City makes a date with matchmaking website

The Edinburgh-based business, headed by Scottish software tycoon Bill Dobbie, became one of just a handful of quoted internet dating firms in the world when it debuted on AIM at the end of June. As such, few analysts specialise in this particular niche.

Easydate is classified in the recreational sub-sector of travel and leisure companies, but is attracting interest from analysts specialising in media and internet stocks.

Mike Ward, of Redleaf Communications, Easydate's public relations agency, said there was "quite a buzz" building ahead of Wednesday's analyst briefing covering Easydate's half-year results.

"It is something really new, and no one really covers this area so a lot of analysts are coming along to get a look at the company and a feel for its market," he said.

"People have looked at the numbers following the IPO, and the house broker estimates are quite bullish so if they are going to hit those numbers then it is going to be pretty punchy."

House broker Stuart Lunn of Cenkos is predicting full-year pre-tax profits of 5 million from Easydate on revenues just shy of 20m. That would be up from last year's profits of 2.3m on 9.6m of turnover.

Easydate operates a portfolio of 15 niche dating portals, having acquired two new ones earlier this month with the purchase of PlanetSappho.com and Spanish-language Granamor.

Lunn highlights the company's rapid growth - revenues rose 85 per cent last year - and expects similar expansion for the next three years. Easydate is currently adding an average of about 200,000 new members a month.

Globally, internet dating is a multi-billion pound market. However, few firms operating in this area have become publicly listed companies.

Apart from Easydate - the sole representative from the UK - the major quoted players include Meetic of France and US firms and IAC (the parent company of Match.com) and Spark Networks.

Shares in Easydate, which were listed at 60p, closed Friday's trading at 84p each.