UPDATE 1 — Robert Walters returns to growth as permanent hiring improves

(Adds CEO comments in para 1, 4 and 5, analyst comment in 10, details and context throughout) Q3 net fees rise 1% Expects FY results at least in line with expectations Shares rise 5% Analysts see a path back to profitability by fiscal 2027 By Nithyashree R B Oct 14 (Reuters) — Robert Walters became the second British recruiter this week to return to gross profit growth, signalling a recovery from a slump of more than three years, while its CEO said recruitment activity for permanent staff was starting to pick up. The London, England-based company's net fees rose 1% in the quarter ended September 30, helped by growth in permanent hiring in the UK, where it serves both large companies running big transformation programs and smaller firms, and temporary hiring in Japan. Permanent hiring, for which recruiters earn a higher fee, has been hit hardest by employer and candidate caution linked to economic, geopolitical and AI uncertainties. "It's a really important piece of the puzzle," Robert Walters CEO Toby Fowlston told Reuters. "This is not some sort of snap back," he said. "This is going to be, in my opinion, market by market. I think it will be gradual and I think that's what we're s