Abbott Lab -my summary-Abbott Labs is a medical&pharma company based in Chicago. http://www.abbott.com/ They recently(Aug 2016 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/27/business/dealbook/abbotts-no-good-very-bad-ma-week.html)) had some problems as they tried to acquire two different companies simultaneously which both had some issues. They had tried to acquire Alere, which makes medical tests. As part of the agreement Abbott was supposed to seek merger approval&close the deal as usual, but when it became apparent that Alere was being investigated for regulation problems over foreign sales practice its annual financial report was delayed. This appears to have already been known at the time Abbott signed the deal. In the mean time Abbott tried to acquire St. Judge Medical also to expand into the cardio market (and epipens). But a report revealed by Muddy Waters Research showed that their pacemakers were vulnerable to cyber attack&that revenue would be halfed over a two year period. In order to reverse the deal with Alere that company claimed in a suit that Abbott didn't take the agreed to steps to seek merger approval in an attempt to purposely thwart the buyout.

The article says, ""Maybe they did these deals out of desperation to bridge a growth gap or something, in terms of being willing to overlook things,” said Mr. Funtleyder, who also is an adjunct professor of public health at Columbia University. “Wall Street is not going to think this is an honest mistake.”"&that's the problem Abbott has. It might appear they didn't due their due diligence before trying to acquire the companies.

The article admits, "The report disclosing problems with St. Jude Medical’s cardiac devices came from an investment firm, which had bet on the decline of St. Jude shares. The founder of that firm, Carson Block, received the information from MedSec, which is a cybersecurity research firm. After MedSec discovered the vulnerabilities, it contacted Mr. Block. Justine Bone, MedSec’s chief executive, said on Bloomberg TV on Thursday that MedSec also benefited from the decline in St. Jude’s stock price this week."

And that seems likely. There's always a motive. I personally think the chances that a pacemaker would be tampered with are remote but that measures should be built in to prevent that.

But this company being based in Chicago&having such a big hand in recent medical company mergers might mean their is more to this company that should be researched further as time allows.

The Abbott website (http://www.abbott.com/investors/governance/leadership-team.html)) has profiles on these people: Miles D. White, Thomas C. Freyman, Hubert L. Allen, Brian J. Blaser, John M. Capke. Ph.D., Robert B Ford, Stephen R. Fussell, Heather L. Mason, Michael J. Warmuth, Roger M. Bird, Jaime Contreras, Thomas Frinzi, Andrew H. Lane, Elaine R. Leavenworth, Corlis D. Murray, Deepak Nath. Ph.D, Jean-Yves Pavee, Daniel Salvadori, Jared L. Watkin, Brian B. Yoor.

A overview of some of the details I noticed:

White is the chairman&CEO, also serves on the board of Caterpiller&McDonalds, member of US-China Business Council, and was Chairman of Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. So he's got a lot of clout.

Freyman was certified as a public accountant with Ernst & Whinney in Chicago&is a director of Tenneco which makes car parts.

Allen was Assistant General Counsel for McKesson Corp.

Blaser did enginnering, finance,&operations for companies Johnson & Johson, Eastman Koda,&General Motors.

Ford did marketing for Becton Dickinson Brazil.

Fussell did HR for Nestle&Shell.

Mason works on nutritional products, Latin American Operations, worked for Quaker Oats&FMC Corp. Advisor to Healthcare Businesswomen's Assoc.

Bird works on U.S. Nutrition&does the same for China&Hong Kong, worked for Dial Soap in sales, launced Similac Elva and Similac Qinti infant forumlas.

Contreras worked on Europe, Africa, Middle East, Spain, Portugal&Mexico. Worked for Bayer in Mexico. Is on the board for European Diagnostic Manufacturers Assoc. (EDMA)&Clara Aboot Foundation.

Leavenworth serves on board for U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Goodman Theater, Duke Global Health Institute, Women's Advisory for Girl Scout Council of the Nations' Capital. Member of Economic Club of Chicago, Women's Forum of D.C.,&served on board of The Chicago Network,&the President of the Abbot Fund their philanthropic foundation,&was on the board of Clara Abbott Foundation.

Murray worked at Recognition Equipment&Xerox Corp.

Nath lead work at Amgem&consulted for McKinsey & Company.

Salvadori was CEO for LATAM for CFR Pharma.

Yoor is a member of NIRI, National Investor Relations Institute.

Directors Listed (http://www.abbott.com/investors/governance/board-of-directors-and-committees.html)) with some summaries:

Miles D. White

Robert J. Alpern. M.D. - Director of AbbVie Inc.

Roxanne S. Austin - Pres.&CEO of Move Networks, Inc., a provider of Internet television services. Pres.&CEO of DIRECTV, Inc., Exec. VP&Chief Financial Officer of Huges Electronic Corp.,&as a partner of Deloitte & Touche LLP. a director of AbbVie Inc., Target Corportation, Teledyne Technologies, Inc.&Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.&President of Austin Investment Advisors.

Salley E. Blount, PH.D - Business&Management. Served as Vice Dean&Dean of undergrad. college New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business, was the Abraham L. Gitlow Profess. of Management&Organizations.

W. James Farrell - Was CEO&Chairman of Illinois Tool Works, board of directors of 3M, Allstate Insurance, UAL Corporation.

Edward M. Liddy - Partner in investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Interim Chairman&CEO of American International Group, Inc. (AIG) serving at the request of U.S. Department of Treasury. Chairman, CEO, Pres., of Allstate Corp., Board of Directors of AbbVie Inc., 3M, Boeing,&partner of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC.

Nancy McKinstry - CEO&Chairman of Wolters Kluwer N.V., Board of Telefonieaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (LM Ericsson Telephone Company), Board of MortgageIT Holding, Inc.

Phebe N. Novakovic - Was Chairman&now CEO of General Dynamics Corp, service Marine System of General Dynamics, Special Assistant to the Secretary&Deputy Secretary of Defense,&Deputy Associate Directory of the Office of Management&Budget. It notes here that she as Special Assistant to Secretary&Deputy SOD she provides government perspective&experience in a highly regulated industry. I assume that means she is something like their lobbyist.

William A. Osborn - Was Chairman&CEO of Northern Trust Corp., currently a director of Caterpillar, General Dynamics Corporation, Chairman of Board of Trustee of Northwestern University. Served on Board of Nicor, Inc.,&was on Board of Directory of Tribune Company. Again there is a note about highly regulated industries so again I assume he's a lobbyist for them.

Samuel C. Scott III - Chairmain, Pres.&CEO, of Corn Products International, Pres. of Corn Refining Division of CPC International, "when CPC International spun off Corn Products International as a separate corporation." Board of Directors of Bank of New York mellon Corp.&Motorola Solutions, Inc. A note says "experience in finance&capital markets matters."

Glenn F. Tilton - Chairman of Midwest JPMorgan Chase & Co, Non-Exec. Chairman of Board of United Continental Holdings, Inc. Chairman, Pres.&CEO, of UAL Corp, a holding company, Chairman of CEO of United Air Lines, Inc., owned by UAL. A director of AbbVie Inc.&Phillips 66. Served on doard of Directors of Lincoln National Corp. of TXU Corp, of Corning Incorp.,&of United Continental holdings, Inc. Served as Chairman of the Midwest for JPMorgan Chase & Co., Non-Exec. Chairman of Board of United Continental Holdings, Inc., Chairman, Pres.,&CEO of UAl&United Air Lines, Vice Chairman of Chevron Texaco, Interim Chairman of Dynegy, Inc. Again there is a note about regulated industries&finance&capital markets....more below...