The acquisition of Legion Group further enhances SectorGuard’s position as a ‘top tier’ security solutions provider. The Waltham Cross-based outfit now employs in excess of 2,700 staff covering UK-based security guarding contracts, with this latest acquisition following hot-on-the-heels of last March’s GB pound 3.5 million buy-out of Manguard.
As part of the deal, the AIM-listed total security solutions concern has also agreed to pay the Royal British Legion Attendants Company Trust the sum of GB pound 100,000 per annum for the next decade.
The Trust, of course, is a registered charity established in 1923 with the aim of promoting employment opportunities to ex-servicemen and women. Legion Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Royal British Legion Attendants Company.
News of the deal was broken this morning by Infologue.com’s Editor Bobby Logue, who estimates that the annual turnover of the combined business will be something in the region of GB pound 60 million. This would see it ranked 14th in the Infologue Top 20 ‘league table’.
Generating shareholder and Stakeholder value
Commenting on the deal, SectorGuard plc’s CEO Mark Higgins – who joined the company from Manguard – explained: “Legion Group’s heritage, brand and client portfolio should generate significant shareholder and Stakeholder value once the integration is fully completed. We are very excited to announce this milestone event for SectorGuard.”
SectorGuard first entered the Infologue.com Top 20 2008 in 16th place, then boasting a turnover of GB pound 32 million. It’s understood that the enlarged group will retain the Legion name and brand while using the SectorGuard model to improve client service and efficiencies which have been developed and implemented by the new SectorGuard team over the last three months.
Security guarding and CCTV monitoring
A leading provider of security guarding and CCTV monitoring services to the public and private sectors, Legion also offers civil parking enforcement services and car park management services to local authorities, shopping centre management teams, retail parks and private sector organisations nationwide.
In the year ended 30 September 2008, Legion posted a turnover of GB pound 27.5 million on a 17% gross profit. The company employs something in the region of 1,200 licensed security personnel and 200 car park and traffic operatives.
According to Legion’s web site, subsidiary company Legion Technologies means that Legion is “the single point of contact for access to an extensive range of bundled services using today’s most advanced technology, including sophisticated electronic access control systems, portable perimeter protection, revolutionary covert tracking technology and lone worker protection”.
