George Gunn has – and please pardon the pun I can't resist it – certainly got his finger on the trigger over at Novartis. The company has clocked double-digit growth for the last two years running – making it the fastest growing animal health company in the top ten, and moving it from number eight to number five in the global rankings – just above Fort Dodge we believe.

Mr Gunn could well have an acquisition in his sights (apologies again ..). I wonder, considering he's loaded with a significant ammunition of Swiss Francs, which animal health division could well end up on his trophy wall. Funny how things turn out sometimes.