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New Delhi: The upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO) of <keyword id="20214518" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyundai-Motors-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Hyundai Motors India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Hyundai Motors India">Hyundai Motors India</keyword> has sparked significant interest in the Indian markets, but a recent report by <keyword id="20303939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aequitas-Investments" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Aequitas Investments" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Aequitas Investments">Aequitas Investments</keyword> suggests it may not be as promising for <keyword id="19953411" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-investors" source="keywords">Indian investors</keyword> as anticipated. The report highlighted several concerns, pointing to broader industry challenges and the valuation mismatch as reasons for caution. It said "Given the headwinds that the Global <keyword id="20081560" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="automobile-industry" source="keywords">Automobile Industry</keyword> is facing coupled with signs of a slowdown in India, the upcoming IPO might not be a great deal for Indian Investors" Hyundai Motor Company, the parent firm based in South Korea, is set to offload shares worth Rs 25,000 crore through an Offer for Sale (OFS) in the Indian market. However, the report suggested that the current global headwinds facing the automobile industry, combined with signs of a slowdown in India, may make this IPO less attractive for Indian investors. One of the key issues flagged in the report is the valuation of Hyundai Motors India. The report noted that despite contributing only 6.5 per cent of Hyundai's global revenue and 8 per cent of its overall profitability, the Indian unit is expected to be valued at approximately 42 per cent of the parent company's market capitalization upon listing. This valuation discrepancy raises concerns about whether the IPO price is justified given the Indian unit's relatively modest contribution to Hyundai's global business. "Despite contributing only 6.5 per cent of the global revenues and 8 per cent of the profitability, Hyundai's India unit will be valued at approx. 42 per cent of the Parent Co.'s MCap on listing" the report added. From Hyundai's perspective, the move makes sense. In South Korea, Hyundai's stock currently trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 5x, making the sale in India potentially more lucrative. The report argues that Hyundai is looking to take advantage of the relatively higher valuations in India. It said "From Hyundai's perspective it's a no-brainer as their stock in S.Korea trades at a measly 5x P/E" Hyundai Motor Group, which includes both Hyundai and Kia, is the third-largest automaker globally, having sold 7.3 million vehicles in 2023. While Hyundai Motors India does not have a stake in Kia Motors India, the parent company owns a controlling 34 per cent stake in Kia Motors globally and fully owns Genesis Motors, a luxury brand in South Korea.

Hyundai IPO might not be a great deal for Indian investors: Report

<keyword id="20253141" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharti-Global" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bharti Global" meta.hostid="268" meta.entityid="Bharti Global">Bharti Global</keyword>, the international <keyword id="19895437" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investment" source="keywords">investment</keyword> arm of Bharti Enterprises, will acquire about 24.5 per cent stake in <keyword id="20115879" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BT-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BT Group" meta.hostid="268" meta.entityid="BT Group">BT Group</keyword>, Britain's largest broadband and mobile company, from <keyword id="22756191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Altice-UK" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Altice UK" meta.hostid="268" meta.entityid="Altice UK">Altice UK</keyword>, a release said on Monday. Although it did not divulge the size of the deal, market watchers say that at BT's valuation of roughly USD 15 billion dollars, the deal could be in the ballpark of USD 4 billion. The shares will be purchased through Bharti Televentures UK, which is wholly-owned by Bharti Global. Bharti Televentures UK has inked an agreement with Altice UK to acquire about 9.99 per cent stake of BT Group's issued capital imminently with the rest about 14.51 per cent of BT's share capital is to be acquired post regulatory clearances. Telecom billionaire Patrick Drahi's Altice UK, the largest shareholder in BT, has been struggling with high debt. "Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, a leading Indian business group with world-class companies in telecoms, digital infrastructure and space communications, has reached an agreement to acquire an interest in 24.5 per cent of the issued share capital of BT Group plc from Altice UK," Bharti said in a release. Bharti hopes the investment will further help create new synergies in the telecom sector between India and UK in the areas of AI and <keyword id="19916120" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="5G" source="keywords">5G</keyword> R&amp;D and core engineering among others, "offering great potential to collaborate on industry best practices and emerging technologies". It is pertinent to mention here that Bharti and BT have a relationship going back more than two decades. In 1997, BT acquired a 21 per cent stake in Bharti Airtel, and hence Bharti's latest move to acquire a 24.5 per cent chunk in the iconic British company marks a defining moment for the Indian telecom conglomerate. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises said: "Bharti and British Telecom (BT) have an enduring relationship going back more than two decades wherein BT owned 21 per cent stake along with two board seats in Bharti Airtel Limited from 1997-2001. Today marks a significant milestone in Bharti Group's history as we invest in BT - an iconic British company". Bharti's investment in BT aims to support the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards his vision in elevating and broadening the India-UK ties, the release said. It noted that during the recently concluded visit of UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy to India, the UK-India Technology Security Initiative was announced to expand collaboration in critical and emerging technologies across priority sectors including telecom. Sunil Mittal said: "This investment in BT aims to support the commitment of our Prime Minister towards his vision in elevating and broadening the India-UK ties. Bharti's own record of owning and operating telecom and broadband networks around the world is underpinned by placing customers, digital innovation and operational efficiency at the heart of its business". Shravin Bharti Mittal, Managing Director of Bharti Global said: "We review global investment opportunities in the world of technology from digital infrastructure to software. BT is well known to us from the long association with Bharti, so we are pleased to have this opportunity to acquire a significant stake in the company." Bharti believes that BT is poised for leadership in the telecom arena, especially home broadband services, he added. Meanwhile, BT Group, in a separate statement said the investment from Bharti is a strong vote of confidence in the future of the British telecom carrier and its strategy. Allison Kirkby, Chief Executive of BT said: "We welcome investors who recognise the long-term value of our business, and this scale of investment from Bharti Global is a great vote of confidence in the future of BT Group and our strategy". "BT has enjoyed a long association with Bharti Enterprises, and I'm pleased that they share our ambition and vision for the future of our business. They have a strong track record of success in the sector, and I look forward to ongoing and positive engagement with them in the months and years to come," Kirkby said. Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its Investment Bank served as the sole financial advisor and Linklaters LLP served as legal advisor to Bharti Global in connection with the transaction. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/saraswati-saree-depot-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112457330.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/saraswati-saree-depot-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112457330.cms" target="_blank">Saraswati Saree Depot IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-wearables-market-decline-for-the-first-time-as-smartwatch-shipments-fall/articleshow/112397246.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-wearables-market-decline-for-the-first-time-as-smartwatch-shipments-fall/articleshow/112397246.cms" target="_blank">India’s wearables market decline for the first time as smartwatch shipments fall</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ola-wants-to-re-enter-the-quick-commerce-business-to-take-on-blinkit-and-swiggy-instamart/articleshow/112364583.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ola-wants-to-re-enter-the-quick-commerce-business-to-take-on-blinkit-and-swiggy-instamart/articleshow/112364583.cms" target="_blank">Ola wants to re-enter the quick commerce business to take on Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart</a>

Bharti to acquire about 24.5% stake in BT Group from Altice UK; deal estimated at $4 bn

The prestigious venture firm Sequoia Capital likes to say all its partners invest in every sector. But more than anyone, the growth-stage partner Grady, part of Business Insider's 2024 AI Power List, has led the firm's AI strategy, making bets on companies including OpenAI, Harvey, and Hugging Face. Along with another partner, Sonya Huang, Grady also wrote a public blog post on Sequoia's website inviting AI founders to email them their ideas and pitches directly. A successful deal for Sequoia is more about investing in the best people rather than at the best price, Grady told Business Insider last year. "We don't make money by getting a good deal," he said.See Business Insider's full <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://businessinsider.com/ai-power-list-2024">AI Power List</a>

Sequoia Capital partner Pat Grady is redefining AI investments

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The presidential election has the potential to reshape the investment landscape.</li><li>Detailed below is what Wall Street is saying about investing implications across multiple asset classes.</li></ul>With the presidential election just over a week away, and the candidates in a dead heat in the polls, Americans are in suspense about how their lives will change under a new leader.Business Insider has prepared a five-part refresher for the final stretch that will unpack the potential impact that both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris presidencies will have on US consumers. Today's first installment is focused on the investment landscape.To date, Trump and Harris have outlined specific policy proposals that will impact different parts of the stock market. Their varying platforms will also be crucial in determining the future path of interest rates, which will shape the bond market.But they're not expected to have diametrically opposed impacts on everything, with both candidates seen as positive forces for crypto.Detailed below is the latest research and commentary from top Wall Street strategists, outlining how the market and investing landscape will shift under potential Trump or Harris administrations.The guide covers four specific asset classes, and is divided between the Trump and Harris impact on each.<h2 id="40896f3b-9c3a-42aa-82ae-49a1761381ac">Stocks</h2>From the perspective of equities, it's helpful to look at the potential impact on both the micro (specific sectors set to be impacted) and the macro (how the broader market will respond).<h3 id="24c47698-0ee7-4a48-bb04-abe2a4f630c2">Trump</h3><h4 id="51cc4655-bf14-43bc-b772-b54703215a1c">Sectors</h4>Much of the industry guidance for the stock market under Trump boils down to his proposed tax policies. Bank of America says his plan to cut the corporate tax rate to 15% from 21% will boost corporate earnings by 4%. How much it impacts each sector ultimately depends on sensitivity to changes in the tax rate.To that end, BofA says the consumer discretionary and communication services sectors — the areas most beholden to tax-rate changes — will benefit the most. On the flip side, less exposed areas like utilities, real estate, and energy will get the smallest boost.For energy specifically, Trump's pro-drilling stance — while supportive of industry activity — will likely lead to oversupply and lower oil prices, says BNY Wealth. That, in turn, will hurt corporate profitability in the sector and drag on stock prices.It's also worth noting that energy was the worst-performing sector during Trump's previous presidential tenure.Financials is another area of the stock market seen benefiting from a Trump win. <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/if-trump-wins-he-plans-free-wall-street-burdensome-regulations-2024-04-12/">Allies of the former president have said</a> he aims to unburden banks from many of the regulations that were imposed following the 2008 financial crisis, something that his first administration tried to do with limited success.Those looser regulations could could also ignite a fresh wave of mergers and acquisitions, which would increase advisory revenue for big banks and help drive up profits from dealmaking.<h4 id="08ac2f7c-0094-48df-8910-ca3b12ae746a">Broader market</h4>Zooming out and assessing the full equity-market landscape, views are divided, particularly along partisan lines. Trump's proposed tax and regulatory policies are seen by his supporters as pro-business, which would be good news for corporate profit growth and deal activity.But Trump critics argue that his proposal for universal tariffs and steeper levies on Chinese imports — as well as a crackdown on immigration — will be inflationary, which could hold back stock prices. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation says the tariff plan in particular could <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://taxfoundation.org/blog/trump-mckinley-tariffs-great-depression/">hurt profit margins and put pressure on consumer spending</a>.Bank of America estimates that 60% tariffs on China and 10% on other countries would lower S&amp;P 500 earnings per share by 3.1%. That would be a problem since earnings growth has long been the stock market's primary driver of gains."The conventional wisdom is wrong: Trump is not going to substantially cut taxes once in office; he is going to raise taxes by jacking up tariffs. To the extent that this dampens economic activity, it is bad news for stocks," BCA Research chief strategist Peter Berezin said.<h3 id="fe116c39-7eef-494d-b923-93e68c7490b4">Harris</h3><h4 id="82c14dd6-d54a-4af0-a6d6-b171c6d4ccd1">Sectors</h4>Just like with Trump, much of the guidance around the stock market under Harris involves her tax plan. Her proposal to hike the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21% would have an inverse effect on sectors.That means consumer discretionary and communication services — the top beneficiaries under Trump — would be hit the hardest under a Harris regime, BofA says."Consumer discretionary stocks have underperformed the S&amp;P 500 modestly since Harris' presidential candidacy was announced, perhaps reflecting concerns that a Democratic President could result in higher corporate taxes and employee wages," BNY Wealth said.Financial firms will also feel a negative impact of both higher taxes and Harris' proposed regulatory tightening.But there are bright spots too. A Harris victory would likely benefit homebuilder stocks because of her proposal to build 3 million houses. Renewable-energy stocks should also see gains due to the favorable view of wind and solar energy by Democrats.Both sectors have outperformed in recent months during periods when Harris saw positive momentum in election polls.<h4 id="27decf30-ab8c-4ed1-beaf-70dfe2073247">Broader market</h4>The stock market <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-today-sp500-hits-another-record-high-q3-earnings-2024-10">has soared to records</a> during Joe Biden's presidency, up more than 50% since he was inaugurated, and a Kamala Harris win would likely be a continuation of many of the same policies that have been supportive of the market.Those include infrastructure investments and tax incentives to bring manufacturing jobs back to the country, like in the semiconductor industry via the CHIPS and Science Act.But BofA says Harris' proposed tax hike would also put downward pressure on corporate profits, which estimates a 5% earnings hit. Beyond that, a quadrupling of the stock buyback tax to 4% would also take 1% off S&amp;P 500 profits, the firm said.With all of these cross-currents swirling, a neutral market outcome must also be assessed.<h3 id="cefe8193-23a0-4521-8119-4d27dde3396d">A potentially muted impact</h3>Capital Economics believes neither a Trump nor Harris win will mean all that much for stock prices because bigger trends — specifically AI — will shape the market's direction."Our upbeat projections for the stock market in 2024 and 2025 are predicated on a view that hype over AI will continue to fuel a stock market bubble," the research firm said. Capital Economics has a 2025 year-end price target of 7,000 for the S&amp;P 500, regardless of which candidate wins the election.Meanwhile, Bank of America said that as long as corporate profits continue to grow, the stock market will <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-election-impact-outlook-harris-trump-energy-tesla-biden-2024-10">rise regardless of who wins</a> the White House.<h2 id="7a7d474f-4301-46c7-a48c-d475d0abd0a4">Bonds</h2>The performance of the US bond market largely hinges on the direction of interest rates.As interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall, and vice versa. And since presidential actions usually impact rates, the bond market will be shaped by what either Trump or Harris end up doing.<h3 id="aa298578-a5d5-4e0a-ab3b-fcb78a88d8dc">Trump</h3>A Trump win would is seen ushering in higher interest rates, which would push bond prices lower. It ultimately boils down to inflation.Economists see Trump's double-whammy proposals of mass deportation and universal tariffs as inflationary. And since the Federal Reserve's primary tool for fighting inflation is raising interest rates, bond prices would suffer as yields rise."Our assessment is that a Trump win would lead to higher US yields," Capital Economics said.Estimates from the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.crfb.org/papers/fiscal-impact-harris-and-trump-campaign-plans">Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget</a> — a non-profit think tank — say a wider deficit and an increasing pile of debt under a Trump presidency, compared to a Harris presidency, would also put upward pressure on interest rates. That would also hurt the performance of bonds.<h3 id="c267d16e-6b3a-4db4-8316-c599ab723494">Harris</h3>Capital Economics said it expects interest rates to fall under a Harris win, which would be good news for bonds, as she wouldn't pursue certain inflationary policies like tariffs or immigration deportations, which could fuel wage inflation.Harris' policies, considered to be less inflationary than Trump's, would also allow the Federal Reserve to continue on their path of cutting interest rates, which would boost bond prices.A Bloomberg survey of institutional investors last month found that 30% of investors would add to their bond exposure if Harris wins, while just 17% said they would buy more bonds if Trump wins.Additionally, 46% of respondents said they would reduce their bond exposure if Trump wins, compared to just 23% under a Harris win.<h2 id="648d1263-465a-44c9-b50e-97ea3cd444a7">Crypto</h2><h3 id="77a393b0-f8c1-49d8-b73b-e2f0119e53e1">Trump</h3>A Trump win is seen as bullish for bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency industry, as former President Donald Trump has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-bitcoin-stance-2024-7?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">firmly embraced digital assets</a> in recent years.According to Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/bitcoin-price-outlook-90000-target-if-trump-wins-november-election-2024-9">bitcoin could hit $90,000 by December</a> if Trump wins the election, representing potential upside of about 37% from current levels."Elections remain hard to call, but if you are long crypto here, you are likely taking a Trump trade," Chhugani said.<h3 id="58f9bbfb-d544-465f-8607-1b699202db17">Harris</h3>Harris <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-donald-trump-crypto-bitcoin-donors-young-men-2024-9">has also embraced the crypto industry</a> in recent months, though she's seen as slightly less bullish compared to Trump, given his public displays of support, including addressing crypto conferences and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-nfts-digital-cards-mahattan-trial-2024-5">launching his own NFTs</a>.Yet, Wall Street seems to think that a big case for bitcoin will remain intact no matter who wins. The US government debt pile is expected grow regardless of who controls the White House. That scenario is among bitcoin's biggest bull theses."I'm not sure if either President or other candidate would make a difference. I do believe the utilization of digital assets is going to become more and more of a reality worldwide," BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said during the company's third-quarter earnings call.<h2 id="bb5f6b7e-fd9d-459b-a7dd-22eebbb1993b">US dollar</h2><h3 id="0ae89f53-6e41-467c-8f2a-8aa885fcaf18">Trump</h3>Trump's tax plan and protectionist trade policies are expected to strengthen the dollar. It's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-dollar-trump-presidential-election-weaker-usd-policy-intervention-trillions-2024-7">the opposite</a> of what the presidential hopeful has said he wants, since a weaker currency makes a nation's exports more competitive in global trade.These policies are expected to be inflationary, which would push interest rates higher and possibly prompt the Fed to tighten. Those climbing rates would then underpin dollar gains."Should he re-take the White House ... the dollar would probably rally sharply, at least in the near term, on expectations of higher US tariffs and interest rates," Capital Economics said in recent research.<h3 id="e5ae53de-b9c3-4069-a7a1-5fc244dc29c6">Harris</h3>A Harris presidency would continue the trends of a weaker dollar due to "policy continuity" of the Biden administration, Capital Economics said.Since Harris' overall platform is less expansionary, it's expected to drive less inflationary pressure, and therefore keep the coast clear for the Fed to cut rates and stimulate the economy as currently planned.That likelihood of lower interest would, in turn, push the dollar lower.

How a Trump or Harris presidency could impact your investments

<ul><li><keyword id="23134822" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Great-Indian-Festival" source="keywords">Amazon Great Indian Festival</keyword> begins on September 27 for all</li><li>Prime users get early access to the sale</li><li>Apple's <keyword id="21240170" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="MacBook-Air-M1" source="keywords">MacBook Air M1</keyword> will be available at a special discount</li></ul> Amazon's Great Indian Festival begins this Friday and as we get closer to the shopping fiesta, people are eager to know about the deals that will be available. For Prime members, the sale begins a day early, on September 26. Several gadgets including smartphones, laptops, TWS earbuds etc will be available at attractive prices during the deal. If you are thinking of buying a laptop during the <keyword id="20586627" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-sale" source="keywords">Amazon sale</keyword>, here's some good news. The website recently teased a deal on the MacBook Air M1. <h2>MacBook Air 1 to get discounted during Amazon Great Indian Festival</h2>The MacBook Air M1 will be available at a huge discount during the Amazon sale. The laptop, which originally launched in India at a price of ₹92,990, is set to become much more affordable during the upcoming festive sales. Currently listed on Amazon at ₹62,990, the laptop will see a significant price drop to ₹55,990 during the sale period. Moreover, shoppers using select bank cards will benefit from an instant discount of ₹3,000, bringing the price further down. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113214171" title="iPhone 16 Pro with A18 Pro chip launched: Should you upgrade if you own an iPhone 15 Pro?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> For those who are Amazon Prime members, there's an additional perk. Prime members who act quickly during the first few hours of the sale can enjoy an extra ₹3,000 off as part of an early bird offer. This means the price of the MacBook Air M1 could drop as low as ₹49,990 for some customers, making it one of the most enticing offers in the market for a high-end <keyword id="23291511" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Apple-laptop" source="keywords">Apple laptop</keyword>. <h2>Reasons to buy the MacBook Air M1 in 2024</h2>The MacBook Air M1 may not be Apple's latest model, but it remains a popular choice for both students and professionals due to its solid performance and long-lasting support from Apple. Powered by Apple's M1 chipset, the laptop features an 8-core CPU, with four performance cores and four efficiency cores. This combination allows the device to handle daily tasks with ease, while using far less power than traditional laptops, making it energy-efficient as well. The MacBook Air M1 has a 13.3-inch Retina display, boasting a 2560x1600 resolution. This crisp display makes it ideal for watching videos, editing photos, or simply browsing the web. Despite being launched a few years ago, it still packs enough power to meet the demands of everyday tasks, whether that’s work, study, or entertainment. One of the standout features of this laptop is its battery life. Apple claims that the MacBook Air M1 can last up to 18 hours on a single charge, which is more than enough for a full day of use without needing to reach for the charger. This makes it an excellent choice for people on the go, as it offers portability alongside top-tier performance. In terms of its build, the MacBook Air M1 has a sleek, minimalistic design, in line with Apple’s aesthetic standards. It features an aluminium finish that gives it a premium look and feel, while remaining lightweight at just under 1.3kg. This makes it easy to carry, whether you’re heading to the office, travelling, or attending classes. Apple is known for offering long-term support for its devices, and the MacBook Air M1 is no exception. This means that buyers can expect software updates and security patches for several years, extending the usability and lifespan of the laptop. For anyone considering investing in a laptop, this is an important factor, as it ensures that the device will not become obsolete anytime soon. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/article/from-firewire-in-macs-to-type-c-in-iphones-the-apple-connect/articleshow/112734982.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">From FireWire in Macs to Type-C in iPhones - the Apple Connect</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/article/elon-musk-to-tim-cook-a-morning-in-the-lives-of-big-tech-ceos/articleshow/113599807.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Elon Musk to Tim Cook: A morning in the lives of big tech CEOs</a>

Apple MacBook Air M1 to be available under ₹50,000 on Amazon, how to get the deal

<ul class="summary-list"><li>AWS is negotiating a potential $475 million AI cloud deal with IBM.</li><li>IBM already uses AWS services for AI, including training models on EC2 servers with Nvidia chips.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ibm-exec-companies-focus-training-employees-ai-skills-tech-impact-2024-9">IBM</a> needs more Nvidia GPUs. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-data-centers-delays-costs-power-labor-shortages-aws-ai-2024-10">Amazon</a> Web Services wants to provide them via the cloud.AWS is in talks for a potential deal worth roughly $475 million over 5 years to give IBM access to Nvidia <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gpu-rich-vs-gpu-poor-tech-companies-in-each-group-2023-8">GPUs</a> through its cloud service, according to an internal <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ceo-explains-why-he-wants-fewer-managers-hate-bureaucracy-2024-11">Amazon</a> document obtained by Business Insider.Under such a deal, IBM would use AWS's EC2 servers that come equipped with Nvidia's AI chips, the document stated. IBM Research has already started training some of its AI models on EC2 servers using AWS's machine learning platform SageMaker, the document also explained.One person familiar with the document and the negotiations said the IBM deal is for AI training and the talks are ongoing. This person asked not to be identified discussing private matters. Further details could not be learned. As with any deal talks, such negotiations could end without a final agreement being signed. Spokespeople for AWS and IBM didn't respond to requests for comment.The potential deal could expand the partnership between AWS and IBM in the AI space. In May, IBM <a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-05-21-IBM-Expands-watsonx-Portfolio-on-AWS,-Adds-watsonx-governance-to-Help-Clients-Scale-Responsible-AI">announced</a> it was increasing its use of AWS across its Watson AI platform.The negotiations also highlight continued demand for Nvidia GPUs. AWS has developed its own AI chips, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-nvidia-aws-ai-chip-dominance-gpu-trainium-inferentia-2024-5">Trainium </a>and Inferentia, and has been pitching cloud customers on using these. Amazon CEO <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-even-more-bullish-ai-cloud-opportunity-2024-10">Andy Jassy</a> said recently that AWS's AI chips are more appealing because of their price and energy efficiency compared to other offerings. Efforts here have been mixed so far, and it's unclear if an IBM deal would include access to these <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aws-ai-chips-wider-regional-availability-microsoft-google-2024-9">homegrown Amazon components</a>.Still, an AI cloud deal like this would be a further boost for AWS. During a call with analysts last month, Jassy said the company's AI business is on pace to generate "multi-billion dollars" in revenue this year, growing at "triple digit percentages year over year." Amazon's AI business is "growing three times faster at its stage of evolution than AWS did itself," he added.In the most recent quarter, AWS <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-stock-earnings-report-call-live-updates-2024-10">reported</a> $27.5 billion in revenue, up 19% from the year-ago period. Amazon is on pace to invest more than $75 billion in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-microsoft-google-meta-wild-spending-ai-infrastructure-cloud-2024-11">capex</a> this year, and even more next year, mostly on cloud infrastructure such as GPUs, networking, and data centers.Do you work at Amazon? Got a tip?Contact the reporter, Eugene Kim, via the encrypted-messaging apps Signal or Telegram (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link">+1-650-942-3061</a><a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow">) or email (</a><a target="_blank" href="mailto:ekim@businessinsider.com">ekim@businessinsider.com</a><a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="mailto:ekim@businessinsider.com">). Reach out using a non</a>work device. Check out Business Insider's <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-guide-to-securely-sharing-whistleblower-information-about-powerful-institutions-2021-10">source guide for other t</a>ips on sharing information securely.

AWS is negotiating a huge deal to supply IBM with Nvidia GPUs via the cloud

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Airports are looking to private wireless networks to improve operations, execs said at MWC Las Vegas.</li><li>Passengers could see benefits like smoother baggage claim and check-ins, the panelists said.</li></ul>Private wireless networks are key to ushering in a better airport experience for both the travel hubs' operations and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/busiest-airport-world-atlanta-dubai-tokyo-heathrow-dallas-list-ranking-2023-12">the billions of passengers who pass through them</a>.That's according to airport executives who spoke on a panel about connected aviation Tuesday at the trade show <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mwc-las-vegas-2024-5g-ai-mobile-communications-conference-2024-10">Mobile World Congress Las Vegas</a>.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/las-vegas-private-5g-network-2023-9">Private networks</a> generally offer greater security and reliability, lower latency, and higher bandwidth compared with public networks. For these reasons, they can help airports with operations and communications, plane and baggage tracking, and security.California's Ontario International Airport, for example, is using a private wireless network to run its perimeter-intrusion detection system, Charles Miwa, the airport's chief information officer, said."As I think about a future with a lot of growth, private wireless is foundational. It's going to enable us to accommodate these ad hoc moves," he said, emphasizing the need for flexibility given how often many airports do some form of construction to update their infrastructure."We're trying to run more efficient airports, more customer-friendly airports," said Michael Youngs, the vice president of information technology at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which last year announced a $10 million deal with AT&amp;T for a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-frequency-is-5g">private 5G network</a>."We're not going to do it with people. We're not going to do it with brick and mortar. We're going to do it with technology, with IoT, but we need that base foundational level of connectivity, private wireless, that's going to enable it," he added, referring to the Internet of Things.Private wireless networks can also help enterprises with cost and mobility by reducing the expense of installing cables and by providing connectivity to areas that might be harder to reach with wires."We traditionally at the airport, especially, do not put anything very secure across wireless. We just don't do it," said Kyle Mobley, the director of information technology at the Port of Oakland, which operates the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. "And it's not because we have any proof it's going to be less secure in the way we do it. It's the what you don't know."Mobley added: "Having this infrastructure wirelessly is huge." Mobley spoke of using private wireless for passenger traffic sensors, for example."It's tough to keep sending people out in the field to investigate things at 2 o'clock in the morning," he said. "And we cover such a wide area that getting these sensors — lidar, cameras, whatever it ends up being — in every corner of our property is huge to give that person working that desk the ability to know what's going on. Do I have a squirrel running up the fence, or is it somebody? The squirrel will sometimes send 10 cars out there, and that's not very efficient."Roughly 58% of airports worldwide that participated in the survey are investing in major development programs for a 5G communications network, and another 29% have research-and-development programs for the tech by 2026, said the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sita.aero/globalassets/docs/surveys--reports/2023-air-transport-it-insights-v6.1.pdf">2023 Air Transport IT Insights</a> report from SITA, an IT and telecommunications service provider for the aviation industry, and Airports Council International.As for passengers, they might see benefits like quicker <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-what-to-do-when-an-airline-loses-your-luggage-2022-7">baggage claim</a> or smoother check-ins."I'm not really looking to be in the private-wireless business — I feel like I have to be in the private-wireless business," Youngs said. "I need to harness data to take our airport forward. That's really the end game."

Airports are investing in private wireless networks to improve operations and travelers' experience

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Before he was the vice president-elect or a senator, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-vice-president-jd-vance-career-facts-2024-7">JD Vance</a> was a venture capitalist.</li><li>He maintains ownership stakes in several funds, according to his disclosure forms.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-results-congress-historic-firsts-2024-11">JD Vance</a> is a man of many careers: attorney, author, senator, vice president-elect, and, perhaps less well-known, venture capitalist.For about six years between graduating from law school and becoming a United States senator from Ohio, Vance held various positions in the space before eventually starting his own fund, Narya Capital.Over his career, Vance has been involved in investments across a broad range of business areas. Through Narya, he continues to hold a portfolio of investments in several startups, though he gave up his role as a partner there in 2022 and doesn't actively run or advise any of the companies.<h2 id="4b0a6db6-89d6-4a96-93e8-e561475e4b10">Vance's early VC career</h2>After a brief stint at a now-defunct biotech startup, Vance got a job at his benefactor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel">Peter Thiel's</a> venture fund Mithril Capital.He went on to work as a managing partner at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rise-of-the-rest-steve-case-jd-vance-2018-1">Rise of the Rest</a>, part of Steve Case's Revolution venture firm. The fund's mission is to invest in companies outside major tech hubs — New York, Silicon Valley, Boston — and Vance, whose outsider persona was cemented by his memoir <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jd-vance-hillbilly-elegy-transformation-trump-vice-president-2024-7">"Hillbilly Elegy"</a>, was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jd-vance-venture-capital-opioid-nonprofit-tech-record-ohio-senate-2021-8">seen as a perfect fit for the fund</a>.Vance was active in a number of deals for the firm, including leading investments in storage-sharing startup Neighbor, agtech company AppHarvest, and AI outfit Pryon, Rise of the Rest confirmed.<h2 id="114f37cf-0035-49cd-8b40-1bd02d5bdb6c">Vance co-founded Narya Capital in 2019</h2>After two years, Vance broke out on his own, cofounding <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hillbilly-elegy-jd-vance-launches-vc-fund-backed-by-thiel-2020-1">Narya Capital</a> in 2019 with investments from Thiel, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and VC veteran Marc Andreessen.Vance still owns pieces of the funds that he helped advise. According to his vice president and senate disclosure forms, he has a stake in Narya Capital Fund I, Narya Capital Fund II, and Rise of the Rest Seed Fund.His stake in Narya Capital Fund I is worth between $500,001 and $1 million. His holdings through Narya's Capital Fund II and the Rise of the Rest's Seed Fund are smaller, worth as much as $15,000 and $250,000, respectively, according to his disclosure forms.Through all three funds, he holds a portfolio of investments in dozens of startups. He doesn't actively run or advise any of the companies, and gave up his role as a partner in Narya in December 2022 after winning his senate seat, according to disclosure forms.It's not entirely clear which Rise of the Rest companies Vance has a stake in. The fund has two $150 million investment vehicles and did not disclose which portfolio companies are in which fund.Narya, meanwhile, has only completed one fundraise so far — its $120 million Fund I. The fund has a dozen active investments, according to its website, and because Vance has a stake in the fund, he technically owns a stake in each.The companies vary in their mission: One is a gene therapy company founded by Vivek Ramaswamy's brother, while another is a Catholic meditation and prayer app. Thiel, one of Vance's mentors, is listed as a separate investor in many of the companies, per PitchBook.Some are the type of companies that could work with the government.True Anomaly, an aerospace company for which Narya participated in two rounds of funding, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.trueanomaly.space/newsroom/true-anomaly-selected-for-30m-space-systems-command-contract-in-support-of-victus-haze-tactically-responsive-space-mission">won a $30 million government contract</a> from the US Space Force in April. ValueBase, a property valuation software, lists local governments among its customer base on its website.Nayra has had two exits: <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-rumble-conservative-video-youtube-competitor-joe-rogan-2022-2">Rumble</a>, the conservative-leaning social video platform that went public in 2022, and AppHarvest, which went public in 2021.Criminal conflict of interest laws do not apply to the president and vice president.Luke Schroeder, a spokesperson for the vice president-elect, said that Vance has complied with all required disclosures and is not directly involved in the funds.<h2 id="883278a9-d442-4e81-aeb4-b282861515b7">Here are Narya's current portfolio companies</h2>Deal details, unless noted with a comment from the company, come from PitchBook.<table style="width: 652px"></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr><td>Company</td><td>Industry</td><td>Deal Description</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">AcreTrader</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Farmland investment</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Narya contributed to AcreTrader's $12 million Series B round in 2021. "Senator Vance has no involvement in AcreTrader's operations or strategic direction," the company said.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">AmplifyBio</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Biotech</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Narya took part in the company's $200 million, early-stage investment round in 2021.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Atomic Industries</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Manufacturing</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">In 2023, Narya contributed to a $16.5 million early-stage round.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Branch</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Insurance</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Narya took part in Branch's 2022 $147 million Series C. During his time at Rise of the Rest, Vance led an investment in Branch.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Chapter</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Medicare advisory</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Narya contributed to three of Chapter's fundraising rounds: A 2021 $17 million Series A round, 2022 $42 million Series B round, and 2024 $50 million Series C round. Peter Thiel is also an investor in Chapter.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Hallow</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Religion</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Narya invested in Hallow's 2021 $40 million Series B round."We worked with another partner at the fund on the investment - not with JD at all," Alex Jones, Hallow's CEO, told BI. Thiel is also an investor in Hallow.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Kriya Therapeutics</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Gene therapy</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Narya contributed to three of Kriya's funding rounds, including a $87.6 million Series A in 2020, $100 million Series B in 2021, and $430 million Series C in 2023. Kriya Therapeutics is founded by Shankar Ramaswamy, the brother of Vivek Ramaswamy.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Realm Alliance</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Security services</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Earlier this year, Narya took part in Realm Alliance's seed round.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Strive</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Asset Management</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Narya invested in Strive's $20 million seed round in 2022 and $30 million Series B earlier this year. Thiel is also an investor in Strive.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">True Anomaly</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Space</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Narya contributed to True Anomaly's $100 million Series B in 2023 and $17 million Series A in 2022. The company won a contract from the US government earlier this year.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">ValueBase</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Property valuation</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Narya took part in ValueBase's $6.3 million seed round earlier this year.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Before politics, JD Vance had a career in venture capital. Here are the startups he's invested in.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Microsoft disclosed an equity investment in OpenAI for the first time, SEC filings show.</li><li>Microsoft previously disclosed its relationship with OpenAI as only a "partnership."</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-lost-billions-hololens-ivas-contract-trouble-2024-10">Microsoft</a> disclosed an equity investment in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-ai-adjusted-earnings-groupon-wework-accounting-2024-10">OpenAI</a> for the first time, according to its latest SEC filings.On Wednesday, the company released its quarterly results. In legally required disclosures, Microsoft included information about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-satya-nadella-openai-partnership-competition-collaboration-2024-5">its relationship with OpenAI</a>."We have an investment in OpenAI Global, LLC ("OpenAI") and have made total funding commitments of $13 billion," Microsoft wrote in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/789019/000095017024118967/msft-20240930.htm">SEC filing</a> on Wednesday. "The investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting."Accounting expert Francine McKenna told Business Insider that the new disclosure suggests that Microsoft's previous investments in OpenAI were "soft money," such as discounts or credits for services and internal spending that fell below a certain threshold where the software giant didn't need to publicly disclose details.The latest "equity method investment" disclosure signals that Microsoft recently purchased stock or share rights in OpenAI, instead of just partnering, said McKenna, who writes <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://thedig.substack.com">The Dig</a> newsletter. In early October, OpenAI completed a $6.6 billion funding round and Microsoft took part in that deal. OpenAI also began a process of changing from a mostly non-profit organization to a more traiditional for-profit business. In a previous SEC filing, Microsoft described the nature of its relationship with OpenAI as a partnership rather than an equity investment."We have a long-term partnership with OpenAI, a leading AI research and deployment company," Microsoft wrote in its annual SEC filing from late July. "We deploy OpenAI's models across our consumer and enterprise products. As OpenAI's exclusive cloud provider, Azure powers all of OpenAI's workloads. We have also increased our investments in the development and deployment of specialized supercomputing systems to accelerate OpenAI's research."Microsoft's has had a relationship with OpenAI since 2019, using the startup's large language models to underpin its own generative AI products, such as its AI assistant Copilot. In return, Microsoft provides OpenAI with massive cloud-computing resources. The relationship between the companies has evolved in recent months. In the July filing, Microsoft listed OpenAI as a competitor for the first time.Are you a Microsoft employee or someone else with insight to share?Contact Ashley Stewart via the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-425-344-8242) or email (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:astewart@businessinsider.com">astewart@businessinsider.com</a>). Use a nonwork device.

Microsoft hints at a big change to its OpenAI investments in a new SEC filing

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Wall Street analysts expect Amazon to deliver an earnings beat when it reports quarterly results on Thursday </li><li>Expanding growth in Amazon's cloud platform is a bullish driver, analysts said. </li></ul>Wall Street is gearing up for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/amzn-stock">Amazon</a> to deliver strong quarterly financial results after the closing bell on Thursday, though uncertainty lingers about how the company might navigate a slowdown in consumer spending. Most analysts anticipate solid earnings and further upside for Amazon stock, driven by its cloud platform and advertising strength. Yet, concerns linger over slowing retail margins and Amazon's rising investments in other areas of its business. That includes Project Kuiper, Amazon's initiative to deploy thousands of satellites for an increased broadband network, as well as investments in AI.Here's what analysts are saying ahead of the company's earnings.<h2 id="7d0771bb-aa3e-412b-a84f-9826870e8bca">CFRA: Searching for investment balance</h2>CFRA considers Amazon a compelling multi-year profit and cashflow story, but the firm is cautious about near-term prospects. "Growth may not be linear due to a tepid consumer spending environment, lumpy AWS deal volume, and accelerated investments in areas like Project Kuiper, generative AI, same-day fulfillment, and Prime Video digital content."Analyst Arun Sundaram said this will translate into a "modest" third-quarter earnings beat. CFRA expects revenue to rise 10.5% year-over-year and GAAP operating profit to climb 36%. CFRA's estimates are at the upper end of Amazon's guidance range."Overall, investors will be looking for AMZN to strike the right balance of growth vs. investments," Sundaram said.The note said that while Amazon's operating margins are expected to continue growing into 2025, reinvestment into other areas of the business will slow this expansion.CFRA trimmed its Amazon price target to $219 a share on October 21, indicating 13% upside ahead.<h2 id="29d2fdf4-34f7-4afe-b90a-0a79ffeca902">Bank of America: Mixed results incoming</h2>BofA's Justin Post suggested investors brace for a mixed bag of third-quarter results.Bank of America views consensus revenue estimates as too high and predicts $157 billion for the quarter. However, the bank's outlook for operating profit stands above consensus views at $15 billion.The bank expects the quarter's leading growth drivers will include Amazon Web Services, the firm's AI-led cloud-computing platform. According to Post, margins here will likely be better than Wall Street is expecting"AI demand likely improved further in 3Q, and we think investors may be expecting 20% y/y growth for 3Q, which would suggest the largest 3Q in terms of sequential dollars added at $1.39bn," he said.Consumer spending uncertainty could be a concern, and BofA expects a slight deceleration in discretionary retail sales growth.The firm has a "buy" rating on the stock and a $210 price target, which implies an 8.3% gain from current levels.<h2 id="a9024ebe-7cb6-44b8-a728-de20774ef87c">JPMorgan: AWS acceleration leaves room for optimism</h2>JPMorgan cited Amazon's expanding cloud platform and solid store growth as key reasons to be bullish on the stock.The bank said easing optimizations, workload migrations, and AI's growing monetization will support further AWS acceleration through this year, leading to 20% growth year-to-date.In line with Bank of America, the firm anticipates third-quarter net sales to reach $157 billion, below consensus estimates of $157.3 billion. Meanwhile, retail profits in the last quarter faced headwinds, and consumers appear cautious about spending. Shoppers eager for a deal are weighing on Amazon's average selling prices, the bank said.JPMorgan has an "overweight" rating on Amazon and a $230 price target. This suggests an 18.6% upside from current levels.<h2 id="fb352aa7-bfbb-4165-82f3-89a50fc7ea22">Wedbush Securities: Don't worry about rising investment costs</h2>Wedbush Securities has cheered Amazon's growing cloud segment and a revenue shift toward high-margin advertising. Together, these should help offset headwinds brought on by the company's spending on investments elsewhere. "We think the risk/reward is attractive heading into results as investor expectations for 2H profitability have moderated, AWS growth continues to accelerate, and advertising momentum is building into 2025," a team of analysts led by Scott Devitt wrote.The firm said investors have toned down margin expectations due to Amazon's spending in new investment areas, such as Project Kuiper. While this may require more investment from the company over time, Wedbush doesn't expect it to impact profitability in the near-term.Wedbush reiterated its "outperform" rating and $225 price target, implying a 16% gain from current levels.<h2 id="e4b3e058-a63d-4251-8620-4b1f8f0899e3">Morgan Stanley: Bullish into 2025</h2>Analysts led by Brian Nowak focused on Amazon's fourth-quarter guidance, suggesting that the company's earnings before interest and taxes might come in lower than expected."We see AMZN's high and growing focus on lower-priced, lower-margin essentials driving merchandise margin pressure... which is holding back the near-term slope of its N. America retail profit ramp. Expected discounting in a competitive holiday season (and picky discretionary consumer) create further near-term uncertainty," they said.The bank expects fourth-quarter EBIT of around $17.5 billion, 1% below consensus expectations.But looking forward to 2025, the bank recommends sticking with the stock as retail pressures will be a short-term headwind. Corporate efficiencies and shipping costs will make lower-priced essentials profitable for the company through next year, the bank projected.Morgan Stanley has a $210 price target for the stock, representing upside of about 8% from Wednesday's share price.

Wall Street is bullish on Amazon earnings despite uncertainty around consumer spending, rising investment costs

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Brian Williams is close to a deal with Amazon to host an election-night special on Prime Video.</li><li>Amazon wants to attract big audiences with live events, similar to its NFL broadcasts.</li></ul>Veteran newscaster Brian Williams is nearing completion of a deal with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon">Amazon</a> to host an election-night special on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-video-preview-shake-up-tv-ad-marketplace-2024-1">Prime Video</a>, three people close to the situation told Business Insider. Two said they expected it be broadcast globally and ad-free.These people were granted anonymity to speak freely about private deal talks. Their identities are known to BI.Details of the special have been trickling out over the past few days in outlets like <a target="_blank" href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/amazon-brian-williams-election-night-special-streaming-1236158601/">Variety</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/29/media/brian-williams-amazon-prime-video-election-night/index.html?utm_term=17277006269107d550e2ab43a&amp;utm_source=cnn_Reliable+Sources+%E2%80%93+Sept.+30%2C+2024&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;bt_ee=vPubjlLkW1gs8yiBPmN%2BGqep71YTbD%2FkJvRQ5eU4n2Rv%2F3LufDHYaeQctXVPY211&amp;bt_ts=1727700626912">CNN</a>, although Amazon has not confirmed the deal and it's possible it won't come to fruition.News of the potential deal has sparked questions in the industry about whether the tech giant plans to expand as deeply into news as it has with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-studios-expansion-challenges-jennifer-salke-citadel-lord-rings-2023-2">filmed entertainment</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jay-marine-leading-amazon-sports-ambitions-nba-rights-2024-3">sports</a>.The people close to the deal talks rebuffed the idea that Amazon would build its own news operation, however. They said Amazon sees the special as another way to amass big audiences, as it has done with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-nfl-thursday-night-football-advertising-strategy-new-brands-2023-9">NFL's "Thursday Night Football"</a> and other sports. The special has the potential to reach more than 200 million viewers, which is Prime Video's monthly reach, according to Amazon's most recent public disclosure.If it goes well, Amazon could repeat the approach with other big news events, one of the people close to the deal talks said. Those events could include the presidential inauguration or State of the Union address, this person predicted."It's a toe in the water for them in that they're trying to get beyond sports to other, seasonal special types of events," this person said. "There's news-adjacent programming they could do."Two of the people close to the deal talks said the election-night special was expected to be ad-free. No final decisions have been made, though. But Amazon and other tech-rooted streamers have seen how live programming, like comedy specials and awards shows, creates appointment viewing that can be highly attractive to advertisers. Advertisers, and especially marketers with time-sensitive product launches, have shown a willingness to pay high prices to reach large live audiences. Amazon this year <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-video-ads-early-success-with-advertisers-2024-4">turned on ads in Prime Video</a>, gunning for the nearly $70 billion in annual TV ad spending.For Amazon, specifically, filmed entertainment and sports programming — part of Prime Video — also serves to keep people subscribing to its lucrative Prime service and get people to shop more on the platform. Prime Video's 2023 Black Friday NFL game, for example, showed QR codes during breaks to promote deals on the site."It fits in with their interest in disruptions and amassing big audiences," the second person close to the deal talks said. "They want to be in the big-event business."<h2 id="7f7a9c20-5ffc-43f3-a0df-b0f758efb495">News has been slow to shift to streaming</h2>Big champions of the election-night special within Amazon include Mike Hopkins, senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, and his powerful No. 2, Albert Cheng, vice president of Prime Video US. Hopkins has played a role in Prime Video's aggressive expansion into sports, which has created tension with some on the entertainment side who <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jay-marine-leading-amazon-sports-ambitions-nba-rights-2024-3">see the sports investment coming at the expense of film and TV budgets</a>.If the deal goes through, the special would be produced by Jonathan Wald, a veteran TV news producer who executive-produced Williams' "11th Hour" on MSNBC and has lately focused on new news formats. He helped Don Lemon launch shows on social media, for example. Williams' reps at talent agency CAA have also been involved.While entertainment and sports have shifted to streaming, news has been slower to follow. Legacy broadcasters like NBC News and ABC News have invested in live-streamed content; CNN has planned a streaming subscription service, but it's had starts and stops.Tech companies with streaming services have generally steered clear of news — not surprisingly, given the high cost of operating a newsroom and how polarizing news can be.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-ceo-ted-sarandos-ads-sports-originals-change-mind-2024-9">Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos</a>, in a recent interview, rejected the idea of the streamer covering breaking news. Apple TV+ drifted into news-adjacent programming in 2020 with Jon Stewart, who hosted a weekly comedy news show. But Stewart walked away after two seasons, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theringer.com/2024/6/13/24177435/jon-stewart-talks-apple-split-corporate-constraints-media-regression">saying</a> Apple increasingly wanted more oversight of the show's editorial direction.Amazon, for its part, wants to bring a down-the-middle presentation of election results hosted by Williams with a lineup of exclusive contributors. To lend a nonpartisan feel, the plan is that the presenters won't call the race and will point viewers to third-party content (which could include sites like CNN and NBC News that are available through Amazon Channels). The event would be broadcast from LA, allowing it to run late into the night.And while some elements would be familiar to a news audience, Amazon is expected to put its own twist on the potential presentation, similar to how it souped up the production of "Thursday Night Football" with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/24/23842818/amazon-thursday-night-football-ai-streaming">on-screen overlays</a> that predict what might happen next.

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