UK company Securicor has posted a 16 per cent rise in the year to September 30th pre-tax profit from ongoing businesses to £63.8 million sterling from £54.9 million last year.
The company, which employs 200 cash-in-transit guards in Ireland, said its core security unit is well positioned for continued growth. "We remain on course to become a top three provider of global security solutions," the group said.
Securicor's core Security unit saw pre-tax profit before interest and goodwill increase by 37.5 per cent to £74.0 million on turnover of £1.093 billion, up from £620.4 million, previously.
After exceptional items, however, Securicor posted a pre-tax loss of £12.8 million, compared with a profit of £47.7 million, last year.
Exceptional items comprised a £1.7 million, loss on the sale of Securicor Recruitment Services and a £42.4 million, loss on the sale of Securicor Wireless in the US.
The company also acknowledged the setback to its US airport security-screening operations due to a decision by the US government that will make all airport baggage screeners federal employees.
The group declared a final dividend of 1 pence per share, bringing the total dividend for the year to 1.65 pence per share, up 10 per cent over the previous year's dividend.
AFP