Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd. ("NSG") completed the purchase of 130 million shares in Pilkington plc, bringing its total shareholding to 20.6 percent of Pilkington's issued share capital.
Also that year, Pilkington reached agreement to construct a 180,000 metric tons a year float glass plant on behalf of Iran’s largest glass producer, Ghazvin Glass Company. By taking a major equity interest, Pilkington would jointly control the business.