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China Literature Announces 2025 Interim Results

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China Literature (OTC:CHLLY), China's leading online literature and IP platform, reported mixed H1 2025 results. Total revenues decreased to RMB3.19 billion (USD445.7M) from RMB4.19B in H1 2024, primarily due to the absence of new TV/film releases.

The company saw growth in core segments with online business revenues increasing 2.3% YoY to RMB1.99B, driven by self-owned platform growth of 3.1%. Monthly paying users rose 4.5% to 9.2M. IFRS profit surged 68.5% YoY to RMB849.8M, while non-IFRS profit excluding TV/film impact grew 35.7% to RMB545.3M.

Key operational highlights include strong IP commercialization with merchandise GMV reaching RMB480M in H1 (nearly matching FY2024's RMB500M), success in short dramas, and dominance in animation where 8 of top 10 series were adapted from company IPs.

China Literature (OTC:CHLLY), principale piattaforma cinese di letteratura online e gestione di IP, ha riportato risultati contrastanti nel primo semestre 2025. I ricavi totali sono scesi a RMB3.19 billion (USD445.7M) rispetto a RMB4.19B nel primo semestre 2024, principalmente per l'assenza di nuove uscite TV/film.

L'azienda ha registrato però crescita nei segmenti core: i ricavi del business online sono aumentati del 2,3% su base annua a RMB1.99B, sostenuti da una crescita del 3,1% delle piattaforme di proprietà. Gli utenti paganti mensili sono saliti del 4,5% raggiungendo 9,2M. L'utile IFRS è balzato del 68,5% anno su anno a RMB849.8M, mentre l'utile non-IFRS, al netto dell'impatto di TV/film, è cresciuto del 35,7% a RMB545.3M.

I punti operativi chiave includono una forte commercializzazione degli IP, con il GMV del merchandising che ha raggiunto RMB480M nel semestre (quasi in linea con i RMB500M dell'intero 2024), il successo delle serie brevi e la leadership nell'animazione, dove 8 delle top 10 serie sono tratte da IP della società.

China Literature (OTC:CHLLY), la principal plataforma china de literatura online y gestión de IP, presentó resultados mixtos en el 1S 2025. Los ingresos totales bajaron a RMB3.19 billion (USD445.7M) desde RMB4.19B en el 1S 2024, debido sobre todo a la ausencia de nuevos estrenos de TV/cine.

No obstante, la compañía mostró crecimiento en sus segmentos principales: los ingresos del negocio online aumentaron un 2,3% interanual hasta RMB1.99B, impulsados por un crecimiento del 3,1% en sus plataformas propias. Los usuarios mensuales de pago subieron un 4,5% hasta 9,2M. El beneficio IFRS se disparó un 68,5% interanual hasta RMB849.8M, mientras que el beneficio non-IFRS excluyendo el impacto de TV/film creció un 35,7% hasta RMB545.3M.

Entre los hitos operativos destacan la sólida comercialización de IP, con un GMV de merchandising de RMB480M en el semestre (casi igualando los RMB500M de todo 2024), el éxito en series cortas y el dominio en animación, donde 8 de las 10 series principales proceden de IP de la compañía.

China Literature (OTC:CHLLY), 중국의 주요 온라인 문학·IP 플랫폼이 2025년 상반기 실적을 발표했다. 총매출은 신규 TV/영화 출시 부재를 주된 원인으로 RMB3.19 billion(USD445.7M)으로 감소했으며, 이는 2024년 상반기 RMB4.19B에서의 하락이다.

핵심 부문에서는 성장세가 나타났다. 온라인 사업 매출은 전년 동기 대비 2.3% 증가한 RMB1.99B를 기록했고, 자사 플랫폼 매출은 3.1% 성장했다. 월간 유료 이용자 수는 4.5% 증가해 920만 명을 기록했다. IFRS 기준 이익은 전년 대비 68.5% 급증해 RMB849.8M에 달했으며, TV/영화 영향을 제외한 비IFRS 이익은 35.7% 증가한 RMB545.3M을 기록했다.

운영상의 주요 포인트로는 IP 상업화가 강세를 보이며 상품(GMV) 매출이 상반기 RMB480M에 달해 2024년 전체 RMB500M에 근접한 점, 단편 드라마의 성공, 애니메이션 분야에서 상위 10개 시리즈 중 8개가 자사 IP를 원작으로 한 점 등이 있다.

China Literature (OTC:CHLLY), principale plateforme chinoise de littérature en ligne et de valorisation d'IP, a publié des résultats mitigés pour le 1er semestre 2025. Le chiffre d'affaires total a diminué à RMB3.19 billion (USD445.7M) contre RMB4.19B au 1S 2024, en grande partie en raison de l'absence de nouvelles sorties TV/cinéma.

La société a toutefois montré de la croissance sur ses segments principaux : les revenus de l'activité en ligne ont augmenté de 2,3% en glissement annuel pour atteindre RMB1.99B, portés par une progression de 3,1% des plateformes détenues. Le nombre d'abonnés payants mensuels a crû de 4,5% pour s'établir à 9,2M. Le résultat IFRS a bondi de 68,5% en glissement annuel pour atteindre RMB849.8M, tandis que le résultat non‑IFRS hors impact TV/film a progressé de 35,7% à RMB545.3M.

Parmi les faits marquants opérationnels : une commercialisation des IP performante avec un GMV merchandising de RMB480M au semestre (presque équivalent aux RMB500M de l'exercice 2024), le succès des séries courtes et une domination dans l'animation, 8 des 10 meilleures séries provenant d'IP de la société.

China Literature (OTC:CHLLY), Chinas führende Plattform für Online-Literatur und IP, meldete gemischte Ergebnisse für das 1. Halbjahr 2025. Der Gesamtumsatz sank auf RMB3.19 billion (USD445.7M) gegenüber RMB4.19B im 1H 2024, hauptsächlich wegen fehlender neuer TV/Film-Veröffentlichungen.

In den Kernsegmenten gab es jedoch Wachstum: Die Umsätze des Online-Geschäfts stiegen um 2,3% gegenüber dem Vorjahr auf RMB1.99B, getragen von einem 3,1%-Wachstum der eigenen Plattformen. Die monatlich zahlenden Nutzer nahmen um 4,5% auf 9,2M zu. Der IFRS-Gewinn sprang um 68,5% gegenüber dem Vorjahr auf RMB849.8M, während der Non-IFRS-Gewinn ohne TV/Film-Effekt um 35,7% auf RMB545.3M zulegte.

Wesentliche operative Highlights sind die starke IP-Kommerzialisierung, wobei das Merchandise-GMV im Halbjahr RMB480M erreichte (fast auf Höhe der RMB500M im Gesamtjahr 2024), Erfolge bei Kurzserien und die Führungsposition im Animationsbereich, wo 8 der Top-10-Serien auf Unternehmens‑IP basieren.

Positive
  • IFRS profit surged 68.5% YoY to RMB849.8M (USD118.7M)
  • Online business revenues grew 2.3% YoY to RMB1.99B with self-owned platform up 3.1%
  • Monthly paying users increased 4.5% YoY to 9.2M
  • IP merchandise business GMV reached RMB480M in H1, nearly matching full-year 2024
  • Operating profit increased 92.7% YoY to RMB875.8M
  • Strong market position with 8 out of top 10 animation series adapted from company IPs
  • Maintained robust net cash position of RMB9.57B (USD1.34B)
Negative
  • Total revenues declined 23.9% YoY to RMB3.19B due to absence of new TV/film releases
  • IP operations revenue decreased 48.4% YoY to RMB1.14B
  • MAUs declined to 141.3M from 176.0M in H1 2024
  • Monthly ARPU decreased 1.3% YoY to RMB31.3
  • EBITDA declined to RMB318.2M from RMB501.5M in H1 2024

HONG KONG, Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- China Literature Limited ("China Literature" or "the Company", stock code: 0772), a leading online literature and intellectual property ("IP") incubation platform in China, today announced the unaudited consolidated results for the six months ended June 30, 2025.

Results Highlights (1)

  • Total revenues were RMB3,190.6 million (USD445.7 million), compared with RMB4,190.9 million in the first half of 2024.
    - Revenues from online business increased by 2.3% year-over-year to RMB1,985.4 million (USD277.3 million), mainly due to the revenue growth of self-owned platform products.
    - Revenues from intellectual property operations and others decreased by 46.4% year-over-year to RMB1,205.2 million (USD168.4 million), mainly attributable to the absence of new TV series or film releases from New Classics Media ("NCM") in the first half of the year, reflecting the inherent development cycles and scheduling of TV series and film projects.
  • On an IFRS basis:
    - Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company increased by 68.5% year-over-year to RMB849.8 million (USD118.7 million).
    - Basic earnings per share were RMB0.84. Diluted earnings per share were RMB0.83.
  • On a non-IFRS (2) basis, which is intended to reflect core earnings by excluding certain one-time and/or non-cash items:
    - Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB507.8 million (USD70.9 million), compared with RMB702.1 million in the first half of 2024, influenced by the uneven release schedules for TV series and films of NCM within this year. Excluding this impact, non-IFRS profit attributable to equity holders of the Company increased by 35.7% year-over-year to RMB545.3 million (USD76.2 million).
    - Basic earnings per share were RMB0.50. Diluted earnings per share were RMB0.50.

(1)    Figures stated in USD are based on USD1 to RMB7.1586.
(2)    Non-IFRS adjustments exclude share-based compensation, M&A related impact such as net gains or losses from investee companies, amortization of intangible assets and impairment provisions, as well as related income tax effects.
(3)    Certain figures included in this press release have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown as totals may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures shown in the breakdown items.

Mr. Hou Xiaonan, Chief Executive Officer of China Literature, commented, "In the first half of 2025, our online reading content ecosystem continued to flourish, with revenues from online business increasing by 2.3% year-over-year to RMB1.99 billion. In terms of our IP operation business, China Literature's IPs have consistently excelled across premium TV series, animation, and comics. Additionally, we made breakthroughs in emerging segments such as short dramas and IP merchandising. The success rate of blockbuster short dramas saw significant improvement, and our IP merchandise business achieved a GMV of RMB480 million – nearly matching last year's annual total, underscoring its strong momentum of development.

Overall, the year 2025 will be a pivotal period for fostering strong growth momentum. The rapid rise of short dramas, the breakout popularity of trendy toys, and the spreading influence of goods culture are driving new types of content and consumption patterns into the mainstream at an unprecedented pace. This evolution not only highlights the vibrancy of the cultural consumption market but also reaffirms the fundamental core principle: major breakthroughs in growth are driven by the creative transformation and contextual development of premium IP. With this historic opportunity in front of us, we will capitalize on our vast IP library, extensive experience, and established cross-industry synergies we have cultivated over multiple years to reshape the industry landscape and drive its development. Looking ahead, we remain committed to becoming the key driving force and lead architect of China's evolving IP ecosystem."

Financial Review (3)

Revenues were RMB3,190.6 million (USD445.7 million), compared with RMB4,190.9 million in the first half of 2024.

Revenues from online business increased by 2.3% year-over-year to RMB1,985.4 million (USD277.3 million).

i)       Online business revenues from self-owned platform products increased by 3.1% year-over-year to RMB1,746.0 million (USD243.9 million), due to the Company's focus on improving core product operations and continuous production of high-quality content;

ii)      Online business revenues from channels on Tencent products decreased by 25.6% year-over-year to RMB97.1 million (USD13.6 million), primarily due to a decline in advertising revenues associated with the continuous refinement of content distribution practices on Tencent channels and prioritization of distribution through core pay-to-read products; and

iii)     Online business revenues from third-party platforms increased by 23.1% year-over-year to RMB142.2 million (USD19.9 million), reflecting the increasing value of the Company's high-quality content to partners.

Revenues from IP operations and others decreased by 46.4% year-over-year to RMB1,205.2 million (USD168.4 million).

i)       Revenues from IP operations decreased by 48.4% year-over-year to RMB1,137.5 million (USD158.9 million), mainly attributable to the absence of new TV series or film releases in the first half of the year, reflecting the inherent development cycles and scheduling of TV series and film projects. Meanwhile, several new businesses have been developing rapidly, particularly the IP merchandise business, which generated strong growth with GMV increasing to RMB480 million in the first half of the year, nearly reaching the full-year total of RMB500 million in 2024; and

ii)      Revenues from the "others" category, mainly generated by sales of physical books, increased by 41.9% year-over-year to RMB67.7 million (USD9.5 million).

Cost of revenues decreased by 25.1% year-over-year to RMB1,578.2 million (USD220.5 million). The decrease was primarily due to the absence of new TV series or film releases in the first half of the year, which resulted in no corresponding production costs being recognized during the period.

Gross profit was RMB1,612.4 million (USD225.2 million), compared with RMB2,083.2 million in the first half of 2024. Gross margin was 50.5%, compared with 49.7% in the first half of 2024.     

Interest income was RMB81.9 million (USD11.4 million), compared with RMB90.6 million in the first half of 2024.

Net other gains were RMB582.5 million (USD81.4 million), compared with net other losses of RMB3.7 million in the first half of 2024. Net other gains of this period were primarily related to investment activities.

Selling and marketing expenses decreased by 20.4% year-over-year to RMB922.4 million (USD128.9 million), mainly due to a decrease in marketing and promotional expenses associated with TV series and films.

General and administrative expenses decreased by 11.0% year-over-year to RMB484.7 million (USD67.7 million), primarily due to lower employee-related expenses.

Net reversal of impairment losses on financial assets was RMB6.2 million (USD0.9 million), mainly due to the recovery of previously impaired receivables related to IP operations.

Operating profit increased by 92.7% year-over-year to RMB875.8 million (USD122.3 million). On a non-IFRS basis, operating profit was RMB448.7 million (USD62.7 million), compared with RMB624.2 million in the first half of 2024.

Income tax expense was RMB149.5 million (USD20.9 million), compared with RMB99.1 million in the first half of 2024, primarily due to the increase in taxable income.

Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company increased by 68.5% year-over-year to RMB849.8 million (USD118.7 million). On a non-IFRS basis, profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB507.8 million (USD70.9 million), down from RMB702.1 million in the first half of 2024, influenced by the uneven release schedules for TV series and films of NCM within this year. Excluding this impact, non-IFRS profit attributable to equity holders of the Company increased by 35.7% year-over-year from RMB401.7 million in the first half of 2024 to RMB545.3 million (USD76.2 million).

Key Operating Information

-        Average MAUs on self-owned platform products and self-operated channels on Tencent products were 141.3 million in the first half of 2025, compared with 176.0 million in the first half of 2024.

i)       MAUs on self-owned platform products declined by 2.5% year-over-year from 105.3 million to 102.7 million but remained largely stable compared with 102.3 million on a six-month basis; and

ii)      MAUs on self-operated channels on Tencent products were 38.5 million, compared with 70.7 million in the first half of 2024, primarily due to ongoing optimization of operational efficiency by concentrating more content distribution through core pay-to-read products which resulted in a decline in active users on free-to-read channels.

-        Average MPUs on self-owned platform products and self-operated channels on Tencent products increased by 4.5% year-over-year to 9.2 million in the first half of 2025, driven primarily by the launch of additional membership content since the second half of 2024.

-        Monthly ARPU for pay-to-read business decreased by 1.3% year-over-year to RMB31.3, mainly due to a mix effect from lower ARPU contributions from newly acquired membership users.

Other Key Information

-        EBITDA was RMB318.2 million (USD44.5 million), compared with RMB501.5 million in the first half of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA was RMB386.9 million (USD54.0 million), compared with RMB587.6 million in the first half of 2024.

-        As of June 30, 2025, the Company's net cash position was RMB9,573.0 million (USD1,337.3 million), compared with RMB9,935.7 million as of December 31, 2024.

Business Review

During the first half of 2025, China's IP industry saw rapid growth and major transformations occurred throughout the ecosystem. The changes can be summarized across three key areas:

  • Premium IP continues to increase in value. The traditional model of incubating high-quality TV series and film content based on literary IP remains robust and is consistently producing top-tier works with widespread influence and commercial success.
  • The rapid emergence of short dramas is reshaping content consumption, driving higher conversion efficiency and creating powerful new monetization opportunities for the massive library of mid- and long-tail IP. This has significantly accelerated the unlocking of IP value and driven diversification in digital content consumption.
  • Physical and scenario-based IP merchandise such as trendy toys, collectible cards, and goods continue to grow in popularity. This shows how IP is becoming deeply embedded into consumers' daily lives, serving as a key medium for emotional connection, companionship, and social identity – essentially functioning like a social currency.

Together, these trends highlight the rapid evolution of China's IP industry over the first half of 2025. As the industry pivots, our exceptional IP innovation capabilities and expansive IP library ideally position us to capitalize on the moment. Furthermore, we see an opportunity to play a leading role in the evolution of China's IP ecosystem and unlock new growth potential.

IP Creation

Our online reading content ecosystem continues to thrive. In the first half of 2025, our online reading platform added approximately 200,000 writers and 410,000 literary works, collectively contributing approximately 20 billion Chinese characters. High-quality writers and literary works on our platform are growing steadily, with the number of newly signed works generating over RMB1 million in revenue increasing by 63% year-over-year during the first half of the year. Additionally, the number of newly signed writers with over 10,000 average subscribers per chapter rose by 45% year-over-year. The vibrancy of our content ecosystem is reflected in community engagement metrics: the number of works receiving over 10,000 monthly votes during the first half of the year increased by 20% year-over-year, and those surpassing 1 million monthly votes surged by 200% year-over-year.

As a result of these initiatives, revenue from our online business grew by 2.3% year-over-year to RMB1.99 billion and MPU increased by 4.5% year-over-year to 9.2 million.

IP Visualization

In the premium TV segment, several top-tier series adapted from our IPs premiered in the first half of the year, including "Flourished Peony", "Si Jin", "The Glory" and "I am Nobody" which all consecutively ranked first in popularity during their respective broadcasting periods. According to Enlightent data, six out of the top 10 long-form dramas by cumulative views across all platforms in the first half of 2025 were adapted from our IPs. During the summer season in July, our self-produced premium drama series "The Narcotic Operation" debuted on Tencent Video, achieving a popularity index of over 28,000 and earning favorable reviews from multiple mainstream media outlets. We have several additional premium drama projects planned for release in the second half of the year.

In the animation segment, we released new series from our classic animation franchises such as "Battle Through the Heavens", "Stellar Transformations" and "Martial Universe" They all achieved top rankings on platform popularity charts during their respective broadcasting runs. Notably, the annual series "Battle Through the Heavens" topped Tencent Video's paid content chart in the first half of this year. According to Enlightent data, eight out of the top 10 animation series by cumulative views across all platforms in the first half of 2025 were adapted from our IPs.

In the comics segment, we maintained market leadership through our premium IPs while expanding our content ecosystem with high-quality new titles. Established IPs like "The Outcast" and "The Fox Spirit Matchmaker" continued to thrive, highlighting their enduring influence. Meanwhile, standout new titles adapted from our IP performed strongly. Notably, "Dao of the Bizarre Immortal" broke into the top 20 paid bestsellers list within two months of release, setting an industry record for the fastest ascent by a new title. Another adaptation, "Martial Evolution: Start by Awakening the King of Monsters" also topped new release charts for four consecutive months since debuting in April, reflecting strong market appeal and long-term growth potential.

In the short drama segment, we achieved robust growth in the first half of 2025, with a significant increase in the success rate of blockbuster productions. This success is underpinned by our rich IP library, strong creator partnerships, and deep engagement across the IP industry chain. According to Enlightent data, we produced two out of the top 10 short dramas by viewership across all platforms in June 2025. One title generated record-breaking revenue of over RMB80 million, ranking second on Enlightent's viewership charts with over 3 billion views this year. Another title topped Enlightent's weekly charts during its broadcasting run, surpassing 1 billion views in its first month of release. In March, we further upgraded our short drama business by opening more than 2,000 online literature IPs for high-quality adaptation. We released an initial batch of 300 IPs and invited screenwriters and producers across the industry to collaborate. Going forward, we remain committed to our "IP-centric, quality-driven" strategy, strengthening our competitive edge while driving the high-quality development of the short drama industry.

IP Commercialization and Monetization

In the first half of 2025, physical and scenario-based IP merchandise products such as trendy toys, collectible cards, and goods saw rapid growth, highlighting a major shift in mass cultural consumption habits. We responded by capitalizing on this trend, and as a result, our IP merchandise business achieved major breakthroughs.

Our IP merchandise business generated GMV of RMB480 million in the first half of the year, nearly matching last year's full-year total of RMB500 million. This rapid growth was driven by our continued dedication to product development, channel development, user engagement, and licensing expansion.

  • Product Development: We made significant progress advancing rapidly across the entire value chain for product development, including original artwork, design, and craftsmanship. This enabled us to accelerate new product launches to 3-4 times the previous year's pace while simultaneously enhancing product quality.
  • Channel Development: Our online live-streaming rooms and offline stores have expanded steadily. During the 618 shopping festival, our Tmall flagship store ranked first on Taobao's "Trending Goods Store Dark Horse List." We now partner with nearly 10,000 online and offline distributors. Additionally, we are offering our channel development capabilities to empower others.
  • User Engagement: We strengthened connections with fans and generated strong social media engagement by hosting themed events around our premium IPs, including "The King's Avatar", "Lord of the Mysteries" and "Dao of the Bizarre Immortal" and seamlessly integrating them with new product launches.
  • Licensing Expansion: We partnered with 230 brands to further expand the influence of our IPs.

In the gaming segment, we continue to license premium IPs to our partners. The flagship title "Douluo Continent: Soul Hunting World" generated immense enthusiasm from gamers upon its launch in July this year. Additionally, several licensed adaptations, including "The Hidden Ones" and "Lord of the Mysteries" have obtained publication licenses and are expected to release in the near future.

Exploration in New Technologies

We have been actively embracing and integrating AI across our business.

In the first half of the year, we introduced the industry's first AI-powered knowledge base for online literature, "Smart Pen Tongjian" built upon our existing AI tools available on the "Writer Assistant" creation platform. This feature enables full-text comprehension and Q&A for works spanning tens of millions of words, offering valuable support for writing, plot development, and inspiration for long-form content creation. Since its launch, interactions between writers and AI have increased by 40%, driving daily active users of "Writer Assistant" up by over 40% year-over-year, with weekly AI usage approaching 70%.

Our AI translation models have significantly accelerated the global spread of Chinese literary works. In the first half of 2025, revenue from AI-translated titles on our international reading platform, WebNovel, increased by 38% year-over-year, accounting for over 35% of total novel revenue on WebNovel. As of June 30, 2025, WebNovel offered overseas users over 10,000 Chinese translated works and approximately 770,000 locally created originals. The number of AI-translated titles reached 7,200, representing 70% of all Chinese translations.

We are also actively exploring AI applications across multiple content formats including animation, comics, video, audiobooks, radio dramas, and digital avatars, with the aim to unlock the vast potential of transforming mid- and long-tail text IPs into more multimedia formats.

About China Literature Limited

China Literature is dedicated to building a deep and immersive intellectual property ("IP") universe for the Mandarin-speaking world. It incubates original IPs from its online literature platform, which are subsequently adapted to a range of digital entertainment mediums, including comics, animation, film, TV series, web series and games. The virtual world created by these digital offerings becomes an inseparable part of a user's daily life. China Literature creates and promotes IPs mainly through Qidian Reading and QQ Reading, its leading online literature platforms, as well as New Classics Media, a renowned film and TV drama series production house in China. China Literature collaborates with Tencent, its shareholder and strategic partner, as well as other third-party partners to distribute and develop IP content and to enhance the value of its IP. Many of the Company's online literature works have been successfully adapted into animation, TV series, web series, films and games, including Joy of Life, Candle in the Tomb, Soul Land, The King's Avatar and My Heroic Husband. China Literature's rich and extensive content library as well as its unparalleled capability and resources to adapt IP into various entertainment formats is a significant competitive advantage that lies at the core of its business model. For more information, please visit http://ir.yuewen.com/.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

To supplement the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain non-IFRS financial measures, namely non-IFRS operating profit, non-IFRS operating margin, non-IFRS profit for the period, non-IFRS net margin, non-IFRS profit attributable to equity holders of the Company, non-IFRS basic EPS and non-IFRS diluted EPS as additional financial measures, have been presented in this press release for the convenience of readers. These unaudited non-IFRS financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of the Company's financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These unaudited non-IFRS measures may be defined differently from similar terms used by other companies. In addition, non-IFRS adjustments include relevant non-IFRS adjustments for the Company's material associates based on available published financials of the relevant material associates, or estimates made by the Company's management based on available information, certain expectations, assumptions and premises.

Our management believes that the presentation of these non-IFRS financial measures, when shown in conjunction with the corresponding IFRS measures, provides useful information to investors and management regarding the financial and business trends relating to the Company's financial condition and results of operations. Our management also believes that the non-IFRS financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company's operating performances. From time to time, there may be other items that the Company may include or exclude in reviewing its financial results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the industry and business outlook, forecast business plans and growth strategies of the Company. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are stated herein on the basis of the outlook at the time of this press release. They are based on certain expectations, assumptions and premises, some of which are subjective or beyond our control. These forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and may not be realized in future. Underlying the forward-looking statements is a large number of risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these risks and uncertainties is included in our other public disclosure documents on our corporate website.

CHINA LITERATURE

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT








Six months ended June 30,



2025


2024



(RMB in million, unless specified)

Revenues





Online business(1)

1,985.4


1,940.4


Intellectual property operations and others(2)

1,205.2


2,250.6



3,190.6


4,190.9

Cost of revenues

(1,578.2)


(2,107.7)

Gross profit

1,612.4


2,083.2


Gross margin

50.5 %


49.7 %

Interest income

81.9


90.6

Other gains/(losses), net

582.5


(3.7)

Selling and marketing expenses

(922.4)


(1,158.9)

General and administrative expenses

(484.7)


(544.8)

Net reversal of/(provision for) impairment losses

on financial assets

6.2


(12.0)

Operating profit

875.8


454.4


Operating margin

27.4 %


10.8 %

Finance costs, net

(4.0)


(2.1)

Share of net profit of associates and joint ventures

127.3


150.6

Profit before income tax

999.0


603.0

Income tax expense

(149.5)


(99.1)

Profit for the period

849.6


503.9


Net margin

26.6 %


12.0 %

Profit attributable to:





Equity holders of the Company

849.8


504.3


Non-controlling interests

(0.2)


(0.4)



849.6


503.9

Earnings per share




(in RMB per share)




- Basic earnings per share

0.84


0.50

- Diluted earnings per share

0.83


0.49






Notes:

(1)   Revenues from online business primarily reflect revenues from online paid reading, online advertising and distribution of third-party online games on our platform.

(2)   Revenues from intellectual property operations and others primarily reflect revenues from production and distribution of TV, web and animated series, films, licensing of copyrights, operation of self-operated online games, distribution of short dramas, sales of IP merchandise products and sales of physical books.

 

CHINA LITERATURE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME








Six months ended June 30,



2025


2024



(RMB in million)




Profit for the period

849.6


503.9

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:




Item that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss





Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of an associate

0.2


(0.2)


Transfer of share of other comprehensive income to profit or

      loss upon deemed disposal of an associate

(1.3)


-


Currency translation differences

49.9


(19.0)






Item that may not be reclassified to profit or loss





Net gains from changes in fair value of financial assets at fair

      value through other comprehensive income

24.4


1.4


Currency translation differences

(55.1)


47.9



18.1


30.2

Total comprehensive income for the period

867.7


534.1

Total comprehensive income attributable to:





Equity holders of the Company

867.9


534.5


Non-controlling interests

(0.2)


(0.4)


867.7


534.1

 

CHINA LITERATURE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION








As of



June 30, 2025


December 31, 2024



(RMB in million)

ASSETS




Non-current assets





Property, plant and equipment

83.3


97.8


Right-of-use assets

194.6


149.8


Intangible assets

6,137.7


6,158.8


Investments in associates and joint ventures

725.2


928.2


Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

1,031.0


1,039.6


Financial assets at fair value through other

      comprehensive income

874.3


6.3


Deferred income tax assets

413.0


497.2


Prepayments, deposits and other assets

257.2


298.2


Term deposits

2,523.0


2,308.0



12,239.2


11,484.0

Current assets





Inventories

676.3


693.0


Television series and film rights

839.8


529.8


Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

2,945.7


3,252.9


Trade and notes receivables

1,352.7


1,703.4


Prepayments, deposits and other assets

1,045.0


907.4


Restricted bank deposits

4.5


4.5


Term deposits

2,074.6


1,106.2


Cash and cash equivalents

2,025.3


3,264.2



10,963.8


11,461.4

Total assets

23,203.0


22,945.4






EQUITY




Capital and reserves attributable to the equity

      holders of the Company





Share capital

0.6


0.6


Shares held for RSU scheme

(14.6)


(14.6)


Share premium

15,969.2


16,117.9


Other reserves

2,036.6


1,975.8


Retained earnings

1,166.4


294.7



19,158.2


18,374.4

Non-controlling interests

1.6


1.7

Total equity

19,159.8


18,376.2





As of



June 30, 2025


December 31, 2024



(RMB in million)

LIABILITIES




Non-current liabilities





Lease liabilities

135.7


85.0


Long-term payables

13.5


10.8


Deferred income tax liabilities

127.1


129.4


Deferred revenue

20.8


21.9



297.1


247.2

Current liabilities





Lease liabilities

70.8


81.2


Trade payables

1,101.5


1,044.6


Other payables and accruals

1,062.7


1,662.0


Deferred revenue

1,140.1


1,148.9


Current income tax liabilities

196.8


217.7


Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

174.3


167.6



3,746.2


4,322.0

Total liabilities

4,043.2


4,569.3

Total equity and liabilities

23,203.0


22,945.4

 

CHINA LITERATURE

RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROFIT TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA



Six months ended June 30,


2025


2024


(RMB in million)

Reconciliation of operating profit to EBITDA

     and adjusted EBITDA:




Operating profit

875.8


454.4

Adjustments:




Interest income

(81.9)


(90.6)

Other (gains)/losses, net

(582.5)


3.7

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

18.8


17.8

Depreciation of right-of-use assets

34.2


36.2

Amortization of intangible assets

53.8


79.9

EBITDA

318.2


501.5

Adjustments:




Share-based compensation

65.9


55.4

Expenditures related to acquisition

2.7


30.7

Adjusted EBITDA

386.9


587.6

 

CHINA LITERATURE
RECONCILIATIONS OF IFRS TO NON-IFRS RESULTS



Unaudited six months ended June 30, 2025


Adjustments


As

reported

Share-

based

compensation

Net (gains)

from investments

and acquisitions(1)

Amortization

of intangible

assets(2)

Tax effect

Non-IFRS


(RMB in million, unless specified)

Operating profit

875.8

65.9

(502.5)

9.5

-

448.7

Profit for the period

849.6

65.9

(502.5)

9.5

85.2

507.6

Profit attributable to equity

holders of the Company

849.8

65.9

(502.5)

9.5

85.2

507.8

Earnings per share (RMB per

share)







- basic

0.84





0.50

- diluted

0.83





0.50

Operating margin

27.4 %





14.1 %

Net margin

26.6 %





15.9 %



Unaudited six months ended June 30, 2024


Adjustments


As

reported

Share-

based

compensation

Net losses

from investments

and acquisitions(1)

Amortization

of intangible

assets(2)

Tax effect

Non-IFRS


(RMB in million, unless specified)

Operating profit

454.4

55.4

104.7

9.5

-

624.2

Profit for the period

503.9

55.4

104.7

9.5

28.0

701.7

Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company

504.3

55.4

104.7

9.5

28.0

702.1

Earnings per share (RMB per share)







- basic

0.50





0.69

- diluted

0.49





0.69

Operating margin

10.8 %





14.9 %

Net margin

12.0 %





16.7 %


Notes:

(1)  This item mainly includes gains on disposal and deemed disposal, impairment provision and fair value changes arising from our investee companies, the fair value changes of consideration liabilities related to the acquisition of New Classics Media, and the compensation costs for certain employees and former owners related to acquisitions.

(2)  Represents amortization of intangible assets and TV series and film rights resulting from acquisitions.

 

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-literature-announces-2025-interim-results-302527550.html

SOURCE China Literature

FAQ

What were China Literature's (CHLLY) key financial results for H1 2025?

China Literature reported total revenues of RMB3.19B, down 23.9% YoY, while IFRS profit increased 68.5% to RMB849.8M. Online business revenues grew 2.3% to RMB1.99B.

How did China Literature's user metrics perform in H1 2025?

Monthly paying users increased 4.5% to 9.2M, while total MAUs decreased to 141.3M from 176.0M. Monthly ARPU slightly declined by 1.3% to RMB31.3.

What drove the decline in China Literature's total revenue for H1 2025?

The revenue decline was primarily due to the absence of new TV series or film releases from New Classics Media during H1 2025, reflecting normal project development cycles.

How is China Literature's IP merchandise business performing in 2025?

The IP merchandise business showed strong growth with GMV reaching RMB480M in H1 2025, nearly matching the full-year 2024 total of RMB500M.

What is China Literature's current cash position as of June 2025?

The company maintained a strong net cash position of RMB9.57B (USD1.34B) as of June 30, 2025, compared to RMB9.94B at the end of 2024.
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