CEO, founder Ryūta Shiiki will resign as representative director but will still stay with company

Animation studio DLE Inc. announced on Friday that Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings has bought a majority of DLE 's shares for 2.772 billion yen (about US$25.21 million), and has made DLE a subsidiary. Ryūta Shiiki, the company's founder and CEO, will resign from the position of representative director, but will continue his duties at the company, and will continue being a board member without representative rights.

Before the buyout, Shiiki held a 35.69% share of the company, with Hasbro , Inc. owning 3.54% in shares. After the buyout is settled on May 29, Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings will hold 51.96% of the shares, with Shiiki owning 17.15% and Hasbro owning 1.70%.

Japan's Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission reported in February that Japan's Financial Services Agency fined DLE 135.4 million yen (about US$1.22 million) for violating Japan's Financial Instruments and Exchange Law after the company reported inflated sales from falsified transactions. DLE then announced on March 30 that it had sold its shares of the Coyote joint venture to its co-shareholders Toei and and Toei Animation Music Publishing .

DLE was founded in 2001, is perhaps best known for its work on the Eagle Talon anime franchise. The studio's other anime include Sword Gai: The Animation , Ore-tacha Yōkai Ningen , Thermae Romae , Haiyoru! Nyaru-Ani , Glass no Kamen Desu ga , Hakuōki: Otogisōshi , and Insufficient Direction . DLE also produces live-action content and also hosts events such as Tokyo Girls Collection.

DLE also partnered with Chinese film company Shanghai Griffin Film Corporation in 2016 to produce new creative projects in both Japan's and China's animation industries. DLE established an American branch in 2012.

Sources: DLE (link 2), Netlab via Renato Rivera Rusca