AstraZeneca bid talk 'a commercial matter': UK finance minister

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AstraZeneca bid talk 'a commercial matter': UK finance minister

<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/astrazeneca-bid-talk-commercial-matter-uk-finance-minister-124406212--finance.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/sHcpH7XpP9tDd8rDg7qcxA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9NzU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2014-04-25T124406Z_1_CBREA3O0ZDM00_RTROPTP_2_IMF.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne arrives for a G20 ministerial meeting, during the IMF/World Bank 2014 Spring Meetings in Washington" align="left" title="Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne arrives for a G20 ministerial meeting, during the IMF/World Bank 2014 Spring Meetings in Washington" border="0" /></a>By William James CAMBRIDGE, England (Reuters) - Talk of a $100 billion bid by U.S. drugmaker Pfizer for its British rival AstraZeneca is &quot;a commercial matter between the companies&quot;, Britain's finance minister George Osborne said on Friday. Shares in Britain's second biggest drugs group hit record highs this week on the bid speculation. Both companies have declined to comment on a weekend newspaper report that AstraZeneca spurned an approach from Pfizer earlier this year. Several analysts believe Pfizer may be tempted back by AstraZeneca's pipeline of cancer drugs, as well as the potential to cut costs and make use of cash accumulated through foreign subsidiaries that would be taxed if repatriated to the U.S. Asked about the matter after delivering a speech on the economic importance of Britain's science base, Osborne said the reports were speculative and declined to comment on any possible government involvement.</p><br clear="all"/>

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