Compulsory Acquisition of Astra AB Shares

AstraZeneca PLC: COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF ASTRA AB SHARES AstraZeneca PLC announces that the compulsory acquisition procedure has been initiated through its wholly owned subsidiary Zeneca Holding AB to acquire for cash those Astra shares, including shares underlying Astra ADSs, not tendered under the Merger Offers. Zeneca Holding AB owns, including subsidiary holdings, 96.2 percent of the total Astra shares representing 96.4 percent of the total voting rights attaching to Astra shares. The Merger Offers may be accepted until 3.00 pm (Stockholm time) (9.00 am New York time) on Friday 23 April 1999. Further Enquiries: Media: Mikael Widell, tel +46 8 553 264 28, Chris Major, tel +44 171 304 5028 +46 70 311 99 60 Rachel Bloom, tel +1 302 886 7858 Investor Relations: Michael Olsson, tel +46 8 553 259 52 Elizabeth Sutton, tel +44 171 304 5101 Jörgen Winroth, tel +1 609 896 4148 Ed Seage, tel +1 302 886 4065 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/04/19/19990419BIT00240/bit0001.pdf http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/04/19/19990419BIT00240/bit0002.doc