The largest shareholder in European retailer Carrefour could offload a stake worth €4.5bn ($5.9bn), with private equity firms likely to be among the potential acquirers.

The Halley family is looking to sell its 13% in the retailer, according to French business daily La Tribune and have already approached potential investors in London and Paris. The family is looking for about €70 per share, according to the newspaper. The French retailer's real estate assets, worth up to €26bn, are also a major attraction to private equity firms, it said.