By Greg Roumeliotis
(Reuters) - German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE's (DE:PSMGn) e-commerce arm NuCom Group is exploring the acquisition of U.S. livestreaming app developer Meet Group Inc (O:MEET), people familiar with the matter said on Monday.
NuCom, whose holdings include online dating website eharmony, has made a preliminary expression of interest to buy Meet Group, the sources said, cautioning there is no certainty there will be negotiations that lead to a deal.
The sources requested anonymity because the matter is confidential. Meet Group and Prosieben declined to comment.
Meet Group shares rose as much 21% on the news, and were trading up 9% at $5.52 in the afternoon session in New York on Monday, giving the company a market value of $400 million.
Based in New Hope, Pennsylvania, Meet Group is a maker of internet-based apps that enable livestreaming broadcasts and text-based conversations, including MeetMe , LOVOO, Skout, Tagged and Growlr.
Meet Group has struggled to challenge the dominant U.S. dating app developer, Match Group Inc (O:MTCH). It is focusing on expanding its live-streaming platforms, modeled after the video products offered by Asian dating app providers.
Prosieben has looked to Nucom to diversify its legacy free-to-air TV business and expand its internet and social media portfolio. NuCom spans dating site Parship, energy price comparison portal Verivox and Jochen Schweizer, which sells vouchers for "experiences" like tandem parachute jumps.
Last year, investment firm General Atlantic acquired a 25.1% stake in NuCom from Prosieben at a 1.8 billion euro ($2 billion) valuation. It increased its stake slightly in 2019.