Last checked at 30 Mar 2021 12:15
30 March 2021 12:15 BST
Notice of Annual General Meeting
AstraZeneca PLC (the Company) announced today the publication of its Notice of Annual General Meeting 2021 and Shareholders' Circular (the Notice).
The Notice has been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. The Notice is also available on the Company's website at www.astrazeneca.com/noticeofmeeting2021
The Company's Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2020 (the Annual Report) was published on 15 February 2021.
The Notice is being despatched to shareholders today.
The date of the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Company (the AGM) has been changed since the publication of the Annual Report, which indicated the AGM would take place on 30 April 2021. The AGM will now be held on Tuesday 11 May 2021 at 11.00am (BST) at Academy House, 136 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PA. In line with UK Government restrictions relating to public gatherings as at the date of the Notice, the AGM will be a closed meeting and it will not be possible for shareholders to attend.
Shareholders are strongly encouraged to vote in advance of the meeting by appointing the Chairman of the AGM as their proxy. This means the Chairman of the AGM will be able to vote on their behalf, and in accordance with their instructions, at the AGM. Further details on how shareholders can appoint the Chairman of the AGM as their proxy can be found on page 10 of the Notice.
The Board values the support and engagement of all shareholders. On Friday 30 April 2021 at 2.00pm (BST), the Company will live-broadcast online a presentation from certain members of the Board and invite shareholders to participate in a live Q&A session should they wish to do so. Details about how to access the shareholder engagement event, and how to ask questions can be found from page 12 of the Notice.
In respect of the proposed acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the Transaction), a separate Notice of Meeting and Shareholders' Circular will be published and despatched to shareholders in due course in connection with the shareholders' general meeting at which approval to proceed with the Transaction will be sought.
The Company continues to monitor the situation in relation to COVID-19 and will notify shareholders via our website, www.astrazeneca.com as soon as practicably possible if there are any changes to the AGM arrangements.
The business to be conducted at the AGM is summarised below:
1. To receive the Company's Accounts, the Reports of the Directors and Auditor and the Strategic Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
2. To confirm dividends
3. To reappoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Auditor
4. To authorise the Directors to agree the remuneration of the Auditor
5. To elect or re-elect Directors
6. To approve the Annual Report on Remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2020
7. To approve the Directors' Remuneration Policy
8. To authorise limited political donations
9. To authorise the Directors to allot shares
10. To authorise the Directors to disapply pre-emption rights
11. To authorise the Directors to further disapply pre-emption rights for acquisitions and specified capital investments
12. To authorise the Company to purchase its own shares
13. To reduce the notice period for general meetings
14. To amend the rules of the Performance Share Plan 2020
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
Contacts
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Adrian KempCompany Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC