Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

After boosting its internet earnings with the acquisition of Metacharge in November, to be combined with its existing operation during the coming financial year, the Welwyn-based firm said it expects terminal growth to exceed its target of 17,000

by the end of the current financial year. This growth in terminals has led to an 18 per cent growth in mobile top-up volumes.

It also said that ATM installations continue to grow more slowly than last year, at 35 new sites per month and that it expects recently announced energy price reductions to reduce transaction numbers in gas prepayments unless average payment values fall in proportion.

The statement prompted a nine per cent share price jump for PayPoint, gaining 51p to rest at 623p.