Media firm Yeah1 Group announced in HCM City on Thursday that it has bought out ScaleLab, a well-known YouTube multi-channel network which represents some of the biggest social media influencers in the world.

ScaleLab’s shareholders would receive US$20 million, Yeah1 said, adding the purchase would bring together two formidable social media companies from different parts of the world and with well-defined synergies.

It would focus immediately on promoting ScaleLab’s talent roster throughout Asia, as well as connecting top Asian talent with the English-speaking world, Yeah1 said.

Dao Phuc Tri, its CEO, said: “The transaction with ScaleLab is one of our key milestones in our global strategy to further reach a global market.

“In the next three years, our strategy is to acquire premium social media brands, optimise our existing channels to boost viewership and performance, create new global content, invest in appropriate content for global distribution, license premium content for select regions, and work closely with brands to develop integrated campaigns.”

The acquisition is not Yeah1s first social media-related deal. Last year, it acquired Thai multi-channel network SPRINGme and France-based content creator Something Big.

The acquisition of ScaleLab increases the total monthly YouTube views under the Yeah1 umbrella to 6.9 billion and the number of YouTube subscribers to 610 million in the world

ScaleLab will continue to operate out of its US offices.

Its founder and CEO David E Brenner said: “Yeah1 is an exciting, diversified media company with tremendous reach throughout Asia and bold plans to expand globally. We’re thrilled to partner with Yeah1’s forward-thinking team, and to play a key role in the company’s international growth.”

The five year-old ScaleLab is best known as the YouTube network home of Jake Paul, Jimmy Donaldson (aka MrBeast), Mariale Marrero, Erika Costell, Katie Angel, and other top-tier YouTube stars.

It has been recognised as the fastest-growing media company in the US by Inc Magazine.

Yeah1 Group is one of Southeast Asia’s largest media conglomerates, operating across traditional, digital and social media platforms and with branches in 20 countries.

ScaleLab’s YouTube influencers are mainly in the US, Latin America and EMEA, while Yeah1 has a wide footprint throughout Asia. — VNS