UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
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REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
August 18 2006
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NOVO NORDISK A/S
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
NOVO ALLE
DK-2880, BAGSVAERD
DENMARK
(Address of principal executive offices)
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F [X] Form 40-F [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes [ ] No [X]
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g-32(b):82-_____________________
TRANSACTION IN OWN SHARES
NOVO NORDISK A/S HAS TODAY ACQUIRED 4,522,462 B SHARES, WORTH DKK 1.8
BILLION, FROM NOVO A/S AS PART OF THE ONGOING DKK 6 BILLION SHARE
REPURCHASE PROGRAMME. THE TRANSACTION PRICE IS DKK 405.79 PER SHARE
AND HAS BEEN CALCULATED AS THE AVERAGE MARKET PRICE FROM 3 AUGUST TO
17 AUGUST IN THE OPEN TRADING WINDOW FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
NOVO NORDISK'S FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2006.
Novo A/S has hereby achieved its objective of reducing its ownership of Novo
Nordisk A/S to a long-term target level of around 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 2006.
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 36,703,662 B shares (nominal DKK 2),
corresponding to 26.8% of capital and 71.2% of votes. The current transaction
reduces Novo A/S' ownership of Novo Nordisk A/S to 25.5% of capital and 71.0% of
votes.
Henrik Gurtler, CEO of Novo A/S, said: "Following the recent cancellation of
treasury shares Novo A/S has hereby re-aligned our shareholding in Novo Nordisk
A/S to the level of around 25.5%, which has been our target since the demerger
of Novozymes A/S in 2000. We remain a committed long-term controlling
shareholder of Novo Nordisk."
As of 18 August 2006, Novo Nordisk has repurchased B shares amounting to around
DKK 2.5 billion in 2006. Novo Nordisk A/S and its wholly-owned affiliates now
own 18,849,379 of its own B shares of DKK 2, corresponding to a total nominal
value of DKK 37,698,758 or 5.59% 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 22,750 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.
For further information on NOVO NORDISK please contact:
Media: Investors:
Outside North America: Outside North America:
Mike Rulis Mogens Thorsager Jensen
Tel: (+45) 4442 3573 Tel: (+45) 4442 7945
Christian Qvist Frandsen
Tel: (+45) 4443 5182
Hans Rommer
Tel (direct): (+45) 4442 4765
In North America: In North America:
Susan T Jackson Mads Veggerby Lausten
Tel: (+1) 609 919 7776 Tel: (+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 30 / 2006
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf of the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: August 18 2006 NOVO NORDISK A/S
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Lars Rebien Sorensen,
President and Chief Executive Officer