Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Catcha Digital Berhad has increased its effective stake in Malaysian digital publisher Headline Media Sdn Bhd to 80% following the exercise of a call option by its wholly owned subsidiary, iMedia Asia Sdn Bhd.
In a statement on 22 December, Catcha Digital said iMedia had acquired an additional 50% equity interest in Headline Media, raising its ownership from 30% previously. The acquisition is valued at RM4.0 million and will be funded through internally generated funds.
The transaction was completed under a supplemental agreement dated 22 December 2025, which amends the original share sale agreement signed on 9 October 2023. Under the revised terms, 20% of the purchase consideration is payable upon completion, with the remaining 80% to be paid within 12 months.
Catcha Digital said the decision to exercise the call option followed Headline Media’s financial performance since the initial minority investment in December 2023. According to the company, Headline Media’s net profit after tax rose from RM139,000 for the financial year ended December 2023 to RM897,000 for the financial year ended December 2024.
Headline Media was co-founded by Rydah Tan, Chan Jin Wen, Dylan Tan, Esther Lee and Sarah Yeoh, and operates a portfolio of digital media brands in Malaysia. Its flagship platform, WeirdKaya, is an English-language social news site, alongside other brands including LokLokWords and EzLokal Food. Collectively, the group’s platforms reach about 17 million users monthly across social media and websites, with a combined social media following of around 1.2 million.
Patrick Grove, chairman of Catcha Digital, said, “The decision to exercise the call option and increase our stake in Headline Media to 80% underscores our strong confidence in the quality of the business and the execution capabilities of the team. In just one year since our initial investment, Headline Media has delivered exceptional profit growth. This transaction reflects our conviction-led capital allocation approach as we continue to build a permanent home for market-leading technology and media companies in Malaysia through disciplined, high-quality acquisitions.”
Rydah Tan, co-founder and chief executive officer of Headline Media, commented, “Our partnership with Catcha Digital has significantly accelerated Headline Media’s growth over a short period of time. We are proud of the progress we have made, particularly in scaling profitability and strengthening our brands. Increasing iMedia’s stake is a strong vote of confidence in our team and our long-term vision, and we are excited to continue building the business together as part of a larger digital media platform.”
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