Under the deal, Ricoh would pay US$725m in cash up front for 51 per cent of a new company (to be known as InfoPrint Solutions Co) and an unspecified amount later for the printing division of IBM.

Ricoh’s objective would be to take full ownership of InfoPrint within three years.

Since 1995 Ricoh has embarked on an ambitious strategy to increase its global distribution network.

In the space of just a few years, Gestetner, Rex-Rotary, Nashuatec, Savin and Lanier have all become part of the Ricoh Group of companies. Each brand has its own particular area of competence and customer base.

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