数码通电讯(00315) - 2024 - 中期财报

Financial Performance - The group reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of HKD 246 million for the first half of 2023/24, a decrease from HKD 256 million in the same period last year[20]. - Total revenue for the group was HKD 3.39 billion, down 11% from HKD 3.81 billion year-on-year, primarily due to a decline in mobile phone and accessory sales[20]. - Service revenue slightly decreased by 1% year-on-year, but excluding prepaid, mobile virtual network operator, and SMS business income, it showed a strong recovery with a growth of 3%[20]. - Operating profit for the period was HKD 360,835, a decrease of 7.8% compared to HKD 391,373 in the previous year[60]. - Profit attributable to shareholders for the period was HKD 245,792, down from HKD 255,832, representing a decline of 3.9%[61]. - Basic earnings per share for the period were 22.2 cents, compared to 23.1 cents in the same period last year[61]. - Total revenue for the six months ended December 31, 2023, was HKD 3,390,495, a decrease of 11% from HKD 3,809,011 in the same period of 2022[60]. - EBITDA for the six months ended December 31, 2023, was HKD 1,241,179, compared to HKD 1,279,065 for the same period in 2022, reflecting a decrease of about 3%[84][87]. Customer and Service Growth - Average revenue per user (ARPU) increased by 1% to HK$224, with total customer base reaching 2,650,000[14]. - 5G service customers now account for 38% of total customers, a 5% increase from December 2022[14]. - Roaming revenue surged by 64% year-on-year, recovering to 86% of pre-pandemic levels[14]. - The launch of SmarTone's home 5G broadband service has become a significant growth driver, offering faster speeds and lower costs[14]. - SmarTone's enterprise solutions business continues to show steady growth, with the SmartHome solution launched in December 2023[14]. - Service revenue grew by 3% excluding mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and SMS services[14]. Financial Position and Equity - The group maintained a strong financial position with total equity of HKD 5.13 billion as of December 31, 2023[22]. - Cash and bank balances amounted to HKD 1.05 billion as of December 31, 2023, down from HKD 1.16 billion on June 30, 2023[22]. - The group reported a total employee cost of HKD 353,000,000 for the period ending December 31, 2023, compared to HKD 361,000,000 for the first half of 2022/23, indicating a decrease of approximately 2.2%[29]. - Total equity rose from HKD 5,084,487,000 to HKD 5,128,181,000, an increase of approximately 1%[65]. Operational Efficiency and Investments - The company achieved a 36% overall energy efficiency improvement through modernization of base stations and AI network solutions[49]. - The company is committed to sustainable development and reducing energy consumption through advanced technology[49]. - The company has invested in enhancing its 5G network, including the installation of 850MHz 5G networks at railway stations[6]. - The company plans to enhance customer service and network experience while investing in advanced 5G infrastructure to support its vision of becoming a trusted digital life partner[17]. Shareholder and Dividend Information - The board declared an interim dividend of HKD 0.145 per share, consistent with the previous year[17]. - The interim dividend declared was 14.5 cents per share, consistent with the previous year, totaling $160,004,000 compared to $160,437,000 in 2022[100]. - Final dividend per share increased to 17.5 cents from 15.5 cents in the previous year, amounting to $193,117,000 compared to $171,325,000 in 2022[103]. Employee and Management Information - The group had 1,783 full-time employees, down from 1,830 employees as of June 30, 2023, reflecting a reduction of about 2.6%[29]. - The company continues to focus on employee training and development, providing both internal and external training opportunities[29]. - The total remuneration for the newly appointed CEO, Ms. Liu, from February 15, 2023, to June 30, 2023, amounted to HKD 2,174,000, including allowances and retirement plan contributions[33]. Risk Management and Compliance - The company faces foreign exchange risk primarily from receivables and payables denominated in USD, with some payables hedged through USD deposits[26]. - The financial risk management policies remained unchanged since the end of the previous fiscal year, addressing market, credit, and liquidity risks[78]. - The audit committee reviewed the interim financial statements for the six months ending December 31, 2023, and found the accounting policies appropriate and consistent with industry standards[144]. Stock Options and Share Repurchase - The company has adopted a share incentive plan to attract and retain suitable personnel, with no unvested incentive shares as of December 31, 2023[29]. - The company repurchased a total of 2,988,000 shares during the six-month period ending December 31, 2023, which were cancelled before the end of the reporting period[142]. - The company believes that the share repurchase will enhance earnings per share[143].