3. Financing and risk management

3.1 Cash, cash equivalents and securities

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, postal check balances and bank account balances. Securities include time deposits with a remaining maturity of 90 days or less. 

3.2 Shareholders’ equity

Share capital

The share capital of CHF 4.1 million is divided into 1,827,000 class A registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 2.00 each and 1,215,000 class B registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 0.40 each.

Treasury shares / Share-based compensation

The basic compensation of the members of the Board of Directors is paid in cash and in shares (approx. 50% each). The shares are subject to a four-year vesting period. Neither discounts nor performance components are taken into account for the calculation of the Board of Directors’ shares allocation. The average share price over three months from November 1 to January 31 of the respective term of office is used.

There is a deferred share-based performance component (long-term incentive LTI) for the current CEO. The contractually agreed target LTI value is 20% of the total target compensation. The sole performance parameter is earnings per share (EPS) for the current financial year. Depending on the actual EPS target achievement, the cash value of the share allocation can vary between 0% and a maximum of 150% (cap) of the target LTI value. The number of shares allocated is calculated by dividing the actual LTI value (target LTI value multiplied by the EPS factor) by the average share price from November 1 of the current period to January 31 of the following period, with a discount of 10%. The prerequisite for a share allocation is an employment relationship that has not been terminated at the time of allocation. The shares transferred remain blocked for four years. In the event of disability, death or termination of employment following a change of control, the blocking period does not apply.

The remaining members of the Executive Committee and selected corporate functions are entitled to participate in the share-based LTI program. This is a “restricted share unit” (RSU) plan. The target LTI value for members of the Executive Committee (excluding the CEO) is 11% of the total target compensation. The first allocation of share rights (RSU) took place at the end of March 2018. The actual LTI value for the above management level depends on earnings per share (EPS) and can vary between 100% and 150% of the target LTI value. The number of share rights granted (RSU) is calculated by dividing the actual LTI value (target LTI value multiplied by the EPS factor) by the average share price from November 1 of the previous period to January 31 of the current period. The RSU are subject to a vesting period of three years, starting on the grant date and ending on the vesting date. The conversion of the vested RSU into shares of Bystronic AG (conversion at a ratio of 1:1) takes place at the vesting date, provided that there is a continuing employment relationship at that time. The shares transferred to the plan participant can be freely disposed of by the plan participant. They are in the name of the plan participant and carry voting and dividend rights.

Further information on share-based compensation can be found in the compensation report.

For the share-based compensation component for the reporting year, personnel expenses of CHF 1.6 million (previous year: CHF 2.0 million) were recognized.

Compensation and shareholdings

The compensation paid to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee is disclosed in the compensation report, which forms an integral part of this annual report. Their holdings in Bystronic AG are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements of Bystronic AG. 

Accounting principles

Treasury shares are recognized at cost at the time of acquisition. Treasury shares are recognized as a negative item in equity. In the event of a subsequent resale, the profit or loss is credited to legal capital reserves.

Share-based compensation to members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee is measured at fair value at grant date and charged to personnel expenses in the period in which the service is rendered.

3.3 Financial result

Financial income includes interest income of CHF 0.9 million (previous year: CHF 0.7 million), a positive performance on the assets of the employer contribution reserve of CHF 0.8 million (previous year: CHF 1.9 million), a gain on marketable securities of CHF 0.2 million (previous year: CHF 0) and foreign exchange gains of CHF 1.4 million. The foreign exchange gains include currency effects from the valuation of cash and cash equivalents, short-term loans between group companies and other financial assets

Financial expenses include interest and currency hedging costs (interest rate difference) for the financing of foreign locations in foreign currencies. In the previous year, currency losses amounted to CHF 0.6 million.

3.4 Operating lease

3.5 Other commitments and pledged assets

At balance sheet date, there were no other obligations that were not recognized in the balance sheet.

Assets in the amount of CHF 4.2 million (previous year: CHF 4.5 million) are subject to ownership restrictions for bank loans.

3.6 Financial risk management

Through its business activities, Bystronic is exposed in particular to financial risks such as currency, credit, liquidity and interest rate risks. Risk management is focused on the unpredictability of developments in the financial markets and aims to minimize the potential negative impact on the group’s financial position. Risk management is carried out by Bystronic’s finance department in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board of Directors. They define the use of derivatives as well as the handling of foreign currency risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. The guidelines are binding for all Bystronic companies.

Conversion rates

Derivative financial instruments

The contracts were concluded to hedge currency risks arising from operating activities in various currencies.

Accounting principles

All open derivatives are recognized at fair value as of the balance sheet date and reported gross in the balance sheet under other receivables or other liabilities. Changes in the value of derivatives used to hedge recognized underlying transactions are recognized in the same way as the underlying transaction. Changes in the value of derivatives used to hedge future cash flows are recognized in equity until the underlying transaction is settled. At the time the hedged item is recognized in the balance sheet, the gain or loss recognized in equity is transferred to the income statement.