The deal means Konica will buy 75% of the firm's shares. Konica is bidding to boost its position in the office and production printing market, and the deal is part of an acquisition strategy to make it more professional services and business-orientated.

"Konica has set worldwide targets to expand the business with professional service and solution offerings in combination with our first-class product line-up," said Konica Business Solutions Europe president Henry Okamura.

Dots Software was founded in 1997 by Clemens Gross-man and Detlef Rupp.

Konica has been working closely with the firm for the last five years.

"We believe the software knowledge of Dots and our products are a perfect fit," said Grossman. "Now that Dots is a member of the Konica Minolta Group, we will be able to develop advanced software applications."

Konica Minolta in 2005
- May Agreement for Creo's digital printing workflow
- June 13-strong team is put in place for UK market
- August Agrees to buy plate maker American Litho
- October Plans to push into the print-on-demand and production printing sectors