On July 14, 2021 AstraZeneca reported The UK Competition and Markets Authority has cleared proposed acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Alexion) (Press release, AstraZeneca, JUL 14, 2021, View Source [SID1234584868]). As a result, the acquisition is expected to close on 21 July 2021.

Following closing, the new AstraZeneca shares issued to Alexion shareholders will be admitted to listing on the premium listing segment of the official list of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to the secondary listing on Nasdaq Stockholm. In addition, the new AstraZeneca American Depositary Shares (ADSs) will be admitted on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Trading on the London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities, Nasdaq Stockholm and the Nasdaq Stock Market, is expected to commence on 22 July 2021. In addition, the Alexion shares will be de‐listed from the Nasdaq Stock Market. They will be deregistered under the Exchange Act as soon as practicable following completion of the acquisition.

Marc Dunoyer, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, said: "We are very pleased to have secured this critical final clearance from the UK Competition and Markets Authority for the acquisition of Alexion. We look forward to the imminent closing of the transaction so that we may pursue our shared ambition to bring more innovative medicines to patients worldwide and begin AstraZeneca’s next chapter of growth."

The proposed acquisition, first announced in December 2020, will enhance the Company’s scientific presence in immunology by adding Alexion’s innovative complement-technology platforms and robust pipeline. Rare diseases represent a high-growth opportunity with rapid innovation and significant unmet medical needs. Shareholders of both companies overwhelmingly voted in support of the transaction on 11 May 2021.

Subject to completing the acquisition, a group focusing on rare diseases will be created. This group will be named ‘Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease’, and will be headquartered in Boston, US.

Financial considerations
AstraZeneca anticipates providing updated 2021 financial guidance for the new, combined entity in due course. Consolidation of Alexion will start from the closing of the transaction and the first quarter of consolidated financial reporting is expected to be the third quarter of 2021 due for announcement on Wednesday 10 November 2021.

Rare diseases
Over 7,000 rare diseases are known today, and only approximately 5% have treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.1 Demand in medicines for rare diseases is forecasted to grow by a low double-digit percentage in the future.2

Important additional information
In connection with AstraZeneca’s proposed acquisition of Alexion (the Acquisition), AstraZeneca filed a registration statement on Form F-4 with the SEC on 12 April 2021 (the Registration Statement), which has been declared effective by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and which includes a document that serves as a prospectus of AstraZeneca and a proxy statement of Alexion (the proxy statement/prospectus), Alexion filed a proxy statement with the SEC (the proxy statement) on 12 April 2021, and each party will file other documents regarding the Acquisition with the SEC. Investors and security holders of Alexion are urged to carefully read the entire Registration Statement and proxy statement/prospectus or proxy statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available, because they will contain important information. Investors and security holders may obtain the Registration Statement and the proxy statement/prospectus or the proxy statement free of charge from the SEC’s website or from AstraZeneca or Alexion as described in the paragraphs below.

The documents filed by AstraZeneca with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained free of charge on AstraZeneca’s website at View Source under the tab "Investors". The documents filed by Alexion with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained free of charge on Alexion’s internet website at View Source under the tab, "Investors" and under the heading "SEC Filings" or by contacting Alexion’s Investor Relations Department at [email protected].

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