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Originally Posted by copake_ham  I presume it is an asset sale spinoff by Sony as they rationalize the K-M acquisition? |
Sony did not acquire Konica Minolta. It's just that Konica Minolta sold its consumer camera division to Sony, color paper manufacturing plant to DNP, color processing machines and maintenance services to Noritsu, etc.
Dainippon always had its emulsion division, small but particularly focused on the printing films. In July 2006, they acquired Konica's color paper plant, and they were to resume manufacturing of color paper. However, this news of Centuria film was a bit unexpected because neither Kunihiko nor I thought they had the film plant in their hand. Even if they had a lot of leftover film, I don't think it would pay to sell it under their brand.
http://konicaminolta.jp/about/releas...710_03_01.html
The plant transferred as a result of the agreement described in this press release does not have any R&D division or film manufacturing equipment.
At this point, my best guess is either (1) Konica Minolta is still quietly manufacturing color film and DNP Photo Marketing is selling them under their name or (2) the deals between Konica and DNP were not exactly as decribed in past press release.