RE:More potentially huge news...I can't speak to the veracity of the rumor that Oppenheimer has recently met with ONC/Y. However, in conducting a deal with a value in the billions of dollars I would expect ONC/Y to use the services of an investment bank like Oppenheimer.
Here is some info I gleaned from a quick internet search.
What is an investment bank: "
An investment bank is a financial services company that acts as an intermediary in large and complex financial transactions. An investment bank is usually involved when a startup company prepares for its launch of an initial public offering (IPO) and when a corporation merges with a competitor. It also has a role as a broker or financial adviser for large institutional clients such as pension funds.
What is Oppenheimer's connection with healthcare? From their website: "Oppenheimer’s Healthcare Investment Banking Group is comprised of dedicated teams focused on the life sciences, medical technology, and healthcare services sectors. We deliver expert-level industry guidance coupled with decades of transaction experience, to assist our clients in achieving their strategic and financial goals. We have extensive experience serving as both sell side and buy side advisors as well as in underwriting and placing equity and debt offerings for public and privately-held companies. Over the last decade, our healthcare banking professionals have completed financings that raised approximately $30 billion and advised on over 300 merger and acquisition deals valued at approximately $13 billion."
Some commentators on this and other boards have opined that ONC/Y should have struck a deal with Pfizer, Merck, or Roche already. I have consitently argued that this flies in the face of good negotiating strategy and the need for optimal competative tension to facilitate a good deal. Competative tension means providing optimal (and verifiable) information and including as many interested parties in the negotiating process as possible. ONC has consitently said: 1. they will be deliberative and methodical in this process, and 2. they will not rush the process, especially when maturing data could signifcantly increase the value of ONC. Hence ONC/Y has been highlighting the maturing BRACELET-1 data to be released on June 3rd (little more than one month away). It is also beyond obvious that in negotiations of this magnitude ONC/Y would be using the services of an investment bank with knowledge and experience in facilitating deals within the biopharma healthcare sector.
Be patient a little longer. The May 5th Q1 finacials and accompanying management discussion will be interesting and informative. The May 9th AGM will be interesting and informative. The May 25th abstract release will be interesting and informative. The June 3rd oral presentation will be extremely interesting and informative. To my eyes, so far ONC/Y is progressing exactly as it should toward some sort of deal.