Takara to buy majority stake in Atlus

Japanese toy maker Takara has announced that it will purchase 30.2 percent of Atlus' stock at a price of 19.49 billion yen (approximately $158.5 million) by mid-April, which will make Takara the majority shareholder of Atlus. Takara hopes to tie its consumer software sector and its amusement development subsidiary Takara Amusement into Atlus, but the specific details of the deal are still being worked out. Takara vice president Nobuyuki Okude is expected to become the new president of Atlus. The company's current president, Matsuo Iwata, will be given an executive position at Takara. The changes are expected to take place after the stockholder meeting in June.

Takara is known mostly for its Beyblade, a popular toy involving a spinning top. The toy is also the basis for a TV anime series. Atlus is best known for its Megami Tensei and Persona series. We'll post more information as it becomes available.