SKE48 operating company to change name

The impact of the NGT48 debacle has no doubt affected other AKB48 Groups.

KeyHolder Co., Ltd. (Kabukishikigaisha KeyHolder), announced June 6th that it would change the name of SKE Co., Ltd. (Kabushikigaisha SKE) to Zest Co., Ltd. (Kabushikigaisha Zest) next month.

Why would the company change its name three months since its launch?

AKS operates AKB, HKT, NGT, IZ*ONE (for Japanese operations) and now recently acquired NMB48 (from KYORAKU YOSHIMOTO), STU is operated by STU and SKE was operated by AKS but transferred to SKE back in March.

KeyHolder Co., Ltd. released the following statement:

SKE48 has already been supported by many fans as an idol group and has established a solid brand name, while aiming to further enhance their activities.  The group’s operating company aims to develop a school business and to aggressively take on new projects, a change of the company name had been planned.