Spam buster heads for record year

SPAM-busting software maker Surfcontrol today forecast a record year, thanks to strong demand for its web filtering technology.

The group, which is based in Congleton, Cheshire, has 430 staff. It is the number one in the global web and e-mail filtering technology market.

Its industry partners include Microsoft, IBM, Nokia, Cisco and Check Point and its clients include 43 companies on the FTSE 100 index.

In a trading update ahead of its full-year results on September 9, Surfcontrol said it had progressed well in the fourth quarter and expects full-year trading to be in line with market expectations.

Since the announcement of its third quarter results, the group had continued to see strong demand for its products. Levels of invoicing, or billing for orders received, will reach almost £55.8m in the 12 months to June 30, about 40% better than the £39.5m achieved last time.

Chief executive Steve Purdham said: 'The simplest way to describe fourth quarter invoicing is record month, record quarter, record year.'

Surfcontrol became the leader in its main 'content security' web and e-mail filtering market last year, with a 13% share of a market expected to be worth almost £1.2bn by 2007.

Brokers forecast pre-tax profits of at least £6m this year, against a loss of almost £42m loss last year which was affected by goodwill payments for five acquisitions made during the past three years.