Interim Results 2005 just in, masive increase in turnover, looking good, amd on track for the future.
28 September 2005
Pacific Media PLC
Interim Results 2005
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
I am pleased to report that the progress we achieved through the latter part
of 2004 and into the early part of this year has been well maintained, with
a number of new products and increased media and retail distribution
channels established, and negotiations on a significant license agreement
concluded.
Our operations in China showed solid growth throughout the period, enhanced
by the opening of our new in-house call centre and increased non-TV retail
channels.
We have also now successfully divested all our non-core assets and
operations and settled long-standing litigation These include selling our
Bella Media plc shareholding, receiving partial recovery of a loan made to
Asia Commerce LLC in 2000 which had been fully written off, settling a claim
relating to the supply of Slim 10 pills from 2000 to 2002, disposing of the
Company's former UK leasehold premises and closing our Singapore operations.
The Company also concluded a number of fund raisings to continue and expand
the growth of our Responze TV business in China.
We have also strengthened our senior management team and Board of Directors,
most notably through the appointment of Mr. David Shrimpton as Independent
Non-Executive Director, Mr. Grahame Farquhar (who is also the Company's
CFO), and Mr. Edgar Bronfman Sr. as Special Adviser.
The encouraging results for the first six months of 2005 reflect the ongoing
efforts of the Company.
Interim Results
In the six months ended 30th June 2005, the Group's turnover was 1,554,000,
an improvement of 1,093,000 over the same period last year (2004:
461,000). This reflects growth in the China DRTV business launched in
November 2004. The Group operating loss of 3,212,000 also recorded a
substantial improvement against prior year figure of 8,971,000.
Financing
In June 2005 the Company increased its US$5.0 million loan facility made
with MediaXposure Limited in December 2005 to US$6.0 million and to US$7.0
million in July 2005. Furthermore, the Company today announces that it has
agreed, subject to any shareholder approval required, to extend the date for
the automatic conversion of US$2.5 million of MediaXposure Limited's loans
into shares of the Company from 30 September 2005 to 31 January 2006.
On 24th August 2005, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement with
DKR Soundshore Oasis Holding Fund Ltd. for a US$3.0 million unsecured
convertible loan carrying 6% interest per annum.
Share Conversion, Capital Reduction and Divestment of Bella Media plc
On 8th April 2005, MediaXposure converted its US$8.0 million loan note into
6,213,364,852 ordinary shares of the Company. Consequent to this conversion,
MediaXposure control 49.55% of the Company shares
On 24 August 2005, the Company obtained a Court Order from the High Court of
Justice in England and Wales allowing the Company to cancel its Class A
deferred shares of 0.09p each amounting to a nominal value of 46,669,461.56
and the amount standing to the credit of the its share premium account
amounting to 32,849,613.04. The cancellation of the deferred shares and the
amount standing to the credit of the share premium account of the Company
will be used to eliminate the accumulated loss on the profit and loss
account of the Company and will create a reserve as to the balance against
which future losses can be eliminated.
The Company also divested of its entire 297,000,000 shares in Bella Media
plc on 14th September 2005 to Mr. Bronfman Sr. at a price of 0.125 pence per
share.
Operations Review
I am pleased to report that the Company launched a number of new products
through the Responze TV DRTV division during the first six months of this
year. In conjunction with our TV sales, our wholesale operations commenced
direct trading through several prominent retailers, including A. S. Watson,
the retailing chain of Hutchison Whampoa Limited.
The migration to our in-house call centre in Shanghai was completed in mid-
April, allowed the Responze TV DRTV business to generate higher sales
conversions, provide improved customer service and expand telemarketing
opportunities. The Call Centre provides a capacity for 70 operatives,
sufficient to meet the mid-term growth in the Responze TV business
Media airtime purchases and audience reach was also expanded throughout the
period, including a revenue sharing airtime agreement with China Media
Networks on five of their TV channels.
You will be aware from my previous statement to shareholders that we had
been in lengthy negotiations with the UK TV retailer sit-up Limited ("sit-
up"). These negotiations were successfully concluded on 21st July 2005 when
we entered into a licensing agreement with sit-up which will, following
satisfaction of various conditions, allow the Company to launch sit-up
branded channels throughout China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, similar to
sit-up's UK channels `price-drop tv' and `bid tv'.
Directors
In April 2005, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. David Shrimpton
as an Independent Non-Executive Director. He brings to Pacific Media a
wealth of knowledge regarding Stock Exchange regulations and best practice,
in particular corporate governance best practice, together with twenty years
of experience working with growth companies.
Mr. Shrimpton is Chairman of both the Company's Audit Committee and
Remuneration Committee, in line with his professional experience and areas
of expertise. With two Non-Executive, Independent Board members, Pacific
Media duly meets the corporate governance requirements articulated in the
Combined Code for UK listed companies.
In August 2005, the Company announced the appointment of Grahame Farquhar as
an Executive Director, taking up the post having occupied the position of
Chief Financial Officer at the Company. He brings to the role over twenty
years of corporate experience in the media sector as a qualified accountant,
including as Chief Financial Officer at EMI Asia and as Vice President
Finance and Operations at Bertelsman Asia.
Outlook
In the past few months, the Company has begun to expand international sales
efforts, and in addition to our DRTV shows, we are looking to introduce a
home shopping-style segment to our programme line-up. New products continue
to be sourced and developed, as the Board works towards securing funds from
third parties in order to launch the sit-up TV auction home shopping
channels in Greater China.
Darren Shaw
Executive Chairman
http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20050928070000W2234.html