Hoya Corporation, owner of the Pentax brand, announced the transfer of the Pentax Imaging System Business to Ricoh Corporation on 1 July, 2011.

 

July 3, 2011: Hoya Corporation, owner of the Pentax brand, announced the transfer of the Pentax Imaging System Business to Ricoh Corporation on 1 July, 2011.
In an open letter to customers and business partners it stated: 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.
Hoya is believed to be retaining control of “lenses for DVDs, endoscopy, artificial bone and speech synthesis”. More information can be found at http://www.hoya.co.jp/english/news/latest/d0h4dj0000001fv8-att/d0h4dj0000001fwi.pdf.