Transaction between printing industry icons is
expected to close in second half of 2025
Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX) today announced it has
agreed to acquire Lexmark International, Inc., from Ninestar
Corporation, PAG Asia Capital, and Shanghai Shouda Investment
Centre in a deal valued at $1.5 billion, inclusive of assumed
liabilities. This acquisition will strengthen the Xerox core print
portfolio and build a broader global print and managed print
services business better suited to meet the evolving needs of
clients in the hybrid workplace.
“Our acquisition of Lexmark will bring together two
industry-leading companies with shared values, complementary
strengths, and a deep commitment to advancing the print industry to
create one stronger organization,” said Steve Bandrowczak, chief
executive officer at Xerox. “By combining our capabilities, we will
be better positioned to drive long-term profitable growth and serve
our clients, furthering our Reinvention.”
Lexington, Ky.-based Lexmark, a valuable partner and supplier to
Xerox, is a leading provider of innovative imaging solutions and
technologies including a best-in-class line of printers and
multifunction printers. By combining Lexmark’s solutions with
Xerox® ConnectKey® technology and advanced Print and Digital
Services, the acquisition will create a superior offering portfolio
and underscores Xerox commitment to increasing value for clients
and partners.
The transaction will also strengthen the ability of Xerox to
serve clients in the large, growing A4 color market and diversify
its distribution and geographic presence, including the APAC
region. The new organization will serve more than 200,000 clients
in 170 countries with 125 manufacturing and distribution facilities
in 16 countries. Combined, Lexmark and Xerox have a top five global
share in each of the entry, mid and production print markets and
are key players in the large, stable managed print services
market.
“Lexmark has a proud history of serving our customers with
world-class technology, solutions and services, and we are excited
to join Xerox and expand our reach with shared talent and a
stronger portfolio of offerings,” said Allen Waugerman, Lexmark
president and chief executive officer. “Lexmark and Xerox are two
great companies that together will be even greater.”
“Our shared values and vision are expected to streamline
operations and drive efficiencies, taking the best of both
companies to make it easier to do business with Xerox,” added
Bandrowczak.
Transaction Rationale
- Strategic fit: Xerox and Lexmark have complementary sets
of operations, offering strengths and end-market exposures.
Combined, the companies form a vertically integrated manufacturer,
distributor and provider of print equipment and MPS, covering all
geographies and client types with a well-rounded portfolio of print
and print services offerings.
- Growth opportunities: Lexmark is a leader in the large,
growing A4 color print and supplies market and has an opportunity
to expand its OEM platform within the A3 equipment category. Once
combined, Xerox expects to have a more comprehensive portfolio of
products to enhance its offerings and reinforce its value
proposition to clients, enabling growth across the portfolio of
equipment and MPS, as well as incremental opportunities to increase
penetration of its advanced Digital Services and IT Solutions.
- Financial benefits: The transaction is expected to be
immediately accretive to earnings per share and free cash flow.
Xerox expects this transaction to accelerate the realization of its
Reinvention financial targets of revenue stabilization and
double-digit adjusted operating income through an improved
competitive position and exposure to faster-growing segments within
print, as well as more than $200 million of identified cost
synergies to be realized within two years of transaction
close.
- Improved balance sheet: The transaction will immediately
reduce Xerox pro forma gross debt leverage ratio, from 6.0x as of
Sept. 30, 2024, to approximately 5.4x before synergies. Pro forma
gross debt leverage will be reduced to approximately 4.4x with the
benefit of $200 million of cost synergies. With improved free cash
flow and a priority of repaying debt, Xerox expects to reduce its
gross debt leverage ratio to below 3.0x over the medium term.
Transaction Detail Under the terms of the agreement,
Xerox will acquire Lexmark for total consideration of $1.5 billion,
inclusive of net debt and other assumed liabilities. Xerox expects
to finance the acquisition with a combination of cash on hand and
committed debt financing.
In conjunction with this financing, the Xerox Board of Directors
approved a change in the dividend policy to reduce the Xerox annual
dividend from $1 per share to 50 cents per share starting with the
dividend expected to be declared in the first quarter of 2025. This
lowered dividend payment provides incremental capacity to reduce
debt while continuing to reward shareholders with an above-market
yield.
The Xerox Board of Directors has unanimously approved the
transaction. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals,
approval of Ninestar’s shareholders, and other customary closing
conditions. It is expected to close in the second half of 2025.
Until then, both Xerox and Lexmark will maintain their current
operations and operate independently.
Further Transaction Detail
Advisors Jefferies LLC is serving as the financial
advisor to Xerox and Citi is also providing financial advice. Ropes
& Gray LLP and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP are serving as
legal advisors to Xerox. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as
financial advisor to Lexmark and Strait Capital Management is
serving as financial advisor to Ninestar Corporation. Dechert LLP
is serving as legal advisor to Lexmark, as well as Ninestar
Corporation, PAG Asia Capital and Shanghai Shouda Investment Centre
and King & Wood Mallesons is serving as PRC counsel to Ninestar
Corporation.
Xerox Conference Call Details Xerox will host an investor
conference call today, Dec. 23, 2024, at 8:00 am ET to discuss this
transaction. The webcast and presentation materials are available
at https://investors.xerox.com. An archived edition will be
available after the call.
Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained
in this communication may be characterized as forward-looking under
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially.
Statements in this communication regarding Xerox and Lexmark
that are forward-looking may include statements regarding: (i) the
transaction; (ii) the expected timing of the closing of the
transaction; (iii) considerations taken into account in approving
and entering into the transaction; (iv) the anticipated benefits
to, or impact of, the transaction on Xerox's and Lexmark's
businesses; and (v) expectations for Xerox and Lexmark following
the closing of the transaction. There can be no assurance that the
transaction will be consummated.
Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking
statements, in addition to those identified above, include: (i) the
possibility that the conditions to the closing of the transaction
are not satisfied, including the risk that required shareholder and
regulatory approvals are not obtained, on a timely basis or at all;
(ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that
could give rise to a right to terminate the transaction, including
in circumstances requiring Xerox or Lexmark to reimburse the
other’s expenses or pay a termination fee; (iii) possible
disruption related to the transaction to Xerox's and Lexmark's
current plans, operations and business relationships, including
through the loss of customers and employees; (iv) the amount of the
costs, fees, expenses and other charges incurred by Xerox and
Lexmark related to the transaction; (v) the risk that Xerox's stock
price may fluctuate during the pendency of the transaction and may
decline if the transaction is not completed; (vi) the diversion of
Xerox and Lexmark management's time and attention from ongoing
business operations and opportunities; (vii) the response of
competitors and other market participants to the transaction;
(viii) potential litigation relating to the transaction; (ix)
uncertainty as to timing of completion of the transaction and the
ability of each party to consummate the transaction; (x) Xerox’s
ability to finance the transaction; (xi) the ability of the
combined company to achieve potential market share expansion; (xii)
the ability of the combined company to achieve the identified
synergies; (xiii) Xerox’s indebtedness, including the indebtedness
Xerox expects to incur and/or assume in connection with the
transaction and the need to generate sufficient cash flows to
service and repay such debt;(xiv) the ability to integrate the
Lexmark business into Xerox and realize the anticipated strategic
benefits of the transaction within the expected time-frames or at
all; (xv) that such integration may be more difficult,
time-consuming or costly than expected; (xvi) that operating costs,
customer loss and business disruption (including, without
limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with
employees, customers or suppliers) may be greater than expected
following the transaction; (xvii) rating agency actions and Xerox’s
ability to access short- and long-term debt markets on a timely and
affordable basis; (xviii) general economic conditions that are less
favorable than expected; and (xix) other risks and uncertainties
detailed in the periodic reports that Xerox filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including Xerox's Annual Report
on Form 10-K. All forward-looking statements in this communication
are based on information available to Xerox as of the date of this
communication, and Xerox intends these forward-looking statements
to speak only as of the date of this release and does not undertake
to update or revise them as more information becomes available,
except as required by law.
About Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX) For more
than 100 years, Xerox has continually redefined the workplace
experience. Harnessing our leadership position in office and
production print technology, we’ve expanded into software and
services to sustainably power the hybrid workplace of today and
tomorrow. Today, Xerox is continuing its legacy of innovation to
deliver client-centric and digitally driven technology solutions
and meet the needs of today’s global, distributed workforce. From
the office to industrial environments, our differentiated business
and technology offerings and financial services are essential
workplace technology solutions that drive success for our clients.
Learn more at www.xerox.com and explore our commitment to diversity
and inclusion.
About Lexmark Lexmark creates cloud-enabled imaging and
IoT technologies that help customers worldwide quickly realize
business outcomes. Through a powerful combination of proven
technologies and deep industry expertise, Lexmark accelerates
business transformation, turning information into insights, data
into decisions, and analytics into action.
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Xerox® and ConnectKey® are trademarks of Xerox in the United
States and/or other countries
Lexmark® and the Lexmark logo are trademarks of Lexmark
International, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other
countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective
owners.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223991224/en/
Media Contacts: Xerox: Callie Ferrari, APR,
Callie.Ferrari@xerox.com, +1-203-615-3363 Lexmark: Scott Shive,
Scott.Shive@lexmark.com, +1-859-232-2131
Investor Contact: David Beckel, David.Beckel@xerox.com,
+1-203-849-2318
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