Pro Evo spurs Konami growth

Konami Corporation has posted a strong set of financial results for its third fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2007.

The company showed net revenues of JPY 96.0 billion (USD 902.5 million), up 3.4 per cent from the previous year, while profit soared to JPY 11.6 billion (USD 109.1 million), up 22.7 per cent from the same period in 2006.

Its nine-month figures were similarly strong, with net revenues up 8.1 per cent, hitting JPY 229.7 billion (USD 2.16 billion) to the end of the year, and profit up 22.8 per cent at JPY 17.9 billion (USD 168.4 million).

The quarterly and nine-month profit increases compared to decreases of 2.1 per cent and 12.3 per cent respectively the previous year.

Around two-thirds of the company's net revenues came from its Digital Entertainment arm, which includes the videogames business, and the nine months to the end of 2007 saw a 9 per cent growth to JPY 141.1 billion (USD 1.33 billion) over the previous year.

That performance was down in part to Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 in Europe, and World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 and Dance Dance Revolution in North America - as well as a number of titles in Japan.

The company has maintained its original forecast for the full year and expects to post a 5.3 per cent rise in net revenues to JPY 295 billion (USD 2.77 billion) and a 12.9 per cent rise in profits to JPY 18.3 billion (USD 172.1 million) as of March 31, 2008.