Trading house Sojitsu Holding is set to take 17% of distribution company Klockworx, reports VARIETY. Sojitsu hopes to develop and market content for the international market, including live-action films and animation. Sojitsu will buy current Klockworx shares and will not participate in Klockworx management.
"We plan to set up a project team between our two companies to discuss areas of cooperation," Klockworx vp Itaru Fujimoto said.
Launched in 1997, Klockworx distributes Japanese and foreign titles, including Kenji Uchida's hit comedy A STRANGER OF MINE, Thai martial arts sensation TOM YUM GOONG and Win Wenders' DON'T COME KNOCKING. Its animation library includes FULL METAL PANIC!, SHUFFLE! and TRINITY BLOOD.
Current capitalization is $1.34 million with 2004 sales at $32.6 million.
Sojitsu Holding was formed in April 2004 when Nissho Iwai and Nichimen Holding merged.
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