Nicola Horlick has been unveiled as the mysterious suitor for Bramdean Alternatives, the UK-listed fund of hedge funds that she founded and whose board is fighting off a Vincent Tchenguiz-led shareholder rebellion.

Bramdean Alternatives directors this morning revealed that Petersfield Asset Management was the company that approached the firm with a potential bid on March 17. The bid was made as as the board sought to avert major shareholders overthrowing it at a proposed EGM later this month.