COMMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO
With the uneven recovery taking place in the world economies, demand for security services has not yet increased due to the sectors late cyclicality. It has, however, stabilized at the current levels. The recovery seems to be steady in North America, while security industry development in Europe varies from country to country and remains difficult to predict.
The Securitas strategy — to focus on profitability and to differentiate the company from its competitors through the added value in optimizing security solutions for customers — has been successful in various business cycles over the past few years. In the first half of 2010 the real improvement in operating income continued amounting to 4 percent. The operating margin improved in all business segments.
Although Security Services North Americas organic sales growth remained negative in the first half of the year, it is showing signs of improving. Security Services Europe as well as Mobile and Monitoring enjoyed positive organic sales growth.
During the second quarter a major acquisition was concluded in the U.S. in order to expand in the primary government security services market. Favorable acquisition opportunities continue to present themselves in both mature and new markets and we intend to remain active and selectively take advantage of such opportunities as they arise.
Alf Göransson
President and Chief Executive Officer
PRESENTATION OF THE INTERIM REPORT
An information meeting will be held on August 6, 2010, at 9.30 a.m. CET.
The information meeting will take place at Securitas‘ head office, Lindhagensplan 70, Stockholm.
To follow the information meeting via telephone (and participate in a Q&A session), please register via the link https://eventreg2.conferencing.com/webportal3/reg.html?Acc=007175&Conf=201979
and follow the instructions, or call +44 (0)20 7162 0177 or +46 (0) 8 505 201 14.
The meeting will be webcast at www.securitas.com/webcasts
A recorded version of the webcast will be available at www.securitas.com/webcasts after the meeting and a recorded version of the meeting will also be available until midnight on August 10 at tel: +44 (0)207 031 4064 and +46 (0)8 505 203 33, access code: 869939.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Micaela Sjökvist, Head of Investor Relations,
+46 10 470 3013
Gisela Lindstrand, Senior Vice President
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs,
+46 10 470 3011
Securitas is a knowledge leader in security. By focusing on providing security solutions to fit each customer‘s needs, Securitas has achieved sustainable growth and profitability in 40 countries in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Africa. Everywhere from small stores to airports, our 260,000 employees are making a difference.
Securitas AB discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication at 8 a.m. (CET) on Friday, August 6, 2010.
