British consultancy firm Alpha Financial Markets Consulting said on Wednesday its independent directors plan to recommend Bridgepoint’s nearly 578 million pounds takeover proposal, if the private equity firm makes a formal offer.
Shares in Alpha FMC jumped 23% to 481 pence by 1141 GMT.
The proposed price of 505 pence per share in cash represents a premium of about 51% to Alpha’s closing price on April 30, the day before the company first made Bridgepoint’s interest public.
Alpha, which has about 1,000 consultants globally, had also garnered interest from private equity firm Cinven Limited regarding a possible offer earlier in May, which was withdrawn later in the month.
Alpha first confirmed Bridgepoint’s proposal, in May. The private equity firm has until June 20 to make a firm offer or walk away.
