Prior to its 2006 acquisition by China's Suntech Group, MSK Corp. was a middling Japanese solar system maker, struggling to secure supplies of vital solar cells against much bigger rivals like Sharp Corp.
Suntech Power Japan Corp., as MSK is now called, has since gained a competitive edge, aided by a steady supply stream from its Chinese parent. It is now ranked around fifth in solar system sales in Japan.
Meanwhile, Suntech Power Holdings Co., the parent company, has emerged as the world's largest solar panel maker by capitalizing on an explosion in global sales of solar power systems, particularly in the United States and Europe.