DuPont ups Danisco bid to $6.64 billion

DuPont Chief Executive Ellen Kullman had aggressively courted shareholders of the Danish food additive maker for weeks. The US chemicals maker wants Danisco’s technology as part of a bigger push into the foods business.

A confluence of minority shareholders who insisted on a higher bid stood firm, forcing DuPont to tweak the offer. “This is a very strong sign of dedication on the side of DuPont,” Danisco Chief Executive Tom Knutzen said, ading “this can only strengthen the (Danisco) board’s recommendation to shareholders” to accept the deal. DuPont raised its offer to 700 crowns per share (US$139.28) from 665 crowns per share.