TOSHIBA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS CONTINUES ITS GROWTH STRATEGY WITH 44th AND 45TH DEALER ACQUISITIONS
Latest Dealer Acquisitions Strengthen Toshiba’s Presence in Two Key Markets – Texas and California
IRVINE , California ( Aug 04, 2006 ) :
Further growing its nationwide network of wholly owned subsidiary operations, Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS) today announced the acquisition of two dealerships – Copy Machines Inc. (CMI)/RJS Technologies, by its local subsidiary, Office Communications Systems Inc. (OCS), doing business as (dba) Toshiba Business Solutions-Texas (TBS-TX); and the Gold Coast portion of WOLCO Business Systems Inc., acquired by Skipco Inc., dba Toshiba Business Solutions-California/Nevada (TBS-CA/NV). The two transactions represent TBS’ 44th and 45th dealer acquisitions since the inception of the company’s business expansion plan, supporting the overall objective of bolstering the TBS operation by acquiring leading independent dealers in key markets, including Texas and California.
“The acquisitions of CMI/RJS and WOLCO will bring strong new talent and experience to the TBS organization,” said Wayne Wilkinson, vice president / general manager, TBS. “Both acquisitions will bring additional revenue and operational scale to two of our existing subsidiaries. The combination of Toshiba’s outstanding product innovations coupled with our newly acquired partners’ years of industry and market expertise will provide the highest level of customer service.”
Headquartered in El Paso, CMI/RJS operates from seven locations throughout Texas and southern New Mexico, and has been in business for 50 years. Prior to the acquisition, CMI/RJS sold only competitive brands of office equipment products. The company employs 57 people under the leadership of former president R. Jon Crumley, who will remain with the company, reporting to Jim Magness, president of San Antonio-based TBS-TX. With the completion of this transaction, TBS-TX will now be comprised of 14 offices throughout Texas, employing more than 175 people.
“CMI/RJS has an excellent reputation within the west Texas and southern New Mexico communities,” said Magness. “The company’s solid business practices and exceptional customer support are a perfect fit for TBS-TX. We look forward to forging new relationships for the mutual benefit of our customers and our business.”
WOLCO’s Gold Coast business serves Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties with offices in Ventura and Santa Maria, Calif. All 20 employees will remain with the company as it combines with TBS-CA/NV, led by president Craig Wiegman.
“We’re thrilled to have WOLCO as part of the Toshiba family,” said Wiegman. “The WOLCO Gold Coast acquisition allows Toshiba to have a strong presence throughout all of Southern California – a strategic opportunity to expand Toshiba’s product offerings in a key marketplace.”
In addition, the Central Valley portion of WOLCO’s business was acquired by Zoom Imaging Solutions Inc., an independent Toshiba dealer headquartered in Fresno.
About Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc.
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, Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TABS has four divisions: the Electronic Imaging Division; the Toner Products Division; the Document Solutions Engineering Division; and TOPAC U.S.A., Inc., dba Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS), a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of TABS, that operates a network of wholly owned office equipment dealers throughout the United States.
Named the most favored manufacturer seven times 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” six times by the Marketing Research Consultants (MRC), and has twice been named to the CIO 100 for being among the top 100 “bold” (2005) and “agile” (2004) companies in the world.
TABS is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, the sixth largest electronics/electrical equipment company and the world's 72nd largest company in terms of sales. Ranked by Fortune magazine as the 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 2004 was approximately $55 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.