Tencent may acquire stake in game developer Supercell

Tencent Holdings Ltd is reportedly nearing a multibillion deal to acquire Supercell Oy, the Finnish maker of the popular Clash of Clans mobile game.

Tony Lam, a partner at mobile game design consultant Adrian Crook & Associates in Vancouver, British Columbia, said the deal would make the Chinese internet giant a powerhouse in the mobile game industry.

Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Tencent is in talks with SoftBank Group Corp to buy the Japanese company's majority stake in Supercell and is in discussions with several financial investors, including Hillhouse Capital Group, to join in the purchase as co-investors.