Professional recruiter Robert Walters achieved net fee income (NFI) growth of 1% (3% when expressed at constant currency) in Q3 2012 compared to the same period the previous year, despite the continuing shrinkage of its Asia-Pacific business.

In the first half of the year, global NFI dropped, due to a 5% fall in Asia-Pacific operations – the same level of decline as noted in the Q3 interim management statement released today. However, the Asia-Pacific region NFI did grow quarter-on-quarter, from £23.9m in Q2 2012.

The company also saw UK NFI up 8% to £13.1m, a 3% rise to £9.5m in Europe and 45% growth in The Americas in South Africa to £1.8m. The Asia-Pacific business, worth £24.1m in NFI in Q3 2012, has now dropped to just under half of the group-wide total of £48.5m.

Group headcount rose from 2,273 to 2,159, mainly due to strong performance and client wins in its Resource Solutions business, it was reported. The company also completed the purchase of the remaining minority of its China business in Q3.

Chief executive Robert Walters comments: “Trading conditions in the UK, Continental Europe, the Americas and South Africa remained broadly unchanged in the third quarter, whilst Asia Pacific has continued to be impacted by the ongoing weakness in the financial services sector.”