Kadokawa Corporation

This financial report details the consolidated results for KADOKAWA Corporation during the first nine months of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, covering the period from April 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. The data reflects a challenging period for the Japanese media conglomerate, characterized by significant declines in profitability despite relatively stable net sales. Net sales reached 202.9 billion yen, a slight 1.7% decrease year-on-year, while operating profit plummeted 59.7% to 6.3 billion yen. Net income attributable to owners of the parent fell 70.0% to 2.2 billion yen.

Performance varied significantly across industry segments. The Publication and IP segment saw a 90.2% drop in operating profit due to smaller-scale domestic hits and rising personnel costs, despite growth in overseas markets like the U.S. and Asia. The Animation and Live-Action segment transitioned to an operating loss of 904 million yen, attributed to a higher ratio of new, less established titles compared to the previous year’s major hits. The Game segment, led by FromSoftware, reported an 11.6% revenue decline; while the new title Elden Ring Nightreign performed well, it could not match the high bar set by the previous year’s Elden Ring expansion and repeat sales. Conversely, the Web Services and Education/EdTech segments showed resilience, with Web Services recovering from prior cyberattack impacts to post a 21.5% increase in sales.

Strategically, the company continued its "Global Media-Mix with Technology" initiative, expanding its international footprint through the acquisition of Edizioni BD in Italy and SOZO Pte. Ltd. in Singapore. These moves aim to strengthen IP recognition and D2C capabilities in Europe and Southeast Asia. Despite the quarterly downturn, the company maintained its full-year forecast, projecting 278.2 billion yen in net sales and 10.3 billion yen in operating profit, while confirming a planned annual dividend of 30 yen per share.

KADOKAWA Corporation has authorized the disposal of treasury shares to support its performance-linked stock remuneration system. This strategic financial move involves the issuance of 903,100 shares of common stock at a price of 3,250 yen per share, totaling approximately 2.94 billion yen. The transaction is scheduled for completion on February 18, 2026, with the shares being allocated to a trust account managed by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.

The primary objective of this disposal is to sustain an incentive program designed for executive officers of KADOKAWA and directors of its subsidiaries, including entities such as Dwango and KADOKAWA Future Publishing. By utilizing a trust-based system established in 2017, the company aims to align executive compensation with shareholder value and long-term corporate growth. The disposal price was determined based on the closing market price of the stock on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the business day immediately preceding the board's resolution, ensuring an objective and fair valuation.

The scope of this action affects the broader KADOKAWA group within the Japanese media and gaming industry. The total number of shares being disposed of represents a dilution of 0.61% relative to the total issued shares and voting rights as of September 30, 2025. Management has concluded that this level of dilution is reasonable and will have a negligible impact on the secondary market. The trust is structured as a third-party managed entity, and notably, the voting rights associated with the shares held within the trust will not be exercised during the trust period, which is currently slated to run through August 2027.

KADOKAWA Corporation has formalized a decision to allocate additional funds to its performance-linked stock remuneration plan, facilitating the acquisition of company shares through an established trust mechanism. This strategic move aims to incentivize executive officers of the parent company and directors of its various subsidiaries, excluding outside directors. By aligning executive compensation with corporate performance and shareholder value, the initiative seeks to foster long-term growth and strengthen the commitment of leadership across the group’s diverse business segments.

The transaction involves the acquisition of 903,100 shares of common stock, valued at approximately 2.935 billion yen. These shares will be obtained through the disposal of treasury stock, with the transaction scheduled for completion on February 18, 2026. The trust, originally established in 2017 through the consolidation of previous incentive plans from Dwango and KADOKAWA Future Publishing, serves as the vehicle for this distribution. Under the terms of the trust agreement, voting rights associated with the shares held within the trust will not be exercised, ensuring a neutral impact on corporate governance proceedings during the holding period.

This financial arrangement extends the operational timeline of the existing remuneration framework, with the trust period now projected to conclude at the end of August 2027. The management of the trust remains under the oversight of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and an independent third-party administrator to ensure transparency and adherence to beneficiary requirements. This capital allocation underscores a continued reliance on equity-based incentives to drive executive performance within the Japanese media and entertainment conglomerate.