Tokyo-based Uuum, Japan’s leading YouTuber management agency, announced today that its IPO application to the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has been approved. The company will be listed on the TSE Mothers Market on 30 August with plans to offer 302,000 shares for public subscription and to sell 77,500 shares in over-allotment options, for a total of 292,300 shares. Nomura Securities will lead the underwriting.

Its share price range will be released on 10 August with bookbuilding scheduled to start on 14 August and pricing on 21 August. According to the consolidated statement as of May 2017, they posted revenue of 3.30 billion yen (about $29.7 million) with an ordinary profit of 221.7 million yen ($2.0 million) and a net profit of 185.9 million yen ($1.7 million). Led by the company’s CEO Kazuki Kamada (holding a 39.45% stake), its major shareholders include Anri (16.97%) and Jafco (TSE:8595 15.43%).

Since its launch back in 2013 under its previous name of On Sale, Uuum has been becoming Japan’s largest multi-channel network (MCN) by employing renowned Japanese YouTubers such as Hikakin. The company recently partnered with Nintendo for a blanket agreement regarding the use of the latter’s game characters for livestreaming.

See also:

• Japanese artists and performers find that YouTube brings them pay and applause (The Japan Times)

Edited by “Tex” Pomeroy