The Swiss group NOVARTIS (turnover of CHF 35.8 billion in 2000) entered into the capital of its competitors ROCHE (turnover of CHF 27.5 billion in 2000). It acquired all of the shares in the company BZ GRUPPE, belonging to the financier Martin Ebner, by buying for him the 20% in shares he owns, which corresponds to 3.7% of the company's total capital. The operation was carried out at the price of CHF 151 per share, or a total investment of CHF 4.83 billion. However this operation does not...