Line's IPO price range indicates strong demand, values firm at up to $6.6 billion

[June 28, 2016]  By Thomas Wilson

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Line Corp on Tuesday set a price range for a Tokyo share sale that could value the messaging app operator at up to $6.57 billion, indicating strong demand for a firm that pitched itself as a stable investment rather than quick-growing startup.

Line, owned by South Korea's Naver Corp <035420.KS>, set a tentative range of 2,700 yen to 3,200 yen a share. At the top of the range, Line could raise 129 billion yen ($1.26 billion) from the sale of as many as 40.25 million shares.

That would make the initial public offering (IPO) the largest in the global tech industry this year.

Line's announcement comes at a time of volatility in global financial markets as investors fret about economic uncertainty after Britain on Friday voted to leave the European Union.

The company had delayed the announcement on Monday to assess global stock market reaction throughout the day. But its bullish pricing on Tuesday ran counter to any fear of volatility prompting firms to postpone or even shelve IPO plans.

The top of Line's price range, when compared with the 2,800 yen reference price released earlier in June, suggests investors warmed to an IPO pitch that emphasized value and steady returns in its core markets of Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan.

While that pitch might suit the current period of uncertainty, playing down chances of explosive growth had blunted interest from some domestic investors.

Some fund managers said Line should have listed when it commanded more value during its period of rapid growth - from a makeshift communications tool born in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami to Japan's dominant mobile messaging app.

A man walks past the logo of Line Corp at the company's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan June 2, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo

But local retail investors and international investors expressed high interest in the listing, brokerages in Tokyo and a person involved in the listing told Reuters.

"There are fewer companies around with short-term profit outlooks that can be increased," said Mitsushige Akino, executive officer at Ichiyoshi Asset Management, which oversees 140 billion yen worth of assets. "So it's probably been easy (for Line) to attract interest."

Line plans to list in New York on July 14 and in Tokyo the following day. It has hired Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Nomura to manage the listing.

(Reporting by Thomas Wilson; Additional reporting by Emi Emoto; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

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