The deluge of recent healthcare industry deals spurred Shire PLC SHPG to proactively hire an investment bank as an adviser, according to unnamed sources speaking to Reuters news service.
U.K.-based Shire was up about 6.5 percent in mid-afternoon trading at $190.93 per share.
Shire is expecting to receive offers, although no potential buyers were identified according to Reuters. An anonymous source told the news agency that "something could happen this year" and that the company had hired Citibank to evaluate potential deals.
In April, Reuters reported that Allergan wanted to bid for Shire to help shirk fan unsolicited offer from Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Allergan hasn't commented.
Similar reports surfaced last week that Shire itself may acquire NPS Pharmaceuticals. While NPS said it held no talks with Shire about a deal, its shares rocketed 20 percent.
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