Dragon Mining Limited — Interim / Quarterly Report 2018

Nov 28, 2017

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liabilities whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.

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SAMSON PAPER HOLDINGS LIMITED 森信紙業集團有限公司 *

(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 731)

ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2017

The board of directors (the “Board”) of Samson Paper Holdings Limited (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the unaudited condensed consolidated interim results of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) for the six months ended 30 September 2017 together with comparative figures for the corresponding period in 2016, and the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Group as at 30 September 2017 with audited comparative figures as at 31 March 2017. The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been reviewed by the Company’s audit committee.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS

Note Revenue 2 Cost of sales Gross profit Other gains and income, net Selling expenses Administrative expenses Other operating (expenses)/income Operating profit 3 Finance costs Profit before taxation Taxation 4 Profit for the period	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 2,932,492 2,506,068 (2,646,033) (2,252,069) 286,459 253,999 27,522 13,464 (100,775) (102,778) (117,822) (99,299) (5,697) 13,751 89,687 79,137 (39,296) (38,709) 50,391 40,428 (11,669) (9,240) 38,722 31,188

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Note Attributable to: Owners of the Company Non-controlling interests Earnings per share — Basic 5 — Diluted 5 Interim dividend per share Interim dividends 6	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 33,714 27,705 5,008 3,483 38,722 31,188 HK2.9 cents HK2.4 cents HK2.6 cents HK2.2 cents HK0.4 cent HK0.4 cent 5,092 5,092	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 33,714 27,705 5,008 3,483 38,722 31,188 HK2.9 cents HK2.4 cents HK2.6 cents HK2.2 cents HK0.4 cent HK0.4 cent 5,092 5,092
		31,188
		HK2.4 cents
		HK2.2 cents
		HK0.4 cent
		5,092

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Profit for the period Other comprehensive income/(loss) Item that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: — Currency translation differences Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period, net of tax Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to: — Owners of the Company — Non-controlling interests Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period

Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 38,722 31,188 125,211 (93,896) 125,211 (93,896) 163,933 (62,708) 151,489 (57,585) 12,444 (5,123) 163,933 (62,708)

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As at 30 September 2017

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

Unaudited 30 September 2017 Note HK$’000 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 1,796,284 Land use rights 122,120 Investment properties 389,300 Intangible assets 40,127 Available-for-sale financial assets 5,866 Non-current deposits and prepayments 87,254 Deferred tax assets 6,822 2,447,773 Current assets Properties under development 106,980 Inventories 702,319 Accounts and other receivables 7 1,988,229 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 1,110 Taxation recoverable 3,423 Restricted bank deposits 82,806 Bank balances and cash 454,241 3,339,108 Non-current assets held for sale 161,000 3,500,108 Current liabilities Accounts and other payables 8 1,500,484 Trust receipt loans 644,354 Taxation payable 76,965 Borrowings 459,500 2,681,303 Net current assets 818,805 Total assets less current liabilities 3,266,578	Audited 31 March 2017 HK$’000 1,687,638 119,289 550,300 39,361 5,866 52,242 6,822
	2,461,518
	99,821 773,544 1,705,844 913 3,575 139,348 457,951
	3,180,996 —
	3,180,996 1,324,572 809,689 72,196 528,109
	2,734,566
	446,430
	2,907,948

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Unaudited 30 September 2017 Note HK$’000 Equity Equity attributable to owners of the Company Share capital 127,315 Reserves 1,671,523 1,798,838 Non-controlling interests 217,023 Total equity 2,015,861 Non-current liabilities Accounts and other payables 8 189,325 Borrowings 964,203 Deferred tax liabilities 97,189 1,250,717 3,266,578	Audited 31 March 2017 HK$’000 127,315 1,544,224
	1,671,539 204,579
	1,876,118
	198,348 738,656 94,826
	1,031,830
	2,907,948

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Notes

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 September 2017 have been prepared in accordance with Hong Kong Accounting Standard (“HKAS”) 34 “Interim financial reporting”.

These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2017, which have been prepared in accordance with Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (“HKFRSs”).

The accounting policies applied are consistent with those of the annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2017, as described in those annual consolidated financial statements.

Taxes on income in the interim periods are accrued using the tax rate that would be applicable to expected total annual earnings.

The following amendments to standards and annual improvements are mandatory for the first time for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2017 and currently relevant to the Group:

Amendments to HKAS 7 Disclosure initiative Amendments to HKAS 12 Recognition of deferred tax assets for unrealised losses Amendments to Annual Annual improvements 2014 –2016 cycle Improvements Project HKFRS 12

The Group has adopted these standards and the adoption of these standards do not have significant impacts on the Group’s condensed consolidated interim financial information.

The following new standards, amendments to standards, new interpretation and annual improvement have been issued but are not effective for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2017 and have not been early adopted by the Group:

		Effective for
		accounting periods
		beginning on or
		after
Amendments to Annual	Annual improvements 2014–2016 cycle	1 January 2018
Improvements Project HKFRS 1
and HKAS 28
Amendments to HKFRS 2	Classification and measurement of share-based	1 January 2018
	payment transactions
Amendments to HKFRS 4	Applying HKFRS 9 financial instruments
	with HKFRS 4 insurance contracts
HKFRS 9	Financial instruments	1 January 2018
HKFRS 15	Revenue from contracts with customers	1 January 2018
Amendments to HKFRS 15	Clarifications to HKFRS 15	1 January 2018
Amendments to HKAS 40	Transfers of investment property	1 January 2018
HK(IFRIC)-Int 22	Foreign currency transactions and advance	1 January 2018
	consideration
HKFRS 16	Leases	1 January 2019
Amendments to HKFRS 10	Sale or contribution of assets between an	To be determined
and HKAS 28	investor and its associate or joint venture

The Group has commenced an assessment of the impact of the above new and amended standards and considers that they will not have any significant impact on the results of the Group’s operations and financial position. The Group plans to adopt the above new and amendments to standards when they become effective.

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2. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The chief operating decision-maker has been identified as the Executive Directors. The Executive Directors review the Group’s internal reporting in order to assess performance and allocate resources. Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Executive Directors.

The Executive Directors consider the performance of the Group from the perspective of the nature of products and services. The chief operating decision-maker assesses the performance of the operating segments based on a measure of segment profit/loss without allocation of finance costs which is consistent with that in the financial statements.

As at 30 September 2017, the Group is organised on a worldwide basis into four main business segments:

• (1) Paper trading: trading and marketing of paper products;

• (2) Paper manufacturing: manufacturing of paper products in Shandong, the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”);

• (3) Property development and investment: developing properties for sale and leasing of investment properties; and

• (4) Others: including trading and marketing of aeronautic parts and provision of related services and the provision of marine services to marine, oil and gas industries and retailing and wholesaling of fast-moving consumer goods (“FMCG”) business.

Segment assets consist primarily of property, plant and equipment, land use rights, investment properties, intangible assets, properties under development, inventories, receivables, financial instruments, non-current assets held for sale and operating cash. They exclude deferred tax assets, taxation recoverable and corporate assets.

The segment information for the six months ended and as at 30 September 2017 is as follows:

			Unaudited
		Six months	ended 30 September 2017
			Property
	Paper	Paper	development
	trading	manufacturing	and investment	Others	Total
	HK$’000	HK$’000	HK$’000	HK$’000	HK$’000
SEGMENT RESULTS
Total segment revenue	2,368,027	600,446	10,179	62,010	3,040,662
Inter-segment revenue	(98,104)	(6,801)	—	(3,265)	(108,170)
Revenue from external customers	2,269,923	593,645	10,179	58,745	2,932,492
Reportable segment results	46,535	43,555	9,250	(2,970)	96,370
Corporate expenses					(6,683)
Operating profit					89,687
Finance costs					(39,296)
Profit before taxation					50,391
Taxation					(11,669)
Profit for the period					38,722
OTHER PROFIT AND LOSS ITEMS
Depreciation	4,436	23,013	116	4,734	32,299
Amortisation charges	504	2,035	—	67	2,606

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Unaudited As at 30 September 2017 Paper trading Paper manufacturing Property development and investment Others HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 SEGMENT ASSETS Reportable segment assets 2,327,241 2,755,144 681,919 173,196 Taxation recoverable Deferred tax assets Corporate assets Total assets	Total HK$’000 5,937,500 3,423 6,822 136
	5,947,881

The segment information for the six months ended 30 September 2016 and as at 31 March 2017 are as follows:

SEGMENT RESULTS Total segment revenue Inter-segment revenue Revenue from external customers Reportable segment results Corporate expenses Operating profit Finance costs Profit before taxation Taxation Profit for the period OTHER PROFIT AND LOSS ITEMS Depreciation Amortisation charges	Paper trading HK$’000 1,999,714 (140,105) 1,859,609 46,921 4,148 525	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2016 Paper manufacturing Property development and investment Others HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 570,004 11,052 86,619 (16,840) (874) (3,502) 553,164 10,178 83,117 37,397 10,711 (12,486) 23,230 — 5,881 2,059 — 70	Total HK$’000 2,667,389 (161,321)
			2,506,068
			82,543 (3,406)
			79,137 (38,709)
			40,428 (9,240)
			31,188
			33,259
			2,654

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Audited As at 31 March 2017 Paper trading Paper manufacturing Property development and investment Others HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 SEGMENT ASSETS Reportable segment assets 2,168,290 2,547,712 729,571 186,405 Taxation recoverable Deferred tax assets Corporate assets Total assets	Total HK$’000 5,631,978 3,575 6,822 139
	5,642,514

The Group’s four operating segments operate in the following geographical areas, even though they are managed on a worldwide basis.

An analysis of the Group’s revenue for the period by geographical areas is as follows:

	Unaudited
	Six months ended 30	September
	2017	2016
	HK$’000	HK$’000
Hong Kong	465,469	380,918
The PRC (note)	2,203,806	1,897,941
Singapore	30,446	44,176
Korea	213,296	170,193
Malaysia	19,475	12,840
	2,932,492	2,506,068

Note: The PRC, for the presentation purpose in these financial statements, excludes Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC, Macau Special Administrative Region of the PRC and Taiwan.

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3. OPERATING PROFIT

Operating profit is stated after crediting and charging the following:

Crediting Interest income Write-back of provision for inventories Write-back of provision for receivables Charging Depreciation of property, plant and equipment Amortisation of land use rights Amortisation of intangible assets Provision for impairment on inventories Provision for impairment on receivables	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 2,382 2,200 — 3,283 1,616 13,627 32,299 33,259 2,117 2,175 489 479 473 — 6,137 3,917	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 2,382 2,200 — 3,283 1,616 13,627 32,299 33,259 2,117 2,175 489 479 473 — 6,137 3,917
		33,259 2,175 479 — 3,917

4. TAXATION

Hong Kong profits tax has been provided for at the rate of 16.5% (2016: 16.5%) on the estimated assessable profit for the period. Taxation on overseas profits has been calculated on the estimated assessable profit for the period at the rates of taxation prevailing in the countries in which the Group operates.

The amount of taxation charged to the condensed consolidated profit and loss account represents:

Hong Kong profits tax Overseas taxation	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 4,932 5,203 6,737 4,037 11,669 9,240	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 4,932 5,203 6,737 4,037 11,669 9,240
		9,240

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5. EARNINGS PER SHARE

(a) Basic

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to the owners of the Company less preference shares dividends of HK$33,186,000 (2016: HK$27,177,000) by the weighted average number of 1,141,076,000 (2016: 1,141,076,000) ordinary shares in issue during the period.

(b) Diluted

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding to assume conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. The Company has one category of dilutive potential ordinary shares: preference shares. The Company has a share option scheme but no share option (2016: Nil) has been granted under the scheme.

Profit attributable to owners of the Company (HK$’000) Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (’000) Adjustments for: — Assumed conversion of preference shares (’000) Weighted average number of shares for diluted earnings per share (’000) Diluted earnings per share INTERIM DIVIDENDS Proposed — HK$0.004 (2016: HK$0.004) per ordinary share Proposed — HK$0.004 (2016: HK$0.004) per preference share	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 33,714 27,705 1,141,076 1,141,076 132,065 132,065 1,273,141 1,273,141 HK2.6 cents HK2.2 cents Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 4,564 4,564 528 528 5,092 5,092	Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 33,714 27,705 1,141,076 1,141,076 132,065 132,065 1,273,141 1,273,141 HK2.6 cents HK2.2 cents Unaudited Six months ended 30 September 2017 2016 HK$’000 HK$’000 4,564 4,564 528 528 5,092 5,092
		5,092

6. INTERIM DIVIDENDS

At a meeting held on 28 November 2017, the Directors proposed an interim dividend of HK$0.004 per share. This proposed dividend is not reflected as a dividend payable in these condensed financial statements, but will be reflected as an appropriation of retained earnings for the year ending 31 March 2018.

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7. ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Accounts and bills receivables — net of provision Other receivables, deposits and prepayments	Unaudited 30 September 2017 HK$’000 1,406,435 581,794 1,988,229	Audited 31 March 2017 HK$’000 1,255,015 450,829
		1,705,844

The carrying values of the Group’s accounts and other receivables approximate their fair values. The Group normally grants credit to customers ranging from 30 to 90 days.

The aging analysis of accounts and bills receivables based on invoice date, is as follows:

Current to 60 days 61 to 90 days Over 90 days	Unaudited 30 September 2017 HK$’000 1,236,194 92,287 77,954 1,406,435	Audited 31 March 2017 HK$’000 1,066,100 90,253 98,662
		1,255,015

There was no concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable as the Group had a large number of customers, which were widely dispersed within Hong Kong, the PRC and other countries.

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8. ACCOUNTS AND OTHER PAYABLES

Accounts and bills payables Accruals and other payables Dividend payable Less: non-current portions: Accounts and other payables	Unaudited 30 September 2017 HK$’000 1,432,505 233,114 24,190 1,689,809 (189,325) 1,500,484	Audited 31 March 2017 HK$’000 1,325,959 196,961 —
		1,522,920 (198,348)
		1,324,572

The carrying values of the accounts and other payables approximate their fair values.

The aging analysis of accounts and bills payables based on invoice date is as follows:

Current to 60 days 61 to 90 days Over 90 days	Unaudited 30 September 2017 HK$’000 657,394 207,696 567,415 1,432,505	Audited 31 March 2017 HK$’000 646,261 127,377 552,321
		1,325,959

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MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The Economy

During the financial period under review, China’s economy advanced 6.8% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2017, following a 6.9% growth in the previous two periods amid government’s effort to reduce overcapacity and debt risk. Industrial output and retail sales increased further while the gain in fixed investment eased. Exports and imports rose rapidly as boosted by stronger global demand. China’s manufacturing activities in September 2017 grew at its fastest pace in five years as factories cranked up output to take advantage of strong demand and high prices fueled by a building boom.

In Hong Kong, the territory’s economy experienced a strong growth, with real gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2017 increased by 3.6% over a year earlier, compared with the 3.9% increase in the second quarter. Such growth was mainly underpinned by the reviving regional trade flows.

The Paper Industry

For the reporting period, price for printing papers continued to stay at high levels with several rounds of price hikes achieved amid the rising pulp costs. For packaging boards with recycled grades, after a downward adjustments in March 2017, following the ban of import of recovered paper and suspension of import recovered paper quota as well as a serious environment-related scrutiny on plants, fibre costs soared up and supply dropped. This in turn boosted the price run for paper products of packaging grades. At the same time, banks in the Mainland were not easing liquidity for customers for their working capital uses. There were concerns about whether customers were able to withstand the soaring paper prices in their operation while they were facing the environmental scrutiny from the authority.

Overview of Operations

Financial Performance

Amid the surge of paper prices the Group took measures to mitigate the exposure to the price volatility of paper products by keeping less stock in the inventory and carrying out more indent sales while closely monitoring the working situation of customers. Those measures implemented for the period have taken effect and been reflected in the Group’s performance for the period. With the rise in selling price, the Group reported a 17.0% growth in overall turnover to HK$2,932,492,000 while there was a 5.7% decrease in sales volume to 540,719 metric tonnes. Gross profit increased from previous period’s by 12.8% to HK$286,459,000 with a 3.7% decrease in gross profit margin from 10.1% to 9.8%. Profit for the period rose significantly from previous period’s by 24.2% to HK$38,722,000. Profit attributable to the owners of the Company rose by 21.7% from the previous period’s HK$27,705,000 to HK$33,714,000 with a basic earnings per share of HK2.7 cents. As Renminbi currency appreciated during the period, a currency translation gain of HK$125,211,000 recorded as other comprehensive income, mainly arising from the translation of the PRC subsidiaries’ financial statements into the Group’s reporting currency on consolidation.

The Group intends to keep an appropriate level of cash reserve to enhance its working capital position with a view to seek future investment opportunities. As at 30 September 2017, the Group had cash and bank balance (including restricted bank deposit) of HK$537,047,000 with a gearing ratio at a level of 43.2% compared to 46.6% last corresponding period which was attributable to

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appropriate measures taken in sales and procurement strategies. This enables the Group to maintain interest costs at HK$39,296,000. The stringent credit policy and procedures, close followups with customers on liquidity and settlement situation have enabled the Group’s debtor turnover day to be shortened by 8 days. As a result, the provision for impairment loss of receivables was able to be kept at a low level of HK$6,137,000, representing 0.2% of the Group’s total revenue while the write back of the provision is HK$1,616,000.

Paper Business

Against the background of rising selling price, with the Group’s extensive sales network and strong procurement capability among suppliers, the Group achieved a significant growth of 18.7% in turnover from HK$2,412,773,000 to HK$2,863,568,000. In volume term, the sales tonnage decreased by 5.7% resulting from the adoption of sales and procurement strategies to lower the risk of volatility of paper prices. Operating profit was HK$90,090,000, a rise of 6.8% compared with last corresponding period.

For paper trading business, the Group reported a strong rise of 22.1% in turnover of HK$2,269,923,000 and a 2.4% increase in sales tonnage resulting from the upsurge of paper prices. Turnover from paper trading business in the PRC market rose significantly by 19.8% to HK$1,609,254,000 with a decrease of 5.8% in volume ascribing to putting more focus on the sustainability of customers against the price spiral of paper products. At the same time, Hong Kong market achieved a turnover of HK$427,876,000, grew significantly by 28.6% compared to the corresponding last period. As for other Asian countries, the Group has put efforts and resources on expansion of the business in the region and secured supports from mills to allocate tonnages. The business’s turnover rose significantly by 27.2% in sales to HK$232,793,000 as compared to the corresponding last period with a 36.5% growth in sales tonnage.

For paper manufacturing business, facing the volatility of raw materials costs prevailing in the market, the Group adopted its sales strategy focusing on profitability instead of sales tonnage to mitigate the exposure to the price run of recovered paper. The segment’s turnover increased by 5.3%, including inter-segment revenue, to HK$600,446,000 with a 23.0% drop in the sales tonnage. Operating profit increased by 16.5% to HK$43,555,000 with its operating profit margin at 7.6%.

Property Development and Investment

Property Development

For the Nantong business park project, the project entity has obtained the interim qualification certificate for real estate development enterprise in the PRC granting it permission to develop the subject land. Deposits of RMB2,000,000 have been received from two potential purchasers for two blocks of properties with an estimated sale price of RMB26,800,000 in total on the phase one site covering a total gross floor area of 6,530 sq.m. The blocks of properties are under construction and, subject to the granting of relevant permits by the relevant PRC governmental authority, are expected to be completed and transferred to the potential purchasers within this financial year. As at 30 September 2017, the costs of properties under development amounted to HK$106,980,000.

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Property Investment

For the period, the rental income from investment properties with a value of HK$ 551,300,000 was the same as the last period at HK$10,179,000. This provides a continual steady income and cash inflow to the Group, serves as a solid contributor to the Group’s operating income and enhances the financial position of the Group.

During the period under review, construction work has commenced for the Xiamen project and foundation work has been completed as at 30 September 2017. The marketing team is discussing with a number of potential tenants to lease out part of the property for factory and warehousing operation.

Other Businesses

These business segments include the aeronautic parts and service business, marine services business, consumable product business and logistic services.

The aeronautic parts and services business and marine services business recorded turnover of HK$8,387,000 and HK$22,037,000 respectively during the period.

With the strategy of concentrating on the wholesale business after franchising out the retail stores in November 2016, a series of profit- and market-oriented procurement strategies have been implemented to improve profit margin and enhance product mix. Talented sales team are in place to expand the diversified customer base. Supply chain infrastructure has been equipped to enable higher service standard. Customer base has been exploring from single channel to variety of sales channels for the period. The segment’s revenue decreased by 27.8% from HK$37,966,000 to HK$27,414,000. With the change of business strategy, the segment achieved an operating profit of HK$446,000 compared to the operating loss of HK$9,620,000 in the previous period.

Prospects

China’s manufacturing activity in October 2017 continued to grow with the purchasing managers’ index recorded at 51.6. With an aim to provide more liquidity support to small and medium sized enterprises, the People Bank of China announced a targeted easing of bank’s reserve requirement ratio starting from 2018. This expects to improve credit efficiency in the economy and rebalance growth.

Price for printing paper grades keeps in a continual uptrend in October 2017 amid climbing pulp costs while price for recycled board grades softened as demand eased off. Following the stringent environmental policy adopted by the authorities, paper price is expected to sustain at higher level once demand picks up. At the backdrop of steady economic growth in the domestic market in China, the Group continues to take appropriate and flexible approaches on sales and procurement to pursue profitability while mitigating the risk exposure on customers and stocks. For manufacturing segment, the Group put in more resources in upgrading the production facilities and power plant to attain cost savings in the production processes. For expanding oversea sales to countries other than Hong Kong and mainland China, the Group shall secure more tonnage allocations from our channels of suppliers. At the same time the Group continues to uphold and strengthen those measures taken since previous period in streamlining and centralizing internal processes to achieve effectiveness and efficiency.

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For the property development and investment segment, the Group have placed considerable resources and emphasis on running the existing projects while seeking new opportunities on any new potential projects in order to further expand the business. For the Nantong business park project, the Group’s design and marketing team is discussing with a number of interested customers for the blocks of properties to be built. A further deposit of RMB3,060,000 has been received from a potential purchaser after the period end. It is expected that the Nantong project will generate a steady stream of revenue and cash inflow arising from the sales properties and service income in the coming year. The Group’s property development team will carry on the construction works to build an office with warehouse on the land in Xiamen which is expected to be completed by the financial year end.

For the FMCG business segment, with innovative strategic sourcing activities, supported by the new procurement strategy, the Group will continue to sourcing directly from overseas to ensure better margin and secure more suppliers with wide variety of products so as to improve the operating result of the segment.

INTERIM DIVIDEND

The Board has resolved to declare the payment of an interim dividend of HK0.4 cent (2016: HK0.4 cent) per share for the six months ended 30 September 2017. The interim dividend will be payable to all shareholders of the Company whose names appear on the register of members of the Company on 22 December 2017. The interim dividend will be paid around 10 January 2018.

CLOSURE OF REGISTER OF MEMBERS

The register of members of the Company will be closed from 20 December 2017 to 22 December 2017 (both days inclusive), during which period no transfers of shares of the Company will be registered. In order to qualify for the interim dividend, all transfers of shares accompanied by the relevant share certificates must be lodged with the Company’s branch registrar, Boardroom Share Registrars (HK) Limited, at Room 2103B, 21/F, 148 Electric Road, North Point, Hong Kong for registration no later than 4:30 pm on 19 December 2017.

EMPLOYEES AND REMUNERATION POLICIES

As at 30 September 2017, the Group employed 1,727 staff members, 154 of whom are based in Hong Kong and 1,295 are based in the PRC and 278 are based in other Asian countries. The Group’s remuneration policies are primarily based on prevailing market salary levels and the performance of the Group and of the individuals concerned. In addition to salary payments, other staff benefits include performance bonuses, education subsidies, provident fund and medical insurance. Training for various levels of staff is undertaken on a regular basis, consisting of development in the strategic, implementation, sales and marketing disciplines.

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES

The Group normally finances short term funding requirements with cash generated from operations, credit facilities available from suppliers and banking facilities (both secured and unsecured) provided by our bankers. The Group uses cash flow generated from operations, long term borrowings and shareholders’ equity for the financing of long-term assets and investments. As at 30 September 2017, short term deposits plus bank balances amounted to HK$537 million (including restricted bank deposits of HK$83 million) and bank borrowings amounted to HK$2,068 million.

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As at 30 September 2017, the Group’s gearing ratio was 43.2% (31 March 2017: 44.1%), calculated as net debt divided by total capital. Net debt of HK$1,531 million is calculated as total borrowings of HK$2,068 million (including trust receipt loans, short term and long term borrowings, finance lease obligations and bank overdraft) less cash on hand and restricted deposits of HK$537 million. Total capital is calculated as total equity of HK$2,016 million plus net debt. The current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) was 1.31 times (31 March 2017: 1.16 times).

With bank balances and other current assets of approximately HK$3,500 million as well as available banking and trade facilities, the directors of the Company (the “Directors”) believe the Group has sufficient working capital to meet its present requirement.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK

The Group’s transaction currencies are principally denominated in Renminbi, United States dollars and Hong Kong dollars. The Group hedged its position with foreign exchange contracts and options when considered necessary. The Group has continued to obtain Renminbi loans which provide a natural hedge against currency risks. As at 30 September 2017, bank borrowings in Renminbi amounted to HK$66 million (31 March 2017: HK$86 million). The remaining borrowings are mainly in Hong Kong dollars. The majority of the Group’s borrowings bear interest costs which are based on floating interest rates.

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

The Company provided corporate guarantees on the banking facilities granted to its subsidiaries. The amount of facilities utilized by the subsidiaries as at 30 September 2017 amounted to HK$2,062,783,000 (31 March 2017: HK$2,070,360,000).

CHARGE OF ASSETS

As at 30 September 2017, trust receipt loans of HK$104,711,000 (31 March 2017: HK$121,971,000) and bank loans of HK$46,241,000 (31 March 2017: HK$34,595,000) were secured by legal charge on certain properties of the Group.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee of the Company (the “Committee”) was set up to review and provide supervision of the Group’s financial reporting process and internal controls. The Committee has reviewed the Group’s unaudited interim report for the six months ended 30 September 2017 before it was tabled for the Board’s approval.

PURCHASE, SALE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES

During the six months ended 30 September 2017, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries purchased, sold or redeemed any of the Company’s listed securities.

MODEL CODE FOR SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

The Company has adopted the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Issuers (the “Model Code”) as the Company’s code of conduct for dealings in securities of the Company by the Directors. Having made specific enquiry of all the Directors, the Directors confirmed that they have complied with the required standard set out in the Model Code throughout the accounting period covered by the interim report.

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COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES OF THE LISTING RULES

In the opinion of the Directors, the Company was in compliance with the Code of Corporate Governance Practices as set out in Appendix 14 of the Listing Rules during the six-month period ended 30 September 2017 except that the non-executive Directors were not appointed for a specific term but are subject to retirement by rotation and re-election at the Company’s annual general meetings in accordance with the bye-laws of the Company.

PUBLICATION OF INTERIM RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT AND DESPATCH OF INTERIM REPORT

The interim results announcement is published on the web sites of the Company (www.samsonpaper.com) and the Stock Exchange (www.hkexnews.hk). The 2017/18 interim report will be despatched to the shareholders of the Company and available on the same web sites in due course.

By Order of the Board SHAM Kit Ying Chairman

Hong Kong, 28 November 2017

As at the date of this announcement, the Board comprises five executive directors, namely Mr. SHAM Kit Ying, Mr. LEE Seng Jin, Mr. CHOW Wing Yuen, Ms. SHAM Yee Lan, Peggy and Mr. LEE Yue Kong, Albert, one non-executive director, Mr. LAU Wang Yip, Eric and three independent non-executive directors, namely Mr. PANG Wing Kin, Patrick, Mr. TONG Yat Chong and Mr. NG Hung Sui, Kenneth.

• for identification purposes

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