Kakao Mobility Corp. acquired London-based mobility intermediary platform Splyt Technologies, the South Korean company’s first takeover of a foreign company, to help it expand into overseas markets.

Kakao Mobility decided to acquire the U.K. platform, instead of simply holding a stake in the company, as it hopes to be a super app with its first-hand experience in reaching overseas markets beyond being simply a roaming-based service. Kakao Mobility plans to combine multiple services with its mobility services based on the Splyt’s current service areas that cover flights, accommodations, personal transportation, grocery delivery, public transportation and traveling.

Launched in 2015, Splyt gives access to different mobility start-ups in major cities around the world, allowing users easier access to transportation in any city by using their mobility apps. Customers of the U.K. platform include Uber Technologies Inc., Grab Holdings, Careem, Cabify, Trip.com Group and Booking Holdings Inc. Splyt connects more than 2 billion users across 150 countries in Asia, North America, Middle East and Europe, according to the U.K. company.

Kakao Mobility started its Kakao T app services in some parts of Southeast Asia, as well as in the U.K. and Spain, under a partnership with Splyt. A Kakao T user in Vietnam, for example, can call a taxi through the Kakao app and a local Grab taxi will pull up.

Kakao Mobility is also considering services targeting the Chinese market, given that the U.K. service has partnerships with Chinese super apps like WeChat and Ant Group’s Alipay.

By Ko Min-suh and Chang Iou-chung

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