Ricoh could get out of the photography / camera business
After Samsung, Nikon and Panasonic, it seems that Ricoh is the next big company that is having some serious troubles with their camera division:
Update: Ricoh issued a statement denying the report, saying that they are focusing on expanding "high-value-added models" (Google translated from Japanese).
Ricoh is shrinking its money-losing camera business to concentrate resources on commercial applications as smartphones continue to crowd out long-established names in photography.
The Japanese company will radically review a production and manufacturing strategy centered on cameras for the retail market, including such brands as Pentax and GR. Options include withdrawing from this segment altogether.
In America, Ricoh is laying off 1,000 workers as it restructures its sales network to reduce overlap with companies it has acquired. In Japan, the company plans to offer early retirement, including to employees who have stayed on past the usual retirement age. (Nikkei)
Via PentaxRumors