The Swiss Federal Council has decided that state-owned arms manufacturer RUAG International should be developed as an aerospace technology group and entirely privatised in the medium term.
At a meeting on 15 March, the council also approved unbundling procedures for the RUAG segments that provide services to the armed forces.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
In a statement, the council said: “The federal council takes the view that this approach will best meet the armed forces’ needs and take account of the confederation’s ownership interests and Switzerland’s position as a location for work and technology.”
Over the last two decades, RUAG has developed from an armaments manufacturer into an international technology group.
RUAG is currently meeting its statutory role of providing equipment. This forms only part of the company’s activities. The federal council has therefore decided to separate the company’s armed forces segment from its other business areas.
On 1 January 2020, RUAG will be formed into a new holding company with two subsidiaries.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataWith around 2,500 employees and manufacturing sites in the country, MRO Switzerland will be responsible for providing services to the armed forces. With around 6,500 employees, which includes two-thirds based overseas, RUAG International will manage the company’s other business segments.
The subsidiaries will be legally and financially independent. In addition to being managed independently, the companies will operate separate IT systems.
Independent directors approved by the Swiss Federal Council will form the majority of the board members of both companies.
The Swiss Federal Council has reviewed development options planned by the RUAG group and supported establishing an aerospace division.
The defence ministry stated: “The focus lies on developing the expertise RUAG has built up in these business fields in recent years, and in retaining the technical know-how in Switzerland. This also applies in relation to Switzerland’s space policy.”
Numerous options for privatisation have been submitted by the RUAG. A decision will be made by the federal council later.
