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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