To become a company capable of supplying glass products and services around the world, NSG Group made a decision to acquire Pilkington. Negotiations began in the autumn of 2005 and the acquisition was finalized on June 16, 2006. On the very same day, Pilkington officially became a subsidiary of NSG Group. At the time of the acquisition, Pilkington owned or was invested in 38 float glass furnaces in Europe, North America, China and Oceania. Combined with NSG’s seven float furnaces in Japan and Southeast Asia, NSG Group became one of the leading global flat glass makers with a worldwide presence.