Amateur Photographer Magazine

Pentax owner uncertain over Samsung tie-up

Tuesday 27th October 2009

Chris Cheesman

Hoya has stressed that it does not plan to shut down the Pentax camera business, according to an interview published by the news agency Bloomberg.

Hoya's chief operating officer Hiroshi Hamada reaffirmed Hoya's aim to join forces with another company for the long term survival of its camera business.

However, it is still unclear whether Pentax's current partnership with Samsung will form part of these long term plans.

Speaking at Hoya's HQ in Tokyo, Hamada told Bloomberg: 'I don't know whether we will go with Samsung or somebody else, but I can say that we'll have a deeper relationship with some electronics guys.'

He added: 'There will be consolidation in the camera business and a small player like us will be like a small boat in a rough sea. But let me make clear, we will not shut down this business.'

In August, Hoya's chief executive Hiroshi Suzuki questioned whether Pentax was big enough to 'go it alone'.

A Pentax UK representative could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.

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