History

history

1901–1950: Our foundation in Denmark, our national growth, our first moves into overseas territories and the emergence of Securitas International…

1901	- Marius Hogrefe starts the guarding company Kjøbenhavn Frederiksberg Nattevagt in Denmark.
1906	- Sophus Falck establishes Redningskorpset, an independent fire and rescue service.
1908	- Redningskorpset establishes the first automobile ambulance in Scandinavia.
1930	- Falck becomes a nationwide operator in Denmark.
1934	- The Philip-Sørensen family establishes Securitas AB in Sweden.
1935	- Night Watch Services (later Night Guards) starts up with four guards on bicycles.
1950	- The Philip-Sørensen family businesses are consolidated as Securitas International.

1951–1989: The emergence of Securicor and Group 4, changes in the role of the Philip-Sørensen family, and a partnership with British Telecom…

1951	- Night Guards becomes Securicor.
1960	- Securicor become a nationwide operator in the UK and expands into Africa and Asia.
1963	- Falck buys Zonen Redningskorps, an independent fire and rescue service in Denmark.
1965	- Securicor launches the Data Transit Service, a fleet of vans moving customers’ confidential payroll and banking details from central locations to regional offices. - Jørgen Philip-Sørensen is appointed managing director of his family’s UK businesses.
1968	- The Philip-Sørensen group of companies becomes Group 4 (Total Security).
1971	- Securicor Group Limited and Security Services Limited are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
1981	- Jørgen Philip-Sørensen takes responsibility for Group 4’s European activities, while his brother Sven Philip-Sørensen takes over Securitas AB in Sweden. - Securicor Chairman Peter Smith is awarded the OBE for services to the security industry. - Securicor and British Telecommunications plc form the Cellnet cellular network.
1988	- Falck is acquired by Baltica, a Danish insurance company; Lars Nørby Johansen is appointed Managing Director.

1990–1999: Falck becomes a listed company, Securicor becomes a plc and operations spread across Europe – and beyond…

1990	- Group 4 provides security services to government and private organisations in Hungary. - Securicor establishes its Custodial Services operations.
1991	- Baltica sells 55% of its shares in Falck. - Group 4 acquires businesses in Belgium and Turkey. - Group 4 begins managing the first privatised prison in the UK, at Wolds in Humberside.
1993	-Falck acquires the security business of ISS Securitas, to become Falck Securitas. - Group 4 acquires businesses in Austria and Canada. - Securicor Custodial Services wins the contract to run the London Metropolitan Court Escort and Custody services.
1994	- Group 4 establishes operations in the United Arab Emirates and the Ukraine. - All activities in Spain are sold to Securitas AB.
1995	-Falck is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.
1996	- Group 4 begins a joint venture with British Gas to provide meter-reading services in the UK, and establishes AccuRead. - Falck acquires businesses in Sweden and Norway. - Securicor becomes a single plc.
1997	- Securicor enters the US corrections market. - Securicor acquires the first Private Finance Initiative prison in the UK.
1998	- Securicor forms a joint venture with Deutsche Post, the German post office. - Falck acquires businesses in Germany, Poland and Estonia. - Group 4 starts activities in Bangladesh.
1999	- Falck acquires security businesses in the Netherlands and Lithuania. - Securicor sells its stake in Cellnet to British Telecommunications plc.

2000-2005: Continued mergers and acquisitions, Group 4 Falck is established and then Group 4 Securicor, the world’s second largest security provider...

Group 4 and Falck merge to become Group 4 Falck.
Group 4 Falck acquires security businesses in Germany, Austria, Finland, the Czech Republic, Norway and Hungary.
Securicor acquires businesses in Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and the US.

2001	- Group 4 Falck acquires businesses in France and South Africa.
2002	- Group 4 Falck enters the US security market by acquiring The Wackenhut Corporation, the second largest security services company in the US. - Nick Buckles becomes Chief Executive of Securicor
2003	- Securicor sells its distribution business to Deutsche Post. - Group 4 Falck sells its shares in Wackenhut Correction Corporation and Wackenhut Resources Inc.
2004	- Group 4 Falck’s security business merges with Securicor to create - Group 4 Securicor in July 2004, and begins trading on the London Stock Exchange. - Group 4 Technology acquires a Danish intruder alarm business. - Group 4 Securicor’s UK Justice Services business wins three electronic monitoring contracts in England and Wales. - Group 4 Falck sells Global Solutions and lists its safety business (Falck A/S) on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.
2005	- Securicor Canada acquires Universal ATM Services. - Group 4 Securicor is officially launched in May 2005. - Lars Nørby Johansen is succeeded as Chief Executive by Nick Buckles.

2006–present: G4S becomes a global identity, makes yet more acquisitions and even sets its sights on Olympic gold…

2006	- The G4S brand identity is rolled out worldwide. - Wackenhut Services, Inc. wins a key fire protection and emergency response contract with NASA. - G4S wins Human Resources Excellence award for “Best Executive Development Programme”. - G4S acquires a 50% share in a guarding, alarms and cash services business in Mozambique. - Alf Duch-Pedersen succeeds Jorgen Philip-Sorensen, becoming Non Executive Chairman. - G4S announces sponsorship of Skandia Team GBR, backing Britain’s Olympic sailing bid in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
2007	- G4S enters the FTSE 100 index of leading companies on the London Stock Exchange. - G4S makes acquisitions in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Serbia and Mozambique. - G4S begins providing electronic monitoring equipment and services in New Zealand. - G4S 4teen, an innovative global sports development programme, is launched.
2008	- G4S acquires GSL, a leading provider of critical primary and support services and outsourced justice services. - G4S is selected as a support contractor for the US Department of Energy. - G4S acquires Armorgroup, a leading provider of defensive and protective services to national governments and international peace and security agencies. - G4S acquires RONCO Consulting Corporation, one of the world's premier humanitarian and commercial mine action, ordinance disposal and security companies. - A landmark agreement reached with UNI, the global union federation, on an Ethical Employment Partnership, driving improvements in employment standards across the security industry.
2009	- G4S aquires Secura Monde International Limited and Shiremoor International Engineering Limited, together, the UK’s leading specialist banknote and high security technical and commercial advisory companies. - G4S acquires All Star International, one of the premier facilities management and base operations support companies providing services to the US Government. - G4S acquires Adesta, US-basedprovider ofintegrated security systems and communication systems. - G4S acquires Hill & Associates Consultants Limited, Asia’s leading provider of specialist risk mitigation consulting services.