Tencent was shortlisted for one of the five bidders to acquire Nexon

Tencent and South Korea's largest chat software operator Kakao were shortlisted for the five bidders of the Korean game company Nexon.

The other three shortlisted bidders are MBK Partners, Bain Capital and an unknown private equity firm. 

Korean publishers Netmarble and MBK Partners, who were not invited to participate in the initial bidding, formed a consortium to participate in the bidding indirectly.

The deal can be up to 15 trillion won ($13.3 billion) and will be officially tendered as early as early April.

Earlier reports said that Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju was considering selling nearly 99% of the company's shares held by him and his wife.