Xerox Shareholder Darwin Deason Files Lawsuit

New York, N.Y., February 13, 2018.  Darwin Deason, a long-term and third-largest shareholder of Xerox Corp. (“Xerox”), has filed a lawsuit against Fujifilm Holdings Corp. (“Fuji”), Xerox, current Xerox board members and Ursula M. Burns, Xerox’s former Chairman and CEO.  The complaint was filed on February 13, 2018, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County. 

In the complaint, Mr. Deason alleges the following:

• The Xerox/Fuji transaction is the result of an improper and fraudulently concealed “crown jewel” lock-up agreement that Xerox entered into with Fuji 17 years ago, that was never disclosed to Xerox’s shareholders before the signing of the Xerox/Fuji transaction;

• The “crown jewel” lock-up agreement precludes a transparent and fair process for the potential sale of Xerox;

• Despite its duty to do so, Xerox’s board fraudulently never disclosed the “crown jewel” lock-up;

• Fuji and Fuji Xerox participated in a “WorldCom”-like accounting scandal that was uncovered in 2017 and gave Xerox the right to terminate the crown jewel lock-up provision, but the Xerox Board failed to terminate the provision;

• Xerox publicly admitted that the lock up “limit[ed] Xerox’s strategic flexibility”, which caused the Xerox board to sell 50.1% of Xerox to Fuji;

• Xerox/Fuji deal is extremely off-market:

– No control premium for Xerox shareholders

– 50.1%/49.9% Fuji control

– Xerox CEO and board members retain jobs

– No Xerox market check or sale process

– Xerox share price has declined 2.4% since the unaffected date (1/10) to Friday’s close (date prior to issuance of Icahn/Deason letter); and

• Deason seeks to enjoin the transaction, terminate the Xerox/Fuji joint venture lock-up and joint venture agreements and pursue strategic alternatives for Xerox. 

King & Spalding LLP is representing Mr. Deason in this matter.