Chinese internet giant Tencent buys stake in Snap

Tencent operates two instant messaging services with close to a billion users

The owner of Snapchat has just gained a valuable ally in China (Bloomberg)

Tencent, China’s biggest instant messaging company, bought 145.8 million non-voting shares Snap, saying it plans to work closely with the social media company.

In an SEC filing Wednesday, the Snapchat developer said Tencent bought the shares on the open market. CNBC earlier reported the stake to represent 10 per cent of the company.

Snap is getting a valuable ally in China, where its disappearing message app doesn’t work amid government restrictions. Tencent operates two separate instant messaging services, WeChat and QQ, with close to a billion users each.

The Shenzhen-based company has turned them into full social networks and made money by adding games, newsfeeds and advertising.

Tencent’s purchase is not seen as a hostile move, according to a person familiar with the transaction.

Snap chief executive and co-founder Evan Spiegel sees it as an opportunity to learn from the Chinese company, the person added, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter.

Tencent President Martin Lau said the company plans to share “ideas and experiences” with Snap, according to the filing.

Tencent, which has a market value of about $470bn (£358bn), has been diversifying its business into advertising and finance. It’s also one of China’s more acquisitive companies and is throwing its weight behind Snap after making investments in fields from games to satellites and asteroid-mining.

Tencent didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bloomberg