Earnings Release Scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2023 Before the Market Opens
Conference Call Scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM (Eastern Time)
BOCA RATON, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 17, 2023– The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE:GEO) (“GEO”) will release its third quarter 2023 financial results on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 before the market opens. GEO has scheduled a conference call and simultaneous webcast for 11:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Hosting the call for GEO will be George C. Zoley, Executive Chairman of the Board, Jose Gordo, Chief Executive Officer, Brian R. Evans, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Wayne Calabrese, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and James Black, President, GEO Secure Services.
To participate in the teleconference, please contact one of the following numbers 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time:
In addition, a live audio webcast of the conference call may be accessed on the Webcasts section of GEO’s investor relations home page at investors.geogroup.com. A webcast replay will remain available on the website for one year.
A telephonic replay will also be available through November 14, 2023. The replay numbers are 1-877-344-7529 (U.S.) and 1-412-317-0088 (International). The passcode for the telephonic replay is 4528594. If you have any questions, please contact GEO at 1-866-301-4436.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE: CXW) (“CoreCivic”) announced today it entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 11, 2023, by and among CoreCivic, as Borrower, certain lenders party thereto from time to time, and the administrative agent for the lenders, or the New Bank Credit Facility. The New Bank Credit Facility effectively replaces CoreCivic’s Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 12, 2022. The New Bank Credit Facility is in the aggregate principal amount of $400 million, consisting of a $125 million term loan and a $275 million revolving credit facility.
The New Bank Credit Facility, among other things, increases the available borrowings under the revolving credit facility from $250 million to $275 million and increases the size of the term loan from an initial balance of $100 million to $125 million, extends the maturity date to October 11, 2028 from May 12, 2026, and makes conforming changes to replace the Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield Index, or BSBY, to the secured overnight financing rate, or SOFR. Further, financial covenants were modified to remove the $100 million limit of netting unrestricted cash and cash equivalents when calculating the consolidated total leverage ratio, the consolidated secured leverage ratio, and to increase the consolidated total leverage ratio resulting in a “springing lien” event from 4:00 to 1.00 to 4.25 to 1.00. At the closing of the New Bank Credit Facility, CoreCivic received approximately $33.8 million of net borrowings before transaction costs as a result of the increased size of the term loan, and the revolving credit facility remains undrawn except for approximately $17.4 million in outstanding letters of credit.
David M. Garfinkle, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, stated, “We are very pleased with the support from our new and existing financial partners enabling us to further extend our overall debt maturity profile, maintain a similar pricing structure, while providing us with greater financial flexibility.”
About CoreCivic
CoreCivic is a diversified, government-solutions company with the scale and experience needed to solve tough government challenges in flexible, cost-effective ways. We provide a broad range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through high-quality corrections and detention management, a network of residential and non-residential alternatives to incarceration to help address America’s recidivism crisis, and government real estate solutions. We are the nation’s largest owner of partnership correctional, detention and residential reentry facilities, and one of the largest prison operators in the United States. We have been a flexible and dependable partner for government for 40 years. Our employees are driven by a deep sense of service, high standards of professionalism and a responsibility to help government better the public good. Learn more at www.corecivic.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements as to our beliefs and expectations of the outcome of future events that are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding CoreCivic’s financial flexibility. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with economic conditions affecting the corrections and detention industry. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in the filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Except as required by applicable law, CoreCivic does not undertake any responsibility for updating the information contained in this press release following the date hereof to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or the occurrence of unanticipated events or for any changes or modifications made to this press release or the information contained herein by any third-parties, including, but not limited to, any wire or internet services.
Contact
Investors: David Garfinkle – Chief Financial Officer – (615) 263-3008
Financial Media: David Gutierrez, Dresner Corporate Services – (312) 780-7204
Legendary German footwear company Birkenstock priced its highly anticipated initial public offering at $46 per share on Tuesday, at the lower end of its projected range of $44 to $49 per share.
The conservative pricing comes as investors are displaying caution towards new public offerings in the face of market volatility. At $46 per share, Birkenstock would raise approximately $1.5 billion in proceeds and gain a valuation of $8.6 billion.
The sandal maker is slated to begin trading Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BIRK.”
Birkenstock is going public at an intriguing moment for the footwear industry, as major players like Nike and Adidas adapt their offerings to capitalize on surging demand for comfortable, casual styles that became popular during the pandemic.
As a storied brand known for its sandals and clogs, Birkenstock is uniquely positioned to ride this trend. However, questions remain about the nearly 250-year old company’s growth trajectory and valuation.
Built on Heritage, Positioned for Growth
Dating back to 1774, Birkenstock has a long legacy as a comfort-focused footwear brand, securing devotees across the decades with its contoured footbeds and versatile sandal styles. The company lays claim to inventing the original cork footbed.
In recent years, Birkenstock has experienced a resurgence in popularity, spearheaded by its iconic Boston clogs. Younger consumers are discovering the brand, enticed by its commitment to quality, comfort and sustainability.
This has fueled strong financials, with Birkenstock generating 1.2 billion euros in revenue in its latest fiscal year, representing a CAGR of 17% over the last decade. Its sales are split nearly evenly between Europe and the Americas.
To stoke further growth, Birkenstock plans to expand its digital presence, having already grown e-commerce sales to just under 20% of total revenue. It will also continue broadening its product portfolio into areas like athletic leisure.
Reasons for Caution Among Investors
However, Birkenstock also holds substantial debt of around 1 billion euros, sparking questions about its financial profile.
Additionally, the company conceded in its prospectus that it has “identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting” – never reassuring words for potential investors.
Some analysts argue that Birkenstock’s projected valuation range of up to $5 billion was simply too optimistic, given the market environment. The tepid pricing indicates investors are unwilling to take an exuberant bet on the storied brand.
Many also point to the fiercely competitive footwear arena, where Birkenstock must compete with a range of established casual brands and new direct-to-consumer upstarts. While Birkenstock enjoys enviable brand cachet, it may lack the scale and resources of giants like Nike and Adidas.
The Road Ahead
While Birkenstock took a conservative approach with its IPO pricing, the offering will still generate a substantial cash infusion to fuel the company’s expansion.
The true test will be whether Birkenstock can sustain momentum among younger demographics while defending its turf against deep-pocketed rivals. Its ultimate post-IPO performance will be determined by strategic decisions in areas like brand positioning, product innovation, and digital sales.
But with almost 250 years of history behind it, few companies can claim a legacy comparable to Birkenstock’s. This pedigree provides confidence that the brand has staying power, whatever public market challenges may arise. For long-term investors, Birkenstock remains a compelling story combining heritage and growth.
The September jobs report revealed the U.S. economy added 336,000 jobs last month, nearly double expectations. The data highlights the resilience of the labor market even as the Federal Reserve aggressively raises interest rates to cool demand.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast 170,000 job additions for September. The actual gain of 336,000 jobs suggests the labor market remains strong despite broader economic headwinds.
The unemployment rate held steady at 3.8%, unchanged from August and still near historic lows. This shows employers continue hiring even amid rising recession concerns.
Wage growth moderated but still increased 0.3% month-over-month and 5.0% year-over-year. Slowing wage gains may reflect reduced leverage for workers as economic uncertainty increases.
The report reinforces the tight labor market conditions the Fed has been hoping to loosen with its restrictive policy. Rate hikes aim to reduce open jobs and slow wage growth to contain inflationary pressures.
Yet jobs growth keeps exceeding forecasts, defying expectations of a downshift. The Fed wants to see clear cooling before it eases up on rate hikes. This report suggests its work is far from done.
The September strength was broad-based across industries. Leisure and hospitality added 96,000 jobs, largely from bars and restaurants staffing back up. Government employment rose 73,000 while healthcare added 41,000 jobs.
Upward revisions to July and August payrolls also paint a robust picture. An additional 119,000 jobs were created in those months combined versus initial estimates.
Markets are now pricing in a reduced chance of another major Fed rate hike in November following the jobs data. However, resilient labor demand will keep pressure on the central bank to maintain its aggressive tightening campaign.
While the Fed has raised rates five times this year, the benchmark rate likely needs to go higher to materially impact hiring and wage trajectories. The latest jobs figures support this view.
Ongoing job market tightness suggests inflation could become entrenched at elevated levels without further policy action. Businesses continue competing for limited workers, fueling wage and price increases.
The strength also hints at economic momentum still left despite bearish recession calls. Job security remains solid for many Americans even as growth slows.
Of course, the labor market is not immune to broader strains. If consumer and business activity keep moderating, job cuts could still materialize faster than expected.
For now, the September report shows employers shaking off gloomier outlooks and still urgently working to add staff and retain workers. This resiliency poses a dilemma for the Fed as it charts the course of rate hikes ahead.
The unexpectedly strong September jobs data highlights the difficult balancing act the Fed faces curbing inflation without sparking undue economic damage. For policymakers, the report likely solidifies additional rate hikes are still needed for a soft landing.
BOCA RATON, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sep. 28, 2023– The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) (“GEO” or the “Company”) published today the Company’s fifth annual Human Rights and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) report. The report includes enhanced disclosures related to our Board oversight of human rights and ESG matters, employee diversity and training programs, corporate governance, and environmental sustainability, including updated metrics and statistics for the calendar year 2022, in accordance with the Universal Standards of the Global Reporting Initiative.
The report also highlights GEO’s continued commitment to providing enhanced rehabilitation and post-release support services through our award-winning GEO Continuum of Care® (CoC) program. During 2022, our CoC facilities delivered approximately 3.5 million hours of enhanced rehabilitation programming. The CoC program integrates enhanced offender rehabilitation, including cognitive behavioral treatment, with post-release support services to address basic community needs of released individuals, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, and job placement assistance.
GEO’s Executive Chairman, George C. Zoley, said: “The publication of our fifth annual Human Rights and ESG report highlights our long-standing commitment to respecting the human rights and improving the lives of those entrusted to our care. To reinforce this important commitment, we have restructured our Board to include three new committees: a standing committee to oversee Criminal Justice and Rehabilitation, a standing committee to oversee Human Rights, and a standing committee to oversee Cyber Security and Environmental matters. In 2022, we also undertook a Human Rights Due Diligence Assessment, which included engagement with multiple internal and external stakeholder groups. Moving forward, we expect to evaluate additional human rights initiatives, including a future review of our Global Human Rights Policy and its implementation.”
The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) is a leading diversified government service provider, specializing in design, financing, development, and support services for secure facilities, processing centers, and community reentry centers in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. GEO’s diversified services include enhanced in-custody rehabilitation and post-release support through the award-winning GEO Continuum of Care®, secure transportation, electronic monitoring, community-based programs, and correctional health and mental health care. GEO’s worldwide operations include the ownership and/or delivery of support services for 102 facilities totaling approximately 82,000 beds, including idle facilities and projects under development, with a workforce of up to approximately 18,000 employees.
Use of forward-looking statements
This news release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company’s continued commitment and future initiatives relating to human rights and the GEO Continuum of Care® program. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in GEO’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, its Form 10-Qs for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023 and its Form 8-K reports. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on current expectations and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Readers are strongly encouraged to read the full cautionary statements and risk factors contained in GEO’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those referenced above. GEO disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Food delivery app DoorDash announced it will transfer its stock exchange listing from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq. The company will begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker ‘DASH’ starting September 27, 2023.
This represents a high-profile switch that exemplifies the fierce competition between the NYSE and Nasdaq to attract Silicon Valley tech listings. It also reflects shifting sentiments around brand associations and target investor bases.
DoorDash first went public on the NYSE in December 2020 at a valuation of nearly $60 billion. At the time, the NYSE provided the prestige and validation desired by the promising young startup.
However, DoorDash has since grown into an industry titan boasting a market cap of over $30 billion. As a maturing technology company, Nasdaq’s brand image and investor mix provide better positioning.
Tony Xu, co-founder and CEO of DoorDash, emphasized the benefits of the Nasdaq in the company’s announcement. “We believe DoorDash will benefit from Nasdaq’s track record of being at the forefront of technology and progress,” he said.
Nasdaq has built a reputation as the go-to exchange for Silicon Valley tech firms and growth stocks. Big name residents include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, Alphabet, and Facebook parent company Meta.
The exchange is also home to leading next-gen companies like Zoom, DocuSign, Crowdstrike, Datadog, and Snowflake. This creates an environment tailor-made for high-growth tech outfits.
Meanwhile, the NYSE leans toward stalwart blue chip companies including Coca Cola, Walmart, Visa, Walt Disney, McDonald’s, and JPMorgan Chase. The historic exchange tends to attract mature businesses and financial institutions.
Another factor likely influencing DoorDash is the investor makeup across the competing exchanges. Nasdaq generally appeals more to growth-oriented funds and active traders. The NYSE caters slightly more to institutional investors like pension funds, endowments, and passive index funds.
DoorDash’s switch follows ride sharing pioneer Lyft’s jump from Nasdaq to the NYSE exactly one year ago. Like DoorDash, Lyft desired a brand halo as it evolved past its early startup days.
“It’s a signal of us being mature, of us continuing to build a lasting company,” said Lyft co-founder John Zimmer at the time of the company’s NYSE listing.
Jared Carmel, managing partner at Manhattan Venture Partners, believes these exchange transfers reflect the “changing identities of the companies.”
As startups develop into multi-billion dollar giants, they evaluate whether their founding exchange still aligns with their needs and desired perceptions. Brand association and shareholder registration are becoming as important as operational capabilities for listings.
High-flying growth stocks like DoorDash also consider indexes, as the Nasdaq 100 often provides greater visibility and buying power from passive funds tracking the benchmark. Prominent inclusion in those indexes requires trading on Nasdaq.
Whether mature blue chips or emerging Silicon Valley darlings, the rivalry between Nasdaq and NYSE will continue heating up as each exchange vies to attract and retain brand name public companies. With lucrative listing fees on the line, exchanges will evolve branding, services, and capabilities to better cater to their target customers.
The DoorDash switcheroo exemplifies the changing perspectives and motivations influencing exchange selection. As companies lifecycles and personas transform, they reevaluate decisions made during those frenetic early IPO days.
Continues Momentum to Increase Utilization Through Existing and New Contracts
BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Sept. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE: CXW) (“CoreCivic”) announced today it signed a new management contract with Hinds County, Mississippi for up to 250 adult male pre-trial detainees at the Company’s 2,672-bed Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Tutwiler, Mississippi. The initial contract term is for two years, which may be extended for an additional year upon mutual agreement.
Damon T. Hininger, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “We are pleased to enter into a new management contract with Hinds County and are honored to be entrusted with the care of a portion of their detainee population.”
CoreCivic currently cares for residents at the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility from the United States Marshals Service, Vermont, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tallahatchie County.
Hininger continued, “We continue to see increasing demand for our correctional and detention solutions, evidenced by the new contract with Hinds County. The Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility is a flexible facility, which has capacity to accommodate additional government customers. We have been in discussions with additional federal, state, and local government agencies to utilize capacity in numerous of our facilities, including at the Tallahatchie facility. We have recently accepted approximately 160 additional residents from the state of Idaho under an existing contract at our Saguaro Correctional Facility in Arizona to meet their increasing needs. We have also recently signed contract extensions with the state of Vermont at the Tallahatchie facility, which was scheduled to expire September 30, 2023, with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement at our Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey, and with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for five residential reentry centers in Texas, all of which expired August 31, 2023, and with the state of Montana at our Crossroads Correctional Center in Montana, which expired June 30, 2023.”
About CoreCivic
CoreCivic is a diversified, government-solutions company with the scale and experience needed to solve tough government challenges in flexible, cost-effective ways. We provide a broad range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through high-quality corrections and detention management, a network of residential and non-residential alternatives to incarceration to help address America’s recidivism crisis, and government real estate solutions. We are the nation’s largest owner of partnership correctional, detention and residential reentry facilities, and one of the largest prison operators in the United States. We have been a flexible and dependable partner for government for 40 years. Our employees are driven by a deep sense of service, high standards of professionalism and a responsibility to help government better the public good. Learn more at www.corecivic.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements as to our beliefs and expectations of the outcome of future events that are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties associated with: (i) changes in government policy, legislation and regulations that affect utilization of the private sector for corrections, detention, and residential reentry services, in general, or our business, in particular, including, but not limited to, the continued utilization of our correctional and detention facilities by the federal government, including as a consequence of the United States Department of Justice, or DOJ, not renewing contracts as a result of President Biden’s Executive Order on Reforming Our Incarceration System to Eliminate the Use of Privately Operated Criminal Detention Facilities, impacting utilization primarily by the BOP and the United States Marshals Service, and the impact of any changes to immigration reform and sentencing laws (we do not, under longstanding policy, lobby for or against policies or legislation that would determine the basis for, or duration of, an individual’s incarceration or detention); (ii) our ability to obtain and maintain correctional, detention, and residential reentry facility management contracts because of reasons including, but not limited to, sufficient governmental appropriations, contract compliance, negative publicity and effects of inmate disturbances; (iii) changes in the privatization of the corrections and detention industry, the acceptance of our services, the timing of the opening of new facilities and the commencement of new management contracts (including the extent and pace at which new contracts are utilized), as well as our ability to utilize available beds; (iv) general economic and market conditions, including, but not limited to, the impact governmental budgets can have on our contract renewals and renegotiations, per diem rates, and occupancy; (v) fluctuations in our operating results because of, among other things, changes in occupancy levels; competition; contract renegotiations or terminations; inflation and other increases in costs of operations, including a continuing rise in labor costs; fluctuations in interest rates and risks of operations; (vi) the impact resulting from the termination of Title 42, the federal government’s policy to deny entry at the United States southern border to asylum-seekers and anyone crossing the southern border without proper documentation or authority in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus and related variants, or COVID-19; (vii) our ability to successfully identify and consummate future development and acquisition opportunities and realize projected returns resulting therefrom; (viii) our ability to have met and maintained qualification for taxation as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for the years we elected REIT status; and (ix) the availability of debt and equity financing on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in the filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
We take no responsibility for updating the information contained in this press release following the date hereof to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or the occurrence of unanticipated events or for any changes or modifications made to this press release or the information contained herein by any third-parties, including, but not limited to, any wire or internet services.
Brightline, the private passenger rail service in Florida, has began operating its high speed train lines to connect South Florida to Orlando today. This new route will link two major finance hubs in the state and make travel between them faster and easier.
Brightline’s trains have currently been running between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. The expansion to Orlando, which opened on September 22, 2023, stretches the service across the state and connects it to one of Florida’s largest business and tourism centers.
According to Brightline’s president Patrick Goddard, the new route “will transform Central Florida into a connected region” and link its economy even closer with South Florida’s. This enhanced connectivity between the region’s financial sectors will likely lead to increased business deals, partnerships, and investment.
In particular, the new Brightline connection will simplify travel between Palm Beach County and Orlando. Palm Beach is home to a cluster of hedge funds, private equity firms, and other financial companies. Orlando similarly has a thriving financial industry, with investment firms, banks, and financial technology companies based in the metro area.
With a Brightline station at Orlando International Airport, it is now easier than ever for finance professionals to commute between the two cities for meetings and conferences. This will allow greater collaboration within Florida’s finance community.
One major finance event that will benefit is NobleCon19, an investor conference focusing on emerging growth companies. NobleCon19 is scheduled for December 3-5, 2023 in Boca Raton, located in Palm Beach County. The conference attracts finance experts from across the country, including professionals based in the Orlando area.
Once the new Brightline route opened, Orlando-based investors, analysts, and executives interested in attending NobleCon now have a convenient 3.5 hour train trip directly from Orlando International Airport to Boca Raton. This is faster than driving, which takes over 4.5 hours in traffic. It is also quicker than Amtrak’s routes connecting the two cities, which take 5-7 hours.
Brightline’s president Patrick Goddard noted that the train service will “make it easier for all Floridians and visitors to experience the best our state has to offer.” This will certainly include connecting finance pros between hubs like Orlando and Palm Beach County.
Overall, Brightline’s expansion to Orlando has linked key financial centers across Florida. For financial companies and professionals, it will facilitate easier networking, stronger partnerships, and more dealmaking. The launch of the new route in September 2023 is a major plus for Florida’s finance sector.
Casino and hotel operator MGM Resorts tumbled last week after revealing it was hit by a data breach impacting over 10 million former guests. The hack showcases the cyber risks facing hospitality firms and dragged down related stocks as investors weighed the potential fallout.
MGM shares dropped over 4% following its disclosure of the breach as investors reacted to the cyberattack. The stock slide reflected concerns over potential costs from lawsuits, technical remedies, and reputational damage.
The attack also stoked fears of similar incidents across the broader hospitality sector. Airline, cruise, and casino stocks all declined as analysts noted cyber threats facing the industry. Leisure companies handle vast customer data and suffer from downtime, making them prime hacker targets.
Broader equity markets proved resilient to the MGM incident. But cybersecurity stocks rallied on expectations companies may now invest more in protecting data and systems going forward. Top gainers included cyber firms Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike.
The MGM breach follows several recent high-profile hacks of casinos and gaming firms. The frequency of attacks has put the industry on notice. New Nevada regulations now require prompt breach disclosures from casinos. Once inside a network, hackers can often access customer financial data. Small casinos have paid millions in ransoms to regain control of systems.
While the MGM breach didn’t significantly sway major indexes, it highlights the dangers posed by cyber criminals. A larger incident paralyzing critical infrastructure could certainly roil markets. This incident is an important reminder of the growing cyber threats facing corporations and customers alike in today’s digitally connected world.
Cisco Systems announced Thursday it will acquire cybersecurity company Splunk in an all-cash deal valued at around $28 billion. The acquisition, Cisco’s largest ever, aims to expand its presence in the security software market and boost recurring revenue streams.
Under the agreement, Cisco will pay $157 per share to buy Splunk, representing a premium of over 20% to Splunk’s recent stock price. Splunk shares jumped 21% on the news, while Cisco stock slipped nearly 5%.
The network gear giant has been on an acquisition spree lately to grow its software offerings. Splunk provides data analytics software and services focused on security, internet of things and infrastructure monitoring.
Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said Splunk’s data capabilities combined with Cisco’s network telemetry presents an opportunity for more AI-enabled security solutions. The deal is expected to close in late 2024 after clearing regulatory approvals.
Cisco aims to leverage Splunk’s analytics tools to improve threat detection and better predict cyber risks. Splunk’s software is used by over 9,000 customers including over 90 of the Fortune 100. The acquisition provides Cisco an avenue into more subscription-based software sales.
The company said it expects the deal to be cash flow positive and accretive to gross margins within the first year post-closing. Cisco forecasts the acquisition boosting adjusted earnings per share starting in the second year.
Splunk CEO Gary Steele will join Cisco’s executive leadership team once the merger is finalized and report directly to Robbins. Together the companies aim to become a leading force in security infrastructure.
The acquisition reflects Cisco’s ongoing shift toward software and subscription revenue. It provides both an expanded customer base and advanced analytics capabilities around security, core focuses for Cisco. The company will fund the sizable purchase through cash reserves and new debt financing.
Instacart experienced a red-hot debut on the public markets as shares soared 40% in its first day of trading. The grocery delivery pioneer opened at $42 per share on the Nasdaq exchange, well above its IPO price of $30.
The opening trade valued Instacart at nearly $14 billion, up from the $10 billion valuation set by its IPO pricing on Monday. Demand from investors seeking exposure to the future of grocery commerce drove the shares sharply higher out of the gate.
Trading volume was heavy early on, with over 18 million shares changing hands in the first 30 minutes. The stock traded as high as $47.57 at its peak, showcasing strong appetite for the newly minted public company.
Instacart (CART) raised $420 million through the IPO by selling 14.1 million shares, representing just 8% of its total outstanding shares. Existing shareholders also sold 7.9 million shares in the offering for liquidity.
The blockbuster debut delivered significant returns for IPO participants during a volatile time for tech stocks. But Instacart’s valuation remains below the $39 billion mark it reached at the height of pandemic demand in 2021, reflecting more measured recent tech valuations.
Still, the strong first day pop is a promising sign for Instacart as it embarks on the public market journey. The company priced its offering conservatively to allow room for an impressive inaugural rally.
The offering adds Instacart to the ranks of publicly traded ecommerce innovators disrupting traditional retail models. It joins the likes of DoorDash, Uber, and Amazon in leveraging technology to unlock the potential of online grocery delivery.
Instacart is at the forefront of transforming the $1 trillion grocery industry through its on-demand digital marketplace. Its platform connects customers with personal shoppers who handle orders from partner grocers and deliver items in as fast as an hour.
Founded in 2012 by an Amazon veteran, Instacart was early to recognize the coming wave of grocery ecommerce. The company scaled rapidly when the pandemic accelerated adoption of online ordering and delivery.
Instacart seized its first-mover advantage to emerge as a leader in the space. It has partnered with prominent national, regional, and local grocers to build a retail network covering over 85% of U.S. households.
The company aligned with shifting consumer preferences for convenience and digital experiences. Busy lifestyles and smartphone ubiquity make grocery delivery a killer app of modern ecommerce.
Instacart smartly invested to expand services like fast unstaffed delivery and self-service pickup. Its Instacart Ads platform also lets brands promote products through sponsored listings.
The company rapidly grew revenue to over $7 billion in 2021 during the pandemic-driven surge. More recently it has focused on boosting profitability as demand normalizes post-Covid.
Instacart generated $14 billion in gross merchandise volume in 2021. Its net revenue neared $2 billion, doubling from 2020. But losses have narrowed dramatically since the company turned EBITDA positive last year.
As the first major tech IPO of 2023, Instacart’s trading provides a blueprint for startups and venture investors awaiting public debuts this year. The initial reception indicates persistent investor appetite for innovative tech names with strong growth narratives.
The blockbuster debut opens an exciting new chapter for Instacart and the future of digital grocery. Its first trading day validated Instacart’s pioneering business model and resilient growth prospects.
Apple just recently announced its first carbon neutral products – the new Apple Watch lineup. This achievement comes from innovations across Apple’s global supply chain over years to dramatically reduce emissions. It’s a major milestone toward Apple’s 2030 goal to make all products carbon neutral.
To become carbon neutral, Apple steeply cut watch emissions first via clean energy, recycled materials, and low-emission transportation. Any remaining emissions are addressed with high-quality carbon credits from nature-based projects like forests.
This shift demonstrates how companies can decarbonize operations and products through renewable electricity, material innovation, and carbon removal. If adopted widely, these strategies can significantly benefit the environment.
Apple’s progress was enabled by large investments in wind and solar energy. Their actions helped create over 15 gigawatts of new clean power. Scaling renewable energy is crucial for the transition away from fossil fuels.
The company also pioneered using recycled metals and fibers in devices. This reduces the need for carbon-intensive mining and materials manufacturing. Broad adoption would lessen impacts on natural resources.
Additionally, Apple funded carbon removal through forest restoration. This supports nature-based solutions to sequester CO2. The climate impact could grow exponentially if more firms financed conservation projects.
In summary, Apple’s carbon neutral product milestone highlights the environmental promise of renewable energy, the circular economy, and carbon removal. It demonstrates the potential for these strategies to transform manufacturing, conserve natural resources, and fight climate change.
The U.S. government is launching a monumental legal challenge against Google in a bid to curb the technology giant’s dominance in internet search. A federal antitrust trial begins Tuesday in Washington D.C. where the Justice Department and a coalition of state attorneys general will argue that Google improperly wields monopoly power.
At the heart of the case are allegations that Google unlawfully maintains its position in the search market through exclusionary distribution agreements and other anticompetitive practices. Google pays billions annually to companies like Apple and Samsung to preset Google as the default search engine on smartphones and other devices. This boxes out rivals, according to prosecutors.
The government contends that Google’s actions have suffocated competition in the critical gateway to the internet, enabling the company to extend its grasp with impunity. Google counters that its search supremacy is earned by offering a superior product that consumers freely choose, not due to illegal activity.
But smaller search upstarts like DuckDuckGo allege that Google abuses its might to hinder their ability to gain users. At stake in the trial is nothing less than how the power of dominant tech platforms is regulated and how competition – or lack of it – shapes the internet as we know it.
The verdict could lead to sweeping changes for Google if found guilty of violating antitrust law. Potential sanctions range from imposed restrictions on its business conduct to structural reorganization of the company. Fines could also be on the table.
Google’s practices echo the behavior that got Microsoft into hot water in the 1990s. That landmark case saw the government successfully prove Microsoft leveraged its Windows monopoly to quash competition. Google is accused of similar monopolistic plays via its search engine dominance.
The Google antitrust trial is slated to last around three months. Testimony from Google CEO Sundar Pichai and executives of tech firms like Apple is anticipated. The federal judge overseeing the case will determine if Google’s undisputed leadership in search equates to unlawful monopoly status.
The verdict stands to fundamentally shape Google’s role in internet search and potentially alter business practices of other dominant technology companies. It represents the most significant legal challenge to Silicon Valley power in the 21st century.
