Saturday, April 16, 2011

Going Once! Going Twice! ............................Sold

Friday's late report on the potential acquisition of Synthes by Johnson & Johnson has raised numerous questions and analyses about the magnitude of such a deal, and, how it would affect the spine, trauma, and maxillofacial markets.  If an acquisition would occur, integration of these two companies could be a logistical nightmare.   Those that are liabilities on one side or the other, would become collateral damage.  Yet, the mere fact that Hansjoerg Wyss would entertain an offers does not bode well for Synthes employees. The current management team is old and tired, and still using the same old tricks of the trade that has been their modus operandi for years. The ride has been good. As TSB stated in the April 15th post, when hasn't Hansjoerg entertained an offer?  It has always made his ego feel good, and rightfully so. Everyone knows that J&J has the financial leverage to consummate this deal, just like Medtronic.  The only question this time is whether Hansjoerg intends on pulling the trigger?   Regardless whether our bloggers like Synthes or not, one must respect Synthes for what they have accomplished. At one time Synthes was a near trauma monopoly.  Synthes has lost some market share due to pricing and a steady decline in a culture that once was the jewel of the industry.  Yet, the company continues to develop and market quality trauma products unlike the lap dogs Zimmer, Richards, Biomet and DePuy offer. Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Like their spine division, Zimmer Trauma could mess up a wet dream, while companies like Biomet and DePuy have been mere contenders.  Richards could be a threat but any implant company run by ex-GE gnomes has no vision.   In addition, Synthes Trauma would be a tremendous boost to the DePuy trauma portfolio, which is mediocre at best.   Outside of the 2006 acquisition of Hand Innovations, DePuy has never been a "real" player in trauma, contrary to what their highly esteemed management team will tell you.  Visionary is not a word that comes to mind, when one thinks of DePuy Trauma.  If there ever was a time for Synthes to be sold, now would be the time.  Why?

In due time, Hansjoerg will be an octogenarian.  At this juncture in life, his days are consumed with the Wilderness Society, the Grand Canyon Trust, Rails to Trails, and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance in addition to his 900 acre Halter Ranch, and other philanthropic ventures like his beloved Harvard University.  Knowing Wyss, he would rather be hiking, cross country skiing, playing tennis or flying in his Lear Jet to his next exotic destination than listening to the non-sense that his lieutenants are up to.  The biggest factor is that Hansjoerg has always been ahead of the curve and knows that the industry has changed, and that now may be the time to get out while the going is good.  Yet, before he does, it behooves him to play the market to see whom else has the fire power to buy Synthes. For all we know, Wyss may be posturing to see if J&J is willing to up the ante.  If J&J can entice Wyss, the company stands to increase immediate market share in trauma, spine, maxillofacial, and power tools.  Many bloggers fail to realize that Synthes has a great presence in other global markets.  This will only increase J&J's presence in other markets.

So in closing, many of our bloggers are compelled to talk about Zimmer buying NuVasive (Dvorak doesn't have the Boards backing),  about NuVasive buying Trans1 (wishful thinking), and whether Lukianov wants to exit spine for the entertainment industry, but those are not the story.  The question is whether Woody has a woody for expanding his kingdom and whether Wyss is ready to ride off into the horizon looking for more innovative and challenging things to do?  You be the judge,  As the great Lowell George once sang; "time loves a hero."

106 comments:

  1. Wow! This one sounds like it could be for real. To one of your last points i wonder if this does turn into a bidding war amonst some of the larger companies (stryker,zimmer,JnJ,Biomet). If a bidding war occurs who do you think takes it?

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  2. Wow, a double post on something that has been rumor for the last 5 years...how original.

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  3. 20 Billion is a huge number. it will take awhile to make that up. Spine is only worth 1 a year. Trauma better make that up fast.

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  4. I'm most interested in how JnJ would incorporate Synthes Spine into their current DePuy offering.

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  5. Depuy would gain leading market in trauma, decent market share in spine, the AO foundation, but most importantly respectability. J&J has lost credibility and their image has been tarnished with all of these recalls.

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  6. I've been selling DePuy Spine for some time now, and I've heard this a million times. I like the idea, but I'll believe it when I see it. Also, I wouldn't expect this to go down w/out some of the other big boys trying to buy a meaningful position in any of the markets Synthes plays in. Then the regulatory stuff needs to get the green light. ...Then the heads start to roll - with both sales forces likely taking their lumps.

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  7. Who will buy Globus?

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  8. I've heard that Synthes has been courting another company in Boston ;) for over a year now regarding a potential sale. While the interested party has historically had a significant debt to asset ratio, it's intrigued by the opportunity to pursue a new acute care market.

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  9. Is Globus for sale? Do they have anything in the pipe that differentiates them?

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  10. i resent being called a "blogger".

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  11. I bet this pushes Stryker to buy Globus.

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  12. No legacy company will ever buy Globus because they don't want to play in the games that Globus partakes in.

    Once Globus is acquired and their new ownership stops paying surgeons, and that business is gone, the company losses a large share of it's value.

    However, in the heart of not thread jacking I'll stay on topic.

    Stryker has a good amount of cash on hand - purchasing Synthes would definitely up their market share.

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  13. I don't think Globus has anything others don't. They have a good, deep line but no magic dust or innovative mechanical innovation (no facet solutions does not qualify). Anyone know how much they paid for FS? I hear pennies but how much exactly?

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  14. Any offer for Globus will never survive due diligence

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  15. @8:12 "no legacy company will ever buy Globus"..."Once Globus is aquired..."..."Stryker has a good amount of cash on hand - purchasing Synthes would definitely up their market share" Dude, you're all over the place. If a legacy company isnt going to buy GS then who are you referring to? And what are you talking about Stryker buying Synthes???
    Are the "Globus games" any different from everyone else's? I think Synthes might have the best reputation in Spine regarding buying business, but even they are not exactly "squeaky clean".

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  16. Globus is just about as slimy as they come. End of story.

    As for J&J buying Synthes...I think the latter of the two would be getting the better deal. Synthes' technology is old and tired at best. The only exception might be ProDisc, but even that monopoly will be coming to an end very soon. Synthes should take J&Gay's deal before its execs wake up and smell the coffee. Just sayin'...

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  17. There have been rumors of this popping up in Depuy hallways for almost 10 years.

    How long would it take to earn back the purchase price?

    There would be a lot of redundancy in the combined catalogs and business structures. It would be very difficult to bring these companies together.

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  18. Regardless of the integration logistics and challenges, Synthes will be sold, whether the acquiring company is J&J, Medtronic, Stryker, or even someone the size of a GE. As for product overlap, has that ever stopped an organization, when the bottom line is market share? Remember, when you buy Synthes, you not only buy their market share, you are also buying their educational platform and the organization's manufacturing facilities, which has afforded the company to control its COGS, resulting in maximum profitability. The other attractive aspect of this company is that it really doesn't carry debt.

    In addition these facts; Hansjoerg has one heir, and she is not interested in running the company. Whom would he leave the company to? An owner in absentia? Recently, the company has had some terrible press lately related to theft by its sales consultant's. As delivering healthcare in the US continues to take center stage as a result of escalating cost (est. 25% of GDP x '12) and baby boomers. there will be major cuts in reimbursements, affecting reimbursements and profitability. You cannot deny a patient care that has been in a high speed MVA, but you can deny coverage to a spine patient if it doesn't meet the carriers criteria. So where does that leave Synthes? Right where Hansjoerg has positioned it, to be sold.

    In closing spare us the "Synthes hasn't done anything innovative." If they hadn't, David Paul and his Band of Gypsies wouldn't have committed the heinous and treasonous acts when they did. As for Globus going public, what do they have that is innovative? A Synthes wannabe, with Synthes knock-offs? Stop posting non-sense about GM going public, they had their chance when the market was good. This economy doesn't lend itself for acquiring a company that has more skeletons in its closet than Davey Jones' locker.

    Synthes will be sold, its just a matter of time and money and whether one believes it or not, J&J has the money.

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  19. This does not bode well for independent distribution in the US on DePuy's side....J&J would love to insert a direct sales force in both Ortho/Spine...

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  20. 11:47, please explain what you mean when you say "Synthes technology is old and tired." Ive worked for depuy spine for 6 years and to be honest, i think the synthes products are probably the best from top-to-bottom on the market. I would love the ability to add their products to my bag. Outside of Expedium and maybe Viper, where are we superior?
    Ant. Cerv - Synthes
    Post Cervical - mountaineer is great, but Synapse probably has more options.
    TDR - Synthes
    Ant. Lumbar - Synthes
    Lateral - they both need work
    Bios/Allograft - Synthes/MTF
    Post. Lumbar - Depuy, but Matrix is garnering some interest in my area.

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  21. jj will not go direct it will be a hybid..6 of thier distributors account for 85% of thier sales...

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  22. If you can process what you read TSB said "the management team is old and tired.".

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  23. 7:54, if you can process what you read, take a look 6 posts prior to your ignorant comment (April 17, 11:47pm).

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  24. J&J isn't looking to acquire Synthes because of it's Spine line,, acquiring the trauma business is the primary goal. Picking up the CMF & Spine lines are secondary in this deal.

    Doing so makes J&J a much more complete company now rounding out its spine biz, it would offer extremity, joint, CMF & Trauma. Add in the Codman line and they suddenly offer a very potent line up of products.

    Should this happen, Spinal Concepts & Spinal Dimension (current DePuy dist.) could become MONSTERS in the Northeast. Not that they both aren't already incredibly large organizations, but this could make them simply enormous in scope of revenues.

    Doubtful that DePuy would ever look to move either of these groups out the door as they are simply too large & powerful at this point.

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  25. its got to be for the vet business :)

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  26. 1:23pm is obviously affiliated w/ one or both of the two "MONSTER" distributors listed in his (or could it be a "her"??) post. What's wrong? Afraid Depuy may decide to go direct after acquiring Synthes?

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  27. One might think it's a done deal... Good post 1:23PM. Butwhatif there's a bidding war going on right now. How much value does J&J really put on the Synthes trauma and CMF divisions, 20M, 25M?? Isn't the Synthes spine division product group somewhat redundant for Depuy? Let the games begin....

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  28. I highly doubt a bidding war is taking place. While debt may be cheap these days, the market is rewarding companies with clean balance sheets. Few firms, if any, have the cash reserves (particularly in the E.U.) that J&J has. Finally, spinning off a division is not unheard of but more than likely one can expect elimination of redundant products/personnel/functions as a cost savings measure post-acquisition. J&J also needs to save costs where little historical innovation has taken place... such as in the Biomaterials business. The only thing I'd preserve there is the MTF relationship and the personnel need to be jettisoned. Fortunately the BTS crew was integrated into Spine a year ago, so one won't lose what little talent existed in those ranks & I do mean lttle.

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  29. 729am: You're fired. Your current bag smokes Synthes. They've already had problems with their posterior cervical system and have had to pull it back. Synthes has TDR and bone; other than that, you are equal or win. If you can't sell the DS bag, you just can't sell.

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  30. What about MATRIX>?

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  31. 1:57,, Not sure who you are, nor do I care. I do not actual work for either company or distributor group, just know all of the parties mentioned in the post quite well.

    My sole interest in the move is purely from a financial perspective. I was simply stating my opinion of the discussions & potential merger.

    I would truly like to see it go through.

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  32. You just proved my point, 3:48pm. I was pointing out that you obviously have something to gain by promoting the acquisition rather than giving an honest and accurate commentary on the situation.

    How dumb do some of these posters think the rest of us are to post some bogus comment and expect the rest of us to just accept it as fact?

    You have the jackass who asks "who is going to buy globus" on every single post thinking that he's going to mind-f*ck us all into believing that it's still a possibility...which it obviously isn't.

    Then you have guys like 3:48pm who make blatantly biased comments to promote their own personal interests. Do these guys honestly think that the good majority of us just sit back and say, "hmm, well if 3:48pm says that Depuy would never get rid of two of its distributors, then it must be true!" C'mon man!!

    Sure, some of the people reading this blog are probably dumb enough to be fooled by such shenanigans, but the good majority of us are college educated and generally pretty street smart (you almost have to be to make it in this biz!!). You aren't going to fool us. You just end-up drawing the ire of the masses against whatever it is you are not-so-slyly trying to promote.

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  33. 1:23
    "Here there be Monsters". The bald headed stooge and his family of cronies are only an acquisition away from being "cleansed". Dirty, dirty.

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  34. 5:04 you is college educate? wow. then yoU must be really smaRt

    I am not sure what college has to do with reading blogs but whatever. It is a blog. The point of it is for people to post whatever they think. If a post is not applicable it should be removed by the admin. You honestly think this page has an influence on business or the economics of the spine industry in absolutely any way? For a college educated person I am surprised...

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  35. Oh you mean Gordon "Mr. Hospital Contracts Manager" Van Ummersen and his band of renown. Is Andy "let me turn in fake AMEX receipts Balaty still there? Aberrant ex-Howmedica people need someone to bail their asses out, and Synthes trauma would certainly do that.

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  36. Once again, you have missed the point, 5:20pm. I am telling you that this page does not influence the spine industry so stop trying to use it as a vehicle to further your own personal financial endeavors.

    By the way, nice rebuttal. You must be the same guy that points out misspelled words and minor grammatical infractions when somebody has you backed into a corner.

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  37. Let the mergers begin, this unrest creates opportunity across all fronts. That is, if you know how to capitalize on it. If this does goes through, layoffs will help finance the deal. I find it hard to believe that the acquiring organization would allow the duplication of products and people by having each to operate independently.

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  38. Do you all think J&J will likely be the company to buy Synthes? Or do Zimmer, Stryker, and MDT have a shot at pulling the trigger.

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  39. 5:31/ 5:04,, whoever you are,,

    Who are YOU to dictate to anyone how this blog is to be used by saying "so stop trying to use it as a vehicle to further your own personal financial endeavors"??

    Who made this your kingdom? It's a free forum that encourages people to share their thoughts & opinions on the topics which are posted.

    Bottom line is that if you don't like the opinions being shared, then don't read the blog. Or if you choose to disagree, then feel free to do so, but don't grandstand and tell people how they should or shouldn't use the forum, that just shows ignorance on your part.

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  40. KICK HIS ASS C-BASS!!!!

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  41. Can't we all just get along?

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  42. Someone buying Synthes, prior to Globus going public, is probably one of the worst events that could have happened to Globus.

    I wonder how many Globus reps and distributors jump ship?

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  43. J&J is buying Synthes. Stryker will buy Globus. Nuvasive will buy Trans1, and Zimmer will then buy the Nuvasive/Trans1 Co. You will then have 4 mega medical device companies (MSD, J&J, Stryker, Zimmer).
    In a last ditch effort to compete with the top four Integra, Biomet, Blackstone, K2M, Seaspine and Pioneer will all merge but will still be a distant 5th.

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  44. 8:53. Thank you for staying on topic, that is an interesting prediction.

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  45. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  46. What about LANX?? Heard they are buying some companies and making a push for the top five?

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  47. Lanx...Ha! What a joke. They lost there one trick pony (Aspen) to several other companies that produce on easily equivalent product, the rest of their portfolio is average at best and no one uses it, they pay huge guarantees to a bunch a d-bags to bring in their surgeon contact which is a short term win if at all, and while they have some good thinkers at the top, the rest of the indians are small brained minions. Word is the only way they can compete is to try and acquire a few other niche products...which may keep you afloat but gives you no market share for TOP FIVE status. Again...think about that...impossible!

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  48. I heard seaspine is looking to buy out Stryker

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  49. Yeah, I heard Thoratec is buying Transocean.

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  50. Clearly JnJ is acquiring Synthes to bring all of Romi Diaz' business over.

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  51. New post please!!

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  52. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  53. JnJ wants to be number 1 in spine. Acquiring Synthes does help them gain marketshare but will stay far behind MSD.

    The real problem is the number of douche reps working for DS far out weigh the good ones. Same goes for Synthes. They all just coast and don't attack like I see the little companies reps. And I'm not talking dirty, under the table crap that goes on. They just don't seem to get out of bed and have a plan to go after business. Both companies have solid product lines and lazy reps.

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  54. 6:28 It's all part of the entitlement generation. I am, therefore, I am entitled. If this deal is ever consummated the first thing J&J needs to do is FIRE THE ENTIRE MANAGEMENT TEAM, CANCER at its best. Liars, Cheaters, Sociopath's, with no conscience. Hopefully, payback will be forthcoming.

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  55. 5:03am >> Who is Romi Diaz?

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  56. McDonalds is buying Alphatec. PODs will now be called "franchises". We can't go this many posts without an Alphawreck post.

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  57. Can someone help me understand this merger? Synthes has less than $1 billion in annual profits and $8 billion in what will now be redundant assets. Is their goal is to return their investment in 12+ years? Plus that doesn't account for all the inevitable surgeon losses.

    Honestly, I'm asking because I genuinely don't know. how is this good for the JNJ investor?

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  58. Doesn't anyone else see this potential acquisition as a distraction to the negative press that JnJ has been receiving lately? They've had over 50 recalls of drugs and devices since jan 2010..not a good thing for the usually clean JnJ empire.

    Also, the acquisition has very little to do with Spine, and very much to do with trauma. Depuy has dominated, and will continue to dominate Synthes from a spine perspective. The addition of ProDisc would really be the only upgrade

    Stryker already pursued Globus, but backed out because Globus had too many paid consultants and couldnt validate true net worth. I'd be willing to bet Stryker takes a run at Nuvasive. NuVa just opened an east coast HQ in Stryker's backyard complete with state of the art offices and training labs.

    This is a sign of things to come. With the way the pendulum is swinging in healthcare, I cant see the K2Ms, Lanx,etc of the world lasting much longer

    Roll tide

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  59. 8:59

    Interesting use of the word "clean" given the fact I don't know a parent that'll ever use children's Tylenol again. JnJ has experienced a massive level of brand equity destruction over the past years. It's a Harvard Business School Case study for sure! But I digress...

    What's the current Spineblogger over / under that this deal 'actually' happens? Virtually speaking, if you had to put your nest egg on it, where do you place the odds?

    - Curious

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  60. Romi F-ing Diaz!!! You would have to be Synthes Spine early 2000's to get that!! Best Post EVER!!!

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  61. I take the over, JnJ will buy Synthes. I would agree its the trauma and AO they are after. Once they do the merger they will go direct in most states and keep most of the business and the business they lose will not affect them that much as they will prosper with going direct in the long run. Cha ching, I like the move and I have no chips in the game. I approve of this message.

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  62. J & J will lose in spine...they always do. They will lose share as they lose their distributors.

    Distribution rules the market! Not products or companies...

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  63. Romi. That guy made car salesmen look like candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize.

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  64. Actually JnJ is after Romi Diaz' custom suit and men's bespoke tailoring business that he ran on the side. Always had that tape measure handy...

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  65. The definition of HUBRIS: "Distribution rules the market! Not products or companies..."

    Might want brush up on your Greek tragedies friend.

    As i wrote that I'm thinking that someone probably said the same thing to one of those badasses at AIG insuring those toxic loans 2007. Those guys are on a private island somewhere, and I'm slogging it out here...

    Maybe you're the genius?

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  66. 9:55, if distribution rules, then how did Synthes build such a large company and maintain it?

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  67. My money is on Zimmer or Stryker sweeping in at the 11th hour and buying Synthes. These two companies will be in serious trouble in Spine and Trauma if JNJ gets them.

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  68. If any of you have dealt with Synthes in the past, you have to know that this deal will take forever to complete. Someone coming in at the 11th hour could be 2 years from now, while Synthes' board and its execs debate its merits. Of course, it all depends on Wyss and perhaps he woke up a short while ago as to his pending mortality.

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  69. Romi always had the inside line on where to get the best (read worst) fake Cuban cigars...

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  70. Romi is actually the Most Interesting Man in the World, little known fact which a lot of people are unaware. Only Mark Davy(Seal Team Member) can rival Romi for Synthes legend status...

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  71. Glen Elder a legendary Seal ahead of all these impostors, use to make Gennett shit in his pants.

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  72. Does anyone who posts on here actually work? Just looking at the times shows that a lot of people have a lot of time on their hands,,

    Go sell something!!

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  73. I think everyone is underestimating LANX, they have a ton of money to spend and are looking to buy some companies that could bring them to the next level

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  74. Does Zimmer have a spine division? Hmmmm...

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  75. @3:03
    Yeah, so nobody has a smart phone while they're in a multi-hour spine case? Waddya, still rely on a rickety desktop, you micro-manag... er, loser.

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  76. Never did get Mark Davy's B.U.D. Class #???

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  77. 7:31
    The McDonald's buying Alphatec thing was great!

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  78. 4:04pm

    When you say that Lanx has a ton of money and might be looking to buy, please give an example. What level of annual sales does Lanx produce?

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  79. I heard Lanx did a demo in a hospital and dropped a pedicle screw on the floor and charged fo it so................annual sales $900 bucks! Hahahahaha

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  80. I don't give Lanx too much street cred with lance DeNardin and Mark Faucett. Those guys never did much worth talking about at Medtronic in lower responsibility jobs. Now they have a mediocre line, at best, and a fair number of enemies. If I lose any sleep over the competition out there, it's the competition from Lanx.

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  81. Goldman has been shopping LANX for months now, and no one is touching it because the revenue just doesn't stick post acquisition. Its not just other spine companies, either. Much like Sea Spine, Private Equity (think K2's recent PE investment) are not biting on Lanx / Sea Spine because of the toxic model. Take that, along with the recent debacle in Portland with the Neurosurgeon / OMEGA, and the bottom end starts its own consolidation while the top end (by revenue) has consolidation of its own. This will eventually lead to a monumental right-sizing of our market, prices stabilize (after modestly decreasing through this consolidation process) and *poof*, spine is "healthy" again.

    JNJ should buy NUVA for $2B and put the $17B to work somewhere else (i.e., acquire MAKO and put the orthopedic business back on track), Medartis for trauma / CMF etc. That would be intriguing.

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  82. correction, it's NOT the competition from Lanx.
    7:26

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  83. 11:47, what monoply are you refering to, i think when you say something about somebody you should have some basis for your accusation, everybody hates a winner when your a loser!

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  84. LANX Aspen sales alone are worth more than the other small guys like SeaSpine and trans1. LANX is coming out with implants left and right already this year. They own the ISD market and with the new management are poised for 120 M this year. I would say that deserves some rec. from where they started.

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  85. Romi Diaz....Mark Davy....Glen Elder....Old school blogging. who remembers Wyss's pony tail?

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  86. Did ALL of the major spine companies post flat sales and negative growth for Q1 2011? I know JnJ and Stryker did (SYK was -4%). Do these companies think gobbling up the competition is going to address the real issue here... pricing pressures and a cloudy healthcare system full of uncertainty driving volumes down as well

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  87. No way Zimmer or Stryker outbid JNJ for Synthes. Zimmer and Stryker may need to merge to keep up. That leaves good ole S&N even farther behind. Maybe they go for Biomet.

    As far as Spine goes, both JNJ and Synthes have been losing share for years just like MDT. Whomever takes over that combined Spine entity has their work cut out for them.

    Not sure what happens with Nuvasive here. Problem is, every spine company has a lateral approach system now. There's just too much product overlap and no denying the fact that NUVA's revenue growth has slowed tremendously. Their stock peaked almost 3 years ago now and is nowhere close to what is once was.

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  88. LANX NO THANX

    1) Romi Diaz is really Bill Braski's brother.

    2) Lanx has already lowered sales expectation and will be lucky to hit 80m this year. They started out with a goal of 120m for the past 3 years and never came close.

    3) The investors want their money out and they want it now. Lanx will not buying squat.

    4) Other then field sales and engineering, Lanx has no one left of any value. All the good people have been terminated or qiut and replaced by people that no one else would hire.

    5) Inside sources say that their legal problems are huge and growing. Loss of a 5 million case caused the firing of 25 people last August).

    6) Rolling out tons of products= an anterior lumbar plate and a facet screw. WOW

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  89. Synthes direct reps are no more case coverage guys that have no work ethic and only have business because of the AO or previous relationships. Distributor model is the future of spine except for companies like Medtronic that actually know what the @#%$ they are doing.

    LANX is a joke and the only reason they have business in my territory is because the rep is actually good, poor guy could actually make a career out of it if he went to a decent company.

    LANX has ONE product and thats ASPEN all the rest is a knock off just like most small spine companies. Heard they are having trouble buying cases now.

    This J&J deal is exactly what spine needs, I hope the small companies burn to the ground and the DOJ has a field day with the crimes they have been getting away with.

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  90. Don't count out Orthofix looking to acquire someone in spine.

    They need a "real" spine line and have the capital to buy what they need. Targets include Nuvasive, K2, & Globus. Their previus acquisition of Blackstone isn't delivering the results they had hopes for,,

    Also, Smith & Nephew has cash and has also been mentioned as a potential player in the mix as they too need to figure out a way to supplement their joint business in order to continue to grow the bottom line.

    Ahhhh,, Spring time is upon us, let the games, speculation & acquisitions begin!!

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  91. Why does K2 stay so quiet. They have ZERO business in my LARGE market and the distributors they have worked with are a JOKE.

    I actually like their products and cant figure out why they have been so slowwwww in making headway in this market. I'm from the west coast so sorry if I am only speaking from my experience out this way.

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  92. I got a call from Lanx a few weeks ago. The conversation went like this:
    We MAY be hiring someone in your area. How many surgeons are you working with? How quickly can you convert them?
    I wanted to tell them that if you rely on surgeon-flipping reps instead of good sales people, it's only a matter of time before that rep flips his surgeons to a higher commission co.

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  93. 8:29....Pure Gold, Bill Brasky....Best damn salesman in the office...LMAO

    Wait until that Aspen "fusion'' code gets tightened up ala the dynamic stabilization procedures did...

    BTW, someone needs to take a finance class..How in the world would an OFIX swallow NUVA, which would be sold for about 2x OFIX market cap? Stick to being a rep 10:20 .....

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  94. 8:47 - Well stated. That would seem to be a better play for J & J. Are you available for 2012? America could use a logical thinker.

    9:50 - Not all small companies are dirty, just as not all large co.s are dirty. The pay-for-play environment we live in today was started by the big boys - Medtronic & J&J. It was brought to another level by small to medium players Blackstone, Spinal Concepts, Alphatech, & Interpore to name a few.

    Our company is very small doing $20+ M in sales. Our highest amount paid to consultants for everything - research, expenses, training, R&D is less that $20K per year among a handful of surgeons on various projects.

    I take offense to your insult that small companies pay for their "crimes." Some of us survive by integrity, honesty, and loyalty. We're proud of that, and believe there is still hope for spine. Distribution is definitely the key. These relationships should not be taken for granted. A lot of them can still move markets!

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  95. I know this is a Spine blog...but this deal isn't about Spine at all. It's about J&J's overseas cash being spent tax-free on a Swiss company: a company that has nice manufacturing plants, broad product lines, no debt...and prints money every quarter. (But I really wonder if the deal gets done).

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  96. 12:31 - EXACTLY. J&J isn't doing this for Synthes Spine. They are doing it to spend their overseas cash without having to bring it back here. Additionally, they get the market leader in trauma, a CMF line, and lastly, more spine market.

    I'm not sure how the sales force will integrate. If I had to guess, I'd say that they can't afford to lose the CMF and trauma reps from Synthes, so they'll stay. The spine reps will be kept or laid off based on geography.

    A lot of Spine reps that are let go will be offered severence, with a non-compete contingency. Then most will end up working for the DePuy/Synthes spine distributor in the area for straight commission on the Synthes line or the full line if the current rep is underperforming.

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  97. I think the Synthes buy would be great buy for J&J. Synthes has a great reputation, great products and a diversified portfolio. Integration my be tough but if pulled off correctly the deal will payoff.

    What other companies are worth acquiring? NUVA, Globus, Alphatec, Lanx, SeaSpine? What do they have offer a larger company? NuVasive makes sense as a target but the others really have nothing to offer but a giant headache.

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  98. Piss off, 8:59 AM. Go Gators!

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  99. @12:31...

    Good Job reiterating the real meaning behind this acquisition. Maybe all the "priviliged" and "established" reps should get back to work and realize that this merger, if it goes through, will not be an automatic windfall for your territory. Hard-work, product/procedure knowledge and service will be the only thing seperating you from the 12,495 other reps banging on the door.

    The U.S. has one of the highest corporate tax-rate in the world at 35%. A study funded by PricewaterhouseCooper (I can't wait for spine consolidation, GloNuva2MTec) found that the average effective tax rate is actually 27.7%. Compare that to a Non-U.S. average effective tax rate of 19.5% and why would you NOT save 8 cents on the dollar to shift profits overseas. And I am assuming that J&J's overseas taxes are much lower by utilizing an "island tax haven"; MERCK utilizes a Bermuda based subsidiary.

    Johnson & Johnson is 4th after GE, Pfizer, and MERCK concerning their overseas profits.

    Untaxed foreign profit: $37 billion
    Tax Havens: Choose from 60 countries
    Strategy: 48 consecutive years of dividend increases.


    http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2011/04/what-us-companies-have-the-most-untaxed-foreign-income/

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-29/dodging-repatriation-tax-lets-u-s-companies-bring-home-cash.html

    ~TruthBeSold

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  100. "I'd keep playing ... I don't think the heavy stuff is coming down for quite awhile!"

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  101. Here's one for you...ZS is liking the up-and-coming LDR Spine. Amazingly, this is also an Austin TX based company. LDR is front runner in getting their clinicals completed with the FDA.

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  102. What a difference a week makes...

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  103. Jesus who is the Ass Hat that is saying anything good about Lanx? 120 million, you are a retard. Any company that ties its wagon to a Lance Denardine or Mark Faucett is a complete joke, those two really lit it up at Medtronic. Life Spine has an exact Aspen knock off, Lanx has no IP on Aspen that has been granted and they have lawsuits coming out of there ass.

    It will be funny watching Lanx go down either because of all the lawsuits or just shitty leadership or both. Lanx does not belong in this topic at all.

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