IRVINE, Calif.--Jan. 15, 2004-- Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. today announces the expansion of its western regional office location in Irvine, California. Local sales, marketing, service, and administration operations of Canon U.S.A., Inc., and Canon Development Americas, Inc. are now centrally located at the Irvine facility, where approximately 500 employees are based. The new facility covers 196,500 square feet of office space and is located on a 20-acre site on Alton Parkway. "Canon is extremely proud to announce the expansion and rededication of our western regional office," said Kinya Uchida, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canon U.S.A., Inc. "The Irvine area is an attractive business center full of activity and growth, and is where Canon's western regional office will continue to call its home." Through an effort to streamline operations and manage the Company's resources and properties more effectively, Canon U.S.A. Consumer Imaging Group (CIG) employees who were located at Canon offices formerly in Costa Mesa, CA have relocated to the new Irvine facility. Canon Development Americas employees also recently relocated to the Alton Parkway address from another Canon facility that was in Irvine. "With a stronger west coast operation, we are excited by the prospects of this new office expansion as a launch pad for future growth and opportunity," continued Mr. Uchida.