GRAVITY Announces Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Business Updates

Seoul, Nov. 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GRAVITY Co., Ltd. (NasdaqGM: GRVY) (“Gravity” or “Company”), a developer and publisher of online and mobile games based in South Korea, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and business updates.

THIRD QUARTER 2019 HIGHLIGHTS

• Total revenues were KRW 77,566 million (US$ 64,863 thousand), representing a 0.7% decrease from the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 (“QoQ”) and a 75.5% increase from the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 (“YoY”).
• Operating profit was KRW 10,226 million (US$ 8,551 thousand), representing a 21.3% decrease QoQ and a 44.4% increase YoY.
• Profit before income tax expenses was KRW 11,213 million (US$ 9,376 thousand), representing a 20.1% decrease QoQ and a 53.0% increase YoY.
• Net profit attributable to parent company was KRW 8,952 million (US$ 7,485 thousand), representing a 17.6% decrease QoQ and a 41.8% increase YoY.

REVIEW OF THIRD QUARTER 2019 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenues

Subscription revenues for the third quarter of 2019 were KRW 10,564 million (US$ 8,834 thousand), representing a 56.6 % increase QoQ from KRW 6,746 million and a 75.9% increase YoY from KRW 6,005 million. The increase QoQ was mainly attributable to increased revenues from Ragnarok Online in Taiwan, Brazil, and Ragnarok Prequel 2 in Taiwan. The increase YoY was largely due to increased revenues from Ragnarok Online in Taiwan, Brazil and Ragnarok Prequel 2 in Taiwan. Such increase was partially offset by decreased revenue from Ragnarok Prequel in Taiwan.

Royalty and license fee revenues for the third quarter of 2019 were KRW 2,583 million (US$ 2,160 thousand), representing an 8.8% decrease QoQ from KRW 2,832 million and a 12.8% decrease YoY from KRW 2,961 million. The decrease QoQ was primarily due to decreased revenue from Ragnarok Online in Japan. The decrease YoY resulted mainly from decreased revenues from Ragnarok Online in Brazil and Thailand.

Mobile game and application revenues were KRW 61,238 million (US$ 51,209 thousand) for the third quarter of 2019, representing a 7.9% decrease QoQ from KRW 66,463 million and a 83.4% increase YoY from KRW 33,387 million. The decrease QoQ resulted primarily from decreased revenues from Ragnarok M: Eternal Love in Southeast Asia, North America, South America, Oceania, and Taiwan. Such decrease was partially offset by increased revenues from Ragnarok M: Eternal Love in Japan, Korea and Ragnarok H5 that has launched on September 19, 2019 in Korea. The increase YoY was primarily due to revenues from Ragnarok M: Eternal Love in Southeast Asia, Japan, North America, South America, Oceania, and Ragnarok H5 launched in September in Korea. This increase was partially offset by decreased revenues from Ragnarok M: Eternal Love in Taiwan and Korea.

Character merchandising and other revenues were KRW 3,181 million (US$ 2,660 thousand) for the third quarter of 2019, representing 52.5% increase QoQ from KRW 2,086 million and a 72.1% increase YoY from KRW 1,848 million

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue was KRW 56,058 million (US$ 46,877 thousand) for the third quarter of 2019, representing a 1.4% decrease QoQ from KRW 56,858 million and a 88.1% increase YoY from KRW 29,806 million. The decrease QoQ was mainly due to decreased commission paid for mobile game services related to Ragnarok M: Eternal love in Southeast Asia, North America, South America, and Oceania. The increase YoY was mostly from increased commission paid for mobile game services related to Ragnarok M: Eternal love in Southeast Asia, North America, South America, Oceania, and Japan.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were KRW 11,282 million (US$ 9,435 thousand) for the third quarter of 2019, representing a 36.4% increase QoQ from KRW 8,271 million and a 54.3% increase YoY from KRW 7,311 million. The increase QoQ was mainly attributable to increased advertising expenses for Ragnarok M: Eternal Love in Korea, Ragnarok H5 launched in September in Korea, and re-launched Ragnarok Online in Indonesia. The increase YoY was mostly resulted from increased advertising expenses for Ragnarok M: Eternal Love in Korea, Ragnarok H5 launched in September in Korea, re-launched Ragnarok Online in Indonesia, research and development expenses and salaries. 

Profit before income tax expenses

Profit before income tax expenses was KRW 11,213 million (US$ 9,376 thousand) for the third quarter of 2019 compared with profit before income tax expense of KRW 14,037 million for the second quarter of 2019 and profit before income tax expenses of KRW 7,329 million for the third quarter of 2018.

Net Profit

As a result of the foregoing factors, Gravity recorded a net profit attributable to parent company of KRW 8,952 million (US$ 7,485 thousand) for the third quarter of 2019 compared with net profit attributable to parent company of KRW 10,861 million for the second quarter of 2019 and a net profit attributable to parent company of KRW 6,312 million for the third quarter of 2018.

Liquidity

The balance of cash and cash equivalents and short-term financial instruments was KRW 120,259 million (US$ 100,564 thousand) as of September 30, 2019.

Note: For convenience purposes only, the KRW amounts have been expressed in U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of KRW 1,195.85 to US$ 1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on September 30, 2019 as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

GRAVITY BUSINESS UPDATE

Ragnarok Online IP-based Games

• Ragnarok Origin, a MMORPG mobile game

Ragnarok Origin is scheduled to be launched in Korea in 2020. The game embodies Ragnarok’s game elements to the highest level of graphics on the mobile device.

• Ragnarok M: Eternal Love, a MMORPG mobile game

Ragnarok M: Eternal Love has launched in Europe (except for some regions) and Russia on October 16, 2019.

• Ragnarok Tactics, a SRPG mobile game

Ragnarok Tactics has launched in Thailand on November 8, 2019. On the launching day, the game ranked as the first in free download rankings and the second in gross rankings of Apple App Store. The game is scheduled to be launched in Korea in the first half of 2020.

• Other Ragnarok Online IP-based games

Gravity has launched Ragnarok Click H5, a Click Action RPG game, globally on November 13, 2019.

The company has been preparing to launch Ragnarok H5, an idle RPG game, in Indonesia in the first quarter of 2020.

Other IP games

•  The Color of Dream Fantasy Latele, a MMORPG mobile game, has launched in Japan on October 16, 2019.

Investor Presentation

Gravity issued an investor presentation. The presentation contains the Company’s recent business updates, results of the third quarter in 2019 and Gravity’s business plan. The presentation can be found on the Company’s website under the IR Archives section at http://www.gravity.co.kr/en/ir/pds/list.asp. Korean and Japanese versions of the presentation are also provided on the website.
  

About GRAVITY Co., Ltd. ---------------------------------------------------

Gravity is a developer and publisher of online and mobile games. Gravity's principal product, Ragnarok Online, is a popular online game in many markets, including Japan and Taiwan, and is currently commercially offered in 83 markets and countries. For more information about Gravity, please visit http://www.gravity.co.kr.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this press release may include, in addition to historical information, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe-harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe”, “project,” or “continue” or the negative thereof or other similar words, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Investors should consider the information contained in our submissions and filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 on Form 20-F, together with such other documents that we may submit to or file with the SEC from time to time, on Form 6-K. The forward-looking statements speak only as of this press release and we assume no duty to update them to reflect new, changing or unanticipated events or circumstances.

Contact:

Mr. Heung Gon Kim
Chief Financial Officer
Gravity Co., Ltd.
Email: [email protected]

Ms. Jin Lee
Ms. Minji Oh
IR Unit
Gravity Co., Ltd.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +82-2-2132-7800~1

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GRAVITY Co., Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(In millions of KRW and thousands of US$)

		As of
		31-Dec-18								30-Sep-19
		KRW				US$				KRW				US$
		(audited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			86,051				71,958				88,759				74,223
Short-term financial instruments			9,500				7,944				31,500				26,341
Accounts receivable, net			60,664				50,729				39,409				32,955
Other receivables, net			255				213				199				166
Prepaid expenses			2,516				2,104				1,929				1,613
Other current assets			1,182				988				3,749				3,135
Total current assets			160,168				133,936				165,545				138,433
Property and equipment, net			1,498				1,253				6,833				5,714
Intangible assets			1,163				973				1,568				1,311
Deferred tax assets			7,413				6,199				8,866				7,414
Other non-current financial assets			1,494				1,249				1,662				1,390
Other non-current assets			1,438				1,202				1,727				1,444
Total assets			173,174				144,812				186,201				155,706
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable			71,928				60,148				44,258				37,010
Deferred revenue			16,476				13,778				12,795				10,700
Withholdings			2,019				1,688				2,119				1,772
Accrued expense			1,031				862				1,049				878
Income tax payable			1,944				1,626				3,204				2,679
Other current liabilities			123				102				1,889				1,580
Total current liabilities			93,521				78,204				65,314				54,619
Long-term deferred revenue			3,598				3,009				1,294				1,082
Other non-current liabilities			503				421				3,564				2,980
Total liabilities			97,622				81,634				70,172				58,681
Share capital			3,474				2,905				3,474				2,905
Capital surplus			27,141				22,695				27,128				22,685
Other components of equity			138				115				814				680
Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit)			45,405				37,970				84,978				71,061
Equity attributable to owners of the Parent Company			76,158				63,685				116,394				97,331
Non-controlling interest			(606	)			(507	)			(365	)			(306	)
Total equity			75,552				63,178				116,029				97,025
Total liabilities and equity			173,174				144,812				186,201				155,706

* For convenience purposes only, the KRW amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of KRW 1,195.85 to US$ 1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on September 30, 2019 as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

GRAVITY Co., Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In millions of KRW and thousands of US$ except for share and ADS data)

		Three months ended																Nine months ended
		30-Jun-19				30-Sep-18				30-Sep-19								30-Sep-18				30-Sep-19
		(KRW)				(KRW)				(KRW)				(US$)				(KRW)				(KRW)				(US$)
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Revenues:
Online games-subscription revenue			6,746				6,005				10,564				8,834				21,017				23,566				19,706
Online games-royalties and license fees			2,832				2,961				2,583				2,160				10,788				9,135				7,639
Mobile games and applications			66,463				33,387				61,238				51,209				136,573				248,848				208,093
Character merchandising and other revenue			2,086				1,848				3,181				2,660				5,160				7,767				6,495
Total net revenue			78,127				44,201				77,566				64,863				173,538				289,316				241,933
Cost of revenue			56,858				29,806				56,058				46,877				118,740				214,153				179,080
Gross profit			21,269				14,395				21,508				17,986				54,798				75,163				62,853
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative			5,733				5,602				8,984				7,513				28,899				21,382				17,880
Research and development			2,432				1,760				2,349				1,965				5,376				6,658				5,568
Others, net			106				(51	)			(51	)			(43	)			296				259				217
Total operating expenses			8,271				7,311				11,282				9,435				34,571				28,299				23,665
Operating profit			12,998				7,084				10,226				8,551				20,227				46,864				39,188
Finance income(costs):
Finance income			1,141				58				1,353				1,131				1,540				3,556				2,974
Finance costs			(102	)			187				(366)				(306)				(679	)			(781	)			(653)
Profit before income tax			14,037				7,329				11,213				9,376				21,088				49,639				41,509
Income tax expenses(profits)			3,208				1,024				2,357				1,971				4,659				10,192				8,523
Profit for the period			10,829				6,305				8,856				7,405				16,429				39,447				32,986
Profit attributable to:
Non-controlling interest			(32	)			(7)				(96	)			(80	)			(47	)			(126	)			(105)
Owners of Parent company			10,861				6,312				8,952				7,485				16,476				39,573				33,091
Earning per share
- Basic and diluted			1,563				908				1,288				1.08				2,371				5,695				4.76
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
- Basic and diluted			6,948,900				6,948,900				6,948,900				6,948,900				6,948,900				6,948,900				6,948,900
Earning per ADS(1)
- Basic and diluted			1,563				908				1,288				1.08				2,371				5,695				4.76

* For convenience, the KRW amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of KRW 1,195.85 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on September 30, 2019 as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
(1) Each ADS represents one common share.