"The Board of Directors of TV18 Home Shopping Network (Homeshop18) and Shop CJ Network approved entering into a definitive agreement to combine the businesses of both entities," Network18 said in a statement.
The merger shall be effected by way of a share-swap and the shareholders of Shop CJ shall be issued 25 per cent equity in HomeShop18, making Shop CJ a subsidiary of HomeShop18.
Post the transaction, HomeShop18 shall cease to be a subsidiary of Network18 Media & Investments, however, Network18 shall continue to be the largest shareholder in the combined entity.
"We believe multiple synergies with respect to sourcing, marketing and delivery can be exploited through a combination with Shop CJ, which shall further accelerate this process," it added.
HomeShop18 is a subsidiary of Network18 Media & Investments, with SAIF Partners, GS Home Shopping South Korea and OCP as co-investors, while Shop CJ is an equal joint venture between the South Korean home shopping major CJO Shopping and P5 Asia Holding Investments (Mauritius) belonging to the Providence Equity Partners group.