Xerox, which plans to separate into two companies by the end of the year, is reportedly in talks to acquire R.R. Donnelley & Sons. While nothing official has been released, industry insiders suggest that Xerox Corp. would acquire R.R. Donnelley Co., founded in 1864 and based in Chicago, and merge some of it with its copier, printer and related-services business and the rest with its smaller business process outsourcing services.
R.R. Donnelley, the owner of the Edgar financial-statement wire service, announced it planned to split into three publicly traded companies last year. A deal with Xerox would negate that plan. The talks are at an early stage but a deal could be announced before Xerox’s split is completed. Stock in both Xerox and R.R. Donnelley have jumped as a result.