EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2005--Chiron Corporation (NASDAQ:CHIR) and Novartis (NYSE:NVS) today announced that on December 5, 2005, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission approved early termination of the antitrust waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act for the proposed acquisition of Chiron by Novartis. Chiron and Novartis continue to expect that this transaction will be completed in the first half of 2006, subject to approval by a majority of Chiron's shareholders and other customary closing conditions, including additional regulatory approvals.
