More than £800m was added to the value of some of Britain’s biggest listed property companies amid speculation over future takeover activity.

Shares in London office landlords rose between 7% and 11% after KKR, a US buyout firm, disclosed a 5.35% stake in Great Portland Estates after market close on Friday.

KKR’s purchase follows the share acquisitions by Brookfield during the crisis the let it build a 9.2% stake in British Land.

Mike Prew, analyst at Jefferies, said: “Deep discounts to net asset value are attracting stake building in REITs.”