Release Date: Monday, November 12, 2018
Press release from the issuing company
As Co-Founder, shareholder and Managing Director/CEO in charge of ColorGATE since its founding, I’m delighted to inform you that we have reached agreement with Ricoh Company, Ltd. to acquire all shares of ColorGATE. This is the result of a long-prepared strategic decision of CG´s shareholders, directors and key employees to ensure the companies further growth and continuous business success in this ever-changing, challenging and exciting industry. Transfer of shares is scheduled to complete end of November 2018.
After the concluded transaction ColorGATE Digital Output Solutions GmbH will remain as a separate entity within the Ricoh organization and I will continue being CEO.
The complete team of ColorGATE also will continue to serve all customers, sales partners and OEM´s of all market segments within the commercial and industrial print business. It is our sincere aim to maintain and expand the fruitful and long-standing relations with all major OEM´s as well as to continue to serve niche specialists with the development of device drivers, color management solutions and RIP products for diverse applications.
Our co-founder Norbert Steinhauer, who I personally thank for his outstanding work and partnership will remain within the company and will hand-over his CTO role to Jens Kopp. Jens is an industry veteran who has been with the company since 2002 already esteemed for many years as team leader.
Continuity is also guaranteed in our entire operation with Michael Stoye as COO, Lars Vollers in accounting and Thomas Oberhack heading our Customer Service Team. My wife Catherine continuous to lead our MarCom activities and Janis Katomeris who has taken over the lead of our technical service team are since Day One with ColorGATE back in 1997 and will continue to ensure great service and support.
With Ricoh´s support and focus on inkjet we are planning to grow our team, increase our global presence and further ignite innovative solutions – committed to color.
The acquisition will not affect the daily operations and the usual service and product quality of ColorGATE. You can continue to use our services and products just as before. All services and products continue to be available, can be used as usual without restriction and without interruption.