Allergan : Valeant calls its shareholders to a special meeting

(Reuters) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (>> Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc) (>> Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc) on Wednesday said it had called a special meeting for its shareholders to approve the issuance of new shares, another step in its pursuit of Botox maker Allergan Inc (>> Allergan, Inc.).

Valeant's multiple offers for Allergan have been rebuffed and the company is proceeding with a hostile takeover. It has taken its $53 billion (31.22 billion pounds) offer, made jointly with Pershing Square Capital Management head William Ackman, directly to shareholders through a separate proxy solicitation to Allergan investors.

(Reporting by Caroline Humer)