The Impact of Ikon Being Acquired by Ricoh

It has been said that Ricoh have had a long standing30 percent were Ricoh before the acquisition. Ricoh
relationship with IKON. With the amount of areahave said that they will replace all Canon machines
coverage that IKON already have, Ricoh will be able towith their own printers, photocopiers and multifunctional
expand their US distribution ne­tw­ork by adevices within 3 to 4 years.
substantial amount. The European Commission, uponThis acquisition may leave some IKON customers in a
deciding that there were enough competitors for all thedifficult situation, because, although Ricoh have said
products concerned, were able to give clearance forthey will continue to service other manufacturers of
the acquisition of IKON by Ricoh. They found that nomachine, they will eventually be replacing all their
competitors of Ricoh are dependent on IKON'smachines with Ricoh devices. This means that any
distribution. However, IKON is a substantial company,customers using Canon machines will either have to
with around 24,000 employees in more than 400change suppliers or manufacturers if they require a
locations throughout North America and Westernnew device. For some customers this could be a
Europe, so the acquisition of IKON by Ricoh is bounddifficult decision to m­ake as they could be loyal to
to have some effect o­n the industry.Canon and very ha­ppy with the machines they
Before the merger, IKON sold and leased a range ofalready use, but see changing their supplier as a
products from manufacturers such as Canon, Ricoh,daunting task, especially if they have a large number of
Konica Minolta and HP. It seems that Canon could bedevices. Fortunately there are some Canon suppliers
the manufacturer that is hit the hardest, as, accordingthat are prepared to make the transition as easy and
to Reuters­ ( 60 percent of the products handledas hassle free as possible.
by IKON were Canon machines, where as only around