UK arm of Swedish contractor buys highways services business

Managed motorways, roads, highways, highway, toll

Source:

Consultant Atkins has signed an 拢18m deal to sell its highways services business to Skanska UK.

Atkins鈥 UK Highways Services business, which employs some 1,200 people, reported revenue of 拢80m in the six months to 30 September 2012.

The architect and engineer said that the deal would see 拢16m paid up-front, with a 拢2m payment to be deferred subject to the future performance of the business. The transaction is due to complete by 31 May 2013

Atkins chief executive officer,  Prof Dr Uwe Krueger, said the deal was a 鈥渟tep forward鈥 in his strategy to 鈥渙ptimise our portfolio of businesses.鈥 He said: 鈥淲e wish to focus on growth sectors in engineering, design services and project management. We believe Skanska is a more appropriate owner for this business and will enable it to continue to flourish and grow.鈥