Bond International Software

Recruitment industry software venture Bond gathered further share price altitude on news that bmi has selected its online recruitment tracking and management system to support its recruitment push.

Bond Talent, the group’s web system designed specifically to manage the entire recruitment lifecycle and reduce ‘cost-per-hire’, will support bmi’s recruitment of staff ranging from pilots and cabin crew to ground services staff. Surprisingly, bmi is Heathrow’s second biggest airline, speaking for 12% of all take-off and landing slots at the airport and representing a terrific feather in the cap for Bond, headed by chief executive Steve Russell.

Floated in 1997, Bond has forged a reputation as a specialist provider of ‘talent management’ and e-recruitment software across the globe. Following a strong performance for 2006, in which Bond hit upgraded forecasts, the group recently flagged up a buoyant start to 2007, with another bumper year apparently shaping up.

This year, the company has kept investors interested with key deals including its biggest acquisition to date, human resources software business Gowi, as well as Strictly Education, a profitable provider of HR, finance, property support and payroll services to UK schools that boosted Bond’s presence in education. Forecasts for 2007 point to profits progression from £4.3m to £6.6m, giving 15.7p of earnings and a likely 1.6p payout. On a forward p/e of 14.2, we still think Bond has further to go. Hold.