Agfa-Gevaert

The company's central office is located in Mortsel (Belgium).

Company structure

2022: Restructuring

In April 2022, Agfa-Gevaert Group announced a reorganization as part of a comprehensive transformation program for the company. The goal of the initiative is to optimize the group's operations and improve its financial position.

The restructuring is reportedly aimed at simplifying and automating certain business processes. A number of agreements are planned with IBM. The program provides for a reduction in the number of personnel by 65 people, of which 52 work in European units. Agfa intends to do everything possible to minimize the number of direct layoffs. In addition, the company will fulfill obligations to respect the reduced employees and provide maximum support, including socially.

Restructuring aims to simplify and automate business processes

As part of our transformation program, we strive for a simple, flexible and future-oriented structure. This reorganization will help improve Agfa's competitiveness by improving financial operations, reporting, analytics and planning. In addition, restructuring will allow us to implement carefully designed end-to-end financial processes and provide the highest quality services, "said Pascal Juéry, CEO of Agfa-Gevaert Group.

By the end of 2022, the company has four key divisions:

• HealthCare IT (Medical Technology Solutions);
• Radiology Solutions (X-ray business);
• Digital Print & Chemicals;
• Offset Solutions^[1]

2016

For 2016, Agfa-Gevaert forms three business groups:

Agfa HealthCare

Main article: Agfa HealthCare

Agfa HealthCare supplies solutions for organizing information systems in medicine, radiology and cardiology systems, orthopedic stations

• IT in Radiology (IMPAX grade)
• Picture Archiving and Communication Systems(PACS)
• Radiology Information Systems (RIS)
• Speech Recognition Systems
• Image Repositories
• IT in Cardiology
• Enterprise IT Solutions (ORBIS brand)
• Hospital Information Systems (HIS)
• Clinical Information Systems (CIS)
• Laboratory Information Systems (LIS)
• EDMS.

Agfa Graphics

Digital and analog systems for image processing and reproduction, including solutions for large-format and high-quality printing

Agfa Specialty Products

Agfa Specialty Products produces products for a wide range of industries. Microflows, magnetic tapes for video and audio recording, synthetic paper (SYNAPS brand).

Performance indicators

2022: Revenue growth 5.5% to €1.86 billion

The revenue of the Agfa group in 2022 amounted to €1.86 billion against €1.76 billion a year earlier. That equates to a 5.5% year-on-year increase. Gross profit increased by 6.3% - from €498 million to €529 million.

2019

In 2019, Agfa-Gevaert Group raised 2.24 billion euros, which is 2.2% higher than a year ago.

2013

According to the results of 2013, the turnover of Agfa-Gevaert Group amounted to 2.865 billion euros.

History

2016: CompuGroup Medical refused to buy Agfa

In early December 2016, German medical software maker CompuGroup Medical announced it was withdrawing from negotiations to acquire the Agfa Gevaert group. Analysts say CompuGroup Medical shareholders didn't want the deal.

In October 2016, CompuGroup Medical announced the start of negotiations with Agfa over a possible takeover of the Belgian company. In the latter, this information was confirmed, but warned about the possible absence of agreements.

Analysts say CompuGroup Medical shareholders didn't want to buy Agfa

Agfa's board of directors, together with financial and legal advisers, examined CompuGroup's preliminary application. Taking into account the interests of its shareholders and other stakeholders, Agfa's board decided to engage in non-exclusive negotiations, Agfa said in a statement in November 2016.

At the same time, the company noted that negotiations could not necessarily lead to a public offer to buy all Agfa shares. As a result, the deal really did not take place, which CompuGroup officially announced on December 1, 2016.

What caused the unsuccessful negotiations is not specified. CompuGroup and Agfa declined to comment on the agency's requests. Reuters^[2]

After reporting the deal broke down, Commerzbank analysts set CompuGroup's share rating at Buy ("buy") and raised its target value of the securities to 47 euros apiece. According to experts, the reluctance to buy Agfa is good news for CompuGroup shareholders, as there was a risk that the deal would prove disastrous and undervalued.

CompuGroup and Agfa did not say how much the merger could cost. As of December 7, 2016, Agfa's market capitalization is almost 588 million euros against CompuGroup's 2 billion euros.

2010: Creation of Agfa Graphics Asia

In 2010, to strengthen the company's position in China and the quiet-ocean region, Agfa Graphics and Shenzhen Brothers create a joint venture Agfa Graphics Asia.

2004: Agfa-Gevaert Divides AgfaPhoto Photographic Products Division

In 2004, AgfaPhoto's photographic products division was spun off from Agfa-Gevaert.

2002: Bayer sells remaining 30% in Agfa

In 2002, Bayer sells the remaining 30% in Agfa.

2001: Discontinuation of desktop scanners and digital cameras

In September 2001, Agfa closed the production of desktop scanners and digital cameras.

1999: Separation from Bayer, carrying out IPOs

In 1999, Agfa was separated from Bayer, which remains 30% of the shares. On June 1, 1999, the initial placement of Agfa-Gevaert shares on the Brussels and Frankfurt exchanges took place.

1994: PACS Production Launch

In 1994, the production of image archiving systems (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems, PACS) began.

1988: Takeover of Compugraphic Corporation

In 1988, the supplier of preflight systems Compugraphic Corporation was acquired.

1983: Sales of 5.9 billion marks

In 1983, the group sold 5.9 billion marks.

1981: Bayer AG acquires 100% stake in Agfa-Gevaert group

In 1981, Bayer AG acquired a 100% stake in Agfa-Gevaert.

1964: Takeover of Gevaert and formation of Agfa-Gevaert group

In 1964, Agfa acquired control of the Belgian company Gevaert. Gevaert was founded in 1894 and at the beginning of its activity produced only photo paper. Agfa intended to acquire this company back in the late 1940s. The Agfa-Gevaert group was created, consisting of the German company Agfa-Gevaert AG and the Belgian Agfa-Gevaert NV.

1962: Takeover of camera maker Iloca-Witt

In 1962, the Hamburg-based camera manufacturer Iloca-Witt was acquired.

Also by this time, chemical enterprises were acquired: Koepff & Söhne, Mimosa and Leonar-Werke.

1961: Acquisition of camera manufacturer Perutz Photowerke

In 1961, 50% of the shares of Perutz Photowerke from Munich were acquired, and in 1964 - 100%. The company was founded in 1880, and produced cameras.

1960: Takeover of watch maker OSCO-Uhren

In 1960, Agfa AG acquired watch manufacturer OSCO-Uhren.

1959: Fabrique d'Horologie La Vedette takeover

In 1959, Fabrique d'Horologie La Vedette SA (Alsace) was acquired.

1956: Licensing agreement for sales in the Soviet and Western blocs of countries

In 1956, an agreement was concluded between the East German Agfa Wolfen and the West German Agfa to use the Agfa trademark. Agfa Wolfen sold its products in the countries of the Soviet bloc, the West German Agfa Wolfen - in countries other than France and Yugoslavia. The agreement was valid until 1964. In 1964, Agfa Wolfen began manufacturing products under the ORWO (Original Wolfen) brand.

1952

Foundation of Agfa AG für Photofabrikation

On 18 April 1952 Agfa AG für Photofabrikation was established in Leverkusen. The Allies controlled the production of cameras until March 18, 1953. And on March 20, Agfa-Camerawerk AG was created. In 1957, the companies merged into Agfa AG Leverkusen.

UCA takeover

Agfa AG absorbed several companies. In 1952, UCA - Vereinigte Elektro-Optische Werke GmbH, which produced scale and SLR cameras.

1945: Following the results of World War II, the company's assets in zones of different countries

After World War II, Agfa factories found themselves in different occupation zones. Agfa CameraWerk in Munich was in the area of ​ ​ responsibility of the United States, the plant for the production of photo paper in Leverkusen - in the area of ​ ​ responsibility of Great Britain, the first plant in Greppin - in the Soviet zone.

1941: U.S. government seizes Ansco Photo

In 1941, the government USA confiscated Ansco Photo.

1928: Purchase of American Ansco Photo Products

In 1928, Agfa acquired the American company Ansco Photo Products Inc.

1925: Joining the IG Farben Group of Companies

In 1925, Agfa, together with Badische Anilin, Bayer, Hoechst, Weiler-ter-Meer and Griesheim-Elektron, became part of IG Farben. The company was led by Paul Mendelssohn Bartholdi Jr. (1879-1956 ) - the son of the founder of Agfa. As a result of the exchange of assets, Agfa received from BASF a chemical factory in Munich and a photo paper factory in Leverkusen.

1914: Products for the Army in World War I

During World War I, the company produced photographic plates for X-ray machines, photographic film for aerial photography, filters and components for gas masks. At the beginning of the war, the number of workers at the Greppin plant decreased from 504 to 335, but by the end of the war it had grown to 1,000.

1910: Transfer of photographic production from Berlin to Greppin

Due to severe air pollution in Berlin, the company moved its photographic production to the city of Greppin. For this, 25.2 hectares of land were acquired near the existing plant. The plant began operating in July 1910. It became the world's second largest manufacturer of photographic goods (after the Eastman Kodak factory in Rochester) and the largest in Europe. Greppin was subordinate to the city of Wolfen, so the plant became known as Agfa Wolfen.

1897: The Emergence of the AGFA Trademark

The AGFA trademark appeared on April 15, 1897.

1896: Opening of an aniline plant in the city of Greppin

On March 17, 1896, a plant for the production of aniline and dyes was opened in the city of Greppin - the city had cheap coal and labor.

1882: Establishment of a scientific laboratory

In 1882, the company created its own scientific laboratory.

1872: Merger with Chemische Fabrik

In early 1872, the company merged with Chemische Fabrik Dr. Jordan from the Treptov district of Berlin. On July 21, 1873, the companies formed a joint stock company called Actien-Gesellschaft für Anilin-Fabrikation (aniline company).

1867: Composer Mendelssohn's son establishes company in Berlin

AGFA (German : Aktein Gesellschaft fuer Anilin) was founded in 1867 in Berlin by the chemist Paul Mendelssohn Bartholdy, the son of the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn, and Karl Alexander von Martius (German : Carl Alexander von Martius) under the name Gesellschaft für Anilinfabriation.

Notes