The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Capita finds new contracts 'pleasing'

More business than ever

Steps to Take Before Choosing a Business Continuity Partner

Capita notched up record contract wins for the seven months of 2006, the firm's chairman Rod Aldridge OBE noted today in the last set of results he will report to city before he steps down.

Aldridge announced his resignation in March following allegations that his donations to the Labour party had been rewarded with contracts for business with the government. He said at the time that the allegations were "spurious".

In his last chairman's statement today, Aldridge noted new contract wins with Birmingham, Rossendale and Westminster councils, the Northern Ireland Civil Service, the DTI and the BBC. Private sector wins included DSG Plc and Fujitsu.

Contract wins totalled £806m, of which £624m came from new contract wins, while the rest came from contract renewals.

Aldridge noted that despite the capital outlay required to get all this new business off the ground, Capita had still managed to post a 12.2 per cent increase in operating margins during the six months to 30 June 2006. Operating profit was up 27 per cent to £103.2m.

"This is a pleasing performance given the higher than usual level of implementation costs associated with the start up of a record number of new contracts," he said.

"The improving margin reflects the continued increase in economies of scale in the business," he added.

Turnover was up 23 per cent to £845m. Six per cent of this growth was attributable to acquisitions, of which Capita made seven in the six month period. Pre-tax profits were up 24 per cent to £92.4m. It plans further acquisitions in the second half. The firm also had a bid pipeline of £2.8bn in accounts where it had been shortlisted with four or fewer competitors.®

Requirements Checklist for Choosing a Cloud Backup and Recovery Service Provider

More from The Register

 breaking news
BBC-featured call centre slapped with hefty fine for unwanted calls
PPI pests: Swansea-based firm stung for £225k by ICO
Microsoft to open Windows Stores inside 600 Best Buy locations
Product showcases 'must be seen to be believed'
 breaking news
What did the Lehman Brothers implosion look like to a techie?
Insider tells all about the Gnab Gib at Lehmans
 breaking news
The only Waze is Google: Ad giant tipped to gobble map app 'for $1.3bn'
Pac-Man-satnav-ish upstart in bidding war with Apple, Facebook
 breaking news
1-in-10 e-tomes 'are self-published'... most are 'rubbish' says book ed
Publishing man scoffs at go-it-alone writers, ursines still fouling in forests
 breaking news
Facebook RSS reader said to uncloak June 20
Secret event scooped by Scottish developer?
 breaking news
O2 averts strike action over mass Capita outsourcing deal
Details of new agreement not yet released