FRANCHISED dealer group Evans Halshaw has announced that it is in talks with a potential buyer. A statement from the company said: 'The board confirmed that it has received an approach which may or may not lead to a recommended offer being made for the company at a premium to the current share price.'

Evans Halshaw is the sixth largest dealer group in the country, running 64 dealerships, and its share price rose 50p to 211.5p on news of the takeover talks. Rumoured buyers include Pendragon, Sanderson Bramall, Reg Vardy and Ford which has already expressed interest in buying Dagenham Motors via its venture with Jardine International Motors.