Specialist staffing group Empresaria Group plc (LON:EMR) told investors it has continued to perform well, and it remains on course to meet market expectations for the full year.
A stock market update, ahead of interim results due in August, highlighted net income for the first six months was up 13% compared to the same period of last year.
Trading has been particularly strong for the business in Continental Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. Additionally, it said that the group’s investment in USA based Pharmaceutical Strategies is performing in line with expectations.
Brexit has had an impact, however, with Empresaria reporting a slowdown during May and June due to a drop in business confidence – though from the company’s point of view, it says the impact was more than offset by strength in the other territories.
“Whilst we are monitoring the short-term outlook for the UK, we see strong growth opportunities across the group and will benefit from the effect of current exchange rates as our overseas earnings are translated into Sterling,” the company said.
Chief executive Joost Kreulen added: “Whilst there is general uncertainty in the UK markets, this accounts for less than a third of our business and we see strong growth opportunities across our group.”
Kreulen highlighted the group’s recent investment in specialist recruiter Rishworth Aviation, which is expected to be earnings enhancing this year, and noted the group’s clear strategy is to continue seeking opportunities.
Summing up the first six months of 2016, he said: “We have delivered another strong performance in the first half year, showing the benefits of our strategy of building a multi-branded group that is diversified and balanced by geography and sector.”