As a result of the 37% decline in Alcon’s share price at the end o
f 2008 to USD 89.19 from the price paid for the initial 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 investment 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 the NYSE fo
...[+++]r the 23% publicly traded Alcon shares.