SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Inc. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Etsuko Tsugihara; hereinafter, “the Company”) is pleased to announce that it will welcome BILCOM Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shigeru Ota), which develops integrated PR solutions based on PR Tech®, into its group through the acquisition of its shares.

By combining BILCOM’s comprehensive support system for PR using data and technology with the SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP’s strength in broad communication solutions based on PR ideas, we aim to expand the PR and communication areas to address the diverse issues of companies and society.

■Background
Based on the medium- to long-term management policy “Strategic Policy for Growth,” the Company is promoting further growth of its core brand communication business and strengthening its efforts in the technology domain. In recent years, as interest in visualizing results in PR operations and designing and improving strategies based on data has increased, the importance of providing solutions utilizing technology has also increased.

As we approach the end of the medium-term policy period, strengthening the system for providing solutions utilizing technology has become an urgent issue for the Company in order to respond to the needs of clients and further enhance the value of PR and communication.

■Purpose
BILCOM is a PR Tech company that develops integrated PR solutions based on its proprietary software such as the SaaS “PR Analyzer®” for public relations departments and the media database “Monthly Media Data,” and supports the sophistication and efficiency of PR with data and technology.

By BILCOM joining the group, we will combine their data utilization knowledge through “PR Analyzer” with our SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP’s broad communication solutions based on PR ideas. This will enable us to create a system that supports everything from the execution of PR operations to data-based effect measurement in a consistent manner, and aims to further contribute to the business growth of our clients. In addition, we believe that BILCOM’s related services have a high affinity with our business and can be expected to create significant synergies.

■Future Prospects
With BILCOM joining the group, we will promote the development of a system that allows us to provide their services in an integrated manner with our existing services, and further strengthen our ability to propose solutions tailored to the needs of our clients. In addition, we will actively promote personnel exchanges and cross-group projects to maximize the integrated effect through the sharing of knowledge and know-how. Through these efforts, we will aim to further grow our core brand communication business and improve our corporate value.

■Comment from Etsuko Tsugihara, President and CEO of SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Inc.
BILCOM is an entity that has continued to create new value at the forefront of integrated PR x data x technology. I am truly pleased to welcome BILCOM as a new member. Since its founding, SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP has created many social movements with the power of PR and communication, based on the motto of “Let’s Have Fun!”

With this opportunity, I am confident that by combining the know-how that our group has cultivated with BILCOM’s knowledge and strengths, we can further enhance the value of our PR and communication and open up possibilities for further growth of the group. We will continue to work as a united group, so please look forward to our future activities.

■Comment from Shigeru Ota, President and CEO of BILCOM Inc.
I am very pleased to be able to start a new chapter as a member of SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP. We at BILCOM have been contributing to our clients’ businesses based on PR Tech, and have built steady growth over the 22 years since our founding. SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP is a company that has continued to face changes in society and clients while expanding its business domain with PR and communication as its core, and I strongly sympathize with its consistent management stance.

With this participation, I am confident that by combining the PR Tech knowledge that we have cultivated with the ideas and execution capabilities of the group, we can further evolve the value of PR and communication and contribute to the business growth of our clients and the advancement of society. From now on, as a member of the group, we will continue to take on challenges from a broader perspective.

■Overview of BILCOM Inc.
BILCOM Inc. is a one-of-a-kind PR Tech company that develops integrated PR solutions, the cloud-based PR effect measurement tool “PR Analyzer,” and Japan’s only advertising media database “Monthly Media Data.” We use data and technology to support public relations and PR activities to contribute to your business.
*“PR Tech” and “PR Analyzer” are registered trademarks of BILCOM Inc.

Company Name: BILCOM Inc.
Location: 6-2-31 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Shigeru Ota, President and CEO
Establishment: October 8, 2003
Official Website: https://www.bil.jp/