A London-listed automotive components supplier has become the latest British-based company to draw overseas takeover interest after receiving a series of offers from a Canadian rival.
Sky News has learnt that TI Fluid Systems has received at least two bid proposals from ABC Technologies Holdings, a Canadian competitor.
City sources said on Friday evening that the second of the offers had valued TI Fluid Systems at 180p-a-share – a significant premium to its closing price on Friday of 145.8p.
Shares in the company rose by more than 7% on Friday amid market rumours about a potential bid.
TI Fluid Systems floated in London in October 2017 at a price of 255p-a-share.
One source said the company’s board, which is chaired by Tim Cobbold, a former boss of banknote printer De La Rue, was unlikely to seriously consider a proposal unless it was pitched at closer to 200p-a-share.
Both parties are likely to come under pressure from the Takeover Panel to confirm the interest from ABC Technologies over the weekend, or at the latest on Monday morning.
TI Fluid Systems operates from 98 manufacturing locations in 27 countries.
It specialises in the production of fluid handling and thermal management systems.
The company traces its roots back to 1922, when it began trading as Harry Bundy and Company.
A string of London-listed companies have agreed to takeovers by foreign or private equity bidders this year, the latest of which came this week when Centamin, a gold miner, accepted a £1.9bn offer from AngloGold Ashanti of South Africa.
On Friday, Apollo and TI Fluid Systems both declined to comment.