Barcelona-based Grifols has seen its stock value plummet since January when short seller Gotham City Research accused the company of manipulating debt and earnings reporting by consolidating profit from businesses that were sold to a 'vehicle' owned by its founding family.

Brookfield’s decision to withdraw from talks after indicating last week that it could submit a €6.45bn bid for Grifols piles further pressure on the leading maker of medicines derived from blood plasma.

Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg reported overnight that Brookfield is preparing to drop its 6.45 billion-euro ($6.77 billion) bid to acquire Grifols after failing to reach an agreement with its board on price.

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. is preparing to walk away from a plan to acquire Grifols SA over disagreements on valuation for the Spanish drug maker, according to people familiar with the matter.