Pitney
Bowes to Acquire PSI Group
STAMFORD,
Conn., June 27, 2002 -- Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI)
today signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the
stock of PSI Group, Inc. (PSI), the nation’s largest mail
pre-sort company, for $130 million. PSI prepares, sorts
and aggregates mail to earn Postal discounts and expedite
delivery for its customers. The company will become a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Pitney Bowes, continuing to operate under
its current management and focusing solely on providing
pre-sort mail services.
"The
acquisition of PSI is an outgrowth of our commitment to
delivering shareholder and customer value," said Michael
J. Critelli, Chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes. "PSI’s knowledge
and expertise in helping high-volume mailers reduce the
costs and speed the delivery of mail complements our existing
businesses and will help us better serve our high-volume
customers. For our shareholders, this transaction is an
example of how we plan to strategically expand our participation
in the integrated mail and document stream."
PSI
employs approximately 900 people in its twelve operating
centers across the U.S. and in its headquarters in Omaha,
Nebraska. PSI’s certified operating centers have met the
very stringent requirements of the U.S. Postal Service’s
Mail Preparation Total Quality Management Program, making
them the pre-sorter of choice for large first-class mailers
and their service providers. The mailing industry benefits
from pre-sort operations and workshare partnerships as they
help to keep postage prices lower, improve speed and accuracy
of service and ultimately enhance the overall value of mail.
"We
view this transaction as a very positive step towards further
enhancing PSI Group’s position as the premier pre-sort mail
partner of choice," said Robert F. Krohn, Chairman and CEO
of PSI Group, Inc.
Subject
to the completion of certain conditions, the transaction
is expected to close in the third quarter 2002.
PSI
Group, Inc. was established in 1995 and is a leading pre-sort
company with approximately a 5% share in the $1.2 billion
outsourced pre-sort services market. The company, which
is headquartered in Omaha, has Operating Centers in Cedar
Rapids, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas,
Lincoln, Omaha, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and Pine
Brook, New Jersey.
Pitney
Bowes is a $4.1 billion global provider of integrated mail
and document management solutions headquartered in Stamford,
Connecticut. The company serves over 2 million businesses
of all sizes in more than 130 countries through dealer and
direct operations. For more information please visit http://www.pb.com.
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