In January, the Group and CSFBdirect (formerly DLJdirect) launch Hutchison CSFBdirect which provides online investing services to private investors in Hong Kong.
In February, Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited announces the launch of Metro Finance, the first 24-hour Cantonese finance radio channel in the world. Metro Finance is a breakthrough in the radio industry with a unique mission on providing first-hand financial news, professional views, and other information in Cantonese round the clock.
In February, the Group appoints Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan to arrange the issue of about USD1.5 billion of 10-year 7.00 per cent guaranteed notes. This issue, which is the Group's second global offering of US dollar denominated debt securities, represents the largest single-tranche corporate bond ever by an Asian issuer.
In February, the Group and Cheung Kong invest approximately USD25 million (approx. HKD195 million) each for a total of approximately USD50 million (approx. HKD390 million) in the common stock of US-based priceline.com. Subsequently in June, the Group and Cheung Kong enter into an agreement to increase their stake in priceline.com by purchasing an aggregate of approximately 25 million shares of priceline.com common stock from priceline.com founder Jay S Walker and his trust. As a result of the transactions in February and June, the Group and Cheung Kong each holds approximately 15 per cent (together approximately a combined 30 per cent) equity interest in priceline.com. Separately, Hutchison also owns approximately 65 per cent of Hutchison-Priceline Limited (HPL), the companies' Asia venture.
In February, Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited agrees to sell Hutchison Telecommunications Technology Investments Limited (HTTIL) to Pacific Century Cyberworks Limited (PCCW) for USD103 million. The consideration will be satisfied by the issue of 183,634,285 new PCCW shares at a price of HKD4.375 per share. HTTIL subsidiaries are engaged in providing satellite telecommunication equipment and services using Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology marketed under the Hutchison Corporate Access brand. This transaction is part of the Group's disposal programme of satellite based businesses and its strategy to concentrate on its mobile telecommunication business.
In February, Andala 3G S.p.A. is renamed H3G Italy. H3G Italy also announces the acquisition of the exclusive UMTS rights of Juventus, Milan, Rome, Lazio, Bari, Salernitana and Genoa, creating the first nucleus of its service and content offer.
In March, Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited (HTAL) successfully acquires an additional spectrum in the 2.1 GHz band at a total cost of D196.1 million as part of the Federal Government's auction of spectrum licences. The additional spectrum acquired complements HTAL's existing spectrum licences in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
In May, Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited and Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited announce the formation of a major strategic alliance. The alliance will result in the formation of a dedicated new operating company in each of Australia and New Zealand focussed on 3G products and services, namely Hutchison 3G Australia and Telecom 3G respectively.
In May, Husky Energy announces the pre-acquisition agreement with Avid Oil & Gas Ltd (Avid) for Husky Oil Operations Limited (Husky) to acquire all of the remaining shares of Avid not currently held by Husky. Husky Oil Operations Limited is one of the Husky Energy group of companies.
In May, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) announces that a consortium consisting of HPH, Hyundai Merchant Marine Co Ltd and Hanjin Shipping, has finalized an agreement with the Korea Container Terminal Authority (KCTA) for the rights to operate and develop Phase II of Kwangyang Port. Under the terms of the agreement, the consortium will lease seven berths at Phase II of Kwangyang Port for a 30-year period from the Korean government and will have preferred rights to negotiate with the KCTA to develop the Phase III container facilities.
In May, Hutchison Port Holdings announces that it has entered into agreements with Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and certain financial investors to acquire ICTSI International Holdings Corp. (IIHC), the overseas port development and holding subsidiary of ICTSI. IIHC has eight port operations and investments in Mexico, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Tanzania and Thailand. These port holdings consist 23 container and general cargo berths.
In May, the Group announces that its US associated company (18.4 per cent effective interest) VoiceStream Wireless Corp ("VSTR") has completed its merger with Deutsche Telekom AG ("DT"). Upon completion, the Group received a total consideration of approximately USD5.1 billion (approximately USD90.47 per VSTR share), split as to cash of approximately USD885 million (USD15.7262 per VSTR share) and approximately 206.6 million DT shares (3.6693 DT shares per VSTR share).
In June, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) announces that it has signed an agreement with the Ningbo Port Authority to jointly operate and develop Ningbo Beilun Port Phase II. HPH has acquired a 49 per cent interest in the joint venture company which will invest 2 billion RMB in the project. The JV company operates and manages the three container berths at Ningbo Beilun Port Phase II.
In August, the Group acquires additional licences to operate 1800 MHz mobile phone services in key Indian cities, including Karnataka (includes Bangalore), Chennai and Andhra Pradesh (includes Hyderabad).
In August, Hutchison Telecom Limited announces the grand launch of its GSM dualband mobile service in Macau, providing Macau citizens with seamless coverage in over 99.99 per cent of populated areas, and unveiling Macau's richest, broadest and deepest wireless Internet service - Hutchisonworld.
In September, Hutchison 3G HK Limited ("Hutchison 3G HK") announces that it is one of the Provisional Successful Bidders of the First Phase 3G auction in Hong Kong. Following the completion of the second and third phases and upon the grant of the licence, Hutchison 3G HK obtains a 3G licence with one block of paired spectrum of 2 x 14.8 MHz plus one 5 MHz block of unpaired spectrum at the end of the 3G UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) auction in Hong Kong.
In September, Hi3G Access AB is awarded through its wholly owned subsidiary, Hi3G Denmark A.p.S, one of the four licences to offer UMTS services in Denmark. This enables Hi3G to provide the Danish population with world-leading mobile multi media services.
In October, Hongkong Electric Holdings Limited announces that Hongkong Electric International Limited (HEI) has plans to invest in a power plant project in Thailand through a joint venture company, Union Power Development Company Limited. HEI acquires 27.5 per cent of the project at commercial operation as one of the two largest shareholders, the other is Tomen of Japan. Hongkong Electric's equity investment is about HKD700 million. The project is due to be completed by the end of 2005, and Hongkong Electric is responsible for its construction management.
In November, TOM.COM (TOM) announces its acquisition of 100 per cent of Sharp Point Publishing Co, Ltd, (Sharp Point), Taiwan's largest Chinese-language youth magazine and book publisher, at a consideration of NTD380 million (approx. HKD85.3 million). With this acquisition, TOM achieves a leadership position in Taiwan's teenage publishing market.
In November, Hutchison Port Holdings announces that it has signed official agreements with the Shenzhen Government and Yantian Port Group to jointly develop Phase III of Yantian International Container Terminals. A total of HKD6.6 billion is invested in the project. Phase III covers 90 hectares of land and comprises four deep-water container berths. The development calls for the construction of 1,400 metres of berth with a water depth of 16 metres. Upon completion in 2006, Phase III has an annual handling capacity of two million TEUs.
In November, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) announces that the European Commission has granted approval for HPH to increase its stakeholding in Europe's leading container terminal operator Europe Combined Terminals (ECT) to 60 per cent. This follows the Commission's decision to approve HPH's acquisition of a 35 per cent stake in ECT in July 2001. On completion of the transaction, HPH has control over ECT and is entitled to further increase its stake in the future.
In November, Watson's wine business expands into Europe by acquiring Swiss-based international wine wholesaler/distributor Badaracco SA.
In December, TOM.COM (TOM), an associated company of the Group, announces it had entered an agreement to acquire up to 100 per cent of Business Weekly Publishing Inc. (Business Weekly), Taiwan's leading Chinese-language magazine and book publisher. With the move TOM becomes Taiwan's largest magazine and book publisher group. It marks yet another milestone in TOM's building of the largest Chinese print media platform in Greater China. TOM pays in total up to NTD1,650 million (approx. HKD370 million) for the acquisitions, out of which about NTD825 million (approx. HKD185 million) or 50 per cent, is paid in cash.
In December, Partner Communications announces that the company has been awarded a 2G band (1800 spectrum) and a 3G band of spectrum in Israel.