Interserve still on the acquisition trail

Interserve has admitted it is looking for further acquisitions despite an impressive increase in profit last year.

The company currently operates through five divisions: facilities services, industrial services, project services, equipment services and PFI, three of which logged handsome improvements in operating profits.

Although overall company profit leapt 15% to £39.3m in the year to 31 December, Interserve's executive director John Vyse has revealed that the group now wants to get more involved in business process outsourcing.

Vyse said: "there is a distinct possibility that other acquisitions will be made in the interests of delivering further shareholder and customer value.

"White collar services fit in very neatly with what we are already providing from a building facilities management point of view.

"We already offer blue collar facility services, such as security, catering, cleaning and grounds maintenance. But because ther are clients out there who want companies to take on pay roll management, accounting requirements or IT support, it is an area that we are definitely interested in becoming more involved in."