Stryker Announces Additional $500 Million Share Repurchase Program and Declares 18% Increase in Quarterly Dividend

Stryker Corporation

announced today that its Board of Directors has increased its dividend 18% by declaring a quarterly dividend of $0.2125 per share payable on January 31, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 29, 2011.   Stryker also announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized the Company to repurchase an additional $500 million of its common stock.  The manner, timing and amount of any purchases will be determined by the Company's management based on their evaluation of market conditions, stock price and other factors and will be subject to regulatory considerations.  Purchases may be made from time to time in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.   Over the past four years Stryker has returned approximately $2.9 billion of capital to shareholders consisting of approximately $850 million of dividends and approximately $2.0 billion of share repurchases. In 2011, the Company has paid approximately $280 million of dividends and has repurchased shares worth approximately $625 million as of December 7, 2011.