POPS Announces Strategic Investment and Alliance with Bandai Namco to Expand Japanese IP Across Southeast Asia

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM and TOKYO, JAPAN – November 10, 2026 – POPS K.K., a Japanese-headquartered digital entertainment and IP management company with operational hubs across Southeast Asia, today announced a strategic investment from Bandai Namco Holdings Inc.

This investment and partnership will accelerate initiatives to expand Japanese IP and entertainment businesses across Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing digital landscape. POPS integrates its robust regional infrastructure – including extensive fan touchpoints, local market expertise, a music catalog exceeding 73,000 tracks, and a network of over 53,000 creators and influencers across Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore – with Bandai Namco’s IP axis strategy and diverse businesses, encompassing toys and hobbies, digital entertainment, visual and music, and amusement.

Through its established digital syndication, local copyright management, and O2O (online-to-offline) event activation frameworks, POPS will engage Southeast Asia’s mobile-first youth demographic to build long-term brand communities. Together, the companies will explore concrete collaborations in content localization and distribution, social media-driven marketing, and offline activations such as IP events and live concerts. Over the medium to long term, the alliance will also pursue partnerships with local ASEAN creators and the development of new business models, aiming to deliver innovative entertainment value across the region.

Esther Nguyen, CEO of POPS

“Securing a strategic investment and partnership from Bandai Namco validates our regional infrastructure, digital distribution architecture, and long-term vision,” said Esther Nguyen, CEO at POPS. “We have spent years building a robust operational network across Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore that seamlessly handles cross-border licensing, digital rights, and multi-platform direct-to-consumer monetization. Together with Bandai Namco, we are creating a direct pipeline that brings world-class music, anime, and physical merchandise directly to millions of fans across ASEAN.”

Nobuhiko Momoi, Executive Vice President and Director

In Charge of Group Strategy (CW360)

Bandai Namco Holdings Inc.

“We believe Southeast Asia is a region with strong interest in Japanese IP and entertainment and significant long-term potential. Historically, the region has served as an important base for the Bandai Namco Group in areas such as toys and hobby production and game development. In recent years, however, its economic growth has been remarkable, and we increasingly see Southeast Asia not only as a business base, but also as an important market where we can further expand IP, products, and services. We are also seeing the presence of Asian fans become increasingly prominent at concerts and events in Japan and around the world.

To continue growing IP while building lasting connections with fans across the region, we believe it is essential to work with partners that have a deep understanding of local markets. By combining POPS’ established fan touchpoints and expertise in media and marketing with the Bandai Namco Group’s diverse portfolio of IP and businesses, we look forward to creating new opportunities together.”