The combination in a joint venture through a tender offer will form an online giant with retail services, advertising and other mobile services such as messaging.
Their combined sales would be the largest among Japanese online business operators, surpassing
The companies said combining forces will allow them to stay competitive in a drastically changing market, including expansions into robotics and other new areas.
The integration will be carried out equally, according to the companies, but the price is expected to be decided in December.
A discussion had been ongoing between
The new company will seek to answer to Japan’s social needs such as a shrinking worker population and natural disasters,
“Social and industrial conditions surrounding us are changing drastically and daily on a global basis,” it said, adding that
“Particularly in the Internet market, overseas companies, especially those based in
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