Thomson has signed an agreement to acquire 33 1/3% of the issued and outstanding shares of Canopus and will launch a public tender offer for the remaining Canopus shares tomorrow.

Press release:
http://www.thomson.net/EN/Home/Press/Press+Details.htm?PressReleaseID=2e3b8b1f-b565-46c0-a8bd-599c5de7c9ea

Press conference now at:
http://www.irwebcasting.com/051205/02/b647d8eee3/index.html

Holy cow, knock me over with a feather! Man, I'm still down on the floor over here. Somebody help me up!

I hope this is a good thing.

It's like Avid buying Pinnacle.

i had no idea canopus was for sale, at least now i'm going to get that viper plugin for edius i always wanted :)

any ideas what this means for all us grass valley users here (silence)...errr i mean edius users...

Canopus isn't publicly traded (at least not yet), so I think this deal was brokered with T/GV strictly at Hiro's leisure. In other words, I doubt he was taking offers for it... who knows... I'm sure everyone will benefit though.

Canopus has been listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since 2002. Price jumped 12% yesterday. According to the press conference where this was announced and available on line here:
http://www.irwebcasting.com/051205/02/b647d8eee3/index.html
about 45% of the shares are held by individuals.

There is a lot more information here about the reasons for the deal and what is intended for the future.