HP Buys Poly (Formerly Plantronics) • Samantha Sweeden on a Mission

COMMUNITY NEWS

HP Buys Poly (Formerly Plantronics)

On March 28, HP Inc. of Palo Alto announced an agreement to acquire Poly (formerly Plantronics), the Santa Cruz-based maker of workplace collaboration solutions, for $40 per share.

The deal implies a value of $3.3 billion, inclusive of Poly’s net debt.

Poly is a leader in video conferencing solutions, cameras, headsets, voice and software. In 2021, the company had 431 employees, down from 664 in 2011.

“The rise of the hybrid office creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine the way work gets done,” said Enrique Lores, president and CEO of HP. “Combining HP and Poly creates a leading portfolio of hybrid work solutions across large and growing markets. Poly’s strong technology, complementary go-to-market, and talented team will help to drive longterm profitable growth as we continue building a stronger HP.”

Dave Shull, Poly CEO and president, added: “I am thrilled about the opportunity this represents for Poly, our employees, partners and customers. The combination gives us an opportunity to dramatically scale, reaching new markets and channels, supercharging our innovation with a likeminded partner.’

He added, “This transaction offers compelling and certain value for our shareholders and speaks to the hard work done by our teams to become a recognized leader in helping businesses everywhere meet the challenges of a generational disruption in the way people work.”

With the rise of hybrid work in the pandemic, 75% of office workers are investing to improve their home setups.

Traditional office spaces are being reconfigured to support hybrid work and collaboration, with a focus on meeting room solutions. Currently, there are more than 90 million rooms, of which less than 10% have video capability. As a result, the office meeting room solutions segment is expected to triple by 2024.

Cloud platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams are playing an important role in innovating for hybrid work.

“HP Buys Poly” page 10

Samantha Sweeden on a Mission

Retired Cal Fire engineer and paramedic Samantha Sweeden of Bella Vita Mobile Detailing in Scotts Valley is leading a team of half a dozen certified automotive detailers to Pollock Pines in El Dorado County to clean and revitalize two fire trucks for the El Dorado Fire Protection District. The trip is April 2-3.

Sweeden recently received multiple detailing certifications from famed “Detailer of Air Force One” master detailer Renny Doyle with Detailing Success in Big Bear Lake. The certifications include advanced dual certifications from the International Detailing Association and a Detailing Business, Paint Correction, Headlight Repair, and Ceramic Coatings certification from Doyle. She also interned with Doyle.

Those certifications qualify her for a coveted spot on Doyle’s 2022 Air Force One Detailing Team, which will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Sweeden graduated from the Butte

Samantha Sweeden Fire Academy and worked for Cal Fire in El Dorado County for nearly 20 years. She is a rarity — women make up only 14% of the automotive detailing industry nationwide. n