Dplus KIA officially confirms ongoing sale process

officially confirmed on Thursday, July 16, that the South Korean organization is currently undergoing a sale process. In a statement released as the club faces increased scrutiny over unpaid player salaries, Dplus explained that it is looking to welcome a new owner “in order to ensure the continued growth of the organization and its players, as well as a sustainable future.”

The announcement comes just hours after South Korean journalist Yong Woo "kenzi" Kim from Daily eSports reported that Dplus KIA players across all titles were currently affected by a one-month salary delay.

In its statement, Dplus KIA confirmed that a major transition is currently underway within the organization. The club explained that it had reached a point where “greater resources and support are required to take the next step in its growth,” while also facing “changes in its management environment.”

Faced with this situation, Dplus KIA stated that it had made the decision to seek a new owner. “Therefore, in order to ensure the continued growth of the organization and its players, as well as a sustainable future, we have made the business decision that welcoming a new owner is the best course of action,” the organization explained.

The club stated that the sale process is currently underway and that it is working with a company specialized in mergers and acquisitions to assist with the procedure. “We have officially signed a contract with a professional M&A advisory firm to systematically carry out the related work,” Dplus KIA said.

The organization also stated that it is continuing discussions with a potential buyer with whom negotiations had already been ongoing, while also seeking other candidates capable of “actively realizing the value and vision of the organization.”

Regarding the delayed payments previously reported, Dplus KIA acknowledged that the sale process had impacted its financial planning. “However, as this is a critical contract that will determine the future of the organization, the administrative procedures during the final coordination and sale advisory process were delayed more than expected,” the organization explained.

The club added: “During this process, temporary disruptions occurred in our financial planning, which ultimately led to the unfortunate situation where player salaries were delayed by one month.”

Dplus KIA assured that it had informed players and coaching staff of the situation in advance and that it is working toward a quick resolution. “We are making every effort to complete the delayed salary payments as soon as possible and restore normal operations across the organization,” the club concluded.