Autogrill, the Italian caterer, has called in Lazard and UBS to advise it on a bid for Select Service Partner, the motorway service stations unit of UK caterer Compass, sources close to the company said last night.

Autogrill, which is the only trade bidder in the running for the business, is preparing for a new round of non-binding offers which are due by February 8. It made a first-round bid of €2bn ($2.4bn).