Contractor expects disposal of two services firms inherited from Mowlem to generate a loss of about £7m

Support service group Carillion has sold cleaning and security companies Pall Mall Holdings and Sovereign Soft Services to Resource (NI) for £22m.

It says the sale is expected to generate a loss on disposal of about £7m, net of goodwill and disposal costs.

Carillion, which acquired the firms with Mowlem back in 2006, said it will use the sale proceeds to reduce its net borrowings.

John McDonough, Carillion chief executive, said the sale was in line with company strategy of “focusing on integrated service solutions for long terms customers.”