ETFOptimize | High-performance ETF-based Investment Strategies

Quantitative strategies, Wall Street-caliber research, and insightful market analysis since 1998.


ETFOptimize | HOME
Close Window

Pitney Bowes Announces Value-Maximizing Exit Path for Global Ecommerce Segment

Company Sells Controlling Interest in Global Ecommerce Entities to Hilco Commercial Industrial, Which Intends to Lead Orderly and Expeditious Wind-Down of Global Ecommerce Business

Transaction Paves Way for Company to Eliminate ~$136 Million in Annual Losses and Fully Focus on Core, Cash-Generating Businesses

Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) (“Pitney Bowes” or the “Company”), a global shipping and mailing company that provides technology, logistics and financial services, today announced that it has sold a controlling interest in the entities representing a substantial majority of the Global Ecommerce (“GEC”) segment (the “GEC Entities”) operating in the U.S. to Hilco Commercial Industrial, an affiliate of Hilco Global (“Hilco”), to support a value-maximizing liquidation of certain of the GEC Entities under the protection of Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. This sale of the controlling interest occurred on August 8, 2024. Hilco is a recognized leader in helping companies maximize the value of their assets and has worked with numerous organizations to wind-down operations in an efficient, responsible manner.

Pitney Bowes’ Board of Directors (the “Board”) conducted a comprehensive strategic review, with the assistance of independent legal and financial advisors, prior to ultimately determining that this exit path for GEC is in the best interests of both the Company’s shareholders and other stakeholders. Notably, the GEC segment had been struggling to achieve profitability over the past several years in the face of macroeconomic and industry headwinds. The Company expects this exit path to eliminate substantially all of the losses associated with GEC, which were equal to approximately $136 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Pitney Bowes is committed to ensuring that this process is as seamless as possible for GEC employees, customers, partners and vendors.

Lance Rosenzweig, Interim Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, commented:

“When the Company announced our four strategic priorities in late May, we committed to working with speed and urgency to complete a comprehensive review of alternatives for GEC. We are pleased to have delivered on that commitment by concluding a productive review and identifying an exit path for GEC that provides for an orderly and efficient wind-down of the business, which will ultimately maximize value for Pitney Bowes shareholders. This path also gives us a clear runway to streamline the Company and increase profitability across our core, cash-generating businesses: SendTech, Presort and Financial Services. In conjunction with our cost reduction efforts and progress on cash optimization, exiting GEC will also allow Pitney Bowes to make substantial progress in deleveraging our balance sheet. With these steps, we will be well-positioned to deliver stronger results in 2025 and pursue enhanced value for shareholders in the years to come.”

The Company’s SendTech and Presort segments will continue to operate in the normal course, and customers, partners and vendors should not expect any impact. Additionally, the Pitney Bowes Bank will not be affected by the GEC exit and will also continue to conduct business in ordinary course.

Overview of GEC Exit Path

Key details associated with the liquidation and wind-down, which were approved by Pitney Bowes’ Board and GEC’s independent governing body, as applicable, are as follows:

  • Pitney Bowes has entered into amendments to the Company’s credit agreement and note purchase agreement to allow for the GEC exit without triggering any events of default for Pitney Bowes, and also release the guarantees and liens provided by the GEC Entities.
  • Under Hilco’s ownership, two of the GEC Entities today commenced voluntary cases under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
  • Pitney Bowes and GEC have signed a restructuring support agreement (“RSA”) to facilitate GEC’s smooth transition into Chapter 11. In accordance with the RSA, a subsidiary of Pitney Bowes has committed to provide the GEC Entities, subject to court approval, an approximately $45 million in debtor-in-possession (“DIP”) financing in the form of a delayed draw term loan. This DIP financing will support the efficient liquidation of the GEC Entities through the Chapter 11 cases.
  • Pitney Bowes anticipates that it will incur one-time cash costs not to exceed approximately $150 million in connection with the GEC exit.
  • The parties expect that the wind-down process, which will require certain approvals from the bankruptcy court, will conclude in early 2025.

Additional information is available at www.DRF-Updates.com and https://cases.stretto.com/DRFLogistics.

Advisors

BRG is acting as restructuring advisor, Vinson & Elkins LLP is acting as legal advisor and Longacre Square Partners LLC is acting as strategic and communications advisor to Pitney Bowes. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is acting as legal advisor, Portage Point Partners is acting as financial advisor and Hilco Commercial Industrial and its affiliates are acting as wind-down consultants to the GEC subsidiaries.

About Pitney Bowes

Pitney Bowes (NYSE: PBI) is a global shipping and mailing company that provides technology, logistics and financial services to more than 90 percent of the Fortune 500. Small business, retail, enterprise and government clients around the world rely on Pitney Bowes to remove the complexity of sending mail and parcels. For additional information, visit: www.pitneybowes.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains “forward-looking statements” about the Company’s expected or potential future business and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future revenue and earnings guidance, future events or conditions, and expected cost savings, elimination of future losses, and anticipated deleveraging in connection with Pitney Bowes’ announced strategic initiatives. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors which could cause future financial performance to differ materially from expectations include, without limitation, declining physical mail volumes; changes in postal regulations or the operations and financial health of posts in the U.S. or other major markets or changes to the broader postal or shipping markets; the potential adverse effects of the GEC exit and wind-down and related transactions on the Company’s operations, management and employees and the risks associated with operating the business during the restructuring process and exit from the GEC business; risks and uncertainties associated with the GEC exit and wind-down and related transactions, including the ability to achieve the anticipated benefits therefrom; the ability to successfully implement the Company’s 2024 worldwide cost reduction initiative, the Company’s cost rationalization and optimization initiatives and to achieve expected cost reductions and improved efficiencies in connection therewith; the loss of some of Pitney Bowes’ larger clients in the Presort Services segments; the loss of, or significant changes to, United States Postal Service (USPS) commercial programs, or the Company’s contractual relationships with the USPS or their performance under those contracts; the impacts of higher interest rates and the potential for future interest rate increases on Pitney Bowes’ cost of debt; and other factors as more fully outlined in the Company's 2023 Form 10-K Annual Report and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission during 2024. Pitney Bowes assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, events or developments.

Contacts

Recent Quotes

View More
Symbol Price Change (%)
AMZN  226.80
-2.73 (-1.19%)
AAPL  276.47
-2.31 (-0.83%)
AMD  219.68
+1.71 (0.79%)
BAC  53.90
-0.05 (-0.09%)
GOOG  313.34
-8.75 (-2.72%)
META  666.62
-6.80 (-1.01%)
MSFT  489.78
+6.62 (1.37%)
NVDA  183.95
+1.54 (0.84%)
ORCL  217.23
-0.35 (-0.16%)
TSLA  435.85
-19.15 (-4.21%)
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.


 

IntelligentValue Home
Close Window

DISCLAIMER

All content herein is issued solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor should it be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, hold or sell (short or otherwise) any security.  All opinions, analyses, and information included herein are based on sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, is made including but not limited to any representation or warranty concerning accuracy, completeness, correctness, timeliness or appropriateness. We undertake no obligation to update such opinions, analysis or information. You should independently verify all information contained on this website. Some information is based on analysis of past performance or hypothetical performance results, which have inherent limitations. We make no representation that any particular equity or strategy will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. Shareholders, employees, writers, contractors, and affiliates associated with ETFOptimize.com may have ownership positions in the securities that are mentioned. If you are not sure if ETFs, algorithmic investing, or a particular investment is right for you, you are urged to consult with a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Neither this website nor anyone associated with producing its content are Registered Investment Advisors, and no attempt is made herein to substitute for personalized, professional investment advice. Neither ETFOptimize.com, Global Alpha Investments, Inc., nor its employees, service providers, associates, or affiliates are responsible for any investment losses you may incur as a result of using the information provided herein. Remember that past investment returns may not be indicative of future returns.

Copyright © 1998-2017 ETFOptimize.com, a publication of Optimized Investments, Inc. All rights reserved.