Annual Report 2024

3 Financing and risk management

3.1 Cash, cash equivalents and securities

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, bank account balances, time deposits and interest-bearing bonds with a remaining maturity of 90 days or less.

Securities include time deposits with a remaining maturity of more than 90 days.

3.2 Shareholdersʼ equity

Share capital

The share capital of CHF 4.1 million is divided unchanged 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

CHF million

 

 

12/31/2024

 

12/31/2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury shares held

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A registered shares

Number

 

4,658

 

2,093

 

Average purchase price

CHF

 

350

 

768

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase for participation program

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

Class A registered shares

Number

 

4,000

 

1,000

 

Average purchase price

CHF

 

325

 

504

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disposal of treasury shares

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

to the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and other members of the management

Number

 

1,435

 

858

 

Average transaction price 1

CHF

 

465

 

663

 

Cash value

CHF million

 

0.7

 

0.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 The transaction price corresponded to the market value.

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 share allocation to members of the Board of Directors. The average share price over three months from November 1 to January 31 of the respective term of office is used.

For members of the Group Executive Board, a long-term incentive (LTI) plan exists since 2023. This is a performance share unit plan (PSU). One PSU entitles the plan participant to receive one share in the future, provided certain conditions are fulfilled at the end of the vesting period. The number of allocated PSUs is based on the target LTI value guaranteed by the employment contract. The target LTI value amounts to 20% of the total target compensation for all Executive Committee members, including the CEO. The target LTI value divided by the fair value of the PSUs on the day of allocation yields the number of PSUs granted, whereby fractions are rounded up to the next whole number. The fair value of PSUs is determined by a specialized consulting firm according to internationally recognized methods. Allocation takes place on April 1 each year, for the new CEO in the reporting year as of July 1. The allocated PSUs are vested after three years; for each vested PSU, the plan participant is entitled to a class A registered share of Bystronic AG. The number of PSUs actually vested depends on the fulfillment of two specific performance targets over the three-year performance period. The first share allocation under this plan will be transferred in 2026. Further information on the plan can be found in the Compensation Report.

The members of the Executive Committee (excluding the former CEO) were entitled to participate in the share-based LTI program until the end of 2022. This was a “restricted share unit” (RSU) plan. The target LTI value for members of the Executive Committee (excluding the CEO) was 15% of the total target compensation. The first allocation of share rights (RSUs) took place at the end of March 2018. The actual LTI value for the management level mentioned above depends on earnings per share (EPS) and could vary between 100% and 150% of the target LTI value. The calculated monetary value was divided by the average share price from November 1 of the previous period to January 31 of the current period to determine the number of RSUs granted, without discount. The RSUs 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 RSUs into shares of Bystronic AG (conversion 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 same and are in their name, carrying voting and dividend rights. The last share allocations to members of the Group Executive Board (excluding the former CEO) under the RSU plan will be transferred in April 2025. A complete overview of the current RSU plans can be found in the Compensation Report.

The RSU plan remains in place for selected executives.

For the share-based compensation component for the reporting year, personnel expenses of CHF 1.3 million (previous year: CHF 1.1 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.

Non-distributable reserves

As of the balance sheet date, the non-distributable reserves of the holding company Bystronic AG amount to CHF 2.4 million (previous year: CHF 2.4 million). Included therein are CHF 1.6 million related to treasury shares (previous year: CHF 1.6 million) and non-distributable reserves of CHF 0.8 million (previous year: CHF 0.8 million).

Accounting principles

Treasury shares are recognized at cost at the time of purchase. 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 Executive Committee is measured at fair value at the grant date and charged to personnel expenses in the period in which the service is rendered.

3.3 Financial result

CHF million

2024

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial income

9.3

 

7.7

 

Financial expenses

–8.2

 

–7.0

 

Total financial result

1.2

 

0.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial income includes interest income of CHF 8.4 million (previous year: CHF 6.5 million), a positive performance on the assets of the employer contribution reserve of CHF 0.7 million (previous year: CHF 0.9 million) and a gain on marketable securities of CHF 0.2 million (previous year: CHF 0.3 million).

Financial expenses include interest and currency hedging costs for the financing of foreign Group companies in foreign currencies of CHF 5.4 million (previous year: CHF 5.7 million) and foreign exchange losses of CHF 2.8 million (previous year: CHF 1.3 million). The foreign exchange losses include currency effects from the valuation of cash and cash equivalents, short-term loans between Group companies and other financial assets.

3.4 Operating lease

Maturity of operating lease contracts in CHF million

12/31/2024

 

12/31/2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under 1 year

5.7

 

6.0

 

1 to 5 years

7.1

 

7.1

 

Total operating lease contracts

12.8

 

13.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.5 Other commitments and pledged assets

At the balance sheet date, there were no off-balance sheet commitments and no pledged assets.

3.6 Financial risk management

Through its business activities, Bystronic is exposed 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 Groupʼs financial position. Risk management is carried out by Bystronicʼs finance department in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board of Directors. They define the use of derivatives and the handling of foreign currency risks, interest rate risks and credit risks. The guidelines are binding for all Bystronic companies.

Risk

 

Source

 

 

Risk management

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currency risks

 

Bystronic operates internationally and is therefore exposed to currency risks, which may affect operating profit and the financial result, as well as the Group’s equity.

 

Natural hedging is used by purchasing goods in the currency in which they will be sold.

Currency risks are hedged using derivative financial instruments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit risks arising from business operations and financial transactions

 

The credit risk is the risk of suffering a financial loss if a counterparty is unable to meet its contractual obligations. Credit risks may arise from receivables, financial assets, credit balances with financial institutions, securities and derivative financial instruments.

 

Independent ratings of financial institutions are periodically reviewed.

Risks of liquid assets are further reduced by using different financial institutions instead of a single bank.

Cluster risks of receivables and financial assets are reduced through broad geographical distribution and a large number of customers.

Customers’ creditworthiness is assessed taking account of specific checks and past experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liquidity risks

 

A liquidity risk results from the risk of being unable to meet financial obligations when they fall due.

 

Prudent liquidity management includes holding sufficient reserves of liquid funds, which are constantly monitored, and the option of financing through lines of credit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate risks

 

Interest rate risks can arise from changes in future interest payments due to fluctuations in market interest rates or through changes in market value.

 

Bystronic does not have any assets and liabilities, which would be substantially affected by significant changes in the interest rate environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conversion rates

 

 

 

 

Closing rate

Average rate

Currency

 

Unit

 

12/31/2024

 

12/31/2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EUR

 

1

 

0.9412

 

0.9260

 

0.9519

 

0.9759

 

USD

 

1

 

0.9060

 

0.8380

 

0.8778

 

0.9028

 

CNY

 

100

 

12.4115

 

11.7948

 

12.2195

 

12.7711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments

CHF million

12/31/2024

 

12/31/2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract or nominal values (gross)

291.8

 

317.4

 

Positive replacement values

1.9

 

10.3

 

Negative replacement values

7.7

 

1.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

4 Group structure 2 Invested capital