Digimarc Announces Share Sale to Altai Capital Led Investor Group

Rhea-AI Summary

Digimarc Corporation (DMRC) raises $32.5 million through the sale of common stock to new and existing investors. Altai Capital, a major shareholder, participates in the offering. The company's technology in asset identification and authentication is praised for its market potential and growth.

Financial Analyst

The capital infusion of $32.5 million through the sale of common stock by Digimarc Corporation is a significant event for the company and its stakeholders. This strategic move is indicative of the company's efforts to bolster its balance sheet and secure additional funds for operational needs or expansion. The participation of Altai Capital, a major shareholder, not only provides a vote of confidence in the company's prospects but also attracts other investors seeking similar endorsements from established market players.

From a financial perspective, the transaction could dilute existing shares, potentially impacting the earnings per share (EPS) metric in the short term. However, if the funds are deployed effectively towards growth initiatives or technological advancements, the long-term benefits could include enhanced market competitiveness and profitability. It is essential to monitor how the company plans to allocate the raised capital and the subsequent effects on its financial health and stock performance.

Market Research Analyst

Digimarc's focus on digital watermarking technologies positions it in a rapidly expanding market, with increasing applications in media, security and supply chain management. The company's 'deep moats'—a term used to describe a business's competitive advantages—suggest that it has developed strong barriers to entry for potential competitors, likely due to proprietary technology or market dominance.

The market opportunity for digital asset identification and authentication is indeed large, with a growing need for solutions that can combat counterfeiting and piracy while enabling digital rights management. The involvement of new and existing investors signifies the market's recognition of Digimarc's potential in this space. The long-term growth prospects for the company hinge on its ability to capitalize on these market trends and innovate continuously.

Technology Industry Analyst

Digital watermarking is a sophisticated technology that embeds information into digital media, enabling tracking and authentication of assets without altering their appearance to the naked eye. Digimarc's leadership in this field suggests they have developed highly specialized and advanced technologies that are difficult for competitors to replicate or replace.

The company's assessment of a 'large and rapidly expanding market' is consistent with the increasing global emphasis on intellectual property protection and digital security. The funds raised could be pivotal in driving innovation, expanding Digimarc's technology portfolio and securing new partnerships or customer segments. The impact on the business will depend on the strategic deployment of these funds in research and development, as well as market expansion efforts.

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Digimarc Corporation (NASDAQ: DMRC), the pioneer and global leader in digital watermarking technologies, today announced that it has raised an aggregate of $32.5 million of gross proceeds through the sale of 928,571 shares of common stock in concurrent but independent transactions to new and existing investors. Altai Capital, Digimarc’s second largest shareholder, participated in the offering and acted as the registered investment advisor to certain of the other investors in the offering.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240228979729/en/

“We are excited for the long-term investment opportunity made available to us and these new investors,” said Altai Capital founder, Rishi Bajaj. “Altai Capital has been an investor in Digimarc since 2021 shortly after the Company began its transformation, and we have steadily increased our investment since then. It has become clear to us that Digimarc’s market-leading technology in physical and digital asset identification and authentication have incredibly deep moats, and its market opportunity is extremely large and expanding rapidly. We believe this will allow Digimarc to drive profitable growth for years to come, as recent results make obvious. We are thrilled to have other prominent investors join us on this journey.”

“Since the inception of their investment, Altai has proven time and again to be a true partner,” said Digimarc President and CEO, Riley McCormack. “Accepting capital from Altai and other value-added investors was an easy decision to make. We agree with Rishi’s assessment that we have an incredible opportunity ahead of us, and with a topped-off balance sheet and an expanded roster of knowledgeable shareholders, we are well positioned to accelerate our continued execution against that opportunity.”

About Digimarc

Digimarc Corporation (NASDAQ: DMRC) is the pioneer and global leader in digital watermarking technologies. For nearly 30 years, Digimarc innovations and intellectual property in digital watermarking have been deployed at massive scale for the identification and the authentication of physical and digital items. A notable example of this is our partnership with a consortium of the world’s central banks to deter counterfeiting of global currency. Digimarc is also instrumental in supporting global industry standards efforts spanning both the physical and digital worlds. In 2023, Digimarc was named to the Fortune 2023 Change the World list and honored as a 2023 Fast Company World Changing Ideas finalist. Learn more at Digimarc.com.

About Altai Capital

Altai Capital Management is a technology-focused investment firm founded in 2009 by Rishi Bajaj. Altai Capital makes long-term investments across a diverse range of financial instruments, including debt, private equity, venture capital, and publicly traded securities. To learn more, visit www.altai.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240228979729/en/

Media Contacts:

Susan Baldwin

Digimarc Corporation

509-939-1137

PR@digimarc.com

Rishi Bajaj

Altai Capital

949-326-9612

rbajaj@altai.com

Source: Digimarc Corporation

How much did Digimarc Corporation raise through the sale of common stock?

Digimarc Corporation raised $32.5 million through the sale of common stock.

Who participated in the offering of common stock?

Altai Capital, Digimarc's second largest shareholder, participated in the offering.

What technology is Digimarc known for?

Digimarc is known for its market-leading technology in physical and digital asset identification and authentication.

Who is the founder of Altai Capital?

Rishi Bajaj is the founder of Altai Capital.

Who is the President and CEO of Digimarc?

Riley McCormack is the President and CEO of Digimarc.