In a statement, Olympus Japan confirmed that, from today, Sony Corporation is the largest shareholder, holding nearly 35 million shares and giving Sony 11.46% of overall voting rights.

Speaking in September 2012, Olympus president Hiroyuki Sasa said the agreement would give Olympus ‘greater business synergy in the core business domains of medical and imaging’.

He added: ‘In the field of digital cameras, we will seek to achieve collaboration in a manner that further improves the competitiveness of the two companies.’