Empresaria (AIM: EMR), the international specialist staffing group, yesterday announced a trading update for the financial year ended 31 December 2015, ahead of announcing its final results on 2 March 2016.

The company said it was pleased that full year profitability will be ahead of market expectations, despite the impact of adverse currency headwinds, primarily with the Euro. The Board expects adjusted profit before tax growth of approximately 23% year on year, with net fee income approximately 10% ahead of the prior year.

Total net debt is expected to reduce by 26% from £9.8 million in 2014 to £7.3 million in 2015, which includes a term loan to help fund the acquisition of Pharmaceutical Strategies in the USA.

Empresaria has 19 brands operating in 18 countries across the globe including UK, Germany, Japan, India, UAE, Indonesia, Chile, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Finland, USA and the Philippines. The Group offers Temporary and Permanent staffing solutions as well as Offshore Recruitment Services in six key sectors including Technical & Industrial, IT Digital & Design, Financial, Healthcare and Retail.

Joost Kreulen, Chief Executive of Empresaria, said: "The Group continues to deliver on its strategy: strengthening a multi-branded group with a focus on developing leading brands that are diversified and balanced by geography and sector.”    

“During the year we have invested in new staff, launched a second brand in the Middle East and successfully developed the new office openings and investments made in 2014. We have also continued our strategy of devolving low margin industrial contracts.”

“There were notable positive performances in Australia, Thailand and in some sectors in the UK. We are particularly pleased with our performance in Germany and India during the year, with our Offshore Recruitment Services business in India significantly increasing profits against the prior year and opening a third centre ahead of original plans, due to increased demand, with good possibilities for further growth in the year ahead.”

“In October we acquired Pharmaceutical Strategies, a healthcare agency operating in the USA and are pleased with how quickly it has integrated into the Group.  This investment has also taken the Group into a new region and helped strengthen our presence in the healthcare sector, although given the timing of the acquisition in Q4 2015, we will see the vast majority of the profit impact in 2016. We continue to investigate further investment opportunities to enhance our existing regional and sector coverage and so help accelerate the growth of the business.”

“We see exciting growth opportunities for the Group and are confident in our ability to deliver profitable growth."

Empresaria’s shares closed the day at 87p, up 3.6% from 84p and continues to rise this morning.