Latest news with #EUR50
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digital sovereignty and national AI creates opportunities
With the current geopolitical tensions and global powers trying to win the AI race, digital sovereignty and national AI are being driven through strategic national initiatives. Digital sovereignty is already a key concern for various governments as the use of technology becomes pervasive, in various aspects including social services and critical infrastructure. The extent of digital solutions and their importance means a country's control over its infrastructure, data, and systems, without influence from foreign entities is paramount. This is accentuated by the growing geopolitical tensions around the globe and the need to protect against extraterritorial laws that may compromise data sovereignty. Digital sovereignty has been driven in part by data protection regulations. With the rapid development and adoption of AI, it has become even more crucial since sensitive data may need to be processed for training AI models. Alongside data protection, digital sovereignty needs to take into account operational sovereignty, which means maintaining visibility and control over operations using trusted personnel and entities. Technical sovereignty is another consideration, which ensures the ability to run applications without being overly dependent on foreign suppliers. Open-source applications play a crucial role in achieving this objective. The increased emphasis on digital sovereignty has created opportunities for home-grown IT services providers and telecom operators that already have strong relationships with the public sector and major enterprises in the markets they serve. For example, Capgemini and Orange launched Bleu, a company they have jointly created to offer Microsoft-based cloud services that meet standards set by French authorities for data protection and sovereignty requirements. This helps Bleu to target critical infrastructure operators, public institutions, and enterprises in regulated industries across France. It also mitigates against US extraterritorial law (CLOUD Act). Besides France, sovereign cloud solutions have also been introduced by European countries, for example, by T-Systems in Germany and Proximus in Belgium. The trend is now quickly shifting to sovereign AI solutions. For example, Capgemini has worked with Telenor to develop Norway's first sovereign AI cloud service in collaboration with Nvidia. Telenor's AI factory was launched in late 2024 to help enterprises adopt AI, which ensuring security, sustainability (it runs on 100% renewable energy), and data sovereignty within Norway. Atos has also won deals to develop sovereign AI capabilities. Most recently, its Eviden business unit won a EUR50 million contract with Serbia's Office for IT and eGovernment to deploy a national AI factory, comprising an AI center of excellence and an AI-dedicated supercomputer platform. Eviden is deploying its BullSequana XH3000 supercomputer, which is designed and manufactured in France, which helps to alleviate hardware supply chain concerns. The recent announcement by the EU to set up AI gigafactories will be another catalyst. This is not just happening in Europe. Sovereign cloud and AI solutions are also being deployed in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. National AI programs have been driven by government initiatives but often undertaken by domestic telecom operators and other local companies. For example, in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has been developing the country's sovereign AI cloud and building an ecosystem, which includes key players such as stc and Aramco Digital. In Thailand, underpinned by the government's National AI Strategy (2022-2027), local players such as True, Cloud, and Gulf Edge have also been actively building AI capabilities in the country by working with various global technology partners. While the local IT service providers and telcos are well-positioned to develop the AI infrastructure, they often do not have extensive AI expertise to help enterprises develop solutions and human capital. Major global systems integrators have been developing their AI practice, which can help their telco customers/partners in various markets bridge the gap. This can also include building the right technology partner ecosystem, strengthening security posture, and developing AI expertise. "Digital sovereignty and national AI creates opportunities" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
EU May Spend $56B on U.S. Goods to Avert Tariff War
BRUSSELS: EU nations could commit to spending an extra $56 billion on American products to end the tariff showdown with US President Donald Trump, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said in an interview with the Financial Times published Thursday. Sefcovic, who has been leading negotiations with the US administration, said that 'certain progress' had been made but the European Union would not accept the United States' 10 percent tariff on EU goods. Sefcovic said that once US services are taken into account, the US trade deficit with the 27 EU nations is about 50 billion euros ($56 billion) a year. 'If what we are looking at as a problem in the deficit is EUR50 billion, I believe that we can really . . . solve this problem very quickly through LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) purchases, through some agricultural products like soyabeans, or other areas,' the commissioner told the FT. Trump has said the deficit is several hundred billion dollars a year and has imposed a 25 percent tariff on EU-made cars, aluminium and steel. Other goods have a 10 percent tariff. The US president originally imposed a 20 percent tariff on EU goods but this has been suspended until July and negotiators are now seeking to avoid a full trade war over the tariffs if this level comes into force. Sefcovic said that even a 10 percent base tariff would be a 'very high' level that the EU could not accept. The commissioner said that while the two sides had a greater understanding of the other's position, it would still be 'very difficult' to reach a deal that was 'clearly good and acceptable for our member states and our European parliament'. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. REUTERSpix
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Global Fashion Group SA (WBO:GFGT) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges and ...
Gross Margin Q4 2024: 45.6% Adjusted EBITDA Margin Q4 2024: 3.8% Gross Margin Full Year 2024: 45% Adjusted EBITDA Margin Full Year 2024: Negative 2.8% Revenue 2024: EUR 744 million, declining 9% year-over-year Cost Base Reduction 2024: Over EUR 50 million Normalized Free Cash Flow Improvement 2024: EUR 20 million compared to 2023 Convertible Bonds Repurchased 2024: EUR 124 million at a 16% discount Net Merchandise Value (NMV) Q4 2024: Growth in LATAM and ANZ, decline in SEA Inventory Reduction 2024: 10% year-on-year Pro Forma Cash Balance End of 2024: EUR 222 million Pro Forma Net Cash End of 2024: EUR 164 million Active Customers Decline 2024: 9% year-on-year Order Frequency 2024: Reduced by 3% to 2.3 times Revenue Decline Q4 2024: 1.2% Cost Base Reduction 2024: EUR 56 million year-on-year Headcount Reduction 2024: 20% year-over-year Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with WBO:GFGT. Release Date: March 05, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Global Fashion Group SA (WBO:GFGT) achieved consistent quarterly improvement in gross margin, reaching a record 45.6% in Q4 2024. The company successfully reduced its total cost base by over EUR50 million, enhancing profitability. Strategic investments in high-return initiatives like the OWMS project improved fulfillment efficiencies. The company repurchased EUR124 million of convertible bonds at a 16% discount, strengthening its balance sheet. ANZ and LATAM regions returned to NMV growth in Q4, driven by strong Black Friday results and strategic initiatives. Active customers declined by 9% year-on-year, indicating challenges in customer retention. Order frequency reduced by 3% to 2.3 times in 2024, primarily due to weaker performance in Southeast Asia (SEA). SEA experienced a 17% year-on-year decline in NMV, highlighting significant regional challenges. The company decided to close operations in Chile due to post-COVID challenges and competitive pressures. Revenue for 2024 declined by 9% year-over-year on a constant currency basis, reflecting broader market challenges. Q: Can you provide an update on trading from Q4 into January and February across different markets and the consumer sentiment outlook for 2025? A: Trading in the first two months of the year has continued similarly to Q4, with positive trends in LATAM and ANZ, and more challenges in Southeast Asia. Q1 is typically a smaller quarter for us, especially in southern hemisphere markets. In Southeast Asia, key trading events in March, like the Raya season and birthday sales, are significant. Consumer sentiment shows mixed signals, with Australia improving and Brazil showing mixed data points. We are confident in our positioning with a fresh assortment and low aged inventory. Q: How will you implement the LATAM turnaround strategy in Southeast Asia, and are there any market-specific challenges? A: While there is a blueprint from LATAM, Southeast Asia is a vastly different market. LATAM has more localized markets, whereas Southeast Asia is more integrated with stock sold across multiple geographies. We are leveraging group-wide experience, including from LATAM, to address competitive pricing and market characteristics. The focus in Southeast Asia is more on top-line turnaround, leveraging strong brand assets and customer engagement to drive loyalty and order frequency. Q: Can you discuss the competitive environment in your regions and expectations for price inflation? A: The competitive environment is rational, with many competitors focusing on profitability. We face competition from general merchandise players and platforms. Our unique positioning as a multi-brand pure player in fashion, sports, and lifestyle categories is a strength. Regarding inflation, we expect it to moderate or decline in most regions, except Brazil, where it remains relatively high at around 5%. Q: What are the key levers to drive active customer growth as inflation recedes? A: Active customer numbers are lagging indicators, but leading indicators in ANZ and LATAM have turned positive. We focus on tailored marketing strategies, re-energizing brands, and enhancing CRM with AI and automation for personalized customer engagement. Marketing costs may rise slightly to attract new customers and reduce churn, with successful campaigns like the master brand campaign in Australia. Q: What is your cost reduction outlook for 2025, and are you targeting a reduction of 5% to 10%? A: We continue our cost reduction program with strong controls across P&L and CapEx. Significant reductions are expected year-on-year, focusing on fulfillment, tech, and admin cost efficiencies. Q: Why was the Chile operation not closed earlier, and are there plans to shut down additional regions? A: We attempted to turn around Chile alongside Brazil and Colombia but did not achieve the same success. The decision to close was made after evaluating performance improvements in other regions. We are not planning to close additional markets currently but continuously review performance. Q: Do you expect a positive group EBIT in Q4? A: We had a positive adjusted EBITDA in Q4 and expect this trend to continue into 2025. Our primary objective is to achieve adjusted EBITDA break-even for the year, with positive EBIT to follow. Q: Can you provide insights into the challenges in Southeast Asia and how you plan to strengthen your fashion and lifestyle position? A: Each country in Southeast Asia has unique challenges, with Indonesia being the largest and highly competitive market. We focus on core fashion and lifestyle categories, moving away from adjacent categories. Strengthening our position involves offering a distinct assortment with exclusive brands and differentiated products, focusing on our top 30 brands. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
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Business Standard
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Tata Elxsi: Sentiments defy weak Q4 and bearish calls by brokerages
The outlook in Transport is clouded by tariff uncertainty. Tata Elxsi has very high exposure to JLR (subsidiary of Tata Motors), but this is now easing down Premium Devangshu Datta Listen to This Article Tata Elxsi reported weak results for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2024-25 (FY25) and many analysts were also negative on the stock. But the share surged by over 9 per cent post the results (announced on Thursday post market hours) to close at ₹5,344.55 on the BSE on Monday. This might be due to low expectations and potentially attractive valuations after a 30 per cent correction over the last 12 months. There was a sequential revenue decline in large verticals, across regions and clients. However, the company announced a $100 million deal and a EUR50 million deal in
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SGL Carbon SE (SGLFF) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges with Strategic ...
Revenue: EUR 1.26 billion, down 5.8% from the previous year. EBITDA pre: EUR 162.9 million, a decline of 3.3% from the previous year. EBITDA Margin: Increased to 15.9% from the previous year. Graphite Solutions Revenue: EUR 539 million, down nearly 5%. Process Tech Revenue: EUR 138.3 million, an 8% increase. Carbon Fiber Revenue: EUR 210 million, a decline of almost 7%. Composite Solutions Revenue: EUR 126 million, a 19% decline. Net Result: Negative EUR 80.3 million, impacted by EUR 118 million in restructuring costs and impairments. Free Cash Flow: Approximately EUR 40 million, down from EUR 95 million the previous year. Net Financial Debt: Reduced by 6% to EUR 108 million. Equity Ratio: 41.5%. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE): Increased to 11.4%. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Sign with SGLFF. Release Date: March 20, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. SGL Carbon SE (SGLFF) managed to keep its EBITDA margin stable at 15.9% despite a challenging business environment. The Process Tech business unit showed remarkable growth, with an 8% increase in sales and a nearly 50% jump in profitability. The company successfully reduced its net financial debt by 6%, achieving a healthy leverage ratio of 0.7. SGL Carbon SE (SGLFF) maintained a positive free cash flow of approximately EUR 40 million. The company demonstrated strong cost management, reducing indirect spending and optimizing headcount and structures. Overall sales declined by 5.8% compared to the previous year, with a significant impact from currency effects and portfolio changes. The Carbon Fiber business unit faced a 7% decline in sales and a substantial operational loss, leading to restructuring plans. The Composite Solutions unit experienced a 19% drop in sales due to the termination of a profitable automotive contract. The semiconductor and LED market segment, crucial for the Graphite Solutions unit, saw a slowdown, impacting sales and profitability. The company reported a negative net result of EUR 80.3 million, primarily due to restructuring costs and impairments. Q: Last year's CapEx was EUR97 million. Can you provide a specific figure for this year's CapEx, especially given the muted silicon carbide outlook? A: Thomas Dippold, CFO: We haven't provided a specific CapEx figure for this year. However, we expect our cash flow to remain positive. There will be some major CapEx, but likely not at last year's level. We also have some one-off restructuring costs for carbon fiber, totaling EUR50 million over the next two years. Q: Given the competitive landscape, particularly with Asian competitors catching up, how do you maintain your advantage in the silicon carbide market? A: Andreas Klein, CEO: Our advantage lies in providing a comprehensive portfolio and maintaining strong partnerships with customers. We focus on delivering consistent quality and growing with our customers' evolving requirements, leveraging our established footprint and experience. Q: With the current challenges in the electric vehicle market, how do you plan to safeguard sales and profitability in 2025? A: Andreas Klein, CEO: We are focusing on broadening our market reach beyond silicon carbide and electric vehicles, scouting for new applications to fill capacities. Additionally, we are implementing strict cost and cash management measures, optimizing headcount, and adjusting CapEx based on new forecasts. Q: What are the expected cash effects of the restructuring activities in the carbon fiber business? A: Andreas Klein, CEO: The restructuring activities will have a one-time cash effect of EUR50 million spread over 2025 and 2026. This includes site-specific measures and the closure of unprofitable assets. Q: How do you view the long-term outlook for the silicon carbide market despite the current slowdown? A: Andreas Klein, CEO: The long-term importance of silicon carbide remains unchanged due to its performance benefits for electric vehicles. While the mid-term growth outlook has been adjusted, we expect silicon carbide penetration to increase in other markets, presenting new opportunities. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
