Japanese conglomerate Index Corpis streamlining its approximately 70 consolidated subsidiaries to focus on itsoriginal core business of mobile contents.

Non-core interests such asclothing accessories and electronic product manufacturers will be sold off orconsolidated into other group companies. The group aims to reduce the number ofsubsidiaries by around 30% by summer 2007.

The company is alsolaunching a $69.6m (Y8bn) fund which is designed to finance new films,strengthen ties with other film companies and extend overseas sales anddistribution of the company's movies and games.

In addition, with a 20%investment from publishing and toy company Takaratomy, Index will establish alimited liability partnership (LLP) to manage the rights of more than 70animation titles in the Takaratomy-owned Tatsunoko animation library. Tatsunokoproduced classic titles such as SpeedRacer. The titles will be re-released in cinemas and on television as wellas streamed on mobile phones.

Index Corp's movie interestsinclude Madhouse Animation and Nikkatsu, one of Japan's oldest movie studios. Nikkatsu and its vastlibrary of classic films became a wholly owned subsidiary of Index lastSeptember as part of the company's video-on-demand (VOD) strategy.

Index Corp's broadband VODservice Miranca offers streaming and downloadable Hollywood and domestic films, with Nikkatsu licensing itsfirst wave of titles in October. Miranca recently offered a same-dayhigh-resolution release of The Da VinciCode at a price 25% cheaper than the DVD.