BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / Celsius Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: CELH), the makers of CELSIUS®, a leading fitness drink, today announced that it will release financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016 on Thursday, March 30, 2017 after the market close. Management will then host a conference call that same day at 4:30 pm Eastern Time to discuss the results with the investment community.

To participate in the conference call, please call one of the following telephone numbers at least 10 minutes before the start of the call:

– US: 877-709-8150
– International: ­201-689-8354

An audio replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website at http://celsius.com/press-releases/.

About Celsius Holdings, Inc.

Celsius Holdings, Inc. (CELH), founded in April, 2004, is a global company, with a proprietary, clinically proven formula for flagship brand CELSIUS®. Celsius Holdings, Inc., has a corporate mission to become the global leader of a branded portfolio which is proprietary, clinically proven or patented in its category, and offers significant health benefits.

CELSIUS®’ original line comes in seven delicious sparkling and non-carbonated flavors, and in powder stick packets which can be mixed with water. CELSIUS® has no preservatives, no aspartame, no high fructose corn syrup, is non-gmo, with no artificial flavors or colors, and is very low in sodium. The CELSIUS® line of products is kosher and vegan certified, soy, gluten, and sugar free. CELSIUS®’ new natural line, is also available in six refreshing flavors: 3 sparkling – grapefruit, cucumber lime, orange pomegranate and 3 non-carbonated – pineapple coconut, watermelon berry and strawberries & cream.

The first university study of the science underlying CELSIUS® products was conducted in 2005, and additional studies from the University of Oklahoma were conducted over the next five years. All studies were published in peer-reviewed journals and validate the unique benefits CELSIUS® provides to the consumer.

For more information, please visit www.celsius.com.

Investor Relations:

Hayden IR
Brett Maas
(646) 536-7331
brett@haydenir.com

or

Cameron Donahue
(651) 653-1854
cameron@haydenir.com

SOURCE: Celsius Holdings, Inc.

ReleaseID: 457791

One of the Largest Plumbing Service Companies in North America Selects Bollente’s Trutankless™ Brand as the Exclusive Preferred Vendor of Whole-Home Electric Tankless Water Heaters

PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / Bollente Companies, Inc. (OTCQB: BOLC), the leader in residential and commercial-grade smart electric water heaters, today announces a major, exclusive partnership with Mr. Rooter®. This partnership validates Bollente’s trutankless™ brand as a preferred vendor, and ensures the brand is actively marketed and sold by all Mr. Rooter franchisees. Mr. Rooter is the second-largest, full-service plumbing and drain cleaning company in the United States.

Recognized as one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Franchise 500” and one of Franchise Times Magazine’s “Top 200,” Mr. Rooter’s extensive network provides services to residential and commercial customers from more than 200 locations in North America.

The ­­­­­­­­groundbreaking deal creates for Bollente an immediate path to growth nationwide. The trutankless™ marketing team gains unprecedented access to Mr. Rooter franchise owners and managers, as well as vendor training with Mr. Rooter’s field sales teams to drive visibility and sales of trutankless™ products in almost every major metropolitan area.

Glenn Gallas, VP of Operations for Mr. Rooter, comments, “The trutankless™ brand has all of the qualifying factors when it comes to a strong strategic partner. It combines an innovative technology with competitive pricing and a great reputation for service. We are confident that trutankless™ water heaters will help our franchisees grow their business by adding more quality products to offer their customers.”

Bollente President, Michael Stebbins, states, “We are proud that Bollente will be the first whole home electric tankless™ company to ever have reached such an agreement. It’s a testament to the direction of the company and the quality of trutankless™ products. We are proud to offer our products through Mr. Rooter, one of the most well-known and respected companies in the plumbing service industry. It’s a landmark in building our trutankless™ brand via 232 locations in North America.”

The opportunity with Mr. Rooter coincides with other nationwide partnerships that are expected to rapidly expand consumers’ exposure to the trutankless™ brand in the multi-billion dollar replacement market.

About trutankless™

Hot water. Perfected. Packed with patented and patent-pending proprietary technologies, trutankless™ is engineered to outperform and outlast both its tank and tankless™ predecessors in energy efficiency, output, and durability. Not only does it provide endless hot water on demand for an entire household, it also integrates with home automation systems and has its own online control panel, allowing homeowners to control water temperature to within one degree, obtain service notifications, and monitor usage from their computer or mobile devices. Because hot water is such an intimate and essential part of daily life, this is a highly meaningful new “Internet of Things” player in the arena of smart home tech. For a visual demonstration of the tech behind trutankless™, please visit http://www.youtube.com/trutankless.

About Mr. Rooter®

Established in 1970, Mr. Rooter is an all-franchised, full-service plumbing and drain cleaning company with approximately 300 franchises worldwide. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its “Franchise 500” and Franchise Times Top 200, Mr. Rooter franchisees provide services to both residential and commercial customers. Mr. Rooter is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc., family of service franchises. For more information, visit www.mrrooter.com.

About Bollente Companies

Founded in 2010, trutankless™, a division of Bollente Companies, Inc. (OTCQB: BOLC), was brought to life through the combined insight, ingenuity, and drive of industry professionals, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The objective was to create a line of electric tankless water heaters that far surpasses traditional tank water heaters in energy efficiency, output, dependability, and environmental sustainability, while overcoming the frustrating drawbacks of other tankless units on the market today.

The trutankless™ mission is to efficiently provide hot water on demand by combining smart engineering with forward-thinking technologies that save owners money, energy, and space. For more information, please visit www.trutankless.com or call 855-TO-BUY-TRU.

Forward-Looking Statement

The statements in this press release regarding any implied or perceived benefits from the release by trutankless of its line of electric tankless water heaters or added key strategic sales and distribution partners are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks of the key strategic sales and distribution partners ability to sell our product, and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, and the ability to manage and continue growth. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions, and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investor Inquiries:

info@bollente.com

480.275.7572 Office

Communications Contact:

NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com

SOURCE: Bollente Companies, Inc.

ReleaseID: 457704

The Internet of
Things Is Worth Trillions Of Dollars And Here To Stay

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / It’s time for spring-cleaning, so forget cloud computing, and definitely forget solar. If the multi billion markets of cloud computing and solar excited you, take a look at the cloud computing of the future: The Internet of Things, the fastest market
to hit a Trillion Dollar valuation.

What is the Internet of Things? The Internet of things refers to the growing network between almost everything electronic. A technological eventuality, the exponential growth of the Internet over the past decade has culminated in the sudden connection between our phones, computers, cars, buildings, and nearly every electronic device with a sensor.

With sensors and devices collecting information 24/7, the opportunity in the Internet Of Things results from the transformation of this noise into action. Examples include “Smart Homes” that begin heating the house as you drive home from work or “Smart Grids” that automatically adjust traffic lights to improve congestion. With experts estimating 50 billion objects in the Internet of Things by 2020, the possibilities for improvement are endless.

As the Internet of
Things continues to take the world by storm, its valuation is expected to be
worth trillions by 2020. Similar to
every other tech revolution like personal computing, cloud computing, and solar
energy- early stage companies and
startups carving out their niche in this new market are starting to take off.

Salesforce is Hungry
For Innovation, Hungry for The Internet Of Things

In order to keep up with this explosion in innovation, tech giants such as Salesforce (CRM), Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL), and Intel (INTC) are going on an acquisition spree. Salesforce in particular, acquired 120% more companies in 2016 than
it did in 2015.

John Somojai, the head of the company’s venture arm, indicated an interest in the acquisition of companies in Artificial Intelligence, enterprise mobility, and big data spaces,
which are all important pillars supporting the growth of the Internet of
Things. It’s fair to say that Salesforce is clearly interested in the Internet of Things.

All Macro Signs Point
Towards Salesforce Targeting The Internet of Things As Its Next Acquisition

Salesforce fundamental strength lies in its expertise in data analytics, robust data centers, and enterprise solutions. With a sales model that focuses on business-to-business transactions, the company stands to benefit tremendously from the disciplined acquisition of a business providing Internet of Things solutions. Over the next five years, experts project nearly $6 trillion will be spent on IoT
solutions. More importantly, businesses are expected to be the top adopter of this new technology paradigm. The benefit of these solutions is expected in the improvement of bottom line through lowered operating costs, ease of expansion to new markets, and improvements in productivity. As artificial intelligence grows increasingly sophisticated, government adoption should ramp accordingly to capture tangible improvements in citizen quality of life.

It’s clear how an acquisition in this new field would grant Salesforce substantial exposure to this multi trillion-dollar opportunity. Moreover, there’s a strong case to be made for Salesforce’s ability in quickly adopting and leveraging any acquired platform due to the clear synergies between its technological expertise and the demands of IoT technology.

Arkados
Group, Inc. (AKDS): A Compelling Player In The Internet of Things

Although the Internet of Things has grown rapidly to become a trillion dollar market, it has largely gone unnoticed by the majority of investors. Similarly, many companies pioneering the development of this field have gone unnoticed. This is the case for IoT Company Arkados Group, Inc, which trades at a $16 million valuation.

Arkados offers a suite of software and network solutions that leverage the benefits expected from an IoT system. Utilizing the scaling capabilities of cloud services, the company’s software platform allows for intelligent real-time monitoring of devices with the capability for energy management. This represents an ideal solution for industrial businesses, creating a number of efficiencies through the applications of smart manufacturing, smart building, and smart machine.

Arkados’ end-to-end smart system solutions allow for meaningful improvements on the bottom line with its focus on management, optimization, and saving. These system solutions are highly adaptable, capable of creating advanced networks of commercial buildings, factories, and other machines that can benefit from systems management and surveillance.

The benefits of Arkados’ products are particularly noticeable in energy conservation services. Catering directly to the needs of commercial, institutional, or industrial clients, the company is able to implement automation that accounts for mission critical tasks while substantially reducing the activity of idle process that consume large amounts of energy. Interestingly, the reduction of idle and wasteful processes slow down the depreciation of equipment. With these changes naturally increasing the ROI, Arkados’ solutions become a necessity for businesses.

Solar’s
Salvation Lies In the Internet of Things

Despite the phenomenal growth in solar energy and demand over the past few years, where solar installations in the US increased 97% in 2016 alone, the largest players in the solar industry have continued to die off. Sungevity is approaching bankruptcy, SolarCity is scaling back, and SunEdison crumbled last year from its debt of $11 billion. Which begs the question, what’s going on?

Well the answer is simple, large solar companies simply lack the margins to profitably conduct business. With the majority of large Solar players now gone like the wind, all eyes are now on First Solar (FSLR). With its valuation dwindling lower by the day, the company is in clear need of a solution. Fortunately,
First Solar has over $2 billion in cash, so there’s no major rush.

That being said, the solution may lie in Arkados’ software. In the pursuit of stronger margins, Solar companies have continued to beat their heads against the wall in the hopes developing a solar panel with improved conversion efficiency. Despite the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars towards this endeavor, engineering and scientific constraints have stifled progress. That being said, the solution may lie in Arkados’ software. The IoT company has
reported an increase in the ROI of solar PV systems through the long-term
operating and maintenance services provided by its Arktic software platform. The proven benefit in the reduction of energy consumption and operational efficiency may represent Solar’s Salvation.

The economics of Solar businesses can be vastly improved by bundling solar panels with a software platform that improves their performance. This is the eventual direction Solar should be expected to head, regardless of breakthroughs in solar panel development.

Arkados appears to be already ahead of the curve. Yesterday, the company signed a letter of intent to acquire the assets of private company SolBright Renewable Energy, LLC, for $15 million in a combination of cash, debt, and stock for 100% of the assets of SolBright. With the deal anticipated to close by the end of the month, this acquisition will be a case study that illustrates the synergy between solar and IoT companies. SolBright is a renewable energy design and development company based in the US, offering turnkey solutions in solar installations for commercial, industrial, and military markets.

SolBright’s solar installation business is well established, ranking in the top 100 in Solar Power World’s prestigious list of North American Solar Contractors.
Their services are in high demand, demonstrated by the $40 million backlog of
engineering, procurement and construction services projects that Arkados
acquired with its $15 million transaction. This backlog represents a tremendous opportunity for Arkados in the expansion of its energy solutions business. Successful implementation of the company’s software offerings will highlight the synergy between solar and IoT. More importantly, if Arkados is able to deliver returns
greater than the sum of its parts, there would finally be a winning formula for
Solar companies, turning Arkados into a highly compelling acquisition for First
Solar.

With that being said, regardless of potential acquisition by Cisco or First Solar, Arkados remains highly undervalued. The company is poised to generate over $45 million in revenues over the following months as it begins filling the $40 million backlog acquired from SolBright. With a valuation of $16 million, it’s clear that this revenue has yet to be priced into the company. As near term revenue continues to price into Arkados’ valuation, the company stands to benefit from unique macro events.

These macro events include the rapid growth of the Internet of Things Industry, which General Electric estimates will reach $60 trillion worldwide over the next 15 years. Solar too, is expected to triple over the following five years. If the company is able to execute and continue demonstrating the operational benefits of its software services, Arkados holds the potential to become the leader in this emerging market.

About One Equity Stocks

One Equity Stocks is a leading provider of research on publicly traded emerging growth companies. Our team is comprised of sophisticated financial professionals that strive to find the companies and management teams that will outperform the market and deliver investment returns to our subscribers. We are not a licensed broker dealer and do not publish investment advice and remind readers that investing involves considerable risk. We anticipate we will be compensated $3200 to distribute this article. One Equity Stocks encourages all readers to carefully review the SEC filings of any issuers we cover and consult with an investment professional before making any investment decisions.

SOURCE: One Equity Stocks, LLC

ReleaseID: 457828

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / Eagle Graphite Incorporated (TSXV: EGA) (FSE: NJGP) (OTC: APMFF) (“Eagle Graphite”, “Eagle”, or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the signing of a Heads Of Agreement to acquire Eurocan Mining GmbH (“Eurocan”), a private Austrian mineral exploration company, from its current beneficial owner, Eurocan Mining Anstalt (“EMA” of Lichtenstein).

Eagle Graphite is acting on its view that the Eurocan portfolio holds significant unrecognized potential, and represents an exceptionally compelling economic opportunity for Eagle shareholders. It is the intention of the Company to place the Eurocan portfolio into its own subsidiary company called Stella Gold, and distribute those shares to shareholders upon listing that subsidiary company on a suitable international exchange as soon as possible.

Eurocan’s principal asset is a portfolio of approximately 300 mineral claims covering a combined area of approximately 148 km2 in South-Central Austria. The 5 project areas of Schellgaden North, Schellgaden South, Kreuzeck West, Kreuzeck East and Goldeck-Siflitz, are located over former mines that in most cases have historically produced gold. By way of example, mining in the Schellgaden region is believed to date as far back as pre-Roman times, in addition to periods ranging from the Middle Ages up until World War II.

“The management of Eagle Graphite is always striving to introduce value to our shareholders and we see this project as a relatively straightforward way of immediately providing that value.” states Torey Marshall, Eagle’s EVP of Business Development. “Rather than dilute our core focus on graphite and be a distraction to our team, putting this into its own vehicle will give it an enormous boost, which therefore translates into increased value for our shareholders. We feel that we are acquiring this portfolio at a price which is extremely attractive when compared against typical metrics for similar transactions over recent years. Eagle Graphite is moving rapidly with 2017 shaping as a watershed year, and the Management and Board look forward to keeping all shareholders and stakeholders updated on the progress of its core business, and other opportunities as they arise.”

Schellgaden North Project

Most notable in Eurocan’s portfolio is the group of 36 claims comprising the Schellgaden North Gold Project, which include the former Stüblbau and Schulterbau Mines. These mines alone have historically produced over 150,000 ounces of gold. The Schellgaden Project has a historic Resource Estimate, though more work will be undertaken to both verify these numbers and to understand the possible size of exploration targets in the other project areas.

Historical resource estimates have been obtained from the report entitled “Brief Compilation Of The Present Status Of Gold-(-Silver-Base-Metal) Resources At The Schellgaden North Project Area And Of The Fundkofel Gold Mine” prepared in 2010 for Eurocan by HRK International GeoConsulting Services. Historical resource estimates, as expressed in this report for the Schellgaden North Project, were as follows:

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The terminology used within the report does not match the current CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, as mandated under NI 43-101 standards of disclosure for mineral properties. The author of the report uses the terms Measured Resource for the highest confidence, Inferred Resource for intermediate confidence, and Geology Indicated for the lowest confidence. These were intended to correspond to levels of confidence attributed to Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resource categories, respectively, within the CIM Definition Standards.

The estimates are relevant in representing that the Schellgaden North Project represents a former mine with potential resources that could be recovered, and that a significant exploration target is present. The estimates were compiled by experienced individuals who, at the time of writing the report quoted, met the requirements of a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 guidelines. The estimates were based upon fresh sampling (via channeling — a vertical face core being extracted) of each accessible lode underground. These were analysed by Bondar-Clegg, an independent laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the results used as a baseline grade check in the mathematical calculation of the numbers which involved projection of the historic mine plans onto graph paper to calculate ore layer thickness and continuity. This technical report referenced comprises the latest information available to the Company prior to its anticipated confirmatory Due Diligence.

While the constraining data, being ore horizon face samples, is reliable in estimating grade, more desktop work will be needed to create a computer model that will more accurately calculate the geostatistical range of potential resource sizes. Eagle Graphite proposes to undertake that further desktop study, and further validation of subsurface sampling, to update the numbers where necessary. During that process Eagle Graphite will also prepare, where possible, resource estimates for the remaining project areas. Until this is completed, no qualified person has done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate at Schellgaden North as current mineral resources or mineral reserves, and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

Eagle Graphite recognises that this project has significant potential, and that it could easily dovetail with other projects of similar potential that have been, and continue to be, evaluated by Management. It is therefore possible that the Stella Gold subsidiary would have additional projects added to further increase value for Eagle shareholders.

Terms of Acquisition

The transaction will be closed, subject to customary due diligence and any necessary approvals from the TSX Venture exchange and/or relevant regulatory bodies, upon fulfillment of all of the following conditions:

A non-refundable cash payment of US$50,000 by Eagle to EMA by April 3, 2017;
A cash payment of US$50,000 by Eagle to EMA upon verification, to Eagle’s satisfaction, of channel sample assays at the Schellgaden North project, no later than August 17, 2017;
A cash payment of US$1,000,000 by Eagle to EMA upon completion, no later than August 17, 2017;
Payment to EMA in shares of Eagle valued at CAD$550,000 upon completion, no later than August 17, 2017;
Cash payment of US$1,000,000 by Eagle to EMA within 30 days of the award of a mining licence by the Austrian Regulatory Authorities;
A 2.5% Net Smelter Royalty granted to EMA, which remains payable until a cumulative total of US$2,000,000 has been made. Eagle retains the right to purchase the royalty anytime for total cash consideration of US$2,000,000.
Dr. Hans Klob is to be retained as a consultant at a rate of US$20,000 per month for a minimum of 12 months commencing after completion of the transaction. At the end of the 12 month period Eagle can extend the agreement for another 12 months at a rate of US$20,000 per month, or terminate the agreement for a one time payment of US$50,000.

About Eagle Graphite

Eagle Graphite Incorporated is an Ontario minerals company. Its principal asset is one of only two operational natural flake graphite production facilities in North America, located 35 kilometres west of the city of Nelson in British Columbia, Canada, and 70 kilometres north of the state of Washington, USA, known as the Black Crystal graphite quarry. The Company’s shares are listed on the TSXV under the symbol “EGA”, on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “NJGP”, and on the US OTC market under the symbol “APMFF”.

Cautionary Statements

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such information is based on assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions and its expectations of future developments as well as other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. In evaluating forward-looking information, readers should carefully consider the various factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward looking information. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company or its securities, its financial or operating results, as applicable.

Torey Marshall, Bsc (Hons), Msc (Geology), MAusIMM(CP), a “Qualified Person” as defined by NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Eagle Graphite Incorporated
Jamie Deith
Chief Executive Officer
(604) 909-4237
jdeith@eaglegraphite.com

SOURCE: Eagle Graphite Incorporated

ReleaseID: 457829

Upcoming AWS Coverage on Acushnet Holdings Post-Earnings Results

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / Active Wall St. announces its post-earnings coverage on Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE: DKS). The Company reported its third quarter fiscal 2017 financial and operating results on March 06, 2017. The largest US based full-line omni-channel sporting goods retailer topped earnings estimates. Register with us now for your free membership at:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

One of Dick’s Sporting Goods’ competitors within the Sporting Goods Stores space, Acushnet Holdings Corp. (NYSE: GOLF), announced on March 07, 2017, that it will publish its Q4 and full-year 2016 financial results on March 22, 2017 at approximately 6:45 a.m. ET. Acushnet will also issue an advisory news release via the Acushnet Investor Relations and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission websites on March 22, 2017 announcing availability of the results. AWS will be initiating a research report on Acushnet Holdings in the coming days.

Today, AWS is promoting its earnings coverage on DKS; touching on GOLF. Get our free coverage by signing up to:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

Earnings Reviewed

DICK’S Sporting Goods’ net sales for the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2017, increased 10.9% to approximately $2.5 billion. Consolidated same store sales increased 5.0% compared to the Company’s guidance of an approximate 3% to 6% increase. Same store sales for DICK’S Sporting Goods increased 5.3%, while Golf Galaxy increased 13.2%. Revenues for the quarter came in in-line with analysts’ consensus. Net sales for FY16 increased 9.0% from last year’s period to $7.9 billion, reflecting the opening of new stores and an increase of 3.5% in consolidated same store sales.

For Q4 FY16, DICK’S Sporting Goods reported consolidated net income of $90.2 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared to consolidated net income of $129.0 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, for Q4 FY15 and against the Company’s expectations provided on November 15, 2016, of $1.15 to 1.27 per diluted share. In the reported quarter, DICK’S Sporting Goods incurred pre-tax charges totaling $93 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, comprised of $46 million to write-down the value of its inventory that does not fit within its new merchandising strategy, and $47 million related to asset impairments and store closing charges, as well as costs to convert former Sports Authority (“TSA”) and Golfsmith stores.

Excluding these charges, the Company reported consolidated non-GAAP net income for Q4 FY16 of $147.8 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, compared to the Company’s expectations provided on November 15, 2016, of $1.19 to 1.31 per diluted share. The Company’s earnings numbers surpassed Wall Street’s expectations of $1.30.

The Company reported consolidated net income for the 52 weeks ended January 28, 2017, of $287.4 million, or $2.56 per diluted share. For the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2016, the Company reported consolidated net income of $330.4 million, or $2.83 per diluted share.

The Company reported consolidated non-GAAP net income for the 52 weeks ended January 28, 2017, of $349.7 million, or $3.12 per diluted share. For the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2016, the Company reported consolidated non-GAAP net income of $335.1 million, or $2.87 per diluted share.

Omni-channel Development

DICK’S Sporting Goods’ ecommerce penetration for Q4 FY16 was 17.9% of total net sales, compared to 15.7% during Q4 FY15. The Company’s ecommerce penetration for the 52 weeks ended January 28, 2017, was 11.9% of total net sales compared to 10.3% during the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2016.

In Q4 FY16, DICK’S Sporting Goods opened three former TSA stores as new DICK’S Sporting Goods stores and closed 3 DICK’S Sporting Goods stores, 13 Golf Galaxy stores, and 2 True Runner stores. The Company also acquired 30 Golfsmith stores, which are being converted to the Golf Galaxy brand. Ten of the 13 Golf Galaxy store closures were located in close proximity to an acquired Golfsmith store that is better positioned to serve the Company’s customers. As of January 28, 2017, the Company operated 676 DICK’S Sporting Goods stores in 47 states, with approximately 36.0 million square feet, 91 golf specialty stores in 32 states, with approximately 1.9 million square feet, and 27 Field & Stream stores in 13 states, with approximately 1.3 million square feet.

Balance Sheet

DICK’S Sporting Goods ended FY16 with approximately $165 million in cash and cash equivalents and no outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility. In FY16, the Company continued to invest in omni-channel growth, while returning over $210 million to shareholders through share repurchases and quarterly dividends.

Capital Allocation

On February 09, 2017, DICK’S Sporting Goods ‘ Board of Directors authorized and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share on the Company’s Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The dividend is payable in cash on March 31, 2017, to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2017.

During Q4 FY16, the Company repurchased approximately 0.6 million shares of its common stock at an average cost of $54.06 per share, for a total cost of $29.7 million. In total for 2016, the Company repurchased approximately 3.1 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $46.55 per share, for a total cost of $145.7 million. Since the beginning of FY13, the Company has repurchased approximately $959 million of common stock and has approximately $1.04 billion remaining under its authorizations that extend through 2021.

Current 2017 Outlook

Full Year 2017 (53 week year) – DICK’S Sporting Goods currently anticipates reporting earnings per diluted share of approximately $3.63 to 3.73 for FY17, which includes approximately $0.05 per diluted share for the 53rd week. The Company’s earnings per diluted share guidance include the expectation of share repurchases to fully offset dilution in 2017.

Excluding TSA conversion costs, the Company currently anticipates reporting non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of approximately $3.65 to $3.75. The Company reported non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $3.12 for the 52 weeks ended January 28, 2017.

Consolidated same store sales are currently expected to increase approximately 2% to 3% on a 52 week to 52 week comparative basis compared to an increase of 3.5% in 2016.

The Company expects to open approximately 43 new DICK’S Sporting Goods stores and relocate approximately seven DICK’S Sporting Goods stores in 2017.

DICK’S Sporting Goods currently anticipates reporting earnings per diluted share of approximately $0.48 to 0.53 in Q1 FY17 compared to earnings per diluted share of $0.50 in Q1 FY16. The Company currently anticipates reporting non-GAAP earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.50 to 0.55 in the upcoming quarter. Consolidated same store sales are currently expected to increase approximately 3% to 4% in Q1 FY17 compared to a 0.5% increase in Q1 FY16.

The Company expects to open 16 new DICK’S Sporting Goods stores, relocate 2 DICK’S Sporting Goods stores, and open 2 new Field & Stream stores and 9 new Golf Galaxy stores in Q1 FY17.

Stock Performance

At the closing bell, on Monday, March 20, 2017, Dick’s Sporting Goods’ stock marginally fell 0.81%, ending the trading session at $47.96. A total volume of 1.85 million shares were traded at the end of the day. The stock is trading at a PE ratio of 18.71 and has a dividend yield of 1.42%.

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PRESS RELEASE PROCEDURES:

The non-sponsored content contained herein has been prepared by a writer (the “Author”) and is fact checked and reviewed by a third party research service company (the “Reviewer”) represented by a credentialed financial analyst, for further information on analyst credentials, please email info@activewallst.com. Rohit Tuli, a CFA® charterholder (the “Sponsor”), provides necessary guidance in preparing the document templates. The Reviewer has reviewed and revised the content, as necessary, based on publicly available information which is believed to be reliable. Content is researched, written and reviewed on a reasonable-effort basis. The Reviewer has not performed any independent investigations or forensic audits to validate the information herein. The Reviewer has only independently reviewed the information provided by the Author according to the procedures outlined by AWS. AWS is not entitled to veto or interfere in the application of such procedures by the third-party research service company to the articles, documents or reports, as the case may be. Unless otherwise noted, any content outside of this document has no association with the Author or the Reviewer in any way.

NO WARRANTY

AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer are not responsible for any error which may be occasioned at the time of printing of this document or any error, mistake or shortcoming. No liability is accepted whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of this document. AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer expressly disclaim any fiduciary responsibility or liability for any consequences, financial or otherwise arising from any reliance placed on the information in this document. Additionally, AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer do not (1) guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or correct sequencing of the information, or (2) warrant any results from use of the information. The included information is subject to change without notice.

NOT AN OFFERING

This document is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed, and is to be used for informational purposes only. Please read all associated disclosures and disclaimers in full before investing. Neither AWS nor any party affiliated with us is a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer with any agency or in any jurisdiction whatsoever. To download our report(s), read our disclosures, or for more information, visit http://www.activewallst.com/disclaimer/.

CONTACT

For any questions, inquiries, or comments reach out to us directly. If you’re a company we are covering and wish to no longer feature on our coverage list contact us via email and/or phone between 09:30 EDT to 16:00 EDT from Monday to Friday at:

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Phone number: 1-858-257-3144

Office Address: 3rd floor, 207 Regent Street, London, W1B 3HH, United Kingdom

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

SOURCE: Active Wall Street

ReleaseID: 457792

Upcoming AWS Coverage on Engility Holdings Post-Earnings Results

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / Active Wall St. announces its post-earnings coverage on Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY) as the Company released its third quarter fiscal 2017 financial and operating results on March 06, 2017. The preeminent global people and organizational advisory firm, reported earnings that met market estimates. Register with us now for your free membership at:

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One of Korn/Ferry’s competitors within the Staffing & Outsourcing Services space, Engility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EGL), reported on March 09, 2017, its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016. AWS will be initiating a research report on Engility in the coming days.

Today, AWS is promoting its earnings coverage on KFY; touching on EGL. Get our free coverage by signing up to:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

Earnings Reviewed

For the three months ended January 31, 2017, Korn/Ferry reported fee revenue of $381.9 million, an increase of 11.0%, or 13.3% increase on a constant currency basis, compared to Q3 FY16 fee revenue of $344.16 million. The growth in fee revenue was attributed to the acquisition of Legacy Hay that was completed on December 01, 2015, and organic growth in Futurestep fee revenue. The Company’s revenue numbers came in below analysts’ consensus of $382.3 million.

Korn/Ferry’s operating margin was 8.0% in Q3 FY17 compared to negative 4.1% in the year-ago same quarter. The Company’s EBITDA margin was 12.2% in Q3 FY17 compared to negative 3.1% in Q3 FY16. The improvement in operating and EBITDA margin was primarily due to a decrease in both restructuring charges, net and integration/acquisition costs, and higher fee revenues. Korn/Ferry’s adjusted EBITDA margin was 14.5% for the reported quarter compared to 13.6% in the year ago comparable quarter. The increase in adjusted EBITDA margin was primarily due to the improvement in margins in the Hay Group segment due to synergies achieved in connection with the Legacy Hay acquisition.

For Q3 FY17, Korn/Ferry’s diluted earnings per share were $0.42 compared to diluted loss per share of $0.30 in Q3 FY16. The Company’s adjusted diluted earnings per share were $0.53 in Q3 FY17 compared to adjusted diluted earnings per share in Q3 FY16 of $0.52. Adjusted diluted earnings per share excluded $8.6 million, or $0.15 per share, of restructuring charges, net and integration/acquisition costs. Korn/Ferry’s adjusted numbers matched market estimates for earnings of $0.53 per share.

Results by Segment

Korn/Ferry’s Executive Search segment’s fee revenue was $152.8 million in Q3 FY17, a decrease of $1.8 million, or an increase of $1.8 million on a constant currency basis, compared to Q3 FY16 fee revenue of $154.6 million. The segment’s operating income was $29.3 million in Q3 FY17 compared to $34.6 million in Q3 FY16. Operating margin was 19.2% in Q3 FY17 compared to 22.4% in the year earlier comparable quarter. The decrease in operating income and operating margin was due to lower fee revenue, higher compensation and benefits cost associated with recent new hires, the unfavorable impact of an increase in the fair value of amounts owed under certain deferred compensation plans, and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates. Executive Search’s EBITDA was $31.4 million in Q3 FY17 with an EBITDA margin of 20.5% compared to $35.7 million and 23.0%, respectively, in Q3 FY16.

For the Company’s Hay Group, fee revenue was $175.7 million in Q3 FY17 compared to $140.6 million in Q3 FY16, up 25.0% (or 27.2% increase on a constant currency basis). The segment’s operating income was $16.0 million in Q3 FY17, resulting in an operating margin of 9.1%. Operating income increased by $37.6 million from the operating loss of $21.6 million in Q3 FY16. Hay Group’s EBITDA was $24.2 million in Q3 FY17, with a margin of 13.8%, up from an EBITDA loss and margin of $14.7 million and (10.5)%, respectively, in the prior year’s comparable period. The Company’s adjusted EBITDA was $30.1 million in Q3 FY17, an increase of $7.3 million compared to Q3 FY16, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.1% in the reported quarter compared to 15.6% in Q3 FY16.

During Q3 FY17, Korn/Ferry’s Futurestep segment’s fee revenue grew 9.0%, or 11.6% on constant currency basis, to $53.4 million compared to fee revenue of $49.0 million in Q3 FY16. Futurestep’s new business in Q3 FY17 reached a record high of $103.8 million, with a record $83 million in Solutions new business.

The segment’s operating income was $6.5 million in Q3 FY17, essentially flat compared to Q3 FY16. Operating margin was 12.3% in the reported quarter compared to 13.5% in the year earlier same period. The decline in operating margin was attributed to an increase in compensation and benefits expense primarily driven by the need to service an increase in engagements in the recruitment process outsourcing business tied to strong Q2 and Q3 FY17 new engagements. Futurestep’s EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA were $7.3 million and $7.4 million, respectively, during Q3 FY17, essentially flat compared to Q3 FY16.

Share Repurchase

Korn/Ferry reported cumulative share repurchases of 893,000 since October 2016, representing a reduction of approximately 1.6% of outstanding shares of common stock. The Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share on March 06, 2017, payable on April 14, 2017, to stockholders of record on March 23, 2017.

Outlook

On a consolidated basis, Korn/Ferry is forecasting Q4 FY17 fee revenue in the range of $398 million and $412 million. The Company expects Q4 FY17 diluted earnings per share to be in the band of $0.41 to $0.49.

Stock Performance

On Monday, March 20, 2017, the stock closed the trading session at $31.89, dropping 1.67% from its previous closing price of $32.43. A total volume of 329.11 thousand shares have exchanged hands. Korn/Ferry’s stock price rallied 8.47% in the last three months, 48.09% in the past six months, and 9.38% in the previous twelve months. Furthermore, since the start of the year, shares of the Company have gained 8.36%. The stock is trading at a PE ratio of 28.94 and has a dividend yield of 1.25%.

Active Wall Street:

Active Wall Street (AWS) produces regular sponsored and non-sponsored reports, articles, stock market blogs, and popular investment newsletters covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and micro-cap stocks. AWS has two distinct and independent departments. One department produces non-sponsored analyst certified content generally in the form of press releases, articles and reports covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and the other produces sponsored content (in most cases not reviewed by a registered analyst), which typically consists of compensated investment newsletters, articles and reports covering listed stocks and micro-caps. Such sponsored content is outside the scope of procedures detailed below.

AWS has not been compensated; directly or indirectly; for producing or publishing this document.

PRESS RELEASE PROCEDURES:

The non-sponsored content contained herein has been prepared by a writer (the “Author”) and is fact checked and reviewed by a third party research service company (the “Reviewer”) represented by a credentialed financial analyst, for further information on analyst credentials, please email info@activewallst.com. Rohit Tuli, a CFA® charterholder (the “Sponsor”), provides necessary guidance in preparing the document templates. The Reviewer has reviewed and revised the content, as necessary, based on publicly available information which is believed to be reliable. Content is researched, written and reviewed on a reasonable-effort basis. The Reviewer has not performed any independent investigations or forensic audits to validate the information herein. The Reviewer has only independently reviewed the information provided by the Author according to the procedures outlined by AWS. AWS is not entitled to veto or interfere in the application of such procedures by the third-party research service company to the articles, documents or reports, as the case may be. Unless otherwise noted, any content outside of this document has no association with the Author or the Reviewer in any way.

NO WARRANTY

AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer are not responsible for any error which may be occasioned at the time of printing of this document or any error, mistake or shortcoming. No liability is accepted whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of this document. AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer expressly disclaim any fiduciary responsibility or liability for any consequences, financial or otherwise arising from any reliance placed on the information in this document. Additionally, AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer do not (1) guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or correct sequencing of the information, or (2) warrant any results from use of the information. The included information is subject to change without notice.

NOT AN OFFERING

This document is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed, and is to be used for informational purposes only. Please read all associated disclosures and disclaimers in full before investing. Neither AWS nor any party affiliated with us is a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer with any agency or in any jurisdiction whatsoever. To download our report(s), read our disclosures, or for more information, visit http://www.activewallst.com/disclaimer/.

CONTACT

For any questions, inquiries, or comments reach out to us directly. If you’re a company we are covering and wish to no longer feature on our coverage list contact us via email and/or phone between 09:30 EDT to 16:00 EDT from Monday to Friday at:

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Phone number: 1-858-257-3144

Office Address: 3rd floor, 207 Regent Street, London, W1B 3HH, United Kingdom

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

SOURCE: Active Wall Street

ReleaseID: 457793

Upcoming AWS Coverage on Nutrisystem Post-Earnings Results

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / Active Wall St. announces its post-earnings coverage on H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB). The Company released its third quarter fiscal 2017 financial and operating results on March 07, 2017. The tax preparer and tax software maker posted narrower than expected loss. The Company typically reports a fiscal third quarter operating loss due to the seasonality of its tax business. Register with us now for your free membership at:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

One of H&R Block’s competitors within the Personal Services space, Nutrisystem, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRI), reported on February 27, 2017, financial results for Q4 and full year ended December 31, 2016. AWS will be initiating a research report on Nutrisystem in the coming days.

Today, AWS is promoting its earnings coverage on HRB; touching on NTRI. Get our free coverage by signing up to:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

Earnings Reviewed

For the quarter ended January 31, 2017, H&R Block’s total revenues declined $4.8% million to $451.9 million, primarily due to lower client volumes in the Assisted and do-it-yourself (DIY) tax preparation businesses resulting from the delay in the overall tax season, coupled with the pricing impact of the early season promotions such as Free Federal 1040EZ and H&R Block More Zero. The Company’s revenue numbers surpassed analysts’ consensus of revenue of $427 million.

For Q3 FY17, H&R Block’s total operating expenses fell $17.7 million to $576.7 million. Compensation and benefits and marketing expenses declined as a result of the prior year’s cost reduction efforts. The reductions were partially offset by third-party fees associated with the Refund Advance product.

H&R Block’s total funded loans amounted to approximately $700 million in Q3 FY17 with the mix between new and prior clients being favorable compared to the Company’s expectations. Total direct program costs in February 28, 2017, were approximately $30 million, of which $16 million were recorded in other cost of revenues in Q3 FY17.

H&R Block’s Q3 FY17 pre-tax loss increased $4.1 million to $150.6 million. The Company posted net loss of $101 million, or $0.49 per share, compared with a loss of $0.34 per share in in Q3 FY16. Loss from continuing operations increased entirely to reductions in the Company’s effective tax rate and shares outstanding. H&R Block’s reported numbers were better than the market estimates of a loss of $0.52 per share.

Tax Season Results

H&R Block return volume outperformed industry results when compared to IRS data reported through February 24, 2017. The Company stated that in total, the IRS reported a decline in e-files of 10% compared to H&R Block’s decline of 7%. Market share gains were realized in both the Assisted and DIY categories.

In the Assisted category, H&R Block outperformed the industry with a decline of 8% compared to the IRS reported decline of 13%. In the DIY category, H&R Block outperformed the industry with a decline of 5% compared to the IRS reported decline of 8%. H&R Block stated that it expects overall industry and Company volume to improve during the second half of the tax season; the Company’s performance relative to the industry is estimated to moderate given the conclusion of its Free Federal 1040EZ and Refund Advance promotions on February 28, 2017.

Balance Sheet

H&R Block stated that during the reported quarter, Mortgage loans and real estate owned were liquidated for a total consideration of $188.2 million, which approximated book value. As of January 31, 2017, the Company’s seasonal line of credit borrowings, which are included in long-term debt, were $1.1 billion.

Discontinued Operations

H&R Block’s Sand Canyon Corporation’s accrual for contingent losses related to representation and warranty claims declined $21 million from the previous quarter to $5 million as a result of settlement payments to counterparties.

Share Repurchases and Dividends

During Q3 FY17, H&R Block repurchased and retired approximately 4.4 million shares at an aggregate price of $100.0 million, or $22.83 per share, bringing the total share repurchases for FY17 to approximately 14.0 million shares for $317.0 million. As of January 31, 2017, 207.2 million shares were outstanding.

H&R Block completed these share repurchases under a $3.5 billion share repurchase program approved by the Company’s Board of Directors in August 2015, which will continue through June 2019. Under this program, H&R Block has repurchased approximately 70 million shares of its common stock, or 25.5% of shares outstanding at the beginning of the program, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $2.3 billion.

H&R Block’s director also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share which is payable on April 03, 2017, to shareholders of record as of March 14, 2017. H&R Block has paid quarterly dividends consecutively since the Company went public in 1962.

Stock Performance

At the closing bell, on Monday, March 20, 2017, H&R Block’s stock declined 2.37%, ending the trading session at $23.87. A total volume of 4.70 million shares were traded at the end of the day, which was higher than the 3-month average volume of 3.12 million shares. In the last month and previous three months, shares of the Company have advanced 17.20% and 4.36%, respectively. The stock is trading at a PE ratio of 17.64 and has a dividend yield of 3.69%.

Active Wall Street:

Active Wall Street (AWS) produces regular sponsored and non-sponsored reports, articles, stock market blogs, and popular investment newsletters covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and micro-cap stocks. AWS has two distinct and independent departments. One department produces non-sponsored analyst certified content generally in the form of press releases, articles and reports covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and the other produces sponsored content (in most cases not reviewed by a registered analyst), which typically consists of compensated investment newsletters, articles and reports covering listed stocks and micro-caps. Such sponsored content is outside the scope of procedures detailed below.

AWS has not been compensated; directly or indirectly; for producing or publishing this document.

PRESS RELEASE PROCEDURES:

The non-sponsored content contained herein has been prepared by a writer (the “Author”) and is fact checked and reviewed by a third party research service company (the “Reviewer”) represented by a credentialed financial analyst, for further information on analyst credentials, please email info@activewallst.com. Rohit Tuli, a CFA® charterholder (the “Sponsor”), provides necessary guidance in preparing the document templates. The Reviewer has reviewed and revised the content, as necessary, based on publicly available information which is believed to be reliable. Content is researched, written and reviewed on a reasonable-effort basis. The Reviewer has not performed any independent investigations or forensic audits to validate the information herein. The Reviewer has only independently reviewed the information provided by the Author according to the procedures outlined by AWS. AWS is not entitled to veto or interfere in the application of such procedures by the third-party research service company to the articles, documents or reports, as the case may be. Unless otherwise noted, any content outside of this document has no association with the Author or the Reviewer in any way.

NO WARRANTY

AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer are not responsible for any error which may be occasioned at the time of printing of this document or any error, mistake or shortcoming. No liability is accepted whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of this document. AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer expressly disclaim any fiduciary responsibility or liability for any consequences, financial or otherwise arising from any reliance placed on the information in this document. Additionally, AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer do not (1) guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or correct sequencing of the information, or (2) warrant any results from use of the information. The included information is subject to change without notice.

NOT AN OFFERING

This document is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed, and is to be used for informational purposes only. Please read all associated disclosures and disclaimers in full before investing. Neither AWS nor any party affiliated with us is a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer with any agency or in any jurisdiction whatsoever. To download our report(s), read our disclosures, or for more information, visit http://www.activewallst.com/disclaimer/.

CONTACT

For any questions, inquiries, or comments reach out to us directly. If you’re a company we are covering and wish to no longer feature on our coverage list contact us via email and/or phone between 09:30 EDT to 16:00 EDT from Monday to Friday at:

Email: info@activewallst.com

Phone number: 1-858-257-3144

Office Address: 3rd floor, 207 Regent Street, London, W1B 3HH, United Kingdom

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

SOURCE: Active Wall Street

ReleaseID: 457797

Upcoming AWS Coverage on China Mobile Post-Earnings Results

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / Active Wall St. blog coverage looks at the headline from London, UK based Telecom giant Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ: VOD) as the Company and Indian Telecom Major, Idea Cellular Ltd announced on March 20, 2107 that they are joining their operations in India. Their union will result in an unrivalled telecom leader in India. Register with us now for your free membership and blog access at:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

One of Vodafone Group’s competitors within the Wireless Communications space, China Mobile Limited (NYSE: CHL) will be reviewed by the AWS team which will then initiate a research report following its next earnings release.

Today, AWS is promoting its blog coverage on VOD; touching on CHL. Get all of our free blog coverage and more by clicking on the link below:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

Commenting on the merger Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group said:

“This landmark combination will enable the Aditya Birla Group to create a high quality digital infrastructure that will transition the Indian population towards a digital lifestyle and make the Government’s Digital India vision a reality.”

Vittorio Colao, Chief Executive of Vodafone Group PLC said:

“The combined Company will have the scale required to ensure sustainable consumer choice in a competitive market and to expand new technologies – such as mobile money services – that have the potential to transform daily life for every Indian.”

The Deal

Vodafone will bring to the table Vodafone India including its standalone towers business but excluding its 42% stake in Indus Towers. Idea will bring in all of its assets including its standalone towers as well as its 11.15% stake in Indus Towers. The deal puts the enterprise value for Vodafone India at $12.4 billion and Idea’s mobile business, excluding its 11.15% stake in Indus Towers, at $10.8 billion. Vodafone is also expected to pay off Idea’s debt of $7.9 billion (as on 31 December 2016). Once the deal is completed Vodafone will own 45.1% of the merged entity and simultaneously transfer 4.9% stake to the Aditya Birla Group for $579 million in cash. Aditya Birla Group is expected to own 26% stake in the merged entity and the remaining 28.9% stake will be owned by Idea’s other shareholders.

The Aditya Birla Group has retained the right to acquire an additional 9.5% stake in the merged entity from Vodafone under mutually agreed terms.

Before the completion of the merger, Idea will sell off its 11.15% stake in Indus Towers and Vodafone will consider strategic options to offload its 42% stake in Indus Towers. This will reduce the debt burden on the new merged entity.

The deal is expected to close in the calendar year 2018 and is subject to approvals from Idea’s shareholders, relevant regulatory authorities, and other closing conditions.

The Merged Entity

The merged entity will be jointly controlled by Vodafone and The Aditya Birla Group.

The name of the merged entity has not been disclosed and will be shared later. The brand, its business strategy for growth will be developed soon and will leverage both brands customers’ decade long affiliation. The Board of Directors of the merged entity will have a total of 12 directors, of which 6 will be independent directors, and Idea and Vodafone will each nominate three directors. The Aditya Birla Group will have the exclusive right to select the Chairman of the Board and Vodafone will have the exclusive right to select the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be jointly selected by both Vodafone and Idea. Both Companies expect the management team to be in place before the finalization of the deal.

The Shareholders’ agreement and the Articles of Association of the merged entity will have a number of conditions and clauses. One of the exclusive clause in the same states that at least one of the parties will hold more than 26% stake in the combined entity until March 31, 2020 and above 21% stake after that.

Intrinsic Benefits

The merged Company will have nearly 400 million customers and a market share of 35% in terms of customers and 41% in terms of revenue. The joining of forces will enable the merged entity to achieve scale and efficiency wherein it will be able to offer innovative and competitively priced mobile services in a highly cut-throat environment. The merged entity will be able to speed up its expansion of operations across India and offer wireless broadband services on 4G/4G+/5G technologies and other digital and IoT (internet of Things) services. This will be possible with joining of networks, spectrum capacity, and investments. Vodafone had a stronger presence in metro areas whereas Idea was stronger in semi-urban and rural areas in India. The combining of the two will result in a telecom leader with an evenly distributed presence across all market sections. Additionally, since both Vodafone and the Aditya Birla Group back the deal, they would apply their expertise, knowledge of the Indian market to help drive the growth, investment in the merged entity, and create value for all stakeholders.

Financial Benefits

The transaction is expected to be accretive to Vodafone’s cash flow within the first year of completion of the transaction.

The merger will result in run-rate cost and CapEx synergies of over $2.1 billion annually from the fourth year after the completion of the deal. Savings, in terms of operation cost, are expected to be 60% of run rate savings but do not include the cost of integration.

The deal also comes with a break-up fees of $500 million that would become payable under certain circumstances.

Background

The consolidation of Vodafone and Idea was triggered by the price war started by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio. Jio was launched in September 2016 and since its launch it has offered free voice and data. From April 01, 2017, Jio is also offering free voice calls for life and unbelievably cheap data plans. This has forced the highly competitive Indian telecom players to slash their prices and look at consolidation to survive.

Stock Performance

At the closing bell, on Monday, March 20, 2017, Vodafone Group’s stock slightly fell 0.26%, ending the trading session at $26.48. A total volume of 4.38 million shares were traded at the end of the day. In the last month and previous three months, shares of the Company have advanced 5.00% and 7.29%, respectively. Moreover, the stock gained 8.39% since the start of the year. The stock has a dividend yield of 5.78% and currently has a market cap of $69.36 billion.

Active Wall Street:

Active Wall Street (AWS) produces regular sponsored and non-sponsored reports, articles, stock market blogs, and popular investment newsletters covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and micro-cap stocks. AWS has two distinct and independent departments. One department produces non-sponsored analyst certified content generally in the form of press releases, articles and reports covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and the other produces sponsored content (in most cases not reviewed by a registered analyst), which typically consists of compensated investment newsletters, articles and reports covering listed stocks and micro-caps. Such sponsored content is outside the scope of procedures detailed below.

AWS has not been compensated; directly or indirectly; for producing or publishing this document.

PRESS RELEASE PROCEDURES:

The non-sponsored content contained herein has been prepared by a writer (the “Author”) and is fact checked and reviewed by a third party research service company (the “Reviewer”) represented by a credentialed financial analyst, for further information on analyst credentials, please email info@activewallst.com. Rohit Tuli, a CFA® charterholder (the “Sponsor”), provides necessary guidance in preparing the document templates. The Reviewer has reviewed and revised the content, as necessary, based on publicly available information which is believed to be reliable. Content is researched, written and reviewed on a reasonable-effort basis. The Reviewer has not performed any independent investigations or forensic audits to validate the information herein. The Reviewer has only independently reviewed the information provided by the Author according to the procedures outlined by AWS. AWS is not entitled to veto or interfere in the application of such procedures by the third-party research service company to the articles, documents or reports, as the case may be. Unless otherwise noted, any content outside of this document has no association with the Author or the Reviewer in any way.

NO WARRANTY

AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer are not responsible for any error which may be occasioned at the time of printing of this document or any error, mistake or shortcoming. No liability is accepted whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of this document. AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer expressly disclaim any fiduciary responsibility or liability for any consequences, financial or otherwise arising from any reliance placed on the information in this document. Additionally, AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer do not (1) guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or correct sequencing of the information, or (2) warrant any results from use of the information. The included information is subject to change without notice.

NOT AN OFFERING

This document is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed, and is to be used for informational purposes only. Please read all associated disclosures and disclaimers in full before investing. Neither AWS nor any party affiliated with us is a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer with any agency or in any jurisdiction whatsoever. To download our report(s), read our disclosures, or for more information, visit http://www.activewallst.com/disclaimer/.

CONTACT

For any questions, inquiries, or comments reach out to us directly. If you’re a company we are covering and wish to no longer feature on our coverage list contact us via email and/or phone between 09:30 EDT to 16:00 EDT from Monday to Friday at:

Email: info@activewallst.com

Phone number: 1-858-257-3144

Office Address: 3rd floor, 207 Regent Street, London, W1B 3HH, United Kingdom

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

SOURCE: Active Wall Street

ReleaseID: 457798

Upcoming AWS Coverage on American Express

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / Active Wall St. blog coverage looks at the headline from Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) as the consumer financial services Company announced on March 20, 2017, that it has acquired GPShopper, an innovative developer of mobile apps which offers a full suite of commerce to retailers and brands, in addition to engagement and analytic tools. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed as of now while the transaction is not expected to have a material impact on financial results. Register with us now for your free membership and blog access at:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

One of Synchrony Financial’s competitors within the Credit Services space, American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP), is estimated to report earnings on April 19, 2017. AWS will be initiating a research report on American Express following the release of its next earnings results.

Today, AWS is promoting its blog coverage on SYF; touching on AXP. Get all of our free blog coverage and more by clicking on the link below:

http://www.activewallst.com/register/

Breaking down the transaction

Synchrony views multiple growth opportunities through this acquisition where the private-label credit card provider could enhance its merchant’s digital payments and mobile commerce capabilities. The Company partnered earlier with Samsung Pay owing to a strategic investment with LoopPay while collaborating with JCPenney for Apple Pay, and Android Pay.

Currently, retailers bank on GPShopper’s native mobile apps and SDKs to increase customer engagement through multiple touch points, both digitally and in-store. Subsequently, this transaction offers added sale with a wide range of retailers, merchants and service providers. Bringing GPShopper’s mobile development expertise will be an integral part of Synchrony’s efforts to further expand its mobile engagement potential.

The Partnership-turned-Merger

On January 21, 2015, Synchrony announced a strategic investment in GPShopper where the investment enabled the former Company to complement its proprietary mobile offerings. The Company believed that added scale and expanded suite of solutions for retailers could integrate credit more easily into the shopping experience while delivering personalized offers, mobile payment capabilities, loyalty programs, and multiple other key features. This partnership with GPShopper was built on its existing mobile platforms for credit applications and account servicing with easy account management functionality while offering multiple ways to engage with shoppers and deliver enhanced value.

This announcement further cements the partnership while allowing for continued development of new mobile commerce focused technologies. Both Synchrony and GPShopper have collaborated on several well-received mobile offerings while including the Synchrony Plug-in or SyPi. SyPi is basically a native card feature allowing retailers’ credit card holders to easily shop, redeem rewards, and securely manage and make payments to their account.

Synchrony’s Future Prospects

According to Synchrony Financial Annual Holiday Shopping Study Forecasts, released on November 03, 2016, Smartphones are the major part of the purchase experience where 82% of the shoppers report regular comparisons to get the best price. This collaboration would enable Synchrony to bring in competitive prices and products, and the offer to redeem coupons while making a purchase online.

Stamford, Connecticut-based Synchrony completed its IPO in July 2014 and fully separated from GE in 2015 and established itself as an independent firm.

John Niedermeyer, Senior VP of Synchrony Financial, views this agreement as the next step to achieve retail customers following the close of the transaction. Synchrony currently operates through its partners across 350,000 locations across the US and Canada and offers customers multiple credit products to finance the purchase of goods and services. This agreement is set to generate greater value for the Company and in the long-run, deliver a stable retail customer following for the firm’s future prospects.

Stock Performance

At the close of trading session on Monday, March 20, 2017, Synchrony Financial’s share price finished yesterday’s trading session at $34.20, falling 2.62%. A total volume of 9.39 million shares exchanged hands, which was higher than the 3 months average volume of 5.19 million shares. The stock has advanced 28.14% and 21.73% in the last six months and past twelve months, respectively. The stock is trading at a PE ratio of 12.63 and has a dividend yield of 1.52%. Moreover, the net market capital for the Company stands at $27.73 billion as per Monday’s closing price.

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Upcoming AWS Coverage on FTD Cos. Post-Earnings Results

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 21, 2017 / Active Wall St. announces its post-earnings coverage on The Michaels Cos., Inc. (NASDAQ: MIK). The Company reported its fourth quarter fiscal 2016 (Q4 FY16) and full year fiscal 2016 (FY16) on March 07, 2017. The Irving, Texas-based Company’s quarterly net sales and diluted EPS increased 4.1% and 9.2% y-o-y, respectively. Register with us now for your free membership at:

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One of Michaels Cos.’ competitors within the Specialty Retail, Other space, FTD Cos., Inc. (NASDAQ: FTD), reported on February 21, 2017, results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016 on Tuesday, March 14. AWS will be initiating a research report on FTD Cos. in the coming days.

Today, AWS is promoting its earnings coverage on MIK; touching on FTD. Get our free coverage by signing up to:

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Earnings Reviewed

In Q4 FY16, Michaels Cos. reported net sales of $1.75 billion compared to $1.68 billion in Q4 FY15. However, net sales number for the reported quarter missed market expectations of $1.81 billion. Furthermore, comparable store sales decreased 1.0% in Q4 FY16, primarily driven by a decrease in customer transactions, which was partially offset by an increase in average ticket.

The arts and crafts retail chain stores reported net income of $195.32 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, in Q4 FY16 compared to $183.67 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, in the prior year’s comparable quarter. The Company adjusted net income for Q4 FY16 was $195.86 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, which came in above $185.15 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, reported in Q4 FY15. Results also beat Wall Street’s forecasts of $0.95 per diluted share.

During FY16, the Company’s net sales rose 5.8% to $5.20 billion from $4.91 billion in FY15. The Company’s net income for FY16 came in at $378.16 million, or $1.82 per diluted share, up from $362.91 million, or $1.72 per diluted share. Furthermore, the Company’s adjusted net income for FY16 stood at $389.61 million, or $1.88 per diluted share, versus $368.13 million, or $1.75 per diluted share, in FY15.

Operating Metrics

In Q4 FY16, Michaels Cos.’ gross profit improved 2.6% to $705.76 million from $687.64 million in the year ago same quarter. However, gross margin fell to 40.3% of net sales in Q4 FY16 from 40.9% of net sales in Q4 FY15. During the reported quarter, selling, general, and administrative expenses rose to $368.96 million, or 21.1% of net sales, from $362.99 million, or 21.6% of net sales in the previous year’s comparable quarter. For Q4 FY16, operating income came in at $336.56 million, or 19.2% of net sales, versus $324.19 million, or 19.3% of net sales, in Q4 FY15. Furthermore, the Company’s adjusted operating income during Q4 FY16 was $337.44 million, up from $324.19 million recorded in Q4 FY15.

During FY16, the Company inaugurated 32 new Michaels’ stores, 1 new Aaron Brothers store, and 3 new Pat Catan’s stores. Meanwhile, it closed 5 Michaels’ stores and 9 Aaron Brothers’ stores. Furthermore, the Company operated 1,223 Michaels’ stores, 109 Aaron Brothers’ stores, and 35 Pat Catan’s stores, as on January 28, 2017.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

In year ended January 28, 2017, net cash provided by operating activities increased to $564.42 million from $504.05 million in FY15. The Company generated free cash flow of $450.0 million in FY16 compared to $380.1 million FY15. Furthermore, capital expenditures in FY16 were $114.5 million versus $123.9 million FY15.

As on January 28, 2017, the Company had $298.81 million in cash and equivalents compared to a balance of $409.39 million as on January 30, 2016. Furthermore, the Company reported long-term debt of $2.72 billion in its books of accounts as on January 28, 2017, compared to $2.74 billion as on January 30, 2016.

Share Repurchases

During FY16, the Company repurchased 17.2 million shares for $400.7 million under its share repurchase authorization. The Company also bought back 4.8 million shares for $99.3 million after the end of FY16 and until the date of its earnings release, utilizing the remaining availability under the Company’s share repurchase authorization.

Earnings Outlook

In its guidance for full year FY17, Michaels Cos. expects total net sales growth range of 2.5% to 4.0% with comparable store sales growth range of flat to up 1.5%. The Company projects operating income range of $727 million to $760 million for FY17. While, diluted earnings for the upcoming quarter is forecasted to be in the range of $2.05 per common share to $2.17 per common share. Moreover, the Company’s intends to spend between $125 million and $135 million as Capital expenditures in FY17.

For Q1 FY17, the Company anticipates comparable store sales to be flat to down 1%. The Company forecasts operating income for Q1 FY17 to be between $141 million and $147 million. Furthermore, diluted earnings for Q1 FY17 are expected to be in the range of $0.38 per common share to $0.40 per common share.

Stock Performance

At the close of trading session on Monday, March 20, 2017, Michaels Cos.’ stock price slipped 1.49% to end the day at $21.87. A total volume of 928.39 thousand shares were exchanged during the session. The Company’s share price has gained 6.11% in the past one month and 6.94% on YTD basis. Shares of the company have a PE ratio of 11.87. Moreover, the stock currently has a market cap of $4.13 billion.

Active Wall Street:

Active Wall Street (AWS) produces regular sponsored and non-sponsored reports, articles, stock market blogs, and popular investment newsletters covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and micro-cap stocks. AWS has two distinct and independent departments. One department produces non-sponsored analyst certified content generally in the form of press releases, articles and reports covering equities listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and the other produces sponsored content (in most cases not reviewed by a registered analyst), which typically consists of compensated investment newsletters, articles and reports covering listed stocks and micro-caps. Such sponsored content is outside the scope of procedures detailed below.

AWS has not been compensated; directly or indirectly; for producing or publishing this document.

PRESS RELEASE PROCEDURES:

The non-sponsored content contained herein has been prepared by a writer (the “Author”) and is fact checked and reviewed by a third party research service company (the “Reviewer”) represented by a credentialed financial analyst, for further information on analyst credentials, please email info@activewallst.com. Rohit Tuli, a CFA® charterholder (the “Sponsor”), provides necessary guidance in preparing the document templates. The Reviewer has reviewed and revised the content, as necessary, based on publicly available information which is believed to be reliable. Content is researched, written and reviewed on a reasonable-effort basis. The Reviewer has not performed any independent investigations or forensic audits to validate the information herein. The Reviewer has only independently reviewed the information provided by the Author according to the procedures outlined by AWS. AWS is not entitled to veto or interfere in the application of such procedures by the third-party research service company to the articles, documents or reports, as the case may be. Unless otherwise noted, any content outside of this document has no association with the Author or the Reviewer in any way.

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AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer are not responsible for any error which may be occasioned at the time of printing of this document or any error, mistake or shortcoming. No liability is accepted whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of this document. AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer expressly disclaim any fiduciary responsibility or liability for any consequences, financial or otherwise arising from any reliance placed on the information in this document. Additionally, AWS, the Author, and the Reviewer do not (1) guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or correct sequencing of the information, or (2) warrant any results from use of the information. The included information is subject to change without notice.

NOT AN OFFERING

This document is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed, and is to be used for informational purposes only. Please read all associated disclosures and disclaimers in full before investing. Neither AWS nor any party affiliated with us is a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer with any agency or in any jurisdiction whatsoever. To download our report(s), read our disclosures, or for more information, visit http://www.activewallst.com/disclaimer/.

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For any questions, inquiries, or comments reach out to us directly. If you’re a company we are covering and wish to no longer feature on our coverage list contact us via email and/or phone between 09:30 EDT to 16:00 EDT from Monday to Friday at:

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SOURCE: Active Wall Street

ReleaseID: 457814