Nestle sells 52% of shares of Alcon, the company which develops, manufactures and markets surgical equipment and devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer vision care products.

The buyer is Novartis, the Swiss company with core businesses in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, consumer health, generics, eye care and animal health areas. It already has purchased a 25% stake of Alcon in April 2008 and now gets 77% of shares proposing a direct merger of Alcon into Novartis.

The total cost for 77% majority stake is 38,5 billion dollars (168 dollars per share).

It should be marked that Nestle acquired Alcon in 1977 for 280 million dollars. According to Nestle, “this divestment of its interest in Alcon will enable to concentrate on accelerating the development of Nestle’s position as the world’s leading nutrition, health and wellness company”.