PUNT OF THE WEEK

WHAT IS IT?

GATTACA owns specialist recruitment brands which help engineering and technology companies find the right staff. Clients include Transport for London and defence firm BAE.

WHAT’S THE LATEST?

Last week, interim results showed half-year profit was 12pc higher than a year earlier. It was a turnaround from a gloomy previous year where the firm swung to a loss and sold its struggling Africa, Asia and Latin America telecoms recruitment branch.

WHO BACKS IT?

George Materna, who founded the business in 1984, is the largest shareholder. Two other former directors are also in the top ten shareholders, as are recruitment competitors, Morson Group and HRnet. Asset managers including Chelverton and Octopus also hold stakes.

WHY INVEST?

After cutting its losses on underperforming contracts and repositioning its business, the results showed there were signs of life at Gattaca.

AND WHY YOU SHOULDN’T

The restructuring saw Gattaca axe its interim dividend, and there is no promise a payout will come at the year-end either.