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VTech Holdings Ltd
Annual Report 2007
14
VTECH AND OUR
SHAREHOLDERS
VTech is committed to enhancing
shareholder value by:
• Strengthening the competitive
position of the Group’s businesses
• Continuous efforts to achieve
sustainable growth in shareholder
returns and in the Group’s return on
investment
• Ensuring timely, true,
comprehensive and non-selective
disclosure of the Group’s fi nancial
information and operating
performance
Returns – Dividends
The dividend payout ratio of the Group
is linked to its operating earnings
performance, fi nancial position and
future investment opportunities. In
the fi nancial year 2007, the dividend
payout ratio (excluding the special
dividend of US30.0 cents per share)
was 65.3% of the Group’s net profi t,
against 59.3% in the previous
fi nancial year.
Share Performance
(for the year ended 31st March 2007)
Highest closing price HK$57.10
(on 26th March 2007)
Lowest closing price HK$30.65
(on 23rd May 2006)
Investor Communications
VTech adopts a proactive investor
relations and communications
programme to keep investors and
shareholders up to date on the
Group’s latest developments and we
encourage them to make suggestions
for improvement. During the fi nancial
year 2007, we held one-on-one
meetings with investors, site visits to
our manufacturing facilities in
mainland China and participated in
investor conferences.
Key fi nancial announcements are
webcast, accompanied by the
detailed slide presentations and other
important fi nancial information. The
Group’s quarterly newsletter outlines
the latest products and marketing
initiatives by the Group’s businesses.
Up-to-date information on the Group’s
development, fi nancial data and
stock information are available at the
corporate website www.vtech.com. All
key information can be downloaded.
VTECH AND OUR
EMPLOYEES
The average number of employees for
the fi nancial year 2007 was 28,200, an
increase of 15.1% from 24,500 in the
previous fi nancial year. Employee costs
for the year ended 31st March 2007
were approximately US$138 million,
as compared to approximately US$115
million in the fi nancial year 2006.
Employment Policy
VTech’s policy is to employ, retain,
promote, terminate and treat all
employees on the basis of merit,
qualifi cations and competence. The
Group creates a favourable work
environment in which all employees can
enjoy equal opportunities at work and
avoid discrimination on the grounds of
age, sex, status, disability or any other
non-job related factor.
The Group has an incentive bonus
scheme and a share option scheme for
its employees, with benefi ts determined
based on the performances of the
Group and individual employees.
Corporate Affairs
06VtechCorporateAffairs(E).in1414 2007/7/511:43:45PM