- Company Completes Separation from Novartis
- Begins Trading Today on SIX Swiss Exchange and NYSE
GENEVA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Regulatory News:
Alcon, the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see
brilliantly, today announced its debut as an independent, publicly
traded company and the completion of its separation from Novartis. The
company’s shares begin trading today on the SIX Swiss Exchange and New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “ALC.”
Alcon is the largest eye care device company in the world, with
complementary businesses in Surgical and Vision Care. The company has a
global presence in 74 countries and serves patients in more than 140,
with fast-growing businesses in emerging markets. Alcon has the widest
array of eye care offerings in the industry with products that can treat
eye disorders at each stage of life.
“For more than 70 years, Alcon has been dedicated to helping people see
brilliantly and now, as an independent company, we are pursuing even
more opportunities to further that mission,” said David Endicott, Chief
Executive Officer of Alcon. “We are poised to achieve sustainable growth
and create long-term shareholder value as a standalone company. We have
a long history of industry firsts and, as a nimble medical device
company, we are sharply focused on providing innovative products that
meet the needs of our customers, patients and consumers.”
Eye care is an approximately $23 billion a year market, growing at
roughly 4 percent annually. Last year, Alcon had sales of $7.1 billion,
including $4.0 billion in Surgical – up 7 percent from the prior year –
and $3.1 billion in Vision Care – up 3 percent.
Under the terms of the separation, each Novartis shareholder or ADR
(American Depositary Receipt) holder will receive one Alcon share for
every five Novartis shares or ADRs they held as of the close of business
on April 1, 2019, the record date for the distribution.
As an independent company, Alcon will have more focus and flexibility in
pursuing its own growth strategy driven by rapid iterative innovation.
The company will have a distinct investment identity with a more
efficient capital structure that will allow it to expand markets, enter
promising adjacencies and introduce new business models. These benefits,
combined with Alcon’s industry-leading customer relationships, favorably
position the company to achieve sustainable growth.
Alcon is headquartered in Geneva. The company has maintained a presence
in Switzerland for more than 40 years and it is where the company was
incorporated prior to the Novartis acquisition. Alcon’s facilities in
Fort Worth, Texas, will remain a major operational center and innovation
hub with a large base of employees.
Alcon will continue its substantial Corporate Giving efforts, which in
2018 included $62 million in monetary and product donations. Through its
charitable organizations, the Alcon Foundation and Alcon Cares, Alcon
partners with hundreds of charitable organizations to help increase
access to eye care, providing sight-restoring surgeries, eye exams and
other services to people in underserved communities around the
world. Alcon also sponsors hands-on and virtual eye care provider
training and skills-transfer to strengthen the level of care, and
supports its communities through charitable donations and associate
volunteerism.
Members of the company’s executive leadership team, Board of Directors
and Alcon associates will celebrate the milestone by ringing the opening
bell at the SIX and NYSE today, April 9.
Endicott continued: “Demand for eye care is growing significantly as our
population ages and people spend more time in front of screens and
mobile devices. As we mark this new chapter in the life of our company,
all of us at Alcon are committed to addressing the growing consumer need
for improved vision and eye health and to expanding access to quality
eye care all around the world.”
The company launched a new global website that can be found at www.alcon.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
that can generally be identified by words such as “commitment,” “may,”
“look forward,” “estimates,” “projected,” “will,” “potential,”
“anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “believe,” “expect,”
“intention,” “should,” “maintaining” or similar expressions, or by
express or implied discussions regarding the potential outcome, or
financial or other impact on Alcon or any of its businesses of the
separation and spin-off from Novartis; or regarding potential future
sales or earnings of Alcon or any of its businesses or potential
shareholder returns; or by discussions of strategy, plans, expectations
or intentions. You should not place undue reliance on these statements.
Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and
expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to
significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. There can be no
guarantee that Alcon will be able to realize any of the potential
strategic benefits or opportunities as a result of the separation and
spin-off. Nor can there be any guarantee that shareholders will achieve
any particular level of shareholder returns. Nor can there be any
guarantee that Alcon, or any of its businesses, will be commercially
successful in the future, or achieve any particular credit rating or
financial results. Nor can we guarantee the separation and spin-off will
be successful.
In particular, our expectations could be affected by, among other
things: uncertainties regarding the success of our separation and
spin-off from Novartis, including our ability to establish the
infrastructure needed to operate as a standalone company without
significant management distraction or business disruption; and general
political, economic and trade conditions, including uncertainties
regarding the effects of ongoing instability in various parts of the
world.
Some of these factors are discussed in more detail in Alcon’s filings
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
Form 20-F, particularly under “Item 3. Key Information—3.D. Risk
Factors”, “Item 4. Information on the Company” and “Item 5. Operating
and Financial Review and Prospects”. Should one or more of these risks
or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated,
believed, estimated or expected. The statements in this announcement are
as of the date of its filing. We do not intend, and do not assume any
obligation, to update any information or forward-looking statements set
out in this announcement as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
About Alcon
Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care
with a heritage spanning more than seven decades, we offer the broadest
portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people’s lives. Our
Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260
million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions
like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our
more than 20,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through
innovative products, partnerships with eye care professionals and
programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.com.
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Contacts
Investor Relations
Christina
Cheng
+ 41 589 112 110 (Geneva)
+ 1 817 615 2789 (Fort Worth)
investor.relations@alcon.com
Media Relations
Steven Smith
+
41 589 112 111 (Geneva)
+ 1 817 551 8057 (Fort Worth)
globalmedia.relations@alcon.com
