Roche does not acquire Genentech by March 20?

Judgment made on March 12, 2009: Genentech and Roche have agreed to a merger. Roche will acquire Genentech after raising the hostile bid to $95 a share. The community has corrected judged this prediction. -- The Industry Standard

Original prediction: Roche has been circling Genentech for more than a year, but the Swiss-based pharmaceutical company stepped up its hostile efforts to buy the Silicon Valley biotech on March 6.

Roche has given Genentech a March 20 deadline to accept a $47.5 billion offer, or $93 per share. Roche previously bid $42 billion, or $86.50 a share, to shareholders in January that Genentech's board refused. Roche extended the deadline from March 12 to March 20. Roche chairman Franz Humer said he was "very confident" that enough Genentech investors will tender their shares to get the remaining 44% of the biotech company.

Genentech is urging its investors to rebuff Roche's latest offer. The company is banking on a major breakthrough study for colon cancer called Avastin to boost Genentech's shares into the $100 range.

Prediction: Roche will not succeed with its hostile bid to acquire Genentech by March 20. Roche has set a midnight deadline EDT for Genentech investors to tender their shares.