Alcon grows despite “global economic weakness”

Alcon continues to grow and develop despite the ongoing effects of the global economic downturn, it has been asserted.

Kevin Buehler, the firm’s president and chief executive officer, made his comments as the business posted its financial results for the second quarter of 2009.

The firm reported global sales of $1,677 million (1.01 billion pounds) for the period, which represents an increase of 3.3 per cent on the corresponding three months last year, excluding the effects of foreign exchange fluctuations.

Mr Buehler added: “Organic sales growth is coming in as expected in 2009, as we continue to execute our sales and marketing strategies that allow us to grow even in the face of global economic weakness.”

He concluded by predicting further development in some of the enterprise’s key businesses, such as glaucoma and emerging markets.

In recent weeks, Alcon announced that it had gained ownership of more than 95 per cent of the share capital of WaveLight, which is enough to initiative a “squeeze-out” under German securities law in order to obtain the rest of the shares.