British airport services group Servisair thwarted a hostile bid from Amey yesterday, agreeing instead to a £94 million sterling (€141 million) offer from French business services group Penauille Polyservices.

Servisair acts as handling agent for the Irish airline Ryanair at a number of British airports. A spokeswoman for the airline said last night Ryanair had a long contract with Servisair, and did not expect its good relationship with the British company to change as a result of the takeover.

The fast-growing French group is offering 230p sterling in cash for each Servisair share, trumping the 200p tabled by Amey in January.