- November 12, 2015
- News Bulletin
- No Comments
- Blackstone, NCR
PayX Bulletin – NCR Announces Strategic Partnership with Blackstone
NCR to Repurchase Up to $1 Billion in Common Stock
DULUTH, Ga.—November 12, 2015 – NCR Corporation today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Blackstone, one of the world’s leading investment and advisory firms, under which affiliates of Blackstone will invest $820 million in NCR in the form of perpetual convertible preferred shares. The Company expects its relationship with Blackstone to accelerate NCR’s ongoing strategic transformation into an integrated software and services company. NCR will use the Blackstone investment to help fund a repurchase through a self-tender of up to $1 billion of its common stock.
“After concluding a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives, the NCR Board has determined that executing our strategic plan with Blackstone’s assistance is the best way to accelerate NCR’s transformation and build long-term shareholder value,” said NCR Chairman and CEO Bill Nuti. “Blackstone is an experienced technology investor with a long-term perspective that can help us continue to drive our higher-margin software-related revenue, deliver world-class service globally, optimize our manufacturing processes and supply chain, and rationalize costs. This investment is a strong vote of confidence in our long-term strategy and future growth potential, and it will enable NCR to return significant cash to those shareholders who want to monetize their investment in the near term while preserving our ability to fund growth opportunities and increase shareholder value in the years ahead.”
In connection with the investment, NCR will expand its Board of Directors from 9 to 11 directors and appoint Chinh Chu, Senior Managing Director, and Greg Blank, Managing Director, of Blackstone to the NCR Board upon the closing of the transaction, which is expected to occur by early December.
Mr. Nuti continued, “We are delighted to welcome Chinh and Greg to our Board. Blackstone has a well-deserved reputation as a strong corporate partner, and we expect the Board will benefit from Chinh’s and Greg’s strategic and financial expertise. NCR will enjoy the full resources of Blackstone’s unique platform of operational support and is well positioned to leverage Blackstone’s global network as we look to expand our partnership network and evaluate new growth opportunities.”
“NCR has made tremendous progress removing legacy barriers to growth and executing a corporate transformation focused on extending its product capabilities into new areas of software and services. NCR is well positioned to continue to win market share and deliver exceptional value to its customers,” said Chinh Chu, Senior Managing Director, Private Equity, at Blackstone.
“We are pleased to partner with NCR at such a pivotal time and believe it has the right strategy and vision to meet the needs of a rapidly changing market,” said Greg Blank, Managing Director, Private Equity, at Blackstone. “Chinh and I look forward to working with the NCR Board and management team to increase value for all shareholders.”