CONSTRUCTION company Kier Group has launched a takeover bid for professional services firm Mouchel.
Bosses say a deal would lift Kier's civil engineering unit, with Mouchel holding contracts with local authorities and agencies, such as Transport for London.
However, they added there is no certainty a deal will be completed.
Mouchel was seized by lenders RBS, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays in a pre-pack administration in 2012 after shareholders failed to back a last-ditch restructuring to wipe out much of its £140m debt.
Kier, which has offices in Peterlee, east Durham, Newcastle and Hebburn, South Tyneside, carried out work on Durham Police's £14m headquarters, in Durham City.
Its Hebburn construction arm also previously secured £60m work on schools across Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Sunderland.
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