Ricoh to acquire HOYA's PENTAX Imaging Systems Business

Category: News

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.

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.

1. PENTAX Imaging Systems Business

   Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., the predecessor of PENTAX, developed Japan’s first single-lens 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.