Xerox ends deal to merge with Fujifilm

NEW YORK — Copier company Xerox Corp. said Sunday it was ending an agreement to combine with Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings and is entering a settlement deal with investors Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason. Fujifilm opposed the move.

The two companies had announced earlier this year that Fuji Xerox, their 56-year-old joint venture, would combine with Xerox, with Fujifilm Holdings taking a 50.1 percent stake in the newly formed company, New Fuji Xerox. The deal was meant to be part of a restructuring that, along with other changes, would save the companies an estimated $1.7 billion a year by 2022.

But Norwalk, Conn.-based Xerox said the deal was being terminated because of Fujifilm’s failure to negotiate on improved terms.

“Over the past several weeks, the Xerox Board has repeatedly requested that Fujifilm immediately enter into negotiations on improved terms for a proposed transaction. Despite our insistence, Fujifilm provided no assurance that it will do so within an acceptable timeframe,” Xerox’s former board said in a statement.

In Tokyo, Fujifilm said Monday that Xerox has no right to withdraw from the agreement and urged the company to hold a shareholders’ meeting. It was considering legal action seeking damages, it said.

“Fujifilm disputes Xerox’s unilateral decision to terminate the transaction,” it said in a statement.