IBM’s Kyndryl Spin-Off Cleared For November After Board OK
Distribution of Kyndryl shares to IBM stockholders will happen after the market closes Nov. 3.
IBM said Tuesday its board of directors has approved the separation of the tech giant’s managed infrastructure services business into an independent publicly traded company called Kyndryl next month.
Distribution of Kyndryl shares to IBM stockholders will happen after the market closes Nov. 3, Big Blue said, paving the way for Kyndryl to launch as an independent public company soon after.
Once distributed, each IBM common stockholder will receive one share of Kyndryl common stock for every five shares of IBM common stock held on Oct. 25, according to a Tuesday statement from IBM. IBM stockholders will receive a pro rata distribution of 80.1 percent of outstanding Kyndryl shares.
IBM plans to exchange the 19.9 percent of the shares of Kyndryl common stock for IBM debt during the 12-month period following the distribution, according to the statement. Shareholders do not need to take any action to receive Kyndryl common stock shares, IBM said.
Kyndryl will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “KD.”
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The New York-based company revealed in September that it has experienced three consecutive years of declining revenue along with a $2.01 billion net loss last year.
After the spin-off, IBM — based in Armonk, N.Y. — will focus on cloud software, hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence and other technology opportunities. Kyndryl will focus on services to design, run and modernize customer technology environments, competing against the likes of DXC Technology.
Kyndryl will have six global managed services practices: cloud; digital workplace; security and resiliency; network and edge; core enterprise and zCloud; and applications, data and artificial intelligence (AI). Kyndryl will also offer an advisory and implementation services practice to advise customers on digital environments and advanced technology adoption and integration.
Kyndryl also recently unveiled its future board members, two of whom are on the boards of Cisco and Juniper Networks and one of whom is a National Medal of Science recipient.
Once the spin-off is completed, IBM will move from a No. 1 ranking on the 2020 CRN Solution Provider 500 list of North America’s largest solution providers to No. 2 behind Accenture.Kyndryl will enter the CRN SP500 list at No. 5 behind Accenture, IBM, Tata and DXC Technology.