The formation of the Infoprint Solutions Company combines IBM's over 40 years of enterprise- class printing experience with Ricoh's office solutions leadership, immediatly positioning InfoPrintSolutions Company as the leading supplier of IT output solutions. With the transaction targeted to close during the second quarter of 2007, the creation of InfoPrintSolutions Company will signify the birth of a new force in the printing industry - a company focussed on print solution needs - for customers of all sizes.
The joint venture will benefit from access to IBM's powerful worldwide distribution and sales network, as well as the continued use of the IBM InfoPrint brand. IBM's extensive printer development capabilities will also become part of the joint venture. IBM Global Financing will continue as a financing provider for InfoPrintSolutions Company.
IBM and Ricoh have been strategic partners for 20 years, collaborating on a number of innovations, including leading-edge imaging technologies and powerful production output solutions. InfoPrintSolutions Company will harness these advanced research and development capabilities in hardware, software and services to bring a richer set of offerings to the marketplace.