The acquisitions made by Parity Plc, nee Comac Group Plc, the Farnborough, Hampshire-based supplier of computer consultants on contract, have boosted Parity’s interim pre-tax profits to UKP2.0m from UKP60,000, and the company is eager for more. These results include the first contribution of CSS Trident, nee Computer Search and Selection Plc, bought last November for UKP18.1m. Parity was not satisfied with just this and has since bought the consultancy arm of Learmonth & Burchett Management Systems Plc and the training company Class Ltd, for a total of UKP2.25m, and has UKP4.8m in the bank to continue the spree. The company now comprises Parity Training, Parity Consulting and CSS Trident and had turnover of UKP38.0m up 617.3% for the six months to June 30. Parity is bullish about the future for the company, as agencies replace established software houses for the quality end of the computer staff resourcing market, because the former are able to meet specific requirements at a lower cost. Indeed so confident is the company about the second half that it will pay a first interim dividend of 0.75 pence.
