US property group Trammell Crow has doubled its stake in Savills to 20%, prompting speculation that it may make a bid for the company. Trammell bought a 3% holding in the market on Monday, adding to the 10% it already held. Savills has revealed that Trammell had exercised an option to buy a further 7%. The option, part of an alliance between the two companies, was due to expire on May 9. Trammell Crow bought the second batch of shares for £36.8 million. An analyst at Oriel Securities, Mark Young, said: “UK surveying firms have been the subject of globalisation for some years with Jones Lang Wootton, Healey & Baker, Richard Ellis, Hillier Parker, Nelson Bakewell, etc now all American owned. However, people businesses are only worth buying if the people themselves wish to be bought – we doubt the Savills culture would thrive operating as a wholly owned US subsidiary of Trammell Crow.” (Independent)