Our Group Profile, including vision, mission, history, values and financial highlights. Find out more about us on our website: http://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/About-SGS/SGS-in-Brief.aspx
2. introduction
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification,
testing and certification company. SGS is recognised
as the global benchmark for quality and integrity.
With more than 75 000 employees, SGS operates
a network of over 1 500 offices and laboratories
around the world.
We provide competitive advantage, drive
sustainability and deliver trust. At SGS, we are
continually pushing ourselves to deliver innovative
services and solutions that help our customers
move their businesses forward.
3. our vision
We aim to be the most competitive and the most productive
service organisation in the world. Our core competencies
in inspection, verification, testing and certification are being
continuously improved to be best-in-class. They are at the heart
of what we are. Our chosen markets will be solely determined by
our ability to be the most competitive and to consistently deliver
unequalled service to our customers all over the world.
our values
We seek to be recognised by our passion, integrity,
entrepreneurialism and our innovative spirit, as we continually
strive to fulfil our vision. These values guide us in all that we do
and are the bedrock upon which our organisation is built.
5. Established in 1878, SGS transformed grain trading in Europe
by offering innovative agricultural inspection services.
From those early beginnings, we steadily grew in size and scope
as our agricultural inspection services spread around the world.
During the mid 20 th century, we began to diversify and started
offering inspection, testing and verification services across a
variety of sectors, including industrial, minerals, oil, gas,
and chemicals.
In 1981, SGS was listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange and
forged an unrivalled reputation as the industry leader in
finding solutions to the complex challenges faced everyday
by organisations. Our consultancy, outsourcing and training
services complement our core inspection, verification, testing
and certification services in delivering these solutions across
all industries.
Through our unique global network we deliver independent
results tailored to the precise needs of the industry or sector.
Our customers trust in our expertise, experience and resources
to support them in achieving outstanding performance in
everything they do.
Today, our focus is on innovative ways to deliver business
benefits. This enables us to help our customers improve quality,
safety, efficiency, productivity and speed to market, while
reducing risk and building trust in sustainable operations.
6. SGS benefits
QUALITY – Our customers rely on our independent third party
inspection, testing and auditing solutions to ensure products,
services and processes comply with the latest quality
standards. Our global network of state-of-the-art facilities
provides information to certify and verify quality worldwide.
SAFETY – We help organisations develop effective health and
safety systems to protect employees, generate consumer
confidence and enhance trust in business operations. We
support our customers in adhering to best practices and
complying with local, national and international regulations.
REDUCED RISK – We provide our customers with
independent and impartial services that enable them to
identify, manage and reduce risk. Our experts deliver
risk management solutions, drawing on our testing and
inspection capabilities to verify risk prevention measures are
in place. Across a wide range of industries we assist with
compliance to international risk management standards.
EFFICIENCY – Our tailored business solutions help our
customers implement processes and systems that make
business operations faster, simpler and more efficient. We
deliver unrivalled efficiency results from locally accessed
SGS experts, who draw on the global experience of the
entire SGS network.
7. PRODUCTIVITY – Our training and outsourcing solutions
ensure productivity keeps pace with developments in our
customers’ organisations. In the short-term, we help by
outsourcing our world-class productivity experts. In the
long-term, we deliver focused training to develop specialist
skills in our customers’ existing personnel.
SPEED TO MARKET – Compliance with the requirements
of target markets is key to increasing speed to market.
Our consultancy, testing and certification services help
our customers overcome the complex challenges of
understanding and meeting market demands anywhere in
the world, whatever the industry or sector.
TRUST – Our global reputation for independence and integrity
enables us to build trust wherever needed. We provide
transparent and unbiased inspection, testing, verification and
certification solutions so our customers can give assurance in
their products, processes, systems and services.
SUSTAINABILITY – We help our customers take ownership
for building a more responsible and sustainable future.
We encourage environmental responsibility and reduce the
risk of corruption in our customers’ projects. Our services
assist in developing sustainable facilities and production,
as well as better working and social environments.
9. SGS by industry
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD – Consumers want assurance of
safety and quality at every stage of the food production process.
Our services build trust, reduce risk and maintain efficiency
across diverse agriculture and food supply chains. We offer
solutions for agrochemicals, seed, biofuels, fertilisers, food and
forestry. Our services protect the integrity of our customers’
brands by assessing quality, adding value and securing safe and
sustainable global supply chains. From primary production to the
point of processing or custody transfer we assist with legislation
compliance, correct storage, shipping, packing and distribution
as well as import and export product inspection.
AUTOMOTIVE – For governments, manufacturers, traders, financial
institutions and insurance companies improving performance and
reducing risk in the automotive industry is essential. We guide
build quality improvements and verify efficiency is maximised.
As a result, reliable vehicles are consistently delivered. We support
our customers in achieving shorter delivery times with reduced
costs. Our vehicle inspection services increase automotive safety
and minimise environmental impact. We ensure brand guidelines
are met throughout aftermarket and distribution operations by
providing dealership and workshop audits, along with logistics
and supply chain security services. Our global network of offices,
laboratories and vehicle testing centres offers a truly unique and
independent service.
10. SGS by industry
CHEMICAL – The chemicals industry converts raw materials
into literally tens of thousands of consumer products everyday.
Industrial chemicals companies trust our services to reduce
risk and eliminate potential health hazards. We ensure quality in
chemical components and the safety and compliance of finished
products. Our consultancy services deliver turnkey laboratory
design, commissioning and operations assistance in dealing
with intricate equipment or logistics. We support our customers
in improving productivity and efficiency through our asset
integrity management services, optimisation programmes and
project lifecycle services.
CONSTRUCTION – Safe, efficient and trusted processes are
essential when constructing buildings or infrastructure.
Our construction industry experience means our customers can
minimise environmental impact and public inconvenience. We
support our customers in implementing effective scheduling,
budgeting, site safety and logistics, plus assist in sourcing quality
materials and personnel. We conduct studies in construction
feasibility, risk assessment and management. Our services
ensure quality in global supply chains by performing chemical and
physical testing of materials. Our asset management system tracks
machines and equipment, while our inspection services provide
facility, waste and energy audits.
11. CONSUMER GOODS AND RETAIL – Our services enable
manufacturers, importers, exporters and retailers to
gain a competitive edge. We ensure trusted, ethical and
environmentally conscious goods such as food, electronics,
textiles, toys, footwear and housewares reach consumers. Our
laboratories conduct material and functionality testing to verify
and certify that products perform as our customers claim. We
inspect processes at every stage of production and undertake
retail store audits to ensure our customers’ brands are
represented correctly. We help our customers develop products,
processes and supply chains that consumers trust everyday.
ENERGY – Across all operations the energy sector has to
meet regulations, consider safety and limit environmental
impact. We support the energy sector with a comprehensive
range of independent inspections and audits across the
petroleum, gas, electrical power, coal and renewable energy
industries. We reduce risk in all operations from exploration
to decommissioning for the oil, gas and coal industries. In
renewables, we consult on sustainability across hydroelectric,
wind and solar power. Our expertise maximises productivity
and increases efficiency in sales and distribution processes.
Through our solutions we help the energy sector innovate to
find tomorrow’s energy, today.
12. SGS by industry
FINANCial – Trust in the viability of an investment or lending
decision is critical before investing or borrowing on a new
project, acquisition or venture. Our due diligence services
reduce risk in a project’s development phase, while in the
implementation phase we provide comprehensive monitoring,
technical and financial risk management services. We
provide assurance through guarantee, collateral and trade
documentation services. With knowledge of national and
international standards and legislation we can accurately
evaluate our customers’ lending options and support their
project finance decisions.
INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING – Our expertise allows
manufacturers to improve productivity, follow best practices
and streamline operational processes or logistics. Industrial
manufacturers, from pharmaceuticals to farm machinery and
aerospace to automotive, trust in our independent testing
and conformity services. Our advice on the fabrication of
components along with our finished product assessments enable
our customers to achieve performance standards throughout
manufacturing. We support manufacturers in meeting all national
and international quality, health and safety legislation, at the same
time as providing advice on minimising environmental impact.
13. LIFE SCIENCES – In the pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals
and medical devices industries products must conform to
all national and international regulations, as well as industry
best practices. Our services enable high quality, safe and
compliant products to reach the market in the shortest
possible timescales. We provide vital support and expertise
for medicines and medical devices throughout every stage of
development, testing, production and distribution. With the
largest network of contract analytical laboratories in the world
and state-of-the-art clinical trials facilities our customers trust in
our expert knowledge to support them with reliable results.
LOGISTICS – Making the process of freight forwarding
by sea, rail or road as productive and efficient as possible
is the goal of any logistics service. Our customers look
to us for innovative solutions for plant and terminal
operations. We provide international customs data exchange
and support cargo, vessel and import controls with
interconnected processes. Our services assist import
and export controls, terminal manning and weighbridge
management services. We streamline our customers’
operations through our audit, certification and training services
in order to improve efficiencies.
14. SGS by industry
MINING – We act as a strategic partner in the mining industry,
providing testing, technology and trade solutions. Our services
promote growth and deliver efficiencies across exploration,
production, industrial applications, decommissioning and
closure. We offer technical advice in steel manufacturing
processes and act as a strategic partner in coal and coke
trading. We also help to maximise profits in precious or base
metal mining or extraction. Our consultancy services deliver
transparent and unbiased support in new technologies and
accurate data to track the progress of projects.
OIL & GAS – Access to independent expertise in both the
upstream and downstream sectors is key to maximising the
value chain in this sector. Our customers in the oil and gas
industry trust our dedication to quality and safety. We provide
tailored solutions for exploring, extracting, refining, transporting
and marketing oil, oil sands, gas, or other hydrocarbons.
Our specialist advice and knowledge supports upstream
activities such as applied mineralogy, metering, measuring and
hydrocarbons allocation. Our downstream services support
distribution and retail as well as the design and execution of
optimisation processes and global trade inspection.
15. PUBLIC SECTOR – Public sector organisations require solutions
designed to work in harmony with the processes and policies
they already have in place. Our unrivalled border control
services for scanner installation, transit monitoring and risk
profiling support the public sector in reducing risk worldwide.
Our e-government solutions enhance international trade and
revenue processing. We improve public infrastructure through
independent road safety services that increase the efficiency of
transportation systems. Our customers trust in our knowledge
of quality, health, safety and environment issues to comply
with complex regulations. We improve quality and maximise
productivity across the public sector.
16. business review 2012
Revenue by business
GIS 4.6 %
AGRI 6.6 %
AUTO 5.1 %
MIN 15.6 %
ENVI 5.8 %
OGC 18.7 %
IND 16.1 %
LIFE 3.6 %
SSC 7.1 %
CTS 16.8 %
Revenue by region
Asia Pacific 28.5 %
Europe / Africa /
Middle East
47.1 %
Americas 24.4 %
17. financial highlights from 2012
5.6 16.3
556
total revenue in CHF billion
total revenue up in %
net profit for the year in CHF million
18
acquisitions
30
proposed ordinary dividend
in CHF
176
total cash consideration in
CHF million for the acquisitions
28
proposed additional dividend
per share in CHF
19. contact us
SGS SA
1 place des Alpes
P.O. Box 2152
1211 Geneva 1
Switzerland
t +41 (0)22 739 91 11
e www.sgs.com/contact
Contact SGS Investor
& Media Relations:
e www.sgs.com/IR
Learn more at www.sgs.com