And only now, we reckon. While Expro International has successfully flouted the superior offer of the world’s second-biggest oil-services firm over a $3.5 billion bid by a rival suitor, Halliburton is reserving the right to have another crack – and an increasing number of supporters may turn out in court today to make sure it gets that chance.

U.S. oil services firm Halliburton said it has ended talks to buy UK rival Expro after its target refused to open an auction and opted for a $3.5 billion rival bid.

Expro International Group's independent directors have recommended a cash offer from private equity firm Candover and investment bank Goldman Sachs worth 1,615 pence per share, and hearings are due to take place on Monday and Wednesday to sanction the offer.

Halliburton said it raised its cash offer to 1,625p per Expro share, conditional on Expro delaying those hearings and convening a meeting for shareholders to consider both offers.

Halliburton, the world's second-biggest oil services company, said its offer was not conditional on a recommendation from Expro and it had completed due diligence and financing was in place.

Expro did not consider the higher offer sufficient effectively to open up an auction, Halliburton said in a statement released late on Friday.

It said it ended talks but reserved the right to make an offer in certain circumstances, including if the rival offer is not sanctioned or there is a delay.

But a group of institutional investors will on Monday try to block the takeover by the Candover consortium and are angry at Expro for not opening an auction, the Sunday Telegraph reported

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