NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO -- (BUSINESS WIRE)-- KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Barracuda Networks, Inc. ("Barracuda" or the "Company") a leading provider of cloud-first security. Thoma Bravo has an excellent history of investing in growing security businesses, and this transaction speaks to the value and strength of Barracudas security platform, which helps customers protect and manage their networks, applications, and data. Over the past 20 years, the firm has acquired or invested in more than 380 companies representing over $190 billion in enterprise value. [32] In February 2018 Thoma Bravo announced that it has completed the acquisition. Added John Park, head of Americas Technology Private Equity at KKR: We continue to see cybersecurity as a highly attractive sector and are excited to back a clear leader in the space. To the extent the Companys directors and executive officers holdings of the Companys securities have changed since the amounts printed in the Companys proxy statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Barracuda. KKRs insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. Click Next. Concluded Chip Virnig, a partner at Thoma Bravo: We are proud to have supported Barracuda to innovate and grow its security solutions portfolio, expand its customer base and achieve considerable operational improvements and revenue growth. Participants in the Solicitation The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company's stockholders with respect to the transaction. San Francisco, CA 94105 +1 (415) 263-3660. Guggenheim Securities, DBO Partners and Barclays are serving as financial advisors to KKR. We are very appreciative of Thoma Bravos support and very excited to be working with KKR on this next phase of Barracudas journey., We continue to see cybersecurity as a highly attractive sector and are excited to back a clear leader in the space, said John Park, Head of Americas Technology Private Equity at KKR. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. For more information, visit www.thomabravo.com. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year, so obviously nothing will happen until then, but Naguib said that partners shouldnt expect any unpleasant surprises when the deal does go through. The company's filing status is listed as Active and its File Number is 6150972. The firm invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors. We will continue Barracuda's tradition of delivering easy-to-use, full-featured solutions that can be deployed in the way that makes sense for our customers," said BJ Jenkins, chief executive officer of Barracuda. Get started in minutes. Financial terms were not disclosed. Copy link. SKOUT is based in Melville, NY. . Brazil, Peru and Chile were less targeted. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The firm currently manages a series of private equity and debt funds representing more than $17.0 billion of capital commitments. When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. We protect email, networks, data and applications with innovative solutions that grow and adapt with our customers . The Barracuda acquisition may not have been threatening to ION per se, but it might have alerted them to the utility of acquisitions in the sector, and in particular in the connectivity and integration section of the market. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Barracudas views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. We look forward to watching Barracudas continued success.. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Credit Suisse, and UBS Investment Bank are also serving as financial advisors to Thoma Bravo, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as its legal counsel. Mar 2021 - Present2 years 1 month. Given its proven track record of growth and innovation, we believe that Barracuda has the right team and model to capture business in this growing market., Barracuda has built an impressive portfolio of solutions that are helping SMEs around the world protect their data and address critical security challenges, said Bradley Brown, Managing Director at KKR. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel to Thoma Bravo and Barracuda. Complete Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) platform to secure your workloads in the cloud. Nous nous engageons collecter gratuitement votre ancien meuble chez vous pour toute acquisition d'un meuble neuf livr chez vous. The deal, the terms of which were not disclosed,. We. The firm has offices in Chicago, Miami and San Francisco. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSACTION. Founded in 2003, Barracuda offers a broad suite of cybersecurity solutions across email protection, application security, network security and data protection that can be deployed and managed in both cloud and hybrid environments. Upon the close of the transaction, Barracuda will operate as a privately-held company with a continued focus on email security and management, network and application security, and data protection solutions that can be deployed in cloud and hybrid environments. Barracuda Agrees To Be Acquired By Thoma Bravo For $1.6 Billion, Riskonnect Acquires Aruvio, Expands Governance, Risk and Compliance Offering. How exactly this will roll out at Barracuda is less certain, as employee ownership does not take a one size fits all approach across the KKR portfolio. Now we are out of that transformation and into a growth phase. SKOUT provides Cyber as a Service software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), as well as an extended detection and response (XDR) platform and service. Barracuda Networks, a trusted partner and leading provider of cloud-enabled security solutions, announced it has completed its acquisition of SKOUT Cybersecurity, a Melville, NY-based leader in cyber-as-a-service software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and provider of an extended detection and response (XDR) platform and service. J.P. Morgan is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Thoma Bravo and Barracuda. Barracuda considers acquisition as its preferred mode of entry into furniture to ensure the immediate market presence in the furniture business and also to emphasize on the business diversification strategy. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. ", "We are proud to have supported Barracuda to innovate and grow its security solutions portfolio, expand its customer base and achieve considerable operational improvements and revenue growth," said Chip Virnig, a Partner at Thoma Bravo. We look forward to watching Barracudas continued success.. Barracuda focuses on serving SMEs and has more than 200,000 customers worldwide across a variety of industries. We are very appreciative of Thoma Bravos support and very excited to be working with KKR on this next phase of Barracudas journey.. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal counsel to KKR. For Thoma Bravo Matthew Gorton Hiltzik Media Strategies +1 212-776-1161 [emailprotected], For Barracuda MC Petermann +1 404-307-6290 [emailprotected], Maria Riley +1 415-217-7722 [emailprotected], Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 propos de nous: Depuis plus de 10 ans, le Centre dentaire le Perrot (CDIP) est ddi votre sant bucco-dentaire. On 2/28/23 MICC West Point issued Sources Sought W911SD23R0994 for Palo Alto Networks -and- Barracuda Firewalls w/Service Agreements due 3/6/23 Barracuda Networks has been acquired by KKR, an investment outfit taking the company over from past owner Thoma Bravo. More information about Thoma Bravo can be found atwww.thomabravo.com. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal counsel to KKR. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, (i) the risk that the transaction may not be consummated in a timely manner, if at all; (ii) the risk that the transaction may not be consummated and that, in certain circumstances, the Company may not be entitled to a termination fee; (iii) the risk that the definitive merger agreement may be terminated in circumstances that require the Company to pay a termination fee; (iv) risks related to the diversion of managements attention from the Companys ongoing business operations; (v) risks regarding the failure of the relevant Thoma Bravo affiliate to obtain the necessary financing to complete the transaction; (vi) the effect of the announcement of the transaction on the Companys business relationships (including, without limitation, customers and suppliers), operating results and business generally; and (vii) risks related to obtaining the requisite consents to the transaction, including, without limitation, the timing (including possible delays) and receipt of regulatory approvals from various domestic and foreign governmental entities (including any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on these approvals) and the risk that one or more governmental entities may deny approval. Check out our security products for Google Cloud Platform. The firm currently manages a series of private equity and debt funds representing more than$17.0 billionof capital commitments. jelam@barracuda.com, For KKR: Megan Frank Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Credit Suisse, and UBS Investment Bank are also serving as financial advisors to Thoma Bravo, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as its legal counsel. 212-750-8300 Swift and powerful, they are slender in form, with small scales, two well-separated dorsal fins, a jutting lower jaw, and a large mouth with many large, sharp teeth. Barracuda is the digital marketing agency that can help you surface real value We're a London based digital marketing agency Based out of Waterloo in London, we're an independent digital marketing agency all about delivering value to our clients. While Barracuda's acquisition in 2013 by Thoma Bravo helped the company a lot in transforming itself into a cloud-first company with a modern comprehensive portfolio, they think KKR is even better situated to Barracuda's current stage of the growth cycle. Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the transaction, the Company will file relevant materials with the SEC, including a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A. This site uses cookies to provide you with a more responsive and personalized service. Copyright 2013 ChannelBuzz.ca. Hatem Naguib, CEO of Barracuda. Ensure compliance with safe learning regulations. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSACTION. Please read our cookie notice for more information on the cookies we use and how to delete or block them. More than 220,000 global customers trust Barracuda to safeguard their employees, data, and applications from a . If a change occurs, KKRs business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, including but not limited to, assets under management, fee paying assets under management, after-tax distributable earnings, capital invested, syndicated capital, uncalled commitments, cash and short-term investments, fee related earnings, fee and yield segment EBITDA, core interest expense and book value, may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Sheppard Mullin Advises SKOUT Cybersecurity in Acquisition by Barracuda Networks 07.01.2021 Sheppard Mullin represented SKOUT Cybersecurity, a leader in cyber-as-a-service software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and provider of an extended detection and response (XDR) platform and service, in its When we were acquired by Thoma Bravo, we were a public company, but we had no ability to transform ourselves. From multiple acquisitions to backend improvements, Barracuda has delivered tremendous value to its customers and partners., We are proud to have supported Barracuda to innovate and grow its security solutions portfolio, expand its customer base and achieve considerable operational improvements and revenue growth, said Chip Virnig, a Partner at Thoma Bravo. . We believe every business deserves access to cloud-first, enterprise-grade security solutions that are easy to buy, deploy, and use. BARRACUDA ACQUISITIONCO, INC. is a Delaware Domestic Corporation filed on August 9, 2021. We protect email, networks, data, and applications with innovative solutions that grow and adapt with our customers' journey. NEW YORK, NY and SAN FRANCISCO, CA - April 12, 2022 - KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which KKR's investment funds will purchase Barracuda Networks Inc. ("Barracuda" or "the Company"), a leading provider of cloud-first security solutions, from Thoma Bravo, a leading software We see a tremendous opportunity for long-term growth as these businesses continue to invest more in cybersecurity and we look forward to helping Barracuda scale and deliver next generation products that meet this growing need., Over the course of Thoma Bravos four-year partnership, Barracuda has solidified its position as an industry leader in cloud-first cybersecurity software, said Seth Boro, a Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo. ", "Barracuda has built an impressive portfolio of solutions that are helping SMEs around the world protect their data and address critical security challenges," said Bradley Brown, Managing Director at KKR. Talent Acquisition Manager, MENA. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Barracuda Networks, Inc., a trusted partner and leading provider of cloud-enabled security solutions, announced it has completed its acquisition of SKOUT Cybersecurity, a Melville, NY-based leader in cyber-as-a-service software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and provider of an extended detection and response (XDR) platform and service. Thoma Bravo is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, with more than $114 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2022. NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO - (BUSINESS WIRE)- KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which KKR's investment funds will purchase Barracuda Networks Inc. ("Barracuda" or "the Company"), a leading provider of cloud-first security solutions, from Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm. References to KKRs investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. Thoma Bravo invests with a particular focus on application and infrastructure software and technology enabled services. KKR & Co. announced Tuesday it's agreed to buy Barracuda from Thoma Bravo LP. For more information, visit www.thomabravo.com. Meanwhile, KKR has expansive experience in the cybersecurity and MSSP markets. Protect your customers and brand from advanced cyber threats. Our channel is supremely important to us. We are very appreciative of Thoma Bravos support and very excited to be working with KKR on this next phase of Barracudas journey., We continue to see cybersecurity as a highly attractive sector and are excited to back a clear leader in the space, said John Park, Head of Americas Technology Private Equity at KKR. ", "We continue to see cybersecurity as a highly attractive sector and are excited to back a clear leader in the space," said John Park, Head of Americas Technology Private Equity at KKR. During Thoma Bravos ownership, Barracuda expanded and enhanced its product suite, implemented best-in-class operational processes and successfully executed a number of strategic acquisitions, which together propelled the Company to profitable and accelerating growth at over $500mm of revenue and enabled more customers to comprehensively protect their employees, applications, networks and data. Broadway Technology, a provider of foreign exchange (forex) and fixed income solutions, announced this Tuesday that it has acquired 100 percent of Barracuda FX, which offers FX order management technology. The definitive proxy statement, the preliminary proxy statement and other relevant materials in connection with the transaction (when they become available), and any other documents filed by the Company with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) or at the Company's website (http://investor.Barracuda.com/) or by writing to the Company's Secretary at 3175 S. Winchester Blvd, Campbell CA 95008. Automate security policy compliance in the cloud. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the year, subject to customary conditions. 2022 Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. All Rights Reserved. KKR to Acquire Barracuda Networks The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the year. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Thoma Bravo and Barracuda. More than 200,000 organizations worldwide trust Barracuda to protect them in ways they may not even know they are at risk so they can focus on taking their business to the next level. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220816005239/en/. At Barracuda we strive to make the world a safer place. During Thoma Bravos ownership, Barracuda expanded and enhanced its product suite, implemented best-in-class operational processes and successfully executed a number of strategic acquisitions, which together propelled the Company to profitable and accelerating growth at over $500mm of revenue and enabled more customers to comprehensively protect their employees, applications, networks and data. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005856/en/. KKR will provide resources and expertise to further accelerate the Companys growth and support its strategic expansion in key areas, including managed detection and response, extended detection and response, and secure access service edge technology. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American, Barracuda Networks extends Barracuda Championship sponsorship through 2025, Cost of an email-borne security attack can on average exceed $1 million. "Were ready to deliver on our next phase of growth with KKR and remain dedicated to investing in our team and product portfolio to provide innovative cybersecurity solutions for our customers and partners," said Hatem Naguib, CEO of Barracuda. Vis Tox cheville expansion Barracuda 14 x 70 . I expect a mix of business as usual and positive change in the same way partners saw positive change when we were acquired by Thoma, he indicated Our relationship with our partners has always been critical, and that will not change. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Barracudas views as of the date of this press release. "Given its proven track record of growth and innovation, we believe that Barracuda has the right team and model to capture business in this growing market. KKRs insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. Thoma Bravo Enter a Master Password for the Barracuda Network Access Client. Acquisition from Thoma Bravo to further accelerate growth of leading cybersecurity software provider. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220816005239/en/, For Barracuda Networks:Jonelle Elam408-813-7762jelam@barracuda.com, For KKR:Julia Kosygina212-750-8300media@kkr.com, For Thoma Bravo:Thoma Bravo CommunicationsMegan Frank(212)-731-4778mfrank@thomabravo.com, FGS Global:Nicky Bryan(646)-436-6126nicky.bryan@fgsglobal.com, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220816005239/en/, Death toll in strike on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia rises to 11 - officials, UPDATE 1-Bankman-Fried can have flip phone, limited internet while on bail, US proposes, China's economy, government revamp in focus as parliament set to open, The U.S. government is turning up the heat on TikTok here's the latest, Bankman-Fried can have flip phone, limited internet while on bail, US proposes. "With this acquisition, Barracuda is providing distributed businesses a new way to modernise remote access, enforce global security and access policies, and achieve seamless connectivity without . Acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts Campbell, California, United States 501-1000 Grant Delisted www.barracuda.com 15,945 Highlights Acquisitions 13 Investments 5 Exits 3 Total Funding Amount $46.4M Contacts 530 Employee Profiles 35 KKRs insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. CAMPBELL, Calif., July 13, 2021 Barracuda Networks, Inc., a trusted partner and leading provider of cloud-enabled security solutions, today announced it has completed its acquisition of SKOUT Cybersecurity, a Melville, NY-based leader in cyber-as-a-service software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and provider of an extended detection and Barracudas customer-centric business model focuses on delivering high-value, subscription-based IT solutions that provide end-to-end network and data protection. This helpful guide contains hundreds of detailed . NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO-- ( BUSINESS WIRE )--KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Barracuda Networks, Inc. ("Barracuda" or the "Company") a leading provider of cloud-first security. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKRs website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co. Telephone: +1 (877) 610-4910 Rumors about Barracuda being up for sale have hit MSSP Alerts email inbox multiple times in recent weeks. Thoma Bravo is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, with more than $103 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2021. For additional information, please visit barracuda.com. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the year, subject to customary conditions. Learn how to protect your organization from all 13 types of email attacks. We look forward to watching Barracudas continued success.. Barracuda shareholders of record will receive$27.55in cash for each share of Barracuda common stock they hold. Previous investments included Ping, Cylance, DarkTrace, ForgeRock, NetSPI and Optiv, among others, the investor notes. Since 2011, KKR has awarded billions of dollars of total equity value to over 45,000 non-management employees across more than 25 companies. Barracudas are found in all warm and tropical regions; some also range into more temperate areas. For more information, visit www.thomabravo.com. The Managed Workplace acquisition is part of a larger MSP-centric partner strategy that extends all the from Barracuda CEO BJ Jenkins' office to the company's boardroom, ChannelE2E believes. in an all-cash transaction valued at$1.6 billion. The investment in Barracuda builds upon KKRs experience investing in the cybersecurity sector globally, with investments including Ping, Cylance, DarkTrace, ForgeRock, NetSPI and Optiv, among others. Thoma Bravo is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, with more than $103 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2021. Barracuda plans to buy Skout Cybersecurity to provide MSPs with the technology and manpower needed to respond more effectively to cyberthreats. in an all-cash transaction valued at $1.6 billion. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the potential timing and benefits of a transaction, the value and effectiveness of Barracuda's products, the introduction and timing of product enhancements or additional products, Barracuda's growth, expansion and market leadership and the expected completion and timing of the acquisition transaction and other information relating to the transaction, that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which KKRs investment funds will purchase Barracuda Networks Inc. ("Barracuda" or "the Company"), a leading provider of cloud-first security solutions, from Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm. Select Barracuda VPN Client + Personal Firewall + Health Monitoring to initiate a complete installation. There are different types of equity plans, and the plans can be different, even with KKR, Naguib said. In todays deal announcement, neither KKR nor Barracuda mentioned Barracudas long-established MSP partner strategy. J.P. Morgan is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Thoma Bravo and Barracuda. Barracuda Networks, Barracuda, and the Barracuda Networks logo are registered trademarks of Barracuda Networks, Inc. in the US and other countries. Deploy simple and scalable security with no software or hardware to install. To the extent the Company's directors and executive officers' holdings of the Company's securities have changed since the amounts printed in the Company's proxy statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. With this acquisition, Barracuda is providing distributed businesses a new way to modernize remote access, enforce global security and access policies and achieve seamless connectivity without . That deal surfaced in July 2021. Thoma Bravo to Acquire ABC Financial Services, Inc. "We look forward to watching Barracudas continued success.". We are all very aligned with the strategy we are heading into now, as opposed to the reset we did when we came in from private ownership.. Before viewing this presentation, please acknowledge your understanding that it has been prepared for KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) for the benefit of its public stockholders and is not intended to be a solicitation or sale of any of the securities, funds or services that it may discuss. Over the past 20 years, the firm has acquired or invested in more than 375 companies representing over $190 billion in enterprise value. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. Protect your business and users from ransomware attacks in three easy steps. Learn how Barracuda can help. Barracuda is a provider of powerful, easy-to-use, affordable IT solutions for security and storage. Teamwork at Barracuda is the key to everything we do and why we succeed. That impacts who is a good fit. We protect email, networks, data, and applications with innovative solutions that grow and adapt with our customers journey. Outside US: +1 (212) 230-9410 "We have enjoyed working closely with Hatem and his team through multiple acquisitions and operational improvements, and we are confident that the company is well-positioned for continued success.". These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Barracuda's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the year, subject to customary conditions. Thoma Bravo acquired Barracuda in 2018 in a $1.6 billion cash deal. KKRs insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. Observed Seth Boro, a managing partner at Thoma Bravo: Over the course of Thoma Bravos four-year partnership, Barracuda has solidified its position as an industry leader in cloud-first cybersecurity software. Protect all your email, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams data with protection that goes far beyond what is built into Microsoft 365. Accessorios. This isn't ION's first acquisition in the FX realm. I expect that our employees, customers, and partners will benefit from this partnership., Barracuda is a proven industry leader, consistently bringing powerful, comprehensive solutions to customers in an increasingly prevalent, hostile, and complex threat environment, saidSeth Boro, a managing partner at Thoma Bravo. Guggenheim Securities, DBO Partners and Barclays served as financial advisors to KKR. This strategy is based on the belief that employee engagement is a key driver in building stronger companies.