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AstraZeneca PLC — AGM Information 2019
Mar 14, 2019
5229_rns_2019-03-14_1edf7064-c548-4c4c-a02a-66dcbd057fc8.pdf
AGM Information
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AstraZeneca PLC Registered in England No. 2723534 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AA Tel +44 (0)20 3749 5000 www.astrazeneca.com
Dear Shareholder
On behalf of the Board of AstraZeneca PLC (the Company), I am pleased to confirm that the Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2018 (the Annual Report) has now been published, as well as the Notice of Annual General Meeting 2019 and Shareholders' Circular (the Notice of AGM).
What you should have received
If you have previously requested paper copies of these documents, you will find paper copies enclosed. If you have previously elected to receive these documents via the AstraZeneca website, you can now access the Annual Report at www.astrazeneca.com/annualreport2018 and the Notice of AGM at www.astrazeneca.com/noticeofmeeting2019.
Everyone who receives a hard copy of this document will also find enclosed a proxy card.
An 'at a glance' summary of the Company's performance during 2018 is included on pages 2 and 3 of this document. Useful information for shareholders is set out on page 4.
Communicating with you
I would urge shareholders who currently receive communications from the Company in hard copy to consider opting to receive all future information from the Company in electronic format. There are clear environmental benefits and cost savings arising from reduced paper usage, printing and distribution if you do so.
You can elect to receive shareholder communications in electronic format by registering your details at www.shareview.co.uk and electing for e-communications. Whenever shareholder communications are published, we will send you an email with a link to the information on the AstraZeneca website.
Yours faithfully
Leif Johansson Chairman 14 March 2019
Important information
This document contains certain statements extracted from the Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2018 (Annual Report) for AstraZeneca PLC that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information. These statements are forward-looking statements, including within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those disclosed in our forward-looking statements. For a description of factors that could affect future results, reference should be made to the full 'Cautionary statement' on page 244 of the Annual Report and to the section entitled 'Risk' on pages 220 to 230. This information is provided solely for the convenience of current and future members of the Company and is not intended to satisfy any statutory and/or regulatory requirements in the UK or elsewhere. Accordingly, it should only be read in conjunction with the Annual Report. The Company, its subsidiaries, Directors and officers shall not be liable for the consequence of any action taken solely in reliance on the information contained in this document.
AstraZeneca at a glance
A global science-led business delivering medicines to patients through innovative science and excellence in development and commercialisation.
Our Purpose is to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. We want to be valued and trusted by our stakeholders as a source of great medicines over the long term.
| Our strategic priorities | Reflect how we are | |
|---|---|---|
| working to achieve | ||
| our Purpose |
-
Achieve Scientific Leadership 2. Return to Growth
-
Be a Great Place to Work
A science-led innovation strategy
capabilities: Small molecules, oligonucleotides and other emerging drug platforms, as well as biologic medicines, including immunotherapies, and innovative delivery devices
Distinctive R&D
8
new molecular entities (NMEs) in Phase III/ pivotal Phase II or under regulatory review, covering 15 indications
Broad R&D platform in three main areas
Oncology Our ambition is to push the boundaries of science to change the practice of medicine, transform the lives of patients living with cancer, and ultimately eliminate cancer as a cause of death
Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism As science uncovers commonalities between cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases and their associated complications, we aim to transform how they are understood and treated
Respiratory
Our research focuses on the underlying causes of respiratory diseases, using new modalities to pursue previously hard-to-reach targets, with the ambition of achieving remission or even cures for patients
Other Disease Areas
We are also selectively active in the areas of autoimmunity, neuroscience and infection
Portfolio of specialty and primary care products (Product Sales)
\$6,028m 29% of total 2017: \$4,024m 2016: \$3,383m
Sales growth of 50% (49% at CER), including: Imfinzi sales of \$633 million, reflecting ongoing launches
Lynparza sales of \$647 million, representing growth of 118% (116% at CER), driven by expanded use in the treatment of ovarian cancer and first approvals for breast cancer
Tagrisso sales of \$1,860 million, representing growth of 95% (93% at CER)
\$6,710m 32% of total
2017: \$7,266m 2016: \$8,116m
Sales decline of 8% (8% at CER), including: Crestor sales of \$1,433
million, down 39% (40% at CER) reflecting generic competition Brilinta sales of \$1,321
million, representing growth of 22% (21% at CER), due to continued market penetration
Farxiga sales of \$1,391 million, with growth of 30% (30% at CER), including a sales increase of 45% in Emerging Markets (52% at CER) to \$336 million
\$4,911m 23% of total 2017: \$4,706m 2016: \$4,753m
Sales growth of 4% in the year (3% at CER), including: Fasenra sales of \$297 million, performing exceptionally well in the countries where it was launched
Pulmicort sales growth of 9% (8% at CER) to \$1,286 million Symbicort sales decline of 9% (10% at CER) to \$2,561 million, as competitive price pressures in the US continued
\$3,400m 16% of total 2017: \$4,156m
2016: \$5,067m
Product Sales declined by 18% (19% at CER) and represented 16% of total Product Sales, down from 21% in 2017
Oncology. Part of AstraZeneca's antibody-drug conjugate scientific platform to target specific leukaemia cells.
Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism. Nucleotide therapies – antiMRNA.
Respiratory. Cilia wafting in the lung with a small molecule overlay.
Global commercial presence, with strength in Emerging Markets (Product Sales) Emerging Markets \$6,891m 33% of total 2017: \$6,149m 2016: \$5,794m Product Sales increased by 12% (13% at CER). New Medicines represented 15% of Emerging Market sales in the year, up from 10% in 2017 US \$6,876m 33% of total 2017: \$6,169m 2016: \$7,365m Product Sales increased by 11%. New Medicines represented 48% of Product Sales, up from 26% in 2017 Europe \$4,459m 21% of total 2017: \$4,753m 2016: \$5,064m Product Sales declined by 6% (10% at CER), reflecting the entry of generic Crestor medicines in various markets in 2017 and continued competitive and price pressures Established Rest of World \$2,823m 13% of total 2017: \$3,081m 2016: \$3,096m Product Sales declined by 8% (9% at CER). New Medicines represented 24% of sales in the year, up from 13% in 2017. Performance reflected, in particular, the success of Tagrisso and Forxiga Our talented employees Committed to attracting, retaining and developing a talented and diverse workforce united in the pursuit of our Purpose and living our Values 64,600 employees 2017: 61,100 2016: 59,700 44.6% of our senior roles are filled by women 102 manuscripts published by our scientists in high-impact peer-reviewed journals Strategic R&D centres 1. Cambridge, UK (HQ) 2. Gaithersburg, MD, US 3. Gothenburg, Sweden Other R&D centres 4 2 1 6 3 8 7
A sustainable business
Committed to operating in a way that recognises the interconnection between business growth, the needs of society and the limitations of our planet
Our capital allocation priorities Striking a balance between the interests of the business, our financial creditors and shareholders, and supporting our progressive dividend policy
Key:
CER – constant exchange rate. Figures in parentheses are used to represent negative numbers. Terms used in this 'at a glance' are as defined within the Annual Report.
4. California, US 5. Boston, MA, US 6. Alderley Park and Macclesfield, UK 7. Shanghai, China 8. Osaka, Japan
Priority 1
Broadening access to healthcare
Distributions to
Dividend per Ordinary Share for 2018
shareholders
\$3,484m 2017: \$3,519m 2016: \$3,561m
Dividends
Priority 2
Furthering ethics and transparency
1st interim dividend
\$0.90
Pence: 68.4 SEK: 7.92 Payment date: 10 September 2018 Proceeds from issue of shares
\$(34)m 2017: \$(43)m 2016: \$(47)m
Priority 3
Protecting the environment
2nd interim dividend
\$1.90
Pence: 146.8 SEK: 17.46 Payment date: 27 March 2019 \$3,450m 2017: \$3,476m
2016: \$3,514m
100% of employees trained in Code of Ethics
Total
Total
\$2.80 Pence: 215.2 SEK: 25.38 2017: \$2.80 2016: \$2.80
Dividends and other important information for shareholders
Dividend payment and dates
The record date for the second interim dividend for 2018, payable on 27 March 2019, was 1 March 2019. The ex-dividend date was 28 February 2019. The record date for the first interim dividend for 2019, payable on 9 September 2019, is 9 August 2019 and the ex-dividend date is 8 August 2019. Future dividends will normally be paid as follows:
First interim: Announced in July/August and paid in September. Second interim: Announced in January/February and paid in March.
Shareholders holding Ordinary Shares directly may opt for dividends to be paid straight to their bank or building society account, rather than being paid by cheque. To elect for this swift and secure method of payment, contact the Ordinary Share registrar, visit Shareview using the link provided below, or fill in and return the mandate form sent to you with your AstraZeneca dividend cheque.
Results
Unaudited trading results of AstraZeneca in respect of the first three months of 2019 will be published on 26 April 2019 and results in respect of the first six months of 2019 will be published on 25 July 2019.
Shareview
Holders of Ordinary Shares may create a portfolio at www.shareview.co.uk to view and manage their AstraZeneca shareholding. Shareview is a free and secure online service provided by the Ordinary Share registrar that allows users to, among other things, update personal details, manage communication preferences, view dividend information and manage direct dividend payments.
ShareGift
Shareholders that hold only a small number of shares, the value of which makes it uneconomical to sell them, may wish to consider donating them to charity through ShareGift, an independent charity share donation scheme (registered charity number 1052686). Further information about ShareGift can be found on its website at www.sharegift.org or by calling +44 (0)20 7930 3737.
The Unclaimed Assets Register
AstraZeneca provides information to the Unclaimed Assets Register (UAR) relating to unclaimed dividends paid on Ordinary Shares. The UAR database provides a facility to search for financial assets that may have been forgotten and can be contacted on +44 (0)333 000 0182 or [email protected].
Shareholder fraud warning
Shareholders of AstraZeneca and many other companies have reported receiving unsolicited calls and correspondence relating to their shareholdings and investment matters. Shareholders are advised to be very cautious of any unsolicited approaches and to note that reputable firms authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are very unlikely to make such approaches. Such approaches are likely to be part of a 'boiler room scam' attempting to defraud shareholders.
Shareholders are advised to familiarise themselves with the information on scams available on the FCA website www.fca.org.uk/consumers and within the FAQ in the Investors section of AstraZeneca's website, www.astrazeneca.com.
Any suspected scams or fraudulent approaches should be reported to the FCA via its website and to AstraZeneca's Ordinary Share registrar, using the contact details on this page.
Registered office
AstraZeneca PLC 1 Francis Crick Avenue Cambridge Biomedical Campus Cambridge CB2 0AA UK Tel: +44 (0)20 3749 5000
Investor relations
UK: as above
US: Investor Relations AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP One MedImmune Way Gaithersburg MD 20878 US Tel: (toll free in the US) +1 (866) 381 7277
Ordinary Share registrar
Equiniti Aspect House Spencer Road Lancing West Sussex BN99 6DA UK Tel: (freephone in the UK) 0800 389 1580 Tel: (outside the UK) +44 (0)121 415 7033
Swedish Central Securities Depository
Euroclear Sweden AB PO Box 191 SE-101 23 Stockholm Sweden Tel: +46 (0)8 402 9000
US Depositary
Citibank Shareholder Services PO Box 43077 Providence RI 02940-3077 US Tel: (toll free in the US) +1 888 697 8018 Tel: (outside the US) +1 781 575 4555 [email protected]