Yesterday morning, just hours before its annual meeting, AstraZeneca said that it would increase its 2024 dividend by 7% or 20 US cents (15.9p) to £2.47 per share. That equates to a shareholder payout worth £3.8billion.

At the AGM, AstraZeneca asked its investors to rubber stamp its plans to boost the maximum amount Soriot can earn in annual bonuses for his 2024 performance from 250% of his £1.4million base pay to 300%. It also wanted them to lift the maximum payout from his performance…