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RAMSEY, NJ, Oct 04, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), today announced the company has acquired OfficeWare, a Kentucky-based regional full-service business equipment dealership with offices in Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Evansville, Indiana; Marion, Illinois; and Cincinnati, Ohio.

OfficeWare will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. and maintain its current locations and roster of 125 employees. Current OfficeWare President, Rick Maxwell, will continue to lead the operation and report directly to Rick Taylor, President and Chief Operating Officer, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.

"This strategic acquisition positions Konica Minolta to further increase our market presence in a highly competitive marketplace," said Taylor. "Our goal is to implement a multi-faceted growth strategy that encompasses organic growth, value-based partnerships with dealer partners, and acquisition where there is clear value for the customer and the company. OfficeWare has a long-established reputation for their ability to provide a complete breadth of solutions that includes technologies, services and expertise along with an exceptional management team."

"My senior management team and I strongly believe that OfficeWare's customers and employees will be best served as members of the Konica Minolta Team -- a global leader with resources proven to produce results in this industry. While we will continue to honor our current commitments, the OfficeWare Team will demonstrate our long-term dedication to being the trusted document solution provider for our customers and future prospects," said Rick Maxwell, President, OfficeWare, Inc. "One of the biggest reasons why Konica Minolta looked to acquire OfficeWare was the quality and reputation of our organization. Starting today, The OfficeWare team will certainly work hard to leverage the strength of the Konica Minolta brand, and to introduce our customers to how they can count on Konica Minolta for award-winning technologies and services."

OfficeWare was founded in Evansville, Indiana and has been providing leading office technologies to a broad range of companies since 1957. The company offers sophisticated equipment for virtually every critical office application from office systems to integrated computer networks to multi-media presentation technologies. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, OfficeWare has been recognized with multiple industry awards -- including the "Dealer of the Year" from the Business Technology Association -- and its 95% customer referral rating reflects the company's commitment to be a trusted business partner while improving customers' productivity and reducing operational expenses.

"Over the past year, Konica Minolta has been aggressively reinventing itself as part of the printing and imaging industry's evolution toward a more services-led model," said Keith Kmetz, Vice President, Hardcopy Peripherals Solutions and Services at IDC. "The company is taking steps to ensure its relevance. Strategic acquisitions, starting with All Covered earlier this year, and now OfficeWare, as well as its more targeted vertically-oriented solutions, makes Konica Minolta a company to watch during the industry's transformation."

About Konica Minolta Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is a leader in advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop. For the fourth consecutive year, Konica Minolta was recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys. BLI has named Konica Minolta 2011 "Line of the Year" award winner for the company's award-winning line of bizhub Color and Monochrome Multifunctional Products. For more information, please visit www.CountOnKonicaMinolta.com and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

About OfficeWare OfficeWare has provided its customers integrated document solutions since 1957. Today, OfficeWare offers comprehensive 'Managed Print Services' to address the changing dynamics of today's connected office environment. The company has been recognized with multiple industry awards including the "Dealer of the Year" from the Business Technology Association. A 98% uptime performance guarantee and a 95% customer referral rating reflect the company's commitment to be a trusted business partner, improve customer's productivity and reduce operational expenses. Headquartered in Louisville, KY, OfficeWare serves customers from five offices including Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green, KY, Evansville, IN and Marion, IL.

Konica Minolta is a registered trademark of Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.
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I had an email last night from a P4p'er that wanted to know my thoughts about this acquisition by KonicaMinolta.

I took a visit to the Officeware web site and was surprised with the MPS tone and strategy of the site, but as I dug a little deeper I realized that the copier dealer message was still embedded in the web site.

In a blog I posted at the end of 2010, I had predicted that copier manufacturers like Xerox, Ricoh and KonicaMinolta would start to buy MPS organizations. Officeware seems to be one of those hybrid dealers that is playing in both worlds (MPS & Copiers) and there's nothing wrong with that because I firmly believe Hybrid dealers like Officeware can make a difference with a MFP's and MPS.

Who loses? Canon and Ricoh as far as placements, Officeware customers for support as the company starts to sell and support more of the KM product.

I'm sure there are some disgruntled employees, but you'll get that with any changeover. KonicaMinolta Business Systems wins a major portion of coverage from Midwest central Ohio, all of central Indiana and Midwest Illinois. I'm just guessing, but I'm thinking one of the reasons they purchased Officeware is because there was not enough coverage of KM in this area.

At this time I believe the entire Copier Industry is still changing through acquisition, it's the only way to grow and the only way to preserve market share. With that I believe all of the manufactures are spread very thin with support and this purchase at this time could be challenging for the buyer and the seller.

As you can tell, I really don't have a lot on this. The competitors of Officeware that carried either Ricoh, Savin or Canon will be delighted to see the acquisition and give them a chance to secure the customers who are brand loyal to Canon and Lanier (Ricoh). As with all purchases from a manufacturer tomorrow will be no different from yesterday, but as time rolls on turmoil will mount with parts support, tech support and solutions support from Lanier (Ricoh) and Canon. It's no doubt that Officeware will do it's best to get the major portion of the non KM systems out of the field in a short amount of time.

Our industry is…well…driving our own demise so to speak. We’re selling MFP hardware to reduce clicks, reduce cost per page, those dealers that are not the Hybrid (Professional services, MPS) or do not have a plan for a Professional Services model will sell themselves out of business
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