AstraZeneca PLC

AstraZeneca PLC is a public limited company based in the United Kingdom. The company was formed in 1993 when the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and specialty chemical businesses of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC were separated. Initially named Zeneca Group PLC, it changed its name to AstraZeneca PLC on April 6, 1999. In 1999, the company sold its specialty chemical business and merged with Astra of Sweden. In 2000, it separated its agrochemical business and merged it with Novartis's similar business to create Syngenta AG. The company expanded its operations in 2007 by acquiring MedImmune, a biologics and vaccines business located in the United States. In 2021, AstraZeneca further grew by acquiring Alexion, a rare disease business also based in the United States. In connection with the 1999 merger with Astra, the company's share capital was redenominated in US dollars. On April 6, 1999, Zeneca shares were cancelled and new US dollar-denominated shares were issued, credited as fully paid, on a one-for-one basis. The company also issued 50,000 Redeemable Preference Shares for cash, at par, at the same time.