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Roche makes lower hostile bid for Genentech

This content was published on Jan 30, 2009 Friday’s offer by Roche, which already owns 55.8 per cent of Genentech, comes after its earlier offer of $89 per share was rejected as too low by the San Francisco-based company’s board in July. The new offer values the outstanding shares at $42.1 billion, about $1.6 billion less than the previous bid. Genentech shares closed…

Organ donors reach “alarmingly low” levels

This content was published on Jan 30, 2009 The organ shortage resulted in 1,544 patients sitting on waiting lists in 2008 – up from 1,381 in 2007 – with 62 people dying because a suitable organ could not be found. The figures were released on Friday at the annual meeting of the Swiss transplantation society in Interlaken. Swisstransplant director Franz Immer said Switzerland…

“What motivates bankers? Vanity”

This content was published on Jan 30, 2009 swissinfo spoke to business ethicist Ulrich Thielemann of St Gallen University about why the move has provoked such an outcry, and whether bonuses can ever be justified. The government gave UBS a rescue package worth SFr6 billion ($5.3 billion) in October, so the fact that the bank is now paying out SFr2 billion in bonuses…

Swatch Group reports slowdown in 2008 sales

This content was published on Jan 29, 2009 Net sales rose by 0.5 per cent to SFr5.7 billion ($4.93 billion), with overall gross sales up by 4.3 per cent, the group announced on Thursday. It followed a record financial year for the group in 2007. The group said after a promising start to 2008 “turmoil and enormous destruction of wealth in the financial…

Bond baddie stands up to “selfish” firms

This content was published on Jan 28, 2009 Taubman hosted the Public Eye Awards in Davos that highlight unethical corporate practice. This year’s vote named a gold mining firm and a Swiss utility company as the worst offenders. Public Eye was set up by Greenpeace Switzerland and pressure group Berne Declaration in 2000 as a “WEF watchdog” and runs alongside the annual forum.…

Bulgaria plays catch up with confidence

This content was published on Jan 28, 2009 Swiss voters will decide on February 8 whether to extend a European Union labour accord to Bulgaria and Romania, allowing workers from these countries easier access to the Swiss jobs market. swissinfo went to Sofia to see where Bulgaria fits into the picture. This is a country with plenty of room for growth and, spurred…

Economic barometer falls to record low

This content was published on Jan 28, 2009 KOF said its indicator, which points to the economy’s likely performance in six months time, fell to –0.87, the lowest level since its launch in 1991. “As was signalled last month, this means the barometer is now confirming that the Swiss economy is set to contract over the coming months,” KOF said in a statement…

Vote on EU labour accord – background information in English

This content was published on Jan 28, 2009 At stake is the continuation of the labour agreement, also known as the free movement of people accord, and whether it should be extended to the latest EU member states Bulgaria and Romania. The ballot is considered one of the most important votes in recent years affecting relations with the EU – Switzerland’s most important…

CEO confidence plummets to record low

This content was published on Jan 28, 2009 The seventh annual survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) of more than 1,100 chief executives found that just 21 per cent were “very confident” of growing revenue during the next year. That is down from 50 per cent one year ago. Few expect the downturn to be short. “The three-year view is a bit better, but the…

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Roche makes lower hostile bid for Genentech

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Organ donors reach “alarmingly low” levels

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“What motivates bankers? Vanity”

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More questions than answers to finance crisis

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Swatch Group reports slowdown in 2008 sales

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Bond baddie stands up to “selfish” firms

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Bulgaria plays catch up with confidence

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Economic barometer falls to record low

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Vote on EU labour accord – background information in English

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CEO confidence plummets to record low

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