Twenty-five year M&A veteran retained to identify targets.
Auckland-based GPS component maker Rakon is targeting US acquisitions to gain access to top-tier America companies.
CEO Sinan Altug told shareholders yesterday there were "clear synergies" in buying a US-based business with local US manufacturing to strengthen existing customer relationships.
"An acquisition of this nature could also put Rakon in a good position to benefit from the Biden Administration's initiatives to grow US-based semiconductor supply chains," Altug wrote in a New Year message.
Rakon, which has thrived during recent global chip shortages, had retained mergers and acquisitions veteran Angus Cooper as it focused on identifying companies that could complement its existing operations.
Cooper boasts 25 years of public company experience and successfully led over 30 acquisitions, with a track record of delivering value to shareholders, Altug said.
"Our M&A efforts focus on identifying companies that would complement our existing operations, provide access to new markets and technologies, and ultimately drive long-term value for our shareholders, he said.
Meanwhile, construction at Rakon India’s new manufacturing facility in Bengaluru (Bangalore) is nearing completion. Clean room facilities were finished and the process of transferring manufacturing operations from the existing site had begun.
Other key growth projects were tracking well, Altug said.
These included a new nanotechnology production process supporting five products and generating strong customer interest; a suite of products for low earth orbit satellites which were establishing Rakon in that ecosystem; and a new semiconductor chip.
Altug said Rakon would also shortly move its UK semiconductor chip development team to new offices in Cambridge, to tap into a "vibrant" talent pool in the heart of the UK's semiconductor design ecosystem.
Source: https://www.reseller.co.nz/
Volpara Health Technologies (“Volpara,” “the Group,” or “the Company”; ASX:VHT), a global leader in software for the early detection of breast cancer, today announced that it has signed five-year contracts with five of North America’s leading healthcare providers, representing over US$7.8M in TCV (NZ$12.3M1). The new volume-based contracts include the full breadth of Volpara software: Deal Customer Description Contracted software TCV Bon Secours Mercy Health The United States’ fifth largest Catholic health care ministry with 48 hospitals is one of the nation’s 20 largest health care systems Volpara Risk Pathways™ US$1.55M Adventist Health A faith-inspired, non-profit integrated health system serving more than 80 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii Volpara Patient Hub™ Volpara Risk Pathways™ Volpara Scorecard™ US$1.69M Northside Hospital One of Georgia’s leading health care systems serving 5 million patient annually. Volpara Patient Hub™ Volpara Risk Pathways™ Volpara Scorecard™ US$1.93M Duly Health and Care The largest independent, multi-specialty physiciandirected medical group in the Midwest Volpara Analytics™ Volpara Risk Pathways™ Volpara Scorecard™ US$1.45M Onsite Women’s Health An innovator in the delivery of breast health services through a collaborative care model partnering with OB/GYN and primary care practices nationwide Volpara Analytics™ Volpara Scorecard™ US$1.19M The company also announces that Centura Health, a 19-hospital health system serving patients across Colorado and western Kansas, has renewed for an additional five-years. The contract is a further US$887K (NZ$1.4M1) in TCV. Volpara Group CEO Teri Thomas said: “Volpara is delighted to partner with such large and wellrespected organisations to save even more families from cancer. The growing demand for Volpara’s breast software, which brings together cancer risk assessment, density scoring, image quality optimization, and patient tracking and reporting, reflects an industry transformation to more datadriven, personalized, high-quality care.” Thomas adds: “These new contracts are also representative of the “elephant” commercial opportunities Volpara is prioritizing to drive recurring revenue growth. The upgrades and renewals reflect the success providers rely on Volpara to deliver.” Installation is expected to occur within the next six to twelve months. All contracts are expected to contribute to revenue growth from FY24 onwards and all contracts are for an initial five-year subscription license term with annual payments. Each customer has the right to terminate their contract after 3 years, except for Bon Secours Mercy Health. Consideration paid upon signing for each contract is not considered material.
Source: https://www.volparahealth.com/
Parrot Analytics Partners With University Of Chicago, McGill University, And Duke University To Study Local Community Impact Of Hit Global Series
Los Angeles, CA – December 19, 2023 – Parrot Analytics has joined the University of Chicago, McGill University and Duke University to study the impact of OTT platforms and streaming services in shaping communities of taste around the globe and the dynamics between local audiences and the global accessibility of content.
The collaboration is between the University of Chicago’s departments of East Asian Languages and Civilizations (EALC) and Cinema and Media Studies, Duke University’s department of English and McGill University’s department of English. It is funded by the Franke Institute for the Humanities at the University of Chicago.
Parrot Analytics’ suite of global audience demand data measurement will help the universities’ collaboration, which aims to understand how global shows achieve cross-regional success and the role played by distribution platforms in influencing audience tastes and consumption patterns.
“Our initial case study will investigate Squid Game to better understand the dynamics of its viral success,” said Hoyt Long, professor of Japanese literature, from the University of Chicago. “We propose to do this by collecting digital trace data from three different regions (US, Japan, and South Korea) to analyze audience response patterns in each region and the kinds of discussions it triggered.”
“What kinds of shows achieve cross-regional success? What is the relation of these shows to local production and consumption markets? What can more fine-grained analysis of demand signals tell us about these larger dynamics?” said Professor Richard Jean So from McGill University. “For all of these questions, we need Parrot Analytics’ robust global audience demand data to understand how new distribution platforms are influencing taste and consumption patterns.”
"Scholars have long been interested in the cultural reception of books, film, and television, but we haven’t had access to extensive audience data across nations and languages. Approaches such as ours aim to unite quantitative methods of cultural study with qualitative understandings of the meaning and impact of television shows in different communities around the world," says Aarthi Vadde, Professor of English at Duke University.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this study to help academia understand the factors that go into making a local piece of content an international success, impacting communities and audiences across the globe”, said Alejandro Rojas, VP of Applied Analytics at Parrot Analytics. “What made Squid Game such a hit, and what can we learn about the global attention economy by carefully reconstructing one of its recent media successes? Through comparison with this larger background and other high demand shows, we hope to explain the distinctiveness of its viral success and what it says about the potential of SVOD services like Netflix to capture global media attention.”
About the University of Chicago department of Cinema and Media Studies:
Since its founding in 1995, the academic program in Cinema and Media Studies has assembled a group of leading scholars in the field and developed a world-wide reputation for original, rigorous, and influential scholarship. This scholarship spans the historical and theoretical understanding of motion pictures as a mass phenomenon whose scale, reach, and cultural implications are bound up with the historical experience of modernity and globalization.
About the University of Chicago department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations:
The Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations (EALC) is at the forefront of innovative humanistic approaches to the study of China, Japan, and Korea, past and present. Faculty specializations range from ancient palaeography to contemporary cinema and digital studies, but interdisciplinary and interregional paths of inquiry are also a core component of faculty research.
About the Duke University department of English:
The Department of English at Duke is a top-ranked program for the study of English-language literature across multiple continents and through a range of representational forms including novels, poetry, film, and new media. Expertise in the department ranges in time, from the earliest Medieval written manuscripts to the most recent 21st century developments in digital culture. Duke is widely known for its commitment to interdisciplinary research, including programs like Data+, which bring the resources of data science to bear on the study of history and culture.
About the McGill University department of English:
The McGill English Department is a globally top-ranked English department which specializes in the research and teaching of English-language literature, as well as film and other forms of culture, such as television and digital culture.
BRISBANE – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Commerce joined the first negotiating round for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in Brisbane, Australia from December 10-15, 2022. The round was hosted by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The interagency U.S. delegation was led by Sarah Ellerman, IPEF Pillar I Chief Negotiator and Assistant United States Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (Acting), and Sharon H. Yuan, Department of Commerce Counselor and Chief Negotiator. Approximately 450 officials from the United States, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam attended the negotiating round. Ahead of the meetings in Brisbane, USTR officials shared Pillar I (Trade) negotiating text with IPEF Partners for the following topics: trade facilitation, agriculture, services domestic regulation, and transparency and good regulatory practices. During these text-based discussions, IPEF Partners shared their enthusiasm for creating a high-standard agreement that can create sustainable and inclusive economic growth throughout the region. In addition to text-based discussions, USTR officials held detailed conceptual discussions for the following topics under Pillar I: environment, labor, digital economy, competition policy, and inclusivity. The United States highlighted the ambitious scope of this pillar, which is detailed in the ministerial statement that was released following the IPEF ministerial meeting in Los Angeles, California in September 2022. Before the negotiating round, the Department of Commerce shared text for Pillar II (Supply Chains) and Pillar IV (Fair Economy: Tax and Anti-Corruption), as well as a concept paper for Pillar III (Clean Economy), with IPEF Partners. Throughout the week, Department of Commerce officials led in-depth discussions of these pillars with IPEF Partners. IPEF Partners engaged in a productive exchange of ideas as they collectively seek to achieve high-standard outcomes and deliver concrete benefits to enhance the economic competitiveness of their respective economies. Following the September convening in Los Angeles, the Department of Commerce released ministerial statements for Pillars II, III, and IV. Collectively, the four pillars that comprise the framework represent a shared vision for an open, connected, prosperous, and resilient Indo-Pacific region. On the margins of the negotiating round, the U.S. delegation engaged a wide variety of stakeholders on recent updates and conversations with IPEF Partners. Staff from the Senate Finance Committee and the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means traveled to Brisbane and were briefed by USTR and Department of Commerce officials. USTR and the Department of Commerce will continue to provide regular updates and briefings to stakeholders and Congress as negotiations progress in keeping with our strong commitment to transparency in the development and implementation of the Biden-Harris Administration’s trade agenda. The United States will continue to engage with IPEF Partners and will participate in additional in-person negotiating rounds in 2023. Additional details regarding the next in-person negotiating round will be shared at a later date. For more information on IPEF, please visit www.ustr.gov/ipef.
Motion Picture Group taps Parrot Analytics to accelerate marketing innovation, analytics and audience activation in multi-year deal.
Los Angeles (December 14, 2022) - Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group has partnered with Parrot Analytics, the industry’s leading global audience analytics and content valuation company, in a multi-year marketing intelligence and innovation agreement. The partnership will enable Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group to access Parrot Analytics’ entertainment analytics and valuation product suite as the studio looks to continue its success in today’s attention economy.
“In this time of unprecedented industry transformation, we continue to be focused on innovation and successful value-creation strategies for the studio and our partners,” added Whitney Harris, SVP, Head of Data and Consumer Insights, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “The capabilities offered by Parrot Analytics will enhance our marketing analytics and enable faster and better decision making to unlock the full value of our IP.”
Parrot Analytics is the industry leader in quantifying global audience demand for content, enabling media and entertainment companies to better understand the value of content globally and respond to a rapidly evolving, digital-first audience landscape.
“Lionsgate is one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial studios in the motion picture industry and we’re thrilled to partner with such a forward-thinking team,” says Parrot Analytics CEO Wared Seger. “From content valuation to marketing analytics, the Lionsgate-Parrot Analytics teams are innovating at the cutting-edge of today’s attention economy.”
In leveraging Parrot Analytics’ global audience analytics, Lionsgate joins a rapidly growing roster of industry leaders, including such studios as Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal, and Sony Pictures; media and technology companies including Amazon, Comcast, and Google; networks such as Sky and Turner; government agencies such as Canadian Media Fund and British Film Institute; and streaming services such as HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video.
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company's film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by a 17,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.
$5 million raise to accelerate global market development and product development
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, December 05, 2022— Pictor, a global leader in immunodiagnostics, today announced a funding round to help accelerate pipeline product development projects along with market development activities within Australia/New Zealand, the US and Europe for its Human Health and Animal Health portfolios.
This follows the recent successful launch of the PictArray™ SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Test through Rako Science in New Zealand and key partners in the US. “The test better informs patients and doctors in determining whether the patient should be immunized or boosted,” said Pictor’s Chief Medical Officer Tadd Lazarus, MD.
Pictor’s multiplex technology enables two key different approaches – testing for multiple diseases or testing for different stages/multiple markers of a disease, all within a single enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test well. This can provide both greater sensitivity (accuracy), higher throughput and cost efficiencies.
Within the Human Health space, Pictor’s current focus is expanding access to its highly accurate tests for COVID-19 antibodies and accelerating the development of its test for tropical fevers. Pictor has also leveraged its multiplex platform to develop an Animal Health business and is poised to launch two tests in Q2, 2023. The PictArray™ Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) and PictArray™ Johne’s Disease tests, developed with support from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, will enable more accurate and effective dairy and beef herd management both in New Zealand and internationally.
In announcing the financing, Pictor CEO Howard Moore said: “This funding round provides a potential opportunity for investors to realize a significant increase in value through the near-term commercialization of our current pipeline, along with acceleration of future product development projects.”
Former Morrison & Co. CEO Marko Bogoievski is helping lead the current funding round following his investment and involvement in Pictor since early 2022.
About Pictor
Pictor is an in vitro diagnostics company that offers a patented multiplexed platform for highly accurate and efficient testing of complex and infectious diseases for human and animal health. PictArray™ multiplexed technology makes it possible to test multiple disease markers in a single test simultaneously — with higher sensitivity, faster throughput, and reduced turn-around time. The company’s lead product, the PictArray™ SARS-CoV-2 IgG ELISA Kit, enables more informed clinical intervention to manage the threat of COVID-19. For more information, please visit http://pictordx.com, https://www.linkedin.com/company/pictorltd and @PictorLtd on Twitter or Facebook.
About Marko Bogoievski
Known as a high-conviction investor, Marko Bogoievski served as the chief executive officer of New Zealand-based Morrison & Co before stepping-down in December 2021. His career saw him lead Morrison & Co to become a global leader in infrastructure investment, specifically focused on data, renewable energy and healthcare. In his thirteen-year tenure with Morrison & Co, Bogoievski led growth in funds under management to over US$20 billion. Source: https://pictordx.com/
The 2022 AmCham - DHL Express Success & Innovation Gala Awards event was staged tonight at the Pullman Hotel. AmCham President Jonathan Mason commented “that after three years of disruption it was good to be back holding these awards in their original format, as well as being back at the Pullman Hotel”. He went on to say that the diversity and quality of the entries and finalists shows that New Zealand companies continue to be world leaders.
New Zealand’s goods trade with the USA has been growing at around 6% per annum over the last decade and we are seeing more technology and services companies doing business with the USA.
Minister Damien O’Conner was the keynote speaker and presented the three exporter awards.
Commenting on the 2022 AmCham-DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards, Mark Foy, Managing Director, New Zealand & Pacific Islands, DHL Express, who announced the supreme winner said: “Oritain Global has established itself as a leading innovator with their focus on continuous improvement a testament to their achievements. Oritain’s successful growth into the US market is a reflection of their market research and DHL congratulates them on this award.” The judges’ comments were “that from humble beginnings in Dunedin, Oritain has become a world leader in its field. With most of its revenues being tied to the US, Oritain has done much to enhance the reputation of New Zealand as a trusted partner among many firms as well as with government agencies in the United States. The company impressed the judges with the uniqueness of their customer value proposition, the integrity of their brand and the trust it engenders, and the potential the firm has to become a household name as the industry benchmark for provenance in both the United States and more broadly”.
The winners were:
Bilateral Connections Award with the USA & Supreme winner – Oritain Global Ltd Oritain provides excellence in product traceability to protect businesses reputations and build trust in their brands. US Company of the Year – Investor of the Year to or from the USA – DCI Data Centers DCI Data Centers is a data center owner and operator that is challenging the way facilities are built and operated. Best Emerging Exporter of the Year to the USA - Market2x Group Ltd Technology platform to optimise transport across supply chains, increase efficiency and reduce both costs and carbon emissions.
High Growth Exporter of the Year to the USA – Fileinvite Ltd The simplest, most secure, document collection software for professionals. Request files, forms, data and e-signatures all through a secure document portal. Best established Exporter of the Year to the USA – Buckley Systems LtdManufacturer of precision electromagnets including magnetic systems design, engineering and integration.
Nigel Murphy from Auckland University of Technology won the 2022 AmCham Supporter of the Year award.
At the dinner four of our long standing members were presented with their 25-year membership plaques: General Electric International Inc. Meat Industry Association of New Zealand PAE (New Zealand) Ltd The University of Auckland
In addition to AmCham’s lead awards sponsor DHL-Express and our airline partner, United Airlines, the awards are also supported by ANZ Bank, Ironside McDonald Intellectual Property, Lockheed Martin NZ, media partner The Business and wine supporter Constellation Brands.
Marriott International, Inc. has announced it has signed an agreement to introduce its JW Marriott brand to New Zealand.
The property, currently known as Stamford Plaza, is slated to be fully converted into Marriott’s JW Marriott brand by mid 2024. The hotel is co-owned by Archipelago Capital and CP Group and will undergo a NZ$20m refurbishment in phases.
JW Marriott Hotel Auckland is expected to bring its signature luxury brand, inspired by the principle of mindfulness, to Auckland. The 286-room hotel will delight guests with warm and thoughtful service and encourage them to be fully present - taking mindful moments that help them revitalize mind, body and spirit, and celebrate with family and friends.
“There are now more than 100 hotels in 35 countries and territories that carry our founder’s name, JW Marriott. This latest signing is another example of Marriott’s dominant expansion in the region and a testament to our confidence in the recovery of travel, particularly the luxury market which we believe is set to thrive in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific region,” said Richard Crawford, Vice President of Hotel Development for Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific, Marriott International.
Alvarium Investments Founder and global Co-Chair, Andrew Williams agreed it was an opportune time to capitalise on current market conditions.
“We see New Zealand as a secure real estate market, buoyed by a rebounding hospitality and tourism sector, and well-positioned post the peak of the pandemic. This co-investment aligns with our long-term approach of working with teams that have a proven high-performing record to drive returns for our clients and our firm through timely investment opportunities. We are proud to introduce the iconic JW Marriott brand into the Auckland market with our partners CP Group and Archipelago Capital."
Managing Director of CP Group, Prakash Pandey, said, “we couldn’t be happier to be commencing a partnership with Marriott International. As the world’s largest hotel company, they have the proven power to deliver the very best commercial outcomes for this landmark asset. Importantly to us, Marriott are the global leaders in luxury hotels and I am confident that together we will deliver a new standard of hospitality excellence in the Auckland market.”
JW Marriott Hotel Auckland is anticipated to feature an executive lounge and lobby bar, 100-seat buffet restaurant and a smaller speciality dining venue that will extend a culinary offering to truly nourish the body. A 320m2 function space and four meeting rooms will allow guests to connect socially over meaningful gatherings. In addition, the property will include an indoor heated swimming pool, large fitness centre, spa and sauna. There are also plans to introduce the brand’s signature JW Garden, a thoughtful, multi-sensory experience, that will support the hotel’s culinary programs.
Sean Hunt, Area Vice President, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Marriott International noted, “Marriott International is committed to growing our luxury portfolio, with New Zealand being one of our top priorities. The introduction of the JW Marriott brand in New Zealand reflects our confidence in the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific luxury market, and follows the success of the JW Marriott Gold Coast, as well as the forthcoming openings of W Sydney, The Ritz Carlton Melbourne and the St Regis Gold Coast.” Source: https://www.meetingnewz.co.nz/
The American Association for the Indo-Pacific, the region’s only Indo-Pacific-focused U.S. business coalition, stated in its submission to the U.S. government that ensuring openness and cooperation with business is key to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework’s success.
The submission, which consolidates views from members of AAIP’s IPEF Taskforce, effectively argues that ensuring regulations are transparent and that governments provide open conditions for businesses of all sizes across the region must be a priority.
AAIP Interim President Jackson Cox said, “The IPEF’s 14 members can take concrete steps toward an agreement that will ensure a level playing field across the region, which will lead to greater economic integration and prosperity for all.”
Mr. Cox also said the agreement can help address emerging, next-generation issues, such as supply chains, digital innovation, and ESG, including support for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are essential to many economies in the region.
Mr. Cox welcomed the move to the negotiation phase of the IPEF process, encouraging negotiators to make concrete progress in the year ahead.
“The IPEF can build on the good work already done in other agreements, such as USMCA, CPTPP, and RCEP. It is important that governments move forward where they can on issues based on previous agreements, perhaps with some early harvest announcements next year.”
Mr. Cox also emphasized how important it will be for the U.S. government and other IPEF members to consult with businesses going forward, noting that the agreement covers a range of novel policy areas and initiatives.
“Businesses have important and unique perspectives on the IPEF and understand what will and won’t work in the new global trade environment. AAIP is committed to supporting the IPEF and greater regional economic integration over the long term.”
AAIP represents U.S.-headquartered businesses with operations across the Indo-Pacific, including technology, transport, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing firms. AAIP is the only U.S. business association with a dedicated IPEF Taskforce, which was launched in August and comprises AAIP corporate members, AAIP advisors, and many of the AmChams from IPEF economies. Read submission
Mobile Mentor, a rapidly growing technology services company and Microsoft partner, is pleased to announce their contract award with the GSA (General Services Administration). The award allows the Mobile Mentor team to provide federal, state and local government agencies with services to modernize IT operations and improve cyber security using the latest in Microsoft security technologies.
Mobile Mentor, a rapidly growing technology services company and Microsoft partner, is pleased to announce their contract award with the GSA.
GSA (General Services Administration) is the procurement and contracting vehicle for the United States Federal Government. The award allows the Mobile Mentor team to provide federal, state and local government agencies with services to modernize IT operations and improve cyber security using the latest in Microsoft security technologies.
Mobile Mentor was officially granted vendor status to the GSA as a small business in late October. In 2022, the federal contracting goal for small business reached 27.2 percent of total federal contracting funds.
“Partnering with the GSA to provide services to the federal government is a huge privilege,” said Denis O’Shea, CEO and Founder of Mobile Mentor. “It opens the door for our team of industry-leading experts to make a real impact and allows us to do our part in ensuring the security of crucial federal agencies.”
Since the founding of the company in 2004, Mobile Mentor has partnered with a variety of government agencies internationally to modernize IT operations and improve security for the mobile workforce. In 2021, Mobile Mentor won Microsoft’s international partner of the year award for modern endpoint management, positioning the company as a global leader in securing the modern hybrid workforce.
“By embracing modern security practices like Zero Trust and Passwordless Authentication, we help government agencies to achieve the optimum balance between security and user experience,” continued O’Shea. “We believe security and user experience are equally important in today’s world where security threats are everywhere, and employees are increasingly working remotely, relying on their technology every minute of the day. This intersection of security and employee experience defines the workplace of the future, and we are proud to be leading the way with our government clients and strategic partners such as Microsoft.”
About Mobile Mentor Mobile Mentor empowers people to achieve more by unlocking the full potential of their technology. With operations in the USA, Australia and New Zealand, Mobile Mentor is the remote partner for the remote workforce. Founded in 2004, Mobile Mentor has enabled millions of people to increase security and productivity with their laptops, tablets, smartphones, and apps. For more information, please visit http://www.mobile-mentor.com.
Source: https://www.prweb.com/
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