24th Feb 2016 07:37
LONDON (Alliance News) - Hays PLC on Wednesday said its pretax profit and net fees increased in the first half of its financial year as broad-based growth in its Continental Europe & Rest of World division offset more muted performances in the UK and Asia Pacific.
The FTSE 250-listed recruiter said its pretax profit for the six months to the end of December was GBP82.4 million, up from GBP77.3 million a year earlier, as net fees increased to GBP396.9 million from GBP383.9 million.
Though held back by the weak euro, Hays saw good growth in its European operations, particularly in Germany and France, as the markets in both countries start to show signs of recovery. This strength offset more muted trading in the UK & Ireland, with low growth in the private sector and increasing challenges emerging the squeezed public sector. Asia Pacific remained mixed, with a good performance in Australia offset by weak trading elsewhere.
Hays declared an interim dividend of 0.91 pence per share, up from 0.87p a year earlier.
"Looking ahead, we are mindful of increasing global uncertainties, but remain positive and see many opportunities to grow. Our business has the scale, diversity, people and technology to capture the many long-term opportunities available to us, while at the same time being nimble enough to respond to fast-changing conditions to maximise profit and cash generation along the way," said Chief Executive Alistair Cox.
By Sam Unsted; [email protected]; @SamUAtAlliance
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