Basel, 18 March 2011: At their Annual General Meeting (AGM) today in Basel, the shareholders of Straumann AG approved all the proposals put forward by the Board of Directors. 604 shareholders attended the meeting and a total of 9 702 581 voting shares were represented, corresponding to 62% of the overall share capital.

Stable dividend

The meeting approved the appropriation of the available earnings. CHF 30 million were allocated to the 2010 dividend, corresponding to CHF 1.90 per share. The shareholders also approved the use of CHF 29 million to pay CHF 1.85 of the total dividend per share out of ‘reserves for capital contributions’. Straumann is thus maintaining the same dividend as in the previous year. The dividend of CHF 3.75 per share will be paid as of 25 March 2011.

Board of Directors confirmed

All the Directors of the Straumann Board – Gilbert Achermann (Chairman), Dr Sebastian Burckhardt, Dominik Ellenrieder, Roland Hess, Ulrich Looser, Dr Beat Lüthi, Stefan Meister and Dr h.c. Thomas Straumann – were re-elected for a further one-year term of office.

Annual Report, Compensation Report as well as change in articles of association approved

The shareholders approved the 2010 Annual Report and the Compensation Report¹, the 2010 Financial Statements and the discharge of the Board of Directors for their activities in 2010. PricewaterhouseCoopers of Basel was reappointed as Statutory Auditors and Group Auditors for a further term of one year.

In addition to the above, the shareholders also approved an amendment to the articles of association relating to requests or items to be included in the agenda at Shareholders’ Meetings. Until now, individual shareholders or groups of shareholders wishing to include items were required to represent at least 400 000 shares. This has now been reduced to 150 000, increasing the possibility for shareholders to ‘have their say’.     

2012 AGM

In 2012, the ordinary general meeting of the shareholders will be convened on 4 April at the same location (Basel Congress Center).

About Straumann

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the Straumann Group (SIX: STMN) is a global leader in implant and restorative dentistry and oral tissue regeneration. In collaboration with leading clinics, research institutes and universities, Straumann researches, develops and manufactures dental implants, instruments, prosthetics and tissue regeneration products for use in tooth replacement and restoration solutions or to prevent tooth loss. Straumann currently employs approximately 2360 people worldwide and its products and services are available in more than 70 countries through its broad network of distribution subsidiaries and partners.

Footnotes

¹ Consultational vote