Report: Lexmark in talks with Apex Technology of China

Lexmark, which has been seeking “strategic alternatives” to release shareholder value, is said to be in talks to be bought by Apex Technology of China.

Lexmark spokesman Jerry Grasso said the company would have no comment on the report.

Reuters reported the talks and said they are “promising,” but did not name any sources. Fortune also reported on a possible Apex deal, but again, no sources were named.

Apex, headquartered in the province of Guangdong, makes ink cartridge chips and integrated circuit chips used in ink cartridges.

“The potential deal with Apex represents an opportunity for Lexmark to sell itself as a whole, after an earlier auction did not produce satisfactory offers,” the Fortune story states.

Lexmark, headquartered in Lexington, announced in October, 2015 that it was exploring strategic alternatives, including a possible sale and it has been exploring selling its software and hardware assets separately.

Lexmark announced in March that it plans to lay off 143 workers from its Lexington campus, which employs about 2,300 people.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Report: Lexmark in talks with Apex Technology of China."