Tag: Automation

Braze Acquires OfferFit for $325 Million to Advance AI-Driven Customer Engagement

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com
Key Points:
– Braze is acquiring AI decisioning company OfferFit for $325 million.
– OfferFit’s reinforcement learning technology will enhance Braze’s AI-powered personalization.
– The acquisition supports Braze’s vision for AI-driven customer engagement and experimentation.

Braze (Nasdaq: BRZE), a leading customer engagement platform, has announced its acquisition of OfferFit, an AI decisioning company, for $325 million. The acquisition, expected to close by the end of July 2025, represents a significant step in Braze’s mission to enhance AI-powered personalization, customer journey optimization, and marketing automation.

OfferFit specializes in AI decisioning agents that replace traditional A/B testing with reinforcement learning, allowing brands to automate experimentation and optimize customer interactions in real time. By integrating OfferFit’s technology into its platform, Braze aims to accelerate the evolution of AI-driven engagement, enabling brands to deliver more relevant and personalized customer experiences across multiple channels.

A New Era of AI-Powered Customer Engagement

Braze has long been at the forefront of AI-driven marketing, using machine learning and automation to refine customer interactions. In September 2024, the company introduced Project Catalyst, an initiative designed to leverage AI agents for personalizing customer journeys, content, and incentives. OfferFit’s multi-agent AI system will further enhance these efforts, helping Braze create an even more intelligent and adaptive marketing platform.

“From the beginning, our real-time stream processing technology differentiated Braze’s modern approach to cross-channel customer engagement,” said Braze CEO Bill Magnuson. “Now, with OfferFit’s reinforcement learning technology, we’re taking another leap forward. AI decisioning agents will help brands automatically understand customer behavior, engage them more effectively, and strengthen relationships through intelligent optimization.”

OfferFit has already demonstrated significant success in the AI-driven personalization space. Brands using its technology have seen improved marketing performance by customizing outreach based on hundreds of unique characteristics. For example, companies have used OfferFit’s AI to optimize reactivation campaigns for inactive users or personalize emails to increase new customer signups.

Strategic Benefits and Industry Implications

With this acquisition, Braze is positioning itself as a leader in AI-powered customer engagement at a time when marketers are increasingly turning to automation and machine learning to drive results. OfferFit’s expertise will allow Braze to provide more sophisticated AI-powered tools, helping businesses move beyond manual segmentation and A/B testing to truly individualized marketing strategies.

OfferFit CEO George Khachatryan emphasized the alignment between the two companies. “Like Braze, OfferFit was built to apply advanced technology to the hardest problems that marketers face,” he said. “As a long-time technology partner of Braze, we knew our products were complementary. This acquisition will allow us to scale our AI decisioning technology more rapidly and bring even greater value to Braze’s global customer base.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Braze will acquire OfferFit in a cash and stock transaction. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to Braze, with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP providing legal counsel. OfferFit is being advised by Atlas Technology Group and Latham & Watkins LLP.

The acquisition highlights Braze’s commitment to AI innovation, reinforcing its position as a key player in the rapidly evolving marketing technology landscape. Investors and industry stakeholders will gain further insights during Braze’s Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results Conference Call. As AI continues to reshape marketing, this acquisition signals a new chapter in customer engagement, where automation, data-driven insights, and personalization take center stage.

Apollo Global to Take Barnes Group Private in $3.6 Billion Deal

Posted on by cpatches
Key Points:
– Apollo Global Management is acquiring Barnes Group in a $3.6 billion all-cash deal, providing shareholders with $47.50 per share, a 22% premium over the June 25, 2024 share price.
– The transaction is expected to close by Q1 2025, after which Barnes will be delisted from the NYSE and become a privately held company.
– Apollo plans to support Barnes in its continued innovation and long-term growth across its aerospace and industrial sectors.

Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE: B) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds managed by Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO) in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $3.6 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Barnes shareholders will receive $47.50 per share, representing a 22% premium over the company’s undisturbed closing share price on June 25, 2024.

A Strategic Move for Growth

The deal delivers immediate and certain cash value to Barnes shareholders while positioning the company to continue serving its customers in the aerospace and industrial sectors. Apollo Global Management, a global alternative asset manager with over 35 years of investment experience, is committed to helping companies like Barnes achieve long-term sustainable growth. Apollo has a proven track record of investing in leading businesses and positioning them for future success.

“This transaction will enable Barnes to continue meeting and exceeding our customers’ needs with innovative aerospace and industrial products, systems, and solutions,” a Barnes spokesperson stated.

Barnes to Be Delisted and Taken Private

Upon completion of the transaction, which is expected by the end of Q1 2025, Barnes will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and become a privately held company. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Barnes shareholders and regulatory approval.

About Barnes Group

Founded in 1857 and headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut, Barnes Group Inc. has built a reputation for pioneering excellence in advanced manufacturing processes, automation solutions, and applied technologies across various industries. Barnes Aerospace specializes in producing and servicing complex components for commercial and military turbine engines, while Barnes Industrial focuses on engineered plastics and industrial automation solutions.

About Apollo Global Management

Apollo Global Management is a high-growth, global asset manager with approximately $696 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024. Apollo’s investment strategies span a wide spectrum, from investment-grade to private equity, focusing on delivering excess returns for its clients. The company has a long history of providing capital solutions to businesses, helping them grow and achieve financial security.

Precision Motion Company Allient Acquires Design Firm Sierramotion

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Allient Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNT), a designer and manufacturer of specialty motion control products, has acquired Sierramotion Inc., a private company specializing in precision motion solutions. The deal expands Allient’s capabilities in highly-engineered motion components for robotic, medical, industrial and other applications.

California-based Sierramotion brings decades of experience designing customized electro-mechanical systems. Their expertise spans rotary, linear and arc motion applications. Sierramotion provides rapid prototyping, testing and low volume manufacturing for customers across industries like semiconductor, defense and robotics.

The acquisition aligns with Allient’s strategy of adding new technologies through M&A. Sierramotion’s engineering talent and nimble product development will aid Allient’s push into integrated motion systems. Combined with Allient’s larger scale manufacturing footprint, the deal creates opportunities to commercialize Sierramotion’s innovations.

Allient sees motion control as a high-growth market driven by automation and electrification trends. Their targeted sectors include factory automation, surgical robotics, last-mile delivery, drones and electric vehicles. Allient aims to leverage acquisitions to expand capabilities across this diverse customer base.

The addition of Sierramotion also boosts Allient’s new product development capacity, speeding time-to-market. Quick turn prototyping and close customer collaboration helps Sierramotion rapidly refine motion components. Integrating these strengths with Allient’s global manufacturing creates a competitive advantage.

Founded in 2019, Sierramotion has worked previously with Allient to co-develop motion solutions. The existing relationship and complementary capabilities make for a seamless integration of the two companies per management. Expect the deal to be immediately accretive.

Allient continues executing on a well-defined acquisition strategy aimed at shareholder value creation. The company looks for targets that expand its motion technology portfolio and bring specialized engineering talent. Disciplined capital deployment and operating excellence remain priorities for the Buffalo, NY-based firm.

Sierramotion also offers entry into growing West Coast technology hubs. The acquisition provides a footprint near potential customers across tech sectors. Overall, the deal enhances Allient’s competitive positioning within precision motion control, a key focus area for the company.

Keep an eye out for new motion control products as Allient leverages Sierramotion’s unique capabilities. The merger kicks Allient’s acquisition-driven expansion into higher gear as management vows to seize opportunities and lead innovation.