Novartis has increased its ownership of Roche voting shares to 30% of the total, says a report last week in Swiss newspaper Basler Zeitung. Novartis confirms that it recently raised its ownership of these shares by 1.3%, to 21.3%, as part of "a long-term financial partnership," but Novartis and Roche each declined to comment on the latest report. Novartis bought 20% of Roche's voting shares last year (CW, May 16, 2001, p.7).
The report reignited speculation that Novartis is preparing for a merger with Roche. The combined …
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