Market trends played out on a European pitch

Vodaphone's battle to take over the German group Mannesmann highlights some of the trends shaping the European facilities market.

Though the two have been partners in mobile network operations, the relationship soured somewhat when Mannesmann moved to acquire Orange recently. Vodaphone has itself been a very ambitious player, looking for expansion opportunities for its own networks.

Mobile services are the future - or at least a big part of it - and we are sure to see more of these battles for market share.

Mannesmann is also a multi-disciplined engineering group, active especially on the continent in a number of facilities areas. If Vodaphone wins out, will it attempt to broaden and integrate the offer, becoming an infrastructure services provider? If so, it will be well ahead of the others, at least in communications technology.

Coincidentally, another big German group, the property and construction company Philipp Holzmann, is in serious trouble. The problems are attributed to bad management by former directors and heavy losses on an FM contract. Holzmann is attempting to stave off collapse through big cuts in its workforce.

Elliott Chase