Who owns K-pop giant HYBE?

HYBE is the world’s largest Ok-pop firm and has made waves within the world music business since breaking BTS.

Lately, its most high-profile transfer has been spending greater than $1 billion get of Scooter Brownof Ithaca Holdings 2021.

Braun joins the HYBE Board of Administrators and is now CEO of HYBE Company HYBE USA. He stays a big shareholder within the firm, as proven beneath.

final yr, transfer Leverage its strengths to broaden into the quickly rising Latin music market get of exile musicwhich laid a brand new basis HYBE Latin America.

Not too long ago, as a part of its new HYBE 2.0 technique, HYBE Launched label service business In the USA, there’s a new division referred to as HYBE Music Group Asia Pacificoversees the entire firm’s music label operations in South Korea and Japan.

clearly, transfer Its aim is to grow to be a significant world participant in music – and it is secure to say that it is reaching that aim.

As of final rely, HYBE’s market capitalization was 7.16 trillion received (US$5.37 billion) – not precisely in scale universal music grouphowever for an organization that was solely 19 years previous (then referred to as Scorching leisure).

Firm income in 2023 Came in exist Greenback US$1.66 billionand 64% Which comes from outdoors the house market of Korea.

Regardless of its stability sheet success, HYBE’s Share worth takes an enormous hit in 2024; it is already down 31.68% 12 months-to-date, as of September ninth.

A lot of this decline might be attributed to at least one common motive – It’s not been a fantastic yr for leisure firm shares – Extra particular causes: HYBE and Min Xizhenat the moment CEO of HYBE i prefer itthe label behind the woman group New denims.

transfer expelled smallest From her position i prefer it in August, after months of feuding between the model and senior executives.

firm defendant Min hatched a plot to grab management of ADOR. smallest have rejected accusations.

(After her expulsion, transfer Xiang Min was supplied a contract to proceed as NewJeans producer, however she reject.)

All this places downward strain on the economic system HYBE’s share worth, amid questions on how properly it can carry out HYBE’s multi-label construction – the primary mission of its variety in South Korea’s booming music business – is within the works.

a music business knowledgeable suggestion HYBE focuses on “competitors” reasonably than “synergy” between manufacturers, which stands out as the core of the issue.

This appears to be true: Min’s unique criticism about HYBE was It is said That woman group youdeveloped by one other HYBE model, Billite Laboratoriesis copying NewJeans.

regardless of this, transfer Nonetheless a multi-billion greenback firm.

However who precisely advantages from its coming-of-age story?

MBW Already dug by way of dart – Korean regulatory archives – and mix it with information from numerous analysis stories to color an image HYBE’s shareholding construction as we speak.

Lengthy story brief: HYBE’s The biggest particular person shareholder is its founder…and the corporate managed by his brother.

Bang Shi Hyuk

Not surprisingly, HYBE’s largest shareholder is Bang Shi Hyukwho’s the founding father of this firm? Resign as CEO 2021, however nonetheless serves as Chairman of HYBE.

Bang become a billionaire when he takes transfer It was made public in October 2020, and information exhibits that he has retained this identification.

In keeping with HYBE’s newest half-year report submitted to DART, as of June 30, 2024, Bang held 13.15 million HYBE’s 41.65 million frequent inventory, or 31.57% whole quantity.

Primarily based on HYBE’s closing worth on September 9, the worth of this a part of the corporate’s shares 2.17 trillion received (Greenback US$1.619 billion).

Fang Junhyuk and Netmarble Firm

This isn’t uncommon for Korea chaebol – Also called megacorporations – hold possession throughout the household whereas transfer Might not totally qualify chaebol (This isn’t completely Samsung or LG), whose possession construction does echo Korean heritage.

The second largest shareholder of HYBE is Netmarblea online game developer based in 2000 Mr. Junhyuk – Bang Si Hyuk’s youthful brother.

In keeping with HYBE’s semi-annual report, Netmarble owns 3.93 million As of June 30, HYBE inventory 9.44% shares of the corporate. As of September 9, HYBE’s shares have been price $483.8 million.

Netmarble’s stake in HYBE seems to have been diluted within the Ok-pop firm’s IPO. based on news reports Netmarble first got here out of South Korea 25.71% I held shares in HYBE as early as 2018 (two years earlier than the IPO).

Netmarble’s relationship with HYBE is greater than only a monetary one: it has partnered with HYBE to develop content material, together with BTS Worlda recreation starring members of a Ok-pop music group.

In keeping with stories from Netmarble exposeas of the tip of 2023, Fang Junhe owns 24.12% member of Netmarble, successfully giving him management of extra 2.27% HYBE’S.

Nationwide Pension Service

HYBE’s third largest shareholder is the funding arm of a Korean firm National Pension Servicethe nation’s public pension fund.

It is a large fund: it is the third-largest public pension fund on this planet, with some $850 billion in belongings underneath administration.

it holds 2.65 million HYBE inventory, or 6.36%price $325.9 million One final rely.

Duna What. Ltd.

The fourth largest shareholder of HYBE is dunamtso., a monetary know-how firm specializing in blockchain asset buying and selling. It operates a cryptocurrency change upper bitsSouth Korea’s main cryptocurrency change.

Its founder is Track Zhiheng Forbes estimates price $950 million.

As of June 20, Duna maintain 2.3 million HYBE inventory, or 5.53% whole quantity, worth is $283.4 million As of September ninth.

base station

Indubitably, BTS – the boy band composed of catty, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, Vand Jungkookthe music phenomenon that propelled HYBE into turning into the world’s largest Ok-pop company, and the group’s seven members have been rewarded with giant holdings of HYBE inventory.

In keeping with analysis from Korea CXO Analysis Instituteto be launched in late 2023, and reported Korean media reported that seven members of BTS have been awarded 68,385 He held shares within the firm when the contract was renewed in 2018.

Primarily based on the variety of shares excellent as of June 30, this is able to give them every roughly 0.16% of the corporate; nonetheless, a few of them seem to have bought a part of their shares.

In keeping with information from South Korea’s CXO Analysis Institute, as of early 2023, three BTS members have reduced their stake: J-Hope owned 62,784 shares on the time, whereas RM and Jin held barely much less.

Nevertheless, BTS members’ preliminary stake in HYBE in 2018 was bigger than it’s now as a result of they acquired these shares earlier than HYBE’s 2020 IPO.

Calculated primarily based on the closing inventory worth on the buying and selling day of September 9, holding 68,385 The shares are price approx. $8.42 million.

In whole, seven BTS members earned some 478,695 HYBE inventory, or approx. 1.15% Whole variety of shares excellent as of June 30.

Scooter Brown

As CEO of HYBE America, Scooter Braun owns a sizeable portion of HYBE: In keeping with HYBE’s semi-annual report, Braun holds 362,292 HYBE inventory as of or about June 30 0.87% whole quantity.

As of the share worth on September 9, the inventory was price roughly $44.6 million.

different shareholders

HYBE’s midyear disclosure additionally lists shareholders who’re senior executives on the firm or its associates and who personal comparatively small stakes within the firm.

Notable amongst them are the above Min Xizhen. As of June 30, ADOR’s former CEO (illustration) 2,700 HYBE inventory, or 0.01% In keeping with HYBE’s DART paperwork, half of the whole.

HYBE’s regulatory filings additionally set out Li Dahui As a shareholder, with 2,161 inventory.

Da Hui serves as CEO Pladis Leisureone other tag within the HYBE multi-tag system. HYBE Obtain a majority stake 2020 at Pledis. Founder of Pledis Entertainment and “Skilled Grasp.” Duo Hui’s shareholding quantity is 0.0005% All shares excellent.

In keeping with HYBE’s regulatory filings, it has 90% As of June 30, it held shares in Pledis.

Additionally listed as shareholders are Li Jiajunis the Head of Operations for Belift Lab, the unique model of HYBE and CJ ENM in 2018 and was totally acquired by HYBE in 2023. Enhanced. In keeping with HYBE’s regulatory filings, it has 100% Beflift Labs as of June 30.

Lee is listed because the proprietor 1,562 folks HYBE inventory, or 0.0004% whole quantity.

then there are Shin Younger Jaetill lately, President large musicthe whole firm makes use of this HYBE tag till rebranding In 2021, it was renamed HYBE. appointment President HYBE Music Group Asia Pacific.

In keeping with HYBE’s semi-annual report, Shin holds 1,302 folks HYBE inventory as of June 30, or 0.0003% whole quantity.

One other well-known listed shareholder is Cui JunCEO of HYBE Weaversthe fan platform types a key a part of the Ok-pop large’s technique to monetize its superfans.

Weavers noticed significant growth The variety of customers over the previous few years has made the app a high-profile phenomenon within the music business. Some persons are not simply watching, there are folks doing it. common music group Invest in Weverse Earlier this yr, as a part of a 10-year unique distribution settlement between UMG and HYBE.

As of June 30, Joon solely held 60 Holds HYBE shares.

HYBE held 55.4% make investments As of June 30, based on Weverse’s regulatory filings.

The corporate confirmed in its regulatory submitting the quantity it spent to amass the corporate 55.4% Weverse’s stake is 164.4 billion received ($122 million at as we speak’s change fee).

based on transferthe remaining shares of Weverse are owned by South Korean know-how and software program firms Neville and “different shareholders”.

Sources informed MBW UMG Made a minority funding in Weverse as a part of partnership with Weverse transferas Announced in March.

2021, Neville invest Roughly 354.8 billion received (roughly $321.6 million) in HYBE subsidiary beNX – the HYBE subsidiary that developed Weverse. BeNX then acquired Naver’s V LIVE division.

At the moment, the board of administrators transferThe corporate then referred to as Huge Hit Leisure voted to vary its title to beNX Weavers Company

Then combine the customers, content material and providers of Weverse and V LIVE to create a single world fan group platform.world music enterprise