BioCentury
ARTICLE | Finance

Genentech pushes past a magic number

January 25, 1999 8:00 AM UTC

While Genentech posted solid 1998 earnings last week, investors will have only one more look at a GNE P&L statement prior to Roche's June 30 deadline to exercise its option to buy the 34.7 percent of GNE it doesn't already own. GNE last week pushed past the $82.50 Roche take-out price, closing Friday at $83.813, up $4.813 on the week. (The call price is $81 in the first quarter, increasing to $82.50 in the second quarter.)

The pharma company has not tipped its hand, but conventional wisdom on the Street is that Roche will not risk killing GNE's entrepreneurial R&D spirit by exercising the call. As a possible indicator, Roche has not taken advantage of its right to increase its stake to 79.9 percent through open-market purchases...