Recent reports suggest that Kadokawa Corporation, the parent company of game developer FromSoftware, might be nudging Sony Group towards acquiring it. Last week, speculations emerged about Kadokawa preparing for a potential purchase by Sony, seemingly to shield itself from a hostile takeover by international corporations, including South Korea’s Kakao Corp. A recent Bloomberg article lends partial credence to these rumors.
### Analysts believe the acquisition aligns with Sony’s best interests, with FromSoftware being an added advantage
Bloomberg reveals that for several years, Kadokawa and Sony have been negotiating. While Kadokawa has pushed for Sony to fully buy the company, Sony has shown more interest in selective investments, focusing on anime and video game intellectual properties.
Microsoft, Tencent, and Kakao have all reportedly shown interest in Kadokawa. However, Bloomberg hasn’t confirmed whether Kadokawa’s actions are indeed aimed at preventing foreign acquisitions in favor of staying with the local Sony Group.
Founded back in 1945, Kadokawa stands as a major force in the anime industry, boasting an impressive catalog of over 100,000 novels and comics. Although the company previously waved off acquisition discussions, with its original founders no longer involved and its status as a publicly listed entity, Kadokawa now appears more open to entertaining offers.
Intriguingly, Bloomberg also notes that rumors of a possible acquisition have driven Kadokawa’s market value up to $4.1 billion, complicating the feasibility of a deal with Sony compared to just a week prior. Additionally, offers may arise from other interested buyers, leaving the future outcome uncertain.
Analysts speaking to Bloomberg have suggested that acquiring Kadokawa would be a fantastic strategic move for Sony. FromSoftware’s value is undeniably substantial, yet the acquisition’s main draw leans more towards Kadokawa’s anime assets than its video games.
