Ricoh just purchased Pentax!

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com


Hi Pentaxian friends.

12.59 AM, California time. Here I am in my bed, reading my emails and surfing the internet on my new iPad 2.I can't believe it...Ricoh just purchased Pentax from Hoya. It's all over the Internet, and you can read the news on other sites listed on the right side of this page.

This comes as a big surprize to me. I didn't see it coming.


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

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