CANON INC.
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FORM 6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of April 10, 2003

CANON INC.


(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

30-2, Shimomaruko 3-Chome, Ohta-ku, Tokyo 146-8501, Japan


(Address of principal executive offices)

     [Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F [ X ]        Form 40-F [   ]

     [Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes [   ]        No [ X ]

     [If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):82-                          


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SIGNATURES
Canon Inc. to transfer shares of subsidiary to Canon Sales


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SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

         
        CANON INC.
(Registrant)
         
Date: April 10, 2003   By   /s/ Shunji Onda
        (Signature)*
         
        Shunji Onda
General Manager, Finance Division
Canon Inc.

*  Print the name and title of the signing officer under his signature.

The following materials are included.

1.   Canon Inc. to transfer shares of subsidiary to Canon Sales


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(CANON LOGO)   April 9, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE
Canon Inc.
30-2 Shimomaruko 3-chome
Ohta-ku, Tokyo 146-8501, Japan
  Canon Inc.
President & CEO: Fujio Mitarai
Securities code: 7751
[First section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange]

Canon Sales Co., Inc.
President & CEO: Haruo Murase
Securities code: 8060
[First section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange]

Canon Inc. to transfer shares of subsidiary to Canon Sales

TOKYO, April 9, 2003—Canon Inc. (“Canon”) and Canon Sales Co., Inc. (“Canon Sales”) announced that following a decision reached today by the Board of Directors of both companies, Canon and Canon Sales have entered into an agreement to transfer shares of Canon Software Inc. (“Canon Software”), a subsidiary of Canon, from Canon to Canon Sales.

1.   Objectives

Canon Software’s operations focus on three basic business areas: the development of software for Canon products, including applications for peripheral products and control software; providing document solutions and other customer solutions in cooperation with Canon Sales; and the development, management and support of proprietary ERP, CRM and other business applications.

Through the transfer of Canon Software shares to Canon Sales, Canon Software will play a supporting role within the software-business operations of the Canon Sales Group. In addition to developing software for Canon products, Canon Software will reinforce and expand its operations targeting customer solutions, including solutions in cooperation with Canon Sales and providing the company’s proprietary solutions.

The Canon Sales Group has been actively strengthening its IT services business, as reflected in the acquisition of all shares of Canon System Solutions Inc. (formerly Sumitomo Metal System Solutions Co. Ltd.) by Canon Sales on January 10 this year. As part of the Canon Sales Group, Canon Software will join Canon System Solutions Inc. and Canotec Co., Inc., which specializes in the field of network solutions, in further raising the enterprise value of the Group through the bolstering of IT services operations.

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2.   Overview of the subsidiary to be transferred
     
(1)   Name   Canon Software Inc.
 
(2)   Representative   Akira Okada, President and Representative Director
 
(3)   Location of headquarters   3-9-7 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo
 
(4)   Date of incorporation   March 26, 1974
 
(5)   Business activities   1. Developing software for business applications and for Canon products
    2. Outsourcing services (clerical and accounting services for Group companies)
    3. Developing and marketing of package software; marketing of hardware
    4. Database, computer graphics and other IT software education services
 
(6)   Fiscal year end   December 31
 
(7)   Number of employees   752 (as of Dec. 31, 2002)
 
(8)   Capital   Yen 1,348 million (as of Dec. 31, 2002)
 
(9)   Total number of issued shares   11,541,840 shares (as of Dec. 31, 2002)
 
(10) Major shareholders and their share percentages   Canon Sales Co., Inc. (38.53%); Canon Inc. (18.92%) (as of Dec. 31, 2002)
 
(11) Relationship between the Companies  

                 1. Canon and Canon Software

     
Capital   Canon owns 18.92% of Canon Software’s outstanding shares
 
Personnel   One of Canon’s directors also serves as a director for Canon Software
 
Business   48.4% (7,154 million yen in FY 2002) of Canon Software’s revenues are generated from business with Canon

                 2. Canon Sales and Canon Software

     
Capital   Canon Sales owns 38.53% of Canon Software’s outstanding shares
 
Personnel   One of Canon Sales’ directors also serves as a director for Canon Software, and another of Canon Sales’ directors also serves as a corporate auditor for Canon Software
 
Business   20.4% (3,005 million yen in FY 2002) of Canon Software’s revenues are generated from business with Canon Sales

     
(12) Business results for the previous two fiscal years
                 
Fiscal year ending   December 2001   December 2002

 
 
    (unit: millions of yen)
Net sales
    14,820       14,770  
Operating profit
    316       465  
Ordinary profit
    396       530  
Net income
    152       310  
Combined assets
    7,119       7,632  
Stockholders’ equity
    5,454       5,669  

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3.   Overview of the transferring company
     
(1) Name   Canon Inc.
 
(2) Representative   Fujio Mitarai, President and CEO
 
(3) Location of headquarters   30-2 Shimomaruko 3-Chome, Ohta-ku, Tokyo
 
(4) Date of incorporation   August 10, 1937
 
(5) Business activities   1. Production and marketing of optical products; audio, electric and electronic products, precision products and medical equipment
    2. Development and marketing of software
    3. Provision of telecommunication, data processing and other information services
 
(6) Capital   Yen 167,242 million (as of Dec. 31, 2002)
 
(7) Major shareholders and their share
      percentages
  The Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company (6.72%); Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trust Account) (5.51%); The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd. (Trust Account) (5.24%) (as of Dec. 31, 2002)
         
(8) Relationship with transferee   Capital   Canon owns 50.13% of Canon Sales’ outstanding shares
 
    Personnel   One of Canon’s corporate auditors also serves as a corporate auditor for Canon Sales
 
    Business   60.8% (280,410 million yen in FY 2002) of Canon Sales’ amount of goods purchased is generated from business with Canon

4.   Number and value of shares to be acquired; Transferee’s shareholding before and after transfer

           (Transferee: Canon Sales)

     
(1) Shares owned before transfer   4,447,200 shares (ownership ratio: 38.53%)
 
(2) Number of shares to be acquired   2,184,000 shares (value: 1,063 million yen)
 
(3) Shares owned after transfer   6,631,200 shares (ownership ratio: 57.45%)

5.   Schedule
     
           April 9, 2003:

           April 16, 2003 (tentative):
  Signing of share-transfer agreement

Transfer of shares

6.   Impact on business results

          The impact of the transfer on Canon and Canon Sales’ consolidated business results is expected to be minimal.

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