Subscribe to AfterDawn's weekly newsletter.
NetDragon Announces its First Quarterly Results for 2008: Revenue Soars 63.7% Over Same Period Last Year
HONG KONG, May 14 /PRNewswire/ --
One of the leading game developers and operators in the PRC, NetDragon
Websoft Inc. ("NetDragon" or the "Company", with its subsidiaries
collectively the "Group"; Stock Code: 8288.HK), today reported its unaudited
results for the three months ended 31 March 2008 (the "period under review"),
representing its first quarterly results for 2008.
Highlights
-- Total revenue amounted to approximately RMB 175,556,000 representing
an increase of approximately 63.7% over the same period last year.
-- Gross profit and profit for the period were approximately RMB
159,023,000 and RMB 69,934,000 respectively, representing increases of
approximately 57.7% and 19.6% over the corresponding period in 2007.
-- The directors do not recommend payment of interim dividends for the
three months ended 31 March 2008.
Business and Financial Highlights
The increase in the Group's total revenue was mainly due to the
continuing popularity of its core games Conquer Online, Eudemons Online, Zero
Online and Tou Ming Zhuang Online. To improve the quality of these games, the
Group allowed players to download free upgrades for each of them on a weekly
basis.
Eudemons Online -- This game is a 2.5D MMORPG targeting players who enjoy
demon-character fantasy games, and was launched in late March of 2006. The
revenue it generated during the period under review amounted to approximately
RMB 105.4 million, representing an increase of around 37.4% over the same
period last year, and an overall contribution to the Group's total revenue of
approximately 60%. During the period under review, the game drew a PCU and
ACU approximately 479,000 and 210,000, respectively representing an increase
of approximately 9.4% and a decrease of approximately 1.4%, respectively when
compared to the same period last year. The Group has also entered into a
licensing agreement with UserJoy Technology Co., Ltd. for the operation of a
traditional Chinese version of Eudemons Online in Taiwan. The game is
expected to be launched in Taiwan this summer.
Conquer Online -- This game is a 2.5D MMORPG targeting players who enjoy
games evoking the heroic spirit of the ancient martial era, and was launched
in September 2003. In the period under review, it generated revenue of
approximately RMB39.4 million, and contributed approximately 22.4% of the
Group's total revenue. It drew a PCU and ACU approximately 99,000 and 64,000,
respectively during the period under review, representing increases of
approximately 16.5% and 4.9%, respectively over the same period last year.
Zero Online -- This game is a 2.5D MMORPG targeting players who enjoy
robot fighting games, and was launched in late April 2007. The revenue
generated by Zero Online in the period under review amounted to approximately
RMB19.3 million, and contributed approximately 11.0% of the Group's total
revenue. It drew a PCU and ACU approximately 67,000 and 30,000, respectively
during the period under review. The Group has also entered into a licensing
agreement with Wayi International Digital for the operation of a traditional
Chinese version of Zero Online in Taiwan.
Tou Ming Zhuang Online -- This game is an MMORPG based on an epic
oriental costume-drama movie of the same name produced through the joint
efforts of NetDragon and China Film Group. The game was launched in late 2007
and has already generated approximately RMB11.2 million in revenue,
contributing approximately 6.4% of the Group's total revenue in the period
under review. The game drew a PCU and ACU approximately 24,000 and 9,000,
respectively during the period under review.
On the basis of its outstanding results and its extremely positive
outlook for future development, in January 2008 the Group was recognized as
one of "China's Best Small and Medium Sized Enterprises 2008" by
internationally renowned financial journal Forbes (Chinese edition). In
addition, the Group's newest game, 'Way of the Five', has been officially
recognized by the PRC Ministry of Culture as an 'Online Game Suitable for
Young People'. In addition, the Company's stock will become a constituent
stock of the MSCI China Index at the end of May 2008.
Business Outlook
Currently, the Group is actively developing three 2.5D MMORPGs, namely
Heroes of Might and Magic Online, Way of the Five, and Tian Yuan. Heroes of
Might and Magic Online and Way of the Five are expected to be launched in the
second quarter of this year, while Tian Yuan should be launched in the third
quarter.
Chairman of NetDragon, Mr. Liu Dejian, concluded, "Looking forward, we
will be continuing our efforts to further strengthen our core game
development capacities. We will do this by recruiting more experienced game
developers, developing game development software to replace certain manual
operations, and purchasing any additional computers and software necessary
for advanced game development. We will also consolidate our existing leading
position through various business strategies."
"In addition, the board has applied to have its shares listed on the Main
Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong by way of introduction, a move which
could provide new breakthroughs for our future business development."
About NetDragon Websoft Inc.
NetDragon Websoft Inc. is one of the leading online game developers and
operators in the PRC. The Group's game portfolio consists of a range of
MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) that cater to
various types of players and gaming preferences. The Group has successfully
developed and marketed many popular online games in various styles. Its
current offerings include the games Eudemons Online, Conquer Online, Zero
Online, Tou Ming Zhuang Online, Era of Faith, and Monster & Me. Some of the
games are available in foreign languages, including English, French and
Spanish. The Group also has three new games in the pipeline, namely Heroes of
Might and Magic Online, Way of the Five and Tian Yuan, all expected to be
launched in 2008. NetDragon was listed on the GEM board of the Stock Exchange
of Hong Kong on 2 November 2007 (Stock Code: 8288.HK). For more information,
please visit http://www.nd.com.cn .
Issued by Porda International (Finance) PR Group for and on behalf of
NetDragon Websoft Inc.. For further information, please contact:
NetDragon Websoft Inc.
Ms. Angelina Li (Investor Relations Officer)
Tel: +852-6303-1722 or +86-1380-9508-688
Fax: +852-2850-7066
Email: angelinali@nd.com.hk
Appendix:
The table below provides a breakdown of the Group's revenue by online
game:
Three months ended 31 March
2008 2007
RMB'000 % RMB'000 %
Eudemons Online 105,395 60.0 76,684 71.5
Conquer Online 39,437 22.4 29,883 27.8
Zero Online 19,271 11.0 -- --
Tou Ming Zhuang
Online 11,173 6.4 -- --
Others 280 0.2 707 0.7
Total revenue 175,556 100.0 107,274 100.0






