PRICE comparison site MoneySupermarket.com handed a £20m bonus to its shareholders today after “a great six months”.

The group, based in Ewloe, near Chester, saw pre-tax profits soar more than 300%, from £2.9m to £12.53m and revenues jump by 28% to £91.7m in the six months to June 30.

Its cash reserves grew from £28.3m this time last year to £32.2m, which will fund a special dividend payout for shareholders which chief executive Peter Plumb says reflects the board’s confidence in the company’s future.

The interim dividend will rise by 15% to 1.5p per share, while a £20m return to shareholders is worth 3.93p per share.

A £3.5m credit was also paid by HM Revenue & Customs which upheld an appeal by the company concerning the VAT treatment of certain of its lines of business.

The group said today’s results have been driven by continued investment in its technology and brand.

It paid £2.7m for new hardware and software and raised its marketing outlay by 51% to £5.2m, including sponsorship of the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ ITV show.

Trading since the end of the interim period has continued to improve, with revenues in July about 15% ahead the previous year.

The group operates in four key markets.

Insurance provides customers with comparisons on products such as cover for breakdown, dental treatment, homes, life and medical and in the six month period achieved a 57% improvement in revenues of £50.3m.

Money includes credit cards, current accounts, mortgages and loans and showed a revenue rise of 30% to £27m.

Travel, offering comparisons on car hire, flights, hotels and package holidays, was comparatively flat, showing just 9% growth to £7.6m, while home services, including broadband, mobile phone and utilities products, was also stagnant, showing a 4% improvement to £3.64m.

Mr Plumb said today: “MoneySupermarket.com has had a great six months.

“We have seen strong trading momentum through the period and delivered double digit growth in both revenue and profits, driven by our investment in our brand and technology.

“MoneySupermarket.com is the UK’s leading price comparison site and our continued success comes from our proven strategy and our determination to help every household make the most of its money.”

He added: “Looking ahead, while the outlook for the economy remains uncertain, we are confident that our markets will continue to grow.

“More and more consumers are going online to find the best deals and the unrivalled strength and breadth of our offer makes us well-placed to make the most of those opportunities.

“That confidence is underlined today by our decision to return more money to our investors.

“We remain highly cash generative and are delighted to announce both an increase in our interim dividend and a further special dividend.”