OFF TOPIC ASTV a good China investment, check out some of the company's they are associated with, web site links provided at the bottom of this post...........
TheEarlyEdition - theearlyedition.com
Greetings from TheEarlyEdition, below is an update on Asian Star
Developments Inc. (ASTV). You can view a full company profile along with
this update by visiting www.theearlyedition.com. When ever you visit
TheEarlyEdition website please keep in mind to read our disclaimer, for it
may have changed from the last time you have read it.
Our Best Regards,
TheEarlyEdition.
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ASIAN STAR DEVELOPMENT, INC. "Gateway to China"
A ground floor opportunity with exceptional upside ASTV on OTC:BB
Corporate profile
- Asian Star Development Inc, is located in Kowloon, Hong Kong and trading
on the OTC:BB in the USA.
- Active in Property and Real Estate asset development, management
contracts in the hospitality industry and high technology manufacturing.
- ASTV is a fully reporting Company on the OTC:BB
- Issued shares of approx. 16 Million and estimated float 1.3 Million,
- 52 week trading range US$1.50 low - US$ 7.00 high - US$ 4.25 current.
- Largest Minority shareholder (approx. 15%) is Hip Hing Project
Investment, a subsidiary of New World Development Co. Ltd., which is
listed on the Hang Seng Index, #0017, with a market cap of US$ 6.5
Billion. NWD is also the largest Hong Kong Investor in China.
On April 11, 2000 ASTV announced the acquisition of approx. 52% of
Harmonic Hall Investment Holdings in Hong Kong in return for 2.31 Million
shares and US$650,000 in cash. ASTV also has the option to increase its
holding to 75% within 2 years. Harmonic Hall is a major manufacturer of
rewriteable media like CD-RW, CD ROM and DVD-RW. Such media is anticipated
to represent the major growth technology and is expected to grow to over
US$ 4 Billion by 2002. As one of very few, Harmonic Hall is fully approved
as product manufacturer by Philips, the developer of CD and rewritable
media products. In addition, Harmonic has been invited to participate as a
member of the Philips Technology Counsel. Harmonic Hall's clients include
Philips, Microsoft, IBM, Mattel, Polygram, BMG, BASF and EMI, to name a
few.
Harmonic was looking for a partner with solid China connections and a blue
chip Board of Directors; hence the deal with ASTV.
It is the writer's opinion that Harmonic Hall, through ASTV, is poised to
arrange a US$10 to 20 Million Mezzanine financing by early fall, followed
up by a possible IPO of Harmonic Hall on an European Stock Exchange within
a 12-month period. The financing will catapult Harmonic into the dominant
and world leading manufacturer of rewritable media.
In China, ASTV designs and constructs recreational and hotel/restaurant
properties with associated service and management contracts. This vertical
integration allows for sustainable growth in an environment where land can
only be leased and not purchased. As properties mature, they are sold and
profits are re-invested in new projects. It is the writer's opinion that
ASTV will concentrate more and more on constructing and managing
franchised Restaurants and Convenient Stores in China. This segment of the
business will show long-term growth as it builds on the ever-increasing
influence of Mr. Stephen Chow and ASTV's other management personnel in
China.
On March 15, 2000, ASTV, through its 51% subsidiary Prestasi Harmoni SDN
BHD, announced the signing of Joint Venture agreement to develop a US$ 2.3
Billion Super Port facility in the State of Kelantan, Malaysia. The
Federal Government of Malaysia still must ratify the deal and the writer
does not expect the contract to have meaningful bottom line impact on ASTV
before the beginning of next year. The reader is reminded that ASTV's
largest minority shareholder is Hip Hing Project Investment, which is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Hip Hing Construction, Hong Kong's largest
construction company, and a subsidiary of New World Development. It seems
ASTV has entered a positioning game.
The management team
In Hong Kong and China, nothing can be accomplished without drawing on
longstanding family and friendship ties. The President, Mr. Stephen Chow,
brings to ASTV a unique blend of Western business know-how and experience
combined with old Chinese family connections, seldom seen in an
entry-level public company.
Mr. Chow is indeed very well connected in Hong Kong and in China. Born in
Macau into the family of Mr. Chow Chee Yeun, founder of the Chow Tai Fook
Jewelry Co. Ltd. (CTF), which is still the leading jewelry corporation in
Hong Kong. CTF is also the controlling shareholder of New World
Development Co. Ltd. (NWD). Mr. Chow's brother in law is Dato 'Dr. Cheng
Yu-Tung, Chairman of NWD and CTF. Dr. Cheng was appointed as a member of
The Preparatory Committee for The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
of The National People's Congress. Following this, he was also appointed
in November 1996 to The Selection Committee for The First Government of
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of The People's Republic of
China.
After he completed his education in Architecture and Construction, Mr.
Chow worked for several years in CTF, building up the land development
division under Dr. Cheng Yu-Tung,, which then expanded and grew into NWD
later.
In 1967, Mr. Chow emigrated to Canada where he built up a successful
Architectural and Construction business in Windsor, Ontario. In the early
80's, Mr. Chow moved to California where he formed Hip Shing Development,
a land development firm. He also founded Canatrading Ltd., which was
granted the licensee rights of the 1982 Olympic Games for jewelry items,
and the licensee rights of the 1986 World Cup of Soccer for all souvenir
items in the USA.
In 1992, Mr. Chow returned to Hong Kong where he founded the Honpar Group
of companies, which specialize in Property development and Real Estate
holdings, service contracts and trading activities in China.
In 1997, Mr. Chow founded Asian Star Development Inc.
He currently serves as the Advisor of Economic Affairs in the City of
Taishan, Guandong Province, China. Mr. Chow has also been appointed
Honorable Citizen of Shilong, Dongguan, Guandong Province, China. ASTV, in
the style of Chinese run companies, makes extensive operational use of its
directors, like Mr. Paul Yuk Lun Tong, PhD. who served as General Manager
of New World Development, Mr. Paul Ting Ball Lam concurrently Managing
Director of CNT a company listed on the Hang Seng, just to name two.
China
The largest Hong Kong companies have been quietly positioning themselves
strategically in China. The sheer size of the Chinese market (1.3 Billion
people with an ever increasing disposable income base), the rapid
privatization of state concerns, extensive liberalization of business
practices and the adoption of more western style commercial laws, are
powerful motivators. Often the positioning is done through small and often
unknown subsidiaries and companies controlled not so much by the size of
shareholdings but by family and friendship ties. With the real possibility
of China being admitted to the WTO, growth in China can only accelerate.
From property development, entertainment, fast food franchising and
wireless technology, the opportunities are huge.
The opportunity
After visiting with and interviewing Mr. Stephen Chow extensively in Hong
Kong this last week, I gained some understanding of the intricate and
interwoven business strategy employed by ASTV. Opportunities like a
Harmonic Hall spin off, the start up of the Super Port agreement and major
property and real estate projects in China make this a unique public
vehicle for investors interested in positioning themselves for a China
play.
Our opinion
For investors interested in a China play at the floor level, there are
several compelling reasons for choosing ASTV as an investment vehicle:
- ASTV is the only "pure" China play on the OTC:BB
- ASTV is a fully reporting company and, therefore, totally transparent.
- ASTV is profitable and debt free;
- ASTV's management is extremely well connected in Hong Kong and China;
- ASTV, in the writer's opinion, is connected much deeper with New World
Development than the 15% minority shareholding would indicate;
- ASTV is pursuing a full small cap NASDAQ listing as soon as possible.
Useful Links
Asian Star Development Inc.: asianstar.com (presently under
extensive renovation)
New World Development: nwd.com.hk
Hip Hing Construction Co: hiphing.com.hk
For SEC filings: freeedgar.com
Threads: Subject 26262 and
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