Financial Accounting

For Merck, the company is based in the U.S. And uses the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to compile its financial statements.

Novartis is based in Switzerland, and it uses international financial reporting standards (IFRS) to prepare its financial statements. It is allowed to use this as foreign firm, even though it has a cross-listing on the New York Stock Exchange, but it files a different form, the 20-C, to recognize that is a foreign entity with foreign accounting practices.

The external auditors for Merck are Price Waterhouse Coopers. They certify that they have followed the standards set by the Public Companies Accounting Oversight Board. They also followed the internal control integrated framework of COSO. The auditor for Novartis is also Price Waterhouse Coopers. They used the criteria of the internal control integrative framework from COSO and the standards of the Public Companies Accounting Oversight Board.

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