Sanofi-Aventis confirmed its appetite for Genzyme
The acquisition by Sanofi-Aventis Genzyme will Does the operation of the summer? Sanofi-Aventis, Genzyme would have sent a letter mentioning his interest in the company, according to a source close to the deal relayed by Reuters, adding that the two companies were discussing the offer.
According to the agency, the proposed acquisition would be valued around $ 18.4 billion, or $ 69 per share. For several days, analysts forecasts of competing on the amount of the bid. The Wall Street Journal, the offer of French would be between 67 and 70 dollars per share valuing the American between 17 and 18.8 billion dollars.
Genzyme is not ready to accept an offer below $ 80 a share. But analysts said Sanofi-Aventis could make a first offer around $ 70 per share to acquire the U.S. biotech. What it would raise its offer to $ 80.A price for analysts remain quite tolerable for the French group. Quoted by Reuters, one analyst said that "70 dollars would be a first offer" and that "at $ 80 it remains a good deal for Sanofi. Same story for another sector specialist who believes that $ 80 "operation creates value in three years that will follow."
Sanofi single buyer under Citi
As for Citigroup, estimated that Sanofi will likely be the only buyer of American specialist on rare diseases and will pay between 74-77 dollars per share, or 19.7 to 20.5 billion dollars (15.0 to 15 6 billion euros). They add that the French lab could launch a hostile bid if Genzyme resists and present its offer directly to shareholders.He continued: "shareholder Relational Investors, Carl Icahn, who hold respectively 3.8% and 4.9% from Genzyme, could be satisfied with an offer around $ 75 since they bought at 61 and 54 dollars. In fact, an agreement would be accretive to $ 75 4% in 2011 and 13% in 2013 for Sanofi, analysts have calculated the Citi.
At Raymond James, Eric Le Berrigaud doubt that "70 dollars is sufficient. Starting at $ 70, is ready to go up to 80 dollars, "he notes. "And at 80 dollars it is not certain whether all the guarantees of success because it is about the level or action Genzyme was before its production problems. The biotech has indeed experienced last year a series of production problems on its sites in the United States, which continue to weigh on its business.
A fourth analyst insists that Sanofi is expected to launch its bid for Genzyme even if it does not create value for the group's objective is to increase its earnings per share. "For the operation to bring value, it should pay less than $ 70 per share, or about 64 dollars," he says. "If Sanofi launches operation beyond, is that the group favors a financial logic in the short to medium term to close down its results and not the logic of value creation."
Doubts to find a "white knight"
Sources familiar with the case, it said last week that Sanofi had sent a letter to Genzyme with the terms of its offer. This offer would be "friendly" at first but may become hostile if necessary.
The Board of Directors of Sanofi would have authorized an offer of 18.7 billion dollars.But Sanofi has financial guidelines allowing it to raise its offer, that is to say, bring it to more than $ 70 per share. The experts, anyway, doubt that Genzyme is a "white knight" to deal with Sanofi.
Meanwhile, as Genzyme was trading late Monday to end at 70.36 dollars, up 1.15%. In exchange after exchange, the title earned more than 2% to just under $ 72. Since the early rumors, Genzyme shares gained 38%.