MEDTRONIC - buyout or partnership ?

Big topic as its been circulating from time to time. The enormous influence of Medtronic in the ranks of upper management.

Mainly -

Warren Watson replacing the founder of Sunshine Heart in Janauary 2013
Kim Oleson Head of clinical trials leaving MEDTRONIC for a company with a $70m market cap
and today
Claudia Drayton leaves MEDTRONIC to be the new CFO of Sunshine Heart

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What will we see in 2015 ?

a Partnership in Europe + a first option agreement buying the company at an agreed price / milestontes met

or an outright bid to buy the company ?

take into account that by the end of the month there will be news that potentially the trial can literally end in the next 24 months instead of 36 months.