27th Jul 2006 11:00
AstraZeneca PLC27 July 2006 Consolidated Income Statement 2006 2005For the six months ended 30 June $m $m Sales 12,805 11,875 Cost of sales (2,642) (2,723) Distribution costs (112) (104) Research and development (1,816) (1,725) Selling, general and administrative costs (4,405) (4,236) Other operating income 277 84 Operating profit 4,107 3,171 Finance income 400 316 Finance expense (254) (252) Profit before tax 4,253 3,235 Taxation (1,227) (968) Profit for the period 3,026 2,267 Attributable to: Equity holders of the Company 3,024 2,259 Minority interests 2 8 3,026 2,267 Basic earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share $1.92 $1.38 Diluted earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share $1.91 $1.38 Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions) 1,577 1,634 Diluted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions) 1,581 1,634 Dividends declared in the period 1,453 1,061 Consolidated Income Statement 2006 2005For the quarter ended 30 June $m $m Sales 6,625 6,132 Cost of sales (1,391) (1,313) Distribution costs (58) (54) Research and development (955) (860) Selling, general and administrative costs (2,290) (2,229) Other operating income 200 42 Operating profit 2,131 1,718 Finance income 199 197 Finance expense (121) (166) Profit before tax 2,209 1,749 Taxation (607) (525) Profit for the period 1,602 1,224 Attributable to: Equity holders of the Company 1,599 1,219 Minority interests 3 5 1,602 1,224 Basic earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share $1.02 $0.75 Diluted earnings per $0.25 Ordinary Share $1.01 $0.75 Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions) 1,575 1,628 Diluted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue (millions) 1,580 1,628 Consolidated Balance Sheet As at As at As at 30 June 31 December 30 June 2006 2005 2005 $m $m $mASSETS Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 7,269 6,985 7,355Intangible assets, including Goodwill 4,609 2,712 2,696Other investments 125 256 221Deferred tax assets 1,405 1,117 1,174 13,408 11,070 11,446 Current assets Inventories 2,211 2,206 2,663Trade and other receivables 5,471 4,778 4,725Other investments 1,020 1,624 398Income tax receivable 273 183 201Cash and cash equivalents 6,076 4,979 5,451 15,051 13,770 13,438Total assets 28,459 24,840 24,884 LIABILITIES Current liabilities Interest bearing loans and borrowings (85) (90) (150)Trade and other payables (6,572) (5,466) (5,496)Income tax payable (1,748) (1,283) (1,151) (8,405) (6,839) (6,797)Non-current liabilities Interest bearing loans and borrowings (1,046) (1,111) (1,163)Deferred tax liabilities (1,775) (1,112) (1,163)Retirement benefit obligations (1,582) (1,706) (1,803)Provisions (317) (309) (306) Other payables (325) (72) (82) (5,045) (4,310) (4,517)Total liabilities (13,450) (11,149) (11,314)Net assets 15,009 13,691 13,570 EQUITY Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders ofthe Company Share capital 392 395 404 Share premium account 1,433 692 584 Other reserves 1,851 1,831 1,892 Retained earnings 11,234 10,679 10,597 14,910 13,597 13,477 Minority equity interests 99 94 93 Total equity 15,009 13,691 13,570 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement For the six months ended 30 June 2006 2005 $m $mCash flows from operating activities Profit before taxation 4,253 3,235Finance income and expense (146) (64)Depreciation and amortisation 588 630(Increase)/decrease in working capital (352) 131Other non-cash movements 115 45Cash generated from operations 4,458 3,977 Interest paid (30) (13) Tax paid (1,007) (810) Net cash inflow from operating activities 3,421 3,154 Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of business (213) -Movement in short term investments and fixed deposits 701 776Purchase of property, plant and equipment (373) (411)Disposal of property, plant and equipment 16 73Purchase of intangible assets (331) (38)Purchase of non-current asset investments (15) (6)Disposal of non-current asset investments 54 -Interest received 154 88Dividends paid by subsidiaries to minority interest (4) (5)Net cash (outflow)/inflow from investing activities (11) 477Net cash inflow before financing activities 3,410 3,631Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from issue of share capital 746 34Repurchase of shares (1,627) (1,182)Dividends paid (1,442) (1,079)Movement in short term borrowings - 10Net cash outflow from financing activities (2,323) (2,217)Net increase in cash and cash equivalents in the period 1,087 1,414 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 4,895 3,927Exchange rate effects 16 (28)Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 5,998 5,313Cash and cash equivalents consists of:Cash and cash equivalents 6,076 5,451Overdrafts (78) (138) 5,998 5,313 Consolidated Statement of Recognised Income and Expense For the six months ended 30 June 2006 2005 $m $m Profit for the period 3,026 2,267 Foreign exchange adjustments on consolidation 454 (968) Available for sale (losses)/gains taken to equity (20) 14 Actuarial gain/(loss) for the period 119 (125) Tax on items taken directly to reserves 23 38 Total recognised income and expense for the period 3,602 1,226 Attributable to: Equity holders of the Company 3,597 1,226 Minority interests 5 - 3,602 1,226 Independent review report to AstraZeneca PLC Introduction We have been instructed by the Company to review the financial informationcomprising the consolidated income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statementand statement of recognised income and expense for the six months ended and asat 30 June 2006 and notes 1 to 4 (set out on pages 12, 14 to 16 and 18 to 21,respectively). We have read the other information contained in the interimreport and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or materialinconsistencies with the financial information. This report is made solely to the Company in accordance with the terms of ourengagement to assist the Company in meeting the requirements of the ListingRules of the Financial Services Authority. Our review has been undertaken sothat we might state to the Company those matters we are required to state to itin this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law,we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company forour review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have reached. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, isthe responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. The Directorsare responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the ListingRules of the Financial Services Authority which require that the accountingpolicies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistentwith those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where anychanges, and the reasons for them, are disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the UK. A review consistsprincipally of making enquiries of group management and applying analyticalprocedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and, basedthereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have beenconsistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes auditprocedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities andtransactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit performed inaccordance with International Statements on Auditing (UK and Ireland) andtherefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly, we donot express an audit opinion on the financial information. Review conclusion On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications thatshould be made to the financial information as presented for the six monthsended 30 June 2006. KPMG Audit Plc Chartered Accountants 8 Salisbury Square, London 27 July 2006 Notes to the Interim Financial Statements 1 BASIS OF PREPARATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES The unaudited financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2006 havebeen prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standards andInternational Financial Reporting Standards (collectively "IFRS") as adopted bythe European Union (EU). Details of the accounting policies applied are thoseset out in AstraZeneca PLC's Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2005. The information contained in Note 3 updates the disclosures concerning legalproceedings and contingent liabilities in the Company's Annual Report and Form20-F Information 2005. These interim financial statements do not constitute statutory accounts of theGroup within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutoryaccounts for the year ended 31 December 2005 have been filed with the Registrarof Companies. The auditors' report on those accounts was unqualified and didnot contain any statement under Section 237 of the Companies Act 1985. 2 NET CASH FUNDS The table below provides an analysis of net cash funds and a reconciliation ofnet cash flow to the movement in net cash funds. At 1 Jan Cash Acquisitions Non-cash Exchange At 30 June 2006 flow $m movements movements 2006 $m $m $m $m $m Loans due after 1 year (1,111) - - 65 - (1,046) Other investments - current 1,624 (701) 157 (58) (2) 1,020Cash and cash equivalents 4,979 1,081 - - 16 6,076Overdrafts (84) 6 - - - (78)Short term borrowings (6) - - - (1) (7) 6,513 386 157 (58) 13 7,011 Net funds 5,402 386 157 7 13 5,965 Non-cash movements in the period consist of fair value adjustments under IAS 39. 3 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND COMMITMENTS AstraZeneca is involved in various legal proceedings considered typical to itsbusinesses, including litigation relating to employment matters, productliability, commercial disputes, infringement of intellectual property rights,the validity of certain patents and securities law. The matters discussed belowconstitute the more significant developments since publication of the Company'sAnnual Report and Form 20-F Information 2005. Matters previously disclosed in respect of the first quarter of 2006 LosecTM / PrilosecTM (omeprazole) In February 2006, in the legal proceedings in Canada involving Apotex describedin AstraZeneca's Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2005, the CanadianFederal Court of Appeal upheld a lower court decision that precludes theissuance of a notice of compliance (marketing approval) in Canada for Apotex'sgeneric omeprazole magnesium tablet product until the expiry of an AstraZenecaformulation patent relating to omeprazole in December 2008. This decision doesnot affect the continuing proceedings in the Supreme Court of Canada in whichApotex is appealing a lower court decision to quash Apotex's notice ofcompliance (marketing approval) for its generic omeprazole capsule product, nordoes it affect the stay allowing Apotex to continue selling its omeprazolecapsules in Canada pending a decision by the Supreme Court on Apotex's appeal. NexiumTM (esomeprazole) As previously disclosed, in March 2006 AstraZeneca commenced wilful infringementpatent litigation in the US District Court for the District of New Jerseyagainst IVAX Corporation and its affiliates in response to an Abbreviated NewDrug Application filed by IVAX with the US Food and Drug Administrationregarding IVAX's intent to market a generic version of NexiumTM in the US priorto the expiration of five AstraZeneca patents: 5,714,504; 5,877,192; 6,369,085;6,428,810; and 6,875,872. The expiration dates for these patents range from2014 through to 2019. AstraZeneca has full confidence in and will continue vigorously to defend andenforce its intellectual property rights protecting NexiumTM. SeroquelTM (quetiapine fumarate) Since 2003, AstraZeneca has been served with approximately 130 lawsuits in theUS in which plaintiffs have alleged that they developed diabetes or otherallegedly related injuries, and in some cases pancreatitis, as a result oftaking SeroquelTM and/or other atypical anti-psychotics made by otherpharmaceutical companies. Many of these cases were filed in Missouri in August2005, days before Missouri's tort reform laws became effective. Eli Lilly, themaker of olanzapine, is a defendant in the majority of the cases served onAstraZeneca. Janssen Pharmaceutica and Bristol-Myers Squibb, the makers of otheratypical anti-psychotics, are also defending a number of them. AstraZeneca has also been served with a putative nationwide class actioncomplaint, which was filed in federal court in the Southern District ofIllinois. It is very similar in form and content to the complaint filed in theUS District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 2003 (Susan Zehel-Milleret al. v. AstraZenaca (sic), AstraZenaca Pharmaceuticals LP, (sic)) that soughtcertification of a nationwide class of SeroquelTM users and others, includingindividuals who were alleged to have developed diabetes as a result of usingSeroquelTM. The federal court in Florida denied certification of the class inthe Zehel-Miller case. In early 2005, after the plaintiffs' efforts in that caseto secure appellate relief failed, the plaintiffs agreed to a voluntarydismissal of all of their claims with prejudice. AstraZeneca is also aware of approximately 360 other cases involving SeroquelTM(and in many instances, other atypical anti-psychotics) and allegations ofdiabetes or other allegedly related injuries that have been filed in variousstates, but these have not been served. Recently, two consortia of plaintiffs' lawyers filed motions with the JudicialPanel on Multidistrict Litigation seeking centralisation of all of the federalcourt cases alleging that SeroquelTM caused diabetes or other allegedly relatedinjuries. AstraZeneca has opposed this motion. The Panel's decision is notexpected before the end of May 2006. AstraZeneca intends to defend vigorously all of the pending cases relating toSeroquelTM. Toprol-XLTM (metoprolol succinate) Following issuance of the summary judgement decision that the Toprol-XLTMpatents are invalid and unenforceable, AstraZeneca has been served with severalputative class action complaints filed in the US District Court for the Districtof Delaware, one such action filed in the US District Court for the District ofMassachusetts and one such action filed in the US District Court for theSouthern District of Florida alleging that AstraZeneca monopolised the marketfor metoprolol succinate by filing patent litigation against KV PharmaceuticalCompany, Andrx Pharmaceuticals LLC and Eon Labs Manufacturing Inc. assertinginvalid and unenforceable patents in violation of US anti-trust laws. Thecomplaints include those by plaintiffs purporting to represent the class ofdistributors who purchased Toprol-XLTM directly from AstraZeneca at allegedlysupracompetitive prices and those by plaintiffs purporting to represent theclass of consumers and third party payers who are indirect purchasers ofToprol-XLTM at allegedly supra-competitive prices. AstraZeneca has appealed theunderlying judgment that the patents are invalid and unenforceable to the USCourt of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. AstraZeneca also denies theallegations of the anti-trust complaints and will vigorously defend them. Matters disclosed in respect of the second quarter of 2006 NexiumTM (esomeprazole) As previously disclosed, AstraZeneca LP filed suit in October 2004 in the USDistrict Court for the District of Delaware seeking declaratory judgement thatits 'Better is Better' campaign for NexiumTM is not false or misleadingadvertising in violation of section 43(a) of the Lanham Act, a federal statuteconcerning false advertising claims. The action was taken in response to aletter from TAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. demanding that AstraZeneca immediatelywithdraw the television commercial and other components of thedirect-to-consumer advertising campaign for NexiumTM on the basis that theyallegedly violated the statute. Having denied TAP's request for a preliminaryinjunction in December 2004, the court dismissed all of the claims for damagesasserted by TAP in its counterclaims in May 2006 and dismissed most of TAP'sclaims for injunctive relief in June 2006. SeroquelTM (quetiapine fumarate) In the litigation involving atypical anti-psychotics including SeroquelTMreferred to above, AstraZeneca has now been served with approximately 350lawsuits in total in the US since 2003 in which plaintiffs have alleged thatthey developed diabetes or other allegedly related injuries, and in some casespancreatitis, as a result of taking SeroquelTM and/or other atypicalanti-psychotics made by other pharmaceutical companies. AstraZeneca is alsoaware of approximately 70 other cases involving SeroquelTM (and in manyinstances, other atypical anti-psychotics) and allegations of diabetes or otherallegedly related injuries that have been filed in various states, but thesehave not been served. In July 2006, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation agreed toplaintiffs' requests to consolidate the federal court cases involving SeroquelTM, selecting the judge recommended by AstraZeneca, Judge Anne Conway, MiddleDistrict of Florida. Two putative class action complaints involving SeroquelTM and allegations ofdiabetes or other allegedly related injuries were recently filed againstAstraZeneca Canada Inc., as well as various affiliates, in the provinces ofQuebec and British Columbia. AstraZeneca intends to defend vigorously all of the pending cases relating toSeroquelTM. ZestrilTM (lisinopril) In April 2006, the Federal Court of Canada ruled in favour of AstraZeneca andMerck & Co., Inc. in the patent infringement case brought against Apotex, Inc.alleging infringement of Merck's lisinopril patent in Canada. The judgment hasbeen appealed and the appeal is scheduled to be heard in September 2006. General With respect to each of the legal proceedings described above, we are unable tomake estimates of the loss or range of losses at this stage. We also do notbelieve that disclosure of the amount sought by plaintiffs, if that is known,would be meaningful with respect to those legal proceedings. Arrangements with Merck As described in more detail in the Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2005,AstraZeneca has significant arrangements with Merck & Co., Inc. relating tocertain of our products and development compounds. These arrangements includeexit provisions from 2008 onwards and we regularly monitor the value of thebenefits we expect to receive. The exit provisions are subject to a minimum overall net payment of $3.3 billionand will offer AstraZeneca unencumbered discretion in its operations in the USmarket (except in respect of PrilosecTM and NexiumTM) without the restrictionsof various contractual obligations that are currently imposed as a result ofMerck's interests, together with relief from contingent payment obligations. Theprojected value of the benefits to be obtained in 2008 depends on a number offactors including the future contributions from products that have already beenlaunched, those that are due to be launched in the US and those that are indevelopment, together with the further value that AstraZeneca can extract fromgreater freedom to operate in the US. 4 HALF YEAR TERRITORIAL SALES ANALYSIS % Growth 1st Half 1st Half 2006 2005 Constant $m $m Actual Currency US 5,959 5,243 14 14 Canada 513 488 5 (2) North America 6,472 5,731 13 12 France 834 874 (5) 2 UK 400 380 5 12 Germany 580 621 (7) - Italy 660 609 8 16 Sweden 156 162 (4) 5 Europe others 1,797 1,716 5 12 Total Europe 4,427 4,362 1 8 Japan 691 736 (6) 4 China 156 135 16 14 Rest of World 1,059 911 16 16Total 12,805 11,875 8 11 5 SECOND QUARTER TERRITORIAL SALES ANALYSIS % Growth 2nd 2nd Quarter Quarter 2006 2005 $m $m Constant Actual Currency US 3,077 2,743 12 12 Canada 263 240 10 1 North America 3,340 2,983 12 11 France 419 423 (1) 3 UK 207 192 8 13 Germany 301 306 (2) 2 Italy 346 324 7 11 Sweden 78 82 (5) - Europe others 904 870 4 8 Total Europe 2,255 2,197 3 7 Japan 387 399 (3) 5 China 84 73 15 12 Rest of World 559 480 16 17Total 6,625 6,132 8 10 6 HALF YEAR PRODUCT SALES ANALYSIS World US 1st 1st Actual Constant 1st Half Actual Half Half Growth Currency Growth Growth 2006 2005 2006 $m $m % % $m % Gastrointestinal: Nexium 2,472 2,259 9 11 1,656 9Losec/Prilosec 700 865 (19) (16) 100 (24)Others 33 36 (8) (5) 5 (17)Total Gastrointestinal 3,205 3,160 1 3 1,761 7Cardiovascular: Seloken/Toprol-XL 934 843 11 12 732 20Crestor 867 590 47 48 491 45Atacand 530 489 8 12 122 -Tenormin 161 175 (8) (3) 13 30Zestril 153 165 (7) (3) 13 N/mPlendil 142 205 (31) (30) 11 (82)Others 143 160 (11) (6) 2 -Total Cardiovascular 2,930 2,627 12 14 1,384 21Respiratory:Pulmicort 629 590 7 9 399 19Symbicort 585 502 17 24 - -Rhinocort 187 204 (8) (8) 131 (11)Oxis 44 46 (4) - - -Accolate 39 41 (5) (5) 27 -Others 72 81 (11) (7) - -Total Respiratory 1,556 1,464 6 9 557 9Oncology:Arimidex 714 553 29 34 284 27Casodex 580 564 3 8 140 19Zoladex 481 494 (3) 2 52 (15)Iressa 112 140 (20) (16) 8 (78)Faslodex 91 64 42 45 51 16Nolvadex 45 60 (25) (20) 2 (33)Others 6 6 - - - -Total Oncology 2,029 1,881 8 13 537 10Neuroscience:Seroquel 1,656 1,300 27 29 1,210 30Local anaesthetics 272 262 4 9 49 58Zomig 196 172 14 17 86 56Diprivan 161 205 (21) (19) 51 (41)Others 29 35 (17) (14) 8 (20)Total Neuroscience 2,314 1,974 17 19 1,404 26Infection and Other:Merrem 284 258 10 13 51 6Other Products 133 189 (30) (26) 65 (42)Total Infection and Other 417 447 (7) (4) 116 (28)Aptium Oncology 181 165 10 10 181 10Astra Tech 173 157 10 17 19 36Total 12,805 11,875 8 11 5,959 14 7 SECOND QUARTER PRODUCT SALES ANALYSIS World US 2nd 2nd Actual Constant 2nd Actual Quarter Quarter Growth Currency Quarter Growth 2006 2005 % Growth 2006 % $m $m % $mGastrointestinal: Nexium 1,283 1,204 7 8 865 5Losec/Prilosec 356 438 (19) (17) 45 (38)Others 15 19 (21) (21) 2 (33)Total Gastrointestinal 1,654 1,661 - 1 912 2Cardiovascular: Seloken/Toprol-XL 478 435 10 11 378 19Crestor 480 317 51 51 271 47Atacand 276 254 9 11 64 (3)Tenormin 85 92 (8) (4) 6 (14)Zestril 78 78 - 3 7 N/mPlendil 70 112 (38) (38) 5 (88)Others 73 82 (11) (7) 1 -Total Cardiovascular 1,540 1,370 12 13 732 20Respiratory:Pulmicort 301 276 9 10 190 17Symbicort 308 255 21 25 - -Rhinocort 102 112 (9) (9) 70 (14)Oxis 22 23 (4) (4) - -Accolate 21 13 62 62 15 150Others 37 39 (5) (5) - -Total Respiratory 791 718 10 12 275 10Oncology:Arimidex 379 297 28 31 156 28Casodex 306 287 7 11 74 32Zoladex 250 263 (5) (2) 28 (3)Iressa 62 59 5 8 4 (43)Faslodex 47 35 34 37 26 8Nolvadex 24 32 (25) (22) 1 (67)Others 3 3 - - - -Total Oncology 1,071 976 10 13 289 20Neuroscience:Seroquel 849 667 27 28 620 30Local anaesthetics 140 135 4 7 25 79Zomig 103 104 (1) 1 46 -Diprivan 72 98 (27) (25) 17 (59)Others 14 18 (22) (22) 4 (20)Total Neuroscience 1,178 1,022 15 16 712 22Infection and Other:Merrem 143 127 13 14 22 16Other Products 65 92 (29) (25) 32 (42)Total Infection and Other 208 219 (5) (3) 54 (27)Aptium Oncology 93 82 13 13 93 13Astra Tech 90 84 7 11 10 25Total 6,625 6,132 8 10 3,077 12 Information for US Investors RECONCILIATION TO UNITED STATES ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES The consolidated income statement and balance sheet set out on pages 12 and 14are prepared in accordance with IASs and IFRSs (collectively "IFRS") as adoptedby the European Union (EU), which differ in certain material respects from thoseaccounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP). Thedifferences as they apply to AstraZeneca PLC are explained in the Annual Reportand Form 20-F Information 2005. The effects on income and shareholders' equityof the GAAP differences are shown below. 1st Half 1st HalfIncome attributable to Shareholders 2006 2005 $m $m Net income for the period under IFRS 3,024 2,259 Adjustments to conform to US GAAP Purchase accounting adjustments:- amortisation and depreciation (500) (530)- in-process research and development (504) -Capitalisation less disposals and amortisation of interest (11) (7)Pension and other post-retirement benefits (36) (39)Financial instruments (50) 40In-licensed development intangibles (97) (5)Deferred taxation - on purchase accounting adjustments 139 147 - others (31) 71Other 32 -Net income in accordance with US GAAP 1,966 1,936 Net income per Ordinary Share in accordance with US GAAP - basic $1.25 $1.19Net income per Ordinary Share in accordance with US GAAP - diluted $1.24 $1.19 Shareholders' equity 30 June 30 June 2006 2005 $m $m Shareholders' equity under IFRS 14,910 13,477 Adjustments to conform to US GAAPPurchase accounting adjustments:- goodwill 14,221 13,676- property, plant and equipment and intangible assets 5,003 5,790- in-process research and development (426) -Capitalisation, less disposals and amortisation of interest 230 247Pension and other post-retirement benefits 1,328 1,528Financial instruments (44) 69In-licensed development intangibles (212) (92)Deferred taxation- on purchase accounting adjustments (1,575) (1,781)- others (495) (575)Other 27 (1)Shareholders' equity in accordance with US GAAP 32,967 32,338 Shareholder Information ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MEETINGS Announcement of third quarter and nine months 2006 26 October 2006results Announcement of fourth quarter and full year 2006 results 1 February 2007 DIVIDENDS The record date for the first interim dividend payable on 18 September 2006 (inthe UK, Sweden and the US) is 11 August 2006. Ordinary shares will tradeex-dividend on the London and Stockholm Stock Exchanges from 9 August 2006.ADRs will trade ex-dividend on the New York Stock Exchange from the same date. Future dividends will normally be paid as follows: First interim Announced in July and paid in September Second interim Announced in January/February and paid in March TRADEMARKS The following brand names used in these interim financial statements aretrademarks of the AstraZeneca Group of companies: Accolate Arimidex Astra Tech Atacand Casodex Crestor Diprivan FaslodexIressa Losec Merrem Nexium Nolvadex Oxis Plendil Prilosec PulmicortPulmicort Respules Rhinocort Rhinocort Aqua Seloken Seroquel SymbicortTenormin Toprol-XL Zestril Zoladex Zomig ADDRESSES FOR CORRESPONDENCE Registrar and Depositary Registered Office Swedish SecuritiesTransfer Office for ADRs Registration Centre The AstraZeneca Registrar JPMorgan Chase Bank 15 Stanhope Gate VPC ABLloyds TSB Registrars JP Morgan Service Center London PO Box 7822The Causeway PO Box 3408 W1K 1LN SE-103 97 StockholmWorthing South Hackensack UK SwedenWest Sussex NJ 07606-3408BN99 6DA USUK Tel: +44 (0)20 7304 5000 Tel: +46 (0)8 402 9000 Tel (freephone in UK): Tel (toll free in US): 0800 389 1580 888 697 8018 Tel (outside UK): Tel: +1 (201) 680 6630 +44 (0)121 415 7033 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS In order to utilise the 'safe harbour' provisions of the US Private SecuritiesLitigation Reform Act 1995, we are providing the following cautionary statement:These interim financial statements contain certain forward-looking statementsabout AstraZeneca. Although we believe our expectations are based on reasonableassumptions, any forward-looking statements may be influenced by factors thatcould cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from thosepredicted. We identify the forward-looking statements by using the words 'anticipates', 'believes', 'expects', 'intends' and similar expressions in suchstatements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks anduncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differmaterially from those contained in forward-looking statements, certain of whichare beyond control, include, among other things: the loss or expiration ofpatents, marketing exclusivity or trade marks; exchange rate fluctuations; therisk that R&D will not yield new products that achieve commercial success; theimpact of competition, price controls and price reductions; taxation risks; therisk of substantial product liability claims; the impact of any failure by thirdparties to supply materials or services; the risk of delay to new productlaunches; the difficulties of obtaining and maintaining governmental approvalsfor products; the risk of failure to observe ongoing regulatory oversight; therisk that new products do not perform as we expect; and the risk ofenvironmental liabilities. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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