The decision was made because Legend had been registered by other companies as a brand in many countries, it said.

Mary Ma, Legend's chief financial officer, said the adoption of a new brand name will lead to a 10-20 percent increase in the company's marketing and promotion costs this year.

In the second half of the year, the company will announce its long term strategy for the overseas market for the next three to five years.

The company aims to generate 20 percent of its sales from overseas markets by 2006, she said.

SPACE.WIRE