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Caterer Compass buys Vermaat for €1.5 billion, raises profit forecast

Caterer Compass buys Vermaat for €1.5 billion, raises profit forecast

RTÉ News​4 days ago
UK food catering firm Compass Group has agreed to buy European premium food services business Vermaat Groep for about €1.5 billion including debt, the firm said today, as it ramps up acquisitions after a strong quarter.
The world's largest catering group also raised its annual profit forecast, saying it now expects underlying operating profit growth to be towards 11%, compared with an earlier forecast of high single-digit growth.
Revenue in the third quarter ended June 30 rose 8.6%, with growth across its North America and international markets. It also benefited from recent acquisitions progressing ahead of expectations.
In the first half of the year, Compass spent $1.13 billion in acquisitions, including in regions such as France and Norway.
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