Novartis Eyes Full, $50 billion Alcon Takeover

Novartis on Jan 4 announced it was exercising its option to purchase Nestlé's remaining 52 percent stake in eye-care group Alcon for $28.1 billion. The Swiss Big Pharma will finish up paying almost $50 billion for full control of the group, given its controversial attempt to buy out the minority Alcon shareholders for a further $11.2 billion.