Marston's PLC (LSE:MARS) revealed it is in talks about a potential cash offer from US private equity firm Platinum Equity Advisors. Under takeover rules, Platinum now has until February 26 to make a firm bid. Marston’s said: ‘The board will evaluate the proposal with its advisers and a further announcement will be made in due course. ‘There can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made for the company, nor as to the terms on which any firm offer might be made.’ Marston’s also struck a deal last month to manage more than 150 pubs on behalf of South Wales-based Brains, saving around 1,300 jobs. But it was not yet clear whether that arrangement would be affected by the potential takeover, a spokesman said. Marston’s is the latest pubs operator to attract interest from private equity amid a flurry of deals in the sector over the past five years.