Novartis AG is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company, which prepares group financial statements. Obtain the annual report of Novartis Group for 2010 (available online on www.novartis.com) and review the information about acquisitions. This information may be provided in different parts of the annual report including financial statements.
List the acquisitions made during the year. Prepare a report, which shows:
1. Your research into the reasons for success or failure of acquisitions in general.
2. Potential advantages of each of the acquisitions in 2010 for Novartis Group.
3. Impact on the consolidated financial statements of these acquisitions including adjustments to subsidiary's book values.
4. Your views about goodwill on each acquisition and subsequent goodwill impairment charges, if any.