Soft-World, Gamania top local on-line game providers in 2002 dividend

Taipei, March 20, 2003 (CENS)--Soft-World International Corp. and Gamania Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd., among local providers of entertainment software and on-line game services, will distribute the largest dividends per share of NT$5.0 and N$4.0, respectively, for last year's operations.

The two companies are listed on the local over-the-counter bourse. Soft-World will deal out a dividend of NT$3.0 in cash and NT$2.0 in stock per share. The company reaped after-tax profit of NT$407 million last year, translating into net (after-tax) earnings per share (EPS) of NT$6.43.

Soft-World has tapped the market of on-line game services in mainland China by establishing a chain of NetBars in Shanghai. The company plans to set up a subsidiary in Shanghai this year to expand the business operation.

Gamania's 2002 dividend per share of NT$4.0 consists of NT$3.8 in stock and NT$0.2 in cash. The company will hold this year's shareholder meeting on April 28.

Gamania recorded the following financial figures last year: revenue of NT$2.35 billion, climbing by 96% from 2001; gross operating profit of NT$1.48 billion, up 96%; net operating profit of NT$900 million, up 114%; pretax profit of NT$732 million, up 125%; after-tax profit of NT$700 million; and net EPS of NT$6.78.