Ireland’s Premier Group completes acquisition of Imprint Plc. Transformation of Irish firm into Global Industry Leader. Imprint Directors appointed to the Board. Group will have over 800 employees, annual revenues of €205 million DUBLIN and LONDON - THURSDAY 29TH MAY, 2008 - The completion by Ireland’s Premier Group of the £ 45.2 million acquisition of Imprint Group has transformed the company into a major, privately owned, global market leader which will target further significant growth in the international recruitment services industry. Emphasising the full continuity and strong potential of the combined businesses, Imprint’s highly experienced senior management team of Chief Executive Officer, Robert Thesiger, Chief Financial Officer Colin Webster and Chief Operating Officer John Hunter, have joined the Board of the group as executive directors. The overall business will be headed by Premier Group’s managing director Pat Fitzgerald. With 26 offices and operations across 8 countries, the enlarged group will have over 800 employees, annual revenues of some €205 million and net fees of approximately €100 million. About the Group
In Ireland, Premier Group’s brands include Premier, which is a market leading brand in accountancy and finance recruitment, La Crème, a market leading brand in office support staff, Verkom, a rapidly expanding IT brand and Brunel, a significant brand in the technical recruitment market. The merger of Premier and Imprint represents an excellent strategic and operational fit. The highly complimentary business sectors and geographical reach of both firms is underpinned by the absence of any organisational cross-over. Premier is already the largest professional services recruiter in Ireland while Morgan McKinley is the leading financial services recruitment brand in the UK. In addition, Imprint’s presence in Asia-Pacific perfectly compliments Premier's regional coverage of the UK and Irish markets. As well as creating the leading global private professional services recruiter, the merger provides a platform for rapid brand-led international growth and expansion.
Pat Fitzgerald, Premier Group’s Managing Director commented: “Imprint’s hugely successful businesses are a perfect fit with our Group. Together we are one of the largest and fastest growing recruitment firms globally, with a market leading presence in Ireland and the U.K., and rapidly growing operations in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
“I am delighted to be able to welcome Robert, Colin and John onto the Board. Their extensive experience in the industry, coupled with their deep knowledge of the businesses we have acquired is invaluable to the Group. I look forward to working with them as we grow the business further.”
Robert Thesiger, added: “The combination of our businesses is excellent news for our colleagues, our clients and for candidates. Not only does it create a stable ownership structure from which to grow the business, it also provides our colleagues with exciting career opportunities and allows us to get on with doing what we do best, providing outstanding service to our clients.” “The advantage of being privately owned is that the Company can respond more quickly and with greater precision than its competitors to take market share in a wider range of markets and develop staff to their full potential.” About the Group
In Ireland, Premier Group’s brands include Premier, which is a market leading brand in accountancy and finance recruitment, La Crème, a market leading brand in office support staff, Verkom, a rapidly expanding IT brand and Brunel, a significant brand in the technical recruitment market. In the UK, Premier Group acquired Nigel Lynn Associates in August 2005. Nigel Lynn is a large specialist accountancy and finance recruitment firm primarily focused on accountancy recruitment to industry and the public sector. In addition to Nigel Lynn, Premier Group successfully introduced its office support brand La Crème into the UK at the start of 2007 through its current office network. This new growth area is viewed by Premier as a complementary add-on to its existing operations in the UK. The wider international recruitment business has a network of offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle-East and the Asia-Pacific region. It provides a range of services to multinational companies, from contingency to search, across multiple industries and locations. Morgan McKinley operates from offices in London, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. Morgan McKinley offers permanent, temporary, contract, campaign, contingency, retained and search recruitment solutions in the financial and banking sector. ECHM specialises in financial recruitment into blue-chip corporate clients and global accountancy practices across the UK and the Netherlands. ECHM focuses on clients in commerce and industry, professional service firms and the public sector. Accreate provides financial recruitment solutions to blue-chip clients in commerce and industry, financial services and professional services sectors in Ireland, on both a permanent and temporary basis at all levels from graduates to directors. iQ selection provides recruitment services to clients and candidates in the Gulf region. iQ selection operates out of offices in Dubai. |