Croma secures celebrity homes protection deals

SECURITY firm Croma Group yesterday bagged two contracts to protect the homes of "business leaders, footballers and celebrities" in London and Surrey, sending shares in the Dumfries-based company up 13 per cent.

The deals, which are worth 1.5 million in total to Aim- quoted Croma over the next three years, were won by its Vigilant Security Services subsidiary.

Vigilant, which only uses former military personnel as its security guards, lists Axa and B&Q among its clients. It will add 40 staff to its headcount of 450 to fulfil the latest contracts.

Sebastian Morley, chief executive of Croma Group, said: "We can't name these famous gated communities, but they are home to business leaders, footballers, celebrities and other rich people.

"These contract wins are significant in that they represent exactly the type of project Vigilant is winning in the face of aggressive competition.

"This not only strengthens our credentials as the high-end security service provider of choice, it also strengthens our margins. Every project is now also an opportunity to sell integrated security systems as part of our developing partnership with CSS Total Security."

Croma set up its joint venture with CSS in April and last month unveiled a 450,000 contract for its Photobase subsidiary to write security software for CSS.