ISS delivers consistent strong growth in revenue and operating results

Copenhagen, 26 February 2009 – Today, ISS Holding A/S published its financial results for 2008, and Denmark’s second largest company has achieved solid growth.

Revenue amounted to DKK 68.8 billion in 2008, an increase of 11% adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations, compared with 2007.  The organic growth was 5.3% in 2008 compared with 6.0% in 2007. All regions and almost all countries contributed to the organic growth, and Asia and Latin America delivered once again double digit growth rates.

Operating profit before other items grew 6% to DKK 4.1 billion, up from DKK 3.8 billion in 2007, which led to an operating margin of 5.9%.

Group CEO Jørgen Lindegaard had the following comments on ISS’s performance in 2008:

“2008 was a good year for ISS with a continued solid and stable growth in revenue. The growth comes from a almost 50/50 combination of organic growth and from our acquisitions. The organic growth has been particularly impressive in Asia (20%) and in Latin America (17%). At the same time, ISS has completed 66 acquisitions in 2008 which added DKK 3.9 billion in annualised revenue.”

He continues: “Considering the current situation with the slow-down in the economies across the world, ISS has done very well in 2008. This was the year ISS entered into the largest Integrated Facility Services (IFS) contract in our 108-year long history. This contract with one single customer covers more than 45 countries. The contract is also an important milestone towards achieving our vision of Leading Facility Services globally.”

At the end of 2008 the number of employees in ISS had grown from 438,000 to more than 472,000 in the world.
 
Financial highlights and key ratios of ISS Holding A/S for 2008: 
  

* Except percentages

** Adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations the change is +11%

*** Before other items

For further information, please contact:

Group CEO Jørgen Lindegaard
Tel. +45 38 17 00 00

Group CFO Jakob Stausholm
Tel. +45 38 17 64 38

Forward-looking statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding future events or prospects are forward-looking statements. The words ‘‘may’’, “will”, “should”, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘plan’’, "predict," ‘‘intend’ or variations of these words, as well as other statements regarding matters that are not historical fact or regarding future events or prospects, constitute forward-looking statements. ISS has based these forward-looking statements on its current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These views involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in the forward-looking statements and from the past performance of ISS. Although ISS believes that the estimates and projections reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove materially incorrect, and actual results may materially differ as a result of the risks relating to the facility service industry in general or ISS specifically, including the matters described in the annual report for 2007 or other information published by ISS.

As a result, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements. ISS undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

About the ISS Group
The ISS Group is one of the world's leading Facility Services Groups, providing integrated service solutions based on the core business areas of Cleaning, Catering, Office Support, Property Service and Security. The ISS Group generated revenue of almost DKK 69 billion in 2008 and employs more than 470,000 people in over 50 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America and Pacific. 

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