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Frequently Asked Questions
Following are answers to frequently asked questions related to Monotype Imaging’s acquisition of China Type Design Limited, based in Hong Kong.
About the acquisition
Why did Monotype Imaging acquire China Type Design?
As long-time partners, both companies recognized the need and the opportunity to focus sharply on developing and providing high-quality text solutions to customers serving emerging markets such as China. Monotype Imaging’s acquisition of China Type positions the companies to combine and leverage their key, unique strengths: China Type’s font design and font production capabilities and Monotype Imaging’s technology offerings and global distribution strengths. Together, the companies will move forward to offer customers a greater range of localized Asian typographic solutions for use in a variety of industries, from office printers to mobile solutions.
As long-time partners, why did Monotype Imaging decide to acquire China Type now?
Despite holding a 20-percent interest and having cultivated a successful, 20-year partnership with China Type, Monotype Imaging saw the need to deepen the relationship to answer increasing requirements for font and text solutions in Asian markets, where growth in segments such as mobile phones and printers is rising faster than other regions of the world. Monotype Imaging will work with China Type to expand capabilities related to sales, marketing, engineering and support to most effectively serve Asian markets. By fully acquiring China Type and establishing a foothold within one of the fastest growing regions of the world, Monotype Imaging has stepped up its commitment to provide customers with the most suitable, most efficient high-quality Asian font and text solutions available.
What does Monotype Imaging immediately gain with the acquisition?
In addition to Simplified and Traditional Chinese font design expertise, Monotype Imaging gains access to font production capabilities, both through China Type and its exclusive relationship with Creative Creative Calligraphy Center (CCC), a font production company in Zhuhai, China. When combined with the number of design, production, testing and support specialists at China Type and Monotype Imaging, the roster grows to 78 – nearly doubling the size of Monotype Imaging’s font specialist team. Monotype Imaging also gains Chinese typographic intellectual property in a variety of font formats for use in OEM or custom solutions. Retail Chinese solutions developed or offered by China Type have also been acquired, which the company will continue to offer to creative professionals. In addition, Monotype Imaging gains access to a range of software tools, some of which have been developed by China Type, that aid in the design and production of fonts.
How will Monotype Imaging and China Type work together?
The companies will continue to work closely together to satisfy a variety of requirements for Monotype Imaging OEM customers. Examples of some of the more recent OEM collaborations include providing typefaces for Hewlett-Packard XHTML-based inkjet printers shipping in Japan and China, and design and production work for East Asian fonts for the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ operating system. Moving forward into 2007 and beyond, China Type’s contributions in fulfilling OEM requirements will continue to be of strategic importance as Monotype Imaging expands further into Asian markets to help customers most effectively respond to rapid, localized economic growth.
China Type has also been an integral partner in the development of Monotype Imaging’s patent-pending SmartHint™ technology, an innovative hinting methodology supported by the newly released iType® 3.0 font engine. SmartHint technology, combined with Monotype Imaging’s patented hint compression and decompression methods, enables unparalleled display clarity for complex East Asian text at small sizes on cell phones, without the use of embedded bitmaps. Moving forward, China Type will continue to play a key role in solving new technical challenges for Monotype Imaging, always with the objective to provide customers with high-quality, technically superior products.
Company specifics
Who will run China Type Design?
China Type will be headed by its current management team, led by managing director Ricky Chun. He will report to John Seguin, executive vice president of Monotype Imaging. Robin Hui will continue as China Type’s operation manager and chief typographer.
How will China Type operate now that it’s owned by Monotype Imaging?
China Type Design Limited will retain its name and operate as a subsidiary of the Monotype group of companies.
Will China Type continue to be based in Hong Kong?
Yes, as Asian markets are better served from a location within the region. China Type also has an office in Beijing. There will also not be a reduction in workforce, as Monotype Imaging plans to strengthen and add to China Type’s capabilities.
How many people does Monotype Imaging employ?
As of Sept. 18, 2006, Monotype Imaging employs 232 people, including employees at China Type and the recently acquired Linotype Library GmbH.
Where are Monotype Imaging’s offices?
Monotype Imaging is based in Woburn, Mass. with regional offices in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Chicago, Redwood City, Calif., and Boulder, Colo. Monotype Imaging employees also reside in Taipei, Seoul, Seattle and Boise, Idaho. Linotype employees are based in Bad Homburg, Germany.
Who owns Monotype Imaging?
The majority shareowner of Monotype Imaging is TA Associates, a Boston-based private equity investment firm. Monotype Imaging employees are minority shareowners.
Who are China Type’s customers and what does the acquisition mean to them?
Examples of customers that have implemented China Type font solutions include Oxford University Press, Pearson Education, HKSAR government, Oriental Press Group, Next Media, Apple Daily, SingTao Daily, Singapore Press Holdings, Morgan Stanley, Airport Authority and HSBC. Customers should expect no disruptions, as China Type will continue to offer high-quality Asian fonts solutions.
Who are Monotype Imaging’s customers?
Monotype Imaging’s customers include creative professionals requiring off-the-shelf fonts or customized solutions, manufacturers of printers and consumer electronics devices such as cell phones and television set-top boxes, as well as mobile phone operators, software developers, content providers, aggregators and publishers that serve digital markets. In addition, Monotype Imaging has relationships with several technology companies, including corporations such as Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and QUALCOMM, which have played major roles in shaping various high-tech markets.
When was Monotype Imaging established?
Monotype Imaging was formed in 2004 when a majority share of the company was purchased by TA Associates from Agfa-Gevaert AG. Monotype Imaging formerly operated as Agfa Monotype Corp., a subsidiary of Agfa, which in 1998 acquired Monotype Typography. Monotype’s roots date back to the late 19th century when the Lanston Monotype Machine Company was formed to provide newspapers and publications equipment that mechanically composed metal types.
When was China Type established?
China Type was established in 1986 to produce Chinese fonts for the Monotype Lasercomp laser imagesetter targeted to the publishing industry.
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