Friday 14 February 2014

Rakuten is buying Viber for $900 million

"Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten Inc said on Friday it will buy call and messaging app provider Viber Media Ltd for $900 million, aiming to use the Cyprus-based company's network in emerging markets to expand the reach of its digital content.
Viber, run from Cyprus by Israeli entrepreneur Talmon Marco, will add 300 million users to Rakuten's existing 200 million users, Chief Executive Hiroshi Mikitani told reporters in Tokyo.
"This acquisition is a totally new strategy that will take Rakuten to a different level," Mikitani said, announcing the deal after the company reported an 80 percent jump in its 2013 operating profit."

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