AbbVie Nudges Top Shire Shareholders to Push Deal Talks

Shire Plc, the drugmaker targeted by AbbVie Inc. in a $51.5 billion takeover offer, is hearing from top shareholders pushing the company to come to the table and work out a deal. Urging them behind the scenes is AbbVie.

The campaign, which includes letters, telephone calls and meetings with Shire’s Chairwoman Susan Kilsby, is being encouraged by AbbVie and its advisers as a way to push Shire into serious talks over the U.S.-based company’s recent bid of 30.1 billion pounds ($51.5 billion) in cash and stock, said three people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named.