The new media comprehensive content corporation "The SMC Group" is set to initiate an initial public offering (IPO).
The SMC Group announced on the 9th that it has selected Mirae Asset Securities as the underwriter for its IPO planned for 2026.
The SMC Group revealed that it hired personnel from Eugene Securities' IPO team last year to prepare for potential investor engagement and its listing on the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) market. In December of the same year, it sent out requests for proposals (RFPs) to domestic securities firms specializing in IPOs and selected Mirae Asset Securities as its final partner after considering the competitive presentations and track records submitted by the securities firms.
So far, there have been no external investment fundraising efforts, and numerous strategic investors (SIs) and institutional investors are reviewing potential investments. The funds raised will be utilized to enhance efficiency through artificial intelligence (AI) research and ad-tech development, expand global outreach based on its Vietnam branch, and recruit top talent in the institutional sector, with plans to accelerate growth before submitting its preliminary listing application.
Founded in 2009 during the emergence of the new media advertising industry, The SMC has expanded its influence throughout the social media (SNS) sector based on platforms such as blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, pioneering the digital advertising market. Since then, it has achieved significant growth starting in 2014, which marked the growth phase of SNS, and has emerged as a new media comprehensive content corporation projected to generate 150 billion won in revenue by 2025.
Currently, with over 600 employees organized into specialized teams such as ▲The SMC Holdings (management, investment, research) ▲Social MC (comprehensive SNS advertising) ▲Daid (digital comprehensive advertising) ▲IMK (tourism, public) ▲Team Mint (performance marketing) ▲Semari Tokki (participatory campaigns) ▲The Service Center (new entertainment), the company manages 150 brand media and produces more than 30,000 pieces of content annually.