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[Updated] Switching sides: GungHo considering moving HQ to Finland

Start-ups and tax down

[Updated] Switching sides: GungHo considering moving HQ to Finland

UPDATE: GungHo has issued a statementin response to Taizo Son's comments claiming that a move to Finland is definitely not on the cards. 

Responding to the original Wall Street Journal article, the firm explained that it currently has no "concrete plans" to move, and that it will continue to make games from its current HQ. 

“We are not considering moving our headquarters to Finland," explained GungHo spokeswoman Kimiyo Ichimatsu, adding that the firm was "not denying that the chairman said as much, but as a company, we are not considering a move."

Puzzle & Dragons

developer GungHo Online is considering moving it's headquarters to Finland just weeks after the firm acquired a stake in one of the region's development powerhouses.

The company has reportedly been tempted into move its base thanks to the country's low corporate taxes and it's renowned start-up scene.

Speaking in an interview at the Slush start-up conference in Helsinki, Taizo Son - the younger brother of SoftBank magnate Masayoshi Son - revealed the firm is seriously considering a move to Europe, though he fell short of confirming the switch.

"We'd like to move our headquarters," explained Mr. Son, "we are researching this option, and we are conducting a feasibility study."

All eyes on Finland

News of the proposed move will fail to surprise some, as SoftBank recently paid $1.5 billion for a hand in of the Finland based, Clash of Clans developer, Supercell. 

GungHo and Supercell have since been heavily collaborating with one another by using in-game cross-promotion in an attempt to take foreign markets by storm.

Mr. Son clarified that if the movie did go through, GungHo will continue to be listed in the Japanese stock market, but reiterated that "we can move the headquarters anywhere".

Indeed, whilst bringing SuperCell and GungHo closer together makes sound business sense, as Finland's tax rate prepares to drop to 20 percent from 24.5 percent next year, it's abundantly clear why GungHo has such a vocal interest in making the move to Europe.

[source: Wall Street Journal]


What do you call someone who has an unhealthy obsession with video games and Sean Bean? That'd be a 'Chris Kerr'. Chris is one of those deluded souls who actually believes that one day Sean Bean will survive a movie. Poor guy.