Lineage 2 Revolution publisher Netmarble has reaffirmed to investors its intention to acquire rival company Nexon after the latter went up for sale.

The Tokyo-headquartered Nexon has strong roots in South Korea and is available to buy after its founder announced his intention to sell his 98.64 per cent controlling stake in the firm - worth around $8.9 billion.

During an investor call following its Q4 financials, Netmarble CIO Jangwon Seo said it began reviewing the possibility of a Nexon acquisition two months ago. One month ago the company decided to make a bid.

While Netmarble executives were coy on precise details of how it will make a deal work, Seo said that with some leverage the publisher “could do the funding ourselves”. He noted there was cash available to help fund the deal.

Our sister-site PocketGamer.biz has more on the story.