Zimmer board approves quarterly cash dividend and new share repurchase program

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH), a global leader in musculoskeletal care, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of a quarterly cash dividend to stockholders for the first quarter of 2012.  Zimmer's Board of Directors also has authorized a new share repurchase program.  

"The opportunity to initiate a quarterly dividend results from our rigorous financial and operational discipline and reinforces our confidence in the Company's future and our commitment to generating value for stockholders," said David Dvorak, Zimmer President and CEO.  "This year marked our tenth anniversary as a publicly traded company.  Given the substantial increase in revenues since the spin-off from our former parent, our leadership position in our core reconstructive product categories and the considerable strength of our balance sheet coupled with our capacity to generate cash, now is an appropriate time to solidify our commitment to return value to our stockholders.  We are confident that the Company will continue to generate sufficient cash to pursue targeted strategic acquisitions while providing increased value for our stockholders through dividend and share repurchase programs."

The initial quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share will be paid on or about April 27, 2012, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 30, 2012.  Future declarations of dividends are subject to approval of the Board of Directors and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.

In the past year, Zimmer has demonstrated its commitment to pursue strategic growth opportunities through external development by completing three acquisitions – Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co., Ltd., Sodem Diffusion S.A., and ExtraOrtho, Inc.  Since 2005, the Company also has returned considerable value to stockholders through approximately $4.5 billion of share repurchases. 

The new share repurchase program authorizes purchases of up to $1.5 billion of the Company's common stock through December 31, 2014.  No further purchases will be made under the earlier program, which authorized purchases through December 31, 2013.

Repurchases under the program may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time in compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, depending on market conditions and other factors.  The Company had approximately 179.2 million shares of common stock outstanding as of October 26, 2011.