ASIANET: CIBA Vision Announces Completion Of Acquisition of Wesley Jessen

Acquisition of Wesley Jessen

Combined Company Ranks Number Two Worldwide in Contact Lenses

ATLANTA, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- CIBA Vision Corporation, the eye care unit of Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS), today announced that it has completed the merger of WJ Acquisition Corp., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Novartis, with and into Wesley Jessen VisionCare, Inc. Wesley Jessen is now an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Novartis.

The acquisition of Wesley Jessen is an important move for CIBA Vision as the combined company is the world's second largest contact lens company. CIBA Vision and Wesley Jessen had 1999 pro-forma sales of $1.4 billion and employed 8,900.

"We are now able to move forward with combining CIBA Vision and Wesley Jessen into the leading firm in the contact lens industry," said Glen Bradley, CEO of CIBA Vision. "Wesley Jessen brings to CIBA Vision an exciting range of products that complement our existing brands as well as technological expertise, especially in the area of specialty lenses. CIBA Vision's established global sales and marketing operations will greatly expand the global reach of Wesley Jessen's product lines.

"As a result of the combination, our customers can expect a steady flow of new products and unique vision correction options."

CIBA Vision announced its agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Wesley Jessen common stock for $38.50 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $785 million, on May 30, 2000.

With worldwide headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, CIBA Vision is a global leader in research, development and manufacturing of optical and ophthalmic products and services, including contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical products and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. CIBA Vision products are available in more than 70 countries.

CIBA Vision is the eye care unit of Novartis AG, a world leader in healthcare with core businesses in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye care, and animal health. In 1999, the Group (including agribusiness) achieved sales of CHF 32.5 billion and invested more than CHF 4.2 billion in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis employs about 82,000 people and operates in over 140 countries around the world. The Group recently announced plans to spin off its crop protection and seeds sectors and to merge them with the agrochemicals business of AstraZeneca to form a new company, Syngenta, in the second half of 2000.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The foregoing communications contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Safe Harbor Provisions"). CIBA Vision and Wesley Jessen are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter their forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Safe Harbor Provisions are not applicable to the foregoing communications to the extent that they constitute tender offer materials and have not been judicially determined to be applicable to such communications to the extent that they constitute soliciting materials.

For Investor Relations information contact:

Novartis Investor Relations

US: Joe Schepers 212-830-2444

Europe: Wolfgang Kirchmayr +41 61 32 44509

SOURCE: CIBA Vision Corporation

CONTACT: Amanda Cancel or Jan McClure of CIBA Vision Corporation, 678-415-3646

Web site: http://www.cibavision.com/ (NVS)

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