Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 20.98 points, or 0.10%, to 20,140.86.

On BSE, 2,654 shares were traded in the counter as against an average daily volume of 10,942 shares in the past one quarter.

The stock hit a high of Rs 1,126 and a low of Rs 1,060 so far during the day. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 1448.45 on 30 June 2010 and a 52-week low of Rs 802 on 26 May 2010.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 27 September 2010, falling 7.47% compared with the Sensex's 11.77% jump. It outperformed the market in past one quarter, gaining 15.57% as against 14.47% rise in the Sensex.

The mid-cap pharmaceutical company has an equity capital of Rs 5 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2.

Sweden's AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals AB's plan to buy out minority shareholders in its Indian unit AstraZeneca Pharma India and take the company private was reportedly rejected in a postal ballot process.

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals AB had sought to buy 10% or 2.5 million outstanding shares on BSE and NSE. The floor price was fixed at Rs 576.10 a share for the buyback.

AstraZeneca Pharma AB holds 90% in AstraZeneca Pharma India and the latter's board had on 29 June 2010 approved a proposal to delist its shares from stock exchanges.

Latest regulatory rules mandate a minimum 25% public shareholding, forcing companies with small public holdings to choose to delist instead of diluting their equity.

AstraZeneca Pharma India's net profit fell 52.2% to Rs 7.31 crore on 10.5% increase in net sales to Rs 105.96 crore in Q2 June 2010 over Q2 June 2009.