Stockwinners Market Radar for February 04, 2019 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

19:57 EDT Mueller Water reports Q1 adjusted EBITDA $31.3M, up 20.4% from last year

19:10 EDT Fly Intel: After Hours Movers - UP AFTER EARNINGS: Papa Murphy's (FRSH) up 9.7%... USA Truck (USAK) up 2.6%... Olin (OLN) up 1.7%. DOWN AFTER EARNINGS: Harmonic (HLIT) down 13.0%... Glu Mobile (GLUU) down 10.7%... Control4 (CTRL) down 10.0%... Rudolph Technologies (RTEC) down 7.6%... Luminex (LMNX) down 7.5%... ProAssurance Corp (PRA) down 7.0%... Advanced Energy Industries (AEIS) down 6.7%... Seagate (STX) down 6.0%... Legg Mason (LM) down 5.2%... Gilead (GILD) down 4.0%... Beazer Homes (BZH) down 3.2%... Alphabet (GOOG) down 2.8%. Movers as of 18:45ET.

19:02 EDT PotlatchDeltic reports Q4 adjusted EBITDA $36.4M vs. $50.5M last year

18:24 EDT Clorox CEO: 'This was a strong quarter with return to gross margin expansion' - In an interview on CNBC's Mad Money, Clorox CEO Benno Dorer said: "This was a strong quarter with return to gross margin expansion... Our price increases were justified... Currencies were a big factor for us this quarter... We continue to invest in the U.S. where the market is strong and stable... We are winning with the consumer in the U.S... We are seeing a lot of green shoots now.... We are growing double digits in e-commerce... We are investing very aggressively in e-commerce and it will be about 8% of total sales this year."

18:06 EDT Link Motion ordered into receivership by federal judge - Robert W. Seiden was appointed by the Honorable Victor Marrero of the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York as the temporary Receiver over Link Motion during the pendency of the case entitled Wayne Baliga v. Link Motion. In addition, Judge Marrero also granted a preliminary injunction restraining Link Motion from transferring any assets out of the company without the Receiver's approval. The lawsuit underlying the Receivership stems from a series of alleged misconduct by Link Motion's Chairman, Dr. Vincent Shi.

18:01 EDT Valley National says CFO Eskow to transition to Senior Advisor position - Valley National Bancorp, the holding company for Valley National Bank, announced the transition of Chief Financial Officer Alan Eskow to a Senior Advisor position supporting the Bank's CEO and President, Ira Robbins. Eskow will continue in his capacity as CFO for Valley National Bancorp and Valley National Bank until a successor is named. Once the company concludes the search for a new CFO, Eskow will remain at Valley as an Executive Officer and Senior Executive Vice President.

17:43 EDT TCS concludes it will not pursue DHI Group transaction - As previously announced by DHI Group on August 23, 2018, its board and executive management team planned to explore and respond to a proposal from TCS Capital Management to acquire the Company that was set forth in TCS's Schedule 13D filed on August 23, 2018. Since that time, the board and management engaged in discussions with TCS regarding a potential sale of the Company to TCS at a price per share of at least $2.55. On January 31, 2019, TCS informed the company that TCS has determined not to pursue a possible transaction involving the company at this time.

17:28 EDT U.S. Steel to restart pipe mill at Lone Star Tubular Operations - United States Steel announced it will restart the No. 1 Electric-Weld Pipe Mill at Lone Star Tubular Operations in Lone Star, Texas. The No. 1 Mill was permanently idled in 2016 due to challenging market conditions for tubular products created by fluctuating oil prices, reduced rig counts and high levels of unfairly traded imports. The Lone Star No. 1 Mill will provide full-body normalized electric-welded pipe in size ranges 7" to 16" outside diameter for customers across the U. S., including the very active Permian Basin. The Lone Star No. 1 Mill has an annual capacity of approximately 400,000 tons. U. S. Steel anticipates hiring 140 new employees. The restart process will begin immediately and will be completed in early third quarter 2019. Restart costs are not expected to be material.

17:15 EDT Caxton Corp reports 5.7% passive stake in Alcentra Capital - In a regulatory filing, Caxton disclosed a 5.7% stake in Alcentra Capital, which represents 767,000 shares. The filing does not allow for activism.

17:14 EDT Letko, Brosseau & Associates reports 7.7% passive stake in Pretium Resources - In a regulatory filing, Letko, Brosseau & Associates disclosed a 7.7% stake in Pretium, which represents about 14M shares. The filing does not allow for activism.

17:12 EDT General Dynamics awarded $126.17M Navy contract for DDG 51 planning yard service - General Dynamics has been awarded a $126.17M cost-plus-award-fee contract for DDG 51 class integrated planning yard services. General Dynamics will provide design, planning and material support services for both maintenance and modernization. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $719.18M. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be completed by January 2024. FY19 operations and maintenance and FY19 other procurement funding in the amount of $21.02M was obligated at time of award, and $4.55M will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity.

17:04 EDT Teleflex's Manta Vascular Closure Device receives premarket approval from FDA - Teleflex received premarket approval from the FDA for the Manta Vascular Closure Device, the first commercially available biomechanical vascular closure device designed specifically for large bore femoral arterial access site closure. The Manta Vascular Closure Device is indicated for closure of femoral arterial access sites while reducing time to hemostasis following the use of 10-20F devices or sheaths in endovascular catheterization procedures. The Safe Manta IDE Clinical Trial met all primary and secondary endpoints.

17:03 EDT Newmont Mining: Rob Atkinson to succeed Tom Palmer as COO, effective June 1 - Newmont Mining announced that Rob Atkinson will succeed Tom Palmer as Executive Vice President and COO, effective June 1. Tom Palmer, currently President and COO, will remain President until he succeeds Gary Goldberg to become President and CEO. Last month, Newmont announced that Gary Goldberg will retire in the fourth quarter as part of a planned, orderly and long-term leadership succession. Most recently, Atkinson served as Head of Productivity and Technical Support for Rio Tinto and was responsible for the company's $5B productivity improvement strategy.

17:02 EDT WellCare selected to administer North Carolina's Medicaid program - WellCare Health Plans announced it has been notified by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services of the state's intent to award WellCare of North Carolina a contract to administer the state's Medicaid Prepaid Health Plans, or PHPs. DHHS has selected four health plans, including WellCare, to serve North Carolina's Medicaid beneficiaries on a statewide basis, which is subject to a protest process. One additional health plan led by providers was selected to operate health plans in certain regions. The state will implement the new managed care system for its 1.6M Medicaid beneficiaries beginning November 1.

16:59 EDT Artisan Partners reports Q4 AUM $96.2B vs. $116.6B last quarter - CEO Eric Colson says: "Reacting to the drawdown and volatility, investors pulled money from equity mutual funds and ETFs at record levels, trading into money market funds instead. Investors also used the drawdown as an opportunity to harvest tax losses, exacerbating outflows from daily-liquidity investment vehicles. Our AUM was not immune, declining to $96.2 billion at the end of the year. Since then, our AUM has appreciated to approximately $105 billion, as of January 31, 2019, as a result of investment gains, including alpha, and net inflows during January."

16:45 EDT Harmonic drops 19% after Q4 report, guidance - Shares of Harmonic are down 18.52% or $1.00 to $4.40 per share in after-market trading.

16:34 EDT Provident Financial announces exit from mortgage banking - Provident Financial Holdings announced that the Board of Directors determined that it was in the long-term best interests of the Company to discontinue the operations of its mortgage banking segment conducted through Provident Bank Mortgage, a division of the Bank. This decision was reached after an analysis of current economic conditions and the current operating environment for the highly competitive mortgage banking business, including the significant decline in loan origination volume. The company had been pursuing a strategy of improving the profitability of its mortgage banking business by reducing operating expenses commensurate with the significant decline in loan origination volume while maintaining loan sale margins and prudent underwriting standards. However, based on the operating environment and market conditions for the foreseeable future, the company determined that it would be unable to successfully execute that strategy within a reasonable period of time.

16:33 EDT GE says holders expected to collectively own roughly 24.3% of Wabtec - Upon completion of the merger, GE (GE) said that shareholders are expected to collectively own approximately 24.3% of the outstanding shares of Wabtec (WAB) common stock, and current Wabtec shareholders are expected to collectively own approximately 50.8%. GE will own Wabtec common stock and Wabtec non-voting convertible preferred stock, which together represent approximately a 24.9% economic interest in Wabtec.

16:32 EDT ProAssurance sees Q4 gross premiums written $210M-$212M

16:29 EDT Olin sees 2019 adjusted EBITDA comparable to 2018 - Olin CEO John E. Fischer stated, "Looking ahead, Olin currently expects 2019 adjusted EBITDA to be comparable to 2018 with a balanced level of upside opportunities and downside risks. We are beginning 2019 with caustic soda prices meaningfully lower than 2018 levels but expect this to be offset by improved chlorine, ethylene dichloride and chlorine-derivatives prices and lower turnaround costs. This level of adjusted EBITDA will enable continued investment in the business, returning capital to shareholders, as well as further deleveraging". Olin expects continued improvement in chlorine, ethylene dichloride and chlorine-derivatives pricing in 2019.

16:28 EDT Leaf Group says that management team has been in discussions with Osmium - Leaf Group issued the following statement in response to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing from Osmium Partners:"Leaf Group maintains an ongoing dialogue with our shareholders and we welcome their input. Leaf's Board and management team continually evaluate a wide range of options to enhance long-term value for all shareholders, and we are committed to acting in their best interests. Members of Leaf's management team and Board have been in discussions with Osmium and we look forward to continuing that dialogue."The date of the 2019 Annual Meeting has not yet been announced. Leaf Group shareholders are not required to take any action at this time.

16:27 EDT Transcat sees FY19 CapEx view $7.2M-$7.4M

16:25 EDT Luminex CEO expects '2019 to be a transitional year' - "2018 was an extremely good year for Luminex, and we are encouraged by the Company's execution across all aspects of our business", said Nachum "Homi" Shamir, President & CEO. "We expect 2019 to be a transitional year while we further adjust to the departure of LabCorp and the inclusion of Millipore's flow cytometry business" continued Shamir. "We will continue to build Luminex, both organically and through targeted acquisitions, to be a meaningful presence in the Life Science marketplace; we are primed to return Luminex to a double-digit growth rate by 2020."

16:25 EDT AvalonBay raises quarterly dividend 3.4% to $1.52 per share - AvalonBay Communities said its board of directors declared a dividend for the first quarter of 2019 of $1.52 per share on the Company's common stock. The declared dividend is a 3.4% increase over the Company's prior quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share. The dividend is payable on April 15, 2019 to common stockholders of record as of March 29, 2019.

16:21 EDT Air Transport Services acquires TriFactor Distribution Solutions - Air Transport Services Group, Inc. said its subsidiary, LGSTX Services, Inc., has acquired TriFactor Distribution Solutions, a privately held material handling systems integrator based in Lakeland, FL. ATSG President and CEO Joe Hete said that based on ATSG's current estimates and outlook, the TriFactor acquisition is expected to be accretive to ATSG's earnings starting in 2019.

16:20 EDT Simpson Manufacturing sees 2019 gross profit margin 44.5%-45.5% - The company currently believes the market price for steel will be flat during Q1 and estimates that its full-year 2019 gross profit margin will be between 44.5% to 45.5%. The company estimates that its 2019 full-year effective tax rate will be between approximately 25% to 27% including both federal and state income tax rates.

16:18 EDT Pier 1 Imports names Lance Wills CIO - Pier 1 Imports, Inc. announced that it has appointed Lance Wills as Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, effective immediately. Wills joins Pier 1 with almost 23 years of information technology experience, including more than 10 years at companies in the retail sector where he was responsible for managing omni-channel platforms, supporting business transformations, building digital expertise and enhancing the customer journey. Most recently, Wills served as Executive Vice President, Global Technology Officer for Toys"R"Us, Inc. from 2016 to 2018.

16:16 EDT Telaria names Rama Roberts as new CTO - Telaria announced the promotion of Mr. Rama Roberts to the position of Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Roberts will lead the company's growing global engineering organization and is responsible for further developing Telaria's built-for-OTT Video Management Platform that facilitates billions of transactions daily. Mr. Roberts joined Telaria in 2013 and previously held the role of Vice President of Engineering. Since starting his career at Sun Microsystems, Mr. Roberts has over 20 years of software development experience. He has held key engineering roles spanning startups to Fortune 100 companies, and has focused on full-stack teams that build and run high volume services end to end.

16:10 EDT KB Home repaying $230M in convertible notes - KB Home announced that it repaid $230 million in aggregate principal amount of its 1.375% Convertible Senior Notes at their maturity on February 1, 2019. The conversion rate on these notes equated to approximately 8.4 million shares of the Company's common stock. The repayment of this convertible debt is anticipated to reduce KB Home's diluted weighted average shares outstanding in the 2019 first quarter to approximately 97 million.

16:10 EDT WSFS Financial, Beneficial Bancorp sell 5 banking offices to Bank of Princeton - WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) and Beneficial Bancorp (BNCL) announced that, in connection with their proposed combination, Beneficial's banking subsidiary, Beneficial Bank, will sell five New Jersey banking offices with approximately $190M of deposits to The Bank of Princeton ( BPRN), a New Jersey-based financial institution. WSFS previously announced a retail banking office optimization plan that includes the consolidation of 14 Beneficial Bank and 11 WSFS Bank banking offices, and the sale of five additional Beneficial Bank offices that are located on the outer edges of the combined WSFS and Beneficial footprint. The decision to sell the five retail offices was made after teams from WSFS and Beneficial conducted an extensive analysis of the combined franchise. WSFS also committed to reinvest 50% of the estimated cost savings from the consolidations into a five-year transformational investment in technology and delivery systems.

16:09 EDT Glu Mobile sees Q1 bookings $88M-$90M - The company said, "Fourth quarter bookings growth of 18% on a year over year basis was better than expected driven by continued strong performance from our Growth Games. Our strong top line performance enabled us to generate $28.9 million of free cash flow for the full year 2018. The execution of our Growth Games strategy in 2018 allowed us to deliver stackable bookings and strong adjusted EBITDA profitability. We have revised our annual guidance for 2019 upward to reflect the anticipated bookings contributions from the two games that are currently in beta and excludes contribution from our Disney/Pixar title that will enter beta in late Q1."

16:08 EDT USA Truck reports Q4 Trucking operating ratio 91.1% vs. 95.2% last year - Reports Q4 Total miles 42.7M vs. 40.2M last year.

16:07 EDT Alphabet reports Q4 paid clicks on Google properties up 66% year-over-year - Paid clicks on Google properties were up 66% year-over-year and up 22% quarter-over-quarter. Reports cost-per-click on Google properties were down (29)% year-over-year and down (9)% quarter-over-quarter. Reports impressions on Google Network Members' properties were up 7% year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter. Reports cost-per-impression on Google Network Members' properties were up 5% year-over-year and up 7% quarter-over-quarter.

16:05 EDT Symantec names Debora Beachner as new CMO - Symantec announced that Debora B. Tomlin will join Symantec as Chief Marketing Officer, effective Feb. 22. Ms. Tomlin will oversee Symantec's global marketing organization and report directly to Symantec President and CEO Greg Clark. Since 2012, she has served as EVP, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer for CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, leading all aspects of marketing, customer experience and data strategies.

16:04 EDT Alphabet reports Q4 properties revenues $27.02B vs. $22.24B last year

16:02 EDT Gilead raises quarterly dividend by 11% to 63c per share - The dividend is payable on March 28, 2019, to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 15, 2019. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval.

15:23 EDT Hudson Bay Capital reports 9.99% passive stake in Inpixon - In a regulatory filing, Hudson Bay Capital disclosed a 9.99% stake in Inpixon, which represents roughly 175,000 shares. The filing does not allow for activism.

15:19 EDT StoneMor Partners trading resumes

15:17 EDT EA says free-to-play battle royale game 'Apex Legends' available now - Electronic Arts (EA) and Respawn Entertainment launched "Apex Legends," a free-to-play battle royale shooter available right now on Origin for PC, PlayStation 4 (SNE) and Xbox One (MSFT). Set in the "Titanfall" universe, "Apex Legends" shakes up the battle royale genre with a cast of unique characters, squad-based gameplay, innovative mechanics and more, the companies said. The first season of "Apex Legend"s is scheduled to kick off in March and will give players the opportunity to purchase a Battle Pass to gain access to exclusive cosmetic items earned through gameplay. "Apex Legends" will follow a seasonal model with each themed season bringing new content to the game in the form of new weapons, new Legends, new skins and more.

15:10 EDT StoneMor Partners says asset review completed, cost savings identified - StoneMor Partners said the Partnership completed a detailed review of its more than 400 properties across 27 states and Puerto Rico, obtaining insights into individual financial and operational performance, local market dynamics, current industry trends, including cremation, the impact of clustering efforts and growth opportunities. Jim Ford, StoneMor's Chief Operating Officer, commented, "More than two thirds of our cemetery and funeral home properties are assets with attractive financial and operational metrics. The review demonstrated, for example, the top two-thirds of our properties, which primarily account for more than 75% of property level billings, generate substantial profit potential before consideration of corporate and administrative expenses, with average property level profit margins primarily between 25% and 30%. We also identified the bottom third properties that are marginally unprofitable in the aggregate. We believe if we emulate the practices of our most profitable properties, many of our other properties can generate improved levels of profitability. This will be one of the key areas of focus for our three recently appointed Divisional Presidents." The Partnership also announced it has filed its Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2018 with the SEC. Joe Redling, StoneMor's President and CEO, said, "Our reorganization to drive greater accountability and improved performance continues. We have put in place key elements of our long-term plan, including decentralizing control to three Divisional Presidents, eliminating additional layers of management in the field and completing a major assessment of corporate expenses that we expect to result in savings of more than $20M during 2019. It will take additional time to deliver the full results we seek from these initiatives. While many of the benefits of the identified cost reductions will occur throughout the year, last week we completed a 20% reduction in force at the Corporate Office in Trevose, Pa. These decisions are always difficult, but it was a key area of focus as we continue to streamline operations and eliminate redundancies. While our first quarter results demonstrated some stability in sales in 2018, the reorganization efforts combined with cost cutting measures did have a disruptive impact during the second half of 2018, but we believe the actions taken will support improvements in 2019."

15:06 EDT StoneMor Partners announces waiver and amendment of certain loan covenants - StoneMor Partners announced what the company called "a number of key financial and operational updates representing further steps forward in its ongoing turnaround effort." The Partnership has obtained from its lenders a waiver and amendment of certain loan covenants under its senior credit facility that, among other things: Extends to February 6, 2019 the date by which the Partnership must file its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2018, and to February 15, 2019 for the quarters ended June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018; Removes the financial covenant regarding the Partnership's maximum Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio and minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and replaces both with a minimum Consolidated EBITDA covenant; Progressively increases the Applicable Rate and adds ticking fees for credit facility loans; Changes the Stated Maturity Date of credit facility to May 1, 2020 from August 4, 2021. Joe Redling, StoneMor's President and CEO, said, "We continue to make progress with our efforts to revitalize the business and position StoneMor for future success. Securing the waiver is an important step and we are grateful to our lenders for their continued support as we get current with our financial statements. The new facility from our largest unitholder, Axar Capital, brings greater financial flexibility to our turnaround efforts and we plan to use these funds to manage the business, continue our reorganization and drive long-term growth. The findings of a comprehensive asset review also reinforce our belief that StoneMor's portfolio of assets contains a significant number of properties that are attractive and valuable. The insights obtained will help us better deploy capital within a more focused investment, development and divestiture strategy to strengthen the business."

14:51 EDT StoneMor Partners trading halted, news pending

14:16 EDT Encana director Lee McIntire buys over $380K in company shares - Encana director Lee McIntire disclosed in a filing that he had purchased 43,700 shares of company stock at an average price of $8.75 per share on November 5 at an average price of $8.75 per share. The total transaction value was $382,375.

13:56 EDT Abiomed drops 8% after FDA says reviewing higher mortality rate in study

13:55 EDT Idexx Laboratories under pressure as Wall Street digests quarterly results - Shares of Idexx Laboratories (IDXX) are slipping although the company reported better than expected quarterly results on Friday. Commenting on the earnings release, Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Michael Ryskin told investors that he believes the "story stays intact" despite lots of moving pieces and fiscal year guide refinements. QUARTERLY RESULTS: On Friday, Idexx Laboratories reported fourth quarter earnings per share of 98c and revenue of $549.39M, both above analysts' consensus of 91c and $546.7M, respectively. For fiscal year 2018, the company reported earnings per share of $4.26, better than the expected $4.20, and revenue of $2.213B, which was also slightly better than analysts' consensus of $2.21B. Additionally, Idexx raised its 2019 earnings per share outlook range by 4c from the midpoint of prior guidance to $4.66-$4.78, reflecting flow through of strong 2018 profit performance, partially offset by lower estimates for projected share-based compensation tax benefits. The company also reaffirmed 2019 revenue guidance of $2.385B-$2.425B and said it achieved revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 9% on a reported basis and 10% on an organic basis, driven by CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue growth of 12% reported and 13% organic. Analysts currently expected FY19 EPS of $4.69 and revenue of $2.41B. STORY REMAINS INTACT: In a post-earnings note, Bank of America Merrill Lynch's Ryskin told investors that, for the most part, the Idexx core business continues to impress as CAG recurring revenues posted their best year since 2015, and Consumables finished the year on a "particularly good note." The only pocket of softness continues to be the International reference lab, he pointed out, adding that with Idexx's emphasis on driving in-clinic/point-of-care placements and revenues, it seems increasingly likely that OUS reference lab will remain somewhat subdued throughout 2019. Overall, Ryskin believes the negative reaction to the fourth quarter results seems to be largely driven by a number of refinements to the 2019 guide as the company now sees CAG recurring as 11%-12% versus prior 11.5%-12.5%, and constant currency OpM expansion is now 50-80bps versus prior 50-100bps. Following the analyst's conversations with Idexx, he does not see these changes as an indication of any material change in the outlook, and are more reflective of fine-tuning the model following fourth quarter results. He reiterated a Buy rating and $235 price target on the shares. PRICE ACTION: In afternoon trading, shares of Idexx Laboratories have dropped just over 1% to $203.17.

13:03 EDT Vale says court order affects Brucutu output of 30M tons of iron ore per year - Vale S.A. informs that it was made aware of a decision by the 22nd Civil Court of the Comarca of Belo Horizonte, within the scope of the public civil action no 5013909-51.2019.8.13.0024, filed by the Public Prosecution Office of the State of Minas Gerais, which determined, among other measures, that the company refrains from disposing tailings or practicing any activity potentially capable of increasing the risks of the Laranjeiras, Menezes II, Capitao do Mato, Dique B, Taquaras, Forquilha I, Forquilha II and Forquilha III dams. Among the dams included in the court order, three of them were built by the upstream method, Forquilha I, Forquilha II and Forquilha III, and were already inactive and covered by the accelerated decommissioning plan announced to the market in the Press Release "Vale announces the decommissioning of all its upstream tailings dams," dated January 29th, 2019. The other structures were built by the conventional method. These structures built by the conventional method have the sole purpose of sediment containment and not tailings disposal except in the case of the Laranjeiras dam. All dams are duly licensed and have their respective stability reports in force. Vale therefore understands that there is no technical basis nor risk assessment to justify a decision to suspend the operation of any of these dams. The estimated impact of the temporary halting of the Laranjeiras dam at the Brucutu mine is approximately 30 million tons of iron ore per year. Vale informs that it will adopt the appropriate legal measures in relation to this decision and reiterates that all the emergency measures necessary to assist the impacted people and to mitigate the impacts resulting from the breach of Dam I of the Corrego de Feijao mine are being duly adopted.

12:45 EDT Roku shares almost 11% higher on report Comcast will use it over Apple TV - Roku (ROKU) shares are 10.9% higher to $50.15 in afternoon trading after an exclusive report from BestAppleTV.com said cable operator Comcast (CMCSA, CMCSK), which has over 21M customers, will use its streaming technology in favor of Apple's (AAPL).

12:16 EDT Medley Capital, Sierra call NexPoint's press release 'misleading' - Medley Capital and Sierra Income Corporation responded to a press release issued by NexPoint Advisors, an affiliate of Highland Capital Management Fund Advisors. The companies said, "Importantly, NexPoint's press release contains inaccurate statements and is misleading. Contrary to its assertion, NexPoint's proposal DOES NOT offer $225M of net value to MCC's shareholders. The Boards of MCC and Sierra are firmly committed to maximizing value for all shareholders. The Special Committee of MCC's Board of Directors, which is comprised of independent directors, received an unsolicited letter from NexPoint on January 24, 2019. The letter did not include any proposal under which NexPoint would acquire MCC stock or assets or offer $225M of net value to MCC's shareholders. In its consideration of the letter, the MCC Special Committee adhered to a rigorous and thorough review process, consistent with its fiduciary duty and in consultation with its independent legal and financial advisors. Following this, the MCC Special Committee unanimously recommended that the Board determine, and the MCC Board unanimously determined, that it is desirable and in the best interests of MCC and its shareholders to decline to pursue NexPoint's so-called 'proposal'. The MCC Special Committee, and the Special Committee of Sierra's Board of Director, which is comprised of independent directors, received a second unsolicited letter from NexPoint at midnight on January 31, 2019. The MCC Special Committee and the Sierra Special Committee and the respective Boards of MCC and Sierra, adhering to a rigorous review process - consistent with their fiduciary duties and in consultation with their respective independent legal and financial advisors - will carefully review the letter and respond to NexPoint as appropriate."

12:03 EDT Allete names Bethany Owen president - ALLETE's Board of Directors has elected Bethany Owen President of ALLETE. Owenhas been with the company for more than 16 years and will report to Al Hodnik who remains chairman and CEO of ALLETE. The announcement follows an extensive internal executive development process within ALLETE and strategic succession planning by ALLETE's directors.In her new role, Owen will be working in close partnership with Hodnik to oversee further formation and execution of the company's growth strategy, as well as oversight of its five operating divisions, Minnesota Power, Superior Water Light and Power, ALLETE Clean Energy, U.S. Water Services and BNI Energy. In Owen's most recent role with the company, she served as ALLETE SVP and chief legal and administrative officer since 2016 with overall responsibility for the company's legal, information and operations technology, cyber security and human resources departments, while working closely with ALLETE's Board of Directors on governance matters.

12:01 EDT Medley Capital says Egan-Jones recommends voting for Sierra Income merger - Medley Capital (MCC) announced that Egan-Jones Ratings Company has recommended that MCC shareholders vote FOR its proposed merger with Sierra Income Corporation, which will occur concurrently with Sierra's acquisition of Medley Management in connection with MCC's Special Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held February 8, 2019. Egan-Jones' recommendation follows Institutional Shareholder Services' recommendation that MCC shareholders vote in favor of the merger. In its January 31, report, Egan-Jones noted, "Egan-Jones views the proposed transaction to be a desirable approach in maximizing shareholder value. After careful consideration, we believe that approval of the merger agreement is in the best interests of MCC and its shareholders and its advantages and opportunities outweigh the risks associated to the transaction."

12:00 EDT Triton International falls -9.3% - Triton International is down -9.3%, or -$3.30 to $32.27.

12:00 EDT VelocityShares 3x Inv Natural Gas ETN rises 7.6% - VelocityShares 3x Inv Natural Gas ETN is up 7.6%, or $7.78 to $109.64.

12:00 EDT Aphria rises 10.4% - Aphria is up 10.4%, or $1.00 to $10.62.

11:08 EDT Guess announces partnership with Charlotte McKinney for SS19 swimwear capsule - This Spring/Summer 2019, GUESS introduces model and actress, Charlotte McKinney as the face and designer of GUESS' latest swimwear campaign and her capsule, ICON. Charlotte, the star of the SS19 campaign, played an instrumental role in the design and creation of each iconic swimsuit. The campaign, art directed by Paul Marciano, Co-founder of GUESS?, Inc., and shot by photographer, Derek Kettela features Charlotte alongside the other models at a private residence and on the beaches of sunny Los Angeles, CA wearing key pieces from the ICON capsule. The limited-edition swimwear collection pays homage to the brand's heritage, featuring styles and patterns that have made GUESS an iconic fashion brand.

11:01 EDT Intel Capital announces combined $30M investment in Catalytic, Fortanix, Pliops - Intel Capital announced an investment in Catalytic, a four-year-old company that helps enterprise customers process data faster and more accurately by coordinating people, bots and artificial intelligence. The news follows investments announced last week in Fortanix and Pliops. The company says, "These newest members of Intel Capital's portfolio are advancing innovation through intelligent automation, data security and storage processor technology - all critical areas to the growth of cloud computing. Intel Capital invested a collective $30M in the three companies."

10:36 EDT Aimmune to present AR101 and peanut allergy data at AAAAI - Aimmune Therapeutics announced that it will present data on AR101, oral immunotherapy, and peanut allergy at the 2019 American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Annual Meeting, taking place February 22-25 in San Francisco. "We are excited by the new data being presented at AAAAI, which deepen our understanding of AR101 and how it may benefit children, teens and families struggling with the uncertainty of life with peanut allergy," said Daniel Adelman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Aimmune. "Our goal with AR101 oral immunotherapy is to train the immune system so that allergic reactions with accidental exposures are less frequent and severe. Taken together, the new data presented at AAAAI help to elucidate how AR101 delivers on our therapeutic thesis, providing continued immunomodulation throughout the course of the treatment period studied, as evidenced by greatly reduced adverse events due to accidental exposures to peanuts. These data provide further evidence of the effects demonstrated in the exit food challenge in PALISADE, with a 94% reduction of epinephrine use in the AR101-treated patients at the 600-mg exit food challenge dose. Also, we are seeing increases in efficacy over time, as nearly two thirds of the AR101 patients who tolerated less than the highest dose at the PALISADE exit were able to tolerate more peanut protein in the follow-on study challenge, and half the patients overall were able to tolerate 2,000 mg as the single highest tolerated dose."

10:33 EDT Winnebago to shift Class A diesel motorhome manufacturing to Forest City, Iowa - Winnebago Industries announced plans to shift Winnebago-branded Class A diesel motorhome manufacturing from its Junction City, Oregon plant to its manufacturing campus in Forest City, Iowa. The strategic manufacturing transition consolidates and centralizes product development, supply chain, and assembly operations for the Company's diesel motorhome business to a single location. This decision will enable the Winnebago Motorhome business to improve its ability to efficiently and consistently supply dealers and end customers with a stronger line-up of high-quality, innovative diesel products. In the fall of 2015, Winnebago Industries acquired the assets of a dormant diesel motorhome manufacturer, Country Coach. The purchase included the Country Coach brand, product drawings, and various assembly and service facilities in Junction City, Oregon. Excluding its Forza brand, Winnebago Industries moved the rest of its diesel line-up from Forest City, Iowa to the Junction City campus, began production late in 2016, and continued to operate the factory service center as well. The 2018 RV of the Year, Horizon, is one of the products currently being produced in Oregon. The Company expects to begin the transition process immediately and complete the manufacturing start-up of a new diesel assembly line in Forest City during $Q19. Related expenses will negatively impact both Q3 and Q4 EPS by approximately 2c respectively. The transition is expected to be accretive to EPS in Fiscal 2020 and generate an incremental operating income benefit of approximately $4M in annualized, run-rate efficiencies by fiscal 2021. Following the transition, the Junction City, Oregon service operation will continue to operate as one of Winnebago Industries' aftermarket and RV parts support facilities. The Company will determine its plans for the vacant assembly space in the near future. There are approximately 250 positions currently at the Junction City facility. It is anticipated following the transition, approximately 30 positions will remain at the Oregon campus. The additional assembly presence in Forest City, Iowa will result in a projected increase of 175 positions at that site by the end of fiscal year 2020.

10:26 EDT Sysco says has 'deep bench,' feels good about team

10:18 EDT Sysco sees FY effective tax rate 25%

10:12 EDT MNG: Gannett board an 'impediment' to achieving real value for shareholders

10:11 EDT MNG Enterprises responds to Gannett's rejection of all-cash proposal - MNG Enterprises, the largest active shareholder of Gannett, with a 7.5% ownership stake, issued the following statement in response to Gannett's rejection of its proposal to acquire Gannett for $12.00 per share in cash. The proposal represents a 41% premium to where Gannett stock closed at year-end 2018, before the price was affected by MNG's purchases and public proposal. MNG stated the following: "Gannett's Board today sent shareholders a clear message: that it intends to block immediate and certain value creation opportunities in favor of a speculative future engineered by the team that already has destroyed over 40% of the Company's value. Gannett's long-suffering shareholders cannot afford to wait any longer. The only responsible course is for Gannett to engage in a genuine pursuit to maximize value, either from MNG or others with reported interest. The sad reality for Gannett shareholders is the company has no credible plan to attain a $12 per share valuation on its own. Gannett's 'pie in the sky' hopes for its digital businesses are not believable and cannot be counted on to deliver value superior to the immediate and substantial premium being offered by MNG - and that may be available from other parties. Gannett is presiding over a declining core business, decreasing cash flow and significant leverage because it overpaid for digital assets. Gannett's deep structural problems are better fixed by experienced operators such as MNG, away from pressures of the public markets. Gannett has tried to create the illusion that it was open to true engagement, but never did so seriously. In fact, the parties were exchanging dates late last week for a potential meeting, and Gannett has now rejected our proposal before we could arrange the meeting they proposed. Further, instead of extending customary and reasonable terms for a candid discussion such as a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement that would have allowed MNG to address its questions thoroughly, Gannett set up roadblocks to true engagement, demonstrating that they were not interested in seriously evaluating our premium cash proposal. MNG has retained Moelis & Co as its financial advisor and was and is prepared to discuss with Gannett plans to finance our premium, all cash proposal. Put plainly, there are no impediments - aside from the Gannett Board - to MNG completing the proposed transaction and for Gannett shareholders to achieve real value. MNG will consider its options in the coming days, including nominating a slate of individuals to the Gannett board who agree that Gannett shareholders should decide for themselves whether to accept our premium cash offer or other alternatives for immediate and certain value."

10:08 EDT Sysco: Changes to result in 10% reduction in salaried, corp. support positions - Says organizational changes to help increase agility, reduce costs. Says changes to result in 10% reduction in salaried, corporate support positions.

10:01 EDT IQVIA launches IQVIA Biotech - IQVIA announced the launch of IQVIA Biotech and its new approach to delivering tailored clinical and commercial solutions for small biotech and biopharma companies. This solutions suite, supported by more than 1,000 dedicated employees, will deliver simplified operating procedures, specialized teams, and services to provide a more agile way for these innovators to reach their drug development and commercialization milestones. From initial planning to trial design and implementation to market launch and commercialization, IQVIA Biotech delivers a transparent and streamlined process with a deep foundation in science. The company's deep therapeutic and scientific expertise allows the IQVIA Biotech team to address specific needs at each milestone on the clinical development path and on the pre- and post-approval commercialization path. Key therapy areas for IQVIA Biotech include oncology, central nervous system, dermatology, cardiovascular, and immunology, among many areas of expertise. But at the core of this offering is the team serving these clients.

10:00 EDT Thor Industries falls -7.5% - Thor Industries is down -7.5%, or -$4.81 to $59.08.

10:00 EDT VelocityShares 3x Inv Natural Gas ETN rises 7.7% - VelocityShares 3x Inv Natural Gas ETN is up 7.7%, or $7.85 to $109.71.

10:00 EDT Ellie Mae rises 9.0% - Ellie Mae is up 9.0%, or $6.91 to $83.34.

09:40 EDT Dunkin' Brands mentioned cautiously at Off Wall Street

09:33 EDT Meredith continues to expect to achieve goal to reduce debt by $1B in FY19 - Meredith announced it has repaid $700M of its debt so far in fiscal 2019 through January 31, 2019, including $573M of its 7-year Senior Secured Term Loan B and $127 million of its senior unsecured notes. The company continues to expect to achieve its goal to reduce debt by $1B in fiscal 2019. Meredith's total outstanding debt stood at $2.5B at January 31, 2019.

09:16 EDT MYnd Analytics receives five-year contract from General Services Administration - MYnd Analytics announced that the U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a five-year Federal Supply Schedule, or FSS, contract as a government supplier, effective January 31 with the opportunity to renew it for 15 more years. Under the contract, MYnd intends to offer healthcare information technology services to federal government departments and agencies related to its Psychiatric EEG Evaluation Registry, including the Department of Defense and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs facilities nationwide. The Veterans Health Administration is America's largest integrated health care system with more than 1,400 sites of care, serving almost nine million veterans each year. The Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Health and Human Services, in coordination with other federal agencies, are authorized under Presidential Executive Order to take steps to ensure that veterans, service members, and their families receive the mental health services and support they need. These steps included strengthening suicide prevention, enhancing access to mental health treatment and promoting development of more effective treatment methodologies.

09:12 EDT Overstock.com subsidiary signs MOU with municipality in Mexico for land records - Overstock.com announced its blockchain-meets-property rights subsidiary, Medici Land Governance has signed a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, with the municipality of Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico to develop a digital land records platform. According to the terms of the MOU, Medici Land Governance, or MLG, and Tulum officials will work together to collect real property ownership information for a defined area of Tulum Municipality to protect the land rights of its citizens, resulting in a mass issuance of certificates of title to land and related processes. MLG and Tulum officials will also collaborate to create a method for automatically capturing and recording subsequent land administration transactions and updates to the digital platform.

09:09 EDT Cintas selects Amber Road's on-demand Global Trade Management platform - Amber Road (AMBR) announced that Cintas Corporation (CTAS) has launched Amber Road's GTM solution suite. Once fully implemented the solution will streamline Cintas' import and export operations, by creating real-time, collaborative and fully standardized, digital trade activities. Cintas will implement Amber Road's Global Trade Management solution suite, including the Trade Import, Trade Export, and Trade Agreements modules.

09:08 EDT Del Frisco's announces cooperation agreement with Engaged Capital - Del Frisco's announced that its board executed a cooperation agreement with Engaged Capital, Del Frisco's third largest shareholder. The company also announced that it is terminating the short-term shareholder rights plan that it adopted in December 2018 after observing unusual and substantial activity in its shares. The terms of the cooperation agreement include the appointment of Joe Reece to the board, which will be expanded by one member to seven directors, and as the chairman of the transaction committee that is overseeing the company's previously-announced review of strategic alternatives. Reece will be a Class III director, with a term lasting until the company's 2021 meeting of shareholders. In addition, Engaged Capital has agreed to certain standstill and voting commitments beginning on the date of the cooperation agreement and ending after the completion of the company's 2019 annual meeting of shareholders. Engaged Capital will vote all of its shares in favor of the company's nominees and other proposals at any meeting of the company's shareholders during the cooperation period, subject to certain exceptions.

09:05 EDT Exelon says NY nuclear plants operated at full power during Polar Vortex - While arctic winds sent temperatures plunging dangerously and electricity demand soaring this week, Exelon Generation's New York nuclear plants operated at full power, producing enough electricity to keep three million homes, businesses, schools and hospitals safe and warm. Exelon Generation's nuclear fleet, which includes 13 facilities in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland, recorded near-perfect reliability last winter as well. During the 2014 Polar Vortex, Exelon Generation's nuclear fleet was critical to meeting electricity demand, as coal piles froze, and natural gas supplies were re-routed for home heating.

09:03 EDT Easterly Government acquires final three properties in 14-property portfolio - Easterly Government Properties announced that it has completed the acquisition of the final three of the 14 properties in the Company's previously announced portfolio acquisition. The three properties represent an aggregate of 355,426 square feet and were acquired for a combined purchase price of $152.5M. The three properties include: DEA - Sterling, VA which serves as a special testing and research laboratory to assist the Drug Enforcement Administration in performing mission critical forensic analyses. The 49,692-square foot facility was built-to-suit in 2001 and includes evidence rooms, computer labs, cryptography and various other specialized laboratories. The facility is 100% leased through 2020; FDA - College Park, MD which houses a laboratory for the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, one of the FDA's seven product-oriented centers. The 80,677-square foot office and laboratory was built-to-suit in 2004 and is 100% leased through 2029. The facility is part of the University of Maryland's Research Park and is located two blocks from CFSAN headquarters in the Harvey W. Wiley Building, forming a campus which links university researchers, students and staff with federal laboratories and private sector companies; Various GSA - Portland, OR which is a Class A trophy multi-tenanted asset, was built in 2002 and is strategically located within Portland's Central City Plan District along the MAX light rail system. The 225,057-square foot facility is occupied by tenants such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

09:03 EDT AudioCodes and Jabra partner for Microsoft voice communications solutions - AudioCodes and Jabra, part of the GN Group and a developer and manufacturer of communications and sound solutions, announced a partnership aimed at addressing Microsoft (MSFT) intelligent communications, including Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business, and contact centers environments. The partnership is designed to assist enterprises in accelerating deployment and user adoption of IP-based unified communications and contact center solutions. The partnership between Jabra and AudioCodes combines AudioCodes' One Voice for Microsoft 365 comprehensive suite of devices, voice networking elements and management solutions with Jabra's portfolio of professional headsets and speakers.

09:00 EDT Top Image Systems trading resumes

08:50 EDT Limoneira enters agreement for strategic joint venture in Argentina - Limoneira Company announced that it has entered into an agreement with FGF Trapani, a multi-generational, family owned citrus operation in Argentina. Beginning in 1937 with Ignacio Trapani, Ricardo Trapani and his sons, Fabricio, Gabriel, and Franco have grown FGF into an enterprise of over 3,200 acres of lemons and oranges in the Provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Tucuman as well as owning and operating a juice processing facility in the Province of Tucuman. As part of the agreement, Limoneira will create a subsidiary in Argentina under the name Limoneira Argentina and will acquire 25% of the parcels of Finca Santa Clara, approximately 1,200 acres of planted lemons, upfront with an additional 25% to be acquired over a three-year period. Limoneira Argentina and FGF's agreement will operate under the name Trapani Fresh, with Limoneira Argentina as the managing partner and responsible for all fresh fruit sales, holding a 51% interest and FGF holding a 49% interest. The agreement is expected to close in the middle of March 2019. FGF Trapani will maintain 100% ownership and control of the juice processing facilities and operations.

08:46 EDT Atossa Genetics provides breast cancer prevention recommendations to USPSTF - Atossa Genetics announced that it has provided suggested changes to the draft recommendation of the United States Preventative Services Task Force concerning "Breast Cancer: Medications for Risk Reduction." The public comment period ends February 11, 2019 and the finalized USPSTF recommendations will become available in July 2019. Atossa Genetics has proposed that the USPSTF recommendations include the following additional guidance. Mammographic breast density provides the only patient level, biology-based assessment that is predictive of future breast cancer and it is modifiable. All women undergoing mammography should be informed of their breast density and its relationship to breast cancer incidence, risk and mammographic sensitivity. Tamoxifen, but not raloxifene or aromatase inhibitors, is effective in reducing MBD and this reduction is associated with a reduced risk of estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. Atossa is dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer through the use of mammography to identify women with MBD," stated Dr. Steven Quay, Chairman and CEO of Atossa Genetics. "There are over 3,400 peer-reviewed articles on the relationship between mammographic breast density and the risk of future breast cancer. Many states have laws that require that women be told their breast density at the time they have a mammogram, as well as the impact a high density has on both reducing the sensitivity of cancer detection and increasing cancer incidence. Our recommended changes are based on a substantial, peer-reviewed foundation of research and, if accepted, should improve the utility of this widely used guidance."

08:43 EDT Fir Tree urges sale of Halcon Resource, appointment of independent directors - Fir Tree Capital, manager of certain funds that together have economic exposure to approximately 7.2% of the common stock of Halcon Resources, issued an open letter and presentation to the Board of Directors of Halcon urging the company to work with shareholders to immediately appoint two independent directors to lead a process to sell for cash and/or stock the entire company and to cut its excessive corporate overhead. https://www.firtree.com/Halcon/

08:36 EDT Westport CFO Michael Willis resigns, Jim MacCallum named interim CFO - Westport announced that Michael Willis has resigned as its CFO. The company has commenced a search process to identify a permanent replacement and will name a new CFO in due course. Willis will remain available to the company to assist with the transition. Jim MacCallum, VP, finance and corporate controller, has been named acting CFO. MacCallum has led the corporate accounting and treasury functions since joining Westport in 2014.

08:34 EDT Tesla agrees to acquire Maxwell Technologies for $4.75 per share in stock - Maxwell Technologies (MXWL), a developer and manufacturer of energy solutions, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Tesla (TSLA). Tesla will commence an all stock exchange offer for all the issued and outstanding shares of the company, after which the company will be merged with a Tesla subsidiary and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Tesla. The Offer will value each share of Maxwell common stock at $4.75 per share. Pursuant to the offer, each share of Maxwell common stock will be exchanged for a fraction of a share of Tesla's common stock, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $4.75 by a volume weighted average price of one share of Tesla's common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market for the five consecutive trading days preceding the expiration of the offer, and which is subject to a floor that has been set at 80% of a volume weighted average price of Tesla common stock calculated prior to signing. The closing of the transaction is subject to the successful tender and exchange of shares, certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The company anticipates that the merger will be consummated in the second quarter of 2019, or shortly thereafter, should all conditions be met and subject to the timing of the aforementioned approvals. "We are very excited with today's announcement that Tesla has agreed to acquire Maxwell. Tesla is a well-respected and world-class innovator that shares a common goal of building a more sustainable future. We believe this transaction is in the best interests of Maxwell stockholders and offers investors the opportunity to participate in Tesla's mission of accelerating the advent of sustainable transport and energy," said Dr. Franz Fink, President and CEO of Maxwell.

08:33 EDT Allscripts announces extension of Heritage Valley Health System agreement - Allscripts announced that Heritage Valley Health System signed a 10-year extension and expansion agreement for the integrated delivery system's physician practices, outpatient facilities and three hospitals. This expansion will provide a complete integrated clinical and financial platform that includes Allscripts Sunrise EHR, Sunrise Financial Manager, dbMotion Solution and Allscripts EPSi. Heritage Valley Health System is a $535M integrated delivery network providing comprehensive healthcare for residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, in Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; and the panhandle of West Virginia. In partnership with 4,400 employees and more than 530 physicians, Heritage Valley offers a broad range of medical, surgical and diagnostic services at its three hospitals, 60+ physician offices and more than 21 community satellite facilities.

08:32 EDT Standard Motor increases quarterly dividend to 23c per share - Standard Motor has approved an increase in its quarterly common stock dividend from 21c to 23c per share, payable on March 1 to stockholders of record on February 15.

08:28 EDT BioXcel Therapeutics expands indication for BXCL501 to treat withdrawal symptoms - BioXcel Therapeutics announced proof-of-concept data from its Phase 1b study of intravenously-administered dexmedetomidine in patients suffering from opioid withdrawal symptoms. The positive data from this Phase 1b trial provides evidence to expand the potential market for BXCL501, a proprietary sublingual film of Dex, beyond its current focus for acute treatment of agitation in neuropsychiatric indications. The study further confirms that BXCL501's selective alpha-2a adrenergic receptor mechanism has potential application in opioid withdrawal symptoms, in addition to the acute treatment of agitation in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and dementia. Opioid addiction is difficult to overcome largely because of the severe symptoms associated with withdrawal, an area in need of more effective non-opioid treatment options. BTI conducted the clinical study in a total of 15 patients with opioid dependence. Ten subjects were enrolled in the treatment arm while five subjects were enrolled in the placebo arm. Symptoms of opioid withdrawal were evaluated using the Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale, or COWS, an 11-item scale that measures a constellation of withdrawal symptoms experienced after abstaining from opioid use. All ten subjects receiving IV Dex responded to treatment, while there were no responders in the placebo arm. Results from this study demonstrated that IV Dex effectively mitigated the physiological symptoms of opioid withdrawal. These encouraging results support further expansion of BXCL501 for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid abuse. Additionally, previously published studies support the potential of Dex as an adjunctive treatment for symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

08:26 EDT Expedia offers to buy Liberty Expedia in stock swap deal

08:19 EDT Genesis Healthcare enters real estate partnership with Next for 15 nursing homes - Genesis HealthCare announced that it has entered into a real estate partnership with Next Healthcare Capital involving 15 skilled nursing facilities previously leased from Welltower. Seven additional facilities historically leased from Welltower were sold to a third party. Genesis will no longer operate the seven facilities after the sale. Welltower sold the real estate of 15 facilities to the new partnership, of which Genesis acquired a 46% ownership interest. Genesis also acquired a fixed price purchase option to acquire the real estate beginning in 2026 at a 10% premium above the original acquisition cost. Genesis will continue to operate these facilities pursuant to a new lease with the partnership. The remaining interest is held by Next, a privately owned healthcare real estate investment firm. The 15 facilities had been included in the company's master lease with Welltower and were subject to 2% annual rent escalators. Under the new lease, there are no rent escalators for the first five years. The seven facilities that Genesis will no longer operate had aggregate annual revenue of approximately $73M. As a result of the transaction, Genesis estimates its annual EBITDAR will decline $2.5M and annual cash lease obligations will be reduced approximately $3.2M. In year one, the transaction is accretive to EBITDA by $700,000.

08:14 EDT Melinta Therapeutics appoints Timothy Simon CCO, Ryan Lococo CBO - Melinta Therapeutics (MLNT) has continued to strengthen its senior leadership team with a number of recent appointments and promotions. As previously announced, John Johnson, Melinta's interim CEO, director and more than 30-year industry veteran, has agreed to become the company's permanent CEO, subject to the terms of an employment agreement. In addition to Johnson's transition to permanent CEO, the company has recently made organizational changes. The company appointed Timothy Simon as CCO. Simon, who joined Melinta on January 28, most recently served as commercial lead for Pfizer's (PFE) RCC, Lung and Immuno-Oncology franchise, where he scaled and shaped the U.S. commercial organization's efforts to prepare for rapid growth. Simon brings nearly two decades of experience in leading pharmaceutical organizations to drive growth by building commercial capabilities, leading effective marketing and sales teams, and cultivating strong customer relationships across multiple specialties. Simon will be responsible for leading the development and execution of the commercial strategy for Melinta's novel antibiotics portfolio, and for leading the commercial organization, including the patient services, sales, marketing and access teams. Melinta also promoted Ryan Lococo to CBO. Lococo joined Melinta in May 2018 as VP of corporate development and strategy, and brings deep M&A and growth strategy experience to the company, with over 12 years of experience spanning multiple industries, including the pharmaceutical industry. Lococo will be responsible for corporate and business development, information technology, manufacturing and technical operations, and public relations.

08:10 EDT Janus Henderson announces retirement of Bill Gross - Janus Henderson Investors announced that William H. Gross has decided to retire from the firm and focus on managing his personal assets and private charitable foundation. Gross co-founded PIMCO in 1971 and served as managing director and its chief investment officer. He joined Janus Henderson in 2014 to manage the Janus Henderson Global Unconstrained Bond funds and related strategies, including a successful institutional Total Return strategy. As a result of Gross's decision to retire, portfolio management responsibilities for the Global Unconstrained Bond funds and related strategies will be assumed by the Global Macro Fixed Income team that has been supporting Gross for the past four years. Nick Maroutsos, co-head of Global Bonds and portfolio manager at Janus Henderson, will become portfolio manager of the Global Unconstrained Bond funds effective February 15, 2019 to assist with the transition associated with Gross's planned departure on March 1, 2019. Gross will work closely with Maroutsos and the team to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.

08:10 EDT Melinta Therapeutics provides update on cost savings, strategic initiatives - Melinta Therapeutics provided an update on its strategic repositioning initiatives and cost savings outlook. Melinta has made strides in recent months on its strategic initiatives designed to accelerate sales, lower costs across the organization and optimize its balance sheet. These actions have included an increased emphasis on product launches and commercialization efforts, a realignment of the company's cost base driven primarily by lower R&D and G&A costs and a refocusing of the company's sales and marketing priorities. In addition, Melinta announced in December that it had entered into a $135M senior subordinated convertible loan facility with Vatera Healthcare Partners and Vatera Investment Partners, the funding of which is subject to several closing conditions including receipt of stockholder approval, the appointment of Johnson as CEO of the Company and the effectiveness of an amendment to the company's facility agreement with funds managed by Deerfield Management, as lenders, which amendment was entered into earlier this month. Together, these actions are delivering results, including continued product sales momentum in Q4. Melinta anticipates that it will report net product sales of approximately $14M for Q4 and $46M for the year ended December 31, 2018, meeting the minimum net sales covenant under its facility agreement with Deerfield. The company also expects to report year-end cash and cash equivalents of approximately $81.5M and to generate between $50M-$70M in operating expense savings for 2019, driven primarily by lower R&D and G&A when compared to 2018. The figures in the foregoing sentences are all based upon preliminary, unaudited estimates and remain subject to change as the company finalizes its results for 2018.

08:08 EDT Top Image to be acquired by Kofax; investors to receive 86c in cash/share - Top Image Systems Ltd. (TISA) announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Kofax (KFX), a portfolio company of private equity investment firm, Thoma Bravo. Under the terms of the agreement, Top Image Systems stockholders will receive 86c per share in cash for each ordinary share of Top Image Systems, representing a 65% premium over Top Image Systems' volume weighted average price over the past 30 trading days. The Board of Directors of Top Image Systems has unanimously voted to approve the definitive agreement and to recommend that stockholders approve the transaction. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including, among others, the affirmative vote in favor of the transaction by holders of a majority of the company's outstanding ordinary shares present and voting at a meeting, and required regulatory approvals. It is anticipated that the special meeting of Top Image Systems' stockholders to vote on the transaction will be held in early 2019, and, if the transaction is approved, the merger would be expected to close shortly thereafter.The transaction will be financed with cash from Kofax's balance sheet. There is no financing contingency to the obligations of Kofax to consummate the transaction. Canaccord Genuity LLC is serving as financial advisor to Top Image Systems, and Greenberg Traurig, LLP is acting as legal counsel to Top Image Systems.

08:05 EDT Gannett board unanimously rejects unsolicited proposal from MNG Enterprises - Gannett announced that its board of directors has unanimously rejected MNG Enterprises unsolicited proposal, to acquire Gannett for $12.00 per share in cash. The company said, "After careful review and consideration, conducted in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, the Gannett board concluded that MNG's unsolicited proposal undervalues Gannett and is not in the best interests of Gannett and its shareholders. In addition, Gannett does not believe MNG's proposal is credible...The Gannett board supports the company's digital strategy, which is focused on serving as a trusted, comprehensive digital marketing partner to local and national businesses while also defining, strengthening and growing our communities through digital engagement.. In addition, Gannett continues to rationalize its cost base in a thoughtful and strategic manner and align its legacy printing operation costs with print revenue trends. Gannett notes that MNG's actions - both before and since its public approach - suggest that MNG's proposal is not credible. Despite its assertions to the contrary, MNG never sought to engage with Gannett regarding an acquisition of the company prior to the appearance of The Wall Street Journal article on January 13, 2019, or prior to Gannett's receipt of MNG's letter and MNG's public announcement on January 14, 2019, despite the fact that MNG and Gannett management are well known to one another and in fact are partners in significant operations. Following the public announcement of MNG's proposal, which provided no information about how MNG would finance the transaction and failed to address potential regulatory risks and other fundamental issues that Gannett considered important to its assessment of the proposal, on January 16, 2019, Gannett sent a letter to MNG, offering to arrange a meeting between representatives of both companies, including two of Gannett's independent directors. Gannett posed questions to MNG that are routinely addressed by someone making a credible, public, unsolicited takeover proposal: Can MNG fund it? Can MNG close it? However, as a prerequisite for any discussions, MNG insisted that a non-disclosure agreement be in place. An NDA is not a prerequisite for MNG to explain how it intends to finance and close the transaction MNG itself proposed. Without such basic information, neither Gannett nor any other company in Gannett's position would disclose sensitive, confidential information to MNG. While Gannett invited MNG to provide written responses at a level of detail that would not have required MNG to disclose confidential information, MNG still has not provided any more information about how it would execute on its proposal. In light of this, Gannett now questions MNG's motives and can only conclude that the proposed NDA is a distraction designed to mask MNG's inability to finance and complete the proposed transaction. Indeed, given MNG's refusal to provide even the most basic answers to Gannett's questions, it appears that MNG does not have a realistic plan to acquire Gannett. As a public company, Gannett's board would engage with any party that makes a bona fide, credible proposal that appropriately values the company and is capable of being closed. MNG's proposal fails that test."

08:04 EDT Barrick Gold to increase interest in Reunion Gold to 19.9%

08:04 EDT Barrick Gold, Reunion Gold announce strategic alliance agreement - Reunion Gold Corporation announced i) the execution of a Strategic Alliance Agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation to form a 50:50 alliance to jointly explore for, develop and mine certain mineral projects in the Guiana Shield, including Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and the North and Northeast Regions of Brazil; and ii) Barrick's concurrent agreement to increase its interest in Reunion to 19.9% through its participation in Reunion's previously announced private placement offering. Reunion and Barrick have entered into the SAA to establish terms for the identification of mineral properties and mining projects that will be subject to the Alliance, the governance of the Alliance and the management of the mineral properties and mining projects that will be subject to the Alliance. Reunion will initially contribute to the Alliance the Waiamu Project, the Aremu Project, the Arawini Project and the Oko Project, all located in Guyana (the "Initial Included Projects"). Barrick will initially fund an amount equal to $4.2M on the Initial Included Projects, as credit for historical exploration expenditures spent by Reunion, with subsequent funding to be on a 50:50 basis between Reunion and Barrick. Subsequently, and as long as the Alliance will be in effect, if Reunion acquires an interest or an option to acquire an interest in any mineral property in the Subject Area, it will present the new project to Barrick and Barrick will have 90 days to elect to include the new project in the Alliance. If included, Barrick will fund the initial costs and expenditures for the project in an amount equal to Reunion's incurred costs on the project up to a maximum of $250,000. Concurrently with the signing of the SAA, Barrick has agreed to subscribe to such number of shares to increase its interest in Reunion from 15% to 19.9%. Assuming that the previously announced private placement of up to $15M is fully subscribed, Barrick will purchase 35,700,000 shares for a total value of $5,355,000.

07:56 EDT Altus Midstream Company exercises option to acquire 15% stake in EPIC pipeline - Altus Midstream Company announced it has exercised its option to acquire a 15% equity interest in the EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline. The 700-mile EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline will extend from Orla, Texas to the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas and is expected to have Permian Basin initial throughput capacity of 590,000 barrels per day. The project includes terminals in Orla, Pecos, Saragosa, Crane, Wink, Midland, Hobson and Gardendale, with Port of Corpus Christi connectivity and export access. It will service Delaware Basin, Midland Basin and Eagle Ford Shale production. The right-of-way is 100% secured for the mainline, and 100% of the pipe for the project has been ordered with delivery and construction beginning this month. The pipeline is expected to be in service by January 2020.

07:52 EDT EPIC announces option exercises in both EPIC Crude, NGL Pipelines - EPIC Midstream Holdings announced that Noble Midstream Partners LP (NBLX) exercised its option for a 30% equity stake in the EPIC Crude Pipeline Project and a 15% equity stake in the EPIC NGL Pipeline while Altus Midstream Company (ALTM), through one of its subsidiaries, and Rattler Midstream, a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy (FANG), exercised options for 15% and 10%, respectively, in the EPIC Crude Pipeline Project. Closing of the equity interest in each project is anticipated in February 2019 and subject to certain conditions precedent. The pro forma ownership for both projects is EPIC Crude Pipeline: EPIC 45%, Noble Midstream Partners 30%, Altus Midstream Company 15% and Rattler Midstream 10%; EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline: EPIC 75%, Noble Midstream Partners 15% and Salt Creek Midstream 10% .

07:48 EDT Noble Midstream exercises option to invest in EPIC crude, EPIC Y-Grade Pipelines - Noble Midstream Partners (NBLX) announced it has exercised and closed its option with EPIC Midstream Holdings to acquire a 15% equity interest in the EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline. In addition, Noble Energy (NBL) has assigned Noble Midstream its option to acquire a 30% equity interest in the EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline and Noble Midstream has exercised its option with EPIC. Closing of the Partnership's equity interest in the EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline is anticipated in February 2019 and subject to certain conditions precedent. Both pipelines are anticipated to be funded through project level debt as well as equity commitments from project partners. Noble Midstream's total cash equity investment is anticipated to be approximately $165M to $180M for the EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline and $330M to $350M for the EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline. Included in these amounts, a $109M catch-up payment for the EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline was contributed at close and approximately $100M to $110M is anticipated to be paid for the EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline at close. Noble Midstream intends to fund its equity investment with its revolving credit facility and is exploring a private co-investment in the EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline. The Partnership anticipates significant value creation for unitholders from the EPIC Crude Oil Pipeline and EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline Projects: Participation in these ventures reinforces the Partnership's target of 50% Permian EBITDA contribution by the end of 2020. The addition of meaningful Permian long-haul transportation to the portfolio provides a future source of stable and predictable cash flows. Both investments are expected to have robust economics, with returns and build multiples that compete with the very best opportunities in the Partnership's portfolio. Noble Midstream anticipates a temporary but prudent increase in leverage, with a clear pathway to achieving long-term targets as these projects begin contributing meaningfully to the Partnership. The opportunities will be financed without the issuance of Partnership equity. The projects are underpinned by agreements from high-quality customers.

07:37 EDT Pembina Pipeline makes positive final investment decision on petrochemical plant - Pembina Pipeline along with Petrochemical Industries of Kuwait, announced a positive final investment decision to construct a 550,000 ton per annum integrated propane dehydrogenation plant and polypropylene upgrading facility through their equally-owned joint venture entity, Canada Kuwait Petrochemical Corporation or CKPC. Pembina will manage long-term propane supply and provide Alberta-specific operating and project execution experience, feedstock connectivity and strong producer relationships. The PDH/PP Facility will be located in Alberta's Industrial Heartland and will consume approximately 23,000 barrels per day. The PDH/PP Facility has a nameplate capacity of 550,000 metric tonnes of PP per year. CKPC has a Class II level capital cost estimate of $4.5B gross. Pembina's net investment of $2.5B represents a 50% interest in CKPC, which will own the PDH and PP plants, and a 100% directly-owned interest in the supporting facilities. Pembina has secured in excess of 40% of its expected Adjusted EBITDA from this project through a portfolio of commercial arrangements with third parties. Pembina is confident in achieving a minimum of 50% fee-for-service contribution to Adjusted EBITDA. The PDH/PP Facility is expected to be in-service in mid-2023, and is expected to generate annual run-rate Adjusted EBITDA of $275M-$350M, net to Pembina. CKPC has been awarded $300M of royalty credits from the Alberta government.

07:34 EDT Aircastle provides update on aircraft repossession efforts in Brazil - Aircastle provided an update on its aircraft still being operated by Avianca Brazil. On February 1, the judge in the bankruptcy proceeding of Avianca Brazil issued an order extending the stay on repossession until mid-April. Despite extending the stay, the decision requires the airline to resume making payments beginning February 1. Aircastle believes the decision is contrary to well established Brazilian law and The Cape Town Convention, a treaty adopted by Brazil which provides international standards for the repossession of aircraft. Aircastle intends to continue to aggressively pursue its rights, including the immediate appeal of the judge's decisions.

07:32 EDT WPX Energy signs sales agreements worth over $200M - WPX Energy has signed agreements to divest certain holdings for aggregate proceeds in excess of $200M, with closings expected in the first quarter. The sales consist of separate transactions for an equity interest in a third-party pipeline and WPX's non-core Nine Mile Draw E&P assets in southern Reeves County, Texas. One sale involves WPX's 20% equity interest in WhiteWater Midstream's Agua Blanca natural gas pipeline. WPX will continue to be a shipper on the line. The other sale involves roughly 5,600 net acres and approximately 1,500 Boe/d of production in an area significantly outside of WPX's core Stateline development in the Delaware Basin. WPX is reinvesting $100M of sales proceeds for its purchase of approximately 14,000 surface acres within its Stateline operations.

07:19 EDT Dixie Group updates profit improvement plan, increases cost reductions by $6M - Dixie Group has updated its previously announced profit improvement plan to reflect further cost reductions and additional charges associated with the plan's implementation. The company has committed to the updated plan as part of its continuing efforts to improve efficiencies and streamline operations to more closely align its operating structure with its business and value creation strategy. The updated plan increased estimated cost reductions by $6M to a total of $17.1M. In connection with the revised plan, the company expects to incur a pre-tax restructuring and asset impairment charge in Q4 of approximately $6.1M and further charges in early 2019 of approximately $2.1M. The cost of the entire plan is estimated to be approximately $11.1M, comprised of severance expenses, facility shutdown expenses, equipment relocation and infrastructure changes, inventory impairments and non-cash impairment of equipment and intangible assets. In its current form, the restructuring plan is expected to be substantially complete in Q1. The plan is expected to yield gross annual cost reductions, once fully implemented later in 2019, of approximately $17.1M as compared to the previous estimate of $11.1M.

07:16 EDT uniQure announces first patient treated in HOPE-B trial of AMT-061 - uniQure announced that it treated the first patient in its HOPE-B pivotal trial of AMT-061, an investigational AAV5-based gene therapy incorporating the patent-protected FIX-Padua variant for the treatment of patients with severe and moderately severe hemophilia B. AMT-061 has been granted breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA and access to Priority Medicines regulatory initiative by the European Medicines Agency. The global HOPE-B Phase III clinical trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of AMT-061. Approximately 50 adult patients with hemophilia B classified as severe or moderately severe will be enrolled in a six-month observational period, during which time they will continue to use their current standard of care to establish a prospective comparator. After the six-month lead-in period, patients will receive a single intravenous administration of AMT-061. The primary outcome measure is the assessment of Factor IX activity 26 weeks after AMT-061 dosing. Secondary outcome measures include annualized bleeding rate and usage of Factor IX replacement therapy over a 52-week time frame, as well as other efficacy and safety aspects. Post-treatment, patients will be followed for 5 years.

07:15 EDT Ultimate Software agrees to be acquired by investor group for $331.50 per share - Ultimate Software announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by an investor group led by Hellman & Friedman, a private equity investment firm, in an all-cash transaction for $331.50 per share in cash - representing an aggregate value of approximately $11B- after which Ultimate Software will operate as a privately held company. Under the terms of the agreement, all Ultimate stockholders of record will receive $331.50 in cash for each share of Ultimate's common stock held upon the closing of the transaction. This price represents a premium of approximately 32% over Ultimate's volume-weighted average price during the 30 trading days ending February 1, 2019, and a premium to Ultimate's all-time high closing share price. Ultimate's board has unanimously approved this transaction and recommended that stockholders vote in favor of the transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, Ultimate will continue to operate under the leadership of CEO Scott Scherr and the existing senior management team. The privately held company will be owned by an investor group led by Hellman & Friedman in partnership with significant investors Blackstone, GIC, and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, or CPPIB, and other investors including JMI Equity. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2019, subject to stockholder approval and other customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals.

07:12 EDT Spero Therapeutics announces FDA acceptance of SPR994 IND application - Spero Therapeutics announced the acceptance by the FDA of its investigational new drug, or IND, application for SPR994, Spero's lead product candidate designed to be the first oral carbapenem antibiotic, for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections, or cUTI. This IND acceptance will enable Spero to initiate U.S. enrollment in its planned global, single pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of SPR994 in cUTI. Spero's planned pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of SPR994, ADAPT-PO, is designed as a double-blind, double-dummy trial to compare oral SPR994 with an existing standard of care intravenous, or IV, antibiotic, ertapenem, in approximately 1,200 patients randomized 1:1 in each arm. The primary endpoint of the pivotal trial will be the combined clinical and microbiological response at the test of cure with a 10% non-inferiority margin versus IV ertapenem. The trial will incorporate a lead-in cohort of 70 patients with intensive pharmacokinetics assessment to confirm the dose and exposure in the cUTI patient population. Spero anticipates receiving interim pharmacokinetic data from the trial's lead-in cohort in the second half of 2019. In addition, Spero will conduct routine ancillary clinical pharmacology studies in parallel with the ADAPT-PO clinical trial, including a renal insufficiency study, a thorough QT prolongation study and a drug-drug interaction study. Spero has begun start-up activities for the ADAPT-PO clinical trial and anticipates opening trial sites to support study enrollment in Q1.

07:09 EDT Ultimate Software agrees to be acquired by investor group for $331.50 per share

07:07 EDT Optinose enters EDS license agreement with Inexia - Optinose announced that it has entered into a license agreement with Inexia whereby Inexia has obtained certain rights that will enable the use of Optinose's exhalation delivery systems, or EDS, and other intellectual property in their effort to discover and develop novel therapies based on positive modulators of Orexin OX1 and OX2 for neurological diseases. Inexia was recently formed as part of a structured financing agreement between Japan-based Sosei Group and Medicxi. In exchange for this license, Optinose will receive an upfront payment and for each product developed under the license agreement is eligible to receive up to $8M of development milestone payments and up to $37M of sales milestone payments. In addition, Optinose is eligible for tiered, low-to-mid single digit royalties based on net sales of any products successfully developed and commercialized under the license agreement. Inexia will be responsible for all costs and activities related to the identification, development and commercialization of potential products under this license.

07:06 EDT Starboard Value CEO Jeffrey Smith joins Papa John's board - The two new independent directors joining the Papa John's Board are: Jeffrey Smith, a Managing Member, CEO and CIO of Starboard Value, a New York City based investment advisor with a focused, fundamental and active approach to investing in U.S. publicly traded companies. Anthony Sanfilippo, former Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment.

07:06 EDT BioLineRx receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for BL-8040 - BioLineRx announced that the U.S. FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to its lead oncology candidate, BL-8040, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

07:05 EDT Elbit Systems subsidiary awarded contract to provide avionics refresh - M7 Aerospace, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems of America, was awarded an initial $5M order on a sub-contract from Support Systems Associates to provide an avionics refresh for the U.S. Air National Guard's premier fixed-wing aircraft used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance operations - the RC-26B. If all options are ordered, the total sub-contract would be valued at $22M. M7 Aerospace will complete the work by 2021 out of its San Antonio, Texas facility. The contract with SSAI will include avionics engineering, design, integration, modification, test and maintenance for the technically advanced aircraft.

07:03 EDT Papa John's announces $200M strategic investment from Starboard Value - Papa John's International announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with Starboard Value pursuant to which Starboard is making a $200M strategic investment in the Company with the option to make an additional $50M investment through March 29, 2019. In connection with the investment, the Papa John's Board of Directors is expanding to include two new independent directors, including Jeffrey C. Smith, CEO of Starboard, who has been appointed Chairman of the Papa John's Board, and Anthony M. Sanfilippo, former Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. These directors bring substantial experience in the restaurant, retail and hospitality industries, with skill sets spanning operational turnarounds, corporate finance and corporate governance. Their expertise and new perspectives will help support the Company's strategy to capitalize on its differentiated "BETTER INGREDIENTS. BETTER PIZZA." market position and build a better pizza company for the benefit of its shareholders, team members, franchisees and customers. In addition, Papa John's President and CEO Steve Ritchie has been appointed to the Board. With the addition of the new directors, the Board will comprise nine directors, seven of whom are independent. In September 2018, the Company began a process to evaluate a wide range of strategic options with the goal of maximizing value for all shareholders and serving the best interest of the Company's stakeholders. In order to execute the strategic review, a Special Committee comprised of the independent directors of the Board retained Lazard and BofA Merrill Lynch as its financial advisors. After extensive discussions with a wide group of strategic and financial investors, the Board concluded that the investment agreement with Starboard was in the best interest of shareholders. The Company plans to use approximately half of the proceeds of the investment to repay debt, with the remaining proceeds providing financial flexibility that enables Papa John's to invest capital to further advance its five strategic priorities of People, Brand, Value/Product, Technology and Unit Economics. The Company will take a disciplined approach to capital allocation, ensuring that investments in these five areas are directed to its highest return initiatives, with clear parameters and analytics in place to measure and track performance and execution.

07:01 EDT CytoSorbents announces DSMB recommendation continuation of REMOVE trial - CytoSorbents announced that the Data Safety Monitoring Board, or DSMB, of the German government-funded REMOVE Endocarditis trial recommended continuation of the study following an interim analysis on the first 50 patients of the study.

06:56 EDT Santander Chile reports Q4 net interest margin 4.4% - The Bank's net interest margin in 4Q18 was 4.4%, lower than the 4.6% in 4Q17, however stable compared to 12M17.

06:51 EDT Comstock Resources reports 2018 oil and gas reserves and production - Comstock Resources' proved oil and natural gas reserves as of December 31, 2018 were estimated at 23.6 million barrels of crude oil and 2,283 Bcf of natural gas or 2,424 Bcf of natural gas equivalent, vs. total proved reserves of 1,162 Bcfe as of December 31, 2017. The 2,424 Bcfe of proved reserves at December 31, 2018 were 29% proved developed and 86% were operated by Comstock. PV-10 Value was approximately $1.8B, up 103% from the PV-10 Value in 2017 of $866M. Oil and natural gas prices used in determining the December 31, 2018 proved reserve estimates were 26% higher for oil and relatively unchanged for natural gas as compared to prices used at December 31, 2017. Comstock produced 1.8M barrels of oil and 100 Bcf of natural gas or 111 Bcfe in 2018 including production from the Bakken shale properties commencing on August 14, 2018. In Q4, Comstock's production averaged 10,587 Boe/d and 336 MMcf of natural gas per day, or 400 MMcfe per day. Q4 production increased 57% year-over-year. The significant growth in production and proved reserves was primarily attributable to the contribution of 23.1M barrels of oil and 51 Bcf of natural gas by entities controlled by Dallas businessman Jerry Jones and his family on August 14, 2018, the expansion of the company's future drilling plans for 2019 and future years resulting from additional cash flow available to Comstock from the contributed properties, and the company's successful Haynesville shale drilling and acquisition activities.

06:47 EDT Merck: CHMP adopts positive opinion for KEYTRUDA combination - Merck announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion recommending KEYTRUDA, Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel, for the first-line treatment of metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer in adults. This recommendation is based on results from the pivotal, Phase 3 KEYNOTE-407 trial, which enrolled patients regardless of PD-L1 tumor expression status. The trial showed a significant improvement in overall survival and progression-free survival for patients taking KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and either paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel) compared with chemotherapy alone. If approved, this would mark the first approval in Europe for an anti-PD-1 therapy in combination with chemotherapy for adults with metastatic squamous NSCLC.

06:38 EDT Ribbon Communications to acquire business, technology assets of Anova Data - Ribbon Communications announced that it has agreed to purchase the business and technology assets of Anova Data, a provider of advanced analytics solutions. Anova Data is based in the U.S. and its products provide a cloud-native, streaming analytics platform for network and subscriber optimization and monetization. These products in combination with existing Ribbon solutions are expected to deliver mobile, fixed and enterprise customers an enhanced suite of applications that utilize big data analytics and machine learning to provide prescriptive insights on subscriber behavior and network performance. With these newly combined solutions, Ribbon believes it can better engage customers with expanded offerings to open new revenue streams, provide advanced service assurance and improve overall subscriber experiences. The proposed acquisition reinforces and extends Ribbon's strategy to expand into network optimization, security and data monetization via big data analytics and machine learning. As the complexity and scale of network operations continue to grow, big data analytics and machine learning are central to operations and new revenue generation. The transaction is expected to close in Q1, subject to customary closing conditions. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the equity owners of Anova Data will receive at closing an aggregate of 3.3M shares of Ribbon common stock in exchange for substantially all of the assets and liabilities of Anova Data. Ribbon does not expect that the acquisition will materially affect its financial results in 2019.

06:34 EDT Alexion sees FY19 adjusted operating margin 54%-55% - 2019 financial guidance assumes a GAAP effective tax rate of 13%-15% and non-GAAP effective tax rate of 14%-16%.

06:33 EDT Alexion sees FY19 Metabolic revenues $655M-$680M

06:32 EDT Wabco awarded $230M contract to supply air suspension for passenger cars - Wabco has signed a long-term agreement to develop and supply air suspension technology for one of the world's largest manufacturers of premium passenger cars, based in Europe. Under this latest 10-year agreement, WABCO will develop and deliver an air supply module along with control software to operate a range of air suspension system configurations for one of the manufacturer's high-volume global premium passenger car platforms.

06:12 EDT Goldman Sachs may claw back millions from CEO over bribery scandal - In a regulatory filing on Friday, Goldman Sachs announced that the Compensation Committee of the firm's Board of Directors determined total annual compensation for 2018 for Messrs. David M. Solomon and Lloyd C. Blankfein. "Mr. Solomon, our Chairman and CEO, received $23,000,000 in 2018 total annual compensation, which compares to 2017 total annual compensation of $21,000,000. Mr. Solomon's 2018 compensation consists of an annual base salary of $1,887,500, which reflects a per annum rate of $1,850,000 through September 30, 2018 and $2,000,000 beginning October 1, 2018, and annual variable compensation of $21,112,500. $15,412,125 of this annual variable compensation was granted in the form of performance-based restricted stock units, with the remainder granted in the form of cash. The PSUs tie 100% of Mr. Solomon's annual equity-based compensation to ongoing performance metrics. Mr. Blankfein, our former Chairman and CEO, received $20,500,000 in total annual 2018 compensation, which compares to 2017 total annual compensation of $24,000,000. In light of the ongoing governmental and regulatory investigations relating to 1Malaysia Development Berhad, the Board also approved a new forfeiture provision that was included in the terms and conditions of the 2018 year-end equity-based awards granted to each of the employees serving as the firm's Senior Executives as of December 31, 2018. This provision will provide the Committee with the flexibility to reduce the size of the award prior to payment and/or forfeit the underlying transfer-restricted shares if it is later determined that the results of the 1MDB proceedings would have impacted the Committee's 2018 year-end compensation decisions for any of these individuals."

06:03 EDT Loop Industries, L'OCCITANE sign multi-year agreement - The L'OCCITANE Group and Loop Industries announced the signing of a multi-year take or pay supply agreement for Loop branded 100% sustainable PET plastic. The agreement will see L'OCCITANE en Provence start to incorporate Loop PET plastic into its product packaging as of 2022 and place the Loop logo on all packaging containing Loop PET plastic.

05:56 EDT KBR awarded debottlenecking contract in Saudi Arabi - KBR announced it has been awarded a contract by SATORP, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Total, to debottleneck Train 2 of its existing 440,000 barrels per day refinery in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or KSA. The debottlenecking project is expected to increase the original refinery's throughput by 15% once completed in August 2020.

05:44 EDT Diodes to acquire Greenock, Scotland facility from Texas Instruments - Diodes (DIOD) announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Texas Instruments' (TXN) wafer fabrication facility and operation located in Greenock, Scotland, refered to as GFAB. Upon closing, Diodes will integrate the Greenock facility and fab operations, including the transfer of all GFAB employees to Diodes. In addition, as part of a multi-year wafer supply agreement, Diodes will continue to manufacture TI's Analog products from GFAB as TI transfers into its other wafer fabs. TI's 318,782 square-foot facility has a potential capacity of up to 21,666 wafer starts or 256,000 8" equivalent layers per month, depending on product mix. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed at the end of the first quarter of 2019. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

05:33 EDT Halozyme, Argenx enter collaboration agreement for Enhanze - Argenx (ARGX) and Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO) announced a global collaboration and license agreement that enables use by argenx of Halozyme's ENHANZE drug delivery technology to develop multiple subcutaneous product formulations for current or future argenx product candidates. The agreement provides argenx exclusive access to ENHANZE for any product targeting the human neonatal Fc receptor FcRn, including argenx's lead asset efgartigimod and up to two additional targets, potentially shortening drug administration time, reducing healthcare practitioner time, and offering additional flexibility and convenience for patients. Under the terms of the agreement, argenx will pay an upfront payment of $30 million to Halozyme, $10 million per target for future target nominations and potential future payments of up to $160 million per selected target subject to achievement of specified development, regulatory and sales-based milestones. Halozyme will also receive mid-single digit royalties on sales of commercialized products.

05:29 EDT Regeneron, Sanofi announce CHMP positive opinion for Praluent Injection - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) and Sanofi (SNY) announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP, has adopted a positive opinion for Praluent Injection, recommending a new indication to reduce cardiovascular risk by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as an adjunct to correction of other risk factors in adults with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Praluent should be used in addition to maximally-tolerated statins or can be used alone in patients intolerant to or inappropriate for statin therapy. ASCVD is an umbrella term, defined as a build-up of plaque in the arteries that can lead to reduced blood flow and a number of serious conditions such as stroke, peripheral artery disease and acute coronary syndrome, which includes heart attack and unstable angina. The CHMP opinion is based on data from ODYSSEY OUTCOMES, a Phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes trial that assessed the effect of Praluent in 18,924 patients who had an ACS between 1-12 months before enrolling in the trial. Results from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2018. The European Commission is expected to make a final decision in the coming months. Data from ODYSSEY OUTCOMES have also been submitted to the FDA, with a target action date of April 28.