Spinoff creates takeover appeal

Article Excerpt

NCR spun off its data warehousing operations in October 2007 as new firm Teradata. Both stocks slumped shortly after that due to the 2008-2009 financial crisis, but by 2013 each had regained most of its losses. However, Teradata is now down 40% since the split, while its former parent has dropped 55%. Part of NCR’s decline came when it ended discussions with potential buyer Veritas Capital, a private equity firm. That break in negotiations was due to rising interest rates, which had increased the cost to finance a takeover. NCR now plans to split itself into two separate firms—one will focus on ATMs, and the other will focus on digital commerce businesses. The two new firms are leaders in their niche markets, and their smaller size could turn them into attractive takeover targets. NCR CORP. $19 is a spinoff buy. The company (New York symbol NCR; Manufacturing sector; Shares o/s: 136.9 million; Market cap: $2.6 billion; No dividend paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.ncr.com) makes automated teller…