The company was founded in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in 1802 by Johann Conrad Fischer and became a joint-stock company a hundred years later. Georg Fischer has been listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (now SWX Swiss Exchange) since 1931. Chronicle (PDF, 33.16kB)
How many employees does it have?
The Georg Fischer Corporation currently employs about 13,000 people. The table below shows how the workforce has developed in recent years:
Year
No. of employees
2007
12'986
2006
12'385
2005
12'403
2004
12'324
2003
13'247
2002
13'737
2001
14'935
2000
14'656
1999
14'285
1998
12'173
1997
11'910
1996
11'728
Where do these employees work?*
No. of employees
Percentage of total
Germany
4'056
31
Switzerland
2'705
21
Austria
2'393
19
Rest of Europe
1'080
8
Total for Europe
10'234
79
China
1'672 2'497 at 100% cons.
13
Total for Asia/Australia
2'100
16
Total for USA & Latin America
652
5
Corporation total
12'986
100
* = December 31, 2007
What does Georg Fischer actually sell?
Georg Fischer is a globally active industrial group with three core businesses:
Castings made of light metal and iron for the automotive industry worldwide
Piping systems for the transport of water, gas and other media
Electro-discharge and high speed milling machines as well as precision parts for countless different applications
Which Corporate Groups belong to the Georg Fischer Corporation?
The Georg Fischer Corporation has three Corporate Groups:
GF Automotive, which is a manufacturer and development partner for castings made of iron and light metal for the automotive industry worldwide. GF Automotive
GF Piping Systems, which is a leading supplier of plastic and metal piping systems, whose range includes both complete systems and components for the transportation of water, gas and other media for industry, utilities and domestic installations. GF Piping Systems
GF AgieCharmilles, which produces electric discharge machines (EDM) and high-speed milling machines as well as the necessary automation and peripherals, making it one of the world’s leading system suppliers for mould and tool-making machines. GF AgieCharmilles
How many sites and production locations does Georg Fischer have?
The company has more than 140 sites including 50 production facilities and a direct presence in 30 different countries worldwide.
What are Georg Fischer’s principles and values?
The Corporation’s most important principles are as follows:
We are a source of strength for our customers.
We are a source of benefits for people all over the world.
The Board of Directors is made up of ten people. Its duties and responsibilities are defined by the Swiss Code of Obligations, the Articles of Association and the Corporation’s own code of conduct and organizational rules.
The Georg Fischer Corporation Board of Directors: (as at March 2008)
The Executive Committee is made up of seven people. As President and CEO, Yves Serra is responsible for the management of the entire Georg Fischer Corporation. He is supported in this by the heads of the three Corporate Groups, by the two corporate units and by the Delegate of the CEO for Corporate Projects.
Does the Board of Directors have any committees to support it and if so, which?
The Board of Directors has set up three standing committees to assist it in the performance of its duties:
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors with its auditing work and financial reporting. It monitors all internal and external auditing and evaluates how well the internal controlling system — including risk management and compliance with statutory requirements — is working. The committee is kept informed of all transactions and reads the notes and auditors’ reports of the Georg Fischer Corporation staff pension funds. It also comments on the Corporation’s capital transactions involving both internal and external funds.
The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors with the definition of a compensation policy for senior management and decides how members of the Executive Committee are to be remunerated.
The Nomination Committee supports the Board of Directors in its efforts to nurture the next generation of managers and helps with the selection of suitable candidates for both the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.
According to which accounting standards does the Georg Fischer Corporation prepare its financial statements?
The consolidated statement of the Georg Fischer Corporation is prepared according to the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) as at 31 December of each year and complies with the requirements of Swiss law.
