InfoPrint Solutions Company Chooses IBM Global Financing as Preferred Provider of Strategic Financing Services for Customers

ARMONK, NY -IBM Global Financing (IGF) (NYSE: IBM), the financing business segment of IBM and world’s premier single-source provider for multi-vendor IT financing solutions, announced today that it has been designated the preferred provider of strategic financing services for the new InfoPrint Solutions Company, LLC (IPS), a joint venture of Ricoh and IBM. IGF will also provide worldwide asset recovery services for the company.

Under terms of the five-year agreement, IBM Global Financing will provide qualified customers of the InfoPrint Solutions Company with leasing services in all countries and customer segments where IGF operates. This will be in support of printer sales and solutions including hardware, software, maintenance and professional services. IGF also will provide Distribution Channel Financing Services to qualified resellers of IPS branded products and services, thereby covering the company’s account receivables to accelerate cash flow, mitigate collection risks, enhance productivity and optimize asset potential.

InfoPrint Solutions Company, with 40 years experience in the printing industry and more than 20 years of joint innovation and development between IBM and Ricoh, offers output solutions for general office, industrial, enterprise and commercial printing environments for customers of all sizes -- from small businesses to large enterprises.

“Customers are looking to financiers to help them fund their complicated technology projects in an era of rapid technological advancements,” said Paul Foulkes, vice-president of Vendor Financing Programs, IGF. “IGF is uniquely qualified, because of our position within the largest technology solution company in the world, to help IPS’ clientele finance their complex digital, networked and interoperable output solutions.”

“IBM Global Financing is an ideal partner for IPS, helping our clients fund their mission critical output and printing projects,” said Bob Kilcullen, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing, IPS. “IGF also brings vital asset recovery options for our customers to help them deal with equipment -- financially and environmentally -- as they replace older technology with new output solutions.”

IGF will provide asset recovery solutions through IGF’s Global Asset Recovery Services (GARS) business group, to recycle, refurbish, and resell off-lease equipment via its GARS renewal sites worldwide. Asset disposition services with a trusted, 20-plus year provider will help alleviate environmental and data security risks clients face as part of the life-cycle management of their printer systems. Therefore, this new agreement ultimately offers an end-to-end solution to InfoPrint’s new and existing customers: from financing to end-of-life disposal.