Bermuda-registered ADT Ltd. even if ADT's largest shareholder, Western Resources Inc., opposes the transaction, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing an unidentified Republic official.

Western, which owns 23.4 percent of ADT, may have been eyeing the maker of alarm systems as a possible acquisition for itself.

Western could play the spoiler by prohibiting Republic's use of a "pooling interest'' accounting method, the paper said.

Republic last week agreed to buy ADT for stock and assumed debt valued at $3.98 billion.

Bermuda resident Michael DeGroote, through his holding company MDG Holdings Ltd., owns a significant portion of Republic. -- Bloomberg