A Passion for Solutions

What will Panalpina get out of a stock
market launch?
Gerhard Fischer The planned IPO would give the
company easier access to the capital markets
and thus support its growth strategy. The group’s
status and profile would also, of course, improve,
thus helping us to market our services. Not least,
going public would enhance the industrial competencies
of our board committees, which can only
be beneficial for the company.
Our current shareholder will, in any case, retain a
substantial stake in Panalpina over the long term.
This is a direct consequence of the foundation
bylaws, requiring an entrepreneurial asset management.
This strategy is much welcomed by the
company.
Furthermore, we have never been afraid of comparisons
with our direct competitors. This year the
Board of Directors filed an application to the
General Meeting that the ordinary dividend be increased
by 10 million Swiss francs, bringing the
total payout to 40 million francs and placing our
distribution ratio on a par with that of our main
rivals.
What role does sustainability play in your plans?
Bruno Sidler Sustainable growth for the benefit of
shareholders and employees remains our top
priority. The fact that in 2004 we created new jobs
and at the same time increased gross profit per
employee shows that we have been successful.
We consolidated the already well established
Panalpina brand last year by further efforts to improve
the quality of our service and by the launch
of our world-wide branding campaign.
Bruno Sidler
President & CEO
10 major factors for success
Panalpina operates its own global network, manages
capacity centrally and is represented on
all the key markets with its own local organizations.
The company is justifiably proud of its
staff; they not only work for Panalpina but have
assimilated its corporate culture and hence also
its commitment to customer service. CEO Bruno
Sidler sums up the Group’s strengths in the
following 10 points:
• A global network combined with a strong
presence on local markets
• High brand recognition
• A healthy balance between major global
customers and SMEs
• A strong customer base in all key industries
• Global market leader in the oil and gas
industry’s supply chain
• Central procurement and air and ocean freight
capacity management
• A non-asset-based business model
• Process-integrated IT platforms
• Passionate staff
• A management team with long-term
experience in the industry
Interview with the Chairman and the CEO
Panalpina Annual Report 2004 7