Irish telephone directory services firm Conduit said today net revenues rose 93 per cent in the first quarter and predicted it was headed for profitability.
"We plan to be EBITDA [operating income before depreciation and amortisation] positive this year - this quarter in Ireland," chief executive Mr Liam Young said today.
The company said revenues rose to euro 10.82 million from euro 5.6 million a year ago.
It also said its net loss almost quadrupled, to euro 3.92 million from euro 1.06 million in the same quarter last year, with the loss per share rising to euro 0.23 per share from euro 0.06 per share last year.
But Mr Young said an expected regulatory change in Britain would enable the company to significantly grow its business there.
He said British regulators were expected to make a formal announcement in September to allow competition in the directory enquiries market, which has been dominated by British Telecom.
"What it allows us to do is address the wider market," Mr Young said.
He said there was a minimum of 700 million enquiry calls in Britain every year and that once the market is deregulated, Conduit hoped to capture some 20 per cent of the volume.
The company said call volumes rose 94 per cent - against the same period a year ago - to 17.3 million in the quarter, and that its number of full-time employees rose to 1,270 from 659 and part-time workers rose to 296 from 194.