Roche's chance for $45B Genentech deal dwindles

Earlier this year, Roche's plans to raise $45 billion to acquire the outstanding shares to Genentech looked like a simple transaction in the world of high finance. One global economic crisis and a few months later, though, and the bankers close to the money say that the breeze at Roche's back has turned into a gale-force headwind.

Just days ago Roche reaffirmed that it is 100 percent ready to go ahead with its $43.7 billion bid for the 44 percent of Genentech it doesn't already own. Now banks aren't making many loans at all, and a jumbo loan like the one Roche would need to complete the buyout is looking like an increasingly tall order.

- read the report [1] from the New York Times

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