Strong Group first half performance

Hat Pin, the human resources group operating through the market leading brands Kendall Tarrant Worldwide and Saxton Bampfylde Hever, today announces interim results for the six months to 30 June 2006.

Interim Highlights:

ï Turnover up 148% to 6.2m (2005: 2.5m)
ï Normalised1 operating profit up 154% to 822K (2005: 323K)
ï Normalised earnings per share up 29% to 2.7p
ï Saxton Bampfylde Hever and Stolkin Partners successfully integrated
ï First full period contribution from Saxton Bampfylde Hever
ï Strong performance from both businesses with all regions making a positive contribution

Current Highlights:

ï 7.0m acquisition of Alexander Mann Financial Markets (to be rebranded Akamai Financial Markets) announced today ñ providing further diversification of revenue streams and exposure to dynamic financial services sector

ï Board confident for the full year

Commenting on the interim results and todayís separately announced acquisition of Akamai, Angela Campbell-No, Chief Executive of Hat Pin plc said:

ìWe have had an excellent first half with both Saxton Bampfylde Hever and Kendall Tarrant Worldwide contributing positively. This momentum has continued into the beginning of the second half and the Board remains confident for the full year.

ìWe have today also announced the acquisition of Akamai Financial Markets, the dynamic, market-leading specialist financial services executive search business, which further diversifies our sector and geographic revenue streams and provides significant exposure to the fast-growing
financial services sector in both Europe and Asia.î