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CNOVA N.V. First Quarter 2023 Activity

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CNOVA N.V.
First quarter 2023 activity

In a still challenging market where Cnova accelerated its shift towards marketplace, GMV stands at 15% like-for-like1, improving compared to Q4 (-16%). April current trading2 shows significant improvements compared to 1Q23: Marketplace back to growth at +5% (+9pts vs. 1Q23 y-o-y evolution) and Product GMV standing at -10% (+10pts vs. 1Q23 y-o-y evolution).

In this context, Cnova accelerated the pace of the transformation towards a profitable model with Gross Margin increasing by +6pts vs. 1Q22:

  • GMV & Marketplace share: all-time highest marketplace share in Q1 at 57% (+9pts vs. 22, +21pts vs. 19)
  • Rationalization of direct sales assortment with improving profitability and cash profile, supporting the overall Gross Margin increase
  • Marketplace revenues at €45m (+2% vs. 22, +29% vs. 19), with an increase in GMV take rate standing at 16.6% (+0.9pt vs. 22, +1.6pt vs. 19)
  • Advertising services revenues reaching €17m (+9% vs. 22, x2.1 vs. 19), with an increase in GMV take rate standing at 3.5% for Q1 (+0.9pt vs. 22, +2.2pts vs. 19)
  • Record B2C Services GMV1 at €36m (+37% vs. 22, x2.6 vs. 19) driven by Travel (+38% vs. 22, x2.2 vs. 19) and Mobile activities (+36% vs. 22, x7.2 vs. 19)
  • Octopia B2B revenues reaching €5m (+42% vs. 22) with the successful launches of 2 marketplaces (Bébéboutik and an international retailer) and outperformed revenues on Fulfilment-as-a-Service, with an increase in shipped parcels (+38% vs. 22)
  • C-Logistics B2B revenues at €2m (x6 vs. 22), with its third party-logistic solution successfully launched for a European sportswear company

Q1 monthly performance and current trading confirming the acceleration of profitable growth drivers with sequential improvement of growth in Q1 and April current trading:

  • Product GMV: -23% in Jan., -20% in Feb., -16% in March, -10% in April to date2
  • Marketplace GMV: -9% in Jan., -5% in Feb., -2% in March, +5% in April to date2

Efficiency plan to swiftly recalibrate SG&A & CAPEX level by end 2023 is on track to reach the July 2022 guidance of +75m savings on a full-year basis by the end of the year, leading to significant and continuous improvement of profitability and operational cash in the 1st quarter.

Over Q1, the Transformation Plan has been reinforced with a dedicated steering team and specific projects aiming at accelerating the pace of the plan with a 15m additional savings objective on a full-year basis, despite inflation headwinds.

Continuous development of Cnova’s ESG policy:

  • “More sustainable products” SKUs: 15.2% of Cdiscount’s Product GMV (+3.8pts vs. 22)
    • C-Logistics greenhouse gas emissions: -19.2% on the 22 vs. 21 reporting period
    • Gender parity: increase in Cnova’s gender equality index by +0.2pts vs. 21

 

AMSTERDAM – April 26, 2023, 18:00 CET Cnova N.V. (Euronext Paris: CNV; ISIN: NL0010949392) (“Cnova”) today announced its first quarter 2023 activity.

 Thomas Métivier, Cnova’s CEO, commented:

“In the 1st quarter of 2023, Cnova has accelerated the pace of its transformation, on all its strategic pillars: marketplace, advertising services and B2B development with the commercial success of Octopia and C-Logistic’s solutions.

The relevance of Cnova’s platform model is confirmed by an all-time high marketplace share and record high quarter for marketplace revenues, advertising services and B2B, thanks to the strength of the technological platform, the efficiency of our artificial intelligence algorithms and our network of 15,000 sellers and suppliers.

All those actions, combined with the efficiency plan and strong efforts to improve direct sales margins, have already delivered significant impact on profitability and free cash flow.

The transformation continues to accelerate with improving trends since the beginning of April.”

First Quarter 2023 Key Figures 

Financial performance
(€ millions, GMV figures incl. VAT)

 

  1Q23

 

1Q222

 

  Change vs. 22
    Reported L-f-L3
Total GMV   712.4 909.2   (21.6)%

 

(15.0)%
Ecommerce platform   692.6 883.0   (21.6)% (14.7)%
o/w Direct sales   251.6 372.8   (32.5)%
o/w Marketplace   328.9 341.5   (3.7)%
Marketplace share     56.7% 47.8%   +8.9pts
o/w B2C Services   36.2 73.2   (50.5)% +37.2%
o/w Other Revenues   75.8 95.5   (20.6)% +5.8%
B2B activities   19.8 26.1   (24.2)%
o/w Octopia B2B revenues   5.4 3.8   +42.4%
o/w Octopia Retail & Others   12.5 21.9   (42.9)%
o/w C-Logistics   2.0 0.4   x5.5
Total Net sales   323.5 446.6   (27.6)%                 (24.2)%

First Quarter 2023 Highlights 

GMV 1Q23
Total like-for-like2 growth -15.0%
Marketplace growth -3.7%
Travel growth +37.6%
Octopia B2B revenue growth +42.4%

GMV posted a -15.0% like-for-like decrease in the 1st quarter 2023, confirming Cnova’s strategic choice to accelerate its platform revenues with the development of its marketplace, advertising services and B2B businesses with Octopia and C-Logistics. This year-on-year change was driven by:

  • Direct Sales contributing -13.3pts (-32.5% y-o-y), as a result of the on-going voluntary strategic shift to marketplace, mostly for low contribution margin non-technical goods, but preserving and still benefiting from strengthened relationships with top international brands
  • Marketplace contributing -1.4pt (-3.7% y-o-y) while delivering +9pts in GMV share. Cnova raised quality standards through better delivery services with 50.3% free express delivery share in the 1st quarter
  • B2C Services contributing +1.1pt (+37.2% y-o-y), among which Travel alone brought +0.9pt to Cnova growth (+37.6% y-o-y)
    • Octopia B2B revenues contributing positively to growth (+42% y-o-y) driven by Merchant-as-a-Service and Marketplace-as-a-Service revenue growth (x2 vs. 22), with the successful launches of 2 marketplaces (Bébéboutik and an international retailer) and accelerating Fulfilment-as-a-Service revenues with an increase in shipped parcels (+38% vs. 22)
    • Octopia retail GMV contributed negatively for -1.0pt (-43% y-o-y) with Products-as-a-Service offer now focused on profitability as part of the transformation plan to drive profitable retail growth
Marketplace 1Q23 Change vs. 1Q22
Marketplace product GMV share 56.7% +8.9pts
Marketplace Fulfilment + Express sellers GMV share 50.3% +0.2pt
Marketplace revenues €45.5m +1.9%
Advertising services Product GMV take rate4 3.5% +0.9pt

Marketplace posting a 29pts y-o-y growth differential against first party sales, decreasing overall by -3.7%. Strong and regular customer satisfaction measured by the NPS at 55 (+11pts vs. 19 and steady vs. 22) led to a fast-increasing marketplace GMV share this quarter up to 56.7% (+8.9pts vs. last year). As part of this strategy, Fulfilment by Cdiscount and Express seller program continued to be very dynamic representing 50.3% of marketplace GMV in the 1st quarter 2023, an increase of 0.2pt vs. last year.

Clients 1Q23
Active clients over the last 12 months 8.1
CDAV GMV share 38.5%

The loyalty program Cdiscount à Volonté (CDAV) represented 38.5% of total GMV in the 1st quarter 2023. 

Net Sales 1Q23
Total like-for-like2 growth -24.2%

  

Net Sales5 amounted to €323m (-24.2% like-for-like decrease vs. 22). This decrease is primarily driven by the voluntary mix improvement towards marketplace especially for non-technical goods categories with negative contribution margin.

  
Business Highlights

A record high marketplace GMV share with accelerated positive trends compared to pre-pandemic level:

  • Marketplace reached all-time highest marketplace share in Q1 at 57% for the 1st quarter 2023 (+9pts vs. 22, +21pts vs. 19), mainly driven by home categories and new strategic partnerships, confirming the mix evolution towards more marketplace revenues. During the 1st quarter 2023, marketplace GMV was nearly stable (-4% vs. 22), in a context of strong inflation headwinds and macro-economic uncertainties
  • New marketplace strategic partnerships were formed, including with a childcare specialist and a leading company specialized in consumer goods
  • A new dedicated team of 20 collaborators was assembled to accelerate the recruitment and sales of the new Top sellers of the French, European and other international markets

Cnova continues the rationalization of its direct sales assortment with improving profitability and cash profile, supporting the overall Gross Margin increase.

This resilient performance for both direct sales and marketplace has been supported by disruptive offers launched this quarter, such as the new payment installment solution provided by Floa Bank for Apple products (including the possibility to trade an old device), and a strong and increasing customer satisfaction measured by the NPS at 55 (+11pts vs. 19, steady vs. 22).

Expansion of marketplace SKUs eligible to express delivery is a key driver of growth and customer satisfaction. It is also determinant to support the product mix re-orientation towards the marketplace:

  • Cdiscount Express Seller, launched in 2019 for sellers able to offer express delivery to CDAV customers, reached a 15.4% marketplace GMV share for the 1st quarter 2023 (+4.1pts vs. 22)
  • Fulfilment by Cdiscount marketplace GMV share stands at 34.9% for the 1st quarter 2023. A consequent effort is made to provide always more quality by recruiting top sellers with now a wider assortment than traditional retail sales

B2C Services showed a record performance:

  • B2C Services GMV, excluding Energy, amounted to €36m in the 1st quarter 2023, reaching again a solid growth (+37% vs. 22, x2.6 vs. 19)
  • Cdiscount Voyages (travel) experienced a significant acceleration with a GMV growth of +38% vs. 22 (x2.2 vs. 19)
  • Cdiscount Mobile (cell phone plan) activity performed very well during the 1st quarter 2023 with a GMV growth of +36% vs. 22 (x7.2 vs. 19) and a strong increase in the subscriber base

 Dynamic Advertising Services driven by Retail Media dynamics:

  • Advertising services revenues reached €17m for Q1 (+9% vs. 22), with growing GMV take rate standing at 3.5% (+0.9pt vs. 22)
    • Advertising services growth is mainly supported by Retail Media, which accounts for €13m of revenues for Q1 (+19% vs. 22) and allows both sellers and suppliers to reinforce their visibility and increase their sales
    • Growth is also driven by a dynamic offer expansion, with the creation of new formats, such as the launch of “premium” shops for sellers (12 signed sellers)

Octopia’s B2B revenues know a strong commercial dynamic, driven by its turnkey marketplace solution for EMEA retailers and e-merchants:

  • Successful launches of 2 marketplaces (Bébéboutik and an international retailer)
  • Outperformed revenues on Fulfilment-as-a-Service, with an increase in shipped parcels (+38% vs. 22) and the development of the activity in Spain
  • Acceleration of the selling volume on its sales channels (x21 GMV y-o-y) and acceleration of the number of sellers deployed
  • Successful launch of the drop-shipping offer for sellers, with 38 active sellers at end of the quarter on Products-as-a-Service

C-Logistics is developing its B2B activities through the successful launch of its third party-logistic solution for a European sportswear company, a service quality above customers’ expectations and knows a strong ramp-up with an increase in the number of shipped parcels for external clients (x3 vs. 22), representing an increase of 2.2pts in C-Logistics total number of shipped parcels. New strategic transportation flows have been implemented, enabling products delivery in Europe, with Chronopost for Express Delivery and BPost for Standard Delivery.
C-Logistics is also optimizing its costs and adapting its structure with the rationalization of transportation offers and the increase in warehouses productivity.
C-Logistics ESG approach has been pursued with significant efforts to decrease its energy consumption (-21% vs. 22).

Environmental, social and societal stakes such as human capital, climate, business ethics and societal commitment are at the heart of Cnova’s B2B and B2C strategic development:

  • Cnova is committed to promoting a more responsible consumption through its direct sales and marketplace product offer. Actions carried out by Cdiscount and Octopia aiming to develop “more sustainable products” (e.g., increasing the visibility of these products and guaranteeing affordable prices) enable a continuous acceleration of this offer. “More sustainable products” account for 15.2% of Cdiscount’s Product GMV at 1Q (+3.8pts vs. 22)
  • Cnova is also taking action to reduce the impact of its operations:
    • Thanks to actions undertaken with carriers, greenhouse gas emissions related to delivery of products sold by Cdiscount and shipped by C-Logistics have decreased by -19.2% on the 22 vs. 21 reporting period
    • Cdiscount and C-Logistics have joined the study group dedicated to the writing of an AFNOR SPEC “Ecommerce: information to consumers on the environmental impact of their delivery choice”, aiming to define a reference framework for environmental display when the consumer chooses its delivery method on Cdiscount’s website
    • Cnova’s electricity and gas consumption has decreased by -25% in 22 vs. 19 (-15.9% vs. 21), overperforming objectives announced by Cnova in early Q4 as an answer to the national mobilization initiated by the government
  • As a trustworthy partner, Cnova is committed to protect its clients. Cdiscount, which had already signed the Product Safety Pledge in 2020, has recommitted to consumer protection and signed the new version of the Product Safety Pledge at the European Consumer Summit organized by the European Commission
  • Cnova pursues its social and societal commitment in favor of gender parity. Thanks to its Human Resources policy, Cnova’s consolidated gender equality index has increased by +0.2pt vs. 21

***

About Cnova N.V.

Cnova N.V., the French ecommerce leader, serves 8.1 million active customers via its state-of-the-art website, Cdiscount. Cnova N.V.’s product offering provides its B2C clients with a wide variety of very competitively priced goods, fast and customer-convenient delivery options, practical and innovative payment solutions as well as travel, entertainment and domestic energy services. Cnova N.V. also serves B2B clients internationally through Octopia (Marketplace-as-a-Service solutions), Cdiscount Advertising (advertising services for sellers and brands) and C-logistics (end-to-end logistic ecommerce solution). Cnova N.V. is part of Groupe Casino, a global diversified retailer. Cnova N.V.’s news releases are available at www.cnova.com. Information available on, or accessible through, the sites referenced above is not part of this press release.

This press release contains regulated information (gereglementeerde informatie) within the meaning of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht) which must be made publicly available pursuant to Dutch and French law. This press release is intended for information purposes only.

***


1 Like-for-like figures exclude cross-canal sales and Cdiscount Energy GMV for 1Q22; 2 as of April 25th, 2023
2 2022 figures have been restated to take into account CChezVous disposal (discontinued operations)
3 Like-for-like figures exclude cross-canal sales and Cdiscount Energy GMV for Q122
4 Calculated as advertising services revenues divided by total product GMV excluding VAT (Marketplace GMV excl. VAT + Direct sales GMV excl. VAT)
5 Like-for-like figures exclude cross-canal sales and Cdiscount Energy GMV for Q122

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US Air Force Awards ThroughPut.ai Direct-to-Phase-II Contract for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky Mission Design Series to Accelerate Aircraft Readiness

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Leveraging Data to Drive Maintenance-first actions that improve overall supply chain throughput across the DAF.
NEW YORK, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ThroughPut.ai, the Supply Chain Decision Intelligence Pioneer, announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a (SBIR Direct-to-Phase II contract) in the amount of $1,248,627.00 focused on “AI-Powered Proactive Supply Chain Capabilities” to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on April 17th, 2024, ThroughPut.ai will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

“ThroughPut.ai looks forward to supporting efforts to accelerate inventory flow across the United States Air Force,” said Ali Raza, CEO & Founder of ThroughPut.ai. “By driving inventory/materiel management changes at the maintenance endpoint first, supply chain improvements can then be amplified across the greater industrial base to create aircraft capacity.”
“The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.”
About (ThroughPut.ai)
ThroughPut.ai is a Silicon Valley-based supply chain optimization & predictive replenishment company. The company’s software AI platform has the ability to identify location-, product-, and customer-based demand changes sooner in order to adjust order frequencies, vendor sources, and parts buffer levels at a global and local scale. ThroughPut’s platform was designed by Fortune 500 & technology executives with real-world experience managing demand & supply chain disruptions and war-zone logistics across the Middle East.
About AFRLThe Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERXAs the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,100 new contracts worth more than $4 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com. 
Company Press Contact:Ali RazaCEO/[email protected] 

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Data Center Investments Soar: 200% Rise Since 2016 and Projected 89% Increase by 2028

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USA News Group CommentaryIssued on behalf of Avant Technologies Inc.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Since 2016, investment in data centre infrastructure has risen 200%, with a further 89% increase expected by 2028 as more opportunities emerge with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). According to Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.’s CEO Christian Ulbrich, data centers are “the hottest asset class at the moment.” Analysts at Technavio are projecting the global data center market to record an additional US$329.82 billion in growth at a CAGR of 12.73% through 2027. Capitalizing on the opportunity are several players recently announcing developments regarding their involvement in the data centers sector, including

Avant Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Applied Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: APLD), Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR), and Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX).
As an early pioneer in generative AI, Avant Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI) continues to enhance its flagship asset, Avant AITM, a sophisticated machine and deep learning AI system designed for versatility and customization across various industries and applications. Recently, Avant announced plans to equip its AI-managed data center, currently in development, with High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems. According to IBM, HPC technology utilizes clusters of powerful processors working in parallel to process massive multi-dimensional data sets and solve complex problems at exceptionally high speeds.
“The rise of AI is revolutionizing industries, and Avant Technologies is committed to being at the forefront of this transformation,” said William Hisey, CEO of Avant. “By building an AI-managed data center with HPC systems, we will gain the computational power and infrastructure required to train and deploy sophisticated AI models, which will ultimately provide even greater value to our customers.”
The new data center will leverage AI-driven management technology to optimize resource allocation and enhance efficiency in all aspects of data center operations. Avant will meticulously design its HPC infrastructure to meet the demands of AI workloads, selecting high-performance CPUs and GPUs (or TPUs) specifically suited for deep learning tasks. This cutting-edge facility will enable Avant to accelerate AI advancements, delivering innovative solutions to clients by improving data center efficiency and empowering them with exceptional AI capabilities.
Additionally, Avant will implement a high-speed network to ensure efficient data transfer and select a scalable storage solution to manage the large datasets necessary for training and utilizing AI models. The HPC systems will prioritize security, incorporating robust measures to protect sensitive data and create a secure environment for AI deployment. Furthermore, the data center will integrate energy-efficient technologies and sustainable design practices, reflecting Avant’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
Avant Technologies also recently announced plans to implement AI-empowered Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) across its data center operations. Additionally, the company has expanded its AvantAI™ platform to include intelligent, proactive monitoring and management for data centers.
Over the past few weeks Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has collectively committed to investing $20 billion into new data centers for its subsidiary Amazon Web Services (AWS). The first to be announced was an $11-billion data center to be built in Indiana, with another $9 billion set to accelerate cloud-infrastructure in Singapore. The moves fall in line with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s projection that 85% of IT spending will remain on premises, in the race for Gen AI supremacy.
Amazon also recently announced an extension on its partnership between AWS and CrowdStrike to unify cybersecurity protection on its CrowdStrike Falcon platform. As per the agreement, Amazon is replacing a variety of cloud point products with Falcon Cloud Security, is using Falcon Next-Gen SIEM to secure big data logging and is deploying Identity Threat Detection and Response to prevent identity-based attacks.
“CrowdStrike and AWS have a deep history of working together to secure the most innovative companies in the world,” said CJ Moses, Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President of Security Engineering at Amazon. “Amazon uses CrowdStrike to provide visibility, detection, and response across our businesses in order to protect the cloud, infrastructure, and services for our customers. This is part of our shared mission to help all organizations build, operate, and secure their business.”
In a move to shore-up its market position as a designer, builder, and operator of next-generation digital infrastructure designed for High-Performance Computing (“HPC”) applications, Applied Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: APLD) recently announced the appointment of industry veteran Todd Gale as its new Chief Development Officer. The announcement came just one month after the company announced it had issued a $50 million unsecured convertible debenture to advance its HPC Data Center Project in Ellendale, North Dakota.
“We intend to use the net proceeds from the private financing, supplemented by the proceeds from our announced sale of the Garden City facility, to finance substantial advancements in our construction phase of the HPC data center in Ellendale, North Dakota,” said David Rench, CFO of Applied Digital. “Concurrently, we continue negotiating our project-level financing to ensure timely project completion and fulfillment of our contractual obligations.”
Applied Digital intends to utilize chipmaking giant NVIDIA’s new Blackwell platform into its cloud offerings. The company’s next-generation data center campuses are specifically designed to host HPC/AI applications, offering more cost-effective and efficient alternatives to traditional data centers.
In Japan, Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR) recently announced the expansion of its NRT Campus, by commencing construction of its third data center to support AI. Upon completion of the site in late 2025, the campus’s capacity will rise to 104MW, with the intention of meeting rising demand for next-generation infrastructure, and seamless access to Japan’s connected data communities.
“Japan’s rapidly increasing demand for AI deployments creates the need for scalable, flexible, and highly connected AI-ready data centers in the Tokyo metropolitan area,” said Serene Nah, Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific, Digital Realty. “We believe NRT14’s next-generation data center infrastructure and Digital Realty’s connected global open data center platform provide the foundational pillars our customers need to drive innovation in the coming years.”
Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX), another digital infrastructure company, has recently launched a $600 million joint venture with PGIM Real Estate to develop and operate the first xScale data center in the US, situated in California’s Silicon Valley. This follows their successful collaboration on the first xScale data center in Australia in 2022, which was part of a similar $575 million joint venture announced in 2021.
Under the terms of the new agreement, PGIM Real Estate will hold an 80% equity interest in the joint venture, while Equinix will retain a 20% equity stake. xScale data centers by Equinix enable hyperscale companies to expand their core deployments within Equinix’s IBX data centers, facilitating growth in over 70 global metros through a platform that supports direct interconnections with more than 10,000 customers.
This joint venture complements Equinix’s existing hyperscale collaborations in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas, significantly enhancing the global xScale data center portfolio. Once completed, this global expansion is set to exceed $8 billion, encompassing more than 35 facilities and providing over 725 megawatts of power capacity.
Source: https://usanewsgroup.com/2023/10/26/unlocking-the-trillion-dollar-ai-market-what-investors-need-to-know/ 
CONTACT:USA NEWS [email protected](604) 265-2873
DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. (“MIQ”). MIQ has been paid a fee for Avant Technologies Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares Avant Technologies Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Avant Technologies Inc. which were purchased as a part of a private placement. MIQ reserves the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Avant Technologies Inc. at any time thereafter without any further notice. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; this is a paid advertisement, and we own shares of the mentioned company that we will sell, and we also reserve the right to buy shares of the company in the open market, or through further private placements and/or investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

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Lucinity Wins the Microsoft Partner Awards for 2024 for Partner of the Year – Iceland and Sustainability and Social Impact

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REYKJAVÍK, Iceland, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Lucinity, a leading AI company for financial crime prevention, won two awards at the Microsoft Partner Awards for 2024, including Partner of the Year – Iceland and Sustainability and Social Impact, highlighting Lucinity’s innovations and contribution to positive societal change. 

“Congratulations to Lucinity for being recognized as the Partner of the Year – Iceland 2024! Lucinity is leading digital transformation and delivering innovative products in their domain,” says Microsoft’s leadership.
“For the past year, they have played a key role with their offerings, skilled resources, and their ability to drive change and innovative solutions both locally in Iceland and across the globe. Lucinity has had significant social impact and growth while supporting our joint customers in their AI-transformation journeys.”
In June 2023, Lucinity launched the world’s first copilot for FinCrime prevention powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI called Luci. Luci stands out in the financial services industry with specialized skills for FinCrime prevention such as adverse media checks, case analysis, and SAR writing. 
Built on the robust and scalable Microsoft Azure platform, Lucinity offers customers a trusted SaaS product. Additionally, Lucinity’s presence on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace allows companies to leverage their Microsoft Azure credits to access the platform. 
The seamless integration with Microsoft’s Azure stack has enabled Lucinity to implement advanced AI capabilities, fostering rapid innovation and enabling banks and fintech companies to utilize AI securely and audibly. Furthermore, Luci significantly reduces investigation times from 2.5 hours to just 25 minutes, saving Tier 1 banks an estimated $25 million annually.
Guðmundur Kristjánsson (GK), Lucinity’s Founder and CEO comments, “These awards are a testament to the strength and reliability of our solutions, made possible by our strategic partnership with Microsoft. Utilizing Microsoft Azure, we have been able to drive rapid innovation and create a robust, scalable platform that meets the rigorous requirements of compliance teams.” 
On the Sustainability and Social Impact Partner Award, Microsoft says, “Lucinity, with their innovative AI solutions, has really tried to combat this huge global challenge. They use ‘Human AI’ to enhance financial crime prevention, combining AI with human expertise for efficient, user-friendly solutions. Additionally, Lucinity has developed a tool called Luci, an AI-powered copilot that helps transform financial crime prevention from a process that took hours to one that takes minutes.”
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