Balfour and Connaught reveal they are cooperating with OFT

Both Balfour Beatty and Connaught have revealed that they have been co-operating with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in its review of the construction sector.

The news follows recent announcements by Rok, Galliford Try and Interserve to the City that they each have tenders submitted between 2000 and 2005 under investigation.

Balfour revealed it has provided information to the OFT in the first half of 2006 for its review of tender activities in the building construction sector.

As a result of OFT enquiries in February last year, the building company said it undertook a full review of its compliance with the Competition Act, and it has continued to offer its full cooperation in the investigation.

Connaught also announced it had been contacted by the OFT for the same enquiry in relation to a 'small number of tenders' in one of its subsidiary companies dating back to 2000.

In a statement the company said that the tenders represent a very small proportion of the bidding activity of the group during the period and bear no relation to the current operating business.

It added that it had strict guidelines in place relating to its tendering process to ensure full compliance with competition law.