Jeff,
I don't think the insider selling eliminates a merger. Nor the appointment of a new CFO. Others have posted items indicating that insider selling sometimes precedes a merger. As I said, I'm not a securities lawyer, and for sure I don't know the precise kind of deal that may be cooked up, so perhaps this timeframe is/was a last chance for insiders. Bottom line: I'm clueless! <VBG>
If for no other reason than the competitive pressures growing in this industry, I still consider a combination of some sort to be more likely than not. Even if it does not happen -- though I think that it is likely -- there is good reason right now to believe that ASND earnings will be good this 4Q. So, I'm hanging in there.
Look at the players now being accumulated: David Masunis, whose top experience is M&A. And now the new CFO, who himself has a lot of M&A experience (plus contacts with major communications companies, including GE).
Maybe ASND wants to be the top dog in a merger. Any one have any thoughts on that?
Regarding today's insider trade, I don't believe that Mr. Hendren left the company, but it is possible. I just haven't seen any news one way or the other. His position (as of last April) is set forth in the Proxy statement (I recall seeing his name):
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Mory Ejabat....................................... 1,320,622(2) 1.08%
Roger L. Evans ................................... 1,050,279(3) *
c/o Greylock Capital Limited Partnership
One Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
Robert K. Dahl.................................... 805,599(4) *
C. Richard Kramlich............................... 238,618(5) *
c/o New Enterprise Associates
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 1025
San Francisco, CA 94104
Betsy S. Atkins................................... 167,515(6) *
James P. Lally.................................... 213,808(7) *
c/o Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Buyers
2750 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Curtis N. Sanford................................. 616,502(8) *
Jeanette Symons................................... 1,073,765(9) *
Michael Hendren................................... 458,132(10) *.
Best to all,
Gary Korn |
