Recruitment group Marlborough International has sought and received clarification from the Irish Stock Exchange that no investigation beyond strictly routine reviews has been undertaken or is being undertaken in relation to dealings in Marlborough, a company spokesman said yesterday.

The comments followed a report in a British weekend newspaper that the Stock Exchange was to investigate the huge rise in the share price of Marlborough ahead of its takeover of British recruitment firm Walker Hamill.

Marlborough announced that it was acquiring Walker Hamill for £17.6 million sterling (£20.9 million) in a reverse takeover last Friday and its shares were suspended pending shareholder approval of the acquisition.

The company's share price has more than doubled since it floated at a price of 96p in October. It was suspended last Friday at 200p.