In a recent interview outlining the company’s progress in Europe, Karp said the region is Palantir’s fastest-growing outside the U.S., and he plans to continue expanding operations throughout the continent. Last month, Palantir touted two major new deals in Europe, with German health-care giant Merck KGaA and French airplane manufacturer Airbus SE.
Along with the European growth, Palantir has reduced the speed at which it’s burning through cash by 60 percent across the company, Karp said. This should enable the 13-year-old business to become profitable this year ahead of a potential sale or initial public offering, he said. The U.K. operations are already turning a profit. Self-sufficiency has been an elusive milestone for the aging Silicon Valley startup, known as much for its work with government spies as for its eye-popping valuation. It’s also gained renown through its ties to Thiel, its polarizing co-founder, chairman and ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.
When a nation or company buys access to Palantir, it can use the data analytics software to pull far-flung digital information into a single repository and mine it for patterns. But the arrangement also includes consulting, which means Palantir’s headcount has swelled along with each customer it adds. Palantir employees typically set up at customers’ offices to help customize the software and format customer data to flow into the system. They also tinker with privacy controls to limit which information each class of user can view, modify or share, according to a Palantir white paper. While Karp, 49, is keen to discuss his commitment to protecting civil liberties, Palantir has faced criticism for empowering the expansion of spying efforts by the U.S. and its allies.
The governments of Denmark and the U.K. are among those that rely on Palantir. After meeting with Palantir representatives in 2008, U.K. intelligence officials described the software as “extremely sophisticated and mature,” according to a report on Wednesday in the Intercept, citing documents obtained by Edward Snowden. Palantir is used by the U.K. digital arm, tasked with improving the government’s data management, which awarded the company a 735,000 pound ($915 million) contract in late 2015, according to government filings.
Since Palantir was founded in 2004 with federal contracts and funding from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, it has strived to branch into the private sector. Palantir said corporate customers now represent roughly half of revenue. In Europe, it counts AXA SA, BP Plc, Credit Suisse Group AG, Deutsche Bank AG, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Standard Chartered Plc and Zurich Insurance Group AG among its customers.
Of Palantir’s 2,000 employees, more than 300 now report into the London office, which serves as its European headquarters, according to the company. That’s up from 97 at the beginning of 2015, according to Palantir’s U.K. company accounts.
Revenue at Palantir Technologies UK Ltd. increased to 51 million pounds in 2015, up 102 percent from 2014, according to the latest figures published Dec. 30 with the U.K. business registry Companies House. Profit increased to 1.24 million pounds over the same time period, up from 990,400 pounds the year before, according to the filings, which haven’t been previously reported.
In 2015 Palantir’s global bookings were $1.7 billion, a number Karp declined to update for last year. He said with the company approaching profitability, he’s considering an IPO, a private equity deal or another option to allow employees to cash out their shares.
Karp said he’s keeping a close eye on headcount. He said certain tasks that used to require human intervention have recently been “productized,” helping Palantir reduce hiring needs and increase margins.
As controversy
continues to trail the container seized with 661 rifles, new facts
emerged from Sunday Vanguard’s visit to the Apapa port, Lagos to have
first hand information on how goods coming into the country are cleared
and released.
Read More
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/category/business/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/category/business/
As controversy
continues to trail the container seized with 661 rifles, new facts
emerged from Sunday Vanguard’s visit to the Apapa port, Lagos to have
first hand information on how goods coming into the country are cleared
and released.
Speaking under anonymity, a port user, who has been doing business in
the port for over 15 years, warned that Nigeria may experience more
influx of arms and ammunition if urgent steps are not taken to provide
functional scanners in all the ports. He explained that in international
trade, even if you import a small handbag, the Customs must inspect it,
and the agency has the right to seize any container coming into the
country if offensive items are found in it.
Photos: Customs seizes container of 49 boxes containing 661 Ak 47 rifles
in Lagos
He said, “In the case of the seized arms laden cargo, the container
originated from China from where it went to Turkey and eventually landed
in Nigeria. The container was loaded and taken to the port in Turkey
and the Customs there cleared it. No shipping company anywhere in the
world can carry a container that Customs has not cleared.
“A shipping firm is like truck people hired to carry goods, but the
only difference is that a ship goes on water, while truck goes on the
road. It is only when Customs inspects and clears any cargo that the
owner fills a form with the shipping company, and the owner of the goods
will be the one to give details to the shipping firm, with clearance
from Customs. So, whatever information the owner gives, is what the
shipping firm takes.
“Therefore, after Customs inspects a container from the country of
origin, they lock it, and a seal is placed on it. That seal must not be
broken because the Customs in the country where the cargo is going must
see the seal, and it must not be tampered with. Meaning that the
shipping firm cannot know what items are inside the container, but
relies only on information on the bill of lading, which states what the
container carries based only on information given at the origin.
“The container will be shipped to its destination and, on arrival at the
port, that is where the work of the shipping firm stops. Once the ship
berths at the port, four agencies namely, Customs, Immigration, Port
health and NIMASA, will enter the ship. Port health professionals will
be the first to enter and check to ensure there is no deadly disease
like Ebola that can spread in the country, after which Customs will
check to ensure contraband items are not in it, immigration will check
to ascertain that the right people are on board, and NIMASA will carry
out what is called ‘Port State Control’ to ensure that the vessel is in
good shape.
So, the four agencies must check it first before a terminal operator
begins its work with three functions. The first is to discharge the
ship, the second is to keep the cargo and the third is to deliver it to
the owner. Even after discharging the ship, Customs must authorise the
container to leave the port, before it can be delivered to the owner.
Before delivery, if the container leaves the port without authorisation
by Customs, it is called container flying and it is criminal.
“Meaning that Customs conditions must be fulfilled, the importer must
pay duty to government and they must ensure that prohibited items are
not in it. Also, Customs must check to ensure that what is inside the
container tallies with information on the bill of lading.
“Customs does this in three lanes: fast track, scanning and physical
examination. Fast track means Customs will not check the container at
all, because it is released on trust to people with integrity who do not
declare falsely, then an officer will follow and inspect it at the
warehouse. The second lane is scanning, which is faster, but the
scanners are bad now.
The third lane which is physical examination is, where the container is
opened and all the items are physically checked one by one. Physical
examination is very slow, it takes about three hours to physically
examine a container, in a port where minimum of 300 containers must go
out daily.
The questions are, which of the lanes did the arms laden container pass?
Is it on fast track lane that is meant only for trusted investors? Is
it on the physical examination lane, where goods are thoroughly checked?
If it is physical examination lane, does it mean they saw the arms and
closed their eyes? If, it is on fast track lane, why will arms laden
container be released through such lane?
On how terminal operators work, he said. “Customs is the agency that
directs terminal operators where to position a container for
examination, whether on the fast lane, scanning or through physical
examination lane. During examination, Customs must again check the
container to ensure that the seal put on it from port of origin remains
the same; at this point, the Customs will instruct terminal operator to
break the seal for another inspection. After this round of inspection,
Customs, if satisfied, will place another seal, issue a release document
for it to pass through the gate and authorise terminal operator to
deliver it to the owner. It is after these processes are carried out
that any container can leave the port.
In all of these, the arms container had no business leaving the port.
Who cleared it? Who examined it? Who released it? Which lane did it pass
through? Who issued the release document?
“Today, the scanners are not working. Why are they not? These are
questions people must ask, instead of blaming a shipping company that
has no business in clearing or releasing containers from the ports.
Journalists who report maritime should take time to learn how goods are
cleared and the processes of clearing them from the ports, so that they
can give the public credible information. These same scanners were
working under COTECNA. It is clear that our government lacks proper
maintenance culture, not only at the ports, but also in many public
entities cross the country.
“Shifting blame on something that everyone sees clearly makes mockery of
the whole thing, and will not help us. The only solution to prevent
influx of arms, ammunition and other offensive items coming into the
country is for government to provide modern and effective scanners at
the ports and border stations. They must also ensure adequate
maintenance for the machines to function well, no equipment can work
without maintenance”.
Also, speaking during the visit, the spokesman, Seaport Terminal
Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Mr. Bolaji Akinola, said, “I
commend FOU for prompt interception of the container after it was
cleared from the port. Only God knows what would have happened if such
arms had got into wrong hands.
Security agencies at the ports must maintain a high level of vigilance,
especially at this critical time for the security of Nigerians.
Ultimately, government should, as a matter of urgency, give approval for
Customs to acquire good scanners at the ports, so as to ensure faster
and effective cargo clearance”.
On how the rifles cargo escaped security checks at the port, Akinola
said, “I really don’t know but since the case is still under
investigation, I do not want to draw conclusion now”.
On the directive by government four years ago that some agencies should
leave the ports, he said, “Some agencies were told to leave the ports
and come only when they are needed, on instruction from Customs, but
today, such agencies are still operating in the ports.”
About corruption going in the ports, the STOAN spokesperson said, “We
are fully automated in our processes as terminal operators. Automation
checks corruption and we believe that, soon, all other processes will
be fully automated, especially the national single window that is being
proposed.”
Bill of lading Bald Hair Berths Bill Lading Deadly Disease
Directive Directs Health Professionals Importers
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Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/661-rifles-concerns-grow-sick-scanners-clearing-deadly-cargoes-2/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/661-rifles-concerns-grow-sick-scanners-clearing-deadly-cargoes-2/
As controversy
continues to trail the container seized with 661 rifles, new facts
emerged from Sunday Vanguard’s visit to the Apapa port, Lagos to have
first hand information on how goods coming into the country are cleared
and released.
Speaking under anonymity, a port user, who has been doing business in
the port for over 15 years, warned that Nigeria may experience more
influx of arms and ammunition if urgent steps are not taken to provide
functional scanners in all the ports. He explained that in international
trade, even if you import a small handbag, the Customs must inspect it,
and the agency has the right to seize any container coming into the
country if offensive items are found in it.
Photos: Customs seizes container of 49 boxes containing 661 Ak 47 rifles
in Lagos
He said, “In the case of the seized arms laden cargo, the container
originated from China from where it went to Turkey and eventually landed
in Nigeria. The container was loaded and taken to the port in Turkey
and the Customs there cleared it. No shipping company anywhere in the
world can carry a container that Customs has not cleared.
“A shipping firm is like truck people hired to carry goods, but the
only difference is that a ship goes on water, while truck goes on the
road. It is only when Customs inspects and clears any cargo that the
owner fills a form with the shipping company, and the owner of the goods
will be the one to give details to the shipping firm, with clearance
from Customs. So, whatever information the owner gives, is what the
shipping firm takes.
“Therefore, after Customs inspects a container from the country of
origin, they lock it, and a seal is placed on it. That seal must not be
broken because the Customs in the country where the cargo is going must
see the seal, and it must not be tampered with. Meaning that the
shipping firm cannot know what items are inside the container, but
relies only on information on the bill of lading, which states what the
container carries based only on information given at the origin.
“The container will be shipped to its destination and, on arrival at the
port, that is where the work of the shipping firm stops. Once the ship
berths at the port, four agencies namely, Customs, Immigration, Port
health and NIMASA, will enter the ship. Port health professionals will
be the first to enter and check to ensure there is no deadly disease
like Ebola that can spread in the country, after which Customs will
check to ensure contraband items are not in it, immigration will check
to ascertain that the right people are on board, and NIMASA will carry
out what is called ‘Port State Control’ to ensure that the vessel is in
good shape.
So, the four agencies must check it first before a terminal operator
begins its work with three functions. The first is to discharge the
ship, the second is to keep the cargo and the third is to deliver it to
the owner. Even after discharging the ship, Customs must authorise the
container to leave the port, before it can be delivered to the owner.
Before delivery, if the container leaves the port without authorisation
by Customs, it is called container flying and it is criminal.
“Meaning that Customs conditions must be fulfilled, the importer must
pay duty to government and they must ensure that prohibited items are
not in it. Also, Customs must check to ensure that what is inside the
container tallies with information on the bill of lading.
“Customs does this in three lanes: fast track, scanning and physical
examination. Fast track means Customs will not check the container at
all, because it is released on trust to people with integrity who do not
declare falsely, then an officer will follow and inspect it at the
warehouse. The second lane is scanning, which is faster, but the
scanners are bad now.
The third lane which is physical examination is, where the container is
opened and all the items are physically checked one by one. Physical
examination is very slow, it takes about three hours to physically
examine a container, in a port where minimum of 300 containers must go
out daily.
The questions are, which of the lanes did the arms laden container pass?
Is it on fast track lane that is meant only for trusted investors? Is
it on the physical examination lane, where goods are thoroughly checked?
If it is physical examination lane, does it mean they saw the arms and
closed their eyes? If, it is on fast track lane, why will arms laden
container be released through such lane?
On how terminal operators work, he said. “Customs is the agency that
directs terminal operators where to position a container for
examination, whether on the fast lane, scanning or through physical
examination lane. During examination, Customs must again check the
container to ensure that the seal put on it from port of origin remains
the same; at this point, the Customs will instruct terminal operator to
break the seal for another inspection. After this round of inspection,
Customs, if satisfied, will place another seal, issue a release document
for it to pass through the gate and authorise terminal operator to
deliver it to the owner. It is after these processes are carried out
that any container can leave the port.
In all of these, the arms container had no business leaving the port.
Who cleared it? Who examined it? Who released it? Which lane did it pass
through? Who issued the release document?
“Today, the scanners are not working. Why are they not? These are
questions people must ask, instead of blaming a shipping company that
has no business in clearing or releasing containers from the ports.
Journalists who report maritime should take time to learn how goods are
cleared and the processes of clearing them from the ports, so that they
can give the public credible information. These same scanners were
working under COTECNA. It is clear that our government lacks proper
maintenance culture, not only at the ports, but also in many public
entities cross the country.
“Shifting blame on something that everyone sees clearly makes mockery of
the whole thing, and will not help us. The only solution to prevent
influx of arms, ammunition and other offensive items coming into the
country is for government to provide modern and effective scanners at
the ports and border stations. They must also ensure adequate
maintenance for the machines to function well, no equipment can work
without maintenance”.
Also, speaking during the visit, the spokesman, Seaport Terminal
Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Mr. Bolaji Akinola, said, “I
commend FOU for prompt interception of the container after it was
cleared from the port. Only God knows what would have happened if such
arms had got into wrong hands.
Security agencies at the ports must maintain a high level of vigilance,
especially at this critical time for the security of Nigerians.
Ultimately, government should, as a matter of urgency, give approval for
Customs to acquire good scanners at the ports, so as to ensure faster
and effective cargo clearance”.
On how the rifles cargo escaped security checks at the port, Akinola
said, “I really don’t know but since the case is still under
investigation, I do not want to draw conclusion now”.
On the directive by government four years ago that some agencies should
leave the ports, he said, “Some agencies were told to leave the ports
and come only when they are needed, on instruction from Customs, but
today, such agencies are still operating in the ports.”
About corruption going in the ports, the STOAN spokesperson said, “We
are fully automated in our processes as terminal operators. Automation
checks corruption and we believe that, soon, all other processes will
be fully automated, especially the national single window that is being
proposed.”
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/661-rifles-concerns-grow-sick-scanners-clearing-deadly-cargoes-2/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/661-rifles-concerns-grow-sick-scanners-clearing-deadly-cargoes-2/
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