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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business NCR Corporation (“NCR”, the “Company”, “we” or “us”) was originally incorporated in 1884 and is a software- and services-led enterprise technology provider that runs stores, restaurants and self-directed banking for our customers, which includes businesses of all sizes. Our software platform, which runs in the cloud and includes microservices and APIs that integrate with our customers' systems, and our NCR-as-a-Service solutions bring together all of the capabilities and competencies of NCR to power the technology to run our customers’ operations. Our portfolio includes digital first software and services offerings for banking, retailers and restaurants, as well as payments processing and networks, multi-vendor connected device services, automated teller machines (“ATMs”), self-checkout (“SCO”), point of sale (“POS”) terminals and other self-service technologies. We also resell third-party networking products and provide related service offerings in the telecommunications and technology sector. Our solutions are designed to support our transition to becoming a software platform and payments company.

Change in reportable segments Effective January 1, 2022, the Company realigned its reportable segments to correspond with changes to its operating model, management structure and organizational responsibilities. The reportable segments effective January 1, 2022 include: Retail, Hospitality, Digital Banking, Payments & Network, and Self-Service Banking. Additionally, effective January 1, 2022, the Company manages Corporate & Other, which includes income and expenses that are not specifically attributable to an individual reportable segment and thus will be reflected only in consolidated results, as well as our telecommunications and technology business, an immaterial operating segment. We have reclassified prior period segment disclosures to conform to current period presentation. Refer to Note 4, “Segment Information and Concentrations”, for additional information on our reportable segments.

Conflict in Eastern Europe The war in Eastern Europe and related sanctions imposed on Russia and related actors by the United States and other jurisdictions required us to commence the orderly wind down of our operations in Russia beginning in the first quarter of 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we have ceased operations in Russia and are in the process of dissolving our only subsidiary in Russia. As a result of these actions, our results for the year ended December 31, 2022 reflect the impact of the impairment and write down of the assets and liabilities of the entity, severance charges, the assessment of collectability on revenue recognition, and the residual operations of the entity. We recognized a pre-tax net loss of $22 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 related to these actions, recognized primarily in Cost of products, Cost of services and Selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Announcement of Planned Separation On September 15, 2022, NCR announced a plan to separate 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. 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 financial statements. The current target is to complete the separation by the end of 2023. Should alternative options become available in the future that could deliver superior value to our shareholders than the planned separation, such as a whole or partial company sale of NCR, the Board of Directors remains open to considering alternative scenarios.

Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenue and expenses during the periods reported.

Although our estimates contemplate current and expected future conditions, as applicable, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could differ from our expectations, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial position. In particular, a number of estimates have been and will continue to be affected by the ongoing variants of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, macroeconomic pressures and geopolitical challenges. The ultimate impact on our overall financial condition and operating results will depend on the duration and severity of the pandemic, supply chain challenges and cost escalations including materials, interest, labor and freight, and any additional governmental and public actions taken in response. As a result, our accounting estimates and assumptions may change over time as a consequence of the effects these external factors. Such changes could result in future impairments of goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets, incremental credit losses on accounts receivable and decreases in the carrying amount of our tax assets.
Evaluation of Subsequent Events The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date that our Consolidated Financial Statements were issued. Other than the items discussed within the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, no matters were identified that required adjustment of the Consolidated Financial Statements or additional disclosure.

Basis of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NCR and its majority-owned subsidiaries. Long-term investments in affiliated companies in which NCR owns between 20% and 50%, and therefore, exercises significant influence, but which it does not control, are accounted for using the equity method. Investments in which NCR does not exercise significant influence (generally, when NCR has an investment of less than 20% and no significant influence, such as representation on the investee’s board of directors) are accounted for using the cost method. All significant inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated. In addition, the Company is required to determine whether it is the primary beneficiary of economic income or losses that may be generated by variable interest entities in which the Company has such an interest. In circumstances where the Company determined it is the primary beneficiary, consolidation of that entity would be required. For the periods presented, no variable interest entities have been consolidated.

On June 21, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Cardtronics plc (“Cardtronics”). The December 31, 2021 year-to-date results include the operations of Cardtronics from June 21, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Refer to Note 2, “Business Combinations”, for additional disclosure.

Reclassifications Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto in order to conform to the current period presentation.

Revenue Recognition The Company records revenue, net of sales tax, when the following five steps have been completed:

Identification of the contract(s) with a customer
Identification of the performance obligation(s) in the contract
Determination of the transaction price
Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
Recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy performance obligations

The Company records revenue when, or as, performance obligations are satisfied by transferring control of a promised good or service to the customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for products and services. The Company evaluates the transfer of control primarily from the customer’s perspective where the customer has the ability to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from that good or service. The Company does not adjust the transaction price for taxes collected from customers, as those amounts are netted against amounts remitted to government authorities.

NCR enters contracts that include multiple distinct performance obligations, including hardware, software, professional consulting and managed services, payment processing services, installation services and maintenance support services. A promise to a customer is considered distinct when the product or service is both capable of being distinct, and distinct in the context of the contract. For these arrangements, the Company allocates the transaction price, at contract inception, to each distinct performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis. The primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the price that the Company charges for that good or service when the Company sells it separately in similar circumstances to similar customers.

For hardware products, control is generally transferred when the customer has the ability to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits of the products, which generally coincides with when the customer has assumed title and risk of loss of the goods sold. In certain instances, customer acceptance is required prior to the passage of title and risk of loss of the delivered products. In such cases, revenue is not recognized until the customer acceptance is obtained. Delivery, acceptance, and transfer of title and risk of loss generally occur in the same reporting period. NCR's customers may request that delivery and passage of title and risk of loss occur on a bill and hold basis. For the periods ending December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the revenue recognized from bill and hold transactions approximated 1% of total revenue, respectively. Hardware products may also be included in an As-a-service package and sold in a bundle with managed services. In these packages, title to the hardware is not transferred to the customer and revenue is recognized in consideration of lease accounting standards, depending on the terms and conditions in the contract. Most hardware leases embedded in our As-a-service contracts qualify for classification as operating leases. Revenue from the hardware operating leases in an As-a-service package is recognized over the term of the contract, which is the same pattern and timing as the services in the contract.
Software products may be sold as perpetual licenses, term-based licenses, cloud-enabled and software as a service (“SaaS”). Perpetual license revenue is recognized at a point in time when control transfers to the customer and is reported within product revenue. Control is typically transferred when the customer takes possession of, or has access to, the software. Term-based license revenue is recognized at a point in time upon the commencement of the committed term of the contract, concurrent with the possession of the license, and reported within product revenue. The committed term of the contract is typically one month to one year due to customer termination rights. If the amount of consideration the Company expects to be paid in exchange for the licenses depends on customer usage, revenue is recognized when the usage occurs.

Software as a service (SaaS) primarily consists of fees to provide our customers access to our platform and cloud-based applications for a specified contract term. Revenue from SaaS contracts is recognized as variable consideration directly allocated based on customer usage or on a ratable basis over the contract term beginning on the date that our service is made available to the customer. SaaS is reported as part of our services revenue.

The Company sells some product solutions that include a combination of cloud-enabled and on-premise term-based software licenses for a specified contract term. Significant judgment is required to determine if the products and services represent distinct promises to the customer or if they should be combined into one performance obligation. When they are combined into one performance obligation, revenue is recognized ratably over the contract term for which the service is provided.

In addition to SaaS, our services revenue includes professional consulting, payment processing revenue, managed services, installation and maintenance support. Professional consulting primarily consists of software implementation, integration, customization and optimization services. Revenue from professional consulting contracts is recognized when the services are completed or customer acceptance of the service is received, if required. For installation and maintenance, control is transferred as the services are provided or ratably over the service period, or, if applicable, after customer acceptance of the service. For recurring services that we perform over a contract term, we analyze if the services are performed evenly throughout the term for fixed consideration. If so, we ratably recognize the corresponding consideration over the committed term. Otherwise, we apply the ‘as invoiced’ practical expedient, for performance obligations satisfied over time, if the amount we may invoice corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the Company’s performance to date. This expedient permits us to recognize revenue in the amount we invoice the customer.

Payment processing revenue includes surcharge and other fees paid by cardholders and/or the cardholder’s financial institutions for the use of processing services. Surcharge revenues are recognized daily as the associated transactions are processed. In addition, relative to ATM transactions, the Company typically receives a majority of the interchange fee paid by the cardholder’s financial institution, net of the amount retained by the payment network, and recognizes the net amount received from the network as revenue. Relative to credit card processing, revenue is comprised of fees charged to the Company's customers, net of interchange fees and assessments charged by the credit card associations and payment networks, which are pass-through charges collected on behalf of the card issuers and payment networks.

Under our managed service agreements, the Company provides various forms of services, including monitoring, cash management, cash delivery, customer service, on-screen advertising, processing and other services, under one contract package. The Company typically receives a monthly service fee, fee per transaction, or fee per service provided in return for providing the agreed-upon services. The managed services fees are recognized as the related services are provided to the customers.

The Company also recognizes revenue related to branding arrangements and providing access to the Company’s surcharge-free network and equipment. Customers may be charged on a per transaction basis or a fixed monthly fee. Under these arrangements, the Company is providing a series of distinct services with similar patterns of transfer to the customer. As a result, these arrangements create performance obligations that are satisfied over-time for which the Company has a right to consideration that corresponds directly with the value of the Company’s performance completed to date. In conjunction with these arrangements, the Company recognizes revenue in the amount that it has a right to receive using the ‘as invoiced’ practical expedient described above. Revenues are generally recognized on a ratable basis over the contract term beginning on the date that our service is made available to the customer, except for transaction-based fee arrangements which are recognized daily as the transactions are processed. Any up-front fees associated with these arrangements are recognized ratably over the life of the arrangement.

The nature of our arrangements gives rise to several types of variable consideration including service level agreement credits, stock rotation rights, trade-in credits and volume-based rebates. At contract inception, we include this variable consideration in our transaction price when there is a basis to reasonably estimate the amount of the fee and it is probable there will not be a significant reversal. These estimates are generally made using the expected value method and a portfolio approach, based on
historical experience, anticipated performance and our best judgment at the time. These estimates are reassessed at each reporting date. Because of our confidence in estimating these amounts, they are included in the transaction price of our contracts and the associated remaining performance obligations.

Payment terms with our customers are established based on industry and regional practices and generally do not exceed 30 days. We do not typically include extended payment terms in our contracts with customers. As a practical expedient, we do not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component when we expect, at contract inception, that the period between our transfer of a promised product or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that product or service will be one year or less. If the period between transfer of the promised product or service and payment is more than one year, the Company analyzes whether a significant financing component is present. If so, the Company adjusts the total consideration to reflect the significant financing component.

We account for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as costs to fulfill our promise to transfer the associated products, rather than as a separate performance obligation. Accordingly, we record amounts billed for shipping and handling costs as a component of net product sales, and classify such costs as a component of cost of products.

In addition to the standard product warranty, the Company periodically offers extended warranties to its customers in the form of product maintenance services. For maintenance contracts that have been combined with product contracts under the revenue guidance, the Company defers revenue at an amount based on the relative standalone selling price allocation, and recognizes the deferred revenue over the service term. For non-combined maintenance contracts, NCR defers the stated amount of the separately priced service and recognizes the deferred revenue over the service term.

Remaining Performance Obligations Remaining performance obligations represent the transaction price of contracts for which products have not been delivered or services have not been performed. As of December 31, 2022, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was approximately $3.8 billion. The Company expects to recognize revenue on approximately three-quarters of the remaining performance obligations over the next 12 months, with the remainder recognized thereafter. The majority of our professional services are expected to be recognized over the next 12 months but this is contingent upon a number of factors, including customers’ needs and schedules.

The Company has made three elections which affect the value of remaining performance obligations described above. We do not disclose remaining performance obligations for contracts where variable consideration is directly allocated based on usage or when the original expected duration is one year or less. Additionally, we do not disclose remaining performance obligations for contracts where we recognize revenue from the satisfaction of the performance obligation in accordance with the ‘right to invoice’ practical expedient.

Warranty and Sales Returns Provisions for product warranties and sales returns and allowances are recorded in the period in which NCR becomes obligated to honor the related right, which generally is the period in which the related product revenue is recognized. The Company accrues warranty reserves based upon historical factors such as labor rates, average repair time, travel time, number of service calls per machine and cost of replacement parts. When a sale is consummated, a warranty reserve is recorded based upon the estimated cost to provide the service over the warranty period. The Company accrues sales returns and allowances using percentages of revenue to reflect the Company’s historical average of sales return claims.

Research and Development Costs Research and development costs primarily include payroll and benefit-related costs, contractor fees, facilities costs, infrastructure costs, and administrative expenses directly related to research and development support and are expensed as incurred, except certain software development costs are capitalized after technological feasibility of the software is established.

Advertising Advertising costs are recognized in selling, general and administrative expenses when incurred.

Stock-based Compensation Stock-based compensation represents the costs related to share-based awards granted to employees and non-employee directors. The Company’s outstanding stock-based compensation awards are classified as equity. The Company measures stock-based compensation cost at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award and recognizes the cost over the requisite service period. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. See Note 8, “Stock Compensation Plans”, for further information on NCR’s stock-based compensation plans.

Income Taxes Income tax expense is provided based on income before income taxes. Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and such amounts recognized
for tax purposes. These deferred taxes are determined based on the enacted tax rates expected to apply in the periods in which the deferred assets or liabilities are expected to be settled or realized. NCR records valuation allowances related to its deferred income tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being sustained upon examination by authorities. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized as part of the provision for income taxes and are accrued beginning in the period that such interest and penalties would be applicable under relevant tax law and until such time that the related tax benefits are recognized.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash All short-term, highly liquid investments having original maturities of three months or less, including time deposits, are considered to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has restricted cash on deposit with a bank as collateral for letters of credit, funds held in escrow as well as cash included in settlement processing assets.

The reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is as follows:

In millionsBalance Sheet LocationDecember 31, 2022December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalentsCash and cash equivalents$505 $447 $338 
Short term restricted cashRestricted cash8 — — 
Long term restricted cashOther assets7 
Funds held for clientRestricted cash 48 44 
Cash included in settlement processing assetsRestricted cash220 247 15 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$740 $749 $406 

Supplemental cash flow information Interest paid in cash was $268 million, $215 million, and $196 million for fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. Income taxes paid in cash were $88 million, $84 million and $82 million for fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities During the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, we issued shares of the Company's common stock and assumed unvested outstanding option awards in the acquisition of Moon Inc., dba LibertyX, for total non-cash consideration of $68 million. In connection with the acquisition, we also assumed debt of $2 million. Refer to Note 2, “Business Combinations”, for additional information on the LibertyX acquisition.

ATM Cash Management Program Our business includes the operation of ATMs under Company-owned ATM placements, merchant-owned ATM placements, and managed services. The Company relies on arrangements with various banks to provide the cash that it uses to fill its Company-owned, and in some cases merchant-owned and managed services ATMs. The Company refers to such cash as “vault cash”. The Company pays a monthly rental fee based on the average outstanding vault cash balance, as well as fees related to the bundling and preparation of such cash prior to it being loaded in the ATMs. At all times, beneficial ownership of the cash is retained by the vault cash providers and the Company has no right or access to the cash except for the ATMs that are serviced by the Company's wholly-owned cash-in-transit operations in the United Kingdom. While the United Kingdom cash-in-transit operations have physical access to the cash loaded in the ATMs, beneficial ownership of that cash remains with the vault cash provider at all times. The Company's vault cash arrangements expire at various times through December 2027. Based on the foregoing, the ATM vault cash, and the related obligations, are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements. The average outstanding vault cash balance in the Company's ATMs for the year ended December 31, 2022 was approximately $4.1 billion.
Accounts Receivable, net Accounts receivable, net includes amounts billed and currently due from customers as well as amounts unbilled that typically result from sales under contracts where revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer and where the Company has an unconditional right to consideration. The amounts due are stated at their net estimated realizable value.
The components of accounts receivable are summarized as follows:
In millionsDecember 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Accounts receivable
Trade$1,056 $939 
Other61 44 
Accounts receivable, gross1,117 983 
Less: allowance for credit losses(34)(24)
Total accounts receivable, net$1,083 $959 
Allowance for Credit Losses on Accounts Receivable Allowances for credit losses on accounts receivable are recognized when reasonable and supportable forecasts affect the expected collectability. This requires us to make our best estimate of the current expected losses inherent in our accounts receivable at each balance sheet date. These estimates require consideration of historical loss experience, adjusted for current conditions, forward looking indicators, trends in customer payment frequency and judgments about the probable effects of relevant observable data, including present and future economic conditions and the financial health of specific customers and market sectors. This policy is applied consistently among all of our operating segments. We continue to evaluate our reserves in light of the age and quality of our outstanding accounts receivable, risks to specific industries or countries, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, and adjust the reserves accordingly.
Our allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was $34 million and $24 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, our allowance for credit losses charged to expense was $23 million. The Company recorded $13 million of write-offs against the reserve for the year ended December 31, 2022. For the year ending, December 31, 2021 our allowance for credit losses charged to expense was $2 million and the Company recorded $29 million of write-offs against the reserve.

Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, using the average cost method. Cost includes materials, labor and manufacturing overhead related to the purchase and production of inventories. Service parts are included in inventories and include reworkable and non-reworkable service parts. The Company regularly reviews inventory quantities on hand, future purchase commitments with suppliers and the estimated utility of inventory. If the review indicates a reduction in utility below carrying value, inventory is reduced to a new cost basis. Excess and obsolete write-offs are established based on forecasted usage, orders, technological obsolescence and inventory aging.

Contract Assets and Liabilities Contract assets include unbilled amounts where the right to payment is not solely subject to the passage of time. Amounts may not exceed their net realizable value. Contract liabilities consist of advance payments, billings in excess of revenue recognized and deferred revenue.

Our contract assets and liabilities are reported in a net position on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. If the net position is a contract asset, the current portion is included in Prepaid and other current assets and the non-current portion is included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. If the net position is a contract liability, the current portion is included in Contract liabilities and the non-current portion is included in Other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2022, no contracts were in a net asset position.

The following table presents the net contract asset and contract liability balances:
In millionsLocation in the Consolidated Balance SheetDecember 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Current portion of contract liabilitiesContract liabilities$537 $516 
Non-current portion of contract liabilitiesOther liabilities$49 $69 

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 the Company recognized $403 million, $447 million, and $407 million, respectively, in revenue that was included in contract liabilities as of December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Deferred Commissions Our incremental costs of obtaining a contract, which consist of certain sales commissions, primarily for our SaaS revenue, are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of expected benefit. We determined the period of expected benefit by taking into consideration customer contracts, the estimated life of the customer relationship,
including renewals when the renewal commission is not commensurate with the initial commission, the expected life of the underlying technology and other factors. We classify deferred commissions as current or non-current based on the timing of when we expect to recognize the expense. The current and non-current portions of deferred commissions are included in Prepaid and other current assets and Other assets, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amortization of deferred commissions is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Set-up Fees and Costs Fees for the design, configuration, implementation and installation related to the software applications that are provided as a service are recognized over the contract term, which is generally 5 years. The related costs incurred that are determined to be incremental and recoverable contract-specific costs are deferred and amortized over the period of benefit, which is generally 7 years.

Settlement Processing Assets and Obligations Funds settlement refers to the process of transferring funds for sales and credits between card issuers and merchants and, for ATM transactions, between card issuers and merchants or financial institutions. Depending on the type of transaction, either the credit card interchange system or the debit network is used to transfer the information and funds in either direction between the sponsoring bank and card issuing bank to complete the link between merchants or financial institutions and card issuers. In certain of our processing arrangements, merchant funding occurs after the sponsoring bank or the Company receives the funds from the card issuer through the card networks, creating a settlement obligation to the merchant or financial institution on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. In a limited number of other arrangements, the sponsoring bank funds the merchants before it receives the net settlement funds from the card networks, creating a settlement asset on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Additionally, relative to credit card transactions, certain of the Company’s sponsoring banks collect the gross revenue from the merchants, pay the interchange fees and assessments to the credit card associations, collect their fees for processing and pay the Company a net residual payment representing the Company’s fees for the services. In these instances, the Company does not reflect the related settlement processing assets and obligations in its Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Settlement processing assets consist of settlement assets due from customers and receivables from merchants corresponding to the discount fee related to reimbursement of the interchange expense, our receivables from the processing bank or Electronic Funds Transfer (“EFT”) network for transactions that have occurred and have been funded to merchants or financial institutions in advance of receipt of card association funding, restricted cash balances that are not yet due to merchants or financial institutions, merchant reserves held, sponsoring bank reserves and exception items, such as customer chargeback amounts receivable from merchants. Settlement processing obligations consist primarily of merchant reserves, our liability to the processing bank or merchant for transactions for which we have received funding from the members or networks but have not funded merchants or financial institutions as well as certain exception items. Settlement processing assets other than restricted cash are recorded within Prepaid and other current assets and settlement processing liabilities are recorded within Settlement liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Cash related to settlement processing is recorded within Restricted cash in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, settlement processing assets were $275 million and $287 million, respectively, and settlement processing liabilities were $250 million and $263 million, respectively. Settlement receivables are generally collected within four business days. Settlement obligations are generally paid within three business days, regardless of when the related settlement receivables are collected.

Capitalized Software Certain direct development costs associated with internal-use software are capitalized within Other assets and amortized over the estimated useful lives of the resulting software. NCR typically amortizes capitalized internal-use software on a straight-line basis over four to seven years beginning when the asset is substantially ready for use, as this is considered to approximate the usage pattern of the software. When it becomes probable that internal-use software being developed will not be completed or placed into service, the internal-use software is reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value.

Costs incurred for the development of software that will be sold, leased or otherwise marketed are capitalized when technological feasibility has been established. These costs are included within Other assets and are amortized on a sum-of-the-years' digits or straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives ranging from three to five years, using the method that most closely approximates the sales pattern of the software. Amortization begins when the product is available for general release. Costs capitalized include direct labor and related overhead costs. Costs incurred prior to technological feasibility or after general release are expensed as incurred. NCR performs periodic reviews to ensure that unamortized program costs remain recoverable from future revenue. If future revenue does not support the unamortized program costs, the amount by which the unamortized capitalized cost of a software product exceeds the net realizable value is written off.
The following table identifies the activity relating to total capitalized software:
In millions202220212020
Beginning balance as of January 1$491 $442 $413 
Capitalization285 242 232 
Amortization(217)(197)(171)
Impairment (24)(32)
Capitalized software acquired and other adjustments(5)28 — 
Ending balance as of December 31$554 $491 $442 

During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we recorded the write-off of certain internal and external-use software capitalization projects that are no longer considered strategic and as a result, the projects have been abandoned.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter or more frequently if certain events occur indicating that the carrying value of goodwill may be impaired. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include a decline in expected cash flows, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, a decision to sell a business, unanticipated competition, or slower growth rates, among others. Consistent with the examples of such events and circumstances given in the accounting guidance, we believe that a goodwill impairment test should be performed immediately before and after a reorganization of our reporting structure when the reorganization would affect the composition of one or more of our reporting units. In this circumstance, performing the impairment test immediately before and after the reorganization would help to confirm that the reorganization is not potentially masking a goodwill impairment charge.

In the evaluation of goodwill for impairment, we have the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary or to perform a quantitative assessment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. Under the qualitative assessment, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. If, under the quantitative assessment, the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the amount of the impairment loss, if any, is determined based on the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value up to the total value of goodwill assigned to the reporting unit. Fair values of the reporting units are estimated using a weighted methodology considering the output from both the income and market approaches. The income approach incorporates the use of discounted cash flow (“DCF”) analysis. A number of significant assumptions and estimates are involved in the application of the DCF model to forecast operating cash flows, including revenue growth rates, EBITDA margins and discount rates. Several of these assumptions vary among reporting units. The cash flow forecasts are generally based on approved strategic operating plans. The market approach is performed using the Guideline Public Companies (“GPC”) method which is based on earnings multiple data. We perform a reconciliation between our market capitalization and our estimate of the aggregate fair value of the reporting units, including consideration of a control premium. Refer to Note 3, “Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets”, for further discussion.

Acquired intangible assets other than goodwill are amortized over their weighted average amortization period unless they are determined to be indefinite. Acquired intangible assets are carried at cost, less accumulated amortization. For intangible assets purchased in a business combination, the estimated fair values of the assets received are used to establish the carrying value. The fair value of acquired intangible assets is determined using common techniques, and the Company employs assumptions developed using the perspective of a market participant.

Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed over the estimated useful lives of the related assets primarily on a straight-line basis. Machinery and other equipment are depreciated over 3 to 20 years and buildings over 25 to 45 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the life of the lease or the asset, whichever is shorter. Assets classified as held for sale are not depreciated. Upon retirement or disposition of property, plant and equipment, the related cost and accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the Company’s accounts, and a gain or loss is recorded. Depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment was $193 million, $140 million, and $88 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.
Also reported in property and equipment are ATMs and the associated equipment the Company has acquired for future installation or has temporarily removed from service and plans to re-deploy. Significant refurbishment costs that extend the useful life of an asset, or enhance its functionality, are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated remaining life of the improved asset. Maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets such as property, plant and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable or in the period in which the held for sale criteria are met. For assets held and used, this analysis consists of comparing the asset’s carrying value to the expected future cash flows to be generated from the asset on an undiscounted basis. If the carrying amount of the asset is determined not to be recoverable, a write-down to fair value is recorded. Fair values are determined based on quoted market values, discounted cash flows, or external appraisals, as applicable. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment at the individual asset or the asset group level for which the lowest level of independent cash flows can be identified. Refer to Note 3, “Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets”, for further discussion.

Leasing The Company determines whether an arrangement is a lease at the inception of the arrangement based on the terms and conditions in the contract. A contract contains a lease if there is an identified asset and the Company has the right to control the asset.

Lessee We lease property, vehicles and equipment under operating and financing leases. For leases with terms greater than 12 months, we record the related asset and obligation at the present value of lease payments over the term. We determine the lease term by assuming the exercise of renewal options that are reasonably certain. Leases with a lease term of 12 months or less at inception are not recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. Our leases may include rental escalation clauses, renewal options and/or termination options that are factored into our determination of lease payments when appropriate. When available, we use the rate implicit in the lease to discount lease payments to present value; however, most of our leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. Therefore, we must estimate our incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments based on information available at lease commencement. Our incremental borrowing rate is based on a credit-adjusted risk-free rate at commencement date, which best approximates a secured rate over a similar term of lease. Additionally, we do not separate lease and non-lease components for any asset classes, except for those leases embedded in certain service arrangements. Fixed and in-substance fixed payments are included in the recognition of the operating and financing assets and lease liabilities, however, variable lease payments, other than those based on a rate or index, are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. The Company’s variable lease payments generally relate to payments tied to various indices, non-lease components and payments above a contractual minimum fixed payment.

Lessor We have various arrangements for certain point-of-sale equipment under which we are the lessor. These leases meet the criteria for operating lease classification. Lease income associated with these leases is not material.

Pension, Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits NCR has significant pension, postretirement and postemployment benefit costs, which are developed from actuarial valuations. Actuarial assumptions are established to anticipate future events and are used in calculating the expense and liabilities relating to these plans. These factors include assumptions the Company makes about interest rates, expected investment return on plan assets, rate of increase in healthcare costs, involuntary turnover rates, and rates of future compensation increases. In addition, NCR also uses subjective factors, such as withdrawal rates and mortality rates to develop the Company’s valuations. NCR generally reviews and updates these assumptions on an annual basis. NCR is required to consider current market conditions, including changes in interest rates, in making these assumptions. The actuarial assumptions that NCR uses may differ materially from actual results due to changing market and economic conditions, higher or lower withdrawal rates, or longer or shorter life spans of participants. These differences may result in a significant impact to the amount of pension, postretirement or postemployment benefits expense, and the related assets and liabilities, the Company has recorded or may record.

Environmental and Legal Contingencies In the normal course of business, NCR is subject to various proceedings, lawsuits, claims and other matters, including, for example, those that relate to the environment and health and safety, labor and employment, employee benefits, import/export compliance, intellectual property, data privacy and security, product liability, commercial disputes and regulatory compliance, among others. Additionally, NCR is subject to diverse and complex laws, regulations, and standards including those relating to corporate governance, public disclosure and reporting, environmental safety and the discharge of materials into the environment, product safety, import and export compliance, data privacy and security, antitrust and competition, government contracting, anti-corruption, and labor and human resources, which are rapidly changing and subject to many possible changes in the future. Compliance with these laws and regulations, including changes in
accounting standards, taxation requirements, and federal securities laws, among others, may create a substantial burden on, and substantially increase the costs to NCR or could have an impact on NCR’s future operating results. NCR believes that the amounts provided in its Consolidated Financial Statements are adequate in light of the probable and estimable liabilities. However, there can be no assurances that the actual amounts required to satisfy alleged liabilities from various lawsuits, claims, legal proceedings and other matters, including the Fox River and Kalamazoo River environmental matters discussed in Note 10, “Commitments and Contingencies”, and to comply with applicable laws and regulations, will not exceed the amounts reflected in NCR’s Consolidated Financial Statements or will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. Any costs that may be incurred in excess of those amounts provided as of December 31, 2022 cannot currently be reasonably determined or are not currently considered probable. The costs and insurance recoveries relating to certain environmental obligations associated with discontinued operations, including those relating to the Fox River, Kalamazoo River and Ebina matters, are presented in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Legal fees and expenses related to loss contingencies are typically expensed as incurred, except for certain costs associated with NCR’s environmental remediation obligations. Costs and fees associated with litigating the extent and type of required remedial actions and the allocation of remediation costs among potentially responsible parties are typically included in the measurement of the environmental remediation liabilities.

Foreign Currency For many NCR international operations, the local currency is designated as the functional currency. Accordingly, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars at year-end exchange rates, and revenue and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Currency translation adjustments from local functional currency countries resulting from fluctuations in exchange rates are recorded in Other comprehensive income. Remeasurement adjustments are recorded in Other income (expense), net.

Derivative Instruments In the normal course of business, NCR enters into various financial instruments, including derivative financial instruments. The Company accounts for derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value and recognizes the resulting gains or losses as adjustments to earnings or other comprehensive income. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the Company formally documents the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. Hedging activities are transacted only with highly rated institutions, reducing exposure to credit risk in the event of nonperformance. Additionally, the Company completes assessments related to the risk of counterparty nonperformance on a regular basis.

The accounting for changes in fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship, and further, on the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the Company has designated the hedging instrument, based on the exposure being hedged, as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge or a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation. For derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges, the effective portion of the hedge is recorded as an offset to the change in the fair value of the hedged item, and the ineffective portion of the hedge, if any, is recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges and determined to be highly effective, the gains or losses are deferred in Accumulated other comprehensive loss and recognized in the determination of income as adjustments of carrying amounts when the underlying hedged transaction is realized, canceled or otherwise terminated. When hedging certain foreign currency transactions of a long-term investment nature (net investments in foreign operations), gains and losses are recorded in the currency translation adjustment component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss. Gains and losses on foreign exchange contracts that are not used to hedge currency transactions of a long-term investment nature, or that are not designated as cash flow or fair value hedges, are recognized in Other income (expense), net as exchange rates change.

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing an amount that would be received to sell an asset or the amount paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the accounting guidance prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into the following three-tier fair value hierarchy:

Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active or inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly
Level 3: Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data

Assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classification on a quarterly basis. Changes to the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.

NCR measures its financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value based on one or more of the following three valuation techniques:

Market approach: Prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.
Cost approach: Amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost).
Income approach: Techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount based upon market expectations (including present value techniques, option pricing and excess earnings models).

We regularly review our investments to determine whether a decline in fair value, if any, below the cost basis is other than temporary. If the decline in the fair value is determined to be other than temporary, the cost basis of the security is written down to fair value and the amount of the write-down is included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. For qualifying investments in debt or equity securities, a temporary impairment charge would be recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued accounting standards update (“ASU”) 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The optional guidance is provided to ease the financial reporting burden of the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. The standard was effective upon issuance and had an original sunset date of December 31, 2022 to any new or amended contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference LIBOR. In December 2022, ASC 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848, was issued which deferred the sunset date to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in Topic 848. The adoption of this accounting standards update did not have a material effect on the Company's net income, cash flows, earnings per share or financial condition. We continue to evaluate our contractual arrangements and hedging relationships that reference LIBOR.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, with new guidance for convertible preferred stock, which eliminates considerations related to the beneficial conversion feature model. The standard also requires entities to use an average stock price when calculating the denominator for diluted earnings per share for stock units where the settlement of the number of shares is based on the stock price. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption was permitted no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this accounting standards update did not have a material effect on the Company's net income, cash flows, earnings per share or financial condition.

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options, with new guidance for freestanding equity-classified written call options. The new guidance requires issuers to account for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options that remain equity classified after the modification or exchange based on the economic substance of the modification or exchange. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021, with
early adoption permitted. The adoption of this accounting standards update did not have a material effect on the Company's net income, cash flows, earnings per share or financial condition.

In July 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-05, Leases (Topic 842), Lessors-Certain Leases with Variable Lease Payments, with new guidance for lessors with lease contracts that have variable lease payments. Under the new guidance, a lease which includes variable lease payments which do not depend on a reference index or rate and would have resulted in the recognition of a selling loss at lease commencement if classified as sales-type or direct financing are now to be classified as operating. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The accounting standards update was adopted using the transition guidance of early application and we will apply the standard prospectively to all new hardware arrangements where NCR is the lessor. The adoption of the accounting standard did not have a material effect on the Company's net income, cash flows, earnings per share or financial condition.

In March 2022, the SEC staff released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (“SAB 121”), which expressed the views of the SEC staff regarding the accounting for obligations to safeguard crypto-assets an entity holds for users of its crypto platform. This guidance requires entities that hold crypto-assets on behalf of platform users to recognize a liability to reflect the entity’s obligation to safeguard the crypto-assets held for its platform users. The liability should be measured at initial recognition and each reporting date at the fair value of the crypto-assets that the entity is responsible for holding for its platform users. The entity should also recognize an asset at the same time that it recognizes the safeguarding liability, measured at initial recognition and each reporting date at the fair value of the crypto-assets held for its platform users. SAB 121 also includes guidance on disclosures related to the Company’s safeguarding of crypto-assets. This guidance is effective from the first interim or annual period after June 15, 2022 and should be applied retrospectively to the beginning of the fiscal year to which the interim or annual period relates. The Company adopted this guidance in the interim period ending June 30, 2022; however, as the Company is not currently offering digital asset safeguarding services to its customers, the adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s net income, cash flows, earnings per share or financial condition.

Although there are several other new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB and adopted by or effective for the Company, the Company does not believe any of these accounting pronouncements had a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, with new guidance for contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination. The new guidance requires contract assets and contract liabilities, such as deferred revenue, acquired in a business combination to be recognized and measured by the acquirer on the acquisition date in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Prior to the issuance of this guidance, contract assets and contract liabilities were recognized by the acquirer at fair value on the acquisition date. The accounting standards update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted and should be applied prospectively to acquisitions occurring on or after the effective date. The Company does not expect to early adopt the new accounting standards update. The adoption of this accounting standards update is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's net income, cash flows, earnings per share or financial condition.

Although there are several other new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB and not yet adopted by or effective for the Company, the Company does not believe any of these accounting pronouncements will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.