Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceuticals group, yesterday offered minority shareholders in Alcon the equivalent of $11.2bn in stock to buy out their shares, lifting the total acquisition cost for the US eye care group to almost $50bn.
The deal also triggered speculation about how Nestlé, Alcon's majority owner, would use the $28.1bn being paid by Novartis for its remaining 52 per cent.
Nestlé said it would devote some cash to a SFr10bn share buy-back, succeeding a SFr25bn scheme expiring in mid-year.
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