What is new -- and highly unusual -- is for Whitehouse Station to schedule a business update (at the newly expanding Boston R&D site, no less!), only one week thereafter -- at 9 a.m. EDT, while the NYSE is open, and trading. One version of this press strategy would contemplate that the team will take questions about an announcement made a few minutes before the market open, on the NYSE. One that differs, in kind -- from regular quarterly results/business reviews.
In short, one that announces a divestiture -- and the transfer of related Merck debt (more speculatively), to a buyer -- likely in Europe. And likely involving Consumer Health -- but it could also involve Animal Health. Here's the late-breaking announcement.
. . . .Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, will hold an Investor Briefing on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 starting at 9:00 a.m. EDT at its research facility in Boston, MA. During the event, members of Merck's senior management will detail the company's research strategy, showcase candidates from the research and development pipeline and provide a business update.
There will be a live webcast of the event available on Merck's website. . . .
We expect GAAP EPS of $0.49 -- consistent with consensus, on Wall Street -- pre market tomorrow. We also expect significant currency headwinds, at the sales line -- something like 3 per cent.
Now -- will my weekend musings prove wingingly-prophetic -- or clay-footed? Now we wait, to find out. Stay dry, and sheltered, one and all, today.
4 comments:
In other pharma news, it turns out that not only was the Pfizer/AZ thing TRUE but it's still on the table - in some form!!
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBREA3R0H520140428?irpc=932
Indeed, so it would seem.
I just think -- even now -- it will be a transaction (if ever actually announced) that will not close -- not in anything like the shape it has been rumored to take.
That's all.
The likely EU antitrust required divestitures are manifold, and quite deep.
But. . . Ian C. Read (in my experience) tends to default into "tank" mode -- on such matters.
That is, he just keeps battering brick walls (as opposed to driving around them!) -- in the hopes that his tank will. . . eventually. . . run through.
Often, however, all he does is ruin his. . . tank. Snapping the treads right off.
But that is certainly Ian's M.O.. . . .
SO. . . we shall see. Thanks Anon.!
Do stop back!
Namaste!
Crazy Ian just went postal!
Man!
He's plainly in the preliminary throes of launching a hostile tender, for AZ!
See my latest. . . he really is off the reservation, here.
But maybe he is just all about de-stabilizing AZ. And its management.
We shall see!
Great stuff -- high drama in pharma majors!
Namaste, one and all!
Something interesting I noticed recently was a Nexium commercial that touted the branded benefits of the 'purple pill' and how to keep getting it DIRECT from AZ. Not sure how the program will work but I thought it quite interesting to have them go DTC in a supply way. I wonder what the PBMs will think/do.
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