SIX Group Announces 150 Job Cuts in Major Restructuring

SIX Group is sharpening its axe. The operator of the Swiss stock exchange has declared a bold intention to eliminate up to 150 positions by the end of 2025, a decisive move designed to carve out cost savings exceeding CHF 120 million over the next three years. This isn't merely a trim; it is a calculated restructuring in the face of relentless competitive pressure. While the company frames this as an efficiency drive, the urgency is palpable. Operating expenses surged by 4.1% last year to hit CHF 1.14 billion, a trajectory the group is determined to reverse.

The restructuring plan is immediate and aggressive. By targeting a reduction of 150 roles within a single calendar year, SIX is signaling that the status quo is no longer sustainable. While the company notes that natural turnover and early retirements will absorb some of the impact, the message is clear: the organization must become leaner to survive and thrive. This move comes as the financial infrastructure giant seeks to streamline operations and "make better use of its business mix," a corporate euphemism for tightening the belt where it matters most.

Mediocrity is not an option for SIX Group. The company has set a staggering new benchmark for profitability, aiming to vault its EBITDA margin from a respectable 28% in 2024 to a commanding 40% by 2027. This is not a gentle slope; it is a steep climb that demands flawless execution. The group has committed to mid-single-digit revenue growth, fueled by a strategy that combines organic expansion with potential acquisitions.

The pressure to perform is intense. With earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) currently sitting at CHF 443.7 million—a 3.6% increase year-on-year—the leap to over 40% represents a fundamental shift in operational efficiency. SIX is effectively declaring war on inefficiency, promising to accelerate its growth strategy to satisfy its owners, which include some of the most powerful financial institutions in the world. This ambitious target underscores why the job cuts are happening now: to clear the runway for a more profitable, high-velocity future.

The pain of this restructuring will be felt at home. While SIX operates globally, the Swiss workforce is already seeing a contraction. In a telling contrast, the number of employees in Switzerland dropped by 1.4% last year, while the workforce in Spain surged by a dramatic 9.6%. Currently, Switzerland accounts for 52% of the total headcount—roughly 2,310 employees—but the momentum is shifting.

A spokesperson for SIX confirmed to AWP that "Switzerland will also see reductions," though they refused to disclose specific numbers for each location. This silence adds to the tension for the domestic workforce. The company’s acquisition of the Spanish stock exchange BME in 2020 for CHF 2.5 billion has clearly altered the center of gravity. With the Spanish arm growing and the Swiss arm shrinking, the upcoming 150 cuts raise critical questions about the long-term geographic footprint of this quintessential Swiss institution. The trend suggests a strategic pivot, optimizing labor costs by balancing roles across its European hubs.

Despite operational gains, SIX is grappling with a heavy financial anchor: Worldline. The French payment provider has once again battered the group's bottom line. While operating income rose 4% to CHF 1.59 billion, the final profit figures tell a more turbulent story. A significant value adjustment of CHF 167.7 million on the Worldline investment decimated Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT), leaving SIX with a net profit of just CHF 38.7 million for 2024.

This is a recovery, but a fragile one. It stands in stark contrast to the previous year, where the company plummeted into a catastrophic loss of CHF 1.01 billion, largely driven by Worldline issues and write-downs in Spain. The ghost of that billion-franc loss still lingers. While the return to profitability is a positive signal, the heavy write-downs expose the volatility inherent in SIX's investment portfolio. The core business is healthy, but external investments continue to act as a drag, forcing the company to look inward for the cost savings announced this week.

In a move that highlights the divide between capital and labor, shareholders are set to receive a raise even as employees face redundancies. SIX has announced a dividend increase of 10 centimes, bringing the payout to CHF 5.30 per share for 2024. For the owners—around 120 financial institutions, with banking giant UBS holding a dominant 34.5% stake—the restructuring promises leaner operations and higher returns.

This dividend hike sends a powerful message about the company's priorities. Despite the razor-thin net profit of CHF 38.7 million and the impending job cuts, confidence in cash flow remains high. The strategy is clear: cut costs, boost margins, and reward the heavyweights of the Swiss financial sector who control the exchange. As SIX navigates this transition, the focus is squarely on delivering value to its banking masters, ensuring that the "infrastructure of the Swiss financial center" remains a lucrative asset, regardless of the human cost involved in the efficiency drive.