Bosses at Norwich-based Anglian Home Improvements are remaining tight-lipped over continuing speculation that the company is to be sold off.

Rumours are rife that bidders are lining up to buy the firm amid suggestions that the company is on the market for around �140m.

The company, which employs more than 1,000 staff at its Norwich headquarters, this year appointed professional services firm KPMG to review the activities of the group, fuelling speculation that a sell-off could be on the cards.

But the EDP understands that the company is not currently undertaking any sales process, though that has not dampened speculation that bids in excess of �100m have been lodged to buy the firm.

The company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1992 and was taken over by private equity house Alchemy in 2001 and then a consortium of banks, including Anglian's lenders, took over the business in 2008, introducing a new executive management team who have transformed the financial performance of the business.

Anglian has more than 1m existing customers and a 9pc market share – the highest in the UK home improvement market.

In the year to March, pre-tax profits were �9.9m on the back of sales of more than �209m – also up from the previous year, all of which makes the company an attractive prospect to any would-be buyer.

Chief executive Peter Mottershead described the figures at the time as a solid result achieved 'despite uncertainty' following public sector spending cuts and rising household bills.

But that added to rumours of a sell-off or a management buy-out, though it is believed that the institutional shareholders are happy with the group's current performance.

The company declined to comment on the buy-out speculation although, behind the scenes, insiders insist that it is very much 'business as usual'.

And for staff on the ground there is little sign of the firm changing hands, while union officials also said there was no signs of any imminent upheaval.

Ivan Mercer, regional organiser from the GMB union, said that staff were in the dark about the latest comings-and-goings at the company.

'From the manufacturing side, we have had no news whatsoever,' he said.