SoftBank mulls tie-up with messaging app Line, acquisition eyed english.kyodonews.net

KYODO NEWS - 42 minutes ago - 23:42 | Japan, AllSoftBank Corp. is considering a broad tie-up with messaging app provider Line Corp., with their talks including a possible acquisition, a source close to the matter said Wednesday.
SoftBank is looking to form a tie-up with Line through its group company Z Holdings Corp. and buy shares of Line, which has a market capitalization of about 1.1 trillion yen ($10 billion), from South Korean internet giant Naver Corp., the source said.
SoftBank, the mobile phone service subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp., aims to widen its customer base by gaining the more than 80 million users of Line's messaging app and obtain its advertising skills and technology.
It is hoping to strike a deal by the end of the month.
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