Financially troubled social media app and TikTok competitor Triller is merging with a Hong Kong financial services company to create a $4 billion company that will have its hands in social video, content generation, wealth management, and fintech.
The move could help Triller overcome recent financial difficulties and compete with TikTok at a time when the ByteDance-owned short video app is under pressure from lawmakers in the US, and mired in a licensing dispute with Universal Music Group.
Triller, which began in 2015 as a music video creation tool, and evolved into a music-focused video platform that is often described as a TikTok competitor, announced on Thursday (April 18) that it’s merging with AGBA, a NASDAQ-listed financial services company that operates primarily in Hong Kong.
Under the terms of the all-stock merger, Triller shareholders will own 80% of the new AGBA Group Holding Ltd., while current AGBA shareholders will own the remaining 20%.
According to the announcement, the deal valuates Triller at USD $3.2 billion (considerably less than earlier estimates of $5 billion) and AGBA at $800 million, giving the combined company a pro-forma value of $4 billion.
AGBA says the merger has been approved by both companies’ boards, but is “subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals” and other closing conditions.
“This groundbreaking merger combines AGBA’s financial expertise with Triller’s cutting-edge AI-driven content creation and SaaS capabilities, aiming to transform global digital ecosystems,” AGBA said in a statement issued Thursday (April 18).
“By strategically integrating AGBA’s financial services expertise with Triller’s innovative suite of AI-driven digital content and SaaS offerings, this merger establishes new benchmarks in the convergence of technology, finance, and media.”
AGBA describes itself as a “leading Asia-based financial services company” and says it has 400,000 individual and corporate customers