MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

21.03.2014

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

PCCW LTD.

 

 

Registered Office :

41/F., PCCW Tower, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay,

 

 

Country :

Hong Kong

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

24.04.1979

 

 

Com. Reg. No.:

06064472

 

 

Legal Form :

Public Limited Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Provision of telecommunication services, internet and multimedia services, sale and rental of equipment and technical services.  Investment in and development of infrastructure, properties and technology-related business.

 

 

No. of Employees :

22,200

 

RATING & COMMENTS

 

MIRA’s Rating :

Ba

 

RATING

STATUS

PROPOSED CREDIT LINE

41-55

Ba

Overall operation is considered normal. Capable to meet normal commitments.

Satisfactory

 

Status :

Satisfactory

Payment Behaviour :

No complaints

Litigation :

Clear

 

NOTES :

Any query related to this report can be made on e-mail : infodept@mirainform.com while quoting report number, name and date.

 

 

ECGC Country Risk Classification List – September 30, 2013

 

Country Name

Previous Rating

(30.06.2013)

Current Rating

(30.09.2013)

Hong Kong

A2

A1

 

Risk Category

ECGC Classification

Insignificant

 

A1

Low

 

A2

Moderate

 

B1

High

 

B2

Very High

 

C1

Restricted

 

C2

Off-credit

 

D

 


 

HONG KONG - ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

 

Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance - the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of re-exports, is about four times GDP. Hong Kong has no tariffs on imported goods, and it levies excise duties on only four commodities, whether imported or produced locally: hard alcohol, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil, and methyl alcohol. There are no quotas or dumping laws. Hong Kong's open economy left it exposed to the global economic slowdown that began in 2008. Although increasing integration with China, through trade, tourism, and financial links, helped it to make an initial recovery more quickly than many observers anticipated, its continued reliance on foreign trade and investment leaves it vulnerable to renewed global financial market volatility or a slowdown in the global economy. The Hong Kong government is promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the site for Chinese renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts; RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been issued in Hong Kong; and RMB trade settlement is allowed. The territory far exceeded the RMB conversion quota set by Beijing for trade settlements in 2010 due to the growth of earnings from exports to the mainland. RMB deposits grew to roughly 12% of total system deposits in Hong Kong by the end of 2013. The government is pursuing efforts to introduce additional use of RMB in Hong Kong financial markets and is seeking to expand the RMB quota. The mainland has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about half of Hong Kong's total trade by value. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory has surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 34.9 million in 2012, outnumbering visitors from all other countries combined. Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In 2012 mainland Chinese companies constituted about 46.6% of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for about 57.4% of the Exchange's market capitalization. During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly. Credit expansion and tight housing supply conditions have caused Hong Kong property prices to rise rapidly; consumer prices increased by more than 4% in 2013. Lower and middle income segments of the population are increasingly unable to afford adequate housing. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983. In 2013, Hong Kong and China signed new agreements under the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement, adopted in 2003 to forge closer ties between Hong Kong and the mainland. The new measures, effective from January 2014, cover services and trade facilitation, and will improve access to the mainland's service sector for Hong Kong-based companies

 

Source : CIA

 


Company name and address

 

PCCW LTD.

 

 

ADDRESS:       41/F., PCCW Tower, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.

 

PHONE:            852-2888 2888

 

FAX:                 852-2877 8877

 

E-MAIL:            general@pccw.com

info@pccw.com

 

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Chairman:  Mr. Li Tzar Kai, Richard

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Incorporated on:            24th April, 1979.

 

Organization:                 Public Limited Company.

 

Capital:                         Nominal:HK$1,818,073,633.50

Issued: HK$1,818,073,663.50

 

Business Category:       Provision of Telecommunication Services, Internet and Multimedia Services.

 

Group Turnover:            HK$27,317 million  (Year ended 31-12-2013)

 

Group Employees:        Approx. 22,200.  (As at 31-12-2013)

 

Main Dealing Bankers:   The Bank of East Asia Ltd., Hong Kong.

The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd., Hong Kong.

 

Banking Relation:          Good.


 

ADDRESS

 

Registered Head Office:-

41/F., PCCW Tower, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.

 

Intermediate Holding Company:-

Pacific Century Regional Developments Ltd., Singapore.

 

Ultimate Holding Company:-

Pacific Century Group Holdings Ltd., British Virgin Islands.

 

Subsidiaries/Associates/Affiliated Companies:-

Abacus Distribution Systems (Hong Kong) Ltd., Hong Kong.

Beijing Jing Wei House and Land Estate Development Co. Ltd., China.

China Netcom Broadband Corporation Ltd., China.

Cyber-Port Ltd., Hong Kong.

Dongguan Jietongda Telecommunications Co. Ltd., China.

Esencia Investments Ltd., British Virgin Islands.

Gateway Global communications Ltd., UK.
[Formerly known as PCCW Global (UK) Ltd.]

Genius Brand Ltd., Hong Kong.

Great Epoch Holdings Ltd., British Virgin Islands.

HKT Global (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Singapore.

HKT Group Holdings Ltd., Cayman Islands.

HKT Ltd., Cayman Islands/Hong Kong.

HKT Services Ltd., Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Ltd., Hong Kong.

Nihon Harmony Resorts K.K., Japan.

Pacific Century Premium Developments Ltd., Bermuda/Hong Kong.

PC Music Holdings Ltd., British Virgin Islands.

PCCW (Beijing) Ltd., China.

PCCW (Macau) Ltda., Macau.

PCCW Business eSolutions Ltd., Hong Kong.

PCCW Customer Management Technology and Services (Guangzhou) Ltd., China.

PCCW Global (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong.

PCCW Global (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Singapore.

PCCW Global B.V., Netherlands/France.

PCCW Global Inc., US.

PCCW Global Ltd., Hong Kong/Dubai.

PCCW Media Ltd., Hong Kong.

PCCW Mobile HK Ltd., Hong Kong.

PCCW Powerbase Data Centre Services (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong.

PCCW Production Ltd., Hong Kong.

PCCW Solutions (Guangzhou) Ltd., China.

PCCW Solutions Ltd., Hong Kong.

PCCW Teleservices (Hong Kong) Ltd., Hong Kong.

PCCW Teleservices (US) Inc., US.

PCCW Teleservices Operations (Hong Kong) Ltd., Hong Kong.

PCCW-HKT Technical Services Ltd., Hong Kong.

Petro-CyberWorks Information Technology Co. Ltd., China.

Power Logistics Ltd., Hong Kong.

Reach Ltd., Bermuda.

Talent Master Investments Ltd., British Virgin Islands/Hong Kong.

UK Broadband Ltd., UK.

UK Solutions Ltd., UK.

Unihub China Information Technology Co. Ltd., China.

etc.

 

 

BUSINESS REGISTRATION NUMBER 

 

06064472

 

 

COMPANY FILE NUMBER

 

0069030

 

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Chairman:  Mr. Li Tzar Kai, Richard

Deputy Chairman:  Mr. Zuo Xunsheng

Group Managing Director:  Mr. Alexander Anthony Arena

 

 

CAPITAL

 

Nominal Share Capital: HK$1,818,073,663.50

 

Issued Share Capital: HK$1,818,073,663.50

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

Shares are quoted on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd.

 

 

DIRECTORS

 

CHAN Ching Cheong

David Christopher CHANCE

David Ford

HUI Hon Hing, Susanna

Bryce Wayne LEE

LEE Chi Hong, Robert

LI Fushen

LI Gang

LI Kwok Po, David

LI Tzar Kai, Richard

LU Yimin

Aman MEHTA

Lars Eric Nils RODERT

TSE Sze Wing, Edmund

WEI Zhe

Wong Waikwun, Frances

 

SECRETARY:

Name

Address

POON Wai Yin , Philana

14/F., PCCW Tower, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.

 

 

HISTORY

 

The subject was incorporated in Hong Kong as a private limited company on 24th April, 1979 under the name of Ring Holdings Ltd.  The subject first changed its name to Tricom Systems Ltd. on 1st October, 1982.  It was renamed First Pacific Telecom Ltd. on 5th May, 1989.  The subject’s name was changed to Tricom Holdings Ltd. on 9th January, 1992, and to Pacific Century Cyberworks Ltd. on 13th August, 1999.  The present style was adopted on 9th August, 2002.

At an extraordinary general meeting of the subject held on 20th September, 1994, the subject altered its objects and adopted new articles of association, and was converted into a public company.  Its securities have been listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd. since 18th October, 1994.

Apart from these, neither material change nor amendment has been ever traced and noted.

 

 

OPERATIONS

 

Activities & Lines:Provision of telecommunication services, internet and multimedia services, sale and rental of equipment and technical services.  Investment in and development of infrastructure, properties and technology-related business.

 

Trade Marks:     “NETVIGATOR”, “Business Netvigator”, “now.com.hk”, “now Broadband TV”, “0060”, “PCCW Solutions”, “Cascade”, “Powerb@se”, “No.1 Club”, “Partners”, “Yellow Pages”, “Power Logistics”, “BtN Access”, and “SecureNet”.

 

Office:  Self-owned.

 

Group Employees:        Approx. 22,200.  (As at 31-12-2013)

 

Business Territories:      Hong Kong, Greater China, Asia, Europe, North America, etc.

 

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Nominal Share Capital: HK$1,818,073,663.50

 

Issued Share Capital: HK$1,818,073,663.50

 

Profit After Taxation:     HK$1,795 million  (Year ended 31-12-2009)

HK$2,324 million  (Year ended 31-12-2010)

HK$1,776 million  (Year ended 31-12-2011)

HK$2,565 million  (Year ended 31-12-2012)

HK$3,055 million  (Year ended 31-12-2013)

 

Profit or Loss:   Business is profitable.

 

Condition:         Keeping in an active manner.

 

Facilities:          Making active use of general banking facilities.

 

Payment:           So far so good.

 

Commercial Morality:  Good.

 

 

Bankers:-

The Bank of East Asia Ltd., Hong Kong.

The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd., Hong Kong.

Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd., Hong Kong.

BNP Paribas, Hong Kong Branch.

 

Standing:  Very Good.

 

 

GENERAL

 

PCCW Ltd. [PCCW], incorporated on 24th April, 1979, has been listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd. (SEHK: 0008) with an ADR (American Depositary Receipt) listing on The New York Stock Exchange Inc. (NYSE: PCW).

PCCW is chiefly held by Pacific Century Regional Developments Ltd. which is a listed firm in Singapore.  However, this firm is held by Pacific Century Group Holdings Ltd., a BVI-registered firm owned by Mr. Li Tzar Kai, Richard.  Li is the Chairman of the PCCW Group.

PCCW is one of Asia’s leading integrated communications companies.  As the incumbent telecommunications provider in Hong Kong, PCCW is committed to building shareholder value by leveraging synergies among its core businesses and partners to deliver total solutions to corporate and consumer customers throughout Asia, particularly in greater China.

PCCW provides a spectrum of communications services from local telephony to broadband services to business solutions, especially in IP-based business services, New Generation Fixed Line services, broadband internet-access and pay-TV services, IT solutions and wireless.

Internationally, PCCW enables organizations to bring their business to Asia, run operations across the region and take Asian business to the rest of the world.  In addition, PCCW has growing business interests in mainland China and the United Kingdom.

Beyond Hong Kong, PCCW has points of presence in mainland China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The principal activities of the PCCW Group are the provision of local, mobile and international telecommunications services, Internet access services, interactive multimedia and pay-TV services, the sale and rental of telecommunications equipment, and the provision of computer, engineering and other technical services primarily in Hong Kong, and also in mainland China and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region; investments in, and development of, systems integration, network engineering, and technology‑related businesses; and investments in, and development of, infrastructure and properties in Hong Kong, mainland China and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions.

On 22nd June, 2005, the Group acquired a majority interest in SUNDAY Communications Ltd.  In addition, PCCW’s United Kingdom Broadband subsidiary is pursuing a staged rollout strategy to grow its wireless broadband network business in the United Kingdom.

PCCW has developed its NOW TV channel.  NOW TV provides more than 190 channels of various genres for its one million-plus customers.  Subsequent to the end of the year of 2010, NOW TV launched its new self‑produced lifestyle and entertainment channel, NOW 101.  One of the channel’s flagship programs, the ATM quiz show, was an instant hit.  Tens of thousands of people participated daily in the quiz during the soft launch in February, many of whom accompanied by friends and relatives several times that number.

For the year ended 31st December, 2013, the consolidated revenue of PCCW increased by 8% to HK$27,317 million (2012: HK$25,318 million) and consolidated EBITDA increased by 3% to HK$8,033 million.  Profit for the year was HK$3,055 million (2012: HK$2,565 million).

Entering its second decade of operation, PCCW’s now TV will continue to strengthen its programming and production capabilities in order to bring viewers higher quality and differentiated content.  As now TV has firmly established its leadership in the pay TV market, PCCW looks forward to also bringing better programming choices to viewers of free television in Hong Kong as soon as practicable, subject to agreement on the final license terms with the Government.

PCCW Solutions is expected to exhibit sustained growth capitalizing on its leading position in the IT services industry and riding on the endogenous growth of data centre on the back of structural demand of data traffic.  It will also explore opportunities to expand beyond Hong Kong and China as part of its longer term growth strategy.

In 2014, Hong Kong Telephone, a subsidiary of PCCW, will continue to capitalize on its fibre-to-the-home (“FTTH”) network advantages locally and on its global network coverage with additional capacity and resilience internationally to drive profitability and cash flow growth.  In December 2013, HKT proposed to acquire CSL New World Mobility Limited.  The transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

As at 31st December, 2013, the Group had approximately 22,200 employees.  About 60% of these employees work in Hong Kong and the others are based mainly in the PRC, the United States and the Philippines.

PCCW is one of the largest companies in Hong Kong.

On the whole, consider PCCW good for normal business engagements.


 

REMARKS

 

Brief personal profile of the principal directors:-

Mr. LI Tzar Kai, Richard (Chairman), aged 46, was appointed an Executive Director and Chairman of PCCW in August 1999.  He is Chairman of PCCW’s Executive Committee and a member of Nomination Committee of the Board.  He is also Chairman and Chief Executive of the Pacific Century Group, Executive Director and Chairman of Pacific Century Premium Developments Ltd. [PCPD], Chairman of PCPD’s Executive Committee, a member of PCPD’s Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee, and Chairman of Singapore-based Pacific Century Regional Developments Ltd.  Mr. Li is a Non-Executive Director of The Bank of East Asia Ltd.  He is also a representative of Hong Kong, China to the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation [APEC] Business Advisory Council, a member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ International Councillors’ Group in Washington, D.C., and a member of the Global Information Infrastructure Commission.

Mr. ZUO Xunsheng (Deputy Chairman and Non-Executive Director), aged 62, became a Deputy Chairman and Non-Executive Director of PCCW in July 2007.  He is a member of the Remuneration Committee and Executive Committee of the Board.  Mr. Zuo is an Executive Director and a Senior Vice President of China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd.  He is also a Director of China United Network Communications Ltd.  Mr. Zuo joined China Network Communications Group Corporation as Vice President in April 2002, and served as Senior Vice President of China Netcom Group Corporation (Hong Kong) Ltd. [CNCHK] since July 2004, Chief Operating Officer of CNCHK since December 2005, an Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of CNCHK since May 2006 and Chairman of CNCHK since May 2008.  Mr. Zuo graduated from Guanghua School of Management of Peking University with an EMBA degree in 2004.  From July 1993 to October 1997, Mr. Zuo served as Director of the former Bureau of Telecommunications of Jinan City, Shandong Province.  From October 1997 to May 2000, he served as Director of the former Posts and Telecommunications Bureau of Shandong Province.  He was President of the former Shandong Telecommunications Company from May 2000 to April 2002.  Mr. Zuo is well experienced in telecommunications operations and has rich management experience.

Mr. Alexander Anthony ARENA (Group Managing Director), aged 61, was appointed an Executive Director of PCCW in August 1999.  He is Group Managing Director of PCCW, Deputy Chairman of PCCW’s Executive Committee and a member of Regulatory Compliance Committee of the Board.  He is also a Director of Pacific Century Regional Developments Ltd., an Executive Director and Deputy Chairman of PCPD and a member of PCPD’s Executive Committee.  Prior to joining the Pacific Century Group in 1998, Mr. Arena was a Special Policy Adviser to the Hong Kong Government from 1997 to 1998.  From 1993 to 1997, he was Director-General of Telecommunications at the Office of the Telecommunications Authority [OFTA] of Hong Kong, as well as a member of the Broadcasting Authority of Hong Kong.  Before taking up his post at OFTA, Mr. Arena was appointed by the Hong Kong Government to plan a reform program for the liberalization of Hong Kong’s telecommunications sector.  Prior to his appointment to the Hong Kong Government, he served as an inaugural member of the Australian Telecommunications Authority for four years.  Mr. Arena has led an extensive career in public administration, specializing in high technology and infrastructure industries.  From a practicing radio/ communications engineer to a public policy maker, his experience spans such diverse areas as commercialisation of government-owned business enterprises and deregulation in the aviation, transport, telecommunications and postal industries.  Mr. Arena graduated from University of New South Wales, Australia, with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.  He completed an MBA at Melbourne University, Australia, and is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.

 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

 

Currency

Unit

Indian Rupees

US Dollar

1

Rs.61.13

UK Pound

1

Rs.101.17

Euro

1

Rs.84.59

 

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Report Prepared by :

NIS

 

 

RATING EXPLANATIONS

 

RATING

STATUS

 

 

PROPOSED CREDIT LINE

>86

Aaa

Possesses an extremely sound financial base with the strongest capability for timely payment of interest and principal sums

 

Unlimited

71-85

Aa

Possesses adequate working capital. No caution needed for credit transaction. It has above average (strong) capability for payment of interest and principal sums

 

Large

56-70

A

Financial & operational base are regarded healthy. General unfavourable factors will not cause fatal effect. Satisfactory capability for payment of interest and principal sums

 

Fairly Large

41-55

Ba

Overall operation is considered normal. Capable to meet normal commitments.

 

Satisfactory

26-40

B

Capability to overcome financial difficulties seems comparatively below average.

 

Small

11-25

Ca

Adverse factors are apparent. Repayment of interest and principal sums in default or expected to be in default upon maturity

 

Limited with full security

<10

C

Absolute credit risk exists. Caution needed to be exercised

 

 

Credit not recommended

--

NB

New Business

 

--

 

This score serves as a reference to assess SC’s credit risk and to set the amount of credit to be extended. It is calculated from a composite of weighted scores obtained from each of the major sections of this report. The assessed factors and their relative weights (as indicated through %) are as follows:

 

Financial condition (40%)            Ownership background (20%)                  Payment record (10%)

Credit history (10%)                   Market trend (10%)                                Operational size (10%)

 

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This report is issued at your request without any risk and responsibility on the part of MIRA INFORM PRIVATE LIMITED (MIPL) or its officials.