PRESS RELEASE

from VK Company

VK Company Limited unaudited IFRS results for Q3 2022

VK Company (VKCO)
VK Company Limited unaudited IFRS results for Q3 2022

10-Nov-2022 / 10:00 MSK
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VK Company Limited unaudited IFRS results for Q3 2022

 

November 10, 2022. VK Company Limited (LSE, MOEX: VKCO, hereinafter referred to as “VK” or "the Company" or “the Group”) today releases an unaudited IFRS report and segment financial information for the three and nine months ended 30 September 2022.

 

VK key results in Q3 2022:

  • Q3 2022 Revenue was up 21% YoY to RUB 24,119 mn due to higher sales of online advertising, up 29% YoY. The sector’s main drivers were:
    • Performance formats, up 71% YoY
    • Advertising revenue from small and medium size businesses (SMBs) grew 128% YoY
    • Video ad revenue increased by 16% YoY
  • Q3 2022 Adjusted EBITDA was up 16% YoY to RUB 9,807 mn. EBITDA margin increased by 3 percentage points (p.p.) YoY to 30.6% mostly due to expanding margins in Communications & Social and EdTech segments (+3p.p. and +34 p.p. respectively).
  • Q3 2022 Total Net profit was RUB 41,197 mn, compared to Q3 2021 Total Net loss of RUB 2,354 mn.
  • VK’s largest asset, VKontakte continued to strengthen its leadership position among social networks in Russia with daily audience increasing by 7.1% to a record of 49.4 mn, while the social network’s monthly active users grew 6.9% YoY to a record of 76.9 mn. The growth in audience and engagement led VKontakte to increase its adjusted revenue by almost 34% YoY in Q3.
  • The EdTech segment showed Q3 revenue coming in at RUB 2.6 bn, up 20.3%. The segment posted positive adjusted EBITDA of RUB 459 mn with a margin of 16%. 
  • B2B projects’ revenue expanded 28% YoY in Q3. The highest growth rates in Q3 were seen by corporate communications services and by the VK Tax Compliance, up 343% and 129%, respectively.
  • Youla (classifieds platform) showed positive adjusted EBITDA in Q3 2022 for the first time since its launch.
  • On September 12, VK closed the deal to purchase content platforms Dzen and News from Yandex in exchange for a 100% stake in Delivery Club, ready-to-eat and e-grocery service, and ceased to be a shareholder of O2O Holding. VK continues to enhance its focus on content services and develop its business based on Company’s core products: social networks, communication services and online education platforms.
  • On September 27, VK announced sale of MY.GAMES to Alexander Chachava, the managing partner of LETA Capital. VK continues to develop its own local gaming services under the VK Play brand. Since its launch in April, VK Play has already become the largest video game platform in Russia.
  • VK has significantly moved forward in restructuring of its Convertible Bonds. As at the date of this financial report’s publication, VK has bought back ~55% of all Bonds outstanding with a nominal value of ~$220 mn. The Company continues to look at opportunities to purchase the bonds that remain outstanding.

Growth of the key operating and audience metrics was achieved due to strategic focus on enhancement of VK’s leadership position among content, entertainment and education IT-services, as well as further development of innovative business solutions.

 

Segmental highlights

Communications and Social segment

The segment’s revenue was up 24.3% YoY to RUB 18.5 bn in Q3 2022 with online advertising revenue being the largest revenue component. VKontakte was the main driver with growth of its adjusted revenue approaching 34% YoY in Q3.

The segment’s revenue includes revenue from Dzen and News since their acquisition in early September.

Adjusted EBITDA was up 30.4% YoY to RUB 9.2 bn in Q3 (with a margin of 49% vs 47% a year ago) driven by higher revenue, reduced remuneration to agents/partners and received IT benefits.

 

Communications and Social Segment Performance – Q3 2022 & 9M 2022

RUB millions

Q3
2021

Q3 2022

YoY, %

9M 2021

9M 2022

YoY, %

 

Revenue

14,917

18,536

24%

42,350

50,612

20%

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in deferred revenues

55

(21)

 

155

(212)

 

 

Adjusted revenue

14,972

18,515

24%

42,505

50,400

19%

 

External revenue

14,910

18,407

 

42,283

50,253

 

 

Intersegment revenue

62

108

 

222

147

 

 

Operating expenses

(7,950)

(9,358)

18%

(24,280)

(29,125)

20%

 

Adjusted EBITDA

7,022

9,157

30%

18,225

21,275

17%

 

Adj. EBITDA margin, %

47%

49%

3pp

43%

42%

-1pp

 

 

VKontakte

VKontakte has further strengthened its leading position among the social networks in Russia with a new peak in quarterly average MAU at 76.9 mn (+6.9% YoY) and record-high DAU of 49.4 mn (+7.1% YoY) in Q3 2022. In Q3, the average total time spent on VKontakte stood at 45.2 minutes per day*. VKontakte was reaching 85% of the Russian-speaking internet audience in September, with 54% visiting the platform daily**.

A major update of the VKontakte mobile app was launched in Q3, with maximum focus on content. Updated newsfeed design and user profile were already rolled out.

The number of VK Mini Apps continues to grow, up 73% YoY in September to 63,800, with MAU reaching 38.4 mn in Q3 (+15% YoY). In-app ad revenue of mini apps on the VK Mini Apps platform rose by 45% YoY in Q3. VKontakte increasingly invested in key mini-apps Health and Dating, with their MAU at 7.6 mn and 1.9 mn respectively in Q3.  The number of titles in the VKontakte Mobile Games catalog grew by 160% YoY, with 59% YoY growth in in-game purchases on mobile in Q3.

Our Key video technology platforms (VK Video and VK Clips) reached a new record of 2.41 bn in average combined daily views in Q3. VK Video (1.69bn daily views) launched monetization of live streams for content creators as well as the beta version of the content creator cabinet. It has also further enhanced its content recommendation system. VKontakte also saw growth in video views on the social network itself with 1.16 bn (+45% YoY) in average daily views in Q3.

VKontakte is seeing an increase in content creation and consumption. In Q3, the number of communities created in Russia increased by 28% YoY, while the number of confirmed friend requests up 34% YoY. The number of news feed views increased by 45% YoY. Among the Q3 highlights was the launch of vmoji, a tool to create personal virtual avatars using facial recognition technology and VKontakte’s proprietary generative ML models. Since launch, 6 mn users have launched their digital avatars as of 7 November. VKontakte also launched instant chat translation with multiple language support to help users from different countries and cultures communicate.

In Q3, the total earnings communities made using official VKontakte monetization tools (video monetization, partnership program, and VK Donut) grew by 88% YoY. Creators using VK Donut earned over RUB 126 mn in Q3 (+205% YoY), with the number of communities using VK Donut up 48% YoY and the number of subscribers making payments through VK Donut up 107% YoY in Q3.

Monetization capabilities for communities and content creators are expanding. In Q3 a beta of an updated version of the partnership program for communities was launched, providing access to additional revenue through utilization of new formats inside VKontakte, including by publishing stories or short videos.

In Q3 the number of SMB advertisers in VKontakte increased by 65% YoY, while SMB promotion spending grew twice YoY.

* Source: Mediascope, Q3 2022, Russia (all cities, age 12+), Mobile and Desktop.

** Source: Mediascope, September 2022, Russia (all cities, age 12+), Mobile and Desktop.

 

Odnoklassniki (ОК)

Average Russia MAU for OK stood at 38 mn in Q3, with the best seasonal audience metrics dynamics for the past several years registered in September. Audiences demonstrated strong engagement sending more than 6.4 bn virtual gifts, 325 mn postcards and 490 mn stickers during the quarter.  The number of new user registrations in September grew +8.3% YoY, driven by the 25-45 y.o. age group, with new users demonstrating above average engagement. The number of created communities grew by 66.3% YoY in Q3.

Moments MAU reached 28.4 mn in Q3 (+8.8% YoY). The number of views increased by 32% YoY and reached 497 mn.

Advertising revenue from small and medium size businesses (SMBs) grew 26.5% YoY in Q3, with the number of unique paying SMBs increasing by 12.9% YoY. Total number of business communities publishing content on OK grew by 44.5% YoY in Q3.

In Q3 OK announced its new positioning as a social network centered around hobbies and interests. A key service called “Hobbies” went live on September 1 for all OK users. The social network’s mobile app were also updated, with enhanced navigation with a personalized user menu based on interests. OK has also overhauled its content recommendation system and added monetization for communities featuring video content.

Recommendation platforms (Dzen, Pulse, Relap, News)

Pulse DAU (including vendor audiences) reached 11.2 mn (+24.8% YoY) in Q3 while MAU was 92.8 mn (+7% YoY). Relap’s DAU in Q3 grew to 7.3 mn (+14.9%), MAU reached 107 mn (+26% YoY). Combined Adjusted revenue reached RUB 434 mn in Q3 (+26% YoY). Time spent per active user increased by 49.8% YoY to 19.3 minutes in Q3.

On September 12, VK closed the deal to purchase content platforms Dzen and News from Yandex in exchange for Delivery Club. More information on the deal is available on our website: https://vk.company/en/investors/info/11262/

 

Games segment

On September 27, VK announced sale of MY.GAMES. The deal has incorporated all MY.GAMES assets including its studios and game products. The total deal value stood at USD 642mn. More information on the transaction can be found in the related press release: https://vk.company/en/investors/info/11276/

 

Games Segment Performance – Q3 2022 & 9M 2022 (For reference)

RUB millions

Q3 2021

Q3 2022

YoY, %

9M 2021

9M 2022

YoY, %

Revenue

10,127

8,602

-15%

32,022

30,076

-6%

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in deferred revenues

(47)

(934)

 

139

(1,628)

 

Bookings (Adjusted revenue)

10,080

7,668

-24%

32,161

28,448

-12%

External revenue

10,054

7,665

 

32,083

28,371

 

Intersegment revenue

26

3

 

78

77

 

Operating expenses

(7,108)

(6,327)

-11%

(23,990)

(26,334)

10%

Adjusted EBITDA

2,972

1,341

-55%

8,171

2,114

-74%

Adj. EBITDA margin, %

29%

17%

-12pp

25%

7%

-18pp

 

EdTech segment

The segment’s revenue rose by 20.3% YoY to RUB 2.6 bn. EdTech delivered a positive Adjusted EBITDA of RUB 459 mn in Q3 compared to a loss of RUB 455 mn in Q3 2021 due to optimized expenses and the effect of IT benefits.

 

EdTech Segment Performance – Q3 2022 & 9M 2022 

RUB millions

Q3 2021

Q3 2022

YoY, %

9M 2021

9M 2022

YoY, %

Revenue

2,177

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