The firm, which recorded huge losses last year after delays to the Wembley project, said that it had received a request from the unnamed suitor to begin discussions and that talks were likely to take place within the next few weeks.

Multiplex said that the interested party had held talks with the company's largest shareholder, Roberts Family Nominees (RFN). The Roberts family holds 25.6 per cent of Multiplex, which was founded by John Roberts in Perth in 1962. One of his sons, Andrew, is the chief executive, while another son, Tim, and a daughter, Denby, are executives. The company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2003 and had a market capitalisation of A$4.03 billion (£1.6 billion) after today's share price rise.

Multiplex announced last year that the Wembley Stadium delay would result in a pre-tax loss for the year of A$364.3 million, although net profits rose to A$216.8 million, from A$84.3 million.

As well as construction, Multiplex specialises in property development, property funds management and facilities management. It employs more than 2,000 people across these four divisions and has operations throughout Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the Middle East.

Recent projects have included the White City retail and leisure development, since sold to another developer, as well as the World Square shopping centre in Sydney and the Dubai Marina in the United Arab Emirates.

Analysts speculated that a private or offshore investor could be attracted by Multiplex’s assets. Retail and residential property group Lend Lease denied that it was behind the approach, after being linked in the Australian press.

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