Announcement of the Acquisition of MOZOO Inc.

SHIFT Inc. (“SHIFT,” headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Masaru Tange, CEO and Representative Director) hereby announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, DICO Co., Ltd (“DICO,” headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Emilio Gallego, Representative Director) has resolved, at a meeting of the Board of Directors held on December 24th, 2024, to acquire a 100% equity interest in MOZOO Inc. (“MOZOO,” headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Shinji Takehara, Representative Director ), a provider of 3DCG animation production, motion capture related business, motion actor coordinating, motion design and consulting in game production, 3DCG modelling, direction of video contents.
After acquiring the interest, DICO plans to conduct an absorption-type merger.

1.Reasons for the Acquisition
Since launching its software testing business in 2009, SHIFT has provided software quality assurance services across a broad range of industries, from enterprise to entertainment. Although software testing in entertainment area is red ocean, it has been a significant driver to the growth and success of its software testing business by deploying knowledge and technology accumulated through that in enterprise sector.

The domestic gaming industry has recently surpassed ¥2 trillion*1 and continues to grow, with further increases in demand anticipated. SHIFT is also aiming to further expand its market share in the entertainment market. In addition to the software testing business, SHIFT has been promoting the provision of proprietary services such as consulting services for upstream processes and producer support since around 2021. Additionally, in 2021, DICO, a company specializing in localization and game-development, joined the SHIFT Group. Recently, it has announced to acquire the interest in KINSHA Co., Ltd (headquartered in Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, Japan; Shunji Sakata, Representative Director and Chairman; Shinichi Sakata, Representative Director and President) to cultivate new market in entertainment area.
To further grow its business in the entertainment field, the SHIFT Group intends to engage in game development support by entering from IP that serve as the starting point for game development, such as animations.

MOZOO, which will join the SHIFT Group through its DICO, is developing its 3DCG animation production business. Many of the projects it has participated in so far include popular animation, gaming, VTuber, and virtual idols. Based on its track record, knowledge and technological capabilities accumulated over the years, the SHIFT Group is aiming to enhance its brand power in the animation/game domain and participating in game development from the most upstream IP in game development. DICO will be able to build a one-stop system in the game development business, along with MOZOO, which has strengths in animation production.
By participating in SHIFT Group, MOZOO will use the SHIFT Group’s recruitment brands to improve its brand power and build a more stable management foundation.

With MOZOO on board, DICO and the SHIFT Group will continue to strive to further increase its corporate value with the aim of “supporting to create customers’ sellable software services and products.”

*1 KADOKAWA ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc. “Famitsu Game White Paper 2024”

Please refer to the link below for further information.
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