Latest news with #NickLissette
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
IkeGPS continues run, up 8.6%; NZX 50 performance still bumpy
Kiwi Property Group led the way, rising 1.04% to $0.97, with Goodman Property not far behind, up 0.98% to $2.07. Singh also highlighted Briscoe Group, which gained 2.65% to $5.81. 'I think that's just a bit of volatility since it's been added into the NZX 50 recently,' Singh said. Gentrack was among the day's largest decliners, down 4.23% to $12 on volumes exceeding $1.7m in value traded. Ahead of close, Singh said there were 'two big trades that equate for about 95% of the volume'. Tech small caps IkeGPS Group shares lifted 8.6% to $1.01 after it announced it had successfully raised about A$18m (NZ$19.6m) through a fully underwritten share placement. The software company said its offer was strongly supported by existing investors and attracted several new long-term institutional investors from the ASX. The firm is trading at 52-week highs and is up above $1 for the first time since 2021. Black Pearl Group shares were up 7.08% to $1.21 after it said it had agreed to buy 100% of United States-based AI sales company B2B Rocket Inc. B2B Rocket uses AI agents to automate outbound sales for small and mid-sized businesses. It generates about US$2.1m (NZ$3.4m) in annual recurring revenue and is growing quickly in the US market. Chief executive Nick Lissette called the acquisition a 'classic 1 + 1 = 3″. In October last year, Black Pearl tapped investors for $10m to fund further expansion in the US. Like IkeGPS, the stock is up over 100% year on year. Elsewhere In a Forsyth Barr investor note, analysts Aaron Ibbotson and Benjamin Crozier raised their Ryman Healthcare target price by 20 cents to $2.85 because of earnings upgrades released late last week. Ibbotson and Crozier said forward-looking sales have improved to about 90% of their two-year average, up from 75% last quarter. 'One swallow does not make a summer, but we view this as an important step in de-risking the investment case.' The exchange's other two retirement operators, Summerset Group and Oceania Healthcare, were up 0.77% to $11.72 and down 1.32% to 75c, respectively. Singh said the industry would be watching the Real Estate Institute of NZ's (REINZ) data release on Tuesday, which would help the market see whether Ryman was a standout or part of a wider trend. He added that the index's largest constituent, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, was yet to be visibly affected by US President Donald Trump's renewed tariffs on Mexico, where the firm manufactures many of its products. The stock lifted 0.79% to $35.90 on volumes worth nearly $6m. 'FPH did not move much today, despite that, because at the moment, the products that they ship out of Mexico are still exempt under a free-trade agreement,' he said. 'This kind of builds on that expectation that at some point there could be a hit in terms of the Mexican production that FPH has.'
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Blackpearl tech firm moves to buy US company B2B Rocket
Blackpearl Group, seen here celebrating their stock exchange listing, are moving to buy an American AI sales automation company. Photo: NZx NZX-listed tech company Blackpearl Group has made a further leap into artificial intelligence, with plans to buy a US firm. It signed a conditional agreement to fully acquire B2B Rocket - an AI sales automation company for an initial US$4 million in cash and more than 1.7 million Blackpearl shares. There was scope for further performance-based cash and share payments worth more than US$8m over five years, taking the total potential value of the deal to just over US$13m or almost NZ$22m based on Friday's closing share price for Blackpearl of $1.13. The deal would be subject to certain conditions, including converting certain share interests in B2B Rocket and having Blackpearl shares quoted on the Australian stock exchange (ASX). Blackpearl chief executive Nick Lissette said B2B Rocket blended well with their other products that focused on finding new customers for small and medium firms, particularly in the US. "What was really interesting is that I try and start most days of the week speaking with a potential customer - I get up and jump on one of our rep demo calls or a customer success call," Lissette said. "And B2B Rocket was a company that came to my attention through the demands of our customers," he said. "People said, 'Oh, do you integrate with B2B Rocket, or how does this fit in with B2B Rocket? And I was like, oh, OK." B2B Rocket had approximately US$2.1m in annual recurring revenue according to Blackpearl's market announcement. Blackpearl expected the deal to be completed in August. The company was considering a full range of funding options for the acquisition, including a mix of cash, debt and share initiatives. It was preparing to file an application for a foreign exempt listing on the ASX, but planned to keep its primary listing on the NZX. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Techday NZ
7 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Black Pearl Group to acquire B2B Rocket in AI sales deal
Black Pearl Group has signed a conditional agreement to acquire all shares in B2B Rocket, a United States-based company focused on artificial intelligence for sales automation. B2B Rocket develops AI-driven outbound sales agents that generate, qualify and engage leads for small and medium-sized enterprises without requiring human involvement. According to information provided by Black Pearl Group, the platform has achieved more than USD $2.1 million in annual recurring revenue and is expanding its presence across the US. Details of the acquisition The acquisition deal includes an upfront cash payment and an equity component in Black Pearl Group. In addition, the arrangement contains a performance-based earn-out structure over five years, which combines cash and equity elements and is contingent on B2B Rocket reaching specified revenue milestones. The aim is to reward sustained growth and customer acquisition momentum, with a maximum payout designed to coincide with substantial annual recurring revenue expansion. Black Pearl Group Chief Executive Officer Nick Lissette connected the two companies' cultures and ambitions. "Relentless ambition is the common thread. B2B Rocket is cut from the same cloth as us - founder-led, customer-obsessed and unapologetically focused on delivering results. Their AI-powered outbound engine is the perfect complement to what we offer with Pearl Diver," says Blackpearl CEO Nick Lissette. Black Pearl's Pearl Diver product and B2B Rocket have already been integrated in certain customer environments, providing increased automation and cross-sell potential for sales teams. Lissette explained that bringing the two companies together is expected to provide material benefits for customers looking to increase their sales pipeline with fewer manual processes. "This is far more than just a bolt-on," says Nick. "It's an investment in category leadership where humans and AI work together to power customer acquisition at scale. This acquisition and our ASX ambitions reinforce our trajectory. Our platform, our people and our playbook are all geared toward sustained, scalable growth," adds Nick. Broader growth plans In parallel with the transaction, Black Pearl Group confirmed it is preparing to file an application to list its shares on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), signalling the company's intention to expand its capital market presence beyond New Zealand, where it is already listed. Nick commented on Black Pearl Group's outlook following the deal, stating, "With B2B Rocket on board and ASX listing in motion, we aren't just expanding; we're accelerating. Relentless ambition isn't just a the model," concludes Nick. B2B Rocket was described as a partner well aligned to Black Pearl Group's own focus areas, namely, technology for improving sales and marketing efficiency among small to mid-sized businesses. The combined operation will seek to serve an expanded client base through increased use of AI sales automation technologies and integration between the companies' respective platforms. The five-year revenue-based earn-out forms a significant component of the deal structure, providing incentives for B2B Rocket to achieve continued growth after the initial acquisition is completed. The integration of B2B Rocket's AI outbound sales technology into Black Pearl Group's platform is intended to unlock new opportunities for a range of business customers operating in the sales and marketing sectors. Follow us on: Share on:
Scoop
7 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Relentless Ambition: Blackpearl Acquire B2B Rocket And Announces It Will Dual List On The ASX
Black Pearl Group Limited (NZX: BPG) has signed a conditional agreement to acquire 100% of B2B Rocket Inc - a fast-scaling US-based AI sales automation company with a laser focus on helping small and mid-sized businesses grow. In parallel with this transaction, Blackpearl has confirmed it is preparing to file an application to dual list on the ASX. B2B Rocket specialises in intelligent outbound sales agents that can generate, qualify and engage leads without human input. The platform has already achieved over US$2.1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and is rapidly expanding across the US. 'Relentless ambition is the common thread. B2B Rocket is cut from the same cloth as us - founder-led, customer-obsessed and unapologetically focused on delivering results. Their AI-powered outbound engine is the perfect complement to what we offer with Pearl Diver,' says Blackpearl CEO Nick Lissette. The two products are already integrated in select customer environments, unlocking a new level of automation and cross-sell opportunity for sales teams who want more pipeline with less pain. 'This is far more than just a bolt-on,' says Lissette. 'It's an investment in category leadership where humans and AI work together to power customer acquisition at scale. This acquisition and our ASX ambitions reinforce our trajectory. Our platform, our people and our playbook are all geared toward sustained, scalable growth,' adds Nick. About the deal Under the terms of the agreement, the consideration includes an upfront cash payment and an equity component in Black Pearl Group. An additional performance-based earn-out is structured over a five-year period, combining cash and equity, and is tied to B2B Rocket achieving agreed revenue milestones. The structure is designed to reward sustained growth and customer acquisition momentum, with the maximum payout aligned to significant ARR expansion. 'With B2B Rocket on board and ASX listing in motion, we aren't just expanding; we're accelerating. Relentless ambition isn't just a tagline…it's the model,' concludes Lissette. About Blackpearl Group Blackpearl Group (BPG) is a market leading data technology company that pioneers AI-driven sales and marketing solutions for the US market. Specifically engineered for small-medium sized businesses (SMEs), BPG consistently delivers exceptional value to its customers. Our mantra is simple: 'Better Growth Together'. When our customers win, we win. Founded in 2012, BPG is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Techday NZ
02-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Bebop reaches NZD $1.2 million ARR in 45 days with SME focus
Bebop, an AI-driven sales enablement product developed by Black Pearl Group, has recorded NZD $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) within 45 days of its market launch. The announcement highlights Bebop as being the fastest-growing product in the company's portfolio, reaching its ARR milestone at twice the speed set by Pearl Diver, another product from the same company that attained NZD $10 million in ARR over 24 months. Access for SMEs According to Black Pearl Group, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have traditionally found themselves excluded from access to high-quality sales intelligence due to the cost and scale of established platforms such as ZoomInfo, Clearbit, and Apollo. Bebop is intended to address this gap. The company reports that Bebop provides rapid access to highly targeted lists of verified decision-makers at millions of US-based companies, supported by personalised strategic dossiers. Nick Lissette, Chief Executive Officer, commented on the product's rapid uptake: "Bebop is like ChatGPT, but specifically built for sales and revenue growth. This is one of the fastest go-to-market trajectories we've seen across the SaaS and AI landscape, and customers have rapidly validated our value proposition. We hit it out of the park with Pearl Diver, so it's extremely exciting to see Bebop overtake its impressive early adoption. Bebop's traction validates our core thesis: that speed, usability, and value drive adoption. And our platform was built to scale these advantages, fast" Positioned on cost The company states that Bebop delivers sales intelligence tools similar in function to existing enterprise solutions but is priced to make such tools accessible to SMEs. This approach, Black Pearl Group claims, meets growing demand for AI-based and cost-effective sales applications tailored to SME needs. Lissette further said, "There's rising demand for AI-native, cost-effective sales tools that solve real SME challenges. With Bebop, we imagined unlocking unlimited revenue opportunities and cutting-edge business intelligence. Early customer feedback highlights Bebop's ability to 'save hours in research,' 'generate customers effortlessly,' and 'bring the power of AI to the everyday business owner'. That's real results; and a real threat to Silicon Valley sales giants." He contrasted Bebop's capability with earlier generations of business-to-business sales software, which he described as depending largely on SQL queries with interfaces optimised to simplify data retrieval. According to Lissette, Bebop's design provides a distinct experience by understanding both the offerings of a business and its relevant target market, ultimately helping to generate actionable insights for revenue generation. Lissette stated, "Bebop has intelligence at its core – genuinely understanding what a business provides and exactly who needs it. Our product delivers a fundamentally different experience that unlocks deep insights that fuel measurable revenue growth." Product development and outlook Bebop was built and brought to market within 90 days, which the company credits to its ongoing investment in its proprietary Pearl Engine software and underlying data infrastructure. The company suggests this effort illustrates its ongoing technology-driven approach to product development. Lissette added, "That conviction has been validated. The results show Bebop is not just viable – it's a force multiplier for BPG's revenue growth. It now stands alongside Pearl Diver as a key driver in our product portfolio, reinforcing our strategy of building scalable, high-impact tools for customer acquisition." He continued, "Bebop's rapid market-fit means our line of sight on NZD $20 million ARR is even clearer. And this also will greatly contribute to our medium target of NZD $50 million ARR." Karen Cargill, Interim Chief Financial Officer, remarked, "We have deliberately invested since our capital raise into platform development and talent acquisition. The vision and engine is working. Our investment and market timing have aligned. With two products both demonstrating scale and demand, we're well positioned for sustained growth."
