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With its stock recovering from a financial restructuring a couple of years ago, and reports that it may make a bid for the U.K.'s biggest executive search firm, Century City-based Korn/Ferry International is back on the move.

After its business melted away in the wake of the jobs recession and the dot-corn bust--leading to a narrowly averted liquidity crisis--Korn/Ferry shares have risen to more than $19 last week from about $10 a year ago.

Last week, there were news reports that Korn/Ferry, and its Chicago-based rival Heidrick & Struggles International Inc., had both had approached the U.K.'s Whitehead Mann Plc about a possible takeover.

That didn't surprise industry executives, since U.S. profit margins in the executive search business are the highest they've been in years.

With cash on hand, Korn/Ferry and others are looking for international opportunities, said Tobey Sommer, vice president in Equity Research for SunTrust Humphrey Capital Markets.

And since Europe accounted for 24 percent of Korn/Ferry's revenue, the deal would increase its exposure there, said Sommer.

Timothy Chrisman, who runs locally based recruiting firm Chrisman & Co., agreed. "Korn/Ferry needs to establish a completely international base to be able to deal with multinational clients. So, the purchase [of Whitehead Mann] would definitely be logical."

Korn/Ferry officials declined comment.