Navarre Evaluates Sale of FUNimation

Mike Ferreira (Editor) — May 28th, 2010 — 20:09
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Navarre Corporation announced that they hired the investment bank Houlihan Lokey. The bank will "assist [Navarre] in structuring and negotiating a potential transaction for the sale" of FUNimation. Navarre stated that "Funimation's recent results have generally met expectations." However, CEO Cary L. Deacon stated that Navarre as a whole will focus its strategy on the company's software publishing and distribution businesses. FUNimation's plans to grow through "co-productions of original anime content, social networks and digital broadcasting," do not fit into these plans, and would best be executed with another owner. Ideally, the owner would have experience or assets in the areas FUNimation plans to fill.

If the sale completes, Navarre will present FUNimation as a "discontinued operation," or a portion of a company that was separated from the rest of the corporation, or is approved to be separated, beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Navarre will discuss the strategy further during the company's fiscal year-end conference call on June 4.

Navarre's plans do not ensure an actual sale of FUNimation. The sky isn't falling, and Dragon Ball Z Kai will continue to roll out as planned.