[Edaily Reporter Shin Ha-yeon ] B2En(307870), a company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, announced on the 17th that it is pursuing the acquisition of a controlling stake in NC& Co., Ltd.(092600), which operates in the automotive imaging and semiconductor sectors.

B2En plans to acquire 2.5 million new shares for approximately 6.25 billion won by participating in a third-party private placement being conducted by NC& Co., Ltd. (xml-ph-0002@deepl.internal). Upon completion of the acquisition, B2En will secure approximately a 27.7% stake in NC& Co., Ltd. This investment is being pursued with the aim of securing controlling interest.

NC& Co., Ltd. operates a business related to automotive video systems, such as dashcams, and is also a major shareholder of NEXTCHIP Co., Ltd.(396270), a company specializing in automotive video recognition semiconductors. As of the end of June this year, it held approximately 23% of NEXTCHIP Co., Ltd.’s shares.

NEXTCHIP Co., Ltd. is developing automotive image recognition semiconductors used in automotive camera image processing and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). By securing management control of NC& Co., Ltd., B2En plans to establish a business foundation that will integrate its existing data and AI businesses with the automotive imaging and semiconductor sectors.

Specifically, the company is exploring new business opportunities—such as vehicle video data analysis, ADAS enhancement, AI-based image recognition, smart mobility, and vehicle data platforms—by integrating video and sensor data generated by automotive cameras and image recognition semiconductors with AI technology.

The company also intends to pursue business synergies in the automotive semiconductor sector by leveraging NC& Co., Ltd.’s stake in NEXTCHIP Co., Ltd. The plan is to expand its business scope into automotive electronics and future mobility by integrating NC& Co., Ltd.’s existing automotive imaging business and NEXTCHIP Co., Ltd.’s image recognition semiconductors with B2En’s data and AI technologies.

NC& Co., Ltd. recorded revenue of 17.9 billion won in the second quarter of this year, with both operating profit and net income returning to the black.

A B2En official stated, “With this acquisition of management control, we plan to expand our business portfolio from our existing data and AI business to include vehicle data, image recognition, and automotive semiconductors.”