TOKYO -- Shinsei Bank's resistance to a takeover by SBI Holdings in a $1 billion-plus tender offer appears ready to go up notch as it formally rejects the offer, setting up Japan's first hostile takeover battle in the banking industry.
Shinsei's outside directors met Monday to discuss SBI's proposal and agreed to come out against the proposal at a meeting of the full board to be held as early as Oct. 18, making a rejection there all but certain. An extraordinary shareholders meeting set for late November would be used for votes on defensive measures.