Canary Wharf, the UK property developer, has set up a committee chaired by Sir Martin Jacomb, the veteran banker best known for describing insider trading as a "victimless" crime, to advise the board on possible takeover talks.

Jacomb, advised by investment banks Lazard and Cazenove, will assess potential bids after a number of parties expressed an interest in bidding for the £1.6bn (€2.3bn) company.