Look out Serco, G4S is leaner and meaner – Bottom Line August 13, 2014 Serco should sit up and take notice of G4S’ progress. While both firms were in the mire last year due to a prisoner tagging scandal, G4S swiftly set about overhauling its management and streamlining the business. And it’s working. Admittedly, most of G4S’ growth is coming from emerging markets rather than the UK, but a [...]
Serco warns of lower revenue next year as profit dives August 12, 2014 The magnitude of the challenge facing Rupert Soames was revealed yesterday, as embattled outsourcing firm Serco reported a 66 per cent slump in first-half profit and confirmed that revenues would fall next year, missing industry forecasts. The results came ahead of today’s damning report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons into Serco’s management of Doncaster prison, [...]
Serco reports half-year loss of £7.3m as Angus Cockburn is made new finance chief August 12, 2014 Serco has reported a first-half pre-tax loss of £7.3m, in the wake of a scandal surrounding the company’s use of electronic tags on prisoners. In the same period last year the outsourcing company reported profits of £106m. The company also announced this morning the appointment of Angus Cockburn – currently Aggreko’s interim chief [...]
London Report: UK labour data and inflation report to form rates outlook August 10, 2014 LABOUR market data and the Bank of England’s quarterly inflation report due this week will point to the likelihood of rate rises in the near future. “Latest labour market data is likely to show a further marked drop in unemployment but still muted earnings growth,” said Howard Archer, of IHS Global Insight. “A further marked fall [...]
Best of the Brokers for 07 August 2014 August 6, 2014 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com BAE SYSTEMS Westhouse Securities has maintained its “sell” rating for BAE Systems, noting soft bill-to-book ratios and concerns over the US defence budget. It has praised BAE’s growing commercial cyber-security department and core UK business, leaving the target price unchanged. SERCO GROUP Numis [...]
Ed Ballsed-up behind wheel but it’s (a) fine – and five points on his driving licence August 5, 2014 Ed Balls managed to swerve a driving ban yesterday, his lawyers racing away from Leeds magistrates with just a £1,000 fine and five points for the shadow chancellor. The charge? He failed to stop after hitting a parked car. Of course, the Labour shadow minister is walking (or, driving) a thin line – he’s already [...]
UK company profit warnings at three year high, says report July 27, 2014 The number of profit warnings issued by FTSE 100 companies was at a three-year high in the first quarter, according to a report by Ernst & Young. In its quarterly Analysis of UK Profit Warnings report, the consultancy firm revealed that companies listed on the London Stock Exchange issued a total of 74 warnings [...]
Fresh contracts worth £1.3bn boost Capita’s first-half revenues July 23, 2014 A STREAM of major contract wins, including a £145m deal with Transport for London, helped outsourcing firm Capita’s profit to soar in the first half of the year. The FTSE 100-listed firm said yesterday that it secured £1.3bn in new contracts over the period, including a 10-year £400m agreement to support the management of the [...]
Capita share price up as outsourcing firm picked for new prisoner tagging contract July 16, 2014 Outsourcing firm Capita will manage a six-year prisoner tagging contract previously held by G4S and Serco, the Ministry of Justice confirmed yesterday. The FTSE 100-listed company has been managing the service on an interim basis since April, after G4S and Serco were found to have overcharged the government. The new contract is worth £228.8m. Three [...]
Serco fails to win rebid for Docklands Light Railway July 4, 2014 Troubled outsourcing firm Serco has received yet more bad news today as Transport for London informed the company it had failed in its rebid to operate and maintain the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). After 17 years of running the DLR Serco will hand it over to a venture between Keolis and Amey. However, Serco was [...]