(Yicai Global) Feb. 7 -- Youzu Interactive, a Chinese video games developer, is reportedly set to be replaced by a new company as the main shareholder in Three-Body Universe Shanghai Cultural Development, which has the rights to develop and commercialize the content of the science fiction novel ‘The Three-Body Problem.’

Siyuan Enterprise Management, which was founded last year, plans to buy a 70 percent stake in Three-Body Universe, The Paper reported today, citing a source close to the Shanghai-based company. After the acquisition, Youzu and its affiliates will have no stake, the report said, without disclosing any financial details.

The new controller aims to attract more high-quality investors to co-develop the ‘Three-Body’ intellectual property, the report added, though Three-Body Universe will retain its present management team and organizational structure.

Anji Shundian Equity Investment Partnership own almost 96 percent of Chengdu-based Siyuan Enterprise, followed by Hangzhou-based Huaxing Chuangye Communication Technology with about 3.8 percent, and Gezhe Enterprise Management in Chengdu with around 0.2 percent, according to corporate data provider Tianyancha.

‘The Three-Body Problem’ is a Hugo Award-winning sci-fi trilogy by Liu Cixin. The first book of the series was published in 2008, becoming one of China’s most successful sci-fi novels, with the second and third instalments released in 2008 and 2010, respectively.

Youzu founder and former Chief Executive Lin Qi pushed for the purchase of the novel’s exclusive copyrights and set up Three-Body Universe in 2018 to develop related IP projects. Lin’s death by poisoning on Christmas Day 2020 led to uncertainties regarding the adaptions.

Three-Body Universe’s current top shareholder is Shanghai-based Qixin Yongyan Investment, a unit of Youzu affiliate Youzu Technology Group, with a 59.2 percent stake. Lin’s children -- Lin Xiaoxi, Lin Ruijing, and Lin Li -- jointly own 14.3 percent of Three-Body Universe.

Youzu’s shares [SHE: 002174] finished today 1.6 percent higher at CNY12 (USD1.77), after earlier jumping by as much as 3.9 percent.

Three-Body Universe has 130 million followers globally, and the ‘Three-Body’ co-branded consumer goods fields include computers, communications and consumer electronics, vehicles, fashion, culture, and designer toys, with a market value of over CNY2 billion (USD294.9 million), according to the firm’s website.

Editor: Martin Kadiev