Technology
Avantor® Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results
Published
2 years agoon
By
Net sales of $1.70 billion, decrease of 2.4%; organic decline of 2.0%Net income of $93 million; Adjusted EBITDA of $306 millionDiluted GAAP EPS of $0.14; adjusted EPS of $0.25Operating cash flow of $281 million; free cash flow of $235 million
RADNOR, Pa., July 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Avantor, Inc. (NYSE: AVTR), a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and advanced technology industries, today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024.
“Our teams delivered another solid quarter with sequential improvements to all key financial metrics. Improved mix from increased bioprocessing revenue together with the accelerated impact of our cost transformation initiative drove more than 100 basis points of sequential Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion, while disciplined working capital management led to free cash flow conversion above 100%,” said Michael Stubblefield, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“We are reaffirming our fiscal year 2024 guidance and remain focused on executing our long-term growth strategy and delivering value to our customers and shareholders,” Stubblefield concluded.
Second Quarter 2024
For the three months ended June 30, 2024, net sales were $1,702.8 million, a decrease of 2.4% compared to the second quarter of 2023. Foreign currency translation had a negative impact of 0.4%, resulting in a sales decline of 2.0% on an organic basis.
Net income increased to $92.9 million from ($7.3) million in the second quarter of 2023, and adjusted net income was $168.0 million as compared to $186.4 million in the comparable prior period. Net Income margin was 5.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was $305.6 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.9%. Adjusted Operating Income was $277.2 million and Adjusted Operating Income margin was 16.3%.
Diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis was $0.14, while adjusted EPS was $0.25.
Operating cash flow was $281.1 million, while free cash flow was $235.3 million. Adjusted net leverage was 3.9x as of June 30, 2024.
Second Quarter 2024 – Segment Results
Laboratory Solutions
Net sales were $1,155.7 million, a reported decrease of 3.2%, as compared to $1,193.8 million in the second quarter of 2023. Sales declined 2.7% on an organic basis.Adjusted Operating Income was $150.9 million as compared to $179.7 million in the comparable prior period. Adjusted Operating Income margin was 13.1%.
Bioscience Production
Net sales were $547.1 million, a reported decrease of 0.5%, as compared to $550.1 million in the second quarter of 2023. Sales declined 0.3% on an organic basis.Adjusted Operating Income was $144.0 million, as compared to $154.2 million in the comparable prior period. Adjusted Operating Income margin was 26.3%.
Adjusted Operating Income is Avantor’s segment reporting profitability measure under generally accepted accounting principles and is used by management to measure and evaluate the performance of our Company’s business segments.
Conference Call
We will host a conference call to discuss our results today, July 26, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The live webcast and presentation, as well as a replay, will be available on the investor section of Avantor’s website.
About Avantor
Avantor® is a leading life science tools company and global provider of mission-critical products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries. We work side-by-side with customers at every step of the scientific journey to enable breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare, and technology. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities at more than 300,000 customer locations in 180 countries. For more information, visit avantorsciences.com and find us on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To evaluate our performance, we monitor a number of key indicators. As appropriate, we supplement our results of operations determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) with certain non-GAAP financial measures that we believe are useful to investors, creditors and others in assessing our performance. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported GAAP results because they may include or exclude certain items as compared to similar GAAP-based measures, and such measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Rather, these measures should be considered as an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that provide a more complete understanding of our business. We strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements included in reports filed with the SEC in their entirety and not rely solely on any one single financial measure or communication.
The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are sales growth (decline) on an organic basis, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, adjusted net leverage, free cash flow, and free cash flow conversion.
Sales growth (decline) on an organic basis eliminates from our reported net sales growth (decline) the impacts of revenues from any acquired businesses that have been owned for less than one year and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe that this measure is useful to investors as a way to measure and evaluate our underlying commercial operating performance consistently across our segments and the periods presented. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted Operating Income is our net income or loss adjusted for the following items: (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, (iii) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (iv) losses on extinguishment of debt, (v) charges associated with the impairment of certain assets, (vi) and certain other adjustments. Adjusted Operating Income margin is Adjusted Operating Income divided by net sales as determined under GAAP. We believe that these measures are useful to investors as ways to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. These measures are used by our management for the same reason. Additionally, Adjusted Operating Income is our segment reporting profitability measure under GAAP.Adjusted EBITDA is our net income or loss adjusted for the following items: (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, (iii) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (iv) depreciation expense, (v) losses on extinguishment of debt, (vi) charges associated with the impairment of certain assets, (vii) and certain other adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales as determined under GAAP. We believe that these measures are useful to investors as ways to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. These measures are used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted net income is our net income or loss first adjusted for the following items: (i) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (ii) losses on extinguishment of debt, (iii) charges associated with the impairment of certain assets, (iv) and certain other adjustments. From this amount, we then add or subtract an assumed incremental income tax impact on the above-noted pre-tax adjustments, using estimated tax rates, to arrive at Adjusted Net Income. We believe that this measure is useful to investors as a way to analyze the business consistently across the periods presented. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted EPS is our adjusted net income divided by our diluted GAAP weighted average share count adjusted for anti-dilutive instruments. We believe that this measure is useful to investors as an additional way to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted net leverage is equal to our gross debt, reduced by our cash and cash equivalents, divided by our trailing 12-month Adjusted EBITDA (excluding stock-based compensation expense and including the expected run-rate effect of cost synergies and the incremental results of completed acquisitions as if those acquisitions had occurred on the first day of the trailing 12-month period). We believe that this measure is useful to investors as a way to evaluate and measure the Company’s capital allocation strategies and the underlying trends in the business. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Free cash flow is equal to our cash flow from operating activities, plus acquisition-related costs paid in the period, less capital expenditures. Free cash flow conversion is free cash flow divided by adjusted net income. We believe that these measures are useful to investors as they provide a view on the Company’s ability to generate cash for use in financing or investment activities. These measures are used by our management for the same reason.
Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables accompanying this release.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, including our cost transformation initiative, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “assumption,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “long-term,” “near-term,” “objective,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “projection,” “prospects,” “seek,” “target,” “trend,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “will,” the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning.
Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions; they are not guarantees of performance. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Although we believe that our assumptions made in connection with the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could contribute to these risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the factors described in “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC.
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. In addition, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise other than as required under the federal securities laws.
Investor Relations Contact
Christina Jones
Vice President, Investor Relations
Avantor
+1 805-617-5297
Christina.Jones@avantorsciences.com
Media Contact
Emily Collins
Vice President, External Communications
Avantor
+1 332-239-3910
Emily.Collins@avantorsciences.com
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations
(in millions, except per share data)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net sales
$ 1,702.8
$ 1,743.9
$ 3,382.6
$ 3,524.2
Cost of sales
1,121.3
1,153.9
2,230.6
2,309.4
Gross profit
581.5
590.0
1,152.0
1,214.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses
405.7
357.5
829.9
751.1
Impairment charges
—
160.8
—
160.8
Operating income
175.8
71.7
322.1
302.9
Interest expense, net
(60.9)
(73.4)
(125.2)
(147.1)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
(1.9)
(1.6)
(4.4)
(3.9)
Other income, net
1.6
2.0
2.7
2.6
Income (loss) before income taxes
114.6
(1.3)
195.2
154.5
Income tax expense
(21.7)
(6.0)
(41.9)
(40.3)
Net income (loss)
$ 92.9
$ (7.3)
153.3
114.2
Earnings (Loss) per share:
Basic
$ 0.14
$ (0.01)
$ 0.23
$ 0.17
Diluted
$ 0.14
$ (0.01)
$ 0.22
$ 0.17
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
679.4
675.3
678.7
675.0
Diluted
682.6
675.3
681.9
677.9
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets
(in millions)
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 272.6
$ 262.9
Accounts receivable, net
1,129.0
1,150.2
Inventory
795.6
828.1
Other current assets
132.0
143.7
Total current assets
2,329.2
2,384.9
Property, plant and equipment, net
753.8
737.5
Other intangible assets, net
3,582.8
3,775.3
Goodwill, net
5,659.6
5,716.7
Other assets
368.1
358.3
Total assets
$ 12,693.5
$ 12,972.7
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt
$ 258.4
$ 259.9
Accounts payable
657.4
625.9
Employee-related liabilities
146.1
133.1
Accrued interest
49.9
50.2
Other current liabilities
352.8
411.2
Total current liabilities
1,464.6
1,480.3
Debt, net of current portion
4,856.6
5,276.7
Deferred income tax liabilities
575.4
612.8
Other liabilities
361.9
350.3
Total liabilities
7,258.5
7,720.1
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock including paid-in capital
3,897.5
3,830.1
Accumulated earnings
1,644.8
1,491.5
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(107.3)
(69.0)
Total stockholders’ equity
5,435.0
5,252.6
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 12,693.5
$ 12,972.7
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows
(in millions)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)
$ 92.9
$ (7.3)
$ 153.3
$ 114.2
Reconciling adjustments:
Depreciation and amortization
102.6
102.6
202.2
203.7
Impairment charges
—
160.8
—
160.8
Stock-based compensation expense
11.1
9.2
23.8
21.9
Provision for accounts receivable and inventory
15.5
30.6
39.5
43.1
Deferred income tax benefit
(34.8)
(38.3)
(52.7)
(64.7)
Amortization of deferred financing costs
2.8
3.3
5.8
6.7
Loss on extinguishment of debt
1.9
1.6
4.4
3.9
Foreign currency remeasurement (gain) loss
(2.2)
(1.9)
3.1
(0.1)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(2.7)
60.1
—
7.9
Inventory
(3.2)
(8.8)
(14.2)
(1.7)
Accounts payable
89.5
(75.0)
45.9
(74.4)
Accrued interest
9.2
9.9
(0.3)
(0.6)
Other assets and liabilities
(2.9)
(78.4)
6.4
(34.3)
Other
1.4
(0.2)
5.5
1.3
Net cash provided by operating activities
281.1
168.2
422.7
387.7
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
(45.8)
(30.1)
(80.5)
(58.1)
Other
0.9
0.7
1.4
1.4
Net cash used in investing activities
(44.9)
(29.4)
(79.1)
(56.7)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt borrowings
(28.9)
—
12.3
—
Debt repayments
(172.7)
(190.8)
(383.0)
(460.3)
Payments of debt refinancing fees and premiums
—
(2.3)
—
(2.3)
Proceeds received from exercise of stock options
5.3
2.1
50.8
4.7
Shares repurchased to satisfy employee tax
obligations for vested stock-based awards
(0.8)
(5.2)
(7.4)
(13.3)
Net cash used in financing activities
(197.1)
(196.2)
(327.3)
(471.2)
Effect of currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(1.6)
(0.7)
(7.3)
4.1
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
37.5
(58.1)
9.0
(136.1)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
259.2
318.9
287.7
396.9
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$ 296.7
$ 260.8
$ 296.7
$ 260.8
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
(dollars in millions)
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
$
%
$
%
$
%
$
%
Net income (loss)
$ 92.9
5.5 %
$ (7.3)
(0.4) %
$ 153.3
4.5 %
$ 114.2
3.2 %
Amortization
74.9
4.4 %
78.9
4.5 %
150.2
4.4 %
157.3
4.5 %
Loss on extinguishment of debt
1.9
— %
1.6
0.1 %
4.4
0.1 %
3.9
0.1 %
Integration-related expenses1
—
— %
(0.6)
— %
—
— %
8.1
0.2 %
Restructuring and severance charges2
9.7
0.6 %
7.2
0.4 %
32.9
1.0 %
11.9
0.3 %
Transformation expenses3
16.2
1.0 %
—
— %
29.5
0.9 %
—
— %
Other4
(0.3)
— %
(0.7)
— %
(0.8)
— %
(0.8)
— %
Impairment charges5
—
— %
160.8
9.2 %
—
— %
160.8
4.6 %
Income tax benefit applicable to
pretax adjustments
(27.3)
(1.6) %
(53.5)
(3.1) %
(50.9)
(1.5) %
(73.6)
(2.1) %
Adjusted net income
168.0
9.9 %
186.4
10.7 %
318.6
9.4 %
381.8
10.8 %
Interest expense, net
60.9
3.6 %
73.4
4.2 %
125.2
3.7 %
147.1
4.2 %
Depreciation
27.7
1.5 %
23.7
1.4 %
52.0
1.6 %
46.4
1.4 %
Income tax provision applicable
to Adjusted Net income
49.0
2.9 %
59.5
3.4 %
92.8
2.7 %
113.9
3.2 %
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 305.6
17.9 %
$ 343.0
19.7 %
$ 588.6
17.4 %
$ 689.2
19.6 %
━━━━━━━━━
1.
Represents direct costs incurred with third parties and the accrual of a long-term retention incentive to integrate acquired companies. These expenses represent incremental costs and are unrelated to normal operations of our business. Integration expenses are incurred over a pre-defined integration period specific to each acquisition.
2.
Reflects the incremental expenses incurred in the period related to restructuring initiatives to increase profitability and productivity. Costs included in this caption are specific to employee severance, site-related exit costs, and contract termination costs. The expenses recognized in 2024 represent costs incurred to achieve the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative.
3.
Represents incremental expenses directly associated with the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative, primarily related to the cost of external advisors.
4.
Represents net foreign currency (gain) loss from financing activities, other stock-based compensation expense (benefit) and charges and legal costs in connection with certain litigation and other contingencies that are unrelated to our core operations and not reflective of on-going business and operating results.
5.
Related to impairment of the Ritter asset group.
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)
Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Income Margin
(dollars in millions)
Three months ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
$
%
$
%
$
%
$
%
Net income (loss)
$ 92.9
5.5 %
$ (7.3)
(0.4) %
$ 153.3
4.5 %
$ 114.2
3.2 %
Interest expense, net
60.9
3.6 %
73.4
4.2 %
125.2
3.7 %
147.1
4.2 %
Income tax expense
21.7
1.3 %
6.0
0.3 %
41.9
1.2 %
40.3
1.1 %
Loss on extinguishment of debt
1.9
— %
1.6
0.1 %
4.4
0.1 %
3.9
0.1 %
Other income, net
(1.6)
(0.1) %
(2.0)
(0.1) %
(2.7)
— %
(2.6)
— %
Operating income
175.8
10.3 %
71.7
4.1 %
322.1
9.5 %
302.9
8.6 %
Amortization
74.9
4.4 %
78.9
4.5 %
150.2
4.4 %
157.3
4.5 %
Integration-related expenses1
—
— %
(0.6)
— %
—
— %
8.1
0.2 %
Restructuring and severance charges2
9.7
0.6 %
7.2
0.4 %
32.9
1.0 %
11.9
0.3 %
Transformation expenses3
16.2
1.0 %
—
— %
29.5
0.9 %
—
— %
Other4
0.6
— %
0.9
0.1 %
0.9
— %
1.0
— %
Impairment charges5
—
— %
160.8
9.2 %
—
— %
160.8
4.6 %
Adjusted Operating Income
$ 277.2
16.3 %
$ 318.9
18.3 %
$ 535.6
15.8 %
$ 642.0
18.2 %
━━━━━━━━━
1.
Represents direct costs incurred with third parties and the accrual of a long-term retention incentive to integrate acquired companies. These expenses represent incremental costs and are unrelated to normal operations of our business. Integration expenses are incurred over a pre-defined integration period specific to each acquisition.
2.
Reflects the incremental expenses incurred in the period related to restructuring initiatives to increase profitability and productivity. Costs included in this caption are specific to employee severance, site-related exit costs, and contract termination costs. The expenses recognized in 2024 represent costs incurred to achieve the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative.
3.
Represents incremental expenses directly associated with the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative, primarily related to the cost of external advisors.
4.
Represents other stock-based compensation expense (benefit) and charges and legal costs in connection with certain litigation and other contingencies that are unrelated to our core operations and not reflective of on-going business and operating results.
5.
Related to impairment of the Ritter asset group.
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)
Earnings per share
(shares in millions)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (GAAP)
$ 0.14
$ (0.01)
$ 0.22
$ 0.17
Dilutive impact of convertible instruments
—
—
—
—
Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share (non-GAAP)
0.14
(0.01)
0.22
0.17
Amortization
0.11
0.12
0.22
0.23
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
—
0.01
0.01
Integration-related expenses
—
—
—
0.01
Restructuring and severance charges
0.02
0.01
0.05
0.02
Transformation expenses
0.02
—
0.04
—
Other
—
—
—
—
Impairment charges
—
0.24
—
0.24
Income tax benefit applicable to pretax adjustments
(0.04)
(0.08)
(0.07)
(0.12)
Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP)
$ 0.25
$ 0.28
$ 0.47
$ 0.56
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Diluted (GAAP)
682.6
675.3
681.9
677.9
Incremental shares excluded for GAAP
—
2.4
—
—
Share count for Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP)
682.6
677.7
681.9
677.9
Free cash flow
(in millions)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net cash provided by operating activities
$ 281.1
$ 168.2
$ 422.7
$ 387.7
Capital expenditures
(45.8)
(30.1)
(80.5)
(58.1)
Free cash flow (non-GAAP)
$ 235.3
$ 138.1
$ 342.2
$ 329.6
Adjusted net leverage
(dollars in millions)
June 30, 2024
Total debt, gross
$ 5,148.3
Less cash and cash equivalents
(272.6)
$ 4,875.7
Trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA
$ 1,208.5
Trailing twelve months ongoing stock-based compensation expense
42.3
$ 1,250.8
Adjusted net leverage (non-GAAP)
3.9 x
Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries
Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)
Net sales by segment
(in millions)
June 30,
Reconciliation of net sales growth
(decline) to organic net sales growth
(decline)
Net sales
growth
(decline)
Foreign
currency
impact
Organic
net sales
growth
(decline)
2024
2023
Three months ended:
Laboratory Solutions
$ 1,155.7
$ 1,193.8
$ (38.1)
$ (5.4)
$ (32.7)
Bioscience Production
547.1
550.1
(3.0)
(1.3)
(1.7)
Total
$ 1,702.8
$ 1,743.9
$ (41.1)
$ (6.7)
$ (34.4)
Six months ended:
Laboratory Solutions
$ 2,312.8
$ 2,396.8
$ (84.0)
$ 3.6
$ (87.6)
Bioscience Production
1,069.8
1,127.4
(57.6)
1.7
(59.3)
Total
$ 3,382.6
$ 3,524.2
$ (141.6)
$ 5.3
$ (146.9)
Adjusted Operating Income by segment
(in millions)
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Laboratory Solutions
$ 150.9
$ 179.7
$ 299.1
$ 351.9
Bioscience Production
144.0
154.2
270.9
321.7
Corporate
(17.7)
(15.0)
(34.4)
(31.6)
Total
$ 277.2
$ 318.9
$ 535.6
$ 642.0
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Technology
Simply announces compatibility with AI glasses from Meta
Published
30 minutes agoon
April 29, 2026By
NEW YORK, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Simply, the creative hobbies leader behind the market leading apps Simply Piano, Simply Guitar, Simply Sing, and Simply Draw, today announced compatibility with AI glasses from Meta.
The launch signals Simply’s next leap – from mobile and augmented reality into AI glasses – as part of its long–term vision to build a fully multimodal AI platform that connects physical creativity, digital experiences, and wearable interfaces.
After pioneering music learning through augmented reality with Simply Piano for Apple Vision Pro and Simply Piano for Android XR, Simply is now expanding its creative hobbies ecosystem into AI–powered wearables. The new integration with Simply Draw and AI glasses from Meta lets learners capture their drawing process in real time, generating AI–enhanced timelapses and shareable creative assets that showcase their creation.
“This is an exciting step toward a new era for creativity,” said Yuval Kaminka, CEO and Co–Founder of Simply. “We believe that the way we experience the arts, learning, playing and creative expression at home will become fully contextual. AI glasses allow us to move closer to a true AI creative companion – a multimodal AI, one that understands what you’re doing and supports you in the moment.”
“AI glasses are becoming a natural extension of how we learn and create,” added Eliran Douenias, Head of Product Innovation at Simply. “Our products already enable immersive and virtual experiences with XR and spatial computing, now we’re adding AI glasses from Meta as the next interface – and it’s just the first of an exciting roadmap ahead.”
“Simply’s early move into the AI glasses space puts us ahead of the curve and positions us to lead in how wearables – specifically AI glasses – become part of everyday creative life,” said Douenias.
With this launch, Simply is expanding its platform for the AI era. The new compatibility with AI glasses from Meta enhances how learners see, capture, and share their creative process, with many more experiences to follow.
About Simply
Simply is the world’s leading AI creativity platform redefining how people learn and express themselves through music, arts, crafts, and more. Its award–winning apps – Simply Piano, Simply Guitar, Simply Sing, and Simply Draw – have empowered millions globally to pick up and develop fulfilling creative hobbies that last.
Contact info: eliran@hellosimply.com
Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VquEDFtY-40
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Technology
Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Hires James Smith as Managing Director
Published
31 minutes agoon
April 29, 2026By
LONDON, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (“LLCP”) announced today that James Smith has joined the Firm as a Managing Director in the Investment Management group. James will be based in LLCP’s London office.
Josh Kaufman, Head of Europe at LLCP, said, “We are thrilled to welcome James to LLCP. James adds valuable experience to the team within our core Business Services sector vertical. We look forward to the impact he will have as our European business and team continues to grow.”
James joins LLCP from Advent International where he was a senior member of the European Business & Financial Services team and participated in numerous successful transactions over his 12-year tenure. Prior to Advent, James worked at Bain & Company. James’ full biography can be found at https://www.llcp.com/team.
About Levine Leichtman Capital Partners
Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, LLC is a middle-market private equity firm with a 42-year track record of investing across various targeted sectors, including Business Services, Franchising & Multi-unit, Education & Training and Engineered Products & Manufacturing. LLCP utilizes a differentiated Structured Private Equity investment strategy, combining debt and equity capital investments in portfolio companies. LLCP believes that by investing in a combination of debt and equity securities, it offers management teams growth capital in a highly tailored, flexible investment structure that can be a more attractive alternative than traditional private equity.
LLCP’s global team of dedicated investment professionals is led by 9 partners who have worked at LLCP for an average of 20 years. Since inception, LLCP and its affiliates have managed approximately $18.5 billion of capital across nearly 20 investment funds and has invested in approximately 120 portfolio companies. LLCP currently manages $12.6 billion of assets and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, London, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.
Media Contact: Isabel Moon, imoon@llcp.com
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Technology
Appian Advances AI in Process to Deliver Enterprise Outcomes at Scale
Published
31 minutes agoon
April 29, 2026By
New capabilities in agentic automation and AI-assisted spec-driven development transform complex work.
ORLANDO, Fla., April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Appian [Nasdaq: APPN] today announced enhancements to the Appian Platform, including AI-assisted spec-driven development and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration for agents. By anchoring AI within processes, Appian eliminates the primary hurdles to AI value: fragmented data, and a lack of reliability and control. Process models provide the structure needed to deliver results safely, and at scale.
Advancements in AI agents enable more intelligent, coordinated work
AI agents in Appian are smarter, safer and more effective because they have better structure, context and guardrails. Appian is enhancing interoperability across its AI ecosystem. By adopting powerful standards like Model Context Protocol (MCP), Appian agents will be able to interface securely with external enterprise systems. Third party AI agents will have access to powerful Appian tools like data fabric which uniquely provides unified read-write access to enterprise data.
Appian is also advancing agent learning by providing users the ability to track agent performance, and then apply an agent’s memory across processes to improve decision making. Users will soon be able to expand on this by giving AI guidance on what objectives to optimize against and recommend improvements that can be applied safely.
Customer value
Global Excel Management, a worldwide healthcare risk management provider, uses Appian to transform claims processes with AI.
“As part of our digital transformation we are evolving our claims processes by transitioning from fragmented workflows to an enhanced level of operations using technological advancements enabled with AI features,” said Pascal Tanguay, SVP, Global Technology Services, Global Excel Management. “With Appian, our processes will be unified. From initial intake to adjudication, our advanced technology will reduce redundant tasks and lessen complexity for our team members. This ensures that our claims processes are consistent and completed more efficiently and accurately.”
Context gives agents a common vocabulary for business data
To support advanced agent capabilities, Appian is augmenting its industry-leading data fabric. Appian’s data fabric has been enhanced to provide a unified metadata model that gives agents clearer context about how information is structured and connected across systems.
Furthering its commitment to supporting industry-leading data platforms, Appian is launching a technology partnership with Snowflake. This unites Appian as the AI orchestration layer with Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud, combining data aggregation, model training, and process orchestration to enable immediate business value. Direct MCP-enabled integration between Appian data fabric and Snowflake equips agents with deep enterprise context, and allows them to interact directly with Snowflake Cortex AI to drive intelligent, data-backed decisions.
“Enterprises don’t need more AI experiments, they need AI that delivers real business outcomes on governed data,” said Baris Gultekin, Vice President of AI, Snowflake. “By combining Appian’s process orchestration and data fabric with the Snowflake AI Data Cloud, we’re bringing intelligence directly into the flow of work. Together, we enable secure, enterprise-grade AI where agents can access trusted data through Cortex AI, act with context, and drive measurable impact across the business.”
AI-assisted spec-driven development
AI-assisted development has revolutionized coding, but mission-critical work needs more than fast, cheap code. Appian puts structure around AI-assisted development. Without that structure, AI-generated code can introduce compliance issues and technical debt instead of business value.
Appian is introducing AI-assisted spec-driven development. AI extracts rich specifications from legacy applications to create a clear visual plan. This plan helps visualize the UI, data models and process flows for rapid and iterative operational improvements. AI developer agents, operating under human supervision, complete tasks according to specifications, accelerating delivery and reducing rework.
New developer MCP servers will allow organizations to use their choice of AI development tools, such as Claude Code or Kiro to build and update Appian applications. Appian will support a wide range of AI models, enabling teams to work in the environments they prefer.
Together, these enhancements will deliver the speed and developer productivity of AI-assisted development, with enterprise-grade control.
“Appian Composer, Agents and Appian MCP servers enable trusted agentic process orchestration and application modernization,” said Mike Beckley, Chief Technology Officer and Founder of Appian. “Composer complements Appian’s agentic orchestration and data fabric with new spec-driven development tools that are both conversational and iterative. Beneath the covers, Appian Composer is built on Appian’s new open MCP – a model-driven representation of your complete application estate—requirements, apps, data entities, logic, workflows, security/governance rules, integrations, and multi-object dependencies—now exposed as context for developers and agents to safely evolve and optimize.”
The advancements announced today were unveiled at Appian World 2026 and will be available in coming releases. Learn more at www.appian.com
About Appian
Appian provides process automation technology. We automate complex processes in large enterprises and governments. Our platform is known for its unique reliability and scale. We’ve been automating processes for 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]
Follow Appian: LinkedIn, Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/appian-advances-ai-in-process-to-deliver-enterprise-outcomes-at-scale-302756511.html
Simply announces compatibility with AI glasses from Meta
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