Netmarble Chairman Bang Jun-hyuk agreed to acquire a 13.41% stake from Tencent affiliate Han River Investment. The transaction totals approximately ₩374 billion ($270.7 million). Bang will purchase 11,153,420 shares. The share price is ₩33,538. This price represents a discount to the current market value.
Bang’s ownership will increase to 38.34%. His previous stake was 24.93%. The deal significantly strengthens his control over the South Korean gaming company. Tencent will retain a 4.69% stake following the sale. Both firms confirmed their strategic partnership remains intact since 2014. Bang expects to finance the deal through personal funds and stock-backed loans. The after-hours block trade will conclude on September 21.
China’s market regulator issued conditional approval for Tencent’s stake acquisition in audio platform Ximalaya. The regulator imposed five restrictive conditions to address competition concerns. Tencent also repurchased 667,000 of its own shares. The buyback totaled approximately HK$300 million.