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Sulzer AG

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FY2015 Annual Report · Sulzer AG
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Annual Report 2015

ADDRESSInG 
GLOBAL 
TREnDS

Sulzer specializes in pumping solutions, rotating equipment 

maintenance and services, and separation, reaction, and mixing 

technology. We create reliable and sustainable solutions for  

our key markets: oil and gas, power, and water. Combining  

engineering and application expertise, our innovative products 

and services add value and strengthen the competitive position  

of our customers. Sulzer serves clients around the world through  

a network of over 170 locations in more than 40 countries.

Global megatrends come together in 
large cities such as New York, NY, USA. 
Because urban areas are growing 
constantly, the demand for freshwater, 
clean air, and energy is rising steadily.

Global Trends

WATER
Supplying clean water on a cost- and energy-
efficient basis is crucial in an urbanized world.

 10

AIR
In the wake of the increasing air pollution,  
society seeks environment-friendly technology.

 16

ENERGY
The growing energy demand calls for energy-
efficient equipment and services. 

 22

Sustainable Development

INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Sulzer’s innovative technology helps manage  
the demands arising from megatrends.

 45

ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY
Sulzer systematically monitors its ecological 
footprint to learn from and improve it.

 46

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Providing a safe and healthy environment 
as well as opportunities for development for  
its employees is important to Sulzer.

 48

Contents

  1 

Introduction

  6  Focus

 31  Business Review

 33  Our Company

 38  Our Divisions

 44  Our Responsibility

 51  Corporate Governance

 71  Compensation Report

 93 

  Consolidated Financial 
Statements

Oil and Gas Market Headwinds  
Impacted Order Intake and Sales

Increasing market headwinds impacted the company’s business performance. 
Order intake and sales decreased in 2015. Strong growth in the power market 
partially offset reduced activity in the oil and gas and the water markets. Order 
intake gross margin on a currency-adjusted basis improved. Operational EBITA 
and operational ROSA decreased.

Sales by divisions

Sales by market segments

Sales by regions

23%
Chemtech

54%
Pumps  
Equipment

22%
General 
industry

2015

2015

23%
Rotating  
Equipment Services

13%
Water

51%
Oil and 
gas

21%
Asia- 
Pacific

14%
Power

38%
Americas

2015

41%
Europe, 
Middle 
East, and 
Africa

Key figures

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order intake gross margin

Order backlog

Sales

EBIT

opEBITA

opROSA

opROCEA

Net income attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd2)

EPS from continuing operations

FCF2)

Net liquidity

2015

2 895.8

33.8%

1 510.7

2 971.0

120.9

254.1

8.6%

2014

3 160.8

33.5%

1 699.6

3 212.1

– 69.0

302.9

9.4%

17.0%

17.1%

73.9

2.17

155.8

695.7

275.0

– 4.72

98.0

773.5

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

14 253

15 494

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

—

Abbreviations

Change in 
+/– %

– 8.4

– 11.1

– 7.5

+/– %1)

– 3.7

– 3.2

– 16.1

– 11.8

– 73.1

59.0

– 10.1

– 8.0

Operating income
Return on sales (EBIT/sales)

EBIT: 
ROS: 
opEBITA:  Operating income before restructuring, amortization, impairments, and non-operational items
opROSA:  Return on sales before restructuring, amortization, impairments, and non-operational items (opEBITA/sales)
opROCEA:  Return on capital employed (opEBITA/average capital employed)
EPS: 
FCF: 

Basic earnings per share
Free cash flow

 
Managing Demands Resulting  
from Global Megatrends

Sulzer holds leading positions in the oil and gas, power, water, and general 
industry markets. We are dedicated to creating long-term value and providing 
sustainable solutions. We support our customers in managing the demands  
that result from global megatrends.

The company at a glance 

Pumps Equipment
Pump technology and solutions
We provide a wide range of pumping 
solutions, related equipment, and services. 
Customers benefit from extensive research 
and development. We supply highly efficient 
products that help reduce emissions and 
energy consumption. Our state-of-the-art 
production and testing facilities around the 
globe ensure customer proximity.

Rotating Equipment Services 
Service solutions for rotating equipment 
We offer service solutions for turbines, pumps, 
compressors, motors, and generators. 
Customers benefit from reliable and efficient 
repair and maintenance services. Our 
technically advanced solutions reduce 
maintenance time and cost. Access to our 
global network from one point of contact 
ensures high-quality local service.

Chemtech 
Separation technology and services, mixing 
and dispensing systems 
We consist of two business cores today: 
We supply separation technology, process so-
lutions, and field services for the hydrocarbon 
and chemical processing industry. 
Further, we provide mixing and dispensing 
technology.

Our market focus is on:
 —  The production, transport, and processing  

of crude oil and derivates

 —   The supply, treatment, and transport of 
water as well as wastewater collection

 —   Fossil-fired, nuclear, and renewable  

Our market focus is on:
 —  Industrial gas and steam turbines
 —  Turbocompressors
 —    Generators and motors for the marine and 
rail market, the power market, and many 
more industries 

Our market focus is on:
 —  High-performing tower internals and  

separators 

 — Process engineering and skid solutions
 — Service for towers and static equipment
 —  Mixing and dispensing systems for the  

power generation

 —  Pumps in the oil and gas market, the 

healthcare and industrial markets

power market, and many more industries

opEBITA and opROSA

in CHF

118m (2014: 161m)
7.3% (2014: 9.2%)

Sales

71m (2014: 65m)
10.2% (2014: 8.9%)

67m (2014: 94m)
10.1% (2014: 12.6%)

1621m (2014: 1 755m)

693m (2014: 725m)

670m (2014: 742m)

Order intake

1501m (2014: 1 726m)

698m (2014: 725m)

709m (2014: 718m)

1

ADDRESSING  
GLOBAL TRENDS  
AND PROVIDING  
THE RIGHT ANSWERS

A greater need for clean water, growing air pollution, and increasing energy demand are global 
megatrends that are triggering both innovation and investments. Our excellent product and service 
offering enables us to face these rising needs successfully and provide the right answers. Our 
solutions support our customers today and will help them in the future in coping with water scarcity 
(on page 10), mitigating air pollution (on page 16), and reducing energy consumption (on page 22).

Unleashing Sulzer’s full potential
One year ago, we introduced the Sulzer Full Potential (SFP) program. This strategic program sets out 
to complete Sulzer’s transformation into a truly market-oriented, globally operating, and integrated 
company. It is based on three pillars: strategy, operating model, and operational excellence. The SFP 
program targets total annual cost savings of approximately CHF 200 million in a steady state from 
2018 onwards, allowing us to both mitigate the current market headwinds and close the profitability 
gap to our top-tier competitors. It got off to a good start in 2015.

Important milestones achieved in 2015
At the beginning of 2015, we reorganized our Pumps Equipment division into three market-oriented 
business units (Oil and Gas, Power, and Water), a dedicated global aftermarket organization (Global 
Parts, Retrofit, and Nuclear Services organization), and a global operations network to manage our 
manufacturing assets transversally. We believe it allows us to better serve our customers in our 
end-markets and regions. 

We adapted our manufacturing footprint and streamlined our manufacturing capacities in the Pumps 
Equipment division in China, Brazil, and the USA. In the Chemtech division, we adapted our opera-
tional setup and discontinued parts of our manufacturing activities in China, Singapore, Canada, and 
Switzerland. We restructured our service centers and improved operations in our Rotating Equipment 
Services division in the UK and other parts of Europe. Further, the company decided to close its 
foundries in Jundiaí, Brazil, and Kotka, Finland. 

We created a global procurement organization that works across divisions to fully leverage Sulzer’s 
procurement power. 

Finally, we are simplifying our organization to reduce complexity, foster synergies and collaboration, 
and promote our strong Sulzer brand. A good indicator of progress is the number of Sulzer legal 
entities, which has dropped from over 160 two years ago to below 100 at the end of 2015. More 
consolidations are planned in 2016.

Significant market headwinds
Since the beginning of 2015, Sulzer has faced increasing headwinds, particularly in the oil and gas 
market. Oil prices are widely expected to remain low, driving Sulzer’s oil and gas customers to further 
cut their capital and operating costs. In addition, regional developments, such as the economic 

2

“Global megatrends are triggering both innovation and investments. 
Our excellent product and service offering enables us to address 
these trends successfully.”

slowdowns in China and Brazil, negatively affected our business performance. We also felt the 
impact of the reduced operating hours for gas turbines in Europe on our service revenue and asset 
use. These adverse market conditions make deepening and accelerating the SFP program a priority.

On another note, the Swiss franc has still not fully recovered since January 2015, when the Swiss 
National Bank decided to end its three-year policy of capping the Swiss franc at CHF 1.20 per euro. 
However, to a great extent, Sulzer is naturally hedged, producing in the region for the region. Because 
headquarters and a few Chemtech manufacturing sites are located in Switzerland, we see only a 
limited transactional foreign exchange impact. 

Financial performance in 2015
Order intake was CHF 2.9 billion (2014: CHF 3.2 billion). It decreased by 3.7% from the previous  
year on a currency-adjusted basis. Sales were CHF 3.0 billion (2014: CHF 3.2 billion), which is a 
decrease of 3.2% on a currency-adjusted basis. The lower sales volumes, lower gross margin,  
and currency effects negatively affected operational EBITA, which amounted to CHF 254.1 million  
(2014: CHF 302.9 million). Savings from the SFP program partially offset this decline. As a result,  
the company has narrowed the profitability gap to its top-tier competitors by approximately  
200 basis points (based on Bloomberg consensus estimates as of January 28, 2016).

The net income attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd was CHF 73.9 million (2014: CHF 275.0 
million). This results in basic earnings per share of CHF 2.17 (2014: CHF 8.09). The Board of Directors 
will propose an ordinary dividend of CHF 3.50 (2014: CHF 3.50) per share at the Annual General 
Meeting on April 7, 2016.

Commitment to financial discipline
Sulzer’s management and board have full confidence in the company’s strong free cash flow 
gen eration and the success of the ongoing SFP program. We aim to keep sufficient headroom for 
value accretive M&A activities in the near term but remain committed to optimizing our currently 
inefficient capital structure in the present interest rate environment. As such, we have decided to 
return a significant part of our excess cash to shareholders. The Board of Directors will therefore 
propose a one-time special dividend of CHF 14.60 per share at the Annual General Meeting on 
April 7, 2016. After the special dividend, Sulzer will continue to have a net cash position and one  
of the strongest balance sheets in its industry, allowing it to pursue all strategic options.

Renova supports Sulzer’s strategy
Renova, Sulzer’s anchor shareholder, has increased its stake to 63.42% of all Sulzer shares. Renova 
has confirmed its long-term commitment to the company and will maintain a balanced approach 
towards governance. It has clearly stated that it does not intend to change Sulzer’s strategic focus 
and that it will continue to work closely with Sulzer’s Board and its management to carry out the 
SFP program successfully.

3

Greg Poux-Guillaume, CEO, and Peter Löscher, Chairman of the Board of Directors 

4

Changes in the Board and the management 
Fabrice Billard joined the Executive Committee as Chief Strategy Officer in March. Gerhard 
Roiss was elected as new member of the Board of Directors in April. Luciano Respini did not 
stand for reelection at the Annual General Meeting 2015. Former CEO Klaus Stahlmann left the 
company in August. From August to November, Thomas Dittrich took over as CEO ad interim   
in addition to his duties as CFO. Greg Poux-Guillaume was appointed as new Chief Executive 
Officer in November, effective December 1, 2015.

Outlook 2016 
Sulzer has a balanced business mix, with half of its business outside the oil and gas market 
and the aftermarket business accounting for half of sales. However, the company expects 
continued low oil prices and high volatility throughout 2016 and beyond, resulting in subdued 
demand and price pressure from its oil and gas customers. Given these market headwinds, 
Sulzer increases and accelerates cost savings from its ongoing SFP program. The company 
expects cost savings from the SFP program to be in the range of CHF 60 to 80 million in 2016 
and total annual cost savings of approximately CHF 200 million in a steady state from 2018 
onwards.

For the full year 2016, order intake and sales are expected to decline by 5 to 10%, adjusted for 
currency effects. Supported by the cost savings from the SFP program, Sulzer expects opEBITA 
margins of approximately 8% (opEBITA in percent of sales).

Dear shareholder, we would like to thank you for your confidence and continued trust. We 
express our thanks for the willingness and commitment among all of our employees, particularly 
in this past challenging year. We would also like to thank our customers and partners for their 
continued cooperation. 

Yours sincerely,

Peter Löscher  
Chairman of the Board 

Greg Poux-Guillaume
CEO

Winterthur, February 24, 2016

 
 
 
 
 
Order 
Intake

Order intake was  
CHF 2.9 billion (2014: 
CHF 3.2 billion). On a 
currency-adjusted  
basis, this is 3.7% less 
from 2014.

FCF 

Free cash flow (FCF) 
improved to 
CHF 155.8 million  
from the previous year 
(2014: CHF 98.0 million).

Operational 
EBITA 

Operational EBITA was 
CHF 254.1 million (2014: 
CHF 302.9 million). This is 
a decrease of 11.8% on a 
currency-adjusted basis.

Operational 
ROSA 

Operational ROSA de-
clined from 9.4% in the 
previous year to 8.6%  
in 2015.

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

EPS 

and  
Dividend

Order In-
take Gross 
Margin 

Order intake gross 
margin increased to 
33.8% (2014: 33.5%).

Sales

Sales were CHF 3.0 bil-
lion (2014: CHF 3.2 bil-
lion) which is a decrease 
of 3.2% on a currency- 
adjusted basis compared 
with the previous year.

Net income attributable to 
shareholders of Sulzer Ltd 
was CHF 73.9 million 
(2014: CHF 275.0 million). 
This results in basic 
earnings per share (EPS) 
of CHF 2.17 (2014: 
CHF 8.09). The Board of 
Directors will propose an 
ordinary dividend of 
CHF 3.50 per share and a 
one-time special dividend 
of CHF 14.60 per share at 
the Annual General 
Meeting on April 7, 2016.

Operational 
ROCEA 

Operational ROCEA  
was 17.0% in 2015  
(2014: 17.1%).

6

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015

GLOBAL 
MEGA-
TRENDS

With a population of over 24 million 
inhabitants, Shanghai, China, belongs to 
the world’s largest cities. In the future, 
even more people will be living in urban 
environments.

Focus—Global Megatrends 

77

 10

WATER

URBANIzATION

ENERGy

 22

AIR

 16

For the first time in human history, more than half of the global population live in 
cities—and the trend is rising. We are on the brink of a new level of urbanization: 
future cities are going to be more varied, interconnected, and sustainable. 

Urbanization has many implications for our way of living. Significant side effects are 
the increasing energy demand, greater need for clean water, and growing air pollution. 
Although cities only cover two percent of the earth’s surface, they consume 75%  
of global energy, produce 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and withdraw a 
remarkable amount of water. This poses major challenges to humankind.

Sulzer offers technology and services that help meet these challenges. On the follow-
ing pages, we present you with some of our solutions that address global megatrends: 
We provide energy-efficient equipment for desalination applications, which improve 
the supply of freshwater. Our solutions enhance the capture of carbon dioxide and, 
thus, reduce air pollution. Moreover, we support our customers in decreasing the 
energy consumption and in increasing the efficiency of their equipment.

8

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015

Thompsons, USA

Reduction of CO2 emissions

90%

Sulzer provides equipment for a US carbon 
capture and storage (CCS) project that aims  
to reduce the CO2 emissions of a fossil fuel 
power plant by 90%.

 16

THREE MEGATRENDS
DEfINING OuR WORLD

Dams and hydroelectric plants, such as the one in Mooserboden, 
Austria, serve to satisfy the greater energy demand. Sulzer’s global 
footprint enables the company to address megatrends around the 
world and to be close to its customers.

Focus—Global Megatrends 

9

Kotka, Finland /  
Winterthur, Switzerland

Beihai, China

Affordable freshwater supply

Generating energy more efficiently

60%

Pumps use 60% of all the energy consumed in 
desalination plants. Sulzer’s pumps, developed in  
Finland and Switzerland, contribute to the afford -  
able and energy-efficient supply of freshwater.

600°C

Ultra-supercritical power plants generate energy 
in a highly efficient manner. Because they operate 
at temperatures above 600°C, the requirements 
for the equipment are challenging. 

 10

 22

  Sulzer is present in over 40 countries around the world

Global footprint

Americas
Sulzer operates in eight countries of North, Central, 
and South America. More than 4 000 employees  
are spread across the continent and close to the 
company’s customer base. Sulzer is most present 
in the USA and Brazil.

Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Sulzer’s footprint in Europe, Middle East, and Africa 
(EMEA) comprises production and service locations 
in 26 countries. In total, over 6 500 employees work 
in EMEA. It is Sulzer’s largest region, not only in 
terms of locations and employees but also in terms 
of order intake and sales.

Asia-Pacific
In Asia-Pacific, Sulzer is present in ten countries. 
The company employs more than 3 500 workers  
in this region. The production and engineering 
network is spread across the region. In addition  
to the EMEA region and the Americas, research  
and development activities are also carried out in 
Singapore and Shanghai.

 
 
10

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015

WATER  
SCARCITY IN  
uRBAN AREAS

Water is one of the earth’s most precious resources. Fighting water 
shortage and supplying freshwater is crucial in a world where roughly 
1.1 billion people have no access to clean freshwater.

In many regions of the world, the lack of freshwa-
ter resources has become a critical concern. Ur-
ban populations are growing, which adds to the 
challenge. Providing access to clean freshwater is 
critical for a sustainable city life. 

cesses, 60% is devoted to human consumption. 
Because energy is the largest single expense for 
desalination plants, companies are looking for en-
ergy-efficient solutions. 

The urban development in Las Vegas, NV, 
USA, illustrates the importance of finding 
new sources for water supply. Seawater 
desalination is one means of providing 
freshwater sustainably. 

Seawater  desalination  is  an  important  means  of 
providing  a  sustainable  supply  of  freshwater.  Al-
though the clean freshwater is used for different 
purposes, such as industrial and agricultural pro-

Sulzer’s  pumps  for  seawater  desalination  are 
market leaders in terms of efficiency. Hence, the 
company  supports  its  customers  in  supplying 
clean freshwater in a cost- and energy-efficient 
manner. 

Focus—Water

11

WATER  

SCARCITY IN  

uRBAN AREAS

Increase of global water demand

55%

expected increase of global water withdrawals by 2050

Seawater as large source

98%

Global water demand 

Freshwater withdrawals, baseline scenario,  
2000 and 2050, world

km3

6 000

5 000

4 000

3 000

2 000

1 000

0

  Electricity
  Manufacturing
  Livestock  
  Domestic
  Irrigation

2000

2050

of total available water on earth is seawater

Source: © OECD

 
12

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015

from Seawater to freshwater: 
Providing Equipment  
for Desalination Plants

Seawater desalination is a promising and fast-growing solution 
to counter water scarcity. Reverse osmosis—a desalination 
technology—requires less energy and is less expensive than 
other methods. By providing highly efficient pumps, Sulzer facil-  
itates the affordable and energy-efficient supply of freshwater. 

The  current  climate  change  scenario  predicts  that 
almost  half  of  the  world’s  population  will  live  in  
areas  of  high  water  stress  by  2030.  Population 
growth and industrialization in developing areas are 
substantially increasing water demand. 

Governments,  national,  and  international  institu-
tions,  as  well  as  water  management  companies, 
are  looking  for  solutions  to  face  one  of  the  most 
pressing challenges that lies ahead. Since seawater 
represents 98% of available water on earth, desali-
nation of sea and brackish water is a promising ap-
proach to provide clean freshwater for human con-
sumption, irrigation, or industrial use. 

Converting seawater into freshwater 
There  are  two  main  methods  for  converting  sea-
water  into  freshwater:  desalination  technologies 
based  on  either  thermal  processes  (such  as  mul-
tiple-effect  or  multistage  flash  distillation)  or  mem-
brane  processes  (reverse  osmosis).  Although  ther-
mal  desalination  technologies  consume  a  lot  of 
energy, they have been predominant in the Middle 
East  because  the  plants  are  easy  to  operate  and 
energy costs are low. However, the market trend is 
turning towards reverse osmosis, even in those re-
gions  of  low  energy  costs.  Today,  more  than  two-
thirds  of  the  newly  installed  desalination  capacity 

worldwide is based on reverse osmosis technology. 
The  benefits  of  this  process:  it  needs  less  energy 
and is more eco-friendly. Sulzer supplies a full range 
of  pumps  for  sea  or  brackish  water  desalination 
 using either reverse osmosis or mul tiple-effect pro-
cesses. To  follow  the  market  trend,  the  company 
has  specialized  increasingly  in  equipment  for  re-
verse osmosis plants. With the proper plant design 
and equipment selection, reverse osmosis technol-
ogy is unbeatable in energy efficiency.

Decreasing costs of reverse osmosis plants
In the reverse osmosis process, seawater is pushed 
through  a  membrane.  Water  molecules  permeate 
through  the  membrane,  but  salt  particles  do  not. 
The  part  of  the  seawater  that  does  not  cross  the 
membrane—about 55% of the feed flow—is called 
brine. It is possible to recover energy from the brine. 
Over  the  years,  the  efficiency  of  energy  recovery 
systems has increased, thus largely reducing life cy-
cle costs.

Pumps  also  play  an  important  role  in  decreasing 
operating expenditures. Since the beginning of de-
velopment of desalination applications in the 1980s, 
Sulzer has provided solutions that meet the specific 
market  requirements.  In  a  reverse  osmosis  plant, 
Sulzer’s pumps can be used to intake and pretreat 

Focus—Water

13

The desalination process results in a 
solution with a high concentration of 
salt—called brine. Pumps boost the brine 
back to the ocean through pipelines. 

Osmosis is the diffusion of fluid 
through a semipermeable membrane 
from a solution with a low solute 
concentration to a solution with a 
higher concentration. Osmosis can  
be reversed if sufficient pressure  
is applied to the concentrated side  
of the membrane. Reverse osmosis  
is used for water purification and 
desalination. The membrane allows 
only the water to pass through, but 
not larger molecules or ions (like salt).

Seawater desalination with reverse osmosis

Osmosis

External 
pressure

Reverse
osmosis

Concentrated  
solution

Semipermeable 
membrane

Water

Seawater

Semipermeable 
membrane

Freshwater

14

The unique hydraulic design of the SNS 
pumps ensures extremely efficient pumping in 
various applications. Engineers in Kotka, 
Finland, developed this pump range. Watch 
the video about the new SNS process pump 
range: www.sulzer.com/sns-pumps.

seawater, to provide the pressure for the water to 
diffuse through the membrane, and to transport the 
freshwater.  Because  high-pressure  pumps  use 
60% of all the energy consumed in the desalination 
plant, they need to be highly efficient, reliable, and 
as low-cost as possible. Each single percentage of 
their efficiency increase directly lowers the costs of 
the water produced.

For  example,  the  MBN-RO  pumps  will  be  used  in 
the Jubail 4 SWRO project in Saudi Arabia. Built to 
address the water needs of the city of Al Jubail and 
the country’s Eastern Province, the plant produces 
potable water for residents as well as water for in-
dustrial processes. Sulzer’s installations around the 
globe  support  the  production  of  more  than  three 
million m3 of freshwater per day.

Highly efficient pumps for desalination plants
With this in mind, Sulzer’s teams in Kotka, Finland, 
and  Winterthur,  Switzerland,  developed  the  new 
MBN-RO  and  MSD-RO  pump  ranges,  which  are 
specifically engineered for reverse osmosis applica-
tions. The teams improved the hydraulic efficiency 
of  the  pumps  by  optimizing  the  suction  chamber 
and the design of the impeller, the diffuser, and the 
volute. Thanks to their advanced hydraulic design, 
both  the  MBN-RO  and  the  MSD-RO  are  leading 
products  in  the  market  in  terms  of  efficiency.  The 
pumps  have  already  been  supplied  to  several  de-
salination  plants  in  the  Middle  East  and  in  China.  

More efficient than required
Because  every  kilowatt  matters  with  regard  to  af-
fordable  water  supply,  Sulzer’s  engineers  devel-
oped  highly  efficient  end-suction  process  pumps. 
The SNS process pumps, originally designed for the 
pulp  and  paper  industry,  can  be  used  in  auxiliary 
services  in  seawater  reverse  osmosis  and  other  
applications  in  the  water  market.  They  achieve 
top-level efficiency, and they exceed the European 
Union’s  requirements  for  energy-related  products 
by  a  significant  margin.  These  regulations,  which 
aim  to  reduce  energy  consumption,  specify  the  
minimum  efficiency  values  for  water  pumps.  The 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Focus—Water

15

The MBN-RO pump will help address the water needs in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and its surroundings. 
The pump is able to cover a capacity of up to 1 000 m3 of water per day. 

minimum efficiency index (MEI) was set at 0.4 as of 
the  beginning  of  2015.  Around  40%  of  the  water 
pumps  in  use  do  not  comply  with  this  regulation. 
The  SNS  process  pump  range—on  the  market 
since 2015—achieved an MEI of 0.7, which is clearly 
above the required criteria.

past, the trend is moving to small- and medium-sized 
plants. They are easier to construct, install, run, and 
finance. Sulzer supports its customers from a very 
early project stage in improving the overall efficiency 
and ensuring the highest possible profitability of the 
plants.  In  this  way,  Sulzer  helps  provide  an  afford-
able and energy-efficient supply of freshwater.

Spotting future trends
While regions such as Algeria, Spain, Australia, and 
the  Middle  East  have  built  very  large  plants  in  the 

16
16

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015

CLEAN AIR IN  
A GLOBALIzED  
WORLD

Greenhouse gas emissions by economic sectors

6.4%
Buildings

14%
Transport

21%
Industry

24%
Agriculture, 
forestry, and 
other land use

25%
Electricity and 
heat production

9.6%
Other energy

Cities as a major pollution source

80%

percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions 
produced by cities

Industry as a large pollution source

21%

Source: © Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2014

percentage of total global greenhouse gas emissions 
caused by the industrial sector

 
Focus—Air 

1717

Reducing air pollution is an increasingly important topic in a globalized 
world. Many governments—in developed and emerging countries—
have set new limits for emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2). 

The amount of CO2 in our atmosphere has risen 
drastically  since  preindustrial  times.  Cities  pro-
duce about 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions 
such as CO2. In recent years, governments have 
actively  tried  to  put  a  stop  to  global  warming. 
Tighter environmental regulations and restrictions 
force  companies  to  look  for  new,  more  environ-
ment-friendly technology that improve air quality. 

The industry is advancing technological solutions 
to mitigate climate change and to reduce carbon 
dioxide  emissions.  One  way  to  prevent  the  re-
lease of CO2 into the atmosphere is with carbon 
capture and storage (CCS). Sulzer offers pumps 
and mass transfer equipment that can be used in 
all stages of the CCS chain. The company’s tech-
nology thus helps limit the adverse impact of CO2 
on the environment.

Cities and their industrial areas cause 
most of the emissions around the world. 
Germany (aerial photo of Düsseldorf)  
was able to reduce its greenhouse gas 
emissions in 2014; other countries are still 
seeking solutions to counter air pollution.

1818

Capturing Emissions  
Where They Emerge

A carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the USA  
aims to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of a fossil 
fuel power plant by 90%. Sulzer provides the mass transfer 
technology required for the capturing process. The company’s 
solutions help customers increase the efficiency of their 
equipment and lower their costs.

After China, the USA is the second-highest emitter 
of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the world. Most GHG 
emissions in the USA stem from power generation. 
The WA Parish power plant—located in Thompsons, 
TX, USA—is the largest fossil fuel plant in the USA 
and one of the largest CO2 emitters.

CCS is one of the technologies that can help miti-
gate GHG emissions and aid in the responsible use 
of fossil fuels. In 2013, Petra Nova Holdings (a joint 
venture between NRG Energy and JX Nippon Oil & 
Gas Exploration) announced a carbon capture retro-
fit  on  one  of  the  four  coal-fired  units  of  its  Parish 

Mellapak is the most widely used 
structured packing around the world. The 
column internals can take on enormous 
dimensions (picture on the right). Read 
more about Mellapak on page 21. 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Focus—Air

19

The carbon capture and storage 
demonstration unit at the Parish coal  
plant in Thompsons, TX, USA, is  
currently under construction. It is 
expected to go into service this year. 

plant. After the retrofit, the world’s largest post-com-
bustion carbon capture unit will be able to capture 
106  million  tons  of  CO2  per  year.  Designed  as  a 
demonstration plant, it aims to capture at least 90% 
of  the  CO2  from  the  feed  stream,  which  equals 
about  40%  of  this  unit’s  capacity  or  12%  of  the 
plant’s  total  capacity.  Furthermore,  it  will  also  re-
duce the emission of pollutants such as sulfur oxides 
(SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The project, which 
stands under the Department of Energy of the United 
States’ Clean Coal Power Initiative, is expected to 
go into operation at the end of 2016.

Absorbing CO2 more energy efficiently  
and cost effectively
In a fossil fuel power plant such as the Parish plant, 
CO2 emerges during the process of burning fossil 
fuels. Before it is released into the atmosphere, the 

CO2 is captured in an absorption column. The inter-
nals for such columns, such as the structured pack-
ings MellapakTM and MellapakPlusTM, are produced 
by  Sulzer.  These  enable  the  efficient  capture  of   
CO2 from the flue gas stream before it is released 
into  the  atmosphere.  The  captured  CO2  can  then 
be safely stored underground or used for other pur-
poses (e.g., enhanced oil recovery).

Normally, these columns are very large and use a lot 
of energy. Sulzer’s structured packing reduces the 
column size, thus saving material, space, and cost. 
CCS process providers focus on decreasing energy 
costs  wherever  possible.  With  Sulzer’s  products, 
the  pressure  drop  across  the  absorber  can  be  re-
duced.  As  a  result,  less  energy  is  needed  for  the 
operation of the plant. Customers benefit from low-
er capital and operational expenses.

20

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015

Structured packings such as MellapakPlus 
are designed to create large surface  
areas of contact for gases and liquids.  
This surface area enhances the absorption 
of CO2. 

Focus—Air

21

CO2 absorption column

Gas stream  
(to atmosphere, CO2-free)

Enabling CO2 removal from  
gas stream with Mellapak 

After the fossil fuels have been burned, the off-gas stream runs 
into an absorption column. In the column, so-called amine solu-
tions come in contact with the gas stream and absorb CO2. The 
larger the contact area, the more CO2 is removed from the gas. 
The design of structured packings such as Mellapak creates large 
surface areas of contact for the gas and liquid, thus enhancing the 
absorption. This process results in a nearly CO2-free gas stream 
and  in  amine  solutions  rich  in  CO2.  Mellapak  packing  is  again 
used to treat the amine solution; the CO2 is removed for storage 
and the amine liquid is recycled and reused in the process. 

Gas blower
(gas rich in CO2)

Amine solution
(CO2-free)

Amine solution
(rich in CO2)

In the Petra Nova project, Sulzer engineers are con-
fronted with additional and unique challenges: the 
shape, material, and dimension of the towers. Two 
of the towers are rectangular and constructed out 
of  cement.  While  these  features  are  reasonable 
from a manufacturing and design perspective, the 
Sulzer team had to review many of the mechanical 
strength calculations made for cylindrical columns. 
The  very  large  size  of  the  columns  added  to  the 
challenge. However, the engineers were able to op-
timize  the  equipment  in  close  collaboration  with  a 
project partner.

Offering solutions for various  
stages of the CCS chain
Sulzer  has  gained  significant  experience  in  provid-
ing mass transfer technology for CCS. The compa-
ny has delivered column internals and engineering 
expertise for two of the largest CO2 capture demon-
stration projects worldwide, among them the Sask-
Power Boundary Dam CCS project in Canada. With 
its  technology,  customers  are  able  to  treat  large 
amounts  of  flue  gas  most  effectively.  This  is  even 
more  important  when  considering  that,  in  many  
cases,  not  only  CO2  needs  to  be  separated  from 
the gas stream, but NOx and SOx emissions as well. 

In addition to mass transfer technology, Sulzer also 
offers pumps for various stages of the CCS chain. 
For example, these pumps can be used to circulate 
liquids  in  the  capture  process.  Other  application 
 areas are the compression, transport (e.g., via pipe-
lines), and injection of the captured CO2.

In the case of the WA Parish power plant, the cap-
tured CO2 will be used for enhanced oil recovery in 
the  Gulf  Coast  region.  Those  responsible  expect 
this will boost oil production from about 500 barrels 
per  day  to  approximately  15 000  barrels  per  day. 
Thus, besides enhancing the long-term viability and 
sustainability  of  power  plants,  it  also  profitably  in-
creases oil production.

Although  CCS  technology  is  still  at  an  early  stage, 
pilot projects around the world have demonstrated 
the effectiveness of the technology. Sulzer is liaising 
with customers and is involved at an early stage in 
the  process  design  phase  of  such  projects.  The 
company is committed to seizing the opportunities 
emerging in this field.

22

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015

GREATER  
NEED fOR  
ENERGY

With around 6 500 inhabitants per square 
kilometer, Hong Kong, China, belongs  
to the world’s most densely populated 
cities. Since urbanization is continuing and 
accelerating—particularly in emerging 
countries—the need for energy is growing. 

Focus—Energy 

23

Increase of global energy demand

37%

expected increase of global energy demand  
from 2013 to 2035

Cities as main consumer

75%

Global energy demand

Billion toe  1)

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Renewables  2)
Hydro
Nuclear
Gas

Oil

Coal

1965

2000

2035

1) tonne oil equivalent  2) includes biofuels

of global energy is used by cities 

Source: © BP p.l.c. 2015

Cities use the majority of all energy consumed globally. As urbaniza-
tion continues—reinforced by the evolution of so-called megacities— 
the demand for energy will rise steadily. 

Overall, one-fifth of the global population lives in 
developed countries. These countries account for 
half  of  all  energy  consumption.  Because  emerg-
ing countries are experiencing rapid urbanization, 
energy demand all over the world is growing even 
more.  Society  is  increasingly  aware  of  the  nega-
tive  implications  that  come  with  a  greater  need   
for  energy. 

Companies are looking for ways to preserve natu-
ral  resources,  and  they  are  investing  in  more 
 environment-friendly  technology  that  helps  save 
energy. Power plant operators all over the world 
are  optimizing  their  sites  in  terms  of  efficiency. 
Sulzer’s  state-of-the-art  technology  enables  its 
customers to achieve better performance in gen-
erating energy.

24

Saving Energy with  
Boiler feed Pumps

Based on environmental regulations and cost considerations, 
power generation companies strive to optimize the efficiency 
of their plants. Sulzer is a trusted and well-experienced 
partner for particularly challenging assignments—as the 
example of the largest power plant in China shows.

China  consumes  22%  of  the  energy  used  around 
the  world  every  day.  This  makes  the  country  the 
largest  consumer  of  energy  in  the  world.  At  the 
same time, it is the largest energy producer. 

Stringent  environmental  regulations  are  changing 
the power generation landscape around the globe. 
In  an  attempt  to  increase  power  generation  while 

Saving Costs with Integrated Service Offering

The growing energy demand causes not only technological challenges but also costs. 
In addition to improving the energy efficiency of their equipment, companies are also 
reducing the number of service suppliers. Providers who can offer multiple services are 
becoming the preferred partners for many projects. 

NV Energy engaged Sulzer’s service center in Phoenix, AZ, USA, for the removal, re-
build, and reinstallation of pump and motor units of its Goodsprings Energy Recovery 
Station. The waste heat power plant uses hot exhaust from a neighboring natural gas 
compressor  station  to  generate  electricity.  Approximately  3 000  Nevada  households 
benefit from the waste energy generated by this plant.

The customer avoids having several contact points for the service of different machines. 
Sulzer repairs both motor and pump in the same service center. Furthermore, the engi-
neers will rebuild, inspect, and test the equipment on-site. This offering is possible be-
cause of the company’s service integration, which started in 2014. All over the world, 
Sulzer is integrating its services for rotating electrical and mechanical equipment. This 
increases the company’s competitiveness and enables Sulzer to offer even more inno-
vative solutions from one access point.

decreasing  the  environmental  impact,  China  has 
been developing ultra-supercritical (USC) coal-fired 
power  plants.  The  trend  is  to  generate  steam  at 
higher  pressures  and  temperatures  and  thus  in-
crease the efficiency of the power plant. Ultra-super-
critical  steam  generation  is  the  latest  technology 
with  even  higher  pressures  and  steam  tempera-
tures of above 600°C. Double-reheat technology is 
a further method of improving a plant’s thermal effi-
ciency.  By  heating  the  steam  in  the  boiler  twice, 
more  energy  is  transferred.  With  increased  steam 
parameters  of  up  to  350  bar  and  620ºC,  double 
 reheating allows for efficiencies of 48%. By compar-
ison, with identical steam parameters, the best cur-
rent single-reheat USC plants operate at a rate of 
around 46% efficiency. Since the increase of every 
percentage  point  leads  to  significant  energy  and 
cost savings, this improvement can have an import-
ant effect on customers’ decisions.

Equipment for the largest  
power station in China
The Chinese Shenhua Beihai Power Plant—current-
ly  under  construction—will  use  USC  technology.  
After  its  completion  in  2017,  the  plant  will  be  the 
largest  power  station  in  China.  Such  plants  use 
pumps for boiler feed, condensate extraction, and 
cooling  water  processes.  Boiler  feed  pumps—nor-
mally  high-pressure  units—move  water  to  the 
steam boiler. Because Sulzer is widely recognized 
as a supplier of highly efficient and reliable pumps in 
this sector, the Chinese customer ordered Sulzer’s 
HPT boiler feed pumps for its plant.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Shenhua Beihai Power Plant

Focus—Energy 

25

Boiler feed pump

620°C

Steam temperatures in the Beihai  
power plant can reach up to 620°C.  
Sulzer’s boiler feed pumps are able  
to manage this challenge. 

4

1

2

3

from coal to energy

In a coal-fired steam station, such as the Beihai power plant, water is converted into steam, which, in turn, drives turbine generators  
to produce electricity. 

1

 2

3

4

The coal is transported to the coal mill and is pulverized into a fine powder. 

In the boiler, the coal is mixed with preheated air and is burned. The combustion process creates an enormous amount of heat.  
Inside the boiler, water circulates through pipes. The heat turns the water into steam. 

The steam drives turbine blades and turns the steam turbine shaft. The latter is connected to the generator, which produces 
electricity. 

The steam is then drawn into a condenser, which contains a network of tubes. Cool water from a nearby source, such as a river  
or lake, runs through the tubes and converts the steam back into water. Afterwards, boiler feed pumps return the condensed  
water to the boiler to repeat the entire cycle. 

 
  
 
  
26

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015

In its factory in Suzhou, China, Sulzer 
manufactures engineered pumps.  
The plant has extensive testing capabilities 
with four test beds, one test well for vertical 
pumps, and one high-energy test area. 

The largest boiler feed pumps  
(HPT high-pressure barrel-casing pumps) 
Sulzer has ever manufactured will  
be delivered to a new power plant in  
Beihai, China. More information:  
www.sulzer.com/HPT-pumps. 

Focus—Energy

27

discharge nozzle

pull-out cartridge

impeller

barrel casing

suction nozzle

case cover

thrust bearing

The  requirements  for  modern  coal-fired  plants  of 
this size are challenging. The Beihai Power Plant will 
operate with steam temperatures between 600 and 
650°C and pressure of up to 350 bar. At such high 
pressures  and  temperatures,  the  demands  on  the 
equipment  are  intense.  First,  the  reliability  of  the 
equipment is of vital importance for the safe opera-
tion of the power plant. Second, the performance—
especially of the pumps—plays a crucial role in the 
overall costs. Sulzer’s engineers have designed the 
pumps to meet the heavy-duty performance needs 
in the Beihai plant. 

The largest boiler feed pumps
The pumps delivered to Beihai are the largest boiler 
feed  pumps  Sulzer  has  ever  manufactured.  The 
main pump for Beihai has a capacity of 2 840 tons 
per  hour,  with  a  500  bar  discharge  pressure,  and 
shaft power of over 40 MW. The pumps will be man-
ufactured  in  Sulzer’s  Suzhou  factory,  which  was 
opened in 2010 and employs more than 350 peo-
ple.  On  23 000 m2  floor  space,  Sulzer  makes  engi-
neered  pumps  for  the  oil  and  gas  and  the  power 
markets. During the project, the Suzhou factory re-
ceived support from Sulzer sites across the globe. 
For example, the Suzhou factory worked with engi-

neers  from  Winterthur,  Switzerland,  to  select  the 
appropriate pumps for the project. Furthermore, the 
factory involved the Pumps Equipment site in Leeds, 
UK, to find the most effective sourcing strategy for 
the pumps. 

Sulzer  has  been  operating  in  China  for  more  than 
100 years. Besides Suzhou, the company has man-
ufacturing plants in Dalian, Shanghai, and Kunshan, 
and  it  runs  several  sales  and  service  locations. 
 China  is  planning  to  build  further  double-reheat 
power plants in the near future. Sulzer has supplied 
roughly 1 000 boiler feed water pumps for various 
power  plants—such  as  conventional,  nuclear,  bio-
mass,  and  concentrated  solar  power  plants—
around the world. The company is experienced and 
able  to  advise  its  customers  on  the  appropriate 
solutions. 

A representative of the Shenhua Beihai Power Plant 
said, “Sulzer has outstanding references with large 
boiler  feed  pumps  around  the  world  and  the 
 success ful  operation  of  the  Shenhua  Wanzhou 
2 x 1 000 MW single-reheat power plant in China. We 
trust  Sulzer’s  technology,  engineering,  and  man-
ufacturing capabilities.”

28

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015

SuSTAINABLE  
DEVELOPMENT

Today, roughly 3.5 million kilometers of pipelines  
are installed in about 120 countries. Pipelines offer  
a more sustainable and safer alternative to transport 
by road, railway, air, or sea. Sulzer is an innovative 
and social employer that focuses on reducing its 
environmental footprint. These factors are critical  
for sustainable business development.

Focus—Sustainable Development

2929

 45

INNOvATION AND TECHNOLOGy

SUSTAINABILITy

SOCIAL 
SUSTAINABILITy

ECOLOGICAL
SUSTAINABILITy

 48

 46

The pressure and aspiration to be environmentally conscious is growing.  
Companies are looking for products and services that are more eco-friendly and 
sustainable. To counteract global warming, organizations need to manage their 
ecological footprint. 

Sustainability includes not only environmental, but also social responsibility.  
As workforces and supply chains are spread across the globe, companies face 
challenges regarding safety, health, and equal opportunities for their employees. 

Sulzer develops innovative, efficient, and eco-friendly solutions for customers and 
takes measures to reduce its own environmental footprint. The company provides 
employees with a safe and healthy work environment and offers opportunities for 
professional development. 

30

Award

Acquisition  
in Morocco

New  
Technology 

Sulzer won the interna-
tional CPhl Pharma Award 
2015 in the category 
“Innovation in Packaging” 
for its MIXPAC™ packag-
ing and application 
system.

New Random 
Packing

Sulzer introduced the  
NeXRing™ random pack-
ing. It provides significant 
benefits in  efficiency and 
capacity when compared 
to con ventional random 
packing.

 45

Sulzer acquired the 
business of Expert 
Inter national Pompe 
Service (EIPS) located in 
Casablanca, Morocco, 
enlarging its service 
offering in North Africa.

With the acquisition of 
InterWeld Inc Ltd, Belfast, 
Northern Ireland, Sulzer 
added the full range of 
automated weld overlay 
services to its portfolio. 

Acquisition  
in the USA

Sulzer acquired Precision 
Gas Turbine Inc., a leading 
independent service 
pro vider for gas turbines 
in Plantation, FL, USA. It 
thereby enhances its  
field service offering for 
customers in the power 
market. 

New  
Pumps 

Sulzer launched the SNS 
end-suction single-stage 
process pump range in 
2015. Customers benefit 
from the highest efficiency 
rates and a reduced total 
cost of ownership.

 14

Acquisition 
in Saudi  
Arabia

In 2015, Sulzer completed  
the acquisition of Saudi 
Pump Factory. It now 
serves Saudi Arabian and 
Gulf Cooperation Council 
customers. 

Agreement

Sulzer has signed a 
worldwide framework 
agreement with veolia 
 Environnement, now 
providing premium- 
efficiency submersible 
and dry well pumps, 
mixers, and dedicated 
services.

  Read more at www.sulzer.com/news

Sulzer—Annual Report 201531

Business 
Review

Our Company

33  Financial Review

Our Divisions

38  Pumps Equipment

40  Rotating Equipment 

 Services

42  Chemtech 

Our Responsibility

44  Strategy and  Management

45 

Innovation and  Technology

46  Ecological Sustainability

48  Social Sustainability

i

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

i

 
 
 
 
Sulzer Full Potential Program Partially  
Offsets Significant Market Headwinds

33

Order intake decreased by 3.7%. A significant decline in the oil and gas market was 
partially compensated by strong growth in the power market. Sales decreased by 
3.2% due to the lower order intake and oil and gas order suspensions  in Pumps 
Equipment. Savings related to the Sulzer Full Potential (SFP) program were offset 
by lower sales volumes, a lower gross margin, and currency effects. Free cash flow 
improved strongly by CHF 57.8 million. 

Low oil price and severe market downturn in China impacted order intake 
Order intake decreased by 3.7% from 2014 (nominal: –8.4%). Order intake gross margin increased slightly 
by 0.3 percentage points to 33.8% due to an increased share of higher margin aftermarket business. 

Order intake of the Pumps Equipment division decreased by 6.7%. Strong growth in the power market and 
moderate growth in the water market were more than offset by a sharp decline of orders in the oil and gas 
market. In the Rotating Equipment Services division, order intake weakened by 0.9%, mainly because of 
lower demand in the oil and gas market and in Europe. Order intake in the Chemtech division grew by 1.4%. 
Large orders received in the Tower Field Services business unit in the Middle East offset the negative effect 
of the severe market downturn in China.

Order intake in the oil and gas market decreased significantly, mostly because of fewer equipment orders. 
Oil companies further cut their capital cost, particularly following the significant drop of the oil price since 
mid-year. This impacted Sulzer’s order intake in the second half of the year. In the power market, order in-
take rose strongly, mainly driven by the Pumps Equipment and Rotating Equipment Services divisions.

Order intake dwindled in Asia-Pacific and in the Americas, while it increased in EMEA mainly driven by large 
orders recorded by Chemtech. The fall in order intake was significant in China, due to severe market down-
turn. In particular, Pumps Equipment and Chemtech were negatively affected. In the second half of the year, 
order intake volumes were also increasingly affected in Brazil and Mexico.

The currency translation effect amounted to a negative CHF 148.9 million affected by weaker Brazilian real, 
Russian ruble, euro, and a stronger US dollar. Acquisitions contributed CHF 36.2 million in 2015.  

“The Sulzer Full Potential  
program got off to a very 
good start in 2015. It helped 
us partially offset the im-
pact from significant market 
headwinds. We expect cost 
savings from the program to 
be in the range of CHF 60 to 
80 million in 2016.”

Thomas Dittrich,  
Chief Financial Officer

Free cash flow 

Orders

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order intake gross margin

Order backlog as of December 31

2015

2 895.8

33.8%

1 510.7

2014

3 160.8

33.5%

1 699.6

CHF 155.8m

(2014: CHF 98.0m)

As  of  December  31,  2015,  the  order  backlog  decreased  to  CHF  1 510.7  million  (December  31,  2014: 
CHF 1 699.6 million). Orders in suspension decreased from the half year to CHF 49 million at year-end due 
to release into execution.

Sales decreased slightly because of low oil and gas volumes
Sales amounted to CHF 2 971 million—a drop of 3.2% (nominal: – 7.5%). The negative currency translation 
effect totaled CHF 137.9 million. 

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

If not otherwise indicated, changes 
compared with the previous year are 
based on currency-adjusted figures.

Business Review—Financial Review34

In 2015, oil and gas sales were significantly impacted as a result of suspensions of previously received or-
ders in Pumps Equipment as well as declining order intake resulting from the low oil price and the severe 
market downturn in China. Moderate growth in the power market and the general industry partially offset 
this negative effect. Sales volume in the water market remained broadly flat. Sales increased in EMEA while 
the  Americas  and  Asia-Pacific  were  down  from  the  previous  year.  Consequently,  the  share  of  sales  in 
emerging markets slid from 42% in 2014 to 40% in 2015.

Gross margin impacted by price pressure in the oil and gas market 
Gross margin declined by 0.6 percentage points to 30.8% (nominal: 30.6%) compared with 31.4% in 2014. 
The impact of the strong headwinds in the oil and gas market had a dilutive effect on the gross margin. It 
was partially absorbed by the positive effect of the changed sales mix and benefits from the SFP program. 
All divisions reported lower gross margins than in the prior year. Total gross profit decreased by CHF 99.8 mil-
lion to CHF 910.1 million (2014: CHF 1 009.9 million) because of lower volumes and margins.

Operational EBITA impacted by lower sales volume, margin decline, and foreign 
exchange effects  
Operational EBITA (opEBITA) amounted to CHF 254.1 million compared with CHF 302.9 million in 2014, a 
decrease of 11.8% (nominal: –16.1%). Savings related to the SFP program were offset by lower sales vol-
ume  and  gross  margin,  as  described  above,  and  transactional  foreign  exchange  effects  amounting  to 
CHF – 3.8 million (2014: CHF 4.7 million), impacting operational expenses. Operational ROSA (opROSA) 
decreased to 8.6% compared with 9.4% in 2014.

Operating  expenses  excluding  amortization,  impairment  on  goodwill,  restructuring  expenses,  and  other 
non-operational items were reduced by 1.8%. Savings measures in selling as well as administrative expenses 
were partly offset by acquisition-related cost increases and the abovementioned transactional foreign ex-
change effects. Research and development expenses remained broadly stable.

Key performance ratios before goodwill impairment

opROSA

opROCEA

2015

8.6%

17.0%

2014

9.4%

17.1%

opROSA

8.6%

(2014: 9.4%)

The divisions achieved the following profitability figures (opROSA):
 —  Pumps Equipment: 7.3% (2014: 9.2%). The lower profitability was due to market headwinds in the oil 
and gas industry, adverse transactional currency effects, and an internal shift of expenses. Adjusted for 
these items, operational ROSA would have been 8.6%.

 —  Rotating Equipment Services: 10.2% (2014: 8.9%). Profitability increased mainly driven by a stronger 

US domestic market, an internal shift of costs, and strict cost control measures.

 —  Chemtech: 10.1% (2014: 12.6%). Lower sales, particularly in China, resulted in a pronounced drop in 
gross profit. Although capacities and operating expenses were adjusted swiftly, operational ROSA was 
negatively affected. 

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

Sulzer—Annual Report 201535

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

Bridge from EBIT to operational EBITA

millions of CHF

EBIT

Amortization

Impairment on tangible and intangible assets

Restructuring expenses

Adjustments for other non-operational items1)

opEBITA

opROSA

2015

120.9

42.3

13.0 

41.2

36.7

254.1 

8.6%

2014

– 69.0

43.3

340.4 

11.2

– 23.0

302.9 

9.4%

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.

Restructuring expenses and costs for the SFP program impacted operating 
income 
As part of the SFP program, Sulzer has initiated several actions to adapt the global manufacturing capac-
ities and streamline the organizational setup. The measures resulted in higher restructuring expenses than 
in 2014. These costs were mainly associated with measures started in Brazil, the Netherlands, China, Swit-
zerland, the United States, and Finland. These measures entailed a reduction of 1 128 full-time equivalents. 
Other non-operational items amounted to CHF 36.7 million in 2015 and included the following main items: 
SFP-related  expenses  (CHF  – 38.3  million),  costs  relating  to  a  settled  dispute  with  the  purchaser  of  the 
 locomotive business that Sulzer sold in 1998 (CHF – 8.7 million) partly offset by a release of provisions from 
the real estate sales in 2010 (CHF 6.8 million), and the adjustment of contingent considerations related to 
acquisitions (CHF 12.9 million).

Consequently, EBIT amounted to CHF 120.9 million compared with CHF – 69.0 million in 2014. Return on 
sales (ROS) was 4.1% compared with 8.4% 2) in 2014. 

Financial income: higher interest expenses 
Total financial expenses amounted to CHF 24.7 million compared with CHF 16.7 million in 2014. Interest 
expenses were higher (up CHF 6.7 million) because of a CHF 5.2 million payment that related to a settled 
dispute  with  the  purchaser  of  the  locomotive  business.  Further,  other  financial  expenses  increased  by 
CHF 1.0 million to CHF – 3.3 million.

Profit from associates relating to joint ventures in China and the Middle East  
In 2015, Sulzer established joint ventures in China for the service of gas turbines and in the Middle East for 
the service of rotating equipment of oil and gas and power customers. In 2015, these joint ventures gen-
erated a profit of CHF 3.7 million. 

2) For 2014, ROS before impairment on goodwill.

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

Business Review—Financial Review36

Lower income tax and effective tax rate 
Income tax expenses have significantly decreased to CHF 24.9 million (2014: CHF 71.9 million) due to a 
significantly lower pre-tax income of CHF 99.9 million (2014: CHF 254.3 million excluding adjustment for 
goodwill impairment). The effective income tax rate for 2015 was 24.9% compared to 28.3% in 2014.

Core net income decreased compared with prior year  
In 2015, net income amounted to CHF 75.0 million which was CHF 203.1 million below the previous year. 
Core net income, excluding the tax-adjusted effects of the Sulzer Metco divestiture, goodwill impairment, 
restructuring, and other non-operational items, totaled CHF 175.0 million compared with CHF 205.4 million 
in 2014. Basic earnings per share decreased from CHF 8.09 in 2014 to CHF 2.17 in 2015. 

Balance sheet: net working capital improved 
Total assets as of December 31, 2015, amounted to CHF 4 255 million, which is a decrease of CHF 398 mil-
lion from 2014. 

Non-current assets decreased nominally by CHF 108 million due to lower property, plant, and equipment 
(CHF – 39 million) and lower goodwill and other intangible assets (CHF – 73 million). Adjusted for currency 
effects, goodwill, other intangible assets, and property, plant, and equipment increased by CHF 58 million, 
mainly due to acquisitions. 

Current assets decreased by CHF 290 million. This drop is due to a reduction in trade and other accounts 
receivables of CHF 129 million, lower inventories of CHF 78 million, and lower cash positions of CHF 186 mil-
lion (including a shift to marketable securities which increased by CHF 102 million). 

Total  liabilities  decreased  by  CHF  190  million  to  CHF  2 021  million  as  of  December  31,  2015.  This  was 
 mainly caused by a decrease of CHF 60 million in trade accounts payables as well as by a reduction of 
CHF  59  million  in  other  current  and  accrued  liabilities.  The  CHF  500  million  bond  was  reclassified  from 
non-current liabilities to current liabilities because it will mature in July 2016. 

Equity decreased by CHF 208 million to CHF 2 234 million as a result of the net income of CHF 75 million, 
currency translation adjustments in the equity of CHF – 154 million, and dividend payments to Sulzer share-
holders of CHF – 119 million.

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

Sulzer—Annual Report 201537

Free cash flow strongly improved 
Free cash flow amounted to CHF 155.8 million compared with CHF 98.0 million reported in the prior year. 
Excluding a positive CHF 25.4 million effect relating to the Sulzer Metco divestiture in 2014, free cash flow 
improved by CHF 83.2 million on a continuing operations basis. The lower net income contribution was 
more than offset by a better contribution from net working capital management of CHF 175 million, lower 
tax payments of CHF 25.3 million, and reduced capital expenditure of CHF 30.9 million. 

Cash flow from investing activities totaled CHF – 242.0 million compared with CHF 605.3 million in the prior 
year. In 2014, cash flow from investing activities was positively influenced by proceeds of CHF 870.4 million 
related  to  the  Sulzer  Metco  divestiture.  Excluding  that  effect,  cash  flow  from  investing  activities  was 
CHF 23.1 million above the prior year driven by CHF 30.9 million lower capital expenditures. Cash out for 
acquisitions amounted to CHF 70.1 million which was on a similar level as in 2014 (CHF 73.0 million). 

Cash flow from financing activities totaled CHF – 132.5 million. It included the increased dividend payment 
of CHF 119.2 million (CHF 3.50 per share) compared with CHF 108.9 million in 2014 (CHF 3.20 per share). 
The repayments of short-term borrowings reduced cash by CHF 16.5 million (2014: CHF 52.8 million). Ex-
change losses on cash were CHF 34.0 million, mainly related to the cash balances held in euros (2014: gain 
of CHF 19.7 million). 

Outlook 2016
Sulzer has a balanced business mix, with half of its business outside the oil and gas market and the after-
market business accounting for half of sales. However, the company expects continued low oil prices and 
high volatility throughout 2016 and beyond resulting in subdued demand and price pressure from its oil and 
gas  customers.  Given  these  market  headwinds,  Sulzer  increases  and  accelerates  cost  savings  from  its 
 ongoing SFP program. The company expects cost savings from the SFP program to be in the range of  
CHF 60 to 80 million in 2016 and total cost savings of approximately CHF 200 million in a steady state  from 
2018 onwards.

For the full year 2016, order intake and sales are expected to decline by 5 to 10%, adjusted for currency 
effects. Supported by the cost savings from the SFP program, Sulzer expects opEBITA margins of approx-
imately 8% (opEBITA in percent of sales).

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

Business Review—Financial Review38

Order Intake Decreased— 
Manufacturing Capacities Streamlined

Order intake and sales decreased in 2015, impacted by low oil prices. Pumps Equip-
ment reported a decline in operational EBITA and operational ROSA from the previ-
ous year. Sulzer streamlined the manufacturing capacities of its division, acquired 
Matis Interventions Sarl, and developed the innovative SNS process pump range.

“By introducing innovative 
products to the market, such 
as the new highly efficient 
SNS pump range, we will 
continue to serve the needs 
of our customers.”

Taking transformation one step further
In 2015, the company took its transformation one step further. Since January 2015, Pumps Equipment has 
been organized in three market-oriented business units (Oil and Gas, Power, and Water); a dedicated glob-
al aftermarket organization (Parts, Retrofit, and Nuclear Services; PRN); and a global operations network. 
This allows the division to serve customers in its end markets and regions even better. Because of the oil 
and gas market headwinds and in line with the Sulzer Full Potential program, Pumps Equipment stream-
lined its manufacturing capacities in Brazil, the USA, and China. The company decided to close its manu-
facturing plant in Brookshire, TX, USA, and its foundries in Jundiaí, Brazil, and Kotka, Finland. 

César Montenegro,  
Division President Pumps Equipment

In April, Sulzer acquired the French company Matis Interventions Sarl and strengthened its position in the 
nuclear business. In addition, the company completed its acquisition of Saudi Pump Factory. In September, 
Sulzer launched its innovative SNS process pump range. Developed for pumping applications in various 
industries,  the  new  pumps  excel  in  efficiency,  reliability,  and  total  cost  of  ownership  (more  on  page  14). 
Moreover,  Sulzer  signed  a  three-year  worldwide  framework  agreement  with  the  French  company  Veolia 
Environnement. This makes Sulzer a preferred supplier across the entire Veolia operations for premium-ef-
ficiency submersible and dry well pumps, mixers, and dedicated services.

Decrease in order intake
Order intake decreased by 6.7% from the previous year, impacted by the significant drop in the oil and gas 
market demand. Projects were postponed to 2016 and beyond or cancelled. Strong growth in the power 
market—driven by India and the Middle East—and in the aftermarket (PRN) business partially offset this 
decline. While demand in the water market was stable, it was slightly higher in the general industry, driven 
by increased activity in the engineered water and pulp and paper segments. Order intake gross margin in-
creased by 1.1 percentage points, supported by an improved business mix. Regionally speaking, Pumps 
Equipment reported moderate order intake growth in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Market activity 
slowed in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China, and in the Americas.

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Business Review—Pumps Equipment

39

Slight decrease in sales—decrease in operational EBITA
Sales decreased slightly by 1.6% from the previous year. Growth in the power and the general industry 
markets as well as in the aftermarket (PRN) business partially compensated for the low volume and project 
suspensions  in  the  oil  and  gas  market.  Operational  EBITA  decreased  by  19.4%.  This  drop  was  due  to 
 market headwinds in the oil and gas industry, adverse transactional currency effects, an internal shift of 
expenses, and higher internal corporate charges. Adjusted for these items, operational ROSA would have 
been 8.6%. 

Significant decrease of accident frequency and severity
A working environment with a diverse workforce that includes factory workers, office personnel, and em-
ployees at customers’ sites requires systematic safety management. In 2015, Pumps Equipment was able 
to decrease the frequency of its accidents (accident frequency rate; AFR) significantly by 38.5%. The se-
verity of accidents (accident severity rate; ASR) was also significantly lower (– 36.6%) than in 2014. These 
improvements can be credited to Sulzer’s Safe Behavior Program (SBP). Read more about Sulzer’s SBP 
on page 48. 

Sales by market segments

16%
General 
industry

22%
Water

2015

Sales by regions

22%
Asia- 
Pacific

2015

47%
Oil and 
gas

15%
Power

46%
Europe, 
Middle 
East, and 
Africa

Key figures Pumps Equipment

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order intake gross margin

Order backlog

Sales

EBIT

opEBITA

opROSA

opROCEA

2015

2014

+/–%

Change in 
+/–%1)

32%
Americas

1 500.8

1 725.5

– 13.0

– 6.7

34.2%

33.1%

998.0

1 209.4

– 17.5

1 621.0

1 754.9

– 7.6

– 1.6

62.8

– 203.1

118.1

160.6

– 26.5

– 19.4

7.3%

9.2%

15.8%

14.4%

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

6 996

7 365

– 5.0

1)   Adjusted for currency effects.

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

If not otherwise indicated, changes 
compared with the previous year are 
based on currency-adjusted figures.

40

Stable Order Intake—Strengthened 
Local Presence

While order intake remained stable, sales decreased slightly compared with 2014. 
Operational  EBITA  and  operational  ROSA  improved.  Sulzer  further  extended  its 
 service center network and acquired Precision Gas Turbine Inc. as well as Expert 
International Pompe Service.

“We are experiencing a 
challenging market environ-
ment across all our regions. 
To cope with these head-
winds, we have introduced 
operational improvement and 
restructuring measures.”

Extending offering and local presence through acquisitions
In 2015, Rotating Equipment Services continued to integrate services for rotating electrical and mechanical 
equipment. Hence, the division is able to offer service solutions from one access point (more on page 24). 
Furthermore, the company opened a new service center in Middlesbrough, UK. The market environment, 
especially across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), remained challenging. However, the com-
pany restructured service centers and improved operations in all three regions. 

In April, Sulzer acquired the business of Precision Gas Turbine Inc., Plantation, FL, USA, and further ex-
tended its range of gas turbine services. Through the acquisition of Expert International Pompe Service 
(EIPS), Casablanca, Morocco, Sulzer expanded its footprint in North Africa. EIPS, now referred to as Sulzer 
Maroc, offers the full range of services for  rotating equipment  such as pumps, gas and steam turbines, 
compressors,  generators,  and  electrical  motors.  With  a  global  network  and  specialist  expertise,  Sulzer 
helps ensure that customers’ assets remain in peak operating condition.

Stable order intake
Order intake remained stable in 2015. While order intake in the power market improved, it was lower in the 
oil  and  gas  market.  General  industry  remained  flat.  The  low  oil  price  led  oil  companies  to  impose  strict 
cost-saving measures, delay maintenance services, and continue to run their equipment for longer periods 
of time. Order intake gross margin declined by 1.3 percentage points. Despite significant growth in Africa, 
overall activity in EMEA was slightly lower, mainly because of a weak European market. Therefore, Rotating 
Equipment Services has introduced various restructuring measures in EMEA. While demand in Asia-Pacific 
improved, activity in the Americas declined slightly from 2014. Higher demand in North America partially 
compensated for the difficult market environment in Latin America.

Peter Alexander, Division President 
Rotating Equipment Services

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Business Review—Rotating Equipment Services

41

Sales slightly decreased—operational EBITA improved 
Sales decreased slightly by 1.9%. This figure is based on weak performance in EMEA resulting from the  
low oil price and an unbalanced workload due to timing of large orders. Operational EBITA increased by 
8.8% in 2015, mainly driven by a stronger US domestic market, an internal shift of costs, and strict cost 
control measures. Operational ROSA also improved. 

Frequency of accidents decreased
In 2015, the frequency of accidents (accident frequency rate; AFR) decreased by 13.8%. The company’s 
safe behavior program (SBP), which focuses on minor and near-accident reporting as well as comprehen-
sive root cause analysis, led to this improvement. The number of lost days per million working hours (acci-
dent severity rate; ASR) increased by 23.4%. This rise is less a result of severe accidents but is rather based 
on local legal restrictions (regarding temporary light-duty work assignments, which allow injured employees 
to return to work earlier). Please read more about the company’s safety and health efforts on page 48.

Key figures Rotating Equipment Services

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order intake gross margin

Order backlog

Sales

EBIT

opEBITA

opROSA

opROCEA

Change in 
+/–%1)

– 0.9

+/–%

– 3.7

– 3.4

– 4.3

– 21.0

– 1.9

9.8

8.8

2015

2014

698.2

725.2

30.5%

31.8%

205.0

212.2

693.2

724.6

51.4

70.8

65.1

64.5

10.2%

8.9%

16.8%

15.8%

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

3 538

3 709

– 4.6

1)   Adjusted for currency effects.

Sales by market segments

25%
General 
industry

2%
Water

2015

47%
Oil and 
gas

26%
Power

Sales by regions

11%
Asia- 
Pacific

54%
Americas

2015

35%
Europe, 
Middle 
East, and 
Africa

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

If not otherwise indicated, changes 
compared with the previous year are 
based on currency-adjusted figures.

42

Order Intake Slightly Increased—
New Product Generation Introduced

Order intake increased slightly in 2015 compared with the previous year. Sales, op-
erational EBITA, and operational ROSA decreased. Sulzer adapted the operational 
setup of Chemtech, acquired InterWeld Inc Ltd, and introduced a new high perfor-
mance random packing generation.

“We took immediate actions 
and adapted our operational 
setup in 2015 to counter the 
market headwinds. These 
measures helped us keep  
our operational ROSA on a 
double-digit level.”

Setup adapted and new random packing generation introduced
Based on shrinking markets, increasing competition—particularly in China and Southeast Asia—and the 
strong Swiss franc, Sulzer adapted the operational setup of Chemtech. The company discontinued parts 
of its manufacturing activities in China, Singapore, Canada, and Switzerland. 

In 2015, Sulzer acquired the business of InterWeld Inc Ltd, Belfast, Northern Ireland. This acquisition broad-
ened the service portfolio of Chemtech with weld overlay solutions. To better serve customers’ needs, Sulzer 
combined the Process Technology and Mass Transfer Technology business units of Chemtech to form the 
new Separation Technology business unit as of August 2015.

Oliver Bailer,  
Division President Chemtech

Sulzer introduced NeXRing™, a new random packing generation. Designed for use in all random packing 
applications, the new product provides significant benefits in efficiency and capacity over established ran-
dom packing types (more on page 45). Furthermore, the division was awarded two long-term supply agree-
ments to provide structured and random packings to all Petrobras refineries in Brazil.

Slight increase in order intake
Order intake increased slightly by 1.4% compared with the previous year. Orders in the oil and gas market 
remained stable, mainly based on a strong order intake from the Middle East in the Tower Field Services 
business  unit.  Demand  in  general  industry  dropped,  mainly  because  the  process  technology  business 
slightly  decreased.  The  Sulzer  Mixpac  Systems  business  unit  showed  slight  growth,  despite  the  strong 
Swiss franc. Order intake gross margin declined by 0.1 percentage points. Regionally speaking, demand 
was stable in Europe and Africa, while the Middle East grew strongly. Excluding base effects, activity in   
the Americas was stable. The severe market downturn in the Asia-Pacific region—particularly in China— 
impacted Chemtech’s order intake.

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Business Review—Chemtech

43

Decrease in sales and operational EBITA
Sales decreased by 7.8% compared with the previous year. The difficult market environment in China ac-
counted for decreasing sales in the Separation Technology business unit. Operational EBITA dropped by 
25.5%, mainly due to weak performance in China. Operational ROSA also declined, but still remained on a 
double-digit level. 

Improved safety performance clouded by fatality
The  Chemtech  division  lowered  its  accident  frequency  rate  (AFR)  significantly  by  9.5%.  However,  this 
 performance was clouded by a fatality; one employee died in an occupational accident while working at a 
client’s site. Sulzer is profoundly dismayed by this fatality. Investigations to understand the root causes are 
ongoing. This accident led to an increase of the accident severity rate (ASR) by 18.0%. Please read more 
about the company’s safety and health efforts on page 48.

Key figures Chemtech

millions of CHF

Order intake

Order intake gross margin

Order backlog

Sales

EBIT

opEBITA

opROSA

opROCEA

2015

2014

708.9

718.4

+/–%

– 1.3

Change in 
+/–%1)

1.4

35.6%

35.7%

307.7

282.0

669.6

741.5

33.5

67.4

78.4

93.6

10.1%

12.6%

16.6%

27.3%

9.1

– 9.7

– 57.3

– 7.8

– 28.0

– 25.5

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

3 539

4 287

– 17.4

1)   Adjusted for currency effects.

Sales by market segments

67%
Oil and 
gas

2015

2015

36%
Europe, 
Middle 
East, and 
Africa

32%
General 
industry

1%
Power

Sales by regions

28%
Asia- 
Pacific

36%
Americas

–  See abbreviations on fold-out page.

If not otherwise indicated, changes 
compared with the previous year are 
based on currency-adjusted figures.

44

Embedding Sustainability  
in Daily Business

Sulzer  wants  to  do  business  responsibly.  The  company  embeds  its  sustainability 
activities in daily business and sets up suitable management frameworks, systems, 
and processes.

Vision

Our customers recognize us for our 
lead ing technologies and services as  
well as for delivering innovative and 
sustainable solutions.

The global QESH (Quality, Environment, Safety, and Health) network and functional councils such as HR, 
Legal and Compliance, and a global Procurement organization drive the sustainability agenda at Sulzer. The 
group function ESH is in charge of company-wide environment, safety, and health management, which in-
cludes defining and implementing ESH standards and initiatives. To ensure quality (Q) management is close 
to the business, it is carried out on a divisional and a local level.

Values

 —  Customer Partnership: We exceed the 
expectations of our customers with 
innovative and competitive solutions.
 —  Operational Excellence: We perform 
on the basis of structured work 
processes and LEAN principles.

 —  Committed People: We are committed 
to high standards and show respect 
for people.

Strategic priorities

 — Technology leadership 
 — Outstanding services 
 — Continuous operational improvement 
 — Collaborative advantage

Global functional coordination teams are responsible for the information transfer and collaboration between 
the group and divisional functions. The QESH officers consult with line management on QESH topics, es-
tablish local organizations, and conduct regular training workshops.

Complying with international laws and standards
As an international company, Sulzer complies with international and national hard law as well as soft law. 
The company applies the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the United Nations’ Universal Dec-
laration of Human Rights and its protocols, the UN Global Compact (UNGC), and the ILO’s Declaration on 
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998. Furthermore, the company participates in the Green-
house Gas (GHG) Protocol and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

Sulzer’s integrated management system is based on global standards and norms. All manufacturing and 
service activities are performed under the issued certificates ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 and/
or SCC. Due to the discontinuation of locations, the rate of certified sites decreased in 2015. However, it 
remained  high;  in  total,  85%  of  all  sites  have  earned  the  ISO  9001;  65%  the  ISO  14001;  and  74%  the 
OHSAS 18001/SCC. The company conducts internal and external QESH audits regularly to ensure legal 
compliance and compliance with Sulzer’s internal standards and programs. In 2015, 28 Sulzer QESH and 
external health and safety audits were completed (2014: 18). 

LEAN and safe behavior
Two of the cornerstones of its sustainability efforts are Sulzer’s Safe Behavior Program (SBP, read more on 
page 48) and Sulzer LEAN. While SBP focuses on implementing a preventive safety culture, the LEAN ini-
tiative has the goal of creating value for customers and other stakeholders by reducing waste of all kinds 
(e.g., overproduction, unnecessary transport, defects, excess inventory, and more). 

Fair and transparent reporting
Sulzer collects data systematically and continues to report on its financial as well as extrafinancial perfor-
mance.  The  centralized  reporting  platform  provides  an  integrated  approach  for  group-wide  reporting 
across functions. The data is generated and collected on the site level. As a reference, the number of total 
working hours is used. Overall, 85% of total working hours report on environmental data. The coverage of 
occupational health and safety data is 86% (of total working hours); 100% (of total working hours) report 
on HR data. Extrafinancial data is collected according to two different reporting cycles: Environmental data 
cover the reporting period October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015. The reporting cycle for the health and 
safety indicators AFR and ASR as well as HR data is the financial calendar year, i.e., January 1, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015. During the internal Sulzer audits, the ESH team reviews environmental data critically 
in coordination with the audited site to ensure accurate reporting of the figures.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Business Review—Innovation and Technology

45

Observing Global Trends—Providing 
Innovative Solutions

Global megatrends and their effects force society to think about new technological 
solutions. Sulzer helps manage the ever-increasing demands of a globalized world 
with its innovative products and services.

Today’s technology is already partially able to mitigate negative consequences of climate change. To foster 
this development, companies must reshape themselves as well as their products and services continuously. 
In  2015,  Sulzer  invested  CHF  73.4  million  in  research  and  development  (2014:  CHF  76.2  million).  This 
equals 2.5% relative to sales (2014: 2.4% of sales). In total, the company filed 30 patents in 2015.

Providing pumps for solar project in China 
Environment-friendly technology is on the rise. In China, CGN Delingha Solar Energy Co. Ltd launched the 
first 50 MW solar thermal power project. The plant will consist of a concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) 
system, which uses pumps to circulate the heat transfer fluid (HTF). Sulzer has successfully supplied vari-
ous pumps for such critical HTF applications to CSP plants in Spain, USA, India, Morocco, and South  Africa. 
Therefore, the Chinese customer trusted Sulzer with the order of the heat-transfer-circulation pumps and 
additional equipment. Sulzer provided an efficient, economical, and competitive solution to CGN Delingha. 
Since this is the first 50 MW CSP project in China, it will help to position Sulzer for future solar thermal power 
projects in China.

“Every solution starts with a 
customer’s need. By observ-
ing the markets closely and 
addressing global megatrends, 
we set the foundation for our 
innovative technology.”

Ralf Gerdes,  
Head Global Technology

Adapting to customer needs
In Eastern European oilfields, several thousand pumps are installed. Most of them are relatively old and in 
need  of  overhauls.  A  competitor  challenged  Sulzer’s  retrofit  business  by  offering  low-end  and  low-price 
pumps with acceptable but rapidly decreasing efficiency levels. Further, they showed rather unsatisfactory 
quality and reliability compared with industry standards. To offer an alternative to its premium, engineered 
retrofits, Sulzer has developed cost- and time-efficient standardized retrofit solutions. The upgraded pumps 
are  as  efficient  as  competitors’  pumps,  however,  their  efficiency  is  stable  and  their  reliability  does  not 
 decrease  over  time.  Sulzer  offers  the  standard  retrofits  at  an  even  more  competitive  price  than  the  
original low-end pumps. A further advantage is reduced lead time; the retrofits can be installed within one 
to three months.

Number of patents

30

(2014: 36)

Increasing output of hydrogenerator by 15%
Because much of the UK hydroelectric capacity was built during the 1950s, the time for large-scale over-
hauls and refurbishments is rapidly approaching. Sulzer’s Service Center in Falkirk, Scotland, was awarded 
a turnkey project to repair one of two generators at the Lochay Power Station, near Stirling, Scotland. One 
of the generators—commissioned in 1958—started to exhibit some noise and vibration issues. Sulzer re-
furbished the hydrogenerator and was able to increase the overall output by 15% (from 22 MW to 25.6 MW). 
Furthermore, the engineers extended the generator’s working life for another 40 years.

Combining capacity, efficiency, and strength
Reducing emissions has become an important means of mitigating climate change. To purify natural gas 
and absorb CO2, separation columns can use either a random or a structured packing. Sulzer has devel-
oped NeXRing™, a new generation of high-performance random packing. This new product provides an 
industry-leading combination of capacity, efficiency, and strength. The open structure of the random pack-
ing design lowers the pressure drop by 50% from that of conventional packing. The first test results are 
promising; the capacity of a CO2 absorber increased by 10% after the conventional random packing was 
replaced with NeXRing. Furthermore, the combination of more efficient separation with lower pressure drop 
translates into significant cost savings.

R&D investments 

CHF 73m

(2.5% of sales) 
(2014: CHF 76m/2.4% of sales)

46

“ISO 14001 helps Sulzer 
continually improve its 
ecological performance  
in a diverse production  
and service environment.”

Daniel Oehler,  
Head of Group Environment, 
Safety, and Health

Energy consumption

GJ in 1 000

GJ /1 000 whr

1 400

1 200

1 000

800

600

400

200

0

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

2011   2012   2013   2014   2015

Total energy consumption in GJ 

GJ /1 000 working hours (whr)

Improving Environmental  
Performance with Local Initiatives

To reduce its environmental footprint, Sulzer’s production and service sites carry out 
local initiatives based on mandatory ISO 14001 certifications. In 2015, the company 
further  extended  its  environmental  reporting  scope.  While  energy  con sumption 
 remained stable, greenhouse gas emissions, waste production, and water consump-
tion decreased. 

Sulzer aims to reduce its environmental footprint systematically. Decreasing energy consumption, green-
house gas (GHG) emissions, production of waste, and water consumption are the company’s focus areas. 
To achieve this goal, local sites have improvement programs in place. Moreover, the company adjusted the 
reporting requirements for fuel consumption in 2015 and expanded it from on-site transportation to all ve-
hicles operated by Sulzer. This measure will further increase the quality of the company’s environmental 
data. 

Changes in the energy mix
The changed reporting requirements resulted in a modified energy mix. Total energy consumption remained 
stable in 2015. The use of electricity, fuel oils, and district heating decreased by 8%. Both gas and fuel 
consumption increased by 1% and 93%, respectively. Sulzer has a rolling year-on-year target to maintain 
or lower energy consumption per 1 000 working hours. The company has met this target. The energy con-
sumption per 1 000 working hours remained stable in 2015.

In 2016, the company plans to conduct a pilot project in one of the divisions to reduce the energy con-
sumption of its car fleet. In addition, Sulzer’s QESH (Quality, Environment, Safety, and Health) network will 
continue to focus on sharing best practices regarding energy-reducing measures. In this way, the company 
strives to keep its energy use stable or to lower it from last year’s level.

Decrease of greenhouse gas emissions 
Sulzer reports greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (scopes 1, 2, and 31)) according to the Greenhouse Gas 
Protocol and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) initiative. To meet current reporting practices, the com-
pany updated scope 1 reporting fundamentally by introducing new CO2 emission factors in 2015. These 
factors will be reviewed and updated each year.

In 2015, scope 1 emissions, which predominantly stem from the use of fossil energy sources, increased 
by 5%. The increase of emissions from fuel consumption because of the changed reporting requirements 
was partially offset by the strong decrease of direct emissions from chemicals (refrigerants). Scope 2 and 3 
emissions  decreased  by  7%  and  5%,  respectively.  Both  improvements  stem  from  changes  in  the  coun-
try-specific energy mixes. With a decrease of 5% in 2015, Sulzer met its year-on-year rolling target to main-
tain or reduce GHG emissions in CO2 eq. per 1 000 working hours. In the short term, the planned pilot 
projects mentioned above to reduce fuel consumption will affect the amount of CO2 emissions. To further 
improve the accuracy of its reporting, the company intends to expand its GHG reporting to business flights 
in 2016. 

Avoiding, reusing, and recycling waste
At Sulzer, waste is usually managed locally as part of ISO-14001-certified environmental management sys-
tems. To decrease industrial waste, Sulzer follows the principle “avoid, reuse, and recycle”. Waste quanti-
ties vary typically from year to year and depend strongly on the type of projects conducted as well as on 
construction work done at Sulzer. The company evaluates waste production in two ways: by looking into 
the waste’s hazardousness, and by considering its treatment. Generally, recycling rates are comparatively 
high at Sulzer because of the materials used: metals, sandblasting residues, and foundry residues are  fairly 
easy to recycle.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Business Review—Ecological Sustainability

47

In 2015, total waste decreased by 5%. With a decrease of waste produced by 6% per 1 000 working hours, 
Sulzer met its year-on-year rolling target to maintain or reduce waste quantities (per 1 000 working hours)
compared with last year’s values. In 2016, the company plans to conduct pilot projects with a zero waste 
policy at selected sites. It aims to improve the amount of recycling by sharing best practices about waste 
management.

Decrease of water consumption
Sulzer collects data on the water consumption and discharge of its operations. To shrink its organizational 
water footprint, the company focuses primarily on reducing water consumption. For Sulzer as a manufac-
turer of pumps for the water market, water risks are market related and—to a much lesser extent—related 
to operations. 

Overall, water consumption decreased by 17% in 2015. While 37% of the water used was for cooling pur-
poses, 35% was process water. The consumption by m3/1 000 working hours decreased by 17%. So, the 
year-on-year rolling target to maintain or reduce the water consumption per 1 000 working hours was met.

Hazardous waste

Tons

14 000

12 000

10 000

8 000

6 000

4 000

2 000

0

t /1 000 whr

0.45

0.40

0.35

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.00

Key figures

Energy 

2011   2012   2013   2014   2015

Total hazardous waste in t (metric) 

t /1 000 working hours (whr)

2015

2014

Change 
in +/– %

GJ

970 832

965 814

0.5

 — Energy consumption per working hours (whr)

GJ per 1 000 whr

 — Share of electricity 

 — Share of gases

 — Share of fuels

 — Share of fuel oils

 — Share of district heating

 — Share of other sources

Greenhouse gas emissions

 — GHG emissions per working hours 

 — GHG scope 11)

 — GHG scope 2 1)

 — GHG scope 3 1)

Waste 

37

55

24

12

2

7

< 1

37

60

24

6

2

7

1

%

%

%

%

%

%

tons CO2 eq.

105 960

110 820

tons CO2 eq.  
per 1 000 whr

tons CO2 eq.

tons CO2 eq.

tons CO2 eq.

4.06

4.28

20 560

19 550

66 290

71 210

19 110

20 060

tons

29 071

30 666

– 9

1

93

– 11

– 10

4

– 4

– 5

5

– 7

– 5

– 5

– 6

– 17

– 17

 — Waste per working hours

tons per 1 000 whr

1.1

1.2

By treatment

 — Recycling

 — Waste to landfill/incineration/other treatment

By hazardousness

 — Non-hazardous waste

 — Hazardous waste

Water

%

%

%

%

66

34

84

16

66

34

85

15

m3 1 311 922 1 581 631

 — Water consumption per working hours

m3 per 1 000 whr 

50

61

1)  Scope 1: direct emissions from Sulzer stemming from primary energy sources such as natural gas and fuels used 
on-site; scope 2: indirect emissions from secondary (converted) energy sources such as electricity and district 
heating; scope 3: indirect emissions from the production and transport of fuels and gases not included in scopes 1 or 2.

   Find further sustainability data at  

www.sulzer.com/sustainability

48

Accidents

Number 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

Safe Behavior and Targeted Talent 
Promotion 

The  company  focuses  on  providing  a  healthy  and  safe  work  environment  for  its 
roughly  14 000  employees  in  over  40  countries.  To  achieve  sustainable  business 
success, Sulzer offers learning and development opportunities as well as tools that 
enable cooperation and respectful behavior.

As an industrial company with over 170 locations around the world, Sulzer considers the health and safety 
of its employees as an essential asset. Because people work in different surroundings such as offices, fac-
tories, and at customers’ sites, the safety risks are manifold and—in part—difficult to control. Employees 
need to feel responsible for their own safety as well as the safety of their colleagues.

Empowering employees to act safely
Sulzer’s global Safe Behavior Program (SBP) is designed to foster a team-oriented approach to safety. It 
focuses on developing safety leadership as well as employee empowerment. Thanks to the efforts within 
the SBP, Sulzer reached an accident frequency rate (AFR) below two cases per million working hours—the 
lowest AFR ever in its history. In general, Sulzer continued to decrease the severity of its accidents (mea-
sured by accident severity rate; ASR). To improve the effectiveness of the SBP, Sulzer instigated the Safety 
Culture Assessment program. In 2015, almost all Sulzer sites were visited by independent safety experts. 
They analyzed the maturity of the local safety culture and provided direct guidance on how to further im-
prove safety management systems and leadership competence. 

Despite  the  company’s  efforts,  a  total  of  57  major  accidents  happened  at  Sulzer  in  2015,  resulting  in 
1 444 lost working days. One employee died in an occupational accident while working at a client’s site. 
Sulzer is profoundly dismayed by this fatality. Investigations to understand the root causes are ongoing. 
Sulzer remains committed to pursuing its ultimate goal of zero accidents. 

2011   2012   2013   2014   2015

Cases that last > 1 lost day due to 
 occupational accidents

Accident frequency rate (AFR) in cases  
per million working hours

To address a subject which is central to safety excellence, Sulzer launched a pilot program aimed at raising 
safety leadership and risk competence skills at the managerial level in 2015. Beginning in Asia and pro-
gressing to Europe, over 100 senior and mid-level managers participated in a series of workshops. These 
are designed to increase the managers’ ability to engage the workforce more proactively and with greater 
consistency in safety. Because safety excellence depends on the abilities of all members of a team, Sulzer 
plans to develop further trainings and workshops to enhance safety competence at all levels.

Local initiatives to balance work and free time
Sulzer is aware that work-life balance, personal development, and flexibility are becoming more and more 
important in a job. Thus, the company supports local sites in offering opportunities in this field. For example, 
Chemtech’s CT Balance program is designed to improve health and work-life balance. It involves numerous 
events, campaigns, and workshops that are individually designed and adapted to the needs of local staff. 
Another initiative is the Work Positive program launched by the Pumps Equipment site in Wexford, Ireland, 
in 2015. The platform includes guidelines and literature as well as on-site training in stress management 
and improving work-life balance.

Training leaders with targeted programs
For  employees  to  live  out  the  one  company  approach,  learning  processes  have  to  be  aligned.  Thus,   
Sulzer’s training efforts focus on developing a common business understanding and fostering collaboration 
across borders. 

The company specifically trains its leaders to lead by example. The Sulzer Management Training (SMT) im-
parts management basics as well as current leadership topics to executives who are new in their roles. The 
program  has  been  rolled  out  globally  and  supports  the  company’s  strategic  goals  and  its  ongoing 
 reorganization. More than 60 participants in all three regions passed the SMT in 2015. Leaders who aim to 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Business Review—Social Sustainablility

49

develop their individual capabilities and to reach a new leadership level can participate in the Leadership 
Program for Development and Impact (PDI). In 2015, 75 managers and experts participated in one of the 
PDI. Thanks to its efforts, Sulzer filled 60% of leadership positions with internal talent in 2015. 

Sulzer’s learning and development programs comprise different learning methodologies and concepts, in-
cluding new media. Employees are able to adapt these technologies in their own business environment. 
The Learning Management System (LMS), a cloud-based platform for training and development adminis-
tration, supports them in this regard. The company has completed the implementation of the LMS in the 
entire Pumps Equipment division and will continue to introduce it throughout the company.

Facilitated processes thanks to global eHR tool
Efficient human resources (HR) management is becoming an important competitive factor. In recent years, 
Sulzer has implemented an electronic human resources (eHR) management platform. Currently, it contains 
information on more than 7 500 employees, secures the data centrally, and enables access from all local 
sites. The eHR application grants access to all global and local training workshops across the company. It 
allows HR processes such as recruiting, performance management, succession, or competency to be per-
formed online. In the years to come, Sulzer will focus on further rolling out the application globally. With its 
venture into eHR, the company is ahead of many competitors and is well-equipped for the future.

Embracing different backgrounds 
At Sulzer, employees collaborate across borders—geographic, cultural, and demographic ones. The com-
pany’s workforce is geographically spread all over the world. Both Sulzer and its customers benefit from 
this proximity. Sulzer also appreciates age differences and welcomes fresh impetus; experienced employ-
ees  work  closely  with  apprentices  and  younger  professionals  to  embrace  different  viewpoints.  In  2015, 
14.5%  of  the  company’s  workforce  was  female.  Close  collaboration  with  academic  institutions  enables 
Sulzer to attract talented young women and men.

Code of Business Conduct guiding all behavior
Sulzer shows respect for every individual’s fundamental rights and supports human rights throughout its 
value chain. The company’s strong vision and values, its Code of Business Conduct, and its efficient com-
pliance system guide employees on responsible and ethically correct behavior. The company continuously 
increases its efforts to ensure a fair, non-discriminatory, and safe work environment. Read more on corpo-
rate governance on page 51.

Key figures

Accident frequency rate (AFR)

Accident severity rate (ASR)

Health and safety training 

Voluntary attrition rate

Share of women (of total workforce)

Leaders from internal talent pipeline

Number of employees

2015

2014

Change 
in +/– %

Cases per million 
working hours

Lost days per million 
working hours 

1.9

2.6

– 24.0

48.1

53.9

– 10.8

hours

106 610

81 768

30.4

%

%

%

7.5

14.5

60

7.2

14.0

0.3

0.5

89

– 29.0

FTE

14 253

15 494

– 8.0

“Achieving the best safety 
result in our company history 
makes us proud of our 
em ployees. It shows that  
they feel responsible and 
take their own and their 
colleagues’ safety seriously.”

Andreas Hugener,  
Head Group Human Resources a.i.

Geographical spread  
of employees

20%
Asia- 
Pacific

29%
Americas

2015

51%
Europe, 
Middle  
East, and 
Africa

   Find further sustainability data at  

www.sulzer.com/sustainability

50

History of sustainability at Sulzer
Sulzer has a long tradition of responsible action. The company builds on its strong industrial heritage and 
engineering competence. Sulzer aims to improve its economic, social, and ecological performance over 
time.

Year

1834

1845

1870

1872

1890

1919

1945

1988

1990

1991

1992

1993

1995

1996

1997

1998

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Measures

First statement on “getting it right the first time” from Johann Jakob Sulzer

Sickness Benefit Association for factory workers

Company-owned apprentice workshop for young craftsmen

Society for low-cost housing construction

First workers’ council in Switzerland

Switzerland’s first regularly published customer magazine Sulzer Technical Review (STR)

First working memberships in ISO committees

Founding member of the European foundation for quality management (EFQM)

First employee participation program

First environmental policy

Reissue of traditional quality principles, quality as “the attitude in all we do”

Official launch of ISO 9001 certification campaign 
Start of environmental data collection

First product life cycle analysis

First external environmental report 
First ISO 14001 certificate

First external social report 
Corporate values with important total quality elements

Principles of cooperation

Integrated QESH management systems based on ISO 9001:2000

First comprehensive sustainability data collection

Corporate values
Code of Business Conduct
SEED database for sustainability data collection
First internal SA 8000 and OHSAS 18001 audits

Corporate risk council
First lean production initiative

First external report on sustainability
SEED light database for smaller sites

QESH as a key process for operational excellence
Program for Development and Impact (PDI)

Health and safety awareness program
SEED mini database for service sites

First GRI A+ rating for the Sulzer Sustainability Report
Sulzer safety rules
New competency framework

Sulzer core values
New employer branding strategy
Sustainability Council established

First environmental product declarations (EPD)
Corporate-wide LEAN platform to foster organizational excellence

Global employee engagement survey
Corporate-wide initiative to increase diversity

New strategic priorities
Rollout of global Safe Behavior Program (SBP)

Consolidation of financial and extrafinancial reporting platforms onto SAP-BPC initiated

Global employee engagement survey
Consolidation of financial and extrafinancial reporting platforms onto SAP-BPC completed

First time to achieve an accident frequency rate below two cases per million working hours
Extension of environmental reporting scope

Sulzer—Annual Report 201551

Corporate 
Governance

54 

 Corporate Structure  
and Shareholders

54  Capital Structure

55  Board of Directors

64  Executive Committee 

64  Shareholder Participation  

Rights

65   Takeover and Defense  

Measures

65  Auditors

68  Risk Management

70 

Information Policy

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

 
Corporate Governance

53

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.

In brief

Core principles

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 laws and applies the Swiss Code of 
Best Practice for Corporate Governance.

See page 54

Board composition

The Board of Directors comprises seven members. Each member is elected individually. The term for mem-
bers of the Board of Directors is one year. Except for the elections reserved to the Shareholders’ Meeting, 
the Board of Directors constitutes  itself.  It 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). 

See pages 55 – 57 

Committees of the Board

There are three standing committees within the Board of Directors:
 —  The Audit Committee assesses the midyear and annual accounts and the activities of the internal 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 succession plan-
ning, 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 acquisi-
tions, divestitures, alliances, and joint ventures) as well as strategic planning and definition of develop-
ment priorities.

See pages 57 – 60

Changes

The following changes occurred in the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee:
 —  Luciano Respini, member of the Board of Directors since April 2004, did not stand for reelection at the 

Annual General Meeting of April 1, 2015.

 —  Gerhard Roiss was newly elected as a member of the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting 

of April 1, 2015. 

 — All other Board members were reelected for terms of one year.
 —  Fabrice  Billard  was  appointed  Chief  Strategy  Officer  and  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  as  of 

March 1, 2015.

 — Klaus Stahlmann resigned as Chief Executive Officer on August 10, 2015.
 —  Thomas Dittrich was appointed Chief Executive Officer ad interim (in addition to his role as Chief Finan-
cial Officer and member of the Executive Committee) as of August 10, 2015. He fulfilled this function 
until November 30, 2015.

 — Greg Poux-Guillaume was appointed Chief Executive Officer as of December 1, 2015.

See pages 55, 64

54

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 appli-
cation of sound corporate governance helps to consolidate and strengthen trust in the company. Sulzer has 
had a single share class and has separated the functions of Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO 
for many years. Since the Annual General Meeting of April 8, 2009, only individuals who have never held 
executive positions at Sulzer have been members of the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise indicated, the 
following information refers to the situation on December 31, 2015. Further information on corporate gov-
ernance 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 guidelines on corporate governance information (RLCG), with 
subsections summarized as far as possible. Sulzer’s consolidated financial statements comply with Inter-
national Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and in certain sections, readers are referred to the Financial 
Section in the Sulzer Annual Report 2015. The Compensation Report can be found on pages 71 to 92.

1  Corporate Structure and Shareholders

Corporate structure 
The operational corporate structure is shown in the graphic on page 60 and in the segment reports in the 
Financial Section on pages 125 to 127 (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, 2015, the market capitalization 
of all registered shares was CHF 3 232 654 600. Information on the major subsidiaries included in the con-
solidation can be found under note 37 on pages 152 to 155 of the Financial Section.

Significant shareholders 
According to notifications of Sulzer shareholders, two shareholders held more than 3% of Sulzer Ltd’s share
capital on December 31, 2015. On December 8, 2015 (published on the SIX disclosure platform on Decem-
ber 16, 2015), Victor Vekselberg held 63.42% of Sulzer shares. The shares are directly held by Liwet Hold-
ing AG and Tiwel Holding AG. Both are part of the Renova Group. On February 16, 2015 (published on the 
SIX disclosure platform on February 25, 2015), T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., held 3.06% of Sulzer shares. 
For detailed information, see the respective disclosure notifications on www.six-exchange-regulation.com/
en/home/publications/significant-shareholders.html.  For  the  positions  held  by  Sulzer  and  information  on 
shareholders, see note 24 in the Financial Section (page 144). 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 Shareholders’ Meeting. There is neither any authorized nor conditional capital, nor are there any 
participation or dividend certificates. The latest version of the Articles of Association can be viewed at www.
sulzer.com/regulations. Information on capital changes can be found in the Financial Statements of Sulzer 
Ltd (page 160). 

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 con-
ditions: 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 entered in the com-
mercial 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 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Corporate Governance—Corporate Structure and Shareholders

55

 entitled,  beyond  these  limits,  to  enter  shares  of  nominees  with  voting  rights  in  the  share  register  if  the 
abovementioned conditions are met (see also paragraph 6a of the Articles of Association at www.sulzer.
com/regulations). On December 31, 2015, ten nominees holding a total of 1 824 623 shares (5.33% 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 restrictions 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 represented.

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 restricted 
stock  units  (from  2009)  as  well  as  performance  share  units  issued  to  the  members  of  the  Executive 
 Committee (in 2010 and yearly as from 2013) are set out in the Financial Section under note 33 (pages 150 
to 151) and in the Financial Statements of Sulzer Ltd under note 9 (pages 165 to 166). 

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 members of the 
Board of Directors and Sulzer Ltd or a subsidiary of Sulzer Ltd. Exceptions are Peter Löscher and Marco 
Musetti  who  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. 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 33 
on pages 150 to 151. 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. 
Luciano Respini, member of the Board of Directors since April 2004, did not stand for reelection at the 
 Annual  General Meeting of April 1, 2015. Gerhard Roiss was newly elected as a member of the Board of 
Directors at the Annual General Meeting of April 1, 2015. All other Board members were reelected for terms 
of one year. Accordingly, as of April 1, 2015, the Board of Directors comprises seven members: three from 
Austria, one from Italy, one from Singapore, and two from Switzerland. Professional expertise and interna-
tional experience played a key role in the selection of the members. The members of the Board of Directors 
are presented on pages 58 to 59 and their CVs can be viewed at www.sulzer.com/board. 

According to the Board of Directors and Organization Regulations, 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. The Board of Directors can make exceptions up to but not exceeding the year in which the mem-
ber reaches the age of 73. 

56

Internal organization 
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 Nom-
ination and Remuneration Committee, who are elected by the Shareholders’ Meeting. In the Board meeting 
following the Annual General Meeting of April 1, 2015, Matthias Bichsel was appointed as Vice Chairman. 
There  are  currently  three  standing  Board  committees:  the  Audit  Committee  (AC),  the  Nomination  and 
 Remuneration Committee (NRC), and the Strategy Committee (SC); for their constitutions, see page 57. The 
Board of Directors and Organization Regulations and the relevant Committee Regulations, which are published 
at www.sulzer.com/regulations, define the division of responsibilities between the Board of Directors and the 
CEO. They also define the authorities and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and of 
the three standing Board committees.

Operating principles of the Board of Directors and its committees 
All decisions are made by the full Board of Directors. For each application, written documentation is dis-
tributed 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 
per year, the Audit Committee and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee meet at least three times 
per year, and the Strategy Committee meets at least twice a year. In 2015, the Board held one full-day 
meeting, three half-day meetings, and nine shorter Board meetings. The latter lasted about one hour on 
average. For further details, see the table below. The CEO, the CFO, and the Group General Counsel (who 
is the Secretary of the Board of Directors) also generally attend the Board meetings in an advisory role. 
Other members of the Executive Committee are invited to attend Board meetings as required to discuss 
the midterm planning, the strategy, and the budget, as well as division-specific items (such as large invest-
ments and acquisitions).

The committees do not make any decisions, but rather 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 meet-
ing 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. 

Board of Directors

Name

Nationality

Position

Peter Löscher 

Austria

Chairman, Chairman SC

Entry

March 2014

Matthias Bichsel

Switzerland

Vice Chairman of the Board 1), Member SC

March 2014

Gerhard Roiss 1)

Austria

Member SC

Jill Lee 

Singapore

Member AC, NRC 1)

Thomas Glanzmann

Switzerland

Chairman NRC, Member SC

Marco Musetti

Luciano Respini 2)

Italy

Italy

Member AC, NRC

Vice Chairman of the Board 2), Member NRC, SC

April 2004

Klaus Sturany

Austria

Chairman AC

August 2009

AC = Audit Committee, NRC = Nomination and Remuneration Committee, SC = Strategy Committee
1) as of April 1, 2015.
2) until April 1, 2015.

April 2015

April 2011

April 2012

April 2011

Attending meetings of the

Board

AC

NRC

SC

14

14

10

13

14

13

3

13

8

8

5

8

7

7

1

8

4

6

6

2

4

4

4

Elected 
until

2016

2016

2016

2016

2016

2016

2015

2016

Sulzer—Annual Report 201557

The Board of Directors and its committees

Board of Directors

Peter Löscher (Chairman)
Matthias Bichsel (Vice Chairman)

Klaus Sturany
Thomas Glanzmann
Jill Lee

Marco Musetti
Gerhard Roiss

Audit Committee
Klaus Sturany (Chairman)
Jill Lee
Marco Musetti

Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee
Thomas Glanzmann (Chairman)
Jill Lee
Marco Musetti

Strategy Committee
Peter Löscher (Chairman)
Matthias Bichsel
Thomas Glanzmann
Gerhard Roiss

Additional mandates of members of the Board of Directors outside the Sulzer group
According to Sulzer’s Articles of Association, the maximum number of additional mandates held by mem-
bers of the Board of Directors outside the Sulzer group is ten (of which, a maximum of four mandates may 
be with listed companies). Exceptions (e.g., for mandates held at the request of Sulzer or mandates in charity 
organizations) are defined in the Articles of Association. 

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; at least one meeting per year is dedicated to risk man-
agement  and  compliance.  The  regulations  of  the  Audit  Committee  can  be  viewed  at  www.sulzer.com/ 
regulations. 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, attend the meetings 
of the Audit Committee. In 2015, the Audit Committee held four meetings. The external auditor-in-charge 
attended  all  of  these  meetings.  Internal  experts,  such  as  the  Group  General  Counsel  and  the  Heads  of 
Group Internal Audit, Group Accounting, Group IT, Group ESH, Group Compliance and Risk Management, 
and Group Taxes gave presentations to the Audit Committee in 2015. 

In February, the Audit Committee receives and discusses a report addressing the exposures (results of pe-
riodic  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 manage-
ment process—a process to systematically identify and evaluate significant risks and introduce counter-
measures.  In  the  same  meeting,  an  update  on  Sulzer’s  compliance  approach,  including  the  respective 
 ongoing  and  planned  activities,  is  provided.  During  each  meeting,  the  major  current  compliance  cases   
(if any) are reported to and discussed by the Audit Committee.

>

Corporate Governance—Board of Directors58

Board of Directors

The  Sulzer  Board  of  Directors  consists  of  seven 
members who are elected individually for one-year 
terms.  None  of  them  has  ever  held  an  executive 
 position  at  Sulzer.  Gerhard  Roiss  was  elected  as 
new member of the Board of Directors in April 2015. 
Luciano Respini did not stand for reelection at the 
Annual General Meeting 2015.

Peter Löscher
Born in 1957, Austria
Joined the Board of Directors in 2014
Chairman of the Board of Directors /
Chairman of the Strategy Committee

Klaus Sturany
Born in 1946, Austria
Joined the Board of Directors in 2009
Chairman of the Audit Committee

Matthias Bichsel
Born in 1954, Switzerland
Joined the Board of Directors in 2014
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors /
Member of the Strategy Committee

Sulzer—Annual Report 201559

Gerhard Roiss
Born in 1952, Austria
Joined the Board of Directors in 2015
Member of the Strategy Committee

Thomas Glanzmann
Born in 1958, Switzerland
Joined the Board of Directors in 2012
Chairman of the Nomination and  
Remuneration Committee / 
Member of the Strategy Committee

Jill Lee
Born in 1963, Singapore
Joined the Board of Directors in 2011
Member of the Audit Committee / 
Member of the Nomination and  
Remuneration Committee

Marco Musetti
Born in 1969, Italy 
Joined the Board of Directors in 2011
Member of the Audit Committee / 
Member of the Nomination and  
Remuneration Committee

  For full CVs, go to: www.sulzer.com/board

Corporate Governance—Board of Directors60

Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee (members listed on page 57) assesses the criteria for the 
election and reelection of Board members and the nomination of candidates for the top two management 
levels. It deals with succession planning. It also regularly assesses the compensation systems and recom-
mends 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 
carries out broadly based compensation benchmarks with an international comparison group, supported 
by studies of consulting firms such as Mercer and Towers Watson, and it scrutinizes 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 Remuneration Committee can be viewed 
at www.sulzer.com/regulations. The CEO and the Head of Group Human Resources (who is also the Sec-
retary of this committee) attend the meetings of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. In 2015, six 
meetings were held. External experts from Towers Watson provided benchmarking services (see Compen-
sation Report, pages 71 to 92) 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 57) advises the Board of Directors on strategic matters 
(such as material acquisitions, divestitures, alliances, and joint ventures) as well as strategic planning and 
definition of development priorities. The regulations of the Strategy Committee can be viewed at www.sulzer.
com/regulations. In 2015, eight meetings took place. The CEO, the CFO, and the three Division Presidents 
attended all eight meetings. The Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) attended seven and the Group General Coun-
sel attended three 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. However, it is still 
responsible for matters that cannot be delegated in accordance with Art. 716a of the Swiss Code of Obli-
gations. These matters include corporate strategy, the approval of midterm planning, and the annual  budget, 

Organizational structure

Board of Directors

Chief Executive Officer
Greg Poux-Guillaume

Chief Financial Officer
Thomas Dittrich

Chief Strategy Officer
Fabrice Billard

Pumps Equipment
César Montenegro

Rotating Equipment 
Services
Peter Alexander

Chemtech
Oliver Bailer

Sulzer—Annual Report 201561

as  well  as  key  personnel  decisions  and  the  creation  of  the  compensation  report.  The  same  applies  to 
 acquisition and divestiture decisions involving an enterprise value exceeding CHF 15 million or CHF 20 mil-
lion  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, approv-
al 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 collaboration 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 information 
about the balance sheet, the income and cash flow statements, and key figures for the company and its 
divisions. They incorporate 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 developments and all 
matters relevant to the company; once each year, the Board receives the forecasted annual results. During 
these meetings, the chairmen of the committees also report 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 the CEO and other representatives of the Executive Committee. In addition, the Board of Directors 
receives an investor relations status update within the monthly reporting.

Group Internal Audit 
Group Internal Audit reports functionally directly to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, but administra-
tively to the CFO. Meetings between internal audit and external auditors take place regularly. They are used 
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 31 audits in the year under review. One of the focal points is 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 a year, the 
divisions present the status of key measures agreed on. A follow-up process is in place for all Group inter-
nal  audits,  which  allows  efficient  and  effective  monitoring  of  how  the  improvement  measures  are  being 
 implemented. 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 it is 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: 

Corporate Governance—Board of Directors62

Strong values and setting an ethical organizational tone
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 
and on all levels is a precondition for a successful and sustainable future. The ethical tone must be set at 
the top, carry through to the middle, and be transmitted to the entire organization. Sulzer 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 and with the Audit Com-
mittee. The Audit Committee dedicates at least one full meeting per year to risk management and compli-
ance. An overview of the main risks and corresponding mitigation measures is provided on pages 68 to 69.

Internal rules and tools
In 2010, Sulzer introduced a new Code of Business Conduct, which can be viewed at www.sulzer.com/
regulations in 19 languages. Every employee of the company (including employees of newly acquired busi-
nesses) has 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 com-
pliance  commitment  in  writing  annually.  Furthermore,  Sulzer  joined  the  UN  Global  Compact  initiative  in 
2010. The Communication on Progress Report for the year 2014 was published in 2015 and can be down-
loaded at www.sulzer.com/sustainability.

Rules 
Although Sulzer follows a behavior- and principle-based approach, it still requires internal rules that discuss 
boundaries, define processes, and provide guidance and decision support. Sulzer focuses on the major 
compliance risks, e.g.:
 —  Bribery  and  corruption  risks:  Sulzer  has  had  antibribery  and  anticorruption  guidelines  in  place  since 
2010. Further measures include a web-based process that addresses the due diligence of intermediar-
ies, a corporate-wide directive that sets maximum levels for offering and receiving gifts and hospitalities, 
and an e-training (in 13 languages) to familiarize Sulzer employees with the content of the directive. In 
2015, face-to-face training was conducted by local compliance officers at 36 locations.

 —  Antitrust and anticompetition risks: Sulzer has an antitrust guideline and a directive addressing behav-
iors in trade association in place. Employees representing Sulzer in trade association meetings have to 
sign a compliance declaration.

 —  Export control risks: Employees involved in export activities have to abide by export control policies and 
take  part  in  an  e-training  in  trade  compliance.  In  2015,  Sulzer  rolled  out  and  implemented  its  global 
Trade Control Directive in all legal entities concerned.

 —  Further  risks  (e.g.,  stock  exchange  laws,  human-resource-related  issues,  intellectual  property  and 
know-how, privacy and data protection laws, product liability, environmental, quality, and health, etc.): 
Focused rules and processes address these and many other potential risks. Sulzer has processes that 
ensure compliance with insider laws as well as stock exchange reporting and notification duties.

Tools
Because of the speak-up culture it strongly fosters, Sulzer set up a hotline that provides employees with one 
of many options for reporting (potential) violations of the laws or internal rules. Reports can be made anony-
mously 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 Sulzer’s intranet (e.g., presentations addressing the 
major exposures; draft agreements; sales and procurement handbooks with compliance-specific explanations 

Sulzer—Annual Report 201563

and  standard  clauses).  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. Local compli-
ance risk assessments were performed at 24 locations throughout 2015. The compliance risk assessment 
results will also be used to shape the 2016 Sulzer compliance program and to set the priorities in the fields 
of prevention, detection, and response.

Organization 
As  part  of  the  organizational  changes  at  Sulzer  in  2013,  a  “Legal,  Compliance,  and  Risk  Management” 
group  function  was  established  (headed  by  the  Group  General  Counsel).  Within  this  organization,  a  line 
 reporting structure was established for the three regions: Americas (AME); Europe, Middle East, and Africa 
(EMEA); and Asia-Pacific (APAC). The local Compliance Officers ultimately report—via Regional Compliance 
Officers—to the Group General Counsel (who is also the Chief Compliance Officer) in this structure. In addi-
tion, the headquartered Compliance and Risk Management team steers and runs the group-wide compli-
ance program. The Head of Risk Management and Compliance also reports to the Group General Counsel. 
To ensure the 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 Coun-
cil, comprising the CFO, the Group General Counsel, the Head of Internal Audit, the Head of Compliance 
and Risk Management, and representatives of other Group functions held one meeting in 2015. The Sulzer 
Risk Council’s tasks mainly include formulating and maintaining adequate risk management policies, sys-
tems, and guidelines; initiating and coordinating risk management activities; and advising the CEO and the 
Executive 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 about 
legal matters and key changes in legislation that may affect Sulzer, as well as on important litigation. Twice 
a year, the Audit Committee receives a report about any pending or threatened litigation with worst-case 
exposure exceeding CHF 0.5 million. Further information on reports to the Audit Committee is provided 
under Audit Committee on page 57.

Awareness building and trainings
Sulzer puts substantial effort into training its employees. Training is carried out through e-learning programs 
(two to three new programs are rolled out every year), in person, or through web conferences. In 2015, a 
“train the trainers” course was provided to the compliance officers in order to allow for the transfer of train-
ing contents to the local entities. In 2015, Sulzer employees completed over 22 000 e-learning courses, and 
the company conducted web conferences on specific compliance matters.

Controls and sanctions 
Headquarters Legal carried out 12 legal audits in 2015. 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  mea-
sures is monitored (follow-up process; see Group Internal Audit on page 61). Group Function Environment, 
Safety, and Health (ESH) carried out 11 audits and organized seven external health and safety compliance 
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 an 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. Apart from these formal audits, many internal inves-
tigations (triggered by reports from the compliance hotlines, e-mails, telephone calls, or other avenues of 
communication) were carried out during 2015 and at least nine employees had to leave Sulzer because of 
non-compliant behavior with Sulzer’s Code of Business Conduct. Others received warnings or were trans-
ferred internally. However, most of the reports received concerned non-material issues.

Corporate Governance—Board of Directors64

Continuous improvement
It is Sulzer’s goal to constantly improve its compliance and risk management approach. Findings of audits 
and internal investigations are assessed, internal processes and rules are adjusted, and training modules 
are improved. Sulzer always reviews compliance violations to determine whether they are rooted in a pro-
cess weakness. If that is found to be the case, the process is improved and risk-mitigating measures are 
set up.

Executive Committee 

4 
The Executive Committee consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), 
the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO; since March 1, 2015), and the Division Presidents. The Board of Directors 
delegates executive management powers to the CEO. The CEO delegates the appropriate powers to the 
Division Presidents. The Division Presidents define and attain business targets for their respective divisions 
in accordance with group-wide goals. The Board of Directors and Organization Regulations govern, among 
other things, the transfer of responsibilities from the Board of Directors to the CEO. 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 members of the Executive Committee are presented on pages 66 to 67 and their CVs can be viewed 
at www.sulzer.com/management.

Additional mandates of members of the Executive Committee outside the Sulzer group
No member of the Executive Committee may hold more than five mandates, of which no more than one 
may be in listed companies. Exceptions (e.g., for mandates held at the request of Sulzer or mandates in 
charity organizations) are defined in the Articles of Association.

5  Compensation Report
Information on the compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee can be found in 
the Compensation Report (pages 71 to 92).

6 

Shareholder Participation Rights

Restrictions and representation of voting rights
Only nominees are subject to  restrictions (see Capital Structure, page 54). No  exceptions were granted 
during  the  reporting  year,  and  no  measures  to  remove  these  restrictions  are  planned.  According  to  the 
 Articles of Association, a shareholder may be represented at a Shareholders’ Meeting by its legal represen-
tative, another shareholder with the right to vote, or the independent proxy. Shares held by a shareholder 
may be represented by only one person.

Statutory quorum
Changes to the Articles of Association may only be approved by a majority of at least two-thirds of the vot-
ing rights represented at the Shareholders’ Meeting; 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 de-
cided 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 16 of the Articles of Association).

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Corporate Governance—Executive Committee

65

Convocation of the Shareholders’ Meeting and submission of agenda items
The applicable regulations are in line with the applicable 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 already registered in the share register on the rec ord 
date stated in the invitation to the respective Shareholders’ Meeting. 

Independent proxy
At the Annual General Meeting of April 1, 2015, Proxy Voting Services GmbH was elected as the indepen-
dent proxy for a term of office extending until completion of the next Annual General Meeting.

Takeover and Defense Measures 

7 
The Articles of Association contain no opting-out or opting-up clauses. 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 before 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 71 to 92). 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 (RSU) are automatically vested and the performance share units (PSU) are automati-
cally 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. Since 2013, 
KPMG AG acts as the statutory auditor. 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 55). The members of the Audit Committee receive summaries 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 2015, he attended four Audit Committee meetings. The Audit Committee or its 
Chairman meets separately with the Head of Group Internal Audit and the external auditor-in-charge at least 
once a 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 presen-
tations provided by the auditors, as well as on the materiality and objectivity of their statements. To do so, 
the committee gathers the opinions of the CFO and the Head of Group Internal Audit. The Audit Committee 
reviews the fee paid to the auditor regularly and compares it with the auditing fees paid by other interna-
tionally active Swiss industrial companies. Said fee is negotiated by the CFO and approved by the Board of 
Directors. Further information on the auditor, in particular the auditor’s fees and any additional fees received 
by the auditor for advisory services outside its statutory audit mandate, is listed in the Financial Section 
under note 34 (page 151). All advisory services provided outside the statutory audit mandate (essentially, 
consulting services related to audit and accounting as well as legal and tax advisory services) are compliant 
with the applicable independence rules. 

>

66

Executive Committee

The  Sulzer  Executive  Committee  consists  of  the 
CEO,  the  CFO,  the  Chief  Strategy  Officer  (CSO), 
and  the  three  Division  Presidents.  Greg  Poux- 
Guillaume  was  appointed  new  CEO  in  November, 
effective  December  1,  2015.  Klaus  Stahlmann  left 
the company in August. From August to November, 
Thomas  Dittrich  took  over  as  CEO  ad  interim  in 
 addition to his duties as CFO. Fabrice Billard joined 
the Executive Committee as CSO in March.

Greg Poux-Guillaume
Born in 1970, France
Joined the Executive Committee in 2015
Chief Executive Officer

Thomas Dittrich
Born in 1964, Switzerland/Germany
Joined the Executive Committee in 2014
Chief Financial Officer

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Corporate Governance—Executive Committee

67

Fabrice Billard
Born in 1970, France
Joined the Executive Committee in 2015
Chief Strategy Officer

César Montenegro
Born in 1953, Venezuela/USA
Joined the Executive Committee in 2008
Division President Pumps Equipment

Peter Alexander
Born in 1958, USA
Joined the Executive Committee in 2005
Division President Rotating Equipment 
Services

Oliver Bailer
Born in 1967, Switzerland
Joined the Executive Committee in 2013
Division President Chemtech

  For full CVs, go to: www.sulzer.com/management

68

Enterprise Risk Management Process 
to Take Risk-Conscious Decisions

With  its  enterprise  risk-management  (ERM)  system,  Sulzer  has  an  integrated 
risk-management  system  in  place  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 45

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.

Operational

Attraction and retention
—  More information  

on page 48

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

Health and safety
—  More information  

on page 48

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.

 —  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

 —  Focus on innovation with strategic customers
 —  Innovation projects planned for 2016
 —  Implementation of an expert development 
program for key critical resources in 2016

 —  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 directives, 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

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Corporate Governance—Risk Management

69

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  

Risk

Operational

Compliance
—  More information  

on page 61

of potential exposures

 —  Sulzer Code of Business Conduct and  
a number of supporting regulations  
(e.g., anticorruption, antitrust, trade control)

 —  Global network of compliance and trade 

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 

Quality of products  
and services

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

Business interruptions

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 

Financial

Financial markets
—  More information  

on page 111

Credit
—  More information  

on page 113

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 

Liquidity
—  More information  

on page 113

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 group level
 —  Cash flow program to optimize liquidity and 

cash flow management 

 —  Efficient use of available cash through  

cash pooling

 
70

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, it also comments 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 Section 5 of this 
Corporate Governance Report (including the respective references to the Financial Section) complies with 
the recommendations on the content of the Compensation Report as laid out in Section 38 of Annex 1 to 
the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance. 

Key dates in 2016
February 25 
April 7 
April 21 
July 28 
October 20 

Annual results 2015 
Annual General Meeting 2016
Order intake Q1 2016
Midyear report 2016
Order intake Q1 – Q3 2016

These 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
The  text  makes  reference  to  any  material  changes  occurring  between  the  balance  sheet  date  (Decem-
ber  31, 2015) and the copy deadline for the Annual Report (February 24, 2016). 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015 
 
 
71

Compensation 
Report

75  Compensation Governance 

and Principles

78  Compensation Architecture

85  Compensation of  

the Board of Directors and 
the Executive Committee

89  Shareholdings of  

the Board of Directors and 
the Executive Committee 

91  Outlook: Changes in STI 

and LTI Plans for 2016

92  Auditors’ Report

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

 
Incentives for Sustainable  
Performance

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

Winterthur, February 24, 2016

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of Sulzer, please find enclosed our 2015 
Compensation Report.

The purpose of the Sulzer compensation policy is to enable the company to attract, retain, and motivate the talents that are 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.

The Board of Directors and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee review Sulzer’s compensation policy and programs c on-
tinually to ensure that they are aligned with the company’s strategy and the shareholders’ interests, while being compliant with the 
regulatory requirements. In 2015, we concluded that, although the compensation framework is still fit for purpose, the long-term 
incentive plan needed some adjustments to strengthen the link between pay and performance. The changes to the long-term incentive 
plan will be put into effect in 2016. They are summarized at the end of this report.

In 2015, following the departure of our former CEO Klaus Stahlmann, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee focused on the 
search for a new CEO and on strengthening the succession pipeline for Executive Committee positions. 

Finally, in compliance with the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation in Listed Stock Corporations (the Compensation Ordinance), 
the following changes related to compensation have been implemented in the reporting year:
 —  Amendments to the Articles of Association and inclusion of provisions on compensation governance and compensation 
principles. The revised Articles of Association were approved with a vote of 97.4% at the 2015 Annual General Meeting;

 —  Introduction of a binding shareholders’ vote on the aggregate amounts of compensation for the Board of Directors and for the 

Executive Committee at the 2015 Annual General Meeting. Voting results were 98.9% and 97.0% respectively;

 —  Adjustments of the individual employment contracts of the Executive Committee members in line with the provisions of the 

Compensation Ordinance.

At the 2016 Annual General Meeting, we will again ask for your opinion on our compensation framework and the compensation actu-
ally awarded for the business year 2015 through a consultative vote on this Compensation Report. Further, in line with the Compen-
sation 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 2017 business year. 

Looking ahead, we will continue to assess and review our compensation programs to ensure that they are still effective in the  evolving 
context in which our company operates. We will also continue the open dialogue with you, our shareholders, and your representatives.

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

74

In brief

Core principles and compensation governance 

Compensation policies and plans at Sulzer reward performance, sustainable growth, and long-term share-
holder value creation. Compensation programs are competitive, internally equitable, straightforward, and 
transparent.

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

See page 75

Shareholders’ engagement

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 prospective vote. Further, 
shareholders have the opportunity to express their opinion on the compensation framework and on the 
compensation actually awarded for the reporting year in a consultative vote on the Compensation Report. 

See page 76

Compensation of the Board of Directors

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 de-
pends on the amount of responsibility and complexity of their respective functions, the professional and 
personal requirements placed on them, and the expected time requirement to fulfill their duties.

See page 78

Compensation of the Executive Committee

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)

To ensure that the remuneration is competitive, Sulzer regularly participates in relevant benchmarking surveys. 

See page 79

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

Sulzer—Annual Report 201575

The Compensation Report provides information on the principles of compensation, the compensation pol-
icy 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 members of the Executive Committee.

1  Compensation Governance and Principles 

Nomination and Remuneration Committee 
The Articles of Association, 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 (NRC). The NRC supports the Board of Directors in nominating and assess-
ing candidates 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 selection 

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 Committee 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 Committee positions
 —  Review of the Compensation Report

The table below describes the levels of authority:

Decision authority

Selection criteria and succession planning Board of Directors

Selection criteria and succession planning Executive Committee

proposes

CEO

Compensation policy and programs

Individual compensation of the Board of Directors

Compensation of the CEO

Individual compensation of the Executive Committee

proposes

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

Performance objectives and assessment of the CEO

Performance objectives and assessment of the Executive Committee

proposes

Compensation Report

NRC

proposes

reviews

proposes

proposes

proposes

reviews

proposes

proposes

reviews

proposes

Board

Shareholders’ Meeting

approves

approves

approves

approves

approves

approves

reviews

approves

approves

approves

approves  
(binding vote)

consultative vote

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 following 
 ordinary Annual General Meeting. At the 2015 Annual General Meeting, Thomas Glanzmann (Chairman),   
Jill Lee, and Marco Musetti were elected as members of the NRC.

Compensation Report—Compensation Governance and Principles76

The NRC meets as often as the business requires, but at least twice a year. In 2015, the NRC held six meet-
ings that were attended by all members. Besides the standard agenda items, the NRC concentrated its 
efforts on the selection and nomination of a new CEO and on the redesign of the long-term incentive plan 
to strengthen further the pay-for-performance alignment. 

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 join the meeting as 
advisors, when appropriate. However, the CEO and any other executives do not participate in the meetings, 
or parts of it, when their own remuneration and/or performance is discussed.

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, 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 
deems necessary for the fulfillment of its duties. In the reporting year, the Committee 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 it 
began the practice of holding a consultative vote on the compensation report in 2011. Further, the compa-
ny  regularly  meets  with  shareholders  and  shareholder  representatives  to  understand  their  perspectives. 
With the implementation of the Compensation Ordinance, the shareholders’ role and their say in compen-
sation matters have become more pronounced. At the Annual General Meeting, shareholders are asked to 
approve the maximum aggregate compensation amounts for the Board of Directors and for the Executive 
Committee in an annual binding vote. 

At the 2015 Annual General Meeting, the shareholders approved the amendments to the Articles of Asso-
ciation that were required to comply with the Compensation Ordinance. The revised Articles of Association 
include the following provisions related to compensation (the full version of the Articles of Association can 
be found under www.sulzer.com/regulations): 
 —  Principles of compensation: non-executive members of the Board of Directors receive a fixed compen-
sation. Members of the Executive Committee receive fixed and variable compensation elements. The 
variable  compensation  may  include  short-term  and  long-term  variable  compensation  components. 
These are governed by performance metrics that take into account the performance of the company, 
the group or parts of it, targets in relation to the market, other companies or comparable benchmarks 
and/or individual targets, as well as strategic and/or financial objectives. Compensation may be paid in 
the form of cash, shares, options, financial instruments or similar units, in kind, in services, or in other 
types of benefits.

 —  Shareholders’  binding  vote  on  remuneration:  the  Shareholders’  Meeting  shall  approve  the  maximum 
aggregate amount of compensation of the Board of Directors for the next term of office and the maxi-
mum aggregate amount of compensation of the Executive Committee for the following financial year. 
The Board of Directors shall submit the annual Compensation Report to an advisory vote at the Annual 
General Meeting. 

 —  Additional amount for members of the Executive Committee hired after the vote on remuneration by the 
Shareholders’  Meeting:  to  the  extent  that  the  maximum  aggregate  amount  of  compensation  as  ap-
proved by the Shareholders’ Meeting does not suffice, up to 40% of the maximum aggregate amount 
of compensation approved for the Executive Committee is available, without further approval, for the 
compensation  of  the  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  who  were  appointed  after  the  Annual 
 General Meeting.

Sulzer—Annual Report 201577

 —  Loans, credit facilities, and post-employment benefits for members of the Board of Directors and of the 
Executive Committee: the company may not grant loans or credits to members of the Board of Directors 
and of the Executive Committee.

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 supervisory 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: 

Pay-for-performance

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

Ownership

Part of compensation is delivered in the form of company 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 
To ensure compensation levels that are competitive and in line with market practice, the compensation of 
the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee is regularly benchmarked against that of similar 
roles in comparable companies. For this purpose, a peer group of international industrial companies head-
quartered in Switzerland has been selected based on their revenue and number of employees (see box 
Compensation Benchmark on this page), 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 during annual target setting. Achievement is assessed against each of those objec-
tives after year-end and directly influences the variable incentive payouts.

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

Compensation Report—Compensation Governance and Principles78

Performance appraisal

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 perfor-  
mance and achievement  
of individual objectives

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 a 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. Further, Board members are entitled to a lump sum to cover 
business expenses. The RSU replaced the option plan in 2009 and strengthened the long-term alignment 
of the interests of the Board members with those of the shareholders. 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 Directors contains no performance-related elements, and Board mem-
bers are not entitled to pension benefits. 

The amount of compensation for the Chairman and for the other members of the Board of Directors is de-
termined  on  the  basis  of  relevant  compensation  benchmarks  (see  box  Compensation  Benchmark  on 
page 77). The compensation reflects the responsibility and complexity of their respective function, the pro-
fessional 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 market practice and are 
described in the table below.

Annual compensation of the Board of Directors 1)

in CHF

Basic fee for Board membership

Basic fee for Board chairmanship 2)

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.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Compensation Report—Compensation Architecture

79

The members of the Board of Directors are remunerated for their service during their term of office. The 
cash remuneration is paid in quarterly installments for Board members, monthly installments for the Chair-
man; the lump-sum expenses are paid out in December and the RSU are granted once a year. The grant 
value of the RSU is fixed at CHF 125 000 per Board member and CHF 250 000 for the Chairman of the 
Board of Directors. The number of RSU is determined by dividing the fixed grant value by the volume-weight-
ed average share price of the last ten trading days before 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 RSU 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 RSU 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 vest-
ing period, which means that the value at vesting will differ from the value at grant. 

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 (PSP), and benefits plans. The compensation of the 
Executive Committee is reviewed by the NRC annually and, if necessary, adjusted and approved by deci-
sion of the Board of Directors based on a proposal by the NRC.

In line with the pay-for-performance principle, a significant portion of the 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.

Overview of compensation elements

Fixed compensation

Variable compensation

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)

80

Compensation elements for the members of the Executive Committee

Base salary

Benefits

Short-term incentive 
plan (bonus plan)

Long-term incentive 
plan (PSP 2015)

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

Operational EBITA, 
sales, return on capital 
employed adjusted 
(ROCEA), operating net 
cash flow (ONCF)

Cumulative EBIT/
operational EBITA, 
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 
(PSU)

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 1 200 000 for the 
CEO and between 
CHF 175 000 and 
CHF 300 000 for the 
other members of the 
Executive Committee. 
Vesting value is capped 
to 3.0 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, 2015 –  
December 31, 2015)

3 years 
(April 1, 2015 –  
March 31, 2018)

–

March 31, 2018

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Compensation Report—Compensation Architecture

81

Base salary (fixed, in cash)
The base salary is determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on the market value of the 
respective position and the incumbent’s 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 company criteria such as size, complexity, and geographic 
scope. Furthermore, it assesses each role against standard factors based on its content and how it con-
tributes 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 achieve-
ment of individual performance objectives over one calendar year. The target bonus is expressed as a per-
centage of annual base salary according to the level of the role in the GGS framework. 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 achievement 
of individual objectives as described below:

Category

Weight

Objectives

Rationale

Operational EBITA

Measure of profitability (bottom-line)

Sales

Measure of growth (top-line)

CEO /CFO /CSO

Division 
President

Sulzer

Division

Sulzer

25%

15%

25%

15%

Financial 
performance

70%

Individual 
performance

30%

Return on capital employed 
adjusted (ROCEA)

Operating net cash flow  
(ONCF)

Strategy
Innovation
Finance
Management / Operations

Measure of capital efficiency

Sulzer

10%

10%

Measure of cash generated by the revenues

Sulzer

20%

20%

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 long-term business success, such  
as mergers and acquisitions, development of new 
products, and leadership goals.

Individual

30%

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 of performance below which the respective 
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. The bonus is paid out in cash in March of the following year. 

82

Bonus calculation

Payout factor 
(0% – 200%)

Financial 
performance 
(70%)

Annual base 
salary

×

Target bonus 
%

×

+

Bonus

=

Individual 
performance 
(30%)

Sulzer strives for transparency in relation to pay for performance. However, disclosure of financial and indi-
vidual objectives may create a competitive disadvantage to the company, as it renders sensitive insights 
into Sulzer’s strategy. To ensure transparency whilst avoiding competitive risk, Sulzer provides a general 
performance assessment at the end of the performance cycle (see Compensation of the Executive Com-
mittee on page 86). 

Performance share plan (variable, performance-based, share-based remuneration)
The performance share plan (PSP) rewards the performance of the company over three years and aligns 
the interests of the members of the Executive Committee 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  executive’s role in the GGS framework. It amounts to CHF 1 200 000 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 (PSU)  granted  is  calculated  by  dividing  the  grant  value  by  the  three-
month volume-weighted average share price before the grant date.

Each PSU is a conditional right to a certain number of shares of the company. The PSU are subject to a 
three-year vesting period with two performance conditions: 
 —   A combination of operating income (EBIT) for 2015 and of cumulated operating income before restructur-

ing, amortization, impairments, and non-operational items (operational EBITA) for 2016 and 2017;

 —   Relative total shareholder return (TSR) of Sulzer against the performance of 30 peer companies respec-

tively (see box below). 

Peer group for relative TSR performance of PSP 2015

International peers

Swiss industrial peers

. Aker solutions
. Cameron
. Crane Co.
. Ebara
. Flowserve
. FMC

. Idex
. IMI
. KSB
.   National 
Oilwell Varco
. Pentair

. Schlumberger
. Smiths Group
. SPX Flow
. Technip
. Weir
. Wood Group

. ABB
. Bobst
.   Burckhardt 
Compression
. Conzetta

. Georg Fischer
. Inficon
. Interroll
. Komax
. Meyer Burger

. Oerlikon
. Rieter
. Schindler
. Schweiter

Peer group changes in 2015: due to the spin-off of the SPX Flow business in a stand-alone listed company, SPX has 
been replaced by SPX Flow. Further, because of the divestiture of Sulzer Metco, Praxair is no longer a relevant peer and 
has been replaced by Smiths Group.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Compensation Report—Compensation Architecture

83

On the vesting date, the number of vested shares is calculated by multiplying the initial number of PSU 
granted by the sum of the achievement factor of each performance condition as follows: Number of PSU 
granted x (Achievement Factor KPI 1 + Achievement Factor KPI 2) = Number of performance shares vest-
ed. The number of vested shares is subject to an absolute cap based on the level of the role in the GGS 
framework.

Number of PSU vested

Number of PSU 
granted

× 

Target achievement
EBIT/cumulative operational 
EBITA (between 0 and 2)

+

Target achievement  
relative TSR  
(between 0 and 2)

=

Number of PSU vested

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

CEO: CHF 1 200 000

EC: CHF 175 000 to 
300 000

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

CEO: 3.0 times 

EC: 3.8 to 4.4 times

Factor based on EBIT and 
cumulative opEBITA com-
pared to midrange plan (MRP)
EBIT/opEBITA in % of the 
MRP, EBIT/opEBITA defined 
as sum of EBIT in 2015 
and cumulative opEBITA in 
2016 and 2017, divided by 
cumulative MRP EBIT/opEBITA 
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 
ending share price. The TSR is 
measured against the per-  
formance of the peer group 
based on the ranking method.

Threshold (factor 0): 10th per - 
centile 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 composition 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 will select  
a new peer company.

Sulzer strives for transparency in relation to pay for performance. However, disclosure of financial and indi-
vidual objectives may create a competitive disadvantage to the company, as it renders sensitive insights 
into Sulzer’s strategy. To ensure transparency whilst avoiding competitive risk, Sulzer provides a general 
performance assessment at the end of the performance cycle. 

In case of termination of employment, the following provisions apply: 
 —  Resignation of the participant: unvested PSU forfeit without any compensation. 
 —  Termination by the employer for cause: unvested PSU forfeit.
 —  Termination of employment as a result of retirement: unvested PSU are retroactively granted on a 

prorated basis and are vested according to the achievement factor at the end of the vesting period.

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

employment had not been terminated.

 
84

 —  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 PSU 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 cumulative EBIT/
opEBITA 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: unvested PSU shall be converted into shares based on the pro 

rata achievement as defined above under termination without cause/death.

Further information on share-based compensation can be found in the Financial Statements of Sulzer Ltd 
under note 9 (pages 165 to 166).

Adjustments to PSP 2014 – 2016
In 2015, the Board of Directors has decided that the external reporting will be based on operational EBITA 
instead of EBIT (operating income). For this reason, the performance indicator in the ongoing PSP 2014 
has been adjusted accordingly to focus also on operational EBITA, which gives a more accurate picture of 
operational profitability before special effects. Operational EBITA is defined as operating income before re-
structuring,  amortization,  impairments,  and  non-operational  items  such  as  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. 

Consequently, the PSP 2014 – 2016 is now based on the following performance indicators:
 —  Cumulative EBIT for 2014 – 2015 and operational EBITA for 2016 (50% weight);
 —  Relative TSR over 2014 – 2016 (50% weight).

Discontinued restricted stock unit plan (variable, fixed grant value, share-based remuneration) 
The RSU plan that was in place as a long-term incentive for members of the  Executive Committee since 
2009 was discontinued when the new PSP 2013 was introduced. However, RSU 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 that covers annual earnings up to 
CHF 146 628 a year and a supplementary plan in which income over 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 for 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 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  impermissible  severance  or 
change of control payments. The employment contracts of the Executive Committee may include non-com-
petition agreements with a time limit of one year and with a maximum total compensation of one annual 
target compensation. 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Compensation Report—Compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee

85

3  Compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee  

Compensation of the Board of Directors
In 2015, the Board of Directors received a total compensation of CHF 2 075 000 (previous year: CHF 1 993 000). 
Of this total, CHF 1 068 000 was in cash (previous year: CHF 979 000); CHF 874 000 was in RSU (previous 
year: CHF 905 000); and CHF 133 000 was social security contributions (previous year: CHF 109 000).

This compensation is an increase of 4% from the previous year. In 2014, the remuneration to the Chairman 
of the Board of Directors was significantly lower since Peter Löscher was elected at the Annual General 
Meeting in March 2014 (nine months of compensation in 2014 compared with 12 months of compensation 
in 2015).

The portion of compensation delivered in RSU amounts to 56% of the cash compensation for the Chairman, 
and to between 87% and 124% 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) 

thousands of CHF

Board of Directors

Cash fees

1 068

Peter Löscher, Chairman 1)

Matthias Bichsel, Vice Chairman

Thomas Glanzmann 2)

Jill Lee

Marco Musetti

Gerhard Roiss 3)

Klaus Sturany 4)

Luciano Respini 5)

Vladimir V. Kuznetsov 6)

443

125

143

121

127

76

–

33

–

2015

2014

Restricted 
stock unit 
(RSU) plan  7)

874

250

155

125

125

125

94

–

–

–

Social 
security 
contribu-
tions  8)

133

45

20

19

17

18

12

–

2

–

Other

Total Cash fees

Restricted 
stock unit 
(RSU) plan 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2 075

738

300

287

263

270

182

–

35

–

979

329

76

135

99

118

–

–

200

22

905

250

125

125

125

125

–

–

155

–

Social 
security 
contribu-
tions

109

–

3

27

22

25

–

–

29

3

Other

Total

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1 993

579

204

287

246

268

–

–

384

25

  1) Chairman and Chairman of the Strategy Committee.
  2) Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
  3) Member of the Board of Directors since April 1, 2015.
  4)  Chairman of the Audit Committee. Klaus Sturany is waiving his compensation for personal reasons. In return, Sulzer 

makes donations to two non-profit organizations in the amount of the cash fees.

  5) Vice Chairman until April 1, 2015.
  6) Chairman ad interim from January 1 until March 20, 2014.
  7)  RSU awards assigned during the reporting period had a fair value of CHF 109.25 at grant date. The amount represents 

the full fair value of grants made in 2015.

  8)  The amount included covers mandatory social security contributions the company made or expects to make with 

respect to cash fees and RSU (based on the respective fair value).

As of December 31, 2014 and 2015, there were no outstanding loans or credits granted to the members 
of the Board of Directors or former members of the Board of Directors. 

In 2014 and 2015, no compensation was granted to former members of the Board of Directors or related 
parties.

86

Compensation of the Executive Committee 
Compensation of the CEO in 2015
Grégoire Poux-Guillaume was hired as new CEO of Sulzer effective December 1, 2015. His annual com-
pensation package was determined as follows:
 —  Annual base salary of CHF 950 000
 —  Target bonus of CHF 855 000 (90% of annual base salary)
 —  Grant value under the PSP of CHF 1 200 000
 —  Expense lump sum of 15 500
 —  Participation in the regular retirement and benefits plans of Sulzer Switzerland
 —  Relocation and integration services for the move from France to Switzerland, including temporary 

housing and commuting for up to six months, home search and settling-in services, tuition cost for 
the children for maximum two years

The above compensation was prorated for 2015 (one month of employment).

In addition, in compensation for forfeited compensation at the previous employer, 30 242 RSU were granted 
on December 1, 2015. Those RSU will vest in two tranches over a period of three years: 50% of the RSU will 
vest 18 months after grant date and the remaining 50% will vest 36 months after grant date. The RSU are 
forfeit in case of voluntary resignation or in case of termination for cause. The fair value of the RSU at grant 
date is disclosed in the compensation table on page 87.

Thomas Dittrich was CEO ad interim between August and November 2015. As compensation for this ad-
ditional work, Thomas Dittrich received a lump-sum payment of CHF 162 000. This amount corresponds 
to the difference in compensation level between the CEO role and the CFO role for four months.

Performance in 2015
Overall,  the  financial  results  were  below  the  target  value  with  an  achievement  between  58%  and  83%, 
whereas the individual objectives scored above the targets. 

Performance in 2015

Objectives

Assessment relative to plan

Threshold

Target

Cap

Sales

Operational EBITA

ROCEA

Operating net cash flow (ONCF)

Individual objectives

This performance translates into a payout factor in the bonus plan between 79% and 93% (on average 
85%) for the members of the Executive Committee.

In 2015, 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. However, the acquisition of a further 29.5% of the share  capital 
of Sulzer by Renova triggered a change of control under the PSP plan rules. The provisions of the PSP  allow 
for a pro rata accelerated vesting based on the performance achieved between the grant date and the date 
of change of control. All members of the Executive Committee have agreed to waive their rights to the ac-
celerated pro rata vesting. Therefore, the PSU granted under the PSP 2013, 2014, and 2015 continue to 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Compensation Report—Compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee 

87

vest according to the original vesting schedule. However, the company has guaranteed a minimum vesting 
level for those grants, so that the participants are not disadvantaged for having accepted to waive their 
rights  to  the  accelerated  vesting.  The  minimum  guaranteed  vesting  level  corresponds  with  the  pro  rata 
vesting level that would have been achieved if the change of control provisions had been applied according 
to  the  plan  rules.  For  the  two  Executive  Committee  members  who  are  taxable  residents  in  the  US,  the 
 accelerated pro rata vesting had to be implemented to ensure compliance with US tax legislation.

Compensation awarded to the Executive Committee in 2015
In  2015,  the  Executive  Committee  received  a  total  compensation  of  CHF  14 283 000  (previous  year: 
CHF 12 437 000). Of this total, CHF 5 190 000 was in cash (previous year: CHF 5 891 000); CHF 4 204 000 
was in PSU (previous year: CHF 2 834 000); CHF 1 781 000 was in pension and social security contributions 
(previous year: CHF 1 809 000); and CHF 185 000 was in other payments (previous year: CHF 103 000). 
This is an increase of 15% from the previous year. The main reason for this increase is the higher value of 
the performance share and the restricted stock units granted. This is due to the hiring of the new CEO (RSU 
replacement award) and to the fact that the Chief Strategy Officer joined the Executive Committee as an 
additional member.

Compensation of the Executive Committee (audited)

thousands of CHF

Highest single compensation,  
Greg Poux-Guillaume, CEO 

Highest single compensation,  
Klaus Stahlmann, CEO 

Base 
salary Bonus 2) Other 3)

79

71

–

–

–

–

2015

Re-
stricted 
stock 
unit 
(RSU ) 
plan 4)

Pension 
and 
social 
security 
contri-
butions 6)

Perfor-
mance 
share 
plan 
(PSP)5)

Base 
salary Bonus 2)

Total

Other

Re-
stricted 
stock 
unit 
(RSU ) 
plan 

Perfor-
mance 
share 
plan 
(PSP) 
2014

Pension 
and 
social 
security 
contri-
butions

2014

Total

2 923

122

230

3 425

–

–

–

–

–

–

824

810

–

2

–

–

–

–

–

1 291

367

3 294

Total Executive Committee 1)

3 349

1 841

185

2 923

4 204

1 781

14 283

3 139

2 752

103

1 800

2 834

1 809

12 437

1)   Members of the Executive Committee:

 — Greg Poux-Guillaume, CEO since December 1, 2015
 —  Klaus Stahlmann, CEO until August 10, 2015. The total Executive Committee compensation of 2015 includes the 

compensation of Klaus Stahlmann. The 12-months notice period will end in August 2016.

 — Thomas Dittrich, CFO and CEO a.i. between August 10 and November 30, 2015
 — Fabrice Billard, Chief Strategy Officer since March 1, 2015
 — César Montenegro, Division President Pumps Equipment
 — Peter Alexander, Division President Rotating Equipment Services
 — Oliver Bailer, Division President Chemtech.

2) Expected bonus for performance year 2015 and 2014, respectively.
3)  Other consists of housing allowances, schooling allowances, private share of company cars, tax services, and child 

allowances. Child allowances were not disclosed in 2014.

4)  Replacement awards to compensate for forfeited remuneration at previous employer as a result of joining Sulzer.  

The amount represents the full fair value of grants made in 2015.

5)  Represents the full fair value of the PSU of the PSP 2015 granted (CHF 4.1 million) and the fair value of the minimum 
vesting level for PSU which has been guaranteed for the grants 2013, 2014 and 2015 in connection with the change  
of control (CHF 63 000).

6)  Includes the employer contribution to the social security institutions of the fair value of all grants made in 2015  

(RSU and PSP).

88

For  the  entire  Executive  Committee,  the  variable  component  (without  replacement  award)  represented 
114% of the fixed component (base salary, other, pension and social security contributions). The relation-
ship between the fixed and the variable components of compensation reflects Sulzer’s high performance 
orientation. Further, it represents the company’s strong emphasis on aligning the interests of the Executive 
Committee and the shareholders to create long-term shareholder value and profitable growth.

Compensation overview

Executive Committee

1 966 000
Benefits

2 300 000
Grant of PSU

2015

3 349 000
Base  
salary

1 841 000
Bonus

No severance payments to members of the Executive Committee were made during the reporting year.

As of December 31, 2014 and 2015, there were no outstanding loans or credits granted to the members 
of the Executive Committee or former members of the Executive Committee. 

In  2014  and  2015,  no  compensation  was  granted  to  former  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  or 
 related parties.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Compensation Report—Shareholdings of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee

89

4 

Shareholdings of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee

Shareholdings of the Board of Directors 
As of the end of 2014 and 2015, the members of the Board of Directors held the following shares in the 
company: 

Shareholders 2015

Board of Directors

Peter Löscher

Matthias Bichsel

Thomas Glanzmann

Jill Lee

Marco Musetti

Gerhard Roiss

Klaus Sturany

Shareholders 2014

Board of Directors

Peter Löscher

Matthias Bichsel

Thomas Glanzmann

Jill Lee

Marco Musetti

Luciano Respini

Klaus Sturany

Sulzer shares

Restricted stock units 
(RSU)  

Total share awards  
and shares

45 663

26 684

342

4 616

3 095

2 692

4 000

4 204

13 149

3 657

2 103

2 081

2 081

2 081

1 146

–

58 782

30 341

2 445

6 697

5 176

4 773

5 146

4 204

Sulzer shares

Restricted stock units 
(RSU) 

Total share awards  
and shares

45 563

26 000

–

3 700

2 179

1 776

8 027

3 881

11 051

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

90

Shareholdings of the Executive Committee
As of the end of 2014 and 2015, the members of the Executive Committee held the following shares in the 
company: 

Shareholders 2015

Executive Committee

Greg Poux-Guillaume 

Peter Alexander

Oliver Bailer

Fabrice Billard

Thomas Dittrich

César Montenegro

Shareholders 2014

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
stock units 
(RSU)  

Total share 
awards  
and shares

Perfor-
mance
share units 
(PSU) 
 2013

Perfor-
mance
share units 
(PSU) 
 2014

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSU)
 2015

33 301

40 976

74 277

4 860

7 212

13 800

–

30 242

30 242

–

10 928

–

10 928

4 860

1 303

1 187

7 000

231

–

1 534

1 187

9 842

16 842

12 883

661

13 544

–

–

–

–

–

1 967

1 967

–

964

2 314

942

2 402

2 402

2 402

2 826

2 826

Executive Committee

22 344

17 903

40 247

7 422

20 741

13 651

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
stock units 
(RSU)  

Total share 
awards  
and shares

Blocked 
Sulzer 
shares out 
of PSP 
2010

Perfor-
mance
share units 
(PSU) 
 2013

Perfor-
mance
share units 
(PSU) 
 2014

Klaus Stahlmann 

Peter Alexander

Oliver Bailer

Thomas Dittrich

César Montenegro

5 400

6 649

852

–

568

682

5 400

7 217

1 534

1 500

14 763

16 263

–

15 881

3 711

4 860

–

–

–

–

–

6 439

1 967

1 967

964

2 314

7 943

1 890

9 833

3 711

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Compensation Report—Outlook: Changes in STI and LTI Plans for 2016

91

5  Outlook: Changes in STI and LTI Plans for 2016

To strengthen the pay-for-performance alignment, the PSP plan has been amended as follows, effective 
January 1, 2016 (e.g., for the PSU grant that will be awarded in 2016):
 —  The vesting performance conditions will be average ROCEA (return on capital employed adjusted) over 
the 3-year performance period weighted 25%, operational EBITA growth weighted 25%, and relative 
three-year TSR weighted 50%. The decision was made to replace the cumulated EBIT condition through 
ROCEA and operational EBITA growth because the two KPI capture the essence of operating efficiency, 
balancing operating profitability with responsible capital management, which is more strongly aligned 
with the long-term shareholders’ interests.

 —  The threshold of TSR performance will be increased. Performance at the 25th percentile rank in the peer 
group is required for any vesting to be triggered. This condition strengthens the link between perfor-
mance and pay.

 —  The maximum vesting level will be capped at 250% of grant value for a performance at or above 75th per-
centile (TSR) or 140% (ROCEA, operational EBITA). The reduction of the cap is more aligned with compet-
itive market practice and with the expectations of the shareholders and their representatives.

The other features of the PSP plan, such as the equity instrument used (PSU), the performance period of 
three years, and the provisions in case of termination of employment, will remain unchanged.

Because the ROCEA performance condition was introduced into the PSU plan, the bonus plan will also be 
amended for 2016 to avoid any duplication of measures of performance between the two plans.

The performance conditions in the bonus plan will be as follows: 

Category

Weight

Objectives

Rationale

Operational EBITA  
in % of sales

Measure of profitability (bottom-line)

Financial 
performance

70%

Sales

Measure of growth (top-line)

Operating net cash flow  
(ONCF)

Measure of cash generated by the revenues

Individual 
performance

30%

Strategy
Innovation
Finance
Management / Operations

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.

This combination of performance measures between the bonus plan and the PSP plan ensures a balanced 
way of evaluating performance of the company holistically, and it is more strongly aligned with the long-term 
interests of the shareholders.

CEO /CFO /CSO

Division 
President

25%

25%

20%

25%

25%

20%

Sulzer

Division

Sulzer

Division

Sulzer

Divison

Individual

30%

30%

Total

100%

100%

92

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

We have audited the accompanying Compensation Report dated February 24, 2016 of Sulzer Ltd for the year ended December 31, 
2015. The audit was limited to the information according to articles 14 – 16 of the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation in 
Stock Exchange Listed Companies (Compensation Ordinance) contained in the tables referred to as audited on pages 85 to 87 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  (Compensation  Ordi-
nance). The Board of  Directors is also responsible for designing the remuneration system and defining individual remuneration pack-
ages.

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 Compen-
sation 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 Compensation 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 for the year ended December 31, 2015 of Sulzer Ltd complies with Swiss law and articles 
14 – 16 of the Compensation Ordinance.

KPMG AG

Zurich, February 24, 2016

François Rouiller 
Licensed Audit Expert 
Auditor in Charge

Roman Wenk
Licensed Audit Expert

Sulzer—Annual Report 201593

Consolidated  
Financial  
Statements 

95  Consolidated income  

statement

96  Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income

97  Consolidated balance  

sheet

98  Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity 

99  Consolidated statement  

of cash flows

100  Notes to the 
Con solidated 
Financial 
 Statements

156  Auditors’ Report 

on the Consoli-
dated Financial 
Statements of 
Sulzer Ltd

s
t
n
e
m
e
t
a
t
S

l

i

a
c
n
a
n
F

i

157  Five-Year  
Summaries

160  Financial  

Statements  
of Sulzer Ltd

167  Auditors’ Report  
on the Financial 
Statements of  
Sulzer Ltd

169  Investor  

Information

 
Notes to the  
Consolidated Financial 
Statements

1 | General information 100

17 | Other financial assets 141

34 | Auditor remuneration 151

2 |  Key accounting policies and valuation 

18 | Inventories 141

35 |  Corporate risk management 

methods 100

process 151

36 |  Subsequent events after the 
balance sheet date 151

37 | Major subsidiaries 152

Auditors’ report 156

3 | Financial risk management 110

contracts 142

19 |  Percentage of completion 

4 |  Critical accounting estimates and 

20 |  Trade accounts receivable 142

judgments 117

5 |  Acquisitions and divestitures of  

subsidiaries / Discontinued 
operations / Significant changes  
in the scope of consolidation 119

6 | Major currency exchange rates 124

7 | Segment information 125

8 | Personnel expenses 128

9 | Employee benefit plans 128

10 |  Research and development 

21 |  Other accounts receivable  
and prepaid expenses 143

22 | Cash and cash equivalents 143

23 | Marketable securities 144 

24 | Share capital 144

25 | Earnings per share 145

26 | Borrowings 145

27 | Provisions 146

expenses 133

28 |  Other current and accrued liabilities 

147

11 |  Other operating income and 

expenses 133

29 | Derivative financial instruments 147

12 |  Financial income and  

30 | Other financial commitments 148

expenses 134

13 | Income taxes 134

14 | Intangible assets 137

15 | Property, plant, and equipment 139

16 | Associates 141

31 | Contingent liabilities 148

32 | Share participation plans 148

33 |  Transactions with members of  

the Board of Directors, Executive 
Committee, and related parties 
150

95

Notes

07

2015

2014

2 971.0

– 2 060.9

3 212.1

– 2 202.2

910.1

1 009.9

– 303.9

–

– 334.3

– 340.0

– 303.9

– 303.9

– 674.3

– 674.3

Consolidated income statement
January 1 – December 31

millions of CHF

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 and expenses, net

Operating income

Interest and securities income

Interest expenses

Other financial income and expenses, net

Share of profit/(loss) of associates

Income before income tax expenses

Income tax expenses

Net income from continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Net income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

05

Net income

Attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Attributable to non-controlling interests

Earnings per share (in CHF)

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Continuing operations (in CHF)

Basic earnings per share continuing operations

Diluted earnings per share continuing operations

Discontinued operations (in CHF)

Basic earnings per share discontinued operations

Diluted earnings per share discontinued operations

25

25

25

25

25

25

10

11

12

12

12

16

13

– 348.2

– 73.4

– 63.7

120.9

6.5

– 27.9

– 3.3

3.7

99.9

– 24.9

75.0

–

75.0

73.9

1.1

2.17

2.16

2.17

2.16

–

–

– 331.0

– 76.2

2.6

– 69.0

6.8

– 21.2

– 2.3

–

– 85.7

– 71.9

– 157.6

435.7

278.1

275.0

3.1

8.09

8.05

– 4.72

– 4.70

12.81

12.75

Financial Section—Consolidated Financial Statements 
96

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
January 1 – December 31

millions of CHF

Net income

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to 
the income statement

Cash flow hedges, net of tax

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

Items that will not be reclassified to the income 
statement

Remeasurements of defined benefit obligations, net of 
tax

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

Notes

29

09

2015

75.0

– 3.5

–

– 154.4

– 157.9

– 13.1

– 13.1

2014

278.1

– 8.0

59.1

17.6

68.7

– 137.9

– 137.9

Total other comprehensive income

– 171.0

– 69.2

Total comprehensive income for the year

Attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Attributable to non-controlling interests

– 96.0

– 96.6

0.6

208.9

205.4

3.5

Sulzer—Annual Report 201597

Consolidated balance sheet
December 31

millions of CHF

Non-current assets

Goodwill

Other intangible assets

Property, plant, and equipment

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

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

Non-current borrowings

Deferred income tax liabilities

Non-current income tax liabilities

Defined benefit obligations

Non-current provisions

Other non-current liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Current borrowings

Current income tax liabilities

Current provisions

Trade accounts payable

Advance payments from customers

Other current and accrued liabilities

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

Notes

2015

20141)

14

14

15

16

17

679.8

246.4

491.4

4.0

11.6

7.1

693.7

305.0

530.7

2.5

11.9

11.3

13

133.7

126.8

1 574.0

1 681.9

18

409.3

487.5

20

21

23

22

79.8

851.1

123.3

208.3

79.0

955.9

147.2

106.8

1 009.0

1 194.7

2 680.8

2 971.1

4 254.8

4 653.0

24

0.3

0.3

2 224.4

2 435.1

2 224.7

2 435.4

9.5

6.6

2 234.2

2 442.0

26

13

13

9

27

26

13

27

28

7.2

69.4

2.6

510.3

91.2

2.6

294.8

280.9

73.5

24.6

71.3

38.2

472.1

994.5

514.4

9.9

137.3

323.8

197.5

365.6

17.7

32.4

147.7

383.6

210.9

424.2

1 548.5

1 216.5

2 020.6

2 211.0

4 254.8

4 653.0

1)   The balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 has been restated following the finalization of the valuation of the net assets 
acquired related to acquisitions in 2014. A reconciliation to the previously published balance sheet is provided in note 5.

Financial Section—Consolidated Financial Statements98

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
January  1 – December 31

millions of CHF

Equity as of January 1, 2014

Comprehensive income for the year:

Net income

 — Cash flow hedges, net of tax

 — Remeasurements of defined benefit obligations, 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, net of tax

Dividends

Change in scope of consolidation

Equity as of December 31, 2014

Comprehensive income for the year:

Net income

 — Cash flow hedges, net of tax

 — Remeasurements of defined benefit obligations, net of tax

 — Currency translation differences

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners of the company:

Changes in ownership in subsidiaries

Transactions in treasury shares

Share-based payments, net of tax

Dividends

Change in scope of consolidation

Equity as of December 31, 2015

Attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Notes

Share 
capital

Retained 
earnings

Treasury 
shares

Cash flow 
hedge 
reserve

Currency 
translation 
adjustment

Non-con-
trolling 
interests

Total

Total  
equity

0.3

2 691.1

– 26.9

2.3

– 332.4

2 334.4

6.3

2 340.7

29

09

32

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

3.1

278.1

0.4

0.4

3.5

– 8.0

– 137.9

76.7

– 69.2

208.9

– 2.8

8.0

– 109.6

– 2.6

– 112.2

–

– 0.6

– 0.6

24

0.3

2 720.3

– 23.4

– 5.7

– 256.1

2 435.4

6.6

2 442.0

29

09

32

73.9

– 13.1

– 13.1

– 3.5

73.9

– 3.5

– 13.1

1.1

75.0

– 3.5

– 13.1

– 153.9

– 153.9

– 0.5

– 154.4

– 3.5

– 153.9

– 170.5

– 0.5

– 171.0

–

60.8

–

– 3.5

– 153.9

– 96.6

0.6

– 96.0

– 1.8

– 7.0

8.3

– 119.2

5.6

– 1.8

– 1.4

8.3

0.9

– 0.9

– 1.4

8.3

– 119.2

– 1.9

– 121.1

24

0.3

2 661.4

– 17.8

– 9.2

– 410.0

2 224.7

–

3.3

9.5

3.3

2 234.2

Sulzer—Annual Report 201599

Notes

12

12

13

14/15

05

05

Consolidated statement of cash flows
January 1– December 31

millions of CHF

Cash and cash equivalents as of January 1

Net income

Interest and securities income

Interest expenses

Income tax expenses

Depreciation, amortization, and impairments

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

Change in provision for employee benefit plans

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

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 of treasury shares

Sale of treasury shares

Dividend paid to non-controlling interests

Changes in non-controlling interests

Additions in non-current borrowings

Repayment of non-current borrowings

Additions in current borrowings

Repayment of current 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

22

2015

1 194.7

75.0

– 6.5

27.9

24.9

129.4

– 0.1

49.6

– 4.2

32.6

3.9

– 33.4

9.4

3.2

0.6

– 2.1

6.4

– 20.4

– 73.4

222.8

– 2.1

– 71.6

6.7

– 70.1

–

0.2

– 0.5

–

– 253.6

149.0

– 242.0

– 119.2

– 3.5

2.1

– 1.9

– 0.1

0.6

– 0.4

6.4

– 16.5

– 132.5

– 34.0

– 185.7

1 009.0

2014

549.9

278.1

– 6.9

21.6

81.0

463.2

– 423.5

– 45.2

10.5

– 46.3

– 65.1

20.0

– 8.6

0.9

6.4

3.6

6.7

– 16.5

– 98.7

181.2

– 5.6

– 99.0

21.4

– 73.0

– 2.3

870.4

– 0.1

0.1

– 106.6

–

605.3

– 108.9

– 3.6

–

– 2.6

–

2.1

– 1.9

6.3

– 52.8

– 161.4

19.7

644.8

1 194.7

Financial Section—Consolidated Financial Statements100

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 registered 
office is Neuwiesenstrasse 15 in Winterthur, Switzerland. The consolidated financial statements for the year 
ended December 31, 2015, 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, re-
action, and mixing technology. Sulzer was founded in 1834 in Winterthur, Switzerland, and employs around 
14 300 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 24, 2016.

2  Key accounting policies and valuation methods 

2.1  Basis of preparation 
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Re-
porting 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. derivative 

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 liabil-

ities are measured at the present value of the defined benefit obligation (see 2.19 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 account-
ing 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 assump-
tions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in note 4 “Critical 
accounting estimates and judgments.” 

Standards, amendments, and interpretations to published standards effective in 2015

2.2  Change in accounting policies 
a) 
The group has adopted the following new standards and amendments with a date of initial application of 
January 1, 2015:
 — 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.

 — Amendments deriving from the annual improvement program 2010 – 2012 and 2011 – 2013 addressing 

specific aspects in various standards.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015101

Standards, amendments, and interpretations issued but not yet effective which the group has 

b) 
decided not to early adopt in 2015
A number of new standards and amendments to standards have been published that are not mandatory 
for December 31, 2015 reporting periods and have not been early adopted by the group. None of these is 
expected  to  have  a  significant  effect  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  the  group,  except  the 
 following:
 — IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’, published in July 2014, replaces the existing guidance in IAS 39 ‘Finan-
cial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’. IFRS 9 includes revised guidance on the classification 
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 1, 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 deter-
mining 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 Loy-
alty Programs’. The core principle of IFRS 15 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the 
transfer of promised goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to 
which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. Under IFRS 15, an 
entity  recognizes  revenue  when  a  performance  obligation  is  satisfied.  IFRS  15  is  effective  for  annual 
reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. Sulzer has started a project and is assessing 
the potential impact on its consolidated financial statements resulting from the application of IFRS 15. 
 — IFRS 16 ‘Leases’, published in January 2016, introduces a single lessee accounting model and requires 
a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months, unless the 
underlying asset is of low value. A lessee is required to recognize a right-of-use asset representing its 
right to use the underlying leased asset and a lease liability representing its obligation to make lease 
payments. IFRS 16 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. The group is 
assessing the potential impact on its consolidated financial statements resulting from the application of 
IFRS 16.

Business combinations

2.3  Consolidation
a) 
The group accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method when control is transferred to 
the group (see 2.3 b). 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 interest 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 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 replacement 
awards is included in measuring the consideration transferred in the business combination. The determina-
tion 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.

Subsidiaries

b) 
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. 

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 102

According to the full consolidation method, all assets and liabilities as well as income and expenses of the 
subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements. The share of non-controlling interests in 
the net assets and results is presented separately as non-controlling interests in the consolidated balance 
sheet and income statement, respectively.

Non-controlling interests 

c) 
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 subsidiary, 
and any related non-controlling interest and other components of equity. Any resulting gain or loss is rec-
ognized in profit or loss. Any interest retained in the former subsidiary is measured at fair value when control 
is lost.

Associates and joint ventures 

d) 
Associates are those entities in which the group has significant influence, but no control, over the financial 
and operating policies. Significant influence is presumed to exist when the group holds, directly or indirect-
ly, 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 strate-
gic, financial, and operating decisions. Associates and joint ventures are accounted for using the equity 
method and are initially recognized at cost.

Transactions eliminated on consolidation 

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

Discontinued operation 

f) 
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 statements 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 assessing 
performance  (e.g.  operating  income)  of  the  operating  segments,  has  been  identified  as  chief  operating 
decision maker. 

Functional and presentation currency

2.5  Foreign currency translation
a) 
Items included in the financial statements of subsidiaries 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).

Transactions and balances 

b) 
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing 
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 liabilities denom-
inated in foreign currencies are recognized in the income statement. 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015103

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 amor-
tized costs are recognized in profit or loss; other changes in the carrying amount are recognized 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. Trans-
lation  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.

Subsidiaries

c) 
The results and financial position of all the subsidiaries (excluding the ones with hyperinflationary economy) 
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 subsidiaries, exchange differences that were recorded in other compre-
hensive income are recognized in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on sale or liquidation. 

If a loan is made to a group company, and the loan in substance forms part of the group’s investment in the 
group company, translation differences arising from the loan are recognized directly in other comprehensive 
income as foreign currency translation differences. When the group company is sold or partially disposed 
of,  and  control  no  longer  exists,  gains  and  losses  accumulated  in  equity  are  reclassified  to  the  income 
statement as part of the gain or loss on disposal.

Intangible assets

2.6 
An intangible asset is classified either as an asset with indefinite useful life when timely limitation of gener-
ating 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 impair-
ment 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 is subject to an annual impairment test and valued at its original acquisition cost less accumulat-
ed 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.

For impairment testing goodwill is allocated to those cash-generating units or groups of cash-generating 
units  that  are  expected  to  benefit  from  the  business  combination  in  which  the  goodwill  arose.  Goodwill 
originating from the acquisition of an associated company is included in the book value of the participation 
in associated companies.

Trademarks and licenses

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

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements  
 
104

Research and development 

c) 
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 techni-
cally  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 accumulated 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). 

Customer relationships 

e) 
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. Acquisition 
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. 

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 included 
under long-term borrowings. An asset’s carrying amount is impaired immediately to its recoverable amount 
if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount. 

Impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

2.8 
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 appro-
priate 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-generating 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.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015 
105

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 

a) 
Assets in this category are capitalized at fair value and subsequently adjusted to fair values, with any ad-
justments 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 designated 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  instru-
ments 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 12 months from the balance sheet date as non-current assets.

Available-for-sale financial assets 

b) 
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. 

Held-to-maturity financial assets 

d) 
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 subsequently 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 peri-
od 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  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 remeasured 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 occurrence. 
These hedges are classified as “cash flow hedges” whereas the hedge instrument is recorded on the bal-
ance 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  subse-
quently  be  recorded  on  the  balance  sheet,  the  adjustments  accumulated  under  “Other  comprehensive 

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 106

 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 com-
prehensive income. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in the in-
come statement. Gains and losses accumulated in equity are included in the income statement when the 
foreign operation is partially disposed of 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 
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  Offsetting financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the balance sheet when there is a 
legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts, and there is an intention to settle on a net basis 
or realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

2.12  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.

2.13  Trade receivables
Trade and other accounts receivable are stated at nominal value less provision for impairments. The respec-
tive 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 difference 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. 

2.14  Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents comprise 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 over-
drafts are reported within borrowings in the current liabilities. 

2.15  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  repur-
chased, 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 subsequent-
ly, 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. 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015107

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

2.17  Borrowings
Financial debt is stated at fair value when initially recognized, after recognition of transaction costs. In sub-
sequent periods, it is valued at amortized cost. Any difference between the amount borrowed (after deduc-
tion 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. 

2.18  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 man-
agement periodically evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which 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. 

Income tax is recognized in profit of loss except to the extent that it relates to items recognized directly in 
equity or other comprehensive income, in which case it is recognized directly in equity or other comprehen-
sive income.

Deferred tax assets are recognized for unused tax losses and deductible temporary differences to the ex-
tent 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. 

Defined benefit plans

2.19  Employee benefits
a) 
The group’s net obligation in respect of defined benefit plans is calculated separately for each plan by esti-
mating the amount of future benefit that employees have earned in the current and prior periods, discount-
ing 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 by a qualified actuary using the project-
ed unit credit method. 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, con-
sideration is given to any applicable minimum funding requirements.

Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability, which comprise actuarial gains and losses, the return 
on plan assets (excluding interest income on plan assets), and the effect of the asset ceiling (if any, exclud-
ing 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.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 108

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 certain 
contributions into a separate legal entity (fund) and does not have a legal or an extendible (constructive) 
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 con-
tributions 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. Jubilee gifts are other long-term benefits. For example, in Swit-
zerland, Sulzer makes provisions for jubilee benefits based on a Swiss local directive. The provisions are 
reported in the category “Other employee benefits” (Note 27). 

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.”

2.20   Share-based compensation
Sulzer operates two equity-settled share-based payment programs. A performance share plan (PSP) covers 
the members of the Executive Committee and a restricted stock plan (RSP) covers the members of the 
Board of Directors and the members of the Sulzer Management Group.

Performance share plan (PSP)

a) 
The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the performance share units 
is  recognized  as  a  personnel  expense  with  a  corresponding  increase  in  equity.  The  total  amount  to  be 
 expensed over the vesting period is determined by reference to the fair value of the share units granted, 
excluding the impact of any non-market vesting conditions (e.g. profitability targets). At each balance sheet 
date, the group reassesses its estimates of the number of share units that are expected to vest. It recog-
nizes the impact of the reassessment of original estimates, if any, in the income statement, and a corre-
sponding adjustment to equity. The fair value of performance share units granted is measured by external 
valuation specialists based on a Monte Carlo simulation. 

The group accrues for the expected cost of social charges in connection with the allotment of shares under 
the  PSP.  The  dilution  effect  of  the  share-based  awards  is  considered  when  calculating  diluted  earnings   
per share.

Restricted share plan (RSP)

b) 
The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the share units is recognized as 
a personnel expense with a corresponding increase in equity. The total amount expensed is recognized over 
the vesting period, which is the period over which the specified service conditions are expected to be met.

The fair value of the restricted share units granted for services rendered is measured at the Sulzer grant 
date closing share price, and discounted over the vesting period using a discount rate that is based on the 
yield of Swiss government bonds with maturities matching the duration of the vesting period. Participants 
are not entitled to dividends declared during the vesting period. The grant date fair value of the restricted 
share  units  is  consequently  reduced  by  the  present  value  of  dividends  expected  to  be  paid  during  the 
vesting period.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015109

The group accrues for the expected cost of social charges in connection with the allotment of shares under 
the RSP. The dilutive effect of the share-based awards is considered when calculating diluted earnings per 
share.

2.21  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 considering the class 
of obligation as a whole. A provision is recognized even if the likelihood of an outflow with respect to a 
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.

2.22   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. 

Sale of goods/products 

a) 
Revenue from the sale of goods/products derives in the ordinary course of business. Goods and products 
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 prod-
ucts (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 internationally accepted Incoterms, and 

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

the goods. 

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 uncer-
tainty about the collectability of the revenue is recognized as an expense/adjustment to the amount receiv-
able rather than as an adjustment to revenue. 

Rendering of services

b) 
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 percent-
age of completion basis is applicable to such services, but the stage of completion increases from 0% to 
100% within one accounting period. 

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 110

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 de-
termine 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 transaction 
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. 

Percentage of completion method (PoC)

c) 
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. 

2.23   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. 

2.24   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. 

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 over-
all 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 instru-
ments to hedge certain risk exposures.

Risk management is carried out by a central treasury department (Group Treasury). Group Treasury identi-
fies, evaluates, and hedges financial risks in close cooperation with the group’s subsidiaries. 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.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015111

Foreign exchange risk

a)  Market risk
(I) 
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 subsidiaries to manage their foreign exchange risk against their functional currency. The 
subsidiaries are required to hedge their major foreign exchange risk exposure  using forward contracts or 
other standard instruments, usually transacted with Group Treasury.

Each subsidiary 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 ex-
change contracts are designated as hedges of foreign exchange risk on specific assets, liabilities, or future 
transactions on a gross basis. The group has certain investments 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  an  ad-hoc  basis  to  manage  foreign 
currency translation risk.

The following tables show the hypothetical influence on the income statement for 2015 and 2014 related 
to foreign exchange risk of financial instruments. The volatility used for the calculation is the one-year his-
toric volatility on December 31 for the relevant currency pair and year. For 2015, the currency pair with the 
most significant exposure and inherent risk were the EUR versus the CHF. If, on December 31, 2015, the 
EUR had increased by 22.6% against the CHF with all other variables held constant, profit after tax for the 
year would have been CHF 1.8 million lower mainly due to foreign exchange losses on CHF-denominated 
financial assets. A decrease of the rate would have caused a gain of the same amount.

Hypothetical impact of foreign exchange risk on income statement

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/ 
CHF

EUR/ 
RUB

EUR/ 
CNY

2015

EUR/ 
USD

– 10.4

– 3.4

5.4

– 5.4

22.6%

27.8%

12.6%

12.3%

– 1.8

1.8

– 0.7

0.7

0.5

– 0.5

– 0.5

0.5

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

The  following  tables  show  the  hypothetical  influence  on  equity  for  2015  and  2014  related  to  foreign 
 exchange risk of financial instruments for the most important currency pairs as at December 31 of the re-
spective 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.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 112

Hypothetical impact of foreign exchange risk on equity

6.3%

– 1.9

1.9

2014

EUR/ 
CHF

millions of CHF

Currency pair

Exposure

Volatility

USD/ 
CHF

EUR/ 
CHF

USD/ 
MXN

USD/ 
BRL

EUR/ 
USD

GBP/ 
USD

2015

USD/ 
INR

– 43.0

– 29.0

– 48.6

– 23.7

39.2

47.9

– 40.6

22.9%

22.6%

10.9%

21.2%

12.3%

8.4%

Effect on equity, net of taxes (rate increase)

Effect on equity, net of taxes (rate decrease)

– 7.4

7.4

– 4.9

4.9

– 4.0

4.0

– 3.8

3.8

3.6

– 3.6

3.0

– 3.0

millions of CHF

Currency pair

Exposure

Volatility

Effect on equity, net of taxes (rate increase)

Effect on equity, net of taxes (rate decrease)

USD/ 
BRL

GBP/ 
USD

USD/ 
MXN

EUR/ 
USD

USD/ 
CHF

USD/ 
INR

– 27.1

61.3

– 44.0

26.6

– 22.8

– 17.9

– 35.8

13.6%

5.6%

– 2.7

2.7

2.5

– 2.5

7.3%

– 2.3

2.3

6.2%

1.2

– 1.2

6.7%

– 1.1

1.1

6.0%

– 0.8

0.8

1.9%

– 0.5

0.5

(II)  Price risk
As per December 31, 2015, the group was not exposed to significant price risk related to investments in 
equity securities either classified as “available-for-sale” or at “fair value through profit or loss.” 

Interest rate sensitivity

(III) 
The group’s interest rate risk arises from interest-bearing assets and liabilities. Assets and liabilities at vari-
able 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 expense 
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, and INR, increasing 
interest rates would have had a positive impact on the income statement, since the value of variable-inter-
est-bearing assets (comprising mainly cash and cash equivalents) would exceed the value of variable inter-
est-bearing liabilities. In case of the EUR, increasing interest rates would have had a negative impact.

Hypothetical impact of interest rate risk on income statement

millions of CHF

Variable-interest-bearing assets (net)

CHF

USD

CNY

INR

EUR

2015

Impact on post-tax profit

Sensitivity in 
basis points

rate 
increase

rate 
decrease

100

100

100

100

100

2.5

1.6

0.4

0.2

– 0.2

– 2.5

– 1.6

– 0.4

– 0.2

0.2

Amount

331.0

212.3

58.9

31.6

– 28.0

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015113

millions of CHF

Variable-interest-bearing assets (net)

CHF

USD

CNY

GBP

SGD

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

Amount

926.3

145.4

75.5

34.6

32.3

On December 31, 2015, if the interest rates on CHF-denominated assets net of liabilities had been 100 ba-
sis  points  higher  with  all  other  variables  held  constant,  post-tax  profit  for  the  year  would  have  been 
CHF 2.5 million higher (2014: CHF 6.7 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. On December 31, 2015, the CHF amount exposed to interest rate risk 
was reduced compared with 2014, because the CHF 500 million bond due in 2016 is now considered as 
liability at variable interest rate and thus reducing the net exposure accordingly.

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 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. Not exposed to credit risks are equity securities classified as available-for-sale.

Credit risks of banks and financial institutions are monitored and managed centrally. Generally, only inde-
pendently 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  customer  with  a  large  order  volume,  an  individual  risk  assessment  of  the  credit  quality  of  the 
customer is performed that considers independent ratings, financial position, past experience, 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.

Liquidity risk

c) 
Prudent liquidity risk management includes the maintenance of sufficient cash and marketable securities, 
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 expected 
cash  flows  by  performing  regular  Group-wide  cash  forecasts.  In  2012,  a  syndicated  credit  line  of 
CHF  500  million  with  an  original  maturity  date  of  2017  was  established  to  furthermore  provide  financial 
flexibility in the short run. In 2015, this syndicated credit line has been extended to 2020, with two further 
one-year extension options. 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 groupings 
based on the remaining period at the balance sheet to the contractual maturity date. The amounts dis-
closed 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.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 114

Maturity profile of financial liabilities

millions of CHF

2015

Borrowings

Trade accounts payable

Other current and non-current liabilities  
(excluding derivative liabilities)

Carrying 
amount

< 1 year

1 – 2 years

3 – 5 years

> 5 years

Total

521.6

522.0

323.8

323.8

5.9

–

67.8

43.6

16.6

1.8

–

6.2

0.2

–

529.9

323.8

1.4

67.8

millions of CHF

2014

Borrowings

Trade accounts payable

Other current and non-current liabilities  
(excluding derivative liabilities)

Carrying 
amount

< 1 year

1 – 2 years

3 – 5 years

> 5 years

Total

528.0

31.3

510.9

383.6

383.6

–

6.2

–

0.3

–

548.7

383.6

124.9

86.8

21.2

15.4

1.5

124.9

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 contractu-
al maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows calculat-
ed 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

Forward exchange contracts

 — outflow

 — inflow

Other derivative instruments

 — outflow

 — inflow

millions of CHF

Forward exchange contracts

 — outflow

 — inflow

Other derivative instruments

 — outflow

 — inflow

Total

< 1 year

1 – 2 years

3 – 5 years

> 5 years

2015

– 1 027.0 – 1 009.0

– 17.9

1 027.0

1 009.0

17.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 0.1

0.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

2014

Total

<1 year

1–2 years

3–5 years

>5 years

– 989.7

– 985.4

989.7

985.4

– 4.3

4.3

– 0.8

– 0.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

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 invest-
ment grade credit rating, either as a perceived rating or an external rating issued by a credit rating agency.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015115

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 slight increase in the gearing ratio during 2015 resulted from a decrease in equity.

As at December 31, 2015 and 2014, the gearing ratio was as follows:

Gearing ratio

millions of CHF

Borrowings

Equity attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

Borrowings-to-equity ratio (gearing)

2015

521.6

2 224.7

0.23

2014

528.0

2 435.4

0.22

3.3  Fair value estimation
The  following  tables  present  the  carrying  amounts  and  fair  values  of  financial  assets  and  liabilities  as  at 
December  31,  2015  and  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. 

Fair values are categorized into three different levels in a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used in the 
valuation techniques as follows: 

The fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets (including a fund investment classified as at 
fair value through profit or loss, or the outstanding bond) is based on quoted market prices at the balance 
sheet date. Such instruments are included in level 1. 

The fair values included in level 2 are based on valuation techniques using observable market input data. 
This may include discounted cash flow analysis, option pricing models or reference to other instruments 
that are substantially the same, while always making maximum use of market inputs and relying as little as 
possible  on  entity-specific  inputs.  The  fair  values  of  forward  contracts  are  measured  based  on  broker 
quotes for foreign exchange rates and interest rates. Other financial assets measured at fair value through 
profit or loss include time deposits and other interest-bearing investments with maturities between 3 and 
12 months, their fair value is determined based on discounted cash flows.

Fair values measured using unobservable inputs are categorized within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. 
This applies particulary to contingent considerations in business combinations.

Contingent  considerations  are  linked  on  the  fulfillment  of  certain  parameters,  mainly  related  to  earn-out 
clauses and technology transfer. For more information please refer to note 5. 

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 116

Fair value table

millions of CHF

Notes

Carrying 
amount

Fair value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

December 31, 2015

Financial assets measured at fair value

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Available-for-sale financial assets

Derivative assets—non-current

Derivative assets—current

23

17

29

21, 29

208.3

208.3

98.4

109.9

4.5

–

6.4

4.5

–

6.4

–

–

–

4.5

–

6.4

Total financial assets measured at fair value

219.2

219.2

98.4

120.8

Financial assets not measured at fair value

Loans and receivables

17

Non-current receivables (excluding non-current 
derivative assets)

Trade accounts receivables

Other accounts receivables (excluding current  
derivative assets)

Cash and cash equivalents

Total financial assets not measured at fair value

Financial liabilities measured at fair value

Derivative liabilities—non-current

Derivative liabilities—current

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 (excluding non-current 
derivative liabilities)

Trade accounts payable

Other current liabilities (excluding current  
derivative liabilities)

7.1

7.1

20

851.1

21

22

78.4

1 009.0

1 952.7

29

28, 29

5

26

26

–

0.4

11.2

22.1

33.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.4

11.2

–

11.6

0.4

11.2

22.1

33.7

499.6

506.4

506.4

–

–

22.0

24.2

323.8

Total financial liabilities not measured at fair value

913.2

506.4

506.4

–

–

28

43.6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

22.1

22.1

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Fair value table

millions of CHF

Notes

Carrying 
amount

Fair value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

December 31, 2014

117

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

56.5

56.5

Financial assets measured at fair value

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Available-for-sale financial assets

Derivative assets—non-current

Derivative assets—current

23

17

29

21, 29

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 non-current 
derivative assets)

Trade accounts receivables

Other accounts receivables (excluding current  
derivative assets)

Cash and cash equivalents

Total financial assets not measured at fair value

Financial liabilities measured at fair value

Derivative liabilities—non-current

Derivative liabilities—current

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 (excluding non-current 
derivative liabilities)

Trade accounts payable

Other current liabilities (excluding current  
derivative liabilities)

17

7.4

11.3

20

955.9

21

22

102.4

1 194.7

2 271.7

29

28, 29

5

26

26

–

0.1

11.6

56.5

68.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

11.6

–

11.7

0.1

11.6

56.5

68.2

498.9

514.4

514.4

–

–

29.1

38.1

383.6

28

86.8

Total financial liabilities not measured at fair value

1 036.5

514.4

514.4

–

–

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  circum-
stances. The group makes estimates and assumptions that relate to the future. By their nature, these esti-
mates will only rarely correspond to actual subsequent events. The estimates and assumptions 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.

Contingent considerations
At December 31, 2015, the group had CHF 22.1 million (December 31, 2014: CHF 56.5 million) of contin-
gent considerations resulting from business combinations. The total payments under contingent consider-
ations arrangements could be up to CHF 55.0 million (December 31, 2014: CHF 73.0 million). The estimat-
ed  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. Further details 
are disclosed in note 5. 

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 118

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, future salary and pension increas-
es, and mortality rates. 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 corresponding 
currency and asset management studies. Further details are provided in note 9.

Income taxes
The group is obliged to pay income taxes in numerous jurisdictions. Significant assumptions are required   
in order to determine income tax provisions. There are many transactions and calculations for which the 
ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of the business. The group recognizes 
liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. Where 
the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differ-
ences will impact the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which such determination is 
made. Management believes that the estimates are reasonable, and that the recognized liabilities for in-
come tax related uncertainties are adequate. Further details are disclosed in note 13.

Goodwill and other intangible assets
Goodwill amounted as per December 31, 2015 to CHF 679.8 million (December 31, 2014: CHF 693.7 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 recoverable 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 result-
ing in a material adjustment in the year ending December 31, 2015 are disclosed in note 14.

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 reve-
nues or costs and are reflected in income in the period in which the circumstances that give rise to the 
revision become known by management. Revenue from the application of the PoC method recognized in 
the year 2015 amounted to CHF 469.8 million (2014: CHF 561.1 million). Further details are disclosed in 
note 19.

Provisions
Provisions are made, among other reasons, for warranties, disputes, litigation and restructuring. A provision 
is recognized in the balance sheet when the group has a legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past 
event, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. The 
nature of these costs is such that judgment has to be applied to estimate the timing and amount of cash 
outflows. Depending on the outcome of the respective transactions, actual payments may differ from these 
estimates. Further details are disclosed in note 27.

Sulzer—Annual Report 20155  Acquisitions and divestitures of subsidiaries / Discontinued operations /  
Significant changes in the scope of consolidation 
The purchase price allocation for the acquisitions in 2015 is preliminary for up to 12 months after the ac-
quisition date and is subject to refinement as more detailed analysis is completed and additional information 
about  the  fair  values  of  the  assets  and  liabilities  becomes  available.  The  allocation  of  the  consideration 
transferred may therefore change in the subsequent period. 

119

Acquisitions in 2015
Net assets acquired

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

Non-controlling interests

Goodwill

Total consideration

Purchase price paid in cash

Contingent consideration

Total consideration

Saudi 
Pump 
Factory

Precision 
Gas 
Turbine

Others

1.5

13.2

0.3

1.7

8.8

– 12.2

– 0.3

13.0

– 3.3

21.2

30.9

30.9

–

4.1

0.2

–

–

0.9

–

–

5.2

–

7.2

12.4

8.4

4.0

30.9

12.4

Total

8.9

16.2

0.8

2.2

9.7

3.3

2.8

0.5

0.5

– 

– 1.1

– 13.3

–

6.0

–

3.0

9.0

6.3

2.7

9.0

– 0.3

24.2

– 3.3

31.4

52.3

45.6

6.7

52.3

Saudi Pump Factory
On June 29, 2015, Sulzer acquired a 75% controlling interest in Saudi Pump Factory for CHF 30.9 million. 
Saudi Pump Factory, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has a workforce of 170 employees. The acquisition 
enables Sulzer to serve its Saudi Arabian and Gulf Cooperation Council customers with products to the 
highest Sulzer standards from a local base. The goodwill is attributable to synergies from combined solu-
tions and shared services. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Transaction 
cost recognized in the income statement amounted to CHF 0.9 million. The non-controlling interest has 
been recognized as a proportion of net assets acquired. Since the acquisition date, the acquired business 
contributed order intake of CHF 7.1 million, sales of CHF 10.6 million, and net income of CHF – 0.7 million 
to the group. 

Precision Gas Turbine Inc.
On June 3, 2015, Sulzer acquired a 100% controlling interest in Precision Gas Turbine Inc. (Florida). The 
total consideration was CHF 12.4 million, of which CHF 8.4 million was paid in cash and CHF 4.0 million 
arose from a contingent consideration arrangement. Through this acquisition, Sulzer will further develop its 
current capabilities for field services for European-manufactured gas turbines. The goodwill is attributable 
to synergies from combined solutions and shared services. The goodwill is tax deductible over 15 years. 
Transaction cost recognized in the income statement amounted to CHF 0.2 million. Since the acquisition 
date, the acquired business contributed order intake of CHF 2.5 million, sales of CHF 2.1 million, and net 
income of CHF 0.0 million to the group.

The  contingent  consideration  is  dependent  on  the  future  performance  of  the  acquired  company,  and  is 
linked to the gross margin from the company’s product portfolio. The bonus for the gross margin depends
on the degree of gross margin realized within three years, and is payable on a yearly basis. The total liabil-
ity is limited at CHF 5.6 million. The calculation of the contingent consideration is based on management 
assessments that the criteria will be achieved at a probability of 71%.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements120

Other acquisitions
Expert International Pompe Service
On July 28, 2015, Sulzer acquired the business of Expert International Pompe Service (EIPS) located in 
Casablanca, Morocco. Through this acquisition, Rotating Equipment Services expands its footprint in North 
Africa for repair of pumps of new equipment.

MATIS INTERVENTIONS SARL
On April 9, 2015, Sulzer acquired 100% of the French company MATIS INTERVENTIONS SARL (Locquel-
tas).  With  the  acquisition,  the  Pumps  Equipment  division  strengthens  its  presence  in  the  French  power 
market, especially in the nuclear business, and will enhance Sulzer’s service offering to its customers in the 
French market. 

InterWeld Inc Ltd
On February 12, 2015, Sulzer acquired 100% of InterWeld Inc Ltd located in Northern Ireland. With this 
acquisition, the Chemtech division will enhance the competitiveness of its tower field service activities by 
adding the offering of a full range of automated weld overlay services to the oil and gas as well as the pow-
er market.

The  goodwill  of  the  other  acquisitions  is  attributable  to  synergies  from  combined  solutions  and  shared 
services. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Total transaction costs rec-
ognized in the income statement amounted to CHF 0.5 million. Since the acquisition date, the acquired 
business contributed order intake of CHF 5.9 million, sales of CHF 4.4 million, and net income of CHF –1.8 mil-
lion to the group.

The gross amount of the trade accounts receivable are expected to be collectable at the date of acquisition.
Had all above acquisitions occurred on January 1, 2015, management estimates that total net sales of the
group would amount to CHF 2 995.0 million, and the consolidated net income would increase to approxi-
mately CHF 77.0 million.

Acquisitions in 2014 
Net assets acquired

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

Goodwill

Total consideration

Purchase price paid in cash

Contingent consideration

Total consideration

ASCOM/
ProLab

Grayson 
Inc.

aixfotec 
GmbH

46.3

11.7

0.8

1.3

5.8

– 9.6

– 13.7

42.6

43.9

86.5

36.5

50.0

86.5

4.5

8.7

2.8

4.1

1.3

– 2.8

– 2.8

15.8

27.2

43.0

38.1

4.9

43.0

3.3

0.1

1.1

0.4

0.5

– 2.4

– 0.8

2.2

2.0

4.2

2.6

1.6

4.2

Total

54.1

20.5

4.7

5.8

7.6

– 14.8

– 17.3

60.6

73.1

133.7

77.2

56.5

133.7

ASCOM/ProLabNL
On September 15, 2014, Sulzer acquired 100% of Advance Separation Company (ASCOM) B.V. and Pro-
cess  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 the income statement amounted 
to CHF 0.3 million. 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015121

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 cri-
teria. 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 confi-
dence level of 95%. 

Grayson Armature Inc.
On August 1, 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 equipment. 
The goodwill is attributable to synergies from additional and combined solutions. Transaction cost recog-
nized in the income statement amounted to CHF 0.3 million. 

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 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%.

aixfotec GmbH
On March 31, 2014, Sulzer acquired 100% of aixfotec GmbH, a leading technology company in extrusion 
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 technology leader 
and  system  supplier  in  plastics  manufacturing.  The  goodwill  is  attributable  to  synergies  from  combined 
solutions and shared services. 

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. 

Cash flow from acquisitions of subsidiaries

millions of CHF

Cash consideration paid

Contingent consideration paid

Cash acquired

Payments for acquisitions in prior years

Total cash flow from acquisitions, net of cash acquired

2015

– 45.6

– 22.0

0.8

– 3.3

– 70.1

2014

– 77.2

–

4.7

– 0.5

– 73.0

Restated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014
In the financial statements 2014, the accounting for the ASCOM/ProLab and Grayson Armature Inc. acqui-
sitions was provisional based on preliminary valuations of the assets and liabilities. These valuations have 
been finalized in 2015, and as a result the comparative balance sheet information as of December 31, 2014, 
has been restated.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements122

millions of CHF

Goodwill

Other intangible assets

Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses

Deferred income tax liabilities

Other non-current liabilities

Total

As reported 2014

Measurement 
adjustments

Restated 2014

675.1

317.4

148.6

– 93.7

– 30.9

1 016.5

18.6

– 12.4

– 1.4

2.5

– 7.3

–

693.7

305.0

147.2

– 91.2

– 38.2

1 016.5

Restated acquisitions 2014: net assets acquired

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

Goodwill

Contingent consideration

Purchase price paid in cash

Contingent consideration

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Assumed in a business combination

Payment of contingent consideration

Release to other operating income

Currency translation difference

Total contingent consideration as of December 31

ASCOM 
as 
reported 
2014

Grayson 
as 
reported 
2014

aixfotec 
GmbH

Total as 
reported 
2014

58.7

11.7

0.8

1.3

7.2

– 9.6

– 16.2

53.9

25.3

– 42.7

36.5

4.5

8.7

2.8

4.1

1.3

– 2.8

– 2.8

15.8

27.2

– 4.9

38.1

Measure-
ment 
adjust-
ments

– 12.4

–

–

–

– 1.4

–

2.5

– 11.3

18.6

– 7.3

Restated 
2014

54.1

20.5

4.7

5.8

7.6

– 14.8

– 17.3

60.6

73.1

– 56.5

3.3

0.1

1.1

0.4

0.5

– 2.4

– 0.8

2.2

2.0

66.5

20.5

4.7

5.8

9.0

– 14.8

– 19.8

71.9

54.5

– 1.6

– 49.2

2.6

77.2

–

77.2

2015

56.5

6.7

– 22.0

– 12.9

– 6.2

22.1

Restated 
2014

2.3

56.5

–

–

–2.3

56.5

As of December 31, 2015, there was a decrease of CHF 12.9 million recognized in the income statement 
for  the  contingent  consideration  arrangements,  as  the  assumed  probability-adjusted  gross  profit  and   
EBITDA (earnings before interests, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) was recalculated.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015123

Discontinued operations
Effective June 2, 2014, Sulzer transferred control over Metco and consequently derecognized all related 
assets and liabilities.

Income statement from discontinued operations

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

Cash flows from discontinued operations

millions of CHF

Total cash flow from operating activities

Total cash flow from investing activities

Total cash flow from financing activities

2015

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2015

–

–

–

2014

301.7

– 265.6

36.1

– 0.5

35.6

– 9.0

26.6

518.9

– 59.1

– 50.7

435.7

435.7

–

2014

33.4

– 8.0

– 21.0

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements124

 Effect of disposal on the financial position of the group

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

2015

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

–

–

0.2

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

2015

2014

Average 
rate

Year-end 
rate

Average 
rate

Year-end 
rate

1.07

1.47

0.96

0.29

0.75

1.08

1.47

0.99

0.25

0.71

1.21

1.51

0.92

0.39

0.83

1.20

1.54

0.99

0.37

0.85

15.32

15.23

14.86

15.94

1.50

6.07

1.49

5.69

1.50

6.88

1.56

6.72

11.42

11.76

13.35

12.82

0.70

7.57

0.70

6.36

0.72

8.44

0.75

8.55

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015125

7 
Segment information
Segment information by divisions

millions of CHF

Order intake (unaudited)

Nominal growth (unaudited)

Pumps Equipment

Rotating Equipment 
Services

Chemtech

2015

2014

2015

2014

2015

2014

1 500.8

1 725.5

698.2

725.2

708.9

718.4

– 13.0%

– 4.2%

– 3.7%

3.7%

– 1.3%

– 4.2%

Adjusted growth1) (unaudited)

– 6.7%

– 1.1%

– 0.9%

6.4%

1.4%

– 2.1%

Order backlog as of December 31 (unaudited)

998.0

1 209.4

205.0

212.2

307.7

282.0

Sales 2)

Nominal growth

1 621.0

1 754.9

693.2

724.6

669.6

741.5

– 7.6%

– 3.7%

– 4.3%

2.7%

– 9.7%

– 0.3%

Adjusted growth1) (unaudited)

– 1.6%

– 0.5%

– 1.9%

5.3%

– 7.8%

1.6%

opEBITA 3)

in % of sales 4)

118.1

160.6

70.8

64.5

67.4

93.6

7.3%

9.2%

10.2%

8.9%

10.1%

12.6%

in % of average capital employed

15.8%

14.4%

16.8%

15.8%

16.6%

27.3%

Restructuring expenses

Amortization

Impairments on tangible and intangible assets

Non-operational items

EBIT 5)

– 23.8

– 4.0

– 10.3

– 17.2

– 19.7

– 6.4

– 340.0

– 7.9

–

62.8

– 203.1

– 6.3

– 1.3

– 1.5

51.4

– 7.2

– 5.7

–

13.5

65.1

– 7.2

–

– 16.7

– 15.2

– 5.4

– 4.6

33.5

–

–

78.4

Depreciation

– 29.2

– 31.2

– 14.7

– 15.3

– 26.3

– 25.7

Operating assets

Unallocated assets

1 557.9

1 659.0

624.8

682.8

846.9

743.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total assets as of December 31

1 557.9

1 659.0

624.8

682.8

846.9

743.0

Operating liabilities

Unallocated liabilities

688.8

756.3

210.4

231.7

324.5

242.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total liabilities as of December 31

688.8

756.3

210.4

231.7

324.5

242.8

Operating net assets

Unallocated net assets

869.1

902.7

414.4

451.1

522.4

500.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total net assets as of December 31

869.1

902.7

414.4

451.1

522.4

500.2

Capital expenditure

30.6

41.5

16.6

26.4

24.0

22.6

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

6 996

7 365

3 538

3 709

3 539

4 287

1)   Adjusted for currency effects.
2)   Sales between segments are not material.
3)   Operating income before restructuring, amortization, impairments, and non-operational items.
4)   Return on sales before restructuring, amortization, impairments, and non-operational items (opEBITA/sales).
5)   Operating income.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements126

Segment information by divisions

millions of CHF

Total Divisions

Others 2)

Total Sulzer

Order intake

Nominal growth (unaudited)

Adjusted growth1) (unaudited)

2015

2014

2015

2014

2015

2014

2 907.9

3 169.1

– 12.1

– 8.3

2 895.8

3 160.8

– 8.2%

– 2.5%

– 3.6%

0.3%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

– 8.4%

– 2.7%

– 3.7%

0.0%

Order backlog as of December 31 (unaudited)

1 510.7

1 703.6

–

– 4.0

1 510.7

1 699.6

Sales

Nominal growth

Adjusted growth1) (unaudited)

opEBITA 3)

in % of sales 4)

in % of average capital employed

Restructuring expenses

Amortization

2 983.8

3 221.0

– 12.8

– 8.9

2 971.0

3 212.1

– 7.4%

– 1.5%

– 3.1%

1.2%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

– 7.5%

– 1.6%

– 3.2%

1.2%

256.3

318.7

– 2.2

– 15.8

254.1

302.9

8.6%

9.9%

16.3%

17.1%

– 41.3

– 11.2

– 40.2

– 40.6

n/a

n/a

0.1

– 2.1

0.1

n/a

n/a

8.6%

9.4%

17.0%

17.1%

–

– 41.2

– 11.2

– 2.7

– 0.4

– 42.3

– 43.3

– 13.0

– 340.4

Impairments on tangible and intangible assets

– 13.1

– 340.0

Non-operational items

EBIT 5)

– 14.0

13.5

– 22.7

9.5

– 36.7

23.0

147.7

– 59.6

– 26.8

– 9.4

120.9

– 69.0

Depreciation

– 70.2

– 72.2

– 3.9

– 7.0

– 74.1

– 79.2

Operating assets

Unallocated assets

3 029.6

3 084.8

– 159.3

96.9

2 870.3

3 181.7

–

–

–

–

1 384.5

1 471.3

Total assets as of December 31

3 029.6

3 084.8

– 159.3

96.9

4 254.8

4 653.0

Operating liabilities

Unallocated liabilities

1 223.7

1 230.8

106.6

177.4

1 330.3

1 408.2

–

–

–

–

690.3

802.8

Total liabilities as of December 31

1 223.7

1 230.8

106.6

177.4

2 020.6

2 211.0

Operating net assets

Unallocated net assets

1 805.9

1 854.0

– 265.9

– 80.5

1 540.0

1 773.5

–

–

–

–

694.2

668.5

Total net assets as of December 31

1 805.9

1 854.0

– 265.9

– 80.5

2 234.2

2 442.0

Capital expenditure

71.2

90.5

2.5

5.5

73.7

96.0

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

14 073

15 361

180

133

14 253

15 494

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)   Operating income before restructuring, amortization, impairments, and non-operational items.
4)   Return on sales before restructuring, amortization, impairments, and non-operational items (opEBITA/sales).
5)   Operating income.

Information about reportable segments
Operating segments are determined based on the reports reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer that are 
used to track performance, make strategic decisions and allocate resources to the segments. The business 
is managed on a divisional basis and the reported segments have been identified as follows: 

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 man-
ufacturing and service network ensures high customer proximity.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015127

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 services 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 sys-
tems. Customers benefit from advanced solutions in the fields of process technology and separation equip-
ment, as well as two-component mixing and dispensing systems.

Others: 
Certain expenses related to the Corporate Center are not attributable to a particular segment and are re-
viewed as a whole across the group. Also included are reconciling and other items, e.g. adjustments made 
in preparing the financial statements, and interdivisional order intake and sales elimination. 

The Chief Executive Officer primarily uses a measure of adjusted earnings before interest, tax, and amorti-
zation (operational EBITA) to assess the performance of the operating segments. However, the Chief Exec-
utive Officer also receives information about the segments’ order intake and backlog, revenue, and operat-
ing assets and liabilities on a monthly basis.

Operational EBITA (opEBITA) excludes amortization, restructuring expenses, and impairments when the im-
pairment is the result of an isolated, non-recurring event. It also excludes certain non-operational items that 
are non-recurring or do not regularly occur in similar magnitude such as acquisition-related expenses, gains 
and losses from sale of businesses or real estate, or expenses related to the Sulzer Full Potential program.

Revenue from external customers reported to the Chief Executive Officer is measured in a manner consis-
tent with that in the income statement. There are no significant sales between the segments. No individual 
customer represents a significant portion of the group’s revenue.

Operating  assets  and  liabilities  are  assets  or  liabilities  related  to  the  operating  activities  of  an  entity  and 
contributing to the operating income. 

Segment information by region
The allocation of assets is based on their geographical location. Non-current assets exclude other financial 
assets, deferred tax assets, and employee benefit assets. The allocation of sales is based on the location 
of the customer. 

millions of CHF

Europe, Middle East, Africa

 — thereof Switzerland

 — thereof Germany

 — thereof United Kingdom

 — thereof Sweden

 — thereof other countries

Americas

 — thereof USA

 — thereof Brazil

 — thereof other countries

Asia-Pacific

 — thereof China

 — thereof India

 — thereof other countries

Total

Non-current assets  
by region

Sales by region

2015

2014

2015

2014

1 003.2

1 093.7

1 214.0

1 264.7

171.9

192.6

19.4

26.1

21.3

23.6

160.7

159.2

171.4

175.5

191.2

215.8

295.9

346.7

41.5

48.0

342.7

355.3

801.2

815.6

279.3

288.1

1 134.9

1 177.4

227.3

221.5

778.0

746.4

20.8

31.2

33.3

33.3

89.9

148.5

267.0

282.5

137.1

150.1

622.1

770.0

76.8

17.5

42.8

85.8

15.5

48.8

236.2

319.7

51.6

70.0

334.3

380.3

1 419.6

1 531.9

2 971.0

3 212.1

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements128

8  Personnel expenses

millions of CHF

Salaries and wages

Defined contribution plan expenses

Defined benefit plan expenses

Cost of share-based payment transactions

Other personnel costs

Total personnel expenses

2015

802.4

23.9

29.0

8.3

157.2

1 020.8

2014

836.4

26.8

15.8

7.4

159.8

1 046.2

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 turn-
over 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. 

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

2015

Total

Present value of funded defined benefit obligation

– 1 326.2

– 598.3

– 63.6

– 54.6

– – 2 042.7

Fair value of plan assets

1 239.6

478.6

41.3

Overfunding (+) / underfunding (–)

– 86.6

– 119.7

– 22.3

Present value of unfunded defined benefit obligation

Adjustment to asset ceiling

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

–

– 1.3

–

–

–

–

– 87.9

– 119.7

– 22.3

 — thereof as liabilities under defined benefit obligation

– 97.5

– 119.7

– 22.3

 — thereof as prepaid expenses

9.6

–

–

45.1

– 9.5

–

–

– 9.5

– 9.5

–

–

–

1 804.6

– 238.1

– 45.8

– 45.8

–

– 1.3

– 45.8

– 285.2

– 45.8

– 294.8

–

9.6

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

2014

Total

Present value of funded defined benefit obligation

– 1 372.0

– 670.1

– 61.0

– 62.6

– – 2 165.7

Fair value of plan assets

1 307.5

554.1

42.5

47.2

Overfunding (+) / underfunding (–)

– 64.5

– 116.0

– 18.5

– 15.4

–

–

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 defined benefit obligation

– 77.4

– 116.0

– 18.5

– 15.6

– 53.4

– 280.9

 — thereof as prepaid expenses

10.5

–

–

0.2

–

10.7

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 (invest-
ment) risk.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015129

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 Sulzer group companies and also 
unrelated companies. In case of a material underfunding of the pension plans, the regulations include pre-
defined 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. 
Based on the actual market environment the discount rate remained in 2015 at 0.7% (2014: 0.8%). The 
stable discount rate results in a similar return on plan assets and stable DBOs. The total  expense for 2015 
was CHF 18.0 million (2014: expense of CHF 6.8 million). 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 “Retirement savings capital” will be increased, and the risk contributions will 
be slightly reduced. The one-time effect of these changes resulted in a profit of CHF 8.0 million for 2014. 
No one-time effect was recognized in 2015.

In the UK, Sulzer operates two funded defined benefit plans managed as sections of the Sulzer Pension 
Scheme. The Company operates a defined benefit scheme in the UK which is a final salary plan and pro-
vides benefits linked to salary at retirement or earlier date of leaving service. The scheme consists of two 
sections, of which both sections are closed to new entrants and future accruals. The scheme is managed 
by six trustees forming the Board. Both plans are multi-employer schemes with Sulzer (UK) Holding being 
the  principal  sponsor.  Based  on  the  persistent  low  market  interest  rate,  the  discount  rate  was  relatively 
stable at 3.6% (2014: 3.5%), which when combined with unfavorable asset performance over the period 
caused the net pension liability to increase from CHF 116.0 million in 2014 to CHF 119.7 million in 2015. 
The  total  expense  recognized  in  the  income  statement  has  increased  significantly  to  the  previous  year 
(2015: CHF 13.3 million compared to 2014: CHF 8.9 million) largely due to the much lower market interest 
rate at the start of the 2015 financial year.

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 employee’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 en-
trants. In 2015 an expense of CHF 0.7 million was recognized in the income statement (2014: an expense 
of CHF 0.8 million). The discount rate remained unchanged at 4% as reported in 2014. This resulted in a 
slight increase of the amount recognized in OCI of CHF 4.3 million.

In addition, Sulzer sponsors two Irish-funded defined benefit plans. In 2013, the plan was closed for new 
entrants and a new defined contribution plan was introduced. The total expense recognized in the income 
statement was CHF 1.8 million in 2015 (2014: CHF 1.3 million).

In Germany, Sulzer operates a range of different DB pension plans. The majority of these plans are unfunded 
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  defined  contribution  pensions.  However,  benefits  received  under  the 
 defined contribution plan are offset against the benefits under the DB plans. The different DB plans offer 
retirement pension, disability pension, and survivor’s pension benefits.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
130

Employee benefit plans

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 income/(expense)

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

Change in scope of consolidation

Currency translation differences

2015

2014

– 2.4

–

1.1

– 1.3

– 270.2

– 35.8

– 13.6

25.7

–

8.7

– 51.5

– 1.1

50.2

– 2.4

– 116.6

– 20.2

– 174.9

26.2

20.3

– 5.0

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

– 285.2

– 270.2

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

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

Defined benefit cost recognized in OCI1)

– 28.4

– 38.1

31.3

–

0.2

–

– 0.8

– 35.8

– 29.0

– 6.8

54.6

– 69.5

1.1

0.2

– 13.6

– 23.5

– 57.8

54.5

8.0

–

– 1.1

– 0.3

– 20.2

– 15.8

– 4.4

– 299.2

73.9

50.2

0.2

– 174.9

1)   The tax effect on defined benefit cost recognized in OCI amounted to CHF 0.5 million (2014: CHF 37.0 million).

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015131

Employee benefit plans

millions of CHF

Reconciliation of defined benefit obligation

2015

2014

Defined benefit obligation as of January 1

– 2 219.1

– 2 034.7

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

– 38.1

– 28.4

– 9.1

–

111.5

0.2

–

– 0.9

54.6

40.8

Defined benefit obligation as of December 311)

– 2 088.5

– 57.8

– 23.5

– 9.3

8.0

120.6

–

108.3

– 0.3

– 299.2

– 31.2

– 2 219.1

Reconciliation of the fair value of plan assets

Fair value of plan assets as of January 1

1 951.3

1 969.6

Interest income on plan assets

Employer contribution

Contributions by plan participants

Benefits paid/deposited

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

31.3

25.7

9.1

– 111.3

–

– 69.5

– 32.0

1 804.6

95.3

646.1

–

558.3

33.7

0.2

34.0

54.5

26.2

9.3

– 120.6

– 88.1

73.9

26.5

1 951.3

114.8

614.8

0.4

657.3

28.7

0.3

46.2

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

1 367.6

1 462.5

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

265.8

171.2

437.0

264.2

224.6

488.8

Best estimate of contributions for upcoming financial year

Contributions by the employer

28.6

26.9

1)   The defined benefit obligation 2015 includes the funded part (CHF 2 042.7 million) and the unfunded part (CHF 45.8 million).

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements132

Employee benefit plans

millions of CHF

Components of defined benefit obligation, split

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

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

Total actuarial gain/(loss) on defined benefit obligation

Components of economic benefit available

Economic benefits available in form of refund

Economic benefits available in form of reduction in future contribution

Total economic benefit available

2015

2014

– 475.7

– 1 362.5

– 250.3

– 2 088.5

17.7

4.4

32.5

54.6

–

10.5

10.5

– 507.6

– 1 433.5

– 278.0

– 2 219.1

– 318.6

– 2.9

22.3

– 299.2

0.2

12.6

12.8

Maturity profile of defined benefit obligation

Weighted average duration of defined benefit obligation in years

12.7

13.1

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 expectancy (decrease 1 year)

Life expectancy (increase 1 year)

– 67.3

71.6

3.5

4.9

115.7

– 105.2

– 73.1

77.2

11.7

– 3.1

113.1

– 103.3

Since the defined benefit obligation for the Swiss and UK pension plans represent more than 94% (2014: 
94%) of the group, the following significant actuarial assumptions apply exclusively to the two countries:

millions of CHF

2015

2014

Principal actuarial assumptions as of December 31

Switzerland United Kingdom

Switzerland United Kingdom

Discount rate for active employees

Discount rate for pensioners

Future salary increases

Future pension increases

1.1%

0.6%

1.0%

0.0%

3.6%

3.6%

3.4%

2.5%

1.2%

0.8%

1.0%

0.0%

3.5%

3.5%

3.9%

2.5%

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

22/24

22/24

21/24

23/24

Sulzer—Annual Report 201510  Research and development expenses
A breakdown of the research and development expenses per division is shown in the table below:

133

millions of CHF

Pumps Equipment

Rotating Equipment Services

Chemtech

Others

Total

11  Other operating income and expenses

millions of CHF

Income from release of contingent consideration

Income from sale of property, plant, and equipment

Release of real estate provision

Income from services to third parties

Operating currency exchange gains, net

Income from legal cases

Income from negative past service costs

Other operating income

Total other operating income

Restructuring expenses

Impairments of tangible and intangible assets

Cost for mergers and acquisitions

Expenses related to defined benefit plans

Withholding tax expenses

Loss from settlement of legal cases

Operating currency exchange losses, net

Other operating expenses

Total other operating expenses

Total other operating income and expenses, net

2015

32.8

1.3

37.6

1.7

73.4

2015

12.9

0.3

6.8

0.2

–

0.7

–

13.6

34.5

– 41.2

– 13.0

– 3.4

– 8.8

–

– 10.8

– 3.8

– 17.2

– 98.2

– 63.7

2014

37.7

2.3

38.1

– 1.9

76.2

2014

–

14.4

3.2

4.3

4.7

1.3

8.0

11.3

47.2

– 11.2

– 0.3

– 4.9

– 5.0

– 3.3

– 0.8

–

– 19.1

– 44.6

2.6

During 2015 the group reassessed the achievement of the earn-out targets related to contingent consider-
ation arrangements. The reassessment resulted in an income of CHF 12.9 million. The group further re-
leased a provision of CHF 6.8 million for warranties made relating to the sale of Sulzer Real Estate Ltd in 
2010 (2014: CHF 3.2 million). 

Following the restructuring announcements in 2015, the group recognized restructuring cost of CHF 41.2 mil-
lion  (2014:  CHF  11.2  million).  The  group  further  performed  impairment  tests  on  the  related  production 
machines and facilities leading to impairments of CHF 13.0 million (2014: CHF 0.3 million). 

Following  the  decision  of  the  arbitral  tribunal  regarding  a  dispute  with  the  purchaser  of  the  locomotive 
business (sold in 1998), the group recognized, in addition to the existing provision, expenses of CHF 8.7 mil-
lion as loss from legal cases.

The  difference  between  employer  contribution  and  total  defined  benefit  cost  according  to  the  actuarial 
calculation resulted in other operating expenses of CHF 8.8 million (2014: CHF 5.0 million). 

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements134

12  Financial income and expenses

millions of CHF

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) (net)

Total other financial expenses

Total financial expenses

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

 — thereof from loans and receivables

 — thereof from borrowings

 — thereof from investments

 — thereof from employee benefit plans

2015

6.5

–

6.5

– 21.1

– 6.8

– 27.9

– 21.4

0.1

12.8

– 1.4

– 14.8

– 3.3

– 24.7

12.8

– 9.7

– 21.1

0.1

– 6.8

2014

6.4

0.4

6.8

– 16.4

– 4.8

– 21.2

– 14.4

– 0.1

– 2.9

– 0.7

1.4

– 2.3

– 16.7

– 2.9

7.1

– 16.4

– 0.1

– 4.4

The income on interest and securities remained largely unchanged compared with 2014. Interest expenses 
comprise an extraordinary expense of CHF 5.2 million related to the dispute with the purchaser of the lo-
comotive business as further detailed in note 27. Apart from that, interest expenses, comprising the annu-
al expenses on the CHF 500 million bond of CHF 12.0 million, slightly decreased compared with 2014, 
mainly due to the reduction of other 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.

13 

Income taxes

millions of CHF

Current income tax expenses

Deferred income tax income

Total income tax expenses

2015

– 52.9

28.0

– 24.9

2014

– 89.6

17.7

– 71.9

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

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015135

Reconciliation of income tax expenses

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 year items and others

Total income tax expenses

Effective income tax rate

2015

99.9

23.2%

– 23.2

13.0

– 3.7

– 4.3

– 1.0

– 5.7

– 24.9

24.9%

2014

– 85.7

27.3%

23.4

– 17.0

1.5

– 83.4

0.3

3.3

– 71.9

– 83.9%

The decrease in the effective income tax rate to 24.9% (2014: 28.3% excl. the goodwill impairment in the 
Water business) can be explained through a change in allocation of taxable profits among the countries.  

Income tax liabilities

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Released as no longer required

Utilized

Currency translation differences

Total income tax liabilities as of December 31

 — thereof non-current

 — thereof current

2015

35.0

0.7

54.7

– 13.4

– 61.6

– 2.9

12.5

2.6

9.9

2014

30.6

0.5

122.4

– 11.6

– 107.5

0.6

35.0

2.6

32.4

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

millions of CHF

Intangible assets1)

Property, plant, and equipment

Other financial assets

Inventories

Other assets

Non-current provisions

Defined benefit plans

Current provisions

Other current liabilities

Tax loss carryforwards

Elimination of intercompany profits

2015

2014

Assets

Liabilities

Net

Assets

Liabilities

Net

– 82.7

– 82.4

– 22.5

– 20.0

0.3

2.9

3.4

20.6

16.8

15.0

52.4

26.3

23.2

25.4

0.7

– 70.1

– 69.8

– 16.3

– 13.4

– 0.8

– 6.8

– 9.2

– 2.8

–

– 1.2

– 15.5

–

–

2.6

13.8

7.6

12.2

52.4

25.1

7.7

25.4

0.7

0.3

2.5

1.8

18.2

25.9

13.2

51.0

24.7

23.2

21.6

2.5

– 2.9

– 5.5

– 8.3

– 3.5

– 0.3

– 0.9

– 22.7

–

–

– 1.1

12.7

17.6

9.7

50.7

23.8

0.5

21.6

2.5

35.6

Tax assets/liabilities

187.0

– 122.7

64.3

184.9

– 149.3

Offset of assets and liabilities

– 53.3

53.3

–

– 58.1

58.1

–

Net recorded deferred income tax assets and liabilities

133.7

– 69.4

64.3

126.8

– 91.2

35.6

1)   The balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 has been restated following the finalization of the valuation of the net assets 
acquired related to acquisitions in 2014. A reconciliation to the previously published balance sheet is provided in note 5.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements136

Cumulative deferred taxes directly recognized in equity as of December 31, 2015, amounted to CHF 33.1 mil-
lion (December 31, 2014: CHF 31.8 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. 

Movement 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

Defined benefit plans

Current provisions

Other current liabilities

Tax loss carryforwards

Elimination of intercompany profits

Total

millions of CHF

Intangible assets1)

Property, plant, and equipment

Other financial assets

Inventories

Other assets

Non-current provisions

Defined benefit plans

Current provisions

Other current liabilities

Tax loss carryforwards

Elimination of intercompany profits

Total

Balance as 
of January 1

– 82.4

– 20.0

– 1.1

12.7

17.6

9.7

50.7

23.8

0.5

21.6

2.5

35.6

Balance as 
of January 1

– 87.1

– 15.9

– 4.7

21.3

9.9

3.4

18.9

22.7

– 4.0

23.5

2.9

– 9.1

Recognized 
in profit  
or loss

Recognized 
in other 
comprehen-
sive income

Acquisition 
of 
subsidiaries

Currency 
translation 
differences

7.2

5.9

1.1

0.9

– 5.0

3.2

– 0.3

3.5

5.8

7.5

– 1.8

28.0

–

–

0.8

–

–

–

0.5

–

–

–

–

– 0.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5.7

0.7

1.8

0.2

– 5.0

– 0.7

1.5

– 2.2

1.4

– 3.7

–

1.3

– 0.3

–0.3

Recognized 
in profit  
or loss

Recognized 
in other 
comprehen-
sive income

Acquisition 
of 
subsidiaries

Currency 
translation 
differences

2015

Balance  
as of 
December 
31

– 69.8

– 13.4

2.6

13.8

7.6

12.2

52.4

25.1

7.7

25.4

0.7

64.3

2014

Balance  
as of 
December 
31

12.6

1.5

3.6

– 9.5

7.8

5.9

–

–

2.4

–

–

–

– 5.7

37.0

–

3.2

– 1.0

– 0.7

17.7

–

–

–

–

– 12.5

– 4.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

39.4

– 17.3

4.6

– 82.4

– 0.8

–2.4

0.9

– 0.1

0.4

0.5

1.1

1.3

– 0.9

0.3

4.9

– 20.0

– 1.1

12.7

17.6

9.7

50.7

23.8

0.5

21.6

2.5

35.6

1)   The balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 has been restated following the finalization of the valuation of the net assets 
acquired related to acquisitions in 2014. A reconciliation to the previously published balance sheet is provided in note 5.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015137

Tax loss carryforwards

millions of CHF

Expiring in the next 3 years

Expiring in 4 – 7 years

Available without limitation

Total tax loss carryforwards as of December 31

millions of CHF

Expiring in the next 3 years

Expiring in 4 – 7 years

Available without limitation

Total tax loss carryforwards as of December 31

Amount

10.1

69.1

61.0

140.2

Amount

21.4

20.0

73.3

114.7

Potential  
tax assets

Valuation 
allowance

Carrying 
amount

1.9

15.5

16.8

34.2

– 1.1

– 4.7

– 3.0

– 8.8

0.8

10.8

13.8

25.4

Potential  
tax assets

Valuation 
allowance

Carrying 
amount

5.1

4.9

17.6

27.6

– 0.7

– 1.9

– 3.4

– 6.0

4.4

3.0

14.2

21.6

2015

TLCF

1.6

23.3

12.1

37.0

2014

TLCF

3.2

7.6

13.7

24.5

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 carryforwards (TLCF) in the amount of CHF 37.0 million (2014: CHF 24.5 million). 

14 

Intangible assets

millions of CHF

Acquisition cost

Trademarks 
and  
licenses

Goodwill

Research 
and 
develop-
ment

Computer 
software

Customer 
relationship

Total

2015

Balance as of January 1

1 033.7

144.6

9.6

44.7

348.3

1 580.9

Changes in scope of consolidation

31.4

0.4

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Accumulated amortization

Balance as of January 1

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Impairments

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Net book value

As of January 1

As of December 31

–

–

–

–

–

0.1

– 45.3

– 11.9

1 019.8

133.2

340.0

–

–

–

–

–

340.0

82.5

13.1

–

–

–

– 2.2

93.4

–

–

– 0.7

– 0.1

– 2.5

6.3

2.0

1.0

– 0.7

–

1.1

– 2.3

1.1

–

2.1

– 0.7

0.7

– 2.2

44.6

8.5

–

– 0.1

– 0.4

40.3

2.1

– 1.5

0.3

– 23.9

– 85.8

332.4

1 536.3

38.3

119.4

582.2

4.0

– 0.7

–

–

– 2.1

39.5

24.2

– 0.1

– 0.1

–

42.3

– 1.5

– 0.1

1.1

– 7.3

– 13.9

136.1

610.1

693.7

679.8

62.1

39.8

7.6

5.2

6.4

5.1

228.9

998.7

196.3

926.2

Following the announcement of a restructuring program in Switzerland, the group performed an impairment 
test on the related intangible assets, resulting in impairments as of December 31, 2015, of CHF 1.1 million 
(December 31, 2014: no impairments).

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements138

millions of CHF

Acquisition cost

Trademarks 
and  
licenses

Goodwill

Research 
and 
develop-
ment

Computer 
software

Customer 
relationship

Total

2014

Balance as of January 1

978.4

155.1

Changes in scope of consolidation1)

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Accumulated amortization

Balance as of January 1

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Impairments

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Net book value

As of January 1

As of December 31

73.1

–

–

–

0.9

0.3

– 5.2

–

– 17.8

– 6.5

1 033.7

144.6

–

–

–

–

340.0

–

340.0

73.4

13.3

– 2.5

–

–

– 1.7

82.5

978.4

693.7

81.7

62.1

2.5

7.3

–

–

–

– 0.2

9.6

–

1.4

–

–

–

0.6

2.0

2.5

7.6

44.0

316.2

1 496.2

0.2

4.5

– 6.1

1.7

0.4

45.7

127.2

0.7

– 0.7

– 4.1

– 9.5

5.5

– 12.0

– 2.4

– 33.6

44.7

348.3

1 580.9

38.5

102.1

214.0

5.3

– 6.1

–

–

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

5.5

6.4

214.1

1 282.2

228.9

998.7

1)   The balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 has been restated following the finalization of the valuation of the net assets 
acquired related to acquisitions in 2014. A reconciliation to the previously published balance sheet is provided in note 5.

Goodwill impairment test

millions of CHF

Growth rate 
residual 
value

Goodwill

2015

Pre-tax 
discount 
rate

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

Pumps Equipment—business unit Water

679.8

272.9

Growth rate 
residual 
value

2014

Pre-tax 
discount 
rate

Goodwill

693.7

1.0%

11.0%

281.8

1.0%

11.3%

Pumps Equipment—individually not significant

25.3

2.0%

10.6%

17.0

2.0%

11.3%

Rotating Equipment Services—region EMEA

145.1

2.0%

10.8%

172.4

2.0%

10.7%

Rotating Equipment Services—individually not 
significant

79.2

2.0%

10.6%

76.1

2.0%

10.7%

Chemtech

157.3

0.0%

10.0%

146.4

0.0%

10.2%

Goodwill is allocated to the smallest cash-generating unit (CGU) at which the goodwill is monitored for in-
ternal 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 approved by man-
agement.  Cash  flows  beyond  this  planning  period  are  extrapolated  using  a  terminal  value  including  the 
growth rates as stated above.

The impairment test performed in 2014 revealed that for the business unit Water the value in use was low-
er 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 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015139

bring  them  in  line  with  expected  market  developments,  past  performance  of  the  business  and  from  an 
adjusted pre-tax discount rate. 

Sensitivity analyses 
The recoverable amount from cash-generating units is measured on the basis of value-in-use calculations 
influenced materially by the terminal growth rate used to determine the residual value, the discount rate, 
and the projected cash flows. A reduction of the terminal growth rate  by 1% or an increase of the pre-tax 
discount rate by 1% would not lead to an impairment for all the cash-generating units. 

15  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

Impairments

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Net book value

As of January 1

As of December 31

Machinery 
and 
technical 
equipment

Land and 
buildings

Other 
non-current 
assets

 Assets 
under 
construction 

2015

Total

381.1

701.4

198.6

34.7

1 315.8

8.9

5.2

5.2

24.5

2.1

6.8

–

35.1

16.2

71.6

– 3.2

– 35.6

– 5.8

–

– 44.6

9.9

28.4

2.7

– 41.4

– 0.4

– 24.7

– 44.8

– 14.7

– 2.4

– 86.6

377.2

679.1

189.7

26.0

1 272.0

148.0

488.4

148.7

–

13.7

– 3.0

0.1

6.3

–

43.5

– 30.6

– 0.3

5.1

–

16.9

– 4.6

0.4

0.5

– 9.6

– 32.2

– 10.7

155.5

473.9

151.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

785.1

–

74.1

– 38.2

0.2

11.9

– 52.5

780.6

233.1

213.0

221.7

205.2

49.9

38.5

 34.7 

530.7

26.0

491.4

Thereof leased property, plant, and equipment

Acquisition cost of leased property, plant, and equipment

Accumulated depreciation

Net book value as of December 31

0.5

0.5

–

0.4

–

0.4

0.2

–

0.2

Leasing commitments (present value) as of December 31

0.2

0.3

0.2

–

–

–

–

1.1

0.5

0.6

0.7

Fire insurance value as of December 31

520.5

1 043.2

581.6

26.0

2 171.3

Pledged assets as of December 31

–

2.3

–

–

2.3

Following the restructuring announcements in 2015, the group performed impairment tests on the related 
production machines and facilities, resulting in impairments of CHF 11.9 million as of December 31, 2015 
(December 31, 2014: CHF 0.3 million), all of which were charged to other operating expenses. The impaired 
assets do not meet the criteria for classification as held for sale as of December 31, 2015.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements140

In 2015, fixed assets with a book value of CHF 6.4 million (2014: CHF 7.0 million) were sold for CHF 6.7 mil-
lion (2014: CHF 21.4 million), resulting in a gain of CHF 0.3 million (2014: CHF 14.4 million).

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

Impairments

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Net book value

As of January 1

As of December 31

Machinery 
and 
technical 
equipment

Land and 
buildings

Other 
non-current 
assets

 Assets 
under 
construction 

2014

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) as of December 31

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 as of December 31

549.4

1 112.8

536.0

34.7

2 232.9

Pledged assets as of December 31

1.6

1.7

–

–

3.3

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015141

16  Associates

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Addition

Profit from continuing operations

Dividend payments received

Currency translation differences

Total investments in associates as of December 31

2015

2.5

0.1

3.7

– 2.3

–

4.0

2014

–

2.4

–

–

0.1

2.5

The newly formed company Hua Rui in China started its operating activities in the first half of 2015. The year-
to-date profit of Sulzer’s 49% stake in the company was recognized in profit from continuing operations.

On June 26, 2015, Sulzer formed a new company with the Unaoil Group dedicated to the service of rotating 
equipment for oil and gas, and power customers in Southern Iraq. Sulzer’s stake of 49% of the year-to-date 
profit was recognized in profit from continuing operations.

17  Other financial assets 

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Additions

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Additions

Disposals

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

Available-for- 
sale

Loans and 
receivables

4.5

–

–

4.5

7.4

0.5

– 0.8

7.1

Available-for- 
sale

Loans and 
receivables

4.5

–

–

–

4.5

6.6

0.8

– 0.1

0.1

7.4

2015

Total

11.9

0.5

– 0.8

11.6

2014

Total

11.1

0.8

– 0.1

0.1

11.9

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.

18 

Inventories

millions of CHF

Raw materials, supplies, and consumables

Work in progress

Finished products and trade merchandise

Total inventories as of December 31

2015

120.9

207.6

80.8

409.3

2014

123.3

270.5

93.7

487.5

In 2015, Sulzer recognized write-downs of CHF 22.5 million (2014: CHF 18.1 million) in the income state-
ment.  Total  accumulated  write-downs  on  inventories  amounted  to  CHF  72.9  million  as  of  Decem-
ber 31, 2015 (2014: CHF 68.7 million). Material expenses in 2015 amounted to CHF 1 137.6 million (2014: 
CHF 1 235.3 million).

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements142

19  Percentage of completion contracts

millions of CHF

Contract revenue recognized for the year

Net receivables resulting from construction contracts as of December 31

Net liabilities resulting from construction contracts as of December 31

Advance payments received from customers for construction contracts  
as of December 31

2015

469.8

190.7

– 31.9

2014

561.1

176.8

– 15.5

– 399.1

– 436.2

Sales recognized in accordance with the percentage of completion method for the year 2015 amounted to 
CHF 469.8 million (thereof related to ongoing contracts CHF 294.2 million), which corresponds to 15.8% 
of total sales (2014: CHF 561.1 million, or 17.5% of sales). The costs related to these sales amounted to 
CHF 338.3 million (thereof to ongoing contracts CHF 230.9 million) and to CHF 425.7 million in 2014. The 
impact  on  gross  profit  was  CHF  131.5  million,  which  corresponds  to  14.4%  of  total  gross  profit  (2014: 
CHF 135.4 million, 13.4%).

20  Trade accounts receivable
Aging structure of trade accounts receivable

millions of CHF

Not past due

Past due

1– 30 days

31– 60 days

61–120 days

>120 days

Total trade accounts receivable  
as of December 31

2015

Gross 
amount

Allowance

Net book 
value

Gross 
amount

Allowance

2014

Net book 
value

613.8

– 1.0

612.8

675.1

– 7.6

667.5

85.7

38.8

33.9

– 0.5

– 0.6

– 2.0

116.6

– 33.6

85.2

38.2

31.9

83.0

105.8

44.3

54.8

– 0.1

– 0.8

– 8.4

115.6

– 22.8

105.7

43.5

46.4

92.8

888.8

– 37.7

851.1

995.6

– 39.7

955.9

Allowance for doubtful trade accounts receivable

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Released as no longer required

Utilized

Currency translation differences

Balance as of December 31

2015

39.7

–

15.8

– 9.8

– 5.0

– 3.0

37.7

2014

33.5

0.3

23.5

– 14.7

– 4.1

1.2

39.7

Approximately 31% (2014: 32%) of the gross amount of trade accounts receivable is past due, and an al-
lowance of CHF 37.7 million (2014: CHF 39.7 million) was recorded. The recoverability of trade accounts 
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.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Accounts receivable by geographical region

millions of CHF

Accounts receivable by region

143

Europe, Middle East, Africa

 — thereof United Kingdom

 — thereof Germany

 — thereof Switzerland

 — thereof other countries

Americas

 — thereof USA

 — thereof Mexico

 — thereof other countries

Asia-Pacific

 — thereof China

 — thereof India

 — thereof other countries

Total as of December 31

21  Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses

millions of CHF

Receivables from tax authorities

Derivative financial instruments

Other accounts receivable

Total other accounts receivable as of December 31

Insurance premiums

Prepaid contributions to employee benefit plans

Other prepaid expenses

Total prepaid expenses as of December 31

2015

453.2

167.2

54.1

39.6

192.3

203.5

143.4

27.0

33.1

194.4

134.1

25.1

35.2

851.1

2015

59.9

6.4

18.5

84.8

2.5

9.6

26.4

38.5

2014

412.2

93.7

21.8

37.4

259.3

283.7

183.8

20.0

79.9

260.0

152.0

42.6

65.4

955.9

20141)

64.0

7.4

38.4

109.8

2.6

10.7

24.1

37.4

Total other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses  
as of December 31

123.3

147.2

1)   The balance sheet as of December 31, 2014, has been restated following the finalization of the valuation of the net assets 

acquired in 2014. A reconciliation to the previously published balance sheet is provided in note 5.

For further details on the position “Derivative financial instruments,” refer to note 29. Other accounts receiv-
able do not include any material positions that are past due or impaired.

22  Cash and cash equivalents

millions of CHF

Cash

Cash equivalents

Total cash and cash equivalents as of December 31

2015

902.2

106.8

1 009.0

2014

865.9

328.8

1 194.7

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the group held no significant restricted cash and cash equivalents.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements144

23  Marketable securities

millions of CHF

Designated at fair value through profit or loss

Total marketable securities as of December 31

2015

208.3

208.3

2014

106.8

106.8

Marketable securities designated at fair value through profit or loss as of December 31, 2015, mainly com-
prises an investment in a fund investing in short-term bonds with high credit ratings. Further, during 2015 
the group invested in time deposits and other interest-bearing investments with maturity between 3 and 12 
months, leading to an increase of the carrying amount compared to 2014. Any fair value adjustments are 
recognized in financial income.

24  Share capital

thousands of CHF

Number of 
shares

2015

Share 
capital

Number of 
shares

2014

Share 
capital

Balance as of December 31 (par value CHF 0.01)

34 262 370

342.6

34 262 370

342.6

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 de-
clare  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  individuals  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).

Shareholders holding more than 3% 

Renova Group

First Pacific Advisors

BlackRock

T. Rowe Price Associates

Dec 31, 2015

Dec 31, 2014

Number of 
shares

in %

Number of 
shares

21 728 414

63.42

11 159 790

n/a

n/a

1 051 364

n/a

n/a

3.07

1 716 616

1 149 976

n/a

in %

32.57

5.01

3.36

n/a

Sulzer Ltd is not aware of any agreements between the shareholders named above regarding the shares 
held or regarding the execution of voting rights. 

Retained earnings
The retained earnings include prior years’ undistributed income of consolidated companies and all remea-
surements of the net liability for defined benefit plans.

Treasury shares
The total number of shares held by Sulzer Ltd as of December 31, 2015, amounted to 187 191 (Decem-
ber 31, 2014: 254 940 shares), which are mainly held for the purpose of issuing shares under the manage-
ment share-based payment programs.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015145

Cash flow hedge reserve
The hedging reserve comprises the effective portion of the cumulative net change in the fair value of cash 
flow hedging instruments where the hedged transaction has not yet occurred. Amounts are reclassified to 
profit or loss when the associated hedged transaction affects profit or loss.

Currency translation reserve
The currency translation reserve comprises all foreign exchange differences arising on the translation of the 
financial  statements  of  foreign  controlled  entities.  The  cumulative  amount  is  reclassified  to  profit  or  loss 
when the net investment is disposed of.

Dividends
On April 1, 2015, the Annual General Meeting approved a dividend of CHF 3.50 (2014: CHF 3.20) per share, 
to be paid out of reserves. The dividend was paid to shareholders on April 9, 2015, less 35 percent with-
holding tax. The total amount of the gross dividend paid was CHF 119.2 million (2014: CHF 109.6 million).

The Board of Directors decided to propose to the Annual General Meeting an ordinary dividend for the year 
2015 of CHF 3.50 per outstanding share (2014: CHF 3.50 per outstanding share) and a special dividend of 
CHF 14.60 per outstanding share (2014: CHF 0.00 per outstanding share).

25  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)

2015

73.9

–

73.9

2014

– 160.7

435.7

275.0

Issued number of shares

Adjustment for the average treasury shares held

34 262 370

34 262 370

– 226 508

– 255 061

Average number of shares outstanding as of December 31

34 035 862

34 007 309

Adjustment for share participation plans

 148 139

 153 808

Average number of shares for calculating diluted earnings per share 
as of December 31

34 184 001

34 161 117

Earnings per share, attributable to a shareholder of Sulzer Ltd (in CHF) 
as of December 31

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

2.17

2.17

–

2.16

2.16

–

8.09

– 4.72

12.81

8.05

– 4.70

12.75

26  Borrowings

millions of CHF

Bonds

Bank and other loans

Leasing obligations

Total borrowings as of December 31

 — thereof due in < 1 year

 — thereof due in 1– 5 years

 — thereof due in > 5 years

2015

2014

Short-term Long-term 

Total

Short-term Long-term 

Total

499.6

14.5

0.3

514.4

514.4

–

–

–

6.5

0.7

7.2

–

7.0

0.2

499.6

21.0

1.0

521.6

514.4

7.0

0.2

–

498.9

498.9

17.5

0.2

17.7

17.7

–

–

10.8

0.6

28.3

0.8

510.3

528.0

–

17.7

510.0

510.0

0.3

0.3

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements146

Borrowings by currency

BRL

CHF

EUR

SAR

Other

millions of 
CHF

7.0

in %

1.3

499.7

95.8

0.3

8.8

5.8

0.1

1.7

1.1

Total as of December 31

521.6

100.0

2015

Interest 
rate

millions of 
CHF

in %

4.2

22.0

498.9

94.5

0.4

–

6.7

0.1

–

1.2

528.0

100.0

8.0%

2.4%

2.9%

4.2%

–

–

2014

Interest 
rate

8.0%

2.3%

4.0%

–

–

–

In May 2015 Sulzer voluntarily amended and extended its CHF 500 million syndicated credit facility origi-
nally signed in 2012. The new maturity date is May 2020 with two one-year extension options. The amended 
facility is further available for general corporate purposes including financing of acquisitions. 

The facility is subject to financial covenants based on net financial indebtedness and EBITDA, which were 
adhered to throughout the reporting period. The facility was not used during 2015 due to the group’s net 
liquidity situation, and also the amount of other borrowings was further reduced. 

Outstanding bond

millions of CHF

2.25% 07/2011– 07/2016

Total as of December 31

2015

2014

Amortized 
costs

Nominal

Amortized 
costs

Nominal

499.6

500.0

498.9

500.0

499.6

500.0

498.9

500.0

In  July  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. This bond with maturity in July 2016 is reclassified from 
long- to short-term. The effective interest rate is 2.42%. The bond is traded at the SIX Swiss Exchange and 
the fair value amounts to CHF 506.4 million as per December 31, 2015 (2014: CHF 514.4 million). The fair 
value of the other financial borrowings is approximately equivalent to their carrying amount.

27  Provisions

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1, 2015

Changes in scope of consolidation

Additions

Released as no longer required

Utilized

Currency translation differences

Total provisions as of December 31, 2015

 — thereof non-current

 — thereof current

Warranties/ 
liabilities

Restruc-
turing

Environ-
mental

Other 
employee 
benefits

36.8

1.4

31.1

– 1.3

99.5

–

1.3

–

34.9

40.1

– 16.4

–

– 24.3

– 31.7

– 13.1

– 0.8

42.9

36.2

6.7

– 8.4

77.9

4.3

73.6

– 0.6

27.7

1.0

26.7

Other

64.9

–

Total

219.0

1.4

16.2

122.3

– 12.5

– 30.2

– 19.7

– 88.8

– 2.7

46.2

15.9

30.3

– 12.9

210.8

73.5

137.3

16.5

–

–

–

–

– 0.4

16.1

16.1

–

The category “Other employee benefits” includes provisions for jubilee gifts, early retirement of senior man-
agers, and other obligations to employees.

The utilized provision in the category “Warranties/liabilities” is mainly related to a settlement of a dispute of 
the locomotive business (sold in 1998). Following the decision of the arbitral tribunal the group recognized 
in addition to the existing provision, expenses of CHF 8.7 million in other operating income and expenses, 
and CHF 5.2 million as interest expenses.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015147

As part of the Sulzer Full Potential (SFP) program, Sulzer has initiated several actions to adapt the global 
manufacturing capacities and streamline the organizational setup. Restructuring provisions are mainly as-
sociated with measures started in Brazil, the Netherlands, China, Switzerland, the United States, and Fin-
land. In 2015, the group recognized restructuring provisions of CHF 40.1 million. The remaining provision 
as of December 31, 2015 is CHF 27.7 million, of which CHF 26.7 million is expected to be utilized within 
one year.

“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  indemnities,  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 condi-
tion. Although Sulzer expects a large part of the category “Other” to be realized in 2016, by their nature the 
amounts and timing of any cash outflows are difficult to predict.

28  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 as of December 31

Vacation and overtime claims

Salaries, wages, and bonuses

Contract-related costs

Other accrued liabilities

Total accrued liabilities as of December 31

2015

10.6

19.3

11.2

13.7

54.8

26.7

82.5

103.7

97.9

310.8

2014

10.5

42.8

11.6

33.5

98.4

32.7

78.1

129.1

85.9

325.8

Total other current and accrued liabilities as of December 31

365.6

424.2

29  Derivative financial instruments

millions of CHF

Forward exchange contracts

Other derivative instruments

Total as of December 31

 — thereof due in < 1 year

 — thereof due in 1– 2 years

 — thereof due in 3 – 5 years

2015

2014

Derivative assets

Derivative liabilities

Derivative assets

Derivative liabilities

Notional 
value

437.5

–

437.5

437.3

0.2

–

Fair 
value

Notional 
value

Fair 
value

Notional 
value

Fair 
value

Notional 
value

6.4

–

6.4

6.4

–

589.5

11.6

407.1

–

589.5

571.7

17.7

0.1

–

11.6

11.2

0.4

–

407.1

406.4

0.7

–

7.4

–

7.4

7.4

–

582.6

0.8

583.4

579.8

3.6

–

Fair 
value

11.6

0.1

11.7

11.6

0.1

The notional and the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities include current and also non-current deriv-
ative  financial  instruments.  The  cash  flow  hedges  of  the  expected  future  sales  were  assessed  as  highly 
effective. As at December 31, 2015, a net cumulative unrealized loss of CHF 12.8 million (2014: loss of 
CHF 10.1 million) with a deferred tax asset of CHF 3.6 million (2014: CHF 4.4 million) relating to these cash 
flow hedges were included in other comprehensive income. In 2015, a loss of CHF 3.1 million (2014: a gain 
of CHF 1.4 million) cash flow hedge reserve was recognized in profit or loss. There was no ineffectiveness 
that arose from cash flow hedges in 2015 (2014: CHF 0.0 million). The maximum exposure to credit risk at 
the reporting date is the fair value of the derivative assets in the balance sheet.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements148

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, 2015, are recognized 
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, 2015, the amount subject to such netting arrangements 
was CHF 3.8 million (2014: CHF 2.5 million). Considering the effect of these agreements the amount of 
derivative  assets  would  reduce  from  CHF  6.4  million  to  CHF  2.6  million  (2014:  from  CHF  7.4  million  to 
CHF 4.9 million), and the amount of derivative liabilities would reduce from CHF 11.6 million to CHF 7.8 mil-
lion (2014: from CHF 11.7 million to CHF 9.2 million).

30  Other financial commitments

millions of CHF

Maturity < 1 year

Maturity 1 – 5 years

Maturity > 5 years

Operating lease as of December 31

Rented 
premises

20.4

51.8

23.1

95.3

2015

Total

29.4

64.1

23.1

Other

9.0

12.3

–

21.3

116.6

Rented 
premises

20.0

51.4

19.1

90.5

2014

Total

30.7

69.8

19.1

Other

10.7

18.4

–

29.1

119.6

Total commitments for future investments and 
acquisitions as of December 31

0.7

1.6

2.3

1.2

1.4

2.6

31  Contingent liabilities

millions of CHF

Guarantees in favor of third parties

Total contingent liabilities as of December 31

2015

10.0

10.0

2014

10.0

10.0

As of December 31, 2015, guarantees provided to third parties amounted to CHF 10 million expiring in the 
year 2022. The guarantee is related to a disposed business and certain environmental matters.

32  Share participation plans
Share-based payments charged to personnel expenses

millions of CHF

Restricted share unit plan

Performance share plan

Total charged to personnel expenses

2015

9.6

– 1.3

8.3

2014

6.4

1.0

7.4

Restricted share unit plan settled in Sulzer shares 
This long-term incentive plan covers key members of the management and members of the Board of Di-
rectors. Restricted share units (RSU) are granted annually depending on the organizational position of the 
employee.  Vesting  of  the  RSU  is  subject  to  continuous  employment  over  the  vesting  period.  Awards  to 
members of the Board of Directors automatically vest with the departure from the board. The plan features 
graded vesting over a three-year period. One RSU award is settled with one Sulzer share at the end of the 
vesting period. The fair value of the RSU granted is measured at the grant date closing share price of Sulzer 
Ltd, and discounted over the vesting period using a discount rate that is based on the yield of Swiss gov-
ernment bonds for the duration of the vesting period. Participants are not entitled to dividends declared 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015149

during the vesting period. Consequently, the grant date fair value of the RSUs is reduced by the present 
value of the dividends expected to be paid during the vesting period. 

During 2015, the Renova shareholder group exceeded the threshold of 50% of the voting rights in Sulzer 
Ltd., qualifying as a Change of Control under the RSU plan. The Change of Control triggered the acceler-
ated vesting of all outstanding RSUs and entitled the plan participants to immediately receive shares. The 
group offered the plan participants the opportunity to continue participating in the RSU plans. If the plan 
participants waived the right to accelerated vesting and immediate allocation of shares and agreed to hold 
the RSUs through to the end of their original vesting periods, plan participants, not including the Members 
of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, received additional RSUs in a number equal to 20% 
of the number of unvested RSUs that the plan participants held at the time of the Change of Control. The 
additional RSUs granted will vest at the same date as the last tranche of the original RSUs. 

Restricted share units

Grant year

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Total

Outstanding as of December 1, 2014

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

Outstanding as of December 31, 2014

Outstanding as of December 1, 2015

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

49 635

36 710

15 681

102 026

69 984

303

–

–

70 287

–

– 18 761

– 20 516

– 15 681

– 54 958

– 1 725

– 5 665

– 1 852

68 259

25 512

14 342

68 259

25 512

14 342

98 035

3 426

993

–

– 20 621

– 32 046

– 16 212

– 13 204

–

– 3 713

– 1 682

– 1 138

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 9 242

108 113

108 113

102 454

– 82 083

– 6 533

121 951

Outstanding as of December 31, 2015

77 414

35 926

8 611

–

Average share price at grant date in CHF

102.18

122.00

166.61

129.13

142.62

Performance share plan settled in Sulzer shares 
This long-term incentive plan covers the members of the Executive Committee. Participants are granted 
performance-based share units (PSU). 

Vesting of the PSU is subject to continuous employment and to the achievement of two equally weighted 
performance conditions over the performance period. The two performance conditions are based on cu-
mulated  operational  EBITA  and  the  relative  performance  of  the  Sulzer  share  price,  measured  as  Total 
Shareholder Return (TSR), compared to a selected group of 30 peer companies. 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 rank of Sulzer’s 
TSR at the end of the performance period determines the effective number of total shares. The average fair 
market value at grant date has been calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation.

Performance share units—terms of awards

Grant year

Number of awards granted 

Grant date

2015

21 665

2014

15 965

2013

37 035

April 1, 15

April 1, 14

April 1, 13

Performance period for cumulative opEBITA

01/15 – 12/17

01/14 – 12/16

01/13 – 12/15

Performance period for TSR

Fair value at grant date in CHF

04/15 – 03/18

04/14 – 03/17

04/13 – 03/16

193.97

206.63

294.81

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements150

Performance share units

Grant year

Outstanding as of January 1, 2014

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

Outstanding as of December 31, 2014

Outstanding as of January 1, 2015

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

Outstanding as of December 31, 2015

2015

2014

2013

Total

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

37 035

37 035

15 965

–

15 965

–

– 4 860

– 4 860

– 2 314

– 5 717

– 8 031

13 651

26 458

40 109

13 651

26 458

40 109

 21 665 

–

–

–

–

21 665

– 5 717

– 5 717

 – 7 865 

– 6 439

– 15 881

– 30 185

13 800

7 212

4 860

25 872

Share 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. 

Option right for ten Sulzer shares

Grant year

Outstanding as of January 1, 2014

Exercised

Outstanding as of December 31, 2014

Outstanding as of January 1, 2015

Exercised

Outstanding as of December 31, 2015

2005

1 410

– 830

580

580

– 580

–

2004

200

– 200

–

–

–

–

Total

1 610

– 1 030

580

580

– 580

–

Average share price at grant date in CHF

52.20

31.80

33  Transactions with members of the Board of Directors,  
Executive Committee, and related parties
Key management compensation

2015

Equity- 
based  
compensa-
tion

Pension  
and social 
security 
contribu-
tions

Short-term 
benefits

Equity- 
based  
compensa-
tion

Pension  
and social 
security 
contribu-
tions

Short-term 
benefits

Total

thousands of CHF

Board of Directors

 1 068

 1 570

 135

 2 773

 904

 862

 99

 1 865

Executive Committee

 5 375

 57

 1 781

 7 213

 5 994

 2 250

 1 809

 10 053

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.

Average 
exercise 
price in CHF

49.67

48.24

52.20

52.20

52.20

–

2014

Total

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015151

Related parties
As of December 31, 2015, sales with related parties controlled by the major shareholder (Renova Group) 
amounted  to  CHF  9.2  million  (2014:  CHF  16.2  million)  with  open  receivables  of  CHF  2.0  million  (2014: 
CHF 6.0 million). Open payables of CHF 0.6 million (2014: CHF 0.0 million) were recognized. Expenses for 
services from a company controlled by the major shareholder of Sulzer amounted to CHF 0.7 million (2014: 
CHF 0.2 million). Sales with associates recorded in 2015 amounted to CHF 2.5 million (2014: CHF 0.0 mil-
lion). Open payables with associates amounted to CHF 1.0 million (2014: CHF 0.0 million). At the time when 
these consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on February 24, 
2016, no other major business transactions or outstanding balances with the Renova Group, their repre-
sentatives, or any other related parties or companies were known.

34  Auditor remuneration
Fees for the audit services by KPMG as the appointed group auditor amounted to CHF 2.7 million (2014: 
CHF 2.6 million). Additional services provided by the group auditor amounted to a total of CHF 0.5 million 
(2014:  CHF  0.3  million).  This  amount  includes  CHF  0.3  million  (2014:  CHF  0.3  million)  for  tax  and  legal 
advisory services and CHF 0.2 million for other consulting services (2014: CHF 0.0 million).

35  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 ma-
trix, 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  as-
sessed on business unit level and consolidated on group level. The business units together with the divi-
sions 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) addi-
tional 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 objec-
tives. The assessment of risk management processes is included within the charter and scope of Group 
Internal Audit.

36  Subsequent events after the balance sheet date 
The Board of Directors authorized these consolidated financial statements for issue on February 24, 2016. 
They are subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting, which will be held on April 7, 2016. At the time 
when these consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue, the Board of Directors and the 
Executive Committee were not aware of any events that would materially affect these financial statements.

Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements152

37  Major subsidiaries
December 31, 2015

December 31, 2015 
Europe

Subsidiary

Switzerland

Sulzer Chemtech AG, Winterthur

Belgium

Germany

Sulzer Mixpac AG, Haag

Sulzer Markets and Technology AG, Winterthur

Sulzer Management AG, Winterthur

Tefag AG, Winterthur

Sulzer International AG, Winterthur

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Belgium N.V./S.A., St. Stevens-Woluwe

Sulzer Pumpen (Deutschland) GmbH, Bruchsal

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Germany GmbH, Bonn

Sulzer Pump Solutions Germany GmbH, Lohmar

Sulzer Chemtech GmbH, Linden

Sulzer Pumps Grundbesitz Germany GmbH, Lohmar

Denmark

Sulzer Mixpac Denmark A/S, Greve

Finland

France

Greece

Sulzer Pumps Denmark A/S, Farum

Sulzer Pumps Finland Oy, Kotka

Sulzer Pompes France, Mantes

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Greece A.E., Athens

Great Britain

Sulzer Pumps (UK) Ltd., Leeds

Sulzer Chemtech (UK) Ltd., Stockton on Tees

Dowding & Mills Plc., Birmingham

Sulzer (UK) Holdings Ltd., Leeds

Ireland

Sulzer Pump Solutions Ireland Ltd., Wexford

Sulzer Finance (Ireland) Limited, Wexford

Italy

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

Sulzer Pumps Norway A/S, Klepp Stasjon

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 (PROLAB NL) B.V., Arnhem

Sulzer Turbo Services Venlo B.V., Lomm

Sulzer Netherlands Holding B.V., Breda

Sulzer Capital B.V., Breda

Sulzer 
ownership 
and voting 
rights

Registered capital 
(including paid-in 
capital in the USA  

t
c
e
r
i
and Canada) D

n
o
i
t
a
p
c
i
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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 10 000 000

CHF 100 000

CHF 4 000 000

CHF 500 000

CHF 500 000

CHF 100 000

EUR 123 947

EUR 3 000 000

EUR 300 000 

EUR 1 000 000

EUR 300 000

EUR 300 000

DKK 500 000

DKK 500 000

EUR 16 000 000

EUR 6 600 000

EUR 117 400

GBP 9 610 000

GBP 100 000

GBP 15 409 555

GBP 6 100 000

EUR 2 222 500

EUR 100

EUR 600 000

EUR 100 000

NOK 502 000

NOK 500 000

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





























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



















Sulzer—Annual Report 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015 
Europe

Subsidiary

Austria

Poland

Sulzer Austria GmbH, Wiener Neudorf

Sulzer Turbo Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Lublin

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Poland Sp. z o.o., Warszawa

Russia

ZAO Sulzer Pumps, St. Petersburg

Sulzer Pumps Rus LLC, Moscow

Sulzer Turbo Services Rus LLC, Moscow

Sulzer Chemtech LLC, Serpukhov

Sulzer Pumps Sweden AB, Norrköping

Sulzer Pumps Spain S.A., Madrid

Sweden

Spain

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Spain S.A., Rivas Vaciamadrid

Turkey

Sulzer Pompa Çözümleri Ltd. Sti., Istanbul

North America

Canada

Sulzer Pumps (Canada) Inc., Burnaby

Sulzer Chemtech Canada Inc., Edmonton

Sulzer Rotating Equipment Services (Canada) Ltd., Edmonton

USA

Sulzer Pumps (US) Inc., Brookshire, Texas

Sulzer Pumps Solutions Inc., Easley, South Carolina

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 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

Sulzer 
ownership 
and voting 
rights

Registered capital 
(including paid-in 
capital in the USA  

t
c
e
r
i
and Canada) D

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

EUR 350 000

PLN 2 427 000

PLN 800 000

RUB 8 000 000

RUB 6 000 600

RUB 7 500 000

RUB 55 500 000

SEK 3 000 000

EUR 1 750 497

EUR 2 000 000

TRY 800 000

CAD 2 771 588

CAD 1 000 000

CAD 7 000 000

USD 40 381 108

USD 27 146 250

USD 1 000

USD 47 895 000

USD 100

USD 18 840 000

USD 4 006 122

USD 12 461 286

100%

USD 200 561 040

100%

100%

MXN 4 887 413

MXN 31 345 500

t
n
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





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



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



153

i

e
c
v
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e
S











































Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
154

Major subsidiaries
December 31, 2015

December 31, 2015 
Central and South 
America

Subsidiary

Sulzer 
ownership 
and voting 
rights

Registered capital 
(including paid-in 
capital in the USA  

t
c
e
r
i
and Canada) D

n
o
i
t
a
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c
i
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a
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i

Argentina

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

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 Bombas Chile Ltda., Vitacura

Sulzer Pumps Colombia S.A.S., Cota

Sulzer Pumps (Venezuela) S.A., Barcelona

Sulzer Turbo Services Venezuela S.A., Caracas

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

ARS 9 730 091

BRL 82 054 659

BRL 18 166 785

BRL 40 675 856

CLP 46 400 000

100% COP 7 800 000 000

100%

VEB 200 000 000

100%

VEB 5 000

South Africa

Sulzer Pumps (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Elandsfontein

75%

ZAR 100 450 000

Sulzer (South Africa) Holdings (Pty) Ltd., Elandsfontein

Sulzer Chemtech (Pty) Ltd., Johannesburg

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Johannesburg

Expert International Pompe Service SARL1), Casablanca

Sulzer Pumps (Nigeria) Ltd., Lagos

Sulzer Zambia Ltd., Chingola

Morocco

Nigeria

Zambia

Middle East

United Arab Emirates

Sulzer Pumps Middle East FZCO, Dubai

Sulzer Saudi Pump Company Limited 1), Riyadh

Bahrain

Sulzer Chemtech Middle East S.P.C., Al Seef

1)   Acquired in 2015.

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

ZAR 16 476

ZAR 121

ZAR 1 001

MAD 3 380 000

NGN 10 000 000

ZMK 15 000 000

100%

AED 500 000

75%

SAR 44 617 000

100%

BHD 50 000









































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Sulzer—Annual Report 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015 
Asia

Subsidiary

India

Sulzer Pumps India Ltd., Navi Mumbai

Sulzer India Pvt. Ltd., Pune

Sulzer Tech India Pvt. Ltd., Navi Mumbai

Sulzer Chemtech Tower Field Services (India) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai 

Sulzer 
ownership 
and voting 
rights

Registered capital 
(including paid-in 
capital in the USA  

t
c
e
r
i
and Canada) D

99%

100%

100%

100%

INR 25 000 000

INR 34 500 000

INR 100 000

INR 500 000

Indonesia

PT Sulzer Turbo Services Indonesia, Purwakarta

100% IDR 28 234 800 000

PT Sulzer Pumps Indonesia, Purwakarta

Japan

Sulzer Daiichi K.K., Tokyo

Sulzer Japan Ltd., Tokyo

Malaysia

Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.,  
Selangor Darul Ehsan

Advanced Separation Company Asia SDN BHD, Kuala Lumpur

Singapore

Sulzer Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Singapore

Sulzer Asia Holding Pte. Ltd., Singapore

Sulzer Chemtech Pte. Ltd., Singapore

South Korea

Sulzer Korea Ltd., Seoul

Thailand

Sulzer Chemtech Co., Ltd., Rayong

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 Wastewater Shanghai Co. Ltd., Shanghai

Sulzer Chemtech Pty Ltd., Brisbane

Sulzer Australia Pty Ltd., Brendale

Sulzer Australia Holding Pty Ltd., Wheelers Hill

100%

60%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

USD 300 000

JPY 30 000 000

JPY 10 000

MYR 500 000

MYR 2

SGD 1 000 000

SGD 31 894 001

SGD 1 000 000

100%

KRW 222 440 000

100%

THB 5 000 000

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

CHF 21 290 000

CNY 82 069 324

USD 5 760 000 

CNY 61 432 607

USD 1 550 000

AUD 500 000

AUD 5 308 890

AUD 34 820 100

d
t
L

l

r
e
z
u
S
y
b

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e
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R

&
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155

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Financial Section—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
156

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 income statement, statement of com-
prehensive income, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity, statement of cash flows and notes (pages 95 to 155) for the year ended Decem-
ber 31, 2015.

Board of Directors’ responsibility
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS) and the requirements of Swiss law. This responsibility includes designing, implementing, and maintaining an internal control system 
relevant to the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. The Board of 
Directors is further responsible for selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies and making accounting estimates that are 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 consolidat-
ed financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

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

Report on other legal requirements
We confirm that we meet the legal requirements on licensing according to the Auditor Oversight Act (AOA) and 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 24, 2016

François Rouiller 
Licensed Audit Expert 
Auditor in Charge

Roman Wenk
Licensed Audit Expert 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015 
157

Five-year summaries of key financial data
Key figures from consolidated income statement and statement of cash flows

millions of CHF

Order intake

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2 895.8

3 160.8

3 249.9

3 343.4

3 566.1

Order intake gross margin

33.8%

33.5%

33.5%

34.5%

33.1%

Order backlog

Sales

Operating income 

Operational EBITA

1 510.7

1 699.6

1 672.1

1 753.6

1 864.0

2 971.0

3 212.1

3 263.9

3 340.7

3 577.9

EBIT

120.9

– 69.0

264.0

328.7

364.1

opEBITA

254.1

302.9

304.1

378.4

431.3

Operational EBITA margin (operational EBITA/sales)

opROSA

8.6%

9.4%

9.3%

11.3%

12.1%

Return on capital employed (operational EBITA  
in % of average capital employed)1)

opROCEA

17.0%

17.1%

14.6%

18.1%

20.6%

Net income attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd

73.9

275.0

234.4

302.9

279.8

 — in percentage of equity attributable to shareholders 

of Sulzer Ltd

Reported EPS

Depreciation

Amortization

ROE

EPS

3.3%

11.3%

10.0%

13.7%

13.8%

2.17

8.09

6.89

8.91

8.25

– 74.1

– 79.2

– 73.0

– 66.8

– 78.5

– 42.3

– 43.3

– 41.6

– 41.5

– 39.7

Impairments on tangible and intangible assets 2)

– 13.0

– 0.4

 0.0

– 0.2

– 0.5

Research and development expenses

– 73.4

– 76.2

– 70.6

– 66.9

– 71.7

Capital expenditure

Free cash flow

FCF conversion (free cash flow/net income)

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

Personnel expenses

73.7

155.8

2.08

96.0

98.0

0.35

80.5

93.0

113.2

218.7

347.9

0.93

1.12

82.3

0.29

14 253

15 494

15 382

15 537

17 002

1 020.8

1 046.2

1 047.4

1 019.8

1 056.3

1)   Since 2014 opEBITA/operational capital employed (excl. other intangible assets). For 2013 and earlier capital employed.
2)   does not include impairment on goodwill.

Key figures from consolidated balance sheet

millions of CHF

Non-current assets

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

1 574.0

1 681.9

1 891.5

2 237.8

2 225.6

 — thereof property, plant, and equipment

491.4

530.7

492.0

650.0

619.5

Current assets

2 680.8

2 971.1

2 652.4

2 371.7

2 336.0

 — thereof cash and cash equivalents and  

marketable securities

Total assets 

1 217.3

1 301.5

528.7

513.1

430.7

4 254.8

4 653.0

4 543.9

4 609.5

4 561.6

Equity attributable to shareholders of Sulzer Ltd 

2 224.7

2 435.4

2 334.4

2 216.6

2 022.4

Non-current liabilities 

 — thereof long-term borrowings

Current liabilities

472.1

994.5

825.3

956.5

998.7

7.2

510.3

515.9

533.0

531.4

1 548.5

1 216.5

1 377.9

1 429.6

1 534.5

 — thereof short-term borrowings

514.4

17.7

56.6

76.0

236.2

Net liquidity1)

Equity ratio2)

695.7

773.5

– 36.2

– 95.9

– 336.9

52.3%

52.4%

51.4%

48.1%

44.3%

Borrowings-to-equity ratio (gearing)

0.23

0.22

0.25

0.27

0.38

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158

Five-year summaries by division

Order intake

Sales

millions of CHF

Divisions

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2 907.9

3 169.1

3 250.7

3 334.6

3 558.5

2 983.8

3 221.0

3 270.9

3 332.6

3 570.1

Pumps Equipment/Sulzer Pumps1)

1 500.8

1 725.5

1 801.5

2 094.3

1 705.6

1 621.0

1 754.9

1 821.6

2 097.5

1 747.8

Rotating Equipment Services/Sulzer Turbo Services1)

698.2

725.2

699.3

535.2

477.6

693.2

724.6

705.6

510.5

488.0

Chemtech

Sulzer Metco

Others

Total 

708.9

718.4

749.9

705.1

701.7

669.6

741.5

743.7

724.6

667.0

–

–

–

– 12.1

– 8.3

– 0.8

–

8.8

673.6

–

–

–

7.6

– 12.8

– 8.9

– 7.0

–

8.1

667.3

7.8

2 895.8

3 160.8

3 249.9

3 343.4

3 566.1

2 971.0

3 212.1

3 263.9

3 340.7

3 577.9

Order backlog

Employees 2)

millions of CHF

Divisions

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

1 510.7

1 703.6

1 672.1

1 754.3

1 861.7

 14 073

 15 361

 15 198

 15 362

 16 758

Pumps Equipment/Sulzer Pumps1)

998.0

1 209.4

1 190.9

1 309.1

1 343.5

 6 996

 7 365

 7 389

 8 573

 8 211

Rotating Equipment Services/Sulzer Turbo Services1)

205.0

212.2

190.7

151.6

130.1

 3 538

 3 709

 3 642

 2 703

 2 654

Chemtech

Sulzer Metco

Others

Total

millions of CHF

Divisions

307.7

282.0

290.5

293.6

310.7

 3 539

 4 287

 4 167

 4 086

 3 634

–

–

–

– 4.0 

–

–

–

– 0.7

77.4

2.3

–

 0

 0

 0

 2 259

 180

 133

 184

 175

 244

1 510.7

1 699.6

1 672.1

1 753.6

1 864.0

 14 253

 15 494

 15 382

 15 537

 17 002

Operational EBITA

Operational capital employed

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2015

2014

2013 3)

2012 3)

20112)

256.3

318.7

332.9

373.1

437.8

1 574.6

1 866.9

2 158.7

2 270.1

1 965.9

Pumps Equipment/Sulzer Pumps1)

118.1

160.6

166.9

228.1

221.0

746.3

1 115.6

Rotating Equipment Services/Sulzer Turbo Services1)

Chemtech

Sulzer Metco

Others

Total 

70.8

67.4

–

64.5

93.6

–

71.0

95.0

–

– 2.2

– 15.8

– 28.8

61.7

83.3

–

5.3

60.7

79.7

76.4

– 6.5

422.0

408.7

n/a

n/a

1 464.6

820.0

371.5

356.2

406.3

342.6

412.8

434.0

412.2

–

–

–

–

377.5

– 76.8

– 99.6

– 68.9

– 26.2

– 29.4

254.1

302.9

304.1

378.4

431.3

1 497.8

1 767.3

2 089.8

2 243.9

1 936.5

1 

 Values for the years 2011 to 2012 are based on the former divisional structure with Sulzer Pumps, Sulzer Turbo Services, and Sulzer Chemtech.

2)   Number of full-time equivalents as of December 31.
3)   Since 2014 operational capital employed (excl. other intangible assets). For 2013 and earlier capital employed.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015159

Five-year summaries by region
Order intake by region

millions of CHF

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Total

Sales by region

millions of CHF

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

1 303.7

1 305.5

1 329.7

1 431.2

1 554.5

1 065.3

1 165.4

1 123.2

1 214.9

1 225.5

526.8

689.9

797.0

697.3

786.1

2 895.8

3 160.8

3 249.9

3 343.4

3 566.1

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Europe, Middle East, Africa

1 214.0

1 264.7

1 402.4

1 421.2

1 574.6

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Total

1 134.9

1 177.4

1 130.0

1 145.5

1 167.6

622.1

770.0

731.5

774.0

835.7

2 971.0

3 212.1

3 263.9

3 340.7

3 577.9

Capital employed (average) by company location

millions of CHF

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Total

Employees by company location2)

Europe, Middle East, Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Total

2015

2014

20131)

20121)

20111)

875.5

1 152.4

1 365.1

1 500.2

1 319.7

415.8

406.6

481.0

497.0

418.1

206.5

208.3

243.7

246.7

198.7

1 497.8

1 767.3

2 089.8

2 243.9

1 936.5

2015

6 504

4 139

3 610

2014

6 607

4 545

4 342

2013

6 749

4 361

4 272

2012

6 938

4 653

3 946

2011

8 211

4 739

4 051

14 253

15 494

15 382

15 537

17 001

1)   Since 2014 operational capital employed (excl. other intangible assets). For 2013 and earlier capital employed.
2)   Number of full-time equivalents as of December 31.

Financial Section—Five-Year Summaries of Key Financial Data160

Financial Statements 
of Sulzer Ltd

161  Balance sheet of Sulzer Ltd

162  Income statement  
of Sulzer Ltd

162  Statement of changes in 
equity of Sulzer Ltd

163  Notes to the financial  

statements of Sulzer Ltd

166  Appropriation of net profit

167  Auditors’ Report

161

Balance sheet of Sulzer Ltd
December 31 

millions of CHF

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Marketable securities1)

Accounts receivable from subsidiaries

Other current accounts receivable1)

Prepaid expenses1)

Total current assets

Non-current assets

Loans to subsidiaries

 — thereof subordinated CHF 0.0 million (2014: CHF 2.8 million)

Other loans and financial assets

Investments in subsidiaries1)

Investments in third parties1)

Total non-current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Current interest-bearing liabilities

Current interest-bearing liabilities with subsidiaries

Current liabilities with subsidiaries

Other current liabilities1)

Accrued liabilities1)

Current provisions

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Non-current interest-bearing liabilities

Non-current provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Equity

Registered share capital

Legal capital reserves1)

Voluntary retained earnings

 — Free reserves

 — Retained earnings

 — Net profit for the year

Treasury shares1)

Total equity

Notes

3

5

5

4

4

2015

563.3

98.4

392.9

1.2

1.8

1 057.6

2014

640.6

99.4

81.7

0.5

1.1

823.3

472.9

684.4

4.5

1 465.4

3.6

1 946.4

4.5

1 342.0

3.1

2 034.0

3 004.0

2 857.3

499.6

21.9

22.1

2.6

20.1

5.7

572.0

–

57.8

57.8

629.8

0.3

205.5

1 786.5

170.6

229.2

– 17.9

2 374.2

–

–

11.2

0.9

17.3

8.6

38.0

498.9

64.6

563.5

601.5

0.3

205.5

1 486.5

15.5

575.0

– 27.0

2 255.8

Total equity and liabilities

3 004.0

2 857.3

1)   Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year’s presentation. These primarily relate to the 

changes due to the new Swiss Code of Obligations.

Financial Section—Financial Statements of Sulzer Ltd162

Income statement of Sulzer Ltd
January 1– December 31

millions of CHF

Income

Investment income

Financial income

Other income

Total income

Expenses

Administrative expenses

Financial expenses1)

Investment and loan expenses

Other expenses1)

Direct taxes

Total expenses

Notes

8

7

8

2015

278.5

46.7

40.2

365.4

72.8

36.8

22.4

2.0

2.2

136.2

2014

999.0

32.0

44.7

1 075.7

48.8

25.4

419.0

4.4

3.1

500.7

Net profit for the year

229.2

575.0

1)   Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year’s presentation. These primarily relate to the 

changes due to the new Swiss Code of Obligations.

Statement of changes in equity of Sulzer Ltd
January 1– December 31

millions of CHF

Share 
capital

Legal 
reserves

Reserves 
for 
treasury 
shares

Free 
reserves

Retained 
earnings

Net 
income

Treasury  
shares

Total

Equity as of December 31, 2013

0.3

178.6

26.9

1 226.5

13.6

371.5

– 40.6

1 776.8

Transfer

26.9

– 26.9

–

Equity as of January 1, 2014

0.3

205.5

–

1 226.5

13.6

371.5

– 40.6

1 776.8

Dividend

Allocation of net income

Net profit for the year

Change in treasury shares

– 109.6

260.0

1.9

– 261.9

575.0

– 109.6

–

575.0

13.6

13.6

–

Equity as of December 31, 2014

0.3

205.5

–

1 486.5

15.5

575.0

– 27.0

2 255.8

Dividend

Allocation of net income

Net profit for the year

Change in treasury shares

– 119.9

300.0

155.1

– 455.1

229.2

– 119.9

–

229.2

9.1

9.1

Equity as of December 31, 2015

0.3

205.5

–

1 786.5

170.6

229.2

– 17.9

2 374.2

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015163

Notes to the Financial Statements  
of Sulzer Ltd

1  General information
Sulzer Ltd, Winterthur, Switzerland (the Company) is the parent company of the Sulzer Group. Its uncon-
solidated  financial  statements  are  prepared  in  accordance  with  Swiss  law  and  serve  as  complementary 
information to the consolidated financial statements.

These financial statements were prepared according to the provisions of the Swiss Law on Accounting and 
Financial Reporting (32nd title of the Swiss Code of Obligations). Where not prescribed by law, the significant 
accounting and valuation principles applied are described below.

Certain  prior-year  amounts  have  been  reclassified  to  conform  to  the  current  year’s  presentation.  These 
primarily relate to the changes due to the new Swiss Code of Obligations.

2  Key accounting policies and principles

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

Investments in subsidiaries and third parties
The participations are valued at acquisition cost or if the value is lower, at value in use, using generally ac-
cepted valuation principles.

Marketable securities
Marketable  securities  mainly  comprise  an  investment  in  a  fund  investing  in  short-term  bonds  with  high 
credit ratings and are valued at their quoted market price as at the balance sheet date. A valuation adjust-
ment reserve has not been accounted for.

Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing liabilities are recognized in the balance sheet at nominal value. Discounts and issue costs 
for bonds have been deducted from the nominal value and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the 
bonds maturity period.

Share-based payments
Should treasury shares be used for share-based payment programs, the difference between the acquisition 
costs and any consideration paid by the employees at grant date is recognized as compensation to the 
Board of Directors.

Foregoing a cash flow statement and additional disclosures in the notes
As Sulzer Ltd has prepared its consolidated financial statements in accordance with a recognized account-
ing  standard  (IFRS),  it  has  decided  to  forego  presenting  additional  information  on  audit  fees  and  inter-
est-bearing liabilities in the notes as well as a cash flow statement in accordance with the law.

Investments in subsidiaries

3 
A list of the major subsidiaries held directly or indirectly by Sulzer Ltd is included in note 37 of the consoli-
dated financial statements.

4  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.

Financial Section—Financial Statements of Sulzer Ltd164

Shareholders holding more than 3%

Renova Group

First Pacific Advisors

BlackRock

T. Rowe Price Associates

Treasury shares held by Sulzer Ltd

millions of CHF

Balance as of January 1

Revaluation

Purchase

Sale

Share-based remuneration

Balance as of December 31

Dec 31, 2015

Dec 31, 2014

Number of 
shares

in %

Number of 
shares

21 728 414

63.42

11 159 790

n/a

n/a

1 051 364

n/a

n/a

3.07

1 716 616

1 149 976

n/a

in %

32.57

5.01

3.36

n/a

2 015

Total 
transac-
tion 
amount

Number 
of shares

2 014

Total 
transac-
tion 
amount

Number 
of shares

254 940

27.0

282 415

30.4

–

– 3.5

–

37 298

3.8

30 545

– 22 964

– 2.0

– 3 062

– 82 083

– 7.4

– 54 958

187 191

17.9

254 940

–

3.9

– 0.3

– 7.0

27.0

The total number of treasury shares held by Sulzer Ltd as of December 31, 2015, amounted to 187 191 
(December 31, 2014: 254 940 shares), which are mainly held for the purpose of issuing shares under the 
management share-based payment programs. The average sales price was CHF 106.57 in 2015 (2014: 
CHF 119.71).

5  Outstanding bond

millions of CHF

Total as of December 31

2 015

2 014

Book value

Nominal Book value

Nominal

499.6

500.0

498.9

500.0

In  July  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 bond is traded at the SIX Swiss Exchange.

6  Contingent liabilities

millions of CHF

2015

2014

Guarantees, sureties, comfort letters for subsidiaries

 — to banks and insurance companies

 — to customers

 — to others

Guarantees for third parties

1 268.4

360.1

45.1

10.0

1 295.4

370.4

36.4

10.0

Total contingent liabilities as of December 31

1 683.6

1 712.2

As of December 31, 2015, CHF 336.2 million (2014: CHF 310.7 million) of guarantees, sureties, and comfort 
letters for subsidiaries to banks and insurance companies were utilized.

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015165

7  Administrative expenses

millions of CHF

Compensation of Board of Directors

Other administrative expenses

Total administrative expenses

2015

2.3

70.5

72.8

2014

1.7

47.1

48.8

Sulzer  Ltd  does  not  have  any  employees.  The  compensation  to  the  Board  of  Directors  includes  share-
based payments and remuneration. Other administrative expenses contain management services and cost 
related to the Sulzer Full Potential project.

Investment income and investment and loan expenses

8 
In 2015, the investment income contains ordinary and extraordinary dividend payments from subsidiaries 
amounting to CHF 131.3 million. Sulzer Pumps Ltd has been merged with Sulzer Ltd in the reporting year. 
The merger gain amounted to CHF 135.2 million and is included in investment income. In 2014, the income 
from investment contains the profit from the sale of the Metco division amounting to CHF 390.8 million. 
Ordinary as well as extraordinary dividend payments from subsidiaries amounted to CHF 576.9 million. The 
investment and loan expenses contain allowances on investments amounting to CHF 18.4 million (2014: 
CHF 405.2 million).

9  Share participation of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee,  
and related parties

Restricted share units for members of the Board
The compensation of the Board of Directors consists of a fixed cash component and a restricted share unit 
(RSU) component with a fixed grant value. The number of RSUs is determined by dividing the fixed grant 
value by the volume weighted share price of the last ten days prior to the grant date. One-third of the RSUs 
each vest after the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date respecitvely. Upon vesting, one 
vested RSU is converted into one share of Sulzer Ltd. The vesting period for RSUs granted to the members 
of the Board of Directors ends no later than on the date on which the members steps down from the Board.

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
share units 
(RSU) (NF)1)

Other call  
options

Total call  
options, 
share  
awards and  
shares

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSU) 20132)

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSU) 20143)

Perfor-
mance 
share units 
(PSU) 20154)

2015 

Board of Directors

45 633

13 149

Peter Löscher

Matthias Bichsel

Thomas Glanzmann

Jill Lee

Marco Musetti

Gerhard Roiss

Klaus Sturany

Executive Committee

Greg Poux-Guillaume

Peter Alexander

Oliver Bailer

Fabrice Billard

Thomas Dittrich

César Montenegro

26 684

342

4 616

3 095

2 692

4 000

4 204

3 657

2 103

2 081

2 081

2 081

1 146

–

33 301

40 976

–

30 242

10 928

1 303

1 187

7 000

12 883

–

231

–

9 842

661

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4 860

7 212

13 800

–

4 860

–

–

–

–

–

1 967

1 967

–

964

2 314

942

2 402

2 402

2 402

2 826

2 826

1)   Restricted share units assigned by Sulzer.
2)   The average fair value of one performance share unit 2013 at grant date amounted to CHF 294.81.
3)   The average fair value of one performance share unit 2014 at grant date amounted to CHF 206.63.
4)   The average fair value of one performance share unit 2015 at grant date amounted to CHF 193.97.

Financial Section—Financial Statements of Sulzer Ltd166

Allocated to members of the board

8 948

980 980

7 428

906 220

2015

2014

Quantity

Value in CHF

Quantity

Value in CHF

Sulzer 
shares

Restricted 
share 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 

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

–

–

–

–

–

6 439

1 967

1 967

 964

2 314

9 833

3 711

1)   Restricted share units assigned by Sulzer as compensation.
2)   The average fair value of one performance share unit 2013 at grant date amounted to CHF 294.81.
3)   The average fair value of one performance share unit 2014 at grant date amounted to CHF 206.63.

10  Subsequent events after the balance sheet date
At  the  time  when  these  financial  statements  were  authorized  for  issue,  the  Board  of  Directors  were  not 
aware of any events that would materially affect these financial statements.

Appropriation of net profit

in CHF 

Net profit for the year

Unallocated profit carried forward from previous year

Total available profit

Proposal by the Board of Directors:  
Appropriation from/(to) free reserves

Ordinary dividend
Special dividend

2015

2014

229 200 000

575 000 000

170 532 721

15 451 016

399 732 721

590 451 016

300 000 000

– 300 000 000

– 119 263 127
– 497 497 613

– 119 918 295
–

Balance carried forward

82 971 981

170 532 721

Distribution per share CHF 0.01

Gross dividend

less 35% withholding tax

Net payment

18.10

6.34

11.76

3.50

1.23

2.27

The Board of Directors proposes the payment of an ordinary dividend of CHF 3.50 per outstanding share 
and a special dividend of CHF 14.60 per outstanding share to the Annual General Meeting on April 7, 2016. 
The Company will not pay a dividend on treasury shares held by Sulzer Ltd or one of its subsidiaries. 

Sulzer—Annual Report 2015167

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 161–166) for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Board of Directors’ responsibility
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of Swiss law and the com-
pany’s articles of incorporation. This responsibility includes designing, implementing, and maintaining an internal control system relevant to the prepa-
ration 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, 2015 comply with Swiss law and the company’s articles of incorporation.

Report on other legal requirements
We confirm that we meet the legal requirements on licensing according to the Auditor Oversight Act (AOA) and 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 24, 2016

François Rouiller 
Licensed Audit Expert 
Auditor in Charge

Roman Wenk
Licensed Audit Expert 

Financial Section—Auditors’ Report168

Imprint

Published by:
Sulzer Ltd, Winterthur, Switzerland,  
© 2016

Concept/Layout: 
wirDesign, Berlin Braunschweig, 
Germany

Photographs:
 Getty Images (cover, back cover/
pages 6 – 9/13/16 –17/22 – 23);
Corbis (cover, back cover/pages 
10 –11/13);
Plainpicture (pages 28 – 29);
Geri Krischker, Zurich, Switzerland 
(pages 3/33/38/40/42/58 – 59/66 – 67); 
Kevin Cassidy, Humble, TX, USA 
(page 19);
Sulzer Ltd (pages 14 –15/18/20/26 – 27)

Printing: 
Kunst- und Werbedruck,  
Bad Oeynhausen, Germany

This  document  may  contain  forward-looking  statements,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  projections  of 
 financial 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  2015  is  also  available  in  German  and  online  at  www.sulzer.com/AR15.  
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.

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Sulzer—Annual Report 2015Financial Section—Investor Information

169

Data per share

in CHF

Basic earnings per share

Change from prior year

Equity attributable to a shareholder of Sulzer Ltd

Ordinary dividend

Special dividend

Payout ratio 2)

2015

2.17

– 73%

65.30

3.501)

14.601)

161%

2014

8.09

17%

71.60

3.50

0.00

43%

2013

6.89

– 23%

68.70

3.20

0.00

46%

2012

8.91

8%

2011

8.25

– 8%

65.20

59.60

3.20

0.00

36%

3.00

0.00

36%

Average number of shares outstanding

34 035 862 34 007 309 33 999 429 34 009 267 33 906 689

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 2)

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

120.10

143.90

171.00

147.50

158.50

88.55

94.35

94.95

129.60

101.40

84.35

106.00

143.90

144.10

100.40

34 075 179 34 007 430 33 979 955 34 032 810 33 804 507

3 215

145%

43.5x

3.7%

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%

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, 2015

number of shares

1 – 100

101 – 1 000

1 001 – 10 000

10 001 – 100 000

More than 100 000

Number of 

shareholders Shareholding

3 408

2 825

358

45

7

0.5%

2.6%

2.9%

3.2%

70.7%

Total registered shareholders and shares (excluding treasury shares Sulzer Ltd)

6 643

79.9%

1)   Proposal to the Annual General Meeting.
2)  Based on ordinary dividend.

Sulzer Ltd
8401 Winterthur
Switzerland
Phone  +41 52 262 11 22
+41 52 262 01 01
Fax 

www.sulzer.com