Dennis, I respect both you and Pat. I seldom post but have been lurking here since those "dark days". I have derived a great deal from your and Pat's posts. That is why, as I indicated, I expect a great deal from Pat's posts, including objectivity. So I am quite disappointed to find an apparent bias in this recent series of posts.
Everyone has biases. No shame in it. No one's words should be taken for gospel. But "fact" is an awfully strong word to be using when your sources are spin-meisters and press releases. Her opinion is what she was writing in most of these posts, and she made good, fact-based arguments to support her conclusions. However, her conclusions are simply not "facts", no matter how much you or I or she wishes there were. Nor are the opinions of those posters who disagree with her. I am simply stating that I find her argument incomplete and less than convincing. It is still at odds with public information from credible sources.
Frankly, I smell shenanigans, here. I ask the very questions you mention and many, many more on virtually every position I hold on a regular basis. I trust you do also. We should both be asking the more relevant question: Which company is more likely to be engaging in the shenanigans? The facts will become apparent in time.
But my present opinion is heavily weighted by the fact that one of these companies pulled a grandstanding stunt by halting trading, apparently to allow dissemination of this news. I'll be happy to modify my opinion if I see some "facts" indicating that ASND is also engaged in shenanigans, or is the exclusive vendor of these shenanigans.
As for your insider selling remark, it does not become you. You are well aware that Mory regularly sells during his windows of opportunity, regardless of price. I find the remark gratuitous and particularly puzzling and disappointing coming from you. I suspect he has a preference to go it alone and, personally, I am not holding in anticipation of a buyout, but such selling certainly cannot be predictive of a buyout or its absence. As you also know, there is an extended restricted period following a merger and some people even see a flurry of insider selling as indicative of buyout. Not that this selling of Mory's is substantial. I believe, in fact, that it is at or below usual levels. |
