Stockwinners Market Radar for September 05, 2017 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

18:58 EDT Terex completes sale of shares of Konecranes - Terex Corporation announced it has completed the sale of 5.15M Class A shares representing approximately 6.5% of the total shares outstanding of Konecranes Plc at a price of EUR36.50 per share, a 1.7% discount to today's closing price. Total shares outstanding includes both Class A and Class B shares but does not include Konecranes treasury shares. The trade date of the transaction will be tomorrow, September 6, 2017, and settlement of the transaction is expected to occur on September 11, 2017. John L. Garrison, Terex President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "With today's sale, Terex has sold its remaining Konecranes shares. When we announced the sale of MHPS in May 2016, the Konecranes shares that Terex was to receive were worth approximately $456M. In total, Terex will have received approximately $773M for the sale of those shares, bringing the total consideration received by Terex for the disposition of MHPS to approximately $1.6B. These amounts demonstrate the significant value to Terex shareholders that was created by the sale of our MHPS segment and the Konecranes-MHPS combination."

18:08 EDT Bio-Techne acquires Trevigen, terms not disclosed - Bio-Techne Corporation announced that it has acquired all of the stock of Trevigen Inc. for cash. The transaction is financed through available cash on hand. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Bio-Techne's adjusted earnings per share for its fiscal year 2018.

17:34 EDT On The Fly: After Hours Movers - UP AFTER EARNINGS: Duluth Holdings (DLTH), up 8.9%... Coupa Software (COUP), up 8.1%... HealthEquity (HQY), up 7.3%... HP Enterprise (HPE), up 5.1%. ALSO HIGHER: Electronics for Imaging (EFII), up 10.4% after it provided third quarter earnings and revenue guidance... MEI Pharma (MEIP), up 5.1% after it entered into a license agreement with Presage Biosciences for voruciclib... MGM Resorts (MGM), up 1.5% after it announced a $1B share repurchase program. DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: Dave & Buster's (PLAY), down 4.5%. ALSO LOWER: Kratos Defense (KTOS), down 5.7% after it filed to sell 12.5M shares of common stock... Independence Realty Trust (IRT), down 5% after it filed to sell 12.5M shares of common stock... Microchip Technology (MCHP), down 1.1% after it reaffirmed its Q2 financial guidance.

17:13 EDT Luxor Capital reports 5% passive stake in La Quinta

17:11 EDT Novo Nordisk confirms settlement deal in U.S. over Victoza - Novo Nordisk announced it has reached a resolution with the U.S. federal government and the states about an investigation launched in February 2011 concerning sales and marketing practices for Victoza, a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. The investigation was disclosed by Novo Nordisk for the first time in a company announcement on February 16, 2011. The settlement resolves claims alleging Novo Nordisk did not fully comply with communicating safety information based on a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for Victoza. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Novo Nordisk will pay approximately $46.5M to the federal government and to states that reimbursed for Victoza under their Medicaid programs. Additionally, Novo Nordisk will pay $12.15M to resolve a complaint filed by the government on behalf of the FDA in federal court. In connection with this settlement, the Company has also resolved several private whistle-blower cases related to the government's investigation. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, determined that it would not seek a Corporate Integrity Agreement as part of this settlement. "At Novo Nordisk, we take our responsibility to communicate the safety and clinical benefits of our medicines seriously, and remain committed to properly addressing safety questions healthcare professionals ask every day," said Doug Langa, Senior Vice President, Head of North America Operations and President of Novo Nordisk Inc. "Our focus will always be to ensure that those caring for patients have the data they need to make the most informed treatment decision. While we do not agree with the U.S. government's legal conclusions and deny any wrongdoing, we're pleased to have negotiated a resolution that allows the company to return its full attention to developing medicines that help improve the lives of patients."

17:06 EDT Forward Pharma files opening brief in appeal of U.S. patent interference - Forward Pharma A/S (FWP) announced the filing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit of the opening brief for the appeal of the PTAB decision that ended the interference proceeding between the Forward 11/576,871 patent application and an issued Biogen (BIIB) patent.

17:04 EDT Crown Castle COO designated to lead fiber solutions activities - Crown Castle International announced that, effective immediately, James D. Young, Crown Castle's previous Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has been designated to lead Crown Castle's fiber solutions activities and appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - Fiber. In addition, Robert C. Ackerman, who previously served as an Area President of Crown Castle's operating subsidiaries, has been appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - Towers and Small Cells. Young and Mr. Ackerman report to Jay Brown, Crown Castle's Chief Executive Officer. Young joined Crown Castle in October 2005 and has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since 2009.

17:02 EDT Griffon to explore strategic alternatives for Clopay Plastic - Griffon announced that after having received from qualified parties unsolicited inquiries to acquire Clopay Plastic Products Company, Griffon will explore strategic alternatives for Clopay Plastics. A global leader in the development and production of specialty plastic films for hygienic, health-care and industrial products, Clopay Plastics has operations in North America, Brazil, and Germany. During the trailing 12-month period ending June 30, 2017, Clopay Plastics generated $468M of revenue and $53M of Segment adjusted EBITDA.

17:01 EDT Skyline Medical enters into technology partnership with Intalere - Skyline Medical announces that the Company has entered into an innovative technology partnership with Intalere for the STREAMWAY System. Intalere is a professional supply chain company offering a comprehensive suite of services to empower healthcare providers to better manage their entire spend and ultimately deliver superior care. This contract includes STREAMWAY in Intalere's Innovation and New Technology category, indicating STREAMWAY demonstrates unique capabilities compared to existing products on contract or available in the market.

17:00 EDT Soleno Therapeutics CFO O'Toole to leave company - Soleno Therapeutics announced that David O'Toole, the company's CFO, will transition from Soleno in mid-September to pursue other opportunities. Soleno has appointed Jonathan R. Wolter, effective immediately, as interim CFO, and has initiated a search for a successor to O'Toole, who will serve as a consultant to the company to provide support during the transition period.

16:47 EDT Toro Company chairman Michael Hoffman to retire, CEO Olson named new chairman - The Toro Company announced that Michael J. Hoffman, chairman of the board, will retire from the company's board of directors, effective November 3, 2017. The company's president and CEO, Richard M. Olson, has been elected chairman, effective upon Hoffman's retirement. In connection with Hoffman's retirement, the board size will be reduced from 11 to 10 directors, effective November 3, 2017.

16:32 EDT MacroGenics announces progress of two of its bispecific DART product candidates - MacroGenics announced the advancement of two of its proprietary bispecific DART product candidates. This progress includes: a first patient has been dosed with MGD013, a DART molecule that recognizes PD-1 and LAG-3; and the submission of an Investigational New Drug application with the FDA for MGD014, a DART molecule that targets HIV-infected cells and CD3. MacroGenics retains worldwide rights to both of these product candidates. MGD013 recognizes both PD-1 and LAG-3 and was designed to enable the co-blockade of these two immune checkpoint molecules co-expressed on T cells.

16:28 EDT Myriad Genetics launches riskScore to enhance myRisk Hereditary Cancer test - Myriad Genetics announced that it has launched riskScore, a new clinically validated precision medicine tool to enhance its myRisk Hereditary Cancer test. riskScore quantifies a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by combining genetic markers throughout the genome with her family and clinical history. "We have known for some time that there are other genetic and clinical factors that can modify a patient's risk for breast cancer; however, this is the first time that this information has been rigorously validated to guide patient care," said Mark C. Capone, president and CEO, Myriad Genetics. "As the pioneer in hereditary cancer research, Myriad has been stalwart in our commitment to provide answers to every patient concerned about their breast cancer risks. Through the years Myriad has expanded the number of genes tested and demonstrated an unmatched commitment to classifying uncertain variants. Now this new test will provide definitive answers to the ninety percent of patients testing negative for hereditary cancer genes and will be complimentary to patients tested with myRisk." riskScore is a proprietary algorithm that combines data from greater than 80 genetic markers called single nucleotide polymorphisms, with a best-in-class family and personal history algorithm called the the Tyrer-Cuzick model. Myriad researchers optimized the genetic markers in riskScore by starting with over 100,000 patient samples and have now completed two highly statistically significant validation studies in patients of European descent demonstrating the ability of riskScore to predict breast cancer risk. These major validation studies will be presented at the National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference and San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium later this calendar year.

16:23 EDT Valeritas to present data results for V-Go Wearable Insulin Device - Valeritas Holdings announced it will present data demonstrating use of the V-Go Wearable Insulin Delivery Device provides clinical benefits in real-world use by patients with type 2 diabetes. Results will be presented during a poster presentation at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting 2017 taking place September 11-15 in Lisbon, Portugal. "This study demonstrates that use of V-Go can provide significant and meaningful clinical benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes with decreased total insulin requirements compared to other insulin injection regimens," said John Timberlake, President and Chief Executive Officer of Valeritas. "Presenting this important data in Europe, where V-Go has regulatory clearance, provides us the opportunity to communicate the benefits of V-Go while we explore options to commercialize V-Go to the European diabetes community."

16:21 EDT Emerson Radio increases stock repurchase program by additional $5M - Emerson Radio announced that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in the Company's current stock repurchase program by an additional $5M, for a total authorization since inception of the program of $10M. The Board of Directors also approved an extension of the program to June 30, 2018, unless completed sooner or otherwise extended. Through August 31 the Company has repurchased an aggregate of 2,392,964 shares of its common stock under the program since inception of the program in December 2016 at an average price of $1.46 per share or an aggregate cost of approximately $3.5M.

16:19 EDT EnteroMedics starts FDA post-approval study of the vBloc System - EnteroMedics announced the start of its FDA post-approval study of the vBloc System, a medical device used to treat obesity. The ReNEW Study: Maestro New Enrollment Post-Approval Study will evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of the vBloc System for weight loss in obese patients in a real-world clinical setting. The first patient in the company's ReNEW Study was enrolled late last week at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, NY, by the site's principal investigator, Dr. Collin Brathwaite, MD, FACS, FASMBS; Chairman of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Director of the Bariatric Surgery Program.

16:18 EDT Green Plains appoints John Neppl as CFO - Green Plains (GPRE) announced that Jerry Peters will retire as CFO from Green Plains and Green Plains Partners effective September 11. John Neppl has been named to succeed Peters upon his retirement. Peters will continue to be a member of the board of directors of Green Plains Holdings the general partner of Green Plains Partners (GPP). John Neppl has been appointed chief financial officer of Green Plains effective September 11. John most recently served as CFO of The Gavilon Group an agriculture and energy commodities management firm with an extensive global footprint. He provided broad financial leadership, with responsibility for the organization's accounting, treasury, risk control, business planning and analysis, tax, legal and investor relations functions.

16:16 EDT Mercury Systems announces$2.0M order from defense prime contractor - Mercury Systems announced it received a $2.0M follow-on order from a leading defense prime contractor for high-efficiency, SWaP-optimized GPS filter amplifiers for a munitions application. The order was booked in the Company's Q4 and is expected to be shipped over the next several quarters.

16:15 EDT Alpha & Omega enters into license agreement with STMicroelectronics - Alpha and Omega Semiconductor (AOSL) announced that it has entered into a license agreement with STMicroelectronics (STM) that would enable AOS to expand into new markets for advanced low-voltage power IC products with multiple functionalities, primarily for applications in computer servers. The agreement allows AOS to develop, market and distribute products based on a specific digital multiphase controller technology developed and currently used by STMicroelectronics, and AOS will continue to improve and enhance the performance and capabilities of these products by combining its own power IC expertise with the licensed technologies under the agreement.

16:14 EDT Independence Realty Trust to acquire portfolio of nine communities for $228.1M - Independence Realty Trust announced that on September 3 it reached an agreement to acquire a portfolio of nine communities, totaling 2,353 units, for a gross purchase price of $228.1M. The acquisition accelerates IRT's penetration into a number of core existing markets, including Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, and Atlanta, GA, while providing entry into two new markets. The portfolio contains nine communities that were built or renovated between 2000 and 2011, had period end occupancy of 95% as of July 31, 2017, and had an average effective rent per unit of $884 for the three months ended July 31. The transaction is expected to close in two stages: five of the nine communities will close on or before September 30 with the remaining four communities closing shortly after the debt assumption process is complete in the Q4 subject to customary closing conditions.

16:13 EDT Cray signs solutions provider agreement with Vanguard Infrastructures - Global supercomputer leader Cray announced that the company has signed a solutions provider agreement with Vanguard Infrastructures in order for Vanguard to develop, market, and sell on premise and cloud-as-a-service cybersecurity solutions that fuse supercomputing technologies with an open, enterprise-ready software framework for big data analytics. Vanguard has also purchased a Cray Urika-GX system.

16:03 EDT Prologis reports no significant damage from Hurricane Harvey - Prologis said that its Texas properties had incurred no significant damage from Hurricane Harvey. Property assessments are continuing. The Prologis Foundation made a significant donation to the Red Cross to support relief efforts and will match employee contributions to the organization.

16:02 EDT MarketAxess reports August trading volume $114.3B - MarketAxess Holdings announced total monthly trading volume for August of $114.3B, consisting of $68.6B in U.S. high-grade volume, $41.4B in other credit volume, and $4.3B in liquid products volume. U.S. high-yield, emerging market and Eurobond volumes represented approximately 25.9%, 54.8% and 18.2% respectively, of the total trading volumes of the other credit category.

15:02 EDT TJX CEO Ernie Herrman sells 20,000 shares - The TJX CEO Ernie Herrman disclosed in a filing on Tuesday that he had sold 20,000 shares of company stock at an average price of $72.52 on September 1. The transaction value of the sale was $1,450,324.

14:45 EDT Before the Move: Watch Vanda ahead of pruritus data - This month, Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA) will report Phase II data in atopic dermatitis with chronic pruritus. Jefferies analyst Matthew Andrews believes chronic pruritus conservatively represents a $530M market for the company's Tradipitant, which could add $10-$15 per share. DATA IN ATOPIC DERMATITIS: In September, Vanda Pharmaceuticals is expected to report Phase II data in atopic dermatitis with chronic pruritus. According to Jefferies' Andrews, this is the first of five key data read-outs through 2018, with positive data being key to advancing a third product to market in 2020 and beyond, Vanda receiving credit for its pipeline, and potentially being viewed as a biotech. TRADIPITANT: Vanda's Tradipitant is an oral drug which binds NK1 receptors in the periphery and CNS, thus blocking Substance P, a key mediator of the itch signal, the analyst explained, adding that some see NK1R antagonists as promising due to their mechanism, benign safety, limited drug-drug interactions, and positive proof of concept data for NK1R's aprepritant and serlopitant. Vanda is developing Tradipitant for moderate-to-severe chronic pruritus, a U.S. market of over 350K, with few safe/effective drugs. POTENTIAL SUCCESS: Jefferies' Andrews pointed out that prior Phase II data indicate robust lowering in the Visual Analog Scale of 41mm over four weeks. However, there was a strong placebo effect and Trapiditant's once daily pharmacokinetics were not optimal with a waning of efficacy over 12 hours post-dose, he noted. Andrews pointed out that there are some important changes in this Phase II, including increased size for better study powering, extended dosing to eight weeks that could diminish placebo effect, and a change in dosing. In September data, the analyst expects low discontinuation rates and a similar adverse effect profile to prior NK1R data, and believes positive Tradipitant results may enable investors to begin evaluating the company as more of a true biotech with an under-appreciated pipeline. Additionally, Andrews pointed out that he sees share upside of about 15%-25% on positive data, and grinding higher thereafter as investors start to focus more on the pipeline. He reiterated a Buy rating and $21 price target on the shares. PRICE ACTION: In afternoon trading, shares of Vanda Pharmaceutical are flat at $17.25. "Before the Move" is The Fly's recurring series of exclusive stories that identify potentially market moving events, along with analyst predictions, ahead of the news.

14:28 EDT Wings Establishment reports 6.2% passive stake in Midatech Pharma

13:56 EDT U.S. Concrete CEO believes there will be the money to rebuild Houston - The U.S. Concrete CEO is speaking in a CNBC interview.

13:47 EDT Tyson Foods plans to build $320M poultry complex in Kansas - Tyson Foods announced plans to build a $320M poultry complex in eastern Kansas. The operation, currently scheduled to begin production in mid-2019, will produce pre-packaged trays of fresh chicken for retail grocery stores nationwide. Tyson Foods anticipates purchasing about 300 acres of property south of Tonganoxie and currently plans to break ground sometime this fall. The poultry plant will be capable of processing 1.25M birds per week, increasing Tyson Foods' overall production capacity.

13:37 EDT Chipotle confirms plans for nationwide queso rollout on September 12 - Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it will be adding queso to its menu nationwide on Tuesday, September 12. The company has been testing queso in 350 restaurants in Southern California and the Colorado area and has decided to take it national, Chipotle confirmed in a press release.

13:07 EDT Microsoft joins initiative for CryptoCurrencies & Contracts - Microsoft is now a member of the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies & Contracts, IC3. The group includes faculty from Cornell University, Cornell Tech, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Israel Institute of Technology. "We are excited to collaborate with this team of world-class experts in cryptography, game theory, distributed systems, programming languages and system security," writes Yorke Rhodes III, a Microsoft blockchain business strategist.The IC3's work forms the basis of blockchain enterprise readiness, from scaling and performance to safety, compliance and more. In August, Microsoft introduced the Coco Framework, a pioneering innovation that addresses needs for transaction speed, distributed governance and data confidentiality - ultimately advancing commercial adoption of blockchain technology. Reference Link

12:59 EDT Nabors Industries acquires Robotic Drilling Systems AS, terms not disclosed - Nabors Industries announced that it has acquired Stavanger based Robotic Drilling Systems AS, a provider of automated tubular and tool handling equipment for the onshore and offshore drilling markets. This transaction integrates the RDS team and product offering with the technology portfolio of Canrig, Nabors rig equipment subsidiary, and strengthens the development of its drilling automation solutions.

12:36 EDT Wells Fargo sees Disney among winners in new streaming world - This morning, Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker upgraded Disney (DIS) to Outperform as the company ventures into direct-to-consumer streaming. Meanwhile, the analyst also downgraded Viacom (VIAB) to Market Perform, citing lack of visibility into a turnaround. BUY DISNEY: In a research note to investors, Wells Fargo's Ryvicker upgraded Disney to Outperform from Market Perform and raised her price target on the shares to $116 from $109. With Disney's foray into direct-to-consumer streaming, the analyst believes the TV ecosystem will soon embark on an accelerated over-the-top path. Investors may need to start thinking about increasing exposure to those media companies with solid streaming strategies, such as CBS (CBS), 21st Century Fox (FOXA), and Disney, and lessen exposure to those that do not, such as Viacom and Scripps Networks (SNI)/Discovery (DISCA), Ryvicker argued. Further, the analyst told investors that she views concerns over potential dilution from the BAMTech stake and the streaming apps as "widely overdone." Ryvicker likes the entry point for Disney even if it is still "early." MOVING TO THE SIDELINES ON VIACOM: While upgrading the owner of ESPN and ABC, Wells Fargo's Ryvicker downgraded Viacom to Market Perform from Outperform and lowered her price target on the shares to $32 from $43, saying she does not have as much visibility into a turnaround as she thought she would have by now. The analyst acknowledged that she "erroneously" thought positive ratings momentum at MTV would be "THE" positive catalyst for Viacom. While viewership at this network has improved, overall affiliate fee growth has decelerated, she noted. With no visibility into the non-sports streaming bundles, the Charter (CHTR) carriage renewal, Paramount's slate financing, or long-term affiliate fee growth, Ryvicker believes it is tough to support the stock. PRICE ACTION: Near noon, Disney is flat near $101 per share, while Viacom's stock has dropped nearly 4% to $27.42.

12:23 EDT Cummins CEO: Trump decision on DACA 'discriminatory, harmful' - Cummins chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger issued a statement after the Trump Administration announced its decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, initiative: "The decision by the Trump Administration to rescind DACA is discriminatory, harmful and sets our country back. These young people deserve every opportunity to continue living, working, and thriving in the United States - for nearly all of them the U.S. is the only country they have ever known. This is their home. Dreamers are our colleagues, our friends and our neighbors. They strengthen our country through daily contributions to our companies, our universities and our communities. We have a moral obligation to help these young people, protect them from living in fear, and to prevent families from being torn apart. Cummins stands in full support of Dreamers and we ask Congress to take immediate action to pass the Dream Act or find a permanent legislative solution to support these young people before anyone is affected by this decision. We hope that Americans speak out and make it clear to Congress and the President that we stand with the Dreamers."

12:07 EDT Carlyle Group acquires United Road Services, terms not disclosed - Carlyle Group announced its acquisition of United Road Services from Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC. Kathleen McCann, Chairman and CEO of United Road Services will continue as CEO of United Road. Mark Anderson will continue as President and COO and the balance of the current management team will remain in place. Financial details regarding the transaction were not disclosed.

12:02 EDT Vitamin Shoppe launches DUOCAP Technology to market - The Vitamin Shoppe has launched the innovative DUOCAP Technology to market. Under its exclusive ProBioCare brand, The company will introduce six new probiotics with a dual supplement release system that provides the benefits of a probiotic and an additional ingredient that's tailored to specific needs. The unique DUOCAP Technology seals one capsule within the other to effectively deliver two supplements in one pill. The inner capsule contains a special blend probiotic and is protected by the outer capsule that contains a supplement with support for common health concerns ranging from vaginal care, urinary care, mood support, stress support, prostate support and beauty.

11:51 EDT WhatsApp features to make it easier for people to communicate with businesses - Facebook's WhatsApp says in a blog post, "Over 1 billion people use WhatsApp every day to stay connected with their family and friends, and over time, more people are using the app to communicate with businesses they care about too. In fact, many connections are already taking place every day, whether it's someone placing an order with a local bakery or looking at new styles from a clothing store. But the way this happens now on WhatsApp is pretty rudimentary. We've heard stories of shopkeepers who use WhatsApp to stay in touch with hundreds of customers from a single smartphone, and from people who are unsure about whether or not a business on WhatsApp is authentic. In the coming months, we'll be testing new features that aim to solve some of these challenges, and make it easier for people to communicate with the businesses they want to reach on WhatsApp. We know businesses have many different needs. For example, they want an official presence - a verified profile so people can identify a business from another person - and an easier way to respond to messages. We're building and testing new tools via a free WhatsApp Business app for small companies and an enterprise solution for bigger companies operating at a large scale with a global base of customers, like airlines, e-commerce sites, and banks. These businesses will be able to use our solutions to provide customers with useful notifications like flight times, delivery confirmations, and other updates. Whether someone is communicating with a business around the corner or around the globe, people expect WhatsApp to be fast, reliable, and secure. We'll be listening carefully to feedback during our test phase and keeping people informed as we make these tools more widely available. It's important that we get this right and are thoughtful about the new experiences we'll provide for businesses and our users." Reference Link

11:30 EDT WestRock sees Evadale mill fully operational by end of week - On September 5, WestRock issued the following statement concerning the impact of Hurricane Harvey on the company's operations: "As a result of Hurricane Harvey and the lack of availability of local power supply to our Evadale, Texas, consumer paperboard mill, production at the mill has been idled since Wednesday, August 30. Power is currently being restored, and the WestRock team at the mill is in the process of bringing all systems back online as power becomes available. We are not aware of any physical damage experienced at the mill, and we anticipate that the Evadale mill will be fully operational by the end of this week. The company's containerboard mill in Hodge, Louisiana, was not impacted. As the Gulf Coast area recovers, we may experience increased input costs and supply chain disruptions at our facilities across the region."

11:23 EDT George Economou reports 53.5% stake in DryShips

11:01 EDT Lenovo settles FTC charges it sold laptops that compromised users' security - Lenovo has agreed to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission and 32 State Attorneys General that the company harmed consumers by pre-loading software on some laptops that compromised security protections in order to deliver ads to consumers. In its complaint, the FTC charged that beginning in August 2014 Lenovo began selling consumer laptops in the United States that came with a preinstalled "man-in-the-middle" software program called VisualDiscovery that interfered with how a user's browser interacted with websites and created serious security vulnerabilities. As part of the settlement with the FTC, Lenovo is prohibited from misrepresenting any features of software preloaded on laptops that will inject advertising into consumers' Internet browsing sessions or transmit sensitive consumer information to third parties. The company must also get consumers' affirmative consent before pre-installing this type of software. In addition, the company is required for 20 years to implement a comprehensive software security program for most consumer software preloaded on its laptops. The security program will also be subject to third-party audits.

10:47 EDT Seagate rallies after ValueAct enters pact to buy up to 6M shares - ValueAct Capital late Friday disclosed an increased stake in Seagate Technology of 7.4% as a well as an agreement to acquire additional shares. The fund owned a 7.2% stake in the company as of August 11, according to regulatory filings. On August 31, ValueAct and Morgan Stanley entered into a stock purchase agreement, pursuant to which Morgan Stanley will buy, for the account of ValueAct, up to 6M shares of Seagate, according to Friday's regulatory filing. Purchases under the 10b5-1 Plan can commence as early as September 1 and will terminate no later than October 31, 2017. Seagate in early trading is up 4% to $33.14.

10:41 EDT General Dynamics receives contracts to upgrade Abrams Main battle tanks - General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, recently received two contract awards from the U.S. Army for Abrams main battle tank upgrades. The company will design, develop and integrate multiple engineering changes into the Abrams M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 3, creating a SEPv4 and further modernizing the tanks. Abrams main battle tanks are produced at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio. The first contract is for SEPv4 upgrades, which include the Commander's Primary Sight, an improved Gunner's Primary Sight and enhancements to sensors, lethality and survivability. General Dynamics Land Systems will deliver seven prototype M1A2 SEPv4 tanks to the Army. The contract has an initial value of $311M. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich.; Lima; Scranton, Pa.; and Tallahassee, Fla. The second award was a $270M contract from the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command to produce 45 Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tanks. The first pilot vehicles, which feature technological advancements in communications, reliability, sustainment and fuel efficiency and upgraded armor, are expected to roll off the production line in fall 2017. Work will be performed in Lima, Scranton, Tallahassee and Anniston, Ala.

10:18 EDT Mallinckrodt drops after court sides with Praxair, rules patents not infringed - Shares of Mallinckrodt (MNK) are lower in morning trading after the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware ruled that that HF patents held by Mallinckrodt Hospital Products, INO Therapeutics, and Ikaria at the center of a patent infringement action are invalid and that the DSIR, or the Sensor Drift, patents are not infringed by Praxair (PX), as alleged. After the ruling, Mallinckrodt shares are down $3.11, or about 7.5%, to $38.06.

10:06 EDT Eagle Pharmaceuticals announces 'positive' results of RYANODEX study - Eagle Pharmaceuticals announced positive results of an initial study in over 50 rodents to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of RYANODEX in an established rodent model of Nerve Agent-induced seizures and seizure-related brain damage. Scientific evidence indicates that elevated intracellular calcium levels may have a role in seizure-related brain damage resulting from induced seizures and status epilepticus secondary to NA exposure. As in other conditions, including acute hyperthermic and hypermetabolic disorders, intracellular calcium overload leads to severe brain and other organ damage. RYANODEX is a well-characterized ryanodine receptor antagonist that inhibits intracellular calcium overload secondary to different triggers. The active ingredient in RYANODEX is the only approved drug that inhibits the ryanodine receptors, modulating the intracellular calcium levels. Animals treated with RYANODEX in combination with nerve gas antidotes and anti-epileptic drugs after exposure to NAs had better performance in neurobehavioral testing compared to animals treated with AEDs alone, as well as substantially less brain damage. In this study, animals were exposed to a high dose of the NA soman and treated with the known antidote for acute poisoning. All surviving study animals developed severe status epilepticus and were treated with standard AEDs according to protocol. Study animals were randomly assigned to receive RYANODEX or control vehicle as added treatment. Neurobehavioral testing was conducted between two and four weeks after exposure to soman, at which time brain neuropathology was also evaluated. NBT included Forced Swim Test and Sucrose Preference Test. Animals treated with RYANODEX + AEDs had better performance in NBT, compared to animals treated with AEDs only. Analysis of NP showed a substantially lower level of brain cell necrosis in animals treated with RYANODEX + AEDs, compared to AEDs alone. Animals treated with standard therapy showed a mean necrosis score of 2.6 in fronto-parietal cortex, compared to a group of RYANODEX treated animals showing a score of 0.6 in the same anatomical region. The scoring system for cell necrosis ranges between 0 to 5. In addition, no safety issues were observed in animals treated with RYANODEX.

10:05 EDT Delta drops after cutting Q3 passenger unit revenue view - Shares of Delta Air Lines (DAL) dropped in morning trading after the carrier cut its outlook for September quarter passenger unit revenue and operating margin. AUGUST OPERATING METRICS: Delta this morning reported total system traffic, or revenue passenger miles, increased 6.9% in August over last year. Available seat miles, or ASMs, were up 2.7% year-over-year. Delta said it carried 17.6M passengers across its global network in the month. The carrier noted that its total system August load factor was 87.9%, up from 84.4% a year ago. REVISED GUIDANCE: Looking ahead, Delta said it now expects passenger unit revenue growth for its third quarter of 2%-3%, compared with guidance of 2.5%-4.5% provided in July, "as the recovery in domestic close-in yields has been slower than anticipated." Additionally, Delta now expects a September quarter operating margin of 16.5%-17.5%, compared to previous guidance of 18%-20%, with Delta citing higher fuel prices and close-in yield softness combined, which resulted in nearly two points of margin pressure for the quarter. The all-in fuel price for Q3 is now expected to be in the range of $1.68- $1.73, up from previous guidance of $1.55-$1.60. PRICE ACTION: Delta Air Lines dropped 1.3% in morning trading to $46.97. Shares are down nearly 5% year-to-date. OTHERS TO WATCH: Other publicly traded companies in the airlines space include American Airlines (AAL), JetBlue (JBLU), Southwest (LUV) and United Continental (UAL).

10:01 EDT Comtech receives $1.5M contract from international prime contractor - Comtech announced that during its fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, its Orlando, Florida-based subsidiary, Comtech Systems, Inc., which is part of Comtech's Government Solutions segment, has received an order totaling approximately $1.5M to provide additional tactical troposcatter equipment to an international prime contractor. This equipment adds increased capability to Comtech's existing Modular Transportable Transmission System troposcatter terminals as part of an upcoming expansion of a deployable communications network for an Asia Pacific military.

09:49 EDT United Technologies CEO says paying down debt will come before portfolio review - United Technologies (UTX) CEO Gregory Hayes, in response to a question on CNBC about a possible spinoff, said the company will pay down debt before considering any possible portfolio changes. Hayes expects the acquisition of Rockwell Collins (COL) to close in 9-12 months.

09:45 EDT United Technologies paid 'full price' for Rockwell Collins, CEO says - Gregory Hayes is speaking on CNBC.

09:33 EDT Co-Diagnostics, MEDCIS Pathlabs to sign purchase agreement - Co-Diagnostics and MEDCIS Pathlabs India have agreed to the terms of a purchase agreement for Co-Diagnostics products to be used throughout India. MEDCIS Pathlabs and its associates and attendees, together comprising a Clinical Investigation Services provider of healthcare services with a strategy of delivering integrated testing solutions to their customers, has agreed to an initial purchase of up to 36,000 of the company's tests, specifically those for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and human papillomavirus. The tests will be manufactured and branded by CoSara Diagnostics, the company's manufacturing joint venture, who will also pursue all relevant regulatory approvals, and are expected to be used in MEDCIS' own network of ISO-certified and NABL and CAP accredited franchises and branches across India. The agreement also extends to future Co-Diagnostics-developed products, including a blood bank panel to help address a market in India that exceeds $1B annually.

09:21 EDT On The Fly: Pre-market Movers - HIGHER: Rockwell Collins (COL), up 1.2% following the announcement that United Technologies (UTX) will acquire the company for $30B... Disney (DIS), up marginally after being upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo... Bellerophon (BLPH), up 14.2% after announcing positive top line data from a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating INOpulse in patients with Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease... Energous (WATT), up 5.2% after announcing new near-field WattUp charging solution. LOWER: Dynagas LNG (DLNG), down 3.5% after reporting quarterly results... United Technologies is down 1.9% following the acquisition announcement... Cellectis (CLLS), down 31% after the FDA put a clinical hold on both Phase 1 studies of UCART123... bluebird bio (BLUE) is down 1.4% and Gilead Sciences (GILD) is down under 1% after Cellectis' trials are halted.

09:13 EDT Sanofi to discontinue development of Zika vaccine candidate - On September 1, Sanofi Pasteur announced that it was informed by The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that they completed an assessment of all Zika-related projects they are funding and have decided to focus on a more limited set of goals and deliverables. As a result of their review, Sanofi Pasteur has been notified of BARDA's decision to "de-scope" its contract with Sanofi Pasteur to fund the manufacture and clinical development of an inactivated Zika vaccine and will limit its funding to a case definition and surveillance study as well as any activities required to advance our vaccine development to a point where development would be indefinitely paused but could be restarted if the epidemic re-emerges. Consequently, Sanofi does not intend to continue development of, or seek a license from, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research for the Zika vaccine candidate at this time, the company reported.

09:12 EDT Medtronic launches clinical study to collect data on INFUSE Bone Graft - Medtronic announced the launch of a long term clinical study program to collect prospective data on INFUSE Bone Graft in Posterolateral Fusion and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion spine procedures. The first patient has been enrolled in the PLF study at Fort Wayne Orthopedics in Fort Wayne. The Spine team led by Dr. Kevin Rahn and Dr. Robert Shugart performed the procedure. The use of INFUSE Bone Graft in PLF and TLIF procedures is investigational only.

09:09 EDT TheStreet says personal finance columnist Robert Powell to join newsroom - TheStreet announced that personal finance columnist Robert Powell will join its newsroom to author a regular column and launch a new subscription retirement product.

09:07 EDT Xplore Technologies receives follow-on order for 200 Xplore Bobcat tablets - Xplore Technologies announced that it has received a follow-on order for 200 Xplore Bobcat fully rugged tablets from one of the nation's largest railroad operators. The long-time customer first deployed Xplore Windows and Android rugged tablets in 2013 and recognized immediate efficiency gains in rail yard operations.

09:06 EDT Delta Air Lines now sees September passenger unit revenue up 2%-3% - Delta now expects passenger unit revenue growth to be 2% - 3%, as the recovery in domestic close-in yields has been slower than anticipated. Delta's all-in fuel price1 for the quarter is now expected to be in the range of $1.68 - $1.73, driven by the increase in market prices that began in late July. Delta expects the normalized cost per available seat mile1 excluding fuel to be up approximately 2%. Delta expects a September quarter operating margin1 of 16.5% - 17.5% compared to its previous guidance of 18%-20%. Higher fuel prices and close-in yield softness combined resulted in close to 2 points of margin pressure for the quarter.

09:05 EDT Delta Air Lines says carried 17.6M passengers in August - Delta Air Lines reported operating performance for August 2017. The company carried 17.6 million passengers across its broad global network in the month. Monthly highlights include: Breaking ground on the $4B, 37-gate facility at New York's LaGuardia Airport to transform this vital hub into a completely rebuilt and unified 21st-century airport; Announcing new nonstop service between New York-JFK and Lagos as well as between Orlando and Amsterdam, both to begin in March 2018; and Declaring Delta's 17th consecutive quarterly dividend, which was increased to 30.5c per share. This represents the fourth consecutive annual 50% increase since the dividend was initiated in 2013.

09:04 EDT MGM Resorts names Starbucks exec Kelly Smith SVP, Chief Digital Officer - MGM Resorts International (MGM) announced the appointment of Kelly Smith as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer for MGM Resorts International. Smith will be based in Las Vegas and report directly to Lilian Tomovich, Chief Experience & Marketing Officer at MGM Resorts. In this role, he will be responsible for providing strategic digital leadership to enhance guest experiences across the portfolio of brands. Smith joins MGM Resorts from Starbucks (SBUX), where he served as Vice President of Global Digital Products.

09:03 EDT Marlin Business names Aswin Rajappa as Chief Marketing Officer - Marlin Business Services announced that it has named Aswin Rajappa as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.In his new role, Mr. Rajappa will have responsibility for managing all of Marlin's marketing activities across all of its businesses. Rajappa will report to Jeffrey Hilzinger, Marlin's President and CEO. Rajappa brings over 20 years of experience, much of it focused on digital marketing in the consumer and commercial finance industries. He joins Marlin from CAN Capital where he was Vice President of Digital and Product Management. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President of Marketing and Analytics at Lendkey Technologies. Before Lendkey, Mr. Rajappa spent over 15 years in various marketing leadership positions with Capital One and PricewaterhouseCoopers in the United States, Canada and India.

09:02 EDT Radiant Logistics acquires Sandifer-Valley Transportation and Logistics - Radiant Logistics announced it has acquired the operations of Sandifer-Valley Transportation and Logistics, a Texas based privately held company that provides a full range of domestic and international cross-border services with Mexico. The Company paid a portion of the expected purchase price at closing with the balance payable in subsequent periods based on the future performance of the acquired operation. On a post-closing basis, SVT will transition to the Radiant brand and expand the Company's cross-border capabilities with operations in McAllen, Texas.

09:01 EDT A.O. Smith acquires water softener company Hague Quality Water - A. O. Smith Corporation announced it completed the purchase of Ohio-based William R. Hague, known as Hague Quality Water International, for $44.5M in cash plus a potential earn out of up to $2M based on revenue growth over the next two years. The purchase price represents a multiple of approximately eight times EBITDA. A. O. Smith expects the acquisition to be neutral to earnings per share in 2017, including one-time after-tax purchase accounting charges and professional fees related to the acquisition.

08:59 EDT Gilead, bluebird bio slip after Cellectis trials halted after patient death - Shares of Cellectis (CLLS) are cratering after the company announced earlier that the FDA placed a clinical hold on both of its UCART123 Phase 1 studies. The clinical hold was initiated after Cellectis reported one fatality in the blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm clinical trial, noted the CAR-T technology company, which is also studying UCART123 in acute myeloid leukemia pateints. Shares of Cellectis are down $10.19, or 32%, to $21.99 in pre-market trading. Gilead Sciences (GILD) recently announced a nearly $12B deal to buy Kite Pharma (KITE), which is studying its CAR-T cell therapy engineered to target B-cell maturation antigen in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma along with other indications. Gilead shares are down 65c to $83.10 in pre-market trading after Cellectis' news, while other standalone CAR-T players Juno Therapeutics (JUNO) and bluebird bio (BLUE) are both sliding about 1% as well.

08:56 EDT Boyd Gaming: California legislature ratifies compact with Wilton Racheria Tribe - Boyd Gaming Corporation announced that the California State Assembly and California State Senate have each unanimously ratified a tribal-state gaming compact with the Wilton Rancheria Tribe that will allow the tribe to develop and operate a casino resort in Elk Grove, California. The compact was signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown in July.

08:55 EDT Axalta Coating restarts production in Houston following Hurricane Harvey - "Thanks to tremendous efforts on the part of dedicated and resilient colleagues, Axalta Coating Systems restarted production at its Houston-based powder coatings manufacturing center on Friday. From the onset of the storm, the company maintained direct contact by phone, email and an emergency web portal with all staff who live in the area affected by Hurricane Harvey and was quickly able account for them and assure that everyone was safe. Axalta has established a relief fund which includes donations from fellow employees across the U.S. to provide financial support for affected employees. Powder coating product shipments to customers have resumed to enable customers to maintain their own operations and reduce the economic effects of the storm in the rest of the country," the company said.

08:45 EDT Iteris, EFC Systems partner for ClearAg Spray Advisor - Iteris, and EFC Systems have entered into a partnership agreement to provide agriculture retailers with access to ClearAg Spray Advisor, which provides guidance for agricultural product application timing based upon Iteris' premium weather and soil information. By entering the location of fields and farms in the FieldAlytics Platform, EFC Systems' customers will be able to access Iteris' ClearAg Spray Advisor for spray decision support. Through Iteris' ClearAg Spray Advisor, users can select from a list of environmental conditions that are important to both field operations and product applications. Based on the user-defined location of a farm or field in FieldAlytics, the user is then able to request recommendations for ideal timing for spray applications based on relevant weather and soil information.

08:41 EDT Engaged Capital issues letter to Rent-A-Center over jet use - Engaged Capital issued a public letter to the Audit Committee of RCII. The letter said, "As you know, Engaged Capital is the largest shareholder of Rent-A-Center, with a 20.5% economic interest in the company. During our proxy contest, we highlighted to shareholders that we believed the Company's corporate cost structure was bloated and as a result concluded that there were ample opportunities to reduce corporate overhead to create additional shareholder value. As a reminder, RCII's corporate cost structure ballooned under former CEO Robert Davis from $116M in 2013 to $141M in 2016. While we expect that this opportunity will be addressed by the new Board and management, we have become concerned that RCII has developed a spendthrift culture that is coming straight from the top, starting with the new Chairman of the Board. As Audit Committee members and our fiduciaries, we would like to bring to your attention the gross misuse of shareholder capital that we witnessed. You may know that Chairman Steven Pepper recently visited with me in California. While I certainly appreciated Steven's visit, I was shocked and dismayed to find out that he used the company's private aircraft to travel round trip from his residence in Mexico City to Newport Beach, California...Frankly, I believe it is unwarranted for a company of RCII's size to own a jet aircraft, and I am sure the rest of the shareholder base would agree. Further, I am flabbergasted that the Chairman of the Board thinks it is appropriate to spend what we estimate was over $50,000 to fly from Mexico City to Newport Beach while a round trip ticket from Mexico City to LAX in standard class would have cost under $700 and a business class ticket likely would not have exceeded $3,000...We urge the Audit Committee to examine first and foremost how the company can justify owning or leasing an aircraft as well as how the existing aircraft is being used. For a company that is struggling like RCII, this would seem to be a cost reduction opportunity that falls into the low hanging fruit category.

08:39 EDT Yield10 Bioscience receives nonregulated status for Camelina line - Yield10 Bioscience announced that it has received a positive response from USDA-APHIS's Biotechnology Regulatory Services, BRS, confirming that its genome-edited Camelina sativa plant line developed using CRISPR genome editing technology for increased oil content does not meet the definition of a regulated article under 7 CFR Part 340 biotechnology regulations. In June 2017, Yield10 submitted its first "Am I Regulated?" letter to the BRS, which requested confirmation of the regulatory status for the novel plant line with an edit in the gene for the C3008 trait. The Company's submission along with the APHIS BRS response is posted on the USDA's web site.

08:35 EDT CIT Group says Kenneth McPhail to succeed Kelley Morrell as CSO - CIT Group announced that Kenneth McPhail has been named executive vice president and chief strategy officer, effective immediately. In this role, he will have responsibility for strategic planning and initiatives, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures that advance the company's goals. McPhail will report to CFO John Fawcett and serve on CIT's Executive Management Committee. McPhail succeeds Kelley Morrell who is leaving CIT to pursue another career opportunity.

08:34 EDT Cryoport selected to support potential launch of Kite Pharma's axi-cel - Cryoport (CRYX) announced that Kite Pharma (KITE) has chosen Cryoport's advanced technology suite of cryogenic logistics solutions for the life sciences industry to support the potential commercial launch of its lead chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, axicabtagene ciloleucel, or axi-cel, for the treatment of aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. The engagement is structured to support Kite throughout the lifecycle of axi-cel. Under the terms of the agreement, Cryoport will provide logistics support throughout the United States in accordance with Kite's plans for patient adoption of axi-cel. In 2016, Cryoport and Kite expanded the agreement between the companies to support Kite's trials for its clinical stage therapies. Today, Cryoport provides cryogenic logistics support for six additional clinical stage therapies by Kite Pharma. On an industrywide basis, Cryoport currently supports over 140 clinical trials for its biopharma clients, 17 of which are in Phase III.

08:34 EDT UGI Corporation acquires Dutch energy company DVEP Investeringen - UGI Corporation announced that it has acquired Dutch energy marketer DVEP Investeringen. DVEP markets natural gas and electricity, produced mainly from renewable sources, primarily to small and medium enterprises in the Netherlands. One of DVEP's core businesses is the provision of fee-based services to other energy marketers in the Netherlands. DVEP has a 15-year history of providing end-to-end marketing solutions to the 5th largest energy market in Europe, a strong track-record of growth and profitability, and will be 2c accretive to UGI's earnings in fiscal year 2018. In 2016, the company sold approximately 5.3B cubic feet of natural gas and 2.7 terawatt hours of electricity.

08:33 EDT Agnico Eagle provides update on exploration activities at Amaruq, Barsele - Agnico Eagle Mines provides an update on its recent 2017 exploration activities at the Amaruq project in Nunavut, the Barsele project in Sweden and the La India Mine and El Barqueno project in Mexico. Highlights include: Drilling at Amaruq traces gold beneath current Whale Tail and V Zone mineral resources - AMQ17-1418 intersects a strongly mineralized quartz vein that returned 8.6 grams per tonne gold over 38.7 metres at 273 metres depth extending the V Zone to the east of the proposed pit. New Tugak structure identified 4.5 kilometres west of Whale Tail at Amaruq - Initial drill results include 2.5 g/t gold over 10.0 metres near surface. Follow up drilling is planned. At the Barsele project, drilling infills area between Central and Avan zones - High-grade interval in Central Zone intersects 5.4 g/t gold over 11.5 metres at 275 metres depth La India drilling extends near-pit mineralization and other near-mine targets, mineral reserves and mineral resources expected to increase at year-end 2017 - Drilling at El Realito intersects 9.5 g/t gold and 36 g/t silver over 7.3 metres at 92 metres depth, while drilling at La Chipriona intersects 1.4 g/t gold and 67 g/t silver over 40.3 metres near surface. Both of these zones are outside of the current mine plan. At El Barqueno, drilling extends strike length of Azteca-Zapateco zones by over 1,000 metres to west onto Cuauhtemoc zone - Recent results in far west include 6.3 g/t gold and 45 g/t silver over 5.7 metres at 201 metres depth.

08:32 EDT Gladstone Land acquired vineyard in California for $5.4M - Gladstone Land announced that it acquired a 361-acre vineyard in Santa Barbara County, California, for approximately $5.4M. Upon acquisition, Gladstone Land entered into a 10-year, triple-net lease with a leading orchard and vineyard operator. The property currently consists of 75 planted vineyard acres; however, the Company plans to partner with the tenant, which has extensive experience in developing new vineyards, to develop approximately 190 of the remaining plantable acres into vineyard acreage. Gladstone Land will fund the development costs and will earn additional rental income on the project as the capital is disbursed.

08:31 EDT IDT Corp, Tigo Guatemala sign reciprocal services agreement - IDT Corporation (IDT) and COMCEL Guatemala, a joint venture of Millicom International Cellular S.A. (MIICF), announced the signing of a Reciprocal Services Agreement allowing a full range of services, including, but not limited to, termination of inbound and outbound international long-distance voice calls to Tigo's network in Guatemala. The long-term agreement is expected to increase IDT's wholesale minute volumes through Guatemala while providing Tigo with a stable partner in the rapidly changing wholesale market.

08:25 EDT Rockwell Collins declines to comment on whether there were other bidders

08:21 EDT CareTrust REIT closed acquisition of nursing portfolio for $11.3M - CareTrust REIT announced that it completed the final closing in its staged acquisition of a three-facility skilled nursing portfolio. The facilities were added to CareTrust REIT's existing master lease with affiliates of Cascadia Healthcare. The portfolio includes the newly-renamed Wellspring Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia, a 53-bed skilled nursing facility located in Nampa, Idaho, Secora Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility located in Portland, Oregon, and Brookfield Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia, an 83-bed skilled nursing facility located in Battle Ground, Washington. CareTrust REIT purchased the portfolio for approximately $11.3M, inclusive of transaction costs, using cash on hand. The investment is expected to generate additional annual cash rent of approximately $1.1M. The amended Cascadia master lease has a remaining initial term of approximately 13.5 years, with two five-year renewal options and CPI-based rent escalators.

08:20 EDT Buenaventura reaches commercial production at Tambomayo - Compania de Minas Buenaventura announced that the processing plant at the Tambomayo project located in Arequipa, which was commissioned in December of 2016, has successfully completed the ramp up process. Tambomayo has stably operated at 1,500 TPD over a period exceeding two weeks. CEO Victor Gobitz reiterated that the commissioning and ramp up of the plant had been completed on schedule and commercial operation was reached by September 1. "This achievement is further demonstration of the skills and dedication of our team and the ability to deliver on our promises," he said. As announced in April, Tambomayo's guidance for 2017 is 60k - 90k gold ounces and 1.6M - 1.9M silver ounces and for a full year of production Tambomayo will produce 120k - 150k gold ounces and 3M - 4M silver ounces.

08:16 EDT United Tech CEO Hayes says 'first priority is to get this deal closed'

08:16 EDT Acacia Research subsidiaries to resolve patent litigation with Apple - In a regulatory filing, Acacia Research (ACTG) disclosed that Cellular Communications Equipment LLC and Parthenon Unified Memory Architecture LLC, each a subsidiary of Acacia Research Corporation, entered into an agreement with Apple (AAPL) to resolve patent litigation.

08:15 EDT CareTrust REIT acquires three nursing facilities in Texas for $20.2M - CareTrust REIT announced that it acquired three skilled nursing facilities in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. The facilities were added to CareTrust REIT's existing master lease with affiliates of Priority Management Group. The purchase price for the three-facility, 405-bed portfolio was approximately $20.2M, inclusive of transaction costs, and is expected to generate additional annual cash rent of approximately $1.9M. The amended PMG master lease has a remaining initial term of approximately 14 years, with two five-year renewal options and CPI-based rent escalators. With this transaction, CareTrust REIT's relationship with PMG now covers seven properties in Texas. The acquisition was funded using CareTrust REIT's $400M unsecured revolving credit facility.

08:13 EDT Caladrius enrolls the 70th subject for Stanford Project - Caladrius Biosciences announces that the 70th subject has recently been enrolled in The Sanford Project: T-Rex Study, a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Company's CLBS03 as a treatment for recent-onset type 1 diabetes, or T1D. Pursuant to the terms of September 2016 private placements, the achievement of this enrollment milestone triggered payments of $2.4M in total cash receipts, which have been received by Caladrius, with the delivery of an additional 508,475 shares of Caladrius common stock to those investors at a purchase price of $4.72 per share.

08:13 EDT CytoSorbents announces key results of three posters presented at MHSRS - CytoSorbents announced the key results of three posters, accepted and presented last week at the Military Health System Research Symposium, or MHSRS, a scientific meeting focused on medical advances that address the medical needs of the warfighter. Among the results, CytoSorb noted that its blood purification was administered following direct cortical impact to the brain, an hour of hemorrhagic shock, and subsequent resuscitation in a rat trauma model. Treatment led to a reduction in a panel of key inflammatory cytokines during the treatment period that persisted for three days following the injury. "More importantly, CytoSorb treatment resulted in more than a doubling of survival, from 41% in the sham treated group, to 86% survival in the CytoSorb treated group, that was highly statistically significant," the company stated.

08:12 EDT Aclaris Therapeutics issued patents related to JAK inhibitors - Aclaris Therapeutics announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, has issued U.S. Patent No. 9,737,469 and U.S. Patent No. 9,730,877, which are directed to methods related to the use and administration of certain janus kinase, or JAK, inhibitors for treating hair loss disorders. These newly allowed patents are owned by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York and exclusively licensed to Aclaris, and are the latest U.S. patents to issue in connection with Aclaris' JAK drug development program for hair loss disorders.

08:11 EDT Teva to present fremanezumab data at IHS congress - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries announced that 12 scientific abstracts and two platform presentations evaluating fremanezumab will be presented at the 18th Congress of the International Headache Society in Vancouver, Canada from September 7-10, 2017. Fremanezumab is an anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibody being investigated as a preventive treatment for migraine. These presentations include new data and analyses from the pivotal Phase III study in chronic migraine, as well as results from the Phase III study in episodic migraine, which will be presented for the first time. Fremanezumab is a fully-humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the CGRP ligand, a well-validated target in migraine. With limited availability of preventive treatment options, fremanezumab represents a potential new option to address a significant unmet medical need.

08:11 EDT Atara Biotherapeutics receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for ATA230 - Atara Biotherapeutics announced that ATA230 was granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of cytomegalovirus, or CMV, viremia and disease in immunocompromised patients by the FDA. ATA230, an allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy targeting antigens expressed by CMV, has been investigated in one Phase 1 and two Phase 2 clinical studies in patients with CMV viremia and disease who are refractory or resistant to antiviral drug treatment.

08:10 EDT Biocept announces launch of liquid biopsy test for NRAS mutations - Biocept announces the commercial availability of its assay for mutations of the NRAS oncogene. The assay can be used to detect and monitor an actionable biomarker associated with multiple cancer types such as metastatic melanoma, colorectal and lung cancer. "With the addition of NRAS, our assay menu now offers expanded genomic testing for both metastatic melanoma and colorectal cancer, which we believe will drive further adoption of our technology in these indications," said Biocept President and CEO Michael Nall.

08:10 EDT Cott announces Refresco shareholder approval for $1.25B transaction - Cott Corporation announced that the shareholders of Refresco Group N.V. have approved the previously announced acquisition of Cott's traditional beverage manufacturing business for $1.25B in cash. The transaction includes Cott's North America, U.K., and Mexico traditional businesses and excludes the RCI International division and its associated concentrate facility as well as the Aimia Foods division. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of 2017, subject to the satisfaction of the remaining closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

08:09 EDT Aspen Group announces record enrollment of 1,025 students in Q1 - Aspen Group announced that despite summer seasonality Aspen University achieved a quarterly record of 1,025 new student enrollments for the Q1 of FY18 ending July 31, 2017, surpassing last quarter's previous record of 986. From a year-over-year perspective, new student enrollments increased 65%, from 621 to 1,025. Aspen's rolling six-month average cost-per-enrollment, or CPE, decreased sequentially in Q1 FY'18 from $815 to $812. As a result, Aspen's marketing efficiency ratio remained at 8.6X, meaning that Aspen is projecting to earn an 8.6X return on its marketing investments. Aspen's total active student body grew year-over-year from 3,252 to 5,015, an increase of 54%. Aspen's School of Nursing grew 66% year-over-year, from 2,144 to 3,569 active students. Aspen's RN to BSN program accounted for the majority of the growth, from 1,245 to 2,260 active students, an increase of 1,015 active student's, or 82% year-over-year.

08:07 EDT Lifetime Brands acquires business, assets of Fitz and Floyd, terms not disclosed - Lifetime Brands announced it has acquired the business and assets of Fitz and Floyd. Steven Baram, Fitz and Floyd's President and CEO, will join Lifetime's Tabletop Division as President of the Fitz and Floyd Division. Terms of the acquisition were not announced.

08:06 EDT Minerva enrolls first patient in Phase 2b clinical trial of seltorexant - Minerva Neurosciences announced the enrollment of the first patient in a Phase 2b clinical trial of seltorexant as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants in adult patients with major depressive disorder who have responded inadequately to antidepressant therapy. The primary objectives of this multi-center, double-blind, randomized, parallel group, placebo-controlled, adaptive-dose finding study are to assess the dose-response relationship and antidepressant effects of up to three doses of seltorexant; and to assess the safety and tolerability of seltorexant compared to placebo as described in clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03227224. The trial consists of three phases: a screening phase lasting up to four weeks, a six-week double-blind treatment phase and a two-week post-treatment follow-up phase. Approximately 280 patients are planned to be enrolled at more than 85 clinical sites in the U.S., Europe, Russia and Japan.

08:06 EDT Eiger BioPharm reports FDA orphan drug designation for Lambda in HDV - Eiger BioPharmaceuticals (EIGR) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan designation for pegylated interferon lambda 1a, or Lambda, as a potential treatment for chronic hepatitis delta virus infection. Lambda is a well-characterized, late-stage, first in class, type III interferon that stimulates immune responses that are critical for the development of host protection during viral infections. Lambda targets type III IFN receptors which are distinct from the type I IFN receptors targeted by IFN alfa. These type III receptors are highly expressed on hepatocytes with limited expression on hematopoietic and central nervous system cells, which may reduce off-target effects and improve tolerability of Lambda. Although Lambda does not use the IFN alfa receptor, signaling through either the IFN Lambda or IFN alfa receptor complexes results in the activation of the same Jak-STAT signal transduction cascade. Eiger licensed worldwide rights to Lambda from Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) in April 2016. Lambda has been administered in HBV / HCV clinical trials involving over 3,000 subjects. Lambda has not been approved for any indication.

08:04 EDT VIVUS announces Alvogen will market Qsymia in the Republic of Korea - VIVUS and Alvogen Malta Operations, or ROW, announced an agreement under which Alvogen will market Qsymia in the Republic of Korea for the treatment of chronic weight management or weight-related conditions. Under the terms of the agreement, Alvogen, a prominent leader in the Korean anti-obesity market, will be solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals and for all sales and marketing activities in Korea. VIVUS will receive an upfront payment in addition to future milestone payments, dependent upon receiving marketing authorization, initiating the commercial launch and achieving sales goals within the covered territory. In addition, VIVUS will receive royalties on Alvogen's net sales of Qsymia.

08:02 EDT InVivo Therapeutics announces publication on lifetime hospitalization costs - InVivo Therapeutics Holdings announced the publication of an article titled "Relationship of American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale Grade to Post-injury Hospitalization and Costs in Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury" in the journal Neurosurgery. Neurosurgery is the official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The article estimates the lifetime economic costs associated with hospitalizations in relation to American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade. AIS grades are widely-used measures of spinal cord injury severity that range from AIS A to AIS E. The article concludes that patients with less severe thoracic SCI, as reflected in AIS grade, spend fewer days hospitalized over their lifetimes, leading to lower costs of inpatient care. Therefore, therapies improving AIS grade following thoracic SCI may provide cost savings in addition to addressing substantial unmet need. Specifically, the article reports a lifetime net present value cost savings of about $72,000 for patients with thoracic AIS B SCI as compared to patients with thoracic AIS A SCI, and of about $132,500 for patients with thoracic AIS C SCI as compared to patients with thoracic AIS A SCI.

08:02 EDT Iconix Brand hires June DeFabio as EVP of Women's and Home - Iconix Brand Group (ICON) announced that June K. DeFabio has joined the company as EVP of the Women's and Home Divisions. DeFabio most recently served as SVP of Business Development and Licensing at Ralph Lauren (RL), where she managed all licensed product categories including contract terms and negotiations, revenue growth targets, and identification and cultivation of new partners, categories and geographies.

07:53 EDT Jacobs Engineering selected by Evonik for EPCM services - Jacobs Engineering Group has been selected by Evonik to provide engineering, procurement and construction management services for its new precipitated silica production plant located near Charleston, South Carolina. In close proximity to several large tire manufacturers, the plant is being built to meet global demand for safer, more energy-efficient tires that have better wet grip properties for motor vehicle roll reduction and higher fuel efficiency. Jacobs was selected as the EPCM contractor for its application of inherent safety in facility design, safety leadership during field execution and in-depth knowledge of Evonik's facility standards and requirements. Construction of the plant is targeted for completion in 2018.

07:43 EDT Colliers International acquires NixAnderson fro undisclosed amount - Colliers International Group announced the acquisition of NixAnderson, an Australian project management firm with extensive experience in corporate property and infrastructure delivery services. Since 1999, NixAnderson has been providing world class project management and planning services across Australia and New Zealand. These services include project management, program management, property acquisition services, workspace consulting, and feasibility studies, to a broad range of industry verticals, including social infrastructure, defence, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and commercial. NixAnderson has over 30 professionals with a combined industry experience of over 200 years. The acquisition more than doubles the number of Colliers project management professionals in the Australia and New Zealand business. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

07:40 EDT Northfield Bank appoints Tara French as Chief Administrative Officer - Northfield Bank, wholly-owned subsidiary of Northfield Bancorp, announced today that Tara French will join Northfield as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer effective September 18, 2017. French's oversight and responsibilities will include corporate governance, strategic planning, and risk management. She most recently was part of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Midsize Bank Supervision Unit.

07:38 EDT TG Therapeutics completes target enrollment in UNITY-CLL Phase 3 trial - TG Therapeutics announced that target enrollment for the UNITY-CLL Phase 3 trial has been achieved. The UNITY-CLL Phase 3 trial is a randomized study of TG-1101, the company's novel glycoengineered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in combination with TGR-1202, the company's PI3K delta inhibitor, compared to an active control arm of obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil, in patients with both treatment naive and relapsed or refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, or CLL. Per the protocol, the target enrollment was 175 patients in each the U2 arm and the active control arm. While target enrollment has been reached, in order to provide an opportunity for all patients already identified to participate, enrollment is expected to continue until mid-October. The UNITY-CLL Phase 3 trial is being conducted pursuant to a Special Protocol Assessment agreement with the FDA.

07:31 EDT Howard Hughes signs CEO David Weinreb to ten-year agreement - The Howard Hughes Corporation announced that it has entered into a new employment agreement with CEO David Weinreb, with a term of ten years through 2027. In addition, Weinreb recently completed the acquisition of 1,965,409M warrants with a strike price of $124.64 and a term of six years at fair market value by making a payment of $50M to the company. The warrant cannot be sold or hedged for five years except in the event of a change in control, termination without cause or the separation of the executive from the company for good reason. Weinreb did not sell any of his owned shares to fund the purchase of the warrants and has agreed to hold a minimum of 401,156 shares of the company's common stock in addition to the warrant for at least five years.

07:30 EDT CME Group says reached ADV of 16M contracts in August, up 16% y/y - CME Group announced that August 2017 average daily volume reached 16 million contracts, up 16% compared with August 2016. CME Group August 2017 options volume averaged 3.1 million contracts per day, up 30% versus August 2016, with electronic options averaging 2.2 million contracts per day, up 51% over the same period last year. Open interest at the end of August was 119 million contracts, up 13% from the end of August 2016.

07:15 EDT Insmed announces top-line data from Phase 3 CONVERT study - Insmed announced top-line data from its Phase 3 CONVERT study. The global CONVERT study met its primary endpoint of culture conversion by Month 6 with statistical and clinical significance. The study demonstrated that the addition of ALIS to guideline-based therapy eliminated evidence of NTM lung disease caused by MAC in sputum by Month 6 in 29% of patients, compared to 9% of patients on GBT alone. The trial was powered to detect a treatment effect of 15% between the two treatment groups. The CONVERT study enrolled 336 adult patients with NTM lung disease caused by MAC who were refractory to at least six months of GBT. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive ALIS plus GBT versus GBT alone. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving culture conversion by Month 6. Insmed plans to pursue accelerated approval of ALIS under subpart H based on the data from the CONVERT study, which will be reviewed by the Division of Anti-Infective Products.

07:14 EDT Anavex issued new patent for Anavex - Anavex Life Sciences announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent Number 9,750,746 entitled "ANAVEX 2-73 and certain anticholinesterase inhibitors composition and method for neuroprotection." This patent provides the Company with intellectual property protection covering composition of matter for ANAVEX 2-73 directed to a novel and synergistic neuroprotective compound combined with donepezil. The issued patent offers protection through 2033. ANAVEX 2-73 is an orally available, small-molecule activator of the sigma-1 receptor which, data suggest, is pivotal to restoring neural cell homeostasis and promoting neuroplasticity.

07:11 EDT OPNET Technologies appoints David O'Toole as CFO - Opiant Pharmaceuticals announced the appointment of David O'Toole as Opiant's CFO effective September 12. O'Toole, who will be based at Opiant's headquarters in Santa Monica, has more than 30 years of experience in the accounting and finance sectors, and for nearly half of his career, he has focused on the life sciences industry. He most recently served as CFO at Soleno Therapeutics, a company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases. He will succeed Kevin Pollack, Opiant's outgoing CFO, who will be stepping down on September 11 and will continue to advise the company during the transition.

07:09 EDT United Tech expects to suspend repurchases to focus on deleveraging - United Technologies (UTX) says it plans to invest in R&D and CapEx to sustain innovation and growth. Says dividend practice "unchanged," expects share repurchases to be suspended to focus on deleveraging. Sees "limited" M&A going forward, "in the core and for the right value." United Tech says it will explore additional opportunities for additional cash repatriation and non-core divestitures to reduce leverage. "Committed" to maintaining strong investment-grade credit ratings. United Tech sees FY17 organic sales growth of 3%-4%. Comments taken from slides that will be presented on the conference call discussing the acquisition of Rockwell Collins (COL).

07:07 EDT Group 1 Automotive sees total damages associated with Harvey of approx. $15M - Group 1 Automotive announced it has completed a preliminary assessment of damages across its Texas dealerships in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The company's top priority is supporting its nearly 3,000 employees in the greater Houston and Beaumont areas of Texas. Approximately 500 of our associates suffered significant property losses from flooding and storm damage. The company is assisting these employees by providing disaster pay and further financial support from the Group 1 Foundation. Despite damage to some facilities and inventory due to record-breaking flooding in the region, preliminary assessments indicate all facilities are intact and fully operational. Group 1's Houston stores reopened on Wednesday, August 30, 2017. The company's Beaumont stores reopened on Thursday, August 31, 2017. Total damages associated with the storm are estimated at approximately $15M. This amount includes insurance deductibles for damaged inventory and facilities, disaster pay for employees, and financial support for team members whose homes flooded.

07:06 EDT Sierra Metals reports drilling results from Bolivar West Zone in Mexico - Sierra Metals announced assay results from a recently completed definition drilling program at the Bolivar West zone which is located adjacent to the current operations at the Bolivar Mine. Alonso Lujan, Vice President Exploration at Sierra Metals stated: "The assay results have positively confirmed the existence of higher grade copper mineralization with an average copper equivalent grade of 2.55%. This will help to increase head grades at the mill when this material is included in the future mine plans. The assay results have also provided the necessary data needed to update our current resource base for the Bolivar mine. The update is planned for completion in Q4 2017." He continued, "We believe the Bolivar mining district has an attractive potential for further exploration success."

07:05 EDT Dunkin' Brands announces refinancing transaction - Dunkin' Brands Group announced that certain of its subsidiaries intend to complete a recapitalization transaction, which will include the refinancing of a portion of their outstanding securitization debt with a new series of securitized debt. The Company's last recapitalization occurred in January 2015, with the issuance of a $2.6B securitized financing facility consisting of two tranches of fixed rate notes in the principal amounts of $750M and $1.750B, respectively, and $100M of variable funding notes. Certain of the Company's subsidiaries intend to issue approximately $1.45B of new securitized notes and to use the proceeds to prepay and retire the outstanding 2015 A-2-I Notes, to pay transaction fees and for general corporate purposes, which may include a return of capital to shareholders. At the end of the second fiscal quarter of 2017, there was approximately $733M in outstanding principal amount under the 2015 A-2-I Notes. The Company expects its subsidiaries to issue a portion of the 2017 Notes in the form of a new $150M variable funding note facility, which will replace the 2015 VFN Notes facility.

07:03 EDT GeoPark announces new Curucucu oil field discovery in Colombia - GeoPark announced the discovery of the new Curucucu oil field in the Llanos 34 block in Colombia. GeoPark drilled and completed the Curucucu 1 exploration well to a total depth of 14,600 feet. A production test conducted with an electric submersible pump in the Guadalupe formation resulted in a production rate of approximately 1,700 barrels of oil per day, of 15.8 degrees API, with 0.4% water cut, through a choke of 100/64 inches and wellhead pressure of 70 pounds per square inch. Additional production history is required to determine stabilized flow rates of the well. Surface facilities are in place and the well is already in production. Petrophysical log analysis during drilling also indicated the presence of potentially productive hydrocarbons in the shallower Mirador formation. To minimize surface construction costs and share production facilities, the Curucucu 1 exploration well was drilled from an existing well pad in the recently discovered Jacamar oil field. The well was drilled with a horizontal extension of more than 9,000 feet; representing a record for the Llanos 34 block. Curucucu oil field is located on a new fault trend to the east of Tigana/Jacana fault trend, adjacent to the Jacamar oil field. It is the eleventh oil field discovered by GeoPark since acquiring the prolific Llanos 34 block in 2012, and one of three new oil fields added in 2017. GeoPark plans to drill approximately seven wells in the Llanos 34 block during Q3with a focus on further delineating the southern Jacana and northern Tigana oil fields.

07:02 EDT Neovasc's Reducer System reviewed in European Heart Journal - Neovasc announced the European Heart Journal published a clinical review of its Neovasc Reducer device for the treatment of refractory/persistent angina pectoris, a common and disabling medical condition, and a major public health problem that affects millions of patients worldwide. The European Heart Journal is the official general cardiology journal of the European Society of Cardiology. "Angina often persists following revascularization. The prevalence of this 'persistent' angina is as high as 25% after 1 year, and up to 45% after 3 years following revascularization," reported Dr. Maayan Konigstein, Department of Cardiology, Tel-Aviv Medical Center. The coronary sinus Reducer is a novel technology designed to reduce disabling symptoms and improve quality of life of patients suffering from refractory angina. This clinical review serves to update the clinician as to current evidence and future perspectives of the optimal utilization of this innovative technology.

06:59 EDT CNX Coal Resources narrows FY17 adj. EBITDA view to $95M-$105M from $95M-$115M - Lowers FY17 CapEx guidance to $28M-$30M from $30M-$34M. CNX Coal Resources announced that it is adjusting its previously announced 2017 guidance ranges based on Q3 results to date and expectations for the rest of the year. Specifically, CNXC is reducing the top end of its adjusted EBITDA range to reflect ongoing mild weather trends in the third quarter of 2017 that have affected power demand in the PJM region. This reduced demand has resulted in lower pricing than forecasted in our contracts that are indexed to power prices. Crossover met coal sales to date have also been lower than expected resulting in somewhat lower realizations due to increasing discounts for our crossover product compared to the benchmark quality. Finally, our sales mix was also affected due to CSX-related logistics issues that we foreshadowed on our second quarter earnings call. We continue to work closely with our rail partners to effectuate improved efficiency. On the operational front, the Enlow Fork mine encountered some unexpected geological conditions following a longwall move in the third quarter. The Bailey and Harvey mines have performed well during this time and Enlow Fork has been producing well since mid-August. As a result, we expect to be well within our sales guidance range of 6.4-6.9 million tons. While the Enlow Fork longwall has now moved out of the difficult geology and resumed a normal operational schedule, the resulting cash cost of coal sold is now expected to be modestly higher than previously anticipated, which also weighed on the EBITDA outlook. To reduce this adverse cost impact, CNXC has taken various steps including temporarily suspending the use of contractors, rationalizing other discretionary spending at the mine and lowering capital expenditures by approximately $3.0 million at the midpoint of the guidance range. Management is evaluating additional revenue enhancing and cost saving opportunities which it plans to discuss on its third quarter earnings call. As of midnight last night, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, or DEP, has sought more time to review the technical merits of the permit submittal for continued longwall mining in the 4L panel at the company's Bailey Mine, in light of a recent Environmental Hearing Board decision. As a result, the longwall has been idled and workforce adjustments are being made. This is the first time in the 35-year history of the Bailey Mine that the company has failed to timely receive a needed mining permit. The company maintains that this permit meets the necessary criteria for approval, and the company is in ongoing communication with Pennsylvania Governor Wolf's office and the Secretary of the DEP asking that the permit be issued in order to enable the company to get its miners back to work and resume production. The Pennsylvania Mining Complex will lose approximately 25,000 tons of production per day as a result of this permit delay. While the company can make up some lost production in the fourth quarter, if the permit is not issued in the near future, additional layoffs will be likely and the impact on the company could be material. The EBITDA guidance provided above assumes that the permit is issued in the near future. The company hopes that the DEP resolves this matter quickly, and the company will provide updates as new information becomes available.

06:55 EDT Lannett receives approval for Esomeprazole Magnesium Delayed-Release Capsules - Lannett announced that it received approval from the FDA of its Abbreviated New Drug Application, or ANDA, for Esomeprazole Magnesium Delayed-Release Capsules USP, 20 mg and 40 mg, the therapeutic equivalent to the reference listed drug, Nexium Delayed-Release Capsules, 20 mg and 40 mg, a.k.a. "the purple pill," of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. For the 12 months ended July 2017, total U.S. sales of Esomeprazole Magnesium Delayed-Release Capsules USP, 20 mg and 40 mg, at Average Wholesale Price were approximately $1.4B, according to IMS.

06:53 EDT GP Strategies acquires YouTrain - GP Strategies announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, GP Strategies Training Limited, has acquired the entire share capital of YouTrain, an independent training company delivering IT, digital and life sciences skills training throughout Scotland and North West England.

06:52 EDT International Game and Scientific Games sign patent agreement - International Game Technology (IGT) and Scientific Games (SGMS) announced that they had signed a patent cross-licensing agreement. Under the agreement, Scientific Games and IGT will be able to offer games using patented game features from each other's portfolios, as well as those of other members of the IGT slot game features pool. Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

06:49 EDT CONSOL announces $200M share repurchase program - CONSOL Energy's Board of Directors has approved a one-year share repurchase program of up to $200M. The repurchases will be effected from time-to-time through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, Rule 10b5-1 plans, accelerated stock repurchases, block trades, derivative contracts or otherwise in compliance with Rule 10b-18.

06:46 EDT Teleflex to acquire NeoTract in deal valued up to $1.1B

06:42 EDT Nobilis Health updates situation of flooded facilities in Houston - Nobilis Health issues this brief update regarding the operational status of its ten Houston area healthcare facilities following the recent aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Due to the significant levels of flooding brought on by Hurricane Harvey, Nobilis' Houston area healthcare facilities were shut down during the hurricane and the subsequent flooding. Additional detail on each Houston facility follows: First Street Surgical Hospital - 4 Operating Rooms: Operational; Hermann Drive Surgical Hospital - 6 Operating Rooms: Operational; First Street Surgical Center - 4 Operating Rooms: Flood remediation underway; Southwest Freeway Surgery Center - 3 Operating Rooms: Operational; Kirby Surgical Center - 3 Operating Rooms: Operational; Medical Park Drive Surgery Center - 1 Operating Room: Flood remediation underway; Hamilton Vein Clinic - Clear Lake: Operational; Hamilton Vein Clinic - Sugar Land: Operational; Hamilton Vein Clinic - The Woodlands: Operational; Hamilton Vein Clinic - Katy: Operational.

06:37 EDT ReneSola to sell portfolio of North Carolina projects to subsidiary of Panda - ReneSola announced that it signed an agreement to sell a portfolio of its ground-mounted projects located in North Carolina, U.S. to a subsidiary of Panda Green Energy Group, a leading investor and operator focusing on renewable energy sector. Powered by ReneSola's Virtus II 320W and 325W modules, the ground-mounted projects have an aggregate capacity of approximately 24MW and will sell the power generated to a local utility under a 15-year power purchase agreement. The projects are expected to be connected to the grid by December 2017.

06:37 EDT Genesee & Wyoming, Seacor form rail ferry service JV, terms not disclosed - Genesee & Wyoming (GWR) and SEACOR Holdings (CKH) announced the formation of a 50/50 joint venture to own and operate CG Railway, or CGR, a subsidiary of SEACOR recently acquired through its acquisition of International Shipholding Corporation. Terms of the joint venture were not disclosed.

06:34 EDT GOL Linhas signs transactions with GE Capital Aviation for seven aircraft - GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes announces sale and leaseback transactions with GE (GE) Capital Aviation Services for seven aircraft, including five Boeing (BA) 737 MAX 8 aircraft and two Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. Additionally, the Company signed the direct operating lease of five additional 737 MAX 8 aircraft. GOL's new 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which will begin to arrive in the second half of 2018, with capacity for 186 customers will be configured with GOL+Conforto seats in the domestic flights and GOL Premium Class on international routes.

06:28 EDT General Motors says delivered 328,425 vehicles in China in August - General Motors and its joint ventures delivered an August record 328,425 vehicles in China. Retail sales were up 12% year on year, giving the company its highest growth in five months.

06:19 EDT Terreno Realty acquires three properties in Carlstadt, New Jersey, for $13.5M - Terreno Realty acquired three adjacent properties in Carlstadt, New Jersey on September 1 for a purchase price of approximately $13.5M. The properties, totaling approximately 7.8 acres, consist of two transshipment facilities providing 43,400 square feet with 77 dock-high and ten grade-level loading positions and one improved land parcel comprising 1.1 acres at 50 and 100 Kero Road, less than two miles north of the Meadowlands Sports Complex and Exit 16W of the New Jersey Turnpike. The properties are 100% leased to three tenants, two of which are short term. The estimated stabilized cap rate of the property is 5.2%.

06:15 EDT Arthur J. Gallagher acquires Swedish Nordic Forsakring & Riskhantering - Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Nordic Forsakring & Riskhantering AB, located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1991, Nordic is a retail insurance broker offering a broad range of commercial property/casualty services to medium and large corporations, as well as small business and personal lines solutions to members of affinity groups and industry associations throughout Sweden.

06:14 EDT Dunkin' Brands appoints Tony Weisman as Chief Marketing Officer - Dunkin' Donuts announced the appointment of marketing veteran Tony Weisman to the position of U.S. Chief Marketing Officer. Weisman, formerly the North American CEO of DigitasLBi, a global digital agency network, will officially join the company in late September. Weisman will report directly to David Hoffmann, President, Dunkin' Donuts U.S., and will serve on the Dunkin' Brands Leadership Team.

06:11 EDT Gulfport Energy provides update on SCOOP well results - Gulfport Energy provided an update on recent SCOOP well results. Key highlights include: Pauline 8-27X22H produced at a 24-hour initial peak production rate of 18.4 MMcfe per day, comprised of approximately 51% natural gas, 27% oil, and 22% natural gas liquids; Vinson 2-22X27H produced at an average 90-day production rate of 13.4 MMcfe per day, comprised of approximately 80% natural gas, 19% natural gas liquids and 1% oil; Vinson 3R-22X27H produced at an average 90-day production rate of 16.3 MMcfe per day, comprised of approximately 80% natural gas, 19% natural gas liquids and 1% oil.

06:09 EDT RadNet and NantWorks establish multifaceted strategic relationship - RadNet reported it has established multifaceted strategic relationships with NantWorks and certain affiliates of the Verity Health System. As part of the strategic relationship, Verity Health has assumed the professional responsibilities and acquired certain assets related to RadNet's California Breastlink operations. Verity Health intends to incorporate the scope of Breastlink operations into its integrated care model, delivering specialized treatment centers focused on next generation treatments and technology for various cancers. RadNet will support the imaging services of this expansion. Furthermore, RadNet and Verity Health will collaborate on establishing comprehensive integrated cancer care models across the nation. Additionally, RadNet has partnered with NantWorks to explore collaboration on clinical trials and research, as well as data analytics.

06:08 EDT BioCryst announces final results from Phase 2 APeX-1 clinical trial - BioCryst Pharmaceuticals announced final results from its Phase 2 APeX-1 clinical trial in hereditary angioedema. APeX-1 was a 3-part dose ranging trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of orally administered once-daily BCX7353 for 28 days, as a preventative treatment to reduce the frequency of attacks in HAE patients. This final analysis evaluated data from all patients in Parts 1, 2 and 3 of the trial. the company said "We now have the information necessary to select doses for Phase 3. The 125 mg once-daily oral dose of BCX7353 provided a high level of efficacy and excellent tolerability. This product profile will be an extremely attractive treatment option for physicians and patients." The observed efficacy, dose response, PK, safety and tolerability profile of BCX7353 strongly support its advancement into Phase 3 development. BioCryst intends to meet with the FDA and European Medicines Agency during the Q4 to finalize the Phase 3 program required to support New Drug Application and Marketing Authorization Application submissions.

06:05 EDT NanoString announces Anthem positive coverage for Prosigna signature assay - NanoString Technologies announced that Anthem has issued a positive coverage decision for the Prosigna Breast Cancer Gene Signature Assay. This positive coverage decision is in line with updated ASCO guidelines released in February 2016. The ASCO guidelines recommend the use of the Prosigna Breast Cancer assay to guide decisions on adjuvant systemic therapy for women with early-stage invasive breast cancer with known hormone receptor and HER2 status.

06:03 EDT BIOLASE appoints Jonathan Lord as Chairman of the Board - BIOLASE announced that on September 1 it named Jonathan "Jack" T. Lord, M.D., a nationally recognized leader in healthcare innovation, as its new Chairman of the Board. Lord replaces outgoing Chairman Paul N. Clark, who resigned from the Board of Directors effective September 11 due to other time commitments.

05:54 EDT FDA puts clinical hold on both Phase 1 studies of Cellectis' UCART123 - Cellectis announced that it received notice from the FDA that a clinical hold was placed on both UCART123 ongoing Phase 1 studies, respectively in acute myeloid leukemia and in blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. The company said it is "working closely with the investigators and the FDA in order to resume the trials with an amended protocol including a lowered dosing of UCART123." The clinical hold was initiated after Cellectis reported one fatality in the BPDCN clinical trial. The company notes, "This was the first patient treated in the BPDCN study, a 78-year-old male treated with one prior therapy, who presented with relapsed/refractory BPDCN with 30% blasts in his bone marrow and cutaneous lesions at baseline prior to conditioning regimen. He received 30mg/m2/day fludarabine for 4 days and 1g/m2/day cyclophosphamide for 3 days, as a preconditioning regimen. On August 16, 2017 (Day 0), he received 6.25x105 UCART123 cells per kilogram, the first dose level explored in the protocol, without complication. At Day 5, the patient experienced a grade 2 Cytokine Release Syndrome 1, and a grade 3 lung infection, which quickly improved after a first dose of tocilizumab and institution of anti-infective therapy. He then experienced at Day 8 a grade 5 CRS, together with a grade 4 Capillary Leak Syndrome2. Despite a treatment in keeping with CRS management including administration of corticosteroids and tociluzumab x 2 as well as intensive care unit support, the patient died on Day 9. The first patient treated in the AML study was a 58-year-old woman, with 84% blasts in her bone marrow at baseline prior to conditioning regimen. On June 27, 2017 (Day 0), the patient received the same preconditioning regimen and the same dose of UCART123 as the BPDCN patient, without complication. She experienced an initial grade 2 CRS at Day 8, worsening to a grade 3 at Day 9 and resolving at Day 11 with treatment management in intensive care unit. She also experienced a grade 4 Capillary Leak Syndrome at Day 9, resolved at Day 12." No GvHD3 was reported for any of these patients. Cellectis added that the Data Safety Monitoring Board met on August 28 and recommended lowering the dose to 6.25x104 UCART123 cells per kilogram in both studies and capping cyclophosphamide to a total dose of 4g over 3 days. The shares in premarket trading are down 29%, or $9.32, to $22.86.

05:46 EDT Avnet acquires Dragon Innovation - Avnet announced that it has acquired Dragon Innovation, expanding the global distributor's portfolio of offerings for customers as they move from design to prototype to volume production. Dragon Innovation's proven process and deep hardware experience help customers understand manufacturing costs and schedules, find factories and manage production as they scale their businesses.

05:31 EDT Novartis CEO Jimenez to retire in 2018, Narasimhan named new CEO - Novartis yesterday announced that its CEO Joseph Jimenez will retire in 2018 and that Vasant Narasimhan will be appointed CEO, effective February 1, 2018. Joseph Jimenez informed the board of his desire to step down as CEO in 2018, after eight years in position. The board gas appointed Vasant Narasimhan, Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, as CEO, effective February 1, 2018. Narasimhan is a member of the Executive Committee and joined Novartis in 2005.

05:25 EDT Qualcomm says stay appeal denial by Seoul High Court - Qualcomm announced that the Seoul High Court has denied the company's application to stay the operation of the remedial order issued against it by the Korea Fair Trade Commission, or KFTC. Qualcomm will file an immediate appeal of the stay decision to the Korea Supreme Court. The Court denied Qualcomm's stay application after finding that the company's business will not suffer irreparable harm if the KFTC's order remains in effect. The KFTC's order reviewed by the Court does not invalidate any existing license agreements, does not prohibit Qualcomm from entering into licenses for its standard essential patents, or SEPs, and other patents at the device level and does not limit the royalties Qualcomm can seek or collect for SEPs under its current or future licenses as long the license agreements are consistent with Qualcomm's FRAND commitments. As the company has described in its prior public financial statements, the order requires Qualcomm to engage in good-faith negotiations with chip companies seeking a license and to negotiate possible amendments with current licensees upon request. The Court's decision to deny Qualcomm's stay application does not impact Qualcomm's appeal of the underlying KFTC decision, which the Seoul High Court will consider later. Qualcomm continues to believe that the KFTC's decision is not supported by the facts and law, and was the product of a hearing and investigation that denied Qualcomm fundamental due process rights. Qualcomm also intends to preserve and pursue its arguments that the KFTC's underlying decision exceeds its authority and principles of international law by inappropriately seeking to regulate intellectual property rights arising under the laws of other nations, including the United States.

05:20 EDT tronc acquires New York Daily News