Kyocera Corporation announced that it entered into a share transfer agreement with NEC Corporation on March 25, 2020 to acquire all of NEC's shares in Showa Optronics Co (SOC), an optical components manufacture. With the transfer agreement, Kyocera will own 93.53% of SOC's shares and operate the company as its subsidiary on June 1, 2020, under the name Kyocera Showa Optronic.

Kyocera's optical components business has engaged in producing diversified lenses in small to large diameters from a wide variety of materials. The products have been used in various fields, including automotive, office and factory automation equipment, and medical equipment. The company is expanding its production capabilities to meet the growing demands in optical components.

(Image: Kyocera)

Showa Optronics has focused on high-value-added markets including space-related products, semiconductor manufacturing equipment (such as exposure equipment), and medical equipment for DNA analysis, using its core technologies of ultra-high-precision lens polishing, high-proof and low-loss film formation, and lasers with outstanding stability.

In acquiring SOC as a subsidiary, Kyocera aims to become a leading optical components company by expanding its new product offerings in the laser market, maximizing synergies through both companies' combined technologies, and utilizing Kyocera's worldwide sales network and production facilities to further expand its optical components businesses.