Shanghai, China - Linktone, a Chinese provider of mobile entertainment services, announced that it "expects to make a firm offer" to acquire MonsterMob, a U.K.-based mobile entertainment distributor.

The stock transaction would be valued at $77.9 million.

"The board of Linktone has been reviewing MonsterMob and its business for some time and has concluded that a combination of the two companies would be attractive for both groups of shareholders," the company said.

MonsterMob shareholders will meet on Feb. 23 to consider a separate offer from Spain-based LaNetro Zed SA, but the company said in a statement it will "explore [Linktone's] approach in greater detail."

LaNetro in December proposed to buy a 52.6% stake in MonsterMob for $66.8 million.

Related Links:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070215/lnth511.html?.v=1

http://tinyurl.com/364epk (MonsterMob statement)

http://tinyurl.com/2yv4ld (Reuters)

http://english.linktone.com/aboutus/index.html

http://www.monstermobgroup.plc.uk