KADOKAWA and Sony Group announced on December 19 that they have entered into a strategic capital and business alliance agreement. As part of this collaboration, Sony will acquire 12,054,100 newly issued shares of KADOKAWA for approximately ¥50 billion through a third-party allotment scheduled for January 7, 2025.

Key Details of the Alliance

Sony Becomes KADOKAWA’s Largest Shareholder
With this acquisition, Sony will hold approximately 10% of KADOKAWA’s shares, including shares it previously acquired in February 2021.

Joint Initiatives and Objectives
The agreement aims to enhance the global value of the companies' IP (intellectual property) portfolios. Key areas of collaboration include:

Content Creation: Joint production of live-action films, dramas, and anime based on KADOKAWA’s IP.
Global Distribution: Expanding the global reach of KADOKAWA’s anime through Sony’s distribution network.
Gaming and Publishing: Broadening KADOKAWA’s game publishing initiatives.
Technological Innovation: Promoting virtual production and fostering talent for future content creation.

Executive Comments

Takeshi Natsuno, President & CEO, KADOKAWA:
"This partnership will strengthen our IP creation capabilities and expand media mix opportunities through Sony’s global support. By delivering our IP to more users worldwide, this alliance will significantly enhance the value of our IP and contribute to our mid- to long-term corporate growth. We are committed to achieving great results in the global market through this collaboration."

Hiroki Totoki, President, COO, and CFO, Sony Group:
"Through this alliance, we will become the largest shareholder of KADOKAWA, known for its diverse IP portfolio spanning light novels, comics, games, and anime. By combining KADOKAWA’s rich IP ecosystem with Sony’s global entertainment expertise, we aim to maximize IP value and realize our long-term vision, Creative Entertainment Vision."

SONY IR Site (EN)
KADOKAWA IR Site (EN)

Source : ORICON NEWS