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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Xerox Jettisoning Hardware 8 QTRs of Decline:The Death of the Copier


Like those forgotten print jobs, the WSJ reports Xerox will leave their hardware business in the exit tray.

Are you seeing double?  One business for hardware, one for services.  Didn't Xerox just buy their services division a few years ago?

Not only this, but Icahn will be given the seats on the board of the company holding Xerox's services business, the Journal reported.

Tell me again, how the copier is still relevant?

Two of the largest technology companies in the world have now split in two.

From the Xerox announcement:

"Today’s market realities require greater agility and flexibility, the ability to innovate and adapt technology to address clients’ fast-evolving needs, and a more focused and efficient approach to operations and capital allocation.

As a result, it has become increasingly clear that the Document Technology and BPO businesses serve distinct client needs, have different growth drivers, and require customized operating models and capital structures. Thus, the separation of the two businesses will enhance their competitive positions and create significant value creation opportunities, including:

Enhanced strategic and operational focus. Each company will leverage its areas of strength and differentiation to address distinct market trends and opportunities. The Document Technology company will invest selectively in growth areas while ensuring continued operational discipline and capturing transformative productivity. The BPO company will focus on leadership in attractive market segments to deliver differentiated solutions to its clients and drive profitable revenue growth.

Simplification of organizational structure and resources. Each company will be able to adapt faster to clients’ changing needs, address specific market dynamics, target innovation and investments in select growth areas and accelerate decision making processes.

Distinct and clear financial profiles. The separation will enable each company to leverage its distinct growth profile and cash flow characteristics to optimize its capital structure and capital allocation strategy.

Compelling equity investment cases. As standalone companies, both companies will offer distinct and compelling investment propositions with differentiated financial profiles, growth drivers and business prospects."

Xerox also announced today a three year strategic transformation program targeting a cumulative $2.4 billion savings across all segments. The program is inclusive of ongoing activities and $600 million of incremental transformation initiatives. The company expects $700 million in annualized savings in 2016.

Take a look at the graph.



What could this mean? Icahn is satiated for a bit. The hardware business, once separated, may be easier to sell.

The Death of the Copier is, once again, substantiated.


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