Highlights include:
* Pre-tax profit up 41.5% to £33.1m (2003 H1: £23.4m)
* Interim dividend up 50% to 3.9p (2003 H1: 2.6p)
* New lending up 81.8% to £1,025.4 m (2003 H1: £563.9 m)
* Mortgage Trust transformed from loss maker to profit contributor.
* Secured lending accounts for 92% of new business (2003 H1: 81%)
* Trading strong in both first mortgages and consumer finance
Commenting on the results, Jonathan Perry, Chairman of Paragon, said:
"I am delighted with the progress we have made in the first six months of the year, particularly the integration of Mortgage Trust which has been transformed from a loss making business prior to our acquisition last year to a healthy contributor to Group profits. I look forward to reporting further progress after the end of the financial year."
