Distribution of company announcements to the professional platforms, finance portals and syndication of important corporate news to a wide variety of news aggregators and financial news systems.
Hafslund Hafslund has entered into an agreement with Securitas Direct AS regarding the sale of Hafslund Sikkerhet which constitutes Hafslund's residential alarm business. Securitas Direct will take over Hafslund's residential alarm business, including customers, personnel and equipment. The transaction is only conditional on approval by the Norwegian Competition Authority.
Securitas Direct is paying Hafslund NOK 525 million for 100% of the shares in both Hafslund Sikkerhet Privat AS and Hafslund Boligteknikk AS. The sale will provide an accounting profit of around NOK 170 million. Hafslund will receive NOK 150 million of the sales amount in the form of newly issued B shares in Securitas Direct AB, which means that Hafslund will be able to take part in future added value within the company.
- This transaction is a decision based on Hafslund's wish to participate in the ongoing structural change taking place in the Norwegian security market. Our wish is to secure the further development of the company and to contribute to creating a solid and customer friendly player in the Norwegian security market, states Group Senior Vice President of Markets, Hege Yli Melhus. - Securitas Direct is a market leader providing residential and business security services in Europe, and is a technologically advanced, substantial and serious alarm provider. We are sure that Security Direct will look after our customers in Hafslund Sikkerhet, and will contribute to a positive development for the company.
- We feel a great responsibility when we welcome our new customers and colleagues - they have after all chosen Hafslund Sikkerhet. It is my conviction that our focus on service and customer care as well as our way of fulfilling each colleague's potential will ensure that customers and employees will feel welcome and safe with us, states Securitas Direct's CEO Dick Seger. - A transaction with Hafslund will make it possible for us to further strengthen the service we provide, and to more swiftly incorporate the latest alarm verification technology. It is beneficial to the customer and the Norwegian security market in that they will receive greater value for money, continues Dick Seger.
- The Hafslund Group's recent growth has been within the development of renewable energy and the further expansion of infrastructure, whilst at the same time being Norway's largest electricity sales provider. The sale of our security operation is a natural step towards focusing our strategy. The combination of Securitas Direct and Hafslund Sikkerhet is beneficial to both our customers and to the company, states Hafslund's CEO Christian Berg.
Group Senior Vice President of Markets, Hege Yli Melhus, Tel: +47 414 42 952 hege.yli.melhus@hafslund.no
About the companies
About Securitas Direct AS Securitas Direct is a leading provider of high-quality security services to homes and small businesses. Our success is based on a strong growth focus, scalable concepts and highly developed local entrepreneurship. The Group operates in nine European countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Portugal. In 2007 Securitas Direct reported net sales of SEK 3,816 million, operating profit of SEK 275 million and net customer portfolio growth of more than 15 percent. The Group had 1,000,000 customers at 30 June 2008. Securitas Direct's class B shares have been listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange since 29 September 2006 but will be delisted on 15 August 2008.
About Hafslund Sikkerhet Hafslund's residential alarm business is a market leader in Norway, with over 75,000 private customers. The company has an annual turnover of approx. NOK 260 million with around 200 employees. The company provides private customers in Norway with burglar and fire alarms. The residential alarm operation has its headquarters in Oslo, but provides services to security customers on a national scale. Hafslund's security business consists of the companies Hafslund Sikkerhet Privat AS and Hafslund Boligteknikk AS.
