Important information for readers of this Annual Report Cautionary statement regarding forward looking statements The purpose of this Annual Report is to provide information to the members of the Company. The Company and its Directors, employees, agents and advisers do not accept or assume responsibility to any other person to whom this Annual Report is shown or into whose hands it may come and any such responsibility or liability is expressly disclaimed. In order, among other things, to utilise the 'safe harbour' provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the UK Companies Act 2006, we are providing the following cautionary statement: Inclusion of Reported performance, Core financial measures and constant exchange rate growth rates AstraZeneca's determination of non-GAAP measures together with our presentation of them within our financial information may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP measures of other companies. > the impact of uncertainty and volatility in relation to the UK's exit from the EU > the risk of failures or delays in the quality or execution of our commercial strategies > the risk of failure to maintain supply of compliant,quality medicines > the risk of illegal trade in our medicines > the impact of reliance on third-party goods and services > the risk of failure in information technology, data protection or cybercrime > the risk of failure of critical processes > any expected gains from productivity initiatives are uncertain > the risk of failure to attract, develop, engage and retain a diverse, talented and capable workforce, including following the Alexion transaction > the risk of failure to adhere to applicable laws, rules and regulations > the risk of the safety and efficacy of marketed medicines being questioned > the risk of adverse outcome of litigation and/or governmental investigations, including relating to the Alexion transaction > the risk of failure to adhere to increasingly stringent anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation > the risk of failure to achieve strategic plans or meet targets or expectations > the risk of failure in financial control or the occurrence of fraud > the risk of unexpected deterioration in our financial position > the impact that the COVID-19 global pandemic may have or continue to have on these risks, on our ability to continue to mitigate these risks,and on our operations, financial results or financial condition > the risk that a condition to the closing of the transaction with Alexion may not be satisfied, or that a regulatory approval that may be required for the transaction is delayed or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated > the risk that we are unable to achieve the synergies and value creation contemplated by the Alexion transaction, or that we are unable to promptly and effectively integrate Alexion's businesses > and the risk that management's time and attention are diverted on transaction related issues or that disruption from the Alexion transaction makes it more difficult to maintain business, contractual and operational relationships. Statements of competitive position, growth rates and sales In this Annual Report, except as otherwise stated,market information regarding the position of our business or products relative to its or their competition is based upon published statistical sales data for the 12 months ended 30 September 2020 obtained from IQVIA, a leading supplier of statistical data to the pharmaceutical industry. Unless otherwise noted, for the US,dispensed new or total prescription data and audited sales data are taken,respectively, from IQVIA National Prescription Audit and IQVIA National Sales Perspectives for the 12 months ended 31 December 2020; such data are not adjusted for Medicaid and similar rebates. Except as otherwise stated, these market share and industry data from IQVIA have been derived by comparing our sales revenue with competitors' and total market sales revenues for that period, and except as otherwise stated, growth rates are given at CER. For the purposes of this AnnualReport, unless otherwise stated, references to the world pharmaceutical market or similar phrases are to the 50 countries contained in the IQVIA database, which amounted to approximately 94% (in value) of the countries audited by QVIA.Changes in data subscriptions, exchange rates and subscription coverage, as well as restated IQVIA data,have led to the restatement of totalmarket values for prior years. This Annual Report contains certain forward looking statements with respect to the operations, performance and financial condition of the Group, including, among other things, statements about expected revenues,margins, earnings per share or other financial or other measures.Forward looking statements are statements relating to the future which are based on information available at the time such statements are made, including information relating to risks and uncertainties.Although we believe that the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report are based on reasonable assumptions, the matters discussed in the forward-looking statements may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those predicted. The forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of the preparation of this Annual Report and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. We identify the forward-looking statements by using the words 'anticipates', 'believes', 'expects', 'intends' and similar expressions in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, certain of which are beyond our control, include, among other things: AstraZeneca websites Information on or accessible through our websites, including www.astrazeneca.com, and www.astrazenecaclinicaltrials.com and on any websites referenced in this Annual Report,does not form part of and is not incorporated into this Annual Report. > the risk of failure or delay in delivery of pipeline or launch of new medicines > the risk of failure to meet regulatory or ethical requirements for medicine development or approval > the risk of failure to obtain, defend and enforce effective intellectual property (IP) protection and IP challenges by third parties > the impact of competitive pressures including expiry or loss of IP rights, and generic competition > the impact of price controls and reductions > the impact of economic, regulatory and political pressures External/third-party websites Information on or accessible through any third-party or external website does not form part of and is not incorporated into this Annual Report. Figures Figures in parentheses in tables and in the Financial Statements are used to represent negative numbers. Certain of these factors are discussed in more detail elsewhere in this Annual Report including, without limitation, in the Risk section from page [254] of this Annual Report. Nothing in this Annual Report should be construed as a profit forecast. 284 AstraZeneca Annual Report & Form 20-F Information 2020 I Additional Information