ARG.L Regulatory News (ARG)

29 Nov 2006 07:01

ArmorGroup International plc29 November 2006 ArmorGroup International plc Wins UK Government contract in Afghanistan ArmorGroup International plc, the leading international provider of protectivesecurity services, today reports that it has been awarded a contract for theprovision of security services to the UK Government in Kabul and various otherlocations across Afghanistan, including Kandahar and Helmand provinces. Thecontract, which is worth around $30 million per annum, is for a minimum of oneyear and a maximum of three years. The contract is due to start on 1 January 2007 and, as such, will have no impacton this year's revenues or profits. The contract covers the following services: • Guard services, made up of former Gurkha soldiers and Afghan guards, to protect personnel and assets at a number of sites including the British Embassy and British Council Compound in Kabul. • Mobile security services, incorporating a significant number of operationally experienced and SIA-accredited Close Protection officers, to protect UK Government employees as they move around Afghanistan. ArmorGroup has been working in partnership with the Foreign and CommonwealthOffice (FCO) in Afghanistan since 2003 when, as part of a planned build upprocess, it was initially awarded the mobile security contract to provide eightClose Protection officers to the British Embassy Kabul. The contract for theguarding of the British Embassy Kabul followed, with further contracts awardedfor the security of the personnel and assets of the Department for InternationalDevelopment (DFID), the British Council and other Government departments inKabul and Kandahar. ArmorGroup is the leading provider of defensive protective security services inAfghanistan and has been operating in the country since 2002. ArmorGroup teamspresently carry out over 900 missions a month throughout Afghanistan. The Groupcurrently has over 600 highly qualified employees in Afghanistan providing arange of security services to a growing number of commercial, governmental andNGO clients. ArmorGroup has made substantial investments in infrastructure to provide acomprehensive and country-wide support service in Afghanistan. ArmorGroup'sAnjuman Base in Kabul is a high security complex which provides accommodationfor 300 employees and clients as well as comprehensive training, medical,logistics and workshop facilities. ArmorGroup has also invested in accommodationin Lashkar Gah, in Helmand province, and on the Kandahar Air Base. Dave Seaton, Chief Executive Officer of ArmorGroup, commented: "We are very pleased to have been awarded this contract for protective securityservices by the FCO. It is a tremendous vote of confidence in the quality ofour employees and the excellent service they offer in a challenging and hostileenvironment. The operational benefits of building a comprehensive infrastructurein Afghanistan have been significant and are already reaping rewards. Webelieve that the impetus behind the redevelopment of Afghanistan will continueto grow and anticipate it will lead to further international investment in thecountry." The bidding process for the contract was comprehensive and involved many of theUK's larger private security companies. The process incorporated both writtenand oral presentations to the FCO and other relevant government departments. For further enquiries please contact: ArmorGroup International plc Dave SeatonChief Executive OfficerTel: +44 (0) 20 7808 5800 Patrick Toyne SewellDirector of CommunicationsTel: +44 (0) 20 7808 5848Mob: +44 (0) 7767 498 195Email: ptoynesewell@armorgroup.com Notes to Editors ArmorGroup International plc For over 25 years ArmorGroup has been recognised as a leading provider ofdefensive, protective security services to national governments, multinationalcorporations and international peace and security agencies operating inhazardous environments. It has 9,000 highly trained and experienced employeesand long term operations in 38 countries. Over the past two years it hassupported its clients in over 160 countries across the Middle East, Africa,North and South America, the CIS and central Asia. ArmorGroup International plcis headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange. ArmorGroup provides its services through three core divisions: ProtectiveSecurity Services, Security Training and Weapons Reduction and Mine ClearanceServices. It complies with the US Foreign and Corrupt Practices Act, 1997 andthe UK's Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, 2001 and has also beencertified to ISO 9001:2000 and to ISO/IEC 27001:2005. For more informationplease visit www.armorgroup.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange