Ilford Paper Now Oji - Japan

Ilford sold out. Maybe Epson paper and Ilford will be the same and made
by OJI. Who knows. The following is a press release from Ilford.



Purchase of ILFORD Imaging Switzerland by Oji Paper Co.

Oji Paper Co., Ltd reached an agreement with ILFORD International
Holdings BV to acquire all shares in ILFORD Imaging Switzerland GmbH
with effect from the 1st of July 2005, of which ILFORD International
Holdings was the sole owner.
Oji Paper, founded in 1873 and based in Tokyo, is Japan's largest paper
company and is among the largest in the world. Sales in 2004 were in
excess of $ 11 bio with ordinary profit at $ 750 mio. The Group employs
18'600 people world-wide.
ILFORD has now joined Oji's Communications Paper Division which in
addition to ILFORD’s inkjet and photographic products manufactures ink
jet papers, thermal papers and films, magnetic recording papers and dye
sublimation papers.

*1. Background*
Founded in 1879, the ILFORD Imaging Group has established the ILFORD
name as one of the photographic industry’s most respected brands
worldwide through its core businesses of manufacturing and marketing
conventional photographic materials. ILFORD Imaging Group has also kept
pace with the accelerating transition from photo film to inkjet paper
driven by the growing popularity of home imaging and the digital camera.
ILFORD Imaging has built a solid position for itself in the industry,
through developing and marketing photo quality papers and films for ink
jet printers compatible with home printers and also professional wide
format printers. Offering products such as resin-coated glossy papers
for printing digital-camera images with quality so superb they rival
conventional photographs.
The value of the ILFORD inkjet and imaging technology will enable OJI to
expand its standing in these areas, whilst ILFORD will benefit from
OJI's paper making technology and their access to Asian and worldwide
markets. The Oji Paper Group has been working for some time now to
strengthen and expand its inkjet papers business and it anticipates the
following synergies from its acquisition of ILFORD Imaging Switzerland:
• A successful blend of photo media manufacturing and papermaking
technologies
• A full product range that fulfils diversifying media requirements from
home-use to professional-quality digital photography. Oji Paper Group is
particularly interested in building a full inkjet-paper product line-up
spanning both cast glossy and resin-coated glossy types, as well as
securing for itself a large share of the top-quality photographic
inkjet-paper market.
The combined strength of the two companies will create one of the
industry's leading research and development capabilities enabling them
to bring new printing technologies to market quicker. Following the
acquisition, ILFORD Imaging Switzerland will retain ownership of
intellectual property rights associated with ILFORD, ILFORD Imaging, and
ilford.com, as well as continue to use trademarks such as GALERIE,
PRINTASIA, OMNIJET, ILFOCHROME and ILFOCOLOR. ILFORD products will
continue to be sold both under its own brands and through key strategic
partners.

*2. Outline of acquisition*
Seller ILFORD International Holdings BV is a Dutch holding company and a
wholly owned subsidiary of ILFORD Imaging Ltd. of the UK, which is
currently in administration.
ILFORD Imaging Switzerland GmbH Corporate Profile:
Trade name: ILFORD Imaging Switzerland GmbH
Location: Rte de l’Ancienne Papeterie, Case Postale 160, 1723 Marly 1,
Switzerland
Main business: Production and marketing of glossy inkjet photo paper and
display film
Total assets: CHF 80 million at end-December 2004
Sales: CHF 150 million in fiscal year ended December 2004
Representative: David Peter Marshall Jones
Fiscal year-end: December

Media Contacts:
Dai Jones
ILFORD Imaging Switzerland GmbH Managing Director (+41) 0264357111