Copenhagen, 2011-11-15 08:56 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of ALK-Abelló A/S (‘ALK') has decided to buy back shares in accordance with the authorisation granted by the Annual General meeting on 1 April 2011. As of 14 November 2011 ALK holds 226,975 treasury shares of a nominal value of DKK 10 each, corresponding to 2.2% of ALK's share capital. The purpose of the share buy-back programme is to hedge ALK's incentive programmes. The share buy-back programme runs from 15 November 2011 until 30 April 2012, both days inclusive. The share buy-back programme is initiated and structured in compliance with the EU Commission Regulation No. 2273/2003 of 22 December 2003 (the so-called Safe Harbour Regulative for share buy-back programmes), which ensures that ALK is protected against violation of insider legislation in relation to the share buy-back programme. ALK has entered into a contract with Nordea Bank Danmark A/S (‘Nordea'), in which Nordea acts as financial advisor and as Lead Manager of the programme. Nordea handles all purchase transactions independently of and without influence from ALK. The share buy-back programme is subject to the following terms: -- The maximum amount that ALK may pay for shares purchased under the share buy-back programme is no more than DKK 45 million, and no more than 150,000 shares may be purchased, corresponding to 1.5% of the current share capital of ALK. -- The maximum number of shares in ALK which may be purchased on each business day corresponds to 25% of the average daily trading volume of the ALK share on NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen over the last 20 trading days prior to this announcement. -- Shares cannot be purchased at prices exceeding the higher of: -- The price of the latest independent trade -- The price of the highest independent bid on NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen ALK will announce the number of repurchased shares and the value of these shares on a weekly basis in a separate announcement to NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen. ALK-Abelló A/S Jens Bager President and CEO For further information please contact: Jens Bager, President and CEO, tel. +45 4574 7576 Investor Relations: Per Plotnikof, tel. +45 4574 7527, mobile +45 2261 2525 Press: Martin Barlebo, tel. +45 4574 7901, mobile +45 2064 1143 About ALK ALK is a research-driven global pharmaceutical company focusing on allergy prevention, diagnosis and treatment. ALK is the world leader in allergy immunotherapy - a unique treatment of the underlying cause of allergy. The company has approximately 1,750 employees with subsidiaries, production facilities and distributors worldwide. ALK has entered into partnership agreements with Merck and Torii to commercialise allergy immunotherapy tablets in North America and Japan, respectively. The company is headquartered in Hřrsholm, Denmark, and listed on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen A/S. Find more information at www.alk-abello.com.