Adobe Software Trading Company, the holding company for US printing giant Adobe's businesses outside of America, took a $558 million (€414 million) dividend from its Irish subsidiary in 2005, the latest figures show.

According to accounts for the year to December 2nd, 2005, lodged with the Companies Registration Office, Adobe Software Trading recorded a net profit of $322.2 million, a 16 per cent increase on the previous year. Revenue from continuing operations was also 16 per cent ahead, at $1.1 billion.

The accounts also show that the operating margin held steady at 31 per cent, while operating costs increased from $565.7 million to $658.1 million.

The main activities of Adobe Software Trading Company, which has its registered office in Barbados, are, according to the accounts, licensing, production and distribution of computer software for markets outside the US, as well as research and development activities.

Its financial fixed assets include subsidiaries in 19 countries, ranging from Australia and Brazil through to Japan, Italy and the UK. All of them are 100 per cent owned by the Adobe Software Trading Company.

The directors, four of whom live in the US and one in Barbados, said they were "satisfied" with the results for the period, saying that during 2005 the company continued to focus on delivering comprehensive technology platforms to its customers for the purpose of driving revenue and earnings growth.

During the period, the company added 113 employees, bringing its total headcount to 963. As a result, payroll costs increased by $20 million, to $146.3 million. According to the accounts, Adobe Software Trading Company saw its administration expenses increase by 14 per cent, to $71.5 million.