Mar 25, 2013

Softbank's TOB on GungHo Online Entertainment, the developer of mega hit app "Puzzle and Dragons"

 Softbank Mobile announced that they will acquire shares of GungHo Online Entertainment, an online game company (hereinafter, GungHo), through a tender offer.

 GungHo's largest shareholder, Softbank BB (under Softbank Group), already owns 33.36% of its share. In addition, 2nd and 3rd largest shareholders are the companies whose president is Mr. Taizo Son, who is also the Chairman of the Board of GungHo and the younger brother of Mr. Masayoshi Son, president of Softbank. Due to fluctuations in the stock of this tender offer, GungHo will become a consolidated subsidiary of Softbank Group.

 GungHo has been originated "On Sale", an online auction company. It changed the company name to the present one, and started the domestic management of the "Ragnarok Online". Thire main businesses are the operations of online gaming, and the development of game softwares of their own.

 Especially a puzzle game RPG app called "Puzzle & Dragons" for smartphones, released in February 2012, is in the blockbuster hit. Its stock price is about five times the year-to-date with the rapid rise.

 According to Softbank Mobile's press release, the purpose of the tender offer is "by taking advantage of the global management resources of Softbank Group, (Softbank Mobile) can contribute to enhancement of revenue and sales channels of online / smartphone game. At the same time, we believe that it will strengthen the revenue base and the corporate value of both GungHo and Softbank Group."

(additional info on March 26)
The maximum purchase price is 24.976 billion yen (340,276 yen per share, 6.37% stake / 73,400 shares). Offer period is from April 1 until April 26. The tender offer agent is Mizuho Securities.