[DigitalToday reporter Hojeong Lee] Nexthrus is bringing in KT, LG Uplus and Certik as new shareholders, expanding its telecommunications and security partnerships into an equity relationship.

Nexthrus disclosed on Sept. 10 that it decided at a board meeting to carry out a third-party allocation paid-in capital increase targeting KT, LG Uplus and Certik (HCIC LLC).

The company will issue 2,151,443 new shares, equal to 2.51 percent of its current total outstanding shares. It plans to raise about 3.8 billion won. Payment for the new shares is due on Sept. 18, and the allocated shares will be subject to a 1-year lock-up.

The capital increase comes as Nexthrus moves to secure additional shares in OneStore. KT and LG Uplus signed a share purchase agreement for OneStore with Nexthrus on the same day, and deal closing and payment are scheduled for Sept. 14.

Nexthrus previously acquired 89.03 percent of OneStore held by SK Square and Naver in June. At the time, SK Square, Naver and others also participated as investors in Nexthrus. Once the transactions for the stakes held by KT and LG Uplus are completed, Nexthrus' stake in OneStore will rise to 95.88 percent.

Nexthrus said, "Through this capital increase, we plan to secure telecom companies and a security company, which are counterparties to the OneStore stake transaction, as strategic shareholders and expand cooperation in platform business after the OneStore integration."