Shares in SafeCharge (LON:SCH) jumped on Thursday after the online secure payments group reported strong growth in first-half profit, fuelled by new customer wins and a growing sales pipeline.
SafeCharge, whose technology is used by companies such as Paddy Power Betfair (LON:PPB) and Domino’s Pizza (LON:DOM), said underlying earnings (EBITDA) rose 15% to US$18mln (£13.8mln) in the six months to the end of June on sales 26% higher at US$77.8mln.
READ: SafeCharge wins contract with Paddy Power Betfair
The AIM-listed company increased the interim dividend by 15% to 8.86 cents per share.
"Thanks to intensified marketing efforts and a strengthened sales team, SafeCharge's robust infrastructure, advanced technology and innovative approach to payments are gaining increased market recognition,” CEO David Avgi said in a statement.
“This resulted in Tier 1 customer wins and a strong sales pipeline. Significant revenue growth is also being achieved from existing customers," he added.
The payments technology company said it had made a good start to the second half of 2018, benefiting from continued growth from its existing customers and further new client wins.
SafeCharge also said that Jeremy Nicholds, had resigned as a non-executive director and that it had kicked off a search for a new non-executive chairman ahead of Roger Withers’ retirement.
Shares in SafeCharge were 4% up at 317.50p in early trade.