Acquisitive voice and data services company Chess Telecom has upped turnover closer to the £50m mark following a tenth successive year of sales and profit growth.
A rise in pre-tax profit of more than two thirds to £6.8m also allowed the private Cheshire business to up its final dividend to shareholders.
Writing in the annual report, Chess founder and chief executive David Pollock said the Alderley Edge-based company had made "good progress" with both organic and acquisitive growth.
In the year to 30 April 2014, the business reported revenues of £48.8m, up from £44.4m a year earlier. Pre-tax profit grew 69 per cent from £4m to £6.8m while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation rose from £9.8m to £12m.
Since the year end, Chess has completed a string of acquisitions as it continues its consolidation drive. The deals have included the purchase of French-owned Avenir Telecom's UK airtime division and Parachute IT.
In November, the business also agreed a £30m deal with Barclays to fund further transactions.
"We are proud to have built a long-term, sustainable business," said Pollock. "During the year the group has continued to develop and enhance its product range through its corporate acquisition strategy.
"Cash generation continues to be robust and representative of the strength of the group's business model."
Pollock added Chess was well positioned to make further progress towards its aim of being "the IT services and unified communications provider of choice" for businesses.
The strong financial results allowed the company to pay a final dividend 24.5p per share totalling £1.3m, up from £994,000 a year earlier.
Read more at www.insidermedia.com