Round 2: Genentech vs. Roche--No deal!!!!!

 As expected, Genentech summarily rejected Roche’s offer to purchase it for $43.7 billion. Genentech executives claim that Roche’s offer is too low and it undervalues the actual worth of the company. Roche offered Genentech about $88 per share for remaining 44% of the outstanding shares of stock that it doesn’t already own. Many Wall Street analysts think that the actual value of Genentech stock is roughly $100 per share. As any business person knows (with or without an MBA), the first offer is usually not the last offered that is tendered in any deal.

 

Because Roche owns a majority controlling interest in Genentech, it is not clear whether Genentech can avoid actually being purchased by Roche. Genentech executives have publicly stated that earlier agreements between the two companies that guide the sale of Genentech may no longer be in effect and that they will not abide by them.  I suspect that only time (or perhaps the courts) will tell.

 

Roche has already indicated that if it acquires Genentech, there will likely be job cuts to its 10,700 member workforce (something that Genentech wants to prevent). I suspect that Genentech’s rejection of Roche’s offer is the first in a series designed to maximize shareholder value for Genentech (not to mention the large sums of money that company workers and executives who own stock options will make as a result of a sale).

 

I predict that Roche will ultimately buy Genentech. The only thing that remains to be determined is how much Roche will have to pay to acquire the biotech giant. Roche cannot afford to let this deal go south—a bright and successful future depends on it!

 

If I were a Genentech employee, I would be dusting off the old resume right about now.

 

Until next time….

 

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!

The BMS-ImClone Plot Thickens: Icahn--BMS is Low-Balling Us!

According to a post at the Pharmalot blog, Carl Icahn, Chairman of ImClone, thinks that BMS’ offer last week of $4.5 billion to purchase ImClone is way too low. Icahn feels that the bid was motivated, in part, because ImClone is developing a drug that may compete with Erbitux, and BMS may not have rights to the new drug. Bristol (like it has for Erbitux). I suspect that he is correct but as I mentioned last week, BMS is committed to becoming a next generation biopharma company and the acquisition of ImClone make perfect strategic and financial sense to me. Personally, I think that Carl is posturing (like any good businessman) because he knows that the BMS offer will not be the final offer tendered for ImClone.

As I have stated many times in the past on this blog, Carl seems to know a lot about biotechnology despite no formal training and no hands-on experience in the biz. Maybe he ought to start his own biotechnology company and own 100 percent of its stock. That way he will not have to raid other companies to gain control of their boards to purchase more stock or simply sell the companies? Life would certainly be easier for those biotechnology CEOs and their boards who have  work long and hard to create profitable businesses.

Don’t be surprised if BMS raises its purchase offer for ImClone. BMS finalized is flush with cash after it finalized the sale late last week of its former subsidiary ConvaTec for $6.6 billion.

Until next time…

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting (not in NJ)!!