IBM Printing Systems now InfoPrint Solutions

Jun 4, 2007 1:58 PM

InfoPrint Solutions Company (IPS) (Boulder, CO) the joint venture printing company announced earlier this year by IBM and Ricoh, has begun operations with 1,200 employees around the world.

The company was formerly IBM's Printing Systems Division. With the closing of the agreement, Ricoh now owns 51 percent of the joint venture and will progressively acquire the remaining 49 percent over the next three years as the joint venture becomes a fully owned subsidiary.

InfoPrint Solutions Company has operations in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the U.S., and has plans to expand to other countries in the third quarter of this year, subject to the completion of local information and consultation processes.

The joint venture based on IBM’s printing operations, which generated approximately $1 billion of revenue in 2006, will continue to benefit from access to IBM's powerful worldwide distribution and sales network. IBM client teams, business partners and dealers will continue to offer InfoPrint printing and output solutions, and InfoPrint Solutions Company will be IBM's preferred global print solutions provider. The InfoPrint product brand and IBM's extensive printer development capabilities are also part of the joint venture.

IBM will provide maintenance services to InfoPrint Solutions Company for one year under a services agreement, after which more than 1,000 IBM printer maintenance specialists may join the new company, subject to local business conditions and completion of local information and consultation processes.

"With this launch, we have created a billion-dollar enterprise with the backing of two undisputed industry leaders, IBM and Ricoh. Together, we will drive the next generation of innovation in output solutions," said Tony Romero, CEO and President, InfoPrint Solutions Co. "Our plans for the joint venture include greater investment in research and development, enhancing our professional services capabilities, and increasing the size of our sales and support organization. Our intense focus on strategic output management means our current and future customers will benefit from a new level of products, services, and solutions built to address their business needs."

InfoPrint Solutions Company, launching with 40 years in the printing industry and more than 20 years of joint innovation and development between IBM and Ricoh, offers output solutions for general office, industrial, enterprise and commercial printing environments for customers of all sizes – from small businesses to large enterprises. The investment from Ricoh will increase the company’s portfolio with new product and solutions offerings in both the production and general office markets.

“Today is an historic moment both for IBM and Ricoh and more importantly, an industry first. The creation of InfoPrint Solutions Company brings together the best of two industry leaders, and greatly enhances the Ricoh portfolio of offerings,” said Norio Tanaka, Corporate Senior Vice President of the Production Printing Business Group at Ricoh Company Ltd. “This unique combination puts IPS ahead of its competitors and positions the company to lead the market by focusing on the goal of creating true operating efficiencies and value for customers.”

“From an industry perspective, we believe that this alliance is built on a long-standing relationship between these two partners and it will create great market opportunities for InfoPrint Solutions Company as it continues to provide leading-edge output solutions for customers,” said Charlie Pesko, President, InfoTrends, Inc., the industry analyst firm. “The marketing power of both Ricoh and IBM puts the joint venture in a very healthy competitive position.”

IBM received $725 million in cash at the closing. The cash received was consideration for the initial 51 percent acquisition of the joint venture by Ricoh as well as a prepayment for the remaining 49 percent to be acquired and certain royalties and services to be provided by IBM to InfoPrint Solutions Company. Final consideration for this transaction will be determined at the end of the three-year period based upon the participation in the profits and losses recorded by the equity partners. As a result of the transaction, IBM expects to record a second quarter pre-tax gain of approximately $80 million and a total pre-tax gain of approximately $250 million over the three-year period. Both gain amounts are pending final valuation of the agreements signed with the joint venture as well as final determination of transaction related expenses. Further details will be included in IBM's second quarter earnings report and Form 10-Q filing.