B2EN (307870) is expanding its portfolio by pursuing control of NC& (092600), which operates automotive semiconductor and dashcam businesses.
AI and big data specialist B2EN announced on the 17th that it plans to acquire 2.5 million new NC& shares for approximately KRW 6.25 billion through a third-party placement. Once completed, it will hold approximately 27.7%. The investment aims to secure management control, rather than solely financial returns.
NC& operates automotive video businesses including dashcams and is a major shareholder of automotive vision chip specialist Nextchip (396270), holding approximately 23% at the end of June.
Nextchip develops vision semiconductors for automotive camera processing and ADAS. Acquiring NC& would give B2EN a foundation to connect its data and AI businesses with automotive video and chips.
B2EN has expanded around data management, analytics and AI. It plans to explore opportunities responding to the automotive industry's software and AI transition by combining NC&'s video business with its own technology.
It is considering connecting video and sensor data from cameras and vision chips with AI to expand into automotive video analytics, advanced ADAS, AI vision, smart mobility and vehicle data platforms.
NC&'s Nextchip stake also creates potential semiconductor links. B2EN intends to build on the business structure spanning NC& and Nextchip to widen opportunities in automotive chips and electronics.
Through the acquisition, B2EN plans a portfolio spanning vehicle data, vision and automotive chips beyond its current AI and data businesses, securing new growth engines in future mobility.