LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Allergan Inc N:AGN, facing an unsolicited bid from Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc O:VRTX, is preparing to approach Shire Plc L:SHP again with a potential takeover offer after being rebuffed in recent months, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.
Allergan, the maker of Botox with a market capitalisation of nearly $50 billion (29 billion pounds), is trying to stay independent. It held talks in recent months with Shire about a potential takeover that did not pan out, Reuters reported last week.
The U.S. dermatology drugmaker, which has since received a $47 billion takeover offer from Valeant teamed up with activist investor Bill Ackman, is still interested in a tie-up with Shire and planning a fresh approach to the $32 billion Irish drugmaker, said the people familiar with the matter.
Allergan could come back for a bid as soon as in the next few days, one person added. The plan has yet to be finalized and could change, cautioned the people, who asked not to be named because the matter is not public.
A representative of Allergan declined to comment, while Shire could not be immediately reached for comment.
(Reporting by Anjuli Davies and Sophie Sassard in London, Additional reporting by Olivia Oran and Soyoung Kim in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)