NWS HOLDINGS<00659> - Results Announcement (Summary)

NWS Holdings Limited announced on  18/3/2004:
(stock code: 00659 )
Year end date: 30/6/2004
Currency: HKD
Auditors' Report: N/A
Interim report reviewed by: Both Audit Committee and Auditors

                                                        (Unaudited )
                                     (Unaudited )       Last
                                     Current            Corresponding
                                     Period             Period
                                     from 1/7/2003      from 1/7/2002  
                                     to 31/12/2003      to 31/12/2002 
                               Note  ('Million  )       ('Million  )
                                                        (Restated)
Turnover                           : 6,542.5            6.1               
Profit/(Loss) from Operations      : 438.8              (46.8)            
Finance cost                       : (169)              0                 
Share of Profit/(Loss) of 
  Associates                       : 161.5              154.1             
Share of Profit/(Loss) of
  Jointly Controlled Entities      : 553.1              107.5             
Profit/(Loss) after Tax & MI       : 814.2              185.8             
% Change over Last Period          : +338      %
EPS/(LPS)-Basic (in dollars)       : 0.46               0.85              
         -Diluted (in dollars)     : 0.45               0.35              
Extraordinary (ETD) Gain/(Loss)    : 0                  0                 
Profit/(Loss) after ETD Items      : 814.2              185.8             
Interim Dividend                   : $0.15              Nil               
  per Share                                                               
(Specify if with other             : N/A                N/A               
  options)                                                                
                                                                          
B/C Dates for 
  Interim Dividend                 : 14/4/2004          to 19/4/2004 bdi.
Payable Date                       : 30/4/2004 
B/C Dates for (-)            
  General Meeting                  : N/A          
Other Distribution for             : N/A           
  Current Period                     
                                     
B/C Dates for Other 
  Distribution                     : N/A          

Remarks:

1.      Basis of preparation and accounting policies
        
The unaudited consolidated condensed interim accounts for the six months 
ended 31 December 2003 (the "interim accounts") are prepared in accordance 
with Statement of Standard Accounting Practice 2.125, "Interim Financial 
Reporting", issued by the Hong Kong Society of Accountants (the "HKSA") 
and Appendix 16 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The 
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.  The interim accounts should be read 
in conjunction with the 2003 annual accounts.

The principal accounting policies and methods of computation used in the 
preparation of the condensed interim accounts are consistent with those 
used in the annual accounts for the year ended 30 June 2003, except that 
the Group has adopted the Statement of Standard Accounting Practice 2.112 
("SSAP 12"), "Income Taxes", issued by the HKSA which is effective for 
accounting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2003.

On adoption of the revised SSAP 12, deferred taxation is provided in full, 
using the balance sheet liability method, on temporary differences arising 
between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts 
in the accounts.  Taxation rates enacted or substantively enacted by the 
balance sheet date are used to determine deferred taxation.

Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that 
future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary 
differences can be utilized.

Deferred taxation is provided on temporary differences arising on 
investments in subsidiary companies, jointly controlled entities and 
associated companies, except where the timing of the reversal of the 
temporary difference can be controlled and it is probable that the 
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

In previous years, deferred taxation was accounted for at the current 
taxation rate in respect of timing differences between profit as computed 
for taxation purposes and profit as stated in the accounts to the extent 
that a liability or an asset was expected to be payable or recoverable in 
the foreseeable future.  

The adoption of the revised SSAP 12 represents a change in accounting 
policy, which has been applied retrospectively so that the comparatives 
presented have been restated to conform to the changed policy.

As detailed in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, 
opening equity at 1 July 2002 and 2003 have been reduced by HK$287.2 
million and HK$307.4 million, respectively.  In addition such change in 
accounting policy has resulted in an increase in profit attributable to 
shareholders for the six months ended 31 December 2002 by HK$11.1 million.
In December 2003, the Hong Kong Society of Accountants ("HKSA") further 
clarified that depreciation of toll roads should reflect the consumption 
of economic benefits from the associated assets and should be either time 
or usage based.  On the basis that the recognition principles previously 
adopted by the Group under the sinking fund depreciation method was by 
reference to the economic usage of the assets, management concluded that
there is no material impact to the financial statements as a result of 
this
further clarification from the HKSA.

2. Operating profit/(loss)

Operating profit/(loss) of the Group is arrived at after crediting and 
charging the following: 

                                        For the six months
                                        ended 31 December
                                        2003            2002
                                        HK$'m           HK$'m
Crediting:-                     
Gross rental income from investment 
properties                              20.5            -
Less: Outgoings                         (5.5)           -
                                        _____           ________
                                        15.0            -
                                        ======          ======= 
Charging:-                      
Cost of inventories sold                344.6           -
Depreciation - owned fixed assets       266.0           4.1
Operating lease rental expenses                 
Land and building                       48.9            0.9
Other equipment                         37.2            -
Other charges                   
 Loss on disposal of fixed assets       26.7            -
 Impairment loss on fixed assets        -               35.0
                                        26.7            35.0
                                        =========       =========       

3. Earnings per ordinary share
The calculation of basic earnings per ordinary share is based on the 
profit of HK$814.2 million (2002: restated profit of HK$185.8 million less 
preference shares dividend of HK$11.4 million) and the weighted average of 
1,780.8 million (2002 restated: 206.0 million) ordinary shares in issue 
during the period.

The diluted earnings per ordinary share for the six months ended 31 
December 2003 is calculated based on 1,796.8 million ordinary shares which 
were the weighted average number of 1,780.8 million ordinary shares in 
issue during the period plus the weighted average of 16.0 million ordinary 
shares deemed to be issued at HK$3.725 if all outstanding options had been 
exercised.

The diluted earnings per ordinary share for the six months ended 31 
December 2002 was calculated based on 525.4 million ordinary shares which 
were the weighted average number of 206.0 million ordinary shares in issue 
during the period plus the weighted average of 319.4 million ordinary 
shares deemed to be issued on the conversion of all preference shares.  
The conversion of share options was not dilutive as the exercise price of 
the Company's outstanding options was higher than the average market price 
per ordinary share for the six months ended 31 December 2002.