The BAUER Group is a family-based, stock market-quoted business which is divided into three segments: Construction, Equipment and Resources. The Construction segment carries out specialist foundation engineering work all over the world, developing foundation and excavation projects as well as providing related construction services. In its Equipment segment, in which it is the world market leader, Bauer develops and manufactures an extensive range of machinery, equipment and tools for specialist foundation engineering. The Resources segment encompasses the Group’s operations in the exploitation of raw materials, in environmental technology, in geothermal drilling operations and also in equipment for wells.
THE WORLD IS OUR MARKET
The BAUER Group worldwide encompasses more than 100 separate companies, operating on all continents. This international line-up makes us less dependent on fluctuations in the economic cycle in specific regions.
OUR GOALS
We measure our corporate policy against four goals:
The confidence of our customers (quality)
The safety, health and satisfaction of our employees (safety)
The eco-friendliness of our actions and our products (environmental protection)
Optimum efficiency (profitability)
OUR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Our decentralized organization means that our numerous subsidiaries and branches work largely independently. This independence is the best way to enable them to make full use of their creativity and focus on the specific characteristics of their market region. Through our Group Management Guidelines we ensure that synergies within the Group are optimally utilized and that our deep-rooted corporate culture is sustained and promoted throughout. Internal and external audits help us to continuously improve our management system.
ETHICS IN OUR GROUP MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES
In all the countries in which we market our
products and services, our Group companies and their employees are subject to ethical values and standards conforming to the highest norms in the countries concerned. Active or passive corruption involving the paying or receiving of bribes is not tolerated anywhere in the world, and if discovered results in the immediate dismissal of any employee found engaging in such practices. Our company expects ethical conduct from each and every one of its employees. This particularly includes honesty and fairness in dealings with our customers, partners and other employees.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The BAUER Group has always adhered to national and international values and principles of good, responsible corporate governance. More details on the declaration of conformity to the German Corporate Governance Code by the Management Board and Supervisory Board of BAUER AG in accordance with Section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) can be found in the company’s Annual Report.
RISK MANAGEMENT
We counter risk by means of a comprehensive risk management system. Details on this can likewise be found in the Annual Report.
INNOVATION
State-of-the-art technology forms the basis for all our construction engineering and equipment manufacturing processes. We build our competitive edge on the basis of targeted innovation and continuous improvement measures. The success of our investment in research and development is demonstrated by around 240 current patent series, including almost 1,100 patent applications, registered patents and utility models worldwide. Research aimed at sustaining and developing the BAUER Group in the future is supported by our newly established BAUER Research Board. It promotes Group-wide research projects extending beyond normal development work, also incorporating the assistance of external research bodies.
SHAREHOLDER STRUCTURE
Since summer 2006, shares in Bauer have been traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The principal shareholder is the Bauer family, which means that BAUER AG maintains the culture of an independent family business. Free-float shares are held in part by socially responsible investment funds.
VALUE ADDED STATEMENT 2008
The Value Added Statement makes clear that a large portion of sales revenue generated flows back into the global economy. The primary beneficiaries of our value added were our employees, followed by the public authorities. Lenders received EUR 27 million in the form of interest, and shareholders received EUR 17 million by way of dividend.
The portion of value added retained within the company is available for capital investment and thus for the financing of future growth.
