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Xerox reaches deal with Icahn, Deason; CEO to resign

May 2, 2018  By PrintAction Staff


CEO Jeff Jacobson (centre) is resigning as part of a new agreement between Xerox and shareholders Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason. Photo: Xerox

In a statement issued late Tuesday, Xerox announced it reached an agreement with shareholders Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason to resolve a pending proxy contest and ongoing litigation related to the company’s proposed combination with Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Fujifilm, which would allow Fujifilm to take the controlling interest in Xerox.

Under the agreement, CEO Jeff Jacobson and six other Xerox board members – Robert J. Keegan, Charles Prince, Ann N. Reese, William Curt Hunter, Sara Martinez Tucker and Stephen H. Rusckowski – will resign.

Xerox will appoint six new members to the board, including Nicholas Graziano, Scott Letier, Jay Firestone, and Randolph Read. Keith Cozza, CEO of Icahn Enterprises L.P., is expected to be elected Chairman, while John Visentin will assume the role of Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xerox.

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As part of the settlement, Xerox and Icahn will withdraw their respective nominations of any other director candidates for election at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Xerox will continue to waive the advance notice bylaw for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders until May 30, 2018. The 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be postponed to a later date.

Icahn issued the following statement about the agreement: “With new leadership in place, we believe Xerox will be much better positioned to take advantage of multiple potential value-enhancing opportunities, including restructuring its relationship with Fujifilm, our supposed ‘partner’ whose conduct over the last year is more unbelievable than what you see on fictional TV shows like House of Cards or Billions.”

“The future for Xerox is extremely bright. With John Visentin at the helm, receiving support and guidance from Carl Icahn and me, I am confident the alternatives for Xerox and its shareholders will be fully and expeditiously maximized. John is the right leader at the right time for Xerox,” said Deason.


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