Burberry Shares Jump on Speculation of Takeover Bid

Shares of luxury-goods maker Burberry (BRBY) jumped as much as 6.5% Wednesday on speculation of a potential buy-out.

The stock rose as high 1,204 pence, putting the company's value at 5 billion pounds ($7.9 billion), Reuters reported.

Market players have speculated for months that Burberry would be an attractive target for a buyout as it is one of the few luxury goods companies that isn't controlled by a single family.

"The main attraction is its freefloat and it's not got a controlling family holder. It's the only luxury group that is independent," one trader told Reuters. "It's a good company, actually, very well run."

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Reuters cited speculation that the company received a bid of 1,500 pence ($23.67) per share. Burberry declined to comment.

Not everyone is convinced that a Burberry acquisition makes sense, given that the company's shares have more than doubled in price this year.

"The only bidder I can see paying this kind of multiple is a Chinese (company) looking for a trophy asset," a trader told Reuters.