| Type | Public (NASDAQ) ICTSF.OB |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Amstelveen, Netherlands |
| Revenue | US$ 98.8 million (2008) |
| Employees | 3 350 (2008) |
| Website | www.icts-int.com/ |
ICTS International is an Israeli firm based in the Netherlands that develops products and provides consulting and personnel services in the field of aviation and general security.[1][2] It was established in 1982, by former members of the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, and El Al airline security agents.[2][3] The company's shares are traded on NASDAQ under the symbol ICTS.[1]
The firm and its subsidiaries specialize in aviation security services, operating airport checkpoints and electronic equipment, such as x-ray screening devices and manual devices, and verifying travel documents.[4] Security services and consulting are also provided to other public and private transportation sectors.[5] In 2008, the company employed 3,350 people with an annual sales revenue of 98.8 million USD.[6]
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Consolidated subsidiaries of ICTS International include Demco Consultants, Ltd. and International Tourist Attractions, Ltd. in Israel, as well as Procheck International B.V. and Ramasso Holdings B.V. in the Netherlands.[4] ICTS International and its subsidiaries I-SEC International Security B.V. (I-SEC) and Pro-Check International (PI) supply aviation security services in 11 countries, including airports in the United States, Europe and the Far East.[2][7] I-SEC was established in 2005 as the aviation security arm of the ICTS International.[8] PI is a subsidiary of I-SEC, and is the preferred security service provider of Air Canada, Delta / Northwest Airlines, KLM, United airlines, and U.S. Airways.[9]
Another subsidiary of ICTS International is Huntleigh USA Corporation (Huntleigh), which engages primarily in non-security related activities in the United States.[7] Providing limited aviation security services, its main aviation services include cleaning aircraft cabins, skycap services, and wheelchair attendants.[6]
ICTS Homeland Security (ICTS HLS), a member of the ICTS International Group, develops security concepts for other transport sectors as well, such as railroad and maritime industries. The Transportation Security Department specializes in providing such services to the public transportation sector and is headed by the former chief security officer of Israel Railways. Customers include Israel Railways and Lyon Turin Ferroviaire (Tunnel).[5]
ICTS has used the security system employed in Israel, whereby passengers are profiled to assess the degree to which they pose a potential threat on the basis of a number of indicators, including age, name, origin and behavior during questioning. In the late 1990s, the firm also developed a product system based on a computerized algorithm called APS (Advanced Passenger Screening) which analyzes passenger information procured by airline companies and determines the potential risks posed by a given passenger.[1][2] Though APS is not used by the Israel Airports Authority and the Shin Bet, it is used by most of the large airlines in the United States.[2]
Another ICTS International product is Integrated Passenger Processing Solutions or IP@SS, a system that accelerates passenger flow while enhancing security. Automated TravelDoc is a system which performs automatic scans of travel documents to verify their authenticity and ensure they meet the requirements of the destination country. Another product is APIS Solution, a scanner that extracts data required by U.S. Customs automatically. ICTS International also produces a computer-based training system for X-ray operators that simulates potential workday situations.[1]
Executive Officers of ICTS International include Menachem J. Atzmon (CSU since 2004), Alon Raich (CFO since 2008), and Managing Directors Avraham Dan (since 2008), Ran Langer (since 2004), and Ranaan Nir (since 2002).[7] Atzmon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2004, holds controlling shares, owning more than 55% of ICTS International through a family trust.[2][6]
ICTS International and its two subsidiaries, ISEC and PI, provide security services to the Schipol airport and Delta Airlines. The firm's security system came under scrutiny and as part of the international investigation into how Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was able to board Northwest Airlines Flight 253 with explosive materials, garnering criticism for "its possible responsibility for the security failure at Schiphol."[2][10] While this story was widely reported in the Israeli and European press, mainstream media outlets in the United States gave it no coverage.[11]
ICTS was also responsible for security at the Charles de Gaulle Airport where Richard Reid, the "shoe bomber", boarded American Airlines Flight 63 in December 2001.[11][12]
ICTS' subsidiary, Huntleigh, shared security duties at Boston's Logan Airport on September 11, 2001, where two of the four planes hijacked for use in the attacks originated.[11][12][13] According to Logan Airport officials, the company provided provided gate and baggage security services for United Airlines.[14] Huntleigh faced multiple lawsuits for alleged screening failures by its workers at Logan Airport, but denied any liability for those cases.[13] After reforms to the security system in the US following the 9/11 attacks which resulted in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) taking over the task of screening passengers and baggage, Huntleigh ceased providing security to US airports.[15] The company petitioned a federal court to order the government to compensate it for the lost business in 2003, but the request was denied. A request made by ICTS International for certiorari was denied by the Supreme Court in 2008.[15][16]
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