• Assess long-term safety of the combination of aliskiren 300 mg/valsartan 320 mg in patients with essential hypertension (msDBP >= 90 mmHg and < 110 mgHg). [ Time Frame: 6-12 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• 2. Assess the safety and tolerability of the triple combination of aliskiren/valsartan/HCTZ (SVH) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

• 1. To assess the long-term blood pressure lowering efficacy of the combination of aliskiren/valsartan [ Time Frame: 12 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• The proportion of patients achieving the blood pressure target of <140/90 mmHg [ Time Frame: 12 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• To assess the long-term blood pressure lowering efficacy of the triple combination of aliskiren/valsartan/HCTZ. [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• The proportion of patients achieving the blood pressure control target of <140/90 mmHg at the end of the 6 month extension study. [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• Mean sitting diastolic blood pressure (msDBP) lowering efficacy of the combination of aliskiren and valsartan from baseline to week 54
• Achieving blood pressure control target of <140/90 mmHg at end of study

Assessment of the long-term safety and tolerability of the combination of aliskiren and valsartan (300 mg/ 320 mg) in patients with high blood pressure,followed by assessment of long-term safety and tolerability of the combination of aliskiren/valsartan/HCTZ.

Inclusion Criteria: -

• Male and female outpatients 18 years of age and older.
• Patients who are eligible and able to participate in the study.

Patients will qualify to participate in the long-term extension based on:

• Their successful completion of the CSPV100A2301 Core study.
• Obtaining informed consent to participate in the extension study.
• Absence of ongoing severe adverse events at final visit in core study.
• Absence of hypotension (msSBP <100 mmHg or msDBP (<60 mmHg) or related events at final visit in the core study.
• Absence of hypokalemia (clinical symptoms/signs or lab findings) at Visits 12 or 13.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension.
• History or evidence of a secondary form of hypertension.
• History of hypertensive encephalopathy or cerebrovascular accident.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.