Frequently asked questions
Information on the exchange of Genussscheine for participation certificates (Partizipationsscheine) and related matters
Roche Bearer Shares (RBS) and Non-Voting Equity Securities (NES)
Roche's non-voting equity securities (NESs) and Roche bearer shares (RBSs) are quoted on the electronic SIX Swiss Exchange. Roche securities are also traded over-the-counter (OTC) on various other exchanges.
The Roche Group (of which Genentech is a wholly-owned member) is traded in the United States as a U.S.-dollar denominated American Depositary Receipt on the OTCQX International Premier market under the stock symbol: RHHBY.
Please refer to the following website for more information on how to invest in Roche and Genentech in the US.
Non-voting equity security (NES = in German "Genussschein")
702,562,700 existing
Bearer shares (in German "Inhaberaktie")
106,691,000 existing
Roche Holding Ltd places no restrictions on ownership of its shares and non-voting equity securities. Each non-voting equity security confers the same rights as one share to participate in available earnings and any liquidation proceeds remaining after repayment of the nominal value of the shares and the participation certificate capital.
At the Annual General Meeting of Roche Holding AG held on 3 April 2001, it was resolved, on a motion of the Board of Directors, to effect a hundred-for-one split of the company's 1,600,000 bearer shares and the 7,025,627 non-voting equity securities.
Following the split, the share capital of CHF 160,000,000 was divided into 160,000,000 bearer shares with a par value of CHF 1 each, and 702,562,700 non-voting equity securities were issued.
For custody account holders, the custodian bank effected the exchange of the bearer shares and non-voting equity securities on 4 May 2001. Persons keeping their bearer shares and non-voting equity securities in their own custody are requested to submit their securities, along with coupon no. 23, for exchange to a branch of UBS AG or to Roche Holding AG.
Eight Roche ADRs represent one underlying ROG non-voting equity security.
Because its shares are bearer shares, Roche cannot and does not keep a register of its shareholders. Information for holders of bearer shares, including invitations to the Annual General Meeting, is disseminated by publication in the Schweizerisches Handelsamtsblatt (Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce), various Swiss daily and financial newspapers and the Roche Internet.
Dividends
An overview of the dividend payments of the last years can be found on the Share and Bond informationwebsite
An overview of the dividend payments of the last years can be found on the Share and Bond informationwebsite
The payment date is the date on which the dividend is paid and is at least three trading days after the ex-dividend date. Dividends are therefore paid no earlier than the fifth day of trading on SIX Swiss Exchange after the Annual General Meeting.
Please find more information on the annual general meeting page.
The ex-dividend date is the first trading day on which shares or non-voting equity securities do not entitle buyers to a dividend.
It is generally the first day of trading after the day on which SIX Swiss Exchange receives confirmation of the dividend by 11 a.m. – i.e. the second day of trading after the Annual General Meeting.
When shares/ non-voting equity securities are purchased "ex-dividend", the seller of the shares, not the purchaser, is entitled to receive the next dividend payment.
Due to harmonisation of corporate action processes, many European countries have introduced a record date for dividend payments in the form of cash or shares. SIX SIS AG has also decided to introduce a record date for Switzerland as of 23 November 2009.
The record date serves for internal settlement procedures of the SIS SIX AG and the banks and is the date on which the technical entitlement to dividend payments is established after close of trading. Since 6 October 2014, the record date falls on the first trading day following the ex-dividend date.
Specifically, the introduction of the record date means that SIX SIS AG will no longer determine the entitled positions on the ex date, (i.e., first trading day on which the shares are traded ex dividend) but at the record date.
No.
The dividend payout increased from year to year. An overview of the dividend history can be found on the Share and Bond informationwebsite.
Annual General Meeting
Please find this information on the annual general meeting page.
Holders of bearer shares will be invited to attend by notices published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (Schweizerisches Handelsamtsblatt), various Swiss daily and financial newspapers as well as on the Roche internet. Further information
Information about the last Annual General Meeting.
Yes, shareholders can be represented by proxy at the AGM. A proxy being shareholders and non-shareholders, and the independent proxy.
Further information can be found in the Articles of Incorporation(Articles of Incorporation § 12), which contain the principal information - required by law - on Roche's business purpose, structures and statutory bodies.
Shareholders wishing to exercise their voting rights at the annual General Meeting of Roche Holding Ltd and participate in the voting and election processes can generally order their documents for the exercise of voting rights from approx. February of the respective year. Additional information on the requirements and process can be found here.
Annual Report, Corporate Governance and Corporate Sustainability
Please visit our Document Centre
Roche is committed to serving all its stakeholders. As a basis for the successful implementation of this commitment our Corporate Governance principles prescribe a management culture conforming to recognised standards of good corporate governance and a policy of transparent communication. More information can be found on the Governance website.
Our Sustainability Strategy builds on our purpose and establishes clear priorities to create long-term societal and financial value. We are taking action to integrate sustainability into everything we do. More information can be found on the Sustainability website.
As of 2005, reporting on sustainability related topics have been incorporated into the Annual Report. Information on topics relating to sustainability can be found in the Business Report section of the Annual Report.
Roche is pioneering and promoting innovative approaches in preclinical research to replace animal testing. For details please see our websiteand position paper.
Contacts
Please contact the Investor Relations Team via email or via phone.
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
Investor Relations
CH-4070 Basel
Switzerland
Telephone +41-61-688 8880
Fax +41-61-691 0014