Bandai Namco Holdings Explained
Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. |
Native Name: | 株式会社バンダイナムコホールディングス |
Native Name Lang: | ja |
Romanized Name: | Kabushiki-gaisha Bandai Namuko Hōrudingusu |
Type: | Public |
Traded As: | (TOPIX 100 component) |
Former Names: | Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. (2005-2015) |
Hq Location: | Sumitomo Fudosan Mita Building |
Location City: | Minato, Tokyo |
Location Country: | Japan |
Area Served: | Worldwide |
Industry: | Entertainment |
Revenue: | [1] |
Revenue Year: | 2022 |
Income Year: | 2022 |
Net Income Year: | 2021 |
Assets Year: | 2022 |
Equity Year: | 2022 |
Num Employees: | 11,159[2] |
Num Employees Year: | 2024 |
Owners: | As per September 30, 2022:[3] The Master Trust Bank of Japan (21.33%) Trust & Custody Services Bank (9.62%) JPMorgan Chase (4.97%) Nintendo (1.75%) |
Footnotes: | Web site: Bandai Namco Group Integrated Report 2019 . Bandai Namco Holdings . May 17, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200517235639/https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/cgi-bin/releases/index.cgi/file/view/9501?entry_id=6637 . May 17, 2020 . September 13, 2019. |
, commonly known as, is a Japanese entertainment holding company founded in 2005 by the merger of Namco and Bandai. The company specializes in toys, video games, arcades, anime, restaurants, and amusement parks.
The company's headquarters are in Minato, Tokyo.[4] Their US branch, Bandai Namco Holdings USA, was officially formed on January 6, 2008, and handles the US operations of the company from their headquarters in Irvine, California. As of 2017, Bandai Namco was the world's largest toy company measured by total revenue, earning in annual revenue.[5]
History
On May 5, 2005, Namco Ltd. announced it was merging with Bandai Co., Ltd. to form NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. (株式会社バンダイナムコホールディングス), with stock transfer to be completed on September 29.[6]
The merger was finalized on September 25, creating the third-largest video game publisher in Japan by revenue.[7] Bandai purchased Namco for US$1.7 billion, with Namco receiving 43 percent of shares and Bandai receiving the other 57 percent.[8] [9] [10] Officially, Namco was purchased by Bandai for $1.7 billion.[11] [12] 57% of the company's holding went to Bandai while 43% went to Namco. Furthermore, Bandai swapped one of its shares for 1.5 shares of the new Namco Bandai. Namco traded evenly with a one-for-one share,[13] carried out via a share exchange. The shareholders of Namco received one NBHD share for each Namco share and the shareholders of Bandai received 1.5 NBHD shares for each Bandai share. Prior to the merger, Bandai and Namco had various subsidiaries that worked under them. After the merger of Bandai Namco, the respective Bandai and Namco subsidiaries were re-designated into different areas of the combined conglomerate.
On March 31, 2006, Namco merged with Bandai's video game operations to form Namco Bandai Games.[14] [15] Namco's video arcade and amusement park divisions were spun-off into a new subsidiary that retained the Namco branding.[14]
In September 2006, NBHD acquired CCP Co., Ltd. from Casio and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.[16] NBHD have since fully acquired developers Banpresto (whose video game operations were absorbed into Namco Bandai Games on April 1, 2008)[17] and Namco Tales Studio since the merger. Formerly, both were partially owned by Bandai and Namco respectively.
The business of Bandai Networks Co., Ltd. was merged into Namco Bandai Games in April 2009 and Bandai Networks subsequently ceased to exist as a separate company.[18]
Namco Bandai bought a 34% stake in Atari Europe on May 14, 2009, paving the way for its acquisition from Infogrames.[19] Until June 30, 2012, Infogrames had the option to sell the other 66% in Atari Europe to NBHD.[20] Between June 30, 2012, to June 20, 2013, Bandai Namco gained the option to acquire the 66% stake.[21] [22] On July 7, 2009, Bandai Namco Holdings bought 100% of Atari Australia Pty Ltd. BNHD acquired 100% of the shares of Atari Asia Holdings Pty. Ltd. and 100% of the shares of Atari UK Ltd.[23]
Namco Bandai acquired D3 Inc., the parent company of D3 Publisher, on March 18, 2009,[24] after first acquiring a 95% stake in the company.[25] In August 2013, Bandai Namco opened a studio in Vancouver, broadening its reach for western demographics.[26]
In October 2019, Bandai Namco Holdings announced plans to acquire Sotsu, a move which will grant the company rights to the entire Gundam franchise, which the company already holds part of due to owning the studio Sunrise, which is also one of the producers of the series.[27]
The company acquired minority stake in Limbic Entertainment in February 2021.[28] It gained a majority stake in October 2022.[29]
The company unveiled a new logo and a new mission statement in September 2021 which will be implemented starting on April 1, 2022, to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the founding as Bandai five years before the founding of Namco. The company's updated purpose was "the idea of connecting and working together to create things", and plans to work with fans of their games through communication to help plan how the company will go forward. As part of that, the new logo is based on a fukidashi, a speech bubble that represents both the worldwide influence of Japanese manga as well as their efforts to be communicative with players. On February 8, 2022, the company changed the color of their new logo from magenta to rose red.[30]
In July 2022, Bandai Namco confirmed that an unspecified party hacked the company, gaining unauthorized access to internal systems to multiple groups in Asia outside Japan.[31]
Corporate structure
Bandai Namco Holdings is headquartered in the Sumitomo Fudosan Mita Building in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Its North American branch, Bandai Namco Holdings USA, is headquartered in Irvine, California. The company's European and Asian divisions, Bandai Namco Holdings UK and Bandai Namco Holdings Asia, are headquartered in Richmond, London and Central, Hong Kong respectively. In September 2017, Bandai Nanco Holdings established China divisions headquartered in Shanghai.[32]
Bandai Namco Holdings is headed by president Mitsuaki Taguchi and chairman Shukuo Ishikawa, both of whom took their respective positions in 2018. The company's corporate structure is grounded in the relationships between its employees and subsidiaries; Bandai Namco believes that the health and motivation of its employees is necessary to sustain operations, as it allows for additional creative freedom in its array of products. As of 2019, Bandai Namco is the world's largest toy company by revenue, having accumulated over $6.5 billion.[33] [34] It is among the largest and most profitable companies in Japan with over 189.8 billion as of 2020.[35]
In February 2021, Bandai Namco Holdings announced the merger of its business units. As part of the changes to be done in April 2021, it will reduce its operating units from five to three. Toys & Hobby and Network Entertainment Unit (video games) merged to form Entertainment Unit, Visual and Music Production Unit (production and distribution of anime and music) and IP Creation Unit (Production of anime) merged to form IP Production Unit and Real Entertainment Unit was renamed Amusement Unit (theme parks).[36]
Content units and subsidiaries
Prior to the recent reorganization into just three business units, Bandai Namco Holdings was structured into six product areas known as Content Units: Toys and Hobby (toys), Network Entertainment (video games), Real Entertainment (amusement parks), Visual and Music Production (anime and music albums), IP Creation (creation of new intellectual properties), and Affiliated Business (supporting companies).[37] The Network Entertainment Unit serves as the core area of the company, where it is led by Bandai Namco Entertainment, the company's video game publishing arm. Bandai Namco Entertainment owns multiple subsidiaries, including Bandai Namco Studios,[38] B.B. Studio, and D3 Publisher,[39] all of which develop video games for home video game systems and cellular phones across the world.[40] It holds multiple international divisions itself, including offices in the United States, Europe, and Taiwan. Often, the Entertainment division serves as the spearhead for market expansion. It established the Shanghai division in 2015,[41] two years before the Bandai Namco Holdings established its Chinese division.
The Toy and Hobby Unit is led by Bandai, who designs toys and electronic devices based on licenses such as Dragon Ball, Gundam, and Sailor Moon.[42] Bandai Spirits designs toys intended for more mature audiences, alongside prizes for video arcades.[43] MegaHouse designs figurines and toys for candy machines, as does Heart Corporation for seasonal events. Other companies under the unit include Seeds, which produces medical equipment; Plex, a designer of toys based on licensed characters;[44] Sun-Star, which designs and distributes stationery to consumers and Japanese school systems; CCP, a producer of sundries and consumer electronics; and Banpresto Sales, a distributor of prizes for arcades.
Bandai Namco Amusement, known as simply Namco until 2018, heads the Real Entertainment Unit. Amusement designs arcade games and maintains the company's amusement parks, including Namco Namja Town, Wonder Bowl, and its VR Zone locations. Video games designed by Amusement include Time Crisis 5, Star Wars Battle Pod, Pac-Man Racing, and Galaga Fever.[45] In addition, Amusement provides services for Bandai Namco's "Banacoin" digital currency platform and mobile applications to promote events at its arcades. Assisting the company are Bandai Namco Technica and Bandai Namco Amusement Lab, which provide repair services and research & development (R&D) operations respectively.[46] Hanayashiki Co., Ltd. operates Japan's oldest surviving theme park of the same name, while PleasureCast maintains and opens amusement centers across Japan.[47] The Visual and Music Production is hemmed by Bandai Namco Arts and Actas, anime production studios; Highway Star, a music artist manager; and Bandai Namco Live Creative, handling ticket sales and production of live concerts.
Sunrise, a Japanese anime studio known for productions such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Cowboy Bebop, is the center of the IP Production Unit. Sunrise holds three subsidiaries—music copyright manager Sunrise Music, animation planner Sunrise Beyond, and production house Bandai Namco Pictures[48] —which are also part of the unit. Sotsu is an advertising agency that also provides planning and productions for anime series such as Gundam. Bandai Namco's Affiliated Business comprises companies that provide additional support and resources. Companies under this unit include the product distributors Bandai Logipal and Logipal Express, finance manager Bandai Namco Business Arc, day care facility operator Kaikaya, toy distributor Happinet, graphic design studio Artpresto,[49] and disability supporter Bandai Namco Will.
Bandai Namco Shanghai Base
Bandai Namco Shanghai Base |
Native Name: | 万代南梦宫上海文化中心 |
Location: | 179 Yichang Road, Shanghai, Shanghai, China |
Coordinates: | 31.2555°N 121.4465°W |
Inauguration Date: | October 2012 |
Owner: | Shanghai West Enterprise Group Co., Ltd. |
Floor Area: | 10,000m² |
Bandai Namco Shanghai Base, originally Qianshuiwan Culture Center, is a performance center located in Putuo District, Shanghai, China. The building opened to the public in 2012 and was renamed to its current name in 2017. It contains the theatre "Bandai Namco Dream Hall" and several smaller studios and practice spaces.[50] [51]
Notes and References
- Book: Consolidated Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2023 . November 10, 2022 . Bandai Namco Holdings . November 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221122085315/https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/files/E_2023E5B9B43E69C88E69C9FE7ACAC2E59B9BE58D8AE69C9F.pdf . November 22, 2022 . live.
- Web site: Our Businesses . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328141312/https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/en/group/index.html . March 28, 2023 . live.
- Book: Shareholders - Share and Bond - IR Information. Bandai Namco Holdings. February 18, 2022.
- Web site: Corporate Data | About Company | BANDAI NAMCO Holdings . Bandainamco.co.jp . June 28, 2014 . February 27, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150227081103/http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/en/about/profile/index.html . live .
- Web site: Revenue of major toy companies worldwide 2017 . . June 15, 2018 . en . April 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190402054544/https://www.statista.com/statistics/241241/revenue-of-major-toy-companies-worldwide/ . live .
- Web site: ナムコとバンダイの共同持株会社設立による経営統合に関するお知らせ.
- Web site: Feldman. Curt. Bandai, Namco to merge. GameSpot. 13 December 2005. 9 February 2020. 8 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140408161928/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bandai-namco-to-merge/1100-6123385/. live.
- Web site: Karlin. David. Bandai and Namco Finalize Merger Details. 1UP.com. 21 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20140312025357/http://www.1up.com/news/bandai-namco-finalize-merger-details. 2014-03-12. dead. With around 1800 employees, Bandai Namco Games will be established on March 31st, 2006.. 1 November 2006.
- Web site: 株式会社バンダイナムコホールディングス 2005年度事業報告書. Bandai Namco Holdings . 2006 . 6 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905032336/http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/ir/library/pdf/communication/2006_report.pdf. 2015-09-05. dead.
- Web site: NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. – News . https://web.archive.org/web/20100624080218/http://www.namcobandaigames.com/news/222 . June 24, 2010 . March 8, 2016.
- Web site: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; Power Rangers Meet Pac-Man in $1.7 Billion Deal. Todd. Zaun. May 3, 2005. NYTimes.com. September 8, 2017. February 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100209030954/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html. live.
- Web site: May 2, 2005: Namco And Bandai Merger - Press Releases - News - Vending Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032933/http://www.vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=Article+Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications::Article&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=2A78FD4FB13F4398916283EC2AB2A0A7. dead. March 4, 2016. www.vendingtimes.com.
- Web site: Tekken's worldwide domination continues as it goes online for the first time on the PlayStation 3 system. January 23, 2011. Namco Bandai Games America Inc.. April 8, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140408161928/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bandai-namco-to-merge/1100-6123385/. live.
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- News: NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. Announces Acquisition of CCP Co., Ltd.. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412020252/https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/keyDevelopments?symbol=7832.T&pn=6. dead. April 12, 2015. December 31, 2010. September 12, 2006. Reuters.
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- Web site: Infogrames in distribution deal with Namco Bandai. September 9, 2008. www.reuters.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20230823003207/https://www.reuters.com/article/infogrames-namco-idUSL929794120080909 . August 23, 2023 . live.
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- News: Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. Fully Acquires Three Companies. December 11, 2010. November 5, 2009. Reuters. December 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191210100631/https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/keyDevelopments?symbol=7832.T. live.
- Web site: D3 Publosher Addresses Bandai Namco takeover - Edge Magazine . https://web.archive.org/web/20120531081414/http://www.edge-online.com/news/d3-publisher-addresses-namco-bandai-takeover. May 31, 2012. Edge. March 18, 2009 . March 8, 2016.
- Web site: Namco Bandai Acquires D3 Publisher | News | Edge Online . Edge . March 18, 2009 . March 8, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130404012738/http://www.edge-online.com/news/namco-bandai-acquires-d3-publisher/ . April 4, 2013 .
- News: Namco Bandai Opens Social Gaming Development Studio In Vancouver. Vending Times. September 1, 2013. September 4, 2013.
- Web site: Bandai Namco is Trying to Buy the Entire Gundam Franchise . October 13, 2019 . October 18, 2019 . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210209110342/https://www.thegamer.com/bandai-namco-gundam-franchise-purchase/ . live .
- Web site: Bandai Namco take minority stake in Might & Magic dev Limbic Entertainment . James . Batchelor . February 23, 2021 . February 23, 2021 . . February 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210223140913/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-02-23-bandai-namco-take-minority-stake-in-might-and-magic-dev-limbic-entertainment. live.
- Web site: 2022-10-06 . Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe acquires majority stake in Limbic Entertainment . 2024-06-03 . Gematsu . en-US . October 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221006083619/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/10/bandai-namco-entertainment-europe-acquires-majority-stake-in-limbic-entertainment. live.
- Web site: Bandai Namco Group announces new purpose and logo, as Activision Blizzard plans to renew partnership with Bandai Namco and Square Enix . Sal . Romano . September 30, 2021 . September 30, 2021 . Gematsu . October 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211001020433/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/09/bandai-namco-group-announces-new-purpose-logo. live.
- Web site: Bandai Namco Acknowledges Possible Data Leak After Hack . . July 13, 2022 . July 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220713173412/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-07-13/bandai-namco-acknowledges-possible-data-leak-after-hack/.187643. live.
- Web site: BANDAI NAMCO to establish China unit . S&P Global Market Intelligence . 21 September 2017 . July 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230719154311/https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/blog/insight-weekly-july-11-2023. live.
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- News: Bandai Namco appoints new president ahead of plans to merge toy and game units . VGC . February 8, 2021 . February 8, 2021 . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210209110305/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bandai-namco-appoints-new-president-ahead-of-plans-to-merge-toy-and-game-units/ . live .
- Web site: Bandai Namco Holdings Integrated Report 2019 . Bandai Namco Holdings . August 5, 2020 . March 31, 2019.
- Web site: Kerr . Chris . Bandai Namco Studios Vancouver has shut down . . . June 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190926160823/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/330885/Bandai_Namco_Studios_Vancouver_has_shut_down.php . September 26, 2019 . November 16, 2018.
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