By KANAKO TANAKA/ Staff Writer
November 20, 2024 at 14:24 JST
Sony Group headquarters in Tokyo’s Minato Ward (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Sony Group Corp. is in talks to acquire Kadokawa Corp., a major Japanese publishing house, according to sources on Nov. 19.
The bid is seen as part of Sony’s ongoing strategy to shift its focus from manufacturing consumer electronics to the entertainment industry.
The global conglomerate has been actively pursuing mergers and acquisitions to strengthen its intellectual property portfolio.
Sources indicate that negotiations between the two companies are still in the early stages.
Kadokawa, known for its diverse entertainment portfolio including publishing, film and animation businesses, boasts a number of hit titles.
In 2021, Sony invested in Kadokawa through a third-party allotment, acquiring a 2.1 percent stake. The partnership aimed to combine Kadokawa's intellectual properties with Sony's global reach.
Furthermore, in 2022, Sony invested in FromSoftware Inc., Kadokawa's game subsidiary and the developer of the global hit "Elden Ring."
Sony has set aside a growth investment budget of 1.8 trillion yen ($11.6 billion) for the three years from April 2024 to be used for M&A and similar initiatives.
The company also owns anime production company Aniplex Inc. and Crunchyroll LLC, a U.S.-based anime streaming service.
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