NEW YORK: Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd plans to make a new, increased offer for Kansas City Southern, valuing the U.S. railroad operator at about US$27 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. (https://on.wsj.com/3jDYHFP)

       The reported offer comes months after Canadian Pacific refused to raise its bid for Kansas City Southern, with the U.S. company saying that Canadian National Railway's offer was "superior".

       Shares of Kansas City Southern were up about 6% in aftermarket trading.

       FILE PHOTO: A freight train of the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railway Company is pictured in Toluca, Mexico October 1, 2018. - Reuters

       Canadian Pacific and larger rival Canadian National have been in a race to acquire Kansas City Southern, which would create a North American railway spanning the United States, Mexico and Canada, as supply chains recover from pandemic-led disruptions.

       Canadian Pacific's raised offer could kickstart a takeover battle for the U.S. railroad operator.

       WSJ reported Canadian Pacific could raise the offer to $300 per share from its initial offer of $275 apiece.

       The headline price in Canadian National's cash-and-stock bid is $325 per share as originally announced.

       Kansas City Southern declined to comment when contacted by Reuters, while Canadian Pacific and Canadian National did not immediately respond.- Reuters