Veidekke ASA is a Scandinavian building contractor and property developer based in Norway. It is the leading company in its field in Norway and the fourth largest in Denmark. Veidekke also has operations in growth regions in Sweden. The company’s activities cover specialized civil engineering projects and development of housing and commercial projects for both private (57%) and public (43%) customers. Activities also include asphalt, crushed stone and gravel, road maintenance and demolition contracting. The building and construction market is expected to grow by 5% and 6% during 2011 in Norway and Sweden respectively. This growth is mainly driven by government spending on infrastructure, low interest rates and increased demand for housing. Still, the market is characterized by strong competition and pressure on price and margins as a result of over capacity. Moreover, the possibility of declining housing prices in the Nordic region, which would impact Veidekke in a negative way, is a potential risk factor.