VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Pharmaceutical company Shire (SHP.L) is considering a 12 billion pound ($18.32 billion) takeover of Actelion Ltd (ATLN.VX) Europe's biggest biotech firm, Britain's Sunday Times newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc's drug Natpara to treat a rare hormone disorder, validating a bet by Shire Plc, which recently agreed to acquire NPS for $5.2 billion.

Hedge funds specializing in bets on mergers and acquisitions are starting to see investors withdraw funds, prompting them to take a more cautious approach after being caught out by more than 500 corporate deals globally failing this year.

Allergan Inc (AGN.N) shareholder Paulson & Co is urging the Botox maker to merge with specialty pharmaceutical company Shire Plc (SHP.L) as an alternative to a deal with hostile bidder Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (VRX.TO), according to two people familiar with the matter.

U.S. drugmaker AbbVie Inc (ABBV.N) said on Monday it has reached agreement with Shire Plc (SHP.L) to officially call off its proposed $55 billion purchase of the Irish company, and will pay Shire a $1.64 billion breakup fee for walking away from the deal.

British drugmaker Shire (SHP.L) will lose its interim chief financial officer early next year to water supplier Severn Trent (SVT.L), the latest blow for Shire, whose proposed $55-billion acquisition by U.S. rival AbbVie (ABBV.N) was aborted last week.

Shares in drugmakers AstraZeneca (AZN.L) and Shire (SHP.L) both fell more than 5 percent on Tuesday after the U.S. Treasury took steps to curb "inversion" deals that allow companies to escape high U.S. taxes by reincorporating abroad.

London-listed drugmaker Shire announced its intention to buy U.S. pharmaceutical company for USD4.2 billion.