Next Media warns of 'substantially' bigger loss
The group, controlled by Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, reported losses of HK$188.63 million in the fiscal year to the end of March 2012, and a deficit of HK$19.73 million in 2011. Based on its results for continuing operations, this loss was HK$973 million for the 2012 fiscal year, against a profit of HK$9.6 million in 2011.
Next Media, which publishes the local Chinese-language newspaper expects a substantial increase in losses for the year to the end of March.
The group, controlled by Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, reported losses of HK$188.63 million in the fiscal year to the end of March 2012, and a deficit of HK$19.73 million in 2011. Based on its results for continuing operations, this loss was HK$973 million for the 2012 fiscal year, against a profit of HK$9.6 million in 2011.
In a stock exchange filing, the firm said it expected the losses would widen substantially in the latest fiscal year to the end of March, mainly due to the operating losses incurred for the group's Taiwanese television and multimedia operations and its Hong Kong free newspaper
The increased loss was also a result of further write-offs and impairment made for certain assets and equipment at its Taiwanese television operation on the island, the company said.
In December, Next Media reported losses for the six months to September of HK$928.39 million, almost triple the HK$324.02 million in the period last year.
The group last month said it planned to sell its Taiwanese television unit to Taiwanese media group ERA Communications chairman Lien Tai-sheng for HK$362.8 million.
