The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 30, 2007 - 33 Stoate makes big deal By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF www.oakvillebeaver.com He won't say how much he paid for it, but LaserNetworks' President Chris Stoate is calling his company's purchase of TECKNOLASER "a very valuable acquisition." The Oakville printing management company took possession of TECKNOLASER, Québec's leading image consultant, on Thursday, Nov. 8 in a takeover Stoate feels will expand LaserNetworks horizons in more ways than one. "TECKNOLASER brings two things to the table that we really didn't have in our business," said Stoate. "One of those things is a strong indigenous Québec presence because they're a Montreal-based company with a strong reputation and relationships in that market and a strong team of employees. The other thing they bring is a greater level of expertise in the small to medium business marketplace where we don't have a lot of experience, but which is an area that we'd like to move into," explained Stoate. The recent acquisition came about when LaserNetworks learned that the company that had previously owned TECKNOLASER did not see the Québec company in its plans for forward development. "We had been in discussions with them for a long time and we said that, if they did change their strategic direction, we felt that TECKNOLASER would be a really good addition to our business," said Stoate. "I think we made a very advantageous deal for both parties." "So, the customer saves money, the environment wins and we have a business that once started in a basement and now has 140 employees." Chris Stoate, LaserNetworks president Chris Stoate The acquisition is also expected to be advantageous for the environment as both companies are in the business of recycling toner cartridges. TECKNOLASER is particularly known for its success in getting more than 85 per cent of original cartridge components to be re-used in the remanufacturing process with the remaining 15 per cent being sorted and forwarded to other recycling firms. By combining the best practices of both companies, Stoate says, even more cartridge parts will be reused and the packaging material for TECKNOLASER's produces will also become reusable. Stoate also points that this integration will produce a product that will reduce the carbon footprint of toner cartridges by 75 per cent when compared to new single use cartridges. "The greenhouse gases that we're talking about come from transporting and manufacturing the cartridges. By recycling them, we avoid remanufacturing and we avoid landfilling them when they've finished their useful life," said Stoate. "The average cartridge is just under two kilos in weight with its packaging and with our process we're keeping that out of landfills. We make about 15,000 units a month, so that's 30,000 kilos a month and 75 per cent less greenhouse gas for every cartridge. It adds up." Investing in an environmentallyfriendly business is nothing new for Stoate, as reducing the impact of office products on the environment has been a key building block for LaserNetworks since its founding in his parents' basement more than 20 years ago. Now with offices across Canada and the United States, the company is proof that environmental business can be profitable business. "It's a good business model for us because we're able to save money by recycling and then share those savings with the customer," said Stoate. "So, the customer saves money, the environment wins, and we have a business that once started in a basement and now has 140 employees (including around 90 in Oakville)." While this is LaserNetworks' first acquisition, it is unlikely to be the company's last. Stoate says more acquisitions are currently being looked into as the company seeks to reach new markets faster. "If it works out well with the TECKNOLASER acquisition, we'll have more, and bigger ones, in the next couple of years," he said. GRAND OPENING December 4, 2007! * FREE SERVICE To Fallsview Casino *After $10 Casino Rebate EVERY WEDNESDAY Morning & Afternoon from Hopedale Mall EVERY SUN, TUES, THURS, FRI & SAT From Carpool Lot Guelph Line, North Service Road FOR RESERVATIONS CALL Taxes included on all trips. 151 Robinson St. Oakville, ON. L6J 7N3 (905) 815 - 2100 www.racersportif.com 168 CLARENCE ST., PORT COLBORNE, ON, L3K 3G5 T.I.C.O.#50007535 1-800-838-1789 Caledonia, Hagersville area, call branch office 905-765-3837.