Bank Sarasin (BSAN SW) – Bank Sarasin is ready and has sufficient capital to make an acquisition and may buy a competitor – the bank had discussions about co-operating with Bank Vontobel, as well as other banks, without reaching a conclusion (CEO Straehle in Le Temps)

Valora (VALN SW) – Valora might sell its production and distribution division as well as businesses in Scandinavia, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic – Valora will retain its Kiosk and press retail divisions (F&W)

Oerlikon (OERL VX) – Victory Industriebeteiligung has the means to spend up to CHF 5bn on acquisitions and should use current opportunities in the coming months (BB)

Actelion (ATLN SW) Actelion’s Tracleer get positive EU opinion on digital ulcers and EU commission is to decide on Tracleer within 2 months (BB)

Gurit (GUR SW) – FY sales CHF 381.3m (vs 381m) / EBIT 27.5m (vs 28m) / net profit 18.6m (vs 19m) Outlook: Gurit has cash flow of CHF 32.1m – plans dividend of CHF 13 Schlatter (STRN SW) – FY orders CHF 122m at year end – sales 197.1m (vs 197m) / EBIT 9.9m (vs 8.4m) / net profit 5.4m (vs 5.9m) Outlook: company won’t pay dividend for ’06 – to seek sales growth of 3-5% in mid-term (BB)

Novartis (NOVN VX) – Novartis will sell a version of Bayer’s multiple sclerosis treatment Betaseron starting in early 2009 to end a legal battle with Bayer – Bayer will pay EUR 110m for a factory in Emeryville, California and another EUR 90m for inventory of Betaseron (BB)

Phonak (PHBN SW) – Phonak that agreed to buy GN Resound, said German authorities oppose the takeover on the grounds that it would curtail competition – the ruling by the German Cartel Office isn’t final, Phonak said and it is working with the office to figure out measures that would allow the acquisition to be completed (BB)