Comments from the President and CEO
Organic sales growth continued to be strong, supported by good sales momentum in the US as well as in Europe and by continued positive development in Spain. We estimate that we grow faster than the security markets in the US and Europe, mainly supported by our strategy of security solutions and technology. We believe that we can grow the sales of security solutions and technology in at least the same range as last year, i.e. 28 percent or more. This is supported by the development in the first nine months of 2015.
Earnings per share improved with 10 percent in the first nine months, adjusted for changes in exchange rates, and the operating margin improved in the third quarter and was flat year to date.
Our vision 2020
During the past years, Securitas has come far in the effort to become the leading security solutions company. We are at the forefront of the transformation of the security industry. During the third quarter 2015, we have launched the Group Vision 2020 project, to shape our strategy to become even stronger in the years ahead. We have set a clear plan and started the implementation process to reinforce and accelerate our strategy. In our vision 2020 we are the leading international security company specializing in Protective Services based on people, technology and knowledge.
Securitas will continue to invest and lead in combining technology with guarding services and actively pursue organic growth in solutions and technology, and acquisition opportunities within electronic security. In October, Securitas agreed to acquire the commercial contracts and operational assets of Diebold Incorporated’s Electronic Security business in North America, which is the third largest commercial electronic security provider in North America. This acquisition is in line with our vision 2020 and enables us to offer completely integrated security solutions to our customers in North America.
It will also be increasingly important in coming years, to coordinate our efforts and investments within IT and Securitas Operation Centers, making us as a Group more consistent from a customer perspective and at the same time improve cost efficiency.
We will also continue to expand our Mobile patrol and response network and density, as we believe that it will be an increasingly important competitive advantage to be able to respond faster than any other security company. To enable this we will explore new channels to generate monitoring and mobile patrol sales growth. In addition, we will expand the scope beyond guarding and electronic security to invest and focus more in fire and safety and in corporate risk management. We see good operational synergies in these areas and at the same time it increases the value we can deliver to our customers as it optimizes the total security and safety spend.
We have already proven that our strategy differentiates us from most competitors which will allow us to generate higher organic sales growth than the market average.
Alf Göransson
President and Chief Executive Officer
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PRESENTATION OF THE INTERIM REPORT
Analysts and media are invited to participate in a telephone conference on November 4, 2015 at 15:00 p.m. (CET) where Securitas CEO Alf Göransson will present the report and answer questions. The telephone conference will also be audio cast live via Securitas web. No information meeting will take place at Securitas headquarters at Lindhagensplan in Stockholm. To participate in the telephone conference, please dial in five minutes prior to the start of the conference call:
The United States: + 1 855 269 2605
Sweden: + 46 (0) 8 519 993 55
United Kingdom: + 44 (0) 203 194 0550
To follow the audio cast of the telephone conference via the web, please follow the link
www.securitas.com/investors/webcasts. A recorded version of the audio cast will be available
at www.securitas.com/investors/webcasts after the telephone conference.
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 global knowledge leader in security. From a broad range of services of specialized guarding, technology solutions and consulting and investigations, we customize offerings that are suited to the individual customer’s needs, in order to deliver the most effective security solutions. Everywhere from small stores to airports, our 320,000 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 13.00 (CET) on Wednesday, November 4, 2015.
