Sony's Bid to Acquire Kadokawa Excites Employees

Sony has officially expressed its intent to acquire the Japanese conglomerate Kadokawa, sparking a wave of enthusiasm among Kadokawa's employees. Despite the potential loss of independence, the workforce remains optimistic about the prospects of this acquisition. Let's delve into the details and understand the broader implications.

Sony And Kadokawa Still In Talks

More Beneficial For Sony Than Kadokawa, Says Analyst

Sony's interest in acquiring Kadokawa has been acknowledged by both parties, yet the deal is still under negotiation with no final decision announced. The potential acquisition has stirred various opinions, with economic analyst Takahiro Suzuki commenting to Weekly Bunshun that the move primarily benefits Sony. As Sony shifts its focus from electronics to entertainment, the acquisition of Kadokawa would allow them to bolster their content portfolio. Kadokawa boasts an impressive library of intellectual properties, including renowned titles such as the anime "Oshi no Ko" and "Dungeon Meshi," and the game "Elden Ring" by FromSoftware.

However, this acquisition means Kadokawa would lose its independence, potentially leading to stricter management. As reported by Automaton West, "Kadokawa will lose its independence, and management will become stricter. If they want to keep developing their business as freely as they have until now, the acquisition would be a bad choice. They’d have to be prepared for publications that don’t lead to IP creation being put under scrutiny."

Kadokawa Employees Reportedly Optimistic On Acquisition

Despite the potential drawbacks, Kadokawa employees are reportedly thrilled about the possibility of being acquired by Sony. Several employees interviewed by the Weekly Bunshun expressed no objections to the acquisition, highlighting a positive atmosphere within the company. The sentiment is encapsulated by their response, "Why not Sony?"

This optimism is partly fueled by dissatisfaction with the current Natsuno administration. A veteran Kadokawa employee shared, "The people around me are thrilled at the prospect of an acquisition by Sony. That’s because there’s a certain number of employees who are dissatisfied with the Natsuno administration, which didn’t even bother to hold a press conference after peoples’ personal information was leaked in the cyberattack. They expect that if Sony were to acquire the company, they would get rid of the president first."

The dissatisfaction stems from a cyberattack by the hacker group BlackSuit in June, which compromised over 1.5 terabytes of internal information, including legal documents, user data, and employees' personal information. The current President and CEO, Takeshi Natsuno, was criticized for his handling of the crisis, leading to widespread discontent among the staff.

In summary, while the acquisition of Kadokawa by Sony presents challenges, particularly regarding independence, the enthusiasm from Kadokawa's employees suggests a hopeful outlook for a new chapter under Sony's wing.