LONDON (Reuters UK) - G4S (GFS), the world's biggest security firm, said revenues for the first nine months of 2009 were 9 percent ahead of the same period last year, driven by strong performances in its new markets and government business.
The company, which supplies security guards and other safety-related services to firms in over 100 countries, on Monday said its operating profit was up 12 percent for the nine months to the end of September, as margins rose 0.2 percent.
"Trends from the first half continued into the third quarter, including slightly slower growth in developed markets' commercial security services, offset by continued strong performances in government and new markets," the company said in a statement.
G4S, which was formed from the 2004 merger between Denmark's Group 4 and Britain's Securicor, also said it was confident that it would deliver a strong performance in 2009 and into 2010.
Shares in G4S, which have risen a quarter in 2009, closed on Friday at 252.80 pence, valuing the group at around 3.5 billion pounds.
(Reporting by Rhys Jones; editing by Paul Sandle)
