UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
20-F
(Mark
One)
o
|
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
|
OR
x
|
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934For the fiscal year ended December 31,
2009
|
OR
o
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934For the transition period from ________________ to
________________
|
OR
o
|
SHELL
COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
|
Commission
file number: 000-50476
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Webzen
Inc.
(Translation
of Registrant’s name into English)
The
Republic of Korea
(Jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
14th
Floor, Daerung Post Tower 2nd
182-13
Guro-Dong Guro Gu
Seoul,
Korea 152-790
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Hwi
Joon Shin, Tel: +82 2 3498 1600, Facsimile: +82 2 2057 2568, 14
th
Floor, Daerung Post Tower 2
nd
,
182-13 Guro-Dong Guro Gu, Seoul, Korea 152-790
|
(Name,
Telephone, E-Mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact
Person)
|
Securities
registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:
Title
of each class
|
Name
of each exchange on which registered
|
(1)
Common shares, par value
₩
500 per share (“Common
Shares”)*
|
The
Nasdaq Global Market
|
(2) American
Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each of which represents three tenths of a
common share
|
The
Nasdaq Global Market
|
* Not
for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary
Shares.
Securities
registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:
None
Securities
for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Act:
None
Indicate
the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or
common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual
report.
The
number of outstanding shares as of December 31, 2009:
|
Number
of Shares Outstanding
|
Common
Shares
|
10,499,658
|
ADSs
|
4,524,300
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined
in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
o
Yes
x
No
If this
report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the
registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
o
Yes
x
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
x
Yes
o
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T(
§
232.405 of this
chapter) during the preceding 12 months(or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such files)
o
Yes
x
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
o
Large
accelerated filer
|
x
Accelerated
filer
|
o
Non-accelerated
filer
|
Indicate
by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the
financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
U.S. GAAP
x
International
Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting
Standards Board
o
Other
o
If
“Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check
mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to
follow.
o
Item
17
o
Item
18
If this
is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell
company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
o
Yes
x
No
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
|
2
|
Item
1.
|
|
2
|
Item
2.
|
|
2
|
Item
3.
|
|
2
|
Item
4.
|
|
13
|
Item
5.
|
|
25
|
Item
6.
|
|
40
|
Item
7.
|
|
46
|
Item
8.
|
|
49
|
Item
9.
|
|
50
|
Item
10.
|
|
52
|
Item
11.
|
|
67
|
Item
12.
|
|
68
|
|
|
68
|
Item
13.
|
|
68
|
Item
14.
|
|
68
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Item
15.
|
|
69
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Item
16.
|
|
70
|
|
|
72
|
Item
17.
|
|
72
|
Item
18.
|
|
72
|
Item
19.
|
Exhibits
|
|
CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS, CONVENTIONS AND PRESENTATION OF
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Unless
the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report
to:
|
·
|
“Korea”
or the “Republic” are to The Republic of
Korea;
|
|
·
|
“Government”
are to the government of the
Republic;
|
|
·
|
“China”
or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of
China;
|
|
·
|
“Taiwan”
are to Taiwan, the Republic of
China;
|
|
·
|
“U.S.”
or the “United States” are to the United States of
America;
|
|
·
|
“Webzen,”
“we,” “us,” “our,” “our company” or “Company” are to Webzen
Inc.;
|
|
·
|
“Won”
or “
₩
”
are to the currency of the
Republic;
|
|
·
|
“U.S.
dollars,” “$” or “US$” are to the currency of the United
States;
|
|
·
|
“Renminbi”
or “RMB” are to the currency of
China;
|
|
·
|
“NT
dollars” are to the currency of Taiwan;
and
|
|
·
|
“Yen”
or “
¥
”
are to the currency of Japan.
|
The
consolidated financial statements of Webzen have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S.
GAAP”). Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, all amounts
in such financial statements are expressed in Won.
For your
convenience, this annual report contains translations of certain Won amounts
into U.S. dollars at the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York for Won in effect on December 31, 2009 which was
₩
1,163.65 to
US$1.00.
This
annual report contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of Section 21(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When
included in this annual report, the words, “will,” “should,” “expects,”
“intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions, among others,
identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, which include, but are not
limited to, statements contained in “Item 3. Key Information — 3.D. Risk
Factors,” “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and “Item 11.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk,” inherently are
subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those set forth in such statements. These
forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this annual report.
We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release any update or
revision to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change
in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any statement is based.
PART I
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and
Advisers
Not
applicable.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected
Timetable
Not
applicable.
Item 3. Key Information
3.A. Selected
Financial Data
The
following selected consolidated financial information has been derived from our
consolidated financial statements as of each of the dates and for each of the
periods indicated below. This information should be read in conjunction with and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to our consolidated financial
statements, including the notes thereto, included in this annual report. Our
consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S.
GAAP.
|
|
As
of and for the years ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won and thousands of US$, except per share data and per ADS
data)
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
Statement
of operations data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Online
game subscriptions
|
|
₩
|
26,830
|
|
|
₩
|
21,247
|
|
|
₩
|
22,884
|
|
|
₩
|
22,478
|
|
|
₩
|
19,833
|
|
|
$
|
17,043
|
|
Royalties
and license fees
|
|
|
4,816
|
|
|
|
2,811
|
|
|
|
6,213
|
|
|
|
10,298
|
|
|
|
10,845
|
|
|
|
9,320
|
|
Service
fees
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
717
|
|
|
|
616
|
|
Total
net revenues
|
|
|
31,646
|
|
|
|
24,058
|
|
|
|
29,097
|
|
|
|
32,776
|
|
|
|
31,395
|
|
|
|
26,979
|
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
|
12,815
|
|
|
|
15,722
|
|
|
|
17,505
|
|
|
|
15,102
|
|
|
|
15,634
|
|
|
|
13,435
|
|
Gross
profit
|
|
|
18,831
|
|
|
|
8,336
|
|
|
|
11,592
|
|
|
|
17,674
|
|
|
|
15,761
|
|
|
|
13,544
|
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
26,763
|
|
|
|
32,699
|
|
|
|
22,848
|
|
|
|
24,590
|
|
|
|
13,761
|
|
|
|
11,825
|
|
Research
and development expenses
|
|
|
20,282
|
|
|
|
24,062
|
|
|
|
23,164
|
|
|
|
1,816
|
|
|
|
2,227
|
|
|
|
1,914
|
|
Impairment
charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
505
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Operating
loss
|
|
|
(28,214
|
)
|
|
|
(48,425
|
)
|
|
|
(34,420
|
)
|
|
|
(9,237
|
)
|
|
|
(227
|
)
|
|
|
(195
|
)
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
4,747
|
|
|
|
3,991
|
|
|
|
3,503
|
|
|
|
3,364
|
|
|
|
2,232
|
|
|
|
1,919
|
|
Other
income (expense)
|
|
|
(213
|
)
|
|
|
1,946
|
|
|
|
7,660
|
|
|
|
(1,154
|
)
|
|
|
2,440
|
|
|
|
2,096
|
|
Income
(loss) before income tax expenses (benefit) and equity in
earnings (loss) of related equity investment
|
|
|
(23,680
|
)
|
|
|
(42,488
|
)
|
|
|
(23,257
|
)
|
|
|
(7,027
|
)
|
|
|
4,445
|
|
|
|
3,820
|
|
Income
tax expenses (benefit)
|
|
|
(5,507
|
)
|
|
|
5,102
|
|
|
|
2,579
|
|
|
|
802
|
|
|
|
1,055
|
|
|
|
907
|
|
Income
(loss) before equity in earnings (loss) of related equity
investment
|
|
|
(18,173
|
)
|
|
|
(47,590
|
)
|
|
|
(25,836
|
)
|
|
|
(7,829
|
)
|
|
|
3,390
|
|
|
|
2,913
|
|
Equity
in earnings (loss) of related equity investment, net of
taxes
|
|
|
(664
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
|
(18,837
|
)
|
|
|
(47,590
|
)
|
|
|
(25,836
|
)
|
|
|
(7,829
|
)
|
|
|
3,390
|
|
|
|
2,913
|
|
Net
income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
|
(33
|
)
|
|
|
(525
|
)
|
|
|
(242
|
)
|
|
|
(154
|
)
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
69
|
|
Net
income (loss) attributable to parent company
|
|
₩
|
(18,804
|
)
|
|
₩
|
(47,065
|
)
|
|
₩
|
(25,594
|
)
|
|
₩
|
(7,675
|
)
|
|
₩
|
3,309
|
|
|
$
|
2,844
|
|
Earnings
(loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss) attributable to parent company shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
₩
|
(1,497
|
)
|
|
₩
|
(3,847
|
)
|
|
₩
|
(2,078
|
)
|
|
₩
|
(641
|
)
|
|
₩
|
279
|
|
|
$
|
0.24
|
|
Diluted(2)
|
|
|
(1,497
|
)
|
|
|
(3,847
|
)
|
|
|
(2,078
|
)
|
|
|
(641
|
)
|
|
|
278
|
|
|
|
0.24
|
|
Earnings
(loss) per ADS(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
(449
|
)
|
|
|
(1,154
|
)
|
|
|
(623
|
)
|
|
|
(192
|
)
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
0.07
|
|
Diluted(2)
|
|
|
(449
|
)
|
|
|
(1,154
|
)
|
|
|
(623
|
)
|
|
|
(192
|
)
|
|
|
83
|
|
|
|
0.07
|
|
Dividends
declared per share(4)
|
|
₩
|
250
|
|
|
₩
|
—
|
|
|
₩
|
—
|
|
|
₩
|
—
|
|
|
₩
|
—
|
|
|
₩
|
—
|
|
|
|
As
of and for the years ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won and thousands of US$, except per share data and per ADS
data)
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average number of shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
12,563,892
|
|
|
|
12,233,204
|
|
|
|
12,319,347
|
|
|
|
11,982,216
|
|
|
|
11,856,948
|
|
|
|
11,856,948
|
|
Diluted(2)
|
|
|
12,563,892
|
|
|
|
12,233,204
|
|
|
|
12,319,347
|
|
|
|
11,982,216
|
|
|
|
11,885,846
|
|
|
|
11,885,846
|
|
Balance
sheet data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
₩
|
121,739
|
|
|
₩
|
78,138
|
|
|
₩
|
66,857
|
|
|
₩
|
41,823
|
|
|
₩
|
64,981
|
|
|
$
|
55,842
|
|
Short-term financial
instruments
|
|
|
2,935
|
|
|
|
5,211
|
|
|
|
8,047
|
|
|
|
11,523
|
|
|
|
1,411
|
|
|
|
1,212
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
|
185,685
|
|
|
|
142,385
|
|
|
|
121,414
|
|
|
|
100,117
|
|
|
|
104,367
|
|
|
|
89,689
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
|
17,406
|
|
|
|
16,691
|
|
|
|
22,475
|
|
|
|
16,929
|
|
|
|
16,768
|
|
|
|
14,410
|
|
Total
parent company shareholders’ equity
|
|
|
167,412
|
|
|
|
125,396
|
|
|
|
98,869
|
|
|
|
83,188
|
|
|
|
87,575
|
|
|
|
75,259
|
|
Non-controlling
interest
|
|
|
867
|
|
|
|
298
|
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
Total equity
|
|
₩
|
168,279
|
|
|
₩
|
125,694
|
|
|
₩
|
98,939
|
|
|
₩
|
83,188
|
|
|
₩
|
87,599
|
|
|
$
|
75,279
|
|
(1)
|
For
convenience, the Won amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of
₩
1,163.65
to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on December 31, 2009 as
announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The translation is not
a representation that the Won or U.S. dollar amounts referred to herein
could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars or Won, as the
case may be, at any particular rate, or at
all.
|
(2)
|
For
further information on historical financial statement effects of stock
option issuances, see note 14 to our audited financial statements as of
and for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and
2009.
|
(3)
|
Based
on earnings per share. Each ADS represents three-tenths of a common
share.
|
(4)
|
The
record date for the dividend payment was December 31,
2004.
|
Exchange
Rates
Fluctuations
in the exchange rate between Won and U.S. dollars will affect the U.S. dollar
equivalent of the Won price of our common shares on The Korea Exchange, Inc.
(“KRX”) KOSDAQ Market (“KOSDAQ”) and, as a result, will likely affect the market
price of our ADSs. These fluctuations will also affect the U.S. dollar
conversion by the depositary of cash dividends paid in Won and the Won proceeds
received by the depositary from any sale of our common shares represented by our
ADSs.
In
certain parts of this annual report, we have translated Won amounts into U.S.
dollars for the convenience of investors. Unless otherwise stated, the rate we
used for the translation was
₩
1,163.65 to
US$1.00, which was the noon buying rate announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York on December 31, 2009. The translation is not a representation that the
Won or U.S. dollar amounts referred to herein could have been or could be
converted into U.S. dollars or Won, as the case may be, at any particular rate,
or at all. The table below sets forth, for the periods indicated, information
concerning the exchange rate for Won, expressed in Won per one U.S.
dollar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|
(Won
per US$1.00)
|
|
2005
|
|
|
1,010.0
|
|
|
|
1,023.2
|
|
|
|
1,059.8
|
|
|
|
997.0
|
|
2006
|
|
|
930.0
|
|
|
|
950.1
|
|
|
|
1,002.9
|
|
|
|
913.7
|
|
2007
|
|
|
935.8
|
|
|
|
928.0
|
|
|
|
950.2
|
|
|
|
903.2
|
|
2008
|
|
|
1,262.0
|
|
|
|
1,105.8
|
|
|
|
1,507.9
|
|
|
|
935.2
|
|
2009
|
|
|
1,163.7
|
|
|
|
1,270.0
|
|
|
|
1,570.1
|
|
|
|
1,149.0
|
|
December
|
|
|
1,163.7
|
|
|
|
1,163.3
|
|
|
|
1,185.4
|
|
|
|
1,149.0
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
January
|
|
|
1,158.7
|
|
|
|
1,138.2
|
|
|
|
1,163.1
|
|
|
|
1,120.0
|
|
February
|
|
|
1,159.0
|
|
|
|
1,155.7
|
|
|
|
1,170.0
|
|
|
|
1,144.0
|
|
March
|
|
|
1,131.2
|
|
|
|
1,136.1
|
|
|
|
1,153.0
|
|
|
|
1,128.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|
(Won
per US$1.00)
|
|
April
|
|
|
1,108.0
|
|
|
|
1,115.5
|
|
|
|
1,126.3
|
|
|
|
1,104.0
|
|
May
|
|
|
1,194.5
|
|
|
|
1,164.8
|
|
|
|
1,253.2
|
|
|
|
1,115.0
|
|
(1)
|
Annual
average rate refers to the average of the exchange rates on the last date
of each month (or a portion thereof) during the period. Monthly average
rate refers to the average of daily exchange rates during the
period.
|
Source:
|
For
periods prior to and on December 31, 2008, the noon buying rates of the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York; for periods subsequent to December 31,
2008, Federal Reserve Statistical Release, Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.
|
3.B. Capitalization
and Indebtedness
Not
applicable.
3.C. Reasons
for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not
applicable.
3.D. Risk
Factors
Risks
Related to the Company
Risks
Related to Our Business
The
merger with NHN Games Co., Ltd. (“NHN Games”) may expose us to certain
risks.
On April
15, 2010, our board of directors approved a transaction with NHN Games, whereby
NHN Games will merge with and into us under Korean law, pursuant to which NHN
Games will cease to exist and we will be the sole surviving entity (the
“Merger”). The board of directors of NHN Games also approved the
Merger and both companies entered into a merger agreement. All the assets and
liabilities of NHN Games, along with its rights and obligations, will be assumed
by us in accordance with applicable laws. At the shareholder meetings of our
company and NHN Games, held on June 4, 2010, the shareholders of both companies
approved the Merger.
The
Merger exposes us to potential difficulties that could prevent us from achieving
the strategic objectives for the Merger or harm our ability to achieve
anticipated levels of profitability from the Merger. Specifically, these
difficulties include:
·
|
diversion
of management’s attention from the normal operation of our
business;
|
·
|
potential
loss of key employees of NHN Games;
|
·
|
increases
in our expenses and working capital requirements, which reduce our return
on invested capital;
|
·
|
potential
increases in debt, which increase our operating costs as a result of
higher interest payments;
|
·
|
exposure
to unanticipated contingent liabilities of NHN
Games;
|
·
|
difficulties
in integrating NHN Games into our existing operations, technologies and
personnel which may prevent us from achieving, or may reduce, the
anticipated synergies;
|
·
|
the
inability to generate sufficient revenue to offset the costs and expenses
of the Merger;
|
·
|
the
dilution of share ownership; and
|
·
|
potential
loss of, or harm to, relationships with employees, customers and suppliers
as a result of challenges from the integration
process.
|
If we are
not able to successfully manage these potential difficulties, the Merger might
not result in any anticipated benefits, which could materially and adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our
business is intensely “hit” driven. If we fail to deliver “hit” products or if
consumers prefer our competitors’ products over our own, our operating results
could suffer.
While
many new online game products are regularly introduced, only a relatively small
number of “hit” titles account for a significant portion of the total net
revenue in our industry. We commenced commercial service of Soul of the Ultimate
Nation (SUN) in Korea in the fourth quarter of 2006, in Taiwan and China in the
second quarter of 2007 and in Japan in the second quarter of 2008. The
performance in Korea, however, has not met our initial expectations. We have
also conducted multiple tests of Huxley since September 2007, and we expect to
commence commercial service of Huxley in the second half of 2010 in Korea and
the U.S. In addition to our internal development efforts, we have entered into
agreements with NHN Games to broaden our game offerings. We have already started
offering Archlord through a portal website jointly operated with NHN Games, and
have plans to offer Reign of Revolution (“R2”) in the near future.
We are
unable to predict if our new games and services will be successful. In addition,
even if any of our games are initially well-received, the introduction of more
popular games by our competitors may significantly shorten the life-cycle of our
game, which could cause our revenue to fall below our expectations. If our
competitors develop more successful products, offer competitive products at
lower prices, or if we do not continue to develop consistently high-quality and
well-received products, our revenue, margins and profitability will
decline.
Additionally,
our business is subject to risks that are generally associated with the
entertainment industry, many of which are beyond our control. These risks could
negatively impact our operating results and include: the popularity, price and
timing of our games and the platforms on which they are played; economic
conditions that adversely affect discretionary consumer spending; changes in
consumer demographics; the availability and popularity of other forms of
entertainment; and critical reviews and public tastes and preferences, which may
change rapidly and are difficult to predict.
Disruptions
in global credit and financial markets and the resulting governmental actions
around the world could have a material adverse impact on our business and the
ability to meet our funding needs, and could cause the market value of our
common shares and ADSs to decline.
Global
credit markets have been experiencing difficulties and volatility since the
second half of 2008. The market uncertainty that started in the U.S.
residential market further expanded to other markets such as those for leveraged
finance, collateralized debt obligations and other structured products. These
developments have resulted in significant contraction, de-leveraging and reduced
liquidity in the global credit markets, as well as bankruptcy or acquisition of,
and government assistance to, several major U.S. and European financial
institutions. More recently, concerns over volatility in the global financial
markets resurfaced when Dubai requested a standstill in connection with debt
owed by its state-run companies and growing budget deficits of Greece led the
three leading rating agencies to downgrade the country’s debt ratings. In
response to such developments, legislators and financial regulators in the
United States and other jurisdictions, including Korea, have implemented a
number of policy measures designed to add stability to financial markets.
However, the overall impact of these legislative and regulatory efforts on the
global financial markets is uncertain, and they may not have the intended
stabilizing effects. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”), other regulators, self-regulatory organizations and exchanges are
authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of market emergencies, and
may effect changes in law or interpretations of existing laws.
We are
exposed to risks related to changes in the global and Korean economic
environments, changes in interest rates and instability in the global financial
markets. As liquidity and credit concerns and volatility in the global financial
markets increased, the value of the Won relative to the Dollar has fluctuated
significantly. Furthermore, as a result of adverse global and Korean economic
conditions, there has been continuing volatility in securities prices of Korean
companies, including ours, which may result in trading and valuation losses on
our trading and investment securities portfolio. In addition, limitations on the
availability of credit resulting from heightened concerns about the stability of
the markets generally and the strength of counterparties specifically have led
many lenders and institutional investors to reduce or cease providing funding to
borrowers, which may negatively impact
our
liquidity and results of operation. Major market disruptions and the current
adverse changes in market conditions and regulatory climate may further impair
our ability to meet our desired funding needs. We cannot predict how long the
current market conditions will last. These recent and developing economic and
governmental factors may have a material adverse effect on our business and the
ability to meet our funding needs, as well as negatively affect the market
prices of our common shares and ADSs. In addition, if our game players reduce
their spending on playing massively-multiplayer role-playing online games, or
MMORPGs, due to such uncertain economic conditions, our business may be
adversely affected.
We
may have conflicts of interest with NHN Games. Because of NHN Games’ significant
ownership interest in and control over us, we may not be able to resolve such
conflicts on terms favorable to us.
Since May
2008, NHN Games purchased common stock of our company (the “Common Shares”) from
various shareholders including our prior controlling shareholders. As a result,
it has gained control of our company and owned 3,469,784 Common Shares or 29.26%
of the outstanding Common Shares as of May 06, 2010. In addition, NHN Games
entered into an arrangement with Nam-Ju Kim, Ki-Yong Cho, Kil-Saup Song and
Chang Keun Kim that they would have a good faith discussion with NHN Games
before exercising any voting rights of the Common Shares and that they shall
exercise voting rights together in the same direction in accordance with the
discussion for matters relating to changing or influencing control of our
company. Based on such arrangement, the individuals referred to above each
executed and delivered a power of attorney appointing NHN Games as the
attorney-in-fact with full power and authority to act with respect to all
matters related to Section 147 of the Capital Market and Financial Investment
Business Act of Korea, which sets forth the obligation to report beneficial
ownership of equity securities of more than 5% of a class of stock listed on
Korea Exchange or KOSDAQ. As a result, NHN Games effectively controlled 37.76%
of our outstanding Common Shares as of May 06, 2010. Such share holding gives
NHN Games the power to significantly affect the actions that require shareholder
approval under Korean law and our articles of incorporation, including the
election and removal of any member of our board of directors, mergers,
consolidations and other business combinations and changes to our articles of
incorporation. At the effective date of the Merger, NHN Corporation (“NHN
Corp.”) and Byoung Gwan Kim, who together owns the majority of the shares of NHN
Games, will together own the majority the Common Shares, and thus will have
the power to control the actions that require shareholder
approval. As a result of such share ownership, its voting power may cause
transactions to occur that might not be beneficial to you as a holder of ADSs
and may prevent transactions that would be beneficial to you. For example, NHN
Games, or after the effective date of the Merger, NHN Corp. and Byoung Gwan Kim,
may prevent a transaction involving a change of control of us, including
transactions in which you as a holder of our ADSs might otherwise receive a
premium for your securities over the then-current market price; approve a merger
or consolidation of our company, which you may disapprove; or sell a controlling
interest in us to a third party without your approval. Decisions by NHN Games,
or after the effective date of the Merger, by NHN Corp. and Byoung Gwan Kim,
with respect to us or our business may be resolved in ways that favor them,
which may not coincide with the interests of our other
shareholders.
If
we do not meet our product development schedules, our operating results will be
adversely affected.
We have
new games and services that we plan to launch from the second half of 2010.
Huxley is scheduled for commercial launch in the second half of 2010, and T
Project is planned to have an open beta testing in 2011. We have also commenced
the development of MU2. Our ability to meet product development schedules is
affected by a number of factors, including the creative processes involved, the
coordination of development teams required by the increasing complexity of our
products and the need to fine-tune our products prior to their release. We have
in the past experienced development delays of our products. Failure to meet
anticipated production or commercialization schedules may cause a shortfall in
our revenue, adversely affect our profitability and cause our operating results
to be materially different from expectations. In addition, the perceived or
actual delay of our launch schedules has in the past and will likely in the
future have a negative affect on the price of our common shares and
ADSs.
We currently depend on two games, MU
and Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN), for substantially all of our
revenue
.
Substantially
all of our revenues and profits are currently derived from two online games, MU
and Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN). Revenue generated from MU decreased in
2009 and may decrease in the future as the game has reached its declining stage
and as users may switch to newly introduced games or other MMORPGs
or
discontinue
playing MMORPGs. We commenced commercial service of Soul of the Ultimate Nation
(SUN) in Korea in the fourth quarter of 2006, in Taiwan and China in the second
quarter of 2007 and in Japan in the second quarter of 2008, but the game is
still in its initial stages contributing less to our revenue than MU. We have
entered into agreements with NHN Games to broaden our game offerings. We
commenced service of Archlord in July 2009 and plan to offer R2 in the near
future. If revenue derived from Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) or
Archlord does not increase at the pace we expect, or at all, MU revenue
continues to decline or commercialization of new games such as Huxley and R2 is
delayed for any reason, our future results of operations and the prices of our
common shares and ADSs will be negatively affected.
Increased
competition in the online game industry may adversely affect our
business.
Competition
in our industry is intense and we expect new competitors to continue to emerge.
There are over 100 companies in Korea alone that are dedicated to developing
and/or operating online games. Our competitors in the MMORPG industry vary in
size from small companies to very large companies with dominant market shares
such as Blizzard and NCsoft. Chinese game developers have also developed and
successfully launched new games, many of which are tailored to the needs and
tastes of Chinese game players. We also compete with online casual game and game
portal companies such as NHN, Neowiz, Nexon and CJ Internet. In addition, we may
face stronger competition from console game companies, such as Sony, Microsoft
and Nintendo, many of which have expanded their game services and offerings to
enable console games to be played over the Internet. Many of our competitors
have significantly greater financial, marketing and game development resources
than we have. As a result, we may not be able to devote resources to design and
develop new games, undertake extensive marketing campaigns, adopt aggressive
pricing policies, pay high compensation to game developers or compensate
independent game developers to the same degree as some of our competitors. In
markets outside Korea, we may not be able to provide games that are as
customized to the tastes and preferences of local customers. We believe the
decline in the number of MU subscribers in major overseas market such as China
is attributable to the success of new games introduced by our competitors. In
addition, increased competition in the online game industry may also reduce the
number or growth rate of our subscribers, the average number of hours played by
our subscribers, our license fee revenue or our subscription fees. All of these
competitive factors may adversely affect our cash flows, operating margins and
profitability.
Rapid
technological change may limit our ability to recover game development costs and
adversely affect our future revenues and profitability.
The
online game industry is subject to rapid technological change. We need to
anticipate the emergence of new technologies and games, assess their market
acceptance, and make substantial game development and related investments. In
addition, new technologies in online game programming or new platforms such as
the game consoles introduced to the market could render MU, Soul of the Ultimate
Nation (SUN) or other online games that we expect to develop in the future less
attractive to our subscribers, thereby limiting our ability to recover
development costs and potentially adversely affecting our future revenues and
profitability.
Undetected
programming errors or flaws in our games could harm our reputation or decrease
market acceptance of our games, which would materially and adversely affect our
results of operations.
Our games
may contain errors or flaws that become apparent only after their release,
particularly as we seek to develop and launch new games under tight time
constraints. We believe that if our customers have negative experiences with our
games, they may be less inclined to commence, continue or resume subscriptions
with us or recommend our games to other potential customers. Undetected
programming errors and game defects can harm our reputation, cause our customers
to terminate subscriptions with us, divert our resources and delay market
acceptance of our games, any of which could materially and adversely affect our
results of operations and have a negative effect on the price of our common
shares and ADSs.
Unexpected
network interruptions caused by system failures or any leaks of personal
information may lead to subscriber and revenue reductions and harm our
reputation.
Any
failure to maintain the satisfactory performance, reliability, security and
availability of our network infrastructure may cause significant harm to our
reputation and our ability to attract and maintain subscribers. Any server
interruptions, breakdowns or system failures, including failures attributable to
sustained power shutdowns, efforts to gain unauthorized access to our systems,
loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware, or other
events outside our control that could result in a sustained shutdown of all or a
material portion of our services could adversely impact our ability to service
our subscribers. Our network systems are also vulnerable to damage from fire,
flood, power loss, telecommunications failures, hackings and similar
events.
In
addition, subscriber personal information leaks or any security breach may
adversely affect our business. Any failure to maintain reliable network
infrastructure or proper security measures can harm our reputation and our
business, expose us to litigation risks and have a negative effect on the price
of our common shares and ADS.
We may not be able to adequately
protect our intellectual property rights, which could decrease our
competitiveness
.
We regard
our proprietary software, domain names, trade names, trademarks and similar
intellectual properties as critical to our success. We rely on a combination of
copyrights, service marks and patents to protect our intellectual property
rights. Policing unauthorized use of proprietary technology is difficult and
expensive. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized
parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our technology. We
cannot be certain of our ability to prevent misappropriations of our technology
in Korea, China and other countries where intellectual property protection laws
may not be as robust as in the United States. From time to time, we may have to
resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, which could
result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources.
We
believe that we may have been a passive foreign investment company
(“PFIC”) for 2009, which has certain adverse U.S. federal income tax
consequences to holders of common shares and ADSs.
In
general, we will be considered a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for
any taxable year in which (i) 75% or more of our gross income consists of
passive income or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets
consist of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive
income. Based on the price of our common shares and ADSs during our 2009 taxable
year and the amount of passive assets, including cash and cash equivalents, held
by us throughout that year, we believe we may have been a PFIC for our
2009 taxable year. Further, there is a significant risk that we will be a PFIC
for our 2010 taxable year and in future taxable years.
If we are
a PFIC for any year that you hold common shares or ADSs, certain adverse U.S.
federal income tax consequences could apply to you, including recharacterization
of gains realized on the disposition of, and certain dividends received on, the
common shares or ADSs as ordinary income earned pro rata over your holding
period for such common shares or ADSs, taxed at the maximum rates applicable
during the years in which such income is treated as earned, and subject to
interest charges for a deemed deferral benefit. You should consult your own tax
adviser with respect to our potential PFIC status and the consequences to you.
See “Item 10. Additional Information – 10.E. Taxation – U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations – Passive Foreign Investment Company
Considerations.”
Our
online games may be subject to government restrictions or ratings systems, which
could delay or prohibit the release of new games or reduce the existing and
potential range of our customer base.
Legislation
is periodically introduced in Korea by government agencies to establish a system
for protecting consumers from excessive usage, the influence of graphic violence
and sexually explicit material contained in various types of games. Korean law
currently requires online game companies to obtain ratings classifications and
implement procedures to restrict the distribution of online games to certain age
groups. See “Item 4. Information on
the
Company — 4.B. Business Overview — Laws and Regulations.” Similar mandatory
ratings systems and other regulations affecting the content and distribution of
our games have also been adopted in China and other markets. In the future we
may be required to modify our game content or features or alter our marketing
strategies to comply with new government regulations or new ratings assigned to
our current or future games, which could delay or prohibit the release of new
games or upgrades and reduce the existing and potential range of our customer
base. Moreover, uncertainties regarding government restrictions or ratings
systems applicable to our business could give rise to market confusion, thereby
adversely affecting our business or the prevailing price of our common shares or
ADSs.
Foreign
operations are subject to different business, political and economic
risks.
For the
year ended December 31, 2009, 34.5% of our total net revenues came from license
and royalty revenues from our operations outside of Korea, including China,
Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam and the U.S.. Foreign operations are
subject to inherent risks, including disputes with our licensees or joint
venture partners, uncertain legal environments, different consumer preferences,
unexpected regulatory requirements, tariffs and other barriers, difficulties in
training and retraining staff and managing foreign operations, difficulties in
obtaining or renewing required licenses and obtaining administrative approvals
and difficulties in collecting foreign receivables. We will also be exposed to
risks of foreign exchange fluctuations as we record our license and joint
venture income in Won in our financial statements.
As the
online game industry is at an early stage of development, notwithstanding
certain differences among countries, new laws and regulations may be adopted
from time to time to require additional licenses and permits and to address new
issues that arise. In addition, substantial uncertainties exist regarding the
interpretation and implementation of current and any such future laws and
regulations applicable to the online game industry. We cannot assure you that we
will be able to obtain timely, or at all, required licenses or any other new
license required in the future. We cannot assure you that we will not be found
in violation of any current laws or regulations should their interpretation
change, or that we will not be found in violation of any future laws or
regulations.
Risks
Related to The Republic of Korea
Increased
tension with North Korea could adversely affect us.
Relations
between Korea and North Korea have been tense throughout Korea’s modern history.
The level of tension between the two Koreas has fluctuated and may increase
abruptly as a result of current and future events. In recent years, there have
been heightened security concerns stemming from North Korea’s nuclear weapons
and long-range missile programs, the sinking of the Korean warship Cheonan and
uncertainty regarding North Korea’s actions and possible responses from the
international community. In April 2009, after launching a long-range rocket over
the Pacific Ocean, which led to protests from the international community, North
Korea announced that it would permanently withdraw from the six-party talks that
began in 2003 to discuss Pyongyang’s path to denuclearization. On May 25, 2009,
North Korea conducted its second nuclear testing and launched several
short-range missiles. After North Korea’s second nuclear testing, the Republic
joined the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S.-led multinational
initiative involving the interdiction of third-country ships on the high seas on
the basis of carrying nuclear materials, over Pyongyang’s harsh rebuke and
threat of war. After the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on
June 12, 2009 to condemn North Korea’s second nuclear test and impose tougher
sanctions such as a mandatory ban on arms exports, North Korea announced that it
would produce nuclear weapons and take “resolute military actions” against the
international community. On March 27, 2010, the Korean warship Cheonan sank,
causing casualties of Korean sailors. In May 2010, Korea accused North Korea of
causing the sinking, increasing the tension between the two
countries.
Recently,
there has been increased uncertainty about the future of North Korea’s political
leadership. In June 2009, there were reports citing American and South Korean
officials that Kim Jong-il, the North Korean ruler who reportedly suffered a
stroke in August 2008, designated his third son, in his twenties, to become his
successor. The succession plan, however, remains uncertain. In addition, North
Korea’s economy faces severe challenges.
There can
be no assurance that the level of tension and instability in the Korean
peninsula will not escalate in the future, or that the political regime in North
Korea may not suddenly collapse. Any further increase in tension or
uncertainty
relating to the military or economic stability in the Korean peninsula,
including a breakdown of diplomatic negotiations over the North Korean nuclear
program, the occurrence of military hostilities or heightened concerns about the
stability of North Korea’s political leadership, could have a material adverse
effect on the credit rating of Korea, our operations and the price of our common
shares and ADSs.
If
economic conditions in Korea deteriorate, our current business and future growth
could be materially and adversely affected.
We are
incorporated in Korea and a significant portion of our operations and assets are
based in Korea. As a result, we are subject to political, economic, legal and
regulatory risks specific to Korea. Recent difficulties affecting the U.S. and
global financial sectors, adverse conditions and volatility in the U.S. and
worldwide credit and financial markets, fluctuations in oil and commodity prices
and the general weakness of the U.S. and global economy have increased the
uncertainty of global economic prospects in general and have adversely affected,
and may continue to adversely effect global and Korean economies. Any future
deterioration of the Korean and global economy could adversely affect our
business, financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows.
Developments
that could hurt Korea’s economy in the future include:
·
|
adverse
changes or volatility in foreign currency reserve levels, commodity prices
(including oil prices), exchange rates (including fluctuation of the U.S.
dollar or Japanese yen exchange rates or revaluation of the Chinese
renminbi), interest rates and stock
markets;
|
·
|
substantial
decreases in the market prices of Korean real
estate;
|
·
|
increasing
delinquencies and credit defaults by consumer and small and medium sized
enterprise borrowers;
|
·
|
declines
in consumer confidence and a slowdown in consumer
spending;
|
·
|
adverse
developments in the economies of countries that are important export
markets for Korea, such as the United States, Japan and China, or in
emerging market economies in Asia or
elsewhere;
|
·
|
the
continued emergence of the Chinese economy, to the extent its benefits
(such as increased exports to China) are outweighed by its costs (such as
competition in export markets or for foreign investment and the relocation
of the manufacturing base from the Republic to
China);
|
·
|
political,
social and labor unrest;
|
·
|
a
decrease in tax revenues and a substantial increase in the Government’s
expenditures for fiscal stimulus measures, unemployment compensation and
other economic and social programs that, together, would lead to an
increased government budget
deficit;
|
·
|
financial
problems or lack of progress in the restructuring of Korean conglomerates,
other large troubled companies, their suppliers or the financial
sector;
|
·
|
loss
of investor confidence arising from corporate accounting irregularities
and corporate governance issues at certain Korean
conglomerates;
|
·
|
the
economic impact of any pending or future free trade agreements, including
the Free Trade Agreement recently negotiated with the United
States;
|
·
|
geo-political
uncertainty and risk of further attacks by terrorist groups around the
world;
|
·
|
outbreak
of the H1N1 flu or the recurrence of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or
SARS, or an outbreak of avian flu in Asia and other parts of the
world;
|
·
|
deterioration
in economic or diplomatic relations between the Republic and its trading
partners or allies, including deterioration resulting from trade disputes
or disagreements in foreign policy;
|
·
|
political
uncertainty or increasing strife among or within political parties in the
Republic;
|
·
|
hostilities
involving oil producing countries in the Middle East and any material
disruption in the supply of oil or increase in the price of oil resulting
from those; and
|
·
|
an
increase in the level of tension or an outbreak of hostilities between
North Korea and the Republic or the United
States.
|
Risks
Related to Our ADSs
We
recently announced our intention to delist our ADSs from NASDAQ Global Market
reducing the liquidity of the ADSs.
On June
18, 2010, we announced our intention to delist our ADSs from NASDAQ Global
Market and to deregister and terminate our reporting obligations with the SEC.
We have provided a written notice to NASDAQ of the intent to delist and will
arrange in due course, after consultation with NASDAQ, the date on which our
ADSs will no longer be traded on NASDAQ Global Market. We plan to maintain an
American Depositary Receipt program on a Level I basis, which will allow
investors to hold their securities in the form of ADSs. As a result, our
ADSs will only be traded over-the-counter and will not be traded on
any national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system in the U.S.
Common Shares will continue to be traded on KOSDAQ Market.
KOSDAQ
volatility may adversely affect the price of our common shares and the
ADSs.
Certain
shares listed on the KOSDAQ have recently experienced significant price and
volume fluctuations, sometimes without regard to the underlying fundamentals of
such shares. Historically, the KOSDAQ itself has had substantially less trading
volume than the KRX Stock Market. As a result, our common shares may be less
liquid and the prevailing price of the common shares may be more volatile in the
future than other shares listed on the KOSDAQ or shares listed on the KRX Stock
Market. The volatility and limited liquidity of our common shares on the KOSDAQ
may adversely affect the market price of the ADSs.
We
currently follow home country practice in lieu of complying with certain
requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market. This may afford less protection to
holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.
Rule 5605
of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, requires listed companies to have, among others, a
board of directors comprised of a majority of independent directors, the holding
of regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present,
a compensation committee, if any, comprised solely of independent directors, and
a nominations committee, if any, comprised solely of independent directors. As a
foreign private issuer, however, we are permitted to, and we do, follow home
country practice in lieu of the above requirements. See “Item 6.C. Directors,
Senior Management and Employees—Board Practices” and “Item 16G.
Corporate Governance” for more information on the significant
differences between our corporate governance practices and those followed by
U.S. companies under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. As a result, we have fewer board
members exercising independent judgment and the level of board oversight on the
management of our company may therefore decrease. The board members who are not
independent may also cause a merger, consolidation, change of control or other
transactions or actions without the consent of the independent directors, which
may lead to a conflict with the interest of holders of our ordinary shares and
ADSs. Holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs may therefore be afforded less
protection.
Any
dividends paid on our common shares will be in Won and fluctuations in the
exchange rate between the Won and the U.S. dollar may affect the amount received
by you.
When we
declare cash dividends, the dividends will be paid to the depositary for the
ADSs in Won and then converted by the depositary into U.S. dollars pursuant to
the deposit agreement. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Won and the
U.S. dollar will affect, among other things, the U.S. dollar amounts you will
receive from the depositary as dividends.
Your
ability to deposit common shares into the depositary facility may be
limited.
Neither
common shares acquired in the open market nor common shares withdrawn from the
ADS depositary facility may be deposited or redeposited, as the case may be,
under the deposit agreement governing the ADSs without our consent. It is our
policy to consent to any deposit unless such deposit is prohibited by Korean
law, violates our Articles of Incorporation or the total number of our common
shares on deposit with the depositary does not exceed 3,900,000. No assurance
can be given that deposits or redeposits of our common shares will always be
permitted. If an investor’s ability to deposit common shares is limited, the
prevailing market price of our ADSs may differ from the prevailing market price
of the equivalent number of our common shares traded on the KOSDAQ.
You
may not be able to exercise preemptive rights.
The
Korean Commercial Code and our Articles of Incorporation require us, with
certain exceptions, to offer shareholders the right to subscribe for new common
shares in proportion to their existing ownership percentages
whenever
new common shares are issued. Under the deposit agreement governing the ADSs, if
we offer rights to subscribe for additional common shares, the depositary under
the deposit agreement, after consultation with us, may make such rights
available to you or dispose of such rights on your behalf and make the net
proceeds available to you or, if the depositary is unable to take such actions,
it may allow the rights to lapse with no consideration to be received by you.
The depositary is required to make available any rights to subscribe for any
securities only when a registration statement under the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), is in effect with respect to the
securities or if the offering of the securities is exempt from the registration
requirements under the Securities Act. We are under no obligation to file a
registration statement under the Securities Act to enable you to exercise
preemptive rights for our common shares underlying the ADSs, and we cannot
assure you that any registration statement will be filed or that an exemption
from the registration requirement under the Securities Act will be available.
Accordingly, you may not be entitled to exercise preemptive rights and may
thereby suffer dilution of your interests in us.
You
will not have the same voting rights as a holder of common shares.
You may
exercise voting rights with respect to the common shares underlying your ADRs.
You may instruct the depositary as to how to exercise the voting rights for the
common shares which underlie your ADSs if the depositary asks you to provide it
with voting instructions. After receiving voting materials from us, the
depositary will notify the ADR holders of any shareholder meeting or
solicitation of consents or proxies. This notice will describe how you may
instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the common shares that
underlie your ADSs, subject to Korean law and the provisions of our Articles of
Incorporation. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them on
or before the date specified. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as
practicable and subject to Korean law and the provisions of our Articles of
Incorporation, to vote or to have its agents vote the common shares or other
deposited securities represented by your ADSs as you instruct. The depositary
will not itself exercise any voting discretion. ADSs for which no voting
instructions have been received will not be voted. You may only exercise the
voting rights in blocks of 10 ADSs. Neither the depositary nor its agents are
responsible for any failure to carry out any voting instructions (if acting in
good faith), for the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any
vote. There is no guarantee that you will receive voting materials in time to
instruct the depositary to vote and it is possible that you, or persons who hold
their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the
opportunity to exercise a right to vote.
You
may not be able to exercise dissent and appraisal rights.
In some
limited circumstances, including the transfer of the whole or any significant
part of our business, our acquisition of a part of the business of any other
company having a material effect on our business, and our merger or
consolidation with another company, dissenting shareholders have the right to
require us to purchase their shares under Korean law. See “Item 10. Additional
Information — 10.B. Articles of Incorporation — Rights of Dissenting
Shareholders.” However, if you hold our ADSs, you will not be able to exercise
such dissent and appraisal rights unless you have withdrawn the underlying
common shares and become a direct shareholder prior to the record date for the
shareholders’ meeting at which the relevant transaction is to be
approved.
You
may be subject to Korean withholding taxes.
Under
Korean tax law, if you are a U.S. investor, you may be subject to Korean
withholding taxes on capital gains and dividends on the ADSs unless an exemption
or a reduction under the income tax treaty between the United States and Korea
is available. Under the United States-Korea tax treaty, capital gains realized
by holders that are residents of the United States eligible for treaty benefits
will not be subject to Korean taxation upon the disposition of the ADSs, with
certain limited exceptions. See “Item 10. Additional Information — 10.E.
Taxation — Korean Taxation” for a more detailed discussion of the effects of
Korean tax laws on the holders of ADSs, including the possible imposition of a
Korean securities transaction tax.
You
may have difficulty enforcing any judgment obtained outside Korea against us or
our Directors and officers.
We are
organized under the laws of Korea, and all of our Directors and officers reside
in Korea. All or a significant portion of our assets and the assets of such
persons are located outside of the United States. As a result, it
may not
be possible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon
these persons or to enforce against them or us court judgments obtained in the
United States that are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the
federal securities laws of the United States or of the securities laws of any
state of the United States. We have, however, appointed an agent in New York to
receive service of process in any proceedings in the State of New York relating
to our common shares or ADSs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it may be difficult
to enforce in Korea civil liabilities predicated on the federal securities laws
of the United States or the securities laws of any state of the United
States.
Item 4. Information on the Company
4.A. History
and Development of the Company
We were
incorporated as a company with limited liability under Korean law on April 28,
2000. Our legal and commercial name is “
주식회사
웹
젠
” (pronounced
“Chushikhoesa Webzen”) in Korean, and “Webzen Inc.” in English. Our registered
office is located at 14th Floor, Daerung Post Tower 2nd, 182-13 Guro-Dong,
Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea 152-790. Our telephone number is (822) 3498-1600. We
maintain a website at http://www.webzen.com. The information on our website is
not incorporated by reference into this annual report. Our agent for U.S.
federal securities law purposes is National Registered Agents, Inc., located at
875 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 501, New York, New York, 10001.
Our
largest shareholder is NHN Games, a private company established in Korea in 2004
by NHN Corp. NHN Corp. is the largest diversified internet service provider in
Korea, which is listed on KOSPI Market of Korea Exchange. NHN Corp. established
NHN Games to strengthen its online game development capabilities. NHN Games is a
leading developer and service provider of massively-multiplayer online games and
is engaged in the business of developing and distributing online games,
licensing software and other related services. NHN Games has
developed and provides online games such as Continent of the Ninth (“C9”),
Archlord and R2.
Archlord
is a fantasy MMORPG, in which players, among other things, aim to
become the archlord with unlimited powers and special skills. Archlord has an
unique item customizing system that gives players the power to directly change
and upgrade their items as part of their skill set. The game was first released
in 2005 in Korea and in 2006 in the U.S. and Europe. In 2007, Archlord was
offered on a free-to-play basis. We currently offer Archlord both in Korea and
globally. R2, a fantasy MMORPG, was first released in 2006. R2 allows player
versus player conflict, where one player can actually be killed by another
player. C9, a fantasy multiplayer online role-playing game (“MORPG”) was first
released in August 2009 and partial commercial service began in September of the
same year. In December 2009, C9 won the Grand Prize in 2009 Korean Game Awards.
We plan to offer R2 in the second half of 2010 through our game portal. Battle
Territory or Battery, is a modern military massively multiplayer online first
person shooter game emphasizing military themes, that delivers realistic fight
scenes in a military combat environment. We entered into a publishing agreement
with NHN Games to publish Battery.
We are a
leading developer and distributor of online games in Korea. Some of the
important events in the development of our business since the beginning of 2008
are set forth below:
·
|
GameOn
Co. Ltd. (“GameOn”) launched open beta testing and commercial service of
Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in Japan in March and April 2008,
respectively.
|
·
|
In
May 2008, Webzen Taiwan Inc. (“Webzen Taiwan”) launched open beta
testing and commercial service of Mini Fighter in
Taiwan.
|
·
|
In
May 2008, we entered into a three-year license agreement with NHN USA Inc.
(“NHN USA”) for the distribution of Huxley in North America and
Europe.
|
·
|
In
June 2008, we initiated open beta testing in Korea for
Huxley.
|
·
|
In
September 2008, NHN Games became our largest
shareholder.
|
·
|
In
October 2008, we appointed new chief executive officer, Mr. Chang Keun
Kim.
|
·
|
In
November 2008, we won the second prize by the Chairman of Korea
Communications Commission in Korea Internet Award, sponsored by Korea
Communications Commission.
|
·
|
In
December 2008, Huxley won the Game Graphics Prize and Game Sound Prize in
2008 Korean Game Awards.
|
·
|
In
March 2009, we entered into a channeling agreement with NHN Corp. to
distribute Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in Korea through NHN Corp.’s
online game portal,
www.hangame.com.
|
·
|
In
April 2009, we entered into a service agreement with NHN Games to have it
develop and maintain our game Parfait
Station.
|
·
|
In
April 2009, we entered into a lease agreement with nPluto Co., Ltd., an
online game developer, to lease our internet data centers and servers for
nPluto’s future games.
|
·
|
In
May 2009, we entered into a three-year exclusive license with NHN USA Inc.
to distribute Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in the United States,
Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom through
www.ijji.com
.
|
·
|
In
May 2009, we amended the online publishing agreement entered into with Red
5 Studios, Inc. (“Red 5 Studios”).
|
·
|
In
June 2009, we launched the global service of MU online on webzen.com and
started development of MU2
|
·
|
In
June 2009, we entered into an outsourcing agreement with NHN Games where
we are to provide services relating to strategy, marketing, promotion and
businesses abroad.
|
·
|
In
July 2009, we sold off our office space on the 3
rd
floor of Daelim Acrotel Building C, 467-6, Dogok-dong, Kangnam-gu,
Seoul, Korea.
|
·
|
In
August 2009, we entered into a joint venture agreement with NHN Games
where we will provide MU and SUN online and NHN Games will provide
Archlord and R2 through a jointly operated global game portal called
webzen.com.
|
·
|
In
October 2009, we launched the global service of Archlord and SUN: World
Edition on webzen.com.
|
·
|
In
November 2009, we began offering MU
Blue.
|
·
|
In
December 2009, we filed a suit against The9 Limited (“The9”) for the
return of trademark “MU.”
|
·
|
In
December 2009, we moved our corporate headquarters from Daelim Acrotel
Building C, 467-6 Dogok-dong Kangnam-Ku, Seoul, South Korea to 14th Floor,
Daerung Post Tower 2nd, 182-13, Guro Dong, Guro-Gu, Seoul, South
Korea.
|
·
|
In
December 2009, Webzen Taiwan, our subsidiary, entered into an internet
game distribution and service agreement with NHN Games Corp. to provide R2
in Taiwan.
|
·
|
In
February 2010, we entered into a publishing agreement with NHN Games to
service Battle Territory, a first-person shooter game developed by NHN
Games.
|
·
|
In
April 2010, we announced the decision to merge with NHN
Games.
|
·
|
In
April 2010, we entered into a channeling agreement with NHN Corp. to
distribute Huxley: Dystopia.
|
·
|
In
May 2010, we started offering Huxley: Dystopia on a trial
basis.
|
·
|
In
May 2010, we renewed GameNow.net Ltd. (“GameNow”)’s exclusive license
to publish and operate SUN in
China.
|
Since
2008, NHN Games purchased Common Shares from various shareholders including our
controlling shareholders. As a result, it has gained control of our company and
owned 3,469,784 Common Shares or 29.26% of the outstanding common shares as of
May 06, 2010.
On June
18, 2009, NHN Games purchased 155,491 Common Shares from Nam-Ju Kim through a
block trade after the close of the KOSDAQ market. The total amount paid by NHN
Games for the 155,491 shares was
₩
2,721,092,500, or
₩
17,500 per
share.
On June
18, 2009, NHN Games purchased 114,714 Common Shares from Ki-Yong Cho through a
block trade after the close of the KOSDAQ market. The total amount paid by NHN
Games for the 114,714 shares was
₩
2,007,495,000, or
₩
17,500 per
share.
On June
18, 2009, NHN Games purchased 119,014 Common Shares from Kil-Saup Song through a
block trade after the close of the KOSDAQ market. The total amount paid by NHN
Games for the 119,014 shares was
₩
2,082,745,000, or
₩
17,500 per
share.
On
September 9, 2008, Nam-Ju Kim, Ki-Yong Cho, Kil-Saup Song, Hyung-Cheol Kim and
Chang Keun Kim each executed and delivered a power of attorney appointing NHN
Games as the attorney-in-fact with full power and authority to act with respect
to all matters related to Section 147 of the Capital Market and Financial
Investment Business Act of Korea, which sets forth the obligation to report
beneficial ownership of equity securities of more than 5% of a class of stock
listed on Korea Exchange or KOSDAQ. When NHN Games purchased the Common Stock
from Nam-Ju Kim, Ki-Yong Cho, Kil-Saup Song and Hyung-Cheol Kim as set forth
above, it had an arrangement (the “Arrangement”) with the individuals referred
above that they would have a good faith discussion with NHN Games before
exercising any voting rights of the Common Shares and that they shall exercise
voting rights together in the same direction in accordance with the discussion
for matters relating to changing or influencing control of our company,
including:
·
|
elections
and dismissals of directors;
|
·
|
amendments
to the article of incorporation regarding our organization including any
change to the board of directors;
|
·
|
changes
to our capital;
|
·
|
approvals
of dividend plans;
|
·
|
general
share exchanges or stock transfers;
|
·
|
transfers
or acquisitions of significant business
operations;
|
·
|
disposals
of significant assets; and dissolution of our
company.
|
On August
24, 2009, Hyung-Choel Kim resigned from his post as the CFO and Director of the
Company and withdrew from the Arrangement.
NHN Games
controls the Board and thereby oversees our business, operations and future
plans.
On April
15, 2010, our board of directors approved the Merger. The board of
directors of NHN Games also approved the Merger and both companies entered into
a merger agreement. After the board approvals and the execution of
the merger agreement, we filed a merger report on Data Analysis, Retrieval and
Transfer System (“DART”) of the Financial Supervisory Service of Korea (“FSS”)
and made it public.
In
connection with the Merger, shareholders of NHN Games will be issued Common
Shares in exchange for the shares of NHN Games held by them, pursuant to an
exchange ratio determined by a formula prescribed under Korean securities
law. Article 176-5 of the Enforcement Decree of the Financial
Investment Services and Capital Markets Act of Korea (the “Enforcement Decree”)
provides that, in cases of a merger between a “stock-listed corporation” and a
“stock-unlisted corporation” (i.e., a private company), (i) the stock exchange
ratio shall be determined based upon the market price of the stock-listed
corporation (as long as market price exceeds the net asset value per share) and
the weighted average of “asset value,” “earnings value” and “relative value” of
the stock-unlisted corporation, provided that when relative value is
unavailable, it may be replaced with the weighted average of the asset value and
earnings value (the methods of calculating asset value, earnings value and
relative value are to be prescribed by the Financial Services Commission
(“FSC”)) and (ii) if the surviving entity after the merger is a stock-listed
corporation, the appropriateness of the merger value shall be appraised by an
outside appraisal organization such as an accounting firm, credit rating agency
or other organizations designated in the rules. FSC has published
interpretive guidelines setting forth that (i) asset value shall be calculated
by subtracting loans and receivables the payments of which are doubtful from net
tangible assets and then dividing by issued and outstanding shares, (ii)
earnings value shall be calculated by dividing estimated net profit per share
(using the weighted average of the projections of net income for the current
year and the immediately subsequent year after subtracting the expected
dividends) by the benchmark ROE (150% of the average interest rate of 1-year
term savings of four Korean commercial banks designated by FSC) and (iii)
relative value is calculated by averaging the market price of two or more
companies that are conducting similar businesses, listed on an exchange and meet
other requirements and then discounting the price at a reasonable rate, which
shall not be lower than 30%. In the Merger, NHN Games used the
weighted average of the asset value and earnings value in assessing its stock
value for the calculation of the stock exchange ratio. Based on this
formula (using April 14, 2010 as the base date for the calculation), the stock
exchange ratio was 1.57262712 Common Shares per one NHN Games’ common
share. Deloitte Anjin LLC (“Deloitte”), a member firm of Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, verified the appropriateness of the merger
value and stock exchange ratio pursuant to Article 176-5 of the Enforcement
Decree. At the shareholder meetings of our company and NHN Games, held on June
4, 2010, the shareholders of both companies approved the Merger. Shareholders of
both companies opposing the Merger had appraisal rights under the Korean
Commercial Code. We expect the Merger to conclude by July 12,
2010.
Our key
strategic objective is to maintain our position as a leading developer of online
games in Korea and to emerge as a leading developer and publisher of online
games in other markets. We are currently developing several games to diversify
our game portfolio and to target various segments in the market. By developing
different game genres within the massively-multiplayer online game space, such
as first-person shooting games, we will seek to diversify and increase our
subscriber base. In addition to our internally developed games, we are also
publishing third-party games. We believe that our proven operational experience,
established distribution platform and existing subscriber base make us an
attractive partner for other online game companies interested in licensing their
games to us for distribution in our markets. In line with this objective, we
regularly review proposed online games, acquisitions, and investments to
supplement and broaden our own game development activities.
On June
18, 2010, we announced our intention to delist our ADSs from the NASDAQ Global
Market and to deregister and terminate our reporting obligations with the SEC.
Our Board of Directors approved the decision at its meeting held on the same
day. We have provided written notice to NASDAQ of the intent to delist and
will
arrange
in due course, after consultation with NASDAQ, the date on which our ADSs will
no longer be traded on NASDAQ Global Market. We filed a Form 25 with the SEC on
June 28, 2010.
The main
purpose of delisting is to reduce complexity in financial reporting and related
administrative costs as well as to forgo the cost and potential delays of
re-submitting a continuing listing application to NASDAQ, the need to
re-submit having risen due to the Merger. We plan to maintain an American
Depositary Receipt program on a Level I basis, which will allow investors to
hold their securities in the form of ADSs. Common Shares will continue to be
traded on KOSDAQ Market.
4.B. Business
Overview
We are a
leading developer and distributor of online games. Our game Soul of the Ultimate
Nation (SUN) is a three-dimensional MMORPG provided in Korea, Taiwan, China and
Japan and the U.S. MU is a MMORPG initially launched in 2001 and currently is
provided in Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam. We are
also planning to release new online games beginning in the second half of
2010.
We
commercially launched Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in Korea in November
2006, in Taiwan in April 2007, in China in May 2007 and in Japan in April
2008.
We began
offering MU Blue in November 2009.
We have
several new games and services that we plan to launch. Huxley is scheduled for
commercial launch in the second half of 2010, and T-Project is planned to have
an open beta testing in 2011. We have also commenced development of
MU2.
In
addition to the games developed in-house, we have agreements in place to offer
NHN Games’ products through our channel. We began offering Archlord to users in
Korea in July 2009 and in the U.S. in October 2009. We plan to offer R2 in the
second half of 2010. We entered into a publishing agreement with NHN Games to
publish Battery.
Current
Products
Soul of
the Ultimate Nation (SUN) is a MMORPG in which the players experience an epic
medieval tale in a world of emperors, armies, magicians and monsters set to an
original soundtrack by Howard Shore, an Academy Award winner and composer of the
theatrical score for the “Lord of the Rings” films. Soul of the Ultimate Nation
(SUN) features a state-of-the-art game graphics environment, taking advantage of
normal map rendering and various graphical effects, offering players rich and
realistic graphics. Our programmers have developed game engines that enable
fluid movement and console-level control of the game characters. Soul of the
Ultimate Nation (SUN) can be accessed from any location with a high-bandwidth
Internet connection. Registered subscribers may enter our network with a
password and a user ID, after downloading our game client software. Players
choose a character from five distinct character classes with different fighting
skills and magical powers and control the development of that character by
allocating points and carrying out tasks to meet the prerequisites for learning
certain skills. Players can individually play the game, but they can also form a
group using various communication methods to wage a large-scale battle, known as
siege warfare.
We
commenced the commercial service of Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in Korea
in November 2006, in Taiwan in April 2007, in China in May 2007 and in Japan in
April 2008.
In the
markets in which we currently provide commercial service of Soul of Ultimate
Nation (SUN), we provide the basic service of the game for free. End-users pay
us when they buy at our in-game item shops various items for their characters,
such as armor, weapons and potions, and the right to change the world or
stage in which the end-user plays. This new revenue generating business model is
referred to in the online game industry as “microtransaction.”
MU is an
MMORPG which was initially launched in 2001. MU players select a specific
character with which they develop experience and enhanced game capabilities that
can be carried over into sequential gaming sessions. Players are able to
communicate with each other during the game through instant messaging and may
coordinate
their
activities with other players to form groups, thereby coordinating their game
skills to achieve collective objectives.
Our MU
users pay hourly charges based upon the hour they use our service or,
alternatively, pay a flat fee – usually a fixed amount per month – for a longer
period of time. In 2007, we introduced microtransaction sales for MU service in
Japan, Taiwan and China, and the end-users in those markets pay us when they buy
at our in-game item shops various items for their characters, such as armor,
weapons and potions and the right to change the world or stage in which the
end-user plays. We successfully introduced the same concept to Korea by offering
MU Blue in November 2009. Players using MU Blue play on a separate server from
players using MU Red, the subscription service. Unlike MU Red, players using MU
Blue do not pay hourly or monthly fees.
In
addition to the games that we developed internally, we distribute games
developed by NHN Games. We currently offer Archlord both in Korea and globally.
Archlord is a fantasy MMORPG, in which players, among other
things, aim to become the archlord with unlimited powers and special skills.
Archlord has an unique item customizing system that gives players the power to
directly change and upgrade their items as part of their skill set. The game was
first released in 2005 in Korea and in 2006 in the U.S. and Europe. Like Soul of
Ultimate Nation (SUN) and MU, revenue from Archlord is generated from
microtransaction sales. We also plan to distribute R2, a fantasy MMORPG, which
was first released in 2006. R2 allows player versus player conflict, where
player can actually be killed by another player. We plan to offer R2 in the
second half of 2010 through our game portal. Battle Territory or Battery, is a
modern military massively multiplayer online first person shooter game,
emphasizing military theme, delivering realistic fight scenes in a military
combat environment. We entered into a publishing agreement with NHN Games to
publish Battery.
Products
under Development
Huxley is
a massively-multiplayer online first person shooting game. Users will
be able to play a “Doom”-style first person shooting game with up to 5,000 other
players simultaneously and battle against opposing races. Huxley finished its
closed beta testings in Korea in September 2007 and December 2007 and its open
beta testing in Korea in November 2008. After completing several beta tests in
2009, we began offering Huxley on a trial basis in May 2010. We expect to
commence its commercial service in Korea and the U.S. in the second half of
2010.
T-Project
is being developed by Red 5 Studios and is planned to have a closed beta testing
in 2010 and an open beta testing in 2011. For T-Project, we signed a worldwide
publishing rights contract with the developing company. The contract is for five
years after the game is commercialized, and we have agreed to pay royalties for
the exclusive world-wide distribution rights to this game. On May 28, 2009, an
amendment to the original publishing agreement was made to waive our obligation
to make any additional payments relating to T-project partly in exchange for Red
5 Studios’ publishing rights in the United States and Europe. Under the
amendment, Red 5 Studios will pay us 10% of the revenue from the United States
and Europe for five years after commercialization and an additional 5% of such
revenue (with quarterly cap of US$2,083 thousand with respect to the 5%
additional revenue) for the first three-year period after commercialization. We
will remain the exclusive publisher of the game in all other markets throughout
the world, but we are required to pay Red 5 Studios 50% of such revenue from
other markets for five years after commercialization.
Parfait
Station is a massively-multiplayer online shooting game targeting younger age
groups and female players. We finished its closed beta testing and open beta
testing in Korea in December 2007 and February 2008, respectively. In order to
concentrate our development resources on Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) and
Huxley, we had put on hold the development of Parfait Station in 2008. In April
2009, we entered into a service agreement with NHN Games under which NHN Games
will be responsible for the development, operation and maintenance of Parfait
Station until five years after the commercial launch of the game.
Markets
In 2001
and 2002, substantially all of our revenue was generated from online game
subscriptions in Korea. In 2003, approximately 85.5% of our revenue was
generated from online game subscriptions in Korea and approximately 14.5% of our
revenue was generated from the payment of royalties and license fees by our
overseas licensee. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, approximately 84.9%, 84.8% and 88.3%
of our revenue was generated from online game subscriptions in Korea, Taiwan and
China, and approximately 15.1%, 15.2% and 11.7% of our revenue
was
generated from royalties and license fees paid by our licensees in the overseas
markets, respectively. In 2007, approximately 67.5%, 6.6% and 4.5% of our
revenue was generated from online game subscriptions and microtransaction sales
in Korea, Taiwan and China, respectively, and approximately 11.4%, 6.9%, 1.4%,
1.0% and 0.7% of our revenue were generated from royalties and fees paid by our
licensees in China, Japan, the U.S., Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively.
In 2008, approximately 52.1%, 10.3% and 6.2% of our revenue was generated from
online game subscriptions and microtransaction sales in Korea, Taiwan and China,
respectively, and approximately 16.0%, 12.8%, 1.4%, 0.8% and 0.4% of our revenue
were generated from royalties and fees paid by our licensees in China, Japan,
the U.S., Vietnam and the Philippines, respectively. In 2009, approximately
48.2%, 9.6% and 5.3% of our revenue was generated from online game subscriptions
and microtransaction sales in Korea, Taiwan and China, respectively, and
approximately 22.3%, 9.8%, 1.3%, 0.8% and 0.3% of our revenue were generated
from royalties and fees paid by our licensees in Japan, China, Vietnam, the U.S.
and the Philippines, respectively.
Korea
. We
commenced commercial service of MU in Korea in November 2001. We divide our MU
online game subscribers in Korea into individual PC account subscribers and
Internet cafe subscribers. Individual PC account subscribers are individuals who
log on to our game servers either from home or at work, whereas Internet cafe
subscribers are commercial businesses with multiple PCs that provide Internet
and online game access to their customers for hourly fees. After the
introduction of the game, the number of individual PC account subscribers grew
until the first quarter of 2004. Since then, the number of individual PC account
subscribers has declined, and we recorded 27,806 individual account subscribers
at the end of first quarter of 2010 compared to 28,696 at the end of the first
quarter of 2009.
The
following table sets forth information on MU users and accounts in Korea since
2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
No.
of Internet cafe accounts
(1)
|
|
|
14,972
|
|
|
|
14,136
|
|
|
|
12,701
|
|
|
|
12,149
|
|
|
|
11,171
|
|
|
|
13,460
|
|
|
|
13,007
|
|
|
|
13,157
|
|
|
|
12,560
|
|
No.
of paying individual PC account subscribers
(2)
(3)
|
|
|
38,461
|
|
|
|
36,323
|
|
|
|
32,626
|
|
|
|
31,209
|
|
|
|
28,696
|
|
|
|
23,481
|
|
|
|
20,636
|
|
|
|
38,198
|
|
|
|
27,806
|
|
(1)
|
The
number of Internet cafe account refers to the number of accounts held by
Internet cafes that actually accessed MU online game during the period
indicated.
|
(2)
|
As
of the end of the period.
|
(3)
|
The
spike in subscriber numbers in the fourth quarter of 2009 can be
attributed to the launch of MU
Blue.
|
We
commenced commercial service of our new game Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)
in Korea in November 2006. We divide our Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)
online game subscribers into individual PC account subscribers and Internet cafe
subscribers, but unlike MU, do not collect hourly or monthly subscription fees
from them. Our Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) users pay us when they buy – at
our in-game item shops – various items for their characters, such as armor,
weapons and potions, and the right to change the world or stage in which the
end-user plays. Since March 2009, we started to provide our Soul of the Ultimate
Nation (SUN) in Korea through NHN Corp.’s game portal www.hangame.com. While the
gamers who subscribed for Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) before March 26,
2009 can use our old Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) portal, all new
subscribers since then are to use NHN Corp.’s game portal.
The
following table sets forth information on Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)
users and accounts in Korea since the first quarter of 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
No.
of Internet cafe accounts
(1)
|
|
|
8,944
|
|
|
|
6,844
|
|
|
|
5,768
|
|
|
|
3,974
|
|
|
|
2,547
|
|
|
|
11,129
|
|
|
|
8,728
|
|
|
|
8,670
|
|
|
|
7,130
|
|
No.
of paying individual PC account subscribers
(2)(3)
|
|
|
6,180
|
|
|
|
4,674
|
|
|
|
3,939
|
|
|
|
2,714
|
|
|
|
3,261
|
|
|
|
6,345
|
|
|
|
4,944
|
|
|
|
5,724
|
|
|
|
4,765
|
|
(1)
|
The
number of Internet cafe account refers to the number of accounts held by
Internet cafes that actually accessed Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)
during the period indicated.
|
(2)
|
As
of the end of the period.
|
(3)
|
The spike in number
of internet cafe accounts and subscribers in the second quarter of
2009 can be attributed to the SUN being offered through game portals such
as Hangame.
|
Overseas
markets
. In China, we license our game to GameNow and conduct our
business through 9Webzen, Ltd. (“9Webzen”), a Hong Kong company which we
established with GameNow. GameNow, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The9, is an
operator of a leading Chinese-language game website called The9.com and holds a
30% interest in 9Webzen. GameNow is a licensee of our game Soul of the Ultimate
Nation (SUN) and it offers and distributes the game in China. GameNow, through
its website The9.com, launched open beta testing of the Chinese version of Soul
of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in April 2007 and launched commercial service in
May 2007. Our Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) users in China pay GameNow when
they buy at our in-game item shops various items for their characters, such as
armor, weapons and potions, and the right to change the world or stage in which
the end-user plays. We renewed GameNow’s exclusive license to publish and
operate SUN in China. MU has been distributed in China through 9Webzen since
2002. We have licensed our MU online game to 9Webzen, based on a five-year
license agreement we entered into in September 2002. The license agreement was
extended on an annual basis after the original five-year term ended in
September 2007. MU game users in China purchase online credits or prepaid
cards to access the game. The operational results and financial position of
9Webzen have been consolidated with our financial statements since December 14,
2005, when we increased our interest in the company from 49% to
70%.
In
Taiwan, Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) was commercialized through our Taiwan
subsidiary in April 2007 after a four-month beta testing period. Our Soul of the
Ultimate Nation (SUN) users in Taiwan pay us when they buy at our in-game item
shops various items for their characters, such as armor, weapons and potions,
and the right to change the world or stage in which the end-user plays. We
introduced MU in August 2002 through a license agreement with IGC, a content
publishing company in Taiwan. In July 2004, our two-year agreement with IGC
expired, and we decided to provide our online game services in Taiwan through a
wholly-owned subsidiary, which we established in July 2004. We offer R2 through
Webzen Taiwan under an agreement with NHN Games Corporation.
In 2007,
we introduced microtransaction sales for MU service in Taiwan and China, and the
end-users in those markets pay us for various items they buy for their
characters at our in-game item shops, in addition to the subscription
fee.
In Japan,
we entered into a three-year term licensing agreement with GameOn, for Soul of
the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in October 2007. Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)
went through closed beta testing in
February
2008 and open beta testing in March 2008 and was commercialized in April 2008.
MU has been distributed in Japan by GameOn since February 2003. From GameOn, we
received one-time licensing fees when we entered into the license agreements.
GameOn receives microtransaction payments from MU and Soul of the Ultimate
Nation (SUN) users in Japan, and we receive a certain percentage of the revenue
generated in Japan as a royalty fee.
In other
overseas markets, we licensed MU to game developers and operators such as New
Era Online Co., Ltd. in Thailand (June 2003), Digital Media Exchange, Inc. in
the Philippines (May 2004) and FPT Communications in Vietnam (May 2005). In each
case, we agreed to receive a certain percentage of the revenue generated in each
market as a royalty fee for licensing MU. The terms are usually two years and
renewable. From Digital Media Exchange and FPT Communications, we received
installation fees for setting up the game servers. In Thailand, the licensing
agreement with New Era Online Co., Ltd. ended in June 2006, and we did not renew
the contract.
In
December 2005, we entered into a three-year licensing agreement with K2 for the
licensing of a MU global server. The global server provides MU service in
countries where we have no exclusive licensing agreements. We received an
initial installation fee for setting up the game servers and have received a
certain percentage of the revenue as a royalty fee. In January 2007, we extended
the global server licensing agreement for two more years. In April 2009, the
extended term of the global server licensing agreement expired, and we began
directly operating the MU global server starting from May 2009. In August 2009,
we began offering MU globally through webzen.com, a portal website jointly
operated with NHN Games, through which SUN is also being offered since October
2009.
The
following table presents the royalty revenue generated from MU distributors in
overseas market since 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won)
|
|
Revenues
from MU
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Japan
|
|
|
508
|
|
|
|
461
|
|
|
|
523
|
|
|
|
751
|
|
|
|
750
|
|
|
|
616
|
|
|
|
485
|
|
|
|
475
|
|
|
|
445
|
|
Philippines
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
Vietnam
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
102
|
|
|
|
98
|
|
|
|
221
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
65
|
|
U.S.
|
|
|
104
|
|
|
|
93
|
|
|
|
113
|
|
|
|
133
|
|
|
|
142
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
(1)
|
Includes
royalty revenue for licensing and installation
fee.
|
The
following table presents the royalty revenue generated from the Soul of the
Ultimate Nation (SUN) distributors in overseas market since 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won)
|
|
Revenue
from Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
China
|
|
|
1,158
|
|
|
|
1,349
|
|
|
|
1,459
|
|
|
|
1,281
|
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
584
|
|
|
|
796
|
|
|
|
697
|
|
|
|
631
|
|
Japan
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
483
|
|
|
|
484
|
|
|
|
984
|
|
|
|
1,552
|
|
|
|
1,312
|
|
|
|
717
|
|
|
|
1,090
|
|
|
|
869
|
|
U.S
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
|
62
|
|
(1)
|
Includes
royalty revenue for the licensing and installation
fee.
|
Seasonality
Usage of
our online games has typically increased around the New Year and other Korean
holidays, in particular during winter and summer school holidays. See “Item 3.
Key Information — 3.D. Risk Factors” for a description of other factors that
affect the demand for our games.
Marketing
We have
engaged independent promotional agents to promote our online games to Internet
cafes in Korea. We grant each promotional agent exclusive rights to promote our
online games within a specified area and pay a monthly commission based on the
revenue generated from Internet cafes in the allocated area. We also conduct a
variety of marketing programs and online events to target potential subscribers
accessing the Internet from home. Our main marketing efforts
include:
·
|
advertising
on website portals and in online game
magazines;
|
·
|
conducting
online promotional events;
|
·
|
forming
alliances with Internet service
providers.
|
In 2005
and 2006, we participated in the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, held in
Los Angeles. Since 2007, however, we decided not to participate in E3 after
reassessing the marketing impact and as part of our cost-cutting measures. In
2009, our marketing activities were primarily conducted in Korea. Our
advertising and promotion expenses were
₩
2,271 million,
₩
3,824
million and
₩
735 million
(US$632 thousand) in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Our
marketing activities in China are managed through The9 Computer Technology
Consultation Co., Ltd., and marketing activities in Taiwan are conducted by
Webzen Taiwan. Marketing activities in Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam are
primarily conducted by our licensees and consist of advertising on website
portals and in online game magazines and conducting online promotional
events.
Information
Technology
In
connection with deploying our games in Korea, we have designed and assembled a
flexible and reliable game server and information systems network. Our
distributors in China, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam have separate game
servers and information system networks modeled on our system architecture in
Korea.
In order
to provide MU online game service in foreign markets where we do not have a
distributor, we established in September 2003 a “global server” network in our
office in Korea. Through this server, users in countries in which we did not
have a presence could download for free a reduced version of MU. On December 1,
2005, we licensed the operation of this global server to K2. In April 2009, the
term of the global server licensing agreement expired. In July 2009, we launched
our global game portal webzen.com, which is jointly operated with NHN Games. In
August 2009, we began offering MU on webzen.com and plan to offer other games in
the second half of 2010.
Competition
We
believe that the principal competitive factors in the online game industry are
the ability to consistently attract creative game developers and offer new
online games, maintain a high-quality network and implement innovative and
effective sales and marketing campaigns.
Korea
. Our
primary subscription-based online game competitors in the Korean market are
NCsoft, Neowiz, Nexon, NHN, CJ Internet, Hanbit Soft and Blizzard Entertainment.
In 2010, the industry has launched or is expecting the launch of several
additional online game titles in the Korean market, such as Bluehole Studio’s
Terra. The new releases of high-quality game will increase competition in our
industry.
China
. Our
primary online game competitors in China are Shanda’s
Yong Heng Zhi Ta
(
Aion
developed by NCsoft),
Netease’s
World of
WarCraft
, Tencent’s
Dungeon and Fighter
and
Cross Fire
, 9you’s
Audition
, Giant’s
Zheng Tu
and
Giant Online
, and Wanmei’s
Perfect
World
.
Japan
. Our
primary online game competitors in Japan are GungHo’s
Ragnarok
, NCsoft Japan’s
Lineage II
, Square
Enix’s
Final Fantasy
Online
, YNK Japan’s
ROHAN
and Game On’s
RED STONE
. To date, Japan’s
game
market
still has been primarily driven by console games, although online games are
gaining popularity among Japanese game users as broadband access becomes more
widely available.
North America and
Western Europe
. Our primary online game competitors in the North America
and Western Europe are: Blizzard Entertainment’s
World of Warcraft
, Mythic
Entertainment’s
Warhammer
Online
,
Dark Age of
Camelot
and
Ultima
Online
, Sony Online Entertainment’s
PlanetSide
, Turbine’s
Lord of the Rings Online
and
Eidos’
Age of Conan
.
Webzen’s massively-multiplayer online first person shooting game title,
Huxley: The Distopia
(published by NHN USA) targets to compete with not only MMORPGs but also first
person shooting games such as
Halo 3
.
In all of
these markets, we also compete against PC-based game developers producing
popular PC-packaged games, including Electronic Arts, Take Two Interactive
Software, Activision, THQ and Midway Games, Inc., and against game console
manufacturers such as Microsoft (which produces Xbox), Sony (which produces
Playstation) and Nintendo (which produces Wii). Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are
providing Internet online game services with their consoles, Xbox 360,
Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii, respectively.
Intellectual
Property
We
require all key personnel engaged in technological research and development
capacities to sign agreements that substantiate our exclusive right to those
works and to transfer any ownership claim that they may have in those works to
us.
In Korea,
we own two patents relating to data transmission over the Internet for online
games, obtained program registration for our games and own service marks. In
other countries, we registered some of our service marks and plan to apply for
the registration of our other intellectual properties. We will take legal action
in any jurisdiction where we believe our intellectual property rights have been
infringed.
Insurance
We
maintain medical and accident insurance for our employees to the extent required
under Korean law, and we are insured against fire with respect to our facilities
in Korea. In addition, we maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
policies covering potential liabilities of our Directors and
officers.
Laws
and Regulations
Korea
. The
Korean game industry is subject to comprehensive regulation by the Ministry of
Culture, Sports and Tourism (“MCST”), which is responsible for establishing
policies for the industry under the Act on Promotion of Game Industry. As an
online game company operating in Korea, we are also subject to:
·
|
regulation
by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (“MKE”), which is responsible for
setting industrial, trade, resource and energy
policies;
|
·
|
regulation
by the Korea Communications Commission (“KCC”), under the
Telecommunication Business Act and the Protection of Communication Secrets
Act
|
·
|
regulation
by the KCC and the Ministry of Public Administration and Security under
the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization
and Information Protection;
|
·
|
regulation
by the Fair Trade Commission under the Act on Consumer Protection for
Transactions through Electronic
Commerce;
|
·
|
regulation
by the MCST under the Copyright Act, the Computer Program Protection Act
and the Online Digital Contents Business Development
Act;
|
·
|
regulation
by the Game Rating Board under the Act on Promotion of Game Industry;
and
|
·
|
regulation
by the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs under the Juvenile
Protection Act.
|
Ratings regulation
.
Businesses manufacturing or importing games for the purpose of distributing or
providing games in Korea must obtain game ratings in advance from the Game
Rating Board. Online games are generally divided into four ratings categories:
“suitable for users of all ages,” “suitable for users over 12 years of age,”
“suitable for users over 15 years of age” and “suitable for users over 18 years
of age.” Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) has been rated “suitable for users
over 18 years of age.” Our standard player-versus-player (“PVP”) version of the
MU online game, which allows players to kill other players’ characters, has been
rated “suitable for users over 18 years of age.” We also offer a
non-player-versus-player (“non-PVP”) version of MU, which allows players to kill
only non-player characters, which has been rated “suitable for users over 15
years of age” in Korea. Our Huxley online game has recently been rated “suitable
for users over 15 years of age.”
Value-added communications business
regulation
. Under the Telecommunications Business Act we are classified
as a value-added service provider and are required to make periodic reports to
the MKE and report any transfer, takeover, suspension or closing of our business
activities. The MKE may cancel our registration or order us to suspend our
business for a period of up to one year if we fail to comply with its rules and
regulations.
Protection of interests of online
game users under 20 years of age
. Pursuant to Korea’s civil law,
contracts entered into with persons under 20 years of age without parental
consent may be invalidated. Under the Telecommunication Framework Act,
telecommunication service providers are also required to take certain steps to
protect the rights of telecommunication service users. As a result,
telecommunication service contracts and online game user agreements are required
to set forth specific procedures for rescinding service contracts, which may be
entered into by persons under 20 years of age without parental consent. Also,
under the Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and
Information Protection Act, the operator of a website should monitor and delete
any content harmful to minors.
Protection of consumer information
for electronic settlement services
. Under the Act on Consumer Protection
for Transactions on Electronic Commerce, we are required to take measures to
maintain the security of consumer information related to our electronic
settlement services. We are also required to notify consumers when electronic
payments are made and to indemnify consumers for damages resulting from the
misappropriation of consumer information by third parties.
We
believe that we have instituted appropriate safety measures to protect against
data misappropriation. To date, we have not experienced material disputes or
claims in this area.
Protection of personal information
for users of information and communications services
. Under the Act on
Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information
Protection, we are permitted to gather personal information relating to our
subscribers within the scope of their consents. We are, however, generally
prohibited from utilizing personal information or providing it to third parties
beyond the purposes disclosed in our subscriber agreements. Disclosure of
personal information without consent from a subscriber is permitted
if:
·
|
it
is necessary for the settlement of service
charges;
|
·
|
the
personal information is processed so that the specific individual is
unidentified and is provided for compiling statistics, academic research
or surveys; or
|
·
|
it
is otherwise permitted by laws and
regulations.
|
We are
required to indemnify users for damages occurring as a result of our violation
of the foregoing restrictions, unless we can prove an absence of willful
misconduct or negligence on our part. We believe that we have instituted
appropriate measures and are in compliance with all material restrictions
regarding internal mishandling of personal information.
Taxation
. Under the Special
Tax Treatment Control Law, we may claim a tax credit that can be carried forward
for five years. In 2007 and 2008, we realized net losses, which were claimed for
carried forward tax credit and in 2009, we posted a net profit. The statutory
tax rate applied to us was 27.5% in 2007 and 2008, and 24.2% in 2009. Due to the
amendment to the Korea corporate income tax law, the rate of 24.2% will be
applied for the fiscal years
from 2009
through 2011 and 22% for the fiscal year 2012 and thereafter. Our deferred
income taxes as of December 31, 2009 were calculated based on the rate of 24.2%
for fiscal years 2010 and 2011 and 22% thereafter for the amounts expected to be
realized during the relevant fiscal year.
China
. The
online games industry in China operates under a legal regime that consists of
the State Council (especially, the State Council Information Office), which is
the highest authority of the executive branch of the PRC central government, and
the various ministries and agencies under its leadership. These ministries and
agencies include the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; the
Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of Public Security; the State Administration
of Industry and Commerce; and the General Administration of Press and
Publications. The State Council and these ministries and agencies have issued a
series of rules that regulate a number of different substantive areas of our
business, including, among others, foreign ownership restrictions, Internet
content provider licenses and regulation of Internet content. See “Item 3. Key
Information — 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Foreign
operations are subject to different business, political and economic
risks.”
4.C. Organization
As of
December 31, 2009, Webzen Taiwan was our only significant wholly-owned
subsidiary. We ceased the operation of Webzen America and Webzen China in 2008.
We also own 55.4% of the common shares of Flux, Inc., a privately held wireless
game developer, and 70% of 9Webzen, a joint venture with GameNow.
4.D. Property,
Plant and Equipment
Because
our main business is to provide online game services to our clients, we do not
own any factories or facilities that manufacture products. There are no
factories currently under construction, and we have no plans to build any
factories in the future.
Korea
. Our
principal executive and administrative offices are located at the 14th Floor,
Daerung Post Tower 2nd, 182-13 Guro-Dong, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea 152-790. We
currently lease 60,449 square feet. The latest of our leases expires in December
2011.
Taiwan
.
The offices of Webzen Taiwan are located at 7F-3, No.176, Jian 1st Rd., Jhonghe
City, Taipei County, Taiwan 23553, Republic of China.
We
believe that our existing facilities are adequate for our current requirements
and that additional space can be obtained on commercially reasonable terms to
meet our future requirements.
Item
4A. Unresolved Staff Comment
s
There are
no unresolved outstanding comments.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects
5.A. Operating
Results
The
following discussion and analysis provides information that management believes
to be relevant to understanding our consolidated financial condition and results
of operations. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements of Webzen, including the notes thereto
included in this Annual Report. See “Item 18. Financial
Statements.”
Overview
We are a
developer and distributor of online games. Our total net revenues, which include
online game subscription, microtransaction sales, royalties and license fees and
service fees, were
₩
32,776 million and
₩
31,395
million (US$26,979 thousand) in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Substantially all
of our revenue come from our two online games, MU and Soul of the Ultimate
Nation (SUN). With MU approaching the end of its life cycle in most of its
markets and with
intensifying
competition due to the introduction of new games by competitors, we expect a
decline in revenues generated from MU going forward.
In our
overseas market, where we have licensed MU and/or Soul of the Ultimate Nation
(SUN) to licensees, we recorded royalties from Japan, China, Vietnam, the U.S.
and the Philippines in the amounts of
₩
6,996 million
(US$6,012 thousand),
₩
3,077 million (US$
2,644 thousand),
₩
421 million
(US$362 thousand),
₩
256 million
(US$220 thousand) and
₩
90 million (US$77
thousand), respectively, in 2009.
Our cost
of revenues increased in 2009 to
₩
15,634
million (US$13,435 thousand) from
₩
15,102 million in
2008 mainly due to expansion of service revenue. Our operating expenses, which
includes selling, general and administrative expenses, research and development
expenses and impairment charges, significantly decreased in 2009 to
₩
15,988 million
(US$13,739 thousand) from
₩
26,911 million in
2008 as we implemented a series of cost-cutting measures. We posted a net income
attributable to parent company of
₩
3,309 million
(US$2,844 thousand) in 2009 compared to a net loss attributable to parent
company of
₩
7,675 million in
2008.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are
based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation
of these financial statements requires management to make estimates, judgements
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities,
contingent assets and liabilities, and revenue and expenses during the reporting
period. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis based on historical
experience and other assumptions we believe are reasonable under the
circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about
the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from
other sources. The policies discussed below are considered by our
management to be critical because they are not only important to the portrayal
of our financial condition and results of operations but also because
application and interpretation of these policies require both judgment and
estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain and unknown. As a
result, actual results may differ materially from our estimates.
Revenue
recognition
We derive
and expect to continue to generate most of our revenues from online game
subscription fees paid by our MU subscribers, royalties and license fees paid by
our licensees and sales of game items to Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)
subscribers. We recognize revenue in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States, as set forth in Accounting Standard
Codification (“ASC”) 605,
Revenue Recognition
(formerly
referenced as SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104,
Revenue Recognition,
Statement of Position 97-2,
Software Revenue
Recognition
)
and other related
pronouncements. Our current revenues can be classified into the following
categories:
Online
subscription fees
. Subscription fees are fees we directly collect from
client terminal level end-users. Our revenues from our operations in Korea
consist mostly of prepaid subscription fees paid by individual PC accounts and
Internet cafe subscribers, accounting for
₩
13,041 million
(US$11,207 thousand) and
₩
2,100 million
(US$1,805 thousand), respectively, in 2009. Online subscription fees earned by
our consolidated subsidiaries, which recorded
₩
1,669 million
(US$1,434 thousand) from 9Webzen and
₩
3,022 million
(US$2,597 thousand) from Webzen Taiwan in 2009, are also included in this
item.
Microtransaction
sales
. Microtransaction sales are fees we collect from in-game item sales
for the online game Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN), which was commercialized
in Korea in the fourth quarter of 2006, in Taiwan and China in the second
quarter of 2007 and in Japan in the second quarter of 2008. The microtransaction
sales model is also utilized in the MU online game in Japan, China and Taiwan.
We recently incorporated the same business model to MU by offering MU Blue.
Under this model, players purchase points for in-game premium features.
Microtransaction sales are typically paid by credit card or charged to the
users’ mobile phone bills. These
payments
are deferred when received and the relevant revenues are recognized over the
life of the premium features or as the premium features are consumed. Under our
micro-transaction sales model, or item-based revenue model, game players can
access our games free of charge or for a low membership fee, but may purchase
consumable virtual items, including those with a predetermined expiration time,
such as three months, or perpetual items, such as certain costumes that stay
binded to a game player for the life of the game. Revenues in relation to
consumable virtual items are recognized as they are consumed, as our services in
connection with these items have been fully rendered to our game players as of
that time. Revenues in relation to perpetual virtual items are recognized over
their estimated lives. We will provide continuous online game services in
connection with these perpetual virtual items until they are no longer used by
our game players. We have considered the average period that game players
typically play our games and other game player behavior patterns to arrive at
our best estimates for the lives of these perpetual virtual items.
One-time license
fee
. In certain cases, we receive a one-time license fee from licensees
after we enter into a licensing agreement. License fees are deferred and
recognized as revenue over the licensing period. When we receive a one-time
license fee, we generally provide our licensees with minimal post-contract
customer support on our software products, consisting of access to a support
hotline and occasional unspecified upgrades or game enhancements, which
typically occur within one year of the beginning of the licensing agreements.
The estimated costs of providing such support are insignificant and sufficient
vendor-specific evidence does not exist to allocate the revenue from software
and related integration projects to the separate elements of such projects. As a
result, all of our licensing revenue is recognized ratably over the life of the
agreement.
Installation
fee
. In connection with certain overseas licensing agreements, we receive
a one-time installation fee in lieu of a licensing fee as we install game
servers and information systems networks for our licensees. The system and
network we use for our licensees are modeled after our system in Korea. As there
are no sufficient vendor-specific information to allocate the revenue between
installation service and other services, we recognize installation fees as
revenue ratable over the life of the agreements.
Royalty
revenues
. We receive royalty revenues from our licensees based on agreed
percentage of the licensees’ revenue. Royalty revenues are recognized on a
monthly basis after the licensees confirm their revenues based on the actual
number of hours of services sold during the prior month. Royalty revenues
generated from our consolidated subsidiaries, such as 9Webzen or Webzen Taiwan,
are eliminated during the consolidation process and are not included in this
item. Royalty revenues from foreign licensees accounted for 28.9% of our total
net revenues in 2009. The following table sets forth our royalty revenues from
each of our overseas licensees for the periods indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
1Q
|
|
|
|
2Q
|
|
|
|
3Q
|
|
|
|
4Q
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won)
|
|
Royalty
revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
China(1)
|
|
|
840
|
|
|
|
1,031
|
|
|
|
1,138
|
|
|
|
959
|
|
|
|
685
|
|
|
|
266
|
|
|
|
475
|
|
|
|
376
|
|
Japan(2)
|
|
|
497
|
|
|
|
870
|
|
|
|
911
|
|
|
|
1,640
|
|
|
|
2,209
|
|
|
|
1,833
|
|
|
|
1,107
|
|
|
|
1,470
|
|
Philippines
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Vietnam
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
78
|
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
|
198
|
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
U.S.
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
71
|
|
|
|
92
|
|
|
|
102
|
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
36
|
|
(1)
|
Since
we increased our interest in 9Webzen from 49% to 70% and 9Webzen became a
consolidated subsidiary in December 14, 2005, revenues for MU in China are
no longer recognized as royalty revenues, but are recorded under online
subscriptions fees. Royalty revenues from China in this table refer only
to royalty fees we receive from GameNow.net Ltd., the operator of Soul of
the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in China.
|
(2)
|
Running royalty
of Japan at 1Q 2009 include incentive in relation to revenue
goal achievement.
|
Service
revenues.
In connection with
certain leasing and business agency agreements, we received
₩
717 million
(US$616 thousand) for service rendered in 2009. We had no such revenue in 2008.
Under the lease agreement with nPluto Co., Ltd., an online game developer, we
agreed to provide our internet data centers and servers for
₩
82 million. We
also
received
₩
93 million
per month from NHN Games under the business agency agreement dated June 8, 2009
in return for providing strategy formulation, marketing, publishing
and other general corporate support functions. Service revenues accounted for
2.3% of our total net revenues in 2009
.
Revenue from services is
recognized on a monthly basis when the services have been rendered in accordance
with the contract.
Allowances
for doubtful accounts
We
maintain allowances for doubtful accounts receivable for estimated losses that
result from the inability of our customers to make required payments. We base
our allowances on the likelihood of recoverability of accounts receivable which
is based on past experience and current collection trends. Allowances for
accounts receivable generally arise when individual PC account subscribers who
elect to make their payments through their fixed- line or mobile phone service
provider fail to make such payments. We record allowances for doubtful accounts
based on the historical payment patterns of our overall subscribers and increase
our allowances as the length of time after which such receivables become past
due increases.
Capitalized
software development costs
We
account for capitalized software development costs in accordance with ASC
985
, Costs of Software to be
Sold, Leased, or Marketed
(formerly referenced as the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Account Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 86,
Accounting
for the Costs of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased, or Otherwise
Marketed
). Software development costs incurred prior to the establishment
of technological feasibility are expensed when incurred and treated as research
and development expenses. Once a software product, such as an online game, has
reached technological feasibility, then all subsequent software development
costs for that product are capitalized and the capitalization stops when the
game is available for general release to customers. Technological feasibility is
evaluated on a product-by-product basis but typically occurs once the online
game has a proven ability to operate on a massively-multiplayer level. After an
online game is available for general release to customers, the capitalized
product development costs are amortized based on the expected life of the game.
This amortized expense is recorded as a component of cost of revenues. We
evaluate the recoverability of capitalized software development costs on a
product-by-product basis. Capitalized costs for those products that are
cancelled are expensed in the period of cancellation. In addition, a charge to
cost of revenues is recorded when management’s forecast for a particular game
indicates that unamortized capitalized costs exceed the net realizable value of
that asset.
Significant
management judgment is required to assess the timing of technological
feasibility as well as the ongoing recoverability of capitalized
costs.
Impairment
of Investments
Our
investments in equity securities are comprised of investments in the common
shares of NeoWave Inc. (“NeoWave”) and GameOn. If it has been
determined that an investment has sustained an other-than-temporary decline in
its value, the investment is written down to its fair value by taking a charge
to earnings. We regularly evaluate our investments to identify
other-than-temporary impairments of individual securities. We
consider the following factors in determining whether an other-than-temporary
decline in value has occurred: the length of time and extent to which
the market value of the security has been less than its original cost, the
financial condition, operating results, business plans, milestones and estimated
future cash flows of the investee, and other specific factors affecting the
market value. We have evaluated our investment in the common shares
of NeoWave and GameOn. Our investment in the common shares of NeoWave was
recorded as an impairment loss as we concluded that the current fair market
value of the common shares of NeoWave was significantly less than the original
cost or the carrying value before valuation and concluded that it was unlikely
to recover the original cost or the carrying value before valuation of the
NeoWave investment at any time in the foreseeable future. The
impairment loss reflected in our statements of operations was
₩
3,883 million and
₩
483 million
(US$415 thousand) in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Significant
management
judgment is involved in evaluating whether there is an
impairment. Any changes in assumptions could significantly affect the
valuation and timing of recognition of impairment losses.
Fair
value measurement on financial instruments
We
adopted ASC 825,
Financial
Instruments
(formerly referenced as the FASB’s SFAS No. 159,
The Fair Value Option for Financial
Assets and Financial Liabilities
). We have elected the fair value option
for two of its investments in short-term available-for-sale securities that
were acquired during the year ended December 31, 2008 and three of such
investment that were acquired during the year ended December 31, 2009,
respectively. Under the fair value option, unrealized gains and
losses related to this investment are reflected in the consolidated statements
of operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009.
The
current investment in beneficiary certificates represents equity interests in a
fund that is comprised of bonds, marketable equity securities and trust funds as
of December 31, 2008 and 2009. The fair value of bonds is derived based on
quoted prices in active markets, the fair value of marketable securities is
derived based on quoted prices in active exchange markets and the fair value of
trust funds is derived based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or
other inputs that are observable. We have invested in multiple beneficiary
certificates. Two and three of these beneficiary certificates contain embedded
derivatives as of December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively. We have determined
that it is not practical to bifurcate the embedded derivatives and account for
separately. Pursuant to ASC 825, we have elected the fair value option to
account for these two and three securities as of December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively. Accordingly, the entire change in estimated fair value of the two
and three beneficiary certificates that contain embedded derivatives is included
in other expense on the consolidated statement of operations for the years ended
December 31, 2008 and 2009.
Income taxes
We
account for income taxes under the provisions of ASC 740,
Income Taxes
(formerly
referenced as the FASB’s SFAS No. 109,
Accounting for Income Taxes
),
Accounting for Income Taxes. Under SFAS No. 109, income taxes are accounted for
under the asset and liability method. Management judgment is required in
determining our provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities
and the extent to which deferred tax assets can be recognized. Deferred taxes
are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax
bases of assets and liabilities and carryforwards at currently applicable
statutory tax rates for the years in which the differences are expected to be
reversed and carryforwards are expected to be realized.
A
valuation allowance is provided on deferred tax assets to the extent that it is
more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will not be realized. The
total income tax provision includes current tax expenses under applicable tax
regulations and the change in the balance of deferred tax assets and
liabilities.
Deferred
income tax assets are recognized only to the extent that realization of the
related tax benefit is more likely than not to occur. Realization of the future
tax benefits related to the deferred tax assets is dependent on many factors,
including our ability to generate taxable income within the period during which
the temporary differences reverse, the outlook for the Korean economic
environment, and the overall future industry outlook.
As of
December 31, 2009, we have concluded that net deferred tax assets of Webzen and
its subsidiaries will not be realized in the near future based on our historical
and projected net and taxable income.
Under the
Special Tax Treatment Control Law, we may claim a tax credit that can be carried
forward for five years. In 2007 and 2008, we realized net losses, which were
claimed for carried forward tax credit and in 2009, we posted a net profit. The
statutory tax rate applied to us was 27.5% in 2007 and 2008, and 24.2% in 2009.
Due to the amendment to the Korea corporate income tax law, the rate of 24.2%
will be applied for the fiscal years from 2009 through 2011 and 22% for the
fiscal year 2012 and thereafter. Our deferred income taxes as of December 31,
2009 were calculated based on the rate of 24.2% for fiscal years 2010 and 2011
and 22% thereafter for the amounts expected to be realized during the relevant
fiscal year.
In
addition, beginning January 1, 2007, we account for uncertainties related to
income taxes in compliance with ASC 740,
Income Taxes
(formerly
referenced as FIN 48,
“Accounting for Income Tax
Uncertainties.”)
Under ASC
740, we
evaluate our tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return for
recognition and measurement on our financial statements. Only those tax
positions that meet the more likely than not threshold are recognized on the
financial statements at the largest amount of benefit that is a greater than 50
percent likely of ultimately being realized. The Company did not have any
unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007 and there have been no changes
during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-06 (ASU 2010-06),
which amends the disclosure requirements of ASC 820,
Fair Value Measurements and
Disclosures
, as of January 1, 2010. ASU 2010-06 requires new disclosures
for any transfers of fair value into and out of Level 1 and 2 fair value
measurements and separate presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and
settlements within the reconciliation of Level 3 unobservable inputs. We
previously adopted ASC 820 on January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2009 for financial
assets and liabilities and for nonfinancial assets and liabilities,
respectively. ASU 2010-06 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning
after December 15, 2009, except for the Level 3 reconciliation which is
effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The
adoption of ASU 2010-06 as of January 1, 2010 did not have a material effect on
our financial condition or results of operations. We do not expect the adoption
of ASU 2010-06 in relation to the Level 3 reconciliation to have a material
impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of
operations.
In
September 2009, the Emerging Issues Task Force (the “EITF”) reached final
consensus under ASU No. 2009-13 on the issue related to revenue arrangements
with multiple deliverables. This issue addresses how to determine whether an
arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of
accounting and how arrangement consideration should be measured and allocated to
the separate units of accounting. This issue is effective for our revenue
arrangements entered into or materially modified on or after January 1, 2011. We
will evaluate the impact of this issue on our financial statements when
reviewing its new or materially modified revenue arrangements with multiple
deliverables when it becomes applicable.
In June
2009, the FASB issued a statement which improves financial reporting by
enterprises involved with variable interest entities. This statement requires
companies to perform an analysis to determine whether the company’s variable
interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable
interest entity. This statement will be effective as of the beginning of the
annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009. We
will evaluate the impact of this statement on our financial statements when
reviewing any new variable interest entities or transactions when it becomes
applicable.
In June
2009, the FASB issued a statement which improves the relevance, representational
faithfulness, and comparability of the information that a reporting entity
provides in its financial statements about a transfer of financial assets as
well as the effects of a transfer on its financial position, financial
performance, and cash flows and a transferor’s continuing involvement, if any,
in transferred financial assets. The statement requires that a transferor
recognize and initially measure at fair value all assets obtained (including a
transferor’s beneficial interest) and liabilities incurred as a result of a
transfer of financial assets accounted for as a sale. The statement will be
effective as of the beginning of annual reporting period that begins after
November 15, 2009. We believe the adoption of this pronouncement will not have a
material impact on our financial statements as we have not transferred our
financial assets.
Results
of Operations
2009
compared to 2008
The
following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods
indicated.
|
|
For
the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009(1)
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won and thousands of US$)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
Online
game subscriptions
|
|
₩
|
22,478
|
|
|
₩
|
19,833
|
|
|
$
|
17,043
|
|
Royalties
and license fees
|
|
|
10,298
|
|
|
|
10,845
|
|
|
|
9,320
|
|
Service
fees
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
717
|
|
|
|
616
|
|
Total net revenues
|
|
|
32,776
|
|
|
|
31,395
|
|
|
|
26,979
|
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
|
15,102
|
|
|
|
15,634
|
|
|
|
13,435
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
17,674
|
|
|
|
15,761
|
|
|
|
13,544
|
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
24,590
|
|
|
|
13,761
|
|
|
|
11,825
|
|
Research
and development expenses
|
|
|
1,816
|
|
|
|
2,227
|
|
|
|
1,914
|
|
Impairment
charges
|
|
|
505
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(9,237
|
)
|
|
|
(227
|
)
|
|
|
(195
|
)
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
3,364
|
|
|
|
2,232
|
|
|
|
1,919
|
|
Foreign
currency gain (loss), net
|
|
|
3,210
|
|
|
|
(148
|
)
|
|
|
(127
|
)
|
Gain
(loss) on disposal of property and equipment
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
935
|
|
|
|
804
|
|
Gain
(loss) on disposal of available-for-sale securities
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
212
|
|
|
|
182
|
|
Gain
(loss) on valuation of available-for-sale securities under
ASC825
|
|
|
(671
|
)
|
|
|
986
|
|
|
|
848
|
|
Loss
on impairment of available-for-sale securities
|
|
|
(3,883
|
)
|
|
|
(483
|
)
|
|
|
(415
|
)
|
Others,
net
|
|
|
156
|
|
|
|
938
|
|
|
|
804
|
|
Income (loss) before income tax
expenses
|
|
|
(7,027
|
)
|
|
|
4,445
|
|
|
|
3,820
|
|
Income
tax expenses
|
|
|
802
|
|
|
|
1,055
|
|
|
|
907
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
(7,829
|
)
|
|
|
3,390
|
|
|
|
2,913
|
|
Net
income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
|
(154
|
)
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
69
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable
to parent company
|
|
₩
|
(7,675
|
)
|
|
₩
|
3,309
|
|
|
$
|
2,844
|
|
(1)
|
For
convenience, the Won amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of
₩
1,163.65 to
US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on December 31, 2009, as announced
by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York.
|
The
following table summarizes our results of operations as a percentage of our
total net revenues for the periods indicated.
|
|
For
the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(as
a percentage of total net revenues)
|
|
Online
game subscriptions
|
|
|
68.6
|
%
|
|
|
63.2
|
%
|
Royalties
and license fees
|
|
|
31.4
|
%
|
|
|
34.5
|
%
|
Service
fees
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
2.3
|
%
|
Total net revenues
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
|
46.1
|
%
|
|
|
49.8
|
%
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
53.9
|
%
|
|
|
50.2
|
%
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
75.0
|
%
|
|
|
43.8
|
%
|
Research
and development expenses
|
|
|
5.5
|
%
|
|
|
7.1
|
%
|
Impairment
charges
|
|
|
1.5
|
%
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(28.2
|
%)
|
|
|
(0.7
|
%)
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
10.3
|
%
|
|
|
7.1
|
%
|
Foreign
currency gain (loss), net
|
|
|
9.8
|
%
|
|
|
(0.5
|
%)
|
Gain
(loss) on disposal of property and equipment
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
3.0
|
%
|
Gain
(loss) on disposal of available-for-sale securities
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
0.7
|
%
|
Gain
(loss) on valuation of available-for-sale securities under
ASC825
|
|
|
(2.0
|
%)
|
|
|
3.1
|
%
|
Loss
on impairment of available-for-sale securities
|
|
|
(11.8
|
%)
|
|
|
(1.5
|
%)
|
Others,
net
|
|
|
0.5
|
%
|
|
|
3.0
|
%
|
Income (loss) before income tax
expenses
|
|
|
(21.4
|
%)
|
|
|
14.2
|
%
|
Income
tax expenses
|
|
|
2.4
|
%
|
|
|
3.4
|
%
|
Net income
(loss)
|
|
|
(23.9
|
%)
|
|
|
10.8
|
%
|
Net
income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
|
(0.5
|
%)
|
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
Net income (loss) attributable
to parent company
|
|
|
(23.4
|
%)
|
|
|
10.5
|
%
|
Revenues
. Our net revenues
decreased 4.2% from
₩
32,776 million in
2008 to
₩
31,395 (US$26,979
thousand) million in 2009 mainly due to a 11.8% decrease in online subscription
revenue of MU and SUN, and related PC cafe revenue. This decrease in
revenue can be explained by migration of subscribers to newly published games of
our competitors. This decrease in online subscription revenue was
partially offset by 5.3% increase in royalties and license fees from
₩
10,298 million in
2008 to
₩
10,845 million
(US$9,320 thousand) in 2009, mainly as a result of increased revenues from the
Japan and Vietnam. This decrease in online subscription revenue was also
partially offset by service revenue of
₩
717 million
(US$616 thousand), mainly as a result of providing marketing and logistical
support to NHN Games.
Cost of revenues
. Our cost of
revenues increased 3.5% from
₩
15,102 million in
2008 to
₩
15,634 million
(US$13,435 thousand) in 2009, primarily due to:
·
|
a
11.1% increase in wages, bonuses and employee benefits from
₩
6,924
million in 2008 to
₩
7,691
million (US$6,609 thousand) in 2009, mainly due to an increase in the
number of employees in revenue generating departments, mostly in the
service department, an increase in incentive payments and additional costs
associated with benefits such as health insurance
premiums;
|
·
|
a
82.1% increase in fees and service charges from
₩
770 million
in 2008 to
₩
1,401
million (US$1,204 thousand) in 2009, mainly due to an increase in
outsourcing of customer service personnel and content delivery network
service fees for SUN global portal;
and
|
·
|
an
additional cost of
₩
589 million
(US$506 thousand) associated with service revenue, which we did not incur
in 2008.
|
These
increases in cost of revenue were partially offset by
·
|
a
15.1% decrease in Internet Data Center (“IDC”) expense from
₩
591 million
in 2008 to
₩
502 million
(US$431 thousand) in 2009, mainly due to a decrease in IDC usage
associated with the decrease in revenue generated from MU through
9Webzen;
|
·
|
a
85.3% decrease in cost of merchandise sold, from
₩
68 million
in 2008 to
₩
10 million
(US$9 thousand) in 2009, due to a decrease in sales of character and
packages related to game contents;
and
|
·
|
a
decrease 21% in travel, entertainment and office supplies, from
₩
72 million
in 2008 to
₩
57 million
(US$49 thousand) in 2009, due to cost cutting
measures.
|
As a
percentage of total net revenues, cost of revenues increased from 46.1% in 2008
to 49.8% in 2009.
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of sales
commissions paid to independent promotional agents that target our Internet cafe
subscribers in Korea, commissions paid to providers of settlement services,
administrative expenses and related personnel expenses of executive and
administrative staff, and marketing and promotional expenses and related
personnel expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 44%
from
₩
24,590
million in 2008 to
₩
13,761 million
(US$11,825 thousand) in 2009. primarily due to:
·
|
a
36.4% decrease in cost associated with payroll, bonuses and employee
benefits from
₩
9,364
million in 2008 to
₩
5,952
million (US$5,115 thousand) in 2009, due to a decrease in number of
general and administrative personnel by 17.7% compared to the prior year
and the impact of general cost cutting
measures;
|
·
|
a
80.8% decrease in marketing expense from
₩
3,824
million in 2008 to
₩
735 million
(US$632 thousand) in 2009, due to a reduction in PC cafe related marketing
material production and promotional activities associated with games;
and
|
·
|
a
48.1% decrease in fees and commissions from
₩
5,504
million in 2008 to
₩
2,857
million (US$2,455 thousand) in 2009, mainly due to a decrease of
commissions and fee payments to payment solution providers, which resulted
from a decrease of online game subscription revenues, and not incurring
M&A consulting related expenses as in
2008.
|
These
decreases were partially offset by a 137.2% increase in stock compensation
expense from
₩
289 million in
2008 to
₩
686
million (US$590 thousand) in 2009, mainly due to an increase in stock
compensation to certain members of the management and senior
managers.
As a
percentage of net revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses
decreased from 75.0% in 2008 to 43.8% in 2009.
Research and development
expenses
. Research and development expenses incurred prior to the
establishment of technological feasibility are included in this item. Research
and development expenses in 2009 increased 22.7% from
₩
1,816 million in
2008 to
₩
2,227 million
(US$1,914 thousand) in 2009, mainly due to a one-time reimbursement of
₩
12,309
million from Realtime Worlds Inc. (“RTW”) recorded as research and
development income in 2008. Offsetting this was an 82.3% reduction in payroll,
bonuses and retirement benefits from
₩
2,551 million in
2008 to
₩
453
million (US$389 thousand) in 2009 resulting from cost-cutting measures as well
as reduction in service charges of
₩
9,166 million
(US$7,877 thousand) to Red 5 Studio regarding T-Project in 2008.
Impairment charges
. We
realized an impairment charge of
₩
505 million in
2008, while there were no such charges in 2009. This impairment charge in 2008
was mainly due to the impairment of equipment, capitalized leasehold
improvements and certain other assets of Webzen China and Webzen America as the
two entities ceased to conduct activities generating revenue and the relevant
assets had not alternative use.
Interest income
.
Our interest income is mainly generated from cash
equivalents and short-term financial instruments and it has decreased by 33.7%
from
₩
3,364 million in 2008 to
₩
2,232 million (US$1,919 thousand) in 2009. This year's
decrease in mainly due to a fall of average interest rates on these assets,
despite the increase in balance of our interest-generating assets
.
Foreign currency gain ( loss),
net
. We incurred a net foreign currency loss of
₩
148 million
(US$127 thousand) in 2009 compared to a net gain of
₩
3,210 million in
2008. This was mainly due to a decrease in valuation of foreign currency
denominated assets (including account receivables and long-term loans), as
Korean Won appreciated against other major currencies including U.S. dollar in
2009.
Gain on disposal of property and
equipment
. We realized net gain on disposal of property and equipment of
₩
935 million
(US$804 thousand) in 2009. The gain on disposal of property and equipment in
2009 was mainly due to the sale of office space at Daelim Acrotel Building in
Dogok-dong, Seoul.
Gain on disposal of
available-for-sale securities
. Our gain on disposal of available-for-sale
securities increased 523.5% from
₩
34 million in 2008
to
₩
212
million (US$182 thousand) in 2009. The increase was mainly due to the gains we
realized when we sold the common shares of GameOn, other beneficial certificates
and other available-for-sale securities.
Loss on impairment of
available-for-sale securities
. We realized loss from impairment of
available-for-sale securities of
₩
483 million
(US$415 thousand) in 2009 compared to
₩
3,883 million in
2008. Our loss on impairment of available-for-sale securities in 2008 and 2009
was fully attributable to the loss in valuation of the common shares of NeoWave
we hold. The original cost of investment in NeoWave’s securities was
₩
4,550 million when
we acquired the securities in February 2008. We recorded loss on the investment
in NeoWave securities of
₩
3,883 million and
₩
483 million
(US$415 thousand) in 2008 and 2009, respectively, which represents the
difference between the value on our book and the fair market value at the
relevant period end.
Others, net.
Other income
increased from
₩
156 million in
2008 to
₩
938
million (US$804 thousand) in 2009, which was mainly attributable to
₩
666 million
(US$572 thousand) of sub-lease income realized by Webzen America in 2009. We
realized a gain of
₩
159 million
(US$137 thousand) as a result of exemption of debt of 9Webzen in 2009. We also
realized a loss of
₩
106 million (US$91
thousand) on valuation of derivatives product held by us in 2009 compared to a
gain of
₩
145
million in 2008, due to the reduction in NeoWave’s share price.
Income taxes
. Income tax
expenses increased 31.5% from
₩
802 million in
2008 to
₩
1,055 million
(US$907 thousand) in 2009, mainly due to a
₩
155 million
(US$133 thousand)
increase of foreign withholding
tax for overseas license
and royalty revenue and to a
₩
99 million (US$85
thousand) increase of income tax expenses relating to the valuation allowance
for unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities.
Net income (loss) attributable to
non
-
controlling
interest
.
Non-controlling interest represents the net income from 9Webzen, our 70%-held
subsidiary, and Flux, our 55.4%-held subsidiary. Net income attributable to
non-controlling interest increased from net loss of
₩
154 million in
2008 to net income of
₩
81 million (US$69
thousand) in 2009, mainly due to net income of
₩
80 million (US$69
thousand) of the aforementioned subsidiaries in 2009 and net loss of
₩
471 million of the
aforementioned subsidiaries in 2008.
Net income (loss) attributable to
parent company.
As a result of the factors discussed above, we recorded a
net income attributable to parent company of
₩
3,309 million
(US$2,844 thousand) in 2009 compared to a net loss attributable to parent
company of
₩
7,675 million in
2008.
2008
compared to 2007
The
following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods
indicated.
|
|
For
the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Online
game subscriptions
|
|
₩
|
22,884
|
|
|
₩
|
22,478
|
|
Royalties
and license fees
|
|
|
6,213
|
|
|
|
10,298
|
|
Total net revenues
|
|
|
29,097
|
|
|
|
32,776
|
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
|
17,505
|
|
|
|
15,102
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
11,592
|
|
|
|
17,674
|
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
22,848
|
|
|
|
24,590
|
|
Research
and development expenses
|
|
|
23,164
|
|
|
|
1,816
|
|
Impairment
charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
505
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(34,420
|
)
|
|
|
(9,237
|
)
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
3,503
|
|
|
|
3,364
|
|
Foreign
currency gain (loss), net
|
|
|
92
|
|
|
|
3,210
|
|
Gain
on disposal of property and equipment
|
|
|
3,931
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Loss
on valuation of available-for-sale securities under ASC825
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(671
|
)
|
|
|
For
the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain
on disposal of available-for-sale securities
|
|
|
3,755
|
|
|
|
34
|
|
Loss
on impairment of available-for-sale securities
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(3,883
|
)
|
Others,
net
|
|
|
(118
|
)
|
|
|
156
|
|
Loss before income tax
expenses
|
|
|
(23,257
|
)
|
|
|
(7,027
|
)
|
Income
tax expenses
|
|
|
2,579
|
|
|
|
802
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(25,836
|
)
|
|
|
(7,829
|
)
|
Net
loss attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
|
(242
|
)
|
|
|
(154
|
)
|
Net loss attributable to parent
company
|
|
₩
|
(25,594
|
)
|
|
₩
|
(7,675
|
)
|
The
following table summarizes our results of operations as a percentage of our
total net revenues for the periods indicated.
|
|
For
the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(as
a percentage of total net revenues)
|
|
Online
game subscriptions
|
|
|
78.6
|
%
|
|
|
68.6
|
%
|
Royalties
and license fees
|
|
|
21.4
|
%
|
|
|
31.4
|
%
|
Total net revenues
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
|
60.2
|
%
|
|
|
46.1
|
%
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
39.8
|
%
|
|
|
53.9
|
%
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
78.5
|
%
|
|
|
75.0
|
%
|
Research
and development expenses
|
|
|
79.6
|
%
|
|
|
5.5
|
%
|
Impairment
charges
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
1.5
|
%
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(118.3
|
%)
|
|
|
(28.2
|
%)
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
12.0
|
%
|
|
|
10.3
|
%
|
Foreign
currency gain (loss), net
|
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
|
|
9.8
|
%
|
Gain
(loss) on disposal of property and equipment
|
|
|
13.5
|
%
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
Loss
on valuation of available-for-sale securities under ASC825
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
2.0
|
%
|
Gain
on disposal of available-for-sale securities
|
|
|
12.9
|
%
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
Loss
on impairment of available-for-sale securities
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
(11.8
|
%)
|
Others,
net
|
|
|
(0.4
|
%)
|
|
|
(0.5
|
%)
|
Income (loss) before income tax
expenses
|
|
|
(79.9
|
%)
|
|
|
(21.4
|
%)
|
Income
tax expenses
|
|
|
8.9
|
%
|
|
|
2.4
|
%
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(88.8
|
%)
|
|
|
(23.9
|
%)
|
Net
loss attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
|
0.8
|
%
|
|
|
0.5
|
%
|
Net loss attributable to parent
company
|
|
|
(88.0
|
%)
|
|
|
(23.4
|
%)
|
Revenues
. Our net revenues
increased 12.7% from
₩
29,097 million in
2007 to
₩
32,776 million in
2008 due to a 65.7% increase in royalties and license fees from
₩
6,213 million in
2007 to
₩
10,298 million in
2008 as royalties and license fees from Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)
increased from
₩
3,287 million in
2007 to
₩
7,197 million in
2008, mainly as a result of increased revenues from the PRC and
commercialization of the game in Japan. This increase in royalties and license
fees was partially offset by a 1.8% decrease in online game subscriptions
from
₩
22,884 million in
2007 to
₩
22,478 million in
2008 as online game subscription from Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) and MU
decreased during the period.
Cost of revenues
. Our cost of
revenues for 2008 decreased 13.7% from
₩
17,505 million in
2007 to
₩
15,102 million in
2008, primarily due to:
·
|
a
14.3% decrease in wages and salaries, including severance benefits, from
₩
8,231
million in 2007 to
₩
7,055
million in 2008 as our workforce in the operation and maintenance division
of MU and Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) decreased by 19.8% as a part
of our cost-cutting measures;
|
·
|
a
23.4% decrease in depreciation from
₩
3,131
million in 2007 to
₩
2,397
million in 2008 as we disposed of equipments and office fixtures when we
decreased our headquarters’ office space in 2008;
and
|
·
|
a
41.8% decrease in fees and service charges from
₩
1,323
million in 2007 to
₩
770 million
in 2008 mainly due to a decrease in outsourcing service fees, as we
decreased the number of outsourcing workforce that worked on customer
relations for Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) and quality assurance
during the previous year.
|
As a
percentage of total net revenues, cost of revenues decreased from 60.2% in 2007
to 46.1% in 2008.
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of sales
commissions paid to independent promotional agents that target our Internet cafe
subscribers in Korea, commissions paid to providers of settlement services,
administrative expenses and related personnel expenses of executive and
administrative staff, and marketing and promotional expenses and related
personnel expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 7.6%
from
₩
22,848
million in 2007 to
₩
24,590 million in
2008 primarily due to:
·
|
a
63.4% increase in fees and commissions from
₩
3,369
million in 2007 to
₩
5,504
million in 2008 mainly due to an increase in professional fees related to
defending a hostile acquisition attempt in 2008;
and
|
·
|
a
68.4% increase in marketing expenses from
₩
2,271
million in 2007 to
₩
3,824
million in 2008 (as a percentage of total revenues, our marketing expenses
increased from 7.8% in 2007 to 11.7% in 2008) mainly due to the
advertisement costs related the launch of third closed beta test and open
beta test of our new product,
Huxley.
|
These
increases were partially offset by a 15.3% decrease in payroll costs and
retirement benefit costs from
₩
10,462 million in
2007 to
₩
8,859 million in
2008, as the number of general and administrative personnel decreased 30.1%
compared to the prior year.
As a
percentage of net revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses
decreased from 78.5% in 2007 to 75.0% in 2008.
Research and development
expenses
. Research and development expenses incurred prior to the
establishment of technological feasibility are included in this item. Research
and development expenses in 2008 decreased 92.2% from
₩
23,164 million in
2007 to
₩
1,816 million in
2008, despite the advance payment of
₩
979 million to Red
5 Studios for T-Project, partly due to a
₩
12,309 million
setoff to the research and development expenses, which reflects the amount RTW
reimbursed or agreed to reimburse us for our earlier advance payments when we
terminated a game development agreement with it, and a decrease of
₩
7,194 million
attributable various cost-cutting measures in research and development
departments including decrease in wages and salaries paid and outsourcing fees
paid.
Impairment charges
. We
realized an impairment charge of
₩
505 million in
2008, while there were no such charges in previous periods. This impairment
charge in 2008 was mainly due to the impairment of equipment, capitalized
leasehold improvements and certain other assets of Webzen China and Webzen
America as the two entities ceased to conduct activities generating revenue and
the relevant assets had not alternative use.
Interest income
. Our interest
income is mainly generated from cash equivalents and short-term financial
instruments. Interest income decreased 4.0% from
₩
3,503 million in
2007 to
₩
3,364 million in
2008, mainly due to a decrease of cash and cash equivalents and short-term
financial instruments. During the same period, the balance of our cash and cash
equivalents and short-term financial instruments decreased from
₩
74,904 million as
of December 31, 2007 to
₩
53,346 million as
of December 31, 2008, while the average interest rate on these assets
increased.
Foreign currency gain and
loss
. Our net foreign currency gain increased significantly from
₩
92 million in 2007
to
₩
3,210
million in 2008. This was mainly due to an increase of valuation of foreign
currency denominated assets (including account receivables and long-term loans),
as the Korean Won significantly depreciated against other major currencies
including the U.S. dollar in 2008.
Gain on disposal of property and
equipment
. We realized net gain on disposal of property and equipment of
₩
3,931
million in 2007, but no such gain in 2008. The gain on disposal of property and
equipment in 2007 was mainly due to the sale of office space at the Daelim
Acrotel Building in Dogok-dong, Seoul.
Gain on disposal of
available-for-sale securities
. Our gain on disposal of available-for-sale
securities decreased 99.1% from
₩
3,755 million in
2007 to
₩
34
million in 2008. The net gain in 2007 of
₩
2,320 million was
from sale of common shares of GameOn and
₩
1,435 million from
disposal of beneficial certificates and other available-for-sale
securities.
Loss on impairment of
available-for-sale securities
. We realized loss from impairment of
available-for-sale securities of
₩
3,883 million in
2008 from an other-than-temporary decrease in value of investment in NeoWave
Inc. We did not incur any loss on impairment of available-for-sale securities in
2007.
Income taxes
. Income tax
expenses decreased 68.9% from
₩
2,579 million in
2007 to
₩
802
million in 2008, mainly due to a decrease of income tax expenses relating to the
valuation allowance for unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities. The
income tax expenses in 2007 were attributable to an increase in the valuation
allowance recorded in 2007, due to a decrease in the deferred tax liabilities
recorded in equity in 2006 related to available for sale
securities.
Net loss attributable to
non-controlling interest.
Non-controlling interest represents the net
income (loss) from 9Webzen, our 70%-held subsidiary acquired in 2002 and Flux,
our 55.4%-held subsidiary acquired in 2003, attributable to third-party
non-controlling interest holders.
Net loss attributable to parent
company.
As a result of the factors discussed above, our net loss
attributable to parent company decreased from
₩
25,594 million in
2007 to
₩
7,675 million in
2008.
Impact
of inflation
In view
of our operating history, we believe that inflation in Korea and our other
principal markets has not had a material impact on our results of operations.
Inflation in Korea was 2.5% in 2007, 4.7% in 2008 and 2.8% in 2009.
Impact
of Foreign Currency Fluctuations
See “Item
11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Foreign
currency risk.”
Government,
Economic, Fiscal, Monetary or Political Factors
See “Item
3. Key Information — 3.D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to The Republic of
Korea,” “Item 4. Information on the Company — 4.B. Business Overview — Laws and
Regulations” and “Item 10. Additional Information — 10.E.
Taxation.”
5.B. Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Liquidity
.
The following table sets forth the summary of our cash flows for the periods
indicated:
|
|
For
the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won and thousands of US$)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
Net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
(13,916
|
)
|
|
|
15,876
|
|
|
|
13,644
|
|
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
(2,868
|
)
|
|
|
7,411
|
|
|
|
6,369
|
|
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(8,798
|
)
|
|
|
(84
|
)
|
|
|
(73
|
)
|
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash and
cash equivalents
|
|
|
548
|
|
|
|
(45
|
)
|
|
|
(39
|
)
|
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(25,034
|
)
|
|
|
23,158
|
|
|
|
19,901
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
66,857
|
|
|
|
41,823
|
|
|
|
35,941
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
|
41,823
|
|
|
|
64,981
|
|
|
|
55,842
|
|
(1)
|
For
convenience, the Won amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of
₩
1,163.65 to
US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on December 31, 2009, as announced
by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York.
|
In 2009,
our primary sources of liquidity were existing cash on hand and short-term
financial instruments.
Net cash
provided by operating activities in 2009 was
₩
15,876 million
(US$13,644 thousand), as our net income amounted to
₩
3,390 million
(US$2,913 thousand), mainly due to our cost-cutting efforts. In addition, net
cash provided by operating activities in 2009 reflects non-cash items such as
depreciation and amortization expenses of
₩
3,483 million
(US$2,993 thousand), a decrease in other receivables by
₩
8,647 million
(US$7,431 thousand) and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses by
₩
1,923
million (US$1,653 thousand), partially offset by an increase in deferred
income of
₩
1,709 million
(US$1,468 thousand). We used
₩
13,916 million in
operating activities in 2008, as our net loss amounted to
₩
7,829 million in
2008 and other receivables increased
₩
8,570 million
primarily due to the receivables recorded from our termination of agreement with
RTW, partially offset by non-cash items such as depreciation and
amortization.
Net cash
provided by investing activities in 2009 was
₩
7,411 million
(US$6,369 thousand), primarily due the
₩
10,000 million
(US$8,594 thousand) decrease in short-term financial instruments and the
₩
1,088 million
(US$935 thousand) net proceeds received by disposing property and equipment,
partially offset by the
₩
1,751 million
(US$1,505 thousand) net increase in leasehold and other deposits. Net cash used
in investing activities in 2008 was
₩
2,868 million,
primarily due the
₩
9,987 million
increase in investment in available-for-sale securities and the
₩
2,897 million
increase in short-term financial instrument, partially offset by the
₩
11,306 of
leasehold deposit we received when we decreased our office space.
Net cash
used in financing activities in 2009 was
₩
84 million,
primarily due to the
₩
54 million (US$47
thousand) used in repayment of capital lease liability under the terms
of existing loan agreements and the
₩
30 million (US$26
thousand) decrease in short-term borrowing, which was partly attributable to the
repayment of borrowing that had been incurred by Flux Co., Ltd. Net cash used in
financing activities was
₩
8,798 million in
2008, primarily due to the
₩
6,617 million used
in the acquisition of treasury stock and the
₩
1,192 million net
decrease in short-term borrowing, which was partly attributable to the repayment
of borrowing that had been incurred by Webzen China.
Capital
resources
. As of December 31, 2009, our primary source of liquidity was
₩
64,981
million (US$55,842 thousand) of cash and cash equivalents and
₩
1,411 million (US$
1,212 thousand) of unrestricted short-term financial instruments. We believe
that our available cash, cash equivalents and short-term financial instruments
will be sufficient to meet our capital needs for at least the next 12 months.
However, we cannot assure you that our business or operations will not change in
a manner that would consume available capital resources more rapidly than
anticipated. As of December 31, 2009, Webzen Taiwan has a L/C credit line up to
US$650 thousand from a local bank in Taiwan.
We expect
to have capital expenditure requirements for the ongoing expansion into other
markets, including hardware expenditures for the continuous expansion and
upgrading of our existing server equipment, for which we expect to make
approximately
₩
4.8 billion in
capital expenditures in 2010. The amount and timing of any investments have not
yet been determined and will depend on our ability to identify suitable
acquisition targets.
5.C. Research
and Development, Patents and Licenses
Our
research and development activities comprises mostly of development of new games
and services. Since 2007, we have implemented a series of cost-cutting measures.
We significantly reduced our workforce, including game developers, and as a
result the number of employees in game development, web development and system
engineering teams decreased from 414 as of December 31, 2008 to 398 as of
December 31, 2009. In April 2009, the development and maintenance of Parfait
Station was outsourced to NHN Games. In early 2009, we also negotiated with Red
5 Studios to reduce the amount we invest in T-project development in exchange
for lower profit share in the U.S. and European market after commercialization.
On May 28, 2009, an amendment to the original publishing agreement was made to
waive our obligation to make any additional payments relating to T-project in
exchange for Red 5 Studios’ publishing rights in the United States and Europe
and lower profit share worldwide after commercialization. We incurred ₩2,227
million (US$1,914 thousand), ₩1,816 million and ₩23,262 million as
research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008
and 2007, respectively.
5.D. Trend
Information
See
“—5.A. Operating Results—Overview.”
5.E. Off-balance
Sheet Arrangements
We have
provided guarantees of
₩
226 million
(US$194 thousand) as of December 31, 2009 to lending institutions for certain
loans extended to our employees for their purchase of our common shares. The
guarantees are secured by a cash deposit with the lending
institution.
We opened
a stand-by letter of credit account at Hana Bank for our business in Taiwan,
which will remain current until December 18, 2010. In return, Hana Bank provided
a guarantee of up to US$650 thousand for Webzen Taiwan for its borrowings from a
local bank in Taiwan.
We do not
have any outstanding hedging contracts. See “Item 11. Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Foreign currency risk.”
5.F. Contractual
Obligations
The
tables below set forth the maturities of contractual cash obligations as of
December 31, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in
millions of Won)
|
|
Contractual
obligations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
lease obligations
|
|
|
3,666
|
|
|
|
1,679
|
|
|
|
1,987
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Capital
lease obligations
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Purchase
obligations
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Employees
and executive officers with one year or more of service are entitled to receive
a lump-sum payment upon termination of their employment with us based on the
length of service and their rate of payment at the time of termination. We
accrued
₩
3,046 million
(US$2,618 thousand) as accrued severance benefits as of December 31,
2009.
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and
Employees
6.A. Directors
and Senior Management
The
following table sets forth the names, ages and positions at our company and
other positions held by our Directors and officers as of June 4,
2010:
|
|
|
Chang
Keun Kim
|
40
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director (Representative
Director)
|
Byoung
Gwan Kim
|
38
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director (Representative
Director)
|
Hyun
Sung Kim
|
39
|
Director
|
In
Joon Hwang
|
45
|
Director
|
Wook
Jeong
|
38
|
Director
|
Chang
Won Rhee
|
48
|
Outside
Director and a member of the Audit Committee
|
Seung
Han Ha
|
44
|
Outside
Director and a member of the Audit Committee
|
Hyuk-Yun
Kim
|
40
|
Outside
Director and a member of the Audit Committee
|
Hwi
Joon Shin
|
34
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Chang Keun
Kim
is the Co-Representative Director and the Chief Executive Officer
serving since October 2008. He served as Business Department Manager of NHN
Hangame Division and Group Manager of NHN Publishing Business Group. Mr. Kim had
received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Seoul National
University and a master’s degree and doctoral degree in business administration
from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
Byoung Gwan
Kim
is the Co-Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer,
serving in that capacity since being elected as such at the Board of Directors
held on June 4, 2010. He was previously our Chief Strategy Officer. He is also
the chief executive officer of NHN Games. Mr. Kim received a bachelor’s degree
in business administration from Seoul National University and a master’s degree
in industrial business administration from Korea Advanced Institute of Science
and Technology.
In Joon Hwang
is a Director. He was newly elected Director at the extraordinary general
shareholders meeting held on June 4, 2010. Mr. Hwang is also a director and as a
chief financial officer of NHN Corp. He received a bachelor’s degree in
economics from Seoul National University and a master’s degree in economics from
New York University. He was a managing director at the Investment
Banking Division of Woori Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
Wook Jeong
is a Director. He was newly elected Director at the extraordinary
general shareholders meeting held on June 4, 2010. He is also a
director of NHN Corp and the chief business officer of Hangame Business Division
of NHN Corp. He received a bachelor’s degree in 1998 from Seoul National
University. He served as a management consultant at Accenture and
as an executive director at Freechal Inc.
Hyun Sung
Kim
is a Director. He was newly elected Director at the extraordinary
general shareholders meeting held on June 4, 2010. He is also a
director and general counsel of NHN Corp. He was a Judge at Seoul Northern
District Court and worked at DR& AJU Law firm previously.
Chang Won
Rhee
is an Outside Director and a member of the Audit Committee since
October 2008. He is a partner attorney at Shin & Kim. Mr. Lee had received a
bachelor’s degree in law from Seoul National University and a master of law
degree from Boston University.
Seung Han
Ha
is an Outside Director and a member of the Audit Committee since
October 2008. He is a certified public accountant and is an accountant at Shin
& Kim. Mr. Ha received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from
Seoul National University and a master’s degree in business administration from
University of Illinois.
Hyuk-Yun
Kim
is an Outside Director and a member of the Audit Committee since
March 2009. He is a certified public accountant at Kim & Chang since 2001.
Mr. Kim worked at Sandong Accounting Firm from 1997 to 2000 as a certified
public accountant. Mr. Kim received a bachelor’s degree in business
administration from Seoul National University and a master’s degree in business
taxation from University of Southern California.
Hwi Joon
Shin
is the Chief Financial Officer, serving in this capacity since
August 2009. He is a certified public accountant and worked as an analyst at
Citigroup and as an accountant at KPMG. He received a bachelor’s degree in
business administration from Seoul National University.
Chang
Keun Kim, Byoung Gwan Kim, Chang Won Rhee and Seung Han Ha were elected as
Directors at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on October
24, 2008 after NHN Games purchased Common Shares from our prior controlling
shareholders. Hyuk-Yun Kim was elected as an Outside Director at the annual
general meeting of shareholders held on March 27, 2009. On August 24, 2009, Mr.
Hyung-Cheol Kim resigned as the CFO and Mr. Hwi Joon Shin was
appointed as the CFO. Hyun Sung Kim, In Joon Hwang and Wook Jeong were elected
as Directors at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on June
4, 2010.
Chang Won
Rhee and Seung Han Ha were re-elected as our Outside Directors and members of
the Audit Committee at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on
June 4, 2010. In accordance with the Korean Commercial Code provisions and our
Articles of Incorporation, their term of office expires on June 3,
2013.
6.B. Compensation
We have
not extended any loans or credit to any of our Directors or executive officers,
and we have not provided guarantees for borrowings by any of these persons. For
the year ended December 31, 2009, the aggregate amount of compensation paid by
us to all Directors and executive officers was
₩
1,322 million
(US$1,136 thousand). In addition, our shareholders approved the grant of stock
options to purchase an aggregate of 200,000 common shares to one registered
Director at our general meeting of shareholders held on March 27, 2009. In the
shareholders meeting held on March 26, 2010, our shareholders approved an
aggregate amount of up to
₩
1.26 billion as
compensation for our executive officers for the year 2011 and ratified the
stock options to purchase 12,000 common shares that was granted by the Board of
Directors to one non-registered officer on May 14, 2009.
Under the
Korean Labor Standard Act, we are required to pay a severance amount to eligible
employees, including Directors and officers, who voluntarily or involuntarily
terminate their employment with us, including through retirement. The severance
amount for an officer or Director equals the monthly salary at the time of his
or her departure, multiplied by the number of continuous years of service, and
further multiplied by a discretionary number set forth in our Severance Payment
Regulation, which depending on the position of the officer or Director ranges
from two to four. We have set aside or accrued ₩137 million (US$118 thousand) to
provide for such severance amount.
We
maintain a Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy covering
potential liabilities of our Directors and officers.
6.C. Board
Practices
Board
of Directors
Our board
of Directors has the ultimate responsibility for the administration of our
affairs. Our Articles of Incorporation, as currently in effect, provide for a
board of Directors comprised of not less than three Directors. The Directors are
elected at a general meeting of shareholders by a majority vote of the
shareholders present or represented, so long as the affirmative votes also
represent not less than 25% of all issued and outstanding shares with voting
rights. For the purpose of electing a statutory auditor or auditors, a
shareholder holding more than 3% of
the
issued and outstanding shares with voting rights may not exercise voting rights
with respect to such shares in excess of 3%.
The term
of office for our Directors is three years but is extendible to the close of the
ordinary general meeting of shareholders convened in the last fiscal year of
each term. The terms of Chang Keun Kim and Byoung Gwan Kim expire on October 23,
2011.
The term
of office for our Outside Directors is three years but is extendible to the
close of the ordinary general meeting of shareholders convened in the last
fiscal year of each term. The terms of Hyuk-Yun Kim expire on March 26, 2011.
Chang Won Rhee and Seung Han Ha were reelected as our Outside Directors and
members of the Audit Committee at the extraordinary general shareholders meeting
held on June 4, 2010. In accordance the Korean Commercial Code
provisions and our Articles of Incorporation, their term of office expires on
June 3, 2013. The term of office for our Outside Directors was changed from two
years to three years at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held
on June 4, 2010.
Under the
Korean Commercial Code, a Director’s term of office cannot exceed three years.
However, Directors may serve any number of consecutive terms and may be removed
from office at any time by a resolution adopted at a general meeting of
shareholders. None of our Directors is party to a service contract with our
company that provides for benefits upon termination of employment.
The board
of Directors elects Representative Directors from its members. Under the Korean
Commercial Code and our Articles of Incorporation, any Directors with a special
interest in an agenda of a board meeting may not exercise his voting rights at
that board meeting.
Independent
Directors
Our ADSs
are listed for quotation on the Nasdaq Market and we currently are subject to
the Nasdaq listing requirements applicable to listed foreign companies. Under
the Nasdaq listing requirements, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b), a majority of the
board of Directors should be comprised of independent directors. The
independence standards under the Nasdaq rules exclude, among others, any person
who is a current or former employee of a company (for the current year or the
past three years) or of any of its affiliates, as well as any immediate family
member of an executive officer of a listed company or of any of its affiliates.
The Korea Financial Investment Service and Capital Market Act and regulations
thereunder require companies listed on the KOSDAQ or KRX Stock Market to have at
least one fourth of its board of Directors comprised of outside directors. Under
Korean law, a director or officer of the company, any person who served as a
director or an officer of the company during the past two years, certain family
members of a director of the company or certain other affiliates of the company,
do not qualify as an outside director. We elected three independent Outside
Directors to comply with Korean law, but we do not satisfy the majority
independent board requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1).
Audit
Committee
The
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 directs the SEC to require U.S. national securities
exchanges and national securities associations, such as the Nasdaq Global
Market, to adopt rules prohibiting the listing of any security of an issuer that
is not in compliance with the relevant audit committee requirements set forth in
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The SEC adopted final rules relating to the audit
committee requirements on April 9, 2003, and approved related proposed changes
to the Nasdaq corporate governance rules on November 4, 2003. Nasdaq Listing
Rule 5605(c), which sets forth the requirements for listing company’s audit
committees, requires that at least three independent directors who are able to
read and understand fundamental financial statements serve on the
committee.
Under the
Korean Commercial Code, a company may elect between appointing a statutory
internal auditor or establishing an audit committee.
To comply
with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the SEC rules and regulations as well as the
Nasdaq listing requirements regarding the audit committee, our board of
Directors established an audit committee by amending our Articles of
Incorporation at the general meeting of shareholders held in March 2004. Our
Audit Committee is currently comprised of the following three independent
Directors: Chang Won Lee, Seung Han Ha and Hyuk-Yun
Kim. All
of our independent Directors are financially literate and our board of Directors
designated Seung Han Ha as an audit committee financial expert. The Audit
Committee is responsible for examining internal transactions and potential
conflicts of interest and reviewing company accounting and other relevant
matters. Under the Korean Commercial Code, the Audit Committee has the right to
request the board of Directors to convene a shareholders’ meeting by providing a
document that sets forth the agenda and reasons.
Difference
between Nasdaq requirements and home country practices
In
general, corporate governance principles for Korean companies are set forth in
the Korean Commercial Code and the Capital Market and Financial Investment
Business Act and, to the extent they are listed on KOSDAQ Market, the listing
rules of KOSDAQ Market. Corporate governance principles under provisions of
Korean law may differ in significant ways from corporate governance standards
for U.S. Nasdaq-listed companies. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5615(a)(3),
foreign private issuers are permitted to follow certain home country corporate
governance practices in lieu of the requirements of the Rule 5600 Series. Under
the Rule, foreign private issuers must disclose alternative home country
practices they follow. The following are the requirements of the Rule 5600
Series we do not follow and the descriptions of home country
practices.
Under
Rule 5250(d)(1), issuers are required to distribute to shareholders copies of
annual reports containing audited financial statements within a reasonable
period of time following the filing of the annual report with the SEC. We do not
distribute our annual report to our shareholders. Instead, we make our annual
report and audited non-consolidated financial statements available for
inspection at our principal office and at all of our branch offices at least one
week before the annual general meeting of shareholders. We also file our annual
report on the Data Analysis Retrieval and Transfer System, or DART, an
electronic disclosure system operated by FSS, in accordance with the rules under
the Capital Market and Financial Investment Business Act.
Under
Rule 5605(b)(2), issuers are required to have regularly scheduled meetings
(executive sessions) at which only independent directors are present. We do not
hold executive sessions of independent Directors, as such meetings are not
required under Korean law. However, our three independent Directors serve on our
Audit Committee and meet regularly.
Rule
5605(d)(1) requires that compensation of the chief executive officer and other
executive officers must be determined, or recommended to the board, either by a
majority of the independent directors or an independent compensation committee.
We currently follow the home country practice, which allows the board of
Directors to determine executive officers’ compensations.
Under
Rule 5605(e)(1), director nominees must either be selected, or recommended for
the board’s selection, either by a majority of the independent directors or an
independent nominations committee. The Korean Commercial Code grants the power
of nomination to the board of Directors, and we conduct our nomination process
accordingly.
We, as a
foreign issuer, have been granted an exemption by Nasdaq from the requirement
that the minimum quorum for a shareholder meeting is 33⅓% of the outstanding
common shares as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(c), on the basis that such
requirement was inconsistent with our home country practice. Pursuant to our
Articles of Incorporation, our shareholders may adopt resolutions at a general
meeting by an affirmative majority vote of the voting shares present or
represented at the meeting, where the affirmative votes also represent at least
one-fourth of our total voting shares then issued and outstanding. Our quorum
requirements comply with the requirements of the Korean Commercial Code and are
consistent with that of other companies with common shares listed on KOSDAQ
Market.
Rule
5620(b) requires issuers to solicit proxies and provide proxy statements for all
meetings of shareholders and provide them to Nasdaq. Nasdaq is of the view that
the proxy statements required under Rule 5620(b) should contain the information
required by Section 14 of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
“Exchange Act”) and rules thereunder. The Capital Market and Financial
Investment Business Act requires persons soliciting proxies to provide proxy
materials, with information set forth in the rules, to shareholders prior to or
at the same time as the solicitation and to file the proxy materials with the
FSS before they are sent to the shareholders.
However,
the information required under the Korean rules is much less extensive than that
required under the Exchange Act rules. We do provide to shareholders proxy
statements prior to shareholder meetings, but the content of the materials is
made in accordance with the rules under the Capital Market and Financial
Investment Business Act.
Under
Rule 5630(a), issuers shall conduct an appropriate review and oversight of all
related party transactions on an ongoing basis by the audit committee or another
independent body of the board of directors. Korean law does not have a
comparable requirement, and our board of Directors reviews and approves related
party transactions. Under the Korean Commercial Code and our Articles of
Incorporation, however, any Director with a special interest in an agenda item
of a board meeting may not exercise his voting rights at that board
meeting.
Rule
5635(a) and (b) require issuers to obtain shareholder approval prior to the
issuance of securities when the issuance or potential issuance will result in a
change of control of the issuers, or prior to the issuance of securities in
connection with the stock or assets of another company if certain conditions are
met. We do not obtain shareholder approval for all of the cases provided in Rule
5605(i). However, under the Korean Commercial Code and our Articles of
Incorporation, we do require approval by the holders of at least two-thirds of
the voting shares present or represented at a meeting, where the affirmative
votes also represent at least one-third of our total voting shares then
outstanding, when we acquire all of the business of any other company or a part
of the business of any other company that has a material effect on our business,
issue new shares at a price below par value, transfer all or any significant
part of our business, or effect a capital reduction.
6.D. Employees
As of
December 31, 2009, we had 361 full-time employees. The following tables set
forth the number of permanent employees at Webzen and its subsidiaries, for the
dates indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Game
development, web development and system engineering team
|
|
|
450
|
|
|
|
229
|
|
|
|
219
|
|
Game
supporting team
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
|
58
|
|
International
business, strategy and planning, management support and game marketing
team
|
|
|
138
|
|
|
|
147
|
|
|
|
121
|
|
Total
|
|
|
672
|
|
|
|
414
|
|
|
|
398
|
|
None of
our employees is represented by a labor union or covered by a collective
bargaining agreement. We consider our relations with our employees to be
good.
As of
December 31, 2009, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Webzen Taiwan had 39 full-time
employees.
As of
December 31, 2009, 9Webzen and its subsidiary employed 37 employees in China,
none of whom is represented by a labor union or covered by a collective
bargaining agreement.
Under the
Korean Labor Standard Act, employees with more than one year of service are
entitled to receive a lump sum payment upon voluntary or involuntary termination
of their employment. The amount of the benefit equals the employee’s monthly
salary, calculated by averaging the employee’s daily salary for the three months
prior to the date of the employee’s departure, multiplied by the number of
continuous years of employment.
Pursuant
to the Korean National Pension Law, we are required to prepay 4.5% of each
employee’s annual wages as part of our accrued severance payments to the
National Pension Corporation. Our employees are also required to pay 4.5% of
their annual wages to the National Pension Corporation. Our employees are
entitled to receive an annuity in the event they lose, in whole or in part,
their wage earning capability.
Hana Bank
and Korea Exchange Bank extended loans to members of our employee stock
ownership association. As of December 31, 2009, we have pledged short-term
financial instruments in the amount of
₩
226 million
(US$194 thousand) to guarantee these bank loans. We also had outstanding housing
and other loans to our employees in the aggregate amount of
₩
345 million
(US$296 thousand) as of December 31, 2009. We have not experienced any defaults
under these
loans to
our employees. We provide these loans as a benefit to our employees and not as a
requirement under Korean law. Our executive officers and Directors are not
eligible for these loans.
6.E. Share
Ownership
Some of
our Directors and officers own our common shares. See “Item 7. Major
Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—7.A. Major
Shareholders.”
Stock
Option Plan
Pursuant
to our Articles of Incorporation and the Korean Commercial Code, stock options
may be granted by either a special resolution of our shareholders or a
resolution of our board of Directors, with the aggregate number of shares
issuable in each case not to exceed 15% and 3%, respectively, of the total
number of our then issued and outstanding common shares. Stock options may be
granted to our executive officers and employees who have contributed or are
qualified to contribute to our establishment, management and technical
innovation. No stock options may be granted to any executive officer or employee
who owns, or upon exercise of an option to purchase our common shares would own,
directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our outstanding common
shares.
According
to our Articles of Incorporation, we may grant stock options that are
exercisable to purchase Common Shares and our preferred shares. Such stock
options can vest after two years from the stock option grant date and can be
exercisable up to seven years (four years for options granted in 2007) from the
date of the grant. The stock option may be cancelled by a resolution of our
board of Directors:
·
|
if
the officer or employee who holds the option resigns voluntarily or is
discharged from office prior to the vesting
date;
|
·
|
if
the officer or employee is discharged or submitted to a disciplinary
measure for causing damage to us by willful misconduct or by gross
negligence; or
|
·
|
in
the event of the occurrence of any cause for cancellation of stock options
specified in the stock option
agreement.
|
On
January 20, 2005, we granted stock options to our employees to purchase an
aggregate of 118,800 Common Shares. All of the options granted on this date
could be exercised between January 20, 2008 through January 19, 2010, at a
purchase price of
₩
24,100 per share.
On April 14, 2005, we granted stock options to our employees to purchase an
aggregate of 24,500 Common Shares. All of the options granted on this date could
be exercised between April 14, 2008 through April 13, 2010 at a purchase price
of
₩
24,100
per share. On April 12, 2006, we granted stock options to our employees to
purchase an aggregate of 41,000 Common Shares. All of the options granted on
this date could be exercised between April 12, 2008 through April 11, 2010 at a
purchase price of
₩
24,100 per share.
Options for 18,000 shares of the total 41,000 shares were granted to two
executive officers. On July 18, 2007, we granted stock options to our employees
to purchase an aggregate of 114,000 Common Shares. All of the options granted on
this date can be exercised between July 12, 2009 through July 11, 2011 at a
purchase price of
₩
16,000 per share.
On October 12, 2007, we granted stock options to our employees to purchase an
aggregate of 77,000 Common Shares. All of the options granted on this date can
be exercised between October 12, 2009 through October 11, 2011 at a purchase
price of
₩
14,000 per share.
On February 12, 2009, we granted stock options to our employees to purchase an
aggregate of 131,400 Common Shares. All of the options granted on February 12,
2009 can be exercised from February 12, 2011 through February 11, 2013 at a
purchase price of
₩
6,800 per share.
On March 27, 2009, we granted stock options to our directors and executive
officers to purchase an aggregate of 213,000 Common Shares. All of the options
granted on March 27, 2009 can be exercised from March 27, 2011 through March 26,
2013 at a purchase price of
₩
8,300 per share.
On March 26, 2010, we granted stock option to one executive officer to purchase
12,000 Common Shares. The option granted on March 26, 2010 can be exercised from
May 14, 2011 through May 13, 2013 at a purchase price of
₩
13,600 per
share.
As of
June 25, 2010, options to purchase an aggregate of 468,400 Common Shares were
outstanding. Our Directors or executive officers were granted options to
purchase 212,000 of such Common Shares. With respect to the current Directors
and executive officers, Mr. Chang Keun Kim was granted the option to purchase
200,000 Common Shares on March 27, 2009, exercisable from March 27, 2011 through
March 26, 2013 at a purchase price of
₩
8,300, and Mr. Hwi
Joon Shin was granted the option to purchase 12,000 Common Shares on March 26,
2010, exercisable from May 14, 2011 through March 13, 2013 at a purchase price
of
₩
13,600.
As of
June 25, 2010, options to purchase an aggregate of 155,150 NHN Games’ common
shares were outstanding. When the Merger is consummated, the stock options
granted by NHN Games will become our obligation. We will satisfy this obligation
by issuing new shares or utilizing treasury stock. As 1.57262712 of our Common
Shares is to be issued in exchanged for each NHN Games common share under the
merger agreement, we will be obligated to honor options to purchase 243,993
Common Shares after the date of merger.
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions
7.A. Major
Shareholders
The
following table sets forth information as of June 28, 2010 known to us with
respect to the beneficial ownership of our common shares by:
·
|
each
person who is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common
shares;
|
·
|
each
of our named executive officers;
and
|
·
|
all
of our executive officers and Directors as a
group.
|
The
percentage in column (A) of the following table is based on 12,974,000 of our
common shares issued as of June 28, 2010, and the percentage in column (B) is
based on 11,856,948 of our common shares issued and outstanding as of the same
date. The numbers of shares in the table include shares that can be acquired
within 60 days through the exercise of any option, warrant or right or through
conversion of any securities, or otherwise. None of our common shares entitles
the holder to any preferential voting rights.
|
|
Number
of shares beneficially owned
|
|
|
Percentage
beneficially
owned
(A)
|
|
|
Percentage
beneficially
owned
(B)
|
|
Directors
and officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chang
Keun Kim
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
0.08
|
%
|
|
|
0.08
|
%
|
Byoung
Gwan Kim
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Hyun
Sung Kim
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
In
Joon Hwang
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Wook
Jeong
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Chang
Won Rhee
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Seung
Han Ha
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Hyuk-Yun
Kim
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Hwi
Joon Shin
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
All executive officers and
Directors as a group
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
0.08
|
%
|
|
|
0.08
|
%
|
Other
major shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NHN
Games(1)
|
|
|
3,469,784
|
|
|
|
26.74
|
%
|
|
|
29.26
|
%
|
Nam-Ju
Kim(1)
|
|
|
398,636
|
|
|
|
3.07
|
%
|
|
|
3.36
|
%
|
Kil-Saup
Song(1)
|
|
|
305,120
|
|
|
|
2.35
|
%
|
|
|
2.57
|
%
|
Ki-Yong
Cho(1)
|
|
|
294,095
|
|
|
|
2.27
|
%
|
|
|
2.48
|
%
|
All other major
shareholders
|
|
|
4,467,635
|
|
|
|
34.43
|
%
|
|
|
37.67
|
%
|
(1)
|
Nam-Ju
Kim, Kil-Saup Song and Ki-Yong Cho reported to the FSS that the
shares held by each of them are deemed to be co-held by NHN Games under
Section 142 of the Capital Market and Financial Investment Business Act of
Korea. The total number of shares held by these shareholders as of June
28, 2010 was 4,467,635 shares or 34.43% of the issued shares (or 37.67% of
the issued and outstanding shares).
|
Since May
2008, NHN Games purchased Common Shares from various shareholders including our
prior controlling shareholders. See Item 4. Information on the Company – 4.A.
History and Development of the Company. As a result, the number of Common Shares
held by NHN Games increased to 3,469,784 shares or 29.26% of the
outstanding Common Shares as of June 28, 2010. In addition, NHN Games entered
into an arrangement with Nam-Ju Kim, Ki-Yong Cho, Kil-Saup Song, Hyung-Cheol Kim
and Chang Keun Kim that they would have a good faith discussion with NHN Games
before exercising any voting rights of the Common Shares and that they shall
exercise voting rights together in the same direction in accordance with the
discussion for matters relating to changing or influencing control of our
company. In August 2009, Hyung-Cheol Kim resigned from his post as the CFO and
director of Webzen and withdrew from the group and such arrangement. Counting
the shares held by such individuals, NHN Games effectively controlled 37.76% of
our outstanding Common Shares as of June 28, 2010. Such share holding gives NHN
Games the power to significantly affect the actions that require shareholder
approval under Korean law and our articles of incorporation, including the
election and removal of any member of our board of directors, mergers,
consolidations and other business combinations and changes to our articles of
incorporation.
According
to JPMorgan Chase Bank, depositary for our ADSs, as of December 31, 2009,
1,357,290 Common Shares were held in the form of ADSs, representing 11.5% of
total outstanding Common Shares.
When the
Merger is consummated, each common share of NHN Games will be exchanged for
1.57262712 Common Shares. This exchange of shares will change our shareholding
structure.
Following
table sets forth the beneficial ownership of NHN Games’ common shares by each
owner as of May 6, 2010.
|
|
Number
of Shares beneficially owned
|
|
|
Percentage
beneficially owned
|
|
NHN
Corp
|
|
|
6,000,000
|
|
|
|
46.88
|
%
|
Byoung
Gwan Kim
|
|
|
5,978,450
|
|
|
|
46.71
|
%
|
Employee
Stock Ownership Association
|
|
|
461,550
|
|
|
|
3.61
|
%
|
Other
shareholders
|
|
|
360,000
|
|
|
|
2.80
|
%
|
Total
issued and outstanding shares
|
|
|
12,800,000
|
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
Following
table, which has been prepared as if the Merger had been consummated on June 28,
2010, sets forth the hypothetical breakdown of the beneficial ownership of
the Common Shares by:
·
|
each
person who is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of Common
Shares;
|
·
|
each
of our named executive officers;
and
|
·
|
all
of our executive officers and Directors as a
group.
|
|
|
Number
of shares beneficially owned (1)
|
|
|
Percentage
beneficially
owned
(2)
|
|
|
Percentage
beneficially
owned
(3)
|
|
Directors
and officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chang
Keun Kim
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
%
|
|
|
0.03
|
%
|
Byoung
Gwan Kim
|
|
|
9,401,872
|
|
|
|
28.40
|
%
|
|
|
32.97
|
%
|
Hyun
Sung Kim
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
In
Joon Hwang
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
Number
of shares beneficially owned (1)
|
|
|
Percentage
beneficially
owned
(2)
|
|
|
Percentage
beneficially
owned
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wook
Jeong
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Chang
Won Rhee
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Seung
Han Ha
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Hyuk-Yun
Kim
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Hwi
Joon Shin
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
All
executive officers and Directors as a group
|
|
|
9,411,872
|
|
|
|
28.43
|
%
|
|
|
33.00
|
%
|
Other
major shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NHN
Corp
|
|
|
9,435,762
|
|
|
|
28.50
|
%
|
|
|
33.09
|
%
|
(1)
|
The
number of shares beneficially owned includes shares that can be acquired
within 60 days through the exercise of any option, warrant or right or
through conversion of any securities, or otherwise. None of Common Shares
entitles the holder to any preferential voting
rights.
|
(2)
|
The
percentage is based on 33,103,627 of Common Shares issued as of June 28,
2010 (under assumption that the Merger was consummated on such
date).
|
(3)
|
The
percentage is based on 28,516,788 of Common Shares issued and outstanding
as of June 28, 2010 under (assumption that the Merger was consummated on
such date).
|
7.B. Related
Party Transactions
Contribution
to Webzen Taiwan
We opened
a stand by letter of credit at Hana Bank until December 18, 2010 for our
business in Taiwan and, in turn, Hana Bank provided a payment guarantee of
US$650,000 for Webzen Taiwan’s loan from a local bank in Taiwan.
Loan
to Webzen America
We
extended a US$50,000 aggregate amount loan to Webzen America on March 24, 2009.
The term was for three years and the interest rate was 5%. Webzen America will
use the proceeds of the loan for general corporate use. We also have agreed to
extend the maturity of first round long term loan of US$1,500,000 on April 18,
2009. The term was for two years and interest rate of 5% was maintained. During
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the largest amount outstanding of the
loan to Webzen America from us was US$4 million.
Contracts
with NHN Games or its Affiliates
In March
2009, we entered into a channeling agreement with NHN Corp. Under the agreement,
we distribute our game Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in Korea through NHN
Corp.’s online game portal, www.hangame.com, and use NHN Corp.’s virtual cash
(Han Coin) settlement system in exchange for fees and 20% of profit sharing
amount generated through the portal.
In April
2009, we entered into a service agreement with NHN Games to have it develop and
maintain our game Parfait Station. Under the agreement, NHN Games undertook to
develop our discontinued online game Parfait Station, deliver by a certain date
a version that is ready to be commercialized and maintain the game after
commercialization in exchange for certain installment payments (
₩
3.0 billion in
total) during the development stage and 20-50% of net revenue generated from the
game after commercialization.
In May
2009, we entered into a three-year exclusive license agreement with NHN USA Inc.
to distribute Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in the United States, Canada,
Mexico and the United Kingdom through www.ijji.com. Under the agreement, we are
to receive software development and installation fees in the amount of
US$300,000, 30% of net revenue generated in the licensed territory as running
royalty (with minimum guarantee amounts) and additional incentives when certain
milestone sales figures are achieved.
In June
2009, we entered into a outsourcing agreement with NHN Games where we are to
provide services relating to strategy, marketing, promotion and businesses
abroad. NHN Games is to pay
₩
93.8 million per
month for such services. The agreement became effective on December 31,
2009, and will be automatically renewed for one year unless a party
notifies the other of its intent to terminate the agreement 30 days
prior to the end of each contract period.
In August
1, 2009, we entered into a joint venture agreement with NHN Games where we will
provide MU and SUN online and NHN Games will provide Archlord and R2 through a
global game portal called webzen.com. We will transfer any revenue
generated on NHN Games’ title every month. The term of the agreement
is to end on July 31, 2012, and will be automatically renewed for one year
unless a party notifies its intent to terminate the agreement one month prior to
the end of each contract period.
In
February 2010, we entered into a publishing agreement with NHN Games to service
Battle Territory, a first-person shooter game developed by NHN Games. We will
pay
₩
1,750
million to NHN Games as a license fee and divide equally the profit generated by
the offering of Battle Territory.
7.C. Interests
of Experts and Counsel
Not
applicable.
Item 8. Financial Information
8.A. Consolidated
Statements and Other Financial Information
All
relevant financial statements are included in “Item 18. Financial
Statements.”
Legal
proceedings
In
December 2009, we filed suit against The9 in Seoul District Court in
Korea for return of the trademark “MU.” Under the trademark transfer
agreement between us and The9, The9 had the obligation to transfer all trademark
related to MU. We filed this suit to regain control over the
trademark that we registered under The9 for ease of service in
China.
Dividend
policy
Since our
inception on April 28, 2000, we have declared or paid dividends on our common
shares once. On February 22, 2005, the board of Directors passed a resolution to
pay dividends, and the shareholders approved it at our annual general meeting of
shareholders on March 18, 2005. The record date was December 31, 2004, and the
amount was
₩
250 per common
share. We plan to have a similar dividend policy in the future, but any decision
to pay dividends in the future will be subject to a number of factors, including
the interests of our shareholders, cash requirements for future capital
expenditures and investments, as well as relevant industry and market
practice.
Holders
of outstanding common shares on a dividend record date will be entitled to the
full dividend declared without regard to the date of issuance of the common
shares or any subsequent transfer of the common shares. Payment of dividends in
respect of a particular year, if any, will be made in the year following
approval by our shareholders at the annual general meeting of shareholders,
subject to certain provisions of the Korean Commercial Code.
Subject
to the terms of the deposit agreement for the ADSs, holders of ADSs will be
entitled to receive dividends on common shares represented by ADSs to the same
extent as the holders of common shares, less the fees and expenses payable under
the deposit agreement in respect of, and any Korean tax applicable to, such
dividends. The depositary will generally convert the Won it receives into U.S.
dollars and distribute the U.S. dollar amounts to holders of ADSs.
8.B. Significant
Changes
Please
see Item 4. Information on the Company — 4.A. History and
Development of the Company.
Item 9. The Offer and Listing
9.A. Market
Price Information
With the
enactment of the Korea Stock and Futures Exchange Act, which came into effect on
January 27, 2005, the three existing spot and futures exchanges (which were the
Korea Stock Exchange, Korean Futures Exchange, and KOSDAQ) and Kosdaq Committee,
a sub organization of Korea Stock Dealers Association, were merged and
integrated into a newly established joint stock company called KRX. KRX is
organized into five divisions: the Administrative Service Division, the Stock
Market Division, referred to as KRX Stock Market, the Kosdaq Market Division,
referred to as the KRX KOSDAQ Market, the Futures Market Division, referred to
as the KRX Futures Market, and the Market Surveillance Division. The KRX,
headquartered in Pusan, has one branch located in Seoul.
Our
common shares are traded on the KOSDAQ under the code 069080. Our common shares
were listed on the KOSDAQ on May 23, 2003. The KOSDAQ composite index is
computed by taking the aggregate market capitalization of all companies included
in the index as a percentage of the market capitalization as of the base date,
July 1, 1996, multiplied by 1,000.
The most
widely followed price index of stocks quoted on stock exchanges in Korea is the
Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or KOSPI, an index of all equities listed on
KRX Stock Market. The KOSPI is computed by aggregating the market capitalization
of all listed companies and (subject to certain adjustments) by expressing this
aggregate as a percentage of the aggregate market capitalization of all listed
companies as of the base date (January 4, 1980).
The
following table sets forth, for the periods indicated:
·
|
the
high and low closing sales price for our common shares as reported on the
KOSDAQ;
|
·
|
the
average daily trading volume of our common
shares;
|
·
|
the
high and low of the daily closing values of the KOSDAQ composite index;
and
|
·
|
the
high and low of the daily closing values of the
KOSPI.
|
|
|
Price
per common share
|
|
|
Average daily
trading volume
|
|
|
KOSDAQ
|
|
|
KOSPI
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First quarter
|
|
|
24,600
|
|
|
|
18,000
|
|
|
|
263,224
|
|
|
|
515.04
|
|
|
|
390.40
|
|
|
|
1,022.79
|
|
|
|
870.84
|
|
Second quarter
|
|
|
20,100
|
|
|
|
16,750
|
|
|
|
143,108
|
|
|
|
503.21
|
|
|
|
423.30
|
|
|
|
1,010.80
|
|
|
|
911.30
|
|
Third quarter
|
|
|
19,700
|
|
|
|
14,350
|
|
|
|
170,236
|
|
|
|
571.95
|
|
|
|
492.66
|
|
|
|
1,231.22
|
|
|
|
1,018.02
|
|
Fourth quarter
|
|
|
32,150
|
|
|
|
17,050
|
|
|
|
429,491
|
|
|
|
747.96
|
|
|
|
573.19
|
|
|
|
1,379.37
|
|
|
|
1,140.72
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First quarter
|
|
|
34,400
|
|
|
|
19,000
|
|
|
|
417,607
|
|
|
|
754.97
|
|
|
|
601.33
|
|
|
|
1,421.79
|
|
|
|
1,297.43
|
|
Second quarter
|
|
|
25,400
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
232,418
|
|
|
|
704.57
|
|
|
|
559.37
|
|
|
|
1,464.70
|
|
|
|
1,203.86
|
|
Third quarter
|
|
|
17,100
|
|
|
|
11,800
|
|
|
|
190,944
|
|
|
|
614.80
|
|
|
|
539.81
|
|
|
|
1,374.30
|
|
|
|
1,233.42
|
|
Fourth quarter
|
|
|
13,600
|
|
|
|
11,200
|
|
|
|
131,734
|
|
|
|
622.17
|
|
|
|
539.10
|
|
|
|
1,442.28
|
|
|
|
1,319.40
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First quarter
|
|
|
13,200
|
|
|
|
11,500
|
|
|
|
151,901
|
|
|
|
648.99
|
|
|
|
571.04
|
|
|
|
1,470.03
|
|
|
|
1,355.79
|
|
Second quarter
|
|
|
14,900
|
|
|
|
12,050
|
|
|
|
141,347
|
|
|
|
819.97
|
|
|
|
651.78
|
|
|
|
1,807.85
|
|
|
|
1,459.53
|
|
Third quarter
|
|
|
17,500
|
|
|
|
12,600
|
|
|
|
157,562
|
|
|
|
828.22
|
|
|
|
673.48
|
|
|
|
2,004.22
|
|
|
|
1,638.07
|
|
Fourth quarter
|
|
|
13,550
|
|
|
|
8,920
|
|
|
|
123,602
|
|
|
|
818.26
|
|
|
|
692.02
|
|
|
|
2,064.85
|
|
|
|
1,772.88
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First quarter
|
|
|
12,800
|
|
|
|
9,810
|
|
|
|
70,295
|
|
|
|
719.25
|
|
|
|
600.10
|
|
|
|
1,863.90
|
|
|
|
1,574.44
|
|
Second quarter
|
|
|
15,700
|
|
|
|
8,980
|
|
|
|
174,586
|
|
|
|
655.80
|
|
|
|
590.19
|
|
|
|
1,888.88
|
|
|
|
1,674.92
|
|
Third quarter
|
|
|
11,250
|
|
|
|
6,550
|
|
|
|
68,248
|
|
|
|
580.77
|
|
|
|
481.14
|
|
|
|
1,666.46
|
|
|
|
1,387.75
|
|
Fourth quarter
|
|
|
6,230
|
|
|
|
3,965
|
|
|
|
60,131
|
|
|
|
440.95
|
|
|
|
261.19
|
|
|
|
1,439.67
|
|
|
|
938.75
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First quarter
|
|
|
9,450
|
|
|
|
5,750
|
|
|
|
162,073
|
|
|
|
421.44
|
|
|
|
339.76
|
|
|
|
1,243.80
|
|
|
|
1,018.81
|
|
Second quarter
|
|
|
19,950
|
|
|
|
8,890
|
|
|
|
565,079
|
|
|
|
562.57
|
|
|
|
430.97
|
|
|
|
1,435.70
|
|
|
|
1,233.36
|
|
Third quarter
|
|
|
18,800
|
|
|
|
10,500
|
|
|
|
198,005
|
|
|
|
536.97
|
|
|
|
476.05
|
|
|
|
1,718.88
|
|
|
|
1,378.12
|
|
Fourth quarter
|
|
|
12,950
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
125,853
|
|
|
|
518.78
|
|
|
|
451.67
|
|
|
|
1,685.59
|
|
|
|
1,524.50
|
|
|
|
Price
per common share
|
|
|
Average daily
trading
volume
|
|
|
KOSDAQ
|
|
|
KOSPI
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
January
|
|
|
14,150
|
|
|
|
10,900
|
|
|
|
354,962
|
|
|
|
553.10
|
|
|
|
496.57
|
|
|
|
1,722.01
|
|
|
|
1,602.43
|
|
February
|
|
|
13,600
|
|
|
|
11,800
|
|
|
|
195,234
|
|
|
|
516.23
|
|
|
|
487.41
|
|
|
|
1,628.90
|
|
|
|
1,552.79
|
|
March
|
|
|
12,550
|
|
|
|
11,450
|
|
|
|
104,310
|
|
|
|
527.58
|
|
|
|
507.59
|
|
|
|
1,700.19
|
|
|
|
1,615.12
|
|
April(1)
|
|
|
13,450
|
|
|
|
11,700
|
|
|
|
294,639
|
|
|
|
523.75
|
|
|
|
502.70
|
|
|
|
1,752.20
|
|
|
|
1,705.30
|
|
May
|
|
|
13,250
|
|
|
|
11,700
|
|
|
|
195,403
|
|
|
|
524.98
|
|
|
|
449.96
|
|
|
|
1,721.21
|
|
|
|
1,560.83
|
|
(1)
|
Trading
of the Common Shares was halted on April 15, 2010 5:55pm till April 16,
2010 4:36pm.
|
Nasdaq
Market
The ADSs
are listed on the Nasdaq Market under the symbol “WZEN.”
As a
result of a 3-for-1 stock split in June 2004, the ADR ratio changed so that ten
ADSs represent three shares. According to JPMorgan Chase Bank, depositary for
our ADSs, as of December 31, 2009, 1,357,290 shares of our common shares were
held in the form of ADSs, representing 11.5% of total outstanding common
shares.
The
following table provides the high and low closing sale prices and the average
daily trading volume of our ADSs on the Nasdaq Market based on information
provided by www.adr.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
daily trading volume
|
|
|
|
(US$)
|
|
|
(US$)
|
|
|
(ADSs)
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
quarter
|
|
|
6.99
|
|
|
|
5.30
|
|
|
|
108,220
|
|
Second
quarter
|
|
|
6.08
|
|
|
|
4.85
|
|
|
|
76,770
|
|
Third
quarter
|
|
|
5.74
|
|
|
|
4.28
|
|
|
|
84,870
|
|
Fourth
quarter
|
|
|
9.34
|
|
|
|
4.86
|
|
|
|
122,820
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
quarter
|
|
|
10.34
|
|
|
|
6.01
|
|
|
|
144,930
|
|
Second
quarter
|
|
|
8.20
|
|
|
|
4.82
|
|
|
|
129,770
|
|
Third
quarter
|
|
|
5.35
|
|
|
|
3.58
|
|
|
|
77,850
|
|
Fourth
quarter
|
|
|
4.22
|
|
|
|
3.59
|
|
|
|
101,180
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
quarter
|
|
|
4.45
|
|
|
|
3.68
|
|
|
|
86,388
|
|
Second
quarter
|
|
|
4.86
|
|
|
|
3.95
|
|
|
|
69,879
|
|
Third
quarter
|
|
|
5.30
|
|
|
|
4.01
|
|
|
|
110,738
|
|
Fourth
quarter
|
|
|
4.54
|
|
|
|
2.91
|
|
|
|
97,529
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
quarter
|
|
|
4.06
|
|
|
|
2.74
|
|
|
|
46,718
|
|
Second
quarter
|
|
|
4.40
|
|
|
|
2.50
|
|
|
|
48,714
|
|
Third
quarter
|
|
|
3.18
|
|
|
|
1.37
|
|
|
|
35,845
|
|
Fourth
quarter
|
|
|
1.30
|
|
|
|
0.64
|
|
|
|
28,588
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
quarter
|
|
|
2.18
|
|
|
|
0.83
|
|
|
|
14,741
|
|
Second
quarter
|
|
|
4.68
|
|
|
|
1.87
|
|
|
|
31,904
|
|
Third
quarter
|
|
|
3.96
|
|
|
|
2.55
|
|
|
|
10,291
|
|
Fourth
quarter
|
|
|
3.27
|
|
|
|
2.53
|
|
|
|
10,070
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
January
|
|
|
3.60
|
|
|
|
2.80
|
|
|
|
17,219
|
|
February
|
|
|
3.42
|
|
|
|
2.89
|
|
|
|
9,739
|
|
March
|
|
|
3.17
|
|
|
|
3.00
|
|
|
|
19,335
|
|
April
|
|
|
3.75
|
|
|
|
3.00
|
|
|
|
24,332
|
|
May
|
|
|
3.40
|
|
|
|
2.63
|
|
|
|
7,754
|
|
9.B. Plan
of Distribution
Not
applicable.
9.C. Markets
See
“—9.A. Market Price Information.”
9.D. Selling
Shareholders
Not
applicable.
9.E. Dilution
Not
applicable.
9.F. Expenses
of the Issue
Not
applicable.
Item 10. Additional Information
10.A. Share
Capital
Not
applicable.
10.B. Articles
of Incorporation
The
section below provides summary information relating to the material terms of the
capital stock of our company and our Articles of Incorporation. It also includes
a brief summary of certain provisions of the Securities and Exchange Act, the
Commercial Code and related laws of Korea, all as currently in
effect.
Objectives
Article 2
of our Articles of Incorporation states our objectives, among other things, as
follows:
·
|
to
develop and distribute online games and software;
and
|
·
|
to
engage in the Internet business, software consulting, value-added
communication services, character business, and publishing
business.
|
General
Our total
authorized share capital is 60,000,000 shares, which consists of common shares
and preferred shares (together, referred to as “shares”) each with a par value
of
₩
500 per
share. Under our Articles of Incorporation, holders of preferred shares are
entitled to dividends of 3% or more of the par value of such shares, the exact
rate to be determined by our board of Directors at the time of issuance. Our
total authorized share capital changed from 40,000,000 shares to 60,000,000
shares at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on June 4,
2010.
Under our
Articles of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue preferred shares numbering
up to one-half of our total shares issued.
As of
June 28, 2010, 12,974,000 common shares were issued, and 11,856,948 common
shares were outstanding. We have not issued any preferred shares. All of our
issued and outstanding shares are fully paid and non-assessable and are in
registered form. Pursuant to our Articles of Incorporation, we may issue
additional common shares without further shareholder approval.
Dividends
We may
pay dividends to our shareholders in proportion to the number of shares owned by
each shareholder. The common shares represented by the ADSs have the same
dividend rights as our other common shares, except for the fees and expenses
payable by the ADS holders under the deposit agreement with respect to such
dividends.
We may
declare annual dividends at our annual general meeting of shareholders, which is
held within three months after the end of each fiscal year or declare quarterly
dividends within 45 days of March 31, June 30 and September 30. We pay dividends
shortly after declaration. We may distribute the annual dividend in cash or in
shares and quarterly dividend only in cash. However, a dividend in shares must
be distributed at par value. If the market price of the dividended shares is
less than par value, dividends in shares may not exceed one-half of the annual
dividends. We have no obligation to pay any dividend unclaimed for five years
from the dividend payment date.
Under the
Korean Commercial Code, we may pay an annual dividend only out of the excess of
our net assets, on a non-consolidated basis, over the sum of:
·
|
the
total amount of our capital surplus reserve and legal reserve accumulated
up to the end of the relevant dividend period,
and
|
·
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the
legal reserve to be set aside for the annual
dividend.
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We may
not pay an annual dividend unless we have set aside as a legal reserve an amount
equal to at least 10% of the cash portion of the annual dividend, or unless we
have an accumulated legal reserve of not less than one-half of our stated
capital. In addition, as a company registered with the KOSDAQ, we are required
under the relevant Korean laws and regulations to set aside a certain amount
every fiscal year as a reserve until our capital ratio is at least 30%. We may
not use our legal reserve to pay cash dividends but may transfer amounts from
our legal reserve to capital stock or use our legal reserve to reduce an
accumulated deficit.
Distribution
of Bonus Shares
In
addition to paying dividends in shares out of our retained or current earnings,
we may also distribute to our shareholders an amount transferred from our
capital surplus or legal reserve to our stated capital in the form of bonus
shares. We must distribute such bonus shares to all our shareholders in
proportion to their existing shareholdings.
Preemptive
Rights and Issuance of Additional Shares
We may
issue authorized but unissued shares at the time and, unless otherwise provided
in the Korean Commercial Code, on such terms as our board of Directors may
determine. We must offer new shares on uniform terms to all shareholders who
have preemptive rights and are listed on our shareholders’ register as of the
relevant record date.
We may
issue new shares pursuant to a board resolution to persons other than existing
shareholders, who in these circumstances will not have preemptive rights if the
new shares are issued:
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to
increase our capital through a general public offering pursuant to a
resolution of the board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of
Article 165-6 of the Korean Financial Investment Service and Capital
Market Act;
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to
the members of the employee stock ownership association when less than 20%
of the offering is made to such
members;
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to
induce foreign direct investment necessary for business in accordance with
the Foreign Investment Promotion Act or to domestic companies conducting
the business of technology credit guarantees or venture
investment;
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to
domestic or overseas financial institutions for the purpose of raising
funds on an emergency basis;
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to
an allied company as necessary for the development of
technology;
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upon
exercise of a stock option in accordance with Article 165-7 of the Korean
Financial Investment Service and Capital Market Act or exercise of
employee stock option pursuant to Article 32, Clause 2 of the Employee
Welfare Act; and
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in
the form of depositary receipts in accordance with Article 165-16 of the
Korean Financial Investment Service and Capital Market
Act.
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We must
give public notice of preemptive rights regarding new shares and their
transferability at least two weeks before the relevant record date. We will
notify the shareholders entitled to subscribe for newly issued shares of the
subscription deadline at least two weeks prior to such deadline. If a
shareholder fails to subscribe by the deadline, the shareholder’s preemptive
rights shall lapse. Our board of Directors may determine how to distribute
shares for which preemptive rights have not been exercised, as well as
fractional shares.
General
Meeting of Shareholders
We hold
the annual general meeting of shareholders within three months after the end of
each fiscal year. Subject to a board resolution or court approval, we may hold
an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders:
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at
the request of shareholders holding an aggregate of 3% or more of our
outstanding shares for at least six months;
or
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·
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at
the request of our statutory
auditor.
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We must
give shareholders written notice setting out the date, place and agenda of the
meeting at least two weeks prior to the general meeting of shareholders.
However, for holders of not more than 1% of the total number of issued and
outstanding voting shares, we may give notice by placing at least two public
notices in at least two daily newspapers at least two weeks in advance of the
meeting. Currently, we use The Korea Economic Daily News and Maeil Business
Newspaper for this purpose. Shareholders not on the shareholders’ register as of
the record date are not entitled to receive notice of the general meeting of
shareholders or attend or vote at the meeting. Holders of preferred shares,
unless enfranchised, are not entitled to receive notice of or vote at general
meetings of shareholders.
Our
shareholders meetings are held at our head office or other adjacent areas as
deemed necessary.
Voting
Rights
Holders
of our common shares are entitled to one vote for each common share. However,
common shares held by us (i.e., treasury shares) or by any corporate entity in
which we have, directly or indirectly, greater than a 10% interest, do not
exercise voting rights. The Korean Commercial Code permits cumulative voting
pursuant to which each common share entitles the holder thereof to multiple
voting rights equal to the number of Directors to be elected at such time. A
holder of common shares may exercise all voting rights with respect to his or
her shares cumulatively to elect one Director. However, our shareholders have
decided not to adopt cumulative voting.
Our
shareholders may adopt resolutions at a general meeting by an affirmative
majority vote of the voting shares present or represented at the meeting, where
the affirmative votes also represent at least one-fourth of our total voting
shares then issued and outstanding. However, under the Korean Commercial Code
and our Articles of Incorporation, the following matters require approval by the
holders of at least two-thirds of the voting shares
present
or represented at a meeting, where the affirmative votes also represent at least
one-third of our total voting shares then issued and outstanding:
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amending
our Articles of Incorporation;
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effecting
a capital reduction;
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effecting
any dissolution, merger or consolidation with respect to
Webzen;
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transferring
all or any significant part of our assets and/or
business;
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acquiring
all of the business of any other company or a part of the business of any
other company having a material effect on our business;
or
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any
other matters for which such resolution is required under relevant laws
and regulations.
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In
general, holders of preferred shares (other than enfranchised preferred shares)
are not entitled to vote on any resolution or receive notice of any general
meeting of shareholders. However, in the case of amendments to our Articles of
Incorporation, any merger or consolidation, any capital reductions or in some
other cases that affect the rights or interests of the preferred shares,
approval of the holders of such class of shares is required. We must obtain the
approval, by a resolution, of holders of at least two-thirds of the preferred
shares present or represented at a class meeting of the holders of such class of
shares, where the affirmative votes also represent at least one-third of our
total issued and outstanding shares of such class. In addition, if we are unable
to pay dividends on preferred shares as provided in our Articles of
Incorporation, the holders of preferred shares will become enfranchised and will
be entitled to exercise voting rights until the dividends are paid. The holders
of enfranchised preferred shares have the same rights as holders of voting
shares to request, receive notice of, attend and vote at a general meeting of
shareholders.
Shareholders
may exercise their voting rights by proxy. Under our Articles of Incorporation,
the person exercising the proxy does not have to be a shareholder. A person with
a proxy must present a document evidencing a power of attorney in order to
exercise such voting rights.
Holders
of ADRs will exercise their voting rights through the ADR depositary. Subject to
the provisions of the deposit agreement, ADR holders will be entitled to
instruct the depositary on how to vote the common shares underlying their
ADSs.
Rights
of Dissenting Shareholders
In some
limited circumstances, including the transfer of all or any significant part of
our business and our merger or consolidation with another company, dissenting
shareholders have the right to require us to purchase their shares. To exercise
this right, shareholders must submit to us a written notice of their intention
to dissent before the applicable general meeting of shareholders. Within 20 days
after the relevant resolution is passed, the dissenting shareholders must
request us in writing to purchase their shares. We are obligated to purchase the
shares of dissenting shareholders within one month after the expiration of the
20-day period. The purchase price for the shares is required to be determined
through negotiations between us and the dissenting shareholders. If we cannot
agree on a price through negotiation, the purchase price will be the average of
(1) the weighted average of the daily share prices on the KOSDAQ for the
two-month period before the date of the adoption of the relevant board of
Directors resolution, (2) the weighted average of the daily share price on the
KOSDAQ for the one-month period before the date of the adoption of the relevant
board of Directors resolution and (3) the weighted average of the daily share
price on the KOSDAQ for the one-week period before such date of the adoption of
the relevant board of Directors resolution. However, the FSC may adjust this
price if we or at least 30% of the dissenting shareholders do not accept the
purchase price. Holders of ADSs will not be able to exercise dissenter’s rights
unless they withdraw the underlying common shares and become our direct
shareholders.
Register
of Shareholders and Record Dates
Our
transfer agent, Hana Bank, maintains the register of our shareholders at its
office located at 43-2 Yoido-dong, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul, Korea. It registers
transfers of shares on the register of shareholders on presentation of the share
certificates.
The
record date for annual dividends is December 31 of each year. For the purpose of
determining shareholders entitled to annual dividends, the register of
shareholders may be closed for the period from January 1 to January 31 of each
year. Further, for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to some
other rights pertaining to the shares, we may, on at least two weeks’ public
notice, set a record date and/or close the register of shareholders for not more
than three months. The trading of shares and the delivery of share certificates
may continue while the register of shareholders is closed.
Annual
Report
At least
one week before the annual general meeting of shareholders, we must make our
annual report and audited non-consolidated financial statements available for
inspection at our principal office and at all of our branch offices. In
addition, copies of annual reports, the audited financial statements and any
resolutions adopted at the general meeting of shareholders will be available to
our shareholders.
Under the
Korean Financial Investment Service and Capital Market Act, we must file with
the FSC and the KRX, an annual report within 90 days after the end of our fiscal
year and interim reports with respect to the three-month period, six-month
period and nine-month period from the fiscal year within 45 days following the
end of each period. Copies of these reports are or will be available for public
inspection at the FSC and the KSDA.
Transfer
of Shares
Under the
Korean Commercial Code, the transfer of shares is effected by delivery of share
certificates. However, to assert shareholders’ rights against us, the transferee
must have his or her name and address registered on our register of
shareholders. For this purpose, a shareholder is required to file his or her
name, address and seal with our transfer agent. A non-Korean shareholder may
file a specimen signature in place of a seal, unless he is a citizen of a
country with a sealing system similar to that of Korea. In addition, a
non-resident shareholder must appoint an agent authorized to receive notices on
his or her behalf in Korea and file a mailing address in Korea. The above
requirement does not apply to the holders of ADSs.
Under
current Korean regulations, Korean securities companies and banks, including
licensed branches of non-Korean securities companies and banks, investment trust
companies, futures trading companies, and internationally recognized foreign
custodians and the Korea Securities Depositary may act as agents and provide
related services for foreign shareholders. Certain foreign exchange controls and
securities regulations apply to the transfer of shares by non-residents or
non-Koreans.
Acquisition
of Shares by Us
We may
not acquire our own common shares except in limited circumstances, such as
reduction in capital and acquisition of our own common shares for the purpose of
granting stock options to our officers and employees. Under the Korean
Commercial Code and the Korean Financial Investment Service and Capital Market
Act, except in the case of a reduction of capital (in which case we must retire
the common shares immediately), we must resell any common shares acquired by us
to a third party within a reasonable time. Notwithstanding the foregoing
restrictions, under the Korean Financial Investment Service and Capital Market
Act, we may acquire our common shares through purchases on the KOSDAQ market or
through a tender offer. We may also acquire interests in our common shares
through agreements with trust companies, securities investment trust companies
and securities investment companies. The aggregate purchase price for the common
shares may not exceed the total amount available for distribution of dividends
at the end of the preceding fiscal year less the amounts of dividends and legal
reserve required to be set aside for that fiscal year and treasury shares
acquired year-to-date, subject to certain procedural requirements. Corporate
entities in which we own a 50% or greater equity interest may not acquire our
common
shares.
See “Item 16E. Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated
Purchasers” for information on share repurchases by us.
Liquidation
Rights
In the
event of our liquidation, after payment of all debts, liquidation expenses and
taxes, our remaining assets will be distributed among shareholders in proportion
to their shareholdings.
10.C. Material
Contracts
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In
April 2009, we entered into a service agreement with NHN Games to have it
develop and maintain our game Parfait Station. Under the agreement, NHN
Games undertook to develop our discontinued online game Parfait Station,
deliver by a certain date a version that is ready to be commercialized and
maintain the game after commercialization in exchange for certain
installment payments (
₩
3.0 billion
in total) during the development stage and 20-50% of net revenue generated
from the game after
commercialization.
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In
May 2009, we entered into a three-year exclusive license agreement with
NHN USA to distribute Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN) in the United
States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom through www.ijji.com. Under
the agreement, we are to receive software development and installation
fees in the amount of US$300,000, 30% of net revenue generated in the
licensed territory as running royalty (with minimum guarantee amounts) and
additional incentives when certain milestone sales figures are
achieved.
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On
May 2009, an amendment to the original publishing agreement was made to
waive our obligation to make any additional payments relating
to T-project partly in exchange for Red 5 Studios’ publishing rights
in the United States and Europe. Under the amendment, Red 5 Studios will
pay us 10% of the revenue from the United States and Europe for five years
after commercialization and an additional 5% of such revenue (with
quarterly cap of US$2,083,333 with respect to the 5% additional revenue)
for the first three-year period after commercialization. We will
remain the exclusive publisher of the game in all other markets
throughout the world, but we are to pay Red 5 Studios 50% of such revenue
from other markets for five years after
commercialization.
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On
July 31, 2009, we entered into a sales agreement with KINX and sold our
office space in 467-6, Dogok-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea for
₩
2,480
million.
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On
August 1, 2009, we entered into a joint venture agreement with NHN Games
where we will provide MU and SUN online and NHN Games will provide
Archlord and R2 through a global game portal called
webzen.com. We will transfer any revenue generated on NHN
Games’ title every month. The term of the agreement is to end
on July 31, 2012, and will be automatically renewed for one year unless a
party notifies the other of its intent to terminate the
agreement one month prior to the end of each contract
period.
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On
December 31, 2009, Webzen Taiwan, our subsidiary, entered into an internet
game distribution and service agreement with NHN Games Corp. to provide R2
in Taiwan. Webzen Taiwan will pay NHN Games Corp. 40% of all revenue
excluding fees paid to third parties for
distribution.
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On
February 12, 2010, we entered into a publishing agreement with NHN Games
to service Battle Territory, a game developed by NHN Games. We will pay
₩
1,750
million NHN Games as license fee and divide equally the profit generated
by the offering of Battle
Territory.
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On
April 16, 2010, we entered into a channeling agreement with NHN Corp.
where NHN Corp. will offer Huxley: The Dystopia through Hangame, a major
game portal owned and operated by NHN Corp. We will pay NHN Corp. 40% of
the profit.
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The above
agreements are online game publishing rights, game development and license
agreements that were entered into in the ordinary course of our
business.
10.D. Exchange
Controls
General
The
Korean Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and the Presidential Decree and
regulations under such Act and Decree (collectively, the “Foreign Exchange
Transaction Laws”) regulate investment in Korean securities by non residents and
issuance of securities outside Korea by Korean companies. Under the Foreign
Exchange Transaction Laws, non residents may invest in Korean securities only to
the extent specifically allowed by such laws or otherwise permitted by the MOFE.
The FSC has also adopted, pursuant to its authority under the Korean Financial
Investment Service and Capital Market Act, regulations that restrict investment
by foreigners in Korean securities.
Under the
Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws, if the government deems that certain
emergency circumstances, including, but not limited to, extreme difficulty in
stabilizing the balance of payments or substantial disturbance in the Korean
financial and capital markets, are likely to occur, it may impose any necessary
restrictions, such as requiring foreign investors to obtain prior approval from
the MOFE for the acquisition of Korean securities or for the repatriation of
dividends or sales proceeds arising from Korean securities or from disposition
of such securities.
Reporting
Requirements for Holders of Substantial Interests
Any
person whose direct or beneficial ownership of shares (whether in the form of
shares or ADSs), certificates representing the right to subscribe for shares,
certain equity related debt securities, such as convertible bonds, exchangeable
bonds and bonds with warrants, and certain derivatives-combined securities whose
underlying assets are the above-mentioned securities (collectively, the “Equity
Securities”), together with the Equity Securities beneficially owned by certain
related persons or by any person acting in concert with such person that account
for 5% or more of the total outstanding Equity Securities, is required to report
the status, purpose (in terms of whether the purpose of shareholding is to
affect control over management of the issuer), forms (direct ownership or
beneficial ownership) of such holding and major contracts with regard to the
Equity Securities held by the person to the FSC and the KRX within five business
days after reaching the 5% ownership interest threshold. In addition, any change
(1) in the ownership interest subsequent to such report which equals or exceeds
1% of the total outstanding Equity Securities, (2) in the shareholding purpose,
(3) in the major contracts with regard to the relevant Equity Securities, or (4)
in the shareholding form is required to be reported to the FSC and the KRX
within five business days from the date of such change. However, the reporting
deadline of such reporting requirement is extended for investors who hold shares
for purposes other than management control and for the Government, municipal
authorities, the Bank of Korea and certain public institutions to the tenth day
of the month immediately following the month in which the shares were acquired
or the shareholdings were otherwise changed. Those who report that the purpose
of their shareholding is to affect control over management of the issuer are
prohibited from exercising their voting rights and acquiring additional shares
during the period from the day any event subject to the above reporting
requirements occurs to five days subsequent to the report. Any investor who has
filed the above report is required to send a copy of the report to the issuer of
the Equity Securities immediately.
Violation
of these reporting requirements may subject a person to criminal sanctions, such
as fines or imprisonment, and may result in a loss of voting rights with respect
to the ownership of Equity Securities exceeding 5%. Furthermore, the FSC may
issue an order to dispose of such non-reported Equity Securities.
Restrictions
Applicable to ADSs
No Korean
governmental approval is necessary for the sale and purchase of ADSs in the
secondary market outside Korea or for the withdrawal of shares underlying ADSs
and the delivery inside Korea of shares in connection with such withdrawal,
provided that a foreigner who intends to acquire such shares must obtain an
Investment Registration Card from the Financial Supervisory Service as described
below. The acquisition of such shares by a foreigner must be reported
immediately by the foreigner or his standing proxy in Korea to the Governor of
the FSS (the “Governor”).
Persons
who have acquired shares as a result of the withdrawal of shares underlying the
ADSs may exercise their preemptive rights for new shares, participate in free
distributions and receive dividends on shares without any further governmental
approval.
Restrictions
Applicable to Shares
As a
result of amendments to the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws and FSC
regulations (together, the “Investment Rules”) adopted in connection with the
stock market opening from January 1992 and after that date, foreigners may
invest, with certain exceptions and subject to certain procedural requirements,
in all shares of Korean companies, whether listed on KRX Stock Market or KOSDAQ
Market, unless prohibited by specific laws. Foreign investors may trade shares
listed on KRX Stock Market or KOSDAQ Market only through KRX Stock Market or the
KOSDAQ Market, except in limited circumstances, including:
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odd
lot trading of shares;
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acquisition
of shares by exercise of warrant, conversion right under equity linked
securities or withdrawal right under depositary receipts issued outside of
Korea by a Korean company (“Converted
Shares”);
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acquisition
of shares by foreign companies as a result of
merger;
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acquisition
of shares as a result of inheritance, donation, bequest or exercise of
shareholders’ rights, including preemptive rights or rights to participate
in free distributions and receive
dividends;
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acquisition
of shares offered and subscribed overseas for listing on foreign
securities exchanges;
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over
the counter transactions between foreigners of a class of shares for which
the ceiling on aggregate acquisition by foreigners, as explained below,
has been reached or exceeded;
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acquisition
of underlying shares by an overseas depositary in relation to the issuance
of depositary receipts;
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disposition
of shares through the exercise of a dissenting shareholder’s appraisal
right;
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acquisition
of shares by direct investment pursuant to the Foreign Investment
Promotion Act and disposition of shares so
acquired;
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acquisition
or disposition of shares through a tender offer;
and
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acquisition
or disposition of shares through the electronic over the counter market
brokerage companies.
|
For over
the counter transactions between foreigners outside KRX Stock Market or KOSDAQ
Market involving shares with respect to which the limit on aggregate foreign
ownership has been reached or exceeded, an investment broker such as a
securities company licensed in Korea must act as an intermediary. Odd lot
trading of shares outside KRX Stock Market or KOSDAQ Market must involve an
investment trader such as a securities company licensed in Korea as the other
party. Foreign investors are prohibited from engaging in margin transactions by
using securities borrowed from securities companies in Korea with respect to
shares that are subject to a foreign ownership limit.
The
Investment Rules require a foreign investor who wishes to invest in shares on
KRX Stock Market or KOSDAQ Market (including Converted Shares) to register its
identity with the FSS prior to making any such investment; however, such
registration requirement does not apply to foreign investors who acquire
Converted Shares with the intention of selling such Converted Shares within
three months from the date of acquisition thereof. Upon registration, the FSS
will issue to the foreign investor an Investment Registration Card, which must
be presented each time the foreign investor opens a brokerage account with a
securities company. Foreigners eligible to obtain an Investment Registration
Card include foreign nationals who are individuals residing abroad for more than
six months, foreign governments, foreign municipal authorities, foreign public
institutions, international organizations incorporated under international
covenants, corporations incorporated under foreign laws and certain foreign
funds and partnerships. All Korean offices of a foreign corporation as a group
are treated as a separate foreigner from the offices of the corporation outside
Korea. However, a foreign corporation or depositary issuing depositary receipts
may obtain one or more Investment Registration Cards in its name in certain
circumstances as described in the relevant regulations.
Upon a
foreign investor’s purchase of shares through the KRX Stock Market or KOSDAQ
Market, no separate report by the investor is required, because the Investment
Registration Card system is designed to control and oversee foreign investment
through a computer system. However, a foreign investor’s acquisition or sale of
shares outside the KRX Stock Market (as discussed above) must be reported by the
foreign investor or its standing proxy to the Governor at the time of each such
acquisition or sale. A foreign investor must ensure that any acquisition or
sale by it of shares outside KRX Stock Market or KOSDAQ Market, in the case of
trades in connection with a tender offer, odd lot trading of shares or trades of
a class of shares for which the aggregate foreign ownership limit has been
reached or exceeded, is reported to the Governor by the securities company
engaged to facilitate such transaction. A foreign investor must appoint one or
more standing proxies from among the Korea Securities Depository, foreign
exchange banks (including domestic branches of foreign banks), investment
traders (such as securities companies), investment brokers (such as securities
companies), collective investment business companies (such as asset management
companies), and foreign custodians meeting certain requirements to act as a
standing proxy to exercise shareholders’ rights, place an order to sell or
purchase shares or perform any matter related to the foregoing activities if the
foreign investor does not perform these activities itself. However, a foreign
investor may be exempted from complying with these standing proxy rules with the
approval of the Governor in circumstances where such compliance is made
impracticable, including cases where such compliance would contravene the laws
of the home country of such foreign investor.
Certificates
evidencing shares of Korean companies must be kept in custody with an eligible
custodian in Korea. Only foreign exchange banks (including domestic branches of
foreign banks), investment traders (such as securities companies), investment
brokers (such as securities companies), collective investment business companies
(such as asset management companies), foreign custodians meeting certain
requirements and the Korea Securities Depository are eligible to act as a
custodian of shares for a nonresident or foreign investor. A foreign investor
must ensure that its custodian deposits such shares with the Korea Securities
Depository. However, a foreign investor may be exempted from complying with this
deposit requirement with the approval of the Governor in circumstances where
such compliance is made impracticable, including cases where such compliance
would contravene the laws of the home country of such foreign
investor.
Under the
Investment Rules, with certain exceptions, foreign investors may acquire shares
of a Korean company without being subject to any foreign investment ceiling. As
one such exception, designated public corporations are subject to a 40% ceiling
on the acquisition of shares by foreigners in the aggregate. Furthermore, an
investment by a foreign investor of not less than 10% of the outstanding shares
of a Korean company is defined as a direct foreign investment under the Foreign
Investment Promotion Law, which is, in general, subject to the report to, and
acceptance by, the MKE, which delegates its authority to the Korea Trade
Investment Promotion Agency, or foreign exchange banks (including domestic
branches of foreign banks) under the relevant regulations. The acquisition of
shares of a Korean company by a foreign investor may also be subject to certain
foreign shareholding restrictions in the event that such restrictions are
prescribed in each specific law which regulates the business of such Korean
company. For example, we are currently subject to a foreign shareholding ceiling
of 49%, pursuant to the Telecommunications Business Law. A foreigner who has
acquired shares in excess of this ceiling may not exercise its voting rights
with respect to the shares exceeding this limit, and the MKE may take corrective
action pursuant to the Telecommunications Business Law.
Under the
Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws, a foreign investor who intends to acquire
shares must designate a foreign exchange bank at which it must open a foreign
currency account and a Won account exclusively for stock investments. No
approval is required for remittance into Korea and deposit of foreign currency
funds in the foreign currency account. Foreign currency funds may be transferred
from the foreign currency account at the time required to place a deposit for,
or settle the purchase price of, a stock purchase transaction to a Won account
opened at a securities company. Funds in the foreign currency account may be
remitted abroad without any governmental approval.
Dividends
on shares are paid in Won. No governmental approval is required for foreign
investors to receive dividends on, or the Won proceeds of the sale of, any such
shares to be paid, received and retained in Korea. Dividends paid on, and the
Won proceeds of the sale of, any such shares held by a nonresident of Korea must
be deposited either in a Won account with the investor’s securities company or
his Won account. Funds in the investor’s Won account may be transferred to his
foreign currency account or withdrawn for local living expenses
up to
certain limitations. Funds in the Won account may also be used for future
investment in shares or for payment of the subscription price of new shares
obtained through the exercise of preemptive rights.
Securities
companies (including domestic branches of foreign securities companies) in Korea
are allowed to open foreign currency accounts and Won accounts with foreign
exchange banks exclusively for accommodating foreign investors’ stock
investments in Korea. Through such accounts, these securities companies may
enter into foreign exchange transactions on a limited basis, such as conversion
of foreign currency funds and Won funds, either as a counterparty to or on
behalf of foreign investors, without such investors having to open their own
accounts with foreign exchange banks.
10.E.
Taxation
Korean
Taxation
The
following is a summary of material Korean tax consequences to owners of our ADSs
and common shares that are non-resident individuals or non-Korean corporations
without a permanent establishment in Korea to which the relevant income is
attributable. Such non-resident individuals or non-Korean corporations will be
referred to as non-resident holders below. The statements regarding Korean tax
laws set forth below are based on the laws in force and as interpreted by the
Korean taxation authorities as of the date hereof. This discussion is not
exhaustive of all possible tax considerations which may apply to a particular
investor, and prospective investors are advised to satisfy themselves as to the
overall tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our
Common Shares or ADSs, including specifically the tax consequences under Korean
law, the laws of the jurisdiction of which they are resident, and any tax treaty
between Korea and their country of residence, by consulting their own tax
advisers.
Dividends
on the Shares or ADSs
We will
deduct Korean withholding tax from dividends paid to you at a rate of 27.5%. If
you are a resident in a country that has entered into a tax treaty with Korea,
you may qualify for a reduced rate of Korean withholding tax.
For
example, if you are a qualified resident of the United States for purposes of
the tax treaty between the United States and Korea and you are the “beneficial
owner” of a dividend, a reduced withholding tax rate of 16.5%, including local
surtax, generally will apply. If you are a beneficial owner of ADSs, you will
generally be entitled to benefits under the tax treaty between the United States
and Korea if you:
·
|
are
an individual U.S. resident, a U.S. corporation (or other entity treated
as a United States corporation for United States tax purposes) or in the
case of a person acting as a partner or fiduciary, only to the extent your
income is subject to taxation in the United States as the income of a U.S.
resident;
|
·
|
are
not deemed to be a resident of Korea for purposes of the tax treaty
between the United States and
Korea;
|
·
|
are
not subject to any anti-treaty shopping article that applies in limited
circumstances; and
|
·
|
do
not hold ADSs in connection with the conduct of business in Korea through
a permanent establishment or the performance of independent personal
services in Korea through a fixed
base.
|
In order
to obtain the benefits of a reduced withholding tax rate under a tax treaty, you
must submit to us, prior to the dividend payment date, such evidence of tax
residence as may be required by the Korean tax authorities. Holders of ADSs may
submit evidence of tax residence to us through the depositary for the ADSs.
Holders of common shares may submit evidence of tax residence to us through the
Korea Securities Depository. Excess taxes withheld generally are not recoverable
even if you subsequently produce evidence that you were entitled to have tax
withheld at a lower rate.
If we
distribute to you bonus shares representing a transfer of certain capital
reserves or asset revaluation reserves into paid-in capital, that distribution
may be subject to Korean tax.
Taxation
of Capital Gains
You are
exempt from Korean taxation on capital gains realized upon sale of shares
through the KRX Stock Market or KOSDAQ if you have owned, together with certain
related parties, less than 25% of our total issued and outstanding shares at any
time during the year of sale and the five calendar years before the year of
sale, provided that you have no permanent establishment in Korea (whether or not
such capital gains are attributable to the permanent establishment). If you are
a resident of the United States for purposes of the tax treaty between the
United States and Korea, you will be exempt, subject to certain limited
exceptions, from Korean taxation on the capital gains realized by the
disposition of common shares or ADSs. Further, the Korean taxation authorities
have issued a tax ruling confirming that capital gains earned by a non-Korean
holder (whether or not it has a permanent establishment in Korea) from the
transfer of ADSs outside of Korea are exempt from Korean taxation by virtue of
the Special Tax Treatment Control Law of Korea.
If you
are subject to tax on capital gains with respect to the sale of ADSs, or of
shares which you acquired as a result of a withdrawal, your gain will be
calculated based on your cost of acquiring the ADSs representing such shares,
although there are no specific Korean tax provisions or rulings on this issue.
In the absence of the application of a tax treaty which exempts or reduces the
rate of tax on capital gains, the amount of Korean tax imposed on your capital
gains will be the lesser of 11% (including resident surtax) of the gross
realization proceeds and, subject to the production of satisfactory evidence of
the acquisition cost and transfer expenses of the ADSs, 27.5% (including
resident surtax) of the net capital gains. The gain is calculated as the gross
realization proceeds less the acquisition cost and transfer
expenses.
If you
sell your common shares or ADSs, the purchaser or, in the case of the sale of
shares through a licensed securities company in Korea, the licensed securities
company, is required to withhold Korean tax from the sales price in an amount
equal to 11% of the gross realization proceeds and to make payment thereof to
the Korean tax authority, unless you establish your entitlement to an exemption
from taxation under an applicable tax treaty or produce satisfactory evidence of
your acquisition and transfer costs for the ADSs. In order to obtain the benefit
of an exemption or reduced rate of tax pursuant to a tax treaty, you must submit
to the purchaser or the securities company (or through the depositary), as the
case may be, the application for tax exemption along with a certificate of your
tax residency issued by a competent authority of your tax residence country
prior to or at the time of payment. Excess taxes withheld are generally not
recoverable even if you subsequently produce evidence that you were entitled to
have taxes withheld at a lower rate.
Inheritance
Tax and Gift Tax
If you
die while holding an ADS or transfer an ADS as a gift, it is unclear whether,
for Korean inheritance and gift tax purposes, you will be treated as the owner
of the common shares underlying the ADSs. If you are treated as the owner of the
common shares, the heir or the donee (or you, if the donee fails to pay) will be
subject to Korean inheritance or gift tax presently at the rate of 10% to 50%,
provided that the value of such common shares or ADSs is greater than a
specified amount.
Securities
Transaction Tax
You will
not pay a securities transaction tax on your transfer of ADSs. If you transfer
shares, you will be subject to a securities transaction tax at the rate of 0.15%
and an agriculture and fishery special tax at the rate of 0.15% of the sale
price of the shares when traded on the Korea Stock Exchange. If you transfer
shares through KOSDAQ, you will be subject to a securities transaction tax at
the rate of 0.3% of the sales price of the shares and will not be subject to an
agriculture and fishery special tax. If your transfer of shares is not made on
the KRX Stock Market or KOSDAQ, subject to certain exceptions, you will be
subject to a securities transaction tax at the rate of 0.5% and will not be
subject to an agriculture and fishery special tax.
The
securities transaction tax and the agriculture and fishery special tax are not
applicable if (i) shares are listed on a designated foreign stock exchange
(e.g., New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Market) and (ii) the sale of shares
takes place on such exchange.
According
to a tax ruling issued by the Korean tax authorities, foreign shareholders are
not subject to a securities transaction tax upon the deposit of underlying
shares and receipt of depositary shares or upon the surrender of depositary
shares and withdrawal of originally deposited underlying shares. However,
questions have been raised as to whether this ruling is also applied to the
surrender of depositary shares. Although the tax authorities recently issued
another tax ruling indicating that securities transaction tax would be imposed
“when depositary shares which were issued upon deposit with an overseas
depositary of stock issued by a Korean company are later converted into the
underlying stock,” except for particular type of transaction mentioned
in such ruling issued by the Korean tax authorities, it is not clear as to
whether, on whom, when and in what amount the securities transaction tax will be
imposed in the case of withdrawals of underlying shares by holders of depositary
shares other than initial holders. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that
the holders of ADSs other than initial holders will not be subject to the
securities transaction tax when they withdraw the shares upon surrendering the
ADSs.
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Considerations
The
following is a description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences
to the U.S. holders described below of owning and disposing of common shares or
ADSs, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax
considerations that may be relevant to a particular person’s decision to hold
such securities. This discussion applies only if you hold common
shares or ADSs as capital assets for tax purposes. In addition, it
does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of
your particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences
and tax consequences applicable to U.S. holders subject to special rules, such
as:
·
|
certain
financial institutions;
|
·
|
dealers
or traders in securities who use a mark-to-market method of tax
accounting;
|
·
|
persons
holding common shares or ADSs as part of a hedging transaction, straddle,
wash sale, conversion transaction or integrated transaction or persons
entering into a constructive sale with respect to the common shares or
ADSs;
|
·
|
persons
whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the
U.S. dollar;
|
·
|
entities
classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax
purposes;
|
·
|
tax-exempt
entities, including an “individual retirement account” or “Roth
IRA”;
|
·
|
persons
that own or are deemed to own ten percent or more of our voting
stock;
|
·
|
persons
who acquired our common shares or ADSs pursuant to the exercise of an
employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;
or
|
·
|
persons
holding shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of
the United States.
|
If an
entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes
holds common shares or ADSs, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner
will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the
partnership. Partnerships holding common shares or ADSs and partners
in such partnerships should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S.
federal income tax consequences of holding and disposing of the common shares or
ADSs.
This
discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary
and proposed Treasury regulations and the current income tax treaty in effect
between the United States and the Republic of Korea (the “Treaty”), all as of
the date hereof. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive
basis. It is also based in part on representations by the depositary and assumes
that each obligation under the deposit agreement and any related agreement will
be performed in accordance with its terms.
The
discussion below applies to you only if you are a U.S. holder. You are a U.S.
holder if you are a beneficial owner of common shares or ADSs who is eligible
for benefits under the Treaty and are, for U.S. federal tax
purposes:
·
|
a
citizen or resident of the United
States;
|
·
|
a
corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or
organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political
subdivision thereof; or
|
·
|
an
estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income
taxation regardless of its source.
|
In
general, if you own ADSs, you will be treated as the owner of the underlying
shares represented by those ADSs for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Accordingly, no gain or loss will be recognized if you exchange ADSs for the
underlying shares represented by those ADSs.
The U.S.
Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom American depositary shares
are released before delivery of shares to the depositary (“pre-release”), or
intermediaries in the chain of ownership between holders and the issuer of the
security underlying the American depositary shares, may be taking actions that
are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits for U.S. holders of
American depositary receipts. Such actions would also be inconsistent with the
claiming of the reduced rate of tax, described below, applicable to dividends
received by certain non-corporate holders. Accordingly, the analysis of the
creditability of Korean taxes and the availability of a lower rate of tax for
dividends received by certain non-corporate holders, each described below, could
be affected by actions taken by parties to whom ADSs are
pre-released.
Please
consult your own tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and
foreign tax consequences of owning and disposing of common shares or ADSs in
your particular circumstances.
Passive
Foreign Investment Company Considerations
Based on
the price of our common shares and ADSs during our 2009 taxable year and the
amount of passive assets, including cash and cash equivalents, held by us
throughout that year, we believe that we may have been a passive foreign
investment company (“PFIC”) for our 2009 taxable year. Further, there is a
significant risk that we will be a PFIC in future taxable
years.
In
general, a non-U.S. corporation will be considered a PFIC for any taxable year
in which (i) 75% or more of its gross income consists of passive income or (ii)
50% or more of the average quarterly value of its assets consists of assets that
produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. For purposes of the
above calculations, a non-U.S. corporation that directly or indirectly owns at
least 25% by value of the shares of another corporation is treated as if it held
its proportionate share of the assets of such other corporation and received
directly its proportionate share of the income of such other corporation.
Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents, royalties and
capital gains.
If we are
a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder holds common shares or
ADSs, such U.S. holder is subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax rules. In
general, gain recognized upon a disposition (including, under certain
circumstances, a constructive disposition) of common shares or ADSs by such U.S.
holder is allocated ratably over the holder’s holding period for such common
shares or ADSs. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of disposition and to
years before we became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount
allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate
in effect for such taxable year for individuals or corporations, as appropriate,
and an interest charge would be imposed on the tax attributable to such
allocated amounts. Similar rules apply to any distribution received by such U.S.
holder on its common shares or ADSs in excess of 125% of the average of the
annual distributions on such common shares or ADSs received during the preceding
three years or the holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter.
If we are
a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. holder holds common shares or ADSs, we
generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to the holder for
all succeeding years during which the U.S. holder holds common shares or ADSs,
even if we cease to meet the threshold requirements for PFIC status. U.S.
holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential availability
of a “deemed sale” election that would allow them to eliminate this continuing
PFIC status under certain circumstances.
Under
certain attribution rules, if we are a PFIC, U.S. holders will be deemed to own
their proportionate share of any direct or indirect subsidiaries or other
entities in which we own an equity interest that are also PFICs
(“lower-
tier
PFICs”), and will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax as if such
holders directly held the shares of such lower-tier PFICs.
Alternatively,
a U.S. holder may make a mark-to-market election with respect to the common
shares or ADSs (but not with respect to the shares of any lower-tier PFICs) if
the common shares or ADSs are “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange.” The
common shares or ADSs will be treated as “regularly traded” in any calendar year
in which more than a de minimis quantity of common shares or ADSs are traded on
a qualified exchange on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. Our ADSs
are traded on the NASDAQ Market, which is a qualified exchange.
If a U.S.
holder makes the mark-to-market election, for each year in which we are a PFIC,
the holder will generally include as ordinary income the excess, if any, of the
fair market value of the common shares or ADSs at the end of the taxable year
over their adjusted tax basis, and will be permitted an ordinary loss in respect
of the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the common shares or ADSs
over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the
extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the
mark-to-market election). If a U.S. holder makes the election, the holder’s tax
basis in the common shares or ADSs will be adjusted to reflect any such income
or loss amounts. Any gain or loss recognized on the sale or other disposition of
common shares or ADSs in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary
income or loss (but in the case of a loss, only to the extent of the net
amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market
election). U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisers regarding the
availability and advisability of making a mark-to-market election in their
particular circumstances.
We will
not make available the information necessary for U.S. holders to make a
Qualified Electing Fund election.
If a U.S.
holder owns common shares or ADSs during any year in which we are a PFIC, the
holder must file an annual return with respect to us and any
lower-tier PFICs. In addition, the preferential dividend rates discussed below
with respect to dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. holders does not
apply if we are a PFIC for a taxable year in which we pay a dividend or the
prior taxable year.
U.S.
holders should consult their own tax advisers concerning our PFIC status and the
tax considerations relevant to an investment in a PFIC.
Taxation
of Distributions
Subject
to the passive foreign investment company rules described above, distributions
paid on common shares or ADSs, other than certain pro rata distributions of
common shares, will be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of our
current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal
income tax principles). Because we do not maintain calculations of our earnings
and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, we expect that
distributions will generally be reported to U.S. holders as dividends. Subject
to applicable limitations and the discussion above regarding concerns expressed
by the U.S. Treasury, under current law, certain dividends paid to certain
non-corporate U.S. holders in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011
will be taxable at a maximum rate of 15%. However, such dividends will not be
eligible for the reduced rates of taxation if we are a PFIC for the taxable year
in which we pay the dividend or the prior taxable year. The amount of a dividend
will include any amounts withheld by us or our paying agent in respect of Korean
taxes. The dividend will be treated as foreign source dividend income to you and
will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally allowed to
U.S. corporations under the Code.
Dividends
paid in Won will be included in your income in a U.S. dollar amount calculated
by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of your (or in the case
of ADSs, the depositary’s) receipt of the dividend, regardless of whether the
payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. If the dividend is converted
into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, you generally should not be required
to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income.
You may have foreign currency gain or loss if you do not convert the dividend
into U.S. dollars on the date of its receipt.
Korean
taxes withheld from cash dividends on common shares or ADSs at the rate provided
in the Treaty will be creditable against your U.S. federal income tax liability,
subject to applicable limitations that may vary depending
upon your
circumstances and subject to the discussion above regarding concerns expressed
by the U.S. Treasury. Korean taxes withheld in excess of the rate provided in
the Treaty will not be eligible for credit against your U.S. federal income tax
liability until you exhaust all effective and practical remedies to recover such
excess withholding, including the seeking of competent authority assistance from
the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. See “— Korean Taxation — Dividends on the
Shares or ADSs” for a description of how you can secure the Treaty rate for
withholding on dividends paid by us. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible
for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income.
The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex and, therefore, you should
consult your own tax adviser regarding the availability of foreign tax credits
in your particular circumstances. Instead of claiming a credit, you may, at your
election, deduct otherwise creditable Korean taxes in computing your taxable
income, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. law.
Sale
and Other Disposition of Common Shares or ADSs
Subject
to the passive foreign investment company rules described above, for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, gain or loss you realize on the sale or other
disposition of common shares or ADSs will be capital gain or loss, and will be
long-term capital gain or loss if you held the common shares or ADSs for more
than one year. The amount of your gain or loss will be equal to the difference
between the amount realized on the sale or other disposition and your tax basis
in the common shares or ADSs disposed of. Such gain or loss will generally be
U.S. source gain or loss for foreign tax credit purposes.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information
returns may be filed with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) in
connection with the payment of dividends and sales proceeds. You may be subject
to backup withholding tax on these payments if you fail to provide your taxpayer
identification number to the paying agent and comply with certain certification
procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from backup
withholding.
The
amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a
credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a
refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the
IRS.
Recently
enacted legislation requires U.S. individuals (or certain entities formed by or
for U.S. individuals) to report to the IRS information with respect to assets
held in accounts maintained by non-U.S. financial institutions when certain
conditions are met, generally beginning in 2011. Investors who fail
to report required information could be subject to substantial
penalties. You should consult your tax advisers regarding this
legislation.
10.F. Dividends
and Paying Agents
Not
applicable.
10.G. Statements
by Experts
Not
applicable.
10.H. Documents
on Display
We are
subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance
therewith, we file with the SEC annual reports on Form 20-F within six months of
our fiscal year-end, and provide to the SEC other material information on Form
6-K. These reports and other information can be inspected at the public
reference room at Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can
also obtain copies of the material from the public reference room or by calling
at 1-800-732-0330 or writing the SEC upon payment of a prescribed fee. Our SEC
filings, including the annual reports on Form 20-F, are also available on the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from
the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy
statements to shareholders and Webzen’s executive officers, Directors and
principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit
recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
We will
furnish to JPMorgan Chase Bank, as depositary for the ADSs, our annual reports,
which will include a review of operations and annual audited financial
statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and all notices of
shareholders’ meetings and other reports and communications that are made
generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make these notices,
reports and communications available to holders of ADSs and will, upon our
request, arrange for the mailing of these documents to all holders of record of
ADSs.
On June
18, 2010, we announced our intention to delist our ADSs from NASDAQ Global
Market and to deregister and terminate our reporting obligations with the SEC.
We have provided a written notice to NASDAQ of the intent to delist and will
arrange in due course, after consultation with NASDAQ, the date on which our
ADSs will no longer be traded on NASDAQ Global Market. We plan to maintain an
American Depositary Receipt program on a Level I basis, which will allow
investors to hold their securities in the form of ADSs. We filed a Form 25 with
the SEC on June 28, 2010 to delist from NASDAQ Global Market and terminate
registration under Section 12(b) of the Exchangee Act and intend to file a Form
15F to suspend, and eventually terminate, registration under Sections 12(g) and
15(d) of the Exchange Act. Once we file a Form 15F, our reporting obligations
under the Exchange Act will be suspended and over time
terminated.
10.I. Subsidiary
Information
Not
applicable.
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about
Market Risk
Market
risk is the risk of loss related to adverse changes in market prices, including
interest rates and foreign exchange rates, of financial instruments. In the
normal course of our business, we are subject to market risk associated with
interest rate movements, credit risk and currency movements on non-Won
denominated assets and liabilities and license and royalty
revenues.
Foreign currency
risk
. We have exposure to some foreign currency exchange-rate
fluctuations on cash flows from our subsidiaries and licensee partners
denominated in U.S. dollars, Japanese Yen, NT dollars or Chinese RMB. For
example, our revenues may be impacted by exchange rate fluctuations in the U.S.
dollars, Japanese Yen, NT dollars or Chinese RMB when revenues at overseas
subsidiaries or royalty payments are translated into Korean Won. Foreign
exchange fluctuation could also affect the value of our assets. As of December
31, 2009, we had approximately
₩
708 million or
US$609 thousand in foreign currencies such as U.S. Dollar, NT Dollar and Chinese
RMB out of
₩
64,981 million
(US$55,842 thousand) of total cash or cash equivalents. We do not expect any
material change with respect to our net income as a result of a 10% hypothetical
exchange rate change.
As of
December 31, 2009, we had Japanese Yen denominated accounts receivables of
₩
1,279 million
(US$1,099 thousand), which represented 25.2% of our total consolidated accounts
receivables balance, U.S. dollar denominated accounts receivables of
₩
916 million
(US$787 thousand), which represented 18.1% of our total consolidated accounts
receivables balance, and NT dollars denominated accounts receivables of
₩
144 million
(US$124 thousand), which represented 2.8% of our total consolidated accounts
receivables balance. We also had Chinese RMB denominated accounts payable of
₩
198 million
(US$170 thousand), which represented 8.2% of our total consolidated accounts
payable balance. As these balances all have short maturities, exposure to
foreign currency fluctuations on these balances is not significant. For example,
a hypothetical 10% appreciation of the Won against the Japanese Yen,
U.S. dollars, NT dollars and Chinese RMB, in the aggregate, would
reduce our cash flows by
₩
214 million
(US$184 thousand).
In 2009,
₩
15,536
million (US$13,351 thousand) of our revenue was derived from currencies other
than the Won, primarily from the Japanese Yen in the amount of
₩
6,996 million
(US$6,012 thousand), the U.S. dollar in the amount of
₩
3,785 million
(US$3,253 thousand), the NT dollar in the amount of
₩
3,022 million
(US$2,597 thousand), and the Chinese RMB in the amount of
₩
1,733 million
(US$1,489 thousand). A hypothetical 10% depreciation in the exchange rates of
these foreign currencies against the Won in 2009 would have reduced our revenue
by
₩
1,554
million (US$1,335 thousand).
Credit
Risk
. As our cash and cash equivalents are placed with local financial
institutions, we face a potential credit risk that the financial institutions
may become insolvent and be unable to repay our principal and interest in a
timely manner. To manage our risk, we select a number of major financial
institutions which we believe to be of high credit quality and allocate our cash
holdings among such institutions. However, due to the current economic downturn
and the volatile financial markets, it is difficult for us to predict the
financial condition of the Korean banking sector and the financial institutions
that manage our cash holdings and we may be materially impacted by any
widespread failure in the Korean banking sector in the future.
Interest rate
risk
. Our exposure to risk from changes in interest rates relates
primarily to our investments in short-term financial instruments and other
investments. Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning
instruments carry some interest rate risk. The fair value of fixed rate
securities may fall due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate
securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall. Partly
as a result of this, our future interest income may fall short of expectations
due to changes in interest rates or we may suffer losses in principal if we are
forced to sell securities that have fallen in estimated fair value due to
changes in interest rates. However, as substantially all of our cash equivalents
consist of bank deposits and short-term money
market
instruments, we do not expect any material change with respect to our net income
as a result of a 10% hypothetical interest rate change.
Substantially
all of our short-term financial instruments consist of time deposits and money
market deposit accounts. We do not believe that we are subject to any material
market risk exposure on our short-term financial instruments, as they are
readily convertible to cash and have short maturities. We do not have any
derivative financial instruments hedging interest rate risk.
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity
Securities
Not
applicable.
PART II
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and
Delinquencies
None.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security
Holders and Use of Proceeds
14.A.
to D. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security
Holders
On
February 3, 2004, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as depositary for the ADSs, and we
entered into the first amendment to the deposit agreement governing the ADSs,
under which we reduced the total number of our common shares on deposit at any
time with the depositary from 1,500,000 to 1,300,000. In connection with our
3-to-1 stock split on June 10, 2004, we entered into the second amendment to the
deposit agreement to change the ratio of our common shares to ADSs from 1:10 to
3:10 and adjust the maximum number of common shares that may be accepted for
deposit from 1,300,000 to 3,900,000. The second amendment went into effect on
July 10, 2004.
On
December 9, 2008, we filed on Form F-6 the form of third amendment to
the deposit agreement to reflect an aggregate fee of US$0.02 per
ADR per calendar year for services by JPMorgan Chase Bank in administrating the
ADRs.
14.E. Use
of Proceeds
We
completed our initial public offering of 8,700,000 ADSs, representing 870,000
common shares (2,610,000 shares after the 3-to-1 stock split) on the Nasdaq
Market, in December 2003, pursuant to our registration statement on Form F-1
(File No. 333-110321), which the SEC declared effective on December 12, 2003. In
the offering, we sold the ADSs at a price of $11.17 per ADS, which resulted in
aggregate net proceeds to us of approximately US$92 million, after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions and paying offering expenses of
approximately US$4.86 million. The managing underwriter in the offering was J.P.
Morgan Securities, Inc.
As of
December 31, 2009, we have used a total of approximately
₩
19 billion, or
approximately US$18 million, of our IPO proceeds.
₩
12,120
million (US$10,416 thousand) was used for the development of new games,
₩
3,824
million (US$3,286 thousand) was used for advertisement and marketing,
₩
1,661 million
(US$1,427 thousand) was used for equipment and computer software and
₩
2,233 million
(US$1,919 thousand) was used for office rent. As of December 31, 2009, we have
spent all of the proceeds from our initial public offering of the ADSs.
None
of the
proceeds from our initial public offering of ADSs were paid to our Directors or
officers or any other affiliates of us.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
Our
management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act)
as of December 31, 2009. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to
ensure that the information we are required to disclose in the reports that we
file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our
management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
as the principal executive and financial officers, respectively, to allow timely
decisions regarding required disclosures. Based on that evaluation, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure
controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by
this report.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is
defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a
process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer, as our principal executive and principal financial
officers, and effected by our board of Directors, management and other
personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and
includes those policies and procedures that:
·
|
pertain
to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and
fairly reflect the transaction and dispositions of our
assets;
|
·
|
provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being
made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and
Directors; and
|
·
|
provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have
a material effect on the financial
statements.
|
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness
to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our
management evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2009 using the criteria in “Internal Control –
Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO)
of the Treadway Commission.
Based on
our evaluation, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2009, our internal
control over financial reporting was effective. The effectiveness of our
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 has been
audited by Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included in Item 18 of this
Form 20-F.
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred
during the year ended December 31, 2009 that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
Item 16. Reserved.
16.A. Audit
Committee Financial Expert
The Audit
Committee is comprised of the following three independent Directors: Chang Won
Lee, Seung Han Ha and Hyuk-Yun Kim. All of our independent Directors are
financially literate and our board of Directors designated Seung-Han Ha as an
audit committee financial expert, who is an independent Director, as defined in
Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee is responsible for
examining internal transactions and potential conflicts of interest and
reviewing accounting and other relevant matters.
16.B. Code
of Ethics
We have
adopted a code of ethics that applies to each member of our board of Directors
and all employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial
Officer. The code of ethics was filed as exhibit 11.1 to the annual report on
Form 20-F filed on June 25, 2004.
16.C. Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
Fees
Paid to Principal Accountant
The
following table sets forth the aggregate fees by category specified below in
connection with certain professional services rendered by our principal external
auditor for the periods indicated. We did not pay any other fees to our
principal external auditor during the periods indicated below.
|
|
For
the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
Audit
fees(2)
|
|
|
460,464
|
|
|
|
471,650
|
|
|
|
405
|
|
Audit-related
fees
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Tax
fees(3)
|
|
|
108,464
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
All
other fees(4)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
64,000
|
|
|
|
55
|
|
(1)
|
For
convenience, the Won amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of
₩
1,163.65 to
US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on December 31, 2009 as announced
by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York.
|
(2)
|
Audit
fees in the table above are the aggregate fees in connection with the
audits of our annual financial statements, the review of our interim
financial statements and assistance with and review of registration
statements and periodic SEC
filings.
|
(3)
|
Tax
fees in the table above include the auditor’s advisory service fees with
respect to our tax return and for tax audit by the Korean tax
authority.
|
(4)
|
Includes
consulting fee related to introduction of
IFRS
|
Audit
Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Our Audit
Committee rules set forth that all auditing services and non-auditing services
provided to us by our independent auditors should be pre-approved by the Audit
Committee.
16.D. Exemptions
from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Not
applicable.
16.E. Purchase of Equity
Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
On April
12, 2007, our board of Directors approved a program to indirectly repurchase
₩
9.0 billion
worth of common stock through trust accounts and, during 2007, approved a
program to directly repurchase 219,611 Common Shares and indirectly repurchase
536,005 Common Shares and sell 1,033,654 Common Shares. During 2008, we directly
and indirectly repurchased 635,741 Common Shares. At end of December 31, 2008,
we held 1,117,052 Common Shares as treasury stock. The purpose of the share
repurchase programs were to stabilize the stock price and to accumulate treasury
stock for future stock option grants. There were no purchases of our common
stock made by us directly or indirectly through trust accounts from January 1,
2009 until June 28, 2010.
16.F.
Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant
(a)
|
Previous
Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
|
On April
30, 2010, we dismissed Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers (“Samil PwC”) as our
independent registered public accounting firm. Currently Samil PwC continues to
work on the US GAAP numbers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 so the
dismissal will take effect after such work is finalized. The dismissal of Samil
PwC was approved by our Audit Committee on April 30, 2010.
The
reports of Samil PwC on our financial statements as of and for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 did not contain an adverse opinion or
disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle.
During
the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and in any subsequent
interim period prior to the dismissal of Samil PwC and through June 30, 2010, we
did not have any disagreements (as defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F
and the related instructions to Item 16F) with Samil PwC on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedure, which disagreement, if not resolved to the satisfaction of
Samil PwC, would have caused Samil PwC to make reference to the subject matter
of the disagreement in its reports on the financial statements for such years.
During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and in any
subsequent interim period prior to the dismissal of Samil PwC and through
June 30, 2010, there were no ‘reportable events’ as described in Item
16F(a)(1)(v) of Form 20-F.
We
furnished a copy of this disclosure to Samil PwC and requested that Samil PwC
furnish us with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the
above statements. We have received the requested letter from Samil PwC, dated
June 30, 2010, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form
20-F.
(b)
|
New
Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
|
On April
30, 2010, our Audit Committee engaged KPMG Samjong Accounting Corp. (“KPMG”) as
our new independent registered public accounting firm to review our financial
statements for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010 and audit our financial
statements for fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. The decision to engage KPMG
as our independent registered public accounting firm was the result of a
competitive selection process.
During
the two most recent fiscal years, and in any subsequent interim period prior to
the appointment of KPMG, we have not consulted with KPMG regarding (i) the
application of