Breaking news

The World’s Biggest IPO For 2024: Logistics Giant Lineage Raises $4.4 Billion.

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 25, 2024

Lineage, the world’s largest operator of cold storage warehouses, raised $4.44 billion in its initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, the largest stock market debut in the world this year, Reuters reported.

KEY FACTS

Lineage listed just under 57 million shares in New York at $78 apiece, at the upper end of its previously announced range of $70 to $82.
The $4.44 billion IPO values Lineage at more than $18 billion and is the largest since chip company Arm raised $4.87 billion in its IPO last September.
Lineage’s books will begin trading on the Nasdaq on Thursday.

INTERESTING FACT

Global IPOs raised $48.8 billion in the first half of 2024, down 18% from a year earlier and the lowest level for the period since 2016, LSEG data showed. But proceeds from U.S. IPOs reached $17 billion, more than double year-earlier levels and a three-year high.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

KEY STORY

Lineage specializes in temperature-controlled warehouses, operating 482 such warehouses worldwide and serving more than 13,000 customers, many of whom are involved in food supply chains such as distributors, retailers and manufacturers.

Adam Forst and Kevin Marchetti founded the business as a single warehouse in Seattle in 2008. Since then, they’ve grown the company with 116 acquisitions, generating $5.3 billion in revenue by 2023. Forst and Marchetti’s company, Bay Grove Capital, owns the majority by Lineage.

The company is structured as a real estate investment trust that allows shareholders to deduct some of the taxes they pay on their dividends. The company used its cash flow for acquisitions and investments in its business, reporting a net loss of $162.8 million in the 12 months to the end of March.

The Decline Of Smartwatches: A Turning Point In The Wearable Tech Industry

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 13, 2025

For the first time in history, the smartwatch market is facing a significant downturn. Shipments are expected to drop by 7% in 2024, marking a major shift in a segment that has been growing steadily for over a decade. A report by Counterpoint reveals that while Apple still holds the top spot, its dominance is being challenged by a surge from Chinese brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BBK. Even as the overall market struggles, some companies are thriving.

The Big Picture: Why Smartwatches Are Slowing Down

Apple’s flagship products have long been the driving force in the smartwatch market, but even the tech giant is feeling the pressure. The company’s shipments are projected to fall by 19% this year, though it will remain the market leader. Meanwhile, brands from China are capitalizing on the shift, with Huawei showing an impressive 35% growth in sales, driven by the booming domestic market and a broad range of offerings, including smartwatches for kids.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Xiaomi, too, is experiencing remarkable success, with a staggering 135% increase in sales. In contrast, Samsung is seeing more modest growth, up 3%, thanks to its latest Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra series.

While some companies are succeeding, the broader market is facing headwinds. The biggest factor behind the overall decline is the slowdown in India, where consumer demand for smartwatches has stagnated. The segment is suffering from a lack of innovation and fresh updates, leaving many consumers with little incentive to upgrade their devices. Add to that market saturation, and it’s clear why many users are content with their current models. The Chinese market, however, is bucking the trend, showing 6% growth in 2024.

A Glimpse Into The Future

Looking ahead, the smartwatch market may begin to recover in 2025, driven by the increasing integration of AI and advanced health monitoring tools. As these technologies evolve, the industry could see a resurgence in demand.

Huawei’s Remarkable Comeback

Huawei’s impressive performance in the smartwatch space signals a broader recovery for the company, which has been hit hard by US sanctions. Once the world’s largest smartphone maker, Huawei’s business was decimated when it lost access to advanced chips and Google’s Android operating system in 2019. But in China, Huawei has maintained its dominance, with its market share growing to 17% in 2024.

This resurgence was partly driven by the launch of the Mate 60 Pro, a smartphone featuring a 7-nanometer chip developed in China. Despite US sanctions, the device surprised many with its capabilities, a testament to China’s rising investment in domestic semiconductor production.

In February, Huawei also unveiled its Mate XT foldable smartphone, the world’s first device to fold in three directions. Running on HarmonyOS 4.2, Huawei’s proprietary operating system, the phone further demonstrates the company’s resilience and ability to innovate despite international challenges.

Huawei’s smartwatch offerings are also catching attention, particularly the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro, which launched in September of last year. With a premium titanium alloy design, a high-resolution AMOLED display, and impressive health tracking features, the GT 5 Pro has become a standout in the market, available to both Android and iOS users.

A Brief History Of The Smartwatch Revolution

The smartwatch market has had its fair share of milestones, but the real breakthrough came in 2012 with the Pebble, a Kickstarter-funded project that raised over $10 million. Pebble introduced the world to smartphone integration, app downloads, and long battery life, becoming the first truly mass-market smartwatch.

In 2013, Samsung entered the game with the Galaxy Gear, marking its first attempt at wearable tech. But it was Apple’s entry in 2014 that truly set the industry on fire. The Apple Watch’s sleek design, integration with iOS, and emphasis on health and fitness catapulted it to the top of the market, establishing a standard that many other brands would try to follow.

By 2021, the smartwatch industry had grown to over $30 billion in revenue, with annual growth reaching 20%. Yet now, it finds itself at a crossroads, with innovation stagnating and market saturation taking a toll.