Anime production company which made 'Sheeps of Sheep' etc. decided to give 75% of the stock to employees

"British animation production studio" Aardman Animations "is famous for working on works such as" Wallace and Gromit "and" Sheen of Sheep "and the 78th" Wallace and Gromit Vegetable Field Great Pinch! " I won an Academy Award for feature length animation prize. It is reported that such Audman Animations made a decision to "put 75% of the stock in a trust and hand it to employees."

Wallace & Gromit producers hand stake in business to staff | Film | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/nov/10/wallace-gromit-producers-hand-stake-in-business-to-staff

Aardman Animation is Giving The Company to Their Employees | The Mary Sue
https://www.themarysue.com/aardman-shares-employees/

Mr. Peter Road and David Sprokston , founder of Ardman Animations founded Aardman Animations when he was still a student. Ardeman Animations, who was engaged in animation work broadcasted at BBC, received high praise at featured stop motion animation film " Chicken Run " published in 2000.

Currently, such as "Wallace and Gromit" and "Sean of Sheep", Aardman Animations has content that boasts worldwide popularity. Affiliated company Ardeman Holdings has earned 3 million pounds (about 4.4 billion yen) in 2018 from license fee in Sheep for Sheep in Japan and Sweden.

In order to keep such Adeoman animations and Aardman Holdings without being acquired by other companies, Mr. Lord and Mr. Sprokston plan to "buy their own stock, put it in a trust, hand it to the employee's hand" It was. And as a result of continuing to fund for many years, it seems that money finally gotten to acquire 75% of the stock without borrowing money at last. About 180 employees, including freelancers, will own the majority of the shares through a trust, and employees who have been working for three months in a year will be able to receive bonuses from stocks.

Two people have spent a lot of time spent animation production and company management since establishing Ardman Animations, "It's not business any longer, we are all," said Lord. They said that they will not retire even after buying back this stock and will continue working in the Ardeman animations.

Mr. Lord said, "It was a strong desire for us to keep independence of Ardeman Animations, making it independent according to the demands of someone else or deciding our own policy It will be gone. " Mr. Road and Mr. Sprokston believe that employees themselves possess a company and that they can pursue further creativity and head towards the company's future.

In addition, it is expected that ownership of the company completely will also have the effect of reducing the risk of being sold to other companies without permission and financial burden. "Employees can be confident that the company and their future are safe as long as they come up with ideas.If you sold Ardeman Animations to a major studio it just becomes an asset on the balance sheet "Sproxton said.

Mr. Lord says, "Our wish is to make" British animation movies. "People all over the world enjoy American movies, but thanks to the different British words and culture, sense of humor, We will appeal to the market. "