HK-listed ESR hits 8-month peak as investor group plans to take co private

** Shares of real estate fund manager ESR Group 1821 jump 22.8% to HK$12.28 in resumed trade, their highest since Sept 7, 2023

** Stock, which halted trade on Monday pending co statement, posts biggest intraday pct rise since March 2020

** Stoxk is biggest pct gainer in index tracking financials stocks (.HSCIF) and second-biggest pct gainer in the Hang Seng Composite Index (.HSCI)

** ESR said it had received a non-binding, conditional proposal from a consortium controlled by Starwood Capital Group, Sixth Street Partners and SSW Partners that could result in a delisting

** Co said its backer, U.S. private equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC, and ESR's founders believed the proposal was in the best interest of ESR shareholders and were in discussions with the consortium

** Hong Kong's (.HSCIF) index slips 0.2%, while Hang Seng Composite Index climbs 0.7% and Hang Seng Index HSI gains 0.5%

** ESR shares up 7% YTD