Technology
Dolby Laboratories Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Published
2 years agoon
By
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) today announced the company’s financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2024.
“Our third quarter results were in line with expectations,” said Kevin Yeaman, President and CEO, Dolby Laboratories. “This quarter we continued to build momentum for the content available in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, especially in sports, with viewers around the world enjoying the T20 Cricket World Cup, UEFA EURO 2024, Wimbledon, the NHL and NBA post seasons and right now, the Olympics in Dolby.”
Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Highlights
Total revenue was $288.8 million, compared to $298.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2023.GAAP net income was $38.4 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $16.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. On a non-GAAP basis, third quarter net income was $68.8 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, compared to $54.1 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2023.Dolby repurchased approximately 423,000 shares of its common stock and ended the quarter with approximately $72 million of stock repurchase authorization available going forward.
A complete listing of Dolby’s non-GAAP measures are described and reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measures at the end of this release.
Recent Business Highlights
Cadillac announced the 2025 OPTIQ EV with Dolby Atmos.Electric automotive manufacturer Rivian launched the second generation of its flagship vehicles, the R1S SUV and R1T pickup, that feature support for Dolby Atmos.Great Wall Motors launched its new smart cabin system, Coffee OS 3, and a new automobile model with Dolby Atmos.Transsion added a Dolby enabled low cost phone for consumers in Malaysia.Sharp Singapore launched the R8s Pro smartphone series with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.Realme launched the GT6, the first smartphone to support Dolby Vision video capture in telephoto video.The T20 Cricket World Cup, UEFA EURO 2024, Wimbledon, and the NHL and NBA post seasons were all available in Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision.Comcast announced that the 2024 Olympics coverage will be available in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.Sonos launched headphones that support Dolby Head Tracking with Dolby Atmos.VIZIO announced integration of Dolby Atmos across its entire 2024 soundbar lineup.Lenovo launched several new flagship products that support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos – including the Yoga Air, moto razr, and moto S50 Neo.Melco Resorts & Entertainment opened Studio City Cinema, which is the first Dolby Cinema in the Hong Kong Macau Region.
Dividend
Today, Dolby announced a cash dividend of $0.30 per share of Class A and Class B common stock, payable on August 27, 2024, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 19, 2024.
Stock Repurchase Program
Today, Dolby also announced that its Board of Directors has approved increasing the size of its stock repurchase program by $350 million, bringing the amount available for future repurchases of its Class A Common Stock to approximately $422 million. Stock repurchases under this program may be made through open market transactions, negotiated purchases, or otherwise, at times and in amounts that the company considers appropriate.
Financial Outlook
Dolby’s financial outlook relies, in part, on estimates of royalty-based revenue that take into consideration various factors that are subject to uncertainty, including consumer demand for electronic products. In addition, actual results could differ materially from the estimates Dolby is providing below due in part to uncertainty resulting from the macroeconomic effect of certain conditions, including supply chain constraints, international conflicts, geopolitical instability, and fluctuations in inflation and interest rates. The uncertainty resulting from these factors has greatly reduced its visibility into Dolby’s future outlook. To the extent possible, the estimates Dolby is providing for future periods reflect certain assumptions about the potential impact of certain of these items, based upon a consideration of currently available external and internal data and information. These assumptions are subject to risks and uncertainties. For more information, see “Forward-Looking Statements” in this press release for a description of certain risks that Dolby faces, and the section captioned “Risk Factors” in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, to be filed on or around the date hereof.
Dolby is providing the following estimates for its fourth quarter of fiscal 2024:
Total revenue is estimated to range from $300 million to $320 million.Licensing revenue is estimated to range from $275 million to $295 million.Gross margins are anticipated to be approximately 88%.Operating expenses are anticipated to range from $225 million to $235 million on a GAAP basis and from $190 million to $200 million on a non-GAAP basis.Effective tax rate is anticipated to be around 29% on a GAAP basis and around 23% on a non-GAAP basis.Diluted earnings per share is anticipated to range from $0.31 to $0.46 on a GAAP basis and from $0.61 to $0.76 on a non-GAAP basis.
Dolby is providing the following estimates for the full year of fiscal 2024:
Total revenue is expected to range from $1.27 billion to $1.29 billion.Gross margins are anticipated to be roughly 89%.Operating expenses are anticipated to range from $875 million to $885 million on a GAAP basis and from $735 million to $745 million on a non-GAAP basis.Dolby expects operating margins on a GAAP basis to be roughly 20% and on a non-GAAP basis to be roughly 31%.Diluted earnings per share is anticipated to range from $2.40 to $2.55 on a GAAP basis and from $3.60 to $3.75 on a non-GAAP basis.
Conference Call Information
Members of Dolby management will lead a conference call open to all interested parties to discuss third quarter fiscal 2024 financial results for Dolby Laboratories at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Access to the teleconference will be available at http://investor.dolby.com or by dialing 1-888-210-2212 (+1-646-960-0390 for international callers) and entering confirmation code 5587811.
A replay of the call will be available from 5:00 p.m. PT (8:00 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, until 8:59 p.m. PT (11:59 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 by dialing 1-800-770-2030 (+1-647-362-9199 for international callers) and entering the confirmation code 5587811. An archived version of the teleconference will also be available on the Dolby website, http://investor.dolby.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
To supplement Dolby’s financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, Dolby management uses, and Dolby provides to investors, certain non-GAAP financial measures as an additional tool to evaluate Dolby’s operating results in a manner that focuses on what Dolby’s management believes to be its ongoing business operations and performance. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are also helpful to investors in enabling comparability of operating performance between periods and among peer companies. Additionally, Dolby’s management regularly uses our supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to make operating decisions, for planning and forecasting purposes and determining bonus payouts. Specifically, Dolby excludes the following as adjustments from one or more of its non-GAAP financial measures:
Stock-based compensation expense: Stock-based compensation, unlike cash-based compensation, utilizes subjective assumptions in the methodologies used to value the various stock-based award types that Dolby grants. These assumptions may differ from those used by other companies. To facilitate more meaningful comparisons between its underlying operating results and those of other companies, Dolby excludes stock-based compensation expense.
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles: Dolby amortizes intangible assets acquired in connection with business combinations. These intangible assets consist of patents and technology, customer relationships, and other intangibles. Dolby records amortization charges relating to these intangible assets in its GAAP financial statements, and Dolby views these charges as items arising from pre-acquisition activities that are determined by the timing and valuation of its acquisitions. As these amortization charges do not directly correlate to its operations during any particular period, Dolby excludes these charges to facilitate an evaluation of its current operating performance and comparisons to its past operating results. In addition, while amortization expense of acquisition-related intangible assets is excluded from Non-GAAP Net Income, the revenue generated from those assets is not excluded.
Restructuring charges or credits: Restructuring charges are costs associated with restructuring plans and primarily relate to costs associated with exit or disposal activities, employee severance benefits, and asset impairments. Dolby excludes restructuring costs, including any adjustments to charges recorded in prior periods (which may be credits), as Dolby believes that these costs are not representative of its normal operating activities and therefore, excluding these amounts enables a more effective comparison of its past operating performance and to that of other companies.
Income tax adjustments: The income tax effects of the aforementioned non-GAAP adjustments do not directly correlate to its operating performance so Dolby believes that excluding such income tax effects provides a more meaningful view of its underlying operating results to management and investors.
Using the aforementioned adjustments, Dolby provides various non-GAAP financial measures including, but not limited to: non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating margin, and non-GAAP effective tax rate. Dolby’s management believes it is useful for itself and investors to review both GAAP and non-GAAP measures to assess the performance of Dolby’s business, including as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Dolby’s management does not itself, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, superior to, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Whenever Dolby uses non-GAAP financial measures, it provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measures. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures as detailed above and below. Investors are also encouraged to review Dolby’s GAAP financial statements as reported in its US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of this press release and on the Dolby investor relations website, http://investor.dolby.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release and in our earnings calls, including, but not limited to, expected financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and full year fiscal 2024, Dolby’s ability to expand existing business, navigate challenging periods, pursue its long-term growth opportunities, and advance its other long-term objectives are “forward-looking statements” that inherently involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, and as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those provided. The following important factors, without limitation, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: the potential impacts of economic conditions on Dolby’s business operations, financial results, and financial position (including the impact to Dolby partners and disruption of the supply chain and delays in shipments of consumer products; the level at which Dolby technologies are incorporated into products and the consumer demand for such products; delays in the development and release of new products or services that contain Dolby technologies; delays in royalty reporting or delinquent payment by partners or licensees; lengthening sales cycles; the impact to the overall cinema market including adverse impact to Dolby’s revenue recognized on box-office sales and demand for cinema products and services; and macroeconomic conditions that affect discretionary spending and access to products that contain Dolby technologies); risks associated with geopolitical issues and international conflicts; risks associated with trends in the markets in which Dolby operates, including the broadcast, mobile, consumer electronics, PC, and other markets; the loss of, or reduction in sales by, a key customer, partner, or licensee; pricing pressures; risks relating to changing trends in the way that content is distributed and consumed; risks relating to conducting business internationally, including trade restrictions and changes in diplomatic or trade relationships; risks relating to maintaining patent coverage; the timing of Dolby’s receipt of royalty reports and payments from its licensees, including recoveries; changes in tax regulations; timing of revenue recognition under licensing agreements and other contractual arrangements; Dolby’s ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with industry participants; Dolby’s ability to develop and deliver innovative products and technologies in response to new and growing markets; competitive risks; risks associated with conducting business in China and other countries that have historically limited recognition and enforcement of intellectual property and contractual rights; risks associated with the health of the motion picture and cinema industries generally, including the continued impacts of the recent strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA; Dolby’s ability to increase its revenue streams and to expand its business generally, and to continue to expand its business beyond its current technology offerings; risks associated with acquiring and successfully integrating businesses or technologies; and other risks detailed in Dolby’s SEC filings and reports, including the risks identified under the section captioned “Risk Factors” in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on or around the date hereof. Dolby may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of such statements, and while Dolby believes such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements. Except as required by law, Dolby disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
About Dolby Laboratories
Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) is based in San Francisco, California with offices around the globe. From movies and TV shows, to apps, music, sports and gaming, Dolby transforms the science of sight and sound into spectacular experiences for billions of people worldwide. Dolby partners with artists, storytellers, developers, and businesses to revolutionize entertainment and communications with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dolby Cinema, and Dolby.io.
Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dolby Cinema, Dolby.io, and the double-D symbol are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.
DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts; unaudited)
Fiscal Quarter Ended
Fiscal Year-To-Date Ended
June 28,
2024
June 30,
2023
June 28,
2024
June 30,
2023
Revenue:
Licensing
$ 267,082
$ 273,108
$ 899,089
$ 932,727
Products and services
21,736
25,262
69,826
76,455
Total revenue
288,818
298,370
968,915
1,009,182
Cost of revenue:
Cost of licensing
17,386
15,610
48,440
50,334
Cost of products and services
18,277
25,905
58,060
66,680
Total cost of revenue
35,663
41,515
106,500
117,014
Gross profit
253,155
256,855
862,415
892,168
Operating expenses:
Research and development
65,501
68,696
195,027
201,097
Sales and marketing
77,518
85,594
246,559
263,494
General and administrative
69,275
69,954
201,183
191,865
Restructuring charges
4,078
16,676
7,674
16,465
Total operating expenses
216,372
240,920
650,443
672,921
Operating income
36,783
15,935
211,972
219,247
Other income/(expense):
Interest income/(expense), net
9,439
7,202
27,223
18,806
Other income, net
3,942
620
13,550
2,967
Total other income
13,381
7,822
40,773
21,773
Income before income taxes
50,164
23,757
252,745
241,020
Provision for income taxes
(10,509)
(7,352)
(47,295)
(49,284)
Net income including noncontrolling interest
39,655
16,405
205,450
191,736
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(1,211)
(6)
(2,195)
(266)
Net income attributable to Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
$ 38,444
$ 16,399
$ 203,255
$ 191,470
Net income per share:
Basic
$ 0.40
$ 0.17
$ 2.13
$ 2.00
Diluted
$ 0.40
$ 0.17
$ 2.09
$ 1.96
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic
95,686
95,658
95,593
95,794
Diluted
96,959
97,459
97,412
97,588
DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands; unaudited)
June 28,
2024
September 29,
2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 741,636
$ 745,364
Restricted cash
36,988
72,602
Short-term investments
127,321
139,148
Accounts receivable, net
285,843
262,245
Contract assets, net
190,803
182,130
Inventories, net
34,716
35,623
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
51,348
50,692
Total current assets
1,468,655
1,487,804
Long-term investments
117,901
97,812
Property, plant, and equipment, net
477,686
481,581
Operating lease right-of-use assets
39,857
40,199
Goodwill and intangible assets, net
553,096
575,836
Deferred taxes
219,822
201,860
Other non-current assets
96,618
94,674
Total assets
$ 2,973,635
$ 2,979,766
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 16,413
$ 20,925
Accrued liabilities
280,611
351,399
Income taxes payable
12,294
4,769
Contract liabilities
32,650
31,505
Operating lease liabilities
12,568
13,628
Total current liabilities
354,536
422,226
Non-current contract liabilities
35,647
39,997
Non-current operating lease liabilities
35,619
37,020
Other non-current liabilities
100,401
108,339
Total liabilities
526,203
607,582
Stockholders’ equity:
Class A common stock
53
53
Class B common stock
41
41
Retained earnings
2,462,928
2,391,990
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(30,172)
(36,984)
Total stockholders’ equity – Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
2,432,850
2,355,100
Noncontrolling interest
14,582
17,084
Total stockholders’ equity
2,447,432
2,372,184
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 2,973,635
$ 2,979,766
DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands; unaudited)
Fiscal Year-To-Date Ended
June 28,
2024
June 30,
2023
Operating activities:
Net income including noncontrolling interest
$ 205,450
$ 191,736
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
54,199
61,428
Stock-based compensation
90,146
90,291
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets
8,745
9,829
Amortization of premium on investments
(2,586)
(179)
Benefit from (provision for) credit losses
(2,382)
(348)
Deferred income taxes
(18,009)
(21,653)
Other non-cash items affecting net income
(6,181)
(1,751)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net
(21,319)
43,546
Contract assets, net
(8,642)
(10,105)
Inventories
(4,615)
(2,425)
Operating lease right-of-use assets
(7,681)
(3,799)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
7,527
775
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(80,837)
(83,737)
Income taxes, net
15,265
14,975
Contract liabilities
(3,189)
(1,686)
Operating lease liabilities
(2,577)
(7,452)
Other non-current liabilities
(12,232)
2,621
Net cash provided by operating activities
211,082
282,066
Investing activities:
Purchases of marketable securities
(147,646)
(123,075)
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities
4,451
54,020
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities
140,839
139,423
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment
(22,628)
(22,154)
Business combinations, net of cash and restricted cash acquired
—
25,703
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(24,984)
73,917
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
39,487
37,231
Repurchase of common stock
(139,999)
(124,276)
Payment of cash dividend
(85,971)
(77,584)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest
(4,507)
(266)
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock
(37,428)
(28,619)
Equity issued in connection with business combination
722
—
Payment of deferred consideration for prior business combinations
—
(500)
Net cash used in financing activities
(227,696)
(194,014)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
2,256
8,819
Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
(39,342)
170,788
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period
817,966
628,371
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period
$ 778,624
$ 799,159
Licensing Revenue by Market
(unaudited)
The following table presents the composition of our licensing revenue for all periods presented (in thousands, except percentage amounts):
Fiscal Quarter Ended
Fiscal Year-To-Date Ended
Market
June 28, 2024
June 30, 2023
June 28, 2024
June 30, 2023
Broadcast
$ 95,430
36 %
$ 102,966
38 %
$ 313,326
35 %
$ 349,271
37 %
Mobile
63,096
24 %
50,363
18 %
187,073
21 %
207,775
22 %
CE
28,352
11 %
34,417
13 %
123,793
14 %
128,515
14 %
PC
27,606
10 %
29,489
11 %
107,223
12 %
97,122
10 %
Other
52,598
19 %
55,873
20 %
167,674
18 %
150,044
17 %
Total licensing revenue
$ 267,082
100 %
$ 273,108
100 %
$ 899,089
100 %
$ 932,727
100 %
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations
(unaudited)
The following tables present Dolby’s GAAP financial measures reconciled to the non-GAAP financial measures included in this release for the third quarter and year-to-date periods ended June 28, 2024 and June 30, 2023:
Net income:
Fiscal Quarter Ended
Fiscal Year-To-Date Ended
(in thousands)
June 28,
2024
June 30,
2023
June 28,
2024
June 30,
2023
GAAP net income attributable to Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
$ 38,444
$ 16,399
$ 203,255
$ 191,470
Stock-based compensation (1)
29,337
29,224
90,146
90,291
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles (2)
3,101
3,031
9,256
6,750
Restructuring charges
4,078
16,676
7,674
16,465
Income tax adjustments
(6,210)
(11,255)
(19,751)
(20,910)
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
$ 68,750
$ 54,075
$ 290,580
$ 284,066
(1) Stock-based compensation included in above line items:
Cost of products and services
$ 373
$ 375
$ 1,139
$ 1,309
Research and development
9,456
9,681
28,511
29,829
Sales and marketing
9,726
9,756
30,134
30,759
General and administrative
9,782
9,412
30,362
28,394
(2) Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles included in above line items:
Cost of licensing
$ 54
$ 62
$ 101
$ 185
Cost of products and services
524
866
1,582
2,599
Research and development
—
—
—
254
Sales and marketing
651
806
1,957
2,415
General and administrative
1,872
1,297
5,616
1,297
Diluted earnings per share:
Fiscal Quarter Ended
Fiscal Year-To-Date Ended
June 28,
2024
June 30,
2023
June 28,
2024
June 30,
2023
GAAP diluted earnings per share
$ 0.40
$ 0.17
$ 2.09
$ 1.96
Stock-based compensation
0.30
0.30
0.93
0.93
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
0.03
0.03
0.09
0.06
Restructuring charges
0.04
0.17
0.07
0.17
Income tax adjustments
(0.06)
(0.12)
(0.20)
(0.21)
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share
$ 0.71
$ 0.55
$ 2.98
$ 2.91
Weighted-average shares outstanding – diluted (in thousands)
96,959
97,459
97,412
97,588
The following tables present a reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP versions of the estimated financial measures for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and full year fiscal 2024 included in this release:
Operating expenses (in millions):
Q4 2024
Fiscal 2024
GAAP operating expenses (low – high end of range)
$225 – $235
$875 – $885
Stock-based compensation
(31)
(120)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
(4)
(12)
Restructuring charges
—
(8)
Non-GAAP operating expenses (low – high end of range)
$190 – $200
$735 – $745
Operating margin:
Fiscal 2024
GAAP operating margin
20% +/-
Stock-based compensation
9 %
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
1 %
Restructuring charges
1 %
Non-GAAP operating margin
31% +/-
Effective tax rate:
Q4 2024
GAAP effective tax rate
29 %
Stock-based compensation (low – high end of range)
(5%) – 1%
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles (low – high end of range)
(2%) – 0%
Non-GAAP effective tax rate
23 %
Diluted earnings per share:
Q4 2024
Fiscal 2024
Low
High
Low
High
GAAP diluted earnings per share
$ 0.31
$ 0.46
$ 2.40
$ 2.55
Stock-based compensation
0.31
0.31
1.23
1.23
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
0.03
0.03
0.13
0.13
Restructuring charges
—
—
0.08
0.08
Income tax adjustments
(0.04)
(0.04)
(0.24)
(0.24)
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share
$ 0.61
$ 0.76
$ 3.60
$ 3.75
Weighted-average shares outstanding – diluted (in thousands)
97,000
97,000
97,200
97,200
Investor Contact:
Peter Goldmacher
415-254-7415
peter.goldmacher@dolby.com
Media Contact:
media@dolby.com
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SOURCE Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
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Certification and the IFRS SDS serve different purposes. This guidance, developed with support from PwC Malaysia, provides a practical bridge between operational sustainability practices and financial disclosure expectations by helping members translate certification-related topics, metrics, and evidence to inform investor-relevant disclosures.
It sets out a four-step approach to IFRS SDS-aligned reporting, guiding RSPO Members on applicability, reporting boundaries, identification of sustainability-related risks and opportunities, and links to financial performance. It also includes seven practical examples, illustrating how the RSPO P&C requirements and implementation evidence can inform disclosures across key sustainability topics, from ethical conduct and legal compliance to environmental protection and worker health and safety.
Beyond growers, the guidance document also supports financial institutions by helping banks, insurers, and investors understand how palm oil sustainability issues, such as labour disputes and traceability gaps, can translate into financial risks, impacts, and opportunities, enabling clearer risk profiling and more informed financing decisions.
Joseph D’ Cruz, RSPO Chief Executive Officer, said: “As sustainability reporting becomes an integral pillar of financial performance, this guidance bridges certification and disclosure, providing RSPO members with a practical framework to demonstrate sustainability performance in ways that resonate with global capital markets. In line with the growing importance of sustainability disclosures in financing and investment decision-making processes, this guidance illustrates how RSPO Principles and Criteria practices can complement an organisation’s strategy and risk assessment processes.”
Andrew Chan, Partner, Sustainability Leader at PwC Malaysia, said: “This guidance responds to the broader shift towards measuring sustainability through a financial lens, with the adoption of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS S1 and IFRS S2). For RSPO growers, this creates an opportunity to demonstrate how sustainability practices contribute to business resilience as well as value creation — building investor confidence for the long term.”
Importantly, the guidance also reflects RSPO’s longer term interest in progressively strengthening linkages with sustainability disclosure frameworks. As disclosure expectations continue to evolve, RSPO intends to further explore how certification-related data metrics and assurance processes can support broader and more integrated sustainability disclosures in the future.
The Guidance Document can be downloaded here.
For more information, visit www.rspo.org
About RSPO:
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Formed in 2004, the RSPO is a multi-stakeholder non-profit organisation that unites members from across the palm oil value chain, including oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.
As a partnership for progress and positive impact, the RSPO facilitates global change to make the production and consumption of palm oil sustainable. To inspire change, we communicate the environmental and social benefits. To make progress, we catalyse collaboration. To provide assurance, we set the standards of certification.
The RSPO is registered as an international association in Zurich, Switzerland, with main offices in Malaysia and Indonesia, and offices in China, Colombia, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States.
About PwC:
At PwC, we help clients build trust and reinvent so they can turn complexity into competitive advantage. We’re a tech-forward, people-empowered network with more than 364,000 people in 136 countries and 137 territories. Across audit and assurance, tax and legal, deals and consulting, we help clients build, accelerate, and sustain momentum. Find out more at www.pwc.com
1
IFRS Foundation, ISSB Podcast February 2025
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SOURCE Roundtable On Sustainable Palm Oil
Technology
Nordic Capital announces agreement to sell ArisGlobal to Dassault Systèmes, following its transformation into a scaled and AI-enabled life sciences platform
Published
29 minutes agoon
July 23, 2026By
WALTHAM, Mass., 23 July 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nordic Capital today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell ArisGlobal, a leading provider of software to the life sciences industry, to Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8) (Paris: DSY.PA). The transaction represents a full exit for Nordic Capital and marks the successful culmination of a partnership that has transformed ArisGlobal into a scaled, cloud-native and AI-enabled platform serving more than 200 life sciences companies, CROs and government health authorities worldwide.
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, ArisGlobal develops and delivers regulatory, safety, and quality software to a global client base that includes many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and biotech organisations, as well as regulatory authorities. Its flagship LifeSphere® platform is a fully integrated, cloud-native suite that enables life sciences organisations to manage complex regulatory submissions, pharmacovigilance workflows and clinical data on a single platform, improving compliance, speed and operational efficiency. The platform also embeds advanced AI-enabled automation across core pharmacovigilance workflows, reducing manual processing and accelerating safety case management.
“Nordic Capital invested in ArisGlobal because the business had strong fundamentals, a loyal blue-chip client base and significant potential to modernise its technology and scale its commercial reach. Working closely with Aman and his team, Nordic Capital has supported the company’s transformation into a leading cloud-native platform for the life sciences industry with differentiated AI-enabled capabilities and a strengthened market position. Nordic Capital is proud of what has been achieved together with management and looks forward to seeing the company continue to grow under Dassault Systèmes ownership,” said Daniel Berglund, Partner and Head of Healthcare, Nordic Capital Advisors.
Nordic Capital first invested in ArisGlobal in 2019, partnering with the founding family and management team to pursue an ambitious development strategy. In 2021, Nordic Capital made a further investment in the company, reflecting its conviction in ArisGlobal’s growth potential and the progress achieved since the original partnership began. Throughout the ownership period, Nordic Capital worked closely with management to accelerate the SaaS transition, professionalise the go-to-market organisation, broaden the product offering and strengthen the leadership team.
The migration to a modern, cloud-native architecture created the foundation for ArisGlobal to become an early leader in the application of AI to drug safety. A key milestone was the development and launch of NavaX, ArisGlobal’s generative AI solution for safety case processing, which automates and accelerates core pharmacovigilance workflows and has been adopted by a number of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. NavaX has further differentiated ArisGlobal’s offering and marked an important step in the Company’s evolution into a broader, AI-enabled safety and regulatory software platform.
“The life sciences industry is at an inflection point as regulatory complexity is increasing, data volumes are growing and our clients need software that can keep pace. The partnership with Nordic Capital gave us the resources and the runway to build exactly that. NavaX and our expanded platform are the result of that ambition, and I am confident we are well placed for what comes next,” said Aman Wasan, CEO, ArisGlobal.
Alongside its technology transformation, ArisGlobal strengthened its management team and commercial organisation, while two strategic acquisitions broadened the Company’s platform capabilities. Today, ArisGlobal serves more than 200 enterprise customers, including half of the world’s top 50 biopharma companies, processes more than 12 million safety cases annually and is expected to generate approximately USD 175 million in revenue in 2026. As rising regulatory complexity and increasing volumes of adverse event reporting continue to drive demand for advanced life sciences software, ArisGlobal is well positioned for future growth through solutions that automate compliance workflows, reduce manual processing and enable organisations to manage regulatory risk more effectively.
The transaction brings together ArisGlobal’s leadership in AI-enabled safety and regulatory software with Dassault Systèmes’ capabilities across research, clinical development and manufacturing. Nordic Capital believes the combination represents a highly compelling strategic fit, pairing complementary capabilities to create a broader, end-to-end offering across the life sciences value chain. ArisGlobal will also benefit from Dassault Systèmes’ global scale, customer reach and investment capacity, providing a strong platform for its next phase of innovation and growth.
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
Evercore and Jefferies LLC acted as financial advisors to ArisGlobal and Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal advisor to ArisGlobal.
Media contacts:
Nordic Capital
Katarina Janerud
Communications Manager, Nordic Capital Advisors
+46 8 440 50 50
katarina.janerud@nordiccapital.com
ArisGlobal
Morgan Scott
Vice President, Marketing & Communications and Chief of Staff
mscott@arisglobal.com
About ArisGlobal
ArisGlobal is a leading provider of software to the life sciences industry. Its LifeSphere® platform delivers integrated regulatory, safety, and quality solutions to more than 200 life sciences companies, CROs and government health authorities worldwide. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, ArisGlobal combines deep domain expertise with advanced technology to help clients improve compliance, accelerate development cycles and manage regulatory complexity at global scale. For more information, visit www.arisglobal.com.
About Nordic Capital
Nordic Capital is a leading international private equity investor and subsector specialist dedicated to building stronger, more resilient businesses through transformative, long-term growth in partnership with management teams. With over 35 years of experience, Nordic Capital currently manages approximately EUR 39 billion in assets, investing in middle-market companies across Northern Europe and North America. Rooted in its Nordic heritage and values, it combines global reach with local presence through dedicated sector investment advisory teams, bringing deep expertise across its core sectors: Healthcare, Technology & Payments, Financial Services, and Services & Industrial Tech. Through active ownership, strong operational capabilities, a global network of experts and technology-enabled transformation, Nordic Capital helps companies scale, innovate and become sustainable leaders. For more information, visit www.nordiccapital.com or connect on LinkedIn.
“Nordic Capital” refers to, depending on the context, any, or all, Nordic Capital branded entities, vehicles, structures, and associated entities. The general partners and/or delegated portfolio managers of Nordic Capital’s entities and vehicles are advised by several non-discretionary sub-advisory entities, any or all of which are referred to as “Nordic Capital Advisors”.
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Technology
Cognizant and Gulf Edge Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption in Southeast Asia
Published
29 minutes agoon
July 23, 2026By
Partnership combines Cognizant’s global AI engineering capabilities with Gulf Edge’s sovereign digital infrastructure to capture the region’s growing demand for secure, scalable AI solutions.
BANGKOK, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH), a leading AI builder and global technology services provider, and Gulf Edge Company Limited, the digital infrastructure arm of Thai energy and infrastructure conglomerate Gulf Development Public Company Limited (GULF) or Gulf Group, today announced a landmark strategic partnership. The alliance is designed to accelerate enterprise AI adoption and establish a resilient, AI-native digital economy in Thailand and the broader region.
As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes industries, economies, and societies worldwide, the partnership aims to establish the foundational ecosystem needed to enable Thailand’s next phase of digital transformation. By combining trusted sovereign digital infrastructure with world-class AI engineering and enterprise transformation capabilities, Gulf Edge and Cognizant will help organizations deploy AI securely, responsibly, and at scale.
The collaboration brings together Gulf Edge’s leadership in digital infrastructure, energy, cloud, and strategic relationships across Thailand’s most important industries with Cognizant’s global expertise in AI, digital engineering, cloud modernization, data, and intelligent operations. Together, the two companies will deliver end-to-end AI capabilities spanning infrastructure, AI platforms, enterprise solutions, systems integration, and managed services.
The partnership will initially focus on accelerating AI adoption across key sectors including banking and financial services, energy and utilities, healthcare, telecommunications, manufacturing, and the public sector. Through industry-specific AI solutions, organizations will be able to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, strengthen decision-making, automate complex business processes, and unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth.
Beyond enterprise transformation, Gulf Edge and Cognizant share a broader ambition of strengthening Thailand’s position as a regional AI hub. The partnership is expected to attract global technology expertise, stimulate investment in advanced digital capabilities, and create high-value employment opportunities across AI engineering, data science, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. The two companies also plan to collaborate with universities, research institutions, technology partners, and public-sector organizations to develop AI talent, promote responsible AI adoption, and foster a sustainable innovation ecosystem for the country.
Mr. Sarath Ratanavadi, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Development Public Company Limited, said, “Our partnership with Cognizant marks an important milestone in our vision of helping Thailand become an AI-native economy. By combining Gulf Edge’s strengths in digital infrastructure, energy, cloud, and deep understanding of the Thai market with Cognizant’s global expertise in enterprise AI, digital engineering, and transformation services, we are creating a comprehensive platform that enables organizations to adopt AI with confidence and generate measurable business outcomes. Together, we will develop secure, resilient, and future-ready sovereign digital infrastructure while delivering industry-specific AI solutions tailored to the needs of Thai enterprises and public institutions. We believe AI has the potential to transform every sector, creating new opportunities for productivity, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.”
Mr. Ganesh Ayyar, President of Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ), Cognizant, said, “As Thailand works toward its ambition of becoming an AI-native economy, we see this partnership as a meaningful way to help contribute to that vision, not just through the projects we deliver, but by building lasting AI and technology capability inside the country. With Gulf Edge’s market reach and Cognizant’s AI Builder strategy and global delivery capability, we are positioned to deliver transformative outcomes for Thai enterprises across every major sector.”
About Gulf Edge
Gulf Edge Company Limited is the digital infrastructure arm of Gulf Development Public Company Limited, Thailand’s leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate. Gulf Edge is building a robust digital ecosystem, spanning data centers, cloud services, satellite technology, and AI infrastructure, to accelerate Thailand’s digital transformation and position the country as a regional hub for the AI economy.
About Cognizant
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for clients. Its deep industry, process, and engineering expertise enables it to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns, and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
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SOURCE Gulf Development Public Company Limited (GULF)
RSPO Launches New Guidance to Leverage Sustainable Palm Oil Certification for IFRS® Sustainability Disclosure Standards
Nordic Capital announces agreement to sell ArisGlobal to Dassault Systèmes, following its transformation into a scaled and AI-enabled life sciences platform
Cognizant and Gulf Edge Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption in Southeast Asia
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