The private equity management firm ATU Partners announced on the 29th that it has acquired the management rights of the digital content and entertainment corporation 3Y, which owns the four-member female band QWER and content creators Kim Gye-ran and Jin Yong-jin.
ATU acquired the remaining equity in 3Y held by Kakao Entertainment and some equity from the existing largest shareholder Nova Entertainment, and conducted a capital increase through the issuance of new shares, becoming the largest shareholder of 3Y. Through the acquisition of management rights in 3Y, ATU plans to maximize 3Y's IP competitiveness and global growth based on ATU's expertise in the content industry and strategic connections with its existing portfolio corporations.
QWER, which debuted in October 2023, is gaining popularity with its debut song 'Discord' followed by 'Addicted to Worry' and 'My Name is Clear.' It is continuing performances and fan meetings not only in Korea but also in Japan, Taiwan, and North America, securing global recognition. The third mini-album 'I'm on Your Side, Even if the Entire World is Discordant,' set to be released on June 9, is already ranking high in real-time sales on major online record stores since pre-orders.
3Y is also consistently producing popular content annually, led by core creators like Kim Gye-ran and Jin Yong-jin, including the 'Fake Man' series, 'Nonexistent Movie' series, 'Money Game,' and 'Fight Club.'
Leveraging its digital production capabilities, 3Y is concurrently running an MCN (Multi-Channel Network) business and owns killer IPs in various categories such as Kim Gye-ran's Physical Gallery (fitness), Seungwoo Dad (cooking), and Ahn So-hee (lifestyle), while also operating YouTube channels for celebrities like Oh Yeon-seo, Uhm Jung-hwa, and Cha Ye-ryun. Recently, it has also been strengthening its virtual artist IP business, including 'Hebi.'
Park Jeong-moo, CEO of ATU, noted, '3Y is a pioneering production company that has consistently created unique hit IPs through differentiated new attempts in various fields such as music, entertainment, and virtual content.' He added, 'We will mobilize ATU’s global network and IP commerce capabilities and maximize synergies with ATU's existing portfolio to support 3Y's explosive growth.'
Established in 2019, ATU invests in content IP, media industries, and more. It has invested in global esports and gaming group DRX, SAMG Entertainment, which achieved unprecedented hits with 'Hachuping,' and Galaxy Corporation, the entertainment tech company responsible for producing 'Physical 100' and affiliated with G-Dragon. Currently, its cumulative assets under management (AUM) are approximately 300 billion won, and the average internal rate of return (IRR) for liquidated funds is 88.8%.