Novartis announces intention to make a public tender offer for the shares of Lek, creating a winning combination in the fast-growing generics market

29. 8. 2002

Novartis intends, subject to certain conditions, to make an offer to acquire all of the capital stock of Lek for 95,000 Slovenian Tolars (SIT) per share, a premium of more than 73% above the year-to-date average closing class A share price

Excellent complementarity and potential for stronger growth

Together, Novartis and Lek would be positioned as a global leader with a strong presence in the key generics markets of the US, Western Europe, Central Eastern Europe, South Eastern Europe and the CIS region

Novartis is Lek’s partner of choice to drive international expansion in key markets, securing its position as a generics leader and innovator

Press conference to be held at 13.00 hrs. today at Lek Headquarters, Verovskova 57, Ljubljana

Basel / Ljubljana, 29 August 2002 - Novartis, a global leader in healthcare, and Lek, Slovenia’s leading drug-maker, announced today that they have concluded discussions regarding a potential combination, which could create a leading player in generics (off-patent medicines) in the US, Western Europe, Central Eastern Europe (CEE), South Eastern Europe (SEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The proposed public tender offer would be subject to regulatory approvals in certain CEE, SEE and CIS countries where Lek operates and certain other conditions.

Novartis intends to make a cash payment of:
SIT 95,000

for each share (class A and B), representing a premium of approximately 42% to the closing class A share price on Thursday, 22 August 2002, the date before Lek’s shares were temporarily suspended from trading. The premium is more than 73% above the average closing price of the class A shares from the beginning of 2002. The offer price implies a market capitalization for Lek of SIT 184 billion (CHF 1,186 million). Lek’s shares are traded exclusively on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange in Slovenia.

It is intended that Lek will continue to operate as a separate company based in Slovenia with its own corporate identity. It will become a valued member of the Novartis Group playing a key role in Novartis’ strategy in the region including the CEE, SEE and CIS markets. Novartis supports Lek’s investment plans to increase capacity, principally in Slovenia and across the region. No downsizing program of the workforce or operations is foreseen as the strategic rationale builds on accelerating growth and improved access to markets. The Lek brand is a highly valued asset and will be maintained and safeguarded to optimize performance and growth.

Novartis believes that Lek has successfully built a strong franchise in the region and an attractive product pipeline. Lek’s management, employees and regional know-how will be important assets to the combined business. Mr. Metod Dragonja will remain in his role of Chief Executive Officer of the Lek Group and, together with his management team, will play a leading role in the future of the regional business. In addition, Lek’s management will participate in the Novartis Generics’ Global Committees, including its Executive Committee.

“High quality generics have a key role in healthcare management, particularly in Central and South Eastern Europe and the CIS, where demand is growing strongly”, noted Christian Seiwald, Head of Novartis’ generics business worldwide. “Both companies want to enhance their position in these emerging markets. With Lek as the regional platform for the combined businesses, we would gain a strong presence in these markets and have an attractive, well-balanced position in Europe as a whole. In addition, Lek will play an important role as an additional research, development and manufacturing center for Novartis Generics.”

Lek’s Management Board supports the intended strategic combination, and will issue a formal statement in response to the offer at, or around, the time the offer documentation is published. Metod Dragonja, President of Lek, commented: “As one of the world’s most respected and dynamic top-tier pharmaceutical and generics companies, Novartis is our partner of choice to leverage and expand our business globally. We have a similar culture and passion for growth through innovation.”

Excellent fit

The two companies are highly complementary in terms of market presence. Novartis considers Lek to be an ideal partner for pursuing joint business interests in the CEE, SEE and CIS region. Lek offers an excellent platform for Novartis to penetrate the growing emerging European markets and make a wider range of its products available to doctors and patients. At the same time, Novartis offers Lek market know-how and facilitates access to the US, EU and other markets, leveraging Lek’s pipeline. The combined businesses would have a broad product pipeline covering various therapeutic areas such as anti-infectives, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract products, and complementary strengths in the production of active ingredients.

Through the relationship with Novartis, Lek is expected to secure its position as a generics market leader and an innovator in an increasingly competitive global market environment.

About Lek

Based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Lek is an international group of generics companies and ranks among the leading pharmaceutical businesses in the CEE, SEE and CIS region, while having a broader international presence in several specific product lines. Lek is active in pharmaceuticals and veterinary products. In pharmaceuticals, it has a wide-ranging product portfolio, with substantial expertise in anti-infectives, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract products. The Lek Group employs about 3,600 people in various regions and achieved total sales of SIT 78.5 billion (CHF 544 million), operating income of SIT 9.6 billion (CHF 67 million) and net income of SIT 8.2 billion (CHF 57 million) in 2001. The company’s market capitalization on 22 August 2002 was approximately SIT 129 billion (CHF 834 million). For further information please consult http:/www.lek.si.

About Novartis

Novartis’ Generics Business Unit comprises a number of companies that produce high-quality generics and active ingredients for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Because of its expertise in production and formulation, Novartis Generics can offer a broad range of high-quality pharmaceuticals at competitive prices. The Business Unit employs more than 7,000 people worldwide and achieved sales of CHF 2.6 billion in 2001.

Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in healthcare with core businesses in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care and animal health. In 2001, the Group’s businesses achieved sales of CHF 32.0 billion and a net income of CHF 7.0 billion. The Group invested approximately CHF 4.2 billion in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ about 74,000 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For further information please consult http://www.Novartis.com.

Disclaimer

This document and the content of it does not constitute an offer of securities or an offer to purchase securities, nor a solicitation for an offer of securities or an offer to purchase securities, nor marketing or sales activity for such securities. This document must not be used for such an offer or such marketing activities. This document shall also not be construed to record that an offer of securities or an offer to purchase securities, or a solicitation for an offer of securities or an offer to purchase securities, or marketing or sales activity for such securities have been or will be made. If a public offer to acquire securities is made, a prospectus will be filed with the Securities Market Agency and a bid document will be published in advance in accordance with the Slovenian Takeover Act.

This release contains certain “forward-looking statements”, relating to both the Novartis Group’s and Lek’s businesses, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include a description of the intention of Novartis to make a tender offer for the shares of Lek. Such statements reflect the current views of Novartis and Lek with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. It is possible that the tender offer may not be made if the conditions proposed by Novartis are not met in a manner that Novartis deems satisfactory. Other factors that could impact the success of a potential acquisition include uncertainties relating to clinical trials and product development, unexpected regulatory delays or government regulation generally, and obtaining and protecting intellectual property, as well as factors discussed in the Form 20-F filed by Novartis with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

The information contained herein is not for publication or distribution to persons in the United States of America or any jurisdiction where such sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in or from the United States without registration thereunder or pursuant to an available exemption therefrom.

BACKGROUND

The proposed transaction

Novartis Pharma storitve d.o.o., a wholly owned Slovenian subsidiary of the Novartis group of companies, intends to launch the offer as a public tender offer to acquire all of Lek’s 1,792,782 class A shares and 140,394 class B shares on the open market. The offer is conditional on Novartis receiving acceptances for at least 51% of Lek’s share capital.

On 28 August 2002, Lek’s Supervisory Board approved Novartis’ acquisition of more than 15% of Lek’s shares.

A draft bid/prospectus will be filed with the Slovenian Securities Market Agency (SMA) as soon as practicable and, subject to the approval of the SMA, published within 30 days of this announcement.

To pave the way for the offer, Lek’s management and Supervisory Board issued a notice to its shareholders on 26 August 2002 to convene a General Meeting to be held on 27 September 2002 at 7.30 a.m. At this meeting, resolutions will be proposed to amend Lek’s articles of association (the “Articles”) to provide for:

  • the removal of the restriction on voting more than 15% of the Lek voting stock (a restriction which would become invalid in Slovenia by mid 2003); and
  • changes in relation to Lek’s Supervisory Board in order to allow Novartis to obtain majority representation on that Board immediately after the offer has been declared successful.

In addition, the General Meeting will decide on the exclusion of pre-emption rights in relation to Lek’s 87,075 treasury shares to enable those shares to be acquired by Novartis pursuant to the offer.

Such amendments to the Articles and decisions of the General Meeting are material to Novartis’ decision as to whether it proceeds with the offer and, accordingly, Novartis reserves its right not to make the offer in the event the Lek shareholders do not approve the above-mentioned measures. Novartis may also take such a decision under other circumstances that it considers to be materially adverse to the transaction.

Indicative Timetable
General Meeting     27 September 2002
Publication of the Bid/Prospectus     28 September 2002
Publication of Management Opinion     within 10 days of the publication of the bid

Advisers

Credit Suisse First Boston and CA IB Corporate Finance are acting as joint financial advisers to Novartis AG.
ABN AMRO is acting as sole financial adviser to Lek d. d.

Press conference presentation 29.8.2002 [Power Point, 217Kb]

Enquiries

Novartis AG Novartis Press Office +41 61 324 22 00

Lek d.d. +386 1 580 22 43