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U.S. Firm Bain Capital Buys ADK Agency
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
Japanese advertising agency Asatsu-DK announced on Monday that Boston-based investment firm Bain Capital plans to purchase the agency. Bain Capital plans to launch a tender offer on Tuesday, and the total buyout is expected to be 152 billion yen (about US$1.35 billion) if the firm buys all the shares.
Asatsu, Inc. merged with Dai-Ichi Kikaku Co., Ltd. to form Asatsu-DK in 1999, and it is currently Japan's third-largest advertising agency. Asatsu and Dai-Ichi Kikaku were involved with production of anime such as Mazinger Z, Kyojin no Hoshi, and Yōkai Ningen Bem. Asatsu-DK has been involved with production of various Precure, Gundam, Doraemon, and Crayon Shin-chan anime.
Asatsu-DK acquired 84.01% of shares in animation studio Gonzo in 2016. The agency also established Anime Consortium Japan with Bandai Namco Holding Inc. and Aniplex Inc. in 2014.
Sources: Anime! Anime!, Reuters (Junko Fujita)
