# C_2010171EN.01001401.xml

| 30.6.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 171/14 |
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30.6.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 171/14

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5778 — Novartis/Alcon)

(Text with EEA relevance)

2010/C 171/09

| 1. | On 18 June 2010, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Merger Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Novartis AG (‘Novartis’, Switzerland) acquires sole control within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation of Alcon Inc. (‘Alcon’, Switzerland) by way of purchase of shares. |
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1.

On 18 June 2010, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Merger Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which Novartis AG (‘Novartis’, Switzerland) acquires sole control within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation of Alcon Inc. (‘Alcon’, Switzerland) by way of purchase of shares.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for Novartis: the development, production, distribution and marketing of medical products (also in eye care); contact lenses and lens care products; human vaccines and animal health products, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Novartis: the development, production, distribution and marketing of medical products (also in eye care); contact lenses and lens care products; human vaccines and animal health products,

| — | for Alcon developing, manufacturing, and distributing eye care products and to a lesser extent products for the treatment of ear and nose diseases. |
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for Alcon developing, manufacturing, and distributing eye care products and to a lesser extent products for the treatment of ear and nose diseases.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope the EC Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5778 — Novartis/Alcon, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |
| BELGIQUE/BELGIË |

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by e-mail to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5778 — Novartis/Alcon, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘EC Merger Regulation’).

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