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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Naver has agreed to acquire an unlisted stake in Naver Pay from Dunamu, in a move aimed at strengthening governance and improving management efficiency.
According to a regulatory filing on June 16, Naver will purchase 179,999 shares of Naver Pay for 29.4 billion won, implying a per-share price of 163,333 won. The transaction is scheduled to be completed on June 30.
Following the deal, Naver’s total holdings in Naver Pay will increase to 216,734 shares, raising its ownership stake to 34.04%.
The company stated that the acquisition is intended to “enhance management efficiency through governance restructuring,” adding that the transaction will be carried out off-market. Naver explained that it is acquiring shares of its affiliate Naver Pay from a non-affiliated entity, Dunamu.
The move is widely seen as part of Naver’s efforts to reinforce its control over Naver Pay by increasing its direct ownership, thereby simplifying the ownership structure of its fintech operations.
Separately, Naver also disclosed an intra-group transaction with Naver Financial for brand usage fees totaling 10.2 billion won. The agreement, covering the period from January 1 to December 31 this year, includes fees for the use of trademarks and domain names associated with the Naver brand.
Market observers interpret the disclosure as part of a broader effort by Naver to streamline governance across its fintech business, with Naver Pay positioned as a core affiliate in payments and financial services.
While the transaction size remains relatively small compared to Naver’s overall financial scale, analysts say its significance lies in long-term governance restructuring and strategic positioning within the fintech sector rather than any immediate financial impact.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
