Sainsbury says "no suggestion" of change in QIA stance

LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Britain's No. 3 grocer J Sainsbury (SBRY.L) has received no indication that its biggest investor, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), might relaunch a takeover bid after a failed attempt in 2007, it new chairman said.

David Tyler, chairman since the start of the month, told reporters he had met QIA and, although he could not speak for them or their long-term aims, there was "no suggestion whatseover" their attitude had changed from that of the last 12 to 18 months, during which they had been a supportive long term shareholder.

Shares in Sainsbury rose sharply last month after Qatar sold a 1.4 billion pounds ($2.3 billion) stake in Barclays (BARC.L), on the view it could invest a big profit to make another move on the retailer, in which it holds a 26 percent stake.

Shares in Sainsbury, which earlier reported first-half results, were up 3.4 percent at 338.7 pence at 1403 GMT. [ID:nLA671889]

(Reporting by Mark Potter, writing by James Davey, editing by Paul Sandle)