Shares in Los Angeles-based marketing services company Emak Worldwide Inc. surged 40 percent Friday after the company announced the formation of a committee to consider a buyout offer.

Emak said it received an unsolicited acquisition offer from Los Angeles private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners LLC. Terms of the proposal were not released.

The committee will evaluate the Marlin proposal and other strategic alternatives before responding, the company said. Emak also said that the holder its preferred stock, Crown Emak Partners LLC, entered into a 30-day exclusivity agreement with Marlin which restricts the sale of any stock to anyone other than Marlin. Marlin is working with Donald Kurz, who holds 20 percent of the company’s stock, on the possible sale.

Shares in Emak leaped 39 percent to 85 cents per share in early trading.