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NetEase.com Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2008 Unaudited Financial Results
(<?xml:namespace prefix="st1"?>Beijing – February 25, 2009) – NetEase.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES), one of China’s leading Internet and online game services providers, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.<?xml:namespace prefix="o"?>
William Ding, Chief Executive Officer and Director of NetEase said, “As fiscal 2008 drew to a close amid the global economic downturn, we are pleased with the solid performance of NetEase’s online game business in the fourth quarter of 2008. The performance of Fantasy Westward Journey (“FWJ”) continued to demonstrate its robust popularity and extensive community of users among time-based online games in China. In addition, Tianxia II, our first 3D item-based game, achieved positive growth during the fourth quarter in terms of both the number of players and consumption level, following the launch of a new expansion pack on September 24, 2008. We continue to execute well on our strategy to diversify our game product offerings, including an intensified focus on item-based games and targeted exploration of strategic licensing opportunities. We believe we are well positioned to attract new game players to further solidify our leading position in the Chinese online game market in 2009 and beyond.”
Mr. Ding continued, “Overall, we are pleased with the performance of our advertising services in the fourth quarter of 2008. We are very focused on strengthening the quality of the content on our portal to attract and retain new users and advertisers to our site. We also continue to enhance our email and blog services to draw more users and create premium ad space for advertisers who wish to reach our audience of consumers. With our ongoing success in delivering integrated services and information to both users and advertisers on our portal, we believe that NetEase will further capitalize on the opportunities brought about by the continuing shift from traditional advertising media to online advertising platforms.”
Mr. Ding concluded, “Looking ahead, we plan to continue focusing on the development of appealing and innovative games and enhancement of our portal services for our users and advertisers.”
Fourth Quarter 2008 Financial Results
Revenues
Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 were RMB801.7 million (US$117.5 million), compared to RMB806.6 million (US$118.2 million) and RMB622.1 million (US$91.2 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively.
Revenues from online games were RMB672.5 million (US$98.6 million) for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to RMB675.1 million (US$99.0 million) and RMB507.0 million (US$74.3 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively.
Revenues from advertising services were RMB111.8 million (US$16.4 million) for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to RMB113.0 million (US$16.6 million) and RMB98.1 million (US$14.4 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively.
Revenues from wireless value-added services and others (“WVAS and others”) were RMB17.4 million (US$2.6 million) for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to RMB18.5 million (US$2.7 million) and RMB17.0 million (US$2.5 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2008 was RMB639.0 million (US$93.7 million), compared to RMB631.3 million (US$92.5 million) and RMB488.0 million (US$71.5 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to a reduction of Olympics-related content costs recorded in the preceding quarter, which was partially offset by increases in staff-related costs resulting from increases in headcount and performance-related bonus accrual, as well as slightly lower total revenues in the current quarter. The quarter-over-quarter decrease in online game revenue was mainly due to lower revenue from FWJ in the current quarter, compared to the higher revenue in the preceding quarter as a result of the summer holiday season. The year-over-year increase in gross profit was primarily driven by increased online game revenue and advertising revenue, partially offset by higher staff-related costs resulting from increases in headcount and performance-related bonus accrual in the current quarter. The year-over-year increase in online game revenue was primarily attributable to both FWJ-related marketing activities in 2008 and the successful launch of an expansion pack for FWJ in early October of 2008. Advertising revenue for the current quarter remained relatively stable compared to the preceding quarter. The year-over-year increase in advertising revenue was primarily due to increased revenue contributed from the Company’s email ad space during the fourth quarter of 2008.
Gross Profit (Loss) Margin
Gross profit margin for the online game business for the fourth quarter of 2008 was 88.0%, compared to 89.7% and 90.7% for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year decreases in gross profit margin were primarily due to higher staff-related costs resulting from increases in headcount and performance-related bonus accrual in the current quarter.
Gross profit margin for the advertising business for the fourth quarter of 2008 was 51.1%, compared to 26.9% and 52.0% for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter increase in gross profit margin was primarily due to a reduction of Olympic-related content costs recorded in the preceding quarter. The year-over-year gross profit margin remained relatively stable.
Gross loss margin for the WVAS and others business for the fourth quarter of 2008 was 24.9%, compared to 6.4% and 19.5% for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year decreases in gross profit margin were mainly due to increased bandwidth charges and server custody usage fees in the current quarter resulting from volume increases associated with the Company’s free email and photo blog services.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2008 were RMB168.5 million (US$24.7 million), compared to RMB164.6 million (US$24.1 million) and RMB152.8 million (US$22.4 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter increase in selling and marketing expenses was primarily due to increased staff-related costs resulting from an increase in headcount and performance-related bonus accrual, and increased temporary marketing promotion staff costs, partially offset by a reduction of Olympic-related marketing expenses of RMB3.1 million (US$0.5 million), which had been recorded in the preceding quarter. The quarter-over-quarter decrease in general and administrative expenses was mainly due to a decrease in bad debt provision. The quarter-over-quarter increase in research and development expenses was mainly due to increased depreciation expenses related to additional fixed assets purchased to support increased research and development activities of the Company’s online game, search engine and free email services in this quarter. The year-over-year increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increased staff-related costs associated with the Company’s selling and marketing efforts as well as research and development activities, primarily resulting from increase in headcount and performance-related bonus accrual in the current quarter.
Net Profit
Net profit for the fourth quarter of 2008 totaled RMB575.9 million (US$84.4 million), compared to RMB313.3 million (US$45.9 million) and RMB389.8 million (US$57.1 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company reported a net foreign exchange loss of RMB22.0 million (US$3.2 million) under Other, net, compared to RMB68.3 million (US$10.0 million) and RMB30.2 million (US$4.4 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively. The quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year decreases in net foreign exchange loss were primarily due to the reduction in translation loss related to the Company’s bank deposits denominated in US dollar and Euro, resulting from improved stability in the exchange rates of US dollar and/or Euro against Renminbi at the end of the current quarter. NetEase reported basic and diluted earnings per American depositary share (“ADS”) of US$0.66 and US$0.65, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2008. The Company reported basic and diluted earnings per ADS of US$0.36 and US$0.35 and US$0.47 and US$0.44 for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively.
Effective as of January 1, 2008, the Chinese government adopted a new income tax law which unified the enterprise income tax payable by domestic and foreign-invested enterprises at 25%. For the first three quarters of 2008, the Company followed the applicable accounting standards and adopted the statutory rate of 25% in making tax provisions, except for entities still enjoying unexpired tax holidays. By December 31, 2008, the Company’s applications for the High/New Technology Enterprises (“HNTEs”) status by certain of its subsidiaries have been duly assessed and included in the relevant Chinese government authority’s published list of approved HNTEs, with the over-paid income taxes for the first three quarters of fiscal year 2008 duly refunded. Accordingly, the Company recorded a net tax benefit of RMB79.9 million (US$11.7 million) for the current quarter compared to a tax charge of RMB125.7 million (US$18.4 million) and a tax benefit of RMB52.9 million (US$7.7 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively.
The quarter-over-quarter decrease in tax charge was primarily attributable to the refund of the over-paid amount of income taxes for the first three quarters of 2008 as explained above, partially offset by the increase in tax charge resulting from the adjustment to recognize the deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2008 at the preferential tax rate for HNTEs. The year-over-year increase in the tax benefit was mainly due to the tax refund and adjustment to deferred tax assets in the current quarter as explained above, whereas the tax benefit reported in the fourth quarter of 2007 primarily resulted from the adjustment to recognize the deferred tax assets at the new statutory tax rate of 25% under the new tax laws, except for entities still enjoying unexpired tax holidays.
Fiscal Year 2008 Financial Results
Revenues
Total revenues for fiscal year 2008 were RMB3.0 billion (US$436.2 million), compared to RMB2.3 billion (US$338.0 million) for the preceding year. Revenues from online games were RMB2.5 billion (US$366.2 million) for fiscal year 2008, compared to RMB1.9 billion (US$283.3 million) for the preceding fiscal year. Revenues from advertising services were RMB405.9 million (US$59.5 million) for fiscal year 2008, compared to RMB305.1 million (US$44.7 million) for the preceding fiscal year. Revenues from WVAS and others were RMB71.7 million (US$10.5 million) for fiscal year 2008, compared to RMB68.0 million (US$10.0 million) for the preceding fiscal year.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for fiscal year 2008 was RMB2.5 billion (US$370.1 million), compared to RMB1.8 billion (US$263.5 million) for the preceding fiscal year. The increased gross profit for fiscal year 2008 was primarily due to increased online game revenue from the Company’s various flagship games, as well as the receipt of a business tax refund of RMB146.8 million (US$21.5 million) in June 2008 related to certain excess taxes paid in previous years, which was determined as a result of changes in certain rules in connection with business tax deductions. The foregoing increases in gross profit were partially offset by increased staff-related costs resulting from increased headcount and increased performance-related bonus accrual.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses for fiscal year 2008 were RMB610.4 million (US$89.5 million), compared to RMB592.2 million (US$86.8 million) for the preceding fiscal year. Higher operating expenses for fiscal year 2008 were primarily due to increased research and development staff-related costs resulting from increased headcount, partially offset by reduced selling and marketing expenses on games as a result of the adoption of certain cost-savings measures.
Net Profit
Net profit for fiscal year 2008 totaled RMB1.6 billion (US$234.0 million), compared to RMB1.3 billion (US$185.3 million) for the preceding fiscal year. For fiscal year 2008, the Company reported a net foreign exchange loss of RMB167.1 million (US$24.5 million) under Other, net, compared to RMB50.9 million (US$7.5 million) for the preceding fiscal year. The increase in net foreign exchange loss was primarily due to the increase in translation loss related to the Company’s bank deposits denominated in US dollar and Euro, resulting from the depreciation in the exchange rate of US dollar and/or Euro against Renminbi at the end of the current quarter. NetEase reported basic and diluted earnings per ADS of US$1.88 and US$1.81 for fiscal year 2008, respectively. The Company reported basic and diluted earnings per ADS of US$1.50 and US$1.40 for the preceding fiscal year, respectively.
Income Taxes
As a result of the new income tax laws in China and the successful application for the HNTEs status (as explained above), and the expiration of the tax holidays of certain subsidiaries, the Company reported a net income tax charge of RMB300.7 million (US$44.1 million) for fiscal year 2008. For fiscal year 2007, the Company reported a net income tax charge of RMB2.7 million (US$0.4 million), primarily attributable to the receipt of reinvestment incentive tax refunds of RMB54.4 million (US$8.0 million) and a net adjustment to the deferred tax assets of approximately RMB42.0 million (US$6.1 million), resulting from the adoption of the new statutory income tax rate of 25% at December 31, 2007, except for entities still enjoying unexpired tax holidays.
Other Information
As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s total cash and time deposit balance was RMB5.6 billion (US$822.8 million), compared to RMB4.2 billion (US$609.5 million) as of December 31, 2007. Cash flow generated from operating activities was RMB514.0 million (US$75.3 million) for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to RMB495.5 million (US$72.7 million) and RMB426.6 million (US$62.5 million) for the preceding quarter and the fourth quarter of 2007, respectively.
On September 12, 2008, the Company’s Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to US$100 million of the Company's outstanding ADSs for a period not to exceed one year. As of December 31, 2008, the Company has spent in aggregate a total purchase consideration of approximately US$13.1 million (including transaction costs).
Other Announcements
The Company also announced today that Michael Tong, Co-Chief Operating Officer and Director of NetEase, has resigned effective March 12, 2009 from his position as NetEase’s Co-Chief Operating Officer for personal reasons. After such date, William Ding will assume the responsibility for the Company’s online advertising business. Mr. Tong will remain on the Company’s Board of Directors after his resignation becomes effective.
“Michael has been a valuable member of our management team and has made significant contributions to our business over the years,” said William Ding. “Michael’s knowledge and executive strengths are exceptional. I am personally grateful to him for his leadership, expertise and dedication and he will be greatly missed.”
** The United States dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this press release are presented solely for the convenience of the reader. Translations of amounts from RMB into United States dollars for the convenience of the reader were calculated at the noon buying rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.8225 on December 31, 2008 in The City of New York for the cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at that rate on December 31, 2008, or at any other certain date. The percentages stated are calculated based on RMB.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Information
The unaudited financial information disclosed in this press release is preliminary. The audit of the financial statements and related notes to be included in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008 is still in progress. In addition, because an audit of our internal controls over financial reporting in connection with section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has not yet been completed, we make no representation as to the effectiveness of those internal controls as of the end of fiscal year 2008.
Adjustments to the financial statements may be identified when the audit work is completed, which could result in significant differences between our audited financial statements and this preliminary unaudited financial information.
Conference Call
The earnings announcement will take place at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 (Beijing/Hong Kong Time: 9:00 a.m., Thursday, February 26, 2009). Chief Executive Officer William Ding and Acting Chief Financial Officer Onward Choi will be on the call to discuss the quarterly and full year results and answer questions.
Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 800-218-0713 (international: 303-262-2053), 10-15 minutes prior to the initiation of the call. A replay of the call will be available by dialing 800-405-2236 (international 303-590-3000), and entering passcode 11124984#. The replay will be available through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 11, 2009.
This call is being webcast live and archived, and will be available for 12 months on NetEase's corporate web site at http://corp.netease.com, Investor Info: Earnings Call.
About NetEase
NetEase.com, Inc. is a leading China-based Internet technology company that pioneered the development of applications, services and other technologies for the Internet in China. NetEase’s online communities and personalized premium services have established a large and stable user base for the NetEase websites which are operated by its affiliates. In particular, NetEase provides online game services to Internet users through the in-house development or licensing of massively multi-player online role-playing games, including Fantasy Westward Journey, Westward Journey Online II, Westward Journey Online III, Tianxia II and Datang.
NetEase also offers online advertising on its websites which enables advertisers to reach its substantial user base. In addition, NetEase has paid listings on its search engine and web directory and classified advertising services, as well as an online mall, which provides opportunities for e-commerce and traditional businesses to establish their own storefront on the Internet. NetEase also offers wireless value-added services such as news and information content, matchmaking services, music and photos from the Web which are sent over SMS, MMS, WAP, IVR and Color Ring-back Tone technologies.
Other community services which the NetEase websites offer include instant messaging, online personal advertisements, matchmaking, alumni clubs and community forums. NetEase is also the largest provider of free email services in China. Furthermore, the NetEase websites provide various channels of content. NetEase aggregates news content on world events, sports, science and technology, and financial markets, as well as entertainment content such as cartoons, games, astrology and jokes, from over one hundred international and domestic content providers.
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This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including risks related to: the risk that NetEase will not be successful in its product diversification efforts, including its focus on item- and fee-based games and exploration of strategic licensing opportunities; the risk that the online game market will not continue to grow or that NetEase will not be able to maintain its leading position in that market, which could occur if, for example, its new online games or expansion packs and other improvements to its existing games do not become as popular as management anticipates; the ability of NetEase to effectively market its games and other services and achieve a positive return on its marketing expenditures; the risk that changes in Chinese government regulation of the online game market may limit future growth of NetEase’s revenue or cause revenue to decline; the risk that NetEase may not be able to continuously develop new and creative online services; the risk that NetEase will not be able to control its expenses in future periods; competition in NetEase’s existing and potential markets; governmental uncertainties (including possible changes in the effective tax rates applicable to NetEase and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the ability of NetEase to receive approvals of the preferential tax treatments previously available to certain of its subsidiaries and VIEs in China), general competition and price pressures in the marketplace; the risk that security, reliability and confidentiality concerns may impede broad use of the Internet and e-commerce and other services; the risk that fluctuations in the value of the Renminbi with respect to other currencies could adversely affect NetEase’s business and financial results; and other risks outlined in NetEase’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NetEase does not undertake any obligation to update this forward-looking information, except as required under applicable law.
2008 Fourth Quarter Financial Statements
Contact for Media and Investors:
Brandi Piacente
Investor Relations
Tel: (+1) 212-481-2050
LiJia
NetEase.com, Inc.
Tel: (+8610) 8255-8208