(Adds detail on results, background)
March 11 (Reuters) - Britain's G4S, one of the
world's largest private security firms, on Wednesday reported an
annual statutory loss after taking a 291 million pound ($374.75
million) charge chiefly related to its UK cash business.
The services contractor, which employs security guards in
several fields such as government agencies, companies and
airports, said it has cut back operations in high risk areas to
mitigate the spread of the coronavirus but added that the impact
so far has been "immaterial".
G4S employs more than half a million people in 90 countries,
a third of which in Asia, and a majority of its employees are in
frontline roles such as security guards for sporting and
entertainment events.
"The group has also commenced a programme to test
potentially affected employees and none have tested positive as
yet," it said.
The rival of Sweden's Securitas reported a
full-year statutory loss of 91 million pounds compared with a
profit of 81 million pounds a year earlier, after taking a
charge related to restructuring and separation its cash
business.
Last month, it sold a majority of its cash transportation
business to U.S. rival Brinks for 727 million pounds,
including debt, while retaining its payment and cash technology
business. It also held on to its entire cash business in UK,
where G4S' vans and guards transporting boxes of money are a
familiar sight.
($1 = 0.7765 pounds)
(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard
Orr)
