Breaking news: Hoya vend sa division photo "Pentax" a Ricoh!

OPEN LETTER FROM HOYA TO VALUED PENTAX CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS

July 1, 2011

Dear Valued PENTAX Customers and Partners,

We would like to hereby inform you that we, HOYA Corporation, have made an agreement regarding the business transfer of our PENTAX Imaging System Business to RICOH Corporation today, July 1, 2011.

The effective date of the business transfer is set for October 1, 2011. The business areas to be transferred as PENTAX Imaging System Business are digital cameras, interchangeable lenses, digital camera accessories, binoculars and security-related products, including R&D, design, manufacturing and sales for those product categories.

PENTAX Imaging system business will be succeeded by a newly established company scheduled on October 1, 2011, and then RICOH Corporation will acquire 100% of its stock right after the establishment.

No operational changes of PENTAX Imaging System Business are anticipated for the time being by making this agreement. All employees will be transferred to the new company accordingly. Also, all current products will continue to be sold with the PENTAX brand name under current operations.

PENTAX, under the guidance of RICOH, will continue with our best effort to grow and evolve our business and partnerships and deliver quality products and services designed for a high level of customer satisfaction.

Again, we appreciate your continued support of PENTAX.

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Toshiaki Iue,

President

PENTAX Imaging Systems Division

Ricoh to acquire HOYA’s PENTAX Imaging Systems Business
Tokyo - July 1, 2011 - Ricoh Company, Ltd. (TSE: 7752; President & CEO: Shiro Kondo; hereinafter referred to as “Ricoh”) and HOYA Corporation (TSE: 7741; President & CEO: Hiroshi Suzuki; hereinafter referred to as “HOYA”) announced today that the two companies entered into a definitive agreement and concluded a contract regarding the acquisition of HOYA Corporation’s PENTAX Imaging Systems Business (hereinafter referred to as “PENTAX Imaging System Business”) by Ricoh (hereinafter referred to as “the Acquisition”).
On completion of the Acquisition, Ricoh will begin to use the PENTAX brand name for some of its digital camera products, and HOYA will continue to use the PENTAX brand name for their endoscopes and other products.
Furthermore, with the Acquisition, both companies will cooperate with each other to increase the value of the PENTAX brand.
1. Background of the Acquisition
Currently, Ricoh’s core business deals in Imaging Solutions focusing on copiers/multi-function printers, but Ricoh also has a long tradition as a camera manufacturer going back to its establishment in 1936. In 1995, Ricoh became one of the first companies to produce digital cameras. Currently, Ricoh’s high-end compact cameras are highly regarded in the market.
Although competition in the digital camera market has intensified, the industry is still growing and there is still tremendous potential for technical innovation and advancement. Ricoh understands the need to bolster its consumer businesses utilizing its strengths in optical and network technologies, and is continually searching for growth opportunities.
Meanwhile, HOYA has been operating the PENTAX Imaging Systems Business, which it acquired from PENTAX Co., Ltd., on March 31st, 2008. In the process of consolidating and streamlining its business portfolio, HOYA decided to offer this business to Ricoh. HOYA will continue to operate its business other than the PENTAX Imaging Systems Business, such as digital camera modules, DVD pick-up lenses, endoscopes, synthetic bone, and voice synthesis software.
2. PENTAX Imaging Systems Business
Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., the predecessor of PENTAX, developed Japan’s first single-lens
1
reflex camera in 1952 and has a long history as a leader in the camera market. The company joined HOYA as a business division in April 2008 and continued to operate as a business thereafter.
The current lineup of products includes medium format, K-mount and Q-mount interchangeable-lens digital cameras, as well as the Optio brand of compact cameras. PENTAX cameras are well known for their superior performance in taking natural-looking photographs. PENTAX maintains high consumer satisfaction ratings with its superb lens technology and enjoys strong support from a solid fan base.
The PENTAX lineup has a mutually complementary relationship and little overlap with the Ricoh brand, which focuses on high-end compact digital cameras.
PENTAX Imaging Systems Business has a security camera lens module on top of the digital camera business, both of which are expected to significantly contribute to Ricoh’s opportunities for growth.
3. Strategic objectives for Ricoh
The goal of the Acquisition is to establish a firmer presence in the consumer business, which has been a considerable challenge for Ricoh.
Ricoh believes that the borderline between office and home will fade and this will be reflected in a major change in products and services. Ricoh aims to provide more consumer–oriented offerings not only in the field of digital cameras but also video conferencing systems, network appliances, and others, to their customers around the world. The Acquisition is the first step in this direction.
Ricoh intends to maximize the synergy from the merger between Ricoh’s digital camera business and PENTAX Imaging System Business in various ways.
1) Strengthening the digital camera business
�� Enhanced interchangeable-lens cameras to meet expected future growth
�� Expansion of product lineup and interchangeable lens portfolio
2) Creation of new business delivering added value to consumers
�� Creation and development of value-added businesses such as making it easy to view, save and retouch photos.
3) Other benefits
�� Possible entry into the image archiving business using medium format digital cameras
�� Expansion of security related products
4. Acquisition methodology
The Acquisition will be conducted by HOYA transferring the PENTAX Imaging Systems Business to a newly established subsidiary (hereinafter referred to as “the New Company”) through an absorption-type split and business transfer. Ricoh will then acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of the New Company.
The business is expected to be managed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ricoh after the transfer of management rights.
* Among the European sales companies of the PENTAX Imaging System Business, PENTAX Europe Imaging System S.A.S. (hereinafter “PEIS”) is required under applicable laws to consult with its trade unions
Closing date : October 1, 2011 (expected)
before transferring the shares of PEIS (or the stocks and equities of PEIS subsidiaries PENTAX Imaging System Limited and PENTAX Imaging System GmbH handling PENTAX Imaging System Business) to the New Company. The final decision as to whether the PEIS shares will be transferred or not will be made after conclusion of said consultation.
Signing date of a definitive agreement : July 1, 2011
5. Impacts on consolidated financial results of Ricoh and HOYA
Ricoh is aware that the Acquisition will have minor impacts on Ricoh’s consolidated financial results in the fiscal year ending March 2012.
As for the effects of this transaction on HOYA’s consolidated financial results, please refer to the information disclosed in a timely manner by HOYA to the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

NOTICE OF SALE OF THE PENTAX IMAGING SYSTEMS BUSINESS

HOYA Corporation (“HOYA”) and Ricoh Company, Ltd. (“Ricoh”) hereby announce that pursuant
to decisions by the President and CEO of HOYA and Representative Director of Ricoh, respectively,
HOYA and Ricoh have executed an agreement as of today to transfer HOYA’s PENTAX Imaging
Systems Business (the business of developing, manufacturing and selling optical instruments such as
digital cameras and replacement lenses, digital camera accessories, security camera-related products,
and binoculars) (the “PENTAX Imaging Systems Business”) to Ricoh. HOYA will effectuate this
transfer by incorporating a new corporation (“NewCo”), cause NewCo to succeed the PENTAX
Imaging Systems Business by way of a corporate split (kyushu bunkatsu) (the “Corporate Split”),
and transfer all shares of NewCo to Ricoh (such split and transfer shall be referred to as the
“Split/Transfer”) as of October 1, 2011 (Estimated).

Prior to the Split/Transfer, HOYA intends to transfer its interests in PENTAX VN CO., Ltd., an
overseas subsidiary of HOYA in relation to the PENTAX Imaging Systems Business, to NewCo.

Please note, that since the Corporate Split is a simplified corporate split (kan-i kyushu bunkatsu),
disclosure items/content have been partially abbreviated.

Further, HOYA will continue to develop its businesses assigned from PENTAX Corporation which
was merged (kyushu gappei) into HOYA on March 31, 2008 other than the PENTAX Imaging
Systems Business, such as its businesses regarding digital camera modules, DVD pickup lenses,
endoscopes, artificial bones, and voice synthesis.

HOYA merged (kyushu gappei) with PENTAX Corporation on March 31, 2008, and has developed
the PENTAX Imaging Systems Business assigned from PENTAX Corporation until now. As part
of selecting and focusing its management resources, HOYA has decided to cause NewCo to succeed
the PENTAX Imaging Systems Business via the Corporate Split, transfer the business and shares,
etc. of HOYA’s Imaging Systems business subsidiary to NewCo via a business transfer and
share/interests transfer, and thereafter, transfer all shares of NewCo to Ricoh.

Ricoh’s core business is office solutions focusing on MFPs, Ricoh has also introduced many cameras
to the market since its inception in 1936. Ricoh was one of the first manufacturers to launch digital
cameras in 1995 and Ricoh’s current high-end compact digital cameras are well regarded in the
industry.

Now Ricoh aims to establish a consumer business. As a first step to achieve this goal, Ricoh
strengthens its camera businesses. Ricoh takes it as an indispensable initiative to obtain the small and
lightweight interchangeable lens camera technology, lens technology and sales channels held by the
Pentax Imaging Systems Division to pave the way for further advancement and innovations in the
digital camera market.

Through this acquisition, Ricoh plans to 1) enhance its digital camera businesses (especially the
interchangeable lens camera market which is expected to grow), 2) create value-added businesses for
taken photographs (creation and development of value-added services that encourage seeing, storing
and refinishing photographs and utilize photographs as communication tools), and 3) expand to other
fields (study of entry into the image archiving business using medium-format digital cameras and
enhancement of security-related products)

Complete release information is available here: http://www.hoya.co.jp/english/news/latest/d0h4dj0000001fv8-att/d0h4dj0000001fwi.pdf

Sparcher1 a écrit:
Je note que :
- La stratégie est clairement de développer la gamme
- Ils ont visiblement les moyens de leurs ambitions

John Kelly a écrit:Est ce que quelqu'un a entendu parler ou lu quelque chose à propos d'un projet?
Tout de même, l'évènement n'est pas anodin et une telle annonce devrait être étayée amha par au moins une esquisse.

Une annonce a peut-être été faite, je n'ai pas eu la possibilité de faire des recherches, alors si quelqu'un peut nous éclairer ....???!!!

The effective date of the business transfer is set for October 1, 2011

LHOMME a écrit:Bonjour,

C'est pour cela que je dis, c'est peut-être un mal pour un bien.

chrisfer a écrit:

Dil a écrit:

jbd a écrit:Sinon, bah canikon, comme tout le monde.

sony.

Sony ne semble plus sortir de nouveaux reflex...

Dil a écrit:il est plus facile de trouver un reflexe sony qu'un pentax une fois sorti de france/allemagne/japon.

darky_mtp a écrit:Mouais, perso je ne pense pas que ça touche la même clientèle que celle des A900 par exemple qui attend la suite en vain...
A part les rafales de folie on a moins de lumière dans le viseur et moins sur le capteur.

Hoya Corporation (qui avait racheté Pentax en mars 2008) et Ricoh Company Ltd, annoncent conjointement aujourd'hui la cession de la branche "Pentax Imaging Systems Business", bref, de la division photo (appareils numériques, objectifs, accessoires, jumelles et caméras de sécurité), à Ricoh. Le transfert de l'activité sera effectif cet automne, en octobre 2011.


Ricoh et Pentax ont tous les deux certaines choses en commun : ce ne sont pas des poids lourds de l'industrie et abordent le marché de la photo numérique avec des angles d'attaque alternatifs. Ricoh sort des appareils de niche (famille de compacts "de chantier", compact mégazoom avec AF hybride, le CX5, modules Ricoh GXR, famille GR Digital) et Pentax met l'accent sur la tropicalisation de ses reflex et objectifs "WE" ainsi que sur la personnalisation des appareils (le reflex amateur Pentax K-r existe désormais dans huit coloris !).

Selon le communiqué officiel, avec cette acquisition, Ricoh souhaiterait augmenter sa présence sur le marché de la photo numérique à commencer par le marché des appareils à objectifs interchangeables (dont le Pentax Q officialisé la semaine dernière fait partie), mais aussi améliorer la valeur dégagée par toute l'activité périphérique à la photographie comme de nouveaux services, du stockage.. ou encore explorer de nouveaux marchés comme l'archivage de données avec le moyen format par exemple.

La période Pentax-Hoya s'achève donc et l'ère Pentax-Ricoh s'ouvre sur un marché qui n'avait pas connu de gros rachat depuis un certain temps.