Associated British Ports, whose rejection of an unsolicited offer from Goldman Sachs was pivotal to chief Hank Paulson's demand to an end to hostile bids, is preparing to open its books to the US bank after it made a fresh offer worth more than £2.4bn (€3.5bn).

Goldman Sachs' initial £2.2bn unsolicited approach two months ago was rejected as "wholly inadequate" by ABP. It was one of several controversial deals that prompted chief executive Paulson to warn his bankers against using Goldman's own money to fund hostile bids.