Brother Group acquires PENTAX mobile solutions division from Hoya Corporation

The move follows a record year for the brand, where the PENTAX mobile solutions division achieved revenues of approximately $14m in its fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.

The acquisition is expected to further strengthen the Brother Group's strong line-up of specialty printing solutions, which is a market sector experiencing strong demand throughout the Middle East.

Under the terms of the acquisition, the Brother Group will acquire PENTAX's mobile printers and scanners, including the PENTAX PocketJet Ultra-Portable printers, a surprisingly small, light and effective, full-page range of printing solutions for on-the-go document needs; and the PENTAX DSmobile 600 scanner, a powerful, compact, lightweight 600-dpi color scanner, which combines dynamic software to provide exceptional quality scanning and easy management of documents and photos. The transaction has been completed in July 2008, and the U.S.-based employees dedicated to Hoya's mobile solutions business have been invited to become employees of Brother Mobile Solutions, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Brother International Corporation, USA.

"This acquisition is a reflection of the Brother Group's desire to expand and strengthen our offering within niche markets, including specialty printing solutions. The move also showcases the advantages of our global operations, where we can leverage acquisitions, research and development, and other economies of scale to bring benefits to our loyal customers across the globe. This is just part of our strategy to leverage global developments and filter these benefits down to local markets,"

said Shinji Tada, Managing Director, Brother Gulf.

Brother has built a strong business in specialty printing solutions, including P-Touch and QL on-demand label printers, and M-Print small-format mobile printers. The addition of PENTAX mobility products supplements the company's existing line of small-format mobile printers, enhances Brother's customization and integration capabilities, and allows it to expand into the
letter-size mobile document printing and solutions market. This acquisition also enhances Brother's solution-provider business through specialized applications for vertical markets. As part of the agreement, the Brother Group will continue to use the PENTAX brand for mobile printers for a period, and take over certain responsibilities such as after-care services and providing consumable supplies.

"The inclusion of the PENTAX lines to our portfolio will significantly enhance our specialty printing solutions. The superior mobile products of PENTAX will enable us to expand our presence in growth areas such as the Middle East that require the latest and the best niche business services to complement their rapid development," concluded Tada.