What happened Shares of 51job (NASDAQ: JOBS) were trading 11% higher as of 1:15 p.m. EDT Thursday after the Chinese job-search website revealed that Beijing-based private equity firm DCP Capital Partners had approached it with a buyout proposal. So what DCP is proposing to pay $79.05 per share for 51job in a buyout valued at $5.3 billion, using a combination of cash on hand and debt financing. Image source: Getty Images. Now what Just because a proposal has been made does not mean that it will evolve into a definite offer, that such an offer will be accepted, or that regulators will permit a deal to proceed. For now, all 51job is saying is that it "plans to evaluate the Proposed Transaction" -- and does not even undertake to "provide any updates with respect to this or any other transaction" to its shareholders. For the time being, it seems investors must accept being left in the dark. That doesn't seem to be keeping them from betting on a positive outcome, however. Indeed, with 51job shares trading in the vicinity of $79.20 early in the afternoon, they appear to be betting not only that a definite offer will be made -- but that 51job will ultimately be able to negotiate a higher buyout price for itself. 10 stocks we like better than 51jobWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and 51job wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of August 1, 2020 Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends 51job. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source