Director/PDMR Shareholding

RNS Number : 8609D

AstraZeneca PLC

29 March 2011

 



Transaction by Person Discharging Managerial Responsibilities

Disclosure Rule DTR 3.1.4

The interest of Simon Lowth, a Director of the Company, in AstraZeneca PLC ordinary shares, has changed as detailed below. 

On 28 March 2011, Mr Lowth received shares from the vesting of a previously announced award made in March 2008 under the AstraZeneca Performance Share Plan (AZPSP) whereby, following the application of performance measures specified at the time of grant, he has now become beneficially entitled to 125% of the shares originally awarded.   Sufficient shares were withheld to cover certain tax obligations arising on the vesting.

Name	Shares awarded	Shares vested	Shares withheld	Net shares received	Market price on vesting
Simon Lowth	58,448	73,060	37,261	35,799	2874p

On 28 March 2011, Mr Lowth was also granted awards under the terms of the AstraZeneca Investment Plan (AZIP) and the AZPSP over the Company's USD0.25 Ordinary Shares. 

Name	Shares awarded under AZIP	Shares awarded under AZPSP	Award price per share
Simon Lowth	8,909	53,459	2853p

The AZIP was approved by shareholders at the Company's AGM in 2010.  These AZIP awards are subject to a four-year performance period and a subsequent four-year holding period.

The performance hurdle that applies to these AZIP awards relates to dividends and dividend cover. A summary of the AZIP can be found in the AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2010 which is available on the Company's website www.astrazeneca.com.

The AZPSP was approved by shareholders at the Company's AGM in 2005.  Awards made under the AZPSP may not generally vest before the third anniversary of the relevant date of grant, nor unless the specified performance target(s) have been met at the end of the three-year performance period which, for these awards, is 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013.

The performance target that applies to these AZPSP awards relates to relative total shareholder return and cash flow.  A summary of the AZPSP can be found in the AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2010 which is available on the Company's website www.astrazeneca.com.

As a result of these transactions, Mr Lowth has an interest in 243,163 ordinary shares, which represents approximately 0.02% of the Company's issued ordinary capital.

A C N Kemp

Company Secretary

29 March 2011

 

END

 

 

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