To protect minority shareholders, anyone gaining control of a company must make a bid at an equitable price at the earliest opportunity to all holders of securities.

4. The highest price paid for the same securities by the offeror, or by persons acting in concert with him, over a period, to be determined by Member States, of not less than six months and not more than twelve before the bid referred to in paragraph 1 shall be regarded as the equitable price.

4. The highest price paid for the same securities by the offeror, or by persons acting in concert with him, over a period of between six and twelve months prior to the bid referred to in paragraph 1 shall be regarded as an equitable price.

4. The highest price paid for the same securities by the offeror, or by persons acting in concert with him, over a period, to be determined by Member States, of not less than six and not more than twelve months prior to the bid referred to in paragraph 1 shall be regarded as the equitable price.

- Taking into account the recommendations of the High Level Group of Company Law Experts, the proposal on take over bids will address the three principal concerns of the European Parliament: the issue of the "level playing field", a definition of an "equitable price" and the possibility for a majority shareholder to buy out a minority shareholder ("squeeze-out").

5. Calls on the European Union to adopt directives to untie development aid for tenders on healthcare related products and services. Calls on the EU to play a leading role in providing sufficient funding and in establishing appropriate guidelines and support capacity building for more efficient untied procurement, local manufacturing and a tiered pricing mechanism with clear standards to ensure access to affordable pharmaceuticals at marginal costs for prevention and care for these communicable diseases. That mechanism should be transparent and should not be limited in time or place so that all developing countries can benefit from it. Likewise, rules on intellectual property in relation to the production, use and transport of affordable ge ...[+++]neric drugs should take account of the need to arrive at equitable prices;