Dentsu Inc. agrees to acquire majority stake in UK digital talent management company Greer Futures

The text of the Dentsu Inc. news release distributed on June 20 is as follows.

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June 20, 2017

Dentsu Inc. Agrees to Acquire Majority Stake in UK Digital Talent Management Company Greer Futures

Dentsu Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Toshihiro Yamamoto; Capital: ¥74,609.81 million) of Dentsu Inc. has reached an agreement with the shareholders of UK-based digital talent management company* Gleam Futures (Headquarters: London, CEO & Founder: Dominic Smales, hereinafter "Gleam Futures") to acquire a majority stake in the company.

Founded in 2010, Gleam Futures has a sales office in Los Angeles, USA, outside of the UK, and employs a total of 37 people. The company is a world-class digital talent management company with contracts with more than 40 global talents, whose YouTube channels have a combined total of over 60 million subscribers. These talents, who distribute information and content on various social media platforms including YouTube, have a tremendous influence on the younger generation worldwide and are indispensable for companies seeking to engage with young customers and promote their brands and products.

Greer Futures offers a wide range of services, including online video, publishing, content creation, branding, and new product launches. The company has a proven track record and enjoys the trust of its talent, maintaining strong relationships with client companies since its founding.

As the company has already established a strong brand among digital talents and on YouTube, we will retain its brand name after the acquisition and aim to create synergies with existing brands such as The Story Lab. In particular, we will further accelerate our growth strategy by strengthening our brand engagement services globally, especially for sectors such as beverages, luxury goods, and fashion.

The impact of this transaction on our consolidated results for the fiscal year ending December 2017 will be minimal.

※A company that manages and utilizes talents who disseminate information and content on social media platforms like YouTube, while providing services centered on branding.
 　

 

[Overview of Gleam Futures]
Company Name: Gleam Futures
Headquarters: London, UK
*Also has a sales office in Los Angeles, USA
Established: February 2010
Shareholder Structure: After acquisition, Dentsu Inc. Aegis Network 90%
Revenue: £4.35 million (approx. ¥620 million) (fiscal year ended December 2016)
Representative: Dominic Smales (CEO & Founder)
Number of Employees: 37
Business Description: Branding services utilizing digital talent who disseminate information and content via social media

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Dentsu Inc. News Release
http://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2017/0620-009320.html