LONDON (AFX) - MJ Gleeson said it is selling its engineering division to US engineer Black & Veatch Corp for 36 mln stg.

Gleeson said the sale is part of its strategic review and would allow it to focus on its core businesses of housing regeneration, commercial property development and strategic land trading.

Black & Veatch beat Balfour Beatty PLC in the final shortlist of bidders. The engineering division is an engineering services business mainly involved in water-related construction through alliances with water businesses.

The Leatherhead, Surrey-based division operates throughout England and Scotland, with 950 staff working out of seven business units.

Gleeson MCL Ltd, a construction services business involved in railway engineering contracting, was sold in March, and Concrete Repairs Ltd, a specialist structural renovation business, and the bulk of the commercial property portfolio were sold in June. philip.waller@afxnews.com paw/ak

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