Emerson Electric's $265 per share tender offer for Aspen Technology is labeled as its best and final price despite criticism from Elliott

Shares of Aspen Technology Inc (AZPN) traded over 2% lower in Monday’s pre-market session after Emerson Electric Co (EMR) said the $265 per share price for acquiring all outstanding shares of Aspen's common stock not already owned is its best and final price.

The announcement comes days after activist investor Elliott Management said it invested over $1.5 billion in Aspen, opposing the company's decision to accept Emerson's $7.2 billion tender offer. "Our break price is ~$202 (though there is above-average difficulty in pinning it down),

With a more than $1.5 billion Emerson holding, Elliott has claimed that the $265-per-share offer undervalues Aspen Tech and is advocating a larger proposal. Mark Schappel, a Loop Capital analyst, said Elliott is probably going to persuade enough minority investors Aspen Tech is worth far more than Emerson's current offer.

Elliott Investment Management has emerged as the largest minority investor in industrial-software company Aspen Technology Inc., with a position worth more than $1.5 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said.