Buoyed with soaring profits, Spreadex ups dividend 4 times

Betting firm Spreadex registered encouraging growth in turnover and profits for the year ended 31 May 2015.

Encouraged with a significant jump in profits, the betting firm has quadrupled its dividend pay from GBP 5million to GBP 20.1million for the 2015 year. Sales increased from GBP35.4million to GBP40.4million and pre-tax profits grew by 19% to GBP22million.

Peter Harris, a racehorse trainer and founder of Butlins' owner Bourne Leisure, has 42.5% stake in the company.

The dividend payout will be shared among shareholders along with the company's founder Jonathan Hufford, who is a former city trader. Hufford has 9.1% holding in the company. Hufford set up Spreadex in 1999 and this has made spread-betting activity available to all types of customers.

The families of Harris and Bourne Leisure co-owners David Allen and John Cook are also stockholders in Spreadex, which offers different types of betting products in financial markets, sports, etc. For instance, a particular stock's price will close below or above a certain price level.

The betting products also include expecting the margin of a football team's winning or losing. The betting products involve high-risk element as punters may lose more than the amount put at stake.

Spreadex offers several betting products in financial markets including shares, forex, commodities, bonds, interest rates, exchange traded funds (ETFs), Futures and Options (F&O), and indices as well.

Begun in 2000, Spreadex offers several platforms include online betting, mobile trading, charting package, etc. The Sunday Times PriceWaterhouse Coopers Profit Track 100-listed Spreadex has been named in the UK's top 100 most profitable companies for three years in a row. The betting firm offers customer service in areas such as CFD, forex and spread betting. It's been rated as best spread betting firm for customer service for three years consequently.

The acquisition plan of Spreadex has been rolling out positive results for the betting company in increasing its market share and business volume. As part of its business strengthening program, Spreadex acquired the client database of extra bet, a sport betting wing of IG Group, in June 2011. This enabled Spreadex to increase its sports business volume by over 100% and helped it gain 35% market share in the sports betting.

Spreadex took over client databases of two firms in 2012 alone. It acquired the client database of MF Global Spreads in January and Client database of ShortsandLongs.com in February. This gave Spreadex 10% market share in the financial spread betting market. Spreadex also bought out non-equities business of Cantor Index, which is a rival betting firm in the UK.

In addition to buyout strategy, the company is also focusing on advanced technology features and facilities on its betting platforms. In June 20122, it restructured its online financial trading platform by adding features such as one-click dealing, standard/pairs view and customizable trading windows.