SUPPORT SERVICES provider Veris has confirmed that a possible offer for its property and facilities management businesses may be forthcoming.

The Dublin- and London-quoted group said yesterday that it had granted access to an unnamed party to carry out due diligence with a view to making a formal offer to purchase the division.

Veris, formerly Irish Estates, stressed that there was no certainty that a formal offer would emerge or that it would be at a price which would be recommended to shareholders.

The company has two main divisions: property management, where it trades as Irish Estates Management, Glenrye Properties Services and Premier Property Management; and facilities and project management where its brands are Vector Workplace, Facility Management Ltd and Orange Environmental Building Services.

Earlier this month Veris confirmed that chief executive Bernard Farrell is to resign from the company at the end of the July to pursue other investment opportunities. However, he will remain on the board as a non-executive while Veris continues with its strategic review.

Last April, the company sold its moving and storage division for €74,000 to Capstar, whose approach a month earlier sparked a review of the overall business.

Reports yesterday said that US catering giant Aramark was in advanced talks to acquire the assets of Veris.

Group chief financial officer John O’Donoghue is due to resign at the end of October, and has already resigned as company secretary.

Niall McFadden, who owns 5.9 per cent of the group directly and 13.1 per cent through his investment vehicle, Boundary Capital, is to take over as executive chairman of Veris.