|
|
Pentax in talks with Samsung for developing SLR cameras
Pentax sees doubling of SLR models to 2,40,000 in 2006-2007 compared to the year-ago period.
BY A CORRESPONDENT
April 5, 2006
Pentax Corporation is in talks with South Korean electronics goods major Samsung Electronics to produce digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras, media reports said.
Pentax Chief Executive Officer Fumio Urano sees better-than-expected sales of digital cameras and the planned cost cuts would allow the firm’s imaging division post a loss smaller than what was expected earlier in the fiscal 2006-2007.On the digital camera front, he said Pentax aims to ship about 3.0 million units in 2006-07.
This is about 8 per cent more than the previous fiscal.Pentax also sees doubling of SLR models to 2,40,000 in 2006-2007 from 1,20,000 in 2005-2006.Pentax and Samsung would pool resources to develop digital SLR cameras. But Pentax rules out joint production. Urano said jointly developing digital SLR bodies with Samsung would be more efficient. Pentax said it will sort out all issues regarding joint production with Samsung.Urano sees Pentax touching a sales of $1.4 billion in 2006-07, but admitted it was difficult to achieve the operating profit target of 10 billion yen, which is almost twic that of the year 2005-06. The company has made a war-chest of 10 billion yen for acquisitions, he revealed.Acquisitions would be mainly aimed at giving a boost to the firm’s life care division.
|
