I got a call from their engineer. He had read the data sheet/user manual and his view was it was an up counter and you should load the 2s complement of the divide value you needed. I explained about the code architect always using zero and the errata I had seen and he became as confused as me. he said he had never been asked this question before. he offered to ask Philips but I told him not to bother as I has already done that.

Still no reply from Philips.

Ian