Issue of Debt
AstraZeneca PLC
06 September 2007
6 September 2007
AstraZeneca launches and prices a $6.9 billion bond issue
AstraZeneca PLC, rated A1 (stable) by Moody's and AA- (stable) by Standard &
Poor's, yesterday announced a successful global bond market transaction issuing
a total of $6.9 billion. The proceeds of the issue will be used to repay a
significant portion of the outstanding US commercial paper taken on in
connection with the acquisition of MedImmune.
The transaction is an SEC registered global offering consisting of the following
tranches:
$650 million of 2-year floating rate notes with a coupon of 3m$Libor+30bps
$1,750 million of 5-year fixed rate notes with a coupon of 5.40%
$1,750 million of 10-year fixed rate notes with a coupon of 5.90%
$2,750 million of 30-year fixed rate notes with a coupon of 6.45%
'This transaction represents part of our refinancing of the acquisition of
MedImmune Inc and enables us to enhance our financial flexibility by
diversifying our sources of funding. We are delighted by the investor reception
for AstraZeneca in the bond markets' said David Brennan, Chief Executive Officer
of AstraZeneca.
The bonds will be issued under an automatic shelf registration statement on Form
F-3, which AstraZeneca PLC filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
(the 'SEC') on August 31, 2007. Such registration statement provides for the
offer and sale from time to time of an indeterminate amount of AstraZeneca PLC's
debt securities. In addition, on 31 August 2007, AstraZeneca PLC also furnished
to the SEC a report on Form 6-K, which included its interim consolidated results
for the six month period ended 30 June 2007 as well as certain pro forma
financial information relating to the MedImmune acquisition and which report,
among others, is incorporated by reference into such registration statement.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the
research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals
and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading
bio-pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $26.47 billion and leading
positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience,
respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
Media Enquiries:
Edel McCaffrey, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5034
Steve Brown, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5033
Investor Relations:
Mina Blair, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5084
Jonathan Hunt, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5087
Karl Hard, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5322
Jorgen Winroth, Tel: +1 (212) 579 0506
Ed Seage, Tel: +1 302 886 4065
Pete Vozzo, (MedImmune) Tel: + 1 301-398-4358
To obtain a copy of the related prospectus, please contact the Office of the
Group Secretary and Solicitor:
15 Stanhope Gate,
London W1K 1LN
+44 (0) 207 304 5112.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, in the first and third
paragraphs. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We
refer you to AstraZeneca's publicly available filings with the SEC for
information about these and other risks and uncertainties. AstraZeneca assumes
no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results,
changed assumptions or other factors. This release does not constitute, or form
part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any
offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in, or securities of,
AstraZeneca PLC, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection
with any contract therefore.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange