HP announced in August that it has signed an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Scitex Vision, a market leader in super-wide digital printing, for $230 million from Scitex Corporation.

The acquisition expands HP's leadership in large-format printing into the industrial super-wide category and strengthens its position as a one-stop partner for providers of print services.

Scitex Vision is known for wide and super-wide format printers for signage and industrial applications, such as billboards, banners, street advertising and packaging. Headquartered in Netanya, Israel, the company had revenue of $142 million for the one-year period ending 30 June. Its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Belgium, China, Mexico and South Africa. It also has presence in a further 75 countries.

The acquisition complements HP's existing product portfolio of large-format printers and HP digital presses. It also provides HP with the benefits of Scitex Vision's proprietary technology for print heads, providing a significant competitive advantage. Other potential areas of synergy between HP and Scitex Vision's business include inkjet technology, services and support, direct and indirect distribution channels and supply chain.

"The purchase of this business from Scitex Vision will further accelerate HP's push into the rapidly growing digital printing market," said Enrique Lores, vice president and general manager, Large Format Business, HP. "Wide-format signage is one of the fastest growing opportunities in the market. Currently, 17% of printing in this area is done digitally and we expect that to double within the next five years. Scitex Vision is one of the leading companies in this space, with a strong customer base, unique products and technologies and an outstanding customer support organisation."

Dov Ofer, chief executive officer of Scitex Vision, added: "Joining together Scitex Vision with HP will bring substantial benefits to our customers, the wider marketplace and our employees. Our customers will benefit from access to a wider range of products and services while they continue to enjoy the same high levels of attention they are used to receiving. Our technology will reach a broader audience as it becomes available more widely. And employees will enjoy professional opportunities as the business grows within a leading global organisation."

Following completion of the transaction, the business acquired from Scitex Vision will be fully integrated into HP's Imaging and Printing Group.

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