Acquisition strengthens Zebra’s position in the rugged mobility market and advances our Enterprise Asset Intelligence vision

Zebra Technologies Corporation  and Xplore Technologies Corporation announced that their boards of directors have approved a definitive agreement in which Zebra will acquire all outstanding common stock of Xplore for $6.00 per share in cash. Under the terms of the agreement, Zebra plans to effect the acquisition via a tender offer.

Over its 22-year history, Xplore has established a leading position as an innovative developer of semi-, fully- and ultra-rugged tablets, 2-in-1 laptops, and a range of performance matched accessories. Xplore’s highly differentiated products are designed to withstand demanding conditions across diverse end markets. These products serve existing vertical markets for Zebra such as retail, manufacturing, transportation & logistics and healthcare, and provide an inroad into new markets including oil & gas, utility, government and public safety. Xplore generated revenue of $87 million in the 12-month period ended March 31, 2018.

“In today’s on-demand economy, investments to digitize operations are central to our customers’ strategies. The acquisition of Xplore enhances our product lineup and gives Zebra a complete rugged tablet portfolio that enables our customers to gain a performance edge,” said Anders Gustafsson, chief executive officer of Zebra Technologies. “We’d previously outlined potential areas of expansion that are a natural fit for Zebra and its Enterprise Asset Intelligence vision, and this acquisition is aligned with that strategy. The addition of Xplore provides access to a great team and great products in an attractive market and should enable us to grow the category double digits going forward.”

Xplore’s offerings complement Zebra’s industry-leading enterprise mobile computing, data capture, and printing portfolios, which will now serve a wider range of enterprise customers and accelerate growth. Zebra’s scale, vertical market expertise, and go-to-market footprint will create substantial synergies. Zebra expects this transaction to be neutral to its non-GAAP earnings for 2018, and accretive beyond this year.

“We are excited to join Zebra, the worldwide leader in enterprise mobility and visibility. This acquisition validates the incredible work our team does every day to develop innovative solutions and serve our customers,” said Tom Wilkinson, chief executive officer of Xplore Technologies. “Our products are a natural fit for Zebra, creating a comprehensive rugged mobility portfolio that stands against any competitor.”

Terms of the Transaction
Zebra is effecting the acquisition through a public tender offer for 100% of the shares of Xplore. In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, certain Xplore shareholders have entered into tender support agreements with Zebra pursuant to which they have agreed to tender their shares to Zebra’s offer. The aggregate consideration of the transaction, including assumed indebtedness, is expected to be less than or equal to $90 million. Zebra expects to fund the transaction with a combination of cash on hand along with fully committed financing available under its credit facility. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018.

PJT Partners is acting as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal advisor to Zebra. Sheppard Mullin is acting as legal advisor and Duff & Phelps provided a fairness opinion to Xplore.

La Tableta ultra resistente Zebra® L10 Android, está diseñada para operar en los entornos de trabajo más exigentes

Zebra Technologies Corporation ha presentado su nueva Tablet L10 Android™ ultra resistente de alto rendimiento. Forma parte de la extensa oferta de Zebra en tablets empresariales, así como ordenadores móviles especialmente diseñados para los desafiantes entornos de almacenamiento, fabricación, construcción y operaciones de campo.

La introducción del sistema operativo (OS) Android 8.1 (Oreo™) a la familia L10 abre un gran abanico de posibilidades para los usuarios, ya que ahora pueden pasar fácilmente de un dispositivo pequeño con Android, a poder usar uno de mayor tamaño con una mayor facilidad, ya que poseen el mismo sistema operativo. Los usuarios de Mobility DNA™ de Zebra también se benefician del uso del conjunto de las herramientas de desarrollo de aplicaciones para simplificar la administración, fortalecer la seguridad y ayudar a la migración desde antiguos dispositivos. Cada dispositivo incluye un soporte integrado para al menos las siguientes dos generaciones de Android, así como LifeGuard^TM de Zebra para Android, que amplia la vida útil de los dispositivos Android de Zebra de tres a cinco años. Todo esto mejora el apoyo del sistema operativo (OS) al usuario, proporcionando actualizaciones de seguridad periódicas para un ciclo de vida mejorado y un mayor retorno de la inversión. Esta es la primera línea de tablets ultra resistentes de Zebra con Android y Mobility DNA.

Con un diseño duradero, la Tablet L10 es portátil y ligera, con una gran pantalla de 10.1 pulgadas y la capacidad de soportar caídas de más de metro y medio. Su protección IP65 garantiza que sea prácticamente impermeable tanto al agua como al polvo. El dispositivo ha sido construido teniendo en cuenta más de 20 años de experiencia y conocimiento adquiridos con la  adquisición de Xplore Technologies, líder en la industria de tablets ultra resistentes y ordenadores móviles 2 en 1,  por parte de Zebra.  Otra de las características más destacadas de L10 es que posee una batería de doce horas en una sola carga. También tiene una CPU avanzada que proporciona un rápido rendimiento de la aplicación, cuenta con conexiones integradas de Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS y NFC, así como, en el modelo XPAD, un escáner de código de barras integrado Zebra opcional, que ofrece flexibilidad y rendimiento en los entornos más exigentes.

La familia L10 está formada por XPAD, XBOOK 2 en 1 y XSLATE. El ordenador móvil XBOOK 2 en 1 incluye un teclado robusto y funcional para poder registrar datos. El XPAD posee un asa integrada que facilita el transporte para los trabajadores que están continuamente en movimiento. El XSLATE es el más pequeño y ligero de la línea, incluye la opción de ser utilizado como una tablet tradicional. La versión Tablet L10 de Android amplía la gama de la familia L10 y complementa su actual y galardonada oferta de Windows™.

Xplore XSLATE B10-based rugged mobility solution now used by all field- and office-based workers

Zebra Technologies Corporation  has announced that MH Equipment has successfully transitioned to a fully paperless operation using a rugged tablet-based mobility solution from Xplore Technologies, which was recently acquired by Zebra, and TPI, a Platinum Xplore Partner.

Xplore XSLATE B10 fully rugged tablet PCs and custom-developed Mobile Service Plus (MSP) software from TPI have enabled the heavy equipment sales and service leader to eliminate paper-based workflows across its sourcing, inventory management, customer service, and accounts payable functions. All former “clipboard” processes are now completed electronically on the IP65-rated XSLATE B10, including work orders, inspection forms, parts inventory locates, and timecards. A new work order dashboard enables field technicians to see their work-in-process in real time, which has improved worker readiness. New remote dispatch capabilities have increased overall resource availability.

“We are very pleased with the return on our investment,” said Randy Kaluza, President of Operations, MH Equipment. “The combined Xplore and TPI mobility solution has very quickly increased our operational efficiency, eliminated resource waste, eliminated thousands of dollars a year in printing costs, and improved our customer satisfaction levels. All of this has contributed to elevated cost savings and the generation of new revenue sources.”

After competitive field tests, the XSLATE B10 rugged tablet worked best with the many Hyster & Yale diagnostic programs used by MH Equipment to diagnose and repair forklifts. The tablet also worked seamlessly with MH Equipment’s new MSP software. The rugged tablet-based electronic work order system has improved the business economics and resource availability for MH Equipment during a period of steady company growth. The constant connectivity, bright screen display, digital pen and overall durability of the XSLATE B10 have given field technicians valuable new efficiencies related to data capture and knowledge sharing in very demanding working conditions.

“Rugged tablets are an ideal mobility platform for companies that want to create a fully paperless operating environment,” added Tom McNeela, Senior Director, Product Management, Zebra Technologies. “The XSLATE B10 easily replicated MH Equipment’s traditional paper-based processes and desktop applications, which allowed for workflow continuity and improved worker productivity during the migration to the mobility solution.”

Field technicians can now retrieve mission-critical data while on-site, including each lift truck’s service history as well as an up-to-date inventory of the parts currently available on their own truck, other technicians’ trucks around them, and within their dealership’s warehouse. This has directly improved customer service capabilities, and customer satisfaction levels, at MH Equipment dealerships and in the field.

KEY POINTS

• MH Equipment has gone paperless using the Xplore XSLATE B10 rugged tablet-based mobility solution.
• The tablet, which works seamlessly with MH Equipment’s new MSP software from TPI, enables all “clipboard” processes to be completed electronically, increasing field technicians’ readiness and overall resource availability.
• The constant connectivity, rugged features and overall durability of the XSLATE B10 helps field technicians be more efficient in harsh work environments.
• The solution has improved customer service and customer satisfaction at MH Equipment dealerships and in the field.

Acquisition strengthens Zebra’s position in the rugged mobility market and advances our Enterprise Asset Intelligence vision

Zebra Technologies Corporation and Xplore Technologies Corporation  have announced that their boards of directors have approved a definitive agreement in which Zebra will acquire all outstanding common stock of Xplore for $6.00 per share in cash. Under the terms of the agreement, Zebra plans to effect the acquisition via a tender offer.

Over its 22-year history, Xplore has established a leading position as an innovative developer of semi-, fully- and ultra-rugged tablets, 2-in-1 laptops, and a range of performance matched accessories. Xplore’s highly differentiated products are designed to withstand demanding conditions across diverse end markets. These products serve existing vertical markets for Zebra such as retail, manufacturing, transportation & logistics and healthcare, and provide an inroad into new markets including oil & gas, utility, government and public safety. Xplore generated revenue of $87 million in the 12-month period ended March 31, 2018.

“In today’s on-demand economy, investments to digitize operations are central to our customers’ strategies. The acquisition of Xplore enhances our product lineup and gives Zebra a complete rugged tablet portfolio that enables our customers to gain a performance edge,” said Anders Gustafsson, chief executive officer of Zebra Technologies. “We’d previously outlined potential areas of expansion that are a natural fit for Zebra and its Enterprise Asset Intelligence vision, and this acquisition is aligned with that strategy. The addition of Xplore provides access to a great team and great products in an attractive market and should enable us to grow the category double digits going forward.”

Xplore’s offerings complement Zebra’s industry-leading enterprise mobile computing, data capture, and printing portfolios, which will now serve a wider range of enterprise customers and accelerate growth. Zebra’s scale, vertical market expertise, and go-to-market footprint will create substantial synergies. Zebra expects this transaction to be neutral to its non-GAAP earnings for 2018, and accretive beyond this year.

“We are excited to join Zebra, the worldwide leader in enterprise mobility and visibility. This acquisition validates the incredible work our team does every day to develop innovative solutions and serve our customers,” said Tom Wilkinson, chief executive officer of Xplore Technologies. “Our products are a natural fit for Zebra, creating a comprehensive rugged mobility portfolio that stands against any competitor.”

Terms of the Transaction
Zebra is effecting the acquisition through a public tender offer for 100% of the shares of Xplore. In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, certain Xplore shareholders have entered into tender support agreements with Zebra pursuant to which they have agreed to tender their shares to Zebra’s offer. The aggregate consideration of the transaction, including assumed indebtedness, is expected to be less than or equal to $90 million. Zebra expects to fund the transaction with a combination of cash on hand along with fully committed financing available under its credit facility. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018.

PJT Partners is acting as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal advisor to Zebra. Sheppard Mullin is acting as legal advisor and Duff & Phelps provided a fairness opinion to Xplore.