Sega Sammy Holdings
During mid-2004, Sammy bought a controlling share in Sega Corporation at a cost of $1.1 billion, creating the new company Sega Sammy Holdings, an entertainment conglomerate. Since then, Sega and Sammy became subsidiaries of the aforementioned holding company, with both operating independently, while the executive departments merged. Sammy handed its video game business to Sega to focus on pachinkos and pachislots only. The copyright to the back catalogue of Sammy's video games is owned by Sega.