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To the General Meeting of Novartis AG, Basel
As statutory auditors, we have audited the
accounting records and the financial statements (balance sheet, income
statement and notes) of Novartis AG, Basel, for the year ended December
31, 2003.
These financial statements are the responsibility
of the Board of Directors. Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on these financial statements based on our audit. We confirm that
we meet the legal requirements concerning professional qualification
and independence.
Our audit was conducted in accordance with
auditing standards promulgated by the Swiss profession, which require
that an audit be planned and performed to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
We have examined on a test basis evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. We have also assessed the
accounting principles used, significant estimates made and the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides
a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the accounting records
and financial statements and the proposed appropriation of available
earnings comply with Swiss law and the Company’s articles of incorporation.
We recommend that the financial statements
submitted to you be approved.
PricewaterhouseCoopers AG

J. G. Kaiser H.
Plozza
Basel, January 20, 2004
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