NCR Corporation a leading enterprise technology provider to banks, retailers and restaurants, today announced its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan to separate NCR into two independent, publicly traded companies – one focused on digital commerce, the other on ATMs. The separation is intended to be structured in a tax-free manner and is targeted for the end of 2023.

“It has become clear that NCR has the opportunity to unlock value for our shareholders by separating our digital commerce business and our ATM business. We have made significant strides over the past four years in creating a leading software-as-a-service business while continuing to strengthen and grow the ATM business. By creating two best-in-class independent companies, we should be able to accelerate the pace of transformation by enabling each to execute its own growth strategies and better capture the value-creation opportunities ahead,” said Frank R. Martire, executive chairman, NCR Board of Directors. “Throughout the strategic review process, we received material interest in a whole company sale of NCR, as well as interest in various individual segments of our business. In recent days, it has become increasingly clear to the Board that, given the state of current financing markets, we cannot deliver a whole company transaction that reflects an appropriate and acceptable value for NCR to our shareholders.”

The digital commerce company will be a growth business positioned to leverage NCR’s software-led model to continue transforming, connecting and running global retail, hospitality and digital banking. It will maximize common solutions to drive innovation and boost operational efficiency. The company will also reinvest in the business to accelerate growth and recurring revenue.

The ATM company will be a cash-generative business positioned to focus on delivering ATM as a Service to a large, installed customer base across banks and retailers. It will build on NCR’s leadership in self-service banking and ATM networks to meet global demand for ATM access and leverage new ATM transaction types, including digital currency solutions, to drive market growth. The company will also continue shifting to a highly recurring revenue model to drive stable cash flow and capital returns to shareholders.

“This announcement is the right next step in NCR’s transformation. The separation would create two strong companies at scale, each with distinctive business goals and capital structures and allocation, as well as increased flexibility to innovate,” said Michael D. Hayford, CEO of NCR. “Each company can simplify its operations and focus on what it does best, and because they will have different growth profiles and economic models, separating them will also provide investors with greater transparency and a better ability to value each of the businesses. And, importantly, we believe this approach will put us in the best position to drive the most competitive products and solutions for our customers.”

The separation transaction will follow the satisfaction of customary conditions, including effectiveness of appropriate filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the completion of audited financials.