Imprint delivers £4.5m profit

IMPRINT Plc, the London based-international recruitment business, has delivered very strong results for 2005.

Founded by Irish duo Pierse Casey, company chairman and Brian Hamill, chief executive, it was set up in 2001, but progress was impacted negatively as markets fell sharply in the aftermath of 9/11.

Results for 2005, however, were driven by a number of key takeovers, which included Accreate, the Dublin accountancy-based recruitment operation.

Pre-tax profits rose 262% to £4.5 million (€6.5m), while the group also delivered its maiden dividend of 2p (2.8cents) for the year.

Earnings Per Share (undiluted) rose 132% to 15.1p (21.7cents).

Two successful placings raised £28m (€40.3m) that were used to fund the acquisitions.

Imprint now has 13 offices in several markets, including Britain, Ireland, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

This year Dubai is its prime target market, and in 2007 it plans openings in New York and on the west coast.

Operationally the group generates about 80% of its revenues from the financial and industrial sectors with income evenly split 40/40 between the two sectors.

The other 20% is derived by providing accountancy groups with accountants.

Imprint will continue to focus on those sectors, but the long-term plan is to offer its full range of recruitment skills in each of its chosen markets.

“Dubai is now reminiscent of where Dublin was 10 years ago”, said Mr Hamill.

Inward investment is ticking up rapidly and a lot of money is being repatriated, reflecting the global political climate at present.

He noted also that the economy is taking a leaf or two out of Ireland’s book, offering very low tax and strong support for inward investors, all of which offers an ideal marketing environment to a company such as Imprint, Mr Hamill said.