Press information
Page 1 of 2
Contact:
Kyocera Fineceramics GmbH
Daniela Faust
Manager Corporate Communications
Hammfelddamm 6
41460 Neuss
Germany
Tel.: +49 2131/16 37 - 188
Fax: +49 2131/16 37 - 150
Mobil: +49 175/7275706
daniela.faust@kyocera.de
www.kyocera.de
Weber Shandwick Deutschland GmbH
Anja Eckert-Ellerhold
Account Director
Hohenzollernring 79 - 83
50672 Köln
Germany
Tel.: +49 221 - 94 99 18 - 62
Fax: +49 221 - 94 99 18 - 10
aeckert@webershandwick.com
www.webershandwick.de
Acquisition to further expand LCD and touchscreen panel businesses
KYOCERA to Acquire 100% Ownership of LCD
Manufacturer OPTREX Corporation
Kyoto/Neuss, 18 January 2012 – Kyocera Corporation today
announced that it has completed a share transfer agreement
with three investment funds operated by Japan Industrial
Partners, Inc. to acquire all shares of Optrex Corporation
(herein “Optrex”) — a specialized manufacturer of liquid
crystal displays (LCDs) and related products — in order to
further strengthen and expand its LCD and touchscreen panel
businesses. Effective February 1, 2012, Optrex will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyocera Corporation.
Kyocera’s Corporate Thin Film Components Group develops,
manufactures and markets small- and medium-sized LCDs for
industrial applications worldwide. The company has been successful
in establishing a business structure capable of responding to
customer needs, which requires the ability to meet custom orders
and to manufacture a wide range of products even in small volume.
Furthermore, since 2010 Kyocera has been expanding its capacitive
touchscreen panel business and has garnered a good reputation for
product quality and features such as thinness, strength and
waterproof functionality for use in smartphones.
Demand for LCDs used in industrial equipment and automotive
applications is expected to steadily increase; and the expanding
market for capacitive touchscreen panels used in high value-added
products such as smartphones and tablet computers is expected to
see continued high-growth in the coming years.
Press information
Page 2 of 2
Contact:
Kyocera Fineceramics GmbH
Daniela Faust
Manager Corporate Communications
Hammfelddamm 6
41460 Neuss
Germany
Tel.: +49 2131/16 37 - 188
Fax: +49 2131/16 37 - 150
Mobil: +49 175/7275706
daniela.faust@kyocera.de
www.kyocera.de
Weber Shandwick Deutschland GmbH
Anja Eckert-Ellerhold
Account Director
Hohenzollernring 79 - 83
50672 Köln
Germany
Tel.: +49 221 - 94 99 18 - 62
Fax: +49 221 - 94 99 18 - 10
aeckert@webershandwick.com
www.webershandwick.de
Optrex has a high level of technical ability in manufacturing LCDs
for automotive applications and a strong customer base both inside
and outside of Japan. Kyocera expects that the acquisition will allow
the company to further enhance the product lines of both its
conventional industrial equipment applications and newly acquired
automotive applications, and thus contribute to business expansion.
Moreover, Optrex also possesses excellent production technology
for touchscreen panels, thus by effectively combining both
companies’ product technologies and operating resources including
customer bases, Kyocera also expects to further enhance and
expand its touchscreen panel business.
This acquisition will enable Kyocera to further expand its LCD and
touchscreen panel business and to meet a wider range of customer
needs.
About Kyocera
Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, Kyocera Corporation is one of the world's leading
manufacturers of fine ceramic components for the technology industry. The strategically
important divisions in the Kyocera Group, which is comprised of 208 subsidiaries (as of March
31, 2011), are information and communications technologies, products which increase quality
of life, and environmentally friendly products. The technology group is also one of the largest
producers of solar energy systems worldwide.
With a global workforce of about 66.000 employees, Kyocera posted net sales of
approximately €10.74 billion in fiscal year 2010/2011. The products marketed by the company
in Europe include laser printers, digital copying systems, microelectronic components,
fineceramic products and complete solar power systems. The Kyocera Group has two
independent companies in the Federal Republic of Germany: Kyocera Fineceramics GmbH in
Neuss and Esslingen and Kyocera Mita Deutschland GmbH in Meerbusch.
The company also takes an active interest in cultural affairs. The Kyoto Prize, a prominent
international award, is presented each year by the Inamori Foundation — established by
Kyocera founder Dr. Kazuo Inamori — to individuals and groups worldwide who have
contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, and spiritual betterment of humankind
(converted at present €500.000 per prize category).