The Qatar Investment Authority is rumoured to be preparing another takeover attempt for the Sainsbury’s group following its abandoned attempt to acquire the company in 2007.

Shares of the British supermarket are at a low ebb following the news that budget retailers are continuing to gain market share at the expense of the big four grocers and the announcement of chief executive Justin King’s retirement from the business.

In a note to clients, Clive Black, head of research at Shore Capital, said: “There is more merit now than has been the case for some years for Sainsbury’s largest investor to dust off “the file” and consider a much more strategic investment, not least of which is an attractive annual cash return of an asset backed retailer.’