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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Your opinion please on recent IPO cell therapy company, Century Therapeutics and most especially any comments on their most interesting takeover of small private Canadian company Empirica which was purchased last June. I understand that the former Empirica (U of T & McMaster talent) takeover involved in innovative brain cell molecular identification was a big lever to go public .

Thanks for all your wisdom,
Dean
Read Answer Asked by Dean on July 09, 2021
Q: I am looking at this company for my TFSA ( which is 4% of my total cash/ registered portfolio and used for my more aggressive stocks).
Valuation seems fine , sector is good ( although there are some big boys in this field). Reports indicate that management is quite experienced and this is a major factor for me. Can you provide information on the specific management individuals ? What is your assessment of the company? Thanks . Derek
Read Answer Asked by Derek on July 07, 2021
Q: Gritstone Bio (GRTS) is a small, early-stage biotech company to which Gilead Sciences has provided some funding under an agreement announced on Feb 1, 2021:

"Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead will make a $60 million payment at closing, consisting of a $30 million upfront cash payment and a $30 million equity investment at a premium. Gilead will be responsible for conducting a Phase 1 study for the HIV-specific therapeutic vaccine and holds an exclusive option under the collaboration to obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize the HIV-specific therapeutic vaccine beyond Phase 1. Gritstone is also eligible to receive up to an additional $725 million if the option is exercised and if certain clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones are achieved, as well as mid single-digit to low double-digit tiered royalties on net sales upon commercialization."

GRTS share price has established a baseline after falling steadily since the funding announcement. Presumably Gilead did some due diligence before investing its own money, but the stock price could go to zero if Gilead walks away. However, it could also soar if the trials are successful. Would you consider GRTS to be a worthwhile speculative buy? What has been your experience of investing in early-stage biotech companies that have drawn the attention of Big Pharma?
Read Answer Asked by David on July 07, 2021
Q: Hello 5i Team.

Thank you for all the insights into investing - it has been profitable both educationally and financially.

7% of our portfolio is in geared to health care with a holding of 5 stocks , GUD - (slightly underwater but is the hopeful flyer), Medtronic - MDT, Cardinal Health - CAH, Abbvie - ABBV, Johnson & Johnson- JNJ. In an effort to reduce the overall number of stocks in our TFSA, RRSP and taxable accounts I was considering liquidating CAH and JNJ and either purchasing more ABBV or adding SYK, unless of course you can recommend another US health care stock. JNJ and and CAH have been the laggards of the US group since my initial purchases. I realize MDT and SYK might be similar but i do believe surgeries should increase in 2022.

I enjoy reading your resources and recommend it often.

Kevin
Read Answer Asked by Kevin on June 30, 2021
Q: I would like to increase my health care sector weighting. It is presently 0.3% of my portfolio with one stock, CSH.UN. What quality health care stocks would 5iReseach recommend & should I also add to CSH.UN to help increase the sector’s weighting. Thanks … Cal
Read Answer Asked by cal on June 28, 2021
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