Japanese NIPPON SHEET GLASS has acquired 80% of the British glass group PILKINGTON (turnover £1.3 billion over last financial semester closing September) for the sum of £1.8 billion in cash (or 165 pence per share). The operation will allow the Japanese group to triple its turnover to 760 billion yens and to increase the number that it employs from 12,500 to 35,000.