A8 New Media Group Ltd

A8 New Media Group Ltd (HKEX: 0800) is a publicly-listed investment holding company that has strategically shifted its focus over the years, now primarily engaged in property investment and management alongside its cultural business segment. The company was founded in May 2000 by Liu Xiaosong, a figure with deep roots in China's technology sector and notably one of the angel investors and co-founders of Tencent. Liu's extensive background, including degrees in electrical engineering and studies at Tsinghua University, has informed the company's trajectory from its inception.

The group's history is marked by a significant milestone on June 12, 2008, when it was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, initially under the name A8 Digital Music Holdings Limited. This established it as a notable online multimedia content provider headquartered in Shenzhen, China. Over time, the company's operational focus has evolved. Initially centered on a music-based entertainment industry chain, it later expanded to include a games publishing platform. More recently, the group has streamlined its operations, divesting from its game development and publishing services in 2022 to reallocate resources. Its cultural business now concentrates on online literature and film and television production.

Currently, A8 New Media operates through two primary segments. The Property Investment segment generates revenue from rental income and property management services, centered around the A8 Music Building, which is designated as a national music industry park in China. The Cultural Business segment focuses on developing and monetizing intellectual property (IP) through online literature platforms like Heiyan.com, which serves as a source for original content that can be adapted into other media formats. This dual-pronged approach allows the company to maintain a tangible asset base through real estate while cultivating a portfolio of cultural IP for future growth. In mid-2024, the company announced plans for privatization led by a company wholly owned by founder Liu Xiaosong, which would lead to its delisting from the stock exchange.

Keywords: A8 New Media, Liu Xiaosong, investment holding, property investment, cultural business, online literature, intellectual property monetization, digital entertainment, HKEX 0800, Shenzhen, A8 Music Building, Heiyan.com, film production, music industry park, media content provider, Tencent angel investor, public company, corporate restructuring, real estate management, IP development