BUZZ-Kentz: Lights up FTSE midcaps as M&A fervour spreads

** Kentz (Frankfurt: 3UJ.F - news) shares easily the most actively traded on the FTSE 250 midcaps index as Canada's SNC-Lavalin snaps up the UK energy services firm.

** All-cash $2 billion deal priced at a third above Kentz's last close. M&A fever spreads to cyclical sectors.

** Kentz, a clear outperformer among rivals this year, ranks well on StarMine factors & earnings growth was triple that of the peer group average. http://link.reuters.com/tug32w

** On the StarMine's credit risk score Kentz ranked better than 90% of its regional peers.

** Might provide a template for other rivals - focus on margins, improve & ROE and cut debt.

** Kentz made headlines last month after shareholders rejected top managers' pay & bonuses.

(RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : vikram.subhedar.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)