ASTV - Got this in my E-mail tonite:
OTC BB: ASTV)
Asian Star's strong credible foothold, and successes, in Asian markets paves
the way for potent potential.
The Company
Asian Star Development Inc. (the “Company”) a Nevada Corporation formed in
1997, has become a mega-entity encompassing a diverse, yet cohesive, number
of ventures in China's expanding economy. The Company pursues its vision of
success through capitalizing on a select series of joint ventures and
strategic alliances, unceasingly seeking profitable synergy between
companies who possess leading edge technologies, and identifying and
developing emerging market opportunities. President and C.E.O. Stephen
Chow's business expertise and financial acumen combined with an exceptional
team of senior management, Directors and advisors with an extensive
background of professional experience and success in a wide range of
business ventures, provide Asian Star and its shareholders with a firm base
from which to achieve their goals, and enjoy potentially staggering success.
The Company has recognized the tremendous global potential offered by
rapidly expanding “high-tech” markets, and is poised to act upon the
opportunities presented by its recent strategic alliance with VentureTech
Inc. (e-commerce) and - through its wholly owned subsidiary Asian Star (Hong
Kong) Ltd. - a Share Exchange Agreement with the Harmonic Hall Group
(rewriteable media technology).
The Market - The Products
e-commerce
e-commerce revenues in China are predicted to reach 1.87 billion, by 2002.
A number of significant driving forces are behind the burgeoning expansion
of China's Internet market. Not only are major companies such as IBM,
Microsoft, and AT&T beginning to realize the size of the market, but through
governmental acceptance of the new technology, competition among ISPs is
intense, allowing more users easier access to the Internet. The increasing
popularity of personal computers in China, as well as falling costs, is
allowing more corporations and individuals to own computers and utilize the
‘Net to improve their businesses and enhance their personal/leisure
activities. “With China's large market, Internet user growth was
inevitable,” says Peter Hitchen, senior Internet analyst for International
Data Corp. (IDC) Asia/Pacific. “The surprise in this research was how fast
China's adoption of the Internet has been.” IDC's study released in 1998
predicts that China will have more Internet users than any other country in
Asia, excluding Japan, by 2001.
Asian Star's alliance with VentureTech marks the first step toward
establishing a major presence in Asia's on-line commerce markets, leading
the way toward a future encompassing a wide range of interactive e-commerce
products, as they prove viable. The initial focus of the venture is the
launch of an on-line gaming service in Asia providing casino-style games of
chance, para-mutual
racing and an international sportsbook, where customers will be able to
place wagers for real money.
Asian Internet gambling markets have the potential to generate billions.
In accordance with the Agreement, Asian Star - through its wholly owned
subsidiary, Able Wealth - will utilize its reputation, credibility,
alliances, affiliations and track record of success in Hong Kong, South East
Asia and Mainland China to enhance and facilitate the market exposure,
penetration and marketing strategies for the interactive gaming site.
EuroAsian E-Casinos, a wholly owned subsidiary of VentureTech, has been
approved for a Offshore Virtual Casino Wagering License by the Government of
Antigua, and has signed a software technology licensing agreement with
Softec Systems Caribbean Inc. to provide innovative full service Internet
gaming technology customized for Asian markets, including such “exotic”
games of chance as Pai Gow, Sic Bo and Caribbean Poker. The site -
www.asiacasino.com - was launched, with a wide range of gaming operations
utilizing legal tender, in mid-1999.
Legalized gambling may well be one of the fastest growing industries in the
world. Widely regarded as one of the most lucrative “conventional” gambling
markets, the Asian gambling “community” is predicted to embrace the
flexibility and ease-of-use of at-home wagering - in a legitimate and secure
casino environment - resulting in unprecedented activity and use of the
website's services. When the global appeal of gambling is combined with the
growth of Internet users in Asia, it seems likely that massive returns await
those companies with the foresight to tap into this market.
Rewriteable Media
CD-RW and DVD-ROM are forecast to become very successful OEM products, and
the major growth technologies, over the next several years.
Asian Star, through its wholly owned subsidiary Asian Star (Hong Kong) Ltd.
has completed a Share Exchange Agreement with Harmonic Hall Investment
Holdings Ltd. (Harmonic) which gives the Company control of Harmonic's
shares. Harmonic was founded in 1976 as a cassette duplication operation
which had the foresight and ability to shift into a prominent role as a
one-stop manufacturing shop providing a full spectrum of services to the
entertainment and software industries. In 1998, recognizing and acting
quickly upon a shift in the industry, Harmonic became one of four companies
in the world to be approved as a product manufacturer by Philips, the
developer of CD and DVD 4X rewriteable media products. As a result, Harmonic
began to manufacture a full range of rewriteable media products, including
CD-RW, and CD-ROM, becoming known globally as one of the premier optical
media product suppliers. The company's clients have grown to number an
active list of over 300 - including Microsoft, IBM, Mattel, Polygram, BMG,
Yamaha, BASF, EMI and Philips themselves.
According to the International Recording Media Association, it is the sale
of hardware products which determines how much pre-recorded and rewriteable
software is sold. Global sales of VCRs, camcorders, home and car audio
systems, DVD players, P.C.s and game machines grew from $32 billion U.S. in
1997, to a projected $35.8 billion in 1999. This projected increase is
supported by a profusion of industry forecasts which suggest that
pre-recorded media growth will decline, while market demand for rewriteable
media will explode. In fact, optical media products such as CD-RW and DVD-RW
are expected to be the major growth technologies in the immediate future.
Manufacturer revenues are predicted to increase from $3.3 billion in 1998 to
$4 billion U.S. in 2002.
Asian Star is rewriting the future
As Harmonic increasingly transforms itself into a manufacturer of more
advanced, and more profitable, CD-RW and DVD products, the opportunity for
enhanced and greater penetration of high growth global markets increases
exponentially. While continuing to meet demand for “conventional” media
replication, Harmonic is in the process of converting four existing CD
production lines to the production of CD-RW. The production lines are easily
convertible to DVD rewriteable media manufacturing, at minimal conversion
cost, as the market for the product develops. Through strategic
relationships established with product developers, partnerships with leading
drive manufacturers, strong in-house R&D capabilities, and an established
reputation as a reliable manufacturer of world class optical media products,
Harmonic has created a strong business environment which is positioned to
take advantage of this tremendous market potential.
Summary
With accomplished leadership, extraordinary vision, and a clear mandate to
achieve outstanding success through the ability to recognize and act upon
viable opportunities, Asian Star has developed the alliances, the markets,
and the products it requires to rewrite the future - providing the potential
of tremendous gains not only for the Company, but its shareholders - now and
well into the new millennium.
Corporate Information
Head Office:
Suite 930, East Wing, Block B New World Office Building,
Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: (011) 852-2721-0936 • Fax: (011) 852- 2722-7957
e-mail: info @asianstardev.com
Listing: - NASDAQ OTC BB: ASTV
Recent Market Price: - $2.31
Capitalization:
Issued and Outstanding - 12,955,530
For more information regarding Asian Star, contact:
Investor Relations:
USA Tel: 1-415-566-2503
Toll free: 1-877-681-3331
e-mail: falconwest@sympatico.ca
Or visit our website at www.asianstardev.com
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