Consistent with its plan to become a regional force, Web development company, Web Connection Ltd., has entered the Japanese market by purchasing the communications division of LINC Media.
At the end of the month, the Web Connection will take over the assets, 13 employees, and customer accounts of the LINC Media division which creates, manages, and markets Web sites on a fee basis for commercial customers.
"We have been looking for the right partner in Japan for some time now, and we are delighted with the synergy between the two companies," said Peter Hamilton, managing director of Web Connection. "This partnership will accelerate our business development in Japan considerably."
Company representatives report that the acquisition will lead to the creation of a Japanese firm called Web Connection Japan, but LINC Media will continue to service existing and pending Web customers. Moreover, LINC Media will sell Web services in partnership with the Web Connection Japan and will remain a shareholder in the new company.
After the purchase, Web Connection will have 70 staff in the region including recent expansions into Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, and Singapore. According to Hong Kong firm, the Japanese acquisition and the company’s presence in the above cities will allow the Web Connection to offer Asia-wide services to multinationals.
"This union brings together Internet technology and strategy expertise with marketing communications expertise to help our companies strengthen client relationships, leverage human capital, and improve business efficiency in the new electronic economy," said Hamilton. "There is powerful synergy across our service offerings, our markets and our organizations."
LINC Media Inc., is a technology, publishing, and marketing company founded in Japan in November 1996. The company manages two prominent Web sites, job site Dai-job.com and tech publication Computing Japan.
Web Connection is 51 percent owned by China Internet Corporation (CIC) which is rumored to have filed papers for an IPO on NASDAQ in the United States.
CIC owns the China.com, Hongkong.com and Taiwan.com portals, the Asian franchise of 24/7 Media, and has substantial interest in AOL’s venture in Hong Kong.