Achieves Strong Growth in Satellite Transponder Business
HONG KONG, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Financial Highlights
| (HK$ '000) | Six months ended 30 June | Change | |
| 2013 | 2012 | ||
| Turnover | 559,091 | 402,337 | 39.0% |
| Profit attributable to equity shareholders | 278,960 | 104,712 | 1.66 times |
| Basic earnings per share (HK cents) | 44.86 | 16.84 | 1.66 times |
| Interim dividend per share (HK cents) | 5.00 | 2.00 | 1.5 times |
High-quality satellite transponder, telecommunications and broadcasting services provider APT Satellite Holdings Limited ("APT Satellite" or "the Group"; stock code: 1045) today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2013.
During the period, the Group's turnover amounted to HK$559,091,000, representing an increase of 39.0% as compared with the corresponding period of last year. Profit attributable to equity shareholders reached HK$278,960,000, up 1.66 times year-on-year. Basic earnings per share were HK 44.86 cents (30 June 2012: HK16.84 cents). The Board recommended an interim dividend of HK 5.00 cents per share for the six months ended 30 June 2013 (1H 2012: HK2.00 cents per share).
Mr. Cheng Guangren, Executive Director and President of the Group, said, "We are pleased to see that the Group continued on its outstanding upward trend and achieved stable growth in all business segments despite the challenging environment in the first half of 2013. Our in-orbit satellites, along with the corresponding ground TT&C (telemetry, tracking and command) systems and earth station, have been operating under normal conditions and continue to provide reliable and high quality services to our customers. As a result, our total transponder utilization rate reached 80.95% during the review period."
During the review period, the Group's in-orbit satellites, APSTAR 5, APSTAR 6 and APSTAR 7, maintained high utilization rates of 82.33%, 87.24% and 75.08% respectively. They form integrated and strong satellite service capability covering over 75% of the world's population, including the Asia, Australia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, and other Asia Pacific regions.
The Group's Transponder Lease Service further increased its utilization rate and broadened its customer base by signing new transponder service agreements with internationally renowned TV and media broadcasters. This not only boosted the Group's market share, but also further enhanced its service capability and profitability.
APT Datamatrix Limited, the Group's wholly-owned subsidiary, began full operation in March of 2013 to provide data centre services which enhance transmission services capability in satellite telecommunication. Data centre service is a recently established telecommunication value-added service for the Group's customers. According to the Group's long-term plans, it will see great business growth potential and synergic effects with satellite telecommunication services and will result in promising value-added capability in its business.
Looking ahead, the market demand for satellite transponders in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa will maintain its growth trend. Leveraging its high quality in-orbit satellite transponders capacities, broad footprint coverage, high quality customer service capabilities, outstanding market image and high level of market awareness, the Group expects the utilization rates of APSTAR 5, APSTAR 6 and APSTAR 7 to remain at high levels, and to achieve substantial growth in revenue and market share. Moreover, the synergies generated from the Group's satellite broadcasting services, satellite telecommunication services and data centre services are also expected to bring significant contributions to the Group's future growth.
