Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) has announced the successful approval of all proposed resolutions by its shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. The meeting saw 77.02% of the total 106,691,000 shares represented by 635 shareholders in attendance. Notably, approvals were granted for the Annual Financial Statements and Consolidated Financial Statements for 2023, along with the Remuneration Report and the Sustainability Report.
Severin Schwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, was re-elected with an overwhelming majority of 97.75% of the votes. In his address to the shareholders, he highlighted the robust performance of both the Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics Divisions in 2023. Despite a significant decrease in COVID-19 product sales, the company achieved growth on a currency-adjusted basis, driven by the strong development of its base business. Schwan also underlined the company’s extensive product pipeline, with 82 drug candidates, including ten in the final phase of clinical development, focusing on key areas such as oncology, immunology, neurology, and expanding into new territories like obesity. Moreover, he expressed confidence in the Diagnostics Division, promising a record number of new product launches in 2024.
Shareholders approved an increase in the dividend for the previous financial year to 9.60 Swiss francs (gross) per share and non-voting equity security, marking the 37th consecutive dividend increase. They also granted discharge to the members of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee.
Additionally, shareholders endorsed the total bonuses for the Corporate Executive Committee for the 2023 financial year, as well as the bonus for the outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors. Future remuneration for both the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Committee until the 2025 Annual General Meeting was also approved.
All other members of the Board of Directors up for re-election were successfully reinstated for a one-year term. Similarly, the members standing for election to the Remuneration Committee were re-elected for a one-year term.
Furthermore, KPMG AG was appointed as the statutory auditors for the 2024 financial year, and Testaris AG was designated as the independent proxy until the conclusion of the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
