The countdown is on: In about 50 days, the Expo 2010 in Shanghai will open its doors to the world. About 70 million visitors are expected in the Chinese metropolis. It is supposed to be the first green world exhibition in Expo history. Siemens supplied most of the necessary infrastructure to ensure that the stream of visitors can be accommodated in an environmentally friendly manner. Siemens was awarded contracts in connection with the Expo with a total value of more than one billion euros. About 90 percent of this amount is related to environmentally friendly products and solutions. "Once again, we have proven that our environmental portfolio has exactly what cities need to hold events of worldwide importance like the Expo 2010 in accordance with the principles of environmental protection," said Richard Hausmann, CEO Siemens Northeast Asia and President and CEO of Siemens Ltd., China. As a global Expo partner, Siemens has supplied technology used in more than 40 projects on the Expo ground. In addition, Siemens supplied infrastructure that will make this event memorable for all its visitors, including technology for rapid mass tran-sit, clean air, cleaner water and ultra-modern health care in Shanghai. "Our green technology will continue to upgrade the city's infrastructure well after the Expo. Thus, it is a triple win for Expo visitors, for the host city of Shanghai and for Siemens," Hausmann said.
Siemens will be introducing new key components for the field of electromobility at the International Motor Show to be held in Geneva, Switzerland on March 4-14, 2010. In the Ruf Automobile GmbH stand, Siemens will exhibit an integrated recharging system complete with the requisite software as well as a so-called double-motor concept for a new version of the electric roadster known as the eRuf Greenster. Wolfgang Dehen, CEO of the Energy Sector at Siemens AG, explains: “We see great potential for electromobility – also from the point of view of power utilities – since electric vehicles are the ideal temporary storage units for surplus electricity.” Siemens expects more than a million electric vehicles to be on the world’s roads in the foreseeable future.
Siemens technologies took first place in two categories of the first Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment awarded by Germany’s Federal Environment Ministry and the Federation of German Industries (BDI). German Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen and BDI Director General Werner Schnappauf presented the awards – totaling €125,000 – to winners in five categories in Berlin on Thursday. For the world’s most efficient gas turbine, Siemens Energy placed first in the “Green products and services” category. For the first dishwasher to use special minerals for speeding up the drying process, BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH was awarded first place in the category “Innovation for climate protection – products and services.”
Following the successful conclusion of the first stage of Siemens’ Diversity Initiative, Jill Lee is leaving her position as Chief Diversity Officer to return to operations and take up a new challenge outside the company. Peter Löscher, Siemens President and CEO, thanked Jill Lee for her successful work and paid tribute to her achievements: “We now have a worldwide network of very active and committed Diversity Ambassadors. We’ve introduced systematic diversity processes in personnel development and for filling management positions. These steps are enabling us to match the diversity of our customers and businesses while opening up even better chances for our employees to develop their talents and expertise all around the globe.”
As it profits from ongoing growth in the emerging nations, Siemens is seeking to significantly expand its investment in India. Experts forecast that the Indian economy, for example, will grow seven percent in 2010 and eight percent the following year. “India is already one of the growth drivers worldwide and will remain so in the future. We’ve been optimally positioned here for over 140 years and intend to further strengthen our position,” said Peter Löscher, President and CEO of Siemens AG in New Delhi, where the entire Siemens Managing Board met for the first time ever. Over the next three fiscal years through 2012, the company intends to invest more than €250 million in the country, thereby doubling its current annual investments. A major part of this will be invested in renewable energy and value-priced products business. The company also wants to increase its market share in India to ten percent by the year 2012. With recently signed orders totaling over €500 million, primarily for energy technology, Siemens is well on its way.
As expected, interest in this year’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of Siemens AG in Munich’s Olympiahalle was especially high. The 7,700 shareholders attending this year’s event represented some 46,5 percent of Siemens AG’s capital stock. More than 21,000 shareholders ordered tickets for the event and around 34,000 voted by proxy. Over 69,000 shareholders registered to receive meeting documents electronically. By way of comparison: in 2009, approximately 9,500 shareholders attended.
"Earnings for the first quarter provide a gratifying snap-shot of the current situation," said Siemens CEO Peter Löscher. "The actions we took at a very early stage are now cushioning us from the ongoing repercussions of the global recession. We will continue to tackle all challenges decisively and in a responsible manner. Only such an approach can ensure Siemens' long-term success."
Siemens was again profitable in the first quarter of the new fiscal year. Despite declining revenue, nearly all the company’s businesses reached their defined margin targets. Although the order situation stabilized, new orders remained at a significantly lower level than before the crisis due to continued weak demand worldwide. “Earnings for the first quarter provide a gratifying snapshot of our current situation. The actions we took at a very early stage are now cushioning us from the ongoing repercussions of the global recession,” said Siemens President and CEO Peter Löscher. “We will continue to tackle all challenges decisively and in a responsible manner. Only such an approach can ensure Siemens’ long-term success,” he stated.
The regular Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of Siemens AG has approved the proposed settlements between the company and nine former members of Siemens’ Managing and Supervisory Boards. The shareholders also endorsed an agreement whereby the provider of the company’s directors and officers insurance policy will cover damages of up to €100 million. In addition, the shareholders approved the current system of Managing Board compensation and ratified the acts of the Managing and Supervisory Boards for fiscal 2009. The Annual Shareholders’ Meeting also confirmed the dividend of €1.60 per share proposed by the Managing and Supervisory Boards. The proposals on these agenda items were approved by large majorities at the meeting today in Munich’s Olympiahalle.
As announced, Siemens AG filed suit today in the Munich District Court against two former Managing Board members, Thomas Ganswindt and Heinz-Joachim Neubürger. The company is claiming damages of €15 million from Neubürger, its former CFO, and €5 million from Ganswindt, the former head of its telecommunications business.