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Let's talk a little bit about this deal, how it came together, and $9.7% billion in cash. What do you plan to do with it. >> Well, with the cash, we're going to take about $6.5% billion of the cash, and we're going to apply it to debt reduction. And that debt reduction amount will get us to below our target uh debt of $15 billion that we laid out after the uh Crown Rock acquisition.That then will reduce our interest payments by $350 million. And uh that will enable us then to start adding back parts of our ...

Core Insights - Occidental Petroleum Corp. has completed its major deal-making phase after selling its chemical unit to Berkshire Hathaway for $9.7 billion, achieving its asset-sales target [1][2] - The company aims to enhance liquidity and reduce debt, with plans to use approximately $6.5 billion from the sale proceeds to lower its principal debt to below $15 billion [4][5] Company Strategy - The CEO of Occidental, Vicki Hollub, indicated that the focus will now shift to organic growth following the significant asset sale [4] - The company had received multiple unsolicited offers for its OxyChem unit and opted for the all-cash offer from Berkshire due to its certainty to close [5] Industry Context - The U.S. shale sector is undergoing a phase of portfolio pruning, with over $200 billion in consolidation as companies seek to improve cash flow amid declining crude prices [3] - Other companies in the sector, such as ConocoPhillips, are also increasing their asset-sale targets to adapt to the current market conditions [3]

Core Insights - Carnival Corp. has reported its 10th consecutive quarter of record revenue, indicating a strong recovery in the cruise industry post-pandemic [1][3] - Despite strong financial results, the stock price declined following the report, although it remains up approximately 15% year-to-date [1] Financial Performance - For the fiscal third quarter, Carnival's revenue increased by 3% to a record $8.15 billion, with ticket revenue rising by 4% to $5.43 billion and onboard revenue increasing by 2% [3] - Adjusted net income rose by 10% to $2 billion, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 7% to $3 billion, and adjusted earnings per share climbed 13% to $1.43 [6] - The company generated about $4.7 billion in operating cash flow and $2.6 billion in free cash flow, marking a significant improvement from the previous year [7] Capacity and Occupancy - Available lower berth days (ALBDs) decreased by 2% to 24.6 million, while occupancy remained high at 112% [4] - Net yields increased by 5% to $249.11, indicating improved profitability per cabin [5] Future Outlook - Carnival expects fiscal Q4 adjusted net income to surge by 60% to $300 million and net yields to rise by 6.4% [8] - The company has raised its full-year guidance for net yield growth, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EPS across multiple quarters [10] Debt Management - Carnival is projected to reduce its leverage to 3.6 times net debt/adjusted EBITDA by year-end 2025, down from 6.7 times at the end of fiscal 2023 [8][12] - The company is taking a disciplined approach to adding new ships while benefiting from strong occupancy and high prices [13] Valuation - Carnival trades at a forward enterprise value (EV)-to-EBITDA multiple of approximately 9.5, which is in line with competitors and offers a reasonable valuation [14]

Core Viewpoint - ARGAN is adjusting its debt reduction strategy while focusing on strengthening growth, particularly in rental income and recurring net income, amidst a challenging economic backdrop in France [1][2][3]. Financial Performance - ARGAN has initiated the marketing of a portfolio of four assets, expected to generate €130 million in net cash [2]. - Revised targets for 2025 include rental income of €211 million, an increase of 7% compared to 2024, and recurring net income of €152 million, reflecting an 11% increase [6][11]. - The LTV ratio is now projected at 41.5% for 2025, up from an initial target of below 40%, while the net debt to EBITDA ratio is revised to approximately 8.7x [3][6]. Dividend and Growth Outlook - The dividend for 2026 is confirmed at €3.45 per share, indicating a 5% increase from the previous year [5][6]. - The decision to remove the CARAT portfolio from the market is expected to enhance rental growth in the short to mid-term [3][5]. Company Overview - ARGAN specializes in the development and rental of premium warehouses in France, with a portfolio of 3.7 million square meters valued at €4.0 billion, generating over €210 million in annual rental income [7]. - The company maintains a strong financial position, reflected in its investment-grade rating (BBB- with a stable outlook) from Standard & Poor's [7].

Core Insights - Cosan, Brazil's largest sugar and ethanol producer, is planning to raise up to 10 billion reais (approximately $1.9 billion) through a public offering to manage its growing debt burden [1] Company Summary - The company is facing an increasing debt burden, prompting the need for a significant capital raise [1] - The public offering aims to address financial challenges and improve the company's balance sheet [1] Industry Context - The sugar and ethanol industry in Brazil is experiencing financial pressures, which may lead to similar capital-raising efforts by other companies in the sector [1]

Core Viewpoint - Team, Inc. has successfully closed a $75 million private placement of preferred stock and warrants with Stellex Capital Management, which will reduce debt and enhance financial flexibility while establishing a strategic partnership aligned with the company's management priorities [2][3]. Financial Transaction Highlights - The transaction involves the sale of $75 million of 10.5% Series B Preferred Stock, with dividends payable quarterly either in kind or cash [4]. - The proceeds will be used to repay $25 million of loans under the ABL Credit Facility and approximately $42 million under the Second Lien Term Loan Credit Agreement [4]. - Stellex will receive 982,371 Tranche A Warrants and 470,889 Tranche B Warrants, with exercise prices of $23.00 and $50.00 per share, respectively [4]. Debt Reduction and Financial Flexibility - The transaction allows for the repayment of approximately $67 million of debt and includes amendments to existing credit facilities to increase commitment amounts and reduce applicable margins [6][7]. - The ABL Credit Facility commitment amount is increased from $130 million to $150 million, with a maturity extension to October 2028 [7]. - The First Lien Term Loan Facility has also been amended to reduce the applicable margin by 25 basis points, enhancing financial flexibility [8]. Strategic Partnership and Future Growth - Stellex will have the right to nominate two members to Team's Board of Directors, indicating a deeper strategic partnership [5]. - The investment is seen as a commitment to operational excellence, technology advancement, and long-term value creation for customers and shareholders [3].

Group 1 - Skillsoft has been making steady progress since its Investor Day last July, focusing on reigniting revenue growth while increasing free cash flow (FCF) to support deleveraging its balance sheet [1] - The company has implemented strict cost discipline, which has contributed to delivering $45 million in FCF [1] Group 2 - The individual investor mentioned has a focus on undercovered companies, particularly in technology, software, electronics, and the energy transition sectors [1] - The investor has been actively investing personal capital for over 7 years and has accumulated professional investment experience [1]

Core Insights - Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) has significantly reduced its debt by $7.5 billion over the past 13 months, resulting in annual interest expense savings of $410 million, which enhances its financial health and flexibility [1][8] - The company is focusing on a leaner capital structure to better manage commodity price volatility and redirect capital towards high-return projects, thereby boosting investor confidence [2][5] - Management plans to continue this strategy with a $950 million sale of non-core assets, which will further reduce obligations and strengthen the company's long-term financial foundation [3][4] Financial Performance - Occidental's shares have increased by 14.1% in the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Oil and Gas-Integrated-United States industry's growth of 10.3% [7][8] - The current trailing 12-month Enterprise Value/Earnings before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization (EV/EBITDA TTM) for Occidental is 5.52X, which is higher than the industry average of 4.71X, indicating that the shares are trading at a premium [10] Sales Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Occidental's 2025 sales indicates a year-over-year decline of 0.86%, while the 2026 estimate suggests a slight increase of 1% [12] - Current sales estimates for the upcoming quarters and years are as follows: - Q3 2025: $6.64 billion - Q4 2025: $6.71 billion - Full Year 2025: $26.65 billion - Full Year 2026: $26.92 billion [13]

Core Insights - Holley Performance Brands has proactively reduced its debt by an additional $15 million, totaling $90 million in debt repayment since September 2023, demonstrating its commitment to strengthening its balance sheet and enhancing financial flexibility [1][2] - The recent debt paydown was executed through opportunistic repurchases of its first lien term loan facility at a discount, funded entirely with free cash flow, which is expected to generate up to $3.7 million in annualized net interest savings [2] Financial Performance - The company has experienced strong free cash flow generation, which has contributed to its ability to reduce debt and strengthen its balance sheet [2] - Holley expects to achieve a leverage ratio at or below 4.0x by year-end, marking its lowest level in over three years [2] Strategic Focus - Holley Performance Brands is recognized for its operational excellence and disciplined execution across teams, which has fueled core business growth for two consecutive quarters [2] - The company is committed to enhancing the enthusiast experience and driving growth through innovation, focusing on four consumer vertical groupings: Domestic Muscle, Modern Truck & Off-Road, Euro & Import, and Safety & Racing [4]