Sony's Strategic Investment Makes it Kadokawa's Top Shareholder
A new strategic capital and business alliance between Sony and Kadokawa Corporation has resulted in Sony becoming Kadokawa's largest shareholder. This agreement significantly strengthens their partnership.
Kadokawa's Independence Remains Intact
Sony's acquisition of approximately 12 million new shares, costing around 50 billion JPY, combined with shares acquired in February 2021, grants them roughly 10% ownership of Kadokawa. While Reuters previously reported Sony's aim to acquire Kadokawa, this alliance preserves Kadokawa's independence.
The partnership focuses on maximizing the global value of both companies' intellectual property (IP). This collaboration includes joint investments and promotions, such as:
- Global expansion of live-action films and TV dramas based on Kadokawa IPs.
- Co-production of anime projects.
- Global distribution and publishing of Kadokawa's anime and video game works through the Sony Group.
Takeshi Natsuno, Kadokawa's CEO, expressed enthusiasm, stating the alliance will enhance IP creation and global reach. Hiroki Totoki, Sony Group's President, COO, and CFO, highlighted the synergy between Kadokawa's IP ecosystem and Sony's global entertainment expertise, aligning with Sony's "Creative Entertainment Vision."
Kadokawa's Extensive IP Portfolio
Kadokawa's significant holdings across anime, manga, film, television, and video game production include popular IPs like Oshi no Ko, Re:Zero, and Dungeon Meshi. Crucially, Kadokawa is the parent company of FromSoftware, the developer behind Elden Ring and Armored Core. The recent Game Awards announcement of Elden Ring: Nightreign, a co-op spin-off slated for 2025, further underscores the value of this partnership.
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