DIGITAL COPIERS & PRINTERS -- The Urge to Converge

"Consolidation" probably would be a more accurate description for some of the corporate-level moves being made by digital equipment manufacturers.

At press time, reports started circulating about a pending acquisition of Minolta by Konica. In an official statement on its Website, Minolta characterized the deal as "an integration of the management of both companies based on stock swaps through a spirit of equality." It went on to say that, "by October 2003, the operations of both companies will be integrated through a business restructuring, forming a new corporate group (called Konica Minolta)." The statement didn't say anything about the impact on product lines or corporate assets, but there were reports of a potential 10 percent work force reduction (some 4,000 employees).