News
Takara Buys Broccoli and Atlus
posted on by Jonathan Mays
Toy company takes over studio, Synch-Point parent company
The Takara toy company of Japan is purchasing a majority share of Broccoli, anime/manga studio and owner of Synch-Point, Anime Gamers! and Broccoli Books. Takara and Broccoli have a long history of cooperation--most recently in Beyblade and Di Gi Charat--but their new relationship lays the foundation for more extensive collaboration in future works.
Among Takara/Broccoli's future plans is to develop a new "original character" to serve as a focal point for business ventures. They also hope to increase emphasis on the overseas market.
Takara announced in August that, by this month, Takara would acquire two million Broccoli shares from Brocoli president Taka'aki Kidani and a further eight million shares from other shareholders. Takara's shares in Broccoli will amount to 51.6% of the company.
Brocolli announced this week a net loss of 1.8 billion yen ($16.5m USD) in the half business year ending August 31st. Many in Japan have speculated that the acquisition of Brocolli by Takara is significantly related to Brocolli's financial losses.
After hitting an all time low of 80 yen in March, from an all time high of 1500 yen in late 2001, Broccoli's stock reached 285 yen immediately following the acquisition announcement and has since levelled off at about 150 yen.
Broccoli International USA was not available to comment on any effects that the mergers may or may not have on their North American operations.
Besides purchasing Broccoli, Takara has announced they have purchased the Japanese Video Game Company Atlus. According to Gamepot, Takara had already acquired 32 percent of Altus' stock in mid-April of this year. The positive results spurred Takara to go from being a majority stockholder of Atlus to its parent company by acquiring additional shares to be issued by Atlus yesterday. Takara acquired 1.7 million additional shares of Atlus stock on November 4th. Altus will be listed as a subsidiary of Takara starting at the beginning of its upcoming fiscal year.
There is no word on how the USA branch of Atlus will be affected.
Among Takara/Broccoli's future plans is to develop a new "original character" to serve as a focal point for business ventures. They also hope to increase emphasis on the overseas market.
Takara announced in August that, by this month, Takara would acquire two million Broccoli shares from Brocoli president Taka'aki Kidani and a further eight million shares from other shareholders. Takara's shares in Broccoli will amount to 51.6% of the company.
Brocolli announced this week a net loss of 1.8 billion yen ($16.5m USD) in the half business year ending August 31st. Many in Japan have speculated that the acquisition of Brocolli by Takara is significantly related to Brocolli's financial losses.
After hitting an all time low of 80 yen in March, from an all time high of 1500 yen in late 2001, Broccoli's stock reached 285 yen immediately following the acquisition announcement and has since levelled off at about 150 yen.
Broccoli International USA was not available to comment on any effects that the mergers may or may not have on their North American operations.
Besides purchasing Broccoli, Takara has announced they have purchased the Japanese Video Game Company Atlus. According to Gamepot, Takara had already acquired 32 percent of Altus' stock in mid-April of this year. The positive results spurred Takara to go from being a majority stockholder of Atlus to its parent company by acquiring additional shares to be issued by Atlus yesterday. Takara acquired 1.7 million additional shares of Atlus stock on November 4th. Altus will be listed as a subsidiary of Takara starting at the beginning of its upcoming fiscal year.
There is no word on how the USA branch of Atlus will be affected.
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