UK firms mentioned in a weekend report that Swedish construction giant Skanska is preparing to bid for one of them have refused to comment on market speculation.

The Observer suggested that Balfour Beatty, Carillion or Amec could be targets. If an acquisition follows there would certainly be implications for the UK facilities management market as all three have FM arms.

Earlier this month Skanska acquired US construction management company Barclay White Inc for $13.5m. Barclay White has a long line of large repeat clients in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and education sectors including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and several major universities.

In its native Sweden, Skanska has a longstanding business relationship with Ericsson and is developing, building and leasing a new development centre for Ericsson Mobile Communications in Lund as well as building Ericsson Sweden’s new office in Stockholm.

Consolidation in the construction industry worldwide could see more global players seeking long-term contracts as accommodation service providers – the UK market, with the Government's recent boost to public spending, looks attractive.

Richard Byatt