Novartis starts "squeeze out" procedure for remaining Speedel shares

THIS RELEASE IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL SHARES OF SPEEDEL

* Novartis now holds 99.8% of Speedel’s currently outstanding shares following completion of the mandatory public tender offer
* All remaining Speedel shareholders to receive same compensation of CHF 130 per share as those who tendered during offer period

Basel - Novartis announced today that it holds 99.8% of the current outstanding public shares in Speedel Holding Ltd. (SWX: SPPN) following completion of a mandatory public tender offer. A “squeeze out” procedure will now be started to cancel remaining shares under the same terms of the public tender offer (CHF 130 per share). This procedure, which is governed by Swiss law, is expected to close in early 2009. The shares of Speedel Holding Ltd. will be delisted from the Swiss Stock Exchange upon completion of the cancellation procedure.
Disclaimer
This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the proposed acquisition by Novartis of shares in Speedel and to the respective businesses of Novartis and Speedel. Such forward-looking statements are not historical facts and can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “to receive”, “will”, “expected”, or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding the potential completion of the proposed acquisition of Speedel by Novartis; potential future sales or earnings of Novartis; or by discussions of strategy, plans, expectations or intentions or potential synergies, strategic benefits or opportunities that may result from the proposed acquisition. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current plans, expectations, objectives, intentions or views of Novartis with respect to future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. In particular, there can be no guarantee that the proposed acquisition will be completed in the expected form or within the expected time frame or at all. Nor can there be any guarantee that Novartis will achieve any particular future financial results or future growth rates or that Novartis will be able to realize any of the potential synergies, strategic benefits or opportunities as a result of the proposed acquisition. Among other things, the expectations of Novartis could be affected by unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; Novartis’ ability to successfully merge the two companies and retain key personnel; unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; Novartis’ ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group’s assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group’s consolidated balance sheet, as well as other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s Forms 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This announcement is not an offer to purchase or the solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Speedel. Any offers to purchase or solicitation of offers to sell will be made only pursuant to a formal offer by Novartis. Shareholders are strongly advised to read the terms of the offer carefully when they are available because they will contain important information. Neither the offer to purchase will be made to, nor will tenders pursuant to the offer to purchase be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of shares in any jurisdiction in which making or accepting the offer to purchase would violate that jurisdiction’s laws.
About Novartis
Novartis provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused on growth areas in healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2007, the Group’s continuing operations (excluding divestments in 2007) achieved net sales of USD 38.1 billion and net income of USD 6.5 billion. Approximately USD 6.4 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 98,000 full-time associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.