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☆ Vista's Robert Smith: How to prevent AI from further widening the racial wealth gap
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Robert Smith | Ceo Of Vista Equity Partners | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

For example, according to a recent McKinsey study, Black Americans are 10% more likely to be working jobs slated for AI automation. If current trends hold, the new wealth created by GenAI alone will increase the racial wealth gap by $43 billion annually, according to McKinsey. That begins with infrastructure that supports AI enablement for all, including education on AI tools, access to the internet and power to compute. SFI has been working hard to close the digital divide in Black communities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), 82% of which reside in broadband deserts. This work is bridging access gaps and ensuring that underrepresented talent thrives in the rapidly growing and in-demand field of AI.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, GenAI, Robert Solow, SFI Organizations: Istock, McKinsey, Initiative, Black Colleges, Universities, Vista Equity Partners, Morehouse College Locations: U.S, Black

☆ Vista Outdoor strikes deal to sell itself in parts to two buyers for $3.4 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Vista struck a deal to sell its sporting goods unit, Revelyst, to investment firm Strategic Value Partners for $1.1 billion, according to a statement seen by Reuters. Taken together, the two deals value Vista at $45 per share, topping a rival $43 per share offer from MNC Capital, an investment firm led by former Vista board member Mark Gottfredson. The sale of Revelyst is expected to close by January, subject to regulatory approvals and the completion of the CSG deal. In June, the CSG deal was cleared by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews foreign investments over possible national security concerns. In July, Vista launched a strategic review to explore all its options, after failing to gather investor support for the CSG deal.

Persons: Vista, Mark Gottfredson, Michael Callahan, Glass Lewis, David Geenberg, MNC's, Victor Khosla, Morgan Stanley, Moelis, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Flag, New York Stock Exchange, Partners, Reuters, Czechoslovak Group, CSG, MNC Capital, Vista, MNC, Institutional, Services, Federal, Remington, Foresight, Bushnell Golf, North, Foreign Investment, Strategic Value Partners, JPMorgan Locations: U.S, Prague, Revelyst, Minnesota, Russia, Ukraine, North America, United States, Colleyville , Texas

☆ Vista Outdoor agrees deal to sell its ammunition and sporting goods divisions for $3.4 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Vista Outdoor has announced a deal to sell its two divisions for $3.4 billion. It is set to sell Revelyst, its sporting goods business, for around $1.13 billion. That deal is subject to the completion of the sale of its ammunition business, Kinetic Group, for about $2.23 billion. Advertisement"Together, the CSG Transaction and the SVP Transaction represent an enterprise value of $3.35 billion for Vista Outdoor and will deliver an estimated $45 per share in cash to Vista Outdoor stockholders," the press release says. AdvertisementCzechoslovak Group is being advised by JPMorgan on the new deal, while Morgan Stanley is advising Vista Outdoor.

Persons: —, Michael Callahan, Morgan Stanley, Vista's Organizations: Kinetic, Service, Partners, Czechoslovak Group, CSG, Vista, Vista Outdoor, Reuters, JPMorgan, Moelis, Company Locations: Minnesota, Prague

☆ UBS says this little known Mexican energy stock is primed to rally 30%
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Sean Conlon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Vista Energy is well positioned for more growth ahead, according to UBS. The investment bank upgraded its rating on the stock to buy from neutral and increased its price target by $5 to $60, which implies nearly 32% upside from Thursday's close. VIST YTD mountain VIST, year-to-date This year, shares have soared, rising more than 54%. Yet, Vasconcellos believes the market is undervaluing Vista's production potential. Of the nine analysts covering the stock, seven have issued buy or strong buy ratings, LSEG data shows.

Persons: Tasso Vasconcellos, Brent, Vasconcellos Organizations: Vista Energy, UBS, SLB, Nabors Industries Locations: Argentina's Vaca

☆ Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners to acquire software maker Smartsheet for $8.4 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Collaboration software maker Smartsheet announced Tuesday Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners will acquire it in an all-cash deal valuing the company at about $8.4 billion. Stockholders will receive $56.50 per share, a 41% premium to Smartsheet's average closing price over the last three months. The company went public in 2018 and sought to go head-to-head with other software companies like Atlassian. Qatalyst advised Smartsheet. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley advised the private equity bidders.

Persons: Smartsheet, Blackstone, Mark Mader, Qatalyst, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Blackstone, Vista Equity Partners

☆ We sailed in an interior cabin on Carnival and an ocean-view room on Royal Caribbean. We'd only book one again.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Monica Humphries | Joey Hadden | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Joey's Royal Caribbean cabin cost about $700 more than the Carnival cruise. Inside the Royal Caribbean (L) and Carnival (R) rooms. Meanwhile, Monica sailed in the Carnival Vista's cheapest room option: an entry-level interior stateroom. An interior room on a typical Royal Caribbean ship could be between $25 and $40 cheaper per day than an ocean view room, according to Royal Caribbean Blog. As a result, Joey's cruise cost double what it would have been per person had she been traveling with a buddy.

Persons: Joey Hadden, Monica Humphries, Monica, Joey, Monica's stateroom Organizations: Joey's, Royal, Royal Caribbean Locations: Joey's Royal, Caribbean, Royal Caribbean

Robert Smith, founder, chair and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, speaks at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 2, 2016. With this debt, Vista could generate strong returns if Pluralsight's business performed well, according to the sources. They also show that Vista propped up Pluralsight by allowing it to borrow $162.5 million from its private equity fund. "The company experienced rapid deterioration of its business in the first quarter," Vista wrote in a fund document dated May 28. In a May 28 update to fund investors, Vista said Pluralsight's equity value went from $1.5 billion to zero in the first quarter of 2024.

Persons: Robert Smith, Lucy Nicholson, Vista, Pluralsight, Goldman Sachs, Golub, Gustavo Schwed, NYU Stern, It's, Steven Kaplan, Kaplan, Chris Walters, Aaron Skonnard, Walters, Skonnard, KBRA, Milana Vinn, Greg Roumeliotis, Dave Gregorio Organizations: Vista Equity Partners, Milken Institute Global Conference, REUTERS, Vista Equity, Reuters, Cloud, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Vista, NYU, Chicago Booth School, Business, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Vista, BlackRock, Oaktree, Pluralsight, New York

☆ Japan's stock market roared back to life in 2023, and investors expect even more gains ahead. How to trade it
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Japanese stocks had one of their best years in recent memory, and they could rally even more in 2024. .N225 ALL mountain Big gains for Nikkei in 2023 That momentum has carried into early 2024. What's more, Wall Street sees no signs of Japanese stocks slowing down. In early 2023, Japanese stocks surged after the highest Shunto wage hike in 30 years was passed, at above 3% from above 2% the year prior, according to the Japan Times . Corporate earnings and economic growth Another driver for Japanese stocks this year could be strong corporate earnings and economic growth.

Persons: Warren Buffett, What's, BofA's Masashi Akutsu, Akutsu, Fumio Kishida, Scott Ladner, Ladner, we've, they're, Glovista's Carlos Asilis, there's, Bernstein, Neil Beveridge, Horizon's Ladner Organizations: Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Itochu, Sumitomo, Nikkei, Japan Times, Horizon Investments, Japan, Japan Hedged Equity, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of America, Toyota, U.S Locations: Japan, That's

☆ I went on Norwegian's newest luxury and ultra-luxury ships targeting wealthy travelers — see how a $685 per night cruise compares to a $210 per night one
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

AdvertisementWhen you think of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, you probably think of its giant amusement park-like cruise ships with 10-story-tall slides, go-kart tracks, and many families. Its newest Oceania Vista ship, which debuted in May 2023, is at the higher end of the range with a 1,200-guest capacity. Regent Seven Seas Cruises — the true ultra-luxury optionThe Seven Seas Grandeur's pool was surrounded by several hot tubs. And both vessels — built without loud water slides or arcades — exude a feeling of peace and quiet not often experienced throughout larger family-friendly cruise ships . Brittany Chang/Business InsiderNCLH's mass-market eponymous brand still has more ships in its fleet than Regent Seven Seas and Oceania combined.

Persons: —, NCLH, Brittany Chang, Hermes Birkin, Bulgari, Jacques Pépin, isn't, — they're, I've, Pablo Picasso, Mark Kempa Organizations: Cruise Line Holdings, Regent Seven Seas, Regent Seven, Service, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Norwegian Cruise, Mexico itineraries, Business, Oceania, Culinary Arts, Regent Locations: Oceania, Norwegian, Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Mexico, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, New York City, Oceania Vista, Brittany, French, France, Nicaragua, Regent Seven Seas

☆ Czech gunmaker Colt CZ makes offer for Vista Outdoor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Jason Hovet | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Visitors look at firearms from Colt CZ Group at the Milipol Paris, the worldwide exhibition dedicated to homeland security and safety, in Villepinte near Paris, France, November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPRAGUE, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Czech gunmaker Colt CZ Group (CZG.PR) has made a cash-and-stock merger offer to Vista Outdoor (VSTO.N), valuing the U.S. sporting and outdoor goods group's shares at a 16% premium. Colt CZ said it proposed keeping the company together, scrapping plans to separate Vista at this time. Colt CZ, along with a majority shareholder and its chairman, together acquired more than 5% of Vista shares, they announced in October. Colt CZ shares fell around 3% at the Prague open on Thursday but had recovered to trade nearly 1% higher by 1053 GMT.

Persons: Sarah Meyssonnier, Colt CZ's, Vista, Colt, Jason Hovet, Mark Potter Organizations: Colt CZ, REUTERS, Rights, Vista, Czechoslovak Group, Czechoslovak, Colt, CSG, Thomson Locations: Paris, Villepinte, France, Czech, U.S, Vista, Prague

☆ Vista Outdoor to sell sporting products unit in $1.91 bln deal, cuts sales forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 16 (Reuters) - Vista Outdoor (VSTO.N) said on Monday it would sell its sporting products business in a $1.91 billion deal, although its shares tumbled about 20% in early trading after it cut its full-year sales forecast. The all-cash sale of the sporting products unit, which includes its guns and ammunition business, to privately held Czechoslovak Group a.s. (CSG) is expected to close next calendar year, Vista Outdoor said. Earlier this month, Vista spun off its outdoor products segment, which includes helmets and water bottles, into a separate publicly traded company called Revelyst as part of its previously announced plan. Vista said in a call with analysts and investors that the separation of its sporting and outdoor goods units will be formalized at the closing of its deal with CSG. CSG said it plans to take $1.11 billion of debt financing to fund the deal with Vista Outdoor.

Persons: Andy Keegan, Vista, Fiocchi Munizioni, Juveria Tabassum, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Savio D'Souza, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: Vista, CSG, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Prague

☆ The Japanese equity rally could broaden out. Some small- and mid-cap names may get a boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Japanese stocks are rallying, and some small- and mid-cap names could start participating in those gains, some investors say. The iShares MSCI Japan ETF , which focuses on larger cap stocks in the market, is higher by 16% in 2023. Meanwhile, the iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF is up more than 7% over the same time period. SCJ YTD mountain iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF this year What's more, cyclical stocks are more heavily represented in small- and mid-cap Japanese equities than among large-caps. Another actively managed fund is the Hennessy Japan Small Cap Investor (HJPSX) .

Persons: haven't, Carlos Asilis, Glovista's Asilis, Hennessy, HJPSX, Morningstar Organizations: Nikkei, Japan ETF, Glovista Investments, Fidelity, Morningstar, Renesas Electronics Locations: Japan, Fidelity Japan

There's a burgeoning bull case for Saudi Arabia stocks. The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) is up more than 8% year to date and almost 20% over a three-year period. The MSCI Saudi Arabia Index is composed of almost 45% in financials, followed by 22.1% in materials, mostly consisting of petrochemicals groups. More foreign investment The kingdom's Vision 2030 economic blueprint aims to raise foreign direct investment contributions to 5.7% by 2030 from 0.7% currently . Another fund that does this is the Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF (FLSA) .

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Carlos Asilis, Ramzi Sidani, — it's, they've, It's, Andrew Miller, Miller, Glovista's, HSBC's Sidani, Mondrian, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Glovista Investments, JPMorgan —, HSBC's Global Research, Saudi, HSBC's Frontier Equity, United Arab Emirates, Mondrian Investment Partners, Franklin FTSE, Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia, Aramco, Al, Al Rajhi Bank Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Russia, Ukraine, East, Korea, Australia, Chile, Poland, financials, Qatar, Franklin FTSE Saudi, Al Rajhi

☆ A mysterious Indian firm likely tied to Russia's Rosneft amassed an enormous tanker fleet in just 18 months and has become a top shipper of Russian crude, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An India oil firm that's become the top shipper of Russian crude is likely tied to Rosneft, the FT reported. That comes amid India's growing appetite for deeply discounted Russian crude. It's unclear who owns Gatik, though industry experts have suggested the company is likely tied to Rosneft, Russia's largest state-run oil firm. Russian oil makes up 30% of India's crude consumption, up from the 1% prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to official trade statistics. Russia, in response, has built up its fleet of shadow ships, which are believed to transport Russian crude to the west via uninsured and under the radar vessels.

☆ Emerging market stocks are off to a strong start in 2023 — How the outlook is shaping up
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Emerging market stocks are off to a strong start in 2023, even as concerns remain for investors. The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) tumbled more than 22% in 2022, and more than 5% the previous year. "One of the primary attractions for emerging markets has been compelling valuations," said LPL Financial's Quincy Krosby. Not all emerging markets are equal Even as emerging markets are broadly outperforming, some countries are expected to perform better than others. The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) and the iShares MSCI Chile ETF (ECH) are up more than 10% and nearly 1%, respectively.

☆ Duck Creek Technologies surges more than 30% after reaching takeover deal with Vista
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A person walks through the Wall Street subway station near the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York on May 27, 2022. Insurance tech company Duck Creek Technologies has reached a takeover deal with Vista Equity Partners, sending its stock soaring on Monday morning. Shares of Duck Creek surged more than 45% to hover just under the offer price in premarket trading. At its high watermark in February 2021, the Duck Creek closed above $59 per share. Duck Creek reported its fiscal first quarter results last week, showing revenue of $80.6 million and a net loss of $5.2 million.

☆ China is rolling back much of its Covid controls. That could spell a buying opportunity for these stocks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A reopening in the world's second-largest economy could spell a buying opportunity for investors as China unwinds much of its Covid restrictions. Investors have taken the recent developments as a signal to start snapping up China equities. What's more, they say that Chinese equities are cheap on a historical basis, and cheap compared to their emerging market peers. This month, Morgan Stanley said that Chinese equities have a "steep climb" after their underperformance during the pandemic. Yum China is the fourth-largest position in the Thornburg Developing World Fund (THDAX) , which has a roughly 29% allocation to China.

☆ Vista's Robert Smith says investing in DEI businesses vitally important in a bear market
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Robert F. Smith, chairman and CEO at Vista Equity Partners, said investing in businesses and managers that emphasize diversity, equity and inclusion remains vital, especially in a bear market. The billionaire investor, who spoke with CNBC's Frank Holland at the Disruptor 50 Summit, said that venture capital and private equity funding should continue to expand to minority-owned businesses. The recent drop in venture capital funding, due to growing recession fears, has disproportionately hit African American, Latinx business owners and founders, he said. They're seeing some outsized reductions in their funding," Smith said. Some venture capital firms that he said are effectively identifying opportunities include the New Voices Fund.

☆ Cybersecurity firm KnowBe4 to go private in $4.6 bln deal with Vista Equity Partners
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 12 (Reuters) - KnowBe4 Inc (KNBE.O) on Wednesday agreed to go private in a sweetened $4.6 billion deal with Vista Equity Partners, the latest cybersecurity firm to be snapped up by private equity in this year's market downturn. Private equity firms have been scooping up technology companies whose shares have taken a beating this year from worries over rising interest rates and an economic slowdown. The KnowBe4 deal, expected to close in the first half of 2023, will be financed through a mix of debt and equity financing. Morgan Stanley & Co LLC was serving as financial advisor to KnowBe4's special committee and Guggenheim Securities LLC was financial advisor for Vista. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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