Keysight (KEYS) is reportedly planning to make a formal bid for Spirent (SPMYY), following a merger agreement between Viavi (VIAV) and Spirent early this month.
Keysight Technologies outbid rival Viavi Solutions to buy Spirent Communications for about 1.16 billion pounds ($1.46 billion) on Thursday, winning a battle over the UK telecoms testing firm's expertise in automation. Shares in London-listed Spirent were up 10.6% to 198.0 pence as of 0957 GMT. Electronic equipment maker Keysight offered 201.5 pence per share, topping Viavi's 175 pence bid in early March.