Simon Property boosts bid for mall rival Macerich to $16.8 billion; calls offer 'final'

Mall operator Simon Property boosted its hostile bid for rival Macerich by 5 percent to $16.8 billion and says that will be its best and final offer.

Simon says it is willing to pay $95.50 per share for Macerich, up from its previous offer of $91 per share.

Macerich rejected Simon's first bid, saying the deal undervalued the company. The new offer is valued at $23.2 billion, when debt is included.

Simon Property Group Inc., an Indianapolis real estate investment trust, went hostile earlier this month after saying that Macerich refused to negotiate a deal that would combine the two largest U.S. mall operators.

A representative for Macerich Co. did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the new offer.