TOSHIBA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ACQUIRES PORTION OF NORTHERN BUSINESS SYSTEMS’ OPERATION
IRVINE , California ( Oct 22, 2004 ) :
Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS) announced today it has acquired the Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y. offices of Northern Business Systems, a leading independent dealer of Toshiba office equipment in western and central New York and New Jersey. Northern Business Systems’ Rochester & Syracuse offices will be merged with Business Methods, a previously acquired TBS Subsidiary headquartered in Rochester, N.Y.
The newly combined company will be led by Steven Sauer, president of Business Methods. This acquisition is part of TABS’ objective to support Toshiba Business Solutions' overall market growth strategy by targeting large independent dealers in the top U.S. markets.
"Northern Business Systems has a long history with Toshiba, and we're very excited to be taking that relationship to the next level," said Eugene McGillycuddy, president Northern Business Systems. "This will allow Northern the opportunity and capital to focus our resources where the heart of our Northern operations are in the metropolitan New York area and New Jersey, where we can continue to grow with Toshiba as a partner and expand our franchises with our sister company Engle Business Systems in Pennsylvania."
Northern Business Systems has been in business for 20 years as a distributor of Toshiba's office products. Northern Business Systems has earned TABS' coveted "ProMaster’s Service Award" 11 out of the last 12 years for exceptional customer service and was recognized for top sales achievements within Toshiba’s Government, Education and Major Accounts (GEM) channel in the Eastern Region in 2003.
"Northern Business Systems is a highly respected Toshiba dealership and we are very excited to join forces in Rochester and Syracuse. I welcome those offices and the employees into the Business Methods family," said Steven Sauer, president, Business Methods. "We expect this to be a seamless transition for our existing clients and look forward to building new relationships in the Rochester and Syracuse communities where our combined businesses now occupy a significant market share."
The acquisition of Northern Business Systems marks Toshiba Business Solutions’ 31st acquisition since creating its business expansion plan, as part of its overall objective to bolster the TBS operation by acquiring large independent dealers in the top U.S. markets. TBS also recently acquired McRae Office Solutions in the Carolinas, Allied Office Solutions in Kansas City, Mo., and Stringer Business Systems and Wagers Business Systems, both in St. Paul, Minn.
"Northern Business Systems is a great partner of Toshiba," said Rick Taylor, senior vice president, Sales, Marketing, Business Operations, TABS. "This acquisition allows us to grow our TBS channel and support Northern’s growth and expansion in their core operating area as one our most successful Toshiba Dealers."
About Northern Business Systems
Northern Business Systems has been in the office products business since 1980, specializing in providing its clients with creative, cost-effective solutions backed by the best possible service. Northern Business Systems LLC (NBS) is strategically partnered with Engle Business Systems LLC, which operates out of central Pennsylvania. This partnership makes NBS one of the largest independently-owned office product companies in the Northeast. NBS represents several national manufacturers such as Toshiba, Standard Duplicator, Nextel, TR Imaging Systems and others. NBS offers a wide variety of digital solutions for client office needs, including digital black & white imaging, digital color imaging and network printing, as well as network faxing.
About Business Methods
Business Methods was founded in 1957 as an office equipment company. Today the company focuses on copier sales with market solutions in three locations covering 28 counties in Western and Central New York. In addition to multifunctional printers and high-end management solutions, Business Methods has another division called AV Solutions that markets innovative, integrated audio-visual equipment. The company’s legacy is built on strong business values, with an emphasis on real client satisfaction and phenomenal employees.
About Toshiba America Business Solutions
Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. (TABS) manages product planning, marketing, sales, service support and distribution of copiers, facsimiles, multifunction printing products, network controllers and toner products throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TABS comprises three divisions: the Electronic Imaging Division, Toner Products Division and Document Solutions Engineering Division; and a subsidiary corporation: Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS), which operates a network of wholly owned subsidiaries.
Named the most favored manufacturer in seven of the past eight years by the Business Technology Association (BTA), Toshiba’s entire product line, customer support and marketing distribution policies are markers for the industry. Among the many other awards garnered in recent years, Toshiba was named the "Copier Manufacturer of the Year" by the Marketing Research Consultants (MRC) in 2004, 2002, 2001, 1998 and 1997, was named to the CIO 100 for being one of the top 100 "agile" companies in the world in 2004, and received the CIO Web Business award for its leading edge intranet site in 2000, 1999 and 1998.
TABS is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, the seventh largest electronics/electrical equipment company and the world's 62nd largest company in terms of sales. Ranked by Fortune magazine as the 8th Most Admired Electronics Company in America and 9th Most Admired Electronics Company in the World, Toshiba Corporation is a world leader in high technology products with more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. Fiscal year revenue in 2003 was approximately $53 billion.
For more information on Toshiba copier, facsimile, multifunction printing products, network controllers or toner products, or for a dealer in your area, call 1 800 GO TOSHIBA or visit the TABS Web site at www.copiers.toshiba.com.