goldfinger
- 18 Feb 2004 17:34
Theres a vast amount of research on this company so instead of my normal layout I will just copy the chairmans statement from the last results 30/09/2003, plus give a note on what it does.
About Imagination Technologies
Imagination Technologies Group plc - a leader in SoC IP - develops, licenses and
supplies market-leading graphics/video cores, real-time multi-threaded DSP/RISC
processors and communication and broadcast technologies for the consumer
entertainment and PC markets. It supplies both licensable IP (Intellectual
Property) and related advanced development tools to leading semiconductor and
consumer electronics companies worldwide. Imagination Technologies Group plc has
its corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom and is publicly traded on the
London Stock Exchange (FTSE:IMG). See:
www.imgtec.com
Chairman's Statement
During the first half the environment that we operated in has been tough but
improving steadily. The free fall in the semiconductor market that bottomed out
in 2002 has begun to reverse, although somewhat slowly. The total monthly chip
volume across the industry has increased by around 20% compared to the lows of
2002. However, price pressures have been a key feature with average selling
prices across the industry only stabilising in recent months. This has improved
sentiments in the industry but has resulted in a degree of cautiousness and slow
decision-making. Overall, the industry appears to have begun its upturn, which
will encourage R&D investment by the semiconductor companies.
Imagination has continued to make real progress implementing its strategy to
create and market a comprehensive portfolio of System-on-Chip (SoC) silicon
Intellectual Property (IP). We have said in the past that this IP is a vital
strategic investment for us, which we have made at a particularly difficult
period in the industry. It enables us to provide a complete spectrum of SoC
designs for applications including digital radio, digital television, mobile and
handheld devices. The pedigree of our designs is demonstrated best by the
quality of the partners which we recently brought on board including Intel, TI,
Sharp and Renesas and which have resulted in an increase of 37% in technology
revenues in the first half compared to the same period last year.
This year, we are aiming to achieve five major license deals. Since the end of
the first half, we have concluded a wide-ranging licensing deal with Frontier
Silicon. Alongside this licensing and development deal, Frontier Silicon, our
partner in DAB ICs and modules, also announced that Apax Partners and Alta
Berkeley have provided significant investment to reinforce its position in DAB
and build the resources needed to accelerate its continued growth into new
markets. Imagination holds a 17% equity stake in Frontier Silicon and under the
new deal will receive licence and development fee payments, in addition to loan
stock in Frontier Silicon up to a value of 1.25 million. We have many other
serious licensing negotiations in the areas of mobile, digital TV, in-car, PC
graphics, and amusement in progress and we expect a number of these to conclude
during the second half.
As expected, royalty revenues in the first half, while growing, have been modest
with only one major SoC, namely the Chorus digital radio device shipping in
volume. We expect around five devices in total to have reached the production
stage by the end of the current financial year.
Turning to our systems business we have enjoyed stunning success in the first
half year with our range of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) products. As a
result the revenues from our systems business amounted to 7.6m in the six
months, an increase of over 300% compared with the same period last year. This
success has not only been instrumental for developing the DAB market but it has
also positioned our PURE brand as the market leader in this exciting new field.
Financial Results
In the six months ended 30 September 2003, group revenue was 13.1m, an increase
of 127% (2002: 5.8m). Gross margins were 51%, with gross profit at 6.6m
(2002: 3.9m). Our sales and administration expenses excluding goodwill
amortisation have increased by 13% on last year. We have increased our
expenditure in research and development by 26%. We continue to invest in
research and development as it creates future revenues and supports our growing
customer base. The loss before tax excluding goodwill amortisation has declined
from 4.1m for the first half last year to 3.1m for the current year. Our loss
before tax was 3.6m (2002: 4.6m) after goodwill amortisation. The tax charge
in the half has benefited by 0.4m from a Research and Development tax credit,
which netted off against withholding tax incurred on overseas earnings has
resulted in a net tax credit of 0.2m in the half year.
Our balance sheet is strengthened as a result of the placing of 8.5 million
shares in July, representing 5% of the issued share capital. This raised 4.4m
in cash to give additional working capital until the royalty stream starts to
accelerate in the middle of 2004. There was an operating cash outflow during the
half of 3.4m and, after allowing for a 1.4m capital spend mainly in
state-of-the-art design tools and computer equipment for our engineers, our cash
at the end of September was 6.4m (March 2003: 6.1m). We also have a 3m
overdraft facility in place.
We currently have in excess of 12m of committed business which we expect to
recognise as revenue in the second half, of which approximately 5.5m will be
technology revenues. This is significantly ahead of where we were at the same
time last year.
Summary and Outlook
In our IP business the first half has presented an improving, but still tough,
marketplace for our offerings. We continue to attract the interest of high
calibre licensees but a number of potential transactions have moved into our
second six months.
Our current success in the DAB market has been outstanding with a broadening
range of products now entering the market. We are very optimistic about our DAB
market share across all manufacturers in general and the prospects for PURE
products in particular during the upcoming Christmas season.
Overall, our financial performance in the second half will remain primarily
dependent on licensing revenues. In this respect we are encouraged by the
significant pipeline of prospects but, as always, accurately predicting the
timing of deal closures is difficult. As an increasing number of chips
encompassing our IP move into the production phase during the next twelve months
we look forward to earning significant royalty incomes and having a relatively
lesser dependency on licensing income.
During the past two years of deep recession in the semiconductor industry
Imagination's Board determined to pursue an investment led strategy. In the
process, we have significantly expanded our range of IP and our customer base.
With the marketplace now beginning to show real signs of recovery we believe
firmly that this strategy will be vindicated.
The commitment and hard work from our highly capable staff has been and will
continue to play a crucial part in our progress. I would like to use this
opportunity to thank them. I would also like to thank our shareholders for their
continued support.
cheers gf.
Please DYOR and you are responsible for your buying and selling timing actions.
sweenio1
- 12 Mar 2004 14:30
- 46 of 71
goldfinger
- 13 Mar 2004 00:53
- 47 of 71
IMAGINATION TECHNOLOGIES – Killik & Co visit
Last night, we hosted an update visit from Hossein Yassaie, the Chief Executive of
170 million semi-conductor IP group, Imagination Technologies. Below, we provide
bullet points on the meeting which assumes a fairly high knowledge of the business (we
have covered background here previously). With a new research note out this morning,
clients looking for some background material should speak to their broker.
Key points to meeting:-•
Company remains committed to meeting target of five licensee announcements by
the financial year end (i.e. March 31 st , 2004). This means we can expect news flow
in the next couple of weeks.
• Semi-conductor industry backdrop is one of an improving picture where growth is
beginning to accelerate – January growth was 22% alone
• System on Chip component of semi-conductor market ($15 billion out of $250 billion)
where Imagination operates is growing faster at 30%+ per annum. Imagination is
out-pacing this growth with rates of 50% +.
• The intention in the medium term is for license fees to broadly cover the costs of the
business. The net expenses of the operation are currently around 20 million of
which Research & Development costs around 12 million. Given that license fees
broadly deliver 80% gross margin, this requires 25-30 million of license fee revenue
to achieve this goal.
• Unlike ARM, whose revenue model is license fee heavy, Imagination intends at least
50% of revenues to come from royalties. Given that royalty income is almost all book
able as profit, this implies, that if targets are reached, significant profit streams going
forward.
• The mobile phone market is potentially enormous to Imagination for its MBX chip
which provides video and 3D graphic capability. They have already signed up as
licensees the top four semi-conductor manufacturers in the market and we expect
another couple of top ten providers in the near term. License fees have been agreed
– we expect to see phones begin to be available globally from September of this year
with the MBX designed in and royalties will be earned. At the low end of the range,
we would expect 20 cents per phone shipped although this should prove
conservative.
Volumes for mobile phone shipments are hard to forecast. In the first full year of
operation, though, a figure of 5-30 million is indicated, although, within three years,
we would be comfortable with a number well north of 100 million. Imagination will
need to see traction within the market place before commenting.
• A license design win normally accrues a fee of around $2 million (small is $500,000,
large is $5 million although in the television space, it is possible to speak of up to $20
million fees although none have been secured as yet). 14 partner design wins have
been secured so far, but Imagination expects this to rise to over 20 in the next few
months – news flow should be rapid.
• Within 24 months, they also suspect that they will be working for over 30 partners,
and with average license fees going up, one can see the visibility the group has over
meeting the target of covering expenses by license fees alone.
• However, the pressure is clearly building on meeting client expectations and head
count will rise. There may be a possibility of an acquisition to meet this need later in
the year if organic growth is hard to come by.
• There are currently 16 chips at various stages of design, prototype and production.
Again, they are targeting for this to move to 35+ within 24 months.
• Other applications outside of mobile phones include televisions (flat screen), digital
radio (they will be in 600,000 units this year and 1 million next) and car navigation.
They expect to be targeting an average royalty of $1 per chip sold. Given mobile
phones will be at the low end of the range (20 cents is conservative) then other
applications will accrue royalty rates at much higher levels.
• Competition comes from NVIDIA and ATI although both operations are fables plants
which compete with the end licensee. Imagination suspects they have won the first
round of the competition.
• We do not expect the company to come back for new funding. Clearly, delays to
agreements (it is fair to say that those announced recently were expected earlier)
could impact cash but we do not expect a call in the near future. Imagination does
not like dilution and cash raised in the past ten years from the market is modest.
In conclusion, we continue to remain very positive on the developments at this
business. Genuinely, we appear to have the emergence of the next British success to
follow in the foot steps of ARM. If the company meets its aims o ver the next 24 months,
(and visibility to the board is increasing) then the stock is mis-priced. We would use
current weakness to add to positions.
cheers GF.
moneyplus
- 13 Mar 2004 15:11
- 48 of 71
Thank you to GF and Seawatcher, high hopes for this one.
GF - I followed the tip last week and bought into New Media Spark, much good it did me!!! suckers rally again.
sweenio1
- 15 Mar 2004 08:43
- 49 of 71
Killick probably understated the revenue per chip by quite a way..!!
The following is report is of VITAL importance for IMG and Frontier Silicon(using IMG IP) in its assault on the potentially MASSIVE DMB market which is just about to take off in Asia.The revenues here will start to flow soon!! as can be seen from my references
DMB=digital multimedia broadcasting
this simply is a satelite feed DAB signal to pda's wireless DAB enhanced phones etcetc that allows access to LIVE TV and DATA on those devices-the signal is one way and far cheaper that 3G signals.The market is about to take off in Korea especially but also all over Asia -Japan in particular.The BIGGEST CE compnies are working together in this venture and at last it has metaphorically taken off!!
IMG has TARGETTED this area for huge its growth and as such the recent announcements from FS that they have partnered with none less than Samsung to develop a DMB chip that is smaller and 30% less power hungry(essential in MOBILE wireless devices) puts IMG and FS as front rank companies in this emerging technology
Live TV and data on your phone COURTESY in part IMG!!!!!!
satelite news 1st then references to IMG technology!!
Mobile Broadcasting Satellite Launched Successfully
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter
The world's first digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) satellite, co-owned by Korean and Japanese telecom firms, was successfully launched on Saturday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SK Telecom, Korea's dominant mobile carrier, said the satellite, dubbed ``MBSat'', took off at 12:40 a.m. Saturday (local time), a day later than originally planned, aboard the Atlas III launch vehicle.
The liftoff was initially scheduled for Friday but technicians delayed the much-awaited event a day to secure 100-percent success, SK Telecom said. MBSat was built by U.S.-based Space Systems/Loral for a consortium of SK Telecom and Japan's Mobile Broadcasting Corp. (MBCo). SK Telecom holds a 34.66 percent stake of the 366.5 billion won device while MBCo has the remaining 65.34 percent.
The satellite, also nicknamed ``Hanbyol'' or a big star in Korean, will be eventually positioned in orbit at 35,785.6 kilometers above the equator, where it will deliver the DMB services in Korea and Japan for the next 12 years. Satellite DMB is a mobility-specific broadcasting, which will bring CD-quality audio and seamless video with interactive data through palm-sized mobile receivers like cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Also, mobile reception at up to 150 kilometers per hour will be possible through a very small antenna equipped in such fast-moving transportations as cars, ships or trains.
SK Telecom will pilot run the next-generation broadcasting in May and will fully commercialize it two months later through its affiliate TU Media, of which the mobile giant retains a controlling 30-percent stake.
Aside from SK Telecom, around 150 companies joined the TU Media.
One problem for the joint venture, however, is that it has yet to acquire a business license until Korea has streamlined related regulations later this month.
TU Media's Japanese rival MBCo also has a similar schedule of test running the convergence services this May with the aim of a full-scale service launch in July.
MBCo, which was already authorized by the government, was established by many high-profile shareholders like Toshiba, Toyota, Fujitsu, Panasonic, NTT Data and SK Telecom.
have a butchers at this!!
http://www.frontier-silicon.com/News/Releases/FSAnnouncesSupportForKoreanDMBSpecification.asp
and
http://www.frontier-silicon.com/News/Releases/SamsungAndFrontierDevelopDABSolutionForMobileHandsets.asp
read them and work out what this market is worth!!!!!!
regards
Dave
sweenio1
- 15 Mar 2004 08:44
- 50 of 71
http://www.frontier-silicon.com/News/Releases/FSAnnouncesSupportForKoreanDMBSpecification.asp
http://www.frontier-silicon.com/News/Releases/SamsungAndFrontierDevelopDABSolutionForMobileHandsets.asp
goldfinger
- 18 Mar 2004 19:27
- 51 of 71
http://www.killikmorningnote.co.uk/
Someexcelent news in the brokers morning note on IMG. Certainly worth adding to or buying.
cheers GF.
ehall
- 18 Mar 2004 19:42
- 52 of 71
GF, what are your opinions about Bede, i know IMG are bigger with fingers in more pies, even bought before the tech boom at 50p and I think they are a cracking company but do you think the valuation is worth it?
goldfinger
- 18 Mar 2004 22:56
- 53 of 71
IMG, stick with most certainly, but dont forget it will be a choppy ride.
Bede yes I used to think a lot of this one before the dot coms collapsed. I know Mark W Mitchell was a big fan but at the moment I am not up to press with this one, so it wouldnt be right to express an opinion.
Also think we have to watch our exposure to the techs at the moment. The Yanks seem to have gotten ahead of themselves and momentum plays are at too high a price in my opinion, having said that Im not one of these beleivers in that we are looking at another bear market.
cheers GF.
sweenio1
- 29 Mar 2004 10:56
- 54 of 71
IMG DELIVER yet again
and another one BIG-TIME
Now have 5 of the top 10 semiconductor companies in the world licensed to MBX!!
Phillips added to Intel Sharp Renesas texas Instruments ARM and Sunplus
who next...
RNS Number:0285X
Imagination Technologies Group PLC
29 March 2004
Imagination Technologies
PHILIPS LICENSES IMAGINATION TECHNOLOGIES' POWERVR MBX
London, UK, 29th March 2004: Imagination Technologies (LSE:IMG), a leader in
system-on-chipintellectual property (SoC IP), reports that its strategic
partner ARM (LSE:ARM; Nasdaq:ARMHY) today announced that Philips Semiconductors
has licensed a PowerVR MBX 3D graphics solution for use in Philips'
next-generation mobile applications processor.
Imagination Technologies and ARM have a long-term joint development agreement
for the integration of PowerVR graphics cores alongside ARM microprocessor
cores. Under the terms of the agreement, ARM markets and licenses the PowerVR
graphicsand video cores to its customer base, for use with ARM microprocessor
families. Imagination will receive both license fee and royalty revenue out of
this agreement.
happy days and I did promise!!!!
so this makes the 5 licenses promised at the AGM
trading statement tomorrow OR Wednesday WILL be a joyfest IMHO and who knows another license..!!
regards
Dave
also have a look at the 1st press in the link
http://www.naeurope.co.uk/en/story.htx?nr=300002236
sweenio1
- 13 Apr 2004 07:26
- 55 of 71
link title may be appropriate today!!
this am verification that IMG provide NOT just the 2D/3D graphics technology for the new INTEL pda/cellphone chip but suprisingly even to keen Imagineers-the video core IP as well!!!!
IMG in its recent statement indicated 7 license wins in 2003-2004 and now has 20SOC either in development OR in production
BIG royalties are around the corner
Even MORE exciting for this week is the strong possibility that IMG MBX will be announced as the 3D technology in the new Nokia NGAGE to be announced tomorrow
here are the links
1st the RNS then the link to the Nokia story
London, UK, 13 April 2004: Imagination Technologies - a leader in SoC IP -
reports that the Intel 2700G multimedia accelerator, an advanced graphics
and video processor for mobile and embedded devices utilises PowerVR cores
from Imagination Technologies.
The Intel 2700G multimedia accelerator chip, optimized for the Intel PXA27x
processor family, delivers a rich multimedia entertainment experience while
helping to extend device battery life. The Intel 2700G multimedia
accelerator incorporates a PowerVR MBX graphics core and PowerVR video
acceleration and display processing cores from Imagination Technologies.
Under the terms of its licensing arrangements Imagination Technologies
receives royalty revenues on devices incorporating Imagination Technologies'
IP shipped by partners.
The Intel 2700G Multimedia Accelerator is available for sampling by
customers now and will be in volume production later this year.
and
Nokia N-Gage 2 expected on 14th
Revised game deck to showcase. Imagine
By Tony Dennis: Monday 12 April 2004, 20:00
IN AN ATTEMPT to bolster its attack on the gaming sector, Nokia is expected to showcase an improved version of its N-Gage 'gaming deck'.
This improved version, labelled the N-Gage 2 by most observers, will cure two of its main deficiencies.
One much needed modification will be to allow MMC cards - used for storing games - to be inserted and removed without the necessity to disassemble the battery, like now.
The second will be an improved means of using the N-Gage as a regular mobile phone without having to hold it to your head like a Dork. This mod could be as simple as improved support for Bluetooth headsets.
However. Other sources say Nokia will simply relocate the microphone and earpiece so it more closely resembles a mobile phone.
According to our sources, the N-Gage 2 should feature one of the latest Texas Instruments OMAP 2 chips either the OMAP2410 or the OMAP2420 which incorporate the PowerVR MBX core licensed from Imagination Technologies.
A picture of the N-Gage 2 has appeared here) which implies the N-Gage 2 will have a built in camera as there's a camera menu option clearly visible.
regards
Dave
Madison
- 29 Apr 2004 10:19
- 56 of 71
Any comments on Imagination's recent decline?
I see no specific news on the company lately. (Perhaps I've missed something) Is it their licensees (eg Texas) that are pulling things back?
Thanks, Madison
woodym8
- 30 Apr 2004 11:14
- 57 of 71
I also have no idea why they are declining. It would seem that the fall will continue until they hit the support level but I really don't know why? Any news would be great.
mad4IT
- 30 Apr 2004 11:58
- 58 of 71
I'm into IMG since Wednesday. I bought at 94.3p and the skys the limit for this little baby.
Happy1
- 30 Apr 2004 12:03
- 59 of 71
Mad get back to SPS tick up ;-)
mad4IT
- 30 Apr 2004 12:46
- 60 of 71
Happy1.
I don't why you're launching your unprovoked attack at me. I'm a better trader than you'll ever be and this thread needs me more than it needs you.
How do you like them onions.
Chortle, nay gaffaw.
mad
Muppet Crusher
- 30 Apr 2004 13:19
- 61 of 71
Happy.
That's not the real mad4IT, I am.
It's just one of those abusive muppets. Probably Neo.
They're frustrated because I've filtered all of them on AFN. So now they're bringing their frustrations onto this site. I've just had that username blocked. Because, surprise, surprise, the person using it has already been banned from this site before. Why does that not surprise me!
mad4IT
- 30 Apr 2004 13:31
- 62 of 71
Look.
If any of you knew anything about trading you'd know that I get most of my calls right. I've got a lot of money invested in the markets and to prove it my last trade was for about 1600.
I don;t know who the muppet crusher is and WTF is neo when it's at home.
I'm here to talk trading, I make my living by trading. Don't launch anymore unprovoked attacks on me I'm only here to discuss the markets in very general terms.
Sigh.
Mad.
Muppet Crusher
- 30 Apr 2004 13:38
- 63 of 71
Hi mad, bye mad. Aye, mad.
p.s. It's a tribute to how frustrated you are that you've appeared here. One day without me and you're already tearing your hair out because you no longer exist for me, because I've filtered you all and effectively wiped you from the face of the earth.
LOL!
Happy1
- 30 Apr 2004 13:44
- 64 of 71
Mad
Don't take everything personally until you know who you are talking to !!
TK
Muppet Crusher
- 30 Apr 2004 13:48
- 65 of 71
What do you mean, Happy ?
It doesn't get more personal than deliberately stealing my AFN nickname, does it!
I really don't understand your attitude at all. Especially considering you were a victim of their abuse for months!