pumps 
Equipment in June.

Klaus Stahlmann (1960) Germany
Chief Executive Officer 
Klaus Stahlmann joined the Sulzer Executive Committee as CEO in 2012. Previously, he was CEO for 
MAN Diesel and Turbo and member of the Executive Board of MAN SE (2010 to 2011). From 2007 to 
2009, he served as CEO for MAN Turbo, Germany. Before his engagement with MAN, he was Managing 
Director of the European Bearing Business Unit of NSK. For Allweiler, a German pumps manufacturer, 
he served as CEO (2001 to 2006) after having held various positions with the German industrial group 
Krupp (1987 to 2001). 

Educational  background  —  Master  of  Science  in  Industrial  Engineering,  Technical  University  Darm-
stadt, Germany

Thomas Dittrich (1964) Switzerland/Germany
Chief Financial Officer
Thomas Dittrich joined the Sulzer Executive Committee as CFO in 2014. Previously, he served as Vice 
President Finance Corporate Planning and Controlling and Chief Accounting Officer of Amgen Inc. in 
the USA (2010 to 2014). Prior to that, he was Vice President Finance and CFO of Amgen International 
headquartered in Switzerland (2006 to 2010). From 1998 to 2006, he held various Finance Director and 
General Manager roles of increasing scope and responsibility at Dell Inc. in Europe, Middle East, and 
Africa. He was also Head of Business Development and Finance Director of the Swatch Group AG in 
Switzerland (1997 to 1998), Senior Associate of Booz & Co. in Germany (1992 to 1996), as well as As-
sociate of Helbling Management Consulting AG in Switzerland (1991 to 1992).

Educational background — Master of Science in Finance, Accounting, and Business Administration, 
University  of  St.  Gallen,  Switzerland;  Master  of  Science  in  Mechanical  Engineering  (Dipl.  Ing.  Univ.), 
Technical University Munich, Germany

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Corporate Governance — Executive Committee

57

César Montenegro (1953) Venezuela/USA
Division President Pumps Equipment
César Montenegro was appointed as Division President of Pumps Equipment in 2014. He joined the 
Sulzer  Executive  Committee  as  Division  President  of  Sulzer  Metco  in  2008,  and  was  involved  in  the 
 divestiture of this division in 2014. He has held a number of positions with Sulzer since 1977. From 2002 
to 2008, he served as Head of Business Area North America for Sulzer Pumps. He was also Managing 
Director of Sulzer Mexico (1996 to 2001) and of Sulzer de Venezuela (1989 to 1996).

Educational background — Postgraduate studies in Business Engineering, University Simon Bolivar, 
Caracas, Venezuela; MSc in Mechanical Engineering, University Simon Bolivar, Caracas, Venezuela

Peter Alexander (1958) USA
Division President Rotating Equipment Services 
Peter Alexander joined the Sulzer Executive Committee as Division President of Sulzer Turbo Services 
in 2005. He has held a number of positions with Sulzer Turbo Services, including Head Business Devel-
opment and Division President on an ad interim basis (2004 to 2005), Cofounder and Director of Oper-
ations and Engineering in Indonesia (1994 to 2004), and Engineering Manager and Project Engineer in 
the USA (1987 to 1994). 

Educational background — BSc in Marine Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

Oliver Bailer (1967) Switzerland
Division President Chemtech
Oliver Bailer joined the Sulzer Executive Committee in 2013. From 1993 to 2013, he held a number of 
positions with the Chemtech division, including Head of Sulzer Mixpac Systems (2010 to 2013), Head of 
Mixing and Reaction Technology (2008 to 2009), and Head of Business Development (2006 to 2008).

Educational  background —  General  Management  Program  (GMP),  Harvard  University,  Boston,  MA, 
USA;  Master  of  Business  Administration  (Executive  MBA),  University  St.  Gallen  (HSG),  Switzerland; 
Swiss-certified Chemical Engineer (Dipl. Chem. Ing.), ETH Zurich, Switzerland

58

Enterprise Risk Management Process 
to Take Risk-Conscious Decisions

With its enterprise risk management (ERM) system, Sulzer has implemented an 
integrated risk management system allowing the company to take targeted and 
risk-conscious decisions.

Risk

Risk exposure 

Main loss controls

External and markets

Market assessment

Geopolitical shocks

Strategic

Innovation
—  More information  

on page 34

Operational

Attraction and retention
—  More information  

on page 38

Market developments that are assessed 
inappropriately could lead to missed business 
opportunities or losses.

—  Continuous monitoring and assessment of 

market developments

—  Systematic midrange planning based on 
market developments and expectations

A geopolitical shock event could have an impact 
on operations and travel. Also, it could imply 
currency risks and default risks of countries and 
banks.

—  Monitoring of exposure in critical countries
—  Monitoring of debt situation of countries and 

banks

—  Continuous monitoring of raw material prices 

and inflation indicators

—  Sulzer’s global presence mitigates the effect 

of geopolitical shocks

Failure in R&D and innovation activities could 
negatively impact the ability to operate and to 
grow the business. 
Insufficient investments in innovation to maintain 
technology leadership and develop innovative 
products.

—   Stage gate process and key performance 

indicators

—  Product Development Council with strong 

focus on midrange planning process

—  Core Technology Council for development   

of basic technology

— Innovation projects planned for 2015

Failure to attract and retain talent could lead to a 
lack of expertise and negatively impact the ability 
to operate.

—  Active fostering of corporate values and high 

ethical standards 

—  Strong Sulzer employer brand strategy 
—  Regular talent review workshops 
—  Development plans and education of 

employees 

—  Salary benchmarks and reviews 
—  Regular employee engagement surveys

—  Health and safety regulations, guidelines, 

programs (e.g. Safe Behavior Program), and 
training 

— OHSAS 18001 certifications 
— Monthly health and safety controlling 
— Global network of health and safety officers
— Regular health and safety audits

Health and safety
—  More information  

on page 38

An unsafe working environment could lead to 
harm to people, reputational damage, fines, as 
well as liability claims and could have a serious 
economic impact.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Corporate Governance — Risk Management

59

Risk exposure 

Main loss controls

Non-compliant or unethical behavior could lead 
to reputational damage, fines, and liability claims. 

—  Active fostering of high ethical standards
—  Continuous monitoring and assessment of 

potential exposures

—  Sulzer Code of Business Conduct and a 
number of supporting regulations (e.g. 
anticorruption, antitrust, trade control)
—  Global network of compliance officers
—  Compliance training (incl. e-learning) and audits
—  Speak-up culture, compliance hotline, and 

sanctions 

—  Quality management and assurance systems 

tailored to specific businesses

—  Third-party accreditation
—  Competence development programs and 

 training of employees

—  Test centers 

Failure of high-quality products and services 
could lead to repeated work, reputational 
damage, or liability claims. 

Business interruption, such as a fire, could cause 
damage to people, property, and equipment.  
It could have a negative effect on the ability to 
operate at the affected site. 

—  Crisis and emergency management systems 

(at global and local level) 

—  Risk management policy and guidelines 
—  Corporate and local crisis and emergency 

management systems 

—  Disaster recovery plans in IT 

The unpredictability of financial markets may have 
a negative effect on Sulzer’s financial performance 
and its ability to raise or access capital. 

—  Corporate financial policy 
—  Foreign exchange risk policy 
—  Trading loss limits for financial instruments 

Credit risks arising from financial institutions and 
from customers could have a negative effect  
on Sulzer’s financial performance and ability to 
operate. 

—  For financial institutions, only parties with  
a strong credit quality are accepted  
(third-party rated) 

—  Individual risk assessment of customers  

with large order volumes 

—  Continuous monitoring of country risks 

Risk

Operational

Compliance
— More information  
on page 51

Quality of products  
and services

Business  
interruptions

Financial

Financial markets
— More information  
on page 99

Credit
— More information  
on page 101

Failure in liquidity risk management may have a 
negative effect on Sulzer’s financial performance 
and its ability to operate. 

—  Continuous monitoring of the liquidity
—  Management of liquidity reserves at  

corporate level

Liquidity
— More information  
on page 102

—  Cash flow program to optimize liquidity  

and cash flow management 

—  Efficient use of available cash through  

cash pooling

  
60

by the auditor for advisory services outside its statutory audit mandate, is listed in the financial section 
under note 36 (page 142). All advisory services provided outside the statutory audit mandate (essen-
tially consisting of consulting services related to audit and accounting as well as legal and tax advisory 
services) are compliant with the applicable independence rules. 

Information Policy

9 
Sulzer Ltd reports on its order intake every quarter (media releases) and on its financial results every half 
year, in each case also commenting on business performance and outlook. In addition, the company 
reports on important events on an ongoing basis (ad hoc publications). The reporting referred to in Sec-
tion 5 of the Corporate Governance Report (including the respective references to the financial section) 
corresponds to the compensation report as laid out in Section 8 of Annex 1 of the Swiss Code of Best 
Practice for Corporate Governance. 

Key dates in 2015
February 12 
February 12 
April 1 
April 16 
July 28 
October 15 

Annual results 2014 
Capital Market Day 2015
Annual General Meeting 2015
Order intake Q1 2015
Midyear report 2015
Order intake Q1 – Q3 2015

The above dates and any changes can be viewed at www.sulzer.com/events. Media releases (sent via 
e-mail) can be subscribed to at www.sulzer.com/newsletter. Other information is available on the Sulzer 
website www.sulzer.com.

Material changes
Reference  is  made  in  the  text  to  any  material  changes  occurring  between  the  balance  sheet  date  
(December 31, 2014) and the copy deadline for the Annual Report (February 10, 2015). 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
 
 
61

Compensation 
Report

t
r
o
p
e
R
n
o
i
t
a
s
n
e
p
m
o
C

 
Compensation 
Report

Compensation Governance 
and Principles 65

Compensation Architecture 68

Compensation of the Board  
of Directors and the Executive 
Committee 75

Shareholdings of the Board  
of Directors and the Executive 
Committee 78

Auditors’ Report 80

Winterthur, February 10, 2015

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of Sulzer, I am pleased to introduce the 2014 
Compensation Report.

The purpose of the Sulzer compensation policy is to enable Sulzer to attract, retain, and motivate the talent that is key to the 
company’s performance and long-term success. With that in mind, our compensation programs have been designed to reward 
performance, sustainable growth, and long-term shareholder value creation.

To ensure that the remuneration is competitive, Sulzer regularly participates in benchmarking surveys. Our compensation strategy 
intends to remunerate at the median to the third quartile to be competitive in the market. We also correlate between compensation 
overall, the size and complexity of the business, geographic reach, and available talent. The particular composition of the peer group 
intends to reflect comparators on the employer market. 

The Board of Directors and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee review the compensation policy and programs of Sulzer 
continually in order to ensure that they are aligned with the company’s strategy and the shareholders’ interests, while being compli-
ant with the regulatory requirements.

In 2014, the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation in Listed Stock Corporations (the Compensation Ordinance, OaEC) was 
implemented. The Compensation Ordinance has strong implications on the governance of compensation matters. Consequently, 
the Board of Directors and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee have focused their efforts on preparing for the changes to 
be put into action between 2014 and 2015 as outlined below:
—  Yearly individual election of the members of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the members of 

the Nomination and Remuneration Committee by the Shareholders’ Meeting

—  Amendments to the Articles of Association and inclusion of provisions on compensation governance and compensation principles 
—  Introduction of a binding shareholders’ vote on the aggregate maximum amounts of compensation for the Board of Directors and 

for the Executive Committee at the 2015 Annual General Meeting

—  Amendments to the compensation report in line with the new requirements under the Compensation Ordinance
—  Adjustments of the individual employment contracts of the Executive Committee members in line with the provisions of the Compen-

sation Ordinance

Further, the Board of Directors and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee continued to review and assess the compensation 
principles and programs, especially in light of the new requirements under the Compensation Ordinance. Considering the changes 
made in 2013, notably with the introduction of a new long-term incentive plan for the members of the Executive Committee, the 
Board of Directors, and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee concluded that the compensation framework is fit-for-pur-
pose and that no further substantial changes were necessary at this stage.

At the 2015 Annual General Meeting, we will ask for your opinion on our compensation framework and the compensation actually 
awarded for the business year 2014 through a consultative vote on this compensation report. Further, in line with the Compensation 
Ordinance, we will request your approval of the aggregate maximum compensation amounts that may be awarded to the Board of 
Directors until the next Annual General Meeting and to the Executive Committee for the 2016 business year. 

We believe that this voting mode gives you, dear shareholder, a far-reaching say on pay. We would like to thank you for taking the 
time to share your views with us and trust that you will find this report informative.

Sincerely,

Thomas Glanzmann
Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee

64

In brief

Incentives for Sustainable  
Performance

Compensation  policies  and  plans  at  Sulzer  reward  performance,  sustainable 
growth, and long-term shareholder value creation.

Core principles and  
compensation governance 
— See page 65

Compensation  policies  and  plans  at  Sulzer  reward  performance,  sustainable  growth,  and  long-term 
shareholder  value  creation.  Compensation  programs  are  competitive,  internally  equitable,  straight-
forward, and transparent.

Shareholders’ engagement
— See page 66

Compensation of the  
Board of Directors
— See page 68

The compensation policy, programs, and amounts are reviewed by the Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee annually and, if necessary, adjusted by the Board of Directors.

The shareholders are asked to approve the aggregate maximum amounts of compensation that may be 
awarded to the Board of Directors and to the Executive Committee in a binding vote. Further, sharehold-
ers have the opportunity to express their opinion on the compensation framework in a consultative vote 
on the compensation report.

In order to reinforce the independence of the Board of Directors in fulfilling its supervisory duties, the 
compensation of the Board of Directors consists of a fixed remuneration only, delivered as follows:

— Fixed cash component
— Restricted stock unit (RSU) component

The fixed amount of compensation for the Chairman and the other members of the Board of Directors 
depends on the amount of responsibility and complexity of their respective function, the professional 
and personal requirements placed on them, and the expected time requirement to fulfill their duties.

Compensation of the
Executive Committee
— See pages 69 – 74

In line with the pay-for-performance key principle, a significant portion of compensation of the CEO and 
the other members of the Executive Committee consists of variable incentives based on performance. 
The compensation includes the following components:

—  Fixed compensation:
  — Base salary (cash)
  — Retirement and fringe benefits 
—  Variable compensation:
  — Short-term annual bonus (cash)
  — Long-term incentives (performance share units)

In order to ensure that the remuneration is competitive, Sulzer regularly participates in relevant bench-
marking surveys. 

The compensation report is prepared in accordance with the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation 
in Listed Stock Corporations (Compensation Ordinance, OaEC), the SIX Swiss Exchange Guidelines on 
Corporate Governance Information (RLCG), and the principles of the Swiss Code of Best Practice for 
Corporate Governance of economiesuisse.

The compensation report provides information about the principles of compensation, the compensation 
policy  and  programs,  the  method  of  determination  of  compensation,  as  well  as  the  compensation 
awarded in the reporting year to the members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Compensation Report — Compensation Governance and Principles

65

1  Compensation Governance and Principles 

Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
The Board of Directors and Organization Regulations and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
Regulations  (www.sulzer.com/regulations)  define  the  functions  of  the  Nomination  and  Remuneration 
Committee (the NRC). The NRC supports the Board of Directors in nominating and assessing candi-
dates for positions to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee positions, in establishing and 
reviewing the compensation strategy and principles, and in preparing the respective proposals to the 
Shareholders’ Meeting regarding the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and of the 
Executive Committee.

The NRC is responsible for the following activities and submits all proposals concerning these activities 
to the Board of Directors, which has the final decision authority: 
—  Periodic assessment of the membership structure of the Board of Directors, determination of selec-

tion principles, and identification of potential candidates to the Board of Directors

—  Succession planning for the CEO and Executive Committee positions (two upper management levels)
—  Periodic assessment of the compensation policy and programs
—  Determination of performance targets for the CEO and the executive management positions for the 

purpose of the incentive plans

—  Preparation  of  the  respective  motions  to  the  Shareholders’  Meeting  on  the  maximum  aggregate 

amounts of compensation of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee

—  Determination of the target compensation for the CEO and for the executive management positions
—  Review of the compensation report

The table below describes the levels of authority:

CEO

NRC

Board

Decision authority

Selection criteria and succession planning Board of Directors

proposes

approves

Selection criteria and succession planning Executive Committee

proposes

reviews

approves

Compensation policy and programs

Compensation of the members of the Board of Directors

Compensation of the CEO

proposes

approves

proposes

approves

proposes

approves

Compensation of the Executive Committee

proposes

reviews

approves

Total maximum compensation amounts to be submitted to vote  
at the Annual General Meeting

Performance objectives and assessment of the CEO

proposes

approves

proposes

approves

Performance objectives and assessment of the Executive Committee

proposes

reviews

approves

Compensation report

proposes

approves

The NRC consists of a maximum of three members who are non-executive and independent and who 
are elected individually and annually by the Shareholders’ Meeting for the period of office until the fol-
lowing ordinary Annual General Meeting. Since the 2014 Annual General Meeting, Thomas Glanzmann, 
Marco Musetti, and Luciano Respini have been members of the NRC.

The  NRC  meets  as  often  as  the  business  requires,  but  at  least  twice  a  year.  In  2014,  the  NRC  held 
seven meetings that were attended by all members. 

The CEO and the Head of Group Human Resources, who serves as the Secretary of the NRC, generally 
attend the meetings. The Chairman of the Committee may invite other executives to participate to the 
meet ing in an advisory capacity, as appropriate. However, the CEO and any other executives do not par-
ticipate in the meetings, or parts of thereof, when their own remuneration and/or performance is discussed.

66

Compensation benchmark

The comparison group
reflects Sulzer’s ambitious
business strategy:
— ABB
— Actelion
— Clariant
— EMS Chemie
— Geberit
— Georg Fischer
— Holcim
— Lonza
— Nobel Biocare
— Oerlikon
— Rieter
— Schindler
— Sika
— Sonova
— Syngenta

The Chairman of the NRC reports to the next meeting of the full Board of Directors on the activities of 
the NRC and the matters debated on. The Chairman also, as far as necessary, submits the respective 
proposals for approval by the Board of Directors. The minutes of the NRC meetings are available to all 
members of the Board of Directors.

The NRC may appoint third-party companies to provide independent advice or perform services as it 
judges necessary for the fulfillment of its duties. In the reporting year, the NRC appointed Towers Watson 
to provide consulting and benchmarking services on compensation matters. Towers Watson has no 
other mandate with Sulzer.

Shareholders’ role and engagement
The company is keen to receive shareholders’ feedback on the compensation policy and programs and 
already implemented the consultative vote on the compensation report in 2011. Further, the company 
meets  with  shareholders  and  shareholder  representatives  on  an  ongoing  basis  to  understand  their 
perspectives. With the implementation of the Compensation Ordinance, the shareholders’ role and say 
in compensation matters has become even more pronounced. At the Annual General Meeting, share-
holders  will  be  asked  to  approve  the  maximum  aggregate  compensation  amounts  for  the  Board  of 
 Directors and for the Executive Committee. This vote is binding and will be conducted annually.

At the 2015 Annual General Meeting, the shareholders will also be asked to approve amendments to 
the Articles of Association that are required to comply with the Compensation Ordinance. The revised 
Articles of Association include provisions related to the: 
—  Principles of compensation
—  Shareholders’ binding vote on remuneration 
—  Additional amount for members of the Executive Committee hired after the vote on remuneration by 

the Shareholders’ Meeting

—  Loans, credit facilities, and post-employment benefits for members of the Board of Directors and of 

the Executive Committee

The Articles of Association do not yet contain such provisions. The respective proposal to amend the 
Articles of Association accordingly was not approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting of March 20, 2014. 
A new proposal will be submitted to the Shareholders’ Meeting of April 1, 2015. 

Compensation principles 
The  compensation  of  the  Board  of  Directors  is  fixed  and  does  not  contain  any  performance-based 
variable component. This ensures that the Board of Directors is truly independent in fulfilling its super-
visory duties towards the Executive Committee. 

The compensation of the Executive Committee is driven by the main principle of pay-for-performance. 
The compensation policy and programs are designed to reward performance, sustainable growth, and 
long-term shareholder value creation, while offering competitive remuneration to be able to attract and 
retain highly qualified employees. The compensation principles are: 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
Compensation Report — Compensation Governance and Principles

67

Pay-for-performance

A substantial portion of compensation is delivered in the form of variable 
incentives based on company and individual performance

Compensation principles

Ownership

Part of compensation is delivered in company’s equity in order to foster 
ownership and align the interests of executives with those of shareholders

Market competitiveness

Compensation levels are competitive and in line with market practice in 
order to attract and retain highly qualified employees 

Internal equity 

The internal compensation structure is based on a job grading 
methodology applied globally

Transparency

Compensation programs are straightforward and transparent

Method of determination of compensation: Benchmarking and annual target setting process 
In order to ensure compensation levels that are competitive and in line with market practice, the com-
pensation of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee is regularly benchmarked against 
that of similar functions in comparable companies. For this purpose, a peer group of international indus-
trial  companies  headquartered  in  Switzerland  has  been  selected  on  the  basis  of  their  revenue  and 
number of employees (see box “compensation benchmark” on page 66), so that Sulzer is positioned 
between the median and the third quartile of the peer group.

The intention is to pay target compensation around the median of the relevant market. For the Executive 
Committee, sustainable superior performance is rewarded through actual compensation significantly 
above the market median. 

The compensation effectively paid out depends on the performance of the company and/or the divisions 
and on the achievement of individual performance objectives. Performance objectives are defined at the 
beginning of the year within the annual target-setting process. Achievement is assessed against each 
of those objectives after year-end and directly influences the variable incentive payouts.

Target setting

Performance 
assessment

Compensation 
determination

Definition of two to four 
individual performance 
objectives at beginning 
of the year

Performance assessment 
at year-end

Determination of incentive 
payouts on the basis  
of company’s/division’s 
performance and 
achievement of individual 
objectives

Performance appraisal

68

Annual compensation of the 
Board of Directors1)

2  Compensation Architecture 

Compensation of the Board of Directors
The compensation policy applicable to the Board of Directors is governed by a compensation regulation, 
is reviewed by the NRC annually, and, if necessary, is adjusted by decision of the full Board of Directors 
based on a proposal by the NRC. 

The compensation of the Board of Directors consists of a fixed cash component and a restricted stock 
unit (RSU) component with a fixed grant value. The RSUs replaced the option plan in 2009 and strength-
ened the long-term alignment of the interests of the members of the Board of Directors with those of the 
shareholders. In order to reinforce the focus of the Board of Directors on the long-term strategy and to 
strengthen their independence from the Executive Committee, the compensation of the Board of Direc-
tors does not include any performance-related element, and Board members are not entitled to pension 
benefits. Further, Board members are entitled to a lump-sum to cover business expenses.

The amount of compensation for the Chairman and for the other members of the Board of Directors is 
determined on the basis of relevant compensation benchmarks (see box “compensation benchmark” 
on  page  66).  It  reflects  the  amount  of  responsibility  and  complexity  of  their  respective  function,  the 
professional and personal requirements placed on them, and the expected time required to fulfill their 
duties. The compensation amounts were reviewed and adjusted in 2014 to be in line with the market 
practice. The amounts applicable in 2014 are described in the table below.

in CHF

Basic fee for Board membership

Basic fee for Board chairmanship2)

Additional fees:

Board vice chairmanship

Committee chairmanship

Committee membership

Cash component  
(net of social security 
contributions)

Grant value of 
restricted stock 
units

125 000

250 000

30 000

70 000

420 000

30 000

40 000

25 000

Lump-sum 
expenses

5 000

10 000

1) Compensation for the period of service (from AGM to AGM).
2) The Chairman of the Board of Directors does not receive additional remuneration for committee activities.

The members of the Board of Directors are remunerated for their service over their term of office. The 
cash  remuneration  is  paid  in  quarterly  installments  for  Board  members,  monthly  installments  for  the 
Chairman; the RSUs are granted once a year; and the lump-sum fee is paid out in December. The grant 
value of the RSUs is fixed at CHF 125 000 per Board member and CHF 250 000 for the Chairman of the 
Board of Directors. The number of RSUs is determined by dividing the fixed grant value by the volume-
weighted average share price of the last ten trading days prior to the grant date, which lies between the 
date of the publication of the year-end results and the Annual General Meeting. One-third of the RSUs 
each vest after the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date respectively. Upon vesting, 
one vested RSU is converted into one share of the company. The vesting period for RSUs granted to the 
members of the Board of Directors ends no later than on the date on which the member steps down 
from the Board. Although the value of the RSU grant is fixed (at grant), it then fluctuates with the share 
price during the vesting period, which means that the value at vesting will differ from the value at grant. 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Compensation Report — Compensation Architecture

69

Compensation of the Executive Committee
The  compensation  of  the  Executive  Committee  is  governed  by  internal  regulations  such  as  the  total 
 reward policy, the bonus plan, the performance share plan, and benefit plans. The compensation of the 
Executive Committee is reviewed by the NRC annually and, if necessary, adjusted and approved by 
decision of the Board of Directors based on a proposal by the NRC.

In line with the pay-for-performance principle, a significant portion of compensation of the CEO and the 
other members of the Executive Committee consists of variable incentives based on performance. The 
compensation is structured as follows:
—  Fixed compensation:
  — Base salary (cash)
  — Retirement and fringe benefits 
—  Variable compensation:
  — Short-term annual bonus (cash)
  — Long-term incentives (performance share plan)

The elements of the compensation of the members of the Executive Committee are summarized in the 
table below.

Fixed compensation

Variable compensation

Overview of compensation 
elements

Base salary

Benefits

Short-term 
incentive plan

Long-term 
incentive plan

Base salary

Pension and  
social security 
contributions,  
fringe benefits

Bonus plan

Performance 
share plan (PSP)

70

Compensation elements for the members of the Executive Committee

Base salary

Benefits

Short-term incentive 
plan (bonus plan)

Long-term incentive 
plan (PSP 2014)

Main parameters

Function, level of role, 
profile of incumbent 
(skills set, experience)

Pension and social 
security contributions, 
fringe benefits

Achievement of financial 
and individual objectives

Achievement of 
long-term, company-
wide objectives

Key drivers

Labor market

Protection against  
risks, labor market

Net income (EBIT), order 
intake, operating net 
cash flow (ONCF)

Cumulative EBIT, relative 
total shareholder return 
(TSR)

Link to compensation  
principles

Competitive 
 compensation

Competitive 
 compensation

Pay-for-performance

Sustainable growth and 
value creation

Vehicle

Amount

Cash

Fixed

Pension and insurance 
plans, perquisites

Cash

Performance share units 
(PSUs)

Fixed

Variable, capped at 
200% of target bonus. 
Target bonus amounts 
to 90% of annual base 
salary for the CEO and 
60% of annual base 
salary for the other 
members of the 
Executive Committee.

Variable. Grant value  
is defined based on  
the Global Grade and 
corresponds to 
CHF 835 000 for the 
CEO and between 
CHF 175 000 and 
CHF 300 000 for the 
other members ot the 
Executive Committee. 
Vesting value is capped 
to 3.2 times grant  
value for the CEO and  
3.8 to 4.4 times grant 
value for the other 
members of the 
Executive Committee.

Grant date

Monthly

Monthly and / or  
annually

March of the  
following year

April 1 of the  
current year

Performance period

Vesting date

–

–

–

–

1 year  
(January 1, 2014 –  
December 31, 2014)

3 years 
(April 1, 2014 –  
March 31, 2017)

–

March 31, 2017

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Compensation Report — Compensation Architecture

71

Base salary (fixed, in cash)
The base salary is determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors on the basis of the market 
value of the respective position and the individual profile of the incumbent in terms of qualifications, skills 
set, and experience. Positions are evaluated according to the Towers Watson Global Grading System 
(GGS). The GGS is a job-leveling tool to determine internal job levels. It takes into consideration com-
pany  criteria  such  as  size,  complexity,  and  geographic  scope.  Furthermore,  it  assesses  each  role 
against standard factors based on its content and how it contributes to the organization overall. The 
GGS is used as a basis to build the internal salary structure. For further details, please refer to http://
www.towerswatson.com/en/Services/Tools/job-leveling-global-grading-and-career-map. 

Bonus (variable, performance-based, cash remuneration) 
The  bonus  rewards  the  financial  performance  of  the  company  and/or  its  businesses,  as  well  as  the 
achievement of individual performance objectives over a period of one year. The target bonus is ex-
pressed as a percentage of the annual base salary according to the level of the role in the GGS frame-
work. It amounts to 90% for the CEO and to 60% for the other members of the Executive Committee. 

For the CEO and the other members of the Executive Committee, 70% of the bonus is based on the 
achievement of financial objectives at company and/or division level, and 30% is based on the achieve-
ment of individual objectives as described below:

Category

Weight

Objectives

Rationale

Operating income (EBIT)

Measure of profitability (bottom-line)

Financial 
performance

70%

Order intake

Measure of growth (top-line)

Individual 
performance

30%

Operating net cash flow  
(ONCF)

Strategy
Innovation
Finance
Management / Operations

Measure of cash generated by the revenues

Individual objectives address key business issues and depend 
on the nature of the respective function and its impact on the 
organization. They may include other financial objectives and/or 
more strategic goals that are crucial for the long-term business 
success, such as mergers and acquisitions, development of new 
products, and leadership goals.

CEO /
CFO

Division 
President

Sulzer

Division

Sulzer

Division

Sulzer

Divison

30%

10%

30%

Individual

30%

25%

25%

15%

5%

30%

Total

100% 100%

The objectives are set within the annual target-setting process. For each objective, an expected level of 
performance is determined (“target”). In addition, a threshold level of performance below which the re-
spective payout factor is zero, and a maximum level of performance, above which the respective payout 
factor is capped, are determined for each objective as well. The payout level between the threshold, the 
target, and the maximum is calculated by linear interpolation. The actual bonus payout depends on the 
weighted average of the payout factors achieved for each objective and can range from 0% to 200% of 
the target bonus. 

72

Bonus calculation

Payout factor 
(0% – 200%)

Financial 
performance 
(70%)

Annual base 
salary

Target bonus 

%×

×

+

=

Bonus amount

Individual 
performance 
(30%)

The bonus is paid out in cash in March of the following year. 

Performance share plan (variable, performance-based, share-based remuneration)
The  performance  share  plan  (PSP)  rewards  the  performance  of  the  company  over  a  period  of  three 
years and aligns the interests of the executives with those of the shareholders by delivering a substantial 
portion of the compensation as company equity. The PSP is an annual plan with annual grants and is 
available exclusively to the members of the Executive Committee. The grant value is determined on the 
basis of the level of the role in the GGS framework and amounts to CHF 835 000 for the CEO and to 
between CHF 175 000 and CHF 300 000 for the other members of the Executive Committee. The number 
of performance share units (PSUs) granted is calculated by dividing the grant value by the three-month 
volume-weighted average share price prior to the grant date.

Each PSU is a conditional right to a certain number of shares of the company. The PSUs are subject to 
a three-year vesting period with two performance conditions: 
—  Cumulated operating income (EBIT) over the three-year vesting period
—  Relative  total  shareholder  return  (TSR)  of  Sulzer  against  the  performance  of  30  peer  companies 

 respectively (see box “peer group for relative TSR performance”).

Peer group for relative TSR 
performance of PSP 2014

International peers

Swiss industrial peers

Aker solutions
Cameron
Crane Co.
Ebara
Flowserve
FMC
Idex
IMI
KSB

National Oilwell Varco
Praxair
Pentair
Schlumberger
SPX
Technip
Weir
Wood Group

ABB
Bobst
Burckhardt Compression
Conzetta
Georg Fischer
Inficon
Interroll

Komax
Meyer Burger
Oerlikon
Rieter
Schindler
Schweiter

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Compensation Report — Compensation Architecture

73

On the vesting date, the number of PSUs that will vest and be converted into shares is calculated by 
multiplying  the  initial  number  of  PSUs  granted  by  the  sum  of  the  achievement  factor  of  each  perfor-
mance conditions as follows: Number of PSUs granted x (Achievement Factor KPI 1 + Achievement 
Factor KPI 2) = Number of performance shares vested. The number of vested shares is subject to an 
absolute cap based on the level of the role in the GGS framework.

Number of PSUs vested

Number of PSUs 
granted

× 

Target achievement 
cumulative EBIT  
(between 0 and 2)

+

Target achievement  
relative TSR  
(between 0 and 2)

Number of PSUs 
vested

=

Number of PSUs 
granted 
Grant values are defined 
based on the level of the 
role in the GGS 
framework:

CEO: CHF 835 000

Executive Committee: 
CHF 175 000 to 300 000

Number of PSUs 
vested
The maximum vesting 
value is capped at a 
multiple of the value  
at grant:

CEO: 3.2 times 

Executive Committee: 
3.8 to 4.4 times

Factor based on cumulative 
EBIT compared to midrange 
plan (MRP)
Cumulative EBIT in % of the 
MRP EBIT defined as 
cumulative three-year EBIT 
over the vesting period 
divided by cumulative MRP 
EBIT values of the respective 
years.

Threshold (factor 0):  
below 60% of MRP
Target (factor 1):  
100% of MRP
Cap (factor 2):  
140% of MRP

Possible adjustments: The 
Board of Directors can, at its 
sole discretion, adjust the 
cumulative EBIT in case of 
acquisitions exceeding 
CHF 100 million, exchange 
rate fluctuations with major 
currencies of more than 
+/– 2%, and unforeseen IFRS 
changes.

Factor based on relative TSR
Relative TSR is defined as 
share price growth (ending 
share price minus starting 
share price) plus dividends 
during the vesting period; 
then divided by the starting 
share price. The TSR is 
measured against the 
performance of the peer 
group based on the ranking 
method.

Threshold (factor 0):  
10th percentile of peer group
Target (factor 1):  
median of peer group
Cap (factor 2):  
90th percentile of peer group

Possible adjustments: The 
Board of Directors has the 
right to change the com-
position of the peer group in 
case of merger and acquisition 
or any other change leading 
to a delisting or a fundamental 
change in the scope of the 
business of a peer group 
company. In such a situation, 
the Board of Directors will 
select a new peer company.

 
74

In case of termination of employment, the following provisions apply: 
—  Resignation of the participant: unvested PSUs forfeit without any compensation
—  Termination by the employer for cause: unvested PSUs forfeit
—  Termination of employment as a result of retirement: unvested PSUs continue to vest on a prorated 

basis, multiplied with the achievement factor at the end of the vesting period

—  Termination of employment as a result of disability: unvested PSUs continue to vest in full as if the 

employment had not been terminated

—  Termination by the employer without cause or termination as a result of death: the participant or his 
or her beneficiaries shall be entitled to a monetary compensation reflecting the pro rata vesting of the 
unvested PSUs multiplied with the pro rata achievement factor. Calculation of the underlying share 
price to determine the pro rata relative TSR performance is based on the volume-weighted average 
share price of three months preceding the exit date or death of the participant. The pro rata cumu-
lative EBIT calculation is based on the most accurate figures available at time of termination. The 
Board of Directors determines the final payment considering the above parameters

—  Termination  following  change  of  control  (double  trigger):  unvested  PSUs  converted  into  shares 

based on the pro rata achievement as defined above (termination without cause/death)

Further information on share-based compensation can be found in the financial statements of Sulzer Ltd 
under note 110 (page 155).

Discontinued restricted stock unit plan (variable, fixed grant value, share-based remuneration) 
The restricted stock unit plan (RSU plan) that was in place as long-term incentive for members of the 
Executive Committee since 2009 was discontinued with the introduction of the new Performance Share 
Plan in 2013 (PSP 2013). However, restricted stock units may still be granted to newly hired Executive 
Committee members to compensate for deferred awards forfeited at their previous employer as a result 
of joining Sulzer.

Benefits 
Members of the Executive Committee participate in the regular employee pension fund applicable to all 
employees in Switzerland. The retirement plan consists of a basic plan covering annual earnings up to 
CHF 146 000 per annum and a supplementary plan in which income in excess of this limit, up to the 
ceiling set by law, is insured (including variable cash remuneration). The contributions are based on age 
and are shared between the employer and the employee.

Furthermore, each member of the Executive Committee is entitled to a representation allowance in line 
with the expense regulations applicable to all members of management in Switzerland and approved by 
the tax authorities.

Contracts of employment 
The employment contracts of the Executive Committee have been adjusted in order to comply with the 
provisions of the Compensation Ordinance. They are of undetermined duration and have a notice period 
of maximum 12 months. Members of the Executive Committee are not entitled to any impermissibles 
severance or change of control payments.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Compensation Report — Compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee

75

3  Compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee  

Compensation of the Board of Directors
In 2014, the Board of Directors received a total compensation of TCHF 1 993 (2013: TCHF 1 879). Of this 
total, TCHF 979 was in cash (2013: TCHF 957); TCHF 905 was in restricted share units (2013: TCHF 778); 
and TCHF 109 was social security contributions (2013: TCHF 140).

This is an increase of 6% compared to the previous year, due to the adjustment of the compensation 
levels decided in 2014 and, at the same time, the changes in the disclosure requirements. The portion 
of compensation delivered in RSU amounts to 76% of the cash compensation for the Chairman, and to 
between 78% and 165% for the other members of the Board of Directors. The RSU are subject to a 
staged three-year vesting period. 

Compensation of the Board of Directors (audited)

2014

2013

thousands of CHF

Cash fees

Restricted 

stock unit 
(RSU) plan 8)

Social 

contribu-
tions 9)

Board of Directors

Peter Löscher, Chairman1) 

Matthias Bichsel2)

Thomas Glanzmann3)

Jill Lee

Marco Musetti

Luciano Respini, Vice Chairman

Klaus Sturany 4)

Manfred Wennemer 5)

Vladimir V. Kuznetsov 6)

Jürgen Dormann7)

979

329

76

135

99

118

200

–

–

22

–

905

250

125

125

125

125

155

–

–

–

–

109

–

3

27

22

25

29

–

–

3

–

Restricted 

Social 

Other

Total

Cash fees

stock unit 
(RSU) plan10)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1 993

957

778

579

204

287

246

268

384

–

–

25

–

–

–

109

96

90

105

30

321

100

106

–

–

111

111

111

111

–

223

111

–

contribu -

tions

140

–

–

10

13

12

14

10

–

33

48

Other

4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4

Total

1879

–

–

230

220

213

230

40

544

244

158

  1) Chairman and Chairman of the Strategy Committee since March 20, 2014.
  2) Member of the Board of Directors since March 20, 2014.
  3) Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee since March 20, 2014.
  4) Chairman of the Audit Committee.
  5) Chairman from March 27 until December 31, 2013.
  6) Vice Chairman in 2013 and Chairman ad interim from January 1 until March 20, 2014.
 7) Chairman until March 27, 2013.
  8)  RSU awards assigned during the reporting period had a fair value of CHF 122.00 at grant date. The shares represent the full fair value of grants made in 2014.  
In the 2013 Compensation Report, the market value calculated included an 11% discount according to the tax procedure regarding reduction due to the limited 
availability at the grant date.

  9)  The amount included covers mandatory social security contributions made (or expected to be made) with respect to cash fees and RSU (based on the respective  

fair value).

 10)  In the 2013 Compensation Report, the fair value includes an 11% discount according to the tax procedure regarding reduction due to the limited availability at the 

grant date. The full fair value of grants made in 2013 amounts to CHF 875 thousand.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2014, there were no outstanding loans or credits granted to the members 
of the Board of Directors. 

In 2013  and  2014,  no  compensation  was  granted  to  former  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  or   
related parties.

76

Compensation of the Executive Committee 
Performance in 2014
Overall, the financial results were below the target value with an achievement between 59% and 98%, 
whereas the individual objectives scored clearly above the targets.

Performance 2014

Objectives

Assessment relative to plan

Threshold

Target

Cap

Operating income (EBIT)

Order intake

Operating net cash flow (ONCF)

Individual objectives

This performance translates into a payout factor in the bonus plan of 96% for the CEO and of 97% for 
the other members of the Executive Committee.

In 2014, there was no vesting in the PSP; the grant under the PSP 2010 had vested in 2013, and the first 
grant under the PSP 2013 will vest in 2016.

Compensation awarded to the Executive Committee in 2014
In 2014, the Executive Committee received a total compensation of TCHF 12 437 (2013: TCHF 13 148). 
Of this total, TCHF 5 891 was in cash (2013: TCHF 6 176); TCHF 2 834 was in performance share units 
(2013: TCHF 3 639); TCHF 1 809 was in pension and social security contributions (2013: TCHF 2 626); 
and TCHF 103 was in other payments (2013: TCHF 212). This is a decrease of 5% compared to the 
previous year.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Compensation Report — Compensation of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee 

77

Compensation of the Executive Committee (audited)

2014

Base 

thousands of CHF

salary

Bonus2)

Other

2013

Re-

Perfor-

Pension 

stricted 

mance 

and 

stock 

share 

social 

unit 

(RSU ) 
plan3)

plan 

security 

(PSP) 
2014 4)

contri-
butions 5)

Re-

Perfor-

Pension 

stricted 

mance 

and 

stock 

share 

social 

unit 

(RSU ) 
plan 6)

plan 

security 

(PSP) 
20137)

contri-

butions

Total

Base 

Total

salary

Bonus2)

Other

Highest single compensation,  
Klaus Stahlmann, CEO 

824

810

2

–

1 291

367

3 294

820

637

2

–

1 495

276

3 230

Total Executive Committee1)

3 139

2 752

103

1 800

2 834

1 809

12 437

3 878

2 298

212

495

3 639

2 626

13 148

1)   Members of the Executive Committee: 

— Klaus Stahlmann, CEO 
— Peter Alexander, Division President Rotating Equipment Services 
— Oliver Bailer, Division President Chemtech 
— Jürgen Brandt, CFO until August 1, 2014 
— Thomas Dittrich, CFO since August 2, 2014 
— César Montenegro, Division President Pumps Equipment since June 3, 2014 and Division President Sulzer Metco until June 2, 2014 
— Scot Smith, Division President Pumps Equipment until April 25, 2014.

2) Expected bonus for performance year 2014, resp. 2013.
3)  Replacement awards to compensate for forfeited remuneration at previous employer as a result of joining Sulzer. The shares represent the full fair 

value of grants made in 2014. In the 2013 Compensation Report, the market value calculated included an 11% discount according to the tax 
procedure regarding reduction due to the limited availability at the grant date.

4) Represents the full fair value of the granted performance share units of the PSP 2014.
5) Includes the employer contribution to the social security institutions of the fair value of all grants made in 2014 (RSU and PSP).
6)  In the 2013 Compensation Report, the fair value includes an 11% discount according to the tax procedure regarding reduction due to the limited 

availability at the grant date. The full fair value of grants made in 2013 amounts to TCHF 556.

7)  In the 2013 Compensation Report, only one-third of the fair value of the granted performance share units of the PSP 2013 was disclosed. The full 

fair value of the PSP 2013 awards amount to CHF 10.9 million.

In 2014, the variable compensation of the CEO represented 176% of the fixed component (base salary, 
pension, and social security contributions). For the entire Executive Committee, the variable component 
represented 146% of the fixed component. The relationship between the fixed and the variable compo-
nents of compensation reflects Sulzer’s high performance orientation and the company’s strong em-
phasis on aligning the interests of the Executive Committee with the shareholders to create long-term 
shareholder value and profitable growth.

CEO
CEO

369 000
369 000
Benefits
Benefits

Executive Committee
Executive Committee

Compensation overview

824 000
824 000
Base  
Base  
salary
salary

2014
2014

1 912 000
1 912 000
Benefits
Benefits

3 139 000
3 139 000
Base  
Base  
salary
salary

2014
2014

835 000
835 000
Grant of PSU 
Grant of PSU 
in 2014
in 2014

810 000
810 000
Bonus 2014
Bonus 2014

1 770 000
1 770 000
Grant of PSU 
Grant of PSU 
in 2014
in 2014

2 752 000
2 752 000
Bonus 2014
Bonus 2014

No severance payments to members of the Executive Committee were made during the reporting year. 
As of December 31, 2013 and 2014, there were no outstanding loans or credits between the company 
and the members of the Executive Committee.

In 2013 and 2014, no compensation was granted to former members of the Executive Committee or 
 related parties.

78

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014

Shareholders 2014

Shareholders 2013

4  Shareholdings of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee

Shareholdings of the Board of Directors 
As of the end of 2013 and 2014, the members of the Board of Directors held the following shares in 
the company: 

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
stock units 
(RSU) (NF) 

Other call 
options

Total call 
options, 
share 
awards,  
and shares

Blocked 
Sulzer 
shares out 
of PSP 
2010 

Perfor-
mance
share units 
(PSUs) 
 2013

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSUs)
  2014

Put  
options

Board of Directors

45 563

11 051

Peter Löscher

Matthias Bichsel

Thomas Glanzmann

Jill Lee

Marco Musetti

Luciano Respini

Klaus Sturany

26 000

–

3 700

2 179

1 776

8 027

3 881

2 052

1 026

1 851

1 851

1 851

2 097

323

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

56 614

28 052

1 026

5 551

4 030

3 627

10 124

4 204

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
stock units 
(RSU) (NF) 

Other call 
options

Total call 
options, 
share 
awards,  
and shares

Blocked 
Sulzer 
shares out 
of PSP 
2010 

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSUs) 
2013 

Put  
options

Board of Directors

54 878

10 609

Manfred Wennemer

Thomas Glanzmann

Vladimir V. Kuznetsov

Jill Lee

Marco Musetti

Luciano Respini

Klaus Sturany

–

2 723

40 315

909

909

6 757

3 265

1 503

1 399

1 692

1 692

1 692

1 692

939

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

65 487

1 503

4  122

42 007

2 601

2 601

8 449

4 204

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Compensation Report — Shareholdings of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee

79

Shareholdings of the Executive Committee
As of the end of 2013 and 2014, the members of the Executive Committee held the following shares in 
the company: 

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
stock units 
(RSU) (NF) 

Other call 
options

Total call 
options, 
share 
awards,  
and shares

Blocked 
Sulzer 
shares out 
of PSP 
2010 

Perfor-
mance
share units 
(PSUs) 
 2013

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSUs)
  2014

Put  
options

Shareholders 2014

Executive Committee

22 344

17 903

Klaus Stahlmann 

Peter Alexander

Oliver Bailer

Thomas Dittrich

César Montenegro

5 400

6 649

852

–

568

682

1 500

14 763

7 943

1 890

–

–

–

–

–

–

40 247

5 400

7 217

1 534

16 263

9 833

–

–

–

–

–

–

7 422

20 741

13 651

–

15 881

6 439

3 711

4 860

–

–

3 711

–

–

–

1 967

1 967

964

2 314

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
stock units 
(RSU) (NF) 

Other call 
options

Executive Committee

2 183

8 268

Klaus Stahlmann

Peter Alexander

Oliver Bailer

Jürgen Brandt

–

–

202

98

–

1 651

1 332

1 651

César Montenegro

1 883

3 634

Scot Smith

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total call 
options, 
share 
awards,  
and shares

10 451

–

1 651

1 534

1 749

5 517

–

Blocked 
Sulzer 
shares out 
of PSP 
2010

Perfor-
mance
share units 
(PSUs) 
 2013

Put  
options

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

24 739

32 175

–

15 881

9 277

4 860

–

6 185

9 277

–

5 717

–

–

5 717

Shareholders 2013

r
e
n
n
e
r
t
l
e
t
i
p
a
K

80

Report of the Statutory Auditor to the General 
Meeting of Sulzer Ltd, Winterthur

We have audited the accompanying compensation report dated February 10, 2015 of Sulzer Ltd for the year ended December 31, 2014. 
The audit was limited to the information according to articles 14 – 16 of the Ordinance against Excessive compensation in Stock 
Exchange Listed Companies (Ordinance) contained in the tables referred to as audited on pages 75 to 77 of the compensation 
 report.

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

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

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

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

Opinion
In our opinion, the compensation report dated February 10, 2015 of Sulzer Ltd complies with Swiss law and articles 14 – 16 of the 
Ordinance.

KPMG AG

Zurich, February 10, 2015

François Rouiller 
Licensed Audit Expert 
Auditor in Charge

Roman Wenk
Licensed Audit Expert

Sulzer — Annual Report 201481

Consolidated Financial  
Statements 

Consolidated balance  
sheet 83

Consolidated income  
statement 84

Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income 85

Consolidated statement of 
changes in equity 86

Consolidated statement of 
cash flows 87

Notes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements 88

Auditors’ Report on the Con-
solidated Financial Statements 
of Sulzer Ltd 146

Five-Year Summaries 147

Financial Statements  
of Sulzer Ltd 150

Auditors’ Report on the 
Financial Statements of 
Sulzer Ltd 157

Investor Information 159

s
t
n
e
m
e
t
a
t
S

l

i

a
c
n
a
n
F

i

 
Notes to the  
Consolidated Financial 
Statements

01 | General information 88

17 | Other financial assets 129

34 | Share participation plans 139

02 | Key accounting policies and 
valuation methods 88

18 | Inventories 130

03 | Financial risk management 99

19 | Percentage of completion 
contracts 131

04 | Critical accounting estimates 106

20 |  Trade accounts receivable 131

05 | Acquisitions and divestitures of  
affiliated companies / Discontinued 
operations / Significant changes in the 
scope of consolidation 107

21 | Other accounts receivable  
and prepaid expenses 132

22 | Cash and cash equivalents 132

35 | Transactions with members of 
the Board of Directors, Executive 
Committee, and related parties 142

36 | Auditor remuneration 142

37 | Corporate risk management 
process 142

38 | Subsequent events after the 
balance sheet date 143

06 | Major currency exchange rates 113

23 | Marketable securities 132 

39 | Major subsidiaries 144

07 | Segment information 114

24 |  Pledged assets 132

Auditors’ report 146

08 | Personnel expenses 116

25 | Share capital 133

09 | Employee benefit plans 117

26 | Earnings per share 134

10 | Research and development 
expenses 121

11 | Other operating income and 
expenses 122

12 | Financial income and  
expenses 122

13 | Income taxes 123

14 | Intangible assets 125

15 | Property, plant, and equipment 
127

16 | Associates and joint ventures 129

27 | Borrowings 134

28 | Provisions 135

29 | Other current and accrued 
liabilities 136

30 | Derivative financial instruments 
137

31 | Other financial commitments 138

32 | Contingent liabilities 138

33 | Capital expenditure by category 
(unaudited) 138

Consolidated balance sheet

December 31

millions of CHF

Non-current assets

Goodwill

Other intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment

Investment in associates

Other financial assets

Non-current receivables

Deferred income tax assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Inventories

Advance payments to suppliers

Trade accounts receivable

Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses

Assets held for sale

Marketable securities

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Equity

Share capital

Reserves

Equity attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Non-controlling interest

Total equity

Non-current liabilities

Long-term borrowings

Deferred income tax liabilities

Non-current income tax liabilities

Non-current provisions

Other non-current liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Short-term borrowings

Current income tax liabilities

Current provisions

Trade accounts payable

Advance payments from customers

Liabilities held for sale

Other current and accrued liabilities

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

83

Notes

2014

2013

Consolidated balance sheet

14

14

15

16

17

675.1

317.4

530.7

2.5

11.9

11.3

13

126.8

978.4

303.8

492.0

–

11.1

13.8

92.4

1 675.7

1 891.5

18

487.5

436.5

20

21

05

23

22

79.0

955.9

148.6

87.4

877.5

153.4

–

568.9

106.8

–

1 194.7

528.7

2 972.5

2 652.4

4 648.2

4 543.9

25

0.3

0.3

2 435.1

2 334.1

2 435.4

2 334.4

6.6

6.3

2 442.0

2 340.7

27

13

13

28

27

13

28

05

29

510.3

93.7

2.6

515.9

101.5

3.8

352.2

202.2

30.9

1.9

989.7

825.3

17.7

32.4

147.7

383.6

210.9

–

56.6

26.8

127.0

345.6

271.9

157.7

424.2

392.3

1 216.5

1 377.9

2 206.2

2 203.2

4 648.2

4 543.9

Financial Section — Consolidated Financial Statements84

Consolidated income statement
January – December

Consolidated income statement

millions of CHF

Notes

2014

2013

Continuing operations

Sales

Cost of goods sold

Gross profit

 — Selling and distribution expenses

 — Impairment on goodwill

Total selling and distribution expenses

General and administrative expenses

Research and development expenses

Other operating income/expenses

Restructuring expenses

Operating income

Interest and securities income

Interest expenses

Other financial income/(expenses)

Share of profit/(loss) of associates

Income before income tax expenses

Income tax expenses

Net income from continuing operations

07

10

11

28

12

12

12

16

13

3 212.1

– 2 202.2

3 263.9

– 2 260.9

1 009.9

1 003.0

– 334.3

– 340.0

– 334.8

–

– 674.3

– 674.3

– 334.8

– 334.8

– 331.0

– 76.2

13.8

– 11.2

– 69.0

6.8

– 21.2

– 2.3

–

– 85.7

– 71.9

– 157.6

– 342.4

– 70.6

25.6

– 16.8

264.0

5.0

– 23.2

– 3.6

–

242.2

– 65.9

176.3

Discontinued operations

Net income from discontinued operations, net of income 
taxes

05

435.7

59.9

Net income

Attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Attributable to non-controlling interests

Earnings per share, attributable to a shareholder of 
Sulzer Ltd (in CHF)

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Continuing operations

Basic earnings per share continuing operations

Diluted earnings per share continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Basic earnings per share discontinued operations

Diluted earnings per share discontinued operations

26

26

26

26

26

26

Reconciliation of operating 
income to operating income 
before restructuring expenses 
and impairment on goodwill

Operating income

Restructuring expenses

Impairment on goodwill

Operating income before restructuring expenses and 
impairment on goodwill

278.1

275.0

3.1

8.09

8.05

– 4.72

– 4.70

12.81

12.75

– 69.0

11.2

340.0

282.2

236.2

234.4

1.8

6.89

6.86

5.13

5.11

1.76

1.75

264.0

16.8

–

280.8

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
January – December

millions of CHF

Net income

Notes

2014

2013

278.1

236.2

Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income

85

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to the income statement

Cash flow hedges, net of tax

30

– 8.0

– 2.2

Reclassification to the income statement of foreign currency translation difference 
relating to the disposal of Metco

Currency translation differences

Total of items that may be reclassified subsequently to the income 
statement

59.1

17.6

–

–67.6

68.7

–69.8

Items that will not be reclassified to the income statement

Defined benefit cost recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax

09

– 137.9

Total of items that will not be reclassified to the income statement

– 137.9

36.7

36.7

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Attributable to non-controlling interests

– 69.2

–33.1

208.9

203.1

205.4

202.0

3.5

1.1

Financial Section — Consolidated Financial Statements86

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
January – December

millions of CHF

Equity as of January 1, 2013

Comprehensive income for the year:

Net income

 — Cash flow hedges, net of tax

 — Defined benefit cost recognized in other comprehensive income, 

net of tax

 — Currency translation differences

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners of the Company:

Transactions in treasury shares

Share-based payments

Dividend

Change in scope of consolidation

Equity as of December 31, 2013

Comprehensive income for the year:

Net income

 — Cash flow hedges, net of tax

 — Defined benefit cost recognized in other comprehensive income, 

net of tax

 — Currency translation differences

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners of the Company:

Transactions in treasury shares

Share-based payments

Dividend

Change in scope of consolidation

Equity as of December 31, 2014

Attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Notes

Share 
capital

Retained 
earnings

Treasury 
stock

Cash flow 
hedge 
reserve

Currency 
translation 
adjustment

Non-
controlling 
interests

Total

Total  
equity

0.3

2 521.8

– 44.5

4.5

– 265.5

2 216.6

6.8

2 223.4

30

09

34

– 2.2

– 2.2

– 2.2

234.4

36.7

36.7

–

271.1

–

17.6

– 1.6

9.4

– 109.6

234.4

– 2.2

36.7

1.8

236.2

– 2.2

36.7

– 67.6

– 33.1

– 66.9

– 66.9

– 66.9

– 32.4

– 0.7

– 0.7

– 66.9

202.0

1.1

203.1

16.0

9.4

16.0

9.4

– 109.6

– 2.2

– 111.8

25

0.3

2 691.1

– 26.9

2.3

– 332.4

2 334.4

–

0.6

6.3

0.6

2 340.7

3.1

278.1

– 8.0

– 137.9

76.7

– 69.2

208.9

–

– 2.8

8.0

0.4

0.4

3.5

–

30

09

34

275.0

– 137.9

– 137.9

–

137.1

–

3.5

– 6.3

8.0

– 109.6

– 8.0

– 8.0

– 8.0

76.3

76.3

76.3

275.0

– 8.0

– 137.9

76.3

– 69.6

205.4

–

– 2.8

8.0

25

0.3

2 720.3

– 23.4

– 5.7

– 256.1

2 435.4

6.6

2 442.0

– 109.6

– 2.6

– 112.2

–

– 0.6

– 0.6

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
Consolidated statement of cash flows
January – December

millions of CHF

Cash and cash equivalents as of January 1

Notes

2014

2013

549.9

507.3

Consolidated statement of  
cash flows

87

Cash flow from operating activities

Net income

Interest and securities income

Interest expenses

Income tax expenses

Depreciation/amortization/impairment

Income from disposals of subsidiaries; property, plant, and equipment; and 
financial instruments

Changes in inventories

Changes in advance payments to suppliers

Changes in trade accounts receivable

Changes in advance payments from customers

Changes in trade accounts payable

Changes in provisions

Changes in other net current assets

Other non-cash items

Interest received

Interest paid

Income tax paid

Total cash flow from operating activities

Purchase of intangible assets

Sale of intangible assets

Purchase of property, plant, and equipment

Sale of property, plant, and equipment

Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

Acquisitions of associates

Divestitures of subsidiaries

Purchase of financial assets

Sale of financial assets

Purchase of marketable securities

Sale of marketable securities

Total cash flow from investing activities

Dividend

Purchase/sale of treasury stock

Dividend to non-controlling interests

Additions in long-term borrowings

Repayment of long-term borrowings

Additions in short-term borrowings

Repayment of short-term borrowings

Total cash flow from financing activities

Exchange gains/losses on cash and cash equivalents

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31

— thereof classified as assets held for sale

278.1

236.2

– 6.9

21.6

81.0

– 5.2

24.6

86.3

463.2

134.5

– 423.5

– 45.2

– 2.6

52.0

10.5

– 14.4

– 46.3

– 65.1

20.0

– 7.7

6.4

3.6

6.7

– 4.9

2.3

– 23.0

– 18.4

– 24.1

8.2

4.8

– 16.5

– 17.5

– 98.7

– 118.7

181.2

320.1

14

– 5.6

–

– 4.8

0.2

15

– 99.0

– 102.8

21.4

6.0

05

– 73.0

– 23.8

– 2.3

– 2.9

05

870.4

– 0.1

0.1

– 106.6

–

6.1

0.1

–

– 1.0

2.7

605.3

– 120.2

– 108.9

– 108.7

– 3.6

– 2.6

2.1

– 1.9

6.3

– 4.1

– 2.2

8.8

– 3.6

2.9

– 52.8

– 29.8

– 161.4

– 136.7

19.7

– 20.6

644.8

42.6

1 194.7

549.9

–

21.2

22

05

Financial Section — Consolidated Financial Statements88

Notes to the Consolidated  
Financial Statements

1  General information
Sulzer Ltd (the “company”) is a company domiciled in Switzerland. The address of the company’s reg-
istered office is Neuwiesenstrasse 15 in Winterthur, Switzerland. The consolidated financial statements 
as at and for the year ended December 31, 2014, comprise the company and its subsidiaries (together 
referred to as the “group” and individually as the “subsidiaries”) and the group’s interest in associates 
and joint ventures. The group specializes in pumping solutions, rotating equipment maintenance and 
services as well as separation, reaction, and mixing technology. Sulzer was founded in 1834 in Winter-
thur, Switzerland, and employs over 15 000 people. The company serves clients in over 150 production 
and  service  sites  worldwide.  Sulzer  Ltd  is  listed  on  the  SIX  Swiss  Exchange  in  Zurich,  Switzerland 
(symbol: SUN). 

These  consolidated  financial  statements  were  authorized  for  issue  by  the  Board  of  Directors  on  
February 10, 2015.

2  Key accounting policies and valuation methods 

2.1  Basis of preparation 
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) using the historical cost convention except for the following: 
 — financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss which are measured at fair value (incl. deriva-

tive financial instruments), 

 — available-for-sale financial instruments, 
 — liabilities for cash-settled share-based payments, and 
 — net position from defined benefit plans, where plan assets are measured at fair value and the plan 

liabilities are measured at the present value of the defined benefit obligation (see 2.18 a). 

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these 
consolidated financial statements and have been applied consistently by all subsidiaries. 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical ac-
counting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgment in the process of applying the 
group’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity or areas 
where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed 
in note 4 “Critical accounting estimates and judgments.” 

2.2  Change in accounting policies 
a)  Standards, amendments, and interpretations to published standards effective in 2014 
Sulzer has adopted the following new standards and amendments to standards, including any conse-
quential amendments to other standards, with a date of initial application of January 01, 2014:
 — IFRIC 21 ‘Levies,’ addresses the accounting for a liability to pay a levy if that liability is within the 

scope of IAS 37. The change did not have any effect on the scope of consolidation.

 — Amendment to IAS 32: ‘Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities’. The amendment clarifies 
the offsetting criteria, especially for transactions through clearing houses. The change did not have 
any effect on the consolidated financial statement of the group.

 — Amendments  to  IAS  39  ‘Novation  of  Derivatives  and  Continuation  of  Hedge  Accounting”.  The 
amendment clarifies that hedge accounting could continue under certain defined circumstances in 
relation to novations. The change did not have an impact on the financial position of the group.

Sulzer — Annual Report 201489

b)  Standards, amendments, and interpretations issued but not yet effective which the group has 
decided not to early adopt in 2014 
 — IFRS 9 ‘Financial instruments’, published in July 2014, replaces the existing guidance in IAS 39 ‘Fi-
nancial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’. IFRS 9 includes revised guidance on the clas-
sification and measurement of financial instruments, including a new expected credit loss model for 
calculating impairment on financial assets, and the new general hedge accounting requirements. It 
also  carries  forward  the  guidance  on  recognition  and  derecognition  of  financial  instruments  from 
IAS 39. IFRS 9 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 01, 2018. The 
Group is assessing the potential impact on its consolidated financial statements resulting from the 
application of IFRS 9. 

 — IFRS  15  ‘Revenue  from  Contracts  with  Customers’  establishes  a  comprehensive  framework  for 
determining  whether,  how  much,  and  when  revenue  is  recognized.  It  replaces  existing  revenue 
recognition guidance, including IAS 18 ‘Revenue’, IAS 11 ‘Construction Contracts’, and IFRIC 13 
‘Customer Loyalty Programs’. IFRS 15 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 
January 01, 2017. Sulzer has started a project and is assessing the potential impact on its consoli-
dated financial statements resulting from the application of IFRS 15. 

The following new or amended standards are not expected to have a significant impact on the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements:
 — Amendment  to  IAS  19  ‘Employee  Contributions’.  The  amendment  clarifies  how  an  entity  should 
 account for contributions made by employees or third parties to defined benefit plans, based on 
whether  those  contributions  are  dependent  on  the  number  of  years  of  service  provided  by  the 
 employee. The changes are applicable for the financial year 2015 of the group.

 — Amendments deriving from the annual improvement program 2010 – 2012 and 2011 – 2013 address-
ing specific aspects in various standards. The changes are applicable for the financial year 2015 of 
the group.

 — Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41 ‘Agriculture: Bearer Plants’. These amendments require a bearer 
plant, defined as a living plant, to be accounted for as property, plant, and equipment and included 
in the scope of IAS 16 Property, Plant, and Equipment, instead of IAS 41 Agriculture. The Group does 
not have any bearer plants. Effective date: January 01, 2016.

 — Amendments to IFRS 11 ‘Accounting for Acquisitions in Interests in Joint Operations’ The amend-
ments require business combination accounting to be applied to acquisitions of interests in a joint 
operation that constitutes a business. Effective date: January 01, 2016.

 — Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38 ‘Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amor-
tization’ These amendments relate to revenue-based amortization methods for assets and impose 
restrictions on the use of such methods for depreciation of assets. The Group does not use revenue-
based amortizations. Effective date: January 01, 2016.

 — Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 ‘Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and Its 
 Associate or Joint Venture’. The amendments require the full gain to be recognized when the assets 
transferred meet the definition of a ‘business’ under IFRS 3 ‘Business Combination’. Effective date: 
January 01, 2016.

 — Amendments deriving from the annual improvement program 2012 – 2014. The amendments refer to 
specific aspects of IFRS 5 ‘Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations’, IFRS 7 
‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’, and IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefit’. Effective date: January 01, 2016.

2.3  Consolidation
a)  Business combinations
The  group  accounts  for  business  combinations  using  the  acquisition  method  when  control  is  trans-
ferred to the group (see 2.3 c). The consideration transferred in the acquisition is measured at the fair 
value of the assets given, the liabilities incurred to the former owner of the acquiree, and the equity inter-
est issued by the group. Any goodwill arising is tested annually for impairment (see 2.6 a). Any gain on 
a bargain purchase is recognized in profit or loss immediately. Acquisition-related costs are expensed 
as incurred, except if related to the issue of debt or equity securities. Identifiable assets acquired, and 
liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination, are measured initially at their fair 
values at the acquisition date.

Any contingent consideration payable is measured at fair value at the acquisition date. If the contingent 
consideration is classified as equity, then it is not remeasured and settlement is accounted for within 

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 90

equity. Otherwise, subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration are recognized 
in profit or loss.

If share-based payment awards (replacement awards) are required to be exchanged for awards held by 
the acquiree’s employees (acquiree’s awards), then all or a portion of the amount of the acquirer’s re-
placement awards is included in measuring the consideration transferred in the business combination. 
The determination is based on the difference between the market-based measure of the replacement 
awards compared with the market-based measure of the acquiree’s awards and the extent to which the 
replacement awards relate to pre-combination service.

b)  Non-controlling interests 
The  group  recognizes  any  non-controlling  interest  in  the  acquiree  on  an  acquisition-by-acquisition 
basis, at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the recognized amounts of the acquiree’s 
identifiable net assets. Transactions with non-controlling interests that do not result in loss of control are 
accounted for as equity transactions.

When the group loses control over a subsidiary, it derecognizes the assets and liabilities of the subsidi-
ary, and any related non-controlling interest and other components of equity. Any resulting gain or loss 
is recognized in profit or loss. Any interest retained in the former subsidiary is measured at fair value 
when control is lost.

c)  Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are all entities controlled by the group. The group controls an entity when it is exposed to, 
or has the rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those 
returns through its power over the entity. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the 
consolidated financial statements from the date on which control commences until the date on which 
control ceases. 

d)  Associates and joint ventures 
Associates are those entities in which the group has significant influence, but no control, over the finan-
cial and operating policies. Significant influence is presumed to exist when the group holds, directly or 
indirectly,  between  20%  and  50%  of  the  voting  rights.  Joint  ventures  are  those  entities  over  whose 
 activities the group has joint control, established by contractual agreement and requiring unanimous 
consent for strategic, financial, and operating decisions. Associates and joint ventures are accounted 
for using the equity method and are initially recognized at cost.

e)  Transactions eliminated on consolidation 
All material intercompany transactions and balances and any unrealized gains arising from intercom-
pany transactions are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Unrealized losses 
are eliminated in the same way as unrealized gains, but only to the extent that there is no evidence of 
impairment.

f)  Discontinued operation 
A discontinued operation is a component of the group’s business, the operations and cash flows of 
which can be clearly distinguished from the rest of the group and which: 
 — represents a major line of business; 
 — is part of a single coordinated plan to dispose of a separate major line of business; or 
 — is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to resale. 

Classification as a discontinued operation occurs at the earlier of disposal or when the operation meets 
the criteria to be classified as held-for-sale. When an operation is classified as discontinued operation, 
the comparative statement of profit or loss is represented as if the operation had been discontinued 
from the start of the comparative year. All disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial state-
ments refer to continuing operations, except where otherwise indicated. 

2.4  Segment reporting 
Operating  segments  are  reported  in  a  manner  consistent  with  the  internal  reporting  provided  to  the 
Chief  Executive  Officer.  The  Chief  Executive  Officer,  who  is  responsible  for  allocating  resources  and 

Sulzer — Annual Report 201491

assessing performance (e.g. operating income) of the operating segments, has been identified as chief 
operating decision maker. The reported segments are: 
 — Pumps Equipment—pump technology and solutions: This division offers a wide range of pumping 
solutions and related equipment. The market focus is on (a) production, transport, and processing 
of crude oil and gas, (b) supply, treatment, and transport of water as well as wastewater collection, 
and (c) fossil-fired, nuclear, and renewable power generation. A global manufacturing and service 
network ensures high customer proximity. 

 — Rotating  Equipment  Services—provider  of  service  solutions  for  rotating  equipment:  This  division 
 offers a full range of repair and maintenance services. The market focus is on (a) industrial gas and 
steam turbines, (b) turbocompressors, and (c) generators and motors. 

 — Chemtech—separation,  mixing,  and  service  solutions:  This  division  offers  products  and  serv ices  
for separation, reaction, and mixing technology. The market focus is on (a) separation solutions, (b) 
tower  field  services,  and  (c)  two-component  mixing  and  dispensing  systems.  Customers  benefit 
from advanced solutions in the fields of process technology and separation equipment, as well as 
two-component mixing and dispensing systems. 

Operating assets and liabilities are assets or liabilities related to the operating activities of an entity and 
contributing  to  the  operating  income  once  transferred  or  recorded  in  the  income  statement.  Capital 
employed is defined to be the average net operating assets of the group over the period.

2.5  Foreign currency translation
a)  Functional and presentation currency
Items included in the financial statements of affiliated companies are measured using the currency of the 
primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the functional currency). The consolidated 
financial statements are presented in Swiss francs (CHF), which is the functional and presentation cur-
rency of Sulzer Ltd.

b)  Transactions and balances 
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates pre-
vailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement 
of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabil-
ities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized in the income statement, except when deferred 
in other comprehensive income as qualifying cash flow hedges and qualifying net investment hedges. 

Changes in the fair value of monetary items, denominated in foreign currency classified as available-for-
sale are analyzed between translation differences resulting from changes in the amortized cost of the 
item and other changes in the carrying amount of the item. Translation differences related to changes in 
the amortized costs are recognized in profit or loss; other changes in the carrying amount are recog-
nized in other comprehensive income.

Translation  differences  on  non-monetary  financial  assets  and  liabilities  are  reported  as  part  of  the  fair 
value gain or loss. Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets and liabilities, such as equities 
held at fair value through profit or loss, are recognized in profit or loss as part of the fair value gain or loss. 
Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets, such as equities classified as avail able-for-sale, 
are included in the available-for-sale reserve in other comprehensive income.

c)  Subsidiaries
The results and financial position of all the subsidiaries (excluding the ones with hyperinflationary econ-
omy) that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency of the group are translated 
into the presentation currency as follows: 
 — assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date 

of that balance sheet, and 

 — income and expenses for each income statement are translated at average exchange rates. 

Translation differences resulting from consolidation are taken to other comprehensive income. In the 
event of a sale or liquidation of foreign affiliated companies, exchange differences that were recorded in 
other comprehensive income are recognized in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on sale 
or liquidation. 

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 92

2.6  Intangible assets
An  intangible  asset  is  classified  either  as  an  asset  with  indefinite  useful  life  when  timely  limitation  of 
generating net cash inflows is not foreseeable, or as an asset with a finite useful life. 

Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are not to be amortized. The group performs an annual 
review determining whether events and circumstances still support this measurement. Reassessing the 
useful  life  indicates  that  an  asset  might  be  impaired.  The  intangible  assets  with  finite  useful  life  are 
 amortized in line with the expected useful life, usually on a straight-line basis. The period of useful life is 
to be assessed according to business rather than legal criteria. This assessment is made at least once 
a year. An impairment might be required in the event of sudden or unforeseen value changes. 

a)  Goodwill
Goodwill  represents  the  difference  between  the  consideration  transferred  and  the  fair  value  of  the 
group’s share in the identifiable net asset value of the acquired business at the time of acquisition. Any 
goodwill arising as a result of a business combination is included within intangible assets.

Goodwill originating from the acquisition of an associated company is included in the book value of the 
participation in associated companies. Goodwill is subject to an annual impairment test and valued at 
its original acquisition cost less accumulated impairment losses. In cases where circumstances indicate 
a potential impairment, impairment tests are conducted more frequently. Profits and losses arising from 
the sale of a business include the book value of the goodwill assigned to the business being sold.

Goodwill is allocated to the lowest cash-generating unit. The allocation is made to those cash-generat-
ing units or groups of cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the business combination 
in which the goodwill arose. 

b)  Trademarks and licenses
Trademarks, licenses, and similar rights acquired from third parties. Such assets are amortized over 
their expected useful life, generally not exceeding ten years. 

c)  Research and development 
Expenditure  on  research  activities  is  recognized  in  profit  or  loss  as  incurred.  Development  costs  for 
major projects are capitalized only if the expenditure can be measured reliably, the product or process 
is technically and commercially feasible, future economic benefits are probable, and the group intends 
and  has  sufficient  resources  to  complete  development  and  to  use  or  sell  the  asset.  Otherwise,  it  is 
recognized in profit or loss as incurred. Subsequently such assets are measured at cost less accumu-
lated amortization (max. five years) and any accumulated impairment loss.

d)  Computer software
Acquired computer software licenses are capitalized on the basis of the cost incurred to acquire and 
bring to use the specific software. These costs are amortized over their estimated useful lives (three to 
max. five years). 

e)  Customer relationships 
As part of a business combination, acquired customer rights are recorded at fair value (cost at the time of 
acquisition). These costs are amortized over their estimated useful lives, generally not exceeding 15 years. 

2.7  Property, plant, and equipment 
Property, plant, and equipment is stated at acquisition cost less depreciation and impairments. Acquisi-
tion  cost  includes  expenditure  that  is  directly  attributable  to  the  acquisition  of  the  item.  Subsequent 
costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognized as a separate asset, as appropriate, 
only when it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the group 
and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced item is derec-
ognized. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the income statement during the financial 
 period in which they are incurred.

Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life. Land is stated at cost and 
is not depreciated. 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
 
 
93

The useful lives are as follows:
Buildings 
Machinery 
Technical equipment 
Other non-current assets 

20 – 50 years
5 – 15 years
5 – 10 years
max. 5 years

Property, plant, and equipment financed by long-term financial leases is capitalized and amortized in 
the same way as other assets. The applicable leasing commitments are shown as liabilities and are in-
cluded under long-term borrowings. An asset’s carrying amount is impaired immediately to its recover-
able amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount. 

2.8  Impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
Assets with an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but tested annually for impairment. Assets with a 
finite useful life are only tested for impairment if relevant events or changes in circumstances indicate 
that the book value is no longer recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded equal to the excess of the 
carrying value over the recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value of the 
asset less disposal costs and its value in use. The value in use is based on the estimated cash flow over 
a five-year period and the extrapolated projections for subsequent years. The results are discounted 
using an appropriate pre-tax, long-term interest rate. For the purposes of the impairment test, assets 
are grouped together at the lowest level for which separate cash flows can be identified (cash-generat-
ing units).

2.9  Financial assets 
Financial assets, including marketable securities, are classified into the following four categories: “financial 
assets at fair value through profit or loss,” “available-for-sale financial assets,” “loans and receivables,” and 
“held-to-maturity financial assets.” Classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets 
were acquired. Management determines the classification of assets at the date of purchase and reviews 
it on every accounting date. The fair value of financial instruments is either taken from an actively traded 
market or, in the case of non-traded financial instruments, from a valuation using standard formula-based 
methods. The marketable securities held by the group belong either to the first or the second level.

a)  Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 
Assets in this category are capitalized at fair value and subsequently adjusted to fair values, with any 
adjustments charged or credited to financial income. Derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair 
value (cost at the time of acquisition) and subsequently adjusted to fair values. Financial assets desig-
nated at fair value from inception are those that are managed and their performance is evaluated on a 
fair value basis, in accordance with a documented investment strategy. With the exception of derivative 
financial instruments that meet the requirements of a “cash flow hedge” or a “net investment hedge,” all 
adjustments  are  charged  or  credited  to  financial  income.  Derivative  financial  assets  are  classified  as 
current assets or in case maturity is later than twelve months from the balance sheet date as non-cur-
rent assets.

b)  Available-for-sale financial assets 
Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivatives that are either designated in this category or not 
in any of the other categories. They are included in non-current assets unless management intends to 
dispose of the investment within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

Loans and receivables 

c) 
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are 
not quoted in an active market. They are included in the current assets, unless the maturity is greater 
than 12 months after the balance sheet date. These are classified as non-current assets. Loans and 
receivables are classified as trade and other receivables in the balance sheet. 

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 94

d)  Held-to-maturity financial assets 
Non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payment terms and fixed maturities are classi-
fied as held-to-maturity when there is the positive intention and ability to hold to maturity. After initial 
recognition, held-to-maturity investments are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest 
method. 

Purchases and disposals of financial assets are recognized on the trade date. The group assesses at 
each balance sheet date whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial 
assets is impaired. Investments are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs for all financial 
assets not carried at fair value through profit or loss. Financial assets carried at fair value through profit 
or loss are initially recognized at fair value and transaction costs are expensed in the income statement. 
Available-for-sale  financial  assets  and  financial  assets  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  are  subse-
quently carried at fair value. Loans and receivables and held-to-maturity financial assets are carried at 
amortized  cost  using  the  effective  interest  method.  Gains  or  losses  arising  from  changes  in  the  fair 
value of the financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are presented in the income statement line 
“Other  financial  income”  in  the  period  they  arise.  Dividend  income  from  financial  assets  at  fair  value 
through profit or loss is recognized in the income statement as part of financial income. Financial assets 
are derecognized when the right to receive cash flows from the investments has expired or has been 
transferred and the group has transferred all substantial risks and rewards of ownership.

Changes in the fair value of monetary securities denominated in a foreign currency and classified as 
available-for-sale  are  analyzed  between  translation  differences  resulting  from  changes  in  amortized 
cost  and  other  changes  in  the  carrying  amount.  The  translation  differences  on  monetary  items  are 
 recorded in the income statement, the translation differences on non-monetary items are recorded in 
equity. Changes in the fair value of financial assets classified as available-for-sale are recorded in equity. 
When these assets are sold or impaired, the accumulated fair value adjustments recorded in equity are 
recycled and booked to the financial income. 

2.10 Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities 
The group uses derivative financial instruments, such as forward currency contracts, other forward 
contracts  and  options,  to  hedge  its  risks  associated  with  fluctuations  in  foreign  currencies  arising 
from operational and financing activities. Such derivative financial instruments are initially recognized 
at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeas-
ured  at  fair  value.  Derivatives  are  carried  as  assets  when  the  fair  value  is  positive  and  as  liabilities 
when the fair value is negative. 

Any  gains or losses arising from changes in  fair  value on the derivatives during the year that do not 
qualify for hedge accounting are taken directly into profit or loss. 

Sulzer applies hedge accounting to secure future cash flows which have a high probability of occur-
rence. These hedges are classified as “cash flow hedges” whereas the hedge instrument is recorded on 
the  balance  sheet  at  fair  value  and  the  effective  portions  are  booked  against  “Other  comprehensive 
 income” in the column “Cash flow hedge reserve.” If the hedge relates to a non-financial transaction 
which will subsequently be recorded on the balance sheet, the adjustments accumulated under “Other 
comprehensive income” at that time will be included in the initial book value of the asset or liability. In all 
other cases, the cumulative changes of fair value of the hedging instrument that have been recorded in 
other comprehensive income are included as a charge or credit to income when the forecasted trans-
action  is  recognized  or  when  hedge  accounting  is  discontinued  as  the  criteria  are  no  longer  met.  In 
general, the fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets is based on quoted market prices 
at the balance sheet date.

Hedges of net investments in foreign operations are accounted for similarly to cash flow hedges. Any gain 
or loss on the hedging instrument relating to the effective portion on the hedge is recognized  in other 
comprehensive income. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in 
the income statement. Gains and losses accumulated in equity are included in the income statement 
when the foreign operation is partially disposed or sold. 

At the inception of the transaction, the group documents the relationship between hedging instruments 
and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategy for undertaking various hedging 

Sulzer — Annual Report 201495

transactions. The group also documents its assessment, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing 
basis, of whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting 
changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items.

2.11 Inventories 
Raw materials, supplies, and consumables are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Finished 
products and work in progress are stated at the lower of production cost or net realizable value. Production 
cost includes the costs of materials, direct and indirect manufacturing costs, and contract-related costs 
of construction. Inventories are valued by reference to weighted average costs. Provisions are made for 
slow-moving and excess inventories.

2.12 Trade receivables
Trade and other accounts receivable are stated at nominal value less provision for impairments. The 
respective value corresponds approximately to the amortized cost. Trade receivables are classified as 
loans and receivables. A provision for impairment of trade receivables is established when there is 
objective  evidence  that  the  group  will  not  be  able  to  collect  all  the  amounts  due  according  to  the 
original payment terms of the receivables. Significant financial difficulties of the debtor, probability that 
the debtor will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganization, and default or delinquency in payments 
are  considered  indicators  that  the  trade  receivable  is  impaired.  Receivables  are  subject  to  regular 
review and adequate impairment is considered. The amount of the impairment provision is the differ-
ence between the carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted 
at  the  original  effective  interest  rate.  An  impairment  charge  is  booked  within  selling  and  marketing 
expenses  in  the  income  statement  and  the  carrying  amount  of  the  trade  receivable  is  deducted 
through an allowance account. When a trade receivable is uncollectible, it is written off against the 
allowance account for trade receivables. Any subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off 
are credited against selling and marketing costs in the income statement. 

2.13 Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents comprises bills, postal giros, and bank accounts, together with other short-
term highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition. Bank 
overdrafts are reported within borrowings in the current liabilities. 

2.14 Share capital 
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Costs directly attributable to the issue of ordinary shares and 
share options are recognized as a deduction from equity, net of any tax effects. When share capital is 
repurchased, the amount of the consideration paid, which includes directly attributable cost, is net of 
any tax effects and is recognized as a deduction from equity. Repurchased shares are classified as 
treasury shares and are presented as a deduction from total equity. When treasury shares are sold or 
reissued subsequently, the amount received is recognized as an increase in equity and the resulting 
surplus or deficit on the transaction is transferred to/from retained earnings. 

2.15 Trade payables 
Trade payables and other payables are stated at face value. The respective value corresponds approx-
imately to the amortized cost. 

2.16 Borrowings
Financial debt is stated at fair value when initially recognized, after recognition of transaction costs. In 
subsequent periods, it is valued at amortized cost. Any difference between the amount borrowed (after 
deduction of transaction costs) and the repayment amount is reported in the income statement over the 
duration of the loan using the effective interest method. Borrowings are classified as current liabilities 
unless the group has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after 
the balance sheet date. 

2.17 Current and deferred income taxes
The current income tax charge comprises the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income 
or loss for the year and any adjustment to the tax payable or receivable in respect of previous years. It 
is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date in 
the countries where the group’s subsidiaries and associates operate and generate taxable income. The 
management  periodically  evaluates  positions  taken  in  tax  returns  with  respect  to  situations  in  which 

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 96

applicable tax regulations are subject to interpretation and establishes provisions where appropriate on 
the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities. The liability method is used to provide 
deferred  taxes  on  all  temporary  differences  between  the  tax  base  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  their 
carry ing amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred taxes are valued by applying tax 
rates (and regulations) substantially enacted on the balance sheet date or any that have essentially been 
legally approved and are expected to apply at the time when the deferred tax asset is realized or the 
deferred tax liability is settled. 

Deferred tax assets are recognized for unused tax losses and deductible temporary differences to the 
extent that it is probable that a taxable profit will be available against which they can be used. Deferred 
tax liabilities arising as a result of temporary differences relating to investments in subsidiaries and asso-
ciated companies are applied, unless the group can control when temporary differences are reversed 
and it is unlikely that they will be reversed in the foreseeable future. 

2.18 Employee benefits
a)  Defined benefit plans
The group’s net obligation in respect of defined benefit plans is calculated separately for each plan by 
estimating the amount of future benefit that employees have earned in the current and prior periods, 
discounting that amount using interest rates of high-quality corporate bonds that are denominated in 
the currency in which the benefits will be paid and deducting the fair value of any plan assets.

The calculation of defined benefit obligations is performed annually for all material plans by a qualified 
actuary using the projected unit credit method. Smaller plans are rolled forward and recalculated on a 
three-year basis. When the calculation results in a potential asset for the group, the recognized asset is 
limited to the present value of economic benefits available in the form of any future refunds from the plan 
or reductions in future contributions to the plan. To calculate the present value of economic benefits, 
consideration is given to any applicable minimum funding requirements.

Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability, which comprise actuarial gains and losses, the re-
turn on plan assets (excluding interest income on plan assets), and the effect of the asset ceiling (if any, 
excluding interest), are recognized immediately in OCI. The group determines the net interest expense 
(income) on the net defined benefit liability (asset) for the period by applying the discount rate used to 
measure the defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the annual period to the then net defined 
benefit liability (asset), taking into account any changes in the net defined benefit liability (asset) during 
the period as a result of contributions and benefit payments. Net interest expenses and other expenses 
related to defined benefit plans are recognized in profit or loss.

When the benefits of a plan are changed or when a plan is curtailed, the resulting change in benefit that 
relates to past service or the gain or loss on curtailment is recognized immediately in profit or loss. The 
group recognizes gains and losses on the settlement of a defined benefit plan when the settlement occurs. 

b)  Defined contribution plans 
Defined contribution plans are defined to be pure savings plans, under which the employer makes cer-
tain contributions into a separate legal entity (fund) and does not have a legal or an extendible (construc-
tive) liability to contribute any additional amounts in the event this entity does not have enough funds to 
pay out benefits. A “constructive” commitment exists when it can be assumed that the employer will 
voluntarily make additional contributions in order not to endanger the relationship with its employees. 
Company contributions to such plans are considered in the income statement as personnel expenses. 

c)  Other employee benefits 
Some subsidiaries provide other employee benefits like “Early retirement benefits” or “Jubilee gifts” to 
their employees. Early retirement benefits are defined as termination benefits for employees accepting 
voluntary redundancy in exchange for those benefits. Such early retirements are part of the scope of 
IAS  19  and  therefore  need  to  be  valued  as  part  of  the  employee  benefit  obligation.  Jubilee  gifts  are 
other  long-term  benefits.  For  example,  in  Switzerland,  Sulzer  makes  provisions  for  jubilee  benefits 
based on a Swiss local directive. The provisions are reported in the category “Other employee benefits” 
(Note 28). 

Sulzer — Annual Report 201497

Short-term benefits are payable within 12 months after the end of the period in which the employees 
render  the  related  employee  service.  In  the  case  of  liabilities  of  a  long-term  nature,  the  discounting 
 effects and employee turnover are to be taken into consideration.

Obligations to employees arising from restructuring measures are included under the category “Restruc-
turing provisions.”

d)  Share-based compensation 
Sulzer operates equity-settled and cash-settled share-based compensation plans. For the equity-settled 
share-based compensation plan, the fair value of the employee service received in exchange for the grant 
of the options is recognized as an expense. The total amount to be expensed over the vesting period is 
determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted, excluding the impact of any non-market 
vesting conditions (e.g. profitability and sales growth targets). At each balance sheet date, the entity 
 reassesses its estimates of the number of options that are expected to be exercised. It recognizes the 
impact of the reassessment of original estimates, if any, in the income statement, and a corresponding 
adjustment to equity over the options is exercised. For cash-settled share-based payments, a liability 
equal to the proportion of the goods or service received is recognized at the current fair value determined 
at each balance sheet date.

2.19 Provisions
Provisions are recognized when: The group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of 
past events; it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation; and the 
amount has been reliably estimated. Restructuring provisions comprise lease termination penalties and 
employee termination payments. Provisions are not recognized for future operating losses. Where there 
are a number of similar obligations, the likelihood that an outflow will be required is determined by con-
sidering the class of obligation as a whole. A provision is recognized even if the likelihood of an outflow 
with respect to single item included in the class of obligations may be small.

Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the 
obligation using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and 
the risks specific to the obligation. The increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognized 
as interest expense.

2.20  Revenue recognition 
Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods and 
rendering of services in the ordinary course of the group’s activities. Revenue is shown net of value- 
added tax, returns, rebates, and discounts and after eliminating sales within the group. The group 
recog nizes revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, when it is probable that 
future economic benefits will flow to the entity, and when specific criteria have been met. 

a)  Sale of goods/products 
Revenue from the sale of goods/products derives in the ordinary course of business. Goods and prod-
ucts  are  described  as  ordinary  when  they  are  part  of  the  official  product  range  of  the  organization. 
Goods and products are those items produced/engineered and/or purchased for resale. This includes 
standard products (off the rack) as well as (pre-) engineered or tailor-made products.

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognized when all of the conditions stated below are fulfilled. The 
return rights of products and goods are also considered. The conditions for the recognition of revenue 
from sale of goods and products are as follows: 
 — it is probable that any future economic benefit associated with the revenue will flow to the entity, 
 — the revenue can be measured reliably, 
 — the cost incurred or to be incurred can be measured reliably, 
 — the entity (seller) has transferred significant risks and rewards of ownership to the buyer; basis of the 
risk/reward terms are the agreed clauses with the customer in the sales contract, generally linked to 
the international accepted Incoterms, and 

 — the entity (seller) has retained neither continuing managerial involvement nor effective control over 

the goods. 

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 98

Revenue is recognized only when it is probable that it is collectible and measurable. Revenue can only 
be collectible when there is a binding sales agreement. Once revenue is recognized, any subsequent 
uncertainty  about  the  collectability  of  the  revenue  is  recognized  as  an  expense/adjustment  to  the 
amount receivable rather than as an adjustment to revenue. 

b)  Rendering of services
The rendering of services involves an entity performing an agreed task for a customer. This service may 
involve asset maintenance; professional services; and the construction, development, or customization 
of assets. Service contracts may be single-element contracts, in which the entity renders one type of 
service, or multiple-element contracts that provide for the delivery of more than one service, or may 
include  the  delivery  of  goods  as  well  as  services.  Services  are  often  performed  within  the  reporting 
period. The percentage of completion basis is applicable to such services, but the stage of completion 
increases from 0% to 100% within one accounting period. 

Services that are provided over a period beyond the reporting period involve estimates. Revenue is then 
recognized according to the stage, or percentage, of completion of the contract. The method used to 
determine the stage of completion will depend on the nature of the contract. A consistent approach is 
taken to the revenue recognition of similar contracts. 

Revenue from rendering of services is recognized by reference to the stage of completion of the trans-
action when the following conditions are cumulatively met:
 — the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, 
 — the flow of economic benefits to the entity is probable, 
 — the state of completion at the period end can be measured reliably, and 
 — the cost incurred to date and the cost to completion can be measured reliably. 

c)  Percentage of completion method
Major long-term customer orders are reported using the percentage of completion method (PoC), based 
on the percentage of costs to date compared with the total estimated contract costs, contractual mile-
stones, or performance. The income statement contains a share of sales, including an estimated share 
of profit, while the balance sheet includes the corresponding trade accounts receivable after adjustment 
for advance payments received. When it appears probable that the total costs of an order will exceed the 
expected income, the total amount of expected loss is recognized immediately in the income statement.

d)  Other revenue
Revenue from the use of entity assets by third parties yielding interest, royalties, and dividends in the 
form of: 
 — interest charges for the use of cash or cash equivalents or amounts due to the entity, 
 — royalty charges for the use of long-term assets (e.g. patents, trademarks, copyrights, and computer 

software), and 

 — dividend distribution of profits to holders of equity investments in proportion to their holdings of a 

particular class of capital. 

Interest is recognized using the effective interest method. Royalties are recognized on an accrual basis 
in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreement. Dividends are recognized when the share-
holder’s right to receive payment is established. 

2.21 Assets and disposal groups held for sale 
A non-current asset or a group of assets is classified as “held for sale” (IFRS 5) if its carrying amount will be 
recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use. For this to be the case, 
the management must be committed to sell the assets, the assets must be actively marketed for sale, and 
the sale is expected to be completed within one year. A non-current asset or a group of assets classified 
as “held for sale” shall be measured at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less selling cost. 

2.22  Dividend distribution
Dividend distribution to the shareholders of Sulzer Ltd is resolved upon decision of the general assembly 
and will be paid in the same reporting period. 

Sulzer — Annual Report 201499

3  Financial risk management

3.1  Financial risk factors
The group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk, fair 
value  interest  rate  risk,  cash  flow  interest  rate  risk,  and  price  risk),  credit  risk,  and  liquidity  risk.  The 
group’s overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks 
to minimize potential adverse effects on the group’s financial performance. The group uses derivative 
financial instruments to hedge certain risk exposures.

Risk  management  is  carried  out  by  a  central  treasury  department  (Group  Treasury).  Group  Treasury 
identifies, evaluates, and hedges financial risks in close cooperation with the group’s affiliated compa-
nies. Principles for overall risk management, as well as policies covering specific areas, such as foreign 
exchange risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, use of derivative financial instruments and non-derivative 
financial instruments, and investment of excess liquidity exist in writing.

a)  Market risk
(I)  Foreign exchange risk
The group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from various currency 
exposures. Foreign exchange risk arises when future commercial transactions or recognized assets or 
liabilities are denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s functional currency. Management has set 
up a policy to require affiliated companies to manage their foreign exchange risk against their functional 
currency.  The  affiliated  companies  are  required  to  hedge  their  major  foreign  exchange  risk  exposure 
 using forward contracts or other standard instruments, usually transacted with Group Treasury.

For segment reporting purposes, each affiliated company designates their contracts with Group Treasury 
as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges, as appropriate. Presently, most of the contracts are designated 
as cash flow hedges. External foreign exchange contracts are designated as hedges of foreign exchange 
risk on specific assets, liabilities, or future transactions on a gross basis. The group has certain invest-
ments in foreign operations, whose net assets are exposed to foreign currency translation risk. If required, 
currency  exposure  arising  from  the  net  assets  of  the  group’s  foreign  operations  is  managed  primarily 
through borrowings denominated in the relevant foreign currencies. Derivative financial instruments are 
only used on ad-hoc basis to manage foreign currency translation risk.

The following tables show the hypothetical influence on the income statement for 2014 and 2013 related 
to foreign exchange risk of financial instruments. The volatility used for the calculation is the one-year 
historic volatility on December 31 for the relevant currency pair and year. For 2014, the only currency 
pairs  with  significant  exposure  and  inherent  risk  were  the  EUR  versus  the  RUB  as  well  as  the  USD 
 versus the SEK. If, on December 31, 2014, the EUR had increased by 28.1% against the RUB with all 
other  variables  held  constant,  profit  after  tax  for  the  year  would  have  been  CHF  1.2  million  higher 
mainly  due  to  foreign  exchange  gains  on  EUR-denominated  financial  assets.  A  decrease  of  the  rate 
would have caused a loss of the same amount.

With regard to the EUR versus the CHF (and also the USD versus the CHF), exposures were compara-
tively small and the volatility low as per December 31, 2014 (and throughout 2014) due to the CHF-cap 
enforced by the Swiss National Bank.

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 100

Hypothetical impact of 
foreign exchange risk on  
income statement

Hypothetical impact of 
foreign exchange risk on  
equity

millions of CHF

Currency pair

Exposure

Volatility

Effect on profit after tax (rate increase)

Effect on profit after tax (rate decrease)

millions of CHF

Currency pair

Exposure

Volatility

Effect on profit after tax (rate increase)

Effect on profit after tax (rate decrease)

EUR/ 
RUB

USD/ 
SEK

USD/ 
CHF

 2014

EUR/ 
CHF

6.1

8.9

3.3

3.8

28.1%

8.3%

6.7%

1.9%

1.2

– 1.2

0.5

– 0.5

0.2

– 0.2

0.1

– 0.1

2013

USD/ 
BRL

USD/ 
MXN

4.1

– 2.5

10.9%

13.1%

0.3

– 0.3

– 0.2

0.2

The  following  tables  show  the  hypothetical  influence  on  equity  for  2014  and  2013  related  to  foreign 
 exchange risk of financial instruments for the most important currency pairs as at December 31 of the 
respective year. The volatility used for the calculation is the one-year historic volatility on December 31 for 
the relevant currency pair and year. Most of the hypothetical effect on equity is a result of fair value changes 
of derivative financial instruments designated as hedges of future cash flows in foreign currencies.

millions of CHF

Currency pair

Exposure

Volatility

GBP/ 
USD

USD/ 
MXN

EUR/ 
USD

USD/ 
CHF

USD/ 
INR

2014

EUR/ 
CHF

61.3

– 44.0

26.6

– 22.8

– 17.9

– 35.8

USD/ 
BRL

– 27.1

13.6%

5.6%

7.3%

6.2%

6.7%

6.0%

1.9%

Effect on equity, net of taxes (rate 
increase)

Effect on equity, net of taxes (rate 
decrease)

– 2.7

2.5

– 2.3

1.2

– 1.1

– 0.8

– 0.5

2.7

– 2.5

2.3

– 1.2

1.1

0.8

0.5

millions of CHF

Currency pair

Exposure

Volatility

GBP/ 
USD

USD/ 
BRL

USD/ 
MXN

EUR/ 
CHF

EUR/ 
INR

USD/ 
CHF

2013

EUR/ 
USD

69.3

– 32.6

– 31.4

– 37.1

– 11.6

– 15.6

6.9

7.6%

13.1%

10.9%

4.5%

13.2%

8.6%

7.4%

Effect on equity, net of taxes (rate 
increase)

Effect on equity, net of taxes (rate 
decrease)

3.9

– 3.1

– 2.5

– 1.2

– 1.1

– 1.0

0.4

– 3.9

3.1

2.5

1.2

1.1

1.0

– 0.4

(II)  Price risk
As per December 31, 2014, the group was not exposed to price risk related to investments in equity 
securities either classified as “available-for-sale” or at “fair value through profit or loss.” 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014101

Hypothetical impact of 
interest rate risk on  
income statement

Interest rate sensitivity

(III) 
The group’s interest rate risk arises from interest-bearing assets and liabilities. Assets and liabilities at 
variable rates expose the group to cash flow interest rate risk. Assets and liabilities at fixed rates expose 
the group to fair value interest rate risk. The group analyzes its interest rate exposure on a net basis, and 
if required enters into derivative instruments in order to keep the volatility of net interest income or ex-
pense limited. Currently the group has not entered into such derivative financial instruments related to 
interest rate risk management. 

The  following  table  shows  the  hypothetical  influence  on  the  income  statement  for  variable-interest-
bearing assets net of liabilities at variable interest rates, assuming market interest rate levels would have 
increased/decreased by 100 basis points. For the most significant currencies, CHF, USD, CNY, GBP, 
and SGD, increasing interest rates would have a positive impact on the income statement, since the 
value of variable-interest-bearing assets (comprising mainly cash and cash equivalents) would exceed 
the value of variable interest-bearing liabilities.

millions of CHF

Variable interest-bearing assets (net)

CHF

USD

CNY

GBP

SGD

millions of CHF

Variable interest-bearing assets (net)

CHF

USD

CNY

BRL

INR

Amount

926.3

145.4

75.5

34.6

32.3

2014

Impact on post-tax profit

Sensitivity 
in basis 
points

rate 
increase

rate 
decrease

100

100

100

100

100

6.7

1.1

0.5

0.3

0.2

– 6.7

– 1.1

– 0.5

– 0.3

– 0.2

2013

Impact on post-tax profit

Sensitivity 
in basis 
points

rate 
increase

rate 
decrease

100

100

100

100

100

1.6

0.7

0.3

0.3

0.1

–

– 0.1

– 0.1

– 0.3

– 0.1

Amount

215.0

98.2

43.2

43.0

14.3

On  December  31,  2014,  if  the  interest  rates  on  CHF-denominated  assets  net  of  liabilities  had  been 
100 basis points higher throughout 2014 with all other variables held constant, post-tax profit for the year 
would have been CHF 6.7 million higher (2013: CHF 1.6 million higher), mainly as a result of higher interest 
income on cash and cash equivalents. A decrease of interest rates on CHF-denominated assets net of 
liabilities would have caused a loss of the same amount (and for 2013 the impact would have been zero).

b)  Credit risk
Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, derivative financial instruments, and deposits with 
banks and financial institutions, as well as credit exposures to wholesale and retail customers, including 
outstanding receivables and committed transactions. The maximum exposure to credit risk per class of 
financial assets is outlined in the fair value table in note 3.3. Credit risks of banks and financial institu-
tions are monitored and managed centrally. Generally only independently rated parties with a strong 
credit rating are accepted, and the total volume of transactions is split among several banks to reduce 
the individual risk with one bank.

For every wholesale customer with a large order volume, an individual risk assessment to credit the 
quality of the customer is performed that considers independent ratings, financial position, past experi-
ence,  and  other  factors.  Additionally,  bank  guarantees  and  letters  of  credit  are  requested.  For  more 
details on the credit risk out of trade accounts receivable, please refer to note 20.

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 102

Maturity profile of  
financial liabilities

Liquidity risk

c) 
Prudent liquidity risk management includes the maintenance of sufficient cash and marketable securi-
ties, the availability of funding from an adequate number of committed credit facilities, and the ability to 
close out market positions. Due to the dynamic nature of the underlying businesses, Group Treasury 
maintains flexibility in funding through a committed credit line.

Management  anticipates  the  future  development  of  the  Group’s  liquidity  reserve  on  the  basis  of  ex-
pected cash flows by performing regular Group-wide cash forecasts. In 2012, a syndicated credit line of 
CHF 500 million with a maturity date of 2017 was established to furthermore provide financial flexibility 
in the short run. If special needs arise, financing will be reviewed case by case.

The following table analyzes the group’s non-derivative financial liabilities into relevant maturity group-
ings based on the remaining period at the balance sheet to the contractual maturity date. The amounts 
disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows calculated with the year-end closing 
rates. Borrowings include the notional amount as well as interest payments.

millions of CHF

Borrowings

Trade accounts payable

Other liabilities

millions of CHF

Borrowings

Trade accounts payable

Other liabilities

< 1 year

1– 2 years

3 – 5 years

> 5 years

Total

2014

31.3

510.9

6.2

–

–

14.0

15.4

383.6

86.8

0.3

–

1.5

548.7

383.6

117.7

2013

< 1 year

1– 2 years

3 – 5 years

> 5 years

Total

70.7

29.5

507.3

345.6

66.6

–

0.3

–

0.3

1.0

–

1.3

608.5

345.6

68.5

The following table analyzes the group’s derivative financial instruments that will be settled on a gross 
basis into relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to the 
contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash 
flows calculated with the year-end closing rates. With every forward exchange contract the group is 
obliged to pay an amount; however, it also receives the equivalent amount in a different currency. In case 
of options, only sold options are considered, as only these positions may generate a payment liability.

Maturity profile of derivative 
financial instruments

millions of CHF

< 1 year

1– 2 years

3 – 5 years

> 5 years

Total

2014

Forward exchange contracts

— outflow

— inflow

Other derivative instruments

— outflow

— inflow

millions of CHF

Forward exchange contracts

— outflow

— inflow

Other derivative instruments

— outflow

— inflow

– 985.4

985.4

– 4.3

4.3

– 0.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 989.7

989.7

– 0.8

–

2013

< 1 year

1– 2 years

3 – 5 years

> 5 years

Total

– 1 194.8

– 20.0

1 194.8

20.0

– 0.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 1 214.8

1 214.8

– 0.7

–

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014103

3.2  Capital risk management
The  group’s  objectives  when  managing  capital  are  to  safeguard  the  group’s  ability  to  continue  as  a 
 going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to 
maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital. In this respect, the group aims at 
maintaining an investment grade credit rating, either as a perceived rating or an external rating issued 
by a rating agency.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the group may adjust the amount of dividends paid 
to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares, or sell assets to reduce debt.

As do others in the same industry, the group monitors capital on the basis of the gearing ratio. This ratio 
is calculated as total financial debt divided by equity attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd (debt-to-
equity  ratio).  The  equity  capital  as  shown  in  the  balance  sheet  corresponds  to  the  managed  equity 
capital.

The decrease in the gearing ratio during 2014 resulted from a decrease in financial debt as well as an 
increase in equity.

As at December 31, 2014 and 2013, the gearing ratio was as follows:

millions of CHF

Borrowings

Equity attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Borrowings-to-equity ratio (gearing)

2014

2013

528.0

572.5

2 435.4

2 334.4

0.22

0.25

Gearing ratio 

3.3  Fair value estimation
The following table presents the carrying amounts and fair values of financial assets and liabilities as at 
December 31, 2014, including their levels in the fair value hierarchy. For financial assets and financial 
 liabilities  not  measured  at  fair  value  in  the  balance  sheet,  fair  value  information  is  not  provided  if  the 
carry ing amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value. 

The fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets (such as trading and available-for-sale 
securities, or the outstanding bond) is based on quoted market prices at the balance sheet date. Such 
instruments (if any) are included in level 1.

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market (e.g. over-the-counter de-
rivatives) is determined by using valuation techniques. Forward exchange and other forward contracts 
are valued using a market comparison technique: The fair values are based on quoted or otherwise 
observable prices for similar instruments at the balance sheet date. Forward exchange and other for-
ward contracts are included in level 2.

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 104

Contingent considerations (level 3) are linked on the fulfillment of certain parameters, mainly related to 
technology transfer and retention of key personnel. The group considered the maximum amount and 
assumes the fulfillment of the defined clauses. The following tables present the carrying amounts and 
fair values of financial assets and liabilities.

 Fair value table

millions of CHF

2014

Notes

Carrying 
amount

Fair value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Financial assets measured at fair value

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Available-for-sale financial assets

Derivative assets

23

17

30

106.8

106.8

99.4

4.5

7.4

4.5

7.4

–

–

7.4

4.5

7.4

Total financial assets measured at fair value

118.7

118.7

99.4

19.3

Financial assets not measured at fair value

Loans and receivables

Non-current receivables (excluding derivative 
assets)

Trade accounts receivables

Other accounts receivables (excluding derivative 
assets)

Cash and cash equivalents

Total financial assets not measured  
at fair value

17

7.4

11.3

955.9

103.8

1 194.7

20

21

22

2 273.1

–

Financial liabilities measured at fair value

Derivative liabilities

Contingent considerations

Total financial liabilities measured  
at fair value

29, 30

11.7

49.2

11.7

49.2

60.9

60.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

11.7

–

49.2

11.7

49.2

Financial liabilities not measured  
at fair value

Outstanding bond

Bank loans and other borrowings

Other non-current liabilities

Trade accounts payable

Other current liabilities (excluding derivative 
liabilities)

Total financial liabilities not measured  
at fair value

27

27

498.9

514.4

514.4

–

–

29.1

30.9

383.6

29

86.8

1 029.3

514.4

514.4

–

–

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014millions of CHF

2013

 Fair value table

Notes

Carrying 
amount

Fair value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

105

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

11.9

4.5

16.4

–

–

–

–

–

5.4

–

–

2.3

5.4

2.3

Financial assets measured at fair value

Derivative assets

Available-for-sale financial assets

Total financial assets measured at fair value

30

17

11.9

4.5

16.4

11.9

4.5

16.4

Financial assets not measured at fair value

Loans and receivables

17

6.6

13.4

877.5

129.6

528.7

20

21

22

1 555.8

–

5.4

2.3

7.7

5.4

2.3

7.7

29, 30

27

27

Non-current receivables (excluding derivative 
assets)

Trade accounts receivables

Other accounts receivables (excluding derivative 
assets)

Cash and cash equivalents

Total financial assets not measured  
at fair value

Financial liabilities measured at fair value

Derivative liabilities

Contingent considerations

Total financial liabilities measured  
at fair value

Financial liabilities not measured  
at fair value

Outstanding bond

Bank loans and other borrowings

Other non-current liabilities

Trade accounts payable

Other current liabilities (excluding derivative 
liabilities)

Total financial liabilities not measured  
at fair value

498.1

519.2

519.2

–

–

74.4

1.9

345.6

29

66.6

986.6

519.2

519.2

–

–

Contingent considerations relate to retention bonuses for key management personnel and the achieve-
ment  of  certain  market  performance  goals.  A  description  of  the  contingent  considerations  for  the 
 individual acquired entities is made in note 05. 

millions of CHF

2014

2013

Contingent consideration

Balance as of January 1

Assumed in a business combination 

Transfer to liabilities held for sale

Release to other operating income

Payment of contingent consideration

Total contingent consideration as of December 31

2.3

49.2

–

– 0.7

– 1.6

49.2

3.4

1.8

– 1.0

– 0.9

– 1.0

2.3

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 106

4  Critical accounting estimates and judgments 
All estimates and assessments are continually reviewed and are based on historical experience and 
other factors, including expectations regarding future events that appear reasonable under the given 
circumstances. The group makes estimates and assumptions that relate to the future. By their nature, 
these estimates will only rarely correspond to actual subsequent events. The estimates and assump-
tions that carry a significant risk, in the form of a substantial adjustment to the present values of assets 
and liabilities within the next financial year, are set out below.

Goodwill
Goodwill amounted as per December 31, 2014 to CHF 675.1 million. In accordance with the accounting 
policies set forth in section 2.6 “Intangible assets,” the group carries out an annual impairment test on 
goodwill in the fourth quarter of the year, or when indications of a potential impairment exist. The recover-
able amount from cash-generating units is measured on the basis of value-in-use calculations influenced 
materially by the terminal growth rate, the discount rate, and the projected cash flows. Information about 
assumptions and estimation uncertainties that have significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment 
in the year ending December 31, 2014 are disclosed in note 14.

Income taxes
The group is obliged to pay income taxes in numerous jurisdictions. Significant assumptions are required 
in order to determine global tax provisions. There are many transactions and calculations for which the 
ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of the business.

Provisions
The provisions for warranties/liabilities include significant amounts to cover pending items in connection 
with liabilities and disagreements with the buyer of the locomotive business. The assessment of the 
related risks is, in view of the complex character of the contracts involved and their partially long-term 
nature, difficult.

Contingent considerations
At December 31, 2014, the group had CHF 49.2 million of contingent considerations resulting from 
business combinations. The total payments under contingent considerations arrangements could be 
up to CHF 73.0 million (see Note 5). The estimated amounts are the expected payments, determined 
by considering the possible scenarios of forecast sales and other performance criteria, probabilities 
of occurrence, and the use of simulation models. The estimates could change substantially over time 
as new facts emerge and scenarios develop.

Revenue recognition
The group uses the percentage of completion method (PoC) in accounting for major long-term contracts. 
The use of the PoC method requires the group to estimate the proportional revenue and costs. If circum-
stances arise that may change the original estimates of revenues, costs, or extent of progress toward 
completion, estimates are revised. These revisions may result in increases or decreases in estimated 
revenues or costs and are reflected in income in the period in which the circumstances that give rise to 
the revision become known by management. As per December 31, 2014, revenue from the application 
of the PoC method amounted to CHF 313.1 million (see note 19).

Employee benefit plans 
The present value of the pension obligation and the plan assets depends on a number of factors that 
are determined on an actuarial basis using a number of assumptions. Assumptions used in determining 
the defined benefit obligation and the plan assets include the discount rate, and the share of Sulzer in 
the pension plans. The assumptions are reviewed and reassessed at the end of each year based on 
observable  market  data,  i.e.  interest  rate  of  high-quality  corporate  bonds  denominated  in  the  corre-
sponding  currency  and  asset  management  studies.  The  participation  of  Sulzer  in  the  pension  plans 
covers the active employees and the retirees related to Sulzer.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014107

Acquired net assets of  
aixfotec GmbH

5  Acquisitions and divestitures of affiliated companies / Discontinued 
operations / Significant changes in the scope of consolidation 
All figures related to business combinations in the reporting period are provisional and will be finalized 
within  twelve  months  from  the  acquisition  date.  The  allocation  of  the  consideration  transferred  may 
therefore change in the subsequent period. 

Significant changes in 2014 
aixfotec GmbH
On March 31, 2014, Sulzer acquired 100% of aixfotec GmbH, a leading technology company in extru-
sion systems for the production of polymer foams, based in Aachen, Germany. This acquisition widens 
Sulzer Chemtech’s portfolio in the field of polymer technology and strengthens its position as a technol-
ogy leader and system supplier in plastics manufacturing. The goodwill is attributable to synergies from 
combined solutions and shared services. Since the acquisition date, order intake of CHF 0.3 million, 
sales amounting to CHF 0.1 million, and operating income totaling CHF 0.0 million are included in the 
reporting period. 

millions of CHF

Intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade accounts receivable

Other current assets

Liabilities with third parties

Deferred tax liabilities

Net identifiable assets

Purchase price paid in cash

Contingent consideration

Goodwill

Fair value

3.3

0.1

1.1

0.4

0.5

– 2.4

– 0.8

2.2

2.6

1.6

2.0

The contingent consideration consists of retention bonuses for key management personnel and a bonus 
linked to the gross margin from the company’s product portfolio. The bonus for the gross margin is 
limited in amount, depends on the degree of gross margin realized within three years, and is payable on 
a yearly basis. The liability includes the full amount based on management’s current estimate of the 
future market development. 

Grayson Armature
On August 01, 2014, Sulzer acquired 100% of the shares of Grayson Armature Large Motor Division, Inc. 
and Grayson Armature Orange Texas, Inc. The Grayson companies were merged into Sulzer Grayson Inc. 
on the same day and operate as one legal entity. This acquisition adds electromechanical capabilities to 
Sulzer’s Rotating Equipment Services division, complementing its range of services for rotating equip-
ment. The goodwill is attributable to synergies from additional and combined solutions. Transaction cost 
recognized in general and administrative expenses amounted to CHF 0.3 million. Since the acquisition 
date, order intake of CHF 11.2 million, sales amounting to CHF 13.0 million, and operating income totaling 
CHF 0.8 million are included in the reporting period. 

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements108

Acquired net assets of Grayson 
Armature

millions of CHF

Intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade accounts receivable

Other current assets

Liabilities with third parties

Deferred tax liabilities

Net identifiable assets

Purchase price paid in cash

Contingent consideration

Goodwill

Fair value

4.5

8.7

2.8

4.1

1.3

– 2.8

– 2.8

15.8

38.1

4.9

27.2

The contingent consideration consists of retention bonuses for key management personnel and a bonus 
linked to the continuation of a defined agreement with a customer. The liability is limited at USD 6.0 million 
(CHF 5.9 million). The calculation of the contingent consideration is based on management’s assessment 
that the criteria will be achieved at a probability of 90% to 95%.

ASCOM/ProLabNL
On September 15, 2014, Sulzer acquired 100% of Advance Separation Company (ASCOM) B.V. and 
Process  Laboratories  Netherlands  (ProLabNL)  B.V.  both  located  in  Arnhem,  the  Netherlands.  The 
 Ascom/ProLabNL Group includes three subsidiaries. The acquisition expands the offering of the Sulzer 
Chemtech division for gas-liquid and liquid-liquid separation technologies. The goodwill is attributable 
to  synergies  from  additional  and  combined  solutions.  Transaction  cost  recognized  in  general  and 
 administrative  expenses  amounted  to  CHF  0.3  million.  Since  the  acquisition  date,  order  intake  of 
CHF 18.6 million, sales amounting to CHF 13.1 million, and operating income totaling CHF 2.9 million are 
included in the reporting period. 

Acquired net assets of ASCOM/
ProLabNL

millions of CHF

Intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade accounts receivable

Other current assets

Liabilities with third parties

Deferred tax liabilities

Net identifiable assets

Purchase price paid in cash

Contingent consideration

Goodwill

Fair value

58.7

11.7

0.8

1.3

7.2

– 9.6

– 16.2

53.9

36.5

42.7

25.3

The contingent consideration is linked to the fulfillment of criteria such as order intake, gross profit, and 
EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) as well as the development of 
specified technologies and products. There are minimum threshold values for some of the mentioned 
criteria. The contingent consideration is limited at CHF 65.5 million and is payable within a period of 
three years. The calculation of the contingent consideration is based on a Monte-Carlo simulation using 
a confidence level of 95%. 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014109

Had all above acquisitions occurred on January 01, 2014, management estimates that net sales of the 
group  would  have  been  higher  by  53.0  million,  and  the  consolidated  net  income  would  increase  by 
 approximately CHF 5.0 million.

Saudi Pump Factory 
On February 2, 2014, Sulzer signed an agreement for the acquisition of a 75% stake in Saudi Pump 
Factory with Nabil Al Hashim, the owner and founder of the company. The agreed purchase price for 
the 75% stake is CHF 33 million. Saudi Pump Factory, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a workforce 
of 170 employees, achieved sales of approximately CHF 25 million in 2012. Closing of this transaction 
did not occur until December 31, 2014, since some regulatory approvals remained outstanding. Closing 
of this acquisition is now expected to occur in the first half of the year 2015.

Significant changes in 2013
No changes of the provisional purchase price allocation disclosed in the Sulzer Annual Report 2013  
had to be considered.

Krøger A/S
On  February  5,  2013,  Sulzer  acquired  Krøger  A/S,  a  leading  manufacturer  of  dispensers  in  Greve,  
Denmark. Krøger A/S achieved sales of approximately CHF 9.0 million in 2012 with 34 employees. The 
acquisition  expands  the  product  portfolio  of  the  business  unit  Sulzer  Mixpac  Systems.  Transaction 
costs recognized in general and administrative expenses amounted to CHF 0.4 million. The goodwill  
is  attributable  to  synergies  from  combined  solutions  and  shared  services.  For  the  year  2013,  order  
intake  came  to  CHF  7.9  million,  sales  amounted  to  CHF  7.7  million,  and  operating  income  totaled  
CHF 0.1 million.

millions of CHF

Intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment

Inventories

Trade accounts receivable

Other current assets

Liabilities with third parties

Net identifiable assets

Purchase price paid in cash

Contingent consideration

Goodwill

Acquired net assets of  
Krøger A/S

Fair value

12.3

0.7

2.2

1.3

0.1

– 7.8

8.8

17.8

0.3

9.3

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements110

Acquired net assets of  
Tartek Oy

Cash flow from acquisitions

Tartek Oy
On October 31, 2013, Sulzer Pumps acquired Tartek Oy, a family-owned company established in 1978, 
located in Rauma, Finland. Tartek Oy is a specialist in development, manufacture, repair, and mainte-
nance of high-quality mechanical seals. With this acquisition, Sulzer Pumps further expands its technol-
ogy portfolio to provide extended seal offerings to customers in the pulp and paper, power, and water 
industries. The goodwill is attributable to synergies from additional and combined solutions. For the year 
2013, the order intake and sales totaled CHF 0.1 million, operating income CHF 0.0 million.

millions of CHF

Property, plant, and equipment

Current assets

Liabilities with third parties

Net identifiable assets

Purchase price paid in cash

Contingent consideration

Goodwill

Fair value

0.2

0.1

– 0.1

0.2

4.7

1.5

6.0

Other
Sulzer Metco acquired 60% of Zigong Golden China Specialty Carbides, China, for a purchase price of 
CHF 0.3 million. The contribution of this acquisition to the consolidated financial statements of Sulzer is 
not material.

millions of CHF

Non-current assets

Inventories

Other current assets

Liabilities

Identified acquired net assets

Cash acquired

Subtotal

Goodwill

Purchase of other investments

Contingent consideration

Payments for acquisitions in prior years

Total cash flow from acquisitions

2014

2013

– 87.0

– 13.5

– 2.3

– 15.3

34.6

– 2.2

– 2.1

7.8

– 70.0

– 10.0

4.7

– 65.3

0.7

– 9.3

– 54.5

– 15.3

– 0.8

49.2

– 1.6

–

1.8

– 1.0

– 73.0

– 23.8

Sulzer  Metco,  with  half  of  its  sales  in  the  automotive  and  aviation  industries  and  about  one-third  in 
 general industries, has a clear focus outside Sulzer’s three key markets. On January 30, 2014, Sulzer 
signed an agreement with Oerlikon for the divestment of its Sulzer Metco division. As a consequence, 
Sulzer Metco is presented as discontinued operations and the assets and liabilities are classified as held 
for  sale  in  2013.  Effective  June  02,  2014,  Sulzer  transferred  control  over  Metco  and  consequently 
derecognized all related assets and liabilities. 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014millions of CHF

Sales

Expenses

Operating income

Financial result

Income before income tax expenses from operating activities

Income tax expenses

Income from operating activities of discontinued operations

Gain on sale of discontinued operations before reclassification of currency translation 
differences

Reclassification of currency translation differences

Income tax on sale of discontinued operations

Net income from discontinued operations

Attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Attributable to non-controlling interests

millions of CHF

Total cash flow from operating activities

Total cash flow from investing activities

Total cash flow from financing activities

2014

2013

301.7

698.0

– 265.6

– 616.4

36.1

– 0.5

35.6

– 9.0

26.6

518.9

– 59.1

– 50.7

435.7

81.6

– 1.3

80.3

– 20.4

59.9

–

–

–

59.9

435.7

59.9

–

–

2014

33.4

– 8.0

2013

67.6

– 27.2

– 21.0

– 22.7

111

Income statement from 
discontinued operations

Cash flows from  
discontinued operations

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements112

Balance sheet of discontinued 
operations

millions of CHF

Intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment

Investments in associates

Other financial assets

Non-current receivables

Deferred income tax assets

Inventories

Advance payments to suppliers

Trade accounts receivable

Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets classified as held for sale

Long-term borrowings

Deferred income tax liabilities

Non-current provisions

Short-term borrowings

Current income tax liabilities

Current provisions

Trade accounts payable

Advance payments from customers

Other current and accrued liabilities

Liabilities classified as held for sale

2014

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2013

133.5

146.0

2.9

0.1

15.4

11.8

117.7

3.0

101.4

15.9

21.2

568.9

13.5

3.9

29.0

0.1

12.7

6.5

36.3

9.0

46.7

157.7

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
millions of CHF

Cash and cash equivalents

Inventories

Advance payments to suppliers

Trade accounts receivable

Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses

Intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment

Other financial assets

Non-current receivables

Deferred income tax assets

Trade accounts payable

Advance payments from customers

Short-term borrowings

Current income tax liabilities

Current provisions

Other current and accrued liabilities

Long-term borrowings

Deferred income tax liabilities

Non-current provisions

Net assets

Consideration received (cash and cash equivalents)

Income tax on sale of discontinued operations

Cash and cash equivalents disposed of

Net cash inflow

6  Major currency exchange rates

CHF

1 EUR

1 GBP

1 USD

1 BRL

1 CAD

100 CNY

100 INR

100 MXN

100 SEK

1 SGD

100 ZAR

113

Effect of disposal on the financial 
position of the Group

2014

– 34.0

– 128.3

– 4.9

– 108.0

– 15.9

– 132.7

– 152.7

– 0.1

– 17.1

– 13.8

37.2

11.6

0.1

18.9

5.3

53.0

11.8

4.1

29.2

– 436.3

955.1

– 50.7

– 34.0

870.4

2014

2013

Major currency exchange rates

Average 
rate

Year-end 
rate

Average 
rate

Year-end 
rate

1.21

1.51

0.92

0.39

0.83

1.20

1.54

0.99

0.37

0.85

1.23

1.45

0.93

0.43

0.90

1.23

1.47

0.89

0.38

0.84

14.86

15.94

15.08

14.70

1.50

6.88

1.56

6.72

1.59

7.27

1.44

6.81

13.35

12.82

14.23

13.86

0.72

8.44

0.75

8.55

0.74

9.64

0.70

8.49

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements114

Segment information  
by divisions

7  Segment information

millions of CHF

Order intake (unaudited)

Nominal growth (unaudited)

Adjusted growth (unaudited)1)

Pumps Equipment

Rotating Equipment 
Services

Chemtech

2014

20133)

2014

20133)

2014

2013

1 725.5

1 801.5

725.2

699.3

718.4

749.9

– 4.2%

– 1.1%

n/a

n/a

3.7%

6.4%

n/a

n/a

– 4.2%

– 2.1%

6.4%

7.4%

Order backlog (unaudited)

1 209.4

1 190.9

212.2

190.7

282.0

290.5

Sales2)

Nominal growth

Adjusted growth (unaudited)1)

1 754.9

1 821.6

724.6

705.6

741.5

743.7

– 3.7%

– 0.5%

n/a

n/a

2.7%

5.3%

n/a

n/a

– 0.3%

1.6%

2.6%

3.6%

Research and development expenses

37.7

36.7

2.3

2.4

38.1

35.8

EBITDA before restructuring 
expenses and impairment on 
goodwill4)

in % of sales

Depreciation

EBITA before restructuring 
expenses and impairment on 
goodwill5)

191.8

207.2

93.4

84.1

119.3

120.4

10.9%

11.4%

12.9%

11.9%

16.1%

16.2%

– 31.2

– 32.0

– 15.3

– 13.1

– 25.7

– 25.4

160.6

175.2

78.1

71.0

93.6

95.0

in % of sales

9.2%

9.6%

10.8%

10.1%

12.6%

12.8%

Restructuring expenses

Amortization

Impairment on goodwill

– 4.0

– 9.4

– 19.7

– 21.6

– 340.0

–

– 7.2

– 5.8

–

– 1.4

– 5.6

–

–

0.1

– 15.2

– 13.7

–

–

Operating income

EBIT

– 203.1

144.2

65.1

64.0

78.4

81.4

Return on capital employed (EBITA 
before restructuring expenses and 
impairment on goodwill in  
% of average capital employed)

12.2%

n/a

17.7%

n/a

22.2%

23.0%

Operating assets

Unallocated assets

1 659.0

2 100.4

682.8

589.9

743.0

606.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total assets as of December 31

1 659.0

2 100.4

682.8

589.9

743.0

606.8

Operating liabilities

Unallocated liabilities

Total liabilities as of December 31

Operating net assets

Unallocated net assets

756.3

774.7

231.7

179.8

242.8

230.3

–

–

756.3

774.7

902.7

1 325.7

–

–

–

231.7

451.1

–

–

–

–

179.8

242.8

230.3

410.1

500.2

376.5

–

–

–

Total net assets as of December 31

902.7

1 325.7

451.1

410.1

500.2

376.5

Capital expenditure

41.5

35.7

26.4

15.4

22.6

23.3

Employees (number of full-time  
equivalents) as of December 31

7 365

7 389

3 709

3 642

4 287

4 167

1)   Adjusted for currency effects.
2)   Sales between segments are not material.
3)   Restated numbers according to new operational structure, effective since January 1, 2014.
4)   EBITDA = Earnings before interests, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
5)   EBITA = Earnings before interests, taxes, and amortization.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014115

Segment information  
by divisions

millions of CHF

Total Divisions

Others2)

Total Sulzer

Order intake (unaudited)

Nominal growth (unaudited)

Adjusted growth (unaudited)1)

2014

2013

3 169.1

3 250.7

– 2.5%

0.3%

n/a

n/a

2014

– 8.3

–

–

Order backlog (unaudited)

1 703.6

1 672.1

– 4.0

2013

2014

2013

– 0.8

3 160.8

3 249.9

–

–

–

– 2.7%

– 2.8%

0.0%

– 1.0%

1 699.6

1 672.1

Sales

Nominal growth

Adjusted growth (unaudited)1)

3 221.0

3 270.9

– 8.9

– 7.0

3 212.1

3 263.9

– 1.5%

1.2%

n/a

n/a

–

–

–

–

– 1.6%

– 2.3%

1.2%

– 0.5%

Research and development expenses

78.1

74.9

– 1.9

– 4.3

76.2

70.6

EBITDA before restructuring 
expenses and impairment on 
goodwill3)

in % sales

Depreciation

EBITA before restructuring 
expenses and impairment on 
goodwill4)

404.5

411.7

12.6%

12.6%

0.6

n/a

– 16.3

405.1

395.4

n/a

12.6%

12.1%

– 72.2

– 70.4

– 7.0

– 2.6

– 79.2

– 73.0

332.3

341.3

– 6.4

– 18.9

325.9

322.4

in % of sales

10.3%

10.4%

n/a

n/a

10.1%

9.9%

Restructuring expenses

Amortization

– 11.2

– 10.7

–

– 40.7

– 40.9

– 3.0

– 6.1

– 0.7

– 11.2

– 16.8

– 43.7

– 41.6

Impairment on goodwill

– 340.0

–

–

–

– 340.0

–

Operating income

EBIT

– 59.6

289.7

– 9.4

– 25.7

– 69.0

264.0

Return on capital employed (EBITA 
before restructuring expenses and 
impairment on goodwill in  
% of average capital employed)

15.3%

n/a

– 0.3%

n/a

15.7%

15.4%

Operating assets

3 084.8

3 297.1

96.9

26.5

3 181.7

3 323.6

Unallocated assets (includes assets 
held for sale)

–

–

–

–

1 466.5

1 220.3

Total assets as of December 31

3 084.8

3 297.1

96.9

26.5

4 648.2

4 543.9

Operating liabilities

1 230.8

1 184.8

177.4

74.3

1 408.2

1 259.1

Unallocated liabilities (includes liabilities 
held for sale)

–

–

–

–

798.0

944.1

Total liabilities as of December 31

1 230.8

1 184.8

177.4

74.3

2 206.2

2 203.2

Operating net assets

Unallocated net assets

1 854.0

2 112.3

– 80.5

– 47.8

1 773.5

2 064.5

–

–

–

–

668.5

276.2

Total net assets as of December 31

1 854.0

2 112.3

– 80.5

– 47.8

2 442.0

2 340.7

Capital expenditure

90.5

74.4

5.5

6.1

96.0

80.5

Employees (number of full-time  
equivalents) as of December 31

15 361

15 198

133

184

15 494

15 382

1)   Adjusted for currency effects.
2)   The most significant activities under "Others" relate to the Corporate Center.  

Interdivisional order intake and sales are eliminated in this column.

3)   EBITDA = Earnings before interests, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
4)   EBITA = Earnings before interests, taxes, and amortization.

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements116

Segment information by region

millions of CHF

Europe, Middle East, Africa

— thereof Switzerland

— thereof Germany

— thereof United Kingdom

Americas

— thereof USA

— thereof Brazil

Asia-Pacific

— thereof China

— thereof India

Total

Operating assets by  
region

Capital expenditure 
in intangible and 
tangible assets by 
region

Sales by region

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

1 868.9

2 237.8

311.0

112.6

325.2

123.7

349.9

368.7

789.0

648.1

533.5

432.3

134.1

123.6

60.3

20.6

3.3

7.9

23.9

17.1

2.8

 49.7 

1 264.7

1 402.4

 21.7 

26.1

 3.9 

 5.5 

159.2

215.8

41.7

168.7

227.1

 17.6 

1 177.4

1 130.0

 10.7 

746.4

699.8

 4.6 

148.5

144.4

523.8

437.7

11.8

 13.2 

770.0

731.5

318.7

273.0

82.5

61.0

6.3

2.3

 7.0 

 2.2 

319.7

355.5

70.0

42.5

3 181.7

3 323.6

96.0

80.5

3 212.1

3 263.9

On November 8, 2013, Sulzer announced to adapt its organizational structure to support its key market 
strategy. Sulzer Turbo Services was combined with the service activities for pumps into a new service 
division  and  the  name  of  the  division  changed  from  Sulzer  Turbo  Services  into  Rotating  Equipment 
Services.  The  name  of  the  Sulzer  Pumps  division  was  changed  into  Pumps  Equipment.  The  Sulzer 
Chemtech division was not affected by this change. The new organizational structure was implemented 
on January 01, 2014. The previous year’s figures are restated accordingly.

Personnel expenses

8  Personnel expenses

millions of CHF

Salaries and wages

Costs for defined contribution plans

Defined benefit costs

Cost of share-based payments

Other personnel costs

Total personnel expenses

2014

2013

836.4

838.6

26.8

15.8

7.4

24.1

18.4

8.4

159.8

157.9

1 046.2

1 047.4

Sulzer — Annual Report 20149  Employee benefit plans
The defined benefit obligation for the active members of pension plans is the present value of accrued 
pension obligations at balance sheet date considering future salary and pension increases as well as 
turnover rates (using the Project Unit Credit Method). The defined benefit obligation for the retirees is the 
present value of the current and future pension benefits considering future pension increases. 

2014

Employee benefit plans 2014

117

millions of CHF

Reconciliation of the amount recognized in 
the balance sheet as of December 31

Funded 
plans 
Switzerland

Funded 
plans 
United 
Kingdom

Funded 
plans 
USA

Funded 
plans 
Others

Unfunded 
plans

Total

Present value of funded defined benefit obligation

– 1 372.0

– 670.1

– 61.0

– 62.6

Fair value of plan assets

1 307.5

554.1

42.5

47.2

Overfunding (+) / underfunding (–)

– 64.5

– 116.0

– 18.5

– 15.4

–

–

–

– 2 165.7

1 951.3

– 214.4

Present value of unfunded defined benefit 
obligation

Adjustment to asset ceiling

Asset (+) / liability (–) recognized in the 
balance sheet

–

– 2.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 53.4

– 53.4

–

– 2.4

– 66.9

– 116.0

– 18.5

– 15.4

– 53.4

– 270.2

— thereof as liabilities under non-current provisions

– 77.4

– 116.0

– 18.5

– 15.6

– 53.4

– 280.9

— thereof as prepaid expenses

— thereof as liabilities held for sale

10.5

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

–

–

–

10.7

–

2013

Employee benefit plans 2013

millions of CHF

Reconciliation of the amount recognized in 
the balance sheet as of December 31

Funded 
plans 
Switzerland

Funded 
plans 
United 
Kingdom

Funded 
plans 
USA

Funded 
plans 
Others

Unfunded 
plans

Total

Present value of funded defined benefit obligation

– 1 357.0

– 516.0

– 45.9

– 49.4

– – 1 968.3

Fair value of plan assets

1 420.0

471.8

35.8

Overfunding (+) / underfunding (–)

63.0

– 44.2

– 10.1

42.0

– 7.4

–

–

1 969.6

1.3

Present value of unfunded defined benefit 
obligation

Adjustment to asset ceiling

Asset (+) / liability (–) recognized in the 
balance sheet

— thereof as liabilities under non-current provisions

— thereof as prepaid expenses

— thereof as liabilities held for sale

–

– 51.5

11.5

– 0.5

12.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 66.4

– 66.4

–

– 51.5

– 44.2

– 10.1

– 7.4

– 66.4

– 116.6

– 44.2

– 10.1

– 7.7

– 48.8

– 111.3

–

–

–

–

0.3

–

–

12.3

– 17.6

– 17.6

Sulzer operates major funded defined benefit (“DB”) pension plans in Switzerland, UK, Ireland, and the 
USA. Unfunded defined benefit plans relate to German pension benefit plans. The plans are exposed to 
actuarial risks, e.g. longevity risk, currency risk, interest rate risk, and the funded plans additionally to 
market (investment) risk.

In Switzerland, Sulzer contributes to two pension plans funded via two different pension funds, i.e. a 
base plan for all employees and a supplementary plan for employees with salaries exceeding a certain 
limit. Both plans provide benefits depending on the pension savings at retirement. They include certain 
legal minimum interest credits to the pension savings (i.e. investment return) and guaranteed rates of 
conversion of pension savings into an annuity at retirement. In addition, the plans offer death in service 
and  disability  benefits.  The  two  pension  funds  are  collective  funds  administrating  pension  plans  of 

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements118

Sulzer  group  companies  and  also  unrelated  companies.  In  case  of  a  material  underfunding  of  the  
pension plans, the regulations include predefined steps, such as higher contribution by employer and 
employees or lower interest on pension savings, to eliminate the underfunding. The pension funds are 
legally separated from the group. The vast majority of the active participants in the two pension funds 
are employed by companies not belonging to the Sulzer group. The board of trustees for the base plan 
comprises ten employee and ten employer representatives and are excluded from the Sulzer plan as-
sets and liabilities of the contributing businesses. Based on the actual market environment the discount 
rate had to be further reduced to 0.8% (2013: 2.2%). The lower rates result in a lower return on plan 
assets and an increase of the DBO. In November 2014, the Board of Trustees decided the following 
changes: The applicable conversion rate for the pension plan will be decreased step by step over the 
next two years, the Foundation’s savings will be increased, and the risk contributions will be slightly 
reduced.  The  effect  of  these  changes  result  in  CHF  8.0  million  negative  past  service  cost.  The  total 
 expense for 2014 was CHF 6.8 million (2013: expense of CHF 20.1 million).

In the UK, Sulzer operates two funded defined benefit plans managed as sections of the Sulzer Pension 
Scheme. The scheme is managed by six trustees forming the Board. Four members are company nomi-
nated, one Trustee Director is a Sulzer member, and one Trustee Director is a Sulzer Dowding & Mills 
member. Both plans are multi-employer schemes with Sulzer (UK) Holding being the sponsor. Both plans 
are closed to new entrants and the John Holt Defined Benefit Pension Scheme is closed for future ac-
cruals since February 2010. Based on the low market interest rate, the discount rate decreased to 3.5% 
(2013: 4.7%) which lead to an increase in the net pension liability from CHF 44.2 million to CHF 116.0 mil-
lion. The total expense recognized in the income statement was at a similar level like in the previous year 
(2014: CHF 8.4 million and 2013: CHF 9.8 million).

In the USA, Sulzer operates non-contributory defined benefit retirement plans covering substantially all 
of their employees. The salaried plans provide benefits that are based on years of service and the em-
ployee’s  compensation,  averaged  over  the  five  highest  consecutive  years  preceding  retirement.  The 
hourly plans’ benefits are based on years of service and a flat dollar benefit multiplier. All plans were 
closed to new entrants. In 2013, this resulted in negative past service cost of CHF 3.1 million. Therefore 
an income of CHF 1.2 million was recognized in the income statement 2013 compared to an expense of 
CHF 0.8 million for 2014. The reduction of the discount rate from 5% in 2013 to 4% in 2014 resulted in 
an increase of the amount recognized in OCI of CHF 7.7 million.

In addition, Sulzer sponsors two Irish-funded defined benefit plans. During 2013, the following changes 
were made to past and future service benefits of the staff plan. Retirement ages were extended to 66, 
67, and 68 depending on year of birth; compulsory commutation of 25% of each member’s benefit was 
introduced on retirement; and the plan was closed for new entrants and a new defined contribution plan 
was introduced. The effect of these changes amounted to CHF 5.2 million negative past service cost in 
2013 (2014: CHF 0.0) million. 

In Germany, Sulzer operates a range of different DB pension plans. The majority of these plans are un-
funded and benefits are paid directly by the employer to the beneficiaries as they became due. All DB 
plans are closed for new joiners and a new defined contribution plan for all employees was introduced in 
2007. Existing employees who participated in the DB plans continued to be eligible for these DB pensions 
but became also eligible for the new DC pensions. However, benefits received under the DC plan are 
offset against the benefits under the DB plans. The different DB plans offer old age pension, disability 
pension, and survivor’s pension benefits.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014millions of CHF

Reconciliation of effect of asset ceiling

Adjustment to asset ceiling at January 1

Interest expense/(income) on effect of asset ceiling

Change in effect of asset ceiling excl. interest expense/(income)

Currency translation adjustment

Adjustment to asset ceiling at December 31

Reconciliation of asset (+) / liability (–) recognized in the balance sheet

Asset (+) / liability (–) recognized at January 1

Defined benefit cost recognized in profit or loss

Defined benefit cost recognized in OCI

Employer contribution/benefit paid by the entity

Change in scope of consolidation

Currency translation differences

Asset (+) / liability (–) recognized at December 31

Components of defined benefit cost in profit or loss

Current service cost (employer)

Interest cost

Interest income on plan assets

Past service cost

Effects of curtailments and settlement

Interest expense/(income) on effect of asset ceiling

Other administrative cost

Expense recognized in profit or loss

— thereof charged to personnel expenses

— thereof charged to financial expense

— thereof charged to net income from discontinued operations

Components of defined benefit cost in OCI

Actuarial gain/(loss) on defined benefit obligation

Return on plan assets excl. interest income

Change in effect of asset ceiling excl. interest expense/income

Return on reimbursement right excl. interest income

Others

Defined benefit cost recognized in OCI1)

119

2014

2013

Employee benefit plans

51.5

1.1

– 50.2

–

2.4

11.9

0.2

39.4

–

51.5

– 116.6

– 170.0

– 20.2

– 28.9

– 174.9

26.2

20.3

– 5.0

48.6

34.9

–

– 1.2

– 270.2

– 116.6

– 23.5

– 30.5

– 57.8

– 55.6

54.5

49.4

8.0

–

– 1.1

– 0.3

8.3

0.1

– 0.2

– 0.4

– 20.2

– 28.9

– 15.8

– 18.4

– 4.4

–

– 6.4

– 4.1

– 299.2

73.9

50.2

0.2

–

23.8

64.0

– 39.4

0.2

–

– 174.9

48.6

1)   The tax effect on defined benefit cost recognized in OCI amounted to CHF 37.0 million (2013: CHF – 11.9 million).

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements120

Employee benefit plans

millions of CHF

Reconciliation of defined benefit obligation

Defined benefit obligation as of January 1

Interest cost

Current service cost (employer)

Contributions by plan participants

Past service cost

Benefits paid/deposited

Effects of curtailments and settlement

Change in scope of consolidation

Other administrative cost

Actuarial gain (–) / loss (+) on obligation

Currency translation differences

Defined benefit obligation as of December 311)

Reconciliation of the fair value of plan assets

Fair value of plan assets as of January 1

Interest income on plan assets

Employer contribution/benefit paid by the entity2)

Contributions by plan participants

Benefits paid/deposited

Effects of curtailments and settlement

Change in scope of consolidation

Return on plan assets excl. interest income

Currency translation differences

Fair value of plan assets as of December 31

Total plan assets at fair value – quoted market price

Cash and cash equivalents

Equity instruments third parties

Equity instruments Sulzer Ltd

Debt instruments third parties

Real estate funds

Investment funds

Others

2014

2013

2 034.7

2 106.0

57.8

23.5

9.3

– 8.0

55.6

30.5

12.1

– 8.3

– 120.6

– 133.9

–

– 0.4

– 108.3

0.3

–

0.4

299.2

– 23.8

31.2

– 3.5

2 219.1

2 034.7

1 969.6

1 947.9

54.5

26.2

9.3

49.4

34.9

12.1

– 120.6

– 133.9

–

– 0.3

– 88.1

73.9

26.5

–

64.0

– 4.5

1 951.3

1 969.6

114.8

69.6

614.8

622.2

0.4

0.4

657.3

722.1

28.7

0.3

46.2

44.6

0.2

42.0

Total assets at fair value – quoted market price as of December 31

1 462.5

1 501.1

Total plan assets at fair value – non-quoted market price

Properties occupied by or used by third-parties (Real estate)

Others

Total assets at fair value – non-quoted market price as of December 31

Best estimate of contributions for upcoming financial year

Contributions by the employer

Contributions by plan participants

264.2

283.4

224.6

185.1

488.8

468.5

26.9

9.1

31.4

11.8

1)   The defined benefit obligation 2014 includes the funded part (CHF 2 165.7 million) and the unfunded part   

(CHF 53.4 million).

2)   Benefits paid directly by the entity mainly refer to the German plans.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014millions of CHF

2014

2013

Employee benefit plans

121

Components of Defined Benefit Obligation, split (§137)

Defined Benefit Obligation at December 31 for active members

Defined Benefit Obligation at December 31 for pensioners

Defined Benefit Obligation at December 31 for deferred members

Total Defined Benefit Obligation at December 31

Components of actuarial (gain)/losses on obligations (§141 lit. c)

Actuarial (gain)/loss arising from changes in financial assumptions

Actuarial (gain)/loss arising from changes in demogr. assumptions

Actuarial (gain)/loss arising from experience adjustments

Actuarial (gain)/loss on defined benefit obligation

Components of economic benefit available (§141 lit. c)

Economic benefits available in form of refund

Economic benefits available in form of reduction in future contribution

Total economic benefit available

358.0

406.6

1 837.3

1 607.4

23.8

20.7

2 219.1

2 034.7

318.6

– 50.5

2.9

–

– 22.3

26.7

299.2

– 23.8

0.2

12.6

12.8

0.4

11.9

12.3

Maturity profile of Defined Benefit Obligation (§147 lit. c)

Weighted average duration of defined benefit obligation in years

13.1

13.0

Sensitivity analysis of Defined Benefit Obligation

Discount rate (decrease 0.25%)

Discount rate (increase 0.25%)

Future salary growth (decrease 0.25%)

Future salary growth (increase 0.25%)

Life expectance (decrease 1 year)

Life expectance (increase 1 year)

Principal actuarial assumptions as of December 31

Discount rate

Future salary increases

Future pension increases

Expected average remaining working lives in years

Life expectancy at retirement age (male/female) in years

73.1

54.1

– 77.2

– 59.1

– 11.7

– 10.8

3.1

3.7

– 113.1

– 86.4

103.3

77.0

1.8%

1.4%

0.8%

9.4

2.9%

1.3%

0.7%

9.4

21/25

21/25

10  Research and development expenses
In 2014, total research and development expenses amounted to CHF 76.2 million (2013: CHF 70.6 million). 
A  breakdown  of  the  research  and  development  expenses  per  division  is  shown  in  note  07,  “Segment 
 information”.

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements122

11  Other operating income and expenses

Other operating income  
and expenses

millions of CHF

Income from sale of property plant and equipment

Income from disposal of group companies to third party

Income from services to third parties

Operating currency exchange gains

Income from legal cases

Income from negative past service costs

Other operating income

Total other operating income

Cost for mergers and acquisitions

Expenses from adjustments to defined benefit cost

Withholding tax expenses

Loss from legal cases

Other operating expenses

Total other operating expenses

2014

14.1

3.2

4.3

4.7

1.3

8.0

11.6

47.2

– 4.9

– 5.0

– 3.3

– 0.8

2013

2.5

10.0

8.2

5.2

1.6

8.3

14.8

50.6

– 0.7

– 3.4

– 2.8

– 3.5

– 19.4

– 14.6

– 33.4

– 25.0

Total other operating income and expenses, net

13.8

25.6

In 2014, Sulzer sold a real estate property in London resulting in a profit of CHF 13.6 million. Sulzer was 
also able to release further no longer required provisions of CHF 3.0 million relating to the sale of Sulzer 
Real Estate Ltd (2013: CHF 9.5 million). Additional CHF 8.0 million (2013: CHF 8.3 million) resulted from 
negative past service cost related to defined benefit plans (refer to note 09).

Financial income and expenses

millions of CHF

12  Financial income and expenses

Interest and securities income

Interest income on employee benefit plans

Total interest and securities income

Interest expenses

Interest expenses on employee benefit plans

Total Interest expenses

Net interest expenses

Income from investments and other financial assets

Fair value changes

Other financial income/expenses

Currency exchange gains/losses

Total other financial income/(expenses)

Total financial income/(expenses)

— thereof from financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss

— thereof from loans and receivables

— thereof from borrowings

2014

2013

6.4

0.4

6.8

5.0

-

5.0

– 16.4

– 16.8

– 4.8

– 6.4

– 21.2

– 23.2

– 14.4

– 18.2

– 0.1

– 2.9

– 0.7

1.4

– 2.3

– 0.1

0.9

0.4

– 4.8

– 3.6

– 16.7

– 21.8

– 2.9

0.2

0.9

–

– 16.4

– 16.8

The income on interest and securities increased while interest expenses slightly decreased compared 
with 2013, mainly due to the reduction of borrowings. The “fair value changes” largely comprise the fair 
valuation of derivative financial instruments that are classified as financial assets or financial liabilities 
 at fair value through profit or loss and that are used as hedging instruments with regard to foreign 
exchange risks.

Sulzer — Annual Report 201413  Income taxes

millions of CHF

Current income tax expenses

Deferred income tax expenses

Total income tax expenses

123

Income tax expenses

2014

2013

– 89.6

– 77.8

17.7

11.9

– 71.9

– 65.9

The weighted average tax rate results from applying each subsidiary’s statutory income tax rate to the 
income before taxes. Since the group operates in countries that have differing tax laws and rates, the 
consolidated weighted average effective tax rate will vary from year to year according to variations in 
income per country and changes in applicable tax rates.

millions of CHF

Income/loss from continuing operations before income tax expenses 

Weighted average tax rate

Income taxes at weighted average tax rate

Income taxed at different tax rates

Effect of tax loss carryforwards and allowances for deferred income tax assets

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes incl. goodwill impairment 

Effect of changes in tax rates and legislation

Prior period items and others

Total income tax expenses

Effective income tax rate

2014

2013

– 85.7

242.2

27.3% 26.7%

23.4

– 64.7

– 17.0

– 3.6

1.5

–

– 83.4

– 4.4

0.3

3.3

1.7

5.1

– 71.9

– 65.9

– 83.9%

27.2%

Excluding the impairment in the Water business unit, the effective income tax rate would have been 
28.3%. The increase in the effective income tax rate can be explained by higher withholding tax expenses 
on increased dividend payments to Sulzer Ltd.

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Released as no longer required

Released for utilization

Transfer to liabilities held for sale

Currency translation differences

Total income tax liabilities as of December 31

— thereof non-current

— thereof current

2014

30.6

0.5

122.4

– 11.6

2013

64.6

0.8

65.6

– 7.9

– 107.5

– 78.5

–

0.6

35.0

2.6

32.4

– 12.7

– 1.3

30.6

3.8

26.8

 Reconciliation of income  
tax expenses

 Income tax liabilities

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements124

Summary of deferred income tax 
assets and liabilities in the 
balance sheet

millions of CHF

Intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment

Other financial assets

Inventories

Other assets

Non-current provisions

Current provisions

Other current liabilities

Tax loss carryforwards

Elimination of intercompany profits

Deferred income tax – gross

2014

2013

Assets

Liabilities

Assets

Liabilities

0.3

2.5

1.8

18.2

25.9

64.2

24.7

23.2

21.6

2.5

85.2

22.5

2.9

5.5

8.3

3.8

0.9

22.7

–

–

1.8

2.0

1.0

23.4

19.6

27.0

24.2

21.3

23.5

2.8

88.9

17.9

5.7

2.1

9.7

4.6

1.5

25.3

–

–

184.9

151.8

146.6

155.7

Offset of assets and liabilities

– 58.1

– 58.1

– 54.2

– 54.2

Net recorded deferred income tax assets and liabilities

126.8

93.7

92.4

101.5

Deferred income tax asset directly recorded in equity amounted to CHF 31.8 million (2013 deferred in-
come tax liabilities: CHF 6.8 million). In compliance with the exception clause of IAS 12, the group does 
not recognize deferred taxes on investments in subsidiaries in the balance sheet.

Tax loss carryforwards

2014

2013

millions of CHF

Expiring in the next 3 years

Expiring in 4–7 years

Available without limitation

Total tax loss 
carryforwards

Amount

Potential 
tax assets

Valuation 
allowance

Carrying 
amount

Amount

Potential 
tax assets

Valuation 
allowance

Carrying 
amount

21.4

20.0

73.3

5.1

4.9

17.6

– 0.7

– 1.9

– 3.4

4.4

3.0

22.5

25.0

5.5

5.5

14.2

100.4

22.0

– 0.4

– 5.4

– 3.6

5.1

0.1

18.4

114.7

27.6

– 6.0

21.6

147.9

33.0

– 9.4

23.6

Deferred income tax assets are recognized for tax loss carryforwards to the extent that the realization 
of the related tax benefit through future taxable profits is probable. No deferred income tax assets have 
been recognized on tax loss carry forwards in the amount of CHF 24.5 million (2013: CHF 41.6 million). 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014125

14  Intangible assets

millions of CHF

Acquisition cost

Trademarks 
and 
licenses

Goodwill

Research 
and 
develop-
ment

Computer 
software

Customer 
relationship

Total

2014

Intangible assets

Balance as of January 1

978.4

155.1

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

54.5

–

–

–

0.9

0.3

– 5.2

–

2.5

24.4

–

–

–

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

– 17.8

– 6.5

1 015.1

144.6

– 0.2

26.7

44.0

316.2

1 496.2

0.2

4.5

– 6.1

1.7

0.4

41.0

0.7

– 0.7

– 4.1

– 9.5

121.0

5.5

– 12.0

– 2.4

– 33.6

44.7

343.6

1 574.7

Accumulated amortization

Balance as of January 1

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Impairment

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Net book value

As of January 1

As of December 31

millions of CHF

Acquisition cost

–

–

–

–

340.0

–

340.0

73.4

13.3

– 2.5

–

–

– 1.7

82.5

–

1.4

–

–

–

0.6

2.0

38.5

5.3

– 6.1

–

–

102.1

214.0

23.3

– 0.4

– 4.2

43.3

– 9.0

– 4.2

–

340.0

0.6

– 1.4

– 1.9

38.3

119.4

582.2

978.4

675.1

81.7

62.1

2.5

24.7

5.5

6.4

214.1

1 282.2

224.2

992.5

Trademarks 
and 
licenses

Goodwill

Research 
and 
develop-
ment

Computer 
software

Customer 
relationship

Total

2013

Balance as of January 1

1 092.7

158.9

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Transfer to assets held for sale

Currency translation differences

15.3

–

–

–

– 114.9

– 14.7

2.2

0.4

–

–

– 5.0

– 1.4

1.8

–

0.7

–

–

–

–

Balance as of December 31

978.4

155.1

2.5

48.4

338.0

1 639.8

–

3.7

– 1.7

0.3

10.1

–

–

0.4

27.6

4.8

– 1.7

0.7

– 6.1

– 25.3

– 151.3

– 0.6

44.0

– 7.0

– 23.7

316.2

1 496.2

Accumulated amortization

Balance as of January 1

Additions

Disposals

Transfer to assets held for sale

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Net book value

As of January 1

As of December 31

–

–

–

–

–

–

61.7

15.2

–

– 3.0

– 0.5

73.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

42.2

3.4

– 1.5

– 5.2

– 0.4

38.5

88.9

26.3

–

192.8

44.9

– 1.5

– 10.4

– 18.6

– 2.7

– 3.6

102.1

214.0

1 092.7

978.4

97.2

81.7

1.8

2.5

6.2

5.5

249.1

1 447.0

214.1

1 282.2

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements126

Goodwill impairment test

1

millions of CHF

Goodwill, net book value as of December 31, 2014 
is allocated as follows

Pumps Equipment - Business Unit Water

Pumps Equipment - individually non significant

Rotating Equipment Services - Region EMEA

Rotating Equipment Services - individually non significant

Chemtech

Goodwill, net book value as of December 31, 2013 
is allocated as follows

Sulzer Pumps - Configured Solution 

Sulzer Pumps - individually non significant 

Sulzer Turbo Service - Region EMEA

Sulzer Turbo Service - individually non significant

Chemtech

Growth rate 
residual 
value

Pre-tax 
discount 
rate

Goodwill

675.1

281.8

1.0%

11.3%

17.0

2.0%

11.3%

154.8

2.0%

10.7%

75.1

2.0%

10.7%

146.4

0.0%

10.2%

978.4

647.9

2.0%

10.2%

29.2

1.4%

10.6%

148.6

36.1

0.0%

0.0%

10,1%

10.1%

116.6

0.0%

10.7%

Goodwill is allocated to the smallest cash-generating unit (CGU) at which the goodwill is monitored for 
internal management purposes (i.e. business units or areas). The fair value of these units is determined 
by  calculating  its  value  in  use  over  a  five-year  cash  flow  projection  period.  The  calculation  uses  the 
budget for next year and the mid-term plan for subsequent periods that have been reviewed and ap-
proved by management. Cash flows beyond this planning period are extrapolated using a terminal value 
including the growth rates as stated above.

With the new organizational structure announced in November 2013 and effective as of January 01, 
2014, the service business for engineered pumps was transferred from the Sulzer Pumps division into 
the Rotating Equipment Services division. This portion of goodwill of CHF 8.9 million was transferred to 
the cash-generating units ‘Region EMEA’ and ‘Region AME’ within the Rotating Equipment Service divi-
sion.  The  former  Sulzer  Pumps  division  was  renamed  into  Pumps  Equipment.  As  compared  to  last 
year’s organizational setup, the business unit Water now includes the former Configured Solution unit 
and the engineered water business. Other than the transfer above, no further goodwill needed to be 
transferred.

The business unit Water integrates the wastewater pumps business, the process pumps business for 
the general industry, and the engineered pumps for water transport and production. This business is 
globally active. The business unit has been organized in a supply chain organization, sales organization, 
and central functions. The sales organization includes sales people in own sales units in approximately 
30 countries.

The impairment test performed revealed that for the business unit Water the value in use was lower than 
its carrying amount by CHF 340 million, leading to a corresponding impairment of the goodwill. The 
carrying  value  of  the  net  operating  assets  including  the  remaining  goodwill  equal  to  the  recoverable 
amount. The impairment loss resulted from changes of the future growth and profitability assumptions 
in order to bring them in line with expected market developments, past performance of the business 
and from an adjusted pre-tax discount rate. 

As of December 31, 2013, goodwill of CHF 114.9 million was allocated to Sulzer Metco (discontinued 
operations). With the divestiture of Sulzer Metco in June 2014, the assets and liabilities (including good-
will) were deconsolidated.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014127

Sensitivity analyses 
Business unit Water: A further reduction of the growth rate used to determine the residual value from 1% 
to 0% would lead to an additional impairment of CHF 44.0 million for the remaining goodwill. An increase 
of the pre-tax discount rate by 1% would lead to an additional impairment of CHF 21.0 million. 

Compared to last year, the growth rate to determine the residual value for the cash-generating units 
in the Rotating Equipment Services division was increased from 0% to 2%, reflecting management’s 
current assessment of the underlying markets. Had a 0% growth rate been used in the calculation of 
the terminal value combined with an increase of the discount rate by 1%, no impairment would have 
resulted.

15  Property, plant, and equipment

2014

Property, plant, and equipment

millions of CHF

Acquisition cost

Balance as of January 1

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Accumulated depreciation

Balance as of January 1

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Impairment on property, plant, and equipment

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Net book value

As of January 1

As of December 31

Machinery 
and 
technical 
equipment

Other 
non-current 
assets

 Assets 
under 
construc-
tion 

Land and 
buildings

Total

346.8

652.0

189.0

28.6

1 216.4

7.1

13.6

– 6.9

8.0

12.5

13.2

27.3

0.2

13.4

–

36.3

20.5

90.6

– 25.2

– 15.7

–

– 47.8

14.6

19.5

8.0

3.7

– 31.7

1.5

– 1.1

37.2

381.1

701.4

198.6

34.7

1 315.8

133.0

451.8

139.6

–

13.2

– 3.6

0.3

0.4

4.7

–

–

45.8

20.2

– 21.7

– 15.5

– 1.0

– 0.1

13.6

1.4

–

3.0

148.0

488.4

148.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

724.4

–

79.2

– 40.8

0.7

0.3

21.3

785.1

213.8

200.2

233.1

213.0

49.4

49.9

 28.6 

492.0

34.7

530.7

Thereof leased property, plant, and equipment

Acquisition cost of leased property, plant, and equipment

Accumulated depreciation

Net book value as of December 31

Leasing commitments (present value)

0.7

0.7

–

–

2.4

1.3

1.1

0.7

0.5

0.3

0.2

–

–

–

–

–

3.6

2.3

1.3

0.7

Fire insurance value

549.4

1 112.8

536.0

34.7

2 232.9

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements128

Property, plant, and equipment

millions of CHF

Acquisition cost

Balance as of January 1

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Transfer to assets held for sale

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Accumulated depreciation

Balance as of January 1

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Disposals

Transfer to assets held for sale

Impairment

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Net book value

As of January 1

As of December 31

Machinery 
and 
technical 
equipment

Other 
non-current 
assets

 Assets 
under 
construc-
tion 

Land and 
buildings

2013

Total

432.7

922.2

233.6

50.0

1 638.5

0.5

6.4

–7.9

8.9

4.9

35.7

–0.1

18.3

–

5.3

43.8

104.2

–44.8

–16.9

–

–69.6

29.9

13.9

–54.1

–1.4

–81.3

– 277.9

–53.5

–10.1

–422.8

–12.5

–18.0

–6.3

–1.0

–37.8

346.8

652.0

189.0

28.6

1 216.4

165.8

642.4

180.3

0.2

17.0

–5.2

3.9

59.9

–0.1

19.3

–41.0

–15.2

–40.4

–201.5

–40.2

– 0.3

–4.1

– 0.2

–11.7

– 0.2

–4.3

133.0

451.8

139.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

988.5

4.0

96.2

–61.4

–282.1

–0.7

–20.1

724.4

266.9

279.8

213.8

200.2

53.3

49.4

 50.0 

650.0

 28.6 

492.0

Thereof leased property, plant, and equipment

Acquisition cost of leased property, plant, and equipment

Accumulated depreciation

Net book value as of December 31

0.7

–

0.7

0.7

0.3

0.4

0.1

–

0.1

Leasing commitments (present value)

0.4

0.3

0.1

–

–

–

–

1.5

0.3

1.2

0.8

Fire insurance value

526.4

1 135.4

466.4

 28.6 

2 156.8

Sulzer — Annual Report 201416  Associates and joint ventures

millions of CHF

Investments in associates and joint ventures

Summarized financial information:

— Profit from continuing operations

— Share within OCI

Total

129

2014

2013

Associates and joint ventures

2.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

On March 07, 2014, Sulzer signed an agreement to form a joint venture with China Huadian Corporation 
for  the  service  of  gas  turbines  including  field  service,  component  repair,  and  delivery  of  new  capital 
parts.  The  new  joint  venture  operates  under  the  name  of  Hua  Rui  (Jiangsu)  Gas  Turbine  Services 
Co. Ltd. As of December 31, 2014, the joint venture is in the start-up phase. Sulzer has a share of 49% 
in this company. The paid-in share capital of company at year-end 2014 amounts to 20%. The company 
will be operative during the year 2015. 

Sulzer has another investment in associates with the company PPSCMI in France. This company acts 
primarily in the fields of production, installation, and maintenance of parts in the industrial business. The 
carrying amount is less than CHF 0.1 million. 

Considering the carrying amount and the profit contribution, both associates are regarded as not signi-
ficant for the consolidated financial statements 2014.

On  November  21,  2014,  Sulzer  signed  an  agreement  to  form  a  joint  venture  with  the  Unaoil  Group 
dedicated to the service of all rotating equipment for oil and gas, and power customers in Southern Iraq. 
The joint venture will operate under the name of Sulzer Rotating Equipment FZCO and will have offices 
in Dubai, with local operations and a branch in Southern Iraq. The joint venture builds upon the estab-
lished cooperation between Sulzer and Unaoil serving customers in Southern Iraq. At year-end 2014 
this company was not yet operative.

17  Other financial assets 

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Additions

Disposals

Changes in fair value

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Other financial assets

2014

Total

11.1

0.8

Available-
for- 
sale

Loans and 
receivables

4.5

–

–

–

–

4.5

6.6

0.8

– 0.1

– 0.1

–

0.1

7.4

–

0.1

11.9

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements130

Other financial assets

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Transfer to assets held for sale

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Available-
for- 
sale

Loans and 
receivables

–

–

–

4.5

–

–

4.5

8.6

0.3

–

– 1.2

– 0.1

– 1.0

6.6

2013

Total

8.6

0.3

–

3.3

– 0.1

–1.0

11.1

Financial assets that belong to the category “Available-for-sale financial assets” include investments in 
equity  securities.  The  category  “Loans  and  receivables”  includes  items  with  maturities  beyond  12 
months.

Inventories

millions of CHF

18  Inventories

Raw materials, supplies, and consumables

Work in progress

Finished products and trade merchandise

Total inventories

2014

123.3

270.5

93.7

2013

108.4

243.9

84.2

487.5

436.5

In 2014,  Sulzer  recognized  write-downs  of  CHF  18.1  million  (2013:  CHF  18.9  million)  in  the  income  
statement.  Total  accumulated  write-downs  on  inventories  amounted  to  CHF  68.7  million  as  of  De-
cember 31, 2014 (2013: CHF 64.2 million). Material expenses in 2014 amounted to CHF 1 235.3 million  
(2013: CHF 1 365.9 million).

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014131

Percentage of completion 
contracts

Aging structure of trade  
accounts receivable

19  Percentage of completion contracts

millions of CHF

Contract revenue recognized in the period

Net receivables resulting from construction contracts

Net liabilities resulting from construction contracts

Advance payments received from customers

2014

2013

313.1

446.7

176.8

191.6

– 15.5

– 29.2

– 436.2

– 471.4

Sales  recognized  in  accordance  with  the  percentage  of  completion  method  for  the  reporting  period 
amounted to CHF 313.1 million, which corresponds to 9.7% of total sales (2013: CHF 446.7 million, or 
13.7% of sales). The costs related to this sales figure amounted to CHF 238.2 million (2013: CHF  352.5 mil-
lion). The impact on gross profit was CHF 74.9 million, which corresponds to 7.4% of total gross profit 
(2013: CHF 94.2 million, 9.4%). 

20  Trade accounts receivable

millions of CHF

Not past due

Past due

1–30 days

31–60 days

61–90 days

91–120 days

>120 days

2014

2013

Gross 
amount

Allowance

Net book 
value

Gross 
amount

Allowance

Net book 
value

675.1

– 7.6

667.5

645.7

– 6.8

638.9

105.8

– 0.1

105.7

44.3

35.0

19.8

– 0.8

– 2.9

– 5.5

115.6

– 22.8

43.5

32.1

14.3

92.8

91.8

37.0

26.7

19.6

– 0.7

– 1.4

– 0.6

– 1.5

90.2

– 22.5

91.1

35.6

26.1

18.1

67.7

Total trade accounts receivable

995.6

– 39.7

955.9

911.0

– 33.5

877.5

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Released as no longer required

Released for utilization

Reclassifications to assets held for sale

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Allowance for doubtful trade  
accounts receivable

2014

33.5

0.3

23.5

2013

40.8

–

26.8

– 14.7

– 21.8

– 4.1

–

1.2

39.7

– 7.2

– 2.6

– 2.5

33.5

Approximately 32% (2013: 29%) of the gross amount of trade accounts receivable is past due, and an 
allowance of CHF 39.7 million (2013: CHF 33.5 million) was recorded. The recoverability of trade ac-
counts receivable is regularly reviewed, and the credit quality of new customers is thoroughly assessed. 
Due to the large and heterogeneous customer base, the credit risk of the group is limited.

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements132

Other accounts receivable and 
prepaid expenses

21  Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses

millions of CHF

Receivables from tax authorities

Derivative financial instruments

Other accounts receivable

Total other accounts receivable

Insurance premiums

Prepaid contributions to employee benefit plans

Other prepaid expenses

Total prepaid expenses

2014

64.0

7.4

39.8

2013

64.6

11.5

32.3

111.2

108.4

2.6

10.7

24.1

37.4

2.6

12.3

30.1

45.0

Total other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses

148.6

153.4

For further details on the position “Derivative financial instruments,” refer to note 30. Other accounts 
receivable do not include any material positions that are past due or impaired.

22  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

millions of CHF

Cash

Cash equivalents

2014

Average eff. 
interest rate

2013

Average eff. 
interest rate

Amount

865.9

328.8

Amount

479.2

49.5

Total cash and cash equivalents

0.69

1 194.7

0.73

528.7

23  Marketable securities

Marketable securities

millions of CHF

Designated at fair value through profit or loss

Total marketable securities

2014

2013

106.8

106.8

–

–

As of December 31, 2014, marketable securities designated at fair value through profit or loss consist of 
interest-bearing investments. Fair value adjustments are recognized in financial income.

Pledged assets

24  Pledged assets

millions of CHF

Land and buildings

Machinery and equipment

Total pledged assets

2014

2013

1.6

1.7

3.3

14.4

1.6

16.0

Sulzer — Annual Report 201425  Share capital

thousands of CHF

Number of 
shares

Share 
capital

Number of 
shares

Share 
capital

Balance as of December 31 (par value CHF 0.01)

34 262 370

342.6

34 262 370

342.6

2014

2013

Share capital

133

The share capital amounts to CHF 342 623.70, made up of 34 262 370 shares with dividend entitlement 
and a par value of CHF 0.01. All shares are fully paid in and registered. 

Share ownership
Sulzer shares are freely transferable provided that, when requested by the company to do so, buyers 
declare that they have purchased and will hold the shares in their own name and for their own account. 
Nominees shall only be entered in the share register with the right to vote, provided that they meet the 
following conditions: The nominee is subject to the supervision of a recognized banking and financial 
market regulator; the nominee has entered into an agreement with the Board of Directors concerning 
his status; the share capital held by the nominee does not exceed 3% of the registered share capital 
entered in the commercial register; and the names, addresses, and number of shares of those individu-
als for whose account the nominee holds at least 0.5% of the share capital have been disclosed. The 
Board of Directors is also entitled, beyond these limits, to enter shares of nominees with voting rights in 
the share register, provided that the above-mentioned conditions are met (see also paragraph 6a of the 
Articles of Association at www.sulzer.com/regulations).

Renova Group

First Pacific Advisors

BlackRock

Sulzer Ltd

2014

2013

Number of 
shares

in %

Number of 
shares

11 159 790

32.57

10 688 812

1 716 616

1 149 976

254 940

5.01

3.36

0.74

–

–

282 415

0.82

Shareholders holding more 
than 3% and Sulzer Ltd

in %

31.20

–

–

Sulzer  Ltd  is  not  aware  of  any  agreements  between  the  shareholders  named  above  regarding  the 
shares held or regarding the execution of voting rights. The total number of shares held by Sulzer Ltd, 
as of December 31, 2014, amounted to 254 940, which are mainly held to the use for the management 
stock option and restricted stock unit plan. 

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements134

Earnings per share

Borrowings

26  Earnings per share

Net income attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd - continuing operations

Net income attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd - discontinued operations

Net income attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd (millions of CHF)

Issued number of shares

Adjustment for treasury shares held

Average number of shares outstanding

2014

– 160.7

435.7

275.0

2013

174.5

59.9

234.4

34 262 370

34 262 370

– 255 061

– 262 941

34 007 309

33 999 429

Adjustment for share participation plans

 153 808

 159 177

Average number of shares for calculating diluted earnings per share

34 161 117

34 158 606

Earnings per share, attributable to a shareholder of Sulzer Ltd (in CHF)

Basic earnings per share

— thereof basic earnings per share continuing operations

— thereof basic earnings per share discontinued operations

Diluted earnings per share

— thereof diluted earnings per share continuing operations

— thereof diluted earnings per share discontinued operations

8.09

– 4.72

12.81

8.05

– 4.70

12.75

6.89

5.13

1.76

6.86

5.11

1.75

Dividend per share

3.501)

3.20

1)   Proposal to the Annual General Meeting.

27  Borrowings

millions of CHF

Bonds

Bank loans

Other loans and debts

Leasing obligations

Total borrowings

— thereof due in <1 year

— thereof due in 1–5 years

— thereof due in >5 years

2014

2013

Short-term Long-term 

Total Short-term Long-term 

Total

–

498.9

498.9

–

498.1

498.1

17.5

10.3

27.8

56.2

16.5

72.7

–

0.2

17.7

17.7

–

–

0.5

0.6

0.5

0.8

510.3

528.0

–

17.7

510.0

510.0

0.3

0.3

0.1

0.3

56.6

56.6

–

–

0.5

0.8

0.6

1.1

515.9

572.5

–

56.6

514.9

514.9

1.0

1.0

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014BRL

CHF

EUR

GBP

USD

Other

Total

2014

millions of 
CHF

22.0

498.9

0.4

–

–

in %

4.2

94.5

0.1

–

–

6.7

1.2

528.0

100.0

2013

Interest 
rate

millions of 
CHF

16.5

503.3

28.1

11.8

1.2

11.6

8.0%

2.3%

4.0%

–

–

–

–

in %

2.9

87.9

4.9

2.1

0.2

2.0

572.5

100.0

135

Borrowings by currency

Interest 
rate

8.0%

2.2%

1.3%

1.3%

3.1%

–

–

In 2012, a CHF 500 million syndicated credit facility with maturity in April 2017 has been arranged. The 
facility is subject to financial covenants based on net financial indebtedness and EBITDA, which were 
adhered to throughout the reporting period. As of December 31, 2014, the use of the syndicated credit 
line was CHF 0.0 million compared to CHF 36.3 million at the end of the previous year, and the amount 
of  short-term  borrowings  was  reduced  accordingly.  Also  the  outstanding  long-term  borrowings  de-
creased during 2014.

2014

2013

Outstanding bond

millions of CHF

2.25% 2011–2016

Total 

Amortized 
costs

Nominal

Amortized 
costs

Nominal

498.9

500.0

498.1

500.0

498.9

500.0

498.1

500.0

In 2011, Sulzer Ltd issued a CHF-denominated 2.25% domestic bond in the aggregate principal amount 
of CHF 500 million for a term of five years. The effective interest rate is 2.42%. The bond is traded at   
the SIX Swiss Exchange and the fair value amounts to CHF 514.4 million as per December 31, 2014 
(2013: CHF 519.2 million). The fair value of the other financial borrowings is approximately equivalent to 
their carrying amount.

28  Provisions

millions of CHF

Employee 
benefit 
plans1)

Other 
employee 
benefits

Warranties/ 
liabilities

Restruc-
turing

Environ-
mental

Balance as of December 31, 2013

111.3

38.3

85.3

11.0

16.6

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Released as no longer required

Released for utilization

Reclassifications

Currency translation differences

Total provisions as of  
December 31, 2014

— thereof non-current

— thereof current

–

171.8

– 0.6

– 6.0

–

4.4

280.9

280.9

–

–

24.4

– 3.3

–

37.2

– 12.4

– 23.8

– 12.4

–

1.2

36.8

29.5

7.3

–

1.8

99.5

1.2

98.3

–

– 0.2

– 0.9

– 9.5

0.9

–

1.3

–

1.3

1)   For further details of employee benefit plans, refer to note 09, “Employee benefit plans."

– 0.4

– 16.0

– 68.1

–

0.3

16.5

16.4

0.1

– 1.1

1.4

– 0.2

9.1

64.9

499.9

24.2

40.7

352.2

147.7

Provisions

Other

66.7

1.2

20.9

– 8.2

Total

329.2

1.2

254.1

– 25.4

–

–

–

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements136

Other current and  
accrued liabilities

The largest position in provisions refers to “Employee benefit plans.” In 2014, this position increased by 
CHF 169.6 million to CHF 280.9 million, mainly due to actuarial losses on defined benefit obligations in 
other comprehensive income. 

The category of “Other employee benefits” includes provisions for jubilee gifts, early retirement of senior 
managers, and other obligations to employees.

The category “Warranties/liabilities” increased by CHF 14.2 million to CHF 99.5 million. Besides war-
ranties,  these  provisions  include  customer  claims,  penalties,  litigation,  and  legal  cases  relating  to 
goods delivered or services rendered. The provision for risks referring to an ongoing dispute with the 
purchaser of the locomotive business (sold in 1998) is accrued within this category. This provision is 
classified as current (prior year: non-current). The decrease in restructuring provision is related to the 
termination of the program communicated in October 2013. An amount of CHF 8.9 million out of the 
total restructuring expenses of CHF 11.2 million recognized in 2014 is related to personnel restructuring 
expenses. “Environmental” mainly consists of expected costs related to inherited liabilities.

“Other” includes provisions that do not fit into the aforementioned categories. A large number of these 
provisions refer to onerous contracts, in particular related from divestitures. In addition, provisions for 
ongoing asbestos lawsuits and other legal claims are included. Based on the currently known facts, 
Sulzer is of the opinion that the resolution of the open cases will not have material effects on its liquidity 
or financial condition. Although Sulzer expects a large part of the category “Other” to be settled in 2015, 
by their nature, the amounts and timing of any cash outflows are difficult to predict.

29  Other current and accrued liabilities

millions of CHF

Social security institutions

Taxes (VAT, withholding tax)

Derivative financial instruments

Other current liabilities

Total other current liabilities

Vacation and overtime claims

Salaries, wages, and bonuses

Contract-related costs

Other accrued liabilities

Total accrued liabilities

Total other current and accrued liabilities

2014

2013

10.5

42.8

11.6

33.5

98.4

32.7

78.1

12.4

33.3

5.4

20.9

72.0

32.2

76.0

129.1

120.2

85.9

91.9

325.8

320.3

424.2

392.3

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
30  Derivative financial instruments

2014

2013

Derivative financial instruments

137

millions of CHF

Notional 
value

Fair 
value

Notional 
value

Fair 
value

Notional 
value

Fair 
value

Notional 
value

Fair 
value

Derivative assets

Derivative liabilities

Derivative assets

Derivative liabilities

Forward exchange contracts

407.1

Other derivative instruments

Total

— thereof due in <1 year

— thereof due in 1–2 years

— thereof due in 3–5 years

— thereof due in >5 years

–

407.1

406.4

0.7

–

–

7.4

–

7.4

582.6

0.8

583.4

579.8

3.6

–

–

11.6

0.1

11.7

688.6

11.9

526.2

0.7

–

–

689.3

11.9

526.2

5.4

–

5.4

671.1

18.2

–

–

524.4

1.8

–

–

The notional and the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities include current and also non-current 
derivative financial instruments. The cash flow hedges of the expected future sales were assessed as 
highly  effective.  As  at  December  31,  2014,  a  net  unrealized  loss  of  CHF  10.1  million  (2013:  profit  of 
CHF 0.3 million) with a deferred tax asset of CHF 4.4 million (2013: CHF 2.0 million) relating to these cash 
flow hedges were included in other comprehensive income. In 2014, a gain of CHF 1.4 million (2013: a 
gain of CHF 1.9 million) cash flow hedge reserve was recognized in profit or loss. There was no ineffec-
tiveness that arose from cash flow hedges in 2014 (2013: CHF 0.0 million). There was no ineffectiveness 
to be recorded from fair value hedges and net investments in foreign entity hedges. The maximum expo-
sure to credit risk at the reporting date is the fair value of the derivative assets in the balance sheet.

The hedged, highly probable forecast transactions denominated in foreign currency are mostly expected 
to occur at various dates during the next 12 months. Gains and losses recognized in the hedging reserve 
(cash flow hedges) in equity on forward foreign exchange contracts as of December 31, 2014, are recog-
nized either in sales, cost of goods sold, or in other operating income/expenses in the period or periods 
during which the hedged transaction affects the income statement. This is generally within 12 months 
from the balance sheet date unless the gain or loss is included in the initial amount recognized for the 
purchase of fixed assets, in which case, recognition is over the lifetime of the asset (5 to 10 years).

The Group enters into derivative financial instruments under enforceable master netting arrangements. 
These agreements do not meet the criteria for offsetting derivative assets and derivative liabilities in the 
consolidated balance sheet. As per December 31, 2014, the amount subject to such netting arrangements 
was CHF 2.5 million (2013: CHF 2.3 million). Considering the effect of these agreements, the amount of 
derivative assets would reduce from CHF 7.4 million to CHF 4.9 million (2013: from CHF 11.9 million to 
CHF 9.6 million), and the amount of derivative liabilities would reduce from CHF 11.7 million to CHF 9.2 mil-
lion (2013: from CHF 5.4 million to CHF 3.1 million).

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements138

Other financial commitments

31  Other financial commitments

millions of CHF

Maturity <1 year

Maturity 1–5 years

Maturity >5 years

Operating lease

— thereof continuing operations

— thereof discontinued operations

Total commitments for future investments 
and acquisitions

— thereof continuing operations

— thereof discontinued operations

32  Contingent liabilities

2014

Rented 
premises

20.0

51.4

19.1

90.5

90.5

–

1.2

1.2

–

2013

Rented 
premises

27.2

79.9

25.4

Total

30.7

69.8

19.1

119.6

132.5

119.6

104.7

–

27.8

2.6

2.6

–

1.6

1.6

–

Other

10.7

18.4

–

29.1

29.1

–

1.4

1.4

–

Contingent liabilities

millions of CHF

Pledges in favor of third parties

Guarantees in favor of third parties

Total contingent liabilities

Other

11.8

15.6

–

27.4

23.7

3.7

3.6

2.5

1.1

Total

39.0

95.5

25.4

159.9

128.4

31.5

5.2

4.1

1.1

2014

2013

–

10.0

10.0

0.8

–

0.8

In 2014, the group has provided a guarantee to a third party with a maximum amount of CHF 10.0 mil-
lion, expiring in the year 2022 regarding certain environmental matters related to disposed business. 

Capital expenditure by category

millions of CHF

33  Capital expenditure by category (unaudited)

Expansion

Rationalization

Replacing

IT

QESH (Quality, environment, safety, and health)

Other

2014

40.7

6.0

28.6

11.5

3.6

5.6

in %

42.3

6.3

29.8

12.0

3.8

5.8

2013

21.2

3.5

30.6

12.1

3.3

9.8

in %

26.3

4.3

38.0

15.0

4.1

12.3

Total capital expenditure by category

96.0

100.0

80.5

100.0

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014139

34  Share participation plans
Stock option plan
From 2002 until 2008, there was a Sulzer stock option plan in place for the Sulzer Management Group 
and Board members. Awards were made annually and were dependent on the organizational position 
of the employee. The exercise price was determined on the basis of the average stock market price of 
the Sulzer share during the last ten days before the options were granted. 

For details on option holdings by members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, see 
note 110 of Sulzer Ltd’s financial statements.

Grant year

2004

2005

Total

Weighted average 
exercise price in CHF

Grant year

2004

2005

2008

Total

Weighted average 
exercise price in CHF

Out standing 
01.01.2014

Granted 
2014

Exercised 
2014

Forfeited 
2014

Expired 
2014

Out standing 
31.12.2014

200

1 410

1 610

49.67

–

–

–

–

200

830

1 030

48.24

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

-

580

580

52.20

–

Option right for ten  
Sulzer shares 

2014 

Average  
exercise price 
in CHF

31.80

52.20

Out standing 
01.01.2013

Granted 
2013

Exercised 
2013

Forfeited 
2013

Expired 
2013

Out standing 
31.12.2013

2013

Average 
exercise price 
in CHF

1 485

2 635

1 890

6 010

70.97

–

–

–

–

–

1 285

1 225

1 890

4 400

78.76

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

200

1 410

31.80

52.20

–

127.90

1 610

49.67

–

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements140

Expiry of option rights  
for ten Sulzer shares

Restricted stock units

Year of expiry

2014

2015

Outstanding as of December 31

In 2014, no options were granted.

2014

2013

Average 
exercise 
price in 
CHF

Number of 
options

Average 
exercise 
price in 
CHF

Number of 
options

–

31.80

200

31.80

580

580

52.20

1 410

52.20

1 610

Restricted stock unit plan settled in Sulzer shares 
Since 2009, there has been a restricted stock unit (RSU) plan in place for the Sulzer Management Group 
and Board members. Awards are made annually and depend on the organizational position of the em-
ployee. The restricted stock unit plan is an equity-settled plan, where one-third of the RSUs vest after one 
year, with an additional one-third vesting in each of the following two years. One RSU award is settled with 
one Sulzer share. The number of awards granted is determined on the basis of the average stock market 
price of the Sulzer share during the last ten days before the awards are granted and the cash equivalent 
determined per participant. After vesting, the unrestricted shares are transferred to the plan participant. 
They do not lead to an increase of the company’s share capital. In 2014, a total of CHF 6.4 million   
(2013: CHF 6.7 million) was charged for this restricted stock unit plan to the operating income. Awards 
to members of the Board of Directors automatically vest with the departure from the Board.

For details of restricted stock unit holdings by members of the Board of Directors and the Executive 
Committee, see note 110 of the financial statements of Sulzer Ltd.

Grant year

Out standing 
01.01.2014

Granted 
2014

Exercised 
2014

Forfeited 
2014

Expired 
2014

Out standing 
31.12.2014

2014 

Average stock 
price at grant  
date in CHF

2011

2012

2013

2014

Total

15 681

36 710

49 635

–

–

303

–

69 984

15 681

20 516

18 761

–

102 026

70 287

54 958

–

1 852

5 665

1 725

9 242

–

–

–

–

–

–

142.62

14 342

129.13

25 512

166.61

68 259

122.00

108 113

Grant year

Out standing 
01.01.2013

Granted 
2013

Exercised 
2013

Forfeited 
2013

Expired 
2013

Out standing 
31.12.2013

2013

Average stock 
price at grant  
date in CHF

2010

2011

2012

2013

Total

22 167

34 826

60 807

–

–

–

22 167

17 998

21 561

–

50 451

–

117 800

50 451

61 726

–

1 147

2 536

816

4 499

–

–

–

–

–

–

98.41

15 681

142.62

36 710

129.13

49 635

166.61

102 026

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014141

Performance share plan settled in Sulzer shares 
Executive Committee members received performance share units (PSUs) of Sulzer Ltd, Winterthur, as 
a portion of their compensation. Sulzer operated two performance share plans (PSP). Both plans are 
equity-settled plans.

The first ongoing PSP was introduced in 2013 with a performance period from January 1, 2013 to 
March  31,  2016.  Key  performance  indicators  consist  of  financial  objectives  and  are  based  on  the 
Relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of Sulzer over the performance period, within a peer group 
consisting of 30 companies including Sulzer. TSR is measured with a starting value of the Volume 
Weighted  Average  Share  Price  (VWAP)  over  the  first  three  months  of  the  first  year,  and  an  ending 
value of the VWAP over the last three months of the vesting period. The average fair market value at 
grant date was CHF 294.81 and has been calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation. Main assump-
tions  include  a  stock  price  of  CHF  157.61  and  an  average  expected  volatility  of  the  peer  group  of 
31.84%.  The  rank  of  Sulzer’s  TSR  at  the  end  of  the  performance  period  determines  the  effective 
number of total shares. At Rank 3 of the peer group or above, a maximum payout of 200% of target 
performance share awards (PSA) are converted into shares. At Rank 15 of the peer group, the payout 
is 100%, at Rank 21 it is 75%, and at Rank 27 or higher, it is 0%. The plan will not lead to an increase 
of the company’s share capital. In 2014, an expense of CHF 0.2 million (2013: CHF 2.5 million) was 
charged to the operating income.

The second ongoing PSP was introduced in 2014 with a performance period from January 1, 2014 to 
March  31,  2017.  Key  performance  indicators  and  measurement  are  identical  with  the  PSP  2013  de-
scribed above. The average fair market value at grant date was CHF 206.63 and has been calculated 
using a Monte Carlo simulation. Main assumptions include a stock price of CHF 129.69 and an average 
expected volatility of the peer group of 32.25%. The plan will not lead to an increase of the company’s 
share capital. In 2014, an expense of CHF 0.8 million was charged to the operating income.

For details of performance share units by members of the Executive Committee, see note 110 of the 
 financial statements of Sulzer Ltd.

Grant year

2013

2014

Out standing 
01.01.2014

Granted 
2014

Exercised 
2014

Forfeited 
2014

Expired 
2014

Out standing 
31.12.2014

Average stock 
price at grant  
date in CHF

37 035

–

4 860

–

15 965

–

5 717

2 314

–

–

26 458

166.61

13 651

122.00

Performance share units

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements142

35  Transactions with members of the Board of Directors,  
Executive Committee, and related parties

Key management compensation

2014

2013

thousands of CHF

Equity-
based  
compensa-
tion

Pension 
and social 
security 
contribu-
tions

Short-term 
benefits

Equity-
based  
compensa-
tion

Pension 
and social 
security 
contribu-
tions

Total

Short-term 
benefits

Total

Board of Directors

  904

  862

  99

 1 865

  961

  878

  140

 1 979

Executive Committee

 5 994

 2 250

 1 809

 10 053

 6 388

 2 286

 2 626

 11 300

The amounts for equity-based compensation are valued according to IFRS 2. There are no outstanding 
loans with members of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee as per balance sheet date. 
No shares have been granted to members of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, or related 
persons, with the exception of shares granted in connection with equity-settled plans and service awards.

Related parties
Selected activities for the Sulzer pension fund were provided by employees of Sulzer Ltd in 2013. Begin-
ning  of  2014  the  employees  were  transferred  to  the  Sulzer  Foundation.  Therefore,  no  costs  were 
charged to the pension fund in 2014 (2013: CHF 4.0 million). As of December 31, 2014, sales with re-
lated parties controlled by the major shareholder (Renova Group) amounted to CHF 16.2 million (2013: 
CHF 13.8 million) with open receivables of CHF 6.0 million (2013: CHF 0.5 million). Fees for consulting 
services from a company controlled by the major shareholder of Sulzer amounted to CHF 0.2 million 
(2013: CHF 0.1 million). Sales with other related parties recorded in 2014 amounted to CHF 5.4 million 
(2013: CHF 0.2 million). At the time when these consolidated financial statements were authorized for 
issue by the Board of Directors on February 10, 2015, no other major business transactions or outstand-
ing balances with the Renova Group, their representatives, or any other related parties or companies 
were known.

We refer to the note 110 in the financial statements of Sulzer Ltd. for the share participation of the Board 
of Directors, Executive Committee, and related parties. 

36  Auditor remuneration
Fees for the audit services by KPMG as the appointed group auditor amounted to CHF 2.6 million (2013: 
CHF 2.5 million). Additional services provided by the group auditor amounted to a total of CHF 0.3 mil-
lion (2013: CHF 1.3 million). This amount includes CHF 0.3 million (2013: CHF 0.2 million) for tax and 
legal advisory services, CHF 0.0 million for other consulting services (2013: CHF 0.8 million related to 
the divestiture of Sulzer Metco and CHF 0.3 million for other consulting services).

37  Corporate risk management process
Sulzer has an integrated risk management system that is under constant scrutiny for further improvement. 
A  defined  risk  management  process  and  four  common  tools  (risk  assessment  schedule,  risk-profiling 
matrix, risk description schedule, loss control schedule) are applied in order to assess and control all key 
risks, to implement and maintain risk financing and risk transfer measures, to monitor the results, and to 
define and implement corrective actions if required. In order to reflect the organizational changes towards 
a  more  market-oriented  approach,  the  risk  management  process  was  adapted  accordingly.  Key  risks 
were assessed on business unit level and consolidated on group level. The business units together with 
the divisions and the group functions generate their respective key risk-profiling matrices and complete 
and update the related risk control schedules on an annual basis. These schedules identify specific risk 
exposures and the related risk objectives, list existing loss controls, address their effectiveness, list (where 
required) additional or alternative loss controls, and determine responsibilities and time frames for their 
implementation. The business units’ key risk-profiling matrices are reviewed at the group level and are  
then consolidated into a Sulzer key risk-profiling matrix. The head of Risk Management informs the Audit 
Committee at least once a year of the current risks and risk mitigation as well as of the progress toward 
achieving major risk objectives. The assessment of risk management processes is included within the 
charter and scope of Group Internal Audit.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014143

38  Subsequent events after the balance sheet date 
The Board of Directors authorized these consolidated financial statements for issue on February 10, 
2015. They are subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting, which will be held on April 01, 2015.  
At the time when these consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue, the Board of Di-
rectors and the Executive Committee were not aware of any events that would materially affect these 
financial statements.  

On January 15, 2015 the Swiss National Bank has decided to abandon the cap on the CHF exchange 
rate  vs.  EUR.  As  a  result,  the  CHF  has  strengthened  significantly  against  most  relevant  currencies. 
Based on Sulzer’s sales mix by currency, we preliminarily estimate the adverse translation effect to be 
substantial, and negatively influencing the consolidated income statement. Given the persisting volatility 
in the global currency markets, the exact impact cannot be reasonably quantified and predicted, as it 
depends on the evolution of the relevant exchange rates throughout the year. 

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements144

39  Major subsidiaries

31.12.2014

31.12.2014 
Europe

Switzerland

Subsidiary

Sulzer Pumpen AG, Winterthur

Sulzer Chemtech AG, Winterthur

Sulzer Mixpac AG, Haag

Sulzer Markets and Technology AG, Winterthur

Sulzer Management AG, Winterthur

Germany

Sulzer Pumpen (Deutschland) GmbH, Bruchsal

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Germany GmbH, Bonn

Sulzer Pump Solutions Germany GmbH, Lohmar

Sulzer Chemtech GmbH, Linden

Sulzer Mixpac Denmark A/S, Greve

Sulzer Pumps Finland Oy, Kotka

Sulzer Pompes France SASU, Mantes

Denmark

Finland

France

Great Britain

Sulzer Pumps (UK) Ltd., Leeds

Sulzer Chemtech (UK) Ltd., Stockton on Tees

Dowding & Mills Plc., Birmingham

Sulzer (UK) Holdings Ltd., Leeds

Ireland

Italy

Sulzer Pump Solutions Ireland Ltd., Wexford

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Italy S.r.l., Casalecchio di Reno

Sulzer Chemtech Italia S.r.l., Milano

Norway

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Norway A/S, Sandvika

The Netherlands

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Netherlands B.V., Maastricht-Airport

Sulzer Chemtech Nederland B.V., Breda

Sulzer Turbo Services Rotterdam B.V., Europoort

Advanced Separation Company (Ascom), B.V., Arnhem

Process Laboratories Netherlands (ProLabNL) B.V., Arnhem

Sulzer Turbo Services Venlo B.V., Lomm

Sulzer Netherlands Holding B.V., Breda

Sulzer Capital B.V., Breda

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Austria GmbH, Wiener Neudorf

Sulzer Turbo Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Lublin

ZAO Sulzer Pumps, St. Petersburg

Sulzer Pumps Rus LLC, Moscow

Sulzer Chemtech LLC, Serpukhov

Austria

Poland

Russia

Sweden

Sulzer Pumps Sweden AB, Norrköping

Sulzer Pump Solutions AB, Malmö

Sulzer Pump Solutions Sweden AB, Mölndal

Spain

Sulzer Pumps Spain S.A., Madrid

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Spain S.A., Rivas Vaciamadrid

North America

Canada

Sulzer Pumps (Canada) Inc., Burnaby

Sulzer Chemtech Canada Inc., Edmonton

Sulzer Turbo Services Canada Ltd., Edmonton

USA

Sulzer Pumps (US) Inc., Brookshire, Texas

Sulzer Pumps Solutions Inc., Easley, South Carolina

Registered capital 
(including paid-in 
capital in the USA 

&
h
c
r
a
e
s
e
and Canada) R

t
n
e
m
p
o
e
v
e
d

l

&
n
o
i
t
c
u
d
o
r
P

g
n
i
r
e
e
n
g
n
E

i

l

s
e
a
S

Partici-
pation

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

CHF 3 000 000 

CHF 10 000 000 

CHF 100 000 

CHF 4 000 000

CHF 500 000

EUR 3 000 000 

EUR 300 000  

EUR 1 000 000

EUR 300 000

DKK 500 000 

EUR 16 000 000 

EUR 6 600 000 

GBP 9 610 000 

GBP 100 000

GBP 15 409 555

GBP 6 100 000

EUR 2 222 500 

EUR 600 000

EUR 100 000

NOK 502 000

EUR 15 882 

EUR 1 134 451

EUR 18 000

EUR 18 000 

EUR 18 000

EUR 444 704

EUR 10 010 260

EUR 50 000

EUR 55 000

PLN 2 427 000

RUB 8 000 000

RUB 6 000 600

RUB 55 500 000

SEK 3 000 000 

SEK 30 000 000

SEK 600 000

EUR 1 750 497

EUR 2 000 000

CAD 2 771 588

CAD 1 000 000

CAD 7 000 000

USD 40 381 108 

USD 27 146 250























































































































i

e
c
v
r
e
S































































Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
145

31.12.2014 
North America

Subsidiary

Registered capital 
(including paid-in 
capital in the USA 

&
h
c
r
a
e
s
e
and Canada) R

t
n
e
m
p
o
e
v
e
d

l

&
n
o
i
t
c
u
d
o
r
P

g
n
i
r
e
e
n
g
n
E

i

l

s
e
a
S

i

e
c
v
r
e
S

Partici-
pation

Sulzer Pump Services (US) Inc., Brookshire, Texas

Sulzer Chemtech USA Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma

Sulzer Mixpac USA Inc., Salem, New Hampshire

Sulzer Turbo Services Houston Inc., La Porte, Texas

Sulzer Turbo Services New Orleans Inc., Belle Chasse, Louisiana 

Sulzer EMS Inc., Phoenix, Arizona

Sulzer Grayson Inc., Pasadena, Texas

Sulzer US Holding Inc., Sugar Land, Texas

Mexico

Sulzer Pumps México, S.A. de C.V., Cuautitlán Izcalli

Sulzer Chemtech, S. de R.L. de C.V., Cuautitlán Izcalli

Central and South 
America

Argentina

Brazil

Venezuela

Africa

Sulzer Turbo Services Argentina S.A., Buenos Aires

Sulzer Brasil S.A., Jundiaí

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Brasil Ltda., Curitiba

Sulzer Services Brasil, Triunfo

Sulzer Pumps (Venezuela) S.A., Barcelona

South Africa

Sulzer Pumps (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Elandsfontein

Nigeria

Middle East

Sulzer Pumps (Nigeria) Ltd., Lagos

United Arab Emirates

Sulzer Pumps Middle East FZCO, Dubai

Saudi Arabia

Sulzer Pumps (Saudi Arabia) LLC, Al Khobar

Sulzer Chemtech Middle East S.P.C., Al Seef

Sulzer Pumps India Ltd., Navi Mumbai

Sulzer India Ltd.1), Pune

Sulzer Chemtech Tower Field Services (India) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai 

Bahrain

Asia

India

Indonesia

Japan

Singapore

Sulzer Daiichi K.K., Tokyo

Sulzer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Singapore

Sulzer Chemtech Pte Ltd., Singapore

South Korea

Sulzer Korea Ltd., Seoul

People’s Republic of China Sulzer Dalian Pumps & Compressors Ltd., Dalian

Australia

Sulzer Pumps Suzhou Ltd., Suzhou

Sulzer Pump Solutions (Kunshan) Co., Ltd., Kunshan

Sulzer Shanghai Eng. & Mach. Works Ltd., Shanghai

Sulzer Pumps (ANZ) Pty Ltd., Wheelers Hill

Sulzer Chemtech Pty Ltd., Brisbane

Dowding & Mills (Australia) Pty Ltd., Brendale

Sulzer Australia Holding Pty Ltd., Wheelers Hill

1)   Shareholding increase according to the numbers of shares bought back.

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

75%

100%

100%

100%

100%

99%

96%

100%

USD 1 000

USD 47 895 000 

USD 100

USD 18 840 000

USD 4 006 122

USD 97

USD 12 461 286

USD 200 561 040

MXN 4 887 413

MXN 31 345 500

ARS 9 730 091

BRL 82 054 659

BRL 8 077 706

BRL 21 675 856

VEB 200 000 000























ZAR 100 450 000 



NGN 10 000 000

AED 500 000

SAR 1 000 000

BHD 50 000

INR 25 000 000

INR 34 500 000

INR 500 000

60%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

JPY 30 000 000

SGD 1 000 000

SGD 1 000 000 

KRW 222 440 000

CHF 21 290 000

CNY 82 069 324

USD 5 760 000 

CNY 61 432 607 

AUD 100 000

AUD 500 000

AUD 5 308 890

AUD 34 820 100













































































































































PT Sulzer Turbo Services Indonesia, Purwakarta

100%

IDR 28 234 800 000

Financial Section — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
146

Report of the Statutory Auditor to the General 
Meeting of Shareholders of Sulzer Ltd, Winterthur

Report of the Statutory Auditor on the Consolidated Financial Statements
As statutory auditor, we have audited the consolidated financial statements of Sulzer Ltd, which comprise the balance sheet, income statement, state-
ment of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity, statement of cash flows and notes (pages 83 to 145) for the year ended December 
31, 2014.

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 and Swiss Auditing Standards as well as International Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit 
to obtain reasonable assurance whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement. 

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

Opinion
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 give a true and fair view of the financial position, the results 
of operations and the cash flows in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and comply with Swiss law.

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

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

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

KPMG AG

Zurich, February 10, 2015

François Rouiller 
Licensed Audit Expert 
Auditor in Charge

Roman Wenk
Licensed Audit Expert 

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
Five-year summaries of key financial data

millions of CHF

Sales

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

3 212.1

3 263.9

3 340.7

3 577.9

3 183.7

EBITDA before impairment on goodwill

393.9

378.6

437.2

482.8

511.1

Key figures from consolidated 
income statement and statement 
of cash flows

147

Operational EBITA

Restructuring expenses

Impairment on goodwill

302.9

304.1

378.4

431.3

384.0

– 11.2

– 16.8

– 7.9

– 15.0

– 3.9

– 340.0

–

–

–

–

Adjustments for other non-operational items

23.0

18.3

– 0.1

– 12.0

51.0

Operating income 

EBIT

– 69.0

264.0

328.7

364.1

406.4

EBIT adjusted for restructuring and impairment

EBITR

282.2

280.8

336.6

379.1

410.3

Return on sales before non-operational items  
and amortization

Return on sales adjusted by impairment on 
goodwill

Return on capital employed (EBIT before 
Impairment/average capital employed)

FCF conversion (Free Cash Flow/Net Income1))

Reported EPS (in CHF)

Depreciation

Amortization2)

opROSA

9.4%

9.3%

11.3%

12.1%

12.1%

ROS

8.4%

8.1%

9.8%

10.2%

12.8%

ROCE

13.0%

12.6%

14.6%

18.8%

28.1%

0.35

8.09

0.93

6.89

1.12

8.91

0.29

8.25

0.49

8.92

EPS

– 79.2

– 73.0

– 66.8

– 78.5

– 80.0

– 43.7

– 41.6

– 41.7

– 40.2

– 24.7

Research and development expenses

76.2

70.6

66.9

71.7

58.5

Net income attributable to shareholders  
of Sulzer Ltd

— in percentage of equity attributable to 
shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Capital expenditure

Free cash flow

Employees (number of full-time equivalents)  
as of December 31

275.0

234.4

302.9

279.8

300.4

ROE

11.3%

10.0%

13.7%

13.8%

15.9%

96.0

98.0

80.5

93.0

113.2

118.1

218.7

347.9

82.3

149.5

15 494

15 382

15 537

17 002

13 740

Personnel expenses

1 046.2

1 047.4

1 019.8

1 056.3

973.6

1)   Net income from continuing and discontinued operations.
2)   Amortization does not include impairment on goodwill.

millions of CHF

Non-current assets

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

1 675.7

1 891.5

2 237.8

2 225.6

1 295.6

Key figures from consolidated  
balance sheet

— thereof property, plant, and equipment

530.7

492.0

650.0

619.5

531.6

Current assets

2 972.5

2 652.4

2 371.7

2 336.0

2 196.1

— thereof cash and cash equivalents and 
marketable securities

Total assets 

1 301.5

528.7

513.1

430.7

680.8

4 648.2

4 543.9

4 609.5

4 561.6

3 491.7

Equity attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd 

2 435.4

2 334.4

2 216.6

2 022.4

1 895.0

Non-current liabilities 

989.7

825.3

956.5

998.7

348.1

— thereof long-term borrowings

510.3

515.9

533.0

531.4

44.2

Current liabilities

1 216.5

1 377.9

1 429.6

1 534.5

1 242.4

— thereof short-term borrowings

17.7

56.6

76.0

236.2

83.8

Net liquidity1)

Equity ratio2)

773.5

– 36.2

– 95.9

– 336.9

552.8

52.4%

51.4%

48.1%

44.3%

54.3%

Borrowings-to-equity ratio (gearing)

0.22

0.25

0.27

0.38

0.07

1)   Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, less short- and long-term borrowings from continuing and 

discontinued operations.

2)   Equity attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd in relation to total assets.

Financial Section — Five-Year Summaries of Key Financial Data148

Five-year summaries by division

millions of CHF

Divisions

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

3 169.1

3 250.7

3 334.6

3 558.5

3 278.5

3 221.0

3 270.9

3 332.6

3 570.1

3 173.3

Pumps Equipment/Sulzer Pumps3)

1 725.5

1 801.5

2 094.3

1 705.6

1 613.7

1 754.9

1 821.6

2 097.5

1 747.8

1 576.1

Order intake

Sales

Rotating Equipment Services/Sulzer Turbo Services3)

725.2

699.3

535.2

400.4

724.6

705.6

510.5

488.0

718.4

749.9

705.1

741.5

743.7

724.6

–

–

–

673.6

–

–

477.6

701.7

621.3

643.1

399.1

574.6

623.5

667.0

667.3

–

8.1

– 8.3

– 0.8

8.8

7.6

10.2

– 8.9

– 7.0

7.8

10.4

3 160.8

3 249.9

3 343.4

3 566.1

3 288.7

3 212.1

3 263.9

3 340.7

3 577.9

3 183.7

millions of CHF

Divisions

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

1 703.6

1 672.1

1 754.3

1 861.7

1 797.3

 15 361

 15 198

 15 362

 16 758

 13 509

Pumps Equipment/Sulzer Pumps3)

1 209.4

1 190.9

1 309.1

1 343.5

1 336.6

 7 365

 7 389

 8 573

 8 211

 5 904

Order backlog

Employees1)

Rotating Equipment Services/Sulzer Turbo Services3)

212.2

190.7

151.6

282.0

290.5

293.6

–

– 4.0

–

–

–

– 0.7

130.1

310.7

77.4

2.3

115.1

 3 709

 3 642

 2 703

 2 654

 2 587

274.3

 4 287

 4 167

 4 086

 3 634

 2 973

71.3

2.5

–

–

  –

 2 259

 2 045

  133

  184

  175

  244

  231

1 699.6

1 672.1

1 753.6

1 864.0

1 799.8

 15 494

 15 382

 15 537

 17 002

 13 740

Chemtech

Sulzer Metco

Others

Total 

Chemtech

Sulzer Metco

Others

Total

millions of CHF

Divisions

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

318.8

332.9

373.1

437.8

380.5

12.9% 13.4% 14.0% 18.0% 23.9%

Operational EBITA

ROCE in %2)

Pumps Equipment/Sulzer Pumps3)

160.6

166.9

228.1

221.0

192.6

10.4%

Rotating Equipment Services/Sulzer Turbo Services3)

Chemtech

Sulzer Metco

Others

Total 

64.6

93.6

–

71.0

95.0

–

– 15.9

– 28.8

61.7

83.3

–

5.3

60.7

79.7

76.4

– 6.5

52.0

74.3

61.6

3.5

14.7%

n/a

n/a

13.1%

20.5%

55.5%

14.8%

14.9%

13.6%

18.6%

19.7%

16.3%

15.3%

14.4%

–

n/a

–

n/a

–

18.2%

14.6%

n/a

n/a

n/a

302.9

304.1

378.4

431.3

384.0

13.0% 12.6% 14.6% 18.8% 28.1%

1)   Number of full-time equivalents as of December 31.
2)   Adjusted for impairment on goodwill.
3)   Values for the years 2010 to 2012 are based on the former divisional structure with Sulzer Pumps,  

Sulzer Turbo Services, and Sulzer Chemtech.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014 
Five-year summaries by region

millions of CHF

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Total

millions of CHF

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Total

millions of CHF

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Total

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Total

1)   Number of full-time equivalents as of December 31.

149

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Order intake by region

1 305.5

1 329.7

1 431.2

1 554.5

1 349.8

1 165.4

1 123.2

1 214.9

1 225.5

1 131.9

689.9

797.0

697.3

786.1

807.0

3 160.8

3 249.9

3 343.4

3 566.1

3 288.7

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Sales by region

1 264.7

1 402.4

1 421.2

1 574.6

1 331.4

1 177.4

1 130.0

1 145.5

1 167.6

1 164.0

770.0

731.5

774.0

835.7

688.3

3 212.1

3 263.9

3 340.7

3 577.9

3 183.7

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

1 393.2

1 365.1

1 500.2

1 319.7

922.5

447.9

236.8

481.0

243.7

497.0

246.7

418.1

389.8

198.7

134.6

2 077.9

2 089.8

2 243.9

1 936.5

1 446.9

Capital employed (average)  
by company location

2014

6 607

4 545

4 342

2013

6 749

4 361

4 272

2012

6 938

4 653

3 946

2011

2010

Employees by company location1)

8 211

6 480

4 739

4 051

3 757

3 503

15 494

15 382

15 537

17 001

13 740

Financial Section — Five-Year Summaries of Key Financial Data150

Financial Statements of 
Sulzer Ltd

Balance sheet of Sulzer Ltd 151

Income statement of Sulzer Ltd 
152

Statement of changes in equity 
of Sulzer Ltd 152

Notes to the financial state-
ments of Sulzer Ltd 153

Appropriation of net profit 156

Annual General Meeting 156

Auditors’ Report 157

Balance sheet of Sulzer Ltd
December 31

millions of CHF

Non-current assets

Investments in subsidiaries and other entities

Loans to subsidiaries

— thereof subordinated CHF 2.8 million (2013: CHF 2.8 million)

Other loans and financial assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Accounts receivable from subsidiaries

Other accounts receivable and prepayments

Marketable securities

Cash

Total current assets

Total assets

Equity

Registered share capital

Legal reserves

Reserves for treasury stock

Free reserves

Retained earnings

Net profit for the year

Total equity

Non-current liabilities

Non-current financial liabilities

Non-current provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Current provisions

Current liabilities with subsidiaries

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

151

Notes

2014

2013

Balance sheet of Sulzer Ltd

1 345.1

1 301.7

684.4

724.0

4.5

4.6

2 034.0

2 030.3

81.7

1.6

103

126.4

227.8

7.3

40.6

640.6

146.2

850.3

421.9

2 884.3

2 452.2

104

0.3

0.3

182.0

178.6

104

23.5

26.9

1 486.5

1 226.5

15.5

13.6

575.0

371.5

2 282.8

1 817.4

498.9

498.1

64.6

67.8

563.5

565.9

105

8.6

11.2

18.2

38.0

6.1

33.1

29.7

68.9

601.5

634.8

2 884.3

2 452.2

Financial Section — Financial Statements of Sulzer Ltd152

Income statement of Sulzer Ltd
January – December

Income statement of Sulzer Ltd

millions of CHF

Notes

2014

2013

Revenues

Investment income

Financial income

Other income

Total revenues

Expenses

Administrative expenses

Financial expenses

Investment and loan expenses

Income taxes

Other expenses

Total expenses

Net profit for the year

109

999.0

448.5

32.0

44.7

52.1

53.8

1 075.7

554.4

107

48.8

24.1

419.0

3.1

5.7

87.0

78.9

15.4

0.7

0.9

500.7

182.9

575.0

371.5

Statement of changes in equity of Sulzer Ltd
January – December

Statement of changes in equity of 
Sulzer Ltd

millions of CHF

Share 
capital

Legal 
reserves

Reserves 
for 
treasury 
stock

Free 
reserves

Retained 
earnings

Net 
income

Total

Equity as of January 01, 2012

0.3

160.4

45.1

986.5

7.6

109.1

1 309.0

Dividend

Allocation of net income

Net profit for the year

Change in reserves for treasury stock

19.8

– 19.8

– 102.8

– 102.8

6.3

– 6.3

–

349.3

349.3

–

Equity as of December 31, 2012

0.3

180.2

25.3

986.5

13.9

349.3

1 555.5

Dividend

Allocation of net income

Net profit for the year

Change in reserves for treasury stock

– 1.6

1.6

– 109.6

– 109.6

240.0

– 0.3

– 239.7

–

371.5

371.5

–

Equity as of December 31, 2013

0.3

178.6

26.9

1 226.5

13.6

371.5

1 817.4

Dividend

Allocation of net income

Net profit for the year

Change in reserves for treasury stock

3.4

– 3.4

– 109.6

– 109.6

260.0

1.9

– 261.9

–

575.0

575.0

–

Equity as of December 31, 2014

0.3

182.0

23.5

1 486.5

15.5

575.0

2 282.8

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014153

Notes to the Financial Statements  
of Sulzer Ltd

101 Valuation principles
The financial statements as of December 31, 2014, are in compliance with the requirements of Swiss 
corporation law. However, for the purpose of including Sulzer Ltd in the consolidated financial state-
ments, the group accounting principles remain fully applicable. 

102 Investments in subsidiaries
A list of the major subsidiaries held directly or indirectly by Sulzer Ltd is included in the note 39 of the 
consolidated financial statements.

103 Marketable securities

millions of CHF

Treasury stock

Short-term interest-bearing investments

Total marketable securities

2014

27.0

99.4

2013

40.6

–

126.4

40.6

Marketable securities

104 Registered share capital
The  share  capital  amounts  to  CHF  342 623.70,  made  up  of  34 262 370  shares  with  a  par  value  of 
CHF 0.01. All shares are fully paid in and registered. 

Share ownership
Details of the composition and changes relating to the issued share capital, the share capital authorized 
but not issued, and the shares held as treasury stock, are included in note 25 to the consolidated 
 financial statements. Details of share data ownership are also provided in note 25.

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 01, 2014

Purchase

Sale

Balance as of December 31, 2014

Treasury stock held by Sulzer Ltd

Number 
of shares

Total 
acquisi-
tion cost

282 415

30 545

– 58 020

254 940

26.9

3.9

– 7.3

23.5

The treasury stock held covers the options from the shares participation plan and restricted stock unit 
plan. The total number of shares as of December 31, 2014, amounted to 254 940 (2013: 282 415).

Financial Section — Financial Statements of Sulzer Ltd154

105 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued 
liabilities

millions of CHF

Other liabilities

Accrued liabilities

Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities

106 Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities

millions of CHF

Guarantees, sureties, comfort letters for subsidiaries

— to banks and insurance companies

— to customers

— to others

Guarantees to third parties

Total contingent liabilities

2014

2013

0.9

17.3

18.2

1.1

28.6

29.7

2014

2013

1 295.4

1 341.4

370.4

389.4

36.4

10.0

150.7

–

1 712.2

1 881.5

As  of  December  31,  2014,  CHF  310.7  million  (2013:  CHF  399.8  million)  of  guarantees,  sureties,  and 
comfort letters for subsidiaries to banks and insurance companies were utilized.

Administrative expenses

107 Administrative expenses

millions of CHF

Personnel expenses

Other administrative expenses

Total administrative expenses

2014

2013

–

48.8

48.8

22.8

64.2

87.0

Until the end of 2013, employment contracts of personnel with group functions were established with 
Sulzer Ltd as employer. As of January 01, 2014, all employment contracts are made with a Swiss sub-
sidiary of Sulzer Ltd. 

108 Risk management process
Sulzer Ltd is the ultimate parent company of the Sulzer group. The key risks of Sulzer Ltd are covered 
through  the  risk  management  process  (see  note  37  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements)  of  the 
group.

109 Investment income
The income from investment contains the profit from the sale of the Metco division and ordinary as well 
as  extraordinary  dividend  payments  from  subsidiaries.  In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the 
Swiss Code of Obligations, the profit from the disposal of Sulzer Metco amounts to CHF 390.8 million.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014155

110 Share participation of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and 
related parties
The compensation tables 2014 and 2013 are part of the audited compensation report (see separate 
section within this annual report).

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
stock units 
(RSU) (NF)1)

Other call  
options

Total call  
options, 
share  
awards and  
shares

Blocked 
Sulzer 
shares out 
of PSP 
2010

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSU) 20132)

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSU) 20143)

2014 

Shareholders

Board of Directors

45 563

11 051

Peter Löscher

Matthias Bichsel

Thomas Glanzmann

Jill Lee

Marco Musetti

Luciano Respini

Klaus Sturany

26 000

–

3 700

2 179

1 776

8 027

3 881

2 052

1 026

1 851

1 851

1 851

2 097

 323

Executive Committee

22 344

17 903

Klaus Stahlmann

Peter Alexander

Oliver Bailer

Thomas Dittrich

César Montenegro

5 400

6 649

852

–

 568

682

1 500

14 763

7 943

1 890

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

56 614

28 052

1 026

5 551

4 030

3 627

10 124

4 204

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

40 247

7 422

20 741

13 651

5 400

7 217

1 534

16 263

–

15 881

3 711

4 860

–

–

–

–

–

9 833

3 711

1)   Restricted stock units assigned by Sulzer as compensation.
2)   The average fair value of one performance share unit 2013 at grant date amounted to CHF 294.14.
3)   The average fair value of one performance share unit 2014 at grant date amounted to CHF 206.63.

6 439

1 967

1 967

 964

2 314

2013

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
stock units 
(RSU) (NF)1)

Other call  
options

Total call  
options, 
share  
awards and  
shares

Blocked 
Sulzer 
shares out 
of PSP 
2010

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSU 2013)2)

Put 
options

Board of Directors

Manfred Wennemer

Thomas Glanzmann

Vladimir V. Kuznetsov

Jill Lee

Marco Musetti

Luciano Respini

Klaus Sturany

54 878

10 609

–

2 723

40 315

 909

 909

6 757

3 265

1 503

1 399

1 692

1 692

1 692

1 692

 939

Executive Committee

2 183

8 268

Klaus Stahlmann

Peter Alexander

Oliver Bailer

Jürgen Brandt

César Montenegro

Scot Smith

–

–

 202

 98

1 883

–

–

1 651

1 332

1 651

3 634

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

65 487

1 503

4 122

42 007

2 601

2 601

8 449

4 204

10 451

–

1 651

1 534

1 749

5 517

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

24 739

32 175

–

15 881

9 277

4 860

–

6 185

9 277

–

5 717

–

–

5 717

1)   Restricted Stock Units assigned by Sulzer as compensation.
2)   The average fair value of one performance share unit 2013 at grant date amounted to CHF 294.14.

Financial Section — Financial Statements of Sulzer Ltd 
156

 Appropriation of net profit

in CHF 

Appropriation of net profit

Net profit for the year

Unallocated profit carried forward from previous year

Total available profit

Proposal by the Board of Directors:  
Appropriation to free reserves

2014

2013

575 000 000

371 500 000

15 451 016

13 590 600

590 451 016

385 090 600

300 000 000

260 000 000

Dividend

119 918 295

109 639 584

Balance carried forward

170 532 721

15 451 016

Distribution per share CHF 0.01

Gross dividend

less 35% withholding tax

Net payment

3.50

1.23

2.27

3.20

1.12

2.08

The Board of Directors proposes the payment of a dividend of CHF 3.50 per share to the Annual General 
Meeting on April 01, 2015.

Annual General Meeting
The 101st ordinary Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 01, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at 
Eulachhalle, Wartstrasse 73, Winterthur, Switzerland.

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014157

Report of the Statutory Auditor to the General 
Meeting of Shareholders of Sulzer Ltd, Winterthur

Report of the Statutory Auditor on the Financial Statements
As statutory auditor, we have audited the financial statements of Sulzer Ltd, which comprise the balance sheet, income statement, statement of 
changes in equity and notes (pages 151 to 155) for the year ended December 31, 2014.

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 com-
pany’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 respon sible 
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 December 31, 2014 comply with Swiss law and the company’s articles of incorporation.

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

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

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

KPMG AG

Zurich, February 10, 2015

François Rouiller 
Licensed Audit Expert 
Auditor in Charge

Roman Wenk
Licensed Audit Expert 

Financial Section — Auditors’ Report158

Imprint

Published by:
Sulzer Ltd, Winterthur,  
Switzerland, © 2015

Concept/Layout: 
wirDesign, Berlin Braunschweig, 
Germany

Photographs:
 Andy Wilson, London, UK 
(pages 6–17/32–40);
Geri Krischker, Zurich, Switzerland 
(pages 2/26/28/30/48–49/56–57); 
plainpicture/Cultura 
(cover, back cover);  
Getty (pages 4–5);
Sulzer Ltd (pages 8/12)

Printing: 
Mattenbach AG, Winterthur, 
Switzerland

This document may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, projections of fi-
nancial developments and future performance of materials and products, containing risks and uncer-
tainties.  These  statements  are  subject  to  change  based  on  known  and  unknown  risks  and  various 
other factors that could cause the actual results or performance to differ materially from the statements 
made herein.

The  Sulzer  Annual  Report  2014  is  also  available  in  German  and  online  at  www.sulzer.com/AR2014. 
Furthermore, the report is available as a summary in German or in English. The original version is in 
English.

This report is printed in a climate-neutral process on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.

P E R F O R M A N C E

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Printed Matter

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© myclimate – The Climate Protection Partnership

Sulzer — Annual Report 2014Financial Section — Investor Information

159

Data per share

CHF

Net income attributable to a shareholder of Sulzer Ltd

Change from prior year

Equity attributable to a shareholder of Sulzer Ltd

Dividend

Payout ratio

2014

8.09

17%

71.60

3.501)

43%

2013

6.89

– 23%

68.70

3.20

46%

2012

8.91

8%

2011

8.25

– 8%

2010

8.92

11%

65.20

59.60

56.20

3.20

36%

3.00

36%

3.00

34%

Average number of shares outstanding

34 007 309 33 999 429 34 009 267 33 906 689 33 693 120

1)   Proposal to the Annual General Meeting.

Stock market information

Registered share (in CHF)

— high

— low

— year-end

Market capitalization as of December 31

— number of shares outstanding

— in millions of CHF

— in percentage of equity

P/E ratio as of December 31

Dividend yield as of December 31

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

143.90

171.00

147.50

158.50

144.00

94.95

129.60

101.40

84.35

80.10

106.00

143.90

144.10

100.40

142.50

34 007 430 33 979 955 34 032 810 33 804 507 33 715 892

3 605

148%

13.1x

3.3%

4 890

209%

20.9x

2.2%

4 904

221%

16.2x

2.2%

3 394

168%

12.2x

3.0%

4 805

254%

16.0x

2.1%

Title

Listed on SIX Swiss Exchange Registered share

Security No.

Investdata 

Reuters

Bloomberg

3 838 891

SUN

SUN.S

SUN SW

Shareholder structure as of December 31, 2014

number of shares

1 – 100

101 – 1 000

1 001 – 10 000

10 001 – 100 000

More than 100 000

Number of 

shareholders Shareholding

5 684

4 335

527

85

13

0.7%

4.2%

4.5%

8.0%

45.7%

Total registered shareholders and shares (excluding treasury shares Sulzer Ltd)

10 644

63.1%

Sulzer Ltd
8401 Winterthur
Switzerland
Phone  +41 52 262 11 22
+41 52 262 01 01
Fax 

www.sulzer.com