UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 11-K

 

 

       ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

 

OR

 

☐       TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

for the transition period from            to           

 

Commission file number 001-11960

 

A.Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

 

ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

 

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP

1800 Concord Pike

P.O. Box 15437

Wilmington, DE 19850-5437

 

 

B.Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

 

AstraZeneca PLC

1 Francis Crick Avenue

Cambridge Biomedical Campus

Cambridge CB2 OAA

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

  

REQUIRED INFORMATION

 

 

1.       Financial Statements:

 

The following financial information, including Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon of the AstraZeneca Savings and Security Plan are submitted herewith:

 

Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits as of December 31, 2024 and 2023;

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023; and

 

Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Supplemental Schedule: Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year).

 

The schedule for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are included in the aforementioned financial statements of the AstraZeneca Savings and Security Plan.

 

2.       Exhibit:

 

The following exhibit is submitted herewith:

 

Exhibit 23.1 - Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

 

 

 1 

 

 

 

ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Table of Contents

December 31, 2024 and 2023

 

 

  Page(s)
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 3
   
Financial Statements:  
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits 4
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits 5
   
Notes to Financial Statements 6
   
Supplemental Schedule:  
Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) 16
   
Signatures 18
   
Index to Exhibit 19

 

Other supplemental schedules required by Section 2520.103.10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as amended, have been omitted because they are not required or are not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2 

 

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Administrator and Plan Participants of AstraZeneca Savings and Security Plan

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of AstraZeneca Savings and Security Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2024, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as ,veil as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Supplemental Information

 

The supplemental Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2024 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedule reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedule. In forming our opinion on the supplemental schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedule, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental schedule is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

New York, NY

June 24, 2025

 

We have served as the Plan’s auditor since 2018.

 

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017

T: (646) 4713000, www.pwc.com/us

 

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

December 31, 2024 and 2023

____________

 

 

   2024   2023 
ASSETS          
           
Investments:          
Investments at fair value  $8,334,643,410   $7,250,832,374 
           
Investments in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts, at contract value   254,897,683    295,564,406 
           
Total investments   8,589,541,093    7,546,396,780 
           
Receivables:          
Employer contributions   8,208,723    13,696,232 
Employee contributions   9,779,529    7,818,550 
Notes receivable from participants   46,022,222    42,200,155 
           
Total receivables   64,010,474    63,714,937 
           
Net assets available for benefits  $8,653,551,567   $7,610,111,717 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

For the year ended December 31, 2024

_______________

 

 

 

Additions:  2024 
Investment income:     
Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments  $1,091,651,164 
Interest and dividends   21,840,086 
      
Total investment income (loss)   1,113,491,250 
      
Interest income on notes receivable from participants   2,709,943 
      
Contributions:     
Employer   233,281,490 
Employee   319,417,843 
Rollovers   78,703,983 
      
Total contributions   631,403,316 
      
Total additions   1,747,604,509 
      
Deductions     
Benefits paid to participants   703,642,913 
Administrative expenses   521,746 
      
Total deductions   704,164,659 
      
Net increase   1,043,439,850 
      
Net assets available for benefits:     
Beginning of the year   7,610,111,717 
      
End of the year  $8,653,551,567 

 

  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

 

1.Description of Plan:

 

General:

 

The following description of the AstraZeneca Savings and Security Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Paiticipants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions. The Plan, formerly known as the Zeneca Deferred Compensation Plan, was established on April l, 1958, and was designed to provide a systematic means of saving and investing for the future.

 

Effective July I, 2000, the Zeneca Deferred Compensation Plan was amended and restated as the Plan sponsorship transferred from Zeneca Inc. to AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (the “Company”). Regular full-time and part-time employees of the Company are immediately eligible to participate in the Plan. The Company is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca PLC. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).

 

The Plan is intended as a plan described in Section 404(c) of ER!SA and Section 2550.404c-l of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Because the Plan allowed participants to invest both before-tax and after-tax contributions in AstraZeneca PLC American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), the Plan and the stock offered thereunder are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”). Participants have not been able to make new investments in, or transfer funds to the ADRs on or after December 15, 2015.

 

The AstraZeneca Investment Committee is the Plan’s named fiduciary for investment and certain administrative duties, and the AstraZeneca Administration Committee is the Plan’s named fiduciary for claims administration and ce1tain other duties. Both committees are appointed by and subject to review by the AstraZeneca North America HR Sub-Committee. The Company has contracted with Fidelity Workplace Services LLC to act as recordkeeper for the Plan.

 

Administrative Expenses:

 

Some costs and expenses incident to the administration of the Plan and the management of the trust, including the compensation of the trustee, are paid by the Company. Brokerage charges and fees incurred in connection with the purchase and sale of securities are included as an element of the cost of securities purchased or as a reduction in the proceeds of securities sold. Investment advisory fees are paid by the Company. Administrative expenses included in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits relate to participant distribution mailings and short-term trading fees applicable to certain investment options. These amounts are paid by the Plan, as a reduction from the participants account.

 

Contributions:

 

Participants can make before-tax or after-tax (including ROTH) contributions of up to 50% of annual eligible compensation. The maximum amount of the Company match is one dollar for each dollar of the first 6% of eligible compensation that a participant contributes to the Plan. Participants age 50 and over are eligible to contribute additional before-tax and ROTH contributions (“catch-up contributions”) above the annual Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) limitations up to $7,500 in 2024. The contribution limit for participants is $23,000 and the limitation on benefits and contributions under Section 415(c)(l)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code is $69,000 in 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

1.Description of Plan, continued:

 

Certain employees of the Company are eligible to receive “AZ Retirement Company Contributions.” A participant’s employer contribution is equal to a specified percentage of a participant’s eligible compensation for the Plan year, based on a participant’s points. Participant’s points are calculated as the aggregate age and service credits allocated to a participant for a plan year determined as of December 31 of the prior plan year. A participant shall receive one point for each year of attained age and one point for each completed year of points service. A participant shall also receive one point for full months of attained age and completed service that aggregate 12. During 2024, the specific employer contribution percentage was determined by the basis of the participant’s points for the Plan year as set forth in the following chart:

 

Basic contributions Participant’s points
   
5% Less than 40 points
6% 40 to 59 points
7% 60 to 79 points
8% 80 or more points

 

The amount of contributions is subject to the limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). Both employee and Company contributions are allocated to each participant account. Participants direct the investment of their employee and Company contributions into the various investment options offered by the Plan.

 

Participant Accounts:

 

Each participant’s account is adjusted periodically to reflect his or her allocated portion of participant and Company contributions and investment earnings or losses. Investment earnings or losses allocated to each participant’s account are based on the portion of income and expenses and gains and losses of each investment in which the assets represented by the participant’s account are invested.

 

Vesting:

 

As it relates to AZ Retirement Company Contributions for eligible participants, a participant who is credited with at least one hour of service on or after January 1, 2007 becomes fully vested in his or her AZ Retirement Company Contributions after the completion of three years of service. All other participants are immediately vested in their contributions and all Company matching contributions, plus actual earnings thereon. If a participant is involuntarily terminated as a result of a Company restructuring, layoff or job elimination, their account will become fully (100%) vested if they would have otherwise become fully vested under the terms of the Plan no later than the six month anniversary of the date of their involuntary termination.

 

Participant Loans:

 

The Plan allows plan loans pursuant to Section 408(b)(l) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder. The maximum loan amount is the lesser of 50% of a participant’s account balance or $50,000, excluding any amounts in the AZ Retirement Company Contributions and reduced by the participant’s highest outstanding plan loan balance over the previous 12 months. The minimum loan amount is $1,000 and the maximum is two loans outstanding at any time for any eligible borrower.

 

 

 

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

1.Description of Plan, continued:

 

Participant Loans, continued:

 

Loans must generally be repaid over a period of up to five years, except for loans to purchase a principal residence which may be repaid over a period of up to IO years. Interest rates are based on the “prime rate” published in the Wall Street Journal on the first calendar day of the month in which the loan is taken and remains fixed over the life of the loan. The principal amount and interest on a loan shall be repaid by level payroll deductions during each payroll period in which the loan is outstanding. As of December 31, 2024, the interest rates on the participant loans range from 3.25% to 9.5%. The AZ Retirement Company Contributions are not available for loans.

 

Payment of Benefits:

 

In the case of death, disability, termination, or retirement, a participant or, if applicable, the participant’s beneficiary, may receive a distribution of the vested portion of his or her accounts in a lump-sum amount or in installments. In addition, a participant may elect to withdraw all or part of his or her account in special circumstances, as defined by the Plan.

 

Forfeited Accounts:

 

If participants terminate employment prior to becoming fully vested in their AZ Retirement Company Contributions, then those contributions will be forfeited and used to reduce future employer company contributions to the Plan for the remaining participants. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, forfeited nonvested accounts totaled $46,891 and $2,649, respectively. Forfeitures used to reduce employer company contributions were $691,333 for the year ended December 31, 2024.

 

2.Significant Accounting Policies:

 

The significant accounting policies employed in the preparation of the accompanying financial statements are as follows:

 

Basis of Accounting:

 

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared in compliance with the Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under ERISA and under the accrual method of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Participant contributions are received by the Plan each pay period, as are the employer matching contributions.

 

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition:

 

Investments are reported at fair value (except for the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts, which are reported at contract value). Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Plan’s Investment Committee determines the Plan’s valuation policies utilizing information provided by the investment advisers, custodians and insurance companies. See note 4 for discussion of fair value measurements.

 

 

 

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

 

 

2.Significant Accounting Policies, continued:

 

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition, continued:

 

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are record on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.

 

Notes Receivable from Participants:

 

Notes receivable from participants (“loans”) are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Defaulted participant loans are reclassified as benefits paid based upon the terms of the Plan document.

 

Payment of Benefits:

 

Benefit payments are recorded when paid.

 

Use of Estimates:

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

3.Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts:

 

The Plan invests in a portfolio of fully benefit-responsive guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) issued by insurance companies that is required to be reported at contract value. Invesco Advisers, Inc. serves as the investment manager for the portfolio since December 15, 2022, with oversight from the AstraZeneca Investment Committee. The portfolio is credited with interest on the GICs and debited for participant withdrawals.

 

Participants may direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment. Participants cannot transfer their balance to a competing investment option without the amount of such transfer first being directed to one of the Plan’s other investment options and held thereunder for at least 90 days.

 

The Plan holds two types of investment contracts: traditional GICs and synthetic wraps. A traditional GIC is an investment contract issued by an insurance company or bank that provides for the payment of a specified rate of interest to the Plan and for the repayment of principal when the contract matures. A synthetic wrap unbundles the investment and insurance components of a traditional GIC. The Plan invests in and retains ownership of a pool of fixed income securities (e.g., government securities, pooled separate accounts, private and public mortgage-backed securities, other asset-backed securities and investment grade corporate obligations, etc.).

 

These securities are “wrapped” by a synthetic investment contract issued by a bank or insurance company that insures that participant-initiated withdrawals from the synthetic investment contract will be paid at contract value. The gain or loss on the underlying investments is recognized over time by adjusting the interest rate credited to the Plan under the synthetic wrap.

 

 

 

 9 

 

ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

 

3.Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts. continued:

 

The following table lists the investment contract values as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

   Contract Value 
Type of Contract  2024   2023 
Traditional  $112,221,098   $156,309,898 
Synthetic   142,676,585    139,254,508 
Total  $254,897,683   $295,564,406 

  

Fully benefit-responsive investment contracts guarantee that (1) the crediting rate provided under the contract will not fall below zero and (2) participant-initiated withdrawals from the fund (i.e., withdrawals as a result of death, disability, retirement, termination of employment, hardship withdrawal, loan, and transfers to a non-competing fund) will be covered at contract value.

 

Certain events might limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuer. In certain circumstances, the amount withdrawn from the contract would be payable at fair value rather than at contract value. These events may include, but are not limited to, the redemption of all or a portion of the interests in the Fund at the direction of the Plan Sponsor (including partial termination of the Plan), withdrawals due to the removal of a specifically identifiable group of employees from coverage under the Plan (such as a group layoff or early retirement incentive program), the closing or sale of a subsidiary or unit, the bankruptcy or insolvency of the Plan Sponsor, or if the terms of a successor plan (in the event of the spin-off or sale of a division) do not meet the contract issuer’s underwriting criteria for issuance of a clone contract. The events described above that could result in the payment of benefits at fair value rather than at contract value are not currently probable of occurring.

 

In addition, certain events allow the issuer to terminate the contract with the Plan and settle at an amount different from contract value. Examples of such events include the Plan’s loss of its qualified status, material breaches of contractual obligations that are not cured, delivery of any communication to plan participants to influence a participant not to invest in the Stable Value option, the issuer’s determination that the agreement constitutes a nonexempt prohibited transaction as defined under ERISA, a material and adverse change to the provisions of the Plan, or termination of the Plan. Stable Value fund options are designed to provide a stable return while avoiding negative returns and striving to maintain liquidity for participant initiated transactions and safety of principal. Stable Value fund options typically invest in a diversified portfolio of high-quality bonds, either directly or indirectly through commingled investment vehicles, which can provide greater diversification than can be achieved by investing in individual bonds. If one of these events were to occur, the contract issuer could terminate the contract at the market value of the underlying investments (or in the case of a traditional GIC, at the hypothetical market value based upon a contractual formula).

 

4.Fair Value Measurements:

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, Fair Value Measurement, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under FASB ASC 820 are described as follows:

 

 

 

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

 

4.Fair Value Measurements, continued:

 

Level 1: Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.

 

Level 2: Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

 

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets
Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means

 

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

Level 3: Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

 

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value:

 

Common stock: Funds are invested in the common stock of AstraZeneca PLC (“AZ Common Stock”). The fair value is a quoted price in an active market.

 

Mutual funds: Valued at fair value of shares held by the Plan at year end. The fair value is a quoted price in an active market.

 

Commingled funds and Collective trusts: Valued at the net asset value (“NAV”) of shares held by the Plan at year end. The NAVs, provided by external investment managers as a practical expedient, are based on quoted prices for the fund’s underlying securities (some of which are marketable), estimates, appraisals, assumptions, and methods that are reviewed by management. This investment category has no unfunded commitments and there are no redemption restrictions.

 

Money market funds: Valued at fair value of shares held by the Plan at year end. The fair value is a quoted price in an active market.

 

Private equity funds: Valued at the NAV of shares held by the Plan at year end. The NAVs, provided by private equity fund managers as a practical expedient, are based on the value of the underlying assets owned by the fund, minus its liabilities, and then divided by the number of shares or units outstanding or multiplied by the Plan’s pro rata interest, in the case of non-unitized investments. The private equity fund managers provide financial statements on a quarterly basis, which are used to value the securities based on the Plan’s

ownership percentage.

 

 

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

 

4.Fair Value Measurements, continued:

 

The preceding methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, although the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

 

The following table lists the fair values of investments as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

   Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2024: 
   Fair Value   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Common stock  $139,748,329   $139,748,329         
Mutual funds   54,792,389    54,792,389         
Money market funds   18,400,867    18,400,867         
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy   212,941,585    212,941,585         
                     
Investments measured at net asset value (a)                    
Commingled funds   

5,889,523,103

             
Collective trust   2,231,373,871             
Private equity funds   804,851              
Total investments at fair value  $8,334,643,410   $212,941,585   $   $ 

 

   Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2023: 
   Fair Value   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Common stock  $158,431,850   $158,431,850         
Mutual funds   45,483,332    45,483,332         
Money market funds   204,506,241    204,506,241         
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy   408,421,423   408,421,423         
                     
Investments measured at net asset value (a)                    
Commingled funds   

5,040,438,572

             
Collective trust   1,800,985,722             
Private equity funds   986,657              
Total investments at fair value  $7,250,832,374   $4708,421,423   $   $ 

 

(a) In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, collective trusts, private equity funds, and commingled funds that were measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the line items presented in the statement of net assets available for benefits.

 

 

 

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

 

4.Fair Value Measurements, continued:

 

The availability of observable market data is monitored to assess the appropriate classification of financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy. Changes in economic conditions or model-based valuation techniques may require the transfer of financial instruments from one fair value level to another.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no transfers in or out of level 2 or 3 as there were no level 2 or 3 investments noted.

 

5.Internal Revenue Service Status:

 

The IRS has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated February 8, 2018, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the IRC. Although the Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, the Plan administrator and the Plan’s tax counsel believe that the Plan is designed and restated, and is currently being operated, in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and, therefore, believe that the Plan is qualified, and the related trust is tax-exempt.

 

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the plan has taken an uncertain tax position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2024, there are no uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2021.

 

6.Plan Termination:

 

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the AstraZeneca North America HR Sub-Committee has the right under the Plan to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the provisions of ERISA and other applicable laws. In the event of Plan termination, participants would be 100 percent vested in their employer contributions.

 

7.Party-in-Interest Transactions:

 

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by affiliates of Fidelity Investment Management Company. Fidelity Investment Management Company is the trustee as defined in the Plan, and therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

 

The Plan also invests in shares of AZ Common Stock, which qualifies as a party-in-interest transaction. As of December 3 I, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the fair value of investments in AZ Common Stock was $139,748,329 and $158,431,850, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Plan had purchases of $0 and had sales of $19,259,349 of AZ Common Stock. The total dividend income received during 2024 was $3,408,610. The total realized and unrealized gain/(loss) during 2024 was $2,556,621.

 

8.Risks and Uncertainties:

 

The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market, and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.

 

 

 

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ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

 

9.Plan Amendments:

 

Plan Amendment No. 1 was executed on August 4, 2022 and revised the Plan compensation definition for purposes of determining participants’ AZ Retirement Company Contributions as well as allowed for post severance loan repayments.

 

Plan Amendment No. 2 was executed on August 28, 2023 and amended the Plan to reflect the transfer of excess assets from the AstraZeneca Defined Benefit Pension Plan (“Pension Plan”) as a result to the Pension Plan termination effective March 31, 2022.

 

Plan Amendment No. 3 was executed on December 19, 2023 to merge the Alexion 401(k) Plan with and into the Plan effective December 29, 2023. All accounts under the Alexion 401(k) Plan were fully vested as of December 29, 2023 and those accounts and any attributable earnings, shall be fully vested under the Plan following the merger.

 

10.Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500:

 

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

   2024   2023 
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements  $8,653,551,567   $7,610,111,717 
           
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully-benefit responsive investment contracts held by the Stable Value Fund   (9,549,223)  $10,779,307)
           
Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500  $8,644,002,344   $7,599,332,410 

 

The following is a reconciliation of the change in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2024, per the financial statements to the net income reported in the 2024 Form 5500:

 

Net increase in net assets available for benefits per financial statements  $1,043,439,850 
      
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully-benefit responsive investment contracts held by the Stable Value Fund as of December 31, 2024   (9,549,223)
      
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully-benefit responsive investment contracts held by the Stable Value Fund as of December 31, 2023   10,779,30730 
      
Net increase in net assets available for benefits per Form 5500  $1,044,669,934 

 

 

 

 14 

 

ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

  

11.Subsequent Events:

 

The Plan has evaluated subsequent events through June 24, 2025, the date the financial statements were available to be issued, and noted the following:

 

Plan Amendment No. 4 was executed on December 17, 2024 to merge the assets for Neogene Therapeutics, Inc. and the participation of its employees into the Plan effective January I, 2025. Effective on or about January 10, 2025, the portion of the Insperity 401(k) Plan attributable to employees of Neogene Therapeutics, Inc. was merged into the Plan.

 

Plan Amendment No. 5 was executed on April 9, 2025 to merge the GraccellBio 401(k) Plan with and into the Plan effective on or about May 6, 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 15 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

 

 

ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

 

Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

December 31, 2024

 

(a) Plan No. 002      EIN 23-2967016            
  (b) Identity of issuer, borrower, lessor or similar party   (c) Description of investment, including maturity date, rate of interest, collateral, par, or maturity value (d) Cost    (e) Current Value
  AstraZeneca Co. Stock Fund              
* AstraZeneca Co.     AstraZeneca Co. Stock, 2,132,911 shares **    $    139,748,329
* Fidelity Government Portfolio Institution Money Market Fund **             2,211,818
                           141,960,147
  Stable Value Account              
  Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Inc. Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 3/31/25 **             3,036,091
  Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Inc. Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 9/30/25 **             2,255,337
  Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Inc. Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 9/30/27 **             4,252,802
  Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Inc. Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 6/30/28 **             4,408,800
  New York Life Insurance Company   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 9/30/25 **             4,395,234
  New York Life Insurance Company   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 9/30/27 **           10,709,623
  New York Life Insurance Company   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 12/31/27 **           12,967,232
  New York Life Insurance Company   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 9/30/25 **             3,841,705
  Principal Life Insurance Company   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 9/30/26 **             5,541,700
  Principal Life Insurance Company   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 12/29/28 **           10,054,779
  Protective Life Insurance Company   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 3/31/26 **             2,603,852
  Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 9/30/25 **           14,674,599
  Prudential Insurance Company of America Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 6/30/27 **           11,069,063
  Prudential Insurance Company of America Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 12/29/28 **             5,523,961
  Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 12/31/25 **             3,270,120
  Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 6/30/25 **             7,896,893
  Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance   Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 3/31/25 **             2,918,065
  United of Omaha Life Insurance Company Guaranteed Investment Contract, Due 12/31/25 **             2,801,238
* Fidelity FIMM Government Money Market Portfolio Money Market Fund **           16,189,050
  Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contract, 2.87% **                        -   
  Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company Inc. Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contract, 2.87% **                        -   
  Prudential Insurance Company of America Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contract, 2.87% **                        -   
  American General Life Insurance Company Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contract, 2.87% **                        -   
  RGA Reinsurance Company   Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contract, 2.87% **                        -   
  Nationwide Life Insurance Company   Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contract, 2.88% **                        -   
  ***IGT Dodge & Cox Core Fixed Income Fund Collective Trust **             6,856,773
  ***IGT Invesco Core Fixed Income Fund Collective Trust **             6,875,178
  ***IGT Invesco Intermediate Fund   Collective Trust **           13,696,342
  ***IGT Invesco Short Term Bond Fund Collective Trust **           64,444,827
  ***IGT Jennison Intermediate Fund   Collective Trust **           13,708,252
  ***IGT Loomis Sayles Core Fixed Income Fund Collective Trust **             6,876,845
  ***IGT Loomis Sayles Intermediate Fund Collective Trust **             6,903,644
  ***IGT PIMCO Core Fixed Income Fund Collective Trust **             6,870,928
  ***IGT PIMCO Intermediate Fund   Collective Trust **             6,894,576
                           261,537,509
  Investments in Mutual Funds:              
  GQG Emerging Markets Eq R6   Mutual Fund **           54,792,389

 

 

 16 

 

 

ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN
                     
Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) (Continued)
December 31, 2024

 

(a) Plan No. 002      EIN 23-2967016            
  (b) Identity of issuer, borrower, lessor or similar party   (c) Description of investment, including maturity date, rate of interest, collateral, par, or maturity value (d) Cost    (e) Current Value
                     
  Investment in Collective Trusts:              
     BlackRock Russell 2000 Alpha Tilts   Collective Trust **          260,360,378
     BlackRock Total Return Bond Fund L Collective Trust **           64,521,002
     Champlain Mid Cap Collective Fund   Collective Trust **          167,430,162
     GQG Partners US Select Quality Equity CIT Class F Collective Trust **          851,022,221
*    FIAM Cash Commingled Pool   Collective Trust **          193,041,315
*    Fidelity Diversified International Commingled Pool Collective Trust **           87,243,199
     Vanguard Institutional Extended Market Index Trust Collective Trust **          406,458,048
     Vanguard Total International Stock Market Index Trust Collective Trust **          201,297,546
                        2,231,373,871
  Investments in Commingled Funds:            
     Vanguard Institutional Index Fund   Large Blend Fund **       1,783,505,451
     Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Intermediate-Term Bond Fund **          189,154,160
     Vanguard Target 2020     Target Date Fund **          113,512,690
     Vanguard Target 2025     Target Date Fund **          336,221,556
     Vanguard Target 2030     Target Date Fund **          650,012,206
     Vanguard Target 2035     Target Date Fund **          810,405,539
     Vanguard Target 2040     Target Date Fund **          699,660,833
     Vanguard Target 2045     Target Date Fund **          552,681,694
     Vanguard Target 2050     Target Date Fund **          360,043,131
     Vanguard Target 2055     Target Date Fund **          194,614,090
     Vanguard Target 2060     Target Date Fund **           86,950,888
     Vanguard Target 2065     Target Date Fund **           48,142,722
     Vanguard Target 2070     Target Date Fund **             5,446,039
     Vanguard Target Income     Target Date Fund **           59,172,104
                        5,889,523,103
  Investments in Private Equity Funds:            
     DCM Private Equity Fund II LLC   Private Equity Fund **                296,638
     Summit Partners Private Equity Fund VII Private Equity Fund **                508,213
                                 804,851
  Notes receivable from participants (interest rates ranging from 3.25% to 9.5%       
      and range of maturity in years 2025-2038)     **           46,022,222
                     
  Total                 $ 8,626,014,092
  * Party-in-interest                
  **Cost information is not required for participant-directed investments.        
  ***Represents the investment underlying Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contracts ("GIC")      

 

 17 

 

 

ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the Plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN
   
Date: 26 June 2025 By: /s/ David E. White              
  David E. White
  Assistant Treasurer North America, and
  AstraZeneca Investment Committee Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 18 

 

ASTRAZENECA SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2024 and 2023

_______________

 

 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBIT

 

Exhibit No. Description
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated June 24, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 19 


ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM