Aventis/Novartis update
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
No formal negotiations have taken place on price tag for France's number one pharmaceutical company, Aventis CEO Igor Landau says in an April 2 conference call. Landau said the firm has "close to two months" to accelerate price negotiations if Novartis maintains interest; Aventis will propose resolutions including a 2003 dividend to shareholders at a May 19 annual meeting. If the merger is successful, Novartis likely would spin off non-core pharmaceutical and consumer brands into a separate entity (1"The Tan Sheet" March 29, 2004, p. 5)...