EBAY » Topics » with Gmarket, Koreas Largest Online Marketplace

This excerpt taken from the EBAY 8-K filed Apr 16, 2009.

with Gmarket, Korea’s Largest Online Marketplace

eBay to make cash tender offer of $24 per share for all outstanding Gmarket shares; move

significantly strengthens eBay’s leadership in world’s 6th largest e-commerce market

San Jose, Calif., April 15, 2009 – eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) and Gmarket Inc. (Nasdaq: GMKT) today jointly announced a definitive agreement for eBay to combine Gmarket, Korea’s leading e-commerce business, with eBay’s existing online marketplace in Korea. Under the terms of the agreement, eBay will make a cash tender offer of $24.00 per share for all outstanding Gmarket common shares and American Depositary Shares, for a total purchase price of up to approximately $1.2 billion assuming all outstanding shares are tendered. As of April 15, 2009, the consideration of $24.00 per share was equivalent to approximately 31,767 Korean won per share.

At closing, eBay will hold at least 67 percent of Gmarket as a result of shares tendered pursuant to agreements to tender with members of management and other investors sufficient to satisfy the minimum tender condition, as well as new shares issued by Gmarket in connection with the combination of Gmarket and eBay’s existing Korean marketplace business, Internet Auction Company. Shareholders that have signed agreements to tender include Interpark Corporation and its chairman, Ki Hyung Lee, current holders of approximately 34 percent of the outstanding shares of Gmarket. eBay will combine Gmarket’s operations with IAC, while maintaining separate sites.

“The combination of Gmarket and IAC establishes an exceptionally strong leadership position for eBay in one of the world’s largest, most dynamic and innovative e-commerce markets,” said John Donahoe, eBay’s president and chief executive officer. “This deal creates strong operational synergies between the two market leaders, offers more opportunities for sellers and enhances our ability to serve complementary consumer segments.”

“We welcome eBay’s investment in Gmarket,” said Young Bae Ku, Gmarket’s president and chief executive officer. “This transaction will provide us an excellent opportunity for our next growth stage in Korea and will also help accelerate our expansion strategies beyond Korea. We look forward to teaming up with eBay’s leadership both locally and globally to drive our future growth and expansion.”


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The Board of Directors of Gmarket has voted unanimously to approve the transaction and recommends that Gmarket security holders accept the offer. A special committee of Gmarket’s independent directors recommended approval of the transaction to Gmarket’s Board of Directors. The transaction, which is conditioned on the tender of a majority of the outstanding shares and American Depositary Shares of Gmarket on a fully diluted basis, final Korean antitrust clearance and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2009. Following completion of the tender offer, shares of Gmarket not purchased by eBay will remain outstanding and will be delisted from The NASDAQ Stock Market. It is expected that there will not be an active trading market for outstanding Gmarket shares following completion of the offer.

With more than 86 million active users, eBay Marketplaces generated $60 billion of gross merchandise volume worldwide in 2008 and revenue of $5.6 billion. IAC generated $2.2 billion of gross merchandise volume in 2008 and revenue of $161.2 million at an assumed exchange rate of 1262 KRW per USD. In 2008, Gmarket generated $3.2 billion of gross merchandise volume and revenue of $220.8 million at the same assumed exchange rate.

Through the combined businesses, eBay will be able to offer benefits for Gmarket and IAC sellers, such as tools for quick, simultaneous listings across both platforms, and enhanced experiences for buyers through improved selection, incentives and loyalty programs. eBay also expects the combination with Gmarket to provide a potential platform for further expansion within Asia.

The combination also provides the necessary support for Korean sellers who seek access to eBay’s global network. By joining eBay’s Cross Border Trade program, Korean small and medium sized businesses can export their products to buyers in foreign countries. Jooman Park, president of IAC and Young Bae Ku, president of Gmarket will jointly lead the combination of IAC and Gmarket and will manage the integration of the two e-commerce companies.

Gmarket’s focus on fashion-oriented categories and IAC’s focus on computers, electronics and sports give the two platforms core strengths in complementary consumer segments. Females age 20-29, representing Korea’s fastest-growing online segment, comprise more than 21 percent of Gmarket’s consumer base. Males age 30 and over comprise IAC’s biggest consumer segment. Korea is the world’s sixth-largest e-commerce market behind the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, China and Japan. eBay has more than seven years of experience in the market, beginning with its acquisition of IAC in 2001.


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eBay Inc. will host an investor conference call on Thursday, April 16 at 6 a.m. PDT to discuss this announcement. A live webcast of the conference can be accessed through eBay Investor Relations Web site at http://investor.ebay.com. An archive of the webcast will be accessible through the same link.

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