PHARMACEUTICAL FIRM SHIRE MAY HIKE ITS BAXALTA BID

Ireland-based pharmaceutical giant Shire may sweeten its multibillion-dollar all-stock bid for U.S. biotech rival Baxalta. Shire is considering ways to get cash to shareholders faster without jeopardizing the transaction’s tax-free status, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Announced in August, the deal was initially valued at more than $30 billion.