1
 Institut Merieux S.A. of France said 
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attribution

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the Canadian government raised an obstacle to its proposed acquisition of Connaught BioSciences Inc. for 942 million Canadian dollars 
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span

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(US$801.6 million). 
2
restatement-e

4
 Merieux said 
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attribution

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the government's minister of industry, science and technology told it 
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that he wasn't convinced 
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attribution-n

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that the purchase is likely to be of net benefit to Canada.
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 Canadian investment rules require 
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attribution

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that big foreign takeovers meet that standard. 
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 The French company said 
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the government gave it 30 days 
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in which to submit information 
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to further support its takeover plan. 
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purpose-e

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 Both Merieux and Connaught are biotechnology research and vaccine manufacturing concerns. 
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background

15
 The government's action was unusual. 
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16
Alan Nymark, executive vice president of Investment Canada, 
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which oversees foreign takeovers, 
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elaboration-additional-e

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said 
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Same-Unit

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it marked the first time in its four-year history 
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span

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that the agency has made an adverse net-benefit decision about the acquisition of a publicly traded company.
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elaboration-object-attribute-e

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 He said 
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it has reached the same conclusions about some attempts 
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to buy closely held concerns, 
22
elaboration-object-attribute-e

24
but eventually allowed those acquisitions to proceed. 
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consequence-s

25
 This isn't a change in government policy; 
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this provision has been used before, 
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restatement

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said Jodi Redmond, press secretary for Harvie Andre, Canada's minister of industry, science and technology. 
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attribution

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Mr. Andre issued the ruling 
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based on a recommendation by Investment Canada. 
28
manner

30
 Spokesmen for Merieux and Connaught said 
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attribution

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they hadn't been informed of specific areas of concern by either the government or Investment Canada, 
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32
but added 
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attribution

33
they hope to have more information early this week. 
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34
 Investment Canada declined to comment on the reasons for the government decision. 
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List

35
 Viren Mehta, a partner with Mehta & Isaly, a New York-based pharmaceutical industry research firm, said 
36
attribution

36
the government's ruling wasn't unexpected. 
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span

37
 This has become a very politicized deal,
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38
 concerning Canada's only large, world-class bio-research or pharmaceutical company, 
37
elaboration-object-attribute-e

39
Mr. Mehta said. 
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attribution

40
 Mr. Mehta said 
5035
attribution

41
the move that could allow the transaction to go ahead 
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42
as planned 
41
manner

43
could be an out-of-court settlement of Connaught's dispute with the University of Toronto. 
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Same-Unit

44
The University is seeking to block the acquisition of Connaught by foreign interests, 
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45
citing concerns about the amount of research that would be done in Canada. 
44
means

46
 The university is considering a settlement proposal 
5038
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47
made by Connaught. 
46
elaboration-object-attribute-e

48
While neither side will disclose its contents, 
5039
concession

49
Mr. Mehta expects it to contain more specific guarantees on research and development spending levels in Canada 
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span

50
than Merieux offered to Investment Canada.
49
comparison

51
 Some analysts, such as Murray Grossner of Toronto-based Richardson Greenshields Inc., believe
52
attribution

52
 the government ruling leaves the door open for other bidders, such as Switzerland's Ciba-Geigy and Chiron Corp. of Emeryville, Calif. 
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53
Officials for the two concerns, 
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54
which are bidding C$30 a share for Connaught, 
53
elaboration-additional-e

55
couldn't be reached for comment. 
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Same-Unit

56
 French state-owned Rhone-Poulenc S.A. holds 51% of Merieux. 
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background

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Reason

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background

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consequence-s

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evidence

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evidence

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multinuc
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explanation-argumentative

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Contrast

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Contrast

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elaboration-additional

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elaboration-additional

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Cause-Result

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Cause-Result

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interpretation-s

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interpretation-s

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List

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evidence

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explanation-argumentative

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Reason

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List

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multinuc
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elaboration-general-specific

