Bankers at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup have advised a French shopping centre investor on an approach to UK developer Hammerson that could disrupt a tie-up deal it has already struck with another player.

Klépierre said it approached London-listed Hammerson on March 8 to discuss a possible offer for the business of 615p a share — a premium of almost 41% on its share price on March 16. The French company was responding to a report in The Times that said it had made a £5bn offer for Hammerson.