Paddy Power lifts sales, creates jobs

Bookmaker Paddy Power said it is confident of meeting consensus estimates of earnings per share of 113 cents for 2009 after seeing strong turnover growth since July 1 and announced a deal which could create 250 jobs in Ireland.The firm said it was reaping the benefits of new store openings in the UK, with 22 new outlets opened this year so far, and market share growth in Ireland.It also announced a five-year agreement with French betting group PMU, whose new online sports betting business it will supply with risk management and pricing expertise. It said the deal will create 50 jobs in Dublin by June, with a further 200 expected in the following two years.The partnership was launched by Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who said: 'Today's announcement shows that the smart economy is not a pipedream, it is happening all around us. 'Paddy Power is a prime example of a company with a talent for innovation that keeps on searching for new opportunities.'