AB ASTRA SHARE SPLIT TO WIDEN FOREIGN OWNERSHIP
  AB Astra &lt;ASTS.ST> said it was
  proposing a two-for-one share split and the issue in June of a
  new series of foreign-targeted shares with lower voting rights
  as part of a strategy to internationalise the company.
      The deal, which requires Swedish government approval, will
  raise the percentage of foreign voting rights allowed in the
  medical group to 22.5 pct from 20 pct, Astra said.
      An extraordinary meeting of Astra's board proposed the
  creation of B free shares open to foreign buyers with one tenth
  of a voting right per share. At present, Astra stock consists
  of one series of restricted shares and one of free shares.
  

