Dutch computer services and engineering company Getronics NV turned in figures for the half above expectations. The Amsterdam-based firm reported a 35% jump in pre-tax profits to the equivalent of $32.8m on revenue that rose 47% to $6,056m. Its Services business brough in $341.6m and the remainder derived from Services. Despite the market shortage of available personnel, the company said a recruitment campaign increased head-count by 12%. The acquisition of Raet NV in 1995 pushed staffing levels up a further 45% to 5,774 at the halfway stage. A substantial number of large, long-term contracts were won in all business areas during the period, and the company said developments within the electronic payment field, particularly in the electronic commerce arena, had begun to yield new contracts. Sales of software and consultancy increased during the half and the division doubled in size, which Getronics partly attributed to the Raet acquisition. Client-server technology performed well in Scandinavia, and the firm is ranked as one of Norway’s top three suppliers. The UK and Germany developed positively, said Getronics, but things did not go to plan in Spain and Belgium, where results were said to be disappointing. A joint venture signed with Granada Computer Services International to provide third-party computer services has extended the firm’s reach to the whole of Western Europe. Raet’s software, desktop automation and services related to personnel management and payroll processing all contributed satisfactorily to the business. There was a limited cash position at the end end of the period, and the company said prospects for the second half of the year are favorable. If conditions remain unchanged, it said a satisfactory growth in net earnings is expected for the year as a whole. Figures were converted at $0.6015 to the Dutch guilder.
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