To identify dose combinations of telmisartan and ramipril that are more effective in reducing diastolic blood pressure than each of the respective monotherapies in patients with Stage I or II hypertension.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female patients >=18 years of age with Stage I or II hypertension defined as:
• a mean seated cuff diastolic blood pressure >=95 and <=119 mmHg Main

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant
• breast-feeding
• unwilling to use birth control during the study
• secondary hypertension
• SBP>=180 mmHg
• DBP>=120 mmHg
• severe renal dysfunction
• hepatic insufficiency
• stroke within the last 6 months
• myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, unstable angina or coronary artery bypass graft within the past three months
• unstable or uncontrolled diabetes
• history of angioedema of either of the study drugs, and hypersensitivity to the study drugs.