Impress Holdings

Basic Information

Stock Code
9479
Industry
Information and Communications
Category Detail
Mass Media
Prefecture
Tokyo
Establishment Year
April 1992
Listing Year
October 2000
Official Website
https://www.impressholdings.com/
TSE Information
TSE Information
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Other Companies
Arubaito Times, KG Information, AKIBA, Starts Publishing, Alphapolis, Zenrin, Shobunsha Holdings, Chuo Keizai HD, SE Holdings and Incubations, Genex

Overview

Impress Holdings is a holding company established in 1992, primarily engaged in the information and communications industry, developing mass media, publishing, and digital services, serving as the leading company overseeing the management of the entire group.

Current Situation

Impress Holdings recorded consolidated net sales of approximately 14 billion yen and operating profit of approximately 800 million yen for the fiscal year ended March 2021, maintaining a solid management base. Centering on information technology, publishing, and online media, it diversifies its business across diverse fields such as IT, music, design, and mountain nature. It strengthens its market position through aggressive M&A and responds to digitalization with e-books and POD publishing. In recent years, it has focused on new ventures such as investments in radio stations and launching new media. It pursues sustainable publishing and information dissemination, enhances business synergies within the group through management oversight. Delisting is scheduled for July 2025, aiming for greater management flexibility and efficiency.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Founder Keiichiro Tsukamoto is also a co-founder of ASCII.
  • Boasts one of Japan's leading history and scale in IT specialized publishing.
  • Rare business structure with specialized publishers in multiple fields under its umbrella.
  • Successfully entered online media early in addition to publishing.
  • Scheduled for delisting in July 2025 but continues stable management.
  • Strengthens specialized information dissemination in music, design, and mountain fields.
  • Famous for the 'Dekiru Series,' strong in IT education and guidebooks.
  • Leads the industry in e-book POD services as well.
  • Plans to transfer all shares in local mountain hut operations business.
  • Characteristic business portfolio from diverse subsidiaries.

Hidden Connections

  • President Daisuke Matsumoto has deep ties to former FM Tokyo executives.
  • Founder Tsukamoto, as an ASCII founding member, has extensive networks in the IT world.
  • Strong ties with ad agencies and advertisers through fusion of publishing and IT.
  • Expands digital publishing infrastructure through joint ventures with Mediado for e-book distribution.
  • Pursues cross-industry media co-creation via investment in FM radio station InterFM897.
  • Yama to Keikokusha in mountain publishing builds strong communities with hiking and nature enthusiasts.
  • Rittor Music is one of Japan's major music specialized publishers.
  • ICE, focusing on mobile content and manga distribution, is expanding reach to female audiences.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expansion of digital publishing and POD markets
  • Increasing demand for specialized information in IT-related markets
  • Diversification of online media ad revenue
  • Business area expansion and synergy creation via M&A
  • Growth in mobile and digital platforms
  • Strengthening overseas expansion centered on Asia
  • Stable demand in IT education and guidebook markets
  • Strong support for locally focused mountain and nature publishing
  • New business development through broadcast media collaboration
  • 対応 to diversification of consumer information gathering methods

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve over 70% digital publishing sales ratio
  • Strengthen brands in specialized fields domestically and internationally
  • Promote sustainable resource use and environmentally considerate business
  • Develop and ensure growth in new media businesses
  • Secure stable ad revenue through customer base expansion
  • Social contributions through fusion of information technology and cultural businesses
  • Improve employee diversity and well-being
  • Expand business in Asia market and strengthen global competitiveness
  • Cost efficiency through DX promotion in publishing industry
  • Strengthen ties with regional and specialized communities

Business Segments

Publishing and E-book Business

Overview
Publishing and distribution services for books and e-books specialized in diverse fields.
Competitiveness
High group synergies from subsidiaries that are specialized publishers in multiple fields
Customers
  • Bookstores
  • Corporate ad agencies
  • Educational institutions
  • Libraries
Products
  • Specialized books
  • E-books
  • POD publishing
  • Digital content

Online Media and Advertising Business

Overview
Provides a wide range of online media and advertising services centered on IT and related fields.
Competitiveness
High specialization allowing reach to diverse targets
Customers
  • IT companies
  • Advertisers
  • Marketing companies
  • General consumers
Products
  • Specialized information site operation
  • Online advertising
  • Digital marketing
  • Events and seminars

Instruments and Music Business

Overview
Dedicated publishing and web platform provision for instruments and music.
Competitiveness
Business development leveraging specialization and market niches
Customers
  • Instrument retailers
  • Music schools
  • Artists
  • Music-related companies
Products
  • Sheet music publishing
  • Music-related books
  • Online instrument marketplace

Design and Graphics Business

Overview
Provides information and publishing services for design and creative fields.
Competitiveness
Information editing and production capabilities specialized in the industry
Customers
  • Design companies
  • Ad agencies
  • Printing companies
  • Creative professionals
Products
  • Graphic-related publications
  • Design information sites
  • Design production contracts

Mountain and Nature-Related Business

Overview
Publishing and information support specialized in mountain and nature fields.
Competitiveness
Strong brand power leveraging specialized knowledge
Customers
  • Mountain and nature enthusiasts
  • Outdoor gear stores
  • Mountaineering guides
  • Educational institutions
Products
  • Mountain books
  • Outdoor magazines
  • Online information services

Aviation, Railway, and Military-Related Business

Overview
Information dissemination and educational content provision for specialized niche markets.
Competitiveness
Specialized knowledge and deep market penetration
Customers
  • Aviation-related companies
  • Railway fans
  • Military enthusiasts
  • Educational institutions
Products
  • Specialized magazines
  • Electronic publishing
  • School business

Mobile Services and Digital Publishing Business

Overview
Promotes digital publishing and mobile-oriented content development.
Competitiveness
Advanced digital-first strategy
Customers
  • Publishers
  • Partner companies
  • Individual creators
Products
  • Digital platforms
  • E-book labels
  • Mobile content production

POD Publishing Services Business

Overview
Efficient publishing support through order-based production.
Competitiveness
Flexible publishing system and quick response capabilities
Customers
  • Individual authors
  • Small publishers
  • Educational institutions
  • Corporations
Products
  • Print-on-demand publishing services
  • Self-publishing support

EC and Web Development Business

Overview
Provides integrated services from web production to operation.
Competitiveness
Technical capabilities and flexibility responsive to customer needs
Customers
  • SMEs
  • EC operators
  • General companies
  • Individuals
Products
  • EC site development
  • Membership site operation
  • Web production contracts

Group Management Business

Overview
Group-wide management and provision of service infrastructure.
Competitiveness
Overarching capabilities to maximize group synergies
Customers
  • Impress Group companies
Products
  • Management oversight
  • Financial strategy formulation
  • Common service operation

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Diversified business expansion through group synergies
  • Abundant specialized knowledge and experience in IT and publishing
  • Accelerated growth via aggressive M&A strategy
  • Strong brand power across diverse genres
  • Hybrid response to digital and print media
  • Ad revenue base from numerous specialized information sites
  • Content strength specialized in specific areas
  • Rich know-how in online media
  • Founder's influence in the industry and management stability
  • Risk diversification through subsidiaries in multiple fields
  • Advanced digital publishing technology development
  • Balance of local focus and global expansion

Competitive Advantages

  • Integration capabilities across IT, publishing, music, design, and more
  • Diversified ad revenue through online information site operation know-how
  • Next-generation publishing platform combining e-books and POD
  • Strengthened and expanded customer touchpoints via online media
  • Improved market competitiveness by acquiring battle-ready companies via M&A
  • High-specialization content editing and production capabilities
  • Strong brand portfolio and customer base
  • Efficiency through flexible and rapid management systems
  • Diverse media services corresponding to latest IT trends
  • Advanced investments in mobile and digital services
  • Service and product development closely aligned with customer needs
  • Unity and growth orientation among employees via stock ownership association
  • Market access power through diverse sales channels

Threats

  • Decline in traditional publishing due to rapid shift to digital media
  • Intensifying competition in online media ad market
  • Competition with new digital platform entrants
  • Decrease in event-related business revenue due to COVID-19 etc.
  • Risks from changes in copyright laws and digital content regulations
  • Adaptation burden to technological changes in internet services
  • Fluctuations in ad revenue due to economic conditions
  • Securing human resources and outflow of young talent
  • Concerns over declining market valuation due to delisting
  • Impact on business strategy from external uncertainties
  • Intensifying global competition and market contraction risks

Innovations

2021: Launch of ICE Shinsho Label

Overview
Launched a digital-first new book label to cater to digital readers.
Impact
Acquisition of new reader segments and strengthened digital publishing

2021: Participation in investment in InterFM897

Overview
Diversifies media expansion through investment in FM radio station.
Impact
Strengthened collaboration with broadcast media

2022: Establishment of POD publishing service company PUBFUN

Overview
Jointly develops on-demand publishing business with Mediado.
Impact
Improved publishing efficiency and対応 to diverse publishing formats

2023: Absorption and merger of Impress R&D

Overview
Promotes efficiency and expansion by consolidating e-publishing and POD businesses.
Impact
Enhanced technological capabilities through business integration

2023: Name change and functional enhancement of web/EC development company

Overview
Restructured Creators Guild Co., Ltd. to strengthen digital value creation.
Impact
Improved responsiveness to customer needs

2024: Integration of IAD into Impress

Overview
Strengthens competitiveness by integrating Asia market business domestically.
Impact
Efficiency in global strategy

2024: Integration of Tenmuinto into Ikaros Publishing

Overview
Achieves strengthened collaboration in publishing and operational efficiency.
Impact
Cost reductions through organizational optimization

Sustainability

  • Resource savings through review of overpublishing
  • Paper resource reduction via promotion of digital publishing
  • Adoption of environmentally friendly printing technologies
  • Cultural support activities for local communities
  • Promotion of work-life balance for employees