Sonova Holding AG (SWX: SOON) held its 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 16, 2026, in Stafa, Switzerland, where shareholders approved all motions submitted by the Board of Directors. With 354 shareholders in attendance and 67.84% of the share capital represented, the meeting underscored strong shareholder engagement and support for the company's direction.
The approved agenda items included the Annual Report, consolidated financial statements, and the report on non-financial matters for the 2025/26 financial year. Shareholders also endorsed the appropriation of retained earnings, resulting in a gross dividend of CHF 4.70 per registered share—the highest in the company's history. This dividend corresponds to a payout ratio of approximately 45% and is scheduled for payment from June 23, 2026. The discharge of the Board of Directors and Group Executives for the past financial year was also formally approved.
In advisory and binding votes, shareholders accepted the Compensation Report for 2025/26 and approved the maximum aggregate compensation for the Board of Directors (from the 2026 AGM to the 2027 AGM) and for Group Executives (for the 2027/28 financial year). All incumbent Board members standing for re-election were confirmed, and three new independent members were elected: Ingrid Cotoros, Malina Man Lin Ngai, and Hooi Ling Tan. Roland Diggelmann (Chair), Gregory Behar, and Julie Tay were re-elected to the Nomination & Compensation Committee, with Malina Man Lin Ngai joining as a new member.
Ernst & Young AG, Zurich, was re-elected as auditor for one year, and Anwaltskanzlei Keller AG, Zurich, was re-elected as independent proxy. The next AGM is scheduled for June 15, 2027. Detailed voting results will be available on the Sonova website.
The approval of all board motions, particularly the record dividend, signals strong shareholder confidence in Sonova's performance and strategic direction. As a global leader in hearing care solutions, Sonova operates through brands such as Phonak, Unitron, and Advanced Bionics, and reported sales of CHF 3.6 billion and net profit of CHF 546 million in the 2025/26 financial year. The company's commitment to innovation was recognized by Fortune magazine, ranking it 12th among Europe's most innovative companies in 2025.
This AGM outcome reinforces Sonova's position in the hearing care industry and its ability to deliver value to shareholders while advancing its mission to help people with hearing loss. The record dividend reflects the company's solid financial health and disciplined capital allocation, which are key to sustaining growth in a competitive market.
