Krafton Acquires ADK, One of Japan’s Top Three Advertising Firms, for 750 Billion Won to Bolster Global Content Expansion

Krafton has announced the acquisition of ADK, one of Japan’s top three comprehensive advertising agencies, in a landmark deal valued at 75 billion yen (approximately 710.3 billion KRW). The agreement, disclosed on June 24, involves the purchase of BCJ-31 Inc.—the parent company of ADK Group and an affiliate of Bain Capital Japan—securing Krafton a full 100% stake in the organization. As a result, ADK becomes a consolidated subsidiary under Krafton’s portfolio.

ADK is widely recognized as a leading content powerhouse in Japan, having participated in the production committees of over 300 animation titles. The company boasts integrated capabilities from content planning and production to advertising and marketing, with annual transaction volumes reaching roughly 348 billion yen.

Krafton described the acquisition as a strategic move to solidify its business foundation in Japan’s content and media landscape and to explore mid-to-long term growth opportunities, particularly through collaboration between animation and games. By leveraging ADK’s 70 years of accumulated expertise in Japan’s advertising and media infrastructure, Krafton plans to synergize this with its own strength in the gaming sector, seeking to achieve long-term expansion across the broader content industry.

In a statement, Krafton CEO Kim Chang-han expressed his vision for the partnership: “Through collaboration with ADK, we aim to continuously identify new intersection points between gaming and animation, combining the strengths of both companies to create fresh opportunities in the global content industry.”

Despite the announcement, Krafton’s share price on June 25 closed at 357,000 KRW, down 1.24% from the previous trading day. The price fell as much as 4% in early trading, although it recouped some losses later in the day.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo = Krafton