Alarms group in £1.8m sell-off

Kidderminster security firm CTAC has been bought in a £1.8 million deal by fire, safety and defence group Westminster, it was announced today.

CTAC provides security to blue-chip clients including Brinks, diamond firm DeBeers and Severn Trent Water.

Its key strength is its 24-hour Alarm Receiving Centre, in Kidderminster. This operates as a control and command centre and monitors alarm and video signals from more than 1,000 systems across the UK.

Westminster said the centre would be a major enhancement to the group's operations.

CTAC's net assets as of December 31 were £280,000 and Westminster said the first three trading months of 2010 indicated an underlying trading profit of £89,000 and a strong recurring revenue base.

Westminster is a £5.5 million a year security group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, supplying fire, defence and security systems.