AMSTERDAM, March 16 (Reuters) - Hermes Focus Asset Management has dropped its opposition to a $1 billion offer by Canon Inc for Dutch photocopier and printing systems maker Oce, paving the way for the deal to go through.
Hermes, which owns 3.3 percent of Oce, concluded that its 'clients' interests are best served' by tendering the shares, it said in a statement.
The decision comes after a Dutch court rejected calls by Hermes and Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) earlier this month to investigate merger talks between Canon and Oce
Including Hermes' shares, Canon will be able to hold over 80 percent of Oce.
The acquisition comes amid a flurry of acquisitions in the office equipment industry, including Ricoh Co's takeover of U.S. distributor Ikon Office Solutions, and Xerox Corp's purchase of Global Imaging.
Canon, the world's largest digital camera maker and a major producer of copiers and printers, has looked to the Oce deal as a way to generate earnings growth.
(Reporting by Harro ten Wolde, editing by Will Waterman) Keywords: OCE/ (harro.tenwolde@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: harro.tenwolde.reuters.com@reuters.net; +31 20 504 5017) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Hermes, which owns 3.3 percent of Oce, concluded that its 'clients' interests are best served' by tendering the shares, it said in a statement.
The decision comes after a Dutch court rejected calls by Hermes and Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) earlier this month to investigate merger talks between Canon and Oce
Including Hermes' shares, Canon will be able to hold over 80 percent of Oce.
The acquisition comes amid a flurry of acquisitions in the office equipment industry, including Ricoh Co's takeover of U.S. distributor Ikon Office Solutions, and Xerox Corp's purchase of Global Imaging.
Canon, the world's largest digital camera maker and a major producer of copiers and printers, has looked to the Oce deal as a way to generate earnings growth.
(Reporting by Harro ten Wolde, editing by Will Waterman) Keywords: OCE/ (harro.tenwolde@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: harro.tenwolde.reuters.com@reuters.net; +31 20 504 5017) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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