Large Format Review - Business News

Former St Ives technical director John Charnock has founded Print Research International, a one-stop knowledge base for the printing industry. Print Research International is the access point to a global network of experts and consultants, all specialists in their disciplines, and offers business management and consultancy to help printers, manufacturers and organisations worldwide, adapt to and profit from the changing face of the international graphic arts industry.

"I have spent many years seeking out the best technology and the right people to implement it, and I intend to keep on doing so," says Charnock. "It helped make St Ives a market leader and I am sure it can help other companies and organisations to be leaders in their fields. It's about business process change and positioning print to achieve greater value and applies to both print technology manufacturers and printers."

The aim of Print Research International is to help businesses adapt to the changing landscape of print through research, knowledge and leadership. It offers businesses access to a wide range of skills and partnerships to help them implement new business strategies. It also has links and resources in universities and research bodies which can facilitate product re-engineering, aid market knowledge and help companies stand out from their competitors.

Print Research International has a global remit and is currently working with companies in North America and Europe. A business review is available in order for Print Research International to assess the best course of action and recommend the right people to add the most value to an organisation. It emphasises the importance of high-quality and high-value knowledge and leadership to achieve the best possible results. "The companies we help have to see a return on their investment," says Charnock. "If we don't add the value and demonstrate the benefit that we promise, then we won't charge."

Print Research International's specialist partners work together in a system of business review which is based on six principles of business:

• Pr-international: Territory and market
• Pr-intelligence: Information management and research
• Pr-integration: Effective production and automation
• Pr-internal: Resources and business continuity, products and services
• Pr-interface: Communication, logistics and administration
• Pr-intuition: Leadership, vision and culture

"There are some great minds out there and we have some great partners," says Charnock. "By bringing them together everyone benefits."

 

HP today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31, 2010, with net revenue of $31.2 billion, up 8% from a year earlier and up 5% when adjusted for the effects of currency.

In the first quarter, GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.96, up from $0.75 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP EPS was $1.10, up from $0.93 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP financial information excludes after-tax costs of approximately $0.14 per share and $0.18 per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.

"HP is well-positioned to outperform the market," said Mark Hurd, HP chairman and chief executive officer. "The strength of our portfolio, leaner cost structure and accelerating market momentum give us the confidence to raise our full-year outlook."

Information about HP's use of non-GAAP financial information is provided under "Use of non-GAAP financial information" below. Unless otherwise noted, all growth rates included in the narrative below reflect year-over-year comparisons.

First quarter revenue was up 9% in the Americas to $13.6 billion. Revenue was up 1% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 26% in Asia Pacific to $12.1 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. When adjusted for the effects of currency, revenue was up 7% in the Americas, down 1% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and up 19% in Asia Pacific. Revenue from outside of the United States in the first quarter accounted for 65% of total HP revenue, with revenue in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) increasing 41% over the prior-year period while accounting for 10% of total HP revenue.

"Solid performance across the business and disciplined execution on our cost initiatives contributed to strong growth in cash flow and EPS," said Cathie Lesjak, HP executive vice president and chief financial officer. "We will continue to invest for growth and leverage our scale and global position to take advantage of an improving demand environment."

Enterprise Storage and Servers

Enterprise Storage and Servers (ESS) reported total revenue of $4.4 billion, up 11%. Industry Standard Server revenue increased 27% while Storage revenue declined 3% with the midrange EVA product line down 5%. Business Critical Systems revenue declined 22%, while ESS blade revenue was up 24%. Operating profit was $552 million, or 12.6% of revenue, up from $406 million, or 10.3% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Imaging and Printing Group

Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) revenue increased 4% to $6.2 billion. Supplies revenue was up 1%, up 4% in constant currency, while Commercial hardware revenue and Consumer hardware revenue increased 4% and 21%, respectively. Printer unit shipments increased 16%, with Commercial printer hardware units up 11% and Consumer printer hardware units up 18%. Operating profit was $1.1 billion, or 17.0% of revenue, versus $1.1 billion, or 18.5% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Personal Systems Group

Personal Systems Group (PSG) posted a 26% increase in unit shipments and maintained the leading market share position in PCs worldwide. PSG revenue increased 20% to $10.6 billion. Notebook revenue for the quarter was up 25%, while Desktop revenue increased 16%. Commercial client revenue was up 16%, while Consumer client revenue increased 26%. Operating profit was $530 million, or 5.0% of revenue, up from $436 million, or 5.0% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Services

Services revenue decreased 1% to $8.7 billion. Infrastructure Technology Outsourcing revenue increased 2% to $3.9 billion. Technology Services revenue decreased 2% to $2.4 billion. Application Services posted revenue of $1.5 billion and Business Process Outsourcing posted revenue of $734 million down 8% and 3%, respectively. Operating profit was $1.4 billion, or 15.8% of revenue, up from $1.1 billion, or 12.9% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

HP Software

HP Software revenue was flat at $878 million. Business Technology Optimization revenue decreased 1% and Other Software revenue increased 1%. Operating profit was $167 million, or 19.0% of revenue, up from $140 million, or 15.9% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

HP Financial Services

HP Financial Services (HPFS) revenue increased 13% to $719 million. Financing volume increased 30%, and net portfolio assets increased 23%. Operating margin was 9.3% of revenue, up from 6.4% in the prior-year period.

Asset management

HP generated $2.4 billion in cash flow from operations for the first quarter. Inventory ended the quarter at $6.6 billion, down 6 days. Accounts receivable of $14.5 billion was down 4 days. Accounts payable ended the quarter at $13.6 billion, up 3 days. HP's dividend payment of $0.08 per share in the first quarter resulted in cash usage of $189 million. HP also utilized $2.7 billion of cash during the quarter to repurchase approximately 54 million shares of common stock in the open market. HP exited the quarter with $13.7 billion in gross cash.

 

Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal 2010, HP expects revenue of approximately $29.4 billion to $29.7 billion, GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $0.89 to $0.91, and non-GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $1.03 to $1.05. Second quarter fiscal 2010 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.14 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.

HP estimates full year fiscal 2010 revenue will be approximately $121.5 billion to $122.5 billion, up from its previous estimate of $118.0 billion to $119.0 billion. HP expects full year fiscal 2010 GAAP diluted EPS to be in the range of $3.79 to $3.86, up from its previous estimate of $3.65 to $3.75, and non-GAAP diluted EPS to be in the range of $4.37 to $4.44, up from its previous estimate of $4.25 to $4.35. Full year fiscal 2010 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.58 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.

These estimates for both the second quarter and full year fiscal 2010 do not reflect the potential impact of the proposed acquisition of 3Com Corporation that HP announced on Nov. 11, 2009.

 

 

Océ N.V. and Konica Minolta Holdings Inc. have reviewed their existing strategic alliance in light of the public offer made by Canon Inc.

Initiated by Konica Minolta, the joint development activities for cutsheet monochrome and color output systems for the production market have been stopped.

In good mutual consultation, both companies have reached a new OEM sales agreement under which Konica Minolta will continue to supply its office printing systems to Océ, and both Konica Minolta and Océ will continue to supply cutsheet production printing systems to each other.

Also, both companies will continue to supply consumables and parts and offer after-sales services for products sold under their former and new OEM sales agreement to serve their customers.

 

 

“Printers should not sell printing”, says Prof Frank Romano ahead of an Ipex 2010 Great Debate exploring how printers should be selling print. Instead, printers should sell solutions to their customers’ promotion and marketing problems. “Print is a commodity because all printers have great quality and great service, so the major differentiator is price. Solutions are a profit opportunity because they emphasise value-added services, like database, creative, and fulfilment.”

Running on 18 and 22 May, More than ink on paper - how should printers be selling print? is one of a series of free expert panel debates at Ipex 2010 tackling some of the most critical issues facing the print industry today. Produced by world print authority, Pira International in association with Ipex, The Great Print Debates will bring together experts, thought leaders and high-profile industry representatives from 18-25 May 2010.

According to Pira, the days of selling print based on equipment specifications are over. Today printers need a technology or customer-driven strategy to attract profitable work that is more than just ink on paper. Frank Romano, Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology and Great Debate chairperson is one of the expert panel from across the supply chain. The panel will discuss how printers can make money from services including fulfilment, personalisation and mailing. In addition, the panel will explore the optimum technologies needed to execute these strategies and the changing competitive landscape with digital increasing its market share from conventional printing methods.

The Debates come at a critical time according to Pira Consultant and Great Debate chair, Sean Smyth. “The industry is in an unprecedented period of change, exacerbated by the deep recession. Cash conservation is a short-term tactic, not a strategy to build a successful business. These debates provide an opportunity for industry players to put their heads above the parapet and think about how their businesses, and their careers, might progress satisfactorily under new conditions”.

Three other important questions will also be debated: What will the printer of the future look like?, Will an Ipod for publishing kill printed media? and Green print: is it worth it? With full audience participation and interaction, The Great Print Debates will take expert commentary, lively debate and audience interactivity to a completely new level at a major exhibition.

Audience participation and interaction using simple polling technology will allow real-time feedback and drive the questioning of the panel chair, pushing the experts out of their comfort zone. Looking forward to the Debates, Laurel Brunner of Digital Dots reminds the industry, “It's all too easy to forget that understanding the important issues only comes with interaction and participation.”

Debate participants will take away an exclusive study with scenarios and forecasts to 2020. With input from a special panel of authoritative print and publishing experts from around the world,

Print to 2020 will provide a unique global summary of the major challenges, threats and opportunities facing the global printing industry. Building upon the themes discussed at the Ipex/Pira forums, the study will offer an exclusive roadmap for how these issues are likely to develop over the next ten years. Print to 2020 is published by Pira International.

The Great Debates take place from 13.00 -14.00 in the Printers’ Profit Zone, for more information and free registration go to http://www.ipex.org/greatprintdebates

 

 

Rokus van Iperen, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Océ, today informed an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders about the status of the published Offer by Canon Inc., via Canon Finance Netherlands B.V., for the shares of Océ N.V. made on 28 January 2010. Following the presentation by the Chairman of the Executive Board, an elaborate exchange of ideas took place with regard to several aspects of the Offer, including the offer price and future governance.

Furthermore, the following resolutions were adopted in connection with the Offer.

Approved resolutions

The meeting granted discharge and release to the resigning members of the Supervisory Board, under the condition precedent that the discharge and release will be effective on the Settlement Date, and therefore under the condition precedent that the Offer is declared unconditional.

Mr. T. Tanaka will be appointed as member of the Supervisory Board effective as per Settlement Date, and therefore under the condition precedent that the Offer is declared unconditional.

Mr. S. Liebman will be appointed as member of the Supervisory Board effective as per Settlement Date, and therefore under the condition precedent that the Offer is declared unconditional.

Mr. N. Eley will be appointed as member of the Supervisory Board effective as per Settlement Date, and therefore under the condition precedent that the Offer is declared unconditional.

Mr. J.M. van den Wall Bake will be appointed as member of the Supervisory Board effective as per Settlement Date, and therefore under the condition precedent that the Offer is declared unconditional.

The meeting approved the amendment of the Articles of Association, under the condition precedent that the Offer is declared unconditional.

The amendment of the Articles of Association is related to the following three main subjects:

 

• elimination of the cumulative protective preference shares;
• deletion of the transfer restriction re convertible cumulative financing preference shares; and
• changes to corporate governance structure.

 

 

More information

The results of the voting at the meeting will be published at investor.oce.com before 19 February 2010. The minutes of the meeting will be available on that website not later than 12 May 2010.

 

• Study reveals that many print service providers would not have survived the downturn without a digital printing capability. Survivors are emerging in a better shape to face the future
• As the end of 2009 approached, printers were optimistic about the future
• Printers who moved into wide format inkjet printing in particular thrived as they found a growing signage and display market
• Redefinition of the Digital Printer’ is the third survey sponsored by Canon Europe and conducted by Professor Emeritus Frank Romano and a team of print media graduates from the Rochester Institute of Technology

 

Canon Europe, world leader in digital imaging solutions, today reveals the ‘top line’ trends uncovered by a survey of print service providers and industry commentators into the impact of the recession on the printing industry.

The ‘Redefinition of the Digital Printer’ survey, the third to be sponsored by Canon Europe and conducted by Professor Emeritus Frank Romano and a team of print media graduates from the Rochester Institute of Technology in the USA, provides a further snapshot of the state of the printing industry. The results of the previous Canon ‘Insight’ studies into the future of digital printing and into the CRD (Central Reprographic Department) market were published in May 2008 and May 2009 respectively.

For this third survey, Professor Romano’s team interviewed the largest sample to date, a total of 840 printers, 65.5% of whom were based in Western Europe. The sample included 383 of the 464 interviewed for the 2008 study, the remaining 81 having either merged or gone out of business.

The final analysis of the Redefinition of the Digital Printer’ survey is currently being completed and the results will be published in May 2010. The key findings of the survey demonstrate how important the adoption of digital printing has been to the survival of professional printers and how those emerging from the recession are likely to be better positioned to exploit future opportunities and overcome future challenges:

1. In the last quarter of 2008, as marketers slashed print budgets, printers were forced to rethink every aspect of their business and to implement improved production methods to streamline staff and reduce costs. As print runs became much shorter, those who had implemented digital printing were well prepared for the shift. Those with only offset presses, and particularly those with older generation offset presses, were not geared up for it and were therefore not able to meet the changing demands. As printers acted to adapt, sales of digital machines consequently exceeded those of other presses during 2009. For example, the survey shows that while revenues from offset lithographic output declined by 18.1% in Western Europe during 2009 (compared with 2008), revenues from digital (toner and inkjet combined) output increased by a total of 27.2%.
2. For the purposes of the survey, ‘digital printing’ included not only document printers, but also wide format inkjet, and it appears that those in wide format printing did particularly well during the economic downturn. In fact, 86% of respondents said that display printing on wide format printers had helped them to survive the downturn. Commercial printers, who had previously avoided wide format as too niche, now discovered a growing market for signage and other display products as well as new industrial market segments for printing on fabrics, canvas and other materials.
3. One of the key elements to survival during the recession has been business leadership. Those companies leading the recovery demonstrated that, by focusing on key selected markets (where they could add value) and by providing multi-media services (to differentiate themselves from competitors), they could ensure the long-term future of the business
4. Despite the earlier gloom, by the end of 2009 print service providers were reporting some clear optimism about 2010 and the future. This optimism could be founded on the fact that more than half of companies with a digital printing capability improved their revenue and profit in 2009 compared with 2008.

Mark Lawn, European Marketing Manager, Professional Print Solutions, comments: “As with the previous surveys, Canon’s sponsorship of the latest study reflects our ongoing commitment to the development of long-term relationships with our customers, helping them to make informed decisions about their future.

“After the challenges that the print industry has encountered over the past year, it is very encouraging to hear that printers are expressing optimism about their future for 2010. The research clearly shows that companies who are embracing digital print technology to deliver added value services to their customers are now better positioned to take advantage of an evolving market. Digital printing has become an essential element in any successful blended production environment and, at the speed with which the business environment has changed and continues to change, consideration of the adoption of a digital printing capability can no longer be optional for printers.

“If this renewed sense of optimism continues – and we firmly believe that it will – the industry is in for a very exciting Ipex 2010. The exhibition will provide an ideal opportunity for printers to research and consider different ways to take their businesses forward, and Canon’s focus at the show will be to inspire visitors to make that leap.”

With a view to encouraging printers to take an innovative approach to securing the long-term future of their businesses, Canon is today also launching a pan-European ‘Business Leap’ Competition (Please see relevant press release dated 9 February 2010). Inviting entrants to submit a formal business plan for a venture involving digital printing, the competition will illustrate the importance of compiling a comprehensive business case with a strong rationale for investment – crucial for any printer seeking access to finance. The winner will be awarded a fully configured Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE C9070 PRO, allowing them to transform their business plan into a commercial reality.