DUBLIN – Allergan plc threatened to disrupt Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.'s ongoing wooing of Shire plc by confirming Thursday in response to press speculation that it was "in the early stages of considering a possible offer for Shire." The news drove Shire's stock about 6 percent higher as investors positioned themselves as beneficiaries in a possible bidding war. Three hours later, Dublin-based Allergan issued a terse follow-up statement: "In order to comply with the requirements of the U.K. takeover code, Allergan announced that it does not intend to make an offer for Shire."