13 May 2008 G4S PLC INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT G4S, the international security solutions group, will be updating analysts and investors today on trading for the year to date, including an overview of financial performance to 31 March 2008. Management will be indicating that although there have been no material changes in trading performance or market conditions across our various businesses since the preliminary results announcement in March, underlying performance is now running slightly ahead of overall management expectations, aided in part by a small benefit from recent euro strength. An overview of the financial performance for the three months to 31 March 2008 is as follows: Organic Growth Overall organic growth improved strongly to 11% with around 9% in developed markets and around 17% in New Markets. In security services, organic growth remained strong as a result of improved performances from Continental Europe and North America and continued good progress elsewhere. Cash services continued to deliver excellent organic growth with strong performances across both developed and New Markets. Margins Overall margins were ahead by 0.1% on the same period last year. Security services margins were broadly unchanged with improved performances from some markets offset by contract start-up costs in the US and Scandinavia. In cash services, trading continued to be strong, with margin improvements being driven mainly by our businesses in Europe. Acquisitions & Divestments In May, G4S completed the acquisitions of GSL and ArmorGroup International plc. Other acquisitions for the year to date include businesses based in Greece, UK and USA and the buy-out of minority interests in businesses in the Baltic States and Macau. The total amount invested in acquisitions for the year to date is approximately £520 million. These acquisitions will play integral roles in delivering the new strategy which will drive accelerated growth and development for the group. Based on the strong pipeline of potential acquisitions, we will continue to acquire capability-building businesses to aid our strategic development in addition to a continued focus on organic growth. Outlook Based on the strong underlying performance described above and indications of current trading, we remain very confident in the performance of the group for 2008. AGM & Dividend The AGM will take place on 29 May 2008 and the final dividend of 2.85 pence (DKK 0.279) per share is proposed for payment on 6 June 2008. For further enquiries, please contact: Debbie McGrath +44 (0) 1293 554400 Helen Parris Media Enquiries: Kevin Smith, Citigate Dewe Rogerson +44 (0) 7973 672649 Notes to Editors: G4S is the world's leading international security solutions group. It specialises in assessing current and future risks and developing secure solutions to minimise their impact across a wide range of geographic markets and business sectors. G4S is a major provider of risk management and protection to governments and major corporate customers around the world and is an expert in all aspects of local and international secure logistics. G4S is the largest employer quoted on the London Stock Exchange and has a secondary stock exchange listing in Copenhagen. G4S has operations in over 110 countries and over 530,000 employees. For more information on G4S, visit www.g4s.com. An investor and analyst conference call is taking place today at 08.30 (UK time). The dial in number for the call is +44 (0) 207162 0025. Results for the six months to 30 June 2008 will be published on 27 August 2008.
Interim Management Statement
| Source: G4S plc