Pitney Bowes Inc. - Form 8-K
Exhibit (i)
Contact:
Press - Sheryl Y. Battles
Exec. Director, External Affairs
(203) 351-6808
Financial - Michael Monahan
Director, Investor Relations
(203) 351-6349
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PITNEY BOWES ENHANCES SHAREHOLDER VALUE WITH $1.2 BILLION REDUCTION IN
LARGE-TICKET EXTERNAL FINANCE PORTFOLIO
"Latest Initiatives in Strategy to Maximize Shareholder Return Include
Authorization to Increase Original 9.2 Million Share Repurchase Program to a
Total of 12.4 Million Shares"
Stamford, Conn., August 21, 1997-- Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI) today announced
the latest initiatives in its ongoing strategy to generate and deliver enhanced
shareholder value:
- - an agreement with GATX Capital Corporation (GATX Capital) that will
significantly reduce the Pitney Bowes large-ticket external finance
portfolio by approximately $1.2 billion
- - as a result of the same agreement, Pitney Bowes expects to receive
approximately $1 billion in up-front cash by the end of the year, and
- - authorization by the board of directors for the purchase of an additional
3.2 million shares in the open market, bringing the total repurchase
authorization to 12.4 million shares
Chairman and CEO Michael J. Critelli said, "In February we entered a new
dimension in our strategy to enhance shareholder value with board authorization
to repurchase up to 9.2 million outstanding shares in the open market, and a
double-digit dividend increase for the 15th consecutive year. Today's agreement
with GATX Capital signals our latest actions to maximize the return on our
stockholders' investment in Pitney Bowes. A significant portion of the proceeds
from liquidating these assets, along with cash from operations, will benefit
shareholders through reinvestment in our core businesses and repurchase of
stock. The transaction proceeds and cash from operations
will also be used to reduce debt and help maintain above-market dividend yields.
The transaction will maximize the cash return on the assets, while also
significantly reducing our large-ticket external finance portfolio and related
debt. These selective asset reductions are also part of our ongoing Financial
Services strategy to shift the external finance revenue stream to more fee-based
income sources.
"I am also pleased to note that our board of directors has authorized the
purchase of an additional 3.2 million outstanding shares, bringing our total
1997 repurchase authorization to 12.4 million shares. Since we unveiled this
program in February we have repurchased nearly 4.7 million shares. The
combination of the significant reduction in the large-ticket external finance
portfolio and the repurchase of shares reflects our confidence in the growth and
profitability of our business and our ongoing commitment to increasing
shareholder value."
Under the terms of the agreement, Pitney Bowes' large-ticket external finance
portfolio will be reduced without recourse to Pitney Bowes by approximately $1.2
billion through a direct asset sale to GATX Capital, and the contribution of
selected assets to a limited liability company in which Pitney Bowes and GATX
Capital would each retain approximately $200 million of equity. Through the
combination of GATX Capital's cash investment and capitalization of the limited
liability company, Pitney Bowes expects to receive approximately $1 billion in
cash by the end of the year.
According to Joseph C. Lane, President and CEO of GATX Capital, "Our
relationship with Pitney Bowes demonstrates GATX Capital's continued strategy of
growth through joint ventures and evidences our success in lease portfolio
acquisitions. This significant transaction allows both GATX Capital and Pitney
Bowes to combine their complementary strengths and to focus on core business
activities, thereby maximizing both companies' shareholder value."
As part of the agreement, GATX Capital is expected to receive fees for providing
remarketing expertise to the limited liability company for selected assets
coming off lease. The Capital Services division of Pitney Bowes Financial
Services is expected to receive fees for servicing the portfolio.
This agreement gives Pitney Bowes customers the best of both worlds, concluded
Matthew Kissner, president of Pitney Bowes Financial Services. "Both Pitney
Bowes
Financial Services and GATX Capital have strong asset management and remarketing
capabilities, and GATX Capital is particularly well known for its expertise in
financial joint venture management, financial structuring and asset
remarketing," Kissner stated. "And Pitney Bowes Financial Services is best known
for its proficiency in financial structuring and long-term customer relationship
building and management. Through this limited liability company, we will be able
to capitalize on the key strengths of both companies. Pitney Bowes' relationship
with large-ticket finance customers will remain intact. Maintaining the
relationship with the customer will enable us to continue to originate future
transactions and market investments in these assets to third-party investors."
GATX Capital is a diversified international financial services company with 32
locations worldwide. The company provides asset-based financing for
transportation, industrial and informational technology equipment. GATX Capital
is a subsidiary of Chicago-based GATX Corporation (NYSE:GMT) which provides
approximately $6 billion of service-enhanced assets primarily used to help its
customers transport, store or distribute their products and information.
Pitney Bowes Financial Services provides leasing and financing services to help
businesses -- ranging from small to large -- acquire Pitney Bowes and other
mission-critical equipment and services while preserving cash flow. Pitney Bowes
is a premier provider of products and services that support preparation and
management of documents, packages and other messages in physical or electronic
form.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release involve risks and
uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various important factors, as
outlined in the company's 1996 Form 10-K Annual Report filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.