TBI, the UK airports and engineering company under siege from Vinci, its larger French counterpart, is entertaining counter-offers from financial backers in a bid to obtain a higher offer price.

Vinci's 90p-per-share offer values TBI at £516m (€880m). Both TBI and its financial advisers have received approaches from several interested third parties. However, neither could comment about the identity or form of the proposals. The TBI board maintains its stance that the company is looking to enhance its value.