GEC Plc is of course universally believed to be the mystery suitor talking of a contemptuous penny a share bid for Ferranti International Plc, although it has declined comment on any of the gossip: such a bid would value the company at a mere UKP9.4m and is seen as greatly enhancing the company’s value since the certainty that a cash well stood behind the company would encourage those hesitating to place contracts with Ferrant to go ahead and sign; the shares ended up at 2.5 pence on Tuesday but were backup to 3.75 pence yesterday as optimists looked for a counter-bid; Thomson-CSF SA was about the only name anyone placed in that frame.
