INTERVIEW-UPDATE 1-Teleperformance keeps goals, div may rise

* Confirms 2008 and 2009 earnings targets

* 2008 dividend to be flat or 10 percent higher

(Adds detail, chairman comments, share detail)

By Nathalie Meistermann

PARIS, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Teleperformance (ROCH.PA) is sticking to its earnings forecasts for 2008 and 2009 and may increase its dividend for last year by 10 percent, Chairman Jacques Berrebi told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

The financial crisis had led to a reduction in volumes as people had "less need for help", but this had not had a dramatic impact on the French call centre group, Berrebi added.

The business was performing well in the United States, where the company generates almost two-fifths of sales and competitors include Convergys Corp (CVG.N) and Sykes Enterprises (SYKE.O), as any declines in volume had been compensated by new customers.

"Where I'm a bit more worried is Europe, as it's rather slow and the crisis is not completely there yet," Berrebi said. Europe accounts for 55 percent of sales.

Still, the group is sticking to its 2009 goals for organic sales growth of 3.5 percent, an operating margin of 9.5 percent and a 3 percent rise in net profit.

Teleperformance is one of the best performing French mid- and small-cap stocks over the last three months, up 50 percent. The company has a market value of 1.2 billion euros ($1.59 billion). Its services include database creation and management and customer profiling.

Teleperformance also continues to expect to post 7 percent organic sales growth for 2008, an operating margin of 10.1 percent and an 18 percent rise in net profit after it did not see any slowdown in sales growth at the end of the year.

The dividend for 2008 would either remain stable or rise 10 percent, Berrebi said, adding that he favoured an increase.

Teleperformance was continuing to look out for acquisitions of companies valued around 50 million to 150 million euros, Berrebi said.

The group could raise more than 1 billion euros if there was a "fabulous opportunity", although not in current market conditions, Berrebi said.

Teleperformance is 5 percent owned by the Dassault family and 7.35 percent by its founders. For a Take-a-Look on French small- and mid-cap interviews, please double click on [nSMCAPSFR]