A listed provider of fund administration services has become the latest quoted UK company to attract takeover interest from a private equity bidder.

Sky News has learnt that Cinven has made an approach to Sanne which values it at about £1.3bn.

City sources said that the buyout firm, which has an extensive portfolio of investments in the financial services sector, had pitched an offer at a healthy premium to Thursday’s closing share price of 603p.

The approach, which has yet to be disclosed to Sanne’s shareholders, is likely to be confirmed as soon as Friday morning if talks between the two sides are ongoing.

Sanne provides fund administration services to alternative asset managers and family offices, and helps corporate clients in areas such as tax compliance and escrow services.

It recently raised £80m through a placing to finance the acquisition of STRAIT Capital Company, a North American private equity and hedge fund administration business.

The company came to the London market in 2015 after a stint under the ownership of Inflexion, another private equity investor.

Its market capitalisation when it listed was just over £230m, and it has since more than quadrupled in value.

It was unclear on Thursday whether Sanne’s board had decided to engage with Cinven, or whether it had responded formally to its suitor’s offer.

The approach is the latest in what has become a deluge of London-listed companies attracting bid interest from financial sponsors.

On Wednesday, UDG Healthcare, a pharmaceuticals services company, agreed a £2.6bn takeover by Clayton Dubilier & Rice, while last week the property company St Modwen said it would recommend a £1.2bn offer from Blackstone.

Meanwhile, Equiniti, an outsourcer, is in talks with Siris Equity about a £600m takeover.

The flurry of deals comes at a time when some market analysts argue that London-listed equities remain cheap compared to international peers.

There is also a lively debate about whether the disclosure regime overseen by the Takeover Panel is serving shareholders appropriately, since many bid approaches have been concealed from investors despite being pitched by blue-chip bidders.

Goldman Sachs is understood to be advising Cinven, while Sanne is being advised by its corporate brokers, Jefferies and JP Morgan.

Cinven and Sanne both declined to comment.

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