Profits soar for Sega Sammy

Sega Sammy Holdings has released its financial results for the nine-month period ended December 31st, showing a rise in sales and net profit across multiple divisions and prompting a revision of the company's full year guidance.

Net sales for the nine-month period were posted at Yen 421 billion (EURO 2.9 billion), an increase of just over five per cent on the same period last year. Net income was posted at Yen 63 billion (EURO 446.5 million) which is a marked increase of 37 per cent on the figures for 2004.

The most significant contributions to the company's success have come from sales of Pachinko and pachislot machines, although Sega Sammy notes that amusement arcade sales and business from the consumer software market, handled by Sega in the West, are also contributing significantly.

Consumer software sales totalled 11.47 million units for the period, including 3.19 million in Japan and Asia, 3.95 million in the US and 4.33 million in Europe. Top selling titles in Japan included "The King of Beetle MUSHIKING: Road to Greatest Champion", "Ryu Ga Gotoku" and "Noryoku Trainer Portable". In the US and Europe, a continuing strong sales performance for Sonic the Hedgehog games, and the recent release of Shadow the Hedgehog has bolstered profits for the firm.

Sega Sammy has issued a revision to its full 2005 fiscal period, increasing its guidance in the same way that it did for its half-yearly results last November, to account for the continuing sales surge in its pachinko and pachislot operations.

For the year ending March 31st, the company expects net sales of Yen 570 billion (EURO 4 billion), marking an increase of Yen 3 billion on previous estimates. Net income for the year is projected to reach Yen 68 billion (EURO 481 million), a leap of Yen 12 billion on previous guidance for the company.