Tactile Systems (TCMD) FY Conference Transcript
2025-06-03 21:20
Summary of Tactile Systems (TCMD) FY Conference Call - June 03, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Tactile Systems (TCMD) - **Industry**: Medical Devices, specifically focusing on lymphedema and bronchiectasis treatment Key Points and Arguments Investment Highlights - **Market Opportunity**: The company operates in a large and underserved market with significant growth potential, particularly in lymphedema and bronchiectasis, which are chronic and progressive conditions [3][4][5] - **Profitability**: Tactile Systems is a small-cap company that is profitable, with a strong cash balance and gross margins around 74% [10] - **Market Leadership**: The company is a leader in the lymphedema market, with a broad payer adoption and no significant challenges regarding coding, coverage, or reimbursement [6][7] Patient Population and Treatment Gaps - **Undiagnosed Patients**: There are approximately 20 million underdiagnosed patients with lymphedema, and only about 145,000 patients are treated annually with pneumatic compression devices [11][17] - **Chronic Conditions**: Lymphedema is often secondary to other conditions like chronic vein insufficiency and cancer treatments, making it a complex issue for patients [15][18] - **Quality of Life Impact**: The disease severely impacts patients' quality of life, leading to complications such as cellulitis and limited mobility [20][21] Product Offerings - **Basic and Advanced Pumps**: The company offers two types of pumps: basic and advanced, with the advanced pump (Flexitouch) allowing for more complex treatment needs [32][36] - **Bluetooth Connectivity**: New devices are Bluetooth-enabled, allowing for better patient engagement through the Kylie app, which tracks therapy sessions and provides educational resources [34][48] Clinical Evidence and Studies - **Clinical Trials**: Recent studies show significant benefits of using Flexitouch for head and neck cancer survivors, demonstrating improved symptom management and quality of life [43][44] - **Access to Care**: The company is focused on improving access to care through education and advocacy, addressing the lack of therapists available for patient treatment [61][62] Market Strategy - **Sales Organization**: Tactile Systems has a direct sales organization with plans to expand its sales force to enhance market penetration [53] - **Technological Investments**: Investments in technology, including a new CRM tool and AI for documentation, are aimed at improving operational efficiency and patient care [60][65] Future Outlook - **Growth Projections**: The company anticipates a 16% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and is focused on scaling operations to meet market demand [59] - **Patient Engagement**: The Kylie app is expected to reach 1 million patient engagements, providing valuable data for improving treatment and patient outcomes [49][51] Additional Important Information - **Regulatory Changes**: Recent changes in Medicare coverage policies have improved access to advanced pumps for patients with specific needs [37] - **Competitive Landscape**: The company is positioned against competitors in both lymphedema and bronchiectasis markets, with a strong emphasis on product innovation and patient satisfaction [54][56] This summary encapsulates the key insights from the Tactile Systems FY Conference Call, highlighting the company's strategic focus on addressing significant market needs and improving patient care through innovative products and technology.
Gartner (IT) FY Conference Transcript
2025-06-03 21:20
Gartner FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Gartner - **Industry**: Information Technology and Research Services - **Conference Date**: June 03, 2025 Key Points and Arguments Business Model and Value Proposition - Gartner provides actionable insights to help organizations make informed decisions and improve performance on mission-critical priorities (MCPs) [4][7] - The company serves a diverse client base across various industries including financial services, manufacturing, retail, and public sectors, targeting organizations of different sizes [5][6] - Gartner aims for 12% to 16% research growth, translating to double-digit revenue growth, with a focus on margin expansion and significant free cash flow generation [7][8] Financial Performance - Gartner reported over $6 billion in revenue and $1.4 billion in free cash flow last year, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 14% over the past decade [8][10] - The company maintains a strong free cash flow performance, with expectations of generating 140% to 160% of net income as free cash flow annually [48] Client Engagement and Services - Gartner's subscription model is designed to provide clients with comprehensive access to insights, expert consultations, and industry conferences, with an average subscription cost of $50,000 per user per year [23][24] - The company emphasizes the importance of its experts, with over 2,500 professionals generating insights and providing direct access to clients [20][21] Competitive Advantage - Gartner's independence and objectivity are highlighted as key differentiators, as the company does not engage in implementation or integration work, allowing it to provide unbiased insights [32][33] - The company has a significant network effect, leveraging interactions with approximately 100,000 licensed users to enhance its research and insights [36] Market Opportunity - Gartner estimates a total addressable market of around $200 billion, with its current contract value at approximately $5 billion, indicating substantial growth potential [44][45] - The company views its market as largely unaddressed, with competitors being significantly smaller, thus presenting a greenfield opportunity for growth [45] Strategic Initiatives - Gartner has expanded its service offerings through strategic acquisitions, including AMR Research for supply chain insights and CEB for broader functional expertise [17][19][20] - The company plans to continue its growth strategy by landing new accounts and expanding existing ones, supported by its research and conference businesses [45][46] Cultural and Operational Insights - Gartner's culture is centered around teamwork and a commitment to client success, which is reflected in its operational strategies and employee engagement [11][12][15] - The company focuses on metrics such as Net Contract Value Increase (NCVI) to measure growth and performance across its teams [14] Additional Important Information - Gartner's research business constitutes about 80% of its total revenue and is the most profitable segment, with a strong focus on maintaining high contract retention rates [38][40] - The company anticipates modest margin expansion over time, driven by the growth of its research segment and efficient management of general and administrative costs [47]
Paycom Software (PAYC) 2025 Conference Transcript
2025-06-03 21:20
Paycom Software (PAYC) 2025 Conference Summary Company Overview - Paycom is a rapidly growing SaaS provider specializing in payroll and Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions for companies with around 60,000 employees, achieving growth primarily through organic means and maintaining some of the best margins in the industry [1][2] Key Points and Arguments Market Position and Competitors - Paycom currently serves approximately 36,000 clients, significantly smaller than its two largest competitors, which together have 1,700,000 clients [7] - Despite the competitive landscape, Paycom has not observed any negative impacts from political or macroeconomic factors on its demand [8] Product Development and Automation - The company is focusing on automation for both clients and internal processes, which is expected to influence spending patterns positively [10] - Paycom has evolved its product offerings from payroll to a comprehensive system that includes time and labor management, benefits, and learning management, all integrated into a single platform [12] - The future of the industry is anticipated to be command-driven, allowing users to interact with the system through voice commands rather than navigating screens [14][22] Client Satisfaction and Retention - Paycom has seen improvements in client satisfaction scores, attributed to a focus on reducing payroll issues and enhancing the overall user experience [38] - The company aims to increase client retention rates, which had previously dipped, by ensuring clients achieve a greater return on investment (ROI) from their systems [42] Sales Strategy and Growth Potential - Paycom has restructured its sales training to focus on basics and role-playing, which has positively impacted sales productivity [48] - The company has the potential to expand its sales teams significantly, with estimates suggesting over 100 teams could be feasible based on market prospects [56] - Paycom's sales trajectory has stabilized after a period of decline, with aspirations to grow sales further by capturing a larger share of the market [51] Financial Performance and Capital Expenditures - The company has completed significant infrastructure investments, including a new data center, and is focusing on product development, particularly in AI [71] - While free cash flow conversion relative to EBITDA is a focus, specific guidance on future percentages has not been provided [73] Additional Important Insights - Paycom's approach to client engagement has shifted to prioritize client needs over internal priorities, recognizing the importance of client satisfaction in driving retention [36] - The company is actively working to win back former clients by addressing their previous concerns and demonstrating the value of its offerings [45] - Paycom's automation efforts are expected to enhance both client and internal efficiencies, potentially leading to improved margins over time [62][69] This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the Paycom Software conference, highlighting the company's strategic direction, market positioning, and focus on client satisfaction and automation.
OneStream (OS) Conference Transcript
2025-06-03 21:20
OneStream (OS) Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company Name**: OneStream - **Industry**: Software, specifically focused on Corporate Performance Management (CPM) solutions - **Public Status**: Went public approximately one year ago Key Points and Arguments Company History and Growth - OneStream was founded in 2012 by former employees of Upstream and Hyperion, aiming to create a cloud-native platform for financial consolidation, planning, reporting, and analysis [2][6] - The company transitioned to a Software as a Service (SaaS) model after receiving investment from KKR in 2019, growing from $35 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) to over $600 million [6][7] - The total addressable market (TAM) for legacy software replacement is estimated to be over $10 billion, indicating significant growth potential [10] AI Investment and Applications - OneStream has been investing in AI for six years, focusing on purpose-built solutions rather than generic AI applications [11][12] - The "Sensible AI Forecasting" solution has reportedly improved forecast accuracy by 25% while reducing time spent by 75% [13] - AI applications have driven a 30% increase in R&D efficiency and have been integrated into support and training areas to enhance customer experience [15][16] Sales Strategy and Market Readiness - The AI business has seen a 50% year-over-year growth, with a dedicated sales team for AI now in place [27][28] - Customers are increasingly interested in AI solutions, especially those with clear ROI, although some CFOs remain cautious due to past disappointments with AI projects [22][23] - OneStream's sales strategy includes leveraging existing customer relationships to drive demand for both AI and core products [30] Product Development: CPM Express - CPM Express was launched to simplify implementation for commercial customers, allowing them to get up and running in 8 to 12 weeks [36][37] - The product is designed for companies seeking best practices and is not limited to smaller businesses; it can also serve enterprise customers [44] Competitive Landscape - OneStream's primary competitor is Oracle, along with SAP and Anaplan in the financial close consolidation and planning space [46] - The competitive landscape has remained relatively stable, with OneStream focusing on differentiating its platform through extensibility and integration capabilities [48] Partner Channel and Federal Opportunities - Over 90% of OneStream's implementations involve partners, highlighting the importance of the partner ecosystem [51] - OneStream is certified as FedRAMP High, allowing it to serve federal government clients, which currently represent 5-6% of revenue [53] Additional Important Insights - The company emphasizes the need for a single source of truth in financial reporting to reduce discrepancies among departments [49] - OneStream's platform allows for low-code and no-code configurations, enhancing user accessibility and report generation [49] - The company maintains a gross retention rate of over 98%, indicating strong customer satisfaction and loyalty [42]
WNS (WNS) 2025 Conference Transcript
2025-06-03 21:20
WNS (WNS) 2025 Conference June 03, 2025 04:20 PM ET Speaker0 Well, good afternoon, everyone. My name is Dave Koning. I'm a senior research analyst at Baird covering payments and services. Thrilled to introduce WNS. We have Dave Mackie here. He just said he's been at WNS for fourteen years. I've been at Baird for twenty three, so there's a lot of years involved. And WNS, a leader in business process management, recently reaccelerated really nicely getting back on track to normalize growth. And why don't I tu ...
Snowflake (SNOW) 2025 Investor Day Transcript
2025-06-03 21:20
Snowflake (SNOW) 2025 Investor Day Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) - **Event**: 2025 Investor Day - **Date**: June 03, 2025 Key Industry Insights - **Data and AI Importance**: The shift from viewing data as an afterthought to recognizing its transformative potential in business operations is emphasized. Companies like Disney are leveraging data to predict future actions, showcasing the growing importance of AI in data analytics [4][5][6]. - **Unstructured Data**: The unlocking of unstructured data is highlighted as a significant opportunity, with new tools like OpenFlow and Cortex Search being introduced to enhance data processing capabilities [6][15]. Core Company Strategies - **End-to-End Data Lifecycle**: Snowflake aims to play a critical role in the entire data lifecycle, from data ingestion to predictive analytics, ensuring that both structured and unstructured data can be effectively utilized [5][10][15]. - **Product Development Focus**: The company is methodically releasing key components to enhance its product strategy, with a focus on being deliberate in execution and maintaining a competitive edge [10][11][12]. - **Acquisitions**: Recent acquisitions, such as Crunchy Data and DataBolo, are aimed at strengthening Snowflake's capabilities in the transactional market and improving data ingestion processes [13][14]. Technological Advancements - **AI-Ready Data**: The concept of "AI-ready data" is introduced, emphasizing the need for data to be accompanied by metadata for effective analysis [17][18]. - **Adaptive Warehouse**: The introduction of the Adaptive Warehouse represents a significant advancement in analytic computation, allowing for more efficient data processing without requiring users to manage compute instances [33][65]. - **Performance Enhancements**: Snowflake is committed to maintaining a leading position in price performance, with ongoing improvements in system capabilities and customer value [65][72]. Market Position and Competitive Advantage - **Total Cost of Ownership**: Snowflake positions itself favorably in terms of total cost of ownership compared to competitors, emphasizing simplicity and ease of use as key differentiators [59][60]. - **Open Data Commitment**: The company is committed to open data formats, which helps eliminate vendor lock-in and enhances customer flexibility [62][63]. - **Customer Relationships**: Strong relationships with customers across various industries are highlighted as a core strength, with a focus on delivering value and addressing customer needs [53][54]. Future Outlook - **Market Expansion**: Snowflake aims to capture a larger market share by leveraging its strengths in analytics and AI, with a belief that data-centric platforms will play an increasingly important role in cloud computing [32][35]. - **Continuous Innovation**: The company is focused on ongoing innovation, with a structured approach to product development and a commitment to enhancing customer experiences through AI and data capabilities [74][90]. Additional Insights - **Organizational Structure**: Snowflake has organized its product and engineering teams around specific categories to drive accountability and speed in execution [29][30]. - **Cultural Values**: The company emphasizes a customer-first approach, accountability, and ongoing excellence as core cultural values that guide its operations [43][46][47]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the Snowflake 2025 Investor Day, highlighting the company's strategic focus on data, AI, and customer relationships while positioning itself for future growth and innovation in the data analytics industry.
ThredUp (TDUP) FY Conference Transcript
2025-06-03 21:15
ThredUp (TDUP) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: ThredUp (TDUP) - **Industry**: Resale and second-hand apparel market - **Founded**: February 2009 - **CEO**: James Reinhart Key Financial Metrics - **Q1 Revenue**: $71 million - **Gross Margins**: 79% - **EBITDA Margin**: 5% - **Stock Performance**: Up over 400% year-to-date [3][14][15] Core Business Insights - ThredUp aims to transform the resale sector by leveraging technology to create the world's largest resale platform for apparel, shoes, and accessories [2][3]. - The company has processed over 200 unique second-hand items, indicating a significant scale in operations [3]. - ThredUp has achieved seven consecutive quarters of EBITDA positivity and has been cash generative for several quarters [14][15]. Market Dynamics - The resale industry has seen a shift from growth at all costs to a more disciplined approach focusing on profitability [11][14]. - The second-hand market is expected to grow at strong double-digit rates, driven by changing consumer behaviors, particularly among younger generations who view second-hand shopping as a norm [42][43]. - The company has positioned itself to benefit from potential increases in new apparel prices due to tariffs, making ThredUp a more attractive option for consumers [39][40]. Competitive Landscape - ThredUp competes with off-price retailers like TJ Maxx, but there are no current merger plans [20][21]. - The company has established itself as a marketplace rather than a traditional retailer, which provides competitive advantages [62][64]. - The rise of peer-to-peer platforms may lead to a race to zero in seller fees, impacting the overall market dynamics [48][50]. Technological Advancements - ThredUp has invested heavily in AI to improve product discoverability and customer experience, resulting in significant improvements in conversion rates [27][29][55]. - The implementation of AI-driven search capabilities has allowed for better tagging and personalization of products, enhancing the shopping experience [27][29]. - The company has seen a 95% year-over-year growth in new customer acquisition, indicating successful marketing and product strategies [18][19]. Consumer Behavior Trends - Consumers are increasingly seeking convenience, leading to a preference for platforms that simplify the selling and buying process [35][51]. - The company anticipates that the trend of laziness among consumers will continue, necessitating a focus on making the resale process as easy as possible [35][51]. Challenges and Future Outlook - The CEO acknowledges the challenges faced in the past, particularly with international operations, but is optimistic about focusing on the U.S. market moving forward [79][80]. - ThredUp's future growth will depend on its ability to leverage technology and maintain a competitive edge in the evolving resale market [80]. Additional Insights - The company has been a pioneer in the "resale as a service" (RAS) model, collaborating with various brands to enhance its market presence [24][25]. - ThredUp's efforts to destigmatize second-hand shopping have contributed to its growth and acceptance in the mainstream market [25][26]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the ThredUp FY Conference, highlighting the company's performance, market dynamics, technological advancements, and future outlook.
AnaptysBio (ANAB) Update / Briefing Transcript
2025-06-03 21:15
Summary of AnaptysBio (ANAB) Conference Call on June 03, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: AnaptysBio - **Product**: Rozanolimab (ozanilumab) - **Indication**: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Key Points and Arguments Clinical Trial Results 1. **Efficacy of Rozanolimab**: The phase 2b trial demonstrated significant efficacy with statistical significance on primary endpoints (DAS28 CRP and ACR20) at week 12, with all doses showing positive results compared to placebo [4][8] 2. **Durability of Response**: Patients exhibited durable responses off drug for at least two months after six months of treatment, indicating potential for extended dosing intervals [8][63] 3. **Market Potential**: The RA market generates over $10 billion in annual revenue in the US alone, highlighting the commercial opportunity for rozanolimab [8] 4. **Comparison with Competitors**: Rozanolimab showed comparable or superior results to existing therapies like RINVOQ and Orencia in terms of ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 response rates [9][14][57] Safety Profile 5. **Safety Data**: Rozanolimab exhibited a notably unremarkable safety profile with no treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs) reported, and a low incidence of injection site reactions [78][80] 6. **Tolerability**: Less than 2% of patients discontinued due to adverse events, indicating high tolerability compared to standard care [80][84] Mechanism of Action 7. **Targeting T Cells**: Rozanolimab demonstrated a rapid and sustained reduction in PD-1 positive T cells, which are implicated in RA pathology, supporting its mechanism of action [39][41] 8. **Gene Expression Changes**: Significant downregulation of genes associated with T cell and B cell activation was observed, indicating a broad impact on immune pathways relevant to RA and ulcerative colitis [42][43] Patient Population Insights 9. **Patient Disposition**: 95% of patients completed the all-active treatment period, demonstrating high acceptance of the treatment [23] 10. **Real-World Implications**: The trial design may have capped the maximum response rates achievable, as many patients who showed improvement were ineligible to continue treatment [21][56] Expert Commentary 11. **Clinical Relevance**: Experts highlighted the importance of the trial design and the implications of excluding patients who showed improvement but did not meet the strict criteria for continuation [66][69] 12. **Long-Term Efficacy**: The consistency of clinical responses and the durability of effects post-treatment were emphasized as significant advantages of rozanolimab [72][73] Additional Important Content - **Market Context**: The RA market has not seen a new mechanism approved since 2012, making rozanolimab's introduction particularly timely [9] - **Comparative Efficacy**: Rozanolimab's performance in the naive patient population was noted to be particularly strong, suggesting a high ceiling for response rates [35] - **Future Directions**: Ongoing studies and follow-ups will provide further insights into the long-term efficacy and safety of rozanolimab [24][62] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call regarding AnaptysBio's rozanolimab, its clinical trial results, safety profile, and market potential in the context of rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
Pure Storage (PSTG) 2025 Conference Transcript
2025-06-03 21:00
Summary of Pure Storage (PSTG) 2025 Conference Company Overview - **Company**: Pure Storage (PSTG) - **Event**: BFA's Global Tech Conference - **Date**: June 03, 2025 Key Industry Insights - **Industry**: Enterprise Storage - **Market Size**: The enterprise storage market is approximately $50 billion, with Pure Storage currently holding over $3 billion in revenue, indicating a significant growth opportunity of around $47 billion to $57 billion [12][13]. Core Points and Arguments 1. **Macro Environment Uncertainty**: The macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape is highly uncertain, affecting customer conversations and projections for the second half of the year [3][4]. 2. **AI's Impact on Storage**: AI is expected to transform the storage industry, with a shift in focus from software to data. Pure Storage's new product, FlashBlade Exa, is designed for high-performance environments, particularly for AI applications [5][6][10]. 3. **Enterprise vs. Hyperscale Opportunities**: While AI-related storage is currently a small segment (estimated at $2 billion), it is expected to grow. However, the larger opportunity lies in the enterprise environment, which may not require specialized storage [12][13]. 4. **Hyperscale Market Potential**: The top five hyperscalers account for 60-70% of the total hard disk market, representing a significant opportunity for Pure Storage. The company has secured a design win with Meta, aiming to ship 1-2 exabytes in the near term [15][16][17]. 5. **Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)**: Pure Storage emphasizes its competitive TCO compared to hard disk drives (HDDs), highlighting advantages in density, performance, and lower failure rates [25][32][34]. 6. **NAND Supply Chain Management**: The company is working closely with major suppliers (Micron, Kioxia, Hynix) to ensure adequate NAND supply for future growth, despite the ramp-up period required [36][37]. 7. **Investment Strategy**: Pure Storage is currently in an investment phase, focusing on R&D and market penetration, which may compress margins temporarily. The company aims to resume margin expansion in the following year [41][42]. 8. **Tariff Uncertainty**: Ongoing tariff changes create additional uncertainty in the market, but Pure Storage has a flexible supply chain to manage potential impacts [44][45]. Additional Important Insights - **Product Pricing Strategy**: The lower gross margins on the E Series product are part of a strategy to penetrate lower-tier storage markets aggressively [51][52]. - **Future Growth Confidence**: The introduction of PureFusion allows customers to manage their storage as a cloud, potentially creating a network effect in enterprise storage [56]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference, providing insights into Pure Storage's strategic positioning and market opportunities.
Valvoline (VVV) 2025 Conference Transcript
2025-06-03 20:45
Valvoline (VVV) 2025 Conference Summary Company Overview - Valvoline is a leading automotive services platform offering oil changes and preventative maintenance services with approximately 2,100 locations, over half of which are franchised [1][2] Core Industry Insights - The automotive services industry is resilient with positive tailwinds such as increasing miles driven, vehicle complexity, and vehicle age, which are expected to drive growth in ticket and transaction volumes [4][5] - Valvoline's market penetration is low, with only 20% to 25% of oil changes occurring in their channel, indicating significant growth potential [5] Company Strengths - Valvoline has a strong brand presence, nearly 60 years old, which denotes quality and customer loyalty [5] - The company boasts a customer experience rating of 4.7 out of 5 across its stores, serving over a million customers in the past year [6] - Valvoline has developed robust data analytics capabilities for customer and real estate, enhancing marketing efficiency and location selection [6][7] Market Share and Growth Potential - Valvoline currently holds a 5% market share, with some mature markets approaching 20%, indicating substantial upside potential [7][13] - The company aims to grow its network significantly, targeting 3,500+ units by 2027, with a focus on accelerating franchise growth from 50 to 150 new units annually [14][15] Financial Metrics and Investment Returns - New units typically mature in 3 to 5 years, with a projected 30% cash-on-cash return for franchise partners [17][18] - The company is focused on refranchising to enhance shareholder value, leveraging existing franchise partners and developing new ones [19][20] Recent Acquisition - Valvoline announced the acquisition of Breeze, adding 200 locations, which is expected to create synergistic value and enhance market presence [28][30] - The acquisition is under review by the FTC, which is not uncommon for the industry, and Valvoline is optimistic about the outcome [31][32] Same Store Sales and Growth Drivers - Same store sales have compounded close to 10% over the last decade, with a guidance of 5% to 7% for the current year due to more normalized inflationary levels [34][36] - Key drivers for growth include transaction growth from maturing stores, fleet sales, and non-oil change revenue services [38][39] Consumer Behavior Insights - Despite economic uncertainty, consumers are maintaining their vehicles longer and are not trading down in service quality [45][46] - Valvoline is adapting to evolving vehicle maintenance needs, including the rise of electric vehicles, by ensuring convenience and trust in service delivery [58][60] Margin and Cost Management - Valvoline is investing in technology to drive margin expansion, with a long-term goal of increasing margins from 26% to 29% [47][48] - The company anticipates returning to a growth trajectory where profit outpaces sales as it laps previous investments and refranchising impacts [52][53] Conclusion - Valvoline is well-positioned for growth with a strong brand, significant market opportunities, and a focus on enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency. The company is optimistic about its future prospects, driven by strategic growth initiatives and market dynamics.