Sony Group Corporation and Bandai Namco Holdings have signed a strategic business partnership to strengthen engagement among anime and manga fans and expand the fan community around the world. The partnership will see Sony acquire 16 million Bandai Namco shares for 68 billion yen to become a shareholder of roughly 2.5% of total issued shares of Bandai Namco.
The full details regarding the Sony and Bandai Namco partnership can be read below, via the IR form:
Partnership Overview
Through this business alliance and Sony’s investment in Bandai Namco, as two of the leading Japanese entertainment companies, Bandai Namco and Sony will focus on expanding the fan community for IP such as anime and manga around the world and strengthening engagement, particularly in the anime field where rapid market growth is anticipated, while merging their strengths to create new and emotionally moving
experiences for fans, and as a result of these efforts maximize the value of IP.
Bandai Namco and Sony have historically collaborated on various projects in the fields such as games, anime and music, and they plan to extend this collaboration to a broader range of areas. The two companies intend to implement initiatives including the expansion of works as well as products and services based on IP developed by Bandai Namco, leveraging Sony’s strengths in areas such as the production and distribution of anime and other video content, as well as merchandising. They also plan to engage in detailed discussions regarding the joint development and promotion of IP such as anime and manga, in addition to planning and technical collaboration on experiential entertainment. Furthermore, the two companies plan to explore opportunities to support creators by jointly developing and operating entertainment-related technologies and services, and to engage in joint investments and business alliances in fan engagement areas.
Comment from Nobuhiko Momoi, Executive Vice President, Bandai Namco Holdings Inc.
“The Bandai Namco Group promotes an ‘IP axis strategy’ that aims to maximize IP value by leveraging the appeal and worldview of IP, providing the optimal products and services at the optimal timing in the optimal regions. We are filled with excitement about the potential to create new entertainment by combining Sony Group’s strengths and technological capabilities across various entertainment fields with Bandai Namco’s IP axis strategy. Through this collaboration, we aim to connect with IP fans worldwide, co-create
the future together, and realize our Purpose, ‘Fun for All into the Future,’ and Mid- to Long-term Vision, ‘Connect with Fans.'”
Comment from Toshimoto Mitomo, Chief Strategy Officer, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Sony Group Corporation
“Through this partnership, we aim to co-create an array of content and experiences that exceed expectations and deliver Kando (emotion) to even more fans, alongside Bandai Namco Group, with its outstanding capacity for multidirectional expansion of diverse IP and deep connections with fans at real touchpoints, both domestically and internationally. By combining the strengths of both companies in the field of entertainment and unlocking the potential of compelling IP, we will further accelerate our efforts to maximize IP value and realize Sony’s long-term vision, ‘Creative Entertainment Vision.'”
