Cushman & Wakefield is in talks with a potential partner about launching a European-wide facilities management business.
Cushman’s European partnership, led by John Travers, is negotiating with 2,500-strong EC Harris, originally a quantity surveying business but now one of the bigger competitors in the facilities management market, with turnover of £160m.
It is thought that a decision about whether to set up a joint venture will be made in the next few weeks.
Sources said that the joint venture would offer facilities management to Cushman & Wakefield’s corporate real estate clients.
EC Harris would benefit from access to Cushman’s global network of clients to sell to.
Cushman & Wakefield, in turn, would be able to offer FM services in Europe, as it already does in the US.
EC Harris first moved into FM work 20 years ago. Its big FM clients include HSBC and the UK Courts.
The limited liability partnership has 25 offices in Europe and Asia.
Other global practices are also looking at rolling out FM services to European clients.
C&W senior partner Travers declined to comment. David Sparrow, global head of property at EC Harris, would say only that the firm was talking to a number of parties about better co-operation.
“We don’t respond to market rumour,” he added.
References: EGi News 15/05/06
