Groupon, a US-based website that offers daily discounts on products, is buying majority stakes in Japan and Russia-based peers.
In April, Groupon gained $135m in funding from Russia-based internet holding company Digital Sky Technologies, which is in turn part-owned by South Africa media company Naspers’ corporate venturing division.
Groupon has acquired a majority of Russia’s Darberry from eVenture Capital Partners, a venture capital firm spun out from German media group Bertelsmann. EVenture has retained a stake in Darberry and previously sold German group discount site CityDeal earlier this year.
Japan-based Qpod’s backers, direct sales company PakuReserve and VC Infinity Venture Partners, sold a majority stake for $10m, according to local news provider Nikkei.
Infinity uses its strategic limited partners, DeNA, Mixi, Opt and KDDI, to provide support to its portfolio companies.
Asian blogger Serkan Toto said Groupon would buy TicketMonster in Korea next.