News Article Business Solutions

Langenhagen, Germany, 23 September 2008

Konica Minolta and shareholder of Konica Minolta’s Dutch distributor KN B.V. (Kopieersystemen Nederland B.V.) signed a share purchase agreement yesterday. KN B.V. will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta after obtaining relevant approval from the Dutch Anti-Trust authority which is expected around end of October 2008. After completion of the relevant registration processes, the new Konica Minolta subsidiary will start its operation from Badhoevedorp (Amsterdam area) where the head office of KN B.V. is located; Konica Minolta’s distributor for office and printing equipment.

 

The company KN B.V., founded by Mr. D.J. Compaan in 1978, already had a long relation with Konica Minolta and a long-standing tradition of entrepreneurship with an innovative approach to markets and customers in the Dutch market. Besides being the exclusive distributor for Konica Minolta MFP products, KN and Konica Minolta have developed a profound relationship over the past 30 years. In the colour MFP market KN has proven to be able to take a leading role. Resulting in one of the highest ratio’s of colour versus black & white MFP sales in Europe. Among sales and service activities, KN took an early entry into the market for Document Management in the late eighties. Building up experience in this area has resulted in a unique set of knowledge and skills and own software research and development activities. Among those activities is the co-development of the first software application based on Konica Minolta’s Open API platform. This heritage gives Konica Minolta a strong base for further growth in the Dutch market in which software and services are becoming stronger differentiators for promoting the multifunctional and printer business.

After obtaining the approval from the Dutch Anti-Trust Authority expected around end of October 2008, the company will be fully owned by Konica Minolta and becomes Konica Minolta Business Solutions Nederland B.V.

The target for this acquisition through Konica Minolta is to strengthen the position in the Dutch market even more, and to give the “new” company the opportunity to significantly grow the business in the Netherlands during the next years. All in order to reach high market penetration like Konica Minolta has achieved in other European countries.

Moreover, it is planned to integrate the Dutch Printing Solutions divisions under the umbrella of the newly formed Konica Minolta Business Solutions Nederland B.V. By this integration, Konica Minolta is able to offer to our customers and partners a complete product portfolio of integrated products out of one hand - from a small single function printer to highly sophisticated Production Printing systems, including all associated solutions for document applications and professional services. By this acquisition, Konica Minolta expects to be even better positioned in order to accomplish the creation of new values and benefits for customers and partners in The Dutch market.

The president of KN B.V. Mr. Compaan states: "Since my early start with Minolta in 1978, I believe we have built a very good and common understanding among both organizations. From my experience I am confident that Konica Minolta is the best choice for the future of the business in The Netherlands."

The President of Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, Hideki Okamura, states: "We are confident that we have founded an even stronger bases for our activities in the Dutch market. With the leadership of Mr. Ernst Kolvenbag for our Dutch operations, we have strong belief that we will be able to achieve our future goals. Our customers, partners and employees will all benefit from our new and strong organisation."

 

 

Terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are hereby acknowledged.

 

 

Contact:

 

Carlos Baart

Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe

Phone: +49 (0)511 7404-324

carlos.baart(at)KonicaMinolta.eu

 

Claudia Bitzer

Pleon GmbH

Phone: +49 (0)711 210 99-416

konicaminoltateam(at)pleon.com