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Director Christina Ackermann of Verona Pharma PLC (NASDAQ:VRNA), now trading at $105.38 and near its 52-week high, sold 1,808 ordinary shares of the company on August 1, 2025, at a price of $13.1437, for a total of $23,763. The stock has delivered impressive returns, up 402% over the past year. According to InvestingPro, the company maintains strong financial health with a current ratio of 8.86.
On the same day, Ackermann also exercised options on 24,000 ordinary shares at a price of $0. Additionally, 24,000 Restricted Stock Units were converted at a price of $0. With a market capitalization of $8.98 billion and impressive gross margins of 94.95%, Verona Pharma shows strong operational efficiency. InvestingPro subscribers have access to 15+ additional key insights about VRNA’s financial health and growth prospects.
In other recent news, Merck (NSE:PROR) has announced its intention to acquire Verona Pharma for $107 per American Depositary Share in a deal valued at approximately $10 billion. The transaction is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. This acquisition has influenced various analyst ratings, with BTIG and TD Cowen both downgrading Verona Pharma’s stock from Buy to Neutral and Buy to Hold, respectively. Roth/MKM also downgraded Verona Pharma from Buy to Neutral, citing the significant resources required to scale Ohtuvayre’s sales to an estimated $3.9 billion by 2035.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has reiterated an Equalweight rating on Merck, maintaining a price target of $99.00, following the acquisition announcement. The acquisition represents a 23% premium over Verona Pharma’s previous closing price. Merck plans to capitalize most of the purchase price as an intangible asset, which will be amortized as a GAAP-only charge over the product’s life. These developments are part of Merck’s strategy to expand its portfolio through strategic acquisitions.
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