3:37 am Sanofi-Aventis sets long-term growth objectives at IR seminar; targets sales CAGR between +3-4% 2015-2020 (SNY) :

Sanofi will host an Investor Relations seminar at which it will set out its strategic roadmap for the period 2015-2020. The objectives include:

• Sales CAGR between +3% and +4% at CER over 2015-2020
• Six major launches expected to generate aggregate peak sales of 12 bn to 14 bn
• Business EPS(3) at CER expected to grow faster than sales beginning in 2018
• Targeting cost savings of 1.5 bn to be largely reinvested for growth
• Increase annual R&D investments up to 6 bn at CER by 2020
• Explore strategic options for Merial, European generics business

3:34 am Lexicon Pharma and Sanofi set up collaborate on sotagliflozin (LXRX) :

Sanofi (SNY) and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (LXRX) announced today that they have entered into a collaboration and license agreement for the development and commercialization of sotagliflozin, an investigational new oral dual inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporters 1 and 2 (SGLT-1 and SGLT-2), which could be a potential treatment option for people with diabetes.

• The developmental medicine sotagliflozin is currently being studied in two pivotal Phase 3 trials in type 1 diabetes, which are expected to report top- line results during the second half of 2016.

3:31 am Towers Watson issued a statement in response to ISS and Glass, Lewis & Co regarding merger with Willis Group Holdings (WSH) (TW) :

owers Watson (TW) issued a statement in response to the recommendations issued by Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass, Lewis & Co regarding the proposed merger of Towers Watson and Willis Group Holdings (WSH).

• Company recommends shareholders vote for the proposed transaction
• "We respectfully disagree with the conclusion reached by ISS and Glass Lewis. While clearly acknowledging the sound strategic rationale and synergy potential of the transaction, they focus on short-term trading, take a narrow view of relative value contribution and unduly discount the significant long-term value creation potential of the proposed merger with Willis..."

3:24 am LendingTree prices public offering of 850,000 shares of its common stock, of which 725,000 sold by the Company and 125,000 shares by selling stockholder, at $115.00 per share (TREE) :  

2:15 am On The Wires (:WIRES) :

• Statoil (STO) has received an Expert calculation of revised tract participations for the Agbami field in Nigeria. Assuming implementation, this calculation will result in a reduction of 5.17% in Statoil's equity interest in the field from 20.21% to 15.04%. 
• DSM (RDSMY) and Syngenta (SYT) announced an R&D partnership to develop microbial-based agricultural solutions, including bio-controls, bio-pesticides and bio- stimulants. The companies aim to jointly commercialize solutions from their discovery platform.