XEROX Holdings Corp said on Monday it has secured US$24 bil (RM98.4 bil) in financing for its US$33.5 bil takeover offer for HP Inc, a deal that the personal computer maker is opposing.
HP rejected the US$22 per share offer in November saying it “significantly” undervalued the company, following which the printer maker took the offer directly to HP’s shareholders.
Xerox has engaged in “constructive dialogue” with many of HP’s largest shareholders, the company’s chief executive officer, John Visentin, said in a letter addressed to HP’s board on Monday.
“My offer stands to meet with you in person, with or without your advisers, to begin negotiating this transaction,” Visentin said.
Activist investor Carl Icahn, who has a 4.2% stake in HP and a 10.9% stake in Xerox, in December urged HP shareholders who agreed with a merger with Xerox to reach out to the PC maker’s directors for immediate action.
HP had said it was open to exploring a bid for Xerox, stating that it recognises the potential benefits of consolidation.
Shares of HP were up nearly 2% in trading before the bell. The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. – Jan 7, 2020, Reuters
