Company Roundup: SPHERE, Ocean Power Technologies, Broadridge Financial Solutions

SPHERE Technology Solutions: SPHERE Technology Solutions, the Jersey City-based cybersecurity firm owned by founder and president Rita Gurevich, has expanded to the United Kingdom, setting up in London, according to a press release from the company.

“Our global customers are seeing an increase in threats and with new regulations on the horizon, we are expanding our footprint to introduce our service and software solutions,” said Gurevich.  “We believe that now is the perfect opportunity to capitalize on our immense expertise and expand into the United Kingdom.

“SPHERE has been pleased to work with key organizations in supporting the expansion efforts. London & Partners and the Department of International Trade have been instrumental in helping coordinate the establishment of SPHERE in London. The new office will be positioned to offer services and software” in SPHERE’s cybersecurity area of expertise.

Bill Noonan, SPHERE’s senior director, has gone to London to spearhead the establishment of the operations there. “I am honored to lead the expansion of an organization that continues to dominate the cybersecurity industry into the United Kingdom” he said in the release.

  “Our people have never shied away from a challenge to protect organizations from critical cybersecurity issues.  We look forward to introducing our services and software to a new marketplace to show them how we have helped our current clients maintain security and compliance.”

Ocean Power Technologies: During an earnings call, George H. Kirby, president and CEO of Ocean Power Technologies (Pennington), said that his company, which makes power buoys, is now “hyper focused on commercialization.” In an answer to an analyst’s question, he added that the company has enough money to see itself through next January, and is not planning to raise more money right now.

Said Kirby, according to a transcript provided by Seeking Alpha, “We continue to see momentum in our commercialization efforts. We’ve been responding to requests for proposals from multiple customers such as oil and gas operators and service providers. Applications range from subsea battery charging to providing oversight and security for deep sea production site to metocean [meteorology and oceanographic] data collection and communications.

“As a result of this activity, we continue to increase our commercial capabilities through new hires in marketing and business development and through engagement of expert market consultants. We continue to believe that by acquiring new skills, we can maximize our market outreach and new business opportunity creation.”

Broadridge Financial Solutions: Broadridge Financial Solutions is bringing 1,000 tech-related jobs to Newark from their current location at 2 Journal Square Plaza, in Jersey City, according to an article in NJ.com. The company provides technical support to financial companies.

According to a press release from C&K Properties, the owners of 2 Gateway Center in Newark, Broadridge has signed a long-term lease for 160,000 square feet of space at that office building.  NJ.com says the lease is for 15 years. Increased connectivity, via both fiber and transportation, was cited as the reason why the company is moving its employees to Newark.

Broadridge employs 10,000 associates in 16 countries and will, of course, hire local construction workers to develop the space. The company is “is the leading provider of investor communications and technology-driven solutions for wealth management, asset management and capital markets firms,” according to the website. 

“This lease represents a major milestone not just for our building, but for Newark at large, with the addition of approximately 1,000 high-quality jobs to the market,” said Ben Korman, cofounder and principal of C&K Properties. …We’re excited to welcome one of the most highly respected financial services firms in the world to the blossoming business community at 2 Gateway.”

The building became the first in Newark to participate in the Newark Fiber program, which offers tenants commercially available fiber-optic Internet access, with the region’s fastest Internet speeds at low cost.

The building also achieved WiredScore’s Platinum certification, indicating superior Internet service-provider options, full distribution of fiber connectivity throughout the building, best-in-class infrastructure to ensure protection against service interruptions, and administrative best practices for streamlining each tenant’s ability to get connected, the company said in a release.