Tencent is reportedly considering a deal to acquire Nexon.
The Chinese megacorp – which recently struck up a deal with Ubisoft by developing a new operating model and subsidiary following a $1.25bn cash “injection” – shows no sign of slowing its acquisition business, with claims it “reached out to the family of Nexon’s late founder Kim Jung-ju to discuss the possibility of an acquisition.” Nexon’s market value is thought to be around $15 billion.
Bloomberg reports Kim’s family is considering the deal and has been “speaking to advisers and evaluating options,” according to sources close to the family. It’s thought Tencent is looking for “evergreen” franchises with established communities and strong revenue potential.
Neither Tencent nor Nexon has opted to comment publicly on the plans thus far.
As well as its recent deal with Ubisoft, Tencent has also recently increased its stake in FromSoftware parent company Kadokawa, Kuro Games, Wangyuan Shengtang, the Beijing-based developer behind action-RPG series Swords of Legends (or ‘Gujian’ as it is known in China), and loaned €15 million to Alan Wake 2 developer, Remedy.
Last week, Tencent won after a court found leaker Xiaopang Commentary had infringed the IP rights of Peacekeeper Elite, the Chinese version of PUBG Mobile.