Fletcher Building's calling time on its construction arm after a difficult few years. 

It's signed a sale deal with French multi-national Vinci Construction, subject to regulatory approval. 

The final reckoning could sit on about $334 million, and it'll move its focus to manufacturing and distribution. 

AUT Construction Professor John Tookey says it's a seismic shift, but Fletcher's been overstretched in recent years, so it's not a big surprise. 

He told Andrew Dickens the question is going to be whether the removal will significantly impact the profitability and sales of the building products side of things. 

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