I guess those Pen cameras aren't selling so well...

Olympus fires its CEO for conflicts in management style while the camera division struggles...

"Olympus's operating profit fell 41 percent to 35.4 billion yen ($460 million) for the year to March 2011, as its struggling camera division held back the healthy medical equipment unit."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/14/olympus-idUSL3E7LE02V20111014

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It makes one wonder but we should understand that there are five times as many other Olympus models as PEN models.

For all we know, PEN is actually the sole success in the Olympus camera mess.

They sure seem to be cranking out new models of the Pen series, but I still think sales are a bit "stale" on them. I suspect the only bright spot in their line up may be the "Tough" series.

Knowing how much medical equipment costs, no wonder it is the profitable side.

steelhead3 said:

Knowing how much medical equipment costs, no wonder it is the profitable side.

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Not so certain. The accounting dispute alllegedly behind the COO's recent resignation / firing involved acquisitions in the medical equipment arena. The company's next SEC 10Q filing will warrant careful review.

Cy Cheze said:

steelhead3 said:

Knowing how much medical equipment costs, no wonder it is the profitable side.

Click to expand...

Not so certain. The accounting dispute alllegedly behind the COO's recent resignation / firing involved acquisitions in the medical equipment arena. The company's next SEC 10Q filing will warrant careful review.

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That kind of thoughtful analysis just gets in the way of the shooting from the hip (on business subjects) that seems to occupy so much bandwidth on DPR and other sites.

After all, we are certain that Pentax is doomed because Ricoh did not issue a product roadmap the day after the acquisition was complete. (Pay no attention to formation of the new Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company with 1,900 employees. The position of Pentax in the sub's name means nothing, particularly to Japanese business. Right?)

this thread fits the 'clueless' description

http://www.channel4.com/news/ex-olympus-ceos-concern-over-improper-payments

Graystar said:

Olympus fires its CEO for conflicts in management style while the camera division struggles...

"Olympus's operating profit fell 41 percent to 35.4 billion yen ($460 million) for the year to March 2011, as its struggling camera division held back the healthy medical equipment unit."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/14/olympus-idUSL3E7LE02V20111014

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Click to expand...

--
Riley

any similarity to persons living or dead is coincidental and unintended

In 2007 Olympus had sales of 1130 billion yen, with net profit 58 billion (roughly 5% of sales). In 2011 sales were 850 billion yen, and profits 7.4 billion yen (roughly 1% of sales). Sales have declined every year since 2007.

Medical equipment is nearly half of Olympus' business, so if the medical business is "healthy" and camera sales - 15% of the business - account for the steady decline they must be catastrophic.