AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (Company)

4 Reserves

	Share  premium  account  $m	Capital  redemption  reserve  $m	Other  reserves  (restated)  $m	Profit  and loss  account  $m	2008  Total  $m	2007  Total  (restated)  $m
At beginning of year, as previously reported	1,888	91	1,841	18,038	21,858	19,063
Prior year adjustment – UITF 44	–	–	724	–	724	569
Restated at beginning of year	1,888	91	2,565	18,038	22,582	19,632
Profit for the year	–	–	–	3,436	3,436	9,407
Dividends	–	–	–	(2,767)	(2,767)	(2,658)
Gain/(loss) on cash flow hedge in anticipation of debt issue	–	–	–	1	1	(21)
Share-based payment	–	–	178	–	178	155
Share re-purchases	–	3	–	(610)	(607)	(4,150)
Share premiums	158	–	–	–	158	217
At end of year	2,046	94	2,743	18,098	22,981	22,582
Distributable reserves at end of year	–	–	1,841	16,946	18,787	15,819

As permitted by section 230 (4) of the Companies Act 1985, the Company has not presented its own profit and loss account.

At 31 December 2008, $1,152m (31 December 2007: $4,060m) of the profit and loss account reserve was not available for distribution. The majority of this non-distributable amount relates to profit arising on the sale of Astra AB to a subsidiary in 1999, which becomes distributable as the underlying receivable is settled. During 2008, $2,908m (2007: $7,069m) of the profit was realised by repayment. Subsequent to the year end, a further $371m was repaid on 20 January 2009, resulting in additional distributable reserves not included in the figures above. Included in other reserves is a special reserve of $157m, arising on the redenomination of share capital in 1999.

During the year, the Company has adopted the requirements of UITF Abstract 44 ‘Group and Treasury Share Transactions’ and restated prior year comparatives. The effect of adoption is to increase other reserves by $902m at 31 December 2008 (31 December 2007: $724m). These amounts are not available for distribution.

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