HarperCollins Shapes European Manga Landscape with Crunchyroll Acquisition
Deal News | Aug 11, 2025 | Addleshaw Goddard
International law firm Addleshaw Goddard is advising HarperCollins Publishers on the acquisition of Crunchyroll’s manga publishing operations in Germany and France. The completion of the acquisition is anticipated by the second half of 2025, contingent on regulatory approvals. Addleshaw Goddard’s advisory team consists of a cross-border group of experts from Germany and France, leveraging their specialization in corporate, commercial, IP, tax, and employment law. Hashidate Law, a Tokyo-based, formally allied law firm, provided expertise on Japanese law. The seller, Crunchyroll, was represented by legal advisors Mayer Brown in both Germany and France.
Sectors
- Publishing
- Legal Services
- Media and Entertainment
Geography
- Germany – The acquisition involves Crunchyroll's manga operations in Germany.
- France – The acquisition involves Crunchyroll's manga operations in France.
- Japan – Hashidate Law, based in Tokyo, provided Japanese legal advice as the operations are part of Sony's Crunchyroll.
Industry
- Publishing – HarperCollins is acquiring the manga publishing operations of Crunchyroll, making this relevant to the publishing industry.
- Legal Services – The transaction involves advisory services provided by law firms Addleshaw Goddard and Mayer Brown.
- Media and Entertainment – Crunchyroll's operations pertain to manga publishing, a segment of the media and entertainment industry.
Financials
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| HarperCollins Publishers | Buyer | Company | A major publishing company acquiring Crunchyroll's manga operations. |
| Crunchyroll | Target | Company | A media company known for streaming anime and manga content, selling its manga operations in Europe. |
| Addleshaw Goddard | Legal Advisor | Company | An international law firm advising HarperCollins on the acquisition. |
| Mayer Brown | Legal Advisor | Company | A law firm advising Crunchyroll on the transaction. |
| Hashidate Law | Legal Advisor | Company | A Tokyo-based firm providing advice on Japanese law as part of the transaction. |