Konica/Minolta form new company

 

<p><u><strong>Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc., Formed on

October 1, 2003</strong></u></p>

 

<p><i>Newly

merged business combines strengths of photo imaging giants Konica and

Minolta</i></p>

 

<p><strong>Mahwah, NJ (October 1, 2003) </strong></p>

 

<p>Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc., a new company that

combines the strengths of

Konica Photo Imaging, Inc. and Minolta Corporation, announced the

official start of

business operations in the United States effective October 1, 2003.

Minolta veteran Henry

Okamura was named president of the newly formed business unit,

headquartered in Mahwah,

New Jersey. Simultaneously, Konica executive Yasuo Matsumoto, was

selected to lead a

separate business operation focused on office copiers and other

business-related

technologies known as Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.

</p>

 

<p>Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. consists of three sales

divisions that will

each continue to maintain normal business operations as they have in

the past. These are

the Camera Division, headed by Yoshi Ito, president, the Photo

Imaging Division, headed by

Bob Striano, president, and the Instrument Systems Division, headed

by Kaoru Morishita,

general manager. </p>

 

<p>This merger is more than a business transaction it is

a marriage of two of

the worlds most highly respected imaging companies and a blend

of the most talented

people in our industry, said Henry Okamura, president of Konica

Minolta Photo

Imaging U.S.A., Inc. Clearly the new company is well positioned

to take advantage of

the many opportunities ahead and offer more to our dealers and

consumers as a complete

imaging company from input through output. </p>

 

<p>Products and imaging services provided by Konica Minolta Photo

Imaging U.S.A., Inc.

will adopt the new Konica Minolta Group logo. Cameras will continue

to be branded Minolta

and film will continue to be branded Konica. Additionally, the

corporate message,

The essentials of imaging, which expresses Konica

Minoltas goal to

deliver innovative products and services to its customers, will be

utilized by all Konica

Minolta business units worldwide. </p>

 

<p><strong>Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. </strong></p>

 

<p>Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc., headquartered in

Mahwah, NJ, is the North

American sales and marketing subsidiary of Konica Minolta Holdings,

Inc. (Tokyo, Japan).

On August 5, 2003 Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. was formed to enhance

both the competitive

business capabilities and earning capacities of Konica Corporation

and Minolta Co., Ltd. </p>

 

<p>Consumers around the world have come to know and trust the Konica

and Minolta brands

for all their imaging needs. Since the earliest days of the photo

industry, Minolta and

Konica have applied their talents and resources to create products

and services that are

essential to the world of imaging. Today, these efforts concentrate

on the most important

aspects of imaging: the quality of the images, the tools and methods

for creating images,

and the creation of environments for the application of images. </p>

 

<p>This focus on the essentials of imaging ties together the

companys key business

and consumer product lines. Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.

is a leading

manufacturer and marketer of 35mm and Advanced Photo System film,

single-use cameras,

digital and 35mm film cameras, accessory lenses, binoculars,

photographic and color

measurement meters. In addition the company offers color print photo

papers, Inkjet photo

paper, digital minilabs, digital film scanners, optical instruments,

software and advanced

imaging and sensing technologies. Konica Minolta Photo Imaging

U.S.A., Inc. also provides

wholesale photofinishing services and Internet imaging services. It

is a complete imaging

company, from input through output. </p>

 

<p>For more information about Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A.,

Inc., its products and

services, visit <a

href="http://www.konicaminolta.net">www.konicaminolta.net</a>. </p>

 

<p><em>All brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of

their respective

companies</em>.

This is breaking news? Didn't this merger happen a few months ago?

I thought the same thing, but it looks like _today_ is the first day of business

operations as a new company.

 

I just hope they're making a digital Hexar RF...

I'd buy one.

I guess the title should have been "Konica/Minolta Open for Business"!

 

Yes, today is the first day of their operation as a joint company in the US. As the PR says, the company itself was formed (in Japan) on August 5th 2003.

So, when do I get my Digital Maxxum 7? Or those SSM lenses they promised? I hope this new company does well... we'll see.