LEEDS credit reference agency Callcredit Information Group is planning to double in size through international acquisitions after its new chief executive announced a jump in sales to £150m.
The 19% increase in 2014 followed a 15% increase a year earlier, while pre-tax profits also increased, albeit more slowly, up 9% to £29.3m.
“Our aim is to double the size of our business in terms of revenue but we recognise that we can’t achieve this just through organic growth,” said Mike Gordon, chief executive of Callcredit.
“Whilst our UK businesses’ growth prospects remain strong, we need to expand our business footprint. International markets offer the way to drive “hyper growth” in our consumer, software, analytics, fraud and international propositions. To facilitate this we are currently looking to identify the right opportunities to support our international growth plans.”
The group already has operations in Japan, China, Dubai and Lithuania and employs around 1,200 people.
The group was acquired by Chicago private equity firm GTCR in Feburary 2014 from Vitruvian Partners, which had owned Callcredit for five years.
Mr Gordon was appointed last November and the group has made changes to its organisation to enable it to grow and seize opportunities. A number of appointments have been made during 2015 to ad to the senior management team.
Mr Gordon added: “It is a pleasure to be in the position to steward this business and to play a part in the next chapter of its growth strategy.”
