As a result of the 37% decline in Alcon’s share price at the end of 2008 to USD 89.19 from the price paid for the i
nitial 24.8% stake, Novartis performed an impairment test on the investment’s carrying value. This test assessed the “value in use” to Novartis of this strategic in
vestment by valuing estimated discounted cash flows and future dividend streams from Alcon against the “fair value less costs to sell” of this stake, as measured by the closing price on December 31, 2008, on t
he NYSE for the 23% ...[+++]publicly traded Alcon shares.