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Netmarble plots $4.4 billion acquisition spending spree after May 2017 IPO

Mobile games publisher goes public on May 12th

Netmarble plots $4.4 billion acquisition spending spree after May 2017 IPO

Mobile games publisher Netmarble expects to raise $4.4 billion to use on acquisitions after its IPO next month.

As reported by Reuters, the South Korean games giant is expected to go public on May 12th 2017, with bookings set to stop on Thursday, April 20th.

Big plans

The company is said to be looking for “bigger targets than previously”.

It recently purchased publishing label Kabam, its Vancouver studio and IP such as Marvel Contest of Champions and Transformers Forged to Fight in a deal believed to be worth at least $710 million.

Last year Netmarble failed in a $4.3 billion bid to buy social casino firm Playtika.

In December 2016, Netmarble Games Chief Global Officer Seungwon Lee told PocketGamer.biz to expect further M&A activity from the company in 2017.

“We are active in the space and open to new M&A opportunities in order to become a stronger contender in the global mobile gaming market,” he said.

PocketGamer.biz Contributing Editor Jon Jordan recently wrote an article on 10 mobile game M&A deals that probably won't happen but maybe should, and included Netmarble as a company looking to buy.


Head of Content

Craig Chapple is a freelance analyst, consultant and writer with specialist knowledge of the games industry. He has previously served as Senior Editor at PocketGamer.biz, as well as holding roles at Sensor Tower, Nintendo and Develop.