Taipei, Oct. 1, 2008 (CENS)--With Nike enjoying a boom, Yue Yuen Industrial Ltd., a Hong Kong-listed Taiwanese footwear maker and a major supplier for the Oregon-based brand, set record high profit of US$452 million in the first three quarters of this year, surging 56.4% from the corresponding figure of last year.

A Pou Chen Group subsidiary, Yue Yuen is the world`s largest OEM contractor of sportswear based in Taiwan, as well as a rare pioneer among its peers to list in Hong Kong.

Nike is Yue Yuen`s largest client and Pou Chen has established a Nike-dedicated R&D center inside its plant in central Taiwan. Nike recently released its third-quarter financial statement showing better than expected profit despite general worrying of the impact on such segment from the U.S. credit crisis.

Nike`s healthy performance has helped boost Yue Yuen stock price in Hong Kong and that of Pou Chen in Taiwan. Institutional investors expressed eagerness to invest in these two companies. Foreign banks in Taiwan, including Switzerland-based Credit Suisse and Singapore-based Overseas Chinese Banking Corp., recently overbought Pou Chen shares. Foreign investors in Hong Kong have set Yue Yuen shares at the current high of HK$28 per share.

Insiders believe the thriving China market is the main driver of the robust sales of Nike sportswear.

(by Judy Li)