REG - Robert Walters PLC - Q4 Trading Update <Origin Href="QuoteRef">RWA.L</Origin>

Robert WaltersAnnouncement

10/01/2017 07:00

RNS Number : 7174T
Robert Walters PLC
10 January 2017
10 January 2017
ROBERT WALTERS PLC
(the 'Company' or the 'Group')
Trading update for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2016
Financial and operational highlights
Gross profit (Net fee income)
Q4 2016
Q4 2015
% change
% change (constant currency*)





Group
76.1m
59.1m
28%
11%





Asia Pacific
31.7m
24.3m
30%
3%
UK
23.1m
19.9m
16%
16%
Europe
17.2m
12.4m
38%
15%
Other International
4.1m
2.5m
62%
32%
* Constant currency is calculated by applying prior period average exchange rates to local currency results for the current and prior years.
 Group net fee income increased by 11%* (28% actual) year-on-year.
 70% of Group net fee income generated outside of the UK. 
 Two new countries entered with the opening of the Group's first offices in Canada (Toronto) and Portugal (Lisbon). Second office also opened in Malaysia (Penang) during the period. 
 Asia Pacific net fee income up 3%* (30% actual).
oOur emerging markets in Asia continued to perform well with Indonesia, Vietnam and Korea, in particular, delivering good growth.
oSolid performance in Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. Market conditions in Greater China remain challenging.
oActivity levels in Australia slowed against tough comparatives, whilst New Zealand delivered a record quarter. 
 UK net fee income up 16% year-on-year.
oResource Solutions, our recruitment outsourcing division, continued to benefit from the investment made in the first half producing another quarter of excellent net fee income growth. 
oCommerce finance and regional UK recruitment activity remains positive. 
 Net fee income in Europe up 15%* (38% actual).
oAll markets in Europe grew net fee income in constant currency during the period with Spain, Switzerland and Germany producing the strongest rates of growth.
 Other International led by North America and the Middle East increased net fee income by 32%* (62% actual).
 Group headcount of 3,229 (30 Sep 2016: 3,098).
 Strong balance sheet with net cash of 20.8m as at 31 December 2016 (30 Sep 2016: 18.6m). 
Robert Walters, Chief Executive, commented:
"All of our regions grew net fee income during the quarter and we opened three new offices, Lisbon, Toronto and Penang. Net fee income for the full year is up 9% in constant currency and profit before taxation is expected to be slightly ahead of current market expectations."
The Group will publish its final results for the year ended 31 December 2016 on 15 March 2017.
- Ends -
Further information
Robert Walters plc
Robert Walters, Chief Executive Officer
Alan Bannatyne, Chief Financial Officer
+44 20 7379 3333
Newgate Communications
Steffan Williams
Charlotte Coulson 
+44 20 7680 6550
About Robert Walters
Robert Walters is a market-leading international specialist recruitment consultancy with over 3,200 staff spanning 27 countries. We specialise in the placement of the highest calibre professionals across the disciplines of accountancy and finance, banking, engineering, HR, IT, legal, sales & marketing and supply chain and procurement. Our client base ranges from the world's leading blue-chip corporates and financial services organisations through to SMEs and start-ups. 
Businesses worldwide rely on us to find the very best specialist professionals to drive their business forward and those same professionals trust us to manage their long-term careers.
www.robertwalters.com
 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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