Signs of an acquisition on the horizon?
Here's what we found behind the scenes between Novo Nordisk and Abivax.
In recent days, rumors have intensified in the stock market about a possible deal in which pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NVO) may acquire Abivax (ABVX).
Although these are currently only rumors, cross-referencing data from the field paints a very interesting picture worth noting.
The mysterious flight path. It all started with the identification of private jet movements on a coincidental, or perhaps not so coincidental, route.
Flights were observed departing from Le Bourget Airport in Paris – a private airport near Abivax's headquarters – and landing at Roskilde Airport, located right next to Novo Nordisk's global headquarters in Denmark.
In the financial world, especially in merger and acquisition (M&A) processes, such visits are often the 'smoking gun'.
This is a common practice where the management of the target company visits the acquiring company's headquarters to finalize details, check for cultural fit, or simply sign the final documents.
The timeline: just before the holidays.
The timing of the visit appears to be carefully planned:
Arrival: Friday, December 19, at 16:52. This is an ideal time for a business meeting that extends into a festive dinner.
Departure: Saturday, December 20, at 12:40. A time perfectly suited for concluding a morning discussion session and summarizing agreements.
The broader context is no less important:
This is the last weekend before the Christmas holiday. If both companies are in the final stages of a deal for an official announcement in early January (during the famous J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, considered the industry's peak event), face-to-face meetings at this time are the logical next step.
The human connection: the people who connect the dots. Beyond the flights, there are deep personal connections between the managements of the two companies, which makes the acquisition rumors even more plausible.
1. Sylvie Grégoire: currently Chair of Abivax's Board of Directors, she served until recently (last November) as a member of Novo Nordisk's Board of Directors.
Her intimate familiarity with both systems is a significant asset in such a deal.
2. Marc de Garidel: a dominant figure at Abivax, who has previously done business with Novo Nordisk.
In 2020, he sold them Corvidia Therapeutics, so there is a history of trust and success between them.
3. Camilla Soenderby: a board member at Abivax who also serves as an advisor to the Novo Holdings group (the entity that holds a controlling stake in Novo Nordisk).
Note the triple cross-referencing of data – the flights, the dates, the individuals.
We are monitoring.