Anime enthusiasts would be jealous of the lawyers at Kelly Hart & Hallman and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher who just handled Sony Pictures’ majority stake purchase of Flower Mound-based Funimation, the anime distributor giant behind titles such as “Dragon Ball Z,” “Cowboy Bebop,” and “One Piece.”
The company is valued at approximately $150 million, according to Sony’s press release.
Flower Mound-based Funimation licenses and distributes Japanese anime content in the U.S., and operates the subscription streaming service, FunimationNOW, which is available via the PlayStation Store, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Apps, Xbox Store and mobile devices. The company also sells merchandise and DVDs on its website.
Funimation turned to Kelly Hart partners Benton Cantey and Evan Malloy to lead its end of the deal. The Fort Worth-based Kelly Hart team also included corporate associates Jarratt Watkins, Drew Neill and John Phair. Partner Tom Hegi advised on tax matters.
In 2011, Kelly Hart represented Funimation’s previous owner, Navarre Corp., when it sold the anime distributor to a group of investors led by Funimation CEO Gen Fukunaga for $24 million.
Dallas corporate partner Robert Little of Gibson Dunn led Sony’s end of the deal. Dallas corporate associates Joseph Orien and Eric Pacifici were also involved, as well as California-based attorneys from the firm’s media, entertainment and technology practice group.
J.P. Morgan acted as Funimation’s exclusive financial advisor.