NOVO NORDISK A/S PURCHASES B SHARES WORTH DKK 643 MILLION FROM NOVO A/S AS PART
OF THE ONGOING SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAMME
NOVO NORDISK A/S HAS TODAY ACQUIRED 2,150,000 B SHARES, WORTH DKK 643 MILLION,
FROM NOVO A/S AS PART OF THE ONGOING DKK 5 BILLION SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAMME.
THE TRANSACTION PRICE IS DKK 299 PER SHARE AND HAS BEEN CALCULATED AS THE
AVERAGE MARKET PRICE IN THE OPEN WINDOW PERIOD 28 OCTOBER TO 11 NOVEMBER 2004,
FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FINANCIAL RESULT FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF
2004.
As a result of Novo Nordisk's cancellation of DKK 45 million of treasury B
shares in August 2001, Novo A/S has seen an increase in its ownership of Novo
Nordisk A/S from slightly more than 25% following the demerger of Novozymes in
2000 to around 27%. Novo A/S' shareholding in Novo Nordisk A/S prior to the sale
of B shares was 53,743,600 A shares (nominal DKK 2) and 40,992,780 B shares
(nominal DKK 2), corresponding to 26.7% of capital and 70.6% of votes. The
current transaction reduces Novo A/S' ownership of Novo Nordisk A/S to 26.1% of
capital and 70.6% of votes. Furthermore, Novo A/S has communicated its intention
of reducing its ownership of Novo Nordisk A/S to the long-term target level of
slightly more than 25% of the capital during 2005.
Henrik Gurtler, CEO of Novo A/S, said: "By re-aligning our shareholding in Novo
Nordisk A/S to the previous level, our ability to diversify our portfolio is
increased. We remain a committed long-term controlling shareholder of Novo
Nordisk and we expect to maintain our ownership slightly above 25% of the
capital."
As of 12 November, Novo Nordisk has repurchased B shares amounting to around DKK
1.7 billion and still expects to repurchase B shares worth some DKK 2 billion in
2004 as part of the ongoing share repurchase programme. Novo Nordisk A/S and its
wholly-owned affiliates now own 21,796,047 of its own B shares of DKK 2,
corresponding to a total nominal value of DKK 43,592,094 or 6.15% of the total
share capital.
NOVO NORDISK is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. The
company has the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including
the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems. In
addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis
management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk
manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a
significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With
headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 20,000 full-time
employees in 69 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo
Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London.
Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For
more information, visit novonordisk.com.
NOVO A/S, the holding company in the Novo Group, was established prior to the
demerger of Novo Nordisk in 2000. Novo A/S is a private limited liability
company, fully owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Besides being the majority
shareholder in Novozymes A/S and Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo A/S provides venture
capital to development stage companies with pioneering scientific ideas within
life science, and assists the Novo Group companies in implementing and
evaluating the commitments set out in the 'Charter for Companies in the Novo
Group'. For more information, visit novo.dk.
For further information on NOVO NORDISK please contact:
Media: Investors:
Outside North America: Outside North America:
Mike Rulis Mogens Thorsager Jensen
Tel (direct): Tel (direct):
(+45) 4442 3573 (+45) 4442 7945
Palle Holm Olesen
Tel (direct):
(+45) 4442 6175
In North America: In North America:
Susan T Jackson Christian Kanstrup
Tel (direct): Tel (direct):
(+1) 609 919 7776 (+1) 609 919 7937
For further information on NOVO A/S please contact:
Media:
Henrik Gurtler, CEO
Tel (direct): (+45) 4442 2189
Thorkil Kastberg Christensen, CFO
Tel (direct): (+45) 4442 3197
Stock Exchange Announcement No 66 / 2004