* Q3 op profit SEK 1.14 bln vs forecast 1.12 bln
* Says EGM to vote on 4.80 SEK/share dividend
* Like-for-like sales flat in Q3
(Adds detail, background share)
STOCKHOLM, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Securitas, the
world's biggest security services group, reported a
third-quarter operating profit that roughly matched expectations
and said it was reinstating its dividend as the business impact
from the pandemic grew less severe.
The provider of guard services, alarm surveillance and
airport security has been hit hard by the pandemic as demand for
luggage screening at airports and other services has evaporated
in many parts of the world.
Operating profit was 1.14 billion Swedish crowns ($128.6
million), down from a year-ago 1.44 billion but up from 882
million in the previous quarter. Four analysts had on average
forecast a 1.12 billion crown profit, according to data from
Refinitiv.
The rival to Britain's G4S said in a statement it
was reinstating its annual dividend proposal of 4.80 crowns per
share, to be approved by shareholders in a vote next month.
Securitas, for which wages account for the bulk of its
costs, withdrew its dividend proposal in April due to the
uncertainty caused by the pandemic, adding it might consider a
new proposal later.
The company said in September it had seen some "encouraging
signs" as restrictions eased and economies opened up, but that
great uncertainty remained around the duration and implications
of the pandemic, a line repeated on Tuesday.
In recent weeks a renewed wave of the virus sweeping through
Europe has seen countries such as France and Germany return to
varying degrees of lockdown though these moves have largely come
after the close of the third quarter.
Like-for-like, sales were unchanged Securitas said, against
4% growth a year earlier and a 4% drop in the second quarter.
Securitas shares, which were up around 3.5% ahead of the report,
pared gains to stand 0.9% higher at 1205 GMT.
($1 = 8.8653 Swedish crowns)
(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom and Johannes Hellstrom; editing by
Niklas Pollard)
