- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 9 years, 9 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Konica puts European jobs at risk with merger plan
june 2007 Konica Minolta staff across Europe face job cuts as the firm considers fusing two of its subsidiaries.
Laser print company Konica Minolta (KM) Printing Solutions Europe is to be merged into advanced imaging and technologies sister company Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe as its parent seeks to cut costs and improve efficiency.Konica said it intends to merge the divisions in order to consolidate marketing and sales operations and provide better customer service.Once the deal is given the go-ahead, subsidiaries of KM Printing Solutions will be merged country-by-country into their respective KM Business Solutions subsidiaries. The process, which will hit UK operations, will occur between July and October this year. It is too early to say how many jobs losses will result from the merger.In legal terms, KM Printing Solutions’ European head office would be merged into KM Business Solutions through an asset deal, with the former effectively becoming the business arm’s Netherlands branch.Whether or not the companies merge is still subject to consultation between KM Printing Solutions’ management and Works Councils that represent employees of both companies. However, although not 100% certain, the merger is likely to go ahead.Hideki Okamura, president of KM Business Solutions Europe, said: “More and more, the border of MFP and Printer/AIO industries are crossing over each other and mega-competition in this industry is heating up. Considering the current market environment, I believe that both operations in Europe should act as one company under the unified deployment and business strategy.”Kanji Wada, managing director of KM Printing Solutions Europe, said: “I do believe that combined with planned expansion of product portfolio, the merger will provide us with an excellent opportunity of substantially growing Printer/AIO business and its market presence to truly become one of the leading printer vendors in Europe.“We will be also able to manage and optimize our sales channels from both MFP & printer point of view, and create better channel satisfaction as well as customer satisfaction as a consequence.”Also this month, KM announced the merger of its US Printing Solutions business into its American Business Solutions division.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.