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HomeBusinessComics website valued at $2.7bn ahead of US market debut

Comics website valued at $2.7bn ahead of US market debut


Webtoon Entertainment, which describes itself as the world’s largest web comic platform, has set its market value at $2.67bn (£2.11bn) ahead of its US listing.

Its shares are due to start trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange on 27 June at $21 each, the top end of their marketed range.

The Los Angeles-based company is owned by South Korean technology giant Naver, which has been boosted by the growing online popularity of Korean and Japanese comics.

Webtoon says it has 170 million monthly active users in more than 150 countries around the world.

The company is aiming to sell 15 million shares and raise $315m in the initial public offering (IPO).

The world’s largest fund manager BlackRock has expressed interest in buying up to $50m of shares.

Webtoon Entertainment also owns the Japanese web comic and manga app Line Manga, the web novel platform Wattpad and the Korean web comic offering Naver Webtoon.

It offers thousands of titles covering different genres – including action, romance, horror and science fiction.

The webtoon industry, which focuses on online-only comics optimised for reading on mobile, first emerged in South Korea two decades ago.

Their popularity exploded globally turning them into a major South Korean cultural phenomenon alongside K-pop and Korean dramas.

Webtoons are cheap to produce – a single artist can create one using a tablet – which can make popular comics very profitable.

The webtoon industry made $4.7bn 2021 and is projected to grow to $60.1bn by 2030, according to Spherical Insights & Consulting.


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Kingston
Kingstonhttps://apexnewshub.com
I am a Ghanaian journalist, software developer, news editor, and media personality. I am the founder and CEO of Gabs Media & Technology and Apex News Hub, a leading online news platform in Ghana. With a passion for storytelling and a commitment to fact-based reporting, I have established myself as a respected voice in Ghanaian journalism. Throughout my career, I have covered a wide range of topics, including politics, business, and entertainment. My dedication to seeking truth and promoting transparency has earned me a reputation as a trusted and reliable source of news and information. Under my leadership, Apex News Hub has become a go-to source for breaking news and in-depth analysis, attracting a large following and establishing itself as a major player in Ghana's media landscape. My work has been recognized and celebrated by his peers and the wider community, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in Ghanaian journalism.
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