Shortreport

YEAR-END REPORT FROM ASTRA JANUARY-DECEMBER 1998 Sales SEK 57,187 (1997: 44,904) m.+ 27 pct. Operating earningsSEK 15,243(1997: 13,544) m.+ 13 pct. Pretax earnings SEK 16,444 (1997: 14,305) m.+ 15 pct. Earnings per shareSEK 7:18 (1997: 6:21)+ 16 pct. Capital expendituresSEK 16,668 (1997: 4,650) m. Liquid assets SEK 22,473(1997: 24,479) m. Proposed dividend SEK1.90 (1997: 1.80) Sales, major product areas: Gastrointestinal SEK 31,969 m. + 47 pct. Cardiovascular SEK 9,594 m. + 16 pct. Respiratory SEK 8,763 m. + 10 pct. For comparable units, sales increased by 15 pct., or 13 pct. when calculated at constant exchange rates. Astra's sales of Losec totaled SEK 31,619 (21,526) m., an increase of 21 pct. for comparable units. Total sales of Losec in the world market amounted to approximately SEK 40,600 (32,000) m. Sales of Pulmicort rose to SEK 5,486 (4,922) m. Fourth quarter earnings were favorably affected by Astra's agreements with Schering-Plough. These agreements affected operating earnings by SEK 1,293 m. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/02/16/19990216BIT00230/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/02/16/19990216BIT00230/bit0002.pdf