Due to the ongoing debate and last week’s decision by the Council of States in Switzerland on the tax bill 17, the Board of Directors of HBM Healthcare Investments AG has decided to amend agenda item 9 of the invitation for the Annual Shareholders Meeting taking place on 25 June 2018 as follows:
 

The two motions of the Board of Directors for a par value reduction of CHF 30.- per share to increase the reserve from capital brought in (agenda item 9.1) and the subsequent cash payment of CHF 1.50 per share from this increased reserve (agenda item 9.2) shall be limited to a simple reduction in par value with a cash payment of CHF 1.50 per share.
 

The proposed cash distribution for the 2017/2018 financial year thus remains unchanged at a total of CHF 7.00 per share. If approved, CHF 5.50 per share will be paid, free of withholding tax, from the existing capital reserve after the Annual General Meeting (payment date June 29, 2018, ex date June 27, 2018). A further CHF 1.50 per share will be paid after the statutory deadline as a withholding tax-exempt par value repayment, expected on September 21, 2018 (ex date September 19, 2018).
 

This amended resolution does not change the distribution policy of the company. It merely serves the purpose of optimally preserving the company's withholding tax-free distributable substrate. This is due to the development in the ongoing debate on the tax bill 17 concerning the introduction of a possible repayment rule for distributions from the capital reserve and the legal uncertainty currently associated with it.
 

Shareholders will receive the voting documents for the amended motion under agenda item 9 by post this week.

Contact

For further information, please contact Erwin Troxler on +41 41 710 75 77, or at erwin.troxler@hbmhealthcare.com