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NCR Corp. is moving its worldwide headquarters to Duluth, Ga., from Dayton, Ohio, where John Patterson founded the company in 1884 as National Cash Register. NCR's decision to relocate is part of the company's strategic plan to become and remain the world's low-cost ATM manufacturer, says Gil Luria, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles. "The company can save money by hiring fewer people at its new headquarters, which will be a significant savings," he says. It is unclear at this point if NCR is cutting staff." And because of the economic downturn in commercial real estate, attractive leases are available," Luria tells ATM&Debit News, a CardLine sister publication. "Local governments also offer significant tax breaks to companies' to relocate their headquarters." NCR rejected a $31.1 million incentive package from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to remain in Dayton. The package included a nonrefundable $28.6 million job-retention tax credit against NCR's commercial activity or state income-tax obligations. Strickland also offered NCR a $2 million grant to purchase and install new equipment and $500,000 to train its workforce. NCR is moving into a building occupied by the manufacturer's retail business, says Jeff Dudash, an NCR spokesperson. The move will add an 1,250 additional jobs to the number of employees already there, NCR says. There are currently 600 jobs in Duluth, Dudash says. The manufacturer, however, may construct a separate building to house its headquarters. NCR will begin immediate relocation of staff who choose to move to Georgia. Some may choose not to relocate, Dudash says. NCR will hire locally in addition to transferring employees from other NCR operations in other parts of the country. NCR expects to complete the transition in 18 months. "The decision to consolidate functions in Georgia and build a technology-focused corporate headquarters campus is right in line with our business strategy to drive growth, improve our innovation output, increase productivity and continually upgrade our focus on the customer," Bill Nuti, NCR CEO, said in a statement.
