Strong Growth in Sulake's Revenues and Profit - Habbo Hotel online game will launch in the US in September
Sulake, an interactive entertainment company focused on multiplayer online games and communities, recorded revenues of EUR 6.1 million and a profit of EUR 0.3 million for January-June 2004. Revenues for full year 2004 are expected to rise to EUR 15 million. Currently, the company has a staff of 120, which is an increase of 75 persons compared to January 2004.
Revenues for 2003 and 2002 were EUR 4.9 million and EUR 2.3 million, respectively. The launch of Habbo Hotels in new countries and their rapid local growth has contributed to company's strong growth in revenues and profit.
"Our main product, Habbo Hotel, is easily expandable into new markets. We have also been successful in forming major strategic partnerships, for example with leading European ISP, T-Online, in Germany, Chum Television Group in Canada, TTG in the Netherlands and TV2 in Norway," says Timo Soininen, CEO of Sulake Corporation.
Habbo Hotel is an online game environment targeted at teenagers. Launched in 2000, this game environment already operates in 11 countries, with the number of unique monthly users exceeding 2.3 million (Source: RedSheriff).
"Habbo Hotel is already one of the world's most popular websites for teenagers. Our goal for the current year is to increase the number of monthly users to three million. Our mission is to build Habbo into a world-class teen brand," continues Mr. Soininen.
In early September Habbo Hotel will be launched also in the USA.
"As many as 43 percent of US computer and videogame players play online games every week. Habbo Hotel's strength lies in its easy access; you only need an internet connection and a browser to play. In addition to that Habbo Hotel does not require a fixed, pre-paid monthly fee as most massively multiplayer online games do. This is an important competitive advantage for us in the US market," says Soininen.
Habbo Hotel operates localized game environments in Finland, Sweden, Norway, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Japan and Canada. The total number of Habbo characters is already more than 17 million.
Sulake's major shareholders are Taivas Group, Elisa Group, 3i Group Plc, the founders of the company Sampo Karjalainen and Aapo Kyrölä as well as CEO Timo Soininen. Other shareholders include a significant number of the company's employees.
For further information, please contact:
Timo Soininen, CEO, Sulake Corporation, tel. +358 (0)50 564 8269
Juha Hynynen, CFO, Sulake Corporation, tel. +358 (0)50 388 9485