By John Kell
Amazon.com Inc. agreed to acquire digital-comics provider
comiXology, scooping up an app that has been a top-grossing
performer on the iPad in recent years.
Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the second
quarter, weren't disclosed.
ComiXology, founded in 2007, has a collection of digital comic
books from over 75 publishers, as well as independent creators. The
New York-based company said it was among the 10 highest-grossing
iPad apps in 2011 and 2012, and the top grossing nongame iPad app
the last two years.
Amazon's move to acquire comiXology comes as the company aims to
bolster its offerings beyond its original online retailing
business. Amazon has a slate of tablets under the Kindle Fire
brand, and offers thousands of movies and television shows as an
add-on to its Prime shipping membership program. Last year, the
e-commerce giant bought book recommendation site Goodreads.
Shares of Amazon were up 1.5% to $321.75 in after-hours trading.
It closed the regular session down 4.4%, falling with the broader
market.
Write to John Kell at john.kell@wsj.com
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