|
( Hong Kong, 14 Dec 2007) ¡V Synergis Holdings Limited ("Synergis" / the "Company") (stock code: 02340) announces its interim results for the year ended 30 September 2007.
During the review period, Synergis reported consolidated revenue of HK$210.7 million, an increase of 25.6% as compared to the corresponding period last year. Gross profit increased by HK$5.6 million to HK$41.2 million, being 15.7% over the last corresponding period. Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company for the period was HK$12.9 million, an increase of 15.5% as compared to the HK$11.1 million recorded for the corresponding period last year. Basic earnings per share increased to 3.9 HK cents for the period under review. The board is pleased to declare the payment of an interim dividend of 2.3 HK cents per share.
Synergis continues to expand its portfolio in the property management and facility management services market. Consolidated revenue, after inter-segment elimination, and profit contribution in the core business segment, recorded HK$186.9 million and HK$10.9 million with an increase of 29.1% and 56.7% respectively for the period compared with the same period last year. Other than gaining newly acquired contracts during the review period, one of the other reasons for the increase in revenue was the expansion of services offered to our existing clients in the facility management services portfolio.
The consolidated revenue of supporting services to the Group, after inter-segment elimination, increased by 3.7% to HK$23.8 million over the corresponding period last year. Although all supporting services, except for cleaning services and membership programmes, reported an increase in revenue, the overall segment profit contributed by the supporting services as a percentage of revenues, for the period under review, declined to 14.8%.
Although costs were HK$2.9 million higher than the last corresponding period (an increase of 11%), general and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of revenues, from 15.6% in the last corresponding period to 13.8% in the current period. These figures reflect the tight control policy imposed by the management on the Group's overhead and expenditure.
Mr. C. H. Fan, Managing Director of Synergis commented, " Despite the mature market and the highly competitive environment in the property management industry in Hong Kong, Synergis remains one of the market leaders and demonstrates its excellent client service by continuing to achieve a contract renewal rate in excess of 95% in the residential property segment in the period under review. For the six months ended 30 September 2007, Synergis managed a total of 241 sites in Hong Kong, an increase of 8% compared with the corresponding period last year. Such newly added residential contracts include, among others, The Kingston Hills; Eagle Ridge; four senior staff quarters of The University of Hong Kong; and a large-scale Tenant Purchase Scheme estate - Tsui Lam Estate. The Company was also successful in building its long-term relationship with the Hong Kong Housing Authority ("HKHA") and secured contracts for the provision of management services to the HKHA Headquarters Customer Service Centre in May 2007 and security services for Blocks 1 and 2 of the HKHA Headquarters complex in July 2007."
"With a solid foundation and a team not only experienced in providing management services on the mainland of China but also has a good understanding of the needs and demands of our partners, our joint ventures with Shui On Group in Shanghai and Beijing Financial Street Property Management Co., Ltd. in Beijing both made positive contributions in the period. Upon the acquisition of Blocks 1 and 3 of Xihuan Plaza in Beijing by Citigroup, we were successfully appointed by them to provide property management services to the two office blocks in May 2007."
"Our strategy is to become the dominant, trusted, long-term partner of reputable local and foreign real estate developers in China. During the period, we were awarded a consultancy contract for a mixed-use development project developed by Orient Overseas (International) Limited, in Changning district in Shanghai, with an area over 242,000 sq.m."
"With a rising number of expatriate professionals and investment immigrants, there is an increased demand for quality properties and property management services in Macau, especially for high-end and investment grade properties. Synergis actively targets those developers that understand and value quality property management services. Our strong branding and proven track record in Hong Kong and on the mainland of China have helped us to secure consultancy contracts with a local developer of high-end residential projects."
"While Hong Kong remains the Group's operational base and major source of revenue in the foreseeable future, it is clear that the long-term growth of the Group lies in the business opportunities offered by the robust economic growth of the mainland of China, whether in the first, secondary or third tier cities. Under the newly approved instruction related to CEPA (Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) issued by the Ministry of Construction of the People's Republic of China in November 2007, Synergis will be allowed to include its managed portfolios in Hong Kong and the mainland of China when applying for a property management qualification permit. As of 30 September 2007, Synergis is managing gross floor area of approximately 8.3 million sq. m. and 2.1 million sq. m. of residential and non-residential projects, respectively, in Hong Kong and the mainland of China, enabling Synergis to fulfill the managed category and site area requirements for a Grade 1 Permit. Once Synergis is able to secure a Grade 1 Permit, it will be able to provide facility and property management services to all types of properties in all cities in China, which will enhance our business expansion effort in the mainland of China as our operational platform will be readily scalable."
"To align with our target clients' needs and cope with the competitive market place and the economic environment in which we operate, management is working diligently to identify suitable opportunities and strategic partners to complement our current core business areas, such as investment feasibility studies, and sales and leasing services. We believe this strategy can successfully enhance the level of "value" to our customers, and enable us to capture more opportunities in the market."
"Given our sound financial standing and our confidence in maintaining our leadership position in the Hong Kong market, Synergis envisages maintaining a stable dividend policy." Mr. Fan concluded. |