NetDragon Websoft Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2009 Unaudited Financial Results

November 25, 2009 6:39 AM ET
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HONG KONG, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- NetDragon Websoft Inc. ("NetDragon", with its subsidiaries collectively the "Group"; Stock Code: 777), a leading online game developer and operator in China, today announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

    Third Quarter 2009 Business Highlights
    -- Launched "Gold Edition: Heroes of Might and Magic Online".
    -- Licensed "Eudemons Online" and "Tou Ming Zhuang Online" in Vietnam.
    -- Concluded the final round of closed beta testing for "Tian Yuan" and
       initiated open beta testing of "Disney Fantasy Online".
    -- Released the Expansion Pack (EP) of "Conquer Online" named "Raiding
       Clans" in Chinese, English, French and Spanish.
    -- "Panda Home", a self-developed mobile phone application, won the "Best
       Home Replacement App" award at the first Android Network Awards.
    -- Launched the 5th Chinese EP for "Eudemons Online", titled "Demon
       Rising".
    -- Launched open beta testing for the Arabic version of "Conquer Online"
       in the MENA markets, marking the first-ever large-scale Chinese online
       game successfully introduced in said area.
    -- Licensed "Zero Online" in Japan and "Way of the Five" in Taiwan, Hong
       Kong and Macau.
    -- Recognized as the "Most Valuable Enterprise in China's Online Game
       Industry over the Past Ten Years" at the Ten-Year China Online Game
       Industry Award Ceremony.
    -- The Group celebrated its 10th anniversary on 1 September 2009.
    Recent Developments
    -- Received the "Best Q-version Online Game" award for "Way of the Five"
       won at the 2009 ChinaJoy Golden Plume Awards Grand Ceremony in October
       2009.
    -- Conducted the first close beta testing of "Dungeon Keeper Online" in
       October 2009.
    -- Licensed its flagship game "Eudemons Online" to Nival Group, for Russia
       and the CIS region in October 2009.
    -- Recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the "2009 Outstanding
       Employers - the Best Companies to Work for in China".

Chairman's Statement

Mr. Liu Dejian, Chairman and Executive Director of NetDragon, commented: "As one of the leading innovators in the rapidly evolving interactive media industry, we continue to execute upon our strategy of strengthening core game development and operating capabilities in order to tap market opportunities both in the PRC and abroad. With an R&D force of nearly 2,000, we have built our "engine" for future growth in online gaming, mobile applications, digital platforms and multimedia initiatives."

Mr. Liu continued: "With increasing output of proprietary products from our R&D engine, we have been able to bolster our pioneering approach of direct game operations in multiple geographies while also expanding our network of publishing partners around the world through outbound licensing. We are quite happy with our progress in attracting gamers in both emerging and developed markets, and we shall redouble our efforts to provide players worldwide with excellent interactive entertainment experiences for years to come."

Mr. Liu concluded: "While our capacity expansion in the past 2 years has elevated our fixed cost structure, we remain a firm believer in the innovative practices and the productivity of our human resources. We expect to reap the rewards from our prudent investment in the future, and as our Group headcount remains flat sequentially, we believe that margins will recover in due course."

    Business Outlook
    -- Launch of "Tian Yuan" and "Disney Fantasy Online" expected by year-end
       2009.
    -- Launch of English version of "Eudemons Online" EP "Demon Rising"
       expected in December, 2009.
    -- Games in the pipeline include "CJ7 Online" and "Dungeon Keeper Online"
       in 2010, and a new version of "Ultima Online" in 2011.
    -- Enhance our proprietary technological platform and produce a greater
       proportion of high-quality 3D games to further enrich our game
       portfolio.
    -- Upgrade our game and product development capability in a prudent and
       selective manner.
    -- Maintain our focus on the in-game user experience and the timely launch
       of EPs, to extend the lifecycle of our existing games.
    -- Continue to explore opportunities in mobile software applications, as
       many of the Group's mobile apps rank among the most popular mobile
       products in China.  This business endeavor is an integral part of the
       Groups' multimedia strategy.
Management Conference Call

NetDragon will host a management conference call and webcast to review its results and recent developments, at 8:00 pm Hong Kong Time 25 November 2009, which corresponds to 7:00 am on 25 November Eastern Standard Time.

    Dial-in details for the live conference call are as follows:

    Dial in numbers:

    International Toll      +1 617 786 2963
    US Toll Free            +1 800 901 5241
    Hong Kong Toll Free     +800 96 3844
    South China Toll Free   10 800 130 0399
    North China Toll Free   10 800 152 1490
    Passcode:               63545413
Replay service is available from November 25 to December 2, 2009. Below are the replay numbers for different regions. International Toll: +1 617 801 6888; US Toll Free: +1 888 286 8010; Replay passcode: 54422741. A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of NetDragon's website at http://ir.netdragon.us/investor/ir_events.shtml . Participants in the live webcast should visit the aforementioned website 10 minutes prior to the call, then click on the icon for "3Q 2009 Results Investor Conference Call" and follow the registration instructions.

About NetDragon

NetDragon Websoft Inc. is a leading innovator and creative force in China's online gaming industry. Established in 1999, NetDragon has been operating and developing a broad range of MMORPGs since launching its first self-made title Monster & Me in 2002. In addition, NetDragon is China's pioneer in overseas expansion, having directly operated its titles in overseas markets since 2004 in English, French, Spanish and other foreign languages.

The Group's game portfolio comprises a range of massively multiplayer online games that cater to various types of players and gaming preferences. Current offerings include the games Way of the Five, Eudemons Online, Conquer Online, Zero Online, and Heroes of Might & Magic Online. The Group also has several games currently in development, including Tian Yuan, Disney Fantasy Online, CJ7 Online, Dungeon Keeper Online and a new version of Ultima Online.



    Financial Highlights (unaudited)

    (RMB Millions)     3Q 2009  2Q 2009     QoQ    3Q 2009  3Q 2008    YoY
    Revenue              150.9    162.9     (7.4%)   150.9    136.6    10.4%
    Gross Profit         129.0    140.9     (8.4%)   129.0    119.3     8.2%
    GPM                  85.5%    86.5%       --     85.5%    87.3%      --
    Profit for the
     period               19.0     17.6      7.9%     19.0     50.9   (62.7%)
    NPM                  12.6%    10.8%       --     12.6%    37.2%      --
    Basic EPS
     (RMB cents)          3.67     3.32     10.5%     3.67     9.45    (61.2%)
    Dividend per
     share (HKD)            --    0.082       --       --       --       --


    Metrics
              3Q2009    2Q2009   1Q2009   4Q2008    3Q2008   2Q2008   1Q2008
      PCU    519,000   632,000  695,000  591,000   544,000  697,000  669,000
      ACU    273,000   310,000  333,000  317,000   311,000  355,000  313,000
    Note:  Online games include Conquer Online, Eudemons Online, Zero Online,
           Tou Ming Zhuang Online, Heroes of Might and Magic Online, Way of
           the Five and other games.
    Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
    For the nine months ended 30 September 2009
                                  Three months ended      Nine months ended
                                     30 September           30 September
                                    2009        2008       2009        2008
                                (Unaudited) (Unaudited)(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
                                  RMB'000     RMB'000    RMB'000     RMB'000

    Revenue                       150,877     136,618    487,646     459,515
    Cost of revenue               (21,833)    (17,341)   (62,639)    (49,742)
    Gross profit                  129,044     119,277    425,007     409,773
    Other revenue and gains        28,539      13,973     39,926      28,707
    Selling and marketing
     expenses                     (31,551)    (26,446)   (98,746)    (70,686)
    Administrative expenses       (48,151)    (27,824)  (129,468)    (90,137)
    Development costs             (55,484)    (22,713)  (143,253)    (58,343)
    Other expenses                   (161)     (3,870)      (538)    (23,165)
    Changes in fair value of
     derivative financial
     instruments                       --      20,355    (15,214)     20,793
    Changes in fair value of
     financial assets at
     fair value through profit
     or loss                           --     (22,318)    18,431     (21,709)
    Share of losses of
     associates                        --          --       (724)         --
    Profit before taxation         22,236      50,434     95,421     195,233
    Taxation                       (3,250)        450    (10,043)    (29,156)
    Profit for the period          18,986      50,884     85,378     166,077
    Other comprehensive loss:
    Exchange differences
     arising on translation          (522)     (1,627)      (720)    (47,428)
     of foreign operations
    Total comprehensive income
     for the period                18,464      49,257     84,658     118,649
    Profit for the period
     attributable to
      -Owners of the Company       19,290      50,884     85,682     166,189
      -Minority interests            (304)         --       (304)       (112)
                                   18,986      50,884     85,378     166,077
    Total comprehensive income
     attributable to:
      -Owners of the Company       18,768      49,257     84,962     118,761
      -Minority interests            (304)         --       (304)       (112)
                                   18,464      49,257     84,658     118,649
    Earnings per share
       - Basic                  3.67cents  9.45 cents 16.30cents  30.67cents
       - Diluted                3.67cents         N/A        N/A         N/A
    Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
    As at 30 September 2009
                                                        At 30          At 31
                                                    September       December
                                                         2009           2008
                                                   (Unaudited)      (Audited)
                                                      RMB'000        RMB'000
    Non-current assets
    Property, plant and equipment                     106,829         96,160
    Prepaid lease payments                             12,916          7,224
    Deposit paid for acquisition of property,
     plant and equipment                                   --          7,357
    Intangible assets                                  10,017         10,754
    Interests in associates                                --            224
    Available-for-sale investments                      4,000          4,000
    Loan receivables                                    6,180          6,835
    Deferred tax assets                                    54             54
                                                      139,996        132,608
    Current assets
    Prepaid lease payments                                228            138
    Trade and other receivables, prepayments
     and deposits                                      79,648         81,990
    Loan receivables                                      416            440
    Held for trading investments                          282             --
    Financial assets at fair value through
     profit or loss                                        --        311,806
    Derivative financial instruments                       --         31,857
    Amounts due from associates                        26,000             --
    Tax recoverable                                        74            108
    Bank deposits                                     397,309        629,454
    Bank balances and cash                            904,140        332,009
                                                    1,408,097      1,387,802
    Current liabilities
    Trade and other payables, accruals and
     deferred income                                   84,514         53,677
    Income tax payable                                 12,721         12,922
                                                       97,235         66,599
    Net current assets                              1,310,862      1,321,203
                                                    1,450,858      1,453,811
    Capital and reserves
    Share capital                                      39,264         39,264
    Share premium and reserves                      1,411,898      1,414,547
    Equity attributable to owners of the
     Company                                        1,451,162      1,453,811
    Minority interests                                   (304)            --
                                                    1,450,858      1,453,811

SOURCE NetDragon Websoft Inc.

Copyright 2009 PR Newswire

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