Revenue and Profit Performance - Revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2024, was HK5.387 million in the same period in 2023[4] - Gross profit for the period was HK2.915 million in the previous year[4] - The company reported a net loss of HK5.292 million in the same period in 2023[4] - Basic and diluted loss per share was HK5.32 in the previous year[4] - Total comprehensive loss for the period was HK4.930 million in the same period in 2023[6] - Revenue from cinema operations decreased to HKD 893k in the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to HKD 3,769k in the same period in 2023[17] - Revenue from franchise operations increased to HKD 3,632k in the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to HKD 1,618k in the same period in 2023[17] - Total revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2024, was HKD 4,525k, down from HKD 5,387k in the same period in 2023[17] - Cinema business revenue decreased to HKD 900,000 with a gross profit of HKD 500,000, compared to HKD 3,800,000 in revenue and HKD 2,300,000 in gross profit during the same period last year[68] - The company's total revenue for the period was approximately HKD 4,500,000, a decrease of HKD 900,000 compared to HKD 5,400,000 in 2023, primarily due to a decline in cinema business revenue[87] - The company recorded a loss of approximately HKD 11,600,000 for the period, an increase of HKD 6,300,000 compared to the loss of HKD 5,300,000 in 2023, mainly due to non-cash share-based payments[88] Cash and Financial Position - Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024, stood at HK13.593 million as of March 31, 2024[8] - Total liabilities as of September 30, 2024, were HK12.771 million as of March 31, 2024[8] - The company's net asset position deteriorated to a deficit of HK13.913 million as of March 31, 2024[9] - Total assets as of September 30, 2024, were HKD 65,930k, with total liabilities of HKD 85,342k[20] - The company's total assets as of September 30, 2024, included HKD 60,418k in reportable segment assets and HKD 5,494k in unallocated corporate assets[20] - The company's total liabilities as of September 30, 2024, included HKD 65,537k in reportable segment liabilities and HKD 71k in tax payable[20] - As of September 30, 2024, the company's total assets were approximately HKD 65,900,000, with cash and cash equivalents increasing by over 293% to HKD 53,500,000 compared to March 31, 2024[89] - The company's debt ratio as of September 30, 2024, was approximately 1.29, down from 1.93 on March 31, 2024, with the company confident in its ability to meet liquidity needs[89] Expenses and Costs - Administrative expenses decreased to HK7.159 million in the previous year[4] - The company recognized a share-based payment expense of HK$6.122 million during the period, which was not present in the previous year[4] - Financing costs increased to 1,144 thousand HKD in the first six months of 2024, up from 1,034 thousand HKD in the same period of 2023, driven by higher interest on convertible bonds (1,042 thousand HKD vs. 911 thousand HKD)[33] - Pre-tax loss for the first six months of 2024 was primarily impacted by higher direct expenses in the licensing business (1,335 thousand HKD vs. 938 thousand HKD) and lower direct expenses in the cinema business (391 thousand HKD vs. 1,534 thousand HKD)[34] - The company's total employee cost increased by approximately HKD 1.3 million, primarily due to a HKD 2.5 million share-based payment during the period[93] Strategic Partnerships and Agreements - The company signed a project management service agreement with Jumoon Group Limited, with a service fee of 30% of the project's net profit, or 20% if Stephen Chow is involved in the creative production[62] - A strategic cooperation framework agreement was signed with Beijing iQIYI and Zeus Culture Media, effective from August 31, 2024, to July 31, 2029, for joint production of films and other content[73] - Beijing iQIYI has the exclusive right to select up to four intellectual properties (IPs) from the company's list within three months of the agreement date for development and production[75] - The strategic cooperation with Beijing iQIYI and Zeus Culture Media will extend to July 31, 2032, for any final projects initiated during the cooperation period[76] - The company expects to complete at least one final project's pre-production, including script development, budgeting, and other necessary preparations, by July 31, 2025[77] - The company received RMB 50,000,000 (approximately HKD 55,400,000) from Beijing iQIYI in September 2024, which is recognized as contract liabilities, with partial recognition as revenue expected by April 1, 2025[83] - The strategic partnership with iQIYI and Zeus Culture Media is expected to significantly boost the company's video entertainment and IP licensing revenue until at least August 31, 2029[113] Intellectual Property and Licensing - The licensing and service fees for the intellectual property of "The King of Comedy" and "The New King of Comedy" amounted to RMB 3,300,000 (approximately HKD 3,600,000) during the period[71] - The company entered into a licensing agreement with Star Shine Overseas Limited for the intellectual property of the film "The New King of Comedy," with an annual royalty fee cap of HKD 1,300,000 for a three-year period starting February 29, 2024[58] - The company recorded a royalty fee of HKD 1,300,000 payable to Star Shine Overseas Limited for the six months ended September 30, 2024, based on sales revenue of HKD 3,578,000[61] - The company has secured free IP licenses for "Mermaid," "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons," and "CJ7," with potential for commercialization through merchandise, games, comics, and secondary content production[111] - The licensing of "The King of Comedy" and "The New King of Comedy" to iQIYI has been successful, with positive audience feedback, and is expected to remain a strong revenue source[112] Corporate Governance and Board Activities - The company has established an Audit Committee consisting of three independent non-executive directors, responsible for reviewing financial reports, risk management, and internal control systems[123] - All directors have complied with the company's code of conduct regarding securities transactions during the six months ended September 30, 2024[124] - The company has generally complied with the GEM Listing Rules and Corporate Governance Code, except for certain deviations[125] - The company currently has no Chairman or CEO, and the Board is actively seeking suitable candidates to fill these positions[126] - The Audit Committee has reviewed the unaudited interim results for the six months ended September 30, 2024, and confirmed compliance with applicable accounting standards and GEM Listing Rules[123] - The Board ensures that all directors are adequately informed about current matters during Board meetings[127] - Board documents must be distributed at least three days before the meeting, unless it is an emergency[128] - The Board encourages open and active discussion, particularly from non-executive directors[132] - The company has adopted a code of conduct for directors' securities transactions that is not less stringent than the GEM Listing Rules[124] - The Board is responsible for ensuring good corporate governance practices and procedures are in place[131] - The Board of Directors includes executive directors such as Mr. Stephen Chow, Ms. Man Kei Chow, Mr. Man Kit Lau, Ms. Ya Chi Chow, Mr. Yiu Pong Yip, and Ms. Fung Chu Tsang, as well as independent non-executive directors Ms. Mei Ping Choi, Mr. Wing Tak Tsui, and Ms. Yat Ching Chan[135] - The company's secretary is required to report to the executive directors as per the company's regular practice[135] - The Board must appoint at least one executive director to attend the Annual General Meeting due to the vacant chairman position[133] - The Remuneration Committee should consult Ms. Man Kei Chow, an executive director and major shareholder, regarding the remuneration proposals for other executive directors[133] Operational and Business Developments - The closure of the Shanghai cinema in May 2023 due to rental disputes and the temporary shutdown of the Hangzhou cinema for maintenance contributed to the decline in cinema business revenue[68] - The video entertainment business did not generate any revenue during the period, despite signing a memorandum of understanding and a final contract with Beijing iQIYI[69] - The joint venture BGM, established in February 2023, generated revenue of approximately HKD 54,000 during the period, compared to HKD 1,600,000 in 2023[84] - The company plans to open a new cinema and is considering acquiring existing cinemas or forming joint ventures with other cinema chains and/or property developers[96] - The company is focusing on new media development and intellectual property licensing, leveraging its experience in film production and IP licensing[98] - The company's joint venture, BGM, generated total revenue of approximately HKD 2.2 million from the sale of "Mermaid" movie-themed tourbillon watches[106] - The company's subsidiary, Bingo Group — Memorigin (BGM) Limited, is considering launching another series of movie-themed tourbillon watches using the company's intellectual property[106] - Wanwei Cat Animation will produce three animated films based on Stephen Chow's IPs, including "Flirting Scholar," "Hail the Judge," and "Fight Back to School," with each IP releasing one film annually from 2025 to 2027[107] - The collaboration with Wanwei Cat Animation aims to produce animated films targeting the Chinese market, with the final format depending on further discussions and market response[108] - Wanwei Cat Animation, a renowned Chinese animation company, has high click-through rates and ratings on platforms like Bilibili, Douyin, and Tencent Video[109] - The company's subsidiary, Gaosheng, signed a consulting service agreement with New Huo Asset Management to provide IP technology consulting services for a futures investment fund[116] - Gaosheng extended its consulting agreement with New Huo in July 2024, with terms similar to the original agreement, though no revenue was generated during the period as the fund was still being established[118] Accounts Receivable and Payable - The group's accounts receivable decreased to 77 thousand HKD as of September 30, 2024, from 168 thousand HKD as of March 31, 2024, with a significant reduction in receivables within 30 days (62 thousand HKD vs. 153 thousand HKD)[45] - Accounts payable increased to 1,408 thousand HKD as of September 30, 2024, from 208 thousand HKD as of March 31, 2024, with a notable rise in payables within 30 days (1,335 thousand HKD vs. 121 thousand HKD)[48] - Accounts payable includes a royalty fee of HKD 1,300,000 payable to Star Shine Overseas Limited, with the amount aged within 30 days[49] Other Financial and Operational Notes - Interest income increased to HKD 64k in the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to HKD 20k in the same period in 2023[17] - The company recognized a Hong Kong profits tax of 2,000 HKD for the first six months of 2024, significantly lower than the 56,000 HKD recognized in the same period of 2023[35] - The company did not recommend any dividend for the first six months of 2024, consistent with the same period in 2023[38] - The company prepaid 10,000,000 RMB (approximately 11,089,000 HKD) to Zoling Culture Media (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. for project management and consulting services under a strategic cooperation framework[46] - Beijing iQIYI prepaid RMB 50,000,000 (equivalent to HKD 55,445,000) for production costs in September 2024, with no formal production activities conducted as of September 30, 2024[50] - The company issued and fully paid 102,645 thousand ordinary shares with a par value of HKD 0.1 per share as of September 30, 2024[53] - Directors' emoluments, salaries, allowances, and other benefits amounted to HKD 774 thousand for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to HKD 390 thousand in the same period in 2023[55] - The company issued convertible bonds with a principal amount of HKD 19,000k, a conversion price of HKD 0.275, and a maturity date of December 31, 2025[28] - The fair value of unexercised stock options granted in 2024 was HKD 6,121,989k, with an exercise price of HKD 1.170[30] - The company's total liabilities as of September 30, 2024, included HKD 16,072k in convertible bonds and HKD 3,662k in unallocated corporate liabilities[20]
比高集团(08220) - 2025 - 中期业绩