Allergan pointed out in a written statement that Valeant has not made a firm higher offer and said the letter was intended to "distract investors from Allergan's outstanding third quarter results." Valeant, based in Laval, Quebec, has made several offers to buy Allergan, only recently offering about $179 per share at current stock values. Allergan, which is based in Irvine, California, has set a Dec. 18 date for a special shareholder meeting at which its shareholders will consider replacing most of its board. That could give Valeant and activist investor Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management LP, which has built a large stake in Allergan, a chance at a takeover. Beyond control of the board, there also will be a vote on whether Allergan should talk to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. and Pershing Square.