Nexon buys key stake in GameHi

Nexon Inc has announced that it has purchased a 29.3 per cent stake in online game developer GameHi for a total of ₩73.2 billion ($61.3 million) in a deal that also includes management rights to the company.

GameHi, best known in Korea for titles including Sudden Attack and Dekaron, revealed that it had posted revenues of ₩41.5 billion ($34.7 million), yielding operating profits of ₩11.9 billion ($10.0 million).

"GameHi has proved its ability to create high quality online games through Sudden Attack, Dekaron, and so on," said Min Seo, CEO of Nexon. "As was seen before in the cases of MapleStory and Wizet as well as Dungeon Fighter Online and Neople, the acquisition of GameHi by Nexon will create the greatest synergy between both companies."

Nexon now plans to merge its online game publishing experience into GameHi, combined with its development expertise and infrastructure, as it bids to "create greater value for the company and increase Nexon’s influence as the global leader in the game industry," read a company statement.

The deal with GameHi follows hot on the heels of it's two-third acquisition of Ndoors - developer of Atlantica Online - which was announced just two weeks ago.

Nexon, headquartered in Korea, has also tasted significant success with its online titles in both North America and Europe - most notable MapleStory and Combat Arms.

An interview from this year's DICE conference with Nexon US CEO Daniel Kim is available now.