S&P Global Market Intelligence provides a wrap-up of Asia-Pacific technology, media and communications deal announcements, completions and updates from March 5 to March 18.
Top news
* Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Kakao Corp. are among the shortlisted bidders that will vie for a controlling stake in game developer NEXON Co. Ltd., The Investor reported. Three private equity firms are also reportedly on the short list, including Boston-based Bain Capital LP, Seoul-based MBK Partners and an unidentified firm. The auction is expected to begin in early April, with the deal reportedly valued at 1 trillion won.
* YY Inc. acquired the remaining 68.3% of Singapore's BIGO Technology Pte. Ltd. for US$1.45 billion. The Chinese social media platform had nearly 31.7% of Bigo's shares before the transaction.
Technology
* Indonesia-based digital payment platform OVO acquired financing services company Taralite for an undisclosed sum, iNews.id reported.
* Pintec Technology Holdings Ltd. has acquired Infrarisk Pty Ltd., a supplier of credit-risk-related software and services in Australia.
* Ebix Inc., a U.S.-based supplier of on-demand software, offered to buy Indian travel services provider Yatra Online Inc. for US$7 per share on a debt-free basis in a deal valued at US$336.0 million by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
* Appen Ltd., an ASX-listed provider of data solutions, is to set to raise A$285 million to fund its purchase of San Francisco, Calif.-based AI company Figure Eight Inc., according to The Australian.
* Southeast Asian online cashback platform RebateMango Pte. Ltd. agreed to acquire its Thailand-based rival DeeDee Cashback for an undisclosed sum, e27 reported.
* NTT Security Corp. agreed to acquire WhiteHat Security Inc., a U.S.-based application security provider.
* Indian over-the-top solutions provider MultiTV Tech Solution Pvt. Ltd. acquired sports streaming platform VEQTA from ITW Digital Pvt. Ltd., Television Post reported.
* Avex Inc. acquired shares in local makeup mobile app MAKEY Inc. and Tokyo-based live video streaming support company TWH Inc. Under the deals, the two companies will become subsidiaries of Avex,
* HNA Group Co. Ltd. has caught the interest of companies such as Tech Mahindra Ltd., Digital China Group Co. Ltd. and Advent International Corp. as the embattled Chinese conglomerate plans to sell its technology outsourcing arm Pactera Technology International Ltd., Bloomberg News reported, citing sources.
Media
* LG U+ submitted requests for evaluation to obtain the regulatory approvals needed for its acquisition of CJ Hello, Chosun Biz reported. The Ministry of Science and ICT's review may take up to three months, while the Korea Fair Trade Commission's review period can last up to 120 days when extended.
* Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.'s stake-sale talks with Sony Corp. has reached the valuation stage, with Zee looking to sell up to a 25% stake to raise adequate funds and repay debt worth 130 billion Indian rupees, Mint reported, citing three people aware of the matter.
Communications
* Bharti Airtel Ltd. will decrease its shareholding in its telecom tower unit Bharti Infratel Ltd. by divesting up to 32% of its stake via share sale or transfer to its wholly owned subsidiary Nettle Infrastructure Investments Ltd.
* Telkom Indonesia, through its subsidiary PT. Dayamitra Telekomunikasi, agreed to acquire a 95% stake in PT Persada Sokka Tama, which owns 1,017 telco towers all over Indonesia.
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