Bandai Namco Holdings

Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. (BNHD)[lower-alpha 1], also known as the Bandai Namco Group and generally Bandai Namco, is a Japanese holding company which was formed from the merger of Bandai and Namco on September 29, 2005.[3] It 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]

For the video game publisher and developer, see Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Bandai Namco Holdings Inc.
Bandai Namco, BNHD
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 KK
TYO: 7832
IndustryEntertainment
Founded29 September 2005 (2005-09-29)
HeadquartersSumitomo Fudosan Mita Building,
Minato, Tokyo
,
Japan
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Shukuo Ishikawa
  • (Chairman)
  • Mitsuaki Taguchi
  • (President)
Products
Revenue ¥678.312 billion[1] (2020)
¥732.3 billion[1] (2020)
¥84 billion[1] (2020)
Total assets ¥540.49 billion[1] (2020)
Total equity ¥387.354 billion[1] (2020)
Number of employees
18,778[2] (2020)
SubsidiariesSee list
Websitewww.bandainamco.co.jp
Footnotes / references
"Bandai Namco Group Integrated Report 2019". Bandai Namco Holdings. 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.

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

Corporate history

Bandai
Main article: Bandai § History

Bandai started in the 1950s as a toy manufacturing company in Japan. During the 1960s, Bandai expanded their business portfolio to include export sales. The 1970s provided Bandai with success through their racing car sets. Bandai established Bandai America Inc. in 1978 in order to have a sales and marketing distributor for western markets. By the 1990s, Bandai was Japan's leading toy company and consumer product licensor for popular franchises such as Power Rangers and Digimon. During the late 1990s, Sega expressed an interest in merging with Bandai, however, plans fell through for this merger due to differing corporate culture.

Namco
Main article: Namco § History

Namco started in 1955 as a children's entertainment company in Japan under the name Nakamura Manufacturing. In 1958, they eventually expanded their business by manufacturing arcade machines, and through a company reorganization, the company was renamed to Nakamura Amusement Machine Manufacturing Company, through the acronym "NAMCO". In 1974, Namco purchased Atari Inc. Japan for $500'000 including liabilities. The purpose of this acquisition was for a capital injection for Atari Japan in exchange for Namco to be a publisher for Atari games in Japan. In 1978, Namco created a subsidiary in the United States in order to license Namco games to western publishers.

Namco's debut into the video game industry was through a game called Gee Bee. Their next, Galaxian was the first video game to project RGB color spectrum. It was on their third arcade debut, Pac-Man, that Namco gained worldwide acclaim and pop culture relevancy, and as a result, made Pac-Man the definitive mascot for the company. Namco continued their success in the video gaming industry by contributing to the Golden Age of arcades and home console gaming with notable franchises such as Tekken, Soulcalibur and Tales.

Merger

Namco Bandai Holdings was created in 2005, when Bandai and Namco performed a management integration.[7] Officially, Namco was purchased by Bandai for $1.7 billion.[8][9] 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,[10] 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.

Acquisitions and subsidiaries

On March 31, 2006, Namco and Bandai's video game operations merged into Bandai Namco Games Inc. (BNGI, Now known as Bandai Namco Entertainment).[11] Namco's arcade and facility management continue under the name of Namco Ltd.[11]

In September 2006, BNHD acquired CCP Co., Ltd. from Casio and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.[12][13] BNHD have since fully acquired developers Banpresto (whose video game operations were absorbed into Bandai Namco Games on April 1, 2008)[14] 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.[15]

Namco Bandai bought a 34% stake in Atari Europe on May 14, 2009, paving the way for its acquisition from Infogrames.[16] Until June 30, 2012, Infogrames had the option to sell the other 66% in Atari Europe to NBHD.[17] Between June 31, 2012, to June 20, 2013, Bandai Namco gained the option to acquire the 66% stake.[18] 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.[19]

Bandai Namco took over D3 Publisher on March 18, 2009,[20] after first acquiring a 95% stake in the company.[21] In August 2013, Bandai Namco opened a studio in Vancouver, broadening its reach for western demographics.[22]

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.[23]

Organization

Bandai Namco Holdings is currently organized into three Strategic Business Units, supplemented by Affiliated Business Companies that provide logistical support.[24] The SBUs consist of Entertainment Unit (Toys and video games), IP Production Unit (production and distribution of anime and music) and Amusement Unit (theme parks).

Organizational history

The organization of BNHD has changed considerably since the merger. In 2007, NBHD consisted of 5 SBUs (strategic business unit) and the Affiliated Business Companies.[25] In April 2009, the Game Contents SBU and the Network SBU were merged,[26] and since April 2010, NBHD has consisted of three SBUs and the Affiliated Business Companies.[27]

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).[28]

Toys & Hobby Unit

The Toys & Hobby Unit is mainly made up of the former Bandai's toy-making facilities and regional subsidiaries.[29][30]

  • Bandai Co., Ltd.
    • Bandai S.A.
    • Bandai UK Ltd.
    • Bandai España S.A.
    • Bandai GmbH
    • Bandai Polska SP.ZO.O
    • Bandai (H.K.) Co., Ltd.
    • Bandai Asia Co., Ltd.
    • Bandai Korea Co., Ltd.
    • Creative Works Co., Ltd.
    • Bandai (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.
    • Bandai Taiwan Co., Ltd.
    • Bandai South Asia Pte., Ltd.
    • Bandai Industrial Co., Ltd.
    • Bandai (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    • Bandai America Inc.
    • Bandai Corporacion Mexico S.A. de C.V.
  • Megahouse Corporation
  • CCP Co., Ltd.
  • Seeds Co., Ltd.
  • Plex Co., Ltd.
  • People Co., Ltd.
  • Sun-Star Stationary Co., Ltd.
  • Fujiya Co.

Network Entertainment Unit

The Network Entertainment Unit is responsible for all video game products, including games for home consoles, arcades, mobile platforms,[31] and anime production and distribution. The bulk of these facilities are made up by the former Namco, also with Banpresto, D3 Publisher and the Sunrise anime production company, along with the following:

Asia
Bandai Namco Holdings - Content SBU Asia
Parent Company Subsidiary Location Notes
Bandai Namco Entertainment Bandai Namco Entertainment Tokyo, Japan Merged from video game development divisions of Bandai and Namco in 2006.
Bandai Namco Studios Tokyo, Japan
Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia Singapore
Bandai Namco Entertainment Korea South Korea
Bandai Namco Entertainment Taiwan Taiwan
Bandai Namco Entertainment HK (Hong Kong) Hong Kong
Bandai Namco Studios Singapore Singapore
Bandai Namco Studios Malaysia[32] Malaysia
D3 Publisher D3 Go![33] Founded in 1992. Acquired in 2009.
Bandai Namco Arts Bandai Namco Arts Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Bandai Visual
Emotion
Lantis
Actas
Tsuburaya Productions Hachimanyama, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan Fields Corporation owns 51%
Bandai Channel
Sunrise Sunrise Music Publishing[34]
Sunrise USA
Bandai Namco Pictures		 Suginami, Tokyo

America
  • Bandai Namco Entertainment America
  • Bandai Namco Online

Europe
Bandai Namco Holdings - Content SBU Europe
Parent Company Subsidiary Location Notes
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe
Bandai Namco Entertainment France Cergy-Pontoise, France
Bandai Namco Entertainment Hellas (Greece) Alexandroupoli, Greece
Bandai Namco Entertainment Nordic Stockholm, Sweden
Bandai Namco Entertainment Portugal
Bandai Namco Entertainment Iberica Madrid, Spain
Bandai Namco Entertainment Italy Milan, Italy
Bandai Namco Entertainment Germany Frankfurt, Germany
Bandai Namco Entertainment UK London, England
Bandai Namco Entertainment Romania Bucharest, Romania

Former subsidiaries

Real Entertainment Unit

The Real Entertainment Unit oversees the company's theme parks and the management of its own arcades, most of which were acquired through the merger with Namco.

Affiliated business companies
  • Artpresto Co. Ltd.
  • Bandai Logipal Inc./Logipal Express Inc.
  • Bandai Namco Business Arc Inc.
  • Bandai Namco Will Inc.
  • Happinet
  • Kaikaya Limited
  • Sotsu

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. 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.
  3. "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. "Corporate Data | About Company | BANDAI NAMCO Holdings". Bandainamco.co.jp. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  5. Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) Inc. introduction, Bandai Namco, retrieved 4 August 2010
  6. "Revenue of major toy companies worldwide 2017". Statista. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  7. "NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. – News". Archived from the original on 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  8. Zaun, Todd (3 May 2005). "INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; Power Rangers Meet Pac-Man in $1.7 Billion Deal" – via NYTimes.com.
  9. "May 2, 2005: Namco And Bandai Merger - Press Releases - News - Vending Times". www.vendingtimes.com.
  10. "Tekken's worldwide domination continues as it goes online for the first time on the PlayStation 3 system". Namco Bandai Games America Inc. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  11. http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/en/releases/images/3/26785.pdf
  12. "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.
  13. About Company - History, Namco Bandai Holdings Inc., retrieved 31 December 2010
  14. "Games, reviews, previews, nieuws, tips, video's en trailers - IGN Benelux". Uk.games.ign.com. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  15. "About Company - History". Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  16. "Namco Bandai To Swallow Atari Europe". Edge. 2009-05-14. Archived from the original on 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
  17. Schilling, Mark (2008-09-10). "Namco Bandai buys Infogrames stake". Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  18. "Infogrames And Namco Bandai's Europe Joint Venture". kotaku.com. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  19. "Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. Fully Acquires Three Companies". Reuters. 2009-11-05. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  20. "D3 Publosher Addresses Bandai Namco takeover - Edge Magazine". 2009-03-18. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  21. "Namco Bandai Acquires D3 Publisher | News | Edge Online". 2009-03-18. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  22. "Namco Bandai Opens Social Gaming Development Studio In Vancouver". Vending Times. September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  23. https://www.thegamer.com/bandai-namco-gundam-franchise-purchase/
  24. "About Company". BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  25. Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. Annual Report 2007 (PDF), Namco Bandai Holdings, retrieved 21 December 2010
  26. Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. Annual Report 2009 (PDF), Namco Bandai Holdings, retrieved 21 December 2010
  27. Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. Annual Report 2010 (PDF), Namco Bandai Holdings, retrieved 21 December 2010
  28. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bandai-namco-appoints-new-president-ahead-of-plans-to-merge-toy-and-game-units/
  29. Toys and Hobby, Namco Bandai, archived from the original on 29 May 2010, retrieved 19 October 2010
  30. Global Development, Bandai, archived from the original on 3 November 2010, retrieved 19 October 2010
  31. "Game Contents | Strategic Business Units |NAMCO BANDAI Holdings". 2009-04-04. Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  32. "BANDAI NAMCO Studios Malaysia". Malaysia Studio. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  33. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2017-03-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  34. "Sunrise Establishes Sunrise Beyond Studio at Xebec's Current Address". Anime News Network. March 5, 2019.
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