Bandai Namco Holdings

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"Bandai Namco" redirects here. For the video game publisher, see Bandai Namco Entertainment.
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
Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Hōrudingusu
TypePublic
Traded as
TYO: 7832
IndustryEntertainment
Founded29 September 2005; 15 years ago (2005-09-29)
HeadquartersSumitomo Fudosan Mita Building,
Minato, Tokyo
,
Japan
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Mitsuaki Taguchi
  • (Chairman)
  • Masaru Kawaguchi
  • (President)
Products
  • Toys
  • Anime
  • Video games
  • Amusement parks
RevenueIncrease ¥678.312 billion[1] (2020)
Increase ¥732.3 billion[1] (2020)
Net income
Increase ¥84 billion[1] (2020)
Total assetsIncrease ¥540.49 billion[1] (2020)
Total equityIncrease ¥387.354 billion[1] (2020)
Number of employees
18,778[2] (2020)
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.bandainamco.co.jp
Footnotes / references
"Bandai Namco Group Integrated Report 2019". Bandai Namco Holdings. 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.

Bandai Namco Holdings Inc.,[a] also known as the Bandai Namco Group and generally Bandai Namco, is a Japanese holding company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, formed from the merger of Bandai and Namco on September 29, 2005.[3] The company specializes in toys, video games, arcades, anime, and amusement parks. Bandai Namco also supply various arcade machines to movie theaters and arcades across the globe.[4] As of March 2021, it is the third largest video game holding companies in Japan in terms of revenue and market capitalization, after Sony Interactive Entertainment and Nintendo, ahead of Sega Sammy Holdings, Konami, and Square Enix.[5]

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 El Segundo, California.[6] As of 2017, Bandai Namco is the world's largest toy company, earning $6.4 billion in annual revenue.[7]

History[]

Namco Bandai Holdings was created in 2005, when toy maker Bandai and video game developer Namco performed a management integration.[8] Officially, Namco was purchased by Bandai for $1.7 billion.[citation needed][9][10] 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,[11] 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.[3] 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 and Bandai's video game operations merged to form Namco Bandai Games.[12][13] Namco's video arcade and amusement park divisions were spun-off into a new subsidiary that retained the Namco branding.[12]

In September 2006, BNHD acquired CCP Co., Ltd. from Casio and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.[14][15] BNHD have since fully acquired developers Banpresto (whose video game operations were absorbed into Bandai Namco Games on April 1, 2008)[16] 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 Bandai Namco Games in April 2009 and Bandai Networks subsequently ceased to exist as a separate company.[17]

Namco Bandai bought a 34% stake in Atari Europe on May 14, 2009, paving the way for its acquisition from Infogrames.[18] Until June 30, 2012, Infogrames had the option to sell the other 66% in Atari Europe to NBHD.[19] Between June 31, 2012, to June 20, 2013, Bandai Namco gained the option to acquire the 66% stake.[20] On the 7th of July 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.[21]

Bandai Namco acquired D3 Inc., the parent company of D3 Publisher, on March 18, 2009,[22] after first acquiring a 95% stake in the company.[23] In August 2013, Bandai Namco opened a studio in Vancouver, broadening its reach for western demographics.[24]

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 and due to Bandai being one of the producers of the series.[25]

The company acquired minority stake in Limbic Entertainment in February 2021.[26]

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, has offices in Anaheim and El Segundo (both in Southern California). The company's European and Asian divisions, Bandai Namco Holdings UK and Bandai Namco Holdings Asia, are respectively headquartered in Richmond, London and Central, Hong Kong.

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.[27][28] It is among the largest and most profitable companies in Japan with over ¥189.8 billion as of 2020.[29]

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).[30]

Content units and subsidiaries[]

Bandai Namco Holdings' corporate headquarters in Minato

Bandai Namco Holdings is 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).[31] 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,[32] B.B. Studio, and D3 Publisher,[33] all of which develop video games for home video game systems and cellular phones across the world.[34] It holds multiple international divisions itself, including offices in the United States, Europe, and Taiwan.

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.[35] Bandai Spirits designs toys intended for more mature audiences, alongside prizes for video arcades.[36] 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;[37] 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.[38] 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.[39] Hanayashiki Co., Ltd. operates Japan's oldest surviving theme park of the same name, while PleasureCast maintains and opens amusement centers across Japan.[40] 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 Creation Unit. Sunrise holds three subsidiaries—music copyright manager Sunrise Music, animation planner Sunrise Beyond, and production house Bandai Namco Pictures[41]—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,[42] and disability supporter Bandai Namco Will.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Japanese: 株式会社バンダイナムコホールディングス, Hepburn: Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Hōrudingusu

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Consolidated Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018. Bandai Namco Holdings. May 9, 2018. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  2. ^ "Bandai Namco Group". Bandai Namco Group. Archived from the original on 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bandai, Namco to merge in Sept to form Japan's No 3 toy, game group - UPDATE 2", Forbes.com, 5 February 2005, archived from the original on 14 August 2011, retrieved 20 December 2010
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Corporate Data | About Company | BANDAI NAMCO Holdings". Bandainamco.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2015-02-27. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  5. ^ "Top 25 gaming companies". Newzoo.com. 2015. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  6. ^ Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) Inc. introduction, Bandai Namco, retrieved 4 August 2010
  7. ^ "Revenue of major toy companies worldwide 2017". Statista. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  8. ^ "NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. – News". Archived from the original on 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  9. ^ Zaun, Todd (3 May 2005). "INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; Power Rangers Meet Pac-Man in $1.7 Billion Deal". Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  10. ^ "May 2, 2005: Namco And Bandai Merger - Press Releases - News - Vending Times". www.vendingtimes.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  11. ^ "Tekken's worldwide domination continues as it goes online for the first time on the PlayStation 3 system". Namco Bandai Games America Inc. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2017-07-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ Karlin, David (January 11, 2006). "Bandai and Namco Finalize Merger Details". 1UP.com. IGN. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  14. ^ "NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. Announces Acquisition of CCP Co., Ltd". Reuters. 2006-09-12. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  15. ^ About Company - History, Namco Bandai Holdings Inc., archived from the original on 23 July 2011, retrieved 31 December 2010
  16. ^ "Games, reviews, previews, nieuws, tips, video's en trailers - IGN Benelux". Uk.games.ign.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
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  26. ^ Batchelor, James (23 February 2021). "Bandai Namco take minority stake in Might & Magic dev Limbic Entertainment". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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  37. ^ Rafael Antonio Pineda (February 2, 2019). "Bandai's Plex Subsidiary to Absorb Tamagotchi Developer Wiz". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
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  39. ^ Kidwell, Emma (July 20, 2018). "Bandai Namco Amusement Lab Inc. established for VR arcade development". Gamasutra. UBM Technology Group. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
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  42. ^ "Work starts on Japanese packaging factory in Hà Nam". Việt Nam News. Vietnam News Agency. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2020.

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