SSL soars 25% and boosts divi

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Today it said sales surged 23% in the half-year to the end of September as an ever-expanding range of sexual goods caught the imagination of customers across Europe.

The Durex Play range, which includes personal lubricants and vibrators, is doing well, especially in Italy.

Profits are up 25% to £196 million, allowing SSL to increase the interim dividend by 13% to 2.6p.

Chief executive Garry Watts is not claiming the company is recession-proof. "We haven't got our eyes shut. If things turn out to be as bad as some people think, we need to be able to react to that," he said. "But we are in a good niche with sexual wellbeing and foot health. One is a natural instinct, the other is an everyday imperative."

Some of the gains are a result of favourable currency moves, largely the weakness of the pound against the euro.

SSL is hiring staff and has no plans to make layoffs.