Analysts have warned a Qatari investment group's £12bn (€17.8bn) bid for J Sainsbury is a "huge price to pay" for the UK retailer and represents a premium of almost 5% to a previous private equity offer for the company, which they also regarded as excessive.

Delta Two, a Qatar Investment Authority vehicle, which already owns a 24% stake in Sainsbury, launched a 610p per share offer for the FTSE 100 company this morning.