Press Release: Mergers: European Commission clears planned acquisition of Alcon by Novartis, subject to conditions

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Alcon by Novartis, both pharmaceutical companies from Switzerland.

The decision is conditional upon Novartis' commitments to divest several products in the ophthalmological pharmaceutical and consumer vision care areas in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in specific Member States. In the light of the commitments, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.