Naver Webtoon acquires 36.08% of Munpia for KRW 108.2bn

SI Other Web novel platform
Deal value
$75m
Stake
36.08%
Implied 100%
$207m

Deal value ÷ stake (structure unconfirmed)

Revenue
$29m

2020 연결 · DART-verified

Op. income
$5m

2020 연결 · DART-verified

Multiples
EQV/EBIT 41.1xPSR 7.2x

On implied equity value

DART 20210406001555

Target
Munpia · Web novel platform
Buyer
Naver Webtoon · SI
Seller
—
Structure
—
Announced
Sep 10, 2021
Closed
—
Stage
Closed

Target

Munpia, incorporated in December 2012, is a web-novel platform focused on fantasy and martial-arts genres, reported to have published about 70,000 works over ten years and known as a gateway for writers and a source of story IP.

Deal rationale

Naver disclosed the purpose as a 'business alliance' and said it was negotiating further share purchases. Byline Network analyzed the move as securing the martial-arts genre and a pool of established and new writers lacking at Naver Web Novel. Naver's December 2022 release said Munpia forms one pillar of Naver Webtoon's global IP value chain and that Naver Webtoon acquired 56.26% in two September 2021 transactions, consolidating it as a subsidiary.

수직계열화
Revenue$29m
Operating income$5m
EBITDA—
Net income—

2020 연결 · DART-verified · 20210406001555

Press coverage

  • 바이라인네트워크 (2021-09-13): “네이버웹툰이 웹소설 업체 문피아의 지분 36.08%를 1082억원에 인수했다고 밝혔습니다”
  • 아이뉴스24 (2022-01-18): “지난해 9월 네이버웹툰은 문피아의 지분을 두 차례에 걸쳐 취득하며 최대주주 자리에 올라섰다”
  • 네이버 보도자료 (2022-12-28): “네이버웹툰은 2021년 9월 지분 인수 당시 문피아의 지분 56.26%를 취득하면서 자회사로 편입시켰다.”

This is a data entry summarising filings and press reports. Please check the original sources for the figures.