Topcon – Sokkia

Surveying equipment manufacturer Topcon has announced plans to acquire Sokkia, a rival company also based in Japan. Topcon's surveying business is the largest of its divisions, accounting for 46% of its revenues last year with sales of JPY 47.8 billion (US$ 407 million). Sokkia is a pure surveying equipment manufacturer, with sales last year of JPY 22 billion (US$ 187 million). With significant product duplication, Topcon says the rationale for the acquisition is in pooling R & D efforts and in the greater strength of a larger company.