Interim report for January 1 – March 31, 2006

Poolia increases profitability and demonstrates strong growth in all countries

The Poolia Group’s sales for the first quarter totalled SEK 295.2 M, which entailed growth of 31% compared with the corresponding period in 2005. All core business units reported positive development and operating profit totalled SEK 21.2 M, an increase of SEK 16.7 M compared with the year-earlier period. Consequently, the Group’s operating margin was 7.2%. The observance of Easter during the second quarter had a positive impact on both revenues and earnings. The markets developed positively in all countries.

Poolia Sweden reported an increase in sales of 44% to SEK 166.7 M. The operating margin for the quarter was 12.1%, the highest figure since Poolia was listed on the stock exchange in 1999. Development was strong in all occupational areas, especially in Stockholm and the Eastern region.

Operations in the Other Nordic countries continued to grow and sales doubled to SEK 14.2 M compared with the corresponding period in 2005. All countries made a positive contribution and operating profit increased by slightly more than SEK 2 M to SEK 0.9 M, which corresponded to an operating margin of 6.3%.

In the UK, a year-on-year sales increase during the quarter from SEK 68.0 M to SEK 77.3 M marked a reversal of trend. London demonstrated the strongest performance, while the smaller offices continued to make a negative contribution. The operating profit for the UK operations totalled SEK 1.9 M, which corresponds to an operating margin of 2.5%.

Poolia Germany opened a new office in Düsseldorf on March 1. In spite of the cost of this establishment, the core business, that is, the units that are not affected by the current restructuring programme, reported a profit. For the core business, sales doubled compared with the first quarter of 2005. During the period, the subsidiary A&Z in Hamburg was divested and was consolidated in Poolia up to and including March 31. The discontinuation of other non-core businesses in Hamburg is progressing according to plan and is estimated to be completed not later than the third quarter of this year. For the first quarter, Germany reported a minor increase in sales from SEK 15.9 M to SEK 16.5 M and an improved operating result from a loss SEK 1.5 M to a profit of SEK 0.7 M.

The operations of Poolia Healthcare continued to grow, but at a slower pace than in the preceding year. In the first quarter, sales amounted to SEK 20.5 M, compared with SEK 19.2 M in the year-earlier period. Staffing of nurses continues to grow strongly, while staffing of doctors were burdened with problems in finding candidates. The operating profit for Healthcare amounted to SEK 0.6 M, in line with the preceding year.

For further information, please contact:

Erik Strand, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (Tel: +46-8-555 650 60)

Mats Påhlson, Chief Financial Officer (Tel: +46-8-555 650 20)

Poolia is a leading player in the market for professional staffing and is active in slightly more than 20 locations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany and the United Kingdom. Operations include the Temporary Staffing and Permanent Recruitment service areas. Poolia offers professional staffing services mainly in Finance & Accounting, Administration, IT and Healthcare.