Sony purchases 11% of Olympus

[happydolphin]

kowenicki said:

This is a speculative move, nothing more. It is neither good nor bad news at this point. So Sony "haters" need to keep a lid on it and Sony fanboys shouldn't get excited. Its a relatively modest sum for a new venture.

It does further emphasis the REAL path Sony is taking though. They are concentrating on business to business technologies, imaging and mobile devices.

I am not sure why people here are going on about cameras and SLR's etc... has nothing to do with that and anything relating to cameras is pure speculation at this point.  Got o laugh at that article and its japanese business partners are best, the irony of that given that Olympus is one party to this shouldnt be lost on anyone.

"As part of our strategic initiatives announced in April 2012, at Sony we are aggressively pursuing the growth of our medical business, with the aim of developing it into a key pillar of our overall business portfolio," said Sony's chief executive Kazuo Hirai.

Olympus needed some cash after the scandal (exposed when an honourable british businessman challenged the corrupt japanese board over dodgy payments) and Sony see this as an opportunity to join up with Olympus in the new venture for a relatively low cost.

@last paragraph. Sounds kind of scummy. :3 Olympus gets shit for working with the Yakuza and Sony hands them their fix of cash for their reward. I think it's a tricky situation. But, once it's all said and done, it's all Sony's gain as they got a good deal it seems.

As for speculative, I'm not sure I know what you mean. They already bought the 11% according to the article, and are actually getting ready to set up the joint venture it seems.

Lastly, at those who think this is about cameras, I think the article is pretty clear that it's about Sony getting into the medical market, I think that's a very smart move. That market cries for better technological solutions at a better price.