14th Dec 2005 07:01
Hays PLC14 December 2005 14 December 2005 HAYS PLC TRADING UPDATE Hays plc, the Specialist Recruitment Company, will announce its results for thesix months ending 31 December 2005 on 28 February 2006 and today issues thefollowing trading update. Since the announcement of the preliminary results in September, the business hascontinued to generate good growth, with net fees for the first half of thefinancial year expected to be approximately 13% ahead of the same period lastyear. Australia & New Zealand and Continental Europe & Canada continued to generatestrong double-digit percentage growth. In the United Kingdom & Ireland thebusiness is expected to grow net fees at approximately 6% in the first half ofthe financial year. Both temporary and permanent placement fees are ahead of thesame period last year. The Group's performance for the year to 30 June 2006 continues to be in linewith the Board's expectations. The Company has continued to make good progress with the ongoing share buy-backprogramme. Since the start of the programme in November 2004 the Company hasacquired 218.4 million shares representing 12.6% of the share capital and hasreturned £273.0 million to shareholders. Hays intends to enter into anirrevocable non-discretionary arrangement to enable the repurchase of its ownshares during its close period. Any share purchases will be effected withincertain pre-set parameters, and in accordance with both the Company's generalauthority to repurchase shares and the listing rules. - Ends - Enquiries John Martin Finance Director, Hays plc + 44 (0) 20 7628 9999 Richard Jackson Investor Relations, Hays plc + 44 (0) 20 7628 9999 Mike Smith Brunswick + 44 (0) 20 7404 5959 Conference call John Martin and Richard Jackson of Hays plc will conduct a conference call foranalysts and investors at 9.00am United Kingdom time on Wednesday 14 December2005. The dial-in details are as follows: Dial-in number + 44 (0) 1452 561 263 The call will be recorded and available for playback for 7 days as follows: Replay dial-in number + 44 (0) 1452 550 000Access code 2590155# This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Hays