AppLovin a leading marketing technology firm, announced on Thursday that it has submitted a bid to acquire TikTok’s assets outside of China, as the April 5 deadline approaches for the short-form video platform to secure a non-Chinese buyer.
In a regulatory filing, AppLovin emphasized that its proposal is still in early stages, with no guarantee that a deal will materialize.
As the deadline looms, more potential buyers are emerging. Amazon and a consortium led by OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely are among the latest contenders expressing interest in acquiring TikTok. The platform, owned by ByteDance, has yet to comment on the growing number of bids.
"The acquisition of TikTok could significantly enhance AppLovin’s position as a global advertising powerhouse, but regulatory and geopolitical hurdles remain a major concern for investors," noted Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital.
The U.S. government has long voiced security concerns over TikTok’s ties to China, though both the app and ByteDance have repeatedly denied any national security risks.
Last month, former President Donald Trump disclosed that his administration had been in discussions with four potential buyers, though he did not name them. The White House has played an unusually active role in the negotiations, taking on a role akin to an investment bank in the deal-making process.
Trump also suggested that he might consider a sale arrangement where China would approve the deal in exchange for the U.S. easing tariffs on Chinese imports.
Additionally, private equity giant Blackstone is reportedly in talks to join a coalition of ByteDance’s non-Chinese shareholders—led by Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic—to provide fresh capital for a bid on TikTok’s U.S. operations.
The uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s fate has persisted since a 2024 law, passed with bipartisan support, mandated ByteDance to divest the app by January 19. TikTok briefly went offline before that deadline.
However, after assuming office for a second term on January 20, Trump signed an executive order delaying the enforcement of the law by 75 days, giving TikTok a temporary reprieve to continue its operations in the U.S.