Is Bristol Ripe For A Buyout?

摘要

With the fundamentals improving at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and the stock spiraling down, the global drugmaker could be an enticing buyout target. Indeed, the company's huge sales, its array of products under development, and the shares' tumble to 19.78 on Oct. 29, down from 30 a year ago, make Bristol an "attractive takeover candidate" for drug giants (page 44) like Pfizer or Sanofi-Aventis, says Jason Napolitano of Zacks Investment Research. French drugmaker Sanofi is Bristol's joint-venture partner in producing its largest-selling drug, Plavix, for the prevention of a stroke or heart attack. Plavix posted sales of $4.8 billion in 2007. Sanofi also helps promote Bristol's Avapro, a drug used against hypertension and congestive heart failure.