KONICA MINOLTA CLIMBS TO TOP MARKET SHARE POSITION
IN U.S. COLOR LASER COPIER MARKETPLACE

 

Market Analysis Report Shows Konica Minolta Number One

in Total Color Laser Copier Market Shares; and Finishes Strong

in Monochrome Segment 6

RAMSEY, NJ – August 7, 2006 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced the company has achieved the top U.S. market share position in 2005 unit shipments for color laser digital copiers* according to IDC’s “Market Analysis: U.S. Copier 2006-2010 Forecast and Analysis”; up from the number two position in 2004.  This report quantifies the U.S. copier market opportunity in detail and analyzes its issues, trends, and product advances. It includes both black and white (analog and digital) and color copier* forecasts.

Konica Minolta’s market share of 2005 U.S. color laser copier* shipments was 21% - an overall gain of five market share points – with overall share gains coming from increases in sales in Color Segments 3-5.  Konica Minolta's market share positions in Color Segments 3-5 are as follows:

· Segment 3 (21-30 ppm)  Number 1 26% market share
· Segment 4 (31-44 ppm)  Number 2 26% market share
· Segment 5 (45+ ppm)     Number 1 44% market share

Most Extensive Color Lineup to Date

“At the beginning of 2005, we announced our plans to become number one in color and the value leader in the industry, with the commitment of resources — people and technology — to make our goals a reality,” said Jun Haraguchi, President and CEO, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. ”Over the course of 2005, Konica Minolta introduced an extensive color lineup, including the 25 ppm bizhub C250/C250P, the 35 ppm bizhub C351, and the 45 ppm bizhub C450/C450P, as well as the 50 ppm bizhub PRO C500.”  With the 2006 introductions of the 35 ppm bizhub C352, and 30 ppm bizhub C300, the color lineup represents Konica Minolta’s commitment to develop a complete roster of color products that meet the diverse needs of small- to medium-sized offices, high-volume corporate settings, and production print environments. 

“This commitment accounts for our steady rise in unit shipment market share in the U.S. color laser digital copier* market as calculated by IDC, from number 4 with 11% share in 2003; to number two with 16% in 2004; and now number one in 2005,” Haraguchi said.

Konica Minolta Breaks New Ground in Monochrome Production Print

“Last year, we also set our sights on leveraging both the success of the bizhub PRO 1050, named MFP of the Year by BLI, and the launch of the 92 ppm bizhub PRO 920, to expand our presence in the production print market,” said William H. Brewster, Jr., Vice President, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “I am pleased to report that we exceeded our expectations in 2005, achieving an 18% unit shipment market share in the U.S. in Segment 6 (91+ ppm monochrome laser digital copiers*) in the IDC report, coming from last place to rank third, when compared to 2004.”

"Konica Minolta’s steady progress to the top market share position in color, and the gains realized in monochrome Segment 6 validates its strategic focus on the key growth markets", says Angèle Boyd, Group Vice President, Imaging/Output/Document Solutions.

2005: A Year of Significant Accomplishments

In addition to vaulting to the number one position in the U.S. in color laser digital copier* unit shipments where the company saw an increase in color unit growth of 72% over 2004, other highlights of Konica Minolta’s accomplishments in 2005 include:

• U.S. revenue increased 9.2%, beating industry trends by a substantial margin 
• Unification of the product line under the bizhub and bizhub PRO brand 
• Named by Buyers Laboratory, Inc. (BLI) as Product Line of the Year for 2005 
• bizhub PRO 1050 named MFP of the Year for 2005 by BLI 
• Recently received the Best Overall rating for performance and customer satisfaction in the annual end-user study conducted by “Office Products Analyst” 
• Numerous individual product and corporate awards from BERTL and Better Buys for Business 
• Named MFP Color Manufacturer of the Year according to “The Cannata Report” – for the second year in a row – in the annual Copier Dealer Survey

EDITORS NOTE:  * - Copiers include single-function digital copiers and copier-based MFPs; it does not include printer-based MFPs. 

About Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc., offers a broad range of multifunctional digital imaging solutions inspired by its bizhub™ brand of powerful solutions that serve as the central resource for document scanning, in-house printing, copying, faxing and electronic archiving and distribution.  From high-quality color and monochrome bizhub systems for workgroups and small offices, to advanced high-volume bizhub PRO™ production printing systems for large corporations and print-for-pay services, Konica Minolta is leading the industry toward integrated, networked hardware/software solutions that are more simple, reliable, and cost-effective.  Complementing its bizhub solutions, Konica Minolta also offers desktop laser printers, microform digital imaging systems, wide-format printers and scanning systems for specialized applications.