Bond International, the recruitment software supplier, has snapped up human resources software firm Gowi Group for £8.9 million.

Bond, of Parklands Avenue, Goring, said the acquisition was part of an ongoing strategy to buy firms in "similar and related industries".

Gowi develops and supplies software for human resources, payroll and recruitment departments and employs 140 people across five sites in Britain.

The London-based firm, which was formed in 2000, reported pre-tax profits of £205,000 on sales of £4.6 million for the year ended March 31, 2006.

Gowi is Bond's largest acquistion and means the AIM-listed company, which has offices in the US, Australia, Hong Kong and South Africa, now employs 340 people.

Steve Russell, Bond's chief executive, said: "Gowi has significant presence in the HR software market and our combined product ranges will improve the scope and capabilities of the portfolio that we can offer to our customers around the world.

"We will combine the recruitment, human resources and payroll systems into integrated solutions that deliver tangible improvements and bottom-line benefits."

Mike Smart, group chief executive at Gowi, said: "The merger with Bond will enable Gowi to accelerate our growth plans.

"Through their international network we can access customers on a global scale and take advantage of shared skills in product development and customer support."

Bond, formed in 1973, has customers in more than 40 countries. Its Adapt software is used by more than 90 per cent of the world's recruitment agencies.

In November, Bond announced it had signed a three-year extension to its contract to supply recruitment firm Hays Resource Management with software worth £2 million.