Stockwinners Market Radar for June 27, 2017 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

19:02 EDT Senator urges FTC oversight of Google in wake of Europe fine - Senator Richard Blumenthal issued the following statement in the wake of the European Commission's EUR2.42B fine against Google: "This significant action by European regulators is the latest in a powerful collection of evidence suggesting Google has repeatedly and consistently abused international competition law. Here in the United States, the FTC must confront the mounting evidence that Google is manipulating search results in anticompetitive ways and possibly running afoul of our antitrust laws. The FTC has a duty to investigate and discipline Google for any illegal actions." Reference Link

18:37 EDT Tronox elects Kaufthal as non-executive chairman - Tronox announced that its board has elected its current independent lead director Ilan Kaufthal to serve as non-executive chairman. The board also appointed Timothy Carlson, SVP and CFO of the company, to fill the vacancy created by the passing of former chairman and CEO Thomas Casey on May 26. Carlson is expected to step-down as a director upon the closing of the acquisition of Cristal's TiO2 business when Cristal will be entitled to nominate two Class A directors. As previously announced, the board has retained Korn Ferry to conduct the search for a permanent CEO and will consider internal and external candidates. On June 27, the board formed a special ad-hoc succession committee to oversee the search process. Kaufthal will serve as chairman of the succession committee.

18:01 EDT Merus Labs reminds shareholders to vote for arrangement with Norgine - Merus Labs International announced that it has mailed a letter to Merus shareholders reminding Shareholders to vote in favour of the proposed arrangement between Merus and Norgine pursuant to which Norgine has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Merus. The letter includes a reminder of the fast approaching voting deadline of July 6 at 10:00 AM, so Shareholders are urged to vote immediately FOR the Arrangement. Further transaction details, as well as proxy voting instructions, can be found in the management information circular dated as at June 1 mailed to Shareholders.

17:41 EDT Huntington Ingalls receives contract modifications to incorporate upgrades - Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a contract modification to incorporate the "Flight III" upgrades to the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Jack H. Lucas. The ship is the fifth of five destroyers the company was originally awarded in June 2013. The value of the flight upgrade modification is withheld due to business sensitivities.

17:24 EDT On The Fly: After Hours Movers - UP AFTER EARNINGS: KB Home (KBH), up 1.7%. ALSO HIGHER: Ryerson (RYI), up 1.7% after it provided guidance for the second quarter. DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: AeroVironment (AVAV), down 7.7%... CalAmp (CAMP), down 2.6%. ALSO LOWER: Global Medical REIT (GMRE), down 8.2% after it filed to sell 3.5M shares of common stock... Whiting Petroleum (WLL) and Oasis Petroleum (OAS), down a respective 3.1% and 2% after WTI oil fell to below $44/bbl.

17:16 EDT KB Home sees Q3 housing revenue $1.08B-$1.15B - Sees Q3 average selling price $405,000-$410,000.

17:13 EDT Cherokee receives listing notice over late 10-Q - Cherokee announced that on June 21 it received a notice from NASDAQ stating that the company is not in compliance with listing rules because the company did not timely file with the Securities and Exchange Commission its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 29. The notice has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the company's common stock. The notice indicates that the company has until August 21 to submit a plan to regain compliance. Cherokee Global Brands expects to file the quarterly report as soon as reasonably practicable, at which time the company would regain compliance with listing standards and, assuming the report is filed before August 21, the requirement to submit a compliance plan would be eliminated, the company said.

17:07 EDT SpartanNash says CFO Meyers resigns - SpartanNash disclosed in a regulatory filing: "On June 23, Christopher Meyers notified SpartanNash that he is resigning as EVP and Chief Financial Officer for personal reasons, to be effective July 14. On June 26, the board appointed Thomas Van Hall to serve as Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis while a search is conducted. Van Hall previously served as the company's VP Finance from 2001 until July 2015."

17:03 EDT Western Digital announces new 3D NAND technology, touts strength in Japan JV - Western Digital (WDC) announced it has successfully developed its next-generation 3D NAND technology, BiCS4, with 96 layers of vertical storage capability. Sampling to OEM customers is expected to commence in the second half of CY17 and initial production output is expected in CY18. BiCS4, which was developed jointly with Western Digital's technology and manufacturing partner Toshiba (TOSBF), will be initially deployed in a 256-gigabit chip and will subsequently ship in a range of capacities, including a terabit on a single chip. The company also highlighted "strong ongoing operations" at its joint venture manufacturing facilities in Japan. In particular, the company reiterated its expectation that in CY17, the output mix of its 64-layer 3D NAND technology, BiCS3, will comprise more than 75% of its overall 3D NAND bit supply. The company now believes that, along with its partner Toshiba, the combined 64-layer 3D NAND bit output of the joint ventures in CY17 will be higher than any other industry supplier. "Our successful development of the industry's first 96-layer 3D NAND technology demonstrates Western Digital's continued leadership in NAND flash and solid execution to our technology roadmap," the company remarked.

17:03 EDT American Airlines, Analogic announce partnership to improve aviation security - American Airlines (AAL) and Analogic (ALOG) have announced a joint partnership that will greatly expand the use of Computed tomography technology at airports worldwide. State-of-the-art CT checkpoint technology that successfully completes the Transportation Security Administration certification and qualification process is expected to provide an enhanced level of detection for aviation security officials. This technology provides officials with scanning equipment that more clearly identifies potential threat items, including those concealed within personal electronic devices. As part of this partnership, American Airlines will purchase multiple units of the Analogic ConneCT aviation checkpoint security screening system, making it the official launch customer of ConneCT, a breakthrough in checkpoint security scanning technology. ConneCT is designed to enhance aviation security and increase passenger throughput using an upgradeable CT platform. The ConneCT screening system is currently undergoing certification testing with the TSA and when completed, will be installed at a checkpoint lane as part of a TSA Innovation Task Force initiative. The ConneCT has also entered European Civil Aviation Conference certification protocol in Europe. Analogic continues to work closely with international certification agencies and airports to bring the ConneCT system to the global market later this year.

16:47 EDT Global Medical REIT provides update on acquisition of cardiac clinic in Lubbok - Global Medical REIT announced on June 5 that it had entered into a purchase contract to purchase a 27,280 square-foot cardiac clinic located in Lubbock, Texas and that the Company was going to enter into a new, 12-year, triple-net lease with the Lubbock Heart Hospital. Rent payments under such lease were expected to be guaranteed by Surgery Partners, which manages the Cardiac Clinic through a joint venture agreement. Since the announcement of the acquisition of the Cardiac Clinic, Surgery Partners, has informed that Company that, due to legal restrictions on the percentage of lease payments it may guarantee, it was only going to be guaranteeing approximately 52% of the rent payments.

16:37 EDT Shutterstock to acquire Flashstock for approximately $50M cash - Shutterstock announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Flashstock Technology, a Toronto based company that enables the efficient creation of custom content through its proprietary platform, for approximately $50M cash. Flashstock has a fast growing customer base of enterprise marketers seeking on-brand content to feed the ever growing visual demands of multiple marketing channels. By integrating Flashstock into its product offerings, Shutterstock will be able to offer a high-quality custom content product to its 1.7M customers. The transaction is expected to close in July 2017.

16:34 EDT Air Lease delivers Boeing 737-800 to Travel Service - Air Lease Corporation (AL) announced the placement and recent delivery of one Boeing (BA) 737-800 aircraft on long-term lease to Travel Service in Prague, Czech Republic. Travel Service will be receiving two new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on lease from ALC beginning in early spring 2018, both from ALC's order book with Boeing.

16:32 EDT Owens Corning completes acquisition of Pittsburgh Corning for $560M - Owens Corning announced it has received all regulatory clearances and completed the acquisition of Pittsburgh Corning, a producer of cellular glass insulation systems for commercial and industrial markets, for approximately $560M in cash, on a cash free and debt free basis. Pittsburgh Corning employs over 1,100 people in 17 countries. It produces FOAMGLAS cellular glass. Pittsburgh Corning delivered 2016 sales of over $240M.

16:31 EDT Norsat receives court approval for arrangement with Hytera Communications - Norsat International announced that the previously announced transaction, pursuant to which Hytera Communications will indirectly acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Norsat by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement was approved today by a final order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Completion of the Arrangement remains conditional on obtaining regulatory approvals and certain other closing conditions. Assuming that the conditions to closing are satisfied and the necessary regulatory approvals are obtained, it is expected that the closing of the Arrangement will be completed in the Q3.

16:15 EDT Culp changes NYSE ticker symbol to 'CULP' - Culp, Inc. announced the change of its NYSE ticker symbol from "CFI" to "CULP", effective at the start of trading on Thursday, July 13, 2017. "We are pleased to align our new ticker symbol with our corporate name to allow for consistent brand recognition among all of our stakeholders," said Frank Saxon, president and chief executive officer of Culp, Inc. "The Culp name is well recognized in the marketplace as a trusted source of innovative fabrics and this change reinforces our commitment to delivering value for both our customers and our shareholders."

16:11 EDT Coherus Biosciences reduces workforce by 51 employees, or about 30% - On June 21, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Coherus BioSciences approved, and management commenced and completed, a restructuring plan to reduce operating costs and better align its workforce with the needs of its business following the U.S. FDA's June 12 issuance of a complete response letter for its Biologics License Application for CHS-1701, a pegfilgrastim biosimilar candidate, under the 351(k) pathway, in which the FDA stated that it cannot approve the Company's BLA for CHS-1701 in its present form and provided recommendations to the Company to address the issues raised in the letter. Under this plan, the Company reduced its workforce by 51 employees (approximately 30%). Affected employees are eligible to receive severance payments, reimbursement of COBRA payments and outplacement services. Employees party to change of control and involuntary termination benefit agreements will continue to vest their stock options pursuant to the terms of their agreements. Certain senior executives received accelerated vesting of certain stock options and an extension to the post-termination exercise period for certain stock options. In each case, employee severance benefits are contingent upon an affected employee's execution (and non-revocation) of a separation agreement, which includes a general release of claims against the Company. The Company expects that the workforce reduction will decrease its annual operating costs by approximately $10M. In connection with the restructuring, the Company estimates that it will incur aggregate restructuring charges of approximately $3.7M, which will be recorded in the second quarter related to one-time termination severance payments and other employee-related costs, including approximately $1.6M of stock-based compensation expense related to the acceleration of stock options and the extension of post-termination stock option exercise periods. The majority of the cash payments related to the personnel-related restructuring charges will be paid during the third quarter, with the remainder to be paid during the fourth quarter. The charges that the Company expects to incur in connection with the workforce reduction is subject to a number of assumptions, and actual results may differ materially. The Company may also incur additional costs not currently contemplated due to events that may occur as a result of, or that are associated with, the workforce reduction.

16:07 EDT Sikorsky delivers Second S-92 helicopter to South Korea Coast Guard - The South Korea Coast Guard has accepted delivery of its second S-92 helicopter for search and rescue following a ceremony. Sikorsky is a Lockheed Martin company.

16:04 EDT Castle Creek Capital reports 13.5% stake in Southern National Bancorp

16:03 EDT Henry Schein settles litigation that will result in 4c per share charge in Q2 - Henry Schein announced that it has settled litigation with SourceOne Dental that will result in a 4c per share charge when the Company reports its Q2 results. The Company denies any wrongdoing related to the SourceOne litigation and chose to pursue a settlement solely to avoid further distraction and cost resulting from this matter.

15:36 EDT Sprint jumps after reported talks with cable giants - Shares of Sprint (S) jumped Tuesday after the Wall Street Journal said the company is in exclusive talks with Charter (CHTR) and Comcast (CMCSA) on several possible transactions, putting its oft-rumored merger talks with T-Mobile (TMUS) on hold. WSJ REVEALS CABLE TALKS: The Wall Street Journal reported late Monday that Sprint has entered exclusive talks with Charter and Comcast as the cable giants explore a deal to potentially boost their wireless offerings, according to its sources. The two-month exclusivity agreement puts any merger talks between Sprint and T-Mobile "on hold," the sources told the Journal. Under one of the contemplated plans, the cable operators would invest in Sprint's network in exchange for favorable terms for offering wireless service on its network, the sources said, adding that such a deal could involve an equity stake in Sprint. The negotiations also include the possibility of the companies jointly acquiring Sprint, according to the Journal's sources, though that idea was "thought to be the much less likely scenario." Any wireless resale deal wouldn't preclude a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile, some of the publication's sources said. The report also noted that John Malone, whose Liberty Broadband is the largest investor in Charter, has been trying to persuade Comcast CEO Brian Roberts over the past year that the companies should jointly acquire a carrier such as Sprint, though Roberts -- more interested in a resale deal -- has been reluctant as of yet, according to sources. FABER DOWNPLAYS STAKE POSSIBILITY: Following the Wall Street Journal report, CNBC's David Faber added that his sources indicated the talks are focused on a resale, or MVNO, deal and that an equity investment from either company is unlikely. PREVIOUS M&A REMARKS: Speculation of a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile have swirled over the past several months, with company executives going as far as openly cheering the concept at recent investor events. On June 8, T-Mobile CFO Braxton Carter spoke about the "significant" synergy potential of a Sprint deal, which built on similar comments on May 18. Meanwhile, Germany's Handelsblatt reported as recently as June 20 that T-Mobile owner Deutsche Telekom (DTEGY) was preparing to merge the company with Sprint. JEFFERIES SEES T-MOBILE HURDLES: Jefferies analyst Mike McCormack writes that the Journal's report is "not surprising" given the interest from cable companies in securing better resale terms, though an equity stake or outright acquisition of Sprint is "less likely" but not impossible in his view. Notably, the news "likely suggests major hurdles" in any talks between Sprint and T-Mobile, potentially reigniting speculation around a Dish (DISH)-T-Mobile tie-up should those negotiations collapse. NOMURA SEES NEGATIVE FOR T-MOBILE: Nomura Instinet analyst Anthony DiClemente views a potential deal as positive for Charter and Comcast, and a negative for T-Mobile given investor anticipation of a synergy-rich merger with Sprint. Joint ownership of a wireless carrier "has appeal" for the cable operators, but DiClemente believes Comcast currently prefers the resale approach for the inexpensive experimentation it allows. Turning to T-Mobile, the analyst argues that a merger of the two carriers would offer more synergies than the cable companies, though he considers regulatory barriers "high" and says the probability of a deal "has likely declined." PRICE ACTION: After initially trading near $8.50 on today's report, shares of Sprint are up nearly 3% to $8.23 in afternoon trading. T-Mobile is down about 3%.

14:26 EDT Marcato confirms letter to Deckers, says prepared to seek board ouster - Marcato Capital, which manages funds that beneficially own approximately 6% of the outstanding common shares of Deckers Outdoor, confirmed it sent a letter to Deckers' board highlighting the company's "history of underperformance" and questioning its leadership and ability to generate sustainable, long-term profitability. "If Deckers' strategic review process does not culminate in a sale of the company at an attractive value to all shareholders, Marcato will be prepared to seek significant board change at the company's next annual meeting by nominating a slate of director candidates to replace the entire board... Given a lack of transparency in the [previously announced sale] process, along with the company's history of strategic, operational, and capital allocation missteps, we remain concerned that the company's strategic review process conducted under the direction of the current board and management team may not result in the maximum value for all stockholders. We also note that the board lacks any meaningful stockholder representation and does not contain any members with deep professional experience in business valuation or corporate M&A," the fund wrote. Marcato has retained Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as legal counsel in connection with the matter.

14:05 EDT TransDigm slips after Capitol Forum says DLA confirms active probe - Shares of TransDigm are down $3.75, 1.4%, to $264.50 in afternoon trading after Capitol Forum said, according to Bloomberg, that the Defense Logistics Agency has confirmed that the company is under "active investigation" by the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Defense. The Department of Justice is not involved in the investigation of TransDigm, Capitol Forum added, according to Bloomberg's recount of its report.

13:51 EDT Exeter Resource, Goldcorp enter agreement to proceed with acquisition - Exeter Resource (XRA) has entered into an arrangement agreement with Goldcorp (GG) pursuant to which Goldcorp has agreed to acquire all common shares of Exeter not already owned by Goldcorp by way of a plan of arrangement. The arrangement, which is subject to the approval of the holders of Exeter, will constitute the subsequent acquisition transaction proposed by Goldcorp in order to acquire all Exeter shares it did not acquire under its offer to purchase dated April 20. Goldcorp currently owns a total of roughly 78M Exeter Shares, representing approximately 83.16% of issued and outstanding Exeter shares. A special meeting of Exeter shareholders has been called for July 31 to consider, and if thought advisable, pass a special resolution in relation to the arrangement. The consideration payable under the arrangement is the same as the consideration received by Exeter shareholders under the offer. Exeter shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.12 of a Goldcorp share for each Exeter share. Closing of the arrangement is expected to take place on or about August 2. At that time, Exeter will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goldcorp, the Exeter shares will be delisted, and Exeter will apply to cease to be a reporting issuer.

13:05 EDT Quest Diagnostics announces intent to acquire CCHC outreach lab business - Quest Diagnostics announced it has signed a nonbinding letter of intent to acquire the outreach laboratory services business of Cape Cod Healthcare. The acquisition is subject to review by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission and completion of a definitive agreement. Cape Cod Healthcare is the leading provider of healthcare services for residents and visitors of Cape Cod. The transaction, if completed, is expected to enhance access to quality, affordable and convenient laboratory services for people on Cape Cod. Upon approval by the HPC, the organizations expect to complete the transaction by January 1, 2018, subject to negotiation of definitive agreements related to the transaction and customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

12:48 EDT Kroger CEO: Whole Foods 'great fit' for Amazon - Speaking in a CNBC interview Tuesday, Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen commented on Amazon's (AMZN) proposed acquisition of Whole Foods (WFM): "For me, it wasn't as much of a surprise as it was for others. You could tell that Amazon wanted to do something from a physical asset standpoint, and I think Whole Foods is a great fit for them. We feel great about where we are; we have great physical assets, great store associates, great associates across the company. We've been building our digital presence." Asked about the fall in Kroger shares after Amazon's deal announcement, McMullen said: "From our perspective, we really do focus on the long term, and the long term is 3-5 years. And we've continued to grow market share, our customers continue to tell us we're doing a better job, and as I mentioned, in the last nine weeks of the quarter our identical sales turned positive and they've been positive quarter to date. All those things are telling us that customers are connecting with us and we continue to grow our business." Asked about speculation of whether Kroger may launch a competing bid for Whole Foods, the CEO responded: "We won't talk about specific transactions, but I always tell all our investors, you should assume that we look at any potential opportunities. We feel great about the financial structure and flexibility that we have to be able to do whatever we think is appropriate to continue to grow our business." PRICE ACTION: Shares of Kroger are up 1.5% to $22.94 in Tuesday's session. Reference Link

12:25 EDT Box, Microsoft announce expanded cloud partnership - Box (BOX) and Microsoft (MSFT) announced earlier Tuesday an expanded partnership to jointly offer Box cloud content management with Azure to enterprise customers. Box will use Azure as a strategic public cloud platform and the companies commit to shared go-to-market investments, including initiatives to co-sell Box with Azure, the companies said. In addition, the partnership will enable future integration between Azure's artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities with Box's cloud content management platform. "Azure is a trusted partner in the enterprise and we're thrilled to be integrating our technologies and going to market with Microsoft," said Aaron Levie, Box cofounder and CEO. "With this new partnership, we ensure customers can take advantage of Box's platform on Azure, and look forward to future innovations using Azure's intelligent cloud services," commented Scott Guthrie, EVP of Microsoft's cloud and enterprise division. The new Box and Azure offering is expected to be available later this year. More information on pricing and geographic availability will be shared at a later date.

12:09 EDT Nestle announces CHF 20B buyback, to spend on food and beverage - Neste announced "another step forward in the implementation of its comprehensive value creation model." The company said it has determined that capital spending will be "focused particularly on advancing high-growth food and beverage categories such as coffee, petcare, infant nutrition and bottled water, as well as expanding its presence in high-growth geographic markets. In line with the company's nutrition, health and wellness strategy, it will also pursue growth opportunities in consumer healthcare. Consistent with a disciplined approach to acquisitions, Nestle will only prioritize external growth opportunities that fit within targeted categories and geographies, deliver attractive returns, and build on the company's leadership position" It added that its recent announcement that it would explore strategic options for its U.S. confectionery business is consistent with this overall approach. The company's board approved a share buyback program of up to CHF 20B, to be completed by the end of June 2020. "Should any sizeable acquisitions take place during this period, the share buyback program will be adapted accordingly," it added. The program is scheduled to start on July 4. The company added that it is committed to maintaining its sustainable dividend practice.

12:03 EDT Nestle announces buyback program of up to CHF 20B - The company said in a statement, "In the context of low interest rates and strong cash flow generation, share buybacks offer a viable option to create shareholder value. Therefore, as a result of its review, the Board of Directors approved a share buyback program of up to CHF 20 billion, to be completed by the end of June 2020. Should any sizeable acquisitions take place during this period, the share buyback program will be adapted accordingly. The program is scheduled to start on 4 July 2017. The volume of monthly share buybacks will depend on market conditions but is likely to be backloaded in 2019 and 2020 to allow the pursuit of value-creating acquisition opportunities. Based on current projections, the company expects a net debt to EBITDA ratio of circa 1.5 in 2020."

12:00 EDT Sonaca Group closes acquisition of LMI Aerospace - LMI Aerospace and the Sonaca Group have closed on Sonaca's acquisition of LMI, creating a global leader in the design and manufacture of complex aerostructures. Under the terms of the merger agreement, LMI shareholders are entitled to receive $14 per share in cash. The NASDAQ stock exchange has halted trading of LMIA shares and the de-registering process has commenced. LMI now operates as LMI Aerospace - A Member of the Sonaca Group.

11:11 EDT Chevron Phillips Chemical names Mark Lashier CEO - Chevron Phillips Chemical Company announced that Peter Cella, president and CEO, intends to retire from the company, effective August 1. Additionally, the company announced that Mark Lashier, currently executive VP, commercial, will succeed Cella as president and CEO upon Cella's retirement. Lashier has nearly 30 years of experience in the chemicals industry, beginning his career as an engineer with the Phillips Petroleum Company, now Phillips 66 (PSX), at its Bartlesville, Oklahoma, facility. In 2000, he joined Chevron Phillips Chemical as Chevron (CVX) and Phillips Petroleum combined their chemical businesses to create Chevron Phillips Chemical.

09:49 EDT Applied DNA Sciences signs new licensing agreement with Himatsingka America - Applied DNA Sciences is pleased to announce the signing of a new licensing agreement with Himatsingka America, which is a part of the Himatsingka Group.

09:39 EDT News Corp 'applauds' European Commission's decision to fine Google - The following statement was released by News Corp (NWS, NWSA) regarding the European Commission decision to fine Google (GOOG, GOOGL) for breaching EU antitrust rules: "We applaud the European Commission's leadership in confronting the discriminatory behavior of Google in the comparison shopping industry. Other regulators and companies have been intimidated by Google's overwhelming might, but the Commission has taken a strong stand and we hope that this is the first step in remedying Google's shameless abuse of its dominance in search. We strongly believe that the abuse of algorithms by dominant digital platforms should be of concern to every country and company seeking a fair, competitive and creative society. Google has profited from commodifying content and enabling the proliferation of flawed and fake news, to the detriment of journalism and of an informed society."

09:27 EDT Ensign Group acquires assisted living facilities in Texas, Wisconsin - The Ensign Group announced that it acquired the real estate and operations of two assisted living facilities in Texas and three assisted living facilities in Wisconsin, all of which were previously operated by affiliates of Brookdale Senior Living. The acquisition was effective June 16.

09:22 EDT New York Community announces sale of mortgage banking unit, residential assets - New York Community Bancorp announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its mortgage banking business, which was acquired as part of its 2009 FDIC-assisted acquisition of AmTrust Bank, to residential mortgage industry leader, Freedom Mortgage Corporation. Freedom will acquire both its origination and servicing platforms, as well as its mortgage servicing rights portfolio with a current aggregate unpaid principal balance of approximately $21B. It is expected that Freedom will retain certain employees from the company's Cleveland, Ohio mortgage banking business and plans to maintain operations in the area. Additionally, the Company has received approval from the FDIC to sell the assets covered under our Loss Share Agreements and we have entered into an agreement to sell the majority of our one-to-four family residential mortgage-related assets, including those covered under the LSA, to an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management. The transactions are expected to close during Q3, subject to certain closing conditions, and, on a combined basis, result in a gain on sale of approximately $90M on a pre-tax basis.

09:18 EDT TapImmune reaches 50% patient enrollment in Phase 2 breast cancer vaccine study - TapImmune has enrolled 50% of the patients in its randomized Phase 2 clinical study of its novel T-cell vaccine candidate TPIV 200 for treating triple-negative breast cancer. The four-arm study is designed to determine the optimal vaccine dose and regimen to maximize the immune response generated against the vaccine's molecular target, folate receptor-alpha. The Phase 2 study continues to enroll women with stage I(T1c)-III TNBC who have completed initial surgery and radiation/chemotherapy, and who have not yet had a cancer recurrence. The company expects to complete patient enrollment by the end of the year.

09:14 EDT 1-800-Flowers.com selects Veritone One for advertising - Veritone One, a subsidiary of Veritone (VERI), announced that 1-800-FLOWERS.COM (FLWS), the gourmet food and floral gift provider for all occasions, selected the agency to ensure speed, transparency and accuracy of broadcast advertising spends. Veritone One leverages proprietary artificial intelligence technology, the Veritone Platform, to track and analyze radio advertising spots for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM in near real time. The Veritone Platform ingests more than 700 content streams daily, including broadcast radio, television, podcasts and YouTube channels. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM uses the platform, as well as the Veritone Custom Analytics Platform to view performance analytics allowing for efficient, scalable and successful campaigns.

09:10 EDT China Telecom, Orange Business services extend strategic partnership - China Telecom (CHA) and Orange Business Services (ORA) announced the extension of their strategic partnership into the IoT space at the launch event of "eSurfing on the Silk Road, IoT with the World" in Shanghai, China. The new cooperation will enable both companies to serve their respective enterprise customers through a combined footprint across three continents - Asia, Europe and Africa. Multinational customers of China Telecom and Orange will be able to deploy IoT and Machine-to-Machine services across each other's networks. China Telecom's enterprise customers with outbound IoT business can deploy their assets and offerings on the Orange networks in Europe and Africa. Similarly, Orange global enterprise customers can leverage the rapidly growing Chinese market by relying on China Telecom's IoT network resources and business capabilities. Both partners propose a global solution to address local IoT connectivity requirements, leveraging eUICC capabilities and the commonly deployed Device Connectivity Platform of Ericsson for a seamless customer experience.China Telecom and Orange will cooperate both commercially and technically to create new service models that support global IoT opportunities. Under this agreement, Orange will be one of China Telecom's preferred partners for connectivity in Europe and Africa, while China Telecom will support Orange for connectivity in China. Both companies also agree to jointly explore the potential of enhancing existing IoT capabilities and the application of new technologies such as mobile IoT in the global market.

09:04 EDT Darden says expects to raise menu prices 1%-2% per year

09:03 EDT Wells Fargo agrees to sell commercial insurance business to USI Insurance - Wells Fargo & Company announced it has entered into an agreement with USI Insurance Services to sell Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, which includes its Insurance Brokerage and Consulting, Employee Benefits and Property & Casualty national practices, along with Safehold Special Risk, Small Business Insurance, Student Insurance, Individual Health and Private Risk Management Insurance business lines. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in Q4, were not disclosed. In conjunction with the sale of the commercial brokerage business, the Personal Insurance business will report into Consumer Lending to ensure it is well positioned to continue to serve retail customers. Wells Fargo's Personal Insurance business provides customers with access to personal insurance products, such as auto, home, umbrella and renters insurance.

09:00 EDT Ra Pharmaceuticals says data enables eculizumab cohort opening in Ph. 2 trial - Ra Pharmaceuticals announced initial data from the company's global Phase 2 clinical program evaluating RA101495 for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, or PNH. The dose-finding Phase 2 clinical program is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, preliminary efficacy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of RA101495 in patients with PNH. Currently, the study has three eculizumab-naive patients enrolled, of which two have completed seven weeks of follow-up and are included in the Company's initial data set. Review of these initial data enables the opening of Cohort B, which will enroll patients switching from eculizumab, the current standard of care, for PNH. Notable findings include: No safety or tolerability concerns identified; no injection site reactions; Near-complete inhibition of hemolytic activity; Rapid declines in lactate dehydrogenase; mean LDH at Week 7 = 1.6X upper limit of normal; 100% compliance with once daily, subcutaneous self-administration. At the week 6 visit, one patient reported recurrence of PNH symptoms associated with hemoglobinuria and an elevated LDH level. This episode of breakthrough hemolysis occurred in the setting of an intercurrent illness, judged by the investigator to be most likely due to a viral infection. The episode was transient and resolved rapidly with LDH levels returning to 1.3X ULN by the week 7 visit with resolution of hemolytic symptoms. "We are pleased by the initial results from this study, our first in PNH patients, whose primary purpose is to gain important safety, preliminary efficacy, PK and PD data in the target patient population. These data will help inform dose selection for pivotal trials and will help refine our clinical development strategy. We look forward to giving you an update on our progress around year-end," said President and CEO Doug Treco.

08:59 EDT Darden says labor inflation currently 3%-4%

08:56 EDT Darden says focus is on integration of Cheddar's over next 12-18 months - Says will focus on growing the Cheddar's brand once integration is complete.

08:49 EDT Darden says take out at Olive Garden 'remains strong' - Says sees strong growth potential in catering, large party delivery.

08:45 EDT Xenon Pharmaceuticals trading resumes

08:42 EDT Darden says seeing continued wage/labor cost pressure

08:39 EDT Darden says Cheddar's comps up 1.3% for 5 weeks under ownership

08:38 EDT Darden says 'well underway' integrating Cheddar's - Says Cheddar's will add "significant value" in the long term. Comments from Q4 earnings conference call.

08:33 EDT A. Schulman to retain executive search firm for CEO succession - A. Schulman will retain a leading executive search firm to assist the Board of Directors and its Nominating and Governance Committee in a search for a successor candidate to current CEO Joseph M. Gingo. The plan calls for Gingo to step down from his CEO position at the end of his current, two-year contract in August 2018. Gingo, 72, returned to this executive position at A. Schulman in August 2016 to help reinvigorate the company's financial and operational performance worldwide. He had previously served in this capacity from 2008 through 2014. Gingo will assist the company's Board in the search to identify and vet successor candidates. Plans call for Gingo to remain with the company as its executive chairman when a successor is named to ensure a seamless transition.

08:24 EDT Xenon Pharmaceuticals trading to resume at 8:45 am ET - Trading of shares of Xenon Pharmaceuticals is scheduled to resume at 8:45 am ET, with quotation to resume at 8:40 am ET, according to Nasdaq.

08:21 EDT MGP Ingredients reaches agreement to sell stake in ICP JV - MGP Ingredients (MGPI) announced that it has entered into a merger agreement with an affiliate of SEACOR Holdings (CKH) and Pacific Ethanol Central that would result in a sale of its 30% equity ownership interest in Illinois Corn Processing to Pacific Ethanol. Total proceeds of $76M will be paid in a combination of $30M in cash and through the issuance of secured promissory notes with an aggregate principal amount of $46M to both of the ICP members in proportion to their ownership. The purchase price is subject to customary pre-and post-closing adjustments. MGP expects that its board will declare a special dividend of approximately 85c per share of common stock outstanding, or $14.5M in the aggregate, to occur within 30 days of closing the merger transaction. This dividend will primarily be funded from the initial cash proceeds from the sale and cash received from a dividend distribution from ICP of $6.6M approved on June 26.

08:19 EDT Agile Therapeutics resubmits NDA for Twirla contraceptive patch - Agile Therapeutics has resubmitted to the FDA the NDA for its lead product candidate, Twirla, an investigational low-dose combined hormonal contraceptive patch. Agile resubmitted the NDA in response to a February 2013 Complete Response Letter from the FDA, which recommended that Agile conduct a new clinical trial and provide additional information on the manufacturing process for Twirla. The resubmitted NDA includes efficacy and safety data from the new Phase 3 clinical trial, the requested manufacturing information, and a summary response to the CRL.

08:17 EDT 21st Century Fox gets clearance from Republic of Ireland Minister for Sky deal - 21st Century Fox (FOX, FOXA) said it welcomes the decision by the Republic of Ireland's Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to clear the company's acquisition of the outstanding shares of Sky (SKYAY) that the company does not already own, ruling that the proposed transaction will not result in insufficient plurality for any audience in the Republic of Ireland. The decision was communicated to 21st Century Fox by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.The decision follows rulings clearing the transaction on public interest grounds including plurality by authorities in all of the markets in which Sky operates outside of the UK, including Austria, Germany, Italy and now the Republic of Ireland. The decision also follows unconditional clearance of the proposed transaction by all competent competition authorities, notably the European Commission on April 7, covering both the UK and the rest of the European Economic Area, as well as by the Jersey competition authority. The UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed that she has now received the reports from Ofcom and the CMA on the specified public interest grounds, media plurality and commitment to broadcasting standards. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has stated that the Secretary of State will make her initial "minded to" decision, publish the reports and return to Parliament to make an oral statement by June 29.

08:13 EDT MFA Oil implements NCR OPTIC 5 solution across 73 locations - NCR Corporation announced that MFA Oil Company will be implementing NCR OPTIC 5, the outdoor multimedia device and payment solution for outdoor fuel retailing, at all of its Break Time convenience stores. This will offer a unique, streamlined experience to its customers across all dispenser makes and models. MFA Oil, an energy and farmer-owned cooperative, operates 73 Break Time convenience stores in Missouri and Arkansas. When Break Time wanted to modernize its user interface and offer a consistent user experience across all of its stores, the company chose the NCR OPTIC 5 NCR solution for its user-friendly software, open source platform and cutting edge media management features. The NCR solution will allow MFA Oil to self-maintain the software and ultimately reduce the total cost of ownership.

08:11 EDT Getty Realty enters definitive agreement to acquire 49 properties for $123M - Getty Realty announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement providing for acquisition lease-back funding to Empire Petroleum Partners. The company, through a subsidiary, will acquire fee simple interests in 49 convenience store and gasoline station properties for $123M under a unitary lease. The transaction is expected to close before the end of Q3. The Properties are located primarily within metropolitan markets in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. The unitary lease to be effective at closing provides for an initial term of 15 years, with four five-year renewal options. Rent is scheduled to increase annually during the initial and renewal terms of the lease. The company is providing acquisition lease-back funding to Empire to facilitate its acquisition of properties from Circle K Stores. Circle K has agreed to sell a portfolio of properties to Empire to satisfy compliance with regulatory requirements associated with its acquisition of CST Brands. Upon closing, the company expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to net earnings. The company plans to fund the transaction through funds available under its Credit Agreement. The transaction is subject numerous closing conditions, including the closing of a separate purchase agreement under which Empire has agreed to purchase the Properties from Circle K, and regulatory review and approval of such separate agreement. The company can offer no assurances that the transaction will close on the terms described herein, or at all.

08:09 EDT Ability regains Nasdaq listing compliance - Ability received notification from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq that the company has regained compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Staff has determined that for at least the last 10 consecutive business days, the closing bid price of the company's common stock has been at $1.00 per share or greater. The matter is now closed.

08:08 EDT Rent-A-Center names Martin Evans chief human resources officer - Rent-A-Center announced it has appointed Martin Evans as executive VP - chief human resources officer, effective July 18. Evans served recently as chief human resources officer and executive VP for Exeter Finance Corporation, a specialty auto finance company based in Irving, Texas.

08:06 EDT MabVax Therapeutics begins dosing in Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating MVT-1075 - MabVax Therapeutics announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating MVT-1075, the company's fully human antibody radioimmunotherapy, for the treatment of CA19-9 positive malignancies including pancreatic, colon and lung cancers. This Phase 1 first-in-human clinical trial is an open-label, multi-center study evaluating the safety and efficacy of MVT-1075 in up to 22 patients with CA19-9 positive malignancies in the U.S. The primary objective is to determine the maximum tolerated dose and safety profile in patients with recurring disease who have failed prior therapies. Secondary endpoints are to evaluate tumor response rate and duration of response by RECIST 1.1, and to determine dosimetry and pharmacokinetics. This dose-escalation study utilizes a traditional 3+3 design. The investigative sites will include Honor Health in Scottsdale, Arizona and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. The company expects to report interim results by the end of 2017.

08:04 EDT Philips receives FDA 510(k) clearance to market IntelliSpace Portal 9.0 - Royal Philips announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. FDA to market IntelliSpace Portal 9.0 and a range of innovative applications for Radiology in the U.S. The latest release of Philips' clinical informatics platform for advanced visual analysis and quantification of medical images now offers enhanced additional applications for Longitudinal Brain Imaging and Multi-Modality Tumor Tracking, as well as optimized Lung Nodule Assessment. IntelliSpace Portal 9.0 has been available outside of the U.S. since November 2016 and will be available in the world's largest healthcare market as of this month.

08:02 EDT NF Energy signs $600K valve sales contract - NF Energy signed a $600K sales contract with three companies to supply valves. The company expects to deliver this equipment in Q4. The three companies are China Nuclear Qiqihar Environmental Protection Technology Co. for the first phase of an oxidation pond deep processing project; Chongqing Water Turbine Co., for the Huangshan Dragon hydropower station renovation project in Vietnam; and Chongqing New Century Electrical Co. for the NHESANJEN hydropower station renovation project in Nepal.

07:49 EDT Amerseco selected by Chicago for Smart Street Lighting Project - Ameresco (AMRC) announced it has contracted with the City of Chicago for the city's comprehensive Smart Street Lighting Project to modernize its infrastructure. Working with Silver Spring Networks (SSNI), a networking platform and solutions provider for the Internet of Important Things, the project is believed to be the largest city-led wireless smart street light program in the U.S., and will connect more than 250,000 street light fixtures across Chicago. The four-year modernization project is expected to transform Chicago's street light system by replacing approximately 85% of the city's existing street lights with smart LEDs. The multi-phase project will commence this summer.The new smart LED street lights will be owned and operated by the City of Chicago, supported by Silver Spring Networks' managed services and its Streetlight.Vision Control and Management System software. The new LED street lights are expected to consume between 50 and 75% less electricity than the city's existing lighting infrastructure. Silver Spring's IPv6 platform will enable the City to remotely dim or brighten street lights as needed, as well as to remotely monitor street lights for proactive maintenance and faster repairs if failures do occur.

07:39 EDT Cancer Genetics launches FDA-approved Oncomine Dx Target - Cancer Genetics announced the launch of Thermo Fisher Scientific'sOncomine Dx Target - the first next-generation sequencing, or NGS,-based Companion Diagnostic, or CDx, test that simultaneously screens tumor samples for biomarkers associated with three FDA-approved therapies for non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC. CGI is one of the first laboratories, one of only three, in the USA to offer Thermo Fisher's Oncomine Dx Target Test.

07:34 EDT Bellatrix Exploration sells non-core Strachan assets for $34.5M - Bellatrix Exploration has completed the previously announced sale of certain non-core assets in the Strachan area of Alberta. Concurrent with the closing of the Strachan asset sale, the borrowing base under the company's syndicated revolving credit facilities was reconfirmed at $120M, unchanged from prior levels. Other than approximately $15M outstanding on the credit facilities, the company has no debt maturities until 2020 and 2021.

07:31 EDT Strongbridge Biopharma completes target enrollment for Phase 3 SONICS study - Strongbridge Biopharma announced that it has met its enrollment target of 90 patients in the Phase 3 SONICS study evaluating the safety and efficacy of RECORLEV, a next-generation cortisol synthesis inhibitor, for the treatment of endogenous Cushing's syndrome. Based upon strong interest in the SONICS study at the end of screening, a small number of additional potential study participants remain in screening and will be allowed to enroll, if qualified.

07:18 EDT Ronald Chez urges strategic action by Neonode board - Ronald Chez said, "As you know, I have not received any response from the Board with respect to taking strategic action that would be in the best interests of shareholders. As all your shareholders would agree, there has been a clear track record of over-promising and under-performing by this management, despite the significant intellectual property that Neonode has developed. Traditionally Neonode's technology has been focused on the B to B market. Recently you have introduced the Airbar which is focused on the B to C market. Despite glowing reviews for Airbar, and significant market potential, sales have been virtually nonexistent. Once again, a failure to deliver positive results when shareholders were led to believe that demand for the Airbar was substantial. It's clear that Neonode has no B to C retail experience, and limited funds to gain the necessary market awareness and acceptance for the kind of success that Airbar deserves. While Airbar is an outstanding product, and a great opportunity, it is one product, not a product line. I believe that you must, immediately, develop a plan which capitalizes on the significant opportunity that Airbar presents. Neonode does not have the expertise to effectively seize the opportunity that the Airbar can deliver in the right hands. I would expect that the Board would have the courtesy, certainly you have the responsibility as the Board, to respond to this letter and take action that is consistent with the best interest of shareholders."

07:12 EDT Alder says eptinezumab Phase 3 clinical trial met primary, secondary endpoints - Alder BioPharmaceuticals announced that eptinezumab, its lead product candidate for migraine prevention, met the primary and key secondary endpoints in PROMISE 1, a Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial evaluating patients with frequent episodic migraine. PROMISE 1 is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of eptinezumab administered by intravenous infusion once every 12 weeks through week 24. The study continues for an additional 2 doses every 12 weeks with follow up through week 56. The study enrolled 888 patients diagnosed with frequent episodic migraine. The primary endpoint for PROMISE 1 was the mean change in monthly migraine days from baseline for weeks 1 through 12. Key secondary endpoints included the percent of patients who achieved greater than or equal to 75% reduction in monthly migraine days from baseline over weeks 1 through 4 and weeks 1 through 12. Patients enrolled in the study experienced, on average, 8.6 migraines days per month.

07:10 EDT Kratos Defense receives $16M in radar, system contract awards - Kratos Defense announced that its Modular System Division recently received approximately $16M in radar and system contract awards. MSD is a provider of specialized systems, products and equipment that support strategic National Security related programs and platforms including; radars, unmanned systems, missile and ballistic missile defense systems and satellite communications. Work under these contract awards will be performed in a secure Kratos manufacturing facility. Due to customer related and other considerations, no additional information will be provided related to these contract awards.

07:07 EDT Darden reports Q4 Same-restaurant sales up 3.3%, ex-Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

07:03 EDT Synthetic Biologics granted U.S. patent for bowel syndrome treatment - Synthetic Biologics announced that the USPTO issued a Notice of Allowance for a patent application which covers the use of the active agent of SYN-010, the company's proprietary, modified-release formulation of lovastatin lactone, for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. Upon issuance, this patent will strengthen the intellectual property estate covering the use of SYN-010 for the treatment of IBS-C until at least 2034. The allowance of this new patent expands the SYN-010 intellectual property portfolio to approximately 55 issued U.S. and foreign patents. In addition, there are approximately 25 U.S. and foreign patents pending.

06:58 EDT Under Armour appoints Patrik Frisk as COO, announces management changes - Under Armour announced Patrik Frisk will become the company's president and COO effective July 10. In conjunction with Frisk's appointment, the company also announced strategic executive changes to align its organizational structure to better leverage its digital business, support its move toward category management, and drive greater operational efficiency across the organization. Paul Fipps has been named Chief Technology Officer with responsibility for overseeing all aspects of engineering that support Under Armour's web and mobile applications, as well as its information technology and real estate functions. Additionally, he will lead Under Armour's Connected Fitness business with Chief Digital Officer and head of Connected Fitness Michael Lee reporting to Mr. Fipps directly. This realignment integrates the company's digital ecosystem including its single view of the consumer data and additional SAP capabilities to fuel product creation and personalization, increase speed to market and accelerate consumer value. He will report directly to Mr. Plank. Most recently, he served as the company's Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Operations after joining Under Armour in 2014 as Senior Vice President of Global Operations. Prior to joining the company, he served as Chief Information Officer and Corporate Vice President of Business Services at The Charmer Sunbelt Group. Colin Browne has been named Chief Supply Chain Officer with responsibility for all global operations related to product sourcing and logistics. Mr. Browne joined Under Armour in 2016 as President of Global Sourcing. Prior to that, he was Vice President and Managing Director of Supply Chain at VF Corporation, where he led all aspects of the company's sourcing and product supply organization in Asia. Before VF, Mr. Browne was the Executive Vice President of Footwear and Accessories at Li & Fung, CEO of Pentland Brands in Asia, and held senior leadership positions at Reebok and Bally. Additionally, in May, Kevin Eskridge was named Chief Product Officer.

06:46 EDT L'Oreal announces signing of contract for sale of Body Shop to Natura - L'Oreal announces that the contract for the sale of The Body Shop to Natura was signed after receiving the advice of L'Oreal's Works Council regarding this project announced on June 9. The proposed sale is subject to clearance by anti-trust authorities notably in Brazil and in the United States, and expected to close during 2017.

06:36 EDT Micron exploring sale of discontinued Lexar business - Micron Technology announced last night that it is discontinuing its Lexar retail removable media storage business. "The decision was made as part of the company's ongoing efforts to focus on its increasing opportunities in higher value markets and channels," Micron said in a statement. The Lexar portfolio includes memory cards, USB flash drives, readers, and storage drives for retail and OEM customers. Micron added that it is exploring opportunities to sell all or part of the Lexar business.

06:10 EDT OraSure's HIV self-test supported by Gates Foundation for accelerated adoption - OraSure entered a new agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will enable OraSure to offer its OraQuick HIV Self-Test at an affordable price in 50 developing countries with funding from the Gates Foundation. The funding will consist of support payments tied to the volume of product sold by OraSure and reimbursement of certain related costs. Under a four-year Charitable Support Agreement, OraSure will make its OraQuick HIV Self-Test available for purchase in 50 developing countries located in Africa and Asia. Funding from the Gates Foundation will enable non-governmental organizations in eligible countries that receive funding from government or public sector agencies and donors to access HIV self-testing at reduced pricing. The funding from the Gates Foundation will be in an aggregate amount not to exceed $20M over the four-year term or $6M each year of the agreement. The OraQuick(R) HIV Self-Test is a rapid, point-of-care test that allows an individual to detect antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 with an oral swab, with results in 20 minutes.

06:05 EDT GDS Holdings announces new order from Alibaba for Beijing 3 data center - GDS Holdings (GDS) announced that Alibaba Group (BABA) has confirmed a pre-commitment order to take full-capacity of the company's recently announced Beijing 3 data center. Beijing 3 is currently under construction. On completion in the first half of 2018, the new data center will have an IT area of 4,260 sqm, which is now 100% pre-committed.

06:00 EDT United Community Banks, Four Oaks Fincorp announce merger agreement

05:40 EDT Verifone enters collaboration with Sage - Verifone and Sage announced that they will work together to offer integrated point-of-sale, or POS, and business accounting solutions on Verifone Carbon 8. Carbon 8 is an open, scalable and portable POS system that is capable of incorporating the Sage One accounting and payroll software with Verifone payment solutions to enable merchants such as bike and pastry shops, boutiques, and specialty food markets, with simple and easy-to-use business solutions they need to operate and grow.

05:33 EDT Wabco signs strategic cooperation framework with FAW Jiefang Automotive - WABCO Holdings signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with FAW Jiefang Automotive Company, a manufacturer of light, medium and heavy duty trucks in China. WABCO and FAW Jiefang will team up to enhance the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles and fleet operators in China by advancing braking systems, chassis components, and other technologies. Building on its more than 20-year supply relationship with FAW Jiefang, WABCO will provide FAW Jiefang with industry-leading and cost-effective technologies, as well as product development expertise. In addition, WABCO will draw from its global capabilities to deliver differentiating training and world-class technical support.

05:30 EDT Nvidia enters partnership with ZF, HELLA - NVIDIA announced it has formed a strategic partnership with ZF and HELLA to deliver AI technology with the New Car Assessment Program, or NCAP, safety certification for the mass deployment of self-driving vehicles. The agreement is non-exclusive. ZF and HELLA will provide customers with a complete self-driving system that integrates front camera units, as well as supporting software functions and radar systems. Using the NVIDIA DRIVE PX AI platform, the partnership aims to produce the highest NCAP safety ratings for passenger cars, while also addressing commercial vehicle and off-highway applications. NVIDIA DRIVE PX offers both NCAP safety and self-driving capabilities on a single platform ready for production. NVIDIA DRIVE PX will enable ZF and HELLA to develop software for scalable systems starting from modern driver assistance systems that connect their advanced imaging and radar sensor technologies for autonomous driving functionality.