AstraZeneca PLC
Since April 1999, following the AstraZeneca merger, the principal markets for trading in the shares of AstraZeneca PLC are the London, Stockholm and New York Stock Exchanges. The table below sets out, for the four quarters of 2006 and for the first two quarters and last six months of 2007 the reported high and low share prices of AstraZeneca PLC, on the following bases:
- For shares listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) the reported high and low middle market closing quotations are derived from The Daily Official List.
- For shares listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange (SSE) the high and low closing sales prices are as stated in the Official List.
- For American Depositary Shares (ADS) listed on the New York Stock Exchange the reported high and low sales prices are as reported by Dow Jones (ADR quotations).
| Ordinary LSE | ADS | Ordinary SSE* | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High (pence) |
Low (pence) |
High (US$) |
Low (US$) |
High (SEK) |
Low (SEK) |
||
| 2006 | – Quarter 1 | 2975 | 2574 | 51.73 | 45.12 | 403.5 | 352.5 |
| – Quarter 2 | 3264 | 2757 | 59.82 | 50.54 | 434.5 | 376.5 | |
| – Quarter 3 | 3435 | 3101 | 65.43 | 56.60 | 477.0 | 414.5 | |
| – Quarter 4 | 3529 | 2728 | 66.37 | 53.55 | 484.0 | 365.5 | |
| 2007 | – Quarter 1 | 2984 | 2734 | 58.78 | 53.53 | 414.0 | 367.5 |
| – Quarter 2 | 2953 | 2567 | 59.04 | 51.00 | 401.0 | 354.5 | |
| – July | 2770 | 2542 | 56.16 | 51.51 | 374.5 | 348.0 | |
| – August | 2545 | 2278 | 51.78 | 45.56 | 348.5 | 319.5 | |
| – September | 2466 | 2345 | 50.07 | 47.29 | 342.0 | 315.0 | |
| – October | 2589 | 2356 | 52.47 | 48.66 | 343.5 | 310.5 | |
| – November | 2330 | 2093 | 48.23 | 43.23 | 311.5 | 272.0 | |
| – December | 2316 | 2164 | 47.14 | 42.82 | 303.5 | 277.0 | |
* Principally held in bearer form.
During 2007, AstraZeneca’s share re-purchase programme, which was introduced in 1999, continued with the re-purchase and subsequent cancellation of 79.9 million shares at a total cost of $4,170m, representing 5.5% of the total issued share capital of the Company. The average price paid per share in 2007 was 2593 pence. Between 1999 and 2006, a total of 282.8 million Ordinary Shares were re-purchased, and subsequently cancelled, at an average price of 2693 pence per share for a consideration, including expenses, of $13,318m. The excess of the consideration over the nominal value was charged against the profit and loss account reserve. Shares issued in respect of share schemes totalled 4.7 million.
In 1999, in connection with the merger, AstraZeneca’s share capital was redenominated in US dollars. On 6 April 1999, Zeneca shares were cancelled and US dollar shares issued, credited as fully paid on the basis of one dollar share for each Zeneca share then held. This was achieved by a reduction of capital under section 135 of the Companies Act 1985. Upon the reduction of capital becoming effective, all issued and unissued Zeneca shares were cancelled and the sum arising as a result thereof credited to a special reserve, which was converted into US dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on the record date. This US dollar reserve was then applied in paying up, at par, newly created US dollar shares.
At the same time as the US dollar shares were issued, the Company issued 50,000 Redeemable Preference Shares with a nominal value of £1.00 each for cash at par. The Redeemable Preference Shares carry limited class voting rights and no dividend rights. This class of shares is also capable of redemption at par at the option of the Company on the giving of seven days’ written notice to the registered holder of the shares.
A total of 826 million AstraZeneca shares were issued to Astra shareholders who accepted the merger offer before the final closing date, 21 May 1999. AstraZeneca received acceptances from Astra shareholders representing 99.6% of Astra’s shares and the remaining 0.4% was acquired in 2000 for cash.
