Investor FAQs

A dividend of CHF 0.21 per share was approved by shareholders at the 2023 AGM, and was paid in May 2023.

The aggregate tax basis of the Novartis Shares and Alcon ordinary shares held by each holder immediately after the Distribution will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Novartis Shares held immediately before the Distribution, allocated between the Novartis Shares and the Alcon ordinary shares in proportion to their relative fair market values on the date of the Distribution.

There are a number of ways to determine the fair market value of Novartis Shares and Alcon ordinary shares. The allocation described below is based on the closing trading price on the New York Stock Exchange of Novartis ADRs and Alcon ordinary shares on April 9, 2019. Other valuation methodologies may exist, however, and we urge you to consult your own tax advisor regarding these basis allocation calculations.

Please find more details in our Form 8937: Report of Organizational Actions Affecting the Basis of Securities

1. Department of Finance Canada Comfort Letter
2. Canada Income Tax Alcon Spin-off Frequently Asked Questions – English
3. Canada Income Tax Alcon Spin-off Frequently Asked Questions – French
4. Canada Tax Election Example Letter – English
5. Canada Tax Election Example Letter – French
6. Quebec Tax Election Example Letter – English
7. Quebec Tax Election Example Letter – French

Alcon’s global headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Alcon was founded in Fort Worth, TX in 1945 and continues to maintain Fort Worth as a major operational, commercial, and innovation hub.

Alcon is incorporated in the Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland.

PricewaterhouseCoopers SA is the independent auditor for Alcon.

Alcon was spun-off as an independently publicly-traded company on April 9, 2019 under the symbol “ALC”.

Alcon’s CUSIP number is: H01301 128

Alcon’s ISIN number is ISIN - CH0432492467

Alcon uses the 12-month calendar year, ending December 31, as its fiscal year.

Novartis shareholders will receive one share of Alcon for every five Novartis shares or ADRs owned as of the close of trading on April 8, 2019.

Alcon shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “ALC”. As such, Alcon shares will be able to be traded and transferred across applicable borders without the need for conversion, with identical shares to be traded on different stock exchanges in different currencies.

Computershare will act as registrar for the Alcon shares. Computershare Switzerland Ltd will act as the Alcon Swiss share registrar and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. will act as the Alcon U.S. share registrar and transfer agent.

Alcon does not have a direct stock purchase plan today.

No, you have to own Novartis shares as of the close of trading on April 8, 2019 to receive Alcon shares.

There are no restrictions for investors. Investors can place orders on the SIX Swiss Exchange starting at 9:00 am Central European Summer Time, and on the New York Stock Exchange starting at 9:30 am Eastern Daylight Time. Alcon will start trading on the exchange at the market open.

The number of Novartis shares or ADRs owned will not change as a result of the spin-off.

Alcon will not trade on a “when issued” basis.

Shareholders will not receive fractional shares of Alcon, but instead will receive the cash equivalent.

As discussed in the Form 20-F, the spin-off should qualify as a tax-neutral transaction for Swiss tax purposes and for nonrecognition of gain and loss under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, except with respect to the receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares or cash due to holders of physical shares certificates (Heimverwahrer) in certain circumstances, no gain or loss should be recognized by, or be includible in the income of, a Swiss Holder or a U.S. Holder as a result of the spin-off. Additionally, no Swiss withholding tax should apply on the distribution of Alcon shares in the spin-off. You are encouraged to consult with a tax professional regarding the tax treatment of this transaction.

As a result of the spin-off, Novartis expects the trading prices of Novartis shares and ADRs at market open on April 9, 2019 to be lower than the trading prices at market close on April 8, 2019, but the shares and ADRs may be subject to other variables and trading conditions. There can be no assurance that the aggregate market value of the Novartis shares or ADRs and the Alcon shares following the spin-off will be higher than, equal to or lower than the market value of Novartis shares or ADRs if the spin-off did not occur.

Contact Alcon Investor Relations by calling the following:

U.S.: +1-817-615-2789
International: + 41-589-112-110
Email: investor.relations@alcon.com

To get more information about the mechanics of the spin-off, please contact Computershare, the distribution agent for Alcon shares at the following numbers:

Computershare
U.S. Toll Free: +1 800 736 3001
International: +1 781 575 3100

Computershare Switzerland
+41 62 205 77 00

You can find information to our public filings on alcon.com/investors

After the spin-off, each Alcon share will be entitled to one vote at any General Meeting of Alcon shareholders. However, voting rights may only be exercised for shares registered on the Alcon share register on the record date for the relevant General Meeting.

Alcon shareholders that hold their shares as book-entry shares via the SIX SIS or through the facilities of the DTC should contact their custodian, bank, broker or other nominee for more information on how to register and vote their Alcon shares following the spin-off.

Novartis shareholders registered on the Novartis share register will not automatically be registered on Alcon’s share register, but to facilitate prompt registration following the spin-off, Alcon will receive data from the Novartis share register. In case you do not want Alcon to receive your data from the Novartis share register, please contact the Novartis Share Registry during regular Swiss business hours by telephone at +41 61 324 7204 or by email at share.registry@novartis.com.

Dividends distributed by Alcon Inc. are subject to a Swiss 35% withholding tax. This tax will be paid directly by Alcon to the Swiss federal tax authorities within thirty days of the due date of the dividend.

If you are a Swiss resident and the beneficial owner of the taxable distribution at the time it is resolved and duly report the gross dividend in your tax return or financial statements, as the case may be, the withholding tax will be fully refundable.

If you are tax resident in a country with which Switzerland has concluded a double tax treaty, in most cases you will be able to recover a portion, but not all, of the Swiss withholding tax, by filing a form requesting a refund. As an example, for a US resident, a Form 82 l must be completed and submitted in accordance with the procedure described in the form to obtain a partial refund.

If you are tax resident in a country with which Switzerland has not concluded a double tax treaty, in principle you cannot recover the Swiss withholding tax.

For further information, please refer to the Swiss federal tax authorities.