Stockwinners Market Radar for October 14, 2019 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

18:44 EDT Fly Intel: After Hours Movers - HIGHER: Reata Pharma (RETA) up 35.7% after its Part 2 MOXIe trial of omaveloxolone met primary endpoint... Glu Mobile (GLUU) up 9.1% after entering S&P SmallCap 600 index... Senseonics (SENS) up 8.4% after announcing HCSC now provides coverage for its Eversense CGM System... Akorn (AKRX) up 4.7% after getting FDA approval for Betamethasone Dipropionate Lotion... Stitch Fix (SFIX) up 1.6% after being initiated with Outperform at Baird... Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) up 1.3% after getting regulatory approval for First Staunton acquisition... eHealth (EHTH) up 1.3% after being initiated with Outperform at Baird. LOWER: Bloomin Brands (BLMN) down 1.7% after being cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank. Movers as of 18:30ET.

17:22 EDT S&P announces changes to S&P MidCap 400, S&P SmallCap 600 indices - SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) will replace International Speedway (ISCA) in the S&P MidCap 400, and Glu Mobile (GLUU) will replace SolarEdge Technologies in the S&P SmallCap 600 effective prior to the open of trading on Friday, October 18. Nascar Holdings is acquiring International Speedway in a transaction expected to be completed on or about that date pending final conditions.

17:17 EDT SolarEdge to replace International Speedway in S&P 400 at open on 10/18 - Nascar Holdings is acquiring International Speedway in a transaction expected to be completed on or about that date pending final conditions.

16:51 EDT Relmada Therapeutics to announces Phase 2 study results of REL-107 on October 15 - Relmada Therapeutics announced that it will release top-line data from its Phase 2 study of REL-1017 in patients with treatment resistant depression tomorrow, October 15, 2019, before the market opens.

16:36 EDT Preferred Apartment names Joel Murphy as CEO, effective January 1, 2020 - Preferred Apartment announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously elected Joel Murphy as CEO, effective as of January 1, 2020. Murphy will continue as a member of the Board, where he has served since May 2019. Murphy succeeds PAC's current CEO and Chairman of the Board, Daniel DuPree, who will remain with the company as Executive Chairman of the Board. Prior to his appointment as CEO of the company, Murphy has served as CEO of New Market Properties, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company since September 1, 2014 and as Chair of the Investment Committee for the company since June 2018.

16:35 EDT Repay Holdings Corporation (Class A Stock) trading resumes

16:30 EDT Reata Pharmaceuticals trading resumes

16:20 EDT Redwood Trust to acquire CoreVest for approximately $490M - Redwood Trust announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CoreVest, a nationwide originator and portfolio manager of business-purpose residential loans, or BPLs, and several of its affiliates from certain affiliates of Fortress Investment Group's credit funds business and CoreVest Management. The acquisition includes the CoreVest operating platform and over $900M of related financial assets. Collectively, the platform and assets will expand. Under the terms of the agreement, Redwood will acquire CoreVest's operating platform and assets, including its business-purpose loan portfolio and subordinate bonds from CoreVest-sponsored securitizations, from the sellers. Consideration for the acquisition is approximately $490M, net of in-place financing on the financial assets. Redwood plans to fund this transaction with a mix of cash on hand and shares of Redwood stock. The Redwood shares are payable to the CoreVest executive management team and vest over a two-year period. The acquisition is expected to close within the next two to three business days. Founded in 2014 and based in Irvine, California, CoreVest is an originator of single-family rental, single-family bridge and small-balance multifamily loans, providing debt capital to a broad range of residential real estate investors. Since inception, the company has funded over $4B in loans, including over $1.1B in 2019, year-to-date, across its product suite. Additionally, CoreVest has a presence as a securitization issuer.

16:09 EDT Senseonics announces HCSC now provides coverage for Eversense CGM System - Senseonics announced that Health Care Service Corporation, or HCSC - Blue Cross Blue Shield, is now providing coverage for the Eversense CGM System, effective October 15, 2019. The Eversense CGM System consists of a fluorescence-based sensor, a smart transmitter worn over the sensor to facilitate data communication, and a mobile app for displaying glucose values, trends and alerts. In addition to featuring the first long-term and first implantable CGM sensor, the system is also first to feature a smart transmitter that provides wearers with on-body vibratory alerts when high or low glucose thresholds are crossed and can be removed, recharged and re-adhered without discarding the sensor. The sensor is inserted subcutaneously in the upper arm by a health care provider.

16:07 EDT Sanmina names Kurt Adzema as CFO, succeeding David Anderson - Sanmina (SANM) announced Kurt Adzema has joined the company as Executive Vice President and CFO. Adzema succeeds David Anderson, who previously announced in January his plan to retire. Anderson will help facilitate a smooth transition and will remain as an advisor to Sanmina's Executive Chairman through March 27, 2020. Adzema brings over 20 years of experience in financial leadership roles with an extensive background in corporate development, strategic planning, financial analysis, investment banking and investor relations. Most recently, he served as CFO of Finisar, a leading supplier and vertically integrated manufacturer of optical communications products.

16:06 EDT Repay Holdings to acquire APS Payments for $60M - Repay Holdings announced the acquisition of APS Payments for $60M, of which $30M was paid at closing. The remaining $30 million may become payable upon the achievement of performance growth targets. The closing of the acquisition was financed with a combination of cash on hand and proceeds from borrowings under REPAY's existing credit facility.

16:00 EDT Repay Holdings Corporation (Class A Stock) trading halted, news pending

13:54 EDT Lineage Cell announces results from ongoing Phase I/IIa study of OpRegen - Lineage Cell Therapeutics announced additional results from an ongoing Phase I/IIa study of OpRegen, a retinal pigment epithelium cell transplant therapy currently in development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration. Data from the study demonstrate that treatment with OpRegen continues to be well tolerated and, at the furthest time point collected, all four Cohort 4 patients treated to date have better visual acuity on an Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Scale in the treated eye than in the untreated eye. The largest increase recorded at any single timepoint in a Cohort 4 patient was +22 letters. Cohort 4 patients have better baseline vision and less advanced disease than Cohorts 1-3 patients, who were legally blind at baseline. Previously reported structural improvements in the retina and decreases in drusen density observed in some patients have been maintained and there is evidence of the continued presence of transplanted OpRegen cells in patients treated in the first 3 cohorts, some over 3 years following administration. Of note, the first patient successfully dosed using the Orbit Subretinal Delivery System as well as a new Thaw-and-Inject formulation of OpRegen is also demonstrating signs of improved visual acuity having gained 13 letters in the 3 months following administration as assessed by ETDRS. Overall, OpRegen appears well tolerated with preliminary evidence of improved structural changes and potential improvement in visual acuity following treatment in some patients. Data presented at AAO showed that OpRegen, as well as both surgical procedures used to deliver OpRegen to the subretinal space via pars plana vitrectomy with retinotomy and the Orbit SDS, have been well tolerated. Notably, asymmetrical, reduced directional growth of the area of geographic atrophy in the treated area receiving OpRegen was observed in 3 patients. This finding will require additional long-term follow-up since GA expansion is a progressive but slow process. Imaging of several Cohort 1-3 patients, and of particular interest, those from the better vision Cohort 4, continue to demonstrate structural improvement within the retina and evidence of the continued presence of the transplanted OpRegen cells. Within the area of the OpRegen cell transplant, signs of a reduction and change in drusen material as well as improvements or possible restorations of the ellipsoid zone and retinal pigment epithelium layers have persisted. The photoreceptor layer and ellipsoid zone assumed a more regular structural appearance in areas of the transition zone where OpRegen was administered, suggesting potential structural restoration of the retina in areas receiving the RPE cells. Other changes observed following OpRegen treatment persisted through the last time point examined, included subretinal pigmentation and hyper-reflective areas seen on optical coherence tomography. The Best Corrected Visual Acuity in eyes receiving OpRegen have not deteriorated more rapidly than expected and areas of GA have not progressed faster than historical averages. Taken together, there are early positive trends for both when compared with the untreated fellow eye. Importantly, the visual acuity of the first 4 Cohort 4 patients have all seen improvements from baseline levels and will be followed for longer periods of time. The next 5 Cohort 4 patients with less severe disease, which is actively recruiting, will receive OpRegen via the Orbit SDS. There have been no unexpected adverse events or treatment-related systemic serious AEs reported in the first sixteen patients enrolled into this Phase I/IIa safety and tolerability study. The most common and expected ocular AEs were the formation or exacerbation of mild to moderate epiretinal membranes and a single report of a retinal detachment, all occurring in patients receiving OpRegen via the PPV route of administration. The Orbit SDS is an alternative to the PPV route and is designed to avoid ERM formation. The next 5 patients treated are expected to receive OpRegen via the Orbit SDS rather than the PPV route of administration.

12:57 EDT CannTrust Holdings trading resumes

12:30 EDT CannTrust Holdings trading halted, news pending

12:12 EDT Hilton Grand Vacations trading resumes

12:06 EDT Hilton Grand Vacations trading halted, volatility trading pause

11:01 EDT SmileDirectClub says nothing in AB1519 requires ceasing or modify operations

10:34 EDT Humana among five MA plans selected for Florida Medicare retirees - Humana (HUM), which identifies itself as Florida's largest Medicare Advantage provider by enrollment, announced that it has been selected as one of the health plans that will provide Medicare coverage to the state's Medicare retirees beginning Jan. 1, 2020. The state's 2020 Medicare enrollment period runs from Oct. 14 - Nov. 1, 2019. During this time, State of Florida Medicare-eligible retirees and their eligible dependents can select their 2020 Medicare plan and may select a new Humana Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Employer HMO, the company said.

10:00 EDT California Resources falls -9.0% - California Resources is down -9.0%, or -80c to $8.05.

10:00 EDT VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN rises 5.9% - VelocityShares 3x Long Natural Gas ETN is up 5.9%, or 78c to $13.89.

10:00 EDT Britannia Bulk rises 8.9% - Britannia Bulk is up 8.9%, or 47c to $5.83.

09:47 EDT Britannia Bulk rises 6.8% - Britannia Bulk is up 6.8%, or 36c to $5.71.

09:35 EDT RMS Medical Products to commence trading on Nasdaq on October 17 - Repro Med Systems, Inc. dba RMS Medical Products, announced that its common stock has been approved for listing and is expected to begin trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market on October 17, 2019 under the current symbol "REPR". The company's common stock will continue to trade on the OTCQX until market close on October 16, 2019. "This NASDAQ listing is a significant milestone and a reflection of our growth and evolution as a publicly traded company," said Don Pettigrew, President and CEO. "We believe that this listing will help to elevate the company's profile, expand our shareholder base, enhance trading efficiency, and support the pursuit of our long-term goals and objectives. Our Freedom infusion system is widely accepted as the preferred means of subcutaneous delivery of immunoglobulin therapies, and we are committed to broadening our product portfolio with solutions that optimize therapeutic efficacy, promote compliance, and improve the overall patient experience. We reported record net sales for the first two quarters of 2019 and believe that our strengthened management team and board of directors, proactive operating strategy, and multiple industry tailwinds leave us well-positioned to continue to grow and maximize shareholder value."

09:22 EDT Ford reports Q3 Europe sales up 3.1% to 313,400 vehicles - Ford sales grew more than 3% in the third quarter 2019 in the company's traditional European 20 markets, outpacing industry growth of 2.2%. Ford total vehicle sales and market share hit their highest levels for the third quarter since Q3 2016. "Overall Ford vehicle sales and market share grew in the third quarter to their highest levels since 2016. Customers continue to appreciate the versatility and capability of Ford utility vehicles, including Kuga, EcoSport and Edge," said Roelant de Waard, Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.

09:17 EDT Allergan shareholders approve AbbVie acquisition proposal - Allergan (AGN) announced that its shareholders have voted to approve the previously announced proposed acquisition of Allergan by AbbVie (ABBV). More than 99% of the votes cast at both a special court-ordered meeting of shareholders and at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders were in favor of the transaction, representing approximately 68.6% of the shares outstanding and eligible to be voted at each of the Allergan shareholder meetings held on October 14 in Dublin, Ireland. Under the terms of the agreement announced on June 25, AbbVie will acquire Allergan in a cash and stock transaction for a transaction equity value of approximately $63B, based on the closing price of AbbVie's common stock of $78.45 on June 24. Allergan shareholders will receive 0.8660 AbbVie Shares and $120.30 in cash for each Allergan share, for a total consideration of $188.24 per Allergan share. The transaction is expected to close in early 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

09:12 EDT Argo Group holder Voce comments on SEC probe - Voce Capital, the beneficial owner of approximately 5.4% of the shares of Argo Group International Holdings, commented on Argo's recent disclosure of an ongoing SEC investigation at Argo related to executive compensation and benefits and associated disclosure issues: "Earlier this year Voce published a detailed case demonstrating that a culture of indulgence, entrenchment and failed oversight has plagued Argo under the aegis of the current board. Beginning with a public letter to our fellow shareholders on February 25, 2019 [link], and supported through a number of subsequent communications, including our 131-page white paper, 'Righting the Ship' [link] - we chronicled Argo's decrepit corporate governance, particularly as it relates to the board's lack of proper oversight of management and the absence of any delineation between corporate assets and priorities and those of management. We also called for 'a top-to-bottom investigation of Argo's corporate governance practices.' Based on Argo's response to a media report breaking the news of an SEC investigation into these matters, apparently the board has finally undertaken such a review. It's a shame that it required an SEC subpoena to force the board to do its job. As a reminder, this is the same board that wasted more than seven million dollars of shareholder capital at this year's annual meeting to preserve the status quo and to prevent the addition to the board of even a single director nominated by shareholders. Instead of investigating our claims, the board summarily brushed aside all of our concerns and represented to shareholders that the corporate governance issues we raised were 'absurd,' 'spurious,' 'uninformed' and 'egregious' 'misrepresentations, careless errors and outright falsehoods.' Apparently at least one federal investigative agency didn't see it that way. In August of this year, Voce reached out to Argo's board to request a meeting with its independent directors. In the ensuing discussions, Voce made a series of proposals to restructure Argo's board and reform its corporate governance. While the tenor of the discussions has been polite and professional, as of today Voce has been unable to reach agreement with the board. The disclosure that the company is now under federal investigation vividly illustrates the need for immediate and sweeping changes at Argo. 'One cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it,' as the saying goes, and we likewise do not believe that a board that allowed myriad corporate governance transgressions at Argo can be trusted to deliver the company from the resulting crisis which now engulfs it. Needless to say, many crucial decisions lie ahead. It's imperative that shareholders have full faith and confidence in the group of individuals making those determinations and that simply will not happen with the board as currently constituted... Argo's board has previously displayed a penchant for preemptive gamesmanship, such as filling all of the open board seats with new director appointments on the eve of our meeting this past February. We see the same pattern potentially recurring now, with the board seemingly focused on evading responsibility rather than truly acting in the best interests of the company and all of its stakeholders. Why else would the board choose to use a press release disclosing an SEC investigation - which was prompted by a media story rather than any voluntary act of transparency - to then congratulate itself for the multi-year board de-staggering process it announced months ago? How is that relevant other than to try to deflect scrutiny of itself for permitting the actions that led to the investigation in the first place? In our efforts to engage the board over the proposals we made, the board maintained that it has other priorities at the moment. And that is precisely our point: Given its track record, shareholders simply have no reason to trust anything done by the current board. We urge the board again not to enact any further corporate governance changes until the board is reconstituted to include shareholder representation. As one of Argo's largest shareholders, we remain open to working constructively with the board to help guide the company through this painful, albeit self-inflicted, period. Should the board continue to refuse the changes we recommend, however, we will seek to hold it accountable through whatever process we deem to be in the best interests of all Argo shareholders."

09:10 EDT UPS launches Storage on Demand service - UPS announced the launch of Storage on Demand, a new UPS service that allows customers to request delivery of empty storage bins directly to their home or business using a mobile-friendly website. Customers then fill the bins with their belongings and seal them once packed, then simply schedule a pickup for their items to be driven to a secure, nearby UPS facility for storage. The "valet storage" concept also enables customers to use the website to retrieve their warehoused items and have them delivered back to their front door with same day service. Storage on Demand currently serves the greater metro Atlanta area, including Roswell, Marietta, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs with plans to expand to other U.S. cities in the near future. Prices start at $5 per month per bin. Storage on Demand is currently offering a promotion for the first three months free, which includes delivery of bins, pickup from your door, three months of storage and delivery back to your home or business.

09:09 EDT Ericsson and Watch Communications enter into partnership - Watch Communications has entered into a partnership with Ericsson as a part of its $53M project with the Connect America Fund II to deliver increased internet connectivity to rural communities in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. Watch will use Ericsson's Radio System hardware and software to build their fixed wireless access network in areas where Citizens Broadband Radio Service and licensed spectrum will be used. Watch will have access to Ericsson 4x4 and 64x64 Massive MIMO solutions that offer higher system capacity and reliability compared to competing LTE solutions. Ericsson will also provide network management and CBRS solutions, and the network can be smoothly evolved to 5G in the near future.

09:08 EDT Comtech awarded $4.4M contract renewal - Comtech announced that during Q1, its commercial solutions segment was awarded a $4.4M contract renewal from a Fortune 500 customer which renewed the licensing of Comtech's GPS-enabled navigation platform.

09:06 EDT Admedus sells CardioCel, VascuCel patch business to LeMaitre for $A36.2M - Admedus announces the sale of its CardioCel and VascuCel patch business to U.S based LeMaitre Vascular for up to $A36.2M ($A22.8M upfront) in cash payments to Admedus. These products originated from the company's proprietary, regenerative bio-scaffold platform technology, being used to address multiple cardiovascular procedures and repairs. Under the agreement terms, Admedus receives $A22.8M upfront followed by deferred payments of $A1M each at 12 months and at 36 months. Additionally, the company may receive up to $A11.4M in earn-out payments as follows: $A3.0M on obtaining certain regulatory approvals under European Medical Devices Directorate Regulation; $A0.7M on Admedus completing all testing and documentation to extend the shelf life of the CardioCel and VascuCel products from 36 months to at least 60 months in the United States; Up to $A3.73M if gross revenue from LeMaitre CardioCel and VascuCel product sales exceed $A29.8M in the first 12 months or $A1.8M if gross revenue from product sales exceed $A22.4M in the first 12 months; Up to $A3.73M if gross revenue from LeMaitre CardioCel and VascuCel product sales exceed $A44.7M in the second 12 months or $A1.8M if gross revenue from product sales exceed $A33.5M in the second 12 months;$A0.2m for completion of reporting procedures by 31 October 2019. Admedus retains manufacturing rights for up to three years and will continue manufacturing CardioCel and VascuCel at its Malaga facility in Western Australia for LeMaitre. The manufacturing agreement ensures Admedus a 20% margin over cost. Admedus retains sole-control on all intellectual property for the underlying ADAPT technology platform/process, including its breakthrough TAVR device and single-piece 3D aortic valve.

09:03 EDT Admedus sells CardioCel, VascuCel patch business to LeMaitre for $A36.2M

08:50 EDT Eaton Vance reports consolidated AUM $489.7B on September 30 - This compares to $482.8B on July 31, the close of the company's third fiscal quarter.

08:41 EDT Parsley Energy sees Jagged Peak Energy deal immediately accretive on key metrics - Key Transaction Highlights: Complementary, High-Margin Delaware Basin Footprint: Parsley (PE) possesses an institutional familiarity with Jagged Peak's (JAG) Delaware Basin assets, with the majority of the acreage directly offsetting Parsley's legacy position. Furthermore, Jagged Peak's high-margin, oil-weighted asset base will integrate smoothly into Parsley's near-term development program. On a pro forma basis, Parsley will have approximately 267,000 net acres in the Permian, comprised of 147,000 net acres in the Midland Basin and a highly contiguous 120,000 net acre footprint in the Delaware Basin. Accretive on Key Metrics: Parsley expects the low-premium transaction to be immediately accretive to key metrics in 2020, including: cash flow per share, free cash flow per share, cash return on capital invested, and net asset value. Corporate Cost Optimization Accrues to Shareholders: The combination is expected to generate cash general and administrative savings of approximately $25M in the first year and $40M-50M of annual savings thereafter, translating to a net present value of $250M-300M. Parsley expects this synergy to facilitate margin expansion and enhance corporate free cash flow. Additional Synergies Clearly Identified: In addition to G&A savings, Parsley has identified further synergies that are anticipated to be realized over time: Capital Efficiency Gains: Parsley and Jagged Peak have seen material improvements in recent Delaware Basin well costs. Sustained drilling and completion efficiency improvements coupled with the supply chain advantages of optimized scale have facilitated a material reduction in Parsley's Delaware Basin well costs during 2019. Parsley estimates its current average drilling, completion and equipment cost in the Delaware Basin are $1,100-$1,150 per lateral foot. Parsley believes applying its scale advantages and employing collaborative best practices can translate to well cost savings of at least $100 per lateral foot across Jagged Peak's remaining inventory in the Delaware Basin. Overlapping Acreage: The combination of Parsley's and Jagged Peak's acreage positions will create a highly contiguous, interlocking footprint in the Delaware Basin that allows for a more optimized lease geometry with additional extended lateral wells. Additionally, the close proximity of Jagged Peak's acreage supports additional operational efficiencies. Expansive Company-Owned Water Infrastructure Network: Jagged Peak has invested nearly $90M developing significant fresh and produced water infrastructure across its acreage position, which is located nearby Parsley's existing water assets. Integration of Jagged Peak's water infrastructure network increases corporate flexibility and operational scale. Cost of Capital Advantages: Parsley believes this transaction can accelerate progress toward an investment grade credit profile, which could help facilitate opportunistic debt refinancing in the future. Maintains Strong Balance Sheet: An all-stock transaction ensures the combined company will retain a strong balance sheet with a pro forma net leverage ratio of 1.6x LTM adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, and exploration expense. Parsley expects to maintain its dividend per share at current levels in the near term, with the anticipated free cash flow enhancements from this transaction expected to support increased return of capital in the future. Finally, both Parsley and Jagged Peak recently added to their respective 2020 hedge positions, and a majority of the combined company's expected 2020 oil production is subject to hedge protection.

08:35 EDT Genius Brands, Alibaba partner to co-produce animated children's series - Genius Brands International (GNUS) announced it has formed a strategic co-production partnership with Alibaba Group's (BABA) video streaming platform, Youku, to co-produce the all-new children's animated series, Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Genius Brands and Alibaba's Youku will co-produce 52 x 11 episodes of the comedy, action-adventure series, which will be available to Chinese audiences on Youku. Genius Brands is also currently in active discussions with potential U.S. partners and is debuting Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten to international buyers at this year's MIPJunior.

08:35 EDT Cubic appoints Hilary Hageman as general counsel - Cubic (CUB) announced the appointment of Hilary Hageman as senior VP, general counsel and corporate secretary. Hageman will report directly to Bradley Feldmann, chairman, president and CEO of Cubic and will be responsible for managing the legal department as well as overseeing ethics, contracts, global trade compliance and security. Jim Edwards will transition to an executive advisory role and continue to provide support until his retirement in June 2020. Prior to joining Cubic, Hageman was the senior VP and deputy general counsel for SAIC (SAIC).

08:33 EDT Parsley Energy sees Q3 net oil production 91.2-91.7 MBo per day - For the third quarter, Parsley expects net oil production of 91.2-91.7 MBo per day, translating to 5%-6% quarter-over-quarter growth. During 3Q19, Parsley placed on production 35 gross operated horizontal wells with an average working interest of approximately 95% and an average completed lateral length of approximately 10,000 feet. Parsley expects to report third quarter capital expenditures of approximately $315M-325M. Third quarter development spending decreased relative to second quarter spending, driven by lower well costs, fewer net completions, and quarter-over-quarter decreases in facilities and infrastructure spending.

08:31 EDT Ultragenyx announces FDA acceptance of NDA for UX007 - Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for review the company's New Drug Application for UX007 for the treatment of long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders, a group of genetic disorders in which the body is unable to convert long-chain fatty acids into energy. The FDA has assigned a standard review designation with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target date of July 31, 2020. The FDA has indicated that it is not currently planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application. The NDA filing is supported by a comprehensive package of data including results from a company-sponsored Phase 2 study of UX007 in 29 patients, a long-term safety and efficacy extension study in 75 patients including 20 patients who were previously naive to UX007, a retrospective medical record review of 20 original compassionate use patients, 67 patients treated through expanded access, and a randomized controlled investigator-sponsored study of 32 patients showing an effect on cardiac function.

08:19 EDT L3Harris Technologies begins delivery of ENVG-B to army - L3Harris Technologies has begun initial deliveries of its new enhanced night vision goggle binocular, or ENVG-B, that provides U.S. Army soldiers with improved situational awareness, mobility and protection. The delivery is part of an initial order under a $391M ENVG-B directed requirement contract from the U.S. Army received in 2018. L3Harris delivered the first 40 combat-ready systems as part of an initial fielding that is expected to be completed by early 2020. This advanced binocular night vision goggle supports the Army's Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional team priorities. The ENVG-B includes L3Harris' white phosphor image intensification technology in a dual-tube goggle, as well as a separate thermal channel for image fusion and thermal target detection. This technology will enhance the ability to locate and engage threats and access common operating environment imagery. Following the delivery of the first 40 units, L3Harris received two additional delivery orders totaling approximately $153M for nearly 7,000 additional systems and logistics support. Combined with the initial $88M delivery order, L3Harris has received orders to deliver just over 10,000 ENVG-B systems under the directed requirement contract. The ENVG-B includes a new high-resolution display and an embedded soldier wireless personal area network, rapid target acquisition and augmented reality algorithms to interface with the U.S. Army's Nett Warrior. The complete system will interface with the Army's family of weapon sights, while enhancing interoperability and data sharing.

08:13 EDT AMERI Holdings selected for Greenfield SAP S/4HANA blueprint - AMERI Holdings announced that it has been selected as the preferred vendor by a new customer, an industrial goods manufacturer for commercial and residential applications in the U.S. and Latin America, to perform a business blueprint that will provide a roadmap to transform their current legacy environment to an SAP S/4HANA digital core that will support the company's rapid growth. The assessment will include a path to transform the current business to an intelligent enterprise by connecting key departments from finance, operations and warehouse management to future business processes.

08:10 EDT PolarityTE announces findings from SkinTE pilot study - PolarityTE announced findings from an open-label, single-arm pilot study, which examined the impact of SkinTE, a human cellular and tissue-based product derived from a patient's own skin, in closing venous stasis leg ulcers, or VLUs, following failure of conventional treatments. The clinical outcomes were reported in a poster presentation at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care, or SAWC. The pilot study included 10 patients with VLUs that remained open after at least one month of conventional treatments. The patients were treated with SkinTE, an autologous, homologous human cellular and tissue-based product designed to regenerate full-thickness, functional skin for the repair, reconstruction, and replacement of a patient's own skin. The study found an 80% closure rate of the VLUs within 12 weeks after treatment with SkinTE. In addition, all of the patients' wounds demonstrated graft take and initial signs of closure, including granulation and progressive epithelialization, shortly after a single treatment with SkinTE. One treated VLU, which had previously been deemed closed, had reopened prior to the two-week durability visit as a result of external factors unrelated to the SkinTE procedure. Further, another VLU did not close within 12 weeks, which was the largest in the study and had remained open for several months prior to treatment with SkinTE after previously failed treatment with a split-thickness skin graft; this VLU closed within 13.5 weeks post application of SkinTE.

08:07 EDT Revance CEO Dan Browne steps down due to employee matter, Mark Foley to succeed - Revance announced the appointment of Mark Foley as president and CEO, replacing Dan Browne, who has stepped down due to a misjudgment in handling an employee matter. Browne has also resigned from Revance's board of directors. Foley assumes the president and CEO role after serving on the Revance board for the past two years. He brings more than 25 years of operational and investment experience in the healthcare arena. Previously, Foley served as chairman, president and CEO of Zeltiq Aesthetics from 2012 to 2017, where he led the company through a period of transformation and growth, culminating in its acquisition. The change in leadership is unrelated to Revance's operational performance.

08:06 EDT CommScope sues Rosenberger 'to protect trade secrets' - CommScope has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against Rosenberger, several of Rosenberger's legal entities and two former CommScope employees now employed by Rosenberger. In its complaint, CommScope asserts, among other things, that Rosenberger misappropriated CommScope's trade secrets related to base station antennas, including trade secrets related to CommScope's proprietary software programs and CommScope's base station antenna hardware. CommScope also asserts that the former CommScope employees breached their post-employment legal obligations owed to CommScope.

08:05 EDT CIM Commercial Trust announces CIM Group ownership increases to 19% - CIM Commercial Trust announced that it has been notified that an affiliate of CIM Group has acquired 2.47M shares of common stock of CMCT for $19.17 per share in a private transaction. Following this purchase, CIM Group, its affiliates, and officers and directors of CMCT have an aggregate economic interest in approximately 19% of the outstanding shares of CMCT common stock.

08:03 EDT BioLife Solutions announces three new patents related to cryopreservation - BioLife Solutions announced three new patents for inventions related to cryopreservation, thawing and cold chain transport technologies. The new patents awarded to BioLife include an European Patent for apparatuses and Compositions for Cryopreservation of Cellular Monolayers. This patent includes claims related to facilitating bulk freezing of adherent cells in multi-well plates for use in high-throughput drug screening processes. In the U.S. includes Systems, Devices and Methods for Automated Sample Thawing. This patent covers the core technologies used in the ThawSTAR automated thawing products, which BioLife obtained in the acquisition of Astero Bio in April. The third patent in the U.S. is for an Insulated Storage and Transport System. This patent covers core technologies used in the evo cloud-connected precision thermal shipping containers, which BioLife obtained in the acquisition of SAVSU Technologies in August.

07:49 EDT DiaMedica Therapeutics announce clearance to initiate Phase II trial of DM199 - DiaMedica Therapeutics announced that the FDA has accepted the company's Phase II clinical trial protocol for the treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease, or CKD. The Phase II trial is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of DM199 in the treatment of CKD in two cohorts: patients with CKD caused by IgA nephropathy, or IgAN, and hypertensive African American patients with CKD. DiaMedica intends to initiate participant enrollment in the next few weeks.

07:40 EDT 21Vianet selected by Alibaba Group as IDC provider - 21Vianet Group (VNET) announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alibaba (BABA) to deploy IDC services. Located in Eastern China, this project will be deployed in two phases. The first phase expects to complete construction and delivers by the first half of 2020. During the term of the project contract, the first phase is expected to generate revenue of RMB1.6B.

07:36 EDT Apyx Medical initiates subject enrollment - Apyx Medical announced that it has initiated subject enrollment in an FDA approved U.S. Investigational Device Exemption clinical study evaluating the use of its Renuvion technology in skin laxity procedures in the neck and submental region. The study is a prospective, multi-center, multi-phase, evaluator-blinded study designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Renuvion technology when used to improve the appearance of lax tissue in the neck and submental region. The study will be conducted at up to 5 investigational centers in the U.S. and consist of 52 subjects ranging from 35 to 65 years of age. The study will be conducted in two phases. Phase I will include 20 subjects, whose 1 month safety data will be reported to the FDA for a safety review. Following approval from the FDA, phase II of the study will be initiated, and will include 32 subjects. Effectiveness data will be collected for all 52 subjects in both phases of the study. Follow-up will occur 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post procedure. The study's primary effectiveness endpoint will be improvement in the appearance of lax tissue in the neck and submental region at 6 months as determined by qualitative 2D photography assessment performed by three blinded Independent Photographic Reviewers.

07:33 EDT BridgeBio terminates merger process with subsidiary Eidos Therapeutics - BridgeBio (BBIO) announced that it was unable to come to an agreement with the special committee formed by its subsidiary Eidos Therapeutics (EIDX) to acquire the outstanding common stock of Eidos that BridgeBio does not already own. Subsequent to an initial offer of 1.3 BridgeBio shares for each Eidos share, the offer was raised twice, resulting in a final offer equivalent to 1.5 BridgeBio shares for each Eidos share with an option for Eidos shareholders to receive a portion of that consideration in cash. Eidos shareholders were to have three options to receive their consideration: all-stock, mixed consideration of cash and stock, or all-cash subject to proration such that the cash portion of the transaction would not exceed approximately $110M. The cash consideration was to have been funded by BridgeBio with the use of acquisition financing, and was therefore to have had a neutral-to-positive impact upon BridgeBio's runway post-close.

07:13 EDT SRAX partners with ZAPGroup point-of-sale retail program based in Philippines - SRAX has partnered with ZAPGroup one of the largest point-of-sale retail loyalty programs based in the Philippines. Through the co-marketing partnership, ZAP will encourage its users to download and join BIGtoken, and BIGtoken will prompt its existing user base to join ZAP. Users who join both platforms and agree to share their opt-in ZAP data with BIGtoken will receive additional points, redeemable for select products from a ZAP retail partner.

07:09 EDT Heritage Commerce completes acquisition of Presidio Bank - Heritage Commerce announced that it has completed the acquisition of Presidio Bank of San Francisco, CA, effective October 11, 2019. Pursuant to the previously announced terms of the merger, Presidio shareholders are entitled to receive 2.47 shares of Heritage common stock in exchange for each share of Presidio Stock, plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares. With the addition of Presidio, on a pro forma combined basis, Heritage would have total assets of approximately $4.1B, total loans outstanding of approximately $2.5B and total deposits of approximately $3.4B, at June 30, 2019.

07:06 EDT Cubic signs agreement with Google for contactless transit cards - Cubic (CUB) announced its Cubic Transportation Systems, or CTS, business division signed an agreement with Google (GOOG, GOOGL) to integrate contactless transit cards with Google Pay, making it fast and easy for travelers to use their mobile phones to pay for their journeys. The collaboration also provides transit agencies using Cubic's world-leading revenue management systems with the full benefit of Google's user experiences to increase convenience and encourage ridership. The rollout of this technology will open the door for further enhancement of the contactless payment technology already available in cities such as London, New York and Miami.

07:04 EDT Apyx Medical receives 510 clearance for Apyx Plasma/RF Handpiece from FDA - Apyx Medical announced that it received FDA 510 clearance to market and sell the Apyx Plasma/RF Handpiece, a new addition to the Renuvion product family. The Apyx Plasma/RF Handpiece was cleared as a sterile, single use electrosurgical device intended to be used in conjunction with compatible generators for the percutaneous delivery of radiofrequency energy and/or helium plasma for cutting, coagulation and ablation of soft tissue. The Apyx Plasma/RF Handpiece features several enhancements compared to prior generations, including a smaller diameter instrument shaft, a bullet-shaped instrument tip that directs the flow of plasma energy from ports on the side of the instrument tip, as opposed to the front of the instrument tip and a new handle design with improved ergonomics. The handpiece is designed to be used percutaneously.

07:03 EDT Aecom: Sale of MS business 'unlocks significant value sooner than anticipated' - The sale of the MS business at a premium valuation unlocks significant value sooner than was anticipated through the previously-announced planned spin-off and creates certainty for all stakeholders. Expected transaction proceeds and record fourth quarter fiscal 2019 free cash flow equate to approximately 50% of the company's market capitalization based on the closing price of AECOM's stock on October 11th. The company expects to substantially reduce its debt and to execute stock repurchases and maintains its long-term net leverage target of 2.0x - 2.5x. With this transaction and the ongoing execution of strategic actions to de-risk the business and increase margins, AECOM will be a lower-risk, higher-returning professional services firm focused on its industry-leading design, planning, architecture, engineering, program management and construction management capabilities. The resulting professional services business is expected to generate high returns on capital and consistently strong free cash flow, which the company intends to deploy towards stock repurchases under its existing $1 billion repurchase authorization.

07:02 EDT Sempra Energy to sell equity interests in Chilean businesses to SGID for $2.23B - Sempra Energy announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its equity interests in its Chilean businesses, including its 100% stake in Chilquinta Energia, to State Grid International Development, or SGID. Sempra Energy's interests will be sold for $2.23B in cash, subject to adjustments for working capital and net indebtedness and other adjustments. The sale also will include Sempra Energy's 100% interest in Tecnored, which provides electric construction and infrastructure services to Chilquinta Energia and third parties, and its 50% interest in Eletrans S.A., which owns, constructs, operates and maintains power transmission facilities. Chilquinta Energia signed an agreement to purchase the remaining 50% interest in Eletrans S.A. from Sociedad Austral de Electricidad S.A. Closing of this transaction, which will enable Sempra Energy to transfer 100% ownership of Eletrans S.A. to SGID, is contingent on the closing of the sale of Sempra Energy's Chilean businesses and will not change the economics of the transaction for Sempra Energy. The sale to SGID is expected to be completed in Q1 of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the Chilean anti-trust authority, certain Chinese regulatory approvals and approval by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. This announcement follows Sempra Energy's agreement to sell its equity interests in its Peruvian business, including its 83.6% stake in Luz del Sur, to China Yangtze Power International. That sale, which was announced in September, is also expected to be completed in Q1 of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the Peruvian anti-trust authority and the Bermuda Monetary Authority. In combination, these transactions would conclude Sempra Energy's planned sale of its South American businesses for combined proceeds of approximately $5.82B in cash, subject to adjustments and satisfaction of their closing conditions.

07:01 EDT Arthur J. Gallagher acquires Helsingborg for undisclosed amount - Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Helsingborg, Sweden-based insurance broker Proinova. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1989 by CEO Sten Eriksson, Proinova specializes in delivering group solutions for the real estate sector, offering insurance, loss prevention training and claims advocacy services for trade association members.

06:59 EDT Johnson Controls appoints Michael Ellis as Chief Customer & Digital Officer - Johnson Controls (JCI) has named Michael Ellis, executive vice president and chief customer & digital officer effective October 14. In this newly created role, Ellis will serve as an officer of the company and oversee Johnson Controls digital strategy, innovation and execution, working closely with customers to drive new growth and value opportunities across the globe. Ellis most recently served as global managing director of Accenture (ACN).

06:57 EDT Aecom sells Management Services business to American Securities for $2.405B - Aecom announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its Management Services business to affiliates of American Securities and Lindsay Goldberg for a purchase price of $2.405B, which reflects an 11.6x multiple on expected fiscal 2019 adjusted EBITDA and a premium to AECOM's overall valuation. Included in the purchase price is contingent purchase price of approximately $150M. The sale of the MS business marks the completion of a robust dual-track process that began with the company's June 17th separation announcement. The sale of the MS business has been unanimously approved by the company's Board of Directors and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The definitive purchase agreement includes customary cash, debt and working capital adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of fiscal 2020.

06:55 EDT Aecom sells Management Services business to American Securities for $2.405B

06:47 EDT Brown & Brown acquires assets of VGW Insurance - Brown & Brown and VerHagen Insurance announced that Brown & Brown Lone Star Insurance Services has acquired substantially all of the assets of VGW Insurance. Since the early 1990s, VGW Insurance has provided property and casualty insurance products and services to individuals and businesses throughout Texas. Following the transaction, the VGW team will operate as a new stand-alone office within Brown & Brown's Retail Segment and will continue doing business under the leadership of Rick Walker from their existing locations in Plano, Texas; Rockwall, Texas; Sherman, Texas; and Van Alstyne, Texas.

06:33 EDT Owens Corning CFO Michael McMurray to step down, Prith Gandhi named interim CFO - Owens Corning announced that Michael McMurray, CFO, will be stepping down from his role to pursue another professional opportunity. McMurray will continue as CFO through October 23, following the company's third-quarter 2019 earnings announcement and associated SEC Form 10-Q filing. Prith Gandhi, currently Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Corporate Development, and Financial Planning, will serve as interim CFO while the company conducts an external search.

06:31 EDT KKR acquires majority stake in Hyperoptic, terms not disclosed - KKR announced that it has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Hyperoptic Ltd, the UK's largest residential gigabit broadband provider, from funds managed by Newlight Partners LP and Mubadala Investment Company. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Hyperoptic will continue to be led by CEO Dana Tobak, CBE and Executive Chairman Boris Ivanovic. Founded in 2011, Hyperoptic benefits from a full fibre network covering 43 towns and cities across the UK, with gigabit broadband services passing almost 400,000 homes and businesses.

06:04 EDT Medley Capital board announces end of "go-shop" - Medley Capital announced that the "go-shop" process conducted by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of MCC did not produce a "Superior Proposal" as defined in the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 29 by and between MCC and Sierra Income. The Company's Board of Directors continues to recommend that the Company's shareholders adopt the Amended MCC Merger Agreement.

06:01 EDT Orion Engineered names Lorin Crenshaw as new CFO - Orion Engineered (OEC) announced the appointment of Lorin Crenshaw as CFO of the Orion group, effective November 4. Crenshaw will report to Orion CEO Corning Painter and will serve on the company's executive leadership team. Crenshaw brings 20+ years of diversified financial experience in positions of increasing responsibility to Orion. Most recently, he held the position of Vice President and CFO for Albemarle's (ALB) Global Lithium business unit.

05:21 EDT Genentech says Phase III PEMPHIX study met primary endpoint - Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced data from the Phase III PEMPHIX study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Rituxan compared to mycophenolate mofetil, or MMF, in adults with moderate to severe pemphigus vulgaris, or PV. The study met the primary endpoint at week 52 and demonstrated that Rituxan is superior to MMF, with 40.3% of patients treated with Rituxan achieving sustained complete remission, or CR, without the use of steroids for 16 consecutive weeks or more, compared to 9.5% in the MMF arm. All secondary endpoints were statistically significant in favor of Rituxan: lower cumulative oral corticosteroid dose, fewer flares, a greater likelihood of sustained CR, a lesser likelihood of flare and a greater improvement in the Dermatology Life Quality Index at week 52 compared to the MMF arm. Adverse events were generally consistent with those seen in previous Rituxan clinical studies in PV and other approved autoimmune indications. The study is ongoing, with patients participating in a 48-week safety follow-up period after treatment completion or discontinuation.