RR Donnelley Inks Deal to Sell DLS Worldwide Logistics Business for $225M

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a global provider of marketing and business communications, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its DLS Worldwide Logistics business to TFI International for $225 million in cash, subject to a customary working capital adjustment. The agreement stipulates 10% of the purchase price will be held in escrow while the remainder will be paid at closing. The transaction does not include RRD’s International Mail and Parcel Logistics business and is expected to close within the next 60 days pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Daniel Knotts

Dan Knotts, RRD’s President and CEO stated, “The sale of our DLS Worldwide business further demonstrates our strategic focus and ongoing commitment to optimize our business portfolio, reduce debt and improve liquidity, all while remaining strongly positioned as an industry leading provider of marketing and business communications. As we move through the final phase of this transaction, we are laser focused on facilitating a smooth transition for our employees while continuing to deliver the exceptional service our DLS Worldwide clients have come to expect from RRD.”

DLS Worldwide is a non-asset based platform providing logistics services through a third-party network of internal sales personnel, commissioned sales agents and approximately 140 agent-stations. DLS’ primary transportation modes include less-than-truckload, truckload, freight forwarding, expedited, parcel and intermodal. DLS Worldwide reported net sales, excluding intercompany transactions, of approximately $530 million for the 12 months ended June 30, 2020.

The sale price is equal to approximately nine times DLS Worldwide’s EBITDA for the 12 months ended June 30, 2020 including certain incremental stand-alone expenses and excluding certain corporate overhead allocations, restructuring and impairment charges and the results of the International Mail and Parcel Logistics business. RRD intends to use a portion of the proceeds from the transaction to reduce its borrowings under its credit facility and the remainder will be held temporarily as cash on hand until such time as the Company decides to further reduce outstanding borrowings on its credit facility and/or repurchase additional near term debt securities.

RRD previously sold its Print Logistics business in July of 2018 and its Courier Logistics business in March of 2020, in addition to its U.K.-based Global Document Solutions business in October of 2019.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC acted as the financial advisor and Baker & Hostetler LLP as legal advisor to RRD in connection with the transaction.

Source: RR Donnelley