Novartis Gets Hold of 57 percent of Lek

Ljubljana, 29 October - Swiss pharma company Novartis managed to acquire 57.28 percent of Slovenian drug maker Lek, thus exceeding the 51 percent threshold set in its takeover offer, Novartis said Monday. As the condition set down in the offer was met less than 14 days before the offer expires, Novartis has extended the validity of its bid by 18 November, the company said in an announcement published in the daily Delo.