Industry news: acquisitions, results, contracts

Capita Property Services, a division of the broad-based support services specialist Capita Group plc, has strengthened its FM offer with the acquisition of KDP Richmond. Liverpool-based KDP has a strong track record with public sector clients, including the Employment Service, Inland Revenue, Contributions Agency and Benefits Agency.

The 850-strong property services division already claims a range of skills. Adding FM, says MD Steve Morris, "increases our ability to successfully tender for large facilities management contracts, which we see as an important step towards our provision of a comprehensive property services package."

Mitie Group continues on its remarkable performance track. Results announced for the year completed last March show pre-tax profit again growing by more than 30% - for the 10th consecutive year. Mitie, whose business strategy has been to take controlling stakes in start-ups, has also set out its plans for the future - it wants to build links with financial organisations seeking to invest in property portfolios.

"Buyers are looking for service providers," says Chairman David Telling. "This is going to be the next stage of growth." The promise of such links is beginning to be a recurring theme in outsourcing, but Mitie already has experience through its involvement with the Goldman Sachs-backed Trillium.

AMEC Facilities has won a contract to provide and manage a wide range of non-core services for pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. The first such contract for Lilly in the UK will involve three properties in Basingstoke, totalling 27,000sqm and including both the HQ and industrial premises.

Elliott Chase