SoftBank will own 23% of ADA via new shares, with its investment valuing the unit at $260 million, Axiata said in a statement.
ADA will use the proceeds to expand in South and Southeast Asia, while SoftBank will establish the unit as its core digital and data marketing partner in Asia, Axiata said. " aims to leverage its network of portfolio companies in proposing and providing digital marketing solutions that incorporate ADA's proprietary technologies and consumer AI models," Axiata said.
"This alliance with ADA heralds a new theme in this growth strategy as it will enable us to deploy our digital marketing business outside Japan," said SoftBank Representative Director and Chairman Ken Miyauchi. ADA Chief Executive Srinivas Gattamneni said in a virtual media briefing that SoftBank's funds will go into developing and investing in big data platforms, artificial intelligence and automation technology for digital marketing and advertising.SoftBank follows compatriot Sumitomo CorpSumitomo's ADA stake will be 13.46% in size after SoftBank's investment, while Axiata Digital Services, which houses Axiata Group's digital businesses, will own 63.47%.