Trading Update
January 25 2008 - 2:01AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:5194M
EBT Mobile China PLC
25 January 2008
For release at 7am 25 January 2008
EBT MOBILE CHINA PLC
("EBT Mobile" or the "Company")
Trading Update
EBT Mobile, a leading China-based retail chain selling mobile phones and related
products and services, announces an update on its trading performance for the
year ended 31 December 2007.
The board expects the adjusted loss after tax(1) for the year ended 31 December
2007 to be broadly in line with market expectations.
Management's strategy, in light of a competitive marketplace, has been to focus
on improving margins rather than chasing volume at the expense of margin. As a
result the gross margin has shown a notable improvement compared with 2006.
Revenue, however, whilst showing year on year growth, is expected to be
approximately 11% below the house broker's forecasts. This is a result of the
strategy to improve margins as well as the timing of certain China Mobile
subsidy programmes, which were not available in the last two months of 2007, but
are expected to operate in early 2008.
EBT Mobile's footprint continues to grow with net store numbers increasing 35%
to 257 at the end of 2007 (2006: 190).
Preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2007 are expected to be
announced in April 2008.
Zhang Ge, CEO of EBT Mobile said:
"EBT Mobile faced many challenges in 2007, including integrating acquired stores
and a competitive market. The performance for the year shows we have taken
effective steps towards growing margins, achieving break-even in the short term
and driving economies of scale as EBT Mobile's footprint grows.
"This focus continues into 2008 and, in the context of the competitive operating
environment, EBT Mobile will remain focused on maintaining margin and reaching
profitability, rather than building volume at the expense of margin. Management
firmly believes that it has built a solid operational platform and we approach
the year with confidence, as the industry moves towards offering additional
services for our customers."
For more information contact:
Terry Garrett/ Stephanie Badjonat/ John Moriarty
Weber Shandwick Financial 0207 067 0700
Aubrey Powell/ Giles Stewart
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited 020 7459 3600
--------------------------
(1) Before option expenses, acquisition costs, foreign exchange,
guarantee-related income and investment loss
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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