DVN Reports Results of 1H 2005
16 September 2005 - 12:29AM
PR Newswire (US)
Set top box business continues to accelerate with improved results
HONG KONG, Sept. 15 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- DVN (Holdings) Limited
("DVN", HKEx: 500) today reports a 44% year-on-year increase in
turnover growth. This reflects 317% growth in the number of set top
boxes ("STB") that DVN produced and licensed, amounting to a total
of 346,953 units during the period. DVN is increasing licensing
revenues and gradually shifting away from STB manufacturing to
higher margin solutions design and software development. Apart from
sales of STBs, the licensing arrangements have stimulated greater
unit sales, and new revenues were generated from the sale of STB
components. During the first half of 2005, DVN's gross profit
increased 32% to HK$23.73 million and the net loss was further
narrowed by 24% to HK$15.62 million. The improvement in earnings
was also attributable to DVN's efforts to reduce STB costs by about
5% in the period. The Company did not recommend the payment of a
dividend for the six months ended June 30, 2005. Mr Terry Lui, CEO
of DVN, remarked: "The positive trend in revenues and gross profits
indicate that DVN is on a path to profitability. With STB sales
likely to accelerate and as our business continues to shift to
higher margin value-added operations, DVN is optimistic that its
financial outlook will continue to improve." Number of STB sold in
1H2005 surged 317% year on year DVN remains the market leader for
digital STBs in Mainland China. The sales of its own branded and
licensed STB continued to accelerate as migration of China's cable
television system to digital was witnessed. During the first half,
the number of DVN produced and licensed STB increased 317% to
346,953 units. STB sales were particularly strong in Qingdao and
Foshan. During the first half, DVN won a contract to provide
digital services to the Guangxi Province. SARFT (China's State
Administration for Radio, Film and Television) approved on April 7,
2005 the designation of Guangxi as the country's first and only
provincial trial site. With this designation, Guangxi plans to cut
off its analog TV signal in phases to its 3 million cable
subscribers. DVN is able to generate revenues from licensing fees
on the estimated 3 million DVN designated STBs to be sold in the
province, from the provision of systems software and the related
services as the migration rolls out, and from sharing of revenues
generated from TV-commerce, interactive games, e-government, TV SMS
and other value-added services. DVN is Guangxi TV Network's sole
technology partner. Over the next several months, Qingdao and
Foshan will continue their aggressive rollouts as they cut off the
analog service to their users to achieve a full digitization of TV
broadcasting, enabling DVN to introduce revenue generating services
such as television email and interactive advertising services. DVN
expects to introduce some of these services on an experimental
basis in the second half. The Company anticipates an additional
stream of recurrent income from the future launch of value-added
services. DVN aims for mass sales through licensing of technology
DVN has entered into STB licensing agreements with such major
manufacturers as Haier, Hisense, TCL, Konka and Huawei to gain
access to a much broader market. Moreover, with the licensing
partners taking on the manufacturing, DVN is better able to make
more effective use of its working capital. In the first half of
2005, DVN received HK$4.9 million in licensing fees through this
arrangement. In addition, DVN sells STB components to these
manufacturers to ensure the quality of products. Its component
revenues therefore rose 6 times to HK$3.270 million in the period.
With the model shifting away from STB manufacturing, DVN stays
focused on STB design and application software development. As
sales are significantly boosted, the licensing model is expected to
generate increased long term profits for DVN. DVN promotes Motorola
branded STB Following Motorola's additional investment in DVN at
the beginning of this year, a new Motorola STB, designed in
cooperation with DVN, is ready for production. Motorola will handle
the manufacturing costs. DVN believes the new Motorola box will
appeal to subscribers seeking a quality, brand name box with more
features. Financial Highlights Six months ended June 30, 2005 2004
HK$'000 HK$'000 Turnover 85,537 59,366 Gross profit 23,733 18,003
Loss attributable to ordinary shareholders (15,615) (20,444) Loss
per share - basic (HK$0.03) (HK$0.04) About DVN DVN (Holdings)
Limited (SEHK:500) is the largest digital TV broadcasting systems
integrator and terminal products provider in China. It operates
R&D and after-sales services centres in Hong Kong, Shenzhen,
Shanghai and Suzhou. It has so far installed more than 40 digital
broadcasting systems in all 26 provinces, with its patented
products extensively deployed. On the back of its digital TV
broadcasting platform, the company is now seeking to develop and
roll out a range of value-added solutions, including e-government,
TV commerce, online games and TV SMS services. DVN's STB is well
recognized in China for its quality and extensive usage. A
nationwide survey report conducted by the Academy of Broadcasting
Science, SARFT of China in 2002 ranked it the most widely adopted
STB by TV operators in the country. As of August 2005, the Group
has sold accumulatively 1.01 million STBs (including licensed
production) in China, making it the leading digital TV technology
provider in the country. In 2004, DVN received the "Best Set Top
Box" award in the first Digital TV Public Survey, as well as a "Top
Quality Brand" honour in the STB category in the first China
Consumer Products Quality Survey. In 2005, DVN was further named by
SARFT as one of the country's "Top Ten Broadcasting Enterprises".
Based in Hong Kong and listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in
1989, DVN has been operating in the technology sector since 1982.
For further information, please contact: DVN (HOLDINGS) LTD Susanna
Chiu Tel: (852)2585 7295 / Fax: (852)2511 5522 E-mail: / Web-site:
http://www.dvnholdings.com/ t6.communications limited Jenny Lee or
Angus Ho Tel: (852)2511 8388 / Fax: (852)2511 8238 DATASOURCE: DVN
(Holdings) Limited CONTACT: Susanna Chiu, DVN (HOLDINGS) LTD,
+852-2585-7295, Fax: +852-2511-5522, , ; Jenny Lee or Angus Ho,
t6.communications limited, +852-2511-8388, Fax: +852-2511-8238
Copyright