[Pål Jensen]

It wasn't a hostile takeover. It was a friendly merger. .

It was a hostile takeover. They were left with no choice. The board tried to stop it.....

Here from financial times:

"Pentax, Japan's oldest maker of single-lens reflex cameras, has set its hopes on a white knight saving it from a hostile takeover by Hoya, the specialist glassmaker.

The camera-maker is trying to fend off Hoya's advances - in spite of having agreed to merge with the Japanese company last year.

Shinichiro Mitsuhashi, a managing director at Pentax, said: "We are confident that we can compete on our own. We wonder why we should go under the umbrella [of Hoya]. I imagine there is a strong chance a white knight might appear.""

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e1f18854-01b6-11dc-8b8c-000b5df10621.html#axzz3WCxo3KRT

[monochrome]

The OP should really change the title of the article to Hoya's 'Pentax Medical Devices' under Federal Investigation.

[Blue]

Also, this isn't photography or professional photographer related.

(I do remember reading that Hoya did a hostile takeover of Pentax because this medical division is what they actually wanted, ha!)

Actually, have you ever seen a bill for rectal photography?

[Blue]

It wasn't a hostile takeover. It was a friendly merger.



From the Pentax article...

What that left out was the prior attempt to a hostile takeover. When the Hoya boys, merged, they got rid of Pentax people and not Hoya people.

[Blue]

The OP should really change the title of the article to Hoya's 'Pentax Medical Devices' under Federal Investigation.

Good suggestion.

[pinholecam]

No, Hoya love from me....

Pentax could have built on the success of the Kx and K5 much better if Hoya had put in the money and effort, rather than end up losing more of the user base and playing catch up even more right now. (though I am hopeful of the future with Ricoh)

[Blue]

No, Hoya love from me....

Pentax could have built on the success of the Kx and K5 much better if Hoya had put in the money and effort, rather than end up losing more of the user base and playing catch up even more right now. (though I am hopeful of the future with Ricoh)

I will forever call them the Hoya Boys.

[bdery]

Doesn't Hoya supply the glass to like... one of the best 3rd party lens makers for Pentax, Sigma? I really do hope they do not bankrupt

Yes, Hoya, Schott and Corning are the three main manufacturer of glass blanks on this planet.

[stevebrot]

I read the article...

• No Federal or even congressional investigation. Freshman congressman Ted Lieu wrote a letter asking Pentax if they are making changes to product or recommended procedures in the wake of Olympus' recent notice sent to their customers. Mr Lieu has no committee appointments and made his inquiry as an individual representative.
• Pentax scopes were linked to an outbreak of CRE in 2013 that affected 40 people
• Olympus scopes were linked to several recent outbreaks affecting several hundred people. I believe that two of those hospitals were in Mr. Lieu's district.
• Olympus has since issued revised cleaning and sterilization recommendations to their customers
• Pentax is on record that they are working with the FDA (who certifies the devices) and other entities in regards to appropriate actions

For a little background...

UCLA hospital cites scopes as behind superbug outbreak - CNN.com

BTW...I believe that Olympus is the market leader for the type of scope at issue. I also believe that Mr. Lieu is seeking a little press attention.


Steve

[jbinpg]

In tangentially related news:

A new (old) cure for MRSA? Revolting recipe from the Dark Ages may be key to defeat infection - Science - News - The Independent

[Rupert]

In the medical field this is common and happens frequently. See all those lawyer ads on TV about l mesh, knee implants, hip replacements, and other such failed medical devices and procedures?

All these companies have massive amounts of insurance that cover any fines or lawsuits. If the CEO and top executives are found guilty, they get 30 days of Community Service and don't get to watch TV for two weeks.

Regards!

[robjmitchell]

They are not even in trouble at this point. They are simply investigating best practice for device cleaning.

[stevebrot]

They are not even in trouble at this point.

Yep...for all practical purposes, a private citizen wrote them a letter and it was picked up by the press.


Steve