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OPENLANE, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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CARMEL, Ind., Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — OPENLANE, Inc. (NYSE: KAR), today reported its second quarter financial results for the period ended June 30, 2024.

“OPENLANE’s second quarter and year-to-date results clearly demonstrate the power of our differentiated platform and the strong scalability characteristics of our company,” said Peter Kelly, CEO of OPENLANE. “During the quarter, we grew marketplace and finance volumes, increased revenue and delivered strong adjusted EBITDA and operating cash flows. I am confident in OPENLANE’s strategy, we are investing in technology and people to further accelerate innovation and profitable growth.”

“OPENLANE’s continued focus on execution and profitable growth delivered solid financial results in the second quarter,” said Brad Lakhia, EVP and CFO of OPENLANE. “Consolidated revenue was $432 million, marketplace segment grew volumes by 7% and increased Gross Merchandise Value to nearly $7 billion. AFC was again a strong adjusted EBITDA contributor, and we improved our provision for loan losses versus the first quarter. Our year-to-date generation of $138 million of cash flow from operating activities clearly demonstrates the value — and potential — of our asset-light, digitally focused business.”

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

Marketplace volumes increased 7% YoYTotal revenue of $432 million in Q2 2024, representing 4% YoY growthMarketplace revenue of $336 million in Q2 2024, representing 5% YoY growthGross Merchandise Value (GMV) of approximately $7 billion, representing 6% YoY growthIncome from continuing operations of $11 millionAdjusted EBITDA of $71 million (with Marketplace contributing 46%), including the $2 million year-to-date impact for the newly enacted Canadian Digital Services Tax$138 million of cash flow from operating activities on a year-to-date basis

2024 Guidance
As a result of Canada’s abrupt implementation of a retroactive Digital Services Tax (DST), which was enacted on June 28, 2024 retroactive to January 1, 2022, the company has updated its 2024 annual guidance. During the second quarter of 2024, the company recorded $12 million of Canadian DST, of which $10 million related to 2022 and 2023. Assuming no changes to this legislation, including the scope of application, the company estimates this will result in approximately $5 million in incremental cost of services in 2024. The company anticipates taking steps to mitigate this incremental annual cost and therefore does not anticipate a material impact on future periods earnings and cash flows.

Annual

Guidance

Income from continuing operations (in millions)

$65 – $80

Adjusted EBITDA (in millions)

$285 – $305

Income from continuing operations per share – diluted *

$0.14 – $0.24

Operating adjusted net income from continuing operations per share – diluted

$0.77 – $0.87

* The company uses the two-class method of calculating income from continuing operations per diluted share. Under the two-class method, income from continuing operations is adjusted for dividends and undistributed earnings (losses) to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, and the weighted average diluted shares do not assume conversion of the preferred shares to common shares.

Earnings guidance does not contemplate future items such as business development activities, strategic developments (such as restructurings, spin-offs or dispositions of assets or investments), contingent purchase price adjustments, significant expenses related to litigation, tax adjustments and changes in applicable laws and regulations (including significant accounting and tax matters) and intangible impairments. The timing and amounts of these items are highly variable, difficult to predict, and of a potential size that could have a substantial impact on the company’s reported results for any given period. Prospective quantification of these items is generally not practicable. Operating adjusted net income from continuing operations per share excludes amortization expense associated with acquired intangible assets, as well as one-time charges, net of taxes. See reconciliations of the company’s guidance included below.

Earnings Conference Call Information
OPENLANE will be hosting an earnings conference call and webcast on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The call will be hosted by OPENLANE Chief Executive Officer Peter Kelly and Chief Financial Officer Brad Lakhia. The conference call may be accessed by calling 1-833-634-2155 and asking to join the OPENLANE call. A live webcast will be available at the investor relations section of corporate.openlane.com. Supplemental financial information for OPENLANE’s second quarter 2024 results is available at the investor relations section of corporate.openlane.com.

The archive of the webcast will be available following the call at the investor relations section of corporate.openlane.com for a limited time.

About OPENLANE
OPENLANE, Inc. (NYSE: KAR), provides sellers and buyers across the global wholesale used vehicle industry with innovative, technology-driven remarketing solutions. The company’s unique end-to-end platform supports whole car, financing, logistics and other ancillary and related services. Our integrated marketplaces reduce risk, improve transparency and streamline transactions for customers around the globe. Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, the company has employees across the United States, Canada, Europe, Uruguay and the Philippines. For more information and the latest company news, visit corporate.openlane.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release include, and the company may make related oral, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and which are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties. In particular, statements made that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words such as “should,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “contemplate,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “assume,” “can,” “could,” “continue,” “of the opinion,” “confident,” “is set,” “is on track,” “outlook,” “target,” “positioned,” “predict,” “initiative,” “goal,” “opportunity” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current assumptions, expectations and/or beliefs, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and changes that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in the company’s other filings and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

OPENLANE, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income 
(In millions) (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Operating revenues

Auction fees

$      108.7

$      103.3

$      218.6

$      203.2

Service revenue

147.1

155.7

297.3

321.3

Purchased vehicle sales

80.2

60.4

138.4

115.9

Finance-related revenue

95.8

97.5

193.8

197.1

Total operating revenues

431.8

416.9

848.1

837.5

Operating expenses

Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

245.9

222.6

459.8

446.8

Selling, general and administrative

106.0

111.2

214.7

219.2

Depreciation and amortization

24.1

26.8

48.4

49.8

Goodwill and other intangibles impairment

250.8

250.8

Total operating expenses

376.0

611.4

722.9

966.6

Operating profit (loss)

55.8

(194.5)

125.2

(129.1)

Interest expense

37.4

38.8

77.1

77.1

Other (income) expense, net

0.2

(21.3)

0.7

(14.2)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

1.1

1.1

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

18.2

(213.1)

47.4

(193.1)

Income taxes

7.5

(19.3)

18.2

(12.0)

Income (loss) from continuing operations

10.7

(193.8)

29.2

(181.1)

Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

Net income (loss)

$        10.7

$    (193.8)

$        29.2

$    (181.1)

Net income (loss) per share – basic

Income (loss) from continuing operations

$           —

$      (1.87)

$        0.05

$      (1.86)

Income from discontinued operations

Net income (loss) per share – basic

$           —

$      (1.87)

$        0.05

$      (1.86)

Net income (loss) per share – diluted

Income (loss) from continuing operations

$           —

$      (1.87)

$        0.05

$      (1.86)

Income from discontinued operations

Net income (loss) per share – diluted

$           —

$      (1.87)

$        0.05

$      (1.86)

 

OPENLANE, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions) (Unaudited)

June 30, 
2024

December 31, 
2023

Cash and cash equivalents

$                 60.9

$                 93.5

Restricted cash

67.7

65.4

Trade receivables, net of allowances

292.1

291.8

Finance receivables, net of allowances

2,220.1

2,282.0

Other current assets

133.3

109.2

Total current assets

2,774.1

2,841.9

Goodwill

1,264.0

1,271.2

Customer relationships, net of accumulated amortization

126.8

136.1

Operating lease right-of-use assets

71.5

75.9

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

160.2

169.8

Intangible and other assets

221.2

231.4

Total assets

$             4,617.8

$             4,726.3

Current liabilities, excluding obligations collateralized by

     finance receivables and current maturities of debt

$                730.5

$                692.3

Obligations collateralized by finance receivables

1,573.6

1,631.9

Current maturities of debt

272.0

154.6

Total current liabilities

2,576.1

2,478.8

Long-term debt

202.4

Operating lease liabilities

65.5

70.4

Other non-current liabilities

35.5

35.2

Temporary equity

612.5

612.5

Stockholders’ equity

1,328.2

1,327.0

Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders’ equity

$             4,617.8

$             4,726.3

 

OPENLANE, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In millions) (Unaudited)

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2024

2023

Operating activities

Net income (loss)

$         29.2

$     (181.1)

Net income from discontinued operations

     Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

     Depreciation and amortization

48.4

49.8

     Provision for credit losses

29.1

28.4

     Deferred income taxes

0.4

(29.1)

     Amortization of debt issuance costs

4.7

4.4

     Stock-based compensation

10.1

8.9

     Contingent consideration adjustment

1.3

     Net change in unrealized (gain) loss on investment securities

(0.1)

     Investment and note receivable impairment

11.0

     Goodwill and other intangibles impairment

250.8

     Loss on extinguishment of debt

1.1

     Other non-cash, net

0.1

0.8

     Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

     Trade receivables and other assets

(23.7)

(76.2)

     Accounts payable and accrued expenses

39.4

75.2

     Payments of contingent consideration in excess of acquisition-date fair value

(2.6)

Net cash provided by operating activities – continuing operations

137.7

142.6

Net cash used by operating activities – discontinued operations

(0.1)

(0.1)

Investing activities

     Net decrease (increase) in finance receivables held for investment

33.1

(24.4)

     Purchases of property, equipment and computer software

(25.9)

(26.9)

     Investments in securities

(1.6)

(0.6)

 Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment

0.3

0.3

Net cash provided by (used by) investing activities – continuing operations

5.9

(51.6)

Net cash provided by investing activities – discontinued operations

7.0

Financing activities

     Net decrease in book overdrafts

(1.6)

(2.2)

     Net (repayments of) borrowings from lines of credit

(81.2)

39.2

     Net (decrease) increase in obligations collateralized by finance receivables

(56.1)

33.1

     Payments for debt issuance costs/amendments

(2.2)

(5.3)

     Payment for early extinguishment of debt

(140.1)

     Payments on finance leases

(0.6)

(1.1)

     Payments of contingent consideration and deferred acquisition costs

(12.4)

     Issuance of common stock under stock plans

0.8

1.6

     Tax withholding payments for vested RSUs

(3.4)

(2.5)

     Dividends paid on Series A Preferred Stock

(22.2)

(22.2)

Net cash used by financing activities – continuing operations

(166.5)

(111.9)

Net cash provided by financing activities – discontinued operations

Net change in cash balances of discontinued operations

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(7.3)

8.8

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(30.3)

(5.2)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

158.9

277.7

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$       128.6

$       272.5

Cash paid for interest

$         74.6

$         72.8

Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds – continuing operations

$         29.4

$         21.4

Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds – discontinued operations

$             —

$             —

OPENLANE, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, operating adjusted net income (loss) and operating adjusted net income (loss) per share as presented herein are supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). They are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as substitutes for net income (loss) or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that these measures provide investors additional meaningful methods to evaluate certain aspects of the company’s results period over period and for the other reasons set forth below.

EBITDA is defined as net income (loss), plus interest expense net of interest income, income tax provision (benefit), depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted for the items of income and expense and expected incremental revenue and cost savings as described in our senior secured credit agreement covenant calculations. Management believes that the inclusion of supplementary adjustments to EBITDA applied in presenting Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about one of the principal measures of performance used by our creditors. In addition, management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our performance.

Depreciation expense for property and equipment and amortization expense of capitalized internally developed software costs relate to ongoing capital expenditures; however, amortization expense associated with acquired intangible assets, such as customer relationships, software, tradenames and noncompete agreements are not representative of ongoing capital expenditures, but have a continuing effect on our reported results. Non-GAAP financial measures of operating adjusted net income (loss) and operating adjusted net income (loss) per share, in the opinion of the company, provide comparability of the company’s performance to other companies that may not have incurred these types of non-cash expenses or that report a similar measure. In addition, operating adjusted net income (loss) and operating adjusted net income (loss) per share may include adjustments for certain other charges.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, operating adjusted net income (loss) and operating adjusted net income (loss) per share have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the results as reported under GAAP. These measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

The following tables reconcile EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to income (loss) from continuing operations for the periods presented:

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

(In millions), (Unaudited)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Income (loss) from continuing operations

$      10.7

$   (193.8)

$      29.2

$   (181.1)

Add back:

Income taxes

7.5

(19.3)

18.2

(12.0)

Interest expense, net of interest income

37.1

37.5

76.4

74.9

Depreciation and amortization

24.1

26.8

48.4

49.8

EBITDA

79.4

(148.8)

172.2

(68.4)

Non-cash stock-based compensation

3.7

5.5

10.7

9.3

Loss on extinguishment of debt

1.1

1.1

Acquisition related costs

0.2

0.3

0.5

0.6

Securitization interest

(29.2)

(29.6)

(59.1)

(57.4)

Severance

6.0

1.0

7.7

1.5

Foreign currency (gains)/losses

0.5

0.3

2.5

0.4

Goodwill and other intangibles impairment

250.8

250.8

Contingent consideration adjustment

1.3

1.3

Net change in unrealized (gains) losses on investment securities

(0.2)

(0.1)

Professional fees related to business improvement efforts

0.7

2.1

1.5

2.8

Impact for newly enacted Canadian DST related to prior years

10.0

10.0

Other

0.1

0.2

0.8

  Total addbacks/(deductions)

(8.0)

232.6

(26.0)

211.1

Adjusted EBITDA

$      71.4

$      83.8

$     146.2

$     142.7

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

(Dollars in millions), (Unaudited)

Marketplace

Finance

Consolidated

Income (loss) from continuing operations

$          (16.1)

$           26.8

$           10.7

Add back:

Income taxes

(1.2)

8.7

7.5

Interest expense, net of interest income

5.2

31.9

37.1

Depreciation and amortization

21.1

3.0

24.1

Intercompany interest

3.4

(3.4)

EBITDA

12.4

67.0

79.4

Non-cash stock-based compensation

3.6

0.1

3.7

Acquisition related costs

0.2

0.2

Securitization interest

(29.2)

(29.2)

Severance

5.4

0.6

6.0

Foreign currency (gains)/losses

0.5

0.5

Professional fees related to business improvement efforts

0.6

0.1

0.7

Impact for newly enacted Canadian DST related to prior years

10.0

10.0

Other

0.1

0.1

  Total addbacks/(deductions)

20.3

(28.3)

(8.0)

Adjusted EBITDA

$           32.7

$           38.7

$           71.4

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

(Dollars in millions), (Unaudited)

Marketplace

Finance

Consolidated

Income (loss) from continuing operations

$        (219.4)

$           25.6

$        (193.8)

Add back:

Income taxes

(36.0)

16.7

(19.3)

Interest expense, net of interest income

5.4

32.1

37.5

Depreciation and amortization

24.5

2.3

26.8

Intercompany interest

8.1

(8.1)

EBITDA

(217.4)

68.6

(148.8)

Non-cash stock-based compensation

4.3

1.2

5.5

Loss on extinguishment of debt

1.1

1.1

Acquisition related costs

0.3

0.3

Securitization interest

(29.6)

(29.6)

Severance

0.9

0.1

1.0

Foreign currency (gains)/losses

0.5

(0.2)

0.3

Goodwill and other intangibles impairment

250.8

250.8

Contingent consideration adjustment

1.3

1.3

Net change in unrealized (gains) losses on investment securities

(0.2)

(0.2)

Professional fees related to business improvement efforts

1.7

0.4

2.1

  Total addbacks/(deductions)

260.9

(28.3)

232.6

Adjusted EBITDA

$           43.5

$           40.3

$           83.8

The following table reconciles operating adjusted net income and operating adjusted net income per diluted share to net income (loss) from continuing operations for the periods presented:

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

(In millions, except per share amounts), (Unaudited)

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net income (loss) from continuing operations (1)

$      10.7

$   (193.8)

$      29.2

$   (181.1)

   Acquired amortization expense

9.1

9.8

18.4

17.2

   Impact for newly enacted Canadian DST related to prior years

10.0

10.0

   Loss on extinguishment of debt

1.1

1.1

   Contingent consideration adjustment

1.3

1.3

   Goodwill and other intangibles impairment

250.8

250.8

   Income taxes (2)

(2.1)

(32.4)

(2.5)

(34.2)

Operating adjusted net income from continuing operations

$      27.7

$      36.8

$      55.1

$      55.1

Operating adjusted net income from discontinued operations

$          —

$          —

$          —

$          —

Operating adjusted net income

$      27.7

$      36.8

$      55.1

$      55.1

Operating adjusted net income from continuing operations per
share – diluted

$      0.19

$      0.25

$      0.38

$      0.38

Operating adjusted net income from discontinued operations per
share – diluted

Operating adjusted net income per share – diluted

$      0.19

$      0.25

$      0.38

$      0.38

Weighted average diluted shares – including assumed conversion
of preferred shares

144.4

145.3

145.1

145.2

(1)

The Series A Preferred Stock dividends and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities have not been included in the calculation of operating adjusted net income and operating adjusted net income per diluted share.

(2)

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, each tax deductible item was booked to the applicable statutory rate. The deferred tax benefits of $52.5 million and $6.5 million associated with the goodwill and tradename impairments in the second quarter of 2023, respectively, resulted in the U.S. being in a net deferred tax asset position. Due to the three-year cumulative loss related to U.S. operations, we currently have a $41.1 million valuation allowance against the U.S. net deferred tax asset.

The following table reconciles EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to income from continuing operations for the 2024 guidance presented:

2024 Guidance

(In millions), (Unaudited)

Low

High

Income from continuing operations

$                65

$                80

Add back:

Income taxes

38

47

Interest expense, net of interest income

147

145

Depreciation and amortization

100

98

EBITDA

350

370

  Total addbacks/(deductions), net

(65)

(65)

Adjusted EBITDA

$              285

$              305

The following table reconciles operating adjusted net income from continuing operations and operating adjusted net income from continuing operations per diluted share to income from continuing operations for the 2024 guidance presented:

2024 Guidance

(In millions, except per share amounts), (Unaudited)

Low

High

Income from continuing operations

$                65

$                80

   Total adjustments, net

46

46

Operating adjusted net income from continuing operations

$              111

$              126

Operating adjusted net income from continuing operations per share – diluted

$             0.77

$             0.87

Weighted average diluted shares – including assumed conversion of preferred
shares

145

145

 

Analyst Inquiries:

Media Inquiries:

Itunu Orelaru

Laurie Dippold  

(317) 249-4559

(317) 468-3900

investor_relations@openlane.com 

laurie.dippold@openlane.com  

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Technology

RSPO Launches New Guidance to Leverage Sustainable Palm Oil Certification for IFRS® Sustainability Disclosure Standards

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has released a guidance document, “Leveraging RSPO Principles and Criteria for IFRS® Sustainability Disclosure Standards”. This new resource supports certified sustainable palm oil producers to align their sustainability practices with the IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 disclosure standards that serve as the global framework for reporting sustainability-related financial information.

As more than 30 jurisdictions, representing around 60% of global GDP, move towards adoption of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS SDS), companies are increasingly required to disclose how sustainability-related risks and opportunities affect their financial position and prospects.1

This resource provides a practical pathway for palm oil producers to respond to these requirements by leveraging their existing compliance with the RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C), without duplicating efforts or creating parallel systems.

Informing investor-relevant disclosures: A four-step approach

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

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IFRS Foundation, ISSB Podcast February 2025

 

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SOURCE Roundtable On Sustainable Palm Oil

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Nordic Capital announces agreement to sell ArisGlobal to Dassault Systèmes, following its transformation into a scaled and AI-enabled life sciences platform

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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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Cognizant and Gulf Edge Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption in Southeast Asia

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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)

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