Konica Minolta Enhances Production Print Direct Sales in Brazil, Acquiring Milsul with High Market Share in Two Southern States

Tokyo (January 7, 2015) -- Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced that it is launching initiatives to enhance direct sales and customer support network in Brazil, including its business technologies sales subsidiary, Konica Minolta Business Solutions do Brasil Ltda. (Konica Minolta BR), for the fast-growing Production Print (PP) sector in the country. As the first step, Konica Minolta BR has acquired Rio Grande do Sul-based Milsul Comercio Importacao e Exportacao Ltda (Milsul), a major local dealer with high market share in the two southern states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Caterina. Milsul functions as Konica Minolta BR’s subsidiary and a foothold for further business expansion in the PP sector in Brazil.
Konica Minolta has been investing not only in the advanced primary markets in Japan, the U.S. and Europe in the PP field, as a strong player in the color PP, but also in its business development in the emerging markets.
Konica Minolta BR has earned reputation among numerous commercial print customers for its PP products and support and continually increased its business. While the Brazilian PP sector is estimated to keep growing, it is essential for Konica Minolta BR to enhance its direct sales force and support competence so that the company’s proposal capabilities will be upgraded and customer satisfaction increased. The acquisition of Milsul strengthens the path toward Konica Minolta’s further growth in the PP field in Brazil.
On top of the high market share, the addition of Milsul’s outstanding sales proposal capabilities and technical expertise including customization will enable Konica Minolta BR to capitalize on its rich resources, both in quality and quantity, in establishing direct sales and support systems of excellence and driving sales initiatives to enhance points of contact with the customers in the two southern states.
In July 2014 Konica Minolta BR opened Digital Imaging Square in Sao Paulo, the first digital printing solution and communications space for the PP field in South America. Going forward, the company will aim to broaden its direct sales network from southern Brazil to southeastern and northeastern economic belts, while increasing proposals with solutions and technologies that meet customers’ growing needs, based on Konica Minolta’s expertise in the PP sector. Furthermore, as new business development, Konica Minolta BR will enhance its vertical proposal-type sales activities, including proposals for “Print shop/Print service center,” in-house printing or medical field, and offer highly value-added services to Brazilian customers.
Under the brand proposition “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta will continue strengthening its presence in the PP field and increasing the entire Konica Minolta Group’s corporate value through delivery of solutions and services that are vital and optimal for customers.