Xerox amped up its attempt to acquire HP when, on Monday, the printing and imaging giant said it has lined up $24 billion in financing agreements to help fund its unsolicited buyout efforts.
In a letter sent to HP Chief Executive Enrique Lores and Chairman Chip Bergh, Xerox said it has secured support from Bank of America, Citigroup and Mizuho Financial Group for loans of $24 billion to support its HP acquisition offer. Xerox’s current proposal values HP at about $33 billion. The letter, which was signed by Xerox CEO John Visentin, was also posted on Xerox’s corporate website.
Visentin said that Xerox has been speaking with many of HP’s largest shareholders over the last few weeks, and Xerox believes it is gaining support for its proposed acquisiton.
“It remains clear to all of us that bringing our companies together would deliver substantial synergies and meaningfully enhanced cash flow that could, in turn, enable increased investments in innovation and greater returns to shareholders,” Visentin said.
Xerox originally approached HP with a buyout offer in early November. HP has so far refused all of Xerox’s advances on the grounds that terms haven’t valued HP highly enough, and said Xerox was engaging in “hostile efforts” to acquire the Silicon Valley legend. HP also questioned Xerox’s financial ability to fund an acquistion, and noted how HP’s market capitalization far surpasses that of Xerox. On Monday, HP had a market cap of $30 billion, compared to $7.8 billion for Xerox.
HP Inc. has two office spaces at the Columbia Tech Center in east Vancouver, and Xerox has a large facility in Wilsonville, Ore.
In early December, Xerox said it would take its offer directly to HP’s shareholders, setting the stage for a potential proxy fight at HP’s next annual meeting. Visentin said Monday he is willing to meet with Lores and Bergh in person, with or without HP’s financial advisers, to begin discussions on a deal.
Xerox’s acquisition efforts have also been highlighted by the involvement of billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn, who owns stakes in both Xerox and HP. Icahn, who owns 10.6% of Xerox’s outstanding shares, as well as 4.24% stake in HP, has said that a combination of the two tech industry stalwarts is a “no-brainer.”
Neither HP, nor Xerox, immediately returned a request for further comment.
