Plaza Create transfers photo ID booth business to Photo-Me subsidary

Japan’s Plaza Create Co., Ltd. announced it is transferring its ID photo booth business to Nippon Auto-Photo, a unit of U.K.-based Photo-Me International. According to the announcement, Plaza Create will establish “photo plaza Co., Ltd. (provisional)” as a wholly-owned subsidiary, transfer its ID box business to it, and then transfer 100% of the shares to Nippon Auto-Photo.

The combined groups will have about 10,000 units in Japan; the two companies will work together on new products, using the strengths of both companies.

In addition, Plaza Create stated it will start handling new products and services (such as digital self- printers) other than the ID photo booths the Photo-me Group is developing worldwide. Plaza Create will continue to promote the sales activities of booths and Nippon Auto-Photo will continue to operate and repair equipment at four branches and 47 sales offices in Japan, enabling more efficient business operations.

Since its founding in 1988, Plaza Create has provided businesses related to photography, video and communications. According to the announcement, Nippon Auto-Photo was established in 1963 as a Japanese subsidiary, where it has more than 7,000 units.