I have previously reported on the Minolta-Konica merger. Here’s the latest from a letter that I recieved at work this afternoon. (Any typos or misspellings are my fault not theirs):
January 14, 2003
To all Minolta Consumer Products Group Dealers,
Recently you heard news of a merger between Minolta and Konica. While you may have learned most of the information already, let me review the basic facts.
The Boarts of Minolta and Konica have agreed that they will bring the two organizations together into a single entity. This was announced formally on January 7th.
The extreme competition that exists in our business world has made this alliance neccessary. Minolta and Konica each bring strengths to this new association. Together we will be positioned to grow and prosper.
You may have questions about specifics, but it is a bit too early to have all the answers. The merger will not be final until August of this year and the integration of the business units will start in October.
You will be kept informed by a series of communications that will elaborate on every detail as it unfolds.
This may seem like a very sudden and dramatic change, however, changes are often neccessary for growth and success. We pledge that there will be no disruption in our service or supply to you as we proceed with the merger. With this new organization, we will be able to deliver an even stronger value proposition to you, our valued dealer.
Best Regards,
Yoshi Ito
Executive Vice President, General Manager
Consumer Products Group