Aim-listed Atlantic Global ended the six months to June with operating profits up 31 per cent to £284,000, sales improved 67 per cent to £860,000 and cash resources of £1.8 million – and remains one of the few new Aim companies trading at a premium to its launch price. Leslie Copeland reports.

In response to the results, Atlantic's shares moved up a further 3 per cent to 35p. This represents a significant premium to its 25p float price in 2001.

According to managing director Eugene Blaine, the improved figures reflect the group's ability to reel in another batch of blue-chip clients. Among those taking up the software (which enables corporations to manage better such tasks as 'project and resource planning' and 'time and expense tracking') for the first time were Virgin, Logica and NEC Technologies.

Other highlights of the first half included a potentially lucrative three-year deal with Norwich Union and the signing of Atlantic's first sales alliance partner (Morgan Hill Consultants). A new software system for contacts management was also launched.

After amortisation, first-half pre-tax profits almost doubled to £230,000. For the full year, house broker Seymour Pierce is expecting profits in the region of £873,000 on sales of £1.8 million.

With earnings expected to hit around 2.76p, Atlantic's shares are trading on a prospective p/e of 12.6. Worth holding, say analysts.