Novo Nordisk A/S purchases B shares worth DKK 2.1 billion from Novo
A/S as part of the ongoing share repurchase programme
Novo Nordisk A/S has today acquired 3,437,400 B shares (nominal
DKK2), worth DKK 2.1 billion, from Novo A/S as part of the ongoing
DKK 10 billion share repurchase programme for 2006-2008. The
transaction price is DKK 608.13 per share and has been calculated as
the average market price from 3 August to 9 August in the open
trading window following the announcement of Novo Nordisk's financial
results for the first six months of 2007.
Novo A/S has hereby re-adjusted its ownership of Novo Nordisk A/S to
25.5%, equal to the level of Novo A/S' ownership of Novo Nordisk A/S
prior to the cancellation of treasury shares, which took place in
June 2007.
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 32,181,200 B
shares (nominal DKK 2), corresponding to 26.6% of capital and 71.1%
of votes. The current transaction reduces Novo A/S' ownership of Novo
Nordisk A/S to 25.5% of capital and 70.9 of votes.
Henrik Gürtler, CEO of Novo A/S, said: "Following the recent
cancellation of treasury shares Novo A/S has re-aligned its
shareholding in Novo Nordisk A/S to the level of just over 25%, which
has been our target since the demerger of Novozymes A/S in 2000. We
remain a committed long-term majority shareholder of Novo Nordisk."
As of 10 August 2007, Novo Nordisk has repurchased B shares amounting
to around DKK 2.2 billion in 2007. Novo Nordisk A/S and its
wholly-owned affiliates now own 8,952,014 of its own B shares of DKK
2, corresponding to a total nominal value of DKK 17,904,028 or 2.77%
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 more than
25,300 employees in 79 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.
Further information on Novo Nordisk A/S please contact:
Media: Investors:
Outside North America: Outside North America:
Elin K Hansen Mads Veggerby Lausten
Tel : (+45) 4442 3450 Tel: (+45) 4443 7919
ekh@novonordisk.com mlau@novonordisk.com
Hans Rommer
Tel: (+45) 4442 4765
hrmm@novonordisk.com
In North America: In North America:
Sean Clements Christian Qvist Frandsen
Tel: (+1) 609 514 8316 Tel: (+1) 609 919 7937
secl@novonordisk.com cqfr@novonordisk.com
Further information on Novo A/S please contact:
Media:
Henrik Gürtler, CEO
Tel: (+45) 4442 2189
Thorkil Kastberg Christensen, CFO
Tel: (+45) 4442 3197
Stock Exchange Announcement no 23 / 2007