The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Brookfield is in talks with banks to raise funds for its possible takeover bid for beleaguered Spanish drug maker Grifols. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that those banks include Bank of America and UBS. Grifols said last month it would study a preliminary offer presented by Brookfield and the Grifols founding family, which holds a stake of around 30 per cent in Grifols, for a possible joint takeover bid with the intent to delist Grifols. Brookfield has asked banks, without identifying them, to backstop up to $10.6-billion (U.S.) to refinance Grifols's existing debt for a potential takeprivate deal for the Spanish pharmaceutical firm, sending Grifols's shares up as much as 6 per cent. Grifols, Brookfield, UBS and Bank of America declined to say anything officially on the record. Short-seller fund Gotham City Research has released several reports accusing Grifols of overstating earnings and understating debt. The accusations have erased 40 per cent of the Barcelona company's market value. After the reports, Grifols announced management changes and revised its reported leverage higher after Spain's market supervisor ordered it to change its calculations.