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Converge Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Results

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TORONTO and GATINEAU, QC, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Converge Technology Solutions Corp. (“Converge” or the “Company”) (TSX:CTS) (FSE:0ZB) (OTCQX:CTSDF) is pleased to provide its financial results for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights (year-over-year, unless otherwise noted):

Gross sales1 of $1.11 billion, an increase of $27.4 million or 2.5%;Gross sales organic growth1 of 3.0% and gross profit organic growth1 of (0.0%);Revenue of $680.8 million, an increase of $29.7 million or 4.6%;Gross profit decreased 1.6% to $178.6 million, representing a gross margin of 26.7%;Adjusted EBITDA1 increased by 3.0% to $47.9 million;Cash from operating activities was $57.0 million, a decrease of $57.5 million, compared to $114.5 million for the comparative period in the prior year;Returned $20.6 million of capital to shareholders1 as compared to $4.7 million return of capital to shareholders in Q4 FY23; andReduced net debt1 by $14.5 million from $127.9 million at Q3 2024; maintaining a leverage ratio1 below 0.7x.

Fiscal Year 2024 Highlights (year-over-year, unless otherwise noted):

Gross sales1 of $4.12 billion, an increase of $82.8 million or 2.1%;Gross sales organic growth1 of 2.3% and gross profit organic growth1 of (0.7%);Revenue of $2.59 billion, a decrease of $113.1 million or (4.2%);Gross profit decreased 1.6% to $691.4 million, representing a gross margin of 26.7%;Adjusted EBITDA1 decreased by 1.7% to $167.3 million;Net loss of $181.0 million, an increase in loss of $174.6 million, driven by the non-cash impairment charge on the Germany segment of $176.1 million;Returned $82.3 million of capital to shareholders1 as compared to $23.5 million return of capital to shareholders for the comparative period in prior year;Cash from operating activities was $269.4 million, an increase of $39.9 million, compared to $229.5 million for the comparative period in the prior year; andReduced net debt1 by $96.4 million to $113.4 million, from $209.8 million at Q4 2023.

_________

1

This is a Non-IFRS measure (including non-IFRS ratio or supplementary financial measure) and not a recognized, defined or standardized measure under IFRS. See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section of this press release for definitions, uses and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

Financial Summary

Three months ended
December 31,

Fiscal year ended
December 31,

In $000s except per share amounts

2024

$

2023

$

2024

$

2023

$

Gross Sales1

1,106,055

1,078,663

4,120,717

4,037,921

Revenue

680,778

651,090

2,592,081

2,705,207

Gross profit (GP)

178,629

181,529

691,442

702,880

Gross profit (GP)%

26.2 %

27.9 %

26.7 %

26.0 %

Adjusted EBITDA1

47,885

46,505

167,315

170,294

Adjusted EBITDA as a % of GP1

26.8 %

25.6 %

24.2 %

24.2 %

Net loss

(9,174)

4,781

(180,986)

(6,393)

Adjusted net income1

45,586

38,214

130,289

108,399

Adjusted EPS1

0.23

0.19

0.66

0.53

Converge to be Acquired by H.I.G. Capital

On February 7, 2025, Converge announced that it had entered into an arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital (“H.I.G.”), whereby H.I.G will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares (the “Common Shares”) of the Company (the “Transaction”). Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, shareholders will receive $5.50 per Common Share in cash, other than Common Shares held by certain shareholders who enter into rollover equity agreements, representing approximately 56% and 57% respective premiums to the closing price and 30-day volume weighted average price of the shares on the TSX on February 6, 2025, the last trading day prior to the date of the announcement of the Transaction. The purchase price of the Transaction values Converge at an enterprise value of approximately C$1.3 billion. Upon completion of the Transaction, the Company intends to apply to delist the Common Shares from all public markets and cease to be a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws.

The Transaction is to be considered by shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders to be held on April 10, 2025. A management information circular with respect to the matters to be considered at that meeting will be filed by Converge on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and will been mailed to shareholders.

As a result of the proposed Transaction, the Company will not be holding an earnings conference call and is suspending its practice of providing its outlook for revenue, gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA for the 2025 fiscal year. As part of the Arrangement Agreement, Converge has agreed that its regular quarterly dividend during the pendency of the Transaction will not be declared.

__________

1

This is a Non-IFRS measure (including non-IFRS ratio or supplementary financial measure) and not a recognized, defined or standardized measure under IFRS. See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section of this press release for definitions, uses and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

About Converge

Converge Technology Solutions Corp. is reimagining the way businesses think about IT—a vision driven by people, for people. Since 2017, we have focused on delivering outcomes-driven solutions that tackle human-centered challenges. As a services-led, software-enabled, IT & Cloud Solutions provider, we combine deep expertise, local connections, and global resources to deliver industry-leading solutions.  

Through advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud platforms, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and workplace transformation, we empower businesses across industries to innovate, streamline operations, and achieve meaningful results. Our AIM (Advise, Implement, Manage) methodology ensures solutions are tailored to our customers’ specific needs, aligning with existing systems to drive success without complexity. 

Discover IT reimagined with Converge—where innovation meets people. Learn more at convergetp.com. 

Summary of Statements of Financial Position
(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

December 31,

2024

$

December 31,
2023

$

Assets

Current

 Cash

142,733

170,419

 Trade and other receivables

1,000,573

803,652

 Inventories

62,938

73,166

 Prepaid expenses and other assets

30,728

26,528

1,236,972

1,073,765

Non-current

Investment in associates

4,795

Unbilled receivables and other assets

204,208

64,158

Property, equipment and right-of-use assets, net

69,696

75,488

Intangible assets, net

265,882

375,181

Goodwill

404,711

564,770

 Total assets

2,186,264

2,153,362

Liabilities

Current

Trade and other payables

1,202,943

853,655

Other financial liabilities

39,882

54,095

Deferred revenue

81,109

59,325

Borrowings

639

1,664

Income taxes payable

9,286

1,324,573

978,025

Non-current

Accrued liabilities and other payables

184,514

60,339

Other financial liabilities

34,174

57,668

Borrowings

255,464

378,007

Deferred tax liabilities

28,804

67,168

 Total liabilities

1,827,529

1,541,207

Shareholders’ equity

Common shares

555,521

599,434

Contributed surplus

16,532

10,970

Accumulated other comprehensive income 

28,603

3,963

Deficit

(241,921)

(28,167)

Total equity attributable to shareholders of Converge

358,735

586,200

Non-controlling interest

25,955

358,735

612,155

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

2,186,264

2,153,362

Summary of Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Three months ended
December 31,

Fiscal year ended
December 31,

2024

$

2023

$

2024

$

2023

$

Revenue

Product

555,055

490,948

2,058,494

2,098,880

Service

125,723

160,142

533,587

606,327

Total revenue

680,778

651,090

2,592,081

2,705,207

Cost of sales

502,149

469,561

1,900,639

2,002,327

Gross profit

178,629

181,529

691,442

702,880

Selling, general and administrative expenses 

134,040

137,451

534,918

541,118

Income before the following

44,589

44,078

156,524

161,762

Depreciation and amortization

20,283

29,212

89,665

111,451

Finance expense, net

8,098

10,355

30,979

41,225

Acquisition, integration, restructuring and other

5,737

2,679

16,429

13,648

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

6,293

5,464

10,582

14,673

Share-based compensation

1,185

954

5,858

3,692

Other loss (income), net

237

(132)

1,357

(4,362)

Loss on loss of control of Portage

117

Loss from investment in associates

23,962

25,930

Impairment loss – Germany segment

176,124

Loss before income taxes

(21,206)

(4,454)

(200,517)

(18,565)

Income tax recovery

(12,032)

(9,235)

(19,531)

(12,172)

Net (loss) income

(9,174)

4,781

(180,986)

(6,393)

Net (loss) income attributable to:

Shareholders of Converge

(9,174)

5,861

(177,713)

(1,448)

Non-controlling interest

(1,080)

(3,273)

(4,945)

(9,174)

4,781

(180,986)

(6,393)

Other comprehensive (loss) income

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations  

15,594

916

24,640

(9,745)

Comprehensive (loss) income

6,420

5,697

(156,346)

(16,138)

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to:

Shareholders of Converge

6,420

6,777

(153,073)

(11,193)

Non-controlling interest

(1,080)

(3,273)

(4,945)

6,420

5,697

(156,346)

(16,138)

Adjusted EBITDA1

47,885

46,505

167,315

170,294

Adjusted EBITDA as a % of gross profit1

26.8 %

25.6 %

24.2 %

24.2 %

Summary of Statements of Cash Flows
(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Three months ended
December 31,

Fiscal year ended
December 31,

2024

2023

2024

2023

$

$

$

$

Cash flows from operating activities

Net loss

(9,174)

4,781

(180,986)

(6,393)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities

Depreciation and amortization

23,579

31,369

100,456

119,983

Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)

197

(4)

1,077

(2,822)

Share-based compensation

1,185

954

5,858

3,692

    Finance expense, net

8,098

10,355

30,979

41,225

    (Loss) gain on sale of property and equipment

14

335

87

(263)

    Change in fair value of contingent consideration

6,293

5,464

10,582

14,673

Impairment loss – Germany segment

176,124

Loss on loss of control of Portage

117

Loss from investment in associates

23,962

25,930

   Income tax recovery

(12,032)

(9,235)

(19,531)

(12,172)

42,122

44,289

150,693

157,923

Changes in non-cash working capital items

16,822

71,888

148,464

90,746

58,944

116,177

299,157

248,669

Income taxes paid

(1,971)

(1,696)

(29,776)

(19,129)

Cash from operating activities

56,973

114,481

269,381

229,540

Cash flows from (used in) investing activities

Purchase of (proceeds from) property, equipment and intangible assets

206

(2,038)

(1,442)

(10,828)

Proceeds on disposal of property and equipment

7

3,756

Payment of contingent consideration

(5,971)

(1,238)

(25,299)

(24,773)

Payment of deferred consideration

(12,375)

(41,114)

Payment of NCI liability

(30,967)

Cash used in investing activities

(5,765)

(3,269)

(39,116)

(103,926)

Cash flows (used in) from financing activities

Transfers from restricted cash

3,162

5,230

Interest paid

(5,637)

(7,938)

(23,767)

(33,724)

Dividends paid

(2,852)

(2,042)

(10,777)

(6,156)

Payment of lease liabilities

(4,967)

(5,427)

(19,760)

(20,626)

Repurchase of common shares

(17,713)

(2,094)

(71,506)

(17,388)

Stock options exercised

875

Repayment of notes payable

(40)

(39)

(159)

Net repayment of borrowings

(61,502)

(29,882)

(139,848)

(40,475)

Cash used in financing activities

(92,671)

(44,261)

(264,822)

(113,298)

Net change in cash during the period

(41,463)

66,951

(34,557)

12,316

Effect of foreign exchange on cash

3,732

(1,753)

7,945

(1,787)

Cash derecongnized on loss of control of Portage

(1,074)

Cash, beginning of the period

180,464

105,221

170,419

159,890

Cash, end of the period

142,733

170,419

142,733

170,419

__________

1

This is a Non-IFRS measure (including non-IFRS ratio or supplementary financial measure) and not a recognized, defined or standardized measure under IFRS. See the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section of this press release for definitions, uses and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

This press release refers to certain performance indicators including Adjusted EBITDA, gross sales, gross sales organic growth, return of capital, net debt, leverage ratio, adjusted net income (“Adjusted Net Income”) and adjusted earnings per share (“Adjusted EPS”) that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.  Management believes that these measures are useful to most shareholders, creditors, and other stakeholders in analyzing the Company’s operating results and can highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. The Company also believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers.

Management also uses non-IFRS measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, prepare annual operating budgets and assess the ability to meet capital expenditure and working capital requirements. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to the consolidated income (loss) or any other measure of performance under IFRS. Investors are encouraged to review the Company’s financial statements and disclosures in their entirety, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on non-IFRS measures and view them in conjunction with the most comparable IFRS financial measures.

Please see “Non-IFRS Financial & Supplementary Financial Measures” and “Summary of Consolidated Financial Results” in the Company’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which is available on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, for further details on certain non-IFRS measures, which information is incorporated by reference herein.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income or loss adjusted to exclude amortization, depreciation, net finance expense, foreign exchange gains and losses, other expenses and income, share-based compensation expense, income tax expense or recovery, change in fair value of contingent consideration, impairment loss, gain or loss on loss of control of subsidiary, income or loss from investment in associates and acquisition, integration, restructuring and other expenses.  Acquisition and transaction related costs primarily consists of acquisition-related compensation tied to continued employment of pre-existing shareholders of the acquiree not included in the total purchase consideration and professional fees. Integration costs primarily consist of professional fees incurred related to integration of acquisitions completed. Restructuring costs mainly represent employee exit costs as a result of synergies created from acquisitions and organizational changes. 

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized, defined, or standardized measure under IFRS. The Company’s definition of Adjusted EBITDA will likely differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. 

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for or in isolation from measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The IFRS measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA presented in the Company’s financial statements is net (loss) income before taxes.

The Company has reconciled Adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable IFRS financial measure as follows:

Three months ended
December 31,

Fiscal year ended
December 31,

In $000s

2024

$

2023

$

2024

$

2023

$

Net (loss) income before taxes

(21,206)

(4,454)

(200,517)

(18,565)

Depreciation and amortization

20,283

29,212

89,665

111,451

Depreciation included in cost of sales

3,296

2,427

10,791

8,532

Finance expense, net

8,098

10,355

30,979

41,225

Acquisition, integration, restructuring and other

5,737

2,679

16,429

13,648

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

6,293

5,464

10,582

14,673

Share-based compensation

1,185

954

5,858

3,692

Other loss (income), net

237

(132)

1,357

(4,362)

Loss on loss of control of Portage

117

Loss from investment in associates

23,962

25,930

Impairment loss – Germany segment

176,124

Adjusted EBITDA

47,885

46,505

167,315

170,294

Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross Profit

The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA as a % of gross profit is a useful measure of the Company’s operating efficiency and profitability. This is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by gross profit.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS 

Adjusted Net Income represents net income or loss adjusted to exclude acquisition, integration, restructuring and other expenses, change in fair value of contingent consideration, impairment loss, gain or loss on loss of control of subsidiary, income or loss from investment in associates, amortization of acquired intangible assets, unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss, and share-based compensation. The Company believes that Adjusted Net Income is a more useful measure than net income as it excludes the impact of one-time, non-cash and/or non-recurring items that are not reflective of Converge’s underlying business performance. Adjusted EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the total weighted average shares outstanding on a basic and diluted basis. The IFRS measure most directly comparable to Adjusted Net Income presented in the Company’s financial statements is net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share. The Company has provided a reconciliation to the most comparable IFRS financial measure as follows:

Three months ended
December 31,

Fiscal year ended
December 31,

In $000s except per share amounts

2024

$

2023

$

2024

$

2023

$

Net loss

(9,174)

4,781

(180,986)

(6,393)

Acquisition, integration, restructuring and other

5,737

2,679

16,429

13,648

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

6,293

5,464

10,582

14,673

Amortization on intangibles

17,386

24,468

75,158

87,259

Foreign exchange loss (gain)

197

(132)

1,077

(4,480)

Share-based compensation

1,185

954

5,858

3,692

Loss on loss of control or Portage

117

Loss from investment in associates

23,962

25,930

Impairment loss- Germany segment

176,124

Adjusted Net Income

45,586

38,214

130,289

108,399

Adjusted EPS – Basic

0.23

0.19

0.66

0.53

Return of capital

The Company calculates return of capital to shareholders as the total of cash used in dividend payments and share repurchases.

Net Debt

The Company calculates net debt1 as current and non-current borrowings less cash.

Leverage Ratio

The Company defines leverage ratio as net debt (current and non-current borrowings less cash) divided by trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA.

Gross sales and gross sales organic growth

Gross sales, which is a non-IFRS measure, reflects the gross amount billed to customers, adjusted for amounts deferred or accrued. The Company believes gross sales is a useful alternative financial metric to net revenue, the IFRS measure, as it better reflects volume fluctuations as compared to net revenue. Under the applicable IFRS 15 ‘principal vs agent’ guidance, the principal records revenue on a gross basis and the agent records commission on a net basis. In transactions where Converge is acting as an agent between the customer and the vendor, net revenue is calculated by reducing gross sales by the cost of sale amount. 

The Company has provided a reconciliation of gross sales to revenue, which is the most comparable IFRS financial measure, as follows:

Three months ended
December 31,

Fiscal year ended
December 31,

In $000s

2024

$

2023

$

2024

$

2023

$

Product

811,839

719,974

2,898,039

2,747,172

Managed services and professional services

119,128

138,001

472,535

522,827

Maintenance, support, and cloud solutions

175,088

220,688

750,143

767,922

Gross sales

1,106,055

1,078,663

4,120,717

4,037,921

Less: adjustment for sales transacted as agent

425,277

427,573

1,528,636

1,332,714

Revenue

680,778

651,090

2,592,081

2,705,207

Organic growth

The Company measures organic growth on a quarterly and year-to-date basis, at the gross sales and gross profit levels, and includes the contributions under Converge ownership in the current and comparative period(s). In calculating organic growth, the Company therefore deducts gross sales and gross profit generated from all corresponding prior period comparable pre-acquisition period(s) from the current reporting period(s) included in the consolidated results.

Organic growth calculation for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, deducts gross sales and gross profits from Portage CyberTech Inc. (“Portage”) for the three and six months ended December 31, 2023 due to deconsolidation of Portage on June 27, 2024.

Gross profit organic growth is calculated by deducting prior period gross profit, as reported in the Company’s public filings, from current period gross profit for the same portfolio of companies. Gross profit organic growth percentage is calculated by dividing organic growth by prior period reported gross profit.

Three months ended
December 31,

Fiscal year ended
December 31,

 In $000s

2024

$

2023

$

2024

$

2023

$

Gross sales

1,106,055

1,078,663

4,120,717

4,037,921

Less: gross sales from companies not owned in comparative period

17,286

611,045

Gross sales of companies owned in comparative period

1,106,055

1,061,377

4,120,717

3,426,876

Less: prior period gross sales(i)

1,074,132

956,803

4,028,409

3,090,981

Organic Growth – $

31,923

104,574

92,308

335,895

Organic Growth – %

3.0 %

10.9 %

2.3 %

10.9 %

(i)

For the three months ended December 31, 2024, Portage prior period gross sales of $4,531 is excluded and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, Portage prior period gross sales1 of $9,512 is excluded.

Gross profit organic growth is calculated by deducting prior period gross profit, from current period gross profit for the same portfolio of companies. Gross profit organic growth percentage is calculated by dividing organic growth by prior period reported gross profit.

Three months ended
December 31,

Fiscal year ended
December 31,

 In $000s

2024

$

2023

$

2024

$

2023

$

Gross profit

178,629

181,529

691,442

702,880

Less: gross profit from companies not owned in comparative period

3,032

107,295

Gross profit of companies owned in comparative period

178,629

178,497

691,442

595,585

Less: Prior period gross profit(i)

178,656

168,916

696,556

550,767

Organic Growth – $

(27)

9,581

(5,114)

44,818

Organic Growth – %

5.7 %

(0.7 %)

8.1 %

(i)

For the three months ended December 31, 2024, Portage prior period gross profit of $2,873 is excluded and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, Portage prior period gross profit of $6,324 is excluded.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation regarding Converge and its business. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected” “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”. “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Specifically, statements regarding the Transaction, anticipated timing of the special meeting of shareholders in respect of the Transaction, the delisting from the TSX and ceasing to be a to be a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws , are considered forward-looking information. The foregoing demonstrates Converge’s objectives, which are not forecasts or estimates of its financial position, but are based on the implementation of its strategic goals, growth prospects, and growth initiatives. The forward-looking information are based on management’s opinions, estimates and assumptions, including, but not limited to: assumptions as to the ability of the parties to the Transaction to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory, court and shareholder approvals; the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions for the completion of the Transaction, and other expectations and assumptions concerning the proposed Transaction. The anticipated dates indicated may change for a number of reasons, including the necessary regulatory and court approvals or the necessity to extend the time limits for satisfying the other conditions for the completion of the proposed Transaction.

 While these opinions, estimates and assumptions are considered by the Company to be appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances as of the date of this press release, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

The forward looking information are subject to significant risks including, without limitation: the failure of the parties to obtain the necessary regulatory and court approvals; failure of the parties to obtain such approvals or satisfy such conditions in a timely manner; H.I.G’s ability to complete the anticipated debt and equity financing as contemplated by applicable commitment letters or to otherwise secure favourable terms for alternative financing; significant transaction costs or unknown liabilities; the ability of the Board to consider and approve, subject to compliance by the Company with its obligations under the Arrangement Agreement, a superior proposal for the Company; the market price of Common Shares and business generally; potential legal proceedings relating to the Transaction and the outcome of any such legal proceeding; or the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Arrangement Agreement and general economic conditions. Failure to obtain the necessary shareholder, regulatory and court approvals, or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions for the completion of the Transaction or to complete the Transaction, may result in the Transaction not being completed on the proposed terms or at all. In addition, if the Transaction is not completed, and the Company continues as an independent entity, there are risks that the announcement of the Transaction and the dedication of substantial resources by the Company to the completion of the Transaction could have an impact on its business and strategic relationships, including with future and prospective employees, customers, suppliers and partners, operating results and activities in general, and could have a material adverse effect on its current and future operations, financial condition and prospects. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the opinions, estimates or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results or future events might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the company’s expectations as of the date specified herein, and are subject to change after such date. However, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.

All of the forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

For further information contact: Converge Technology Solutions Corp., Email:  investors@convergetp.com, Phone:  416-360-1495

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/converge-reports-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2024-results-302393686.html

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Zifo Transforms Ontology Engineering with AI-Powered Intelligent Automation

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Advanced AI solution speeds up ontology creation by 80%, generating structured, interoperable knowledge models for science-driven organizations.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and CAMBRIDGE, England, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zifo, the leading global enabler of AI and data-driven enterprise informatics for science-driven organizations, has developed an Intelligent Automation solution for Ontology Engineering, which is designed to seamlessly generate structured, interoperable knowledge models while accelerating ontology creation by 80%.

Overcoming the Bottlenecks of Manual Ontology Creation

Manual ontology creation in the biopharma industry has traditionally been a time-consuming process that requires specialized expertise. Organizations frequently struggle with semantic ambiguity, complex integration challenges, and limited scalability, resulting in workflows that can take weeks to complete. Zifo’s AI-powered automation tackles these challenges head-on by eliminating 80% of the manual work through automated class generation, description creation, and precise IRI mapping.

Addressing the Complexities of Semantic Knowledge

Developing comprehensive knowledge models often demands deep domain expertise to define relationships and align terminology. Zifo’s intelligent solution overcomes this by providing an AI-guided workflow featuring an intuitive interface, meaning specialized ontology engineering knowledge is no longer required. By leveraging LLM-powered generation, the solution creates precise definitions with a deep understanding of domain-specific context, while generating standardized synonyms and establishing controlled vocabulary alignment to eliminate inconsistent terminology.

A Solution Designed for Scalable Scientific Data Modeling

The AI-powered solution addresses critical format compatibility and integration points in ontology management:

Seamless Integration: Automated mapping connects directly to established ontologies, including NCIT, CHEBI, OBI, and EFO, via BioPortal and OLS APIs.Massive Scalability: Parallel processing and batch operations empower teams to execute large-scale ontology projects without performance limitations.Automated Hierarchies: The AI autonomously generates semantic relationships and parent-child hierarchies based on domain context and predefined relation vocabularies.Format Compatibility: The solution produces direct OWL/RDF exports with proper URIs, ensuring seamless downstream integration.

Unique Features include:

Multi-Source Integration: The solution combines BioPortal, OLS, and EMBL-EBI APIs to guarantee comprehensive ontology coverage.Intelligent Ranking System: The system uses AI-powered relevance scoring and justification for precise ontology mappings.Precise IRI Mapping: It ensures that each generated class is linked to the correct IRI, directly promoting semantic web compatibility.Human-in-the-Loop Design: The solution automates repetitive tasks while maintaining vital expert oversight.End-to-End Workflow: Users are guided through a complete pipeline, from initial domain knowledge input straight to exportable OWL files.Visual Knowledge Graph: An interactive graph visualization allows for intuitive relationship exploration and validation.Multi-Format Exports: Provides seamless export options in CSV, OWL, or HTML Ontograph formats for downstream use, collaboration, and visualization.

Strategic Value Across the Scientific Chain

This solution breaks down the traditional barriers of data structuring. Built on a robust backend of Python, LangChain, and leading LLM models, alongside a frontend framework using Next.js 15 and Cytoscape.js for graph visualization, the solution is highly adaptable. Furthermore, future optimization enhancements will include provisions for uploading user-defined classes or semi-ready ontologies.

About Zifo

Zifo is the leading global enabler of AI and data-driven enterprise informatics for science-driven organizations. With expertise spanning research, development, manufacturing, and clinical domains, Zifo serves a diverse range of industries including Pharma, Biotech, Chemicals, Food and Beverage, and more. Trusted by over 190 organizations worldwide, Zifo is the partner of choice for advancing digital scientific innovation.

For more information, visit www.zifornd.comhttps://zifornd.com/practical-ai-blueprints/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2731415/Zifo_Technologies_Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zifo-transforms-ontology-engineering-with-ai-powered-intelligent-automation-302758975.html

SOURCE Zifo Technologies

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UNC-Chapel Hill establishes ‘Carolina in the Capital’ with new Washington, D.C. office

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has opened a new office in Washington, D.C., establishing an expanded presence for the University in the nation’s capital and creating exciting opportunities for students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Located at 101 Constitution Avenue NW, the 10,861-square-foot space – coined “Carolina in the Capital” – will support a variety of functions, including educational programming for undergraduate and graduate students, alumni relations and engagement with government partners.

As a leading R1 university, UNC-Chapel Hill annually attracts more than $1.6 billion to the state’s economy to fund research that creates a better quality of life for all its citizens. More than 60% of UNC-Chapel Hill’s total research funding comes from federal sponsors with the majority of that federal funding coming from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is based in the Washington area.

“Carolina in the Capital is a state-of-the-art facility that reflects our commitment to creating experiential learning opportunities for our students and faculty,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “The space is designed as an immersive learning environment where students can translate classroom knowledge into hands-on experience, which has never been more important. The facility also strengthens our ability to support engagement between our staff, alumni, policymakers and partners.”

Supporting students participating in Carolina’s Washington-based academic programs is a priority. For years, students and faculty have relied on temporary or borrowed spaces across the city. The new office provides a permanent home where students can gather, learn and build community while living and studying in Washington. A robust schedule of classes and events will fill the space throughout the year.

The Washington, D.C. region is home to the largest concentration of out-of-state Carolina alumni anywhere in the country. The new office creates a dedicated space to strengthen those connections and support networking, mentorship, professional development and community-building among D.C.-based Tar Heels.

The space will also serve as a platform to bring Carolina’s research and academic expertise into closer conversation with policymakers, industry leaders and member organizations. Carolina is the nation’s 11th largest university in the country based on research volume with primary federal funding coming from NIH and the National Science Foundation (NSF), both based in the D.C. area. Carolina is a proud member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities (APLU), which are both based in Washington.

The office is funded entirely through the UNC-Chapel Hill Foundation and does not use any state appropriations.

You can view additional photos of the space here.

Media Contact: UNC Media Relations, 919-445-8555, mediarelations@unc.edu

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unc-chapel-hill-establishes-carolina-in-the-capital-with-new-washington-dc-office-302758250.html

SOURCE University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Office of Communications

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Investing.com Acquires Stonki to Accelerate Its Entry into the Agentic AI Era

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The acquisition strengthens Investing.com’s AI capabilities, advancing a next-generation research assistant that can analyze markets, generate insights, and guide investors in real time

NEW YORK, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Investing.com, one of the world’s largest financial platforms used by more than 60 million investors each month, today announced the acquisition of Stonki, an AI-powered investing assistant designed to help traders turn ideas into structured, actionable trading plans.

The move marks a major step in the company’s evolution toward agentic AI, strengthening its ability to deliver faster, deeper, and more actionable market insights to a growing base of more than 300,000 paying subscribers across its InvestingPro suite, the company’s premium subscription offering for advanced market data, tools, and AI-driven insights.

Over the past 12 months, nearly 3 million users have used WarrenAI, Investing.com’s AI-powered financial research assistant launched last year, to perform market analysis, making AI a central entry point into the platform’s ecosystem. With the addition of Stonki, the company is moving beyond traditional AI tools toward agentic systems that can proactively guide users through the investment process.

“We’re entering the age of agentic AI, where the technology moves beyond just answering questions to actively helping investors think, analyze, and act,” said Omer Shvili, CEO of Investing.com. “Bringing Stonki.ai into the fold accelerates our goal of building an agentic platform that will serve as a 24/7 analyst for our users. We are developing this to be more than just a tool; it will be a partner that identifies opportunities, tracks unfolding situations, and surfaces trade ideas even when the user isn’t active—giving our users the kind of edge that was previously only available to professional investors.”

Founded in 2025, Stonki is developing a new category of ‘agentic’ AI for investing, enabling users to turn investment ideas into fully defined strategies with entry and exit conditions, risk management rules, and continuous monitoring.

“We started Stonki because, as investors and traders ourselves, we knew how much time and focus it takes to stay on top of the market and properly manage a day trade, a swing trade, an investment idea, or a portfolio,” said Ulas Bilgenoglu and Itay Verkh, co-founders of Stonki. “We set out to build AI that could carry part of that load by continuously monitoring the market, turning ideas into structured strategies, and helping users make better decisions with clear entry and exit conditions, disciplined risk management, and ongoing tracking. Joining Investing.com gives us the scale, data, reach, and strong AI foundation to accelerate that vision. Together, we can create an experience where AI helps users stay ahead of the market, manage risk, and act with greater confidence.”

The acquisition expands Investing.com’s AI capabilities across both technical and fundamental investing workflows. Stonki’s technology is built around persistent, real-time intelligence, continuously monitoring markets, tracking user-defined strategies, and alerting investors when conditions align, rather than relying on one-off prompts or static analysis.

For active traders, the platform is evolving into a real-time analysis engine designed to support high-frequency decision-making with precision and speed. For long-term investors, it is becoming a central hub for research, enabling users to evaluate opportunities, set personalized alerts, and monitor portfolios based on their individual investment strategies.

Users will be able to define specific conditions, such as a stock crossing a long-term moving average, and have the AI continuously monitor the market, analyze relevant signals, and surface actionable insights in real time. The system will also review portfolios on an ongoing basis, helping investors avoid potential losses and uncover new opportunities aligned with their strategy.

This latest step builds on Investing.com’s broader strategy of expanding its AI-powered suite, including WarrenAI, ProPicks AI, and its recently launched AI Chart Analysis, all aimed at delivering faster, more accurate and more actionable insights to investors.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/investingcom-acquires-stonki-to-accelerate-its-entry-into-the-agentic-ai-era-302756588.html

SOURCE Investing.com

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