CYOU Changyou com Limited

BEIJING, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Changyou.com Limited ("Changyou" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CYOU), a leading online game developer and operator in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010.

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Third Quarter 2010 Highlights

• Total revenues reached a record US$85.6 million, an increase of 10% quarter-over-quarter and 25% year-over-year, exceeding the high end of the Company's guidance.

• Net income reached a record US$45.3 million, or US$0.85 per fully diluted ADS(1). Net income increased by 8% quarter-over-quarter and 20% year-over-year.
• Non-GAAP(2) net income (i.e. excluding share-based compensation expenses) reached a record US$47.1 million, or US$0.88 per fully diluted ADS, exceeding the high end of the Company's guidance.  Non-GAAP net income increased 7% quarter-over-quarter and 14% year-over-year.
• Aggregate registered accounts for the Company's games(3) grew 7% quarter-over-quarter and 40% year-over-year to 105.2 million.
• Average revenue per active paying account ("ARPU") for the Company's games increased 16% quarter-over-quarter and 13% year-over-year to RMB214.

(1) Each American depositary share ("ADS") represents two Class A ordinary shares.

(2) Explanation of the Company's non-GAAP financial measures and related reconciliations to GAAP financial measures are included in the accompanying "Non-GAAP Disclosure" and "Reconciliations to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations."

(3) Comprises the following games operated in China: Tian Long Bar Bu ("TLBB"), Blade Online, Blade Hero 2, Da Hua Shui Hu, Zhong Hua Ying Xiong and Immortal Faith.

Mr. Tao Wang, Changyou's chief executive officer, commented, "Our solid financial and operational results in the third quarter once again demonstrate the merits of using feedback to direct research and development efforts in our games.  TLBB, our flagship title, continues to be one of the most popular online games in China primarily due to our ongoing ability to deliver fresh content that meets the needs of today's users.  With continual investments in employee recruitment and training and plans for a new corporate headquarter in place, we have a positive outlook on the industry and look to bring more proprietary games to market with an expanded team of talented engineers to reinforce our position as one of the premier online game brands in China."  

Mr. Dewen Chen, president and chief operating officer, continued, "To more accurately serve the needs of different online game players, we are licensing and launching games with differentiated content that complement our portfolio.  Immortal Faith, our first 2D mythical game, formally graduated from our pipeline on September 9th and is attracting a new demographic to our platform.  We also plan to launch a 2D cartoon-style turn-based game later this year that is licensed from a local game studio to further diversify our product offering and deliver incremental growth to our user base."

Mr. Alex Ho, Changyou's chief financial officer, added, "Our record third quarter financial performance demonstrates our continued ability to attract new users to our core games.  With a debt-free balance sheet and strong cash flows, we have sufficient capital to sustain investments in our R&D teams and physical facilities as we push the development of our existing and pipeline games and position ourselves for future growth."

Third Quarter 2010 Operational Results

Aggregate registered accounts for the Company's games as of September 30, 2010 increased 7% quarter-over-quarter and 40% year-over-year to 105.2 million.

Aggregate peak concurrent users ("PCU") for the Company's games was approximately 980,000, a decrease of 14% quarter-over-quarter and an increase of 14% year-over-year.

Aggregate active paying accounts ("APA") for the Company's games was approximately 2.61 million, a decrease of 6% quarter-over-quarter and an increase of 9% year-over-year.

ARPU for the Company's games increased 16% quarter-over-quarter and 13% year-over-year to RMB214, which is consistent with the Company's intention to have ARPU within a range that keeps the Company's games affordable for the majority of game players in China.

Third Quarter 2010 Unaudited Financial Results

Revenues

Total revenues for the third quarter of 2010 increased 10% quarter-over-quarter and 25% year-over-year to US$85.6 million.

Revenues from game operations for the third quarter of 2010 increased 11% quarter-over-quarter and 25% year-over-year to US$83.6 million. The increases were mainly due to the continued popularity of TLBB in China and higher spending from game players.

Overseas licensing revenues for the third quarter of 2010 decreased 7% quarter-over-quarter and increased 11% year-over-year to US$2.0 million. The sequential decrease was mainly the result of greater competition in mature online game markets abroad. The year-over-year increase was largely due to increased momentum of TLBB in Vietnam and Malaysia.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2010 increased 9% quarter-over-quarter and 21% year-over-year to US$77.1 million. Gross margin in the third quarter of 2010 was 90%, compared to 91% in the second quarter of 2010 and 93% in the third quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP gross profit for the third quarter of 2010 increased 9% quarter-over-quarter and 20% year-over-year to US$77.1 million. Non-GAAP gross margin in the third quarter of 2010 was 90%, compared to 91% in the second quarter of 2010 and 93% in the third quarter of 2009.

Operating Expenses

For the third quarter of 2010, total operating expenses decreased 1% quarter-over-quarter and increased 9% year-over-year to US$23.7 million. Non-GAAP operating expenses were essentially flat quarter-over-quarter and increased 20% year-over-year to US$21.9 million.

GAAP product development expenses increased 32% quarter-over-quarter and 51% year-over-year to US$10.2 million. Non-GAAP product development expenses increased 38% quarter-over-quarter and 90% year-over-year to US$9.3 million. The increases were primarily attributable to an increase in salaries and benefits due to the hiring of more game engineers and license fees for the use of literary works for the development of new games in the third quarter of 2010.

GAAP sales and marketing expenses decreased 17% quarter-over-quarter and increased 5% year-over-year to US$9.7 million.  Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses decreased 17% quarter-over-quarter and increased 5% year-over-year to US$9.7 million. The sequential decrease was primarily due to higher marketing and promotional spending in the second quarter of 2010 for the launch of Zhong Hua Ying Xiong and a major expansion pack for TLBB. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to marketing costs for the launch of more games and the hiring of more sales and marketing professionals in the third quarter of 2010.

GAAP general and administrative expenses decreased 18% quarter-over-quarter and 34% year-over-year to US$3.7 million.  Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses decreased 20% quarter-over-quarter and 30% year-over-year to US$2.9 million. The decreases were primarily due to savings in professional fees.

Operating Profit

Operating profit for the third quarter of 2010 increased 14% quarter-over-quarter and 26% year-over-year to US$53.4 million. Operating margin in the third quarter of 2010 was 62%, up from 60% in the second quarter of 2010 and unchanged from the third quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP operating profit for the third quarter of 2010 increased 13% quarter-over-quarter and 20% year-over-year to US$55.2 million. Non-GAAP operating margin in the third quarter of 2010 was 64%, which compares to 63% in the second quarter of 2010 and 67% in the third quarter of 2009.

Net Income

For the third quarter of 2010, net income increased 8% quarter-over-quarter and 20% year-over-year to US$45.3 million. Non-GAAP net income increased 7% quarter-over-quarter and 14% year-over-year to US$47.1 million. Fully diluted earnings per ADS were US$0.85, up from US$0.79 in the second quarter of 2010 and US$0.71 in the third quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per ADS were US$0.88, up from US$ 0.82 in the second quarter of 2010 and US$0.77 in the third quarter of 2009. Net margin for the third quarter of 2010 was 53%, compared to 54% in the second quarter of 2010 and 55% in the third quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP net margin for the third quarter of 2010 was 55%, compared to 57% in the second quarter of 2010 and 60% in the third quarter of 2009.

Cash Balances

As of September 30, 2010, Changyou had a net cash balance of US$292.0 million, compared to US$294.5 million as of June 30, 2010. Operating cash flow for the quarter was a net inflow of US$55.5 million.

Other Business Developments

Open Beta Testing of Immortal Faith

On September 9, 2010, Changyou began open beta testing of Immortal Faith, the Company's first 2D mythical massively multi-player online role-playing game ("MMORPG"). Set against a backdrop of a number of ancient Chinese myths and folk tales, the game allows players to battle demons and assist deities in the conquest of various fairy kingdoms found in Chinese mythology. The game allows users to experience the life journey of becoming immortal by participating in the specially designed fighting modes and utilizing the game's featured dynamic fighting moves.

Purchase of New Office Premises in Beijing

In August of 2010, the Company signed an agreement with a property developer to construct a building in Beijing with total office and ancillary areas of approximately 56,200 square meters. The total cash consideration for the purchase is approximately US$146 million and is to be paid based on the progress of the project. The building is expected to serve as Changyou's headquarters and accommodate the growth of the Company's team of game engineers and operational staff for the next few years. Under the agreement, the developer is to start construction in the first half of 2011, subject to the attainment of necessary permits, and is expected to complete construction and deliver the building to Changyou by the end of 2012.

Business Outlook

For the fourth quarter of 2010, Changyou expects:

• Total revenues to be between US$86.0 million and US$89.0 million.
• Non-GAAP net income to be between US$46.5 million and US$48.0 million.
• Non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per ADS to be between US$0.87 and US$0.90.
• Assuming no new grants of share-based awards, share-based compensation expense to be between US$1.5 million and US$2.0 million, reducing fully diluted earnings per ADS by US$0.03 to US$0.04.

Non-GAAP Disclosure

To supplement the unaudited consolidated financial information prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), Changyou's management uses non-GAAP measures of cost of revenues, operating expenses, net income and net income per ADS, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the compensation cost of share-based awards granted to employees. These measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.

Changyou's management believes that excluding the share-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful for itself and investors. Further, the amount of share-based compensation expense cannot be anticipated by management, and these expenses are not built into the Company's annual budgets and quarterly forecasts, which generally will be the basis for information Changyou provides to analysts and investors as guidance for future operating performance. As share-based compensation expense does not involve any upfront or subsequent cash outflow, Changyou does not factor this in when evaluating and approving expenditures or when determining the allocation of its resources to its business operations. As a result, in general, the monthly financial results for internal reporting and any performance measure for commissions and bonuses are based on non-GAAP financial measures that exclude share-based compensation expense.

The non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance investors' overall understanding of Changyou's current financial performance and prospects for the future. A limitation of using non-GAAP cost of revenues, operating expenses, net income and net income per ADS, excluding share-based compensation expense, is that the share-based compensation charge has been and will continue to be a significant recurring expense in the Company's business for the foreseeable future. In order to mitigate these limitations the Company has provided specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables include details on the reconciliation between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to the non-GAAP financial measures the Company has presented.

Notes to Financial Information

Financial information in this press release other than the information indicated as being non-GAAP is derived from Changyou's unaudited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Safe Harbor Statement

It is currently expected that the Business Outlook will not be updated until the release of Changyou's next quarterly earnings announcement; however, Changyou reserves the right to update its Business Outlook at any time for any reason.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the current global financial and credit markets crisis and its potential impact on the Chinese economy, the slower growth the Chinese economy experienced during the latter half of 2008 and in 2009, which could return at some point in the future, the uncertain regulatory landscape in the People's Republic of China, fluctuations in Changyou's quarterly operating results, Changyou's historical and possible future losses and limited operating history, and the Company's reliance on Tian Long Ba Bu as its major revenue source. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Changyou's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on February 26, 2010, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Conference Call Information

Changyou's management team will host an earnings conference call today at 7 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time, October 25, 2010 (7 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time, October 25, 2010).

The dial-in details for the live conference call are:

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call.

A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 25 through November 1, 2010.  The dial-in details for the telephone replay are:

The live webcast and archive of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Changyou's website at: http://www.changyou.com/ir/.

About Changyou

Changyou.com Limited's massively multi-player online role-playing games business began operations as a business unit within Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU) in 2003. Changyou, a leading developer and operator of online games in China, was carved out as a separate, stand-alone company in December 2007, and completed an initial public offering on April 7, 2009. Changyou currently operates six online games, including the in-house developed Tian Long Ba Bu, one of the most popular online games in China, and the licensed Blade Online, Blade Hero 2, Da Hua Shui Hu, Zhong Hua Ying Xiong and Immortal Faith. Changyou has a diversified pipeline of games with various graphic styles and themes, including the in-house developed Duke of Mount Deer, which received an award as one of China's most anticipated online games. Changyou's advanced technology platform includes advanced 2.5D and 3D graphics engines, a uniform game development platform, effective anti-cheating and anti-hacking technologies, proprietary cross-networking technology and advanced data protection technology. For more information about Changyou, please visit http://www.changyou.com/en/.

SOURCE Changyou.com Limited