Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are eligible and able to participate in the study, and who give written informed consent before any assessment is performed.
• Men or women 18 years and older.
• Patients with Stage 2 systolic hypertension, defined as having a MSSBP ≥160 mmHg and <200 mmHg at Visit 5 (randomization).
• Patients who have been newly diagnosed with hypertension or who have not received antihypertensive medication for at least 4 weeks (28 days) prior to Visit 1 must have MSSBP ≥ 160 mmHg and < 200 mmHg at Visit 1, otherwise, they will be considered screen failures.
• Patients receiving antihypertensive medication must have a MSSBP of ≥150 mmHg and <200 mmHg at Study Visit 1, otherwise they will be considered screen failures.
• Patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus with an HbA1c ≤ 9 % at visit 1 and on a stable anti-diabetic regimen not including insulin or stable diet and exercise for at least 4 weeks prior to visit 1.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Office blood pressure measured by cuff (MSSBP ≥200 mmHg or MSDBP ≥120 mmHg).
• History or evidence of secondary hypertension of any etiology.
• Refractory hypertension, defined as having uncontrolled BP (≥140/90 mmHg) while receiving 3 antihypertensive medications at the maximum approved dose of each drug, one of which must be a diuretic.
• Patients treated with more than 3 antihypertensive medications (each component of a combination drug counts individually).
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin treatment.
• MDRD estimated GFR (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73m2
• Serum sodium less than lower limit of normal, serum potassium < 3.5 mEq/L or ≥ 5.3 mEq/L at Visit 1.
• Known Keith-Wagener grade III or IV hypertensive retinopathy.
• Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.