Mediagene Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Motoko Imada ) merged with The News Lens Co. in May 2023 through a stock exchange with "TNL Mediagene ". In addition, TNL Mediagene is pleased to announce that on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, it has agreed to list on the Nasdaq through a business combination with Blue Ocean Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
Mediagene Inc. (hereafter, Mediagene ) will become one of Taiwan's largest media companies covering the whole of Asia through a share exchange with "TNL Mediagene " (hereafter, TNLMG) on May 26, 2023. Became a group company with The News Lens Co. (TNL).
In addition, TNLMG and Blue Ocean Acquisition Corporation (BOCN), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), announced a definitive agreement on a business combination for TNLMG to become a publicly traded company.
As a result, TNLMG will become a company that operates a media brand that operates in three languages, Japanese, Chinese, and English, and has approximately 50 million monthly unique users. We will expand our presence in Japan, Taiwan and Southeast Asia to deliver creative, informative and politically neutral content on business, economics, technology, science, sports, food, lifestyle and more.
In addition, we will develop a diverse portfolio of digital media brands targeting millennials and Gen Z, and contribute to reach expansion through AI-based analytics, big data-based advertising, and marketing technology products.
For more information on media brands, please see below.
https://tnlmediagene.com/
▼ Comment from Joey Chung, CEO of The News Lens Co.
We are ideally positioned to offer products and services to young readers in one of the world's most dynamic regions. As an inspiring independent media group, we maintain our independence while leveraging technology to focus on delivering the right content, in the format, and at the right time, to our readers and users.
▼ Comment from Motoko Imada , Representative Director and CEO Mediagene Inc.
Mediagene has so far partnered with attractive global media to deliver information from around the world to Japanese readers. By joining TNL as a group, we will become a digital media company with the largest readership in the growing Asian market.In addition, by listing in the United States, we will expand Asia and the world while receiving support from global investors. We aim for further growth as a media company that connects people around the world.
Comment from Richard Leggett, Chief Executive Officer, Blue Ocean Acquisition Corporation
This transaction unites the dramatic growth stories that Mediagene By vertically integrating reliable Asian content and powerful AI-driven marketing and advertising technologies, we will lead the group to success in Asia, the fastest growing region in the world.
◆ Details of this transaction
* For details of this transaction, please check "Transaction Details" on the following page. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tnl-mediagene-a-leading-asian-digital-media-company-agrees-to-become-publicly-listed-company-on-nasdaq-through-merger-with-blue-ocean-acquisition-corp-301843309.html
Advisors
Sidley Austin LLP, Lee and Li: Legal Advisor
Needham & Company, LLC: BOCN Financial and Capital Markets Advisor
Morrison & Foerster LLP: TNL Mediagene Legal Advisor
<About TNL Mediagene >
Mediagene registered in the Cayman Islands , was born in May 2023 through the merger of two major independent digital media groups, Mediagene Inc. Its business includes original and licensed media brands in Japanese, Chinese, and English covering various themes such as business, economy, technology, science, food, sports, and lifestyle. Marketing technology platforms, e-commerce and creative solutions, and more. We pride ourselves on our political neutrality, youth reach and quality.
Official site: https://tnlmediagene.com/
<About Blue Ocean Acquisition Corp.>
A Cayman Islands tax exempt company that is a Nasdaq listed special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, equity share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more companies or entities.
The company was founded by affiliates of North Base Media (NBM), a global media-focused venture capital firm. BOCN Chairman Marcus Brauchli is former editor-in-chief of The Washington Post, former editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, and CEO Richard Leggett is a former senior executive at FiscalNote and CEO of FrontierView, a business intelligence platform. In addition, BOCN's Chief Financial Officer is Matt Lasov, former Director of Strategy at Slalom and Global Head of Advisory and Analytics for Frontier Strategy Group. BOCN's directors and advisors include former senior executives from Bloomberg, Reuters, Dow Jones, NBC-Universal and the Trade Desk.
<About the management team>
Joey Chung, CEO of Mediagene
Co-founded The News Lens Co. in 2013 with Chief Content Officer Mario Yang, an innovative and politically independent digital news platform. After that, we acquired companies dealing in sports, technology, lifestyle, food, etc., and skillfully recruited human resources who are well versed in digital and have editing skills and business sense. We expanded our business area to He graduated from National Taiwan University and Harvard Business School.
Founded Mediagene Inc. in Tokyo in 1998 with Motoko Imada / TNL Mediagene director and co-founder HIROTO KOBAYASHI We have acquired licenses for global media brands such as GIZMODO JAPAN, Business Insider Japan, Lifehacker Japan, etc. As the Japanese version, we will increase the number of readers by providing information from around the world, unique Japanese coverage articles, and reader-participation-type dissemination events. Recognized as the leading digital media company in
◆ Forward-looking statements:
https://www.tnlmedia.com/en-us/news/announce/159
[For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact the following]
Mediagene Inc. Public Relations Officer
https://www.mediagene.co.jp/about#contact
