Geberit share information

The Geberit share price started the trading year 2019 at CHF 382.30. After increasing mostly in line with the Swiss Market Index (SMI) throughout the year, there was a significant increase in growth momentum in the fourth quarter, with the price reaching an all-time record high of CHF 550.40 shortly before the end of the year. The Geberit share price closed the trading year at CHF 543.20, corresponding to an increase of 42.1%. In the same period, the SMI posted gains of 26.0%. Viewed over the past five years, the Geberit share posted an annual average increase of 9.9% (SMI +3.4%). The Geberit Group’s market capitalisation reached CHF 20.1 billion at the end of 2019.

The Geberit shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Zurich.

At the end of 2019, the free float as defined by SIX was 100%.

Given a stable market environment, Geberit achieves high free cashflow, which is used to repay debts, applied towards any acquisitions or distributed to shareholders. The capital structure is prudently maintained and the company strives for a solid balance sheet structure with a buffer of liquidity. On the one hand, this policy guarantees the financial flexibility necessary to achieve growth targets, and, on the other hand, it offers investors security. Surplus liquid funds are distributed to shareholders. Geberit continued this shareholder-friendly distribution policy last year as well.

In 2019, CHF 389 million was distributed to shareholders as part of the dividend payment. The share buyback programme, launched on 6 June 2017, was also continued. By 31 December 2019, around 765,000 shares, or 2.1% of the share capital currently entered in the Commercial Register, had been acquired at a sum of CHF 323 million, CHF 47 million thereof in 2019. CHF 436 million, or 67.7% of the free cashflow, was therefore distributed to shareholders during the reporting year as part of the dividend payment and the share buyback programme.

Over the last five years, around CHF 2.3 billion has been paid out to shareholders in the form of distributions or share buybacks, which corresponds to 83.6% of the free cashflow in this period.

The Board of Directors will propose to the ordinary General Meeting of Geberit AG on 1 April 2020 an increase in the dividend of 4.6% to CHF 11.30, which is slightly above the increase in the previous year. The payout ratio of 63.4% of net income is in the upper range of the 50% to 70% corridor defined by the Board of Directors.

Communication

Geberit publishes current and comprehensive information simultaneously for all market participants and interested parties on the website www.geberit.com, including ad hoc announcements. Among other things, the current version of the investor presentation is available on the website at any time. In addition, interested parties may add their names to a mailing list www.geberit.com/mailinglist in order to receive the most recent information relating to the company.

CEO Christian Buhl, CFO Roland Iff and the Head Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Roman Sidler are in charge of communication with shareholders, the capital market and the general public. Contact details can be found on the website in the relevant sections. Information relating to Geberit is provided in the form of regular media information, media and analysts’ conferences, as well as financial presentations.

Contact may be established at any time at
corporate.communications@geberit.com

Comprehensive share information can be found at
www.geberit.com > investors > share information