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NCR takeover unlikely despite rumors, analyst says

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By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer Updated 11:54 AM Monday, October 12, 2009

There has been Internet chatter of a possible takeover of NCR Corp. in recent days.

The talk began late last week after Anthony Massetti, NCR’s chief financial officer, said he would resign to join another company, Avaya Inc., effective Oct. 26. NCR said Corporate Controller Robert Fishman will be its interim CFO after Massetti leaves.

Then the takeover chatter started at Barron’s online edition, briefing.com and streetinsider.com. But the talk hasn’t impressed Gil Luria, vice president of research at Los Angeles-based Wedbush Morgan Securities.

“There are very few buyers that would be relevant,” Luria said today, Oct. 12. “It sounds more like the near-term speculation that people have when a stock moves a lot.”

Added Luria, “NCR is not for sale.”

“NCR does not comment on rumor or speculation,” NCR spokesman Peter Tulupman said this morning.

Luria noted that United Technologies tried to buy NCR-competitor Diebold last year. But United Technologies has also said it probably would not attempt a deal outside its “core business,” and Luria believes NCR is outside that core business.

“I think the company (NCR) has taken a few risky moves,” Luria said. He cited the company’s investment into and focus on DVD kiosks, its plan to move its headquarters from Dayton to the Atlanta area as well as Massetti’s resignation.

But Luria added, “Overall, NCR is a large, stable profitable company that will continue to be that.”

Massetti is the second top executive to leave NCR in three months. Peter Lieb left as NCR’s senior vice president, general counsel and secretary to take a position with Aon Corp. in mid-July.

After the Massetti announcement, KeyBanc Capital Markets downgraded its classification of NCR’s shares from “buy” to “hold.” Luria has the stock at “neutral.”

NCR's current stock price and analysis

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