With AIT’s £162 million ‘agreed’ bid on the table, Goldshield Group directors are discussing a potential rival offer from its management.

Last week, Goldshield advisers reacted with derision when AIT Investments, a vehicle set up by Israeli drug marketing concern Neopharm’s president David Fuhrer and his family, said it was planning to bid for the fully listed company. Now, AIT and Goldshield have announced agreement on a 440p cash bid involving Goldshield’s controversial former boss Ajit Patel.

At the same time, Goldshield’s ‘independent directors’ say they have been talking to the company’s ‘management team’ about a possible offer from that quarter. They warn ‘there can be no certainty’ the management team will make an offer nor on what terms.