(Yicai Global) Oct. 15 -- Shares of Youzu Interactive, a Chinese video games developer whose founder died from poisoning on Christmas Day last year, soared by the exchange-imposed limit after internet giant Sina Group Holding was reported to have plans to buy assets of the company.

After surging by as much as the 10 percent limit earlier today, Youzu Interactive’s stock price [SHE:002174] closed up 8.1 percent at CNY12.62 (USD1.96).

Sina plans to acquire some of Shanghai-based Youzu’s assets, The Paper reported yesterday, citing a person familiar with the matter. The pair has been in talks for months about a deal, which would not include the intellectual property rights to science fiction novel The Three-Body Problem.

Written by Chinese author Liu Cixin, The Three-Body Problem won the Hugo Award for best novel in 2015. Netflix announced last September that it would work with Youzu to adapt the sci-fi trilogy into a television series.

“Sina has no interest in The Three-Body Problem,” the person said. “[Youzu] Chairwoman Xu Fenfen is recruiting investors who are interested in the IP.”

Youzu said that it would release details about any acquisition in a stock exchange filing, The Paper said, noting that Sina had not yet commented. An announcement is expected later this year, the report added.

A consortium led by Sina was in advanced talks to acquire at least 18 percent of Youzu, Reuters reported on June 7, citing two people with direct knowledge of the matter. Buying into Youzu may help Sina, a former US-listed stock taken private in March, to prepare for a listing in China.

Youzu was founded by Lin in 2009. His three children inherited almost 24 percent of Youzu’s equity, and his ex-wife took over the chairmanship, the firm said on Feb. 24. Since then, there have been many rumors about Youzu’s assets being sold.

The company has four major business divisions: global game development and distribution; big data applications; IP development and operations; and pan-entertainment industry investment.

Editor: Futura Costaglione