Zurich - The Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche would acquire German cell analysis firm Innovatis for 15 million euros, the two companies announced Monday.

"This acquisition is a further step in our strategy to strengthen our position as a complete solution provider in the cell analysis research market," Jurgen Schwiezer, from Roche's diagnostics division, said in a statement.

Nyon, Switzerland - European football boss Michel Platini said that the utmost will be done not to make Liverpool play a Champions League match on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.

Platini said in a UEFA statement issued on Monday that he sympathises with Liverpool and that UEFA will take the April 15, 1989, tragedy into account when the dates for the quarter-final pairings are decided.

Geneva - The oil ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran said Monday their target goal for the price of oil was between 60 to 75 dollars a barrel.

"The days of oil as a primary fuel source for the people of the world are far from over," Saudi Minister of Petroleum Ali al-Naimi said.

His Iranian counterpart, Gholam Nozari, concurred with the assessment on the ideal price a barrel of oil should fetch on the market.

Basel, Switzerland - The Swiss Bankers Association said Friday that it supported Bern's decision to offer better international cooperation on tax offences.

"The SBA now expects an end to all improper international criticism of Switzerland and its legal system and also an end to threats to put Switzerland on a so-called 'black list'," the group said in a statement.

Zurich - Swiss Re said Friday it had finalized a deal to sell Berkshire Hathaway convertible bonds worth 3 billion francs (2.51 billion dollars), but that it had left open the option to buy back the paper should it be able to raise the needed funds.

Swiss Re announced net losses in 2008 of 864 million francs and incurred 5.9 billion francs in write downs on assets, following the financial crisis.

Zurich - Swiss Life has confirmed Friday that it is in talks with German insurer Talanx about its stake in MLP, a pension specialist.

The Swiss company, the largest insurer in the Alpine nation, owns about a quarter of MLP. According to reports, Swiss Life wants to reduce its stake in MLP.

"Swiss Life confirms that it is also holding talks with the Talanx Group in this regard. Discussions are still at a preliminary stage with no decisions taken," the company said in a statement posted on its Website.