White Young Green: a hostile bidder would be brave

White Young Green, the consultancy group, has been forced to reveal the news that someone is interested in making a possible take-over bid.

Wind had reached the Stock Exchange and WYG’s shares had started to surge in an unexplained fashion – up 23% in hours.

The identity of the bidder is still being kept under strict wraps.

The sector was hot with chatter on Friday. The lack of a name, after all that, downgrades the possibility of the move coming from a UK-based rival.

That puts the focus on an overseas player.

“The UK is buoyant,” said a consultancy source. “UK consultants are world leaders. We punch above our weight.”

He thought the interest was probably coming from an international group that is a relatively low presence in the UK and now wishes to redress that shortcoming.

“If you are going to move for a quoted company then it is a good time,” he said, “as share prices are low. It would be sensible timing.

“However, in my view, a hostile take-over in our sector would be a brave move. To buy any big consultancy group is a risk - as we always say, your assets are your people, and they go down in the lift at the end of the day and you hope they come back in the morning.”

One major global name with a poor presence in the UK is the Dutch firm Arcadis, listed both in Holland and America.

Several US firms could be behind the move. One of those interested in lifting its UK presence is Camp Dresser McKee.