Technology
Avantor® Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results
Published
2 years agoon
By
Net sales of $1.70 billion, decrease of 2.4%; organic decline of 2.0%Net income of $93 million; Adjusted EBITDA of $306 millionDiluted GAAP EPS of $0.14; adjusted EPS of $0.25Operating cash flow of $281 million; free cash flow of $235 million
RADNOR, Pa., July 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Avantor, Inc. (NYSE: AVTR), a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and advanced technology industries, today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024.
“Our teams delivered another solid quarter with sequential improvements to all key financial metrics. Improved mix from increased bioprocessing revenue together with the accelerated impact of our cost transformation initiative drove more than 100 basis points of sequential Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion, while disciplined working capital management led to free cash flow conversion above 100%,” said Michael Stubblefield, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“We are reaffirming our fiscal year 2024 guidance and remain focused on executing our long-term growth strategy and delivering value to our customers and shareholders,” Stubblefield concluded.
Second Quarter 2024
For the three months ended June 30, 2024, net sales were $1,702.8 million, a decrease of 2.4% compared to the second quarter of 2023. Foreign currency translation had a negative impact of 0.4%, resulting in a sales decline of 2.0% on an organic basis.
Net income increased to $92.9 million from ($7.3) million in the second quarter of 2023, and adjusted net income was $168.0 million as compared to $186.4 million in the comparable prior period. Net Income margin was 5.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was $305.6 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.9%. Adjusted Operating Income was $277.2 million and Adjusted Operating Income margin was 16.3%.
Diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis was $0.14, while adjusted EPS was $0.25.
Operating cash flow was $281.1 million, while free cash flow was $235.3 million. Adjusted net leverage was 3.9x as of June 30, 2024.
Second Quarter 2024 – Segment Results
Laboratory Solutions
Net sales were $1,155.7 million, a reported decrease of 3.2%, as compared to $1,193.8 million in the second quarter of 2023. Sales declined 2.7% on an organic basis.Adjusted Operating Income was $150.9 million as compared to $179.7 million in the comparable prior period. Adjusted Operating Income margin was 13.1%.
Bioscience Production
Net sales were $547.1 million, a reported decrease of 0.5%, as compared to $550.1 million in the second quarter of 2023. Sales declined 0.3% on an organic basis.Adjusted Operating Income was $144.0 million, as compared to $154.2 million in the comparable prior period. Adjusted Operating Income margin was 26.3%.
Adjusted Operating Income is Avantor’s segment reporting profitability measure under generally accepted accounting principles and is used by management to measure and evaluate the performance of our Company’s business segments.
Conference Call
We will host a conference call to discuss our results today, July 26, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The live webcast and presentation, as well as a replay, will be available on the investor section of Avantor’s website.
About Avantor
Avantor® is a leading life science tools company and global provider of mission-critical products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries. We work side-by-side with customers at every step of the scientific journey to enable breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare, and technology. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities at more than 300,000 customer locations in 180 countries. For more information, visit avantorsciences.com and find us on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To evaluate our performance, we monitor a number of key indicators. As appropriate, we supplement our results of operations determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) with certain non-GAAP financial measures that we believe are useful to investors, creditors and others in assessing our performance. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported GAAP results because they may include or exclude certain items as compared to similar GAAP-based measures, and such measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Rather, these measures should be considered as an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that provide a more complete understanding of our business. We strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements included in reports filed with the SEC in their entirety and not rely solely on any one single financial measure or communication.
The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are sales growth (decline) on an organic basis, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, adjusted net leverage, free cash flow, and free cash flow conversion.
Sales growth (decline) on an organic basis eliminates from our reported net sales growth (decline) the impacts of revenues from any acquired businesses that have been owned for less than one year and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe that this measure is useful to investors as a way to measure and evaluate our underlying commercial operating performance consistently across our segments and the periods presented. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted Operating Income is our net income or loss adjusted for the following items: (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, (iii) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (iv) losses on extinguishment of debt, (v) charges associated with the impairment of certain assets, (vi) and certain other adjustments. Adjusted Operating Income margin is Adjusted Operating Income divided by net sales as determined under GAAP. We believe that these measures are useful to investors as ways to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. These measures are used by our management for the same reason. Additionally, Adjusted Operating Income is our segment reporting profitability measure under GAAP.Adjusted EBITDA is our net income or loss adjusted for the following items: (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, (iii) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (iv) depreciation expense, (v) losses on extinguishment of debt, (vi) charges associated with the impairment of certain assets, (vii) and certain other adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales as determined under GAAP. We believe that these measures are useful to investors as ways to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. These measures are used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted net income is our net income or loss first adjusted for the following items: (i) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (ii) losses on extinguishment of debt, (iii) charges associated with the impairment of certain assets, (iv) and certain other adjustments. From this amount, we then add or subtract an assumed incremental income tax impact on the above-noted pre-tax adjustments, using estimated tax rates, to arrive at Adjusted Net Income. We believe that this measure is useful to investors as a way to analyze the business consistently across the periods presented. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted EPS is our adjusted net income divided by our diluted GAAP weighted average share count adjusted for anti-dilutive instruments. We believe that this measure is useful to investors as an additional way to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted net leverage is equal to our gross debt, reduced by our cash and cash equivalents, divided by our trailing 12-month Adjusted EBITDA (excluding stock-based compensation expense and including the expected run-rate effect of cost synergies and the incremental results of completed acquisitions as if those acquisitions had occurred on the first day of the trailing 12-month period). We believe that this measure is useful to investors as a way to evaluate and measure the Company’s capital allocation strategies and the underlying trends in the business. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Free cash flow is equal to our cash flow from operating activities, plus acquisition-related costs paid in the period, less capital expenditures. Free cash flow conversion is free cash flow divided by adjusted net income. We believe that these measures are useful to investors as they provide a view on the Company’s ability to generate cash for use in financing or investment activities. These measures are used by our management for the same reason.
Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables accompanying this release.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, including our cost transformation initiative, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “assumption,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “long-term,” “near-term,” “objective,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “projection,” “prospects,” “seek,” “target,” “trend,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “will,” the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning.
Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions; they are not guarantees of performance. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Although we believe that our assumptions made in connection with the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could contribute to these risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the factors described in “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC.
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. In addition, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise other than as required under the federal securities laws.
Investor Relations Contact
Christina Jones
Vice President, Investor Relations
Avantor
+1 805-617-5297
Christina.Jones@avantorsciences.com
Media Contact
Emily Collins
Vice President, External Communications
Avantor
+1 332-239-3910
Emily.Collins@avantorsciences.com
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations
(in millions, except per share data)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net sales
$ 1,702.8
$ 1,743.9
$ 3,382.6
$ 3,524.2
Cost of sales
1,121.3
1,153.9
2,230.6
2,309.4
Gross profit
581.5
590.0
1,152.0
1,214.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses
405.7
357.5
829.9
751.1
Impairment charges
—
160.8
—
160.8
Operating income
175.8
71.7
322.1
302.9
Interest expense, net
(60.9)
(73.4)
(125.2)
(147.1)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
(1.9)
(1.6)
(4.4)
(3.9)
Other income, net
1.6
2.0
2.7
2.6
Income (loss) before income taxes
114.6
(1.3)
195.2
154.5
Income tax expense
(21.7)
(6.0)
(41.9)
(40.3)
Net income (loss)
$ 92.9
$ (7.3)
153.3
114.2
Earnings (Loss) per share:
Basic
$ 0.14
$ (0.01)
$ 0.23
$ 0.17
Diluted
$ 0.14
$ (0.01)
$ 0.22
$ 0.17
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
679.4
675.3
678.7
675.0
Diluted
682.6
675.3
681.9
677.9
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets
(in millions)
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 272.6
$ 262.9
Accounts receivable, net
1,129.0
1,150.2
Inventory
795.6
828.1
Other current assets
132.0
143.7
Total current assets
2,329.2
2,384.9
Property, plant and equipment, net
753.8
737.5
Other intangible assets, net
3,582.8
3,775.3
Goodwill, net
5,659.6
5,716.7
Other assets
368.1
358.3
Total assets
$ 12,693.5
$ 12,972.7
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt
$ 258.4
$ 259.9
Accounts payable
657.4
625.9
Employee-related liabilities
146.1
133.1
Accrued interest
49.9
50.2
Other current liabilities
352.8
411.2
Total current liabilities
1,464.6
1,480.3
Debt, net of current portion
4,856.6
5,276.7
Deferred income tax liabilities
575.4
612.8
Other liabilities
361.9
350.3
Total liabilities
7,258.5
7,720.1
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock including paid-in capital
3,897.5
3,830.1
Accumulated earnings
1,644.8
1,491.5
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(107.3)
(69.0)
Total stockholders’ equity
5,435.0
5,252.6
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 12,693.5
$ 12,972.7
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows
(in millions)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)
$ 92.9
$ (7.3)
$ 153.3
$ 114.2
Reconciling adjustments:
Depreciation and amortization
102.6
102.6
202.2
203.7
Impairment charges
—
160.8
—
160.8
Stock-based compensation expense
11.1
9.2
23.8
21.9
Provision for accounts receivable and inventory
15.5
30.6
39.5
43.1
Deferred income tax benefit
(34.8)
(38.3)
(52.7)
(64.7)
Amortization of deferred financing costs
2.8
3.3
5.8
6.7
Loss on extinguishment of debt
1.9
1.6
4.4
3.9
Foreign currency remeasurement (gain) loss
(2.2)
(1.9)
3.1
(0.1)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(2.7)
60.1
—
7.9
Inventory
(3.2)
(8.8)
(14.2)
(1.7)
Accounts payable
89.5
(75.0)
45.9
(74.4)
Accrued interest
9.2
9.9
(0.3)
(0.6)
Other assets and liabilities
(2.9)
(78.4)
6.4
(34.3)
Other
1.4
(0.2)
5.5
1.3
Net cash provided by operating activities
281.1
168.2
422.7
387.7
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
(45.8)
(30.1)
(80.5)
(58.1)
Other
0.9
0.7
1.4
1.4
Net cash used in investing activities
(44.9)
(29.4)
(79.1)
(56.7)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt borrowings
(28.9)
—
12.3
—
Debt repayments
(172.7)
(190.8)
(383.0)
(460.3)
Payments of debt refinancing fees and premiums
—
(2.3)
—
(2.3)
Proceeds received from exercise of stock options
5.3
2.1
50.8
4.7
Shares repurchased to satisfy employee tax
obligations for vested stock-based awards
(0.8)
(5.2)
(7.4)
(13.3)
Net cash used in financing activities
(197.1)
(196.2)
(327.3)
(471.2)
Effect of currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(1.6)
(0.7)
(7.3)
4.1
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
37.5
(58.1)
9.0
(136.1)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
259.2
318.9
287.7
396.9
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$ 296.7
$ 260.8
$ 296.7
$ 260.8
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
(dollars in millions)
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
$
%
$
%
$
%
$
%
Net income (loss)
$ 92.9
5.5 %
$ (7.3)
(0.4) %
$ 153.3
4.5 %
$ 114.2
3.2 %
Amortization
74.9
4.4 %
78.9
4.5 %
150.2
4.4 %
157.3
4.5 %
Loss on extinguishment of debt
1.9
— %
1.6
0.1 %
4.4
0.1 %
3.9
0.1 %
Integration-related expenses1
—
— %
(0.6)
— %
—
— %
8.1
0.2 %
Restructuring and severance charges2
9.7
0.6 %
7.2
0.4 %
32.9
1.0 %
11.9
0.3 %
Transformation expenses3
16.2
1.0 %
—
— %
29.5
0.9 %
—
— %
Other4
(0.3)
— %
(0.7)
— %
(0.8)
— %
(0.8)
— %
Impairment charges5
—
— %
160.8
9.2 %
—
— %
160.8
4.6 %
Income tax benefit applicable to
pretax adjustments
(27.3)
(1.6) %
(53.5)
(3.1) %
(50.9)
(1.5) %
(73.6)
(2.1) %
Adjusted net income
168.0
9.9 %
186.4
10.7 %
318.6
9.4 %
381.8
10.8 %
Interest expense, net
60.9
3.6 %
73.4
4.2 %
125.2
3.7 %
147.1
4.2 %
Depreciation
27.7
1.5 %
23.7
1.4 %
52.0
1.6 %
46.4
1.4 %
Income tax provision applicable
to Adjusted Net income
49.0
2.9 %
59.5
3.4 %
92.8
2.7 %
113.9
3.2 %
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 305.6
17.9 %
$ 343.0
19.7 %
$ 588.6
17.4 %
$ 689.2
19.6 %
━━━━━━━━━
1.
Represents direct costs incurred with third parties and the accrual of a long-term retention incentive to integrate acquired companies. These expenses represent incremental costs and are unrelated to normal operations of our business. Integration expenses are incurred over a pre-defined integration period specific to each acquisition.
2.
Reflects the incremental expenses incurred in the period related to restructuring initiatives to increase profitability and productivity. Costs included in this caption are specific to employee severance, site-related exit costs, and contract termination costs. The expenses recognized in 2024 represent costs incurred to achieve the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative.
3.
Represents incremental expenses directly associated with the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative, primarily related to the cost of external advisors.
4.
Represents net foreign currency (gain) loss from financing activities, other stock-based compensation expense (benefit) and charges and legal costs in connection with certain litigation and other contingencies that are unrelated to our core operations and not reflective of on-going business and operating results.
5.
Related to impairment of the Ritter asset group.
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)
Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Income Margin
(dollars in millions)
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
$
%
$
%
$
%
$
%
Net income (loss)
$ 92.9
5.5 %
$ (7.3)
(0.4) %
$ 153.3
4.5 %
$ 114.2
3.2 %
Interest expense, net
60.9
3.6 %
73.4
4.2 %
125.2
3.7 %
147.1
4.2 %
Income tax expense
21.7
1.3 %
6.0
0.3 %
41.9
1.2 %
40.3
1.1 %
Loss on extinguishment of debt
1.9
— %
1.6
0.1 %
4.4
0.1 %
3.9
0.1 %
Other income, net
(1.6)
(0.1) %
(2.0)
(0.1) %
(2.7)
— %
(2.6)
— %
Operating income
175.8
10.3 %
71.7
4.1 %
322.1
9.5 %
302.9
8.6 %
Amortization
74.9
4.4 %
78.9
4.5 %
150.2
4.4 %
157.3
4.5 %
Integration-related expenses1
—
— %
(0.6)
— %
—
— %
8.1
0.2 %
Restructuring and severance charges2
9.7
0.6 %
7.2
0.4 %
32.9
1.0 %
11.9
0.3 %
Transformation expenses3
16.2
1.0 %
—
— %
29.5
0.9 %
—
— %
Other4
0.6
— %
0.9
0.1 %
0.9
— %
1.0
— %
Impairment charges5
—
— %
160.8
9.2 %
—
— %
160.8
4.6 %
Adjusted Operating Income
$ 277.2
16.3 %
$ 318.9
18.3 %
$ 535.6
15.8 %
$ 642.0
18.2 %
━━━━━━━━━
1.
Represents direct costs incurred with third parties and the accrual of a long-term retention incentive to integrate acquired companies. These expenses represent incremental costs and are unrelated to normal operations of our business. Integration expenses are incurred over a pre-defined integration period specific to each acquisition.
2.
Reflects the incremental expenses incurred in the period related to restructuring initiatives to increase profitability and productivity. Costs included in this caption are specific to employee severance, site-related exit costs, and contract termination costs. The expenses recognized in 2024 represent costs incurred to achieve the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative.
3.
Represents incremental expenses directly associated with the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative, primarily related to the cost of external advisors.
4.
Represents other stock-based compensation expense (benefit) and charges and legal costs in connection with certain litigation and other contingencies that are unrelated to our core operations and not reflective of on-going business and operating results.
5.
Related to impairment of the Ritter asset group.
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)
Earnings per share
(shares in millions)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (GAAP)
$ 0.14
$ (0.01)
$ 0.22
$ 0.17
Dilutive impact of convertible instruments
—
—
—
—
Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share (non-GAAP)
0.14
(0.01)
0.22
0.17
Amortization
0.11
0.12
0.22
0.23
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
—
0.01
0.01
Integration-related expenses
—
—
—
0.01
Restructuring and severance charges
0.02
0.01
0.05
0.02
Transformation expenses
0.02
—
0.04
—
Other
—
—
—
—
Impairment charges
—
0.24
—
0.24
Income tax benefit applicable to pretax adjustments
(0.04)
(0.08)
(0.07)
(0.12)
Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP)
$ 0.25
$ 0.28
$ 0.47
$ 0.56
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Diluted (GAAP)
682.6
675.3
681.9
677.9
Incremental shares excluded for GAAP
—
2.4
—
—
Share count for Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP)
682.6
677.7
681.9
677.9
Free cash flow
(in millions)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net cash provided by operating activities
$ 281.1
$ 168.2
$ 422.7
$ 387.7
Capital expenditures
(45.8)
(30.1)
(80.5)
(58.1)
Free cash flow (non-GAAP)
$ 235.3
$ 138.1
$ 342.2
$ 329.6
Adjusted net leverage
(dollars in millions)
June 30, 2024
Total debt, gross
$ 5,148.3
Less cash and cash equivalents
(272.6)
$ 4,875.7
Trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA
$ 1,208.5
Trailing twelve months ongoing stock-based compensation expense
42.3
$ 1,250.8
Adjusted net leverage (non-GAAP)
3.9 x
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)
Net sales by segment
(in millions)
June 30,
Reconciliation of net sales growth
(decline) to organic net sales growth
(decline)
Net sales
growth
(decline)
Foreign
currency
impact
Organic
net sales
growth
(decline)
2024
2023
Three months ended:
Laboratory Solutions
$ 1,155.7
$ 1,193.8
$ (38.1)
$ (5.4)
$ (32.7)
Bioscience Production
547.1
550.1
(3.0)
(1.3)
(1.7)
Total
$ 1,702.8
$ 1,743.9
$ (41.1)
$ (6.7)
$ (34.4)
Six months ended:
Laboratory Solutions
$ 2,312.8
$ 2,396.8
$ (84.0)
$ 3.6
$ (87.6)
Bioscience Production
1,069.8
1,127.4
(57.6)
1.7
(59.3)
Total
$ 3,382.6
$ 3,524.2
$ (141.6)
$ 5.3
$ (146.9)
Adjusted Operating Income by segment
(in millions)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Laboratory Solutions
$ 150.9
$ 179.7
$ 299.1
$ 351.9
Bioscience Production
144.0
154.2
270.9
321.7
Corporate
(17.7)
(15.0)
(34.4)
(31.6)
Total
$ 277.2
$ 318.9
$ 535.6
$ 642.0
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11:11 Systems Announces Strategic Partnership with Cato Networks to Deliver SASE Solution for Distributed Enterprises
Published
16 minutes agoon
July 21, 2026By
New Managed Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution combines SD-WAN, cloud-native networking and security capabilities with 11:11’s connectivity, cyber resilience and cloud expertise
SYDNEY, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 11:11 Systems, a leading managed infrastructure solutions provider, today announced the global availability of its 11:11 Managed Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution and a new strategic partnership with Cato Networks.
11:11 Managed SASE is a fully managed secure connectivity solution leveraging Cato Networks AI-native network security platform. This solution brings together intelligent SD-WAN, cloud-delivered security and global connectivity into a single offering. It enables organisations to simplify and secure access across branch offices, data centres, users and cloud environments, reducing complexity without sacrificing performance or control.
Built on the Cato Networks cloud-native SASE platform, 11:11 Managed SASE combines zero trust network access (ZTNA), firewall as a service (FWaaS), secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), advanced threat protection and centralised visibility into a unified managed experience. 11:11 also delivers 24x7x365 monitoring and support, incident management integration and operational accountability to help customers limit vendor sprawl, increase agility and free internal teams to focus on higher-value priorities.
The offering is backed by 11:11’s broader networking, cloud and cyber resilience capabilities. Through its global backbone, carrier-agnostic connectivity options and integrated portfolio spanning cloud, backup, disaster recovery and security services, 11:11 gives customers a practical path to modernise network and security architecture while strengthening resilience across the business.
“Enterprises are under pressure to support users, applications and locations that are more distributed than ever, while limiting complexity and improving security,” said Justin Giardina, CTO, 11:11 Systems. “Our Managed SASE solution provides customers with a unified approach to modernising networking and security, along with the visibility, support and flexibility they need to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.”
According to Karl Soderlund, global channel chief, Cato Networks, “As enterprises move beyond fragmented legacy networking and security stacks, they need a simpler way to gain visibility, context and control across hybrid work environments and reduce the operational burden on IT. Through our partnership, we can address these challenges head on and deliver end-to-end visibility and protection in a single service built for the reality of modern work.”
The joint offering is well suited for distributed enterprises, multi-site organisations, hybrid workforce initiatives, SD-WAN refreshes, security modernisation efforts and businesses with limited IT resources. 11:11 meets customers where they are by supporting existing environments, simplifying multi-vendor operations and serving as a single provider accountable for network, security, cloud and data integration.
This partnership expands 11:11’s Network as a Service portfolio and follows Forrester’s inclusion of 11:11 Systems in its report, “The Secure Access Service Edge Services Landscape, Q1 2026.”
About 11:11 Systems
11:11 Systems is a managed infrastructure solutions provider that empowers customers to modernise, protect and manage mission-critical applications and data, leveraging 11:11’s resilient cloud platform. Learn more at www.1111Systems.com and follow 11:11 on LinkedIn.
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Technology
Crowell & Moring Expands Financial Services Group with Former UBS Bank USA General Counsel Cristina Diaz
Published
16 minutes agoon
July 21, 2026By
NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Crowell & Moring has added Cristina Diaz, former executive director and general counsel of UBS Bank USA, and most recently head of legal for UBS’s U.S. Remediation Management Office, to the firm’s Financial Services Group as senior counsel in New York. Diaz brings more than two decades of in-house counsel and law firm experience in bank regulation, compliance, and risk management.
At Crowell, Diaz will counsel banks, fintechs, and digital assets companies on a broad range of bank regulatory matters, including charters and licensing, permissible activities, capital requirements, regulatory enforcement, M&A, and corporate governance. She will also counsel clients navigating the intersection of traditional banking and emerging financial services, including digital assets companies seeking to acquire or establish national banks, and banks exploring partnerships with fintechs and digital assets firms.
At UBS, Diaz advised on the firm’s most pressing regulatory matters, including most recently UBS Bank USA’s charter conversion from a Utah industrial bank to an OCC national bank and key compliance remediations. This work gave Diaz extensive experience navigating relationships with state and federal financial regulators. Earlier in her career, Diaz spent eight years at Davis Polk & Wardwell advising U.S. and foreign banks on bank regulatory matters, M&A, and capital markets transactions.
“Cristina is a highly experienced, solution-oriented attorney who brings deep knowledge in the bank regulatory space. She will be an enormous asset to the firm’s growing regulatory and transactional offerings to banks, digital assets businesses, and fintechs,” said Carlton Greene, Co-Chair of Crowell’s Financial Services Group.
“I am delighted to join Crowell & Moring and integrate my bank regulatory experience with the firm’s nationally-recognized digital assets practice. As traditional banking and emerging financial technologies continue to evolve, clients need actionable and sophisticated legal counsel. Crowell offers the collaborative platform to help institutions successfully execute their growth and compliance strategies,” said Diaz.
Diaz received her J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she was a member of the New York University Law Review, and received her B.A., summa cum laude, from New York University. She is fluent in Spanish.
About Crowell & Moring LLP
Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, and MENA. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, as well as its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.
Media Contact:
Email: prteam@crowell.com
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Technology
Quantinuum and SoftBank Corp. Publish Joint White Paper on Scaling Practical Quantum Computing Use Cases Toward the Fault-Tolerant Era
Published
16 minutes agoon
July 21, 2026By
The companies have published a joint white paper mapping commercially relevant quantum computing use cases in quantum chemistry and graph analytics to Quantinuum’s hardware roadmap.The paper provides a framework for assessing how advances in quantum hardware and algorithms, could affect when practical industrial applications become feasible.SoftBank Corp. and Quantinuum will use the roadmap to inform their exploration of future quantum AI data center services and related business models.
TOKYO and BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Quantinuum (NASDAQ: QNT) and SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”) today announced the publication of “Quantum Computing Frontiers,” a joint white paper that maps two commercially-relevant quantum computing application areas against Quantinuum’s hardware roadmap. The analysis examines how advances in quantum hardware and algorithms could affect when these applications become practical for industrial use.
The paper focuses on two representative application domains that SoftBank is actively using Quantinuum’s systems to research: quantum chemistry for new materials discovery and energy research, and topological data analysis for large-scale graph analytics, including for telecommunications fraud detection. The authors anchor their assessment of the scalability of these two application areas against Quantinuum’s published hardware roadmap, examining how projected advances in hardware capabilities and algorithms may enable the commercial readiness of future industrial applications.
Building on this use-case roadmap, the paper also examines how quantum computing, AI, and high-performance computing could be integrated into future computing infrastructure. It considers how progress across successive hardware generations could inform future quantum AI data center services and related business models, a key focus of the Quantinuum and SoftBank partnership announced last year.
“The key takeaway of this study is that organizations do not need to wait for large-scale, fault-tolerant systems to explore where quantum computing can begin creating value,” said Duncan Jones, General Manager, Applications Group at Quantinuum. “By using today’s systems to develop, benchmark and refine applications in areas such as quantum chemistry and graph analytics, enterprises can build the technical and operational readiness needed for the next era of quantum-enabled computing.”
“The question is no longer whether quantum computing may deliver value, but rather which problem classes become executable at which stage of hardware maturity,” said Ryuji Wakikawa, Senior Vice President & CTO at SoftBank Corp. “However, we believe progress in hardware must be complemented by equally strong developments in quantum algorithms and the integration of quantum systems with AI and high-performance computing.”
The white paper discusses illustrative scenarios describing how representative applications, technology maturity, and potential market opportunities may evolve over time under stated assumptions. The analysis provided in the paper is intended to provide a conceptual framework for understanding potential market evolution and does not represent financial guidance or forecasts. These analyses are intended to support discussion of future technology development and should not be interpreted as commitments regarding commercialization, infrastructure investment, products, services, or financial performance.
The full white paper is available to download on the SoftBank and Quantinuum websites.
About SoftBank Corp.
Guided by the SoftBank Group’s corporate philosophy, “Information Revolution – Happiness for everyone,” SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) operates telecommunications and IT businesses in Japan and globally. Building on its strong business foundation, SoftBank Corp. is aiming to activate the potential of AI across its businesses and drive implementation in line with its “Activate AI for Society” growth strategy. While further growing its telecom business, SoftBank is expanding its AI computing infrastructure and AI and Cloud service businesses with the aim of becoming a provider of Next-generation Social Infrastructure. To learn more, please visit https://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/
About Quantinuum
Quantinuum (NASDAQ: QNT) is a leading quantum computing company offering a full-stack platform designed to make quantum computing deployable in real-world environments. The company has commercially deployed multiple generations of quantum systems built on the well-established QCCD architecture, which it has implemented with novel designs and capabilities to achieve the industry’s highest accuracy levels based on average two-qubit gate fidelity.[1] Quantinuum has active engagements with market leaders across pharmaceuticals, material science, financial services, and government and industrial markets. The company has a global workforce of approximately 700 employees, including top scientists and researchers. Over 70% of its technology team holds PhDs or Master’s degrees. Quantinuum’s headquarters is in Broomfield, Colorado, with additional facilities across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Qatar, and Singapore.
For more information, please visit www.quantinuum.com.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. The words “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “future,” “will,” “seek,” “foreseeable,” the negative version of these words, or similar terms and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on certain assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Quantinuum to predict all such factors. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, Quantinuum does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
[1] As of December 31, 2025.
SOURCE Quantinuum
11:11 Systems Announces Strategic Partnership with Cato Networks to Deliver SASE Solution for Distributed Enterprises
Crowell & Moring Expands Financial Services Group with Former UBS Bank USA General Counsel Cristina Diaz
Quantinuum and SoftBank Corp. Publish Joint White Paper on Scaling Practical Quantum Computing Use Cases Toward the Fault-Tolerant Era
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