Roche Annual General Meeting 2012 Held in Basel

Roche held its Annual General Meeting Tuesday this week in Basel. The company said the Annual General Meeting approved all of the Board of Directors' proposals.

Switzerland-based pharma giant Roche held its Annual General Meeting on March 6 in Basel. The company said the Annual General Meeting approved all of the Board of Directors' proposals.

The 755 shareholders in attendance, representing 87.4% of a total of 160,000,000 bearer shares, approved Roche's 2011 Annual Report and Financial Statements. They also authorised a 3% dividend increase for 2011, to 6.80 Swiss francs per share and non-voting equity. This raises Roche’s payout ratio to just over 55% and is the company' 25th dividend increase in as many years.

Shareholders also voted on an advisory basis on Roche’s 2011 Remuneration Report. The report was approved by a 98.5% majority of the votes represented.