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Did Sony Buy Kadokawa or FromSoftware? What the 2024 Deal Actually Said

Kadokawa confirmed Sony’s initial letter of intent in November 2024, but the companies’ December announcement was a strategic alliance and planned minority stake—not a full buyout.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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No. Kadokawa confirmed on November 20, 2024, that it had received an initial letter of intent to acquire its shares, but said it had made no decision. On December 19, Sony and Kadokawa announced a different outcome: a strategic alliance and a planned share purchase that would give Sony approximately 10% of Kadokawa—not a full buyout.

What Kadokawa confirmed in November 2024

On November 20, Kadokawa responded to press reports about a possible Sony acquisition. The company confirmed that it had received an initial letter of intent to acquire Kadokawa shares, while saying the information in the reports had not been announced by Kadokawa itself and that no decision had been made at that time. It said it would disclose material facts in a timely and appropriate manner.

The notice was signed by Kadokawa representative and CEO Takeshi Natsuno. The English notice is a translation; it says the Japanese original prevails if the two versions differ. Read Kadokawa’s November 20 notice.

What Sony and Kadokawa announced next

On December 19, 2024, the companies announced a strategic capital and business alliance. Under the announced terms, Kadokawa would issue 12,054,100 new shares to Sony for approximately ¥50 billion. Sony said that after the acquisition, including shares it had previously acquired, it would hold approximately 10% of Kadokawa and become its largest shareholder.

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Sony’s investor-relations announcement said the proposal to acquire shares began in October 2024. At the time of the December announcement, Sony said it did not plan to acquire additional Kadokawa shares after the agreed purchase. The announcement described a minority investment and business alliance, not an acquisition of the whole company. Read Sony’s December 19 announcement.

Question November 20, 2024 notice December 19, 2024 announcement
Transaction status Kadokawa confirmed receipt of an initial letter of intent; it said no decision had been made. The companies announced an alliance and a planned share acquisition.
Ownership No resulting ownership percentage was announced in the notice. Sony said it would hold approximately 10% of Kadokawa after the acquisition, including previously acquired shares.
Business arrangement No alliance terms were announced in the notice. The companies announced a strategic capital and business alliance.

Why FromSoftware and Elden Ring were part of the story

Kadokawa is the parent company of FromSoftware, the developer of Elden Ring. That connection explains why gaming coverage highlighted Sony’s interest in Kadokawa shares. But the December announcement did not say Sony was buying Kadokawa outright, and it does not establish that the proposed transaction itself changed ownership of Elden Ring or its release availability. Contemporary reporting on the November proposal.

What the announced alliance was intended to do

Sony and Kadokawa said they wanted to strengthen collaboration and increase the global value of their intellectual property. Their stated possibilities included investing jointly in content, discovering new creators, and promoting media mixes. These were announced intentions, not confirmation that any particular project had been completed.

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What this means for Kadokawa shareholders

The distinction matters if you are assessing the news as an investor: an initial letter of intent is not a completed acquisition, and the later announcement set out a share issuance and alliance rather than a full-company sale. The approximately ¥50 billion figure was the announced price for the specified new-share purchase; it was not a valuation of a completed full buyout.

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The December announcement establishes the companies’ stated plan and Sony’s expected stake at that time. It does not by itself establish Sony’s holdings or any later transaction status as of October 8, 2026. For a current investment decision, check subsequent company disclosures rather than treating the 2024 announcement as a current ownership update.

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