Stockwinners Market Radar for June 01, 2020 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:44 EDT Welltower says portfolio trends reflect slowing pace of occupancy declines - In its June Business Update, the company states: "Recent Seniors Housing Operating portfolio trends reflect a slowing in the pace of occupancy declines, from -50 to -60 bps per week through April and early May to -20 to -30 bps per week during the last two weeks of May. Seniors Housing Operating communities are beginning to remove admissions bans. Trailing two-week COVID case count within Seniors Housing Operating portfolio down about 50% from peak; 87% of communities have reported zero COVID cases as of May 29th on a TTW basis." Reference Link

20:07 EDT Duke Realty collected 95.4% of rent billed in May - Duke Realty announced the results of rent collection and leasing activity for the months of April and May. As of May 31st, the company noted the following metrics: Collected 98.3% of originally billed April rents with combined collections and deferrals totaling 99.8%; collected 95.4% of originally billed May rents with combined collections and deferrals totaling 99.1%; collected May rents at a faster pace than April rents were collected.

19:32 EDT HNI Corporation says orders in workplace furnishings have stabilized - CEO Jeff Lorenger says: "Recovery to pre-pandemic levels will take some time, but recent order trends are encouraging given the conditions. We generated positive order growth in building products during May as builders worked through their backlogs. Builder commentary and purchase mortgage applications are also encouraging and point to second half improvement. Although the recent trends are positive, we do expect short-term declines in the summer months, consistent with the recent housing permit data. Domestic orders in workplace furnishings have stabilized and are generally showing week-over-week improvement. We expect this trend to continue as the economy improves and businesses begin to open. Our e-Commerce business continues to generate strong growth, primarily from a spike in home office demand."

19:02 EDT TRI Pointe reports 472 net new home orders in May - TRI Pointe Group announced net new home orders for the months of April and May 2020 in anticipation of upcoming meetings with investors. Net new home orders for April 2020 were 235 compared to 507 for the prior-year period, a decrease of 54%. Net new home orders for May 2020 were 472 compared to 498 for the prior-year period, a decrease of 5%. The rate of cancellations as a percentage of gross orders was 36% and 23% for the months of April and May 2020, respectively.

18:31 EDT Group 1 Automotive names Daniel McHenry CFO - Group 1 Automotive, Inc. announced the appointment of Daniel McHenry as Chief Financial Officer effective August 15, 2020. He will replace long time Group 1 CFO John Rickel, who has elected to retire from the company at the end of this year after almost 15 years of service. McHenry has served as Group 1's UK Finance Director since 2007. Group 1 CEO Earl Hesterberg commented, "Working with Daniel directly over the past 12 years I have witnessed firsthand his passion for the retail automotive business. He has been responsible for the creation of our back-office systems, processes and financial controls, as we have grown our UK operations from three dealerships in 2007 to 50 dealerships today. His familiarity with our company, people and processes makes him the perfect candidate to step into this important role."

18:24 EDT SPDR Gold Shares holdings rise to 1,128.40MT from 1,123.14MT - This is the fourth consecutive increase and the highest level of holdings since April of 2013.

18:14 EDT Retail Properties of America reports May rent collection 52.4% as of 5/28 - Retail Properties of America provided an update on cash rent collection statistics for the months of April and May. Compared to the previously reported 52.4% of April rent collected as of April 30, the company has received 60.3% of April rent as of May 28. Rent collection for May as of May 28, 2020 totals 52.4%, consistent with April month-end collection levels.

18:03 EDT Talend director Steven Singh purchases almost $460K in company shares - Talend director Steven Singh disclosed in a filing that he had purchased 15,000 shares of company stock at $30.61 per share on May 29. The total transaction value was $459,144.

17:58 EDT ISS recommends OneSpaWorld shareholders vote "FOR" proposed equity financing - OneSpaWorld commented on a report by Institutional Shareholder Services recommending that OSW shareholders vote "FOR" the previously announced $75M equity financing at the company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 10. "We are pleased ISS recognizes that OSW's equity financing is in the best interests of shareholders and is necessary to the company's ability to continue as a going concern," said Leonard Fluxman, Executive Chairman. "This financing is required for OSW to fund its operations while its business is impaired due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to remain in compliance with our debt covenant as of June 30, 2020. We urge OSW shareholders to follow this independent recommendation and vote today in favor of Proposals 3 and 4, which also will enable us to quickly restart operations when our cruise line partners resume sailing, facilitate innovation in our service and product offerings and wellness experiences, and position us for long-term operation and growth."

17:51 EDT EastGroup Properties reports May rent collection of 95.0% vs. 97.7% in April - Marshall Loeb, CEO, stated, "While we acknowledge the pandemic is far from over, we are pleased with our results to date. Specifically, the strength of our monthly rent collections as reflected below, tenant rent relief requests only rising by 2% in May, the pickup in prospect leasing activity we're seeing as markets re-open, and internally, how well our team was able to shift our operating strategy and work remotely. Longer term, we remain optimistic about increased demand for industrial space given the anticipated accelerating growth in e-commerce, higher inventory levels, nearshoring and reshoring of manufacturing as a result of the pandemic; and continued population shifts to our fast-growing Sunbelt markets." As of June 1, 2020, EastGroup's operating portfolio is 96.9% leased and 96.5% occupied. The company's rent collections for March was 99.3%, April at 97.7% and May of 2020 at 95.0%.

17:12 EDT RH sees 'clear path to 20% operating margins over next few years' - RH released a copy of Chairman & CEO Gary Friedman's Annual Letter to Shareholders.The letter said in part: "Fiscal 2019 was an outstanding year for Team RH. We achieved record results across every key metric of our business while continuing to elevate the brand and create strategic separation in our industry. Revenues increased 5.4% over last year to $2.647 billion, adjusted operating margins reached an industry best 14.3%, and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 49% to $11.66. We also generated $330M of free cash flow in 2019, and achieved industry leading ROIC of 35.3%... Our strategy to open new design galleries in every major market will unlock the value of our vast assortment, generating revenues of $5 to $6B North America, with the long term potential to become a $20B dollar global brand. ..Our vision is to move the brand beyond curating and selling product to conceptualizing and selling spaces by building an ecosystem of products, places, services and spaces that elevate and establish the RH brand as a global thought leader, taste, and placemaker...We believe the ecosystem can be expanded globally, multiplying the market opportunity to approximately $7 to $10T, quite possibly one of the largest and most lucrative addressed by any brand in the world today. A one percent share of the global market represents a $70 to $100B opportunity...The emergence of RH as a luxury brand generating luxury margins is becoming evident as our adjusted operating margin has expanded over 700 basis points in the past two years from 7.0% in 2017 to 14.3% in 2019. We continue to expect operating margins to expand in 2020 despite the current setbacks from COVID-19, and now see a clear path to 20% operating margin over the next few years," said RH management in a letter to shareholders.

17:04 EDT InfuSystem director Gregg Lehman sold almost $460K in company shares - InfuSystem director Gregg Lehman sold 43,083 shares at $10.66 per share on May 28 for a total transaction value of $459,265.

16:59 EDT Ligand working with Gilead to meet need for remdesivir - Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) announces that Chief Executive Officer John Higgins issued a letter to Ligand's Captisol customers. "Ligand is in a period of momentous planning and scale-up. As you may know, Captisol is a key ingredient in Gilead Sciences' (GILD) antiviral remdesivir, which is being developed as a treatment for COVID-19. This drug has received an unprecedented amount of attention," Higgins said. "I want to update you as to where Ligand stands in fulfilling our commitment to all our Captisol customers and discuss our plans to increase manufacturing capacity. On behalf of the entire team at Ligand, I want you to know we are dedicated to fulfilling your Captisol needs with the highest level of service, reliability and quality." "In January 2020 Gilead informed us they needed Captisol for remdesivir as a potential treatment for COVID-19. That outreach was a natural development as we have had a relationship with Gilead for several years beginning when this drug was being tested for Ebola," Higgins added. "We were witnessing the novel coronavirus emerge as a real threat to public health, and as it became clear the virus was not going to be contained and the global health crisis became a pandemic, we anticipated Captisol demand was going to increase substantially. We immediately began coordination on the necessary planning for production needs as initial orders for Captisol were received and steadily grew. Clinical work with remdesivir in COVID-19 has been promising as studies indicate the drug reduces the length of hospital stay and may lower the mortality rate in patients with severe disease. On May 1 remdesivir received an Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and became the first new drug authorized as a treatment for COVID-19. The medical need was obvious, immense and growing. Then on June 1, Gilead announced additional data in patients with moderate disease showing again that remdesivir has the potential to meaningfully benefit patients. We are working closely with Gilead to meet the urgent need for supply of this medicine. In light of Gilead's public statements, we expect their Captisol requirements will increase significantly over the next couple of years, and we expect orders beyond that. To meet global demand quickly, Gilead is establishing a consortium of generic pharmaceutical companies around the world to manufacture remdesivir. We have established initial agreements with four of those companies and are prepared to fill the full production and supply needs for all companies producing remdesivir."

16:49 EDT Green Dot Chief Technology Officer Kuan Archer to step down - On June 1, 2020, Green Dot Corporation announced that Kuan Archer, its Chief Technology Officer, is leaving the company, effective July 8, 2020. In connection with his departure, Mr. Archer will enter into a separation and release agreement with the company on his last day of employment, pursuant to which he will receive $252,890 in severance benefits, which represents six months of his current base salary and seven months of COBRA premiums.

16:40 EDT Guardant Health offers to sell 10M shares of common stock for holders - Guardant Health announced the commencement of a proposed underwritten public offering of 10,000,000 shares of its common stock, 3,000,000 of which are being offered for sale by Guardant Health and 7,000,000 are being offered for sale by SoftBank Investment Advisers. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as sole book-running manager of the offering.

16:32 EDT Sunoco LP CFO Thomas Miller to retire - Sunoco LP announced that Thomas Miller, CFO, will retire from Sunoco GP, the general partner of Sunoco LP, as of September 1.

16:30 EDT Nordson acquires Fluortek, terms not disclosed - Nordson Corporation has acquired Fluortek, Inc., an Easton, Pennsylvania based precision plastic extrusion manufacturer that provides custom dimensioned tubing to the medical device industry. "As Nordson MEDICAL continues to expand its differentiated product offerings, the acquisition of Fluortek enhances our ability to deliver critical components that enable our customers' most complex medical device innovations. This offering further supports Nordson MEDICAL's position as a leading full-service solution provider of component and device manufacturing capabilities for OEM's across the interventional, minimally invasive and surgical medical device landscape," said Jeffrey Pembroke, Executive Vice President, Nordson Advanced Technology Solutions. Fluortek will become part of the Nordson MEDICAL product line within Nordson's Advanced Technology Solutions segment. This acquisition builds on the company's strategic objective to grow Nordson MEDICAL's product offerings serving the medical device market. "We are excited to welcome the Fluortek employees to the Nordson MEDICAL family," continued Pembroke. "We look forward to integrating their precision extrusion expertise and enhancing our advanced components portfolio." The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

16:27 EDT Equity Commonwealth reports May contractual rent collection 96% - In a regulatory 8-K filing, the company states: "On May 29, 2020, Equity Commonwealth sold the Georgetown-Green and Harris buildings, a 240,000 square foot office property in Washington, D.C., for $85 million. The property was held for sale as of March 31, 2020. Equity Commonwealth has collected 96% of May contractual rents, including 3% from the application of security deposits and letters of credits, from its four-property, 1.5 million square foot portfolio."

16:19 EDT VICI Properties says all tenants have fulfilled rent obligations for May - VICI Properties said that, since its COVID-19 update on April 16, 2020, all its tenants fulfilled their rent obligations in full for the month of May and the company expects all June rent will be paid in full. John Payne, President & Chief Operating Officer of VICI Properties said, "We are extremely proud of the strength and commitment of each of our tenants during this unprecedented period. Our tenants have demonstrated dedication to their employees, and to the states and municipalities in which they operate gaming facilities and we are truly proud to serve as their real estate partners. As we look toward the re-opening of our assets across the United States, VICI's portfolio is well diversified from a geographic perspective with approximately 71% of our rent generated from assets located in drive-to regional markets and 29% of our rent generated from assets located on the Las Vegas Strip."

16:18 EDT Wesco, Anixter announce post-closing leadership team - WESCO (WCC) and Anixter (AXE) announced the future leadership team and organizational structure that will become effective upon the completion of the merger of the two companies. The transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter, subject to the satisfaction of remaining customary closing conditions. Dave Schulz, currently Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of WESCO, will become Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. He has served in his current position since 2016. Prior to joining WESCO, Mr. Schulz was Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Armstrong World Industries. Earlier in his career, Schulz held various financial leadership positions at Procter & Gamble and the J.M. Smucker Company. Ted Dosch, currently Executive Vice President - Finance & Chief Financial Officer of Anixter, will become Executive Vice President, Strategy & Chief Transformation Officer. Dosch has served in his current position since 2011 and previously held the position of Senior Vice President of Global Finance for Anixter. Prior to joining Anixter, Dosch held senior positions, including CFO-North America and Vice President - Maytag Integration at Whirlpool Corporation. Diane Lazzaris, currently Senior Vice President & General Counsel of WESCO, will become Executive Vice President & General Counsel. Ms. Lazzaris has served in her current position since 2014 and previously held the position of Vice President, Legal Affairs for WESCO. Prior to joining WESCO, Ms. Lazzaris served as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Dick's Sporting Goods. Earlier in her career, she held various leadership positions in Alcoa's legal department. Chris Wolf, currently Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer of WESCO, will become Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer. Wolf has served in her current position since 2018. Prior to joining WESCO, Ms. Wolf served as Chief Human Resources Officer of Orbital ATK, Inc. until its acquisition by Northrop Grumman, and previously was Chief Human Resources Officer of Fannie Mae and E*Trade Financial Corporation. Hemant Porwal, currently Vice President, Global Supply Chain & Operations of WESCO, will become Executive Vice President, Supply Chain & Operations. Porwal has held his current position since 2015. Previously, Porwal served as Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer with Sears Holdings. Earlier in his career, Porwal held various financial, supply chain, and operations leadership positions at PepsiCo.

16:14 EDT Akazoo to be delisted from Nasdaq - Nasdaq announced that it will delist the ordinary shares and warrant of Akazoo. Akazoo's ordinary shares and warrant were suspended on May 27 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

16:13 EDT Regency Centers provides rent collection update for April, May - Regency Centers Corporation provided a business update related to COVID-19, including an update on rent collections for April and May. As of May 31, approximately 75% of Regency's tenants were open based on pro-rata Annual Base Rent, or ABR, and the company had collected 68% and 58% of April and May pro-rata base rent, respectively.

16:12 EDT BRP Group acquires TBA-RBA - BRP Group announced that BKS-Partners, the middle-market subsidiary of BRP Group, has acquired substantially all assets of Trinity Benefit Advisors and Russ Blakely & Associates, or TBA-RBA, Tennessee-based providers of employee benefit plan management, as well as marketing and benefit plans designed for middle-market companies. TBA-RBA generated annual revenues of approximately $17.3M. Following this partnership, TBA-RBA will be transitioned to the company's BKS-Partners brand.

16:10 EDT BRP Group acquires Rosenthal Brothers - BRP Group announced that Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners, or BKS-Partners, the middle-market subsidiary of BRP Group, has acquired substantially all assets of Rosenthal Brothers, a Chicago-based provider of P&C insurance, employee benefits and private client solutions to middle market companies and individuals. Rosenthal Brothers generated annual revenues of approximately $18.8M. Since its founding, Rosenthal Brothers has grown its business to approximately 55 employees across two offices. In particular, Rosenthal Brothers specializes in providing insurance solutions for the real estate industry. Following this partnership, Rosenthal Brothers will be rebranded under the company's BKS-Partners banner.

16:10 EDT Highwoods collects 99% of contractually required rents for May - Highwoods Properties provided an update on the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. After collecting 99% of its contractually required rents for the month of April, the company has collected 99% of its contractually required rents for the month of May. To date, the company has agreed to grant temporary rent deferrals that represent 1.2% of its annualized rental revenues, including the deferrals disclosed in its Q1 earnings release on April 28. The company is not currently aware of any customer-specific facts or circumstances that indicate a likelihood of any material losses at this point during Q2. The company further reported that all buildings and parking facilities have remained open for business.

16:08 EDT Reliant Bancorp CFO James Dellinger steps down - Reliant Bancorp announced that James Daniel Dellinger has resigned as CFO of the company and Reliant Bank in order to pursue other personal business interests. The company also announced that Gerald Cooksey, Jr. has been appointed as CFO and Reliant Bank to succeed Mr. Dellinger. Prior to joining the company and Reliant Bank as Chief Administrative Officer following the company's acquisition of First Advantage Bancorp, Mr. Cooksey served as CFO of First Advantage Bancorp and First Advantage Bank.

16:07 EDT Chart Industries provides mid-Q2 business update - Chart Industries provided a mid-Q2 business update. Reportable April net cash provided by operating activities for continuing operations of $15.5M and corresponding free cash flow after including capital expenditures of $12.6M, driven by earnings, cash collections and supplier terms extensions. The company completed five-year long-term agreement with industrial gas customer for field service and repair. Also, the company signed an agreement with Risco Energy Solutions to provide LNG equipment to support the rapidly growing Indonesian gas-to-power infrastructure. Chart Industries booked orders with 67 new customers in April and May, executed on $11.9M of additional cost reductions on May 29 and brought year-to-date total annualized cost reductions to $60.7M. The company said, "While the current economic situation continues to be challenging for our oil related product lines, we continue to see demand for our equipment and solutions related to the transition to clean energy infrastructure and our specialty markets. With over $60 million of cost reductions taken year-to-date, we continue to expect margin expansion throughout 2020 and strong free cash flow for the year, with debt paydown a priority. April 2020 free cash flow of $12.6 million was driven by strong earnings, cash collections and supplier terms extensions. In the past two months, we have achieved payment term extensions with 311 suppliers with an average payment term extension of 38 days (new payment terms for those suppliers average 89 days).Through May 29, 2020, second quarter orders totaled approximately $135 million, with orders in-house that will be booked in the first days of June totaling an additional $14 million. In April and May, we received orders from 67 new customers, including 20 in China, where quarter to date orders and sales have exceeded our original 2020 plan.Demand for oxygen related critical care products was strong in the month of April and first two weeks of May, while quoting activity for traditional industrial gas applications has increased in the second half of May as the hyper-focus on oxygen delivery has subsided to pre-COVID-19 levels. We continue to see consistent and strong quoting and order levels for fueling stations, repair and service, small-scale LNG infrastructure and specialty markets, including the receipt of a $2.3 million order for a European country's Armed Forces. We also expect to receive a small-scale terminal order in North America in June 2020. E&C Cryogenics demand for quick turn refurbishment, repair and service-related product and services has increased over the past 8 weeks, with orders of $7.2 million associated with this type of work. Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass big LNG project continues on schedule, and in May, we booked an additional $1 million order related to the project.In addition to E&C Cryo, we continue to grow repair and service across our four segments, including hitting a major milestone today with the completion of a five-year long-term agreement with a major industrial gas customer for repair and service...Given the weak demand for air-cooled heat exchangers and the continued optimization of our cost structure, we took further reductions on May 29, 2020. The total cost reductions taken last Friday equaled $11.9 million in annualized cost savings, bringing the year-to-date total to $60.7 million of annualized cost savings. Of the $60.7 million, approximately $51 million are structural changes that can be maintained at volume levels above $1.6 billion."

16:05 EDT Regeneron's Goldstein sells 1,000 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Regeneron director Joseph L. Goldstein disclosed the sale of 1,000 common shares of the company on May 28 at a price of $578.94 per share.

15:53 EDT Wrap Technologies previews appearance of President on Fox Business Network - Wrap Technologies announced that Tom Smith, President of Wrap Technologies, and Richard Ross, retired Commissioner of Philadelphia Police Department and consultant for Wrap Technologies, are scheduled to be interviewed live at 11:15am ET tomorrow morning via Skype on Fox Business Network's "Varney & Co." Ross and Smith will be discussing BolaWrap and the current difficult climate of rioting across the United States, the company previewed in a press release.

15:32 EDT Casey's General Stores names Adrian Butler as chief information officer - Casey's General Stores (CASY) announced that Adrian Butler has joined the company as chief information officer. This is a newly created role that will lead the effort to advance next generation technology at the fourth largest convenience retailer. Butler will report to CEO Darren Rebelez. Butler most recently served as senior vice president and chief information officer at Dine Brands (DIN).

14:59 EDT FCC says C-band spectrum to be made available on accelerated timeline - Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the repurposing of C-band spectrum for 5G services will move forward on an accelerated timeline. In a public notice released today, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau said it had secured commitments from all eligible satellite operators to meet an accelerated clearing timeline that will make way for faster 5G deployment in the 3.7 GHz band, also called the C-band. Chairman Pai said: "The acceptance of accelerated relocation by all eligible satellite operators vindicates the FCC's approach for making C-band spectrum available for 5G more quickly. Our initiative will enable this critical mid-band spectrum to be used for new and innovative wireless services that will be delivered to American consumers years ahead of schedule. The FCC's work on the C-band is an important part of its 5G FAST plan, a comprehensive strategy to promote American leadership in 5G. This is a national priority because it means millions of jobs, billions of dollars in investment, innovation on our shores, and stronger economic growth." Reference Link

14:14 EDT Sensus Healthcare says $4 per share takeover offer received and rejected - In a regulatory filing, Sensus Healthcare disclosed that on May 26 the company received an unsolicited offer to acquire all the outstanding shares of the company at a price of $4.00 per share, in cash. "Following consideration by and at the direction of its board of directors, the company has rejected the offer," the filing stated.

14:01 EDT Simplicity Esports to offer play at home online tournaments in Brazil in June - Simplicity Esports and Gaming announced earlier that it will begin offering play at home online tournaments in Brazil in June. "Earlier this year, Simplicity Esports began offering online tournaments in the U.S. to its database of over 400,000 customers from its esports gaming centers. Capacity for the online tournaments in the U.S. had to be increased multiple times to accommodate an unexpectedly high number of registrations. The schedule of online tournaments in Brazil will not conflict with the upcoming split for Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends, the League of Legends top tier professional league in Brazil. Flamengo Esports returns to weekly CBLoL Brazil competition in June as one of the favorites to win the CBLoL Brazil championship and compete in the League of Legends World Finals," the company stated.

13:16 EDT Aveo Oncology announces FDA acceptance for NDA filing for tivozanib - AVEO Oncology announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepted for filing its New Drug Application seeking approval for tivozanib, the Company's next-generation vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, as a treatment for relapsed or refractory renal cell carcinoma. The FDA has assigned the application standard review and a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of March 31, 2021. The FDA also indicated that they do not currently plan on convening an Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee to discuss the application. The NDA submission is based on AVEO's pivotal Phase 3 study, TIVO-3, comparing tivozanib to sorafenib in 3rd and 4th line RCC, including results recently presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2020 Virtual Scientific Program. The application is also supported by three additional trials, including an active comparator-controlled Phase 3 study, TIVO-1, comparing tivozanib to sorafenib in first line RCC, and two Phase 2 studies, Study 902, the open-label, crossover clinical study of tivozanib for patients who progressed on sorafenib in TIVO-1, as well as placebo-controlled Study 201 in first line RCC. In total, data from over 1,000 clinical trial subjects support the application.

12:38 EDT Interactive Brokers reports May DARTs up 84% y/y - Interactive Brokers Group reported its Electronic Brokerage monthly performance metrics for May. Brokerage highlights for the month included: 1,645 thousand Daily Average Revenue Trades, 84% higher than prior year and 4% lower than prior month. Ending client equity of $190.6B, 32% higher than prior year and 6% higher than prior month. Ending client margin loan balances of $23.3B, 10% lower than prior year and 13% higher than prior month. Ending client credit balances of $70B, including $3B in insured bank deposit sweeps, 32% higher than prior year and 1% higher than prior month. 839 thousand client accounts, 31% higher than prior year and 4% higher than prior month. 448 annualized average cleared DARTs per client account. Average commission per cleared Commissionable Order of $2.83 including exchange, clearing and regulatory fees.

12:04 EDT HollyFrontier sees 2020 capital spending $525M-$625M - In 2020, HollyFrontier expects to maintain its total capital spending guidance of $525M-$625M. For Refining, the company expects to spend between $202M-$221M. This lower range reflects further optimization of refinery capital budgets and lower spending at the Cheyenne Refinery. For Renewables, HollyFrontier expects capital expenditures in 2020 of $150M-$180M, which includes capital costs for the Artesia renewable diesel unit, the Cheyenne conversion and the PTU. There is no change to the $30M-$45M capital spend for Lubricants & Specialty Products or the $85M-$110M for turnarounds & catalysts. Capital expenditures for Holly Energy Partners also remains unchanged at $58M-$69M.

12:01 EDT Change Healthcare acquires pharmacy solutions provider PDX - Change Healthcare announced the acquisition of PDX, which it calls "a leader in providing patient centric and innovative technologies for pharmacies and health systems." "Their portfolio of solutions includes an Enterprise Pharmacy System software, a comprehensive suite of products and services that range from robust data analytics to revenue cycle management, and a flexible clinical services platform. Today's transaction complements Change Healthcare's recent acquisition of eRx Network and demonstrates the company's continued investment in core aspects of the business to fuel innovation and long-term growth. The combination of Change Healthcare, eRx Network, and PDX will result in faster, more integrated development and cross selling opportunities for Change Healthcare's combined portfolio of pharmacy network, software, and analytics solutions," the company said.

12:00 EDT Thermon Group falls -8.5% - Thermon Group is down -8.5%, or -$1.37 to $14.66.

12:00 EDT Circor rises 21.3% - Circor is up 21.3%, or $3.43 to $19.51.

12:00 EDT Myovant Sciences rises 29.9% - Myovant Sciences is up 29.9%, or $3.66 to $15.91.

11:42 EDT AbbVie submits regulatory applications to FDA, EMA for RINVOQ - AbbVie announced that it has submitted applications for a new indication to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency for RINVOQ, a selective and reversible JAK inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis. The applications are supported by data from two Phase 3 studies across a broad range of more than 2,000 patients with active psoriatic arthritis. In both studies, RINVOQ met the primary endpoint of ACR20 response at week 12 versus placebo.RINVOQ 15 mg also achieved non-inferiority versus adalimumab in terms of ACR20 response at week 12. Patients receiving RINVOQ also experienced greater improvements in physical function and skin symptoms, and a greater proportion achieved minimal disease activity. Overall, the safety profile of RINVOQ in psoriatic arthritis was consistent with previously reported results across the Phase 3 rheumatoid arthritis clinical trial program, with no new significant safety risks detected.

10:53 EDT Merck, Junshi Biosciences collaborate to explore head, neck cancer treatment - Junshi Biosciences announced their collaboration on a clinical trial program designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 mAb toripalimab in combination with Cetuximab as a treatment for recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck in China. Cetuximab is an IgG1 monoclonal antibody that specifically targets the EGFR. The inhibition of EGFR blocks the processes involved in tumor cell growth and progression. Cetuximab is also a potent inducer of antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity, inducing antitumor immune effect. In February 2020, Cetuximab was granted an approval by China's National Medical Products Administration for the first-line treatment of R/M SCCHN using a combination chemotherapy regimen. Developed by Junshi Biosciences, toripalimab is the first domestically marketed PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Anti-PD-1 mAb is an immunotherapy that can activate and direct the body's own immune system to attack tumor cells by inhibiting the PD-1 pathway. Over 30 toripalimab mono and combo clinical trials have been conducted globally for more than 10 tumor types, and show encouraging anti-tumor outcomes. Cetuximab and PD-1 inhibitors are believed to have a synergistic mechanism of action in SCCHN treatment. Preliminary data of early-phase studies have shown promising results from combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with cetuximab.

10:21 EDT American Outdoor Brands changes name to Smith & Wesson Brands - Smith & Wesson Brands (SWBI), formerly American Outdoor Brands Corporation (AOBC), has changed its name from American Outdoor Brands Corporation to Smith & Wesson Brands and its ticker symbol from AOBC to SWBI. The name change reflects the company's preparation for the previously announced spin-off of its outdoor products and accessories business as a tax-free stock distribution to its stockholders in late summer 2020, a transaction that would create two independent publicly traded companies: Smith & Wesson Brands and American Outdoor Brands The company also unveiled the logo for the American Outdoor Brands, Inc. spin-off company. The company's common shares continue to be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select exchange under the ticker symbol 'SWBI'. In conjunction with the name and ticker symbol change, the company's common shares have been assigned a new CUSIP number of 831754 106. The company also announced that it plans to release its fourth quarter and full fiscal 2020 financial results on Thursday, June 18, after the close of the market.

10:00 EDT Pfizer falls -7.8% - Pfizer is down -7.8%, or -$2.98 to $35.21.

10:00 EDT Evolent Health falls -31.0% - Evolent Health is down -31.0%, or -$2.75 to $6.13.

10:00 EDT Circor rises 14.4% - Circor is up 14.4%, or $2.32 to $18.40.

09:56 EDT ReWalk Robotics receives 510(k) Premarket Notification for P6.0 exoskeleton - A 510(k) Premarket Notification, with a decision date of May 26, was posted to the FDA website for the ReWalk P6.0 powered exoskeleton made by ReWalk Robotics, which was judged to be "substantially equivalent." Reference Link

09:47 EDT Thermon Group falls -10.4% - Thermon Group is down -10.4%, or -$1.67 to $14.36.

09:47 EDT Evolent Health falls -31.1% - Evolent Health is down -31.1%, or -$2.76 to $6.12.

09:47 EDT Vista Outdoor rises 20.4% - Vista Outdoor is up 20.4%, or $1.98 to $11.69.

09:39 EDT Orgenesis to partner with The Edith Wolfson Medical Center for clinical study - Orgenesis announces that it has entered into a Clinical Study Agreement with The Edith Wolfson Medical Center, a public hospital in Israel. Under the agreement, the parties will conduct a clinical study with a goal of utilizing and validating a number of Orgenesis' proprietary POCare Technologies, including a novel, automated cell culturing system, designed to enable a faster, safer and metabolically optimized culturing and expansion process for the generation and expansion tumor infiltrating lymphocytes for use in adoptive T-cell therapies. The goal of the cell culturing system is to provide an innovative and simplified method for TIL generation and expansion in an automated and controlled system from the initial TIL production to final product with minimal human operation.

09:28 EDT Orrstown Financial appoints Linford Weaver to board of direcrors - Orrstown Financial Services announced that Linford Weaver has been elected to the Boards of Directors of the Company and its principal subsidiary, Orrstown Bank, effective June 1, 2020. Mr. Weaver currently serves as Co-President of the Shady Maple Companies.

09:27 EDT Franchise Group amends term loan at the Vitamin Shoppe - Franchise Group announced that it has amended and acquired a portion of its term loan at The Vitamin Shoppe, a business line consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Since closing the acquisition of The Vitamin Shoppe on December 16, 2019, the Company has now repaid, or acquired for its own account, more than $22 million of the original $70 million term loan. The Company's decision to prepay and acquire debt of The Vitamin Shoppe does not impact Franchise Group's ability to pay cash dividends to its shareholders. The Company is committed to paying a regular dividend based on its operating performance and availability of cash. All dividend payments are approved by the Board of Directors and will be announced when and if declared by the Board.

09:23 EDT Ocugen to discontinue Phase 3 oGVHD trial - Ocugen announced the decision to discontinue the Phase 3 trial of OCU300 for ocular Graft vs. Host Disease. The decision to stop the trial is based on results of a pre-planned interim sample size analysis conducted by an independent Data Monitoring Committee, which indicated the trial was unlikely to meet its co-primary endpoints upon completion. The study was not stopped based on safety concerns. "This is disappointing news, especially for those who suffer from oGVHD. Our hope was to provide the first treatment for this complex, orphan disease. We are grateful to the patients, their families and the investigators who participated in our clinical trial," said Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Ocugen. "We are committed to advancing our transformative therapies and will shift our resources to focus on our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform and novel biologic programs for patients suffering from blindness diseases. We remain on track to enter the clinic by next year with our first gene therapy product candidate, OCU400, which targets inherited retinal diseases. Our additional pipeline products, OCU410 and OCU200, which are focused on major retinal diseases, are targeted to enter the clinic by 2022. As a result of discontinuing this study and proceeds from our ATM program we believe that we have sufficient cash to fund our current operations into the fourth quarter of 2020. "

09:21 EDT Red Lion Hotels appoints Gary Kohn as CFO - RLH Corporation announced the appointment of Gary Kohn as its EVP, CFO effective May 29, 2020. Mr. Kohn has been serving as a consultant to Red Lion since May 18, 2020. Mr. Kohn will be responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of the Company, including financial planning and analysis, accounting and reporting as well as managing the tax, internal audit, treasury and investor relations functions. Prior to joining Red Lion, Mr. Kohn was the founder and principal of GAK Advisors, an investor relations and financial consulting firm.

09:18 EDT Mateon Therapeutics reports peer-reviewed publications on COVID-19 - Mateon Therapeutics reportd several peer-reviewed publications derived from its R&D effort against COVID-19. Fatih M. Uckun, Vuong Trieu. Targeting Transforming Growth Factor-beta for Treatment of COVID-19-associated Kawasaki Disease in Children. Clin Res Pediatr 2020; 3: 1-3. Fatih M. Uckun, Larn Hwang, Vuong Trieu. Selectively targeting TGF-beta with Trabedersen/OT-101 in treatment of evolving and mild ARDS in COVID-19. Clin. Invest. 2020; 10, 167-176. DOI: 10.4172/ Clinical-Investigation.1000166. "These publications validate the concept of COVID-19 being a TGF-beta disease and is demonstrated by its many different clinical presentations. Our IND for COVID19 is completed and we are rolling out clinical trials against COVID-19 in the coming weeks." said Dr Vuong Trieu, CEO of Mateon Therapeutics.

09:15 EDT Fiat Chrysler appoints Paolo Carmassi as CEO of Comau - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announces that Paolo Carmassi has been appointed CEO of Comau in preparation for its future as one of the world's leading global providers of Industry 4.0 enabling systems, products and services and its stock market listing. Alessandro Nasi will become the Company's Chairman. Carmassi joins Comau with significant experience in global high-technology business management. For the past four years, he has led Malvern Panalytical. Alessandro Nasi joined the Fiat Group in 2005, having begun his career working in banking and finance. He has held senior roles at Fiat Powertrain Technologies, the Engine and Powertrain division of Fiat Group and CNH Industrial, which manufactures agricultural machinery and construction equipment, where he serves as a member of the Board and is also Chairman of Iveco Defence Vehicles. He is also member of the Board of EXOR. As previously announced by FCA on 18 December 2019, shortly following the merger of FCA and Groupe PSA, the shareholding in Comau will be distributed for the benefit of the shareholders of the newly merged company.

09:13 EDT UPS Foundation commits $3M to Gavi to expand last mile delivery network - The UPS Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, announced a commitment of $3M in new funding and in-kind logistics support spanning two years, provided by UPS and The UPS Foundation to Gavi. The new support will enable Gavi to continue to strengthen supply chain networks that deliver life-saving vaccines to children in the world's poorest countries, and expand coverage of essential childhood vaccines with the mission of eliminating childhood deaths from avoidable diseases. The UPS Foundation's contribution of $2M in cash and $1M in UPS in-kind services, combined with a match of $2M from the Gavi Matching Fund, results in a total of $5M toward an expansion of previous shared efforts by the organizations. The contribution will apply to Gavi's 2021 to 2025 strategic period. The Gavi Matching Fund was created in 2011 to encourage businesses to invest in global immunization.

09:11 EDT WWE launches free version of WWE Network - WWE unveiled the free version of WWE Network, the company's digital streaming service, unlocking a vast portion of its content library with more than 15,000 action-packed WWE titles now available for free, no credit card required.

09:10 EDT Hancock Jaffe Laboratories Inc trading resumes

09:09 EDT Atlas Technical Consultants wins $8M contract from TxDOT - Atlas Technical Consultants announced the award of a $8M contract from the Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT, for Construction Engineering and Inspection, or CEI, services. The newly awarded contract will support the TxDOT's Odessa District in West Texas. Atlas has delivered CEI services for TxDOT since 2015 and will continue to do so for the next four years under the terms of this new contract. Under TxDOT's oversight, Atlas will provide the day-to-day management of construction inspection, material testing, record keeping and documentation and overall project management for construction activities on strategically selected projects.

09:08 EDT Leaf Group 's Society6 sees 'strongest' Memorial Day sale in history - Society6 announced it saw its strongest Memorial Day sale in the brand's history. The artist-driven online marketplace, featuring made-to-order products in home decor, art, apparel and accessories, saw triple digit growth, compared to last year's Memorial Day weekend, in key categories, including wall art and home decor. In early 2020, Society6 optimized its promotions process through a revamped merchandising model, transforming from flash sales to more strategic seasonal and departmental promotions. For Memorial Day, the marketplace featured department-specific deals targeting popular products and designs, and recently launched categories, such as outdoor and lifestyle. The brand will continue to utilize this enhanced merchandising strategy for upcoming seasonal sales and holiday promotions, including Father's Day, a summer outdoor furniture sale and fourth of July.

09:07 EDT Novus Therapeutics announces OP0201 trial results, engages financial advisor - Novus Therapeutics announced topline results from the company's exploratory phase 2a clinical trial of OP0201 in acute otitis media. Study C-006 was a phase 2a, single center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of 20 mg per day intranasal OP0201 as an adjunct therapy to oral antibiotic in the treatment of acute otitis media in infants and children six to 24 months of age. Subjects were treated twice-daily for 10 days and followed up to one month. Post-randomization visits occurred between days 4-6, days 12-14 and days 28-30. The primary efficacy endpoints included resolution of bulging tympanic membrane at visit 2 and resolution of middle ear effusion at visit 3. The company also today announced that the Board of Directors has initiated a process to explore strategic options intended to maximize shareholder value. The company has engaged financial advisors to assist in the review and evaluation of strategic options. Such options may result in a financing to continue development of the surfactant-based nasal aerosol, a company sale, merger, asset sale, in-license, out-license, or other business transaction. There can be no assurance that the exploration of strategic options will result in the company entering or completing any transaction. Novus does not intend to make any further disclosures regarding this process unless and until a specific course of action is approved by the board.

09:06 EDT Comtech awarded $1.6M in orders from U.S. Army - Comtech Telecommunications announced that during its third quarter of fiscal year 2020, its Mission-Critical Technologies group, which is part of Comtech's Government Solutions segment, was awarded orders consisting of $1.6 million of additional funding on the previously announced three-year $124.2 million contract to provide ongoing sustainment services for the AN/TSC-198A SNAP, and baseband equipment. The company said in a release, "SNAP terminals provide quick and mobile satellite communications capabilities to personnel in the field. The contract has been funded $88.6 million to date."

09:04 EDT Remark Holdings partners with Hanvon Technology - Remark Holdings announced its partnership with Hanvon Technology, a publicly listed Chinese systems integrator, won the Phase 2 implementation of China Mobile's contract for the transformation of its 17,800 corporate stores into smart retail stores. The project is expected to be delivered over the next two years. Phase 1 includes the upgrade of more than 17,800 stores across the entire country and is valued at $50M to Remark. The second phase of the project will deliver an additional several million dollars to Remark resulting from a multi-year recurring software license for the new software application modules.

09:02 EDT Cigna expands, extends COVID-19 relief efforts - Effective immediately, Cigna is expanding its support for customers during this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic by eliminating cost-sharing for all primary care, specialty care and behavioral health care in-office or telehealth visits for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care. This expansion applies to all U.S. customers enrolled in Cigna's Medicare Advantage and Individual and Family Plans, including those sold on the Individual Marketplace. Additionally, Cigna is making enhancements to its Medicare Advantage meal plan benefits to further protect customers during this pandemic and underscore the company's continued commitment to enabling access to simple, affordable and predictable health care.

09:00 EDT Iterum Therapeutics PLC trading resumes

08:55 EDT Rekor Systems announces venture to launch - Rekor Systems and Cygnet Infotech announced the launch of a standalone company, to be named ROKER, pronounced "rock-er," to automate parking enforcement and enable higher revenue recovery for both public safety institutions and private businesses alike. The companies said in a release, "Rekor and Cygnet are each contributing their respective technology stacks in exchange for equity in ROKER, with Rekor receiving 50% of the venture. The companies joined forces to develop and launch ROKER, a new approach that provides an end-to-end solution for simplified parking permitting, electronic citation management and parking enforcement for consumers, businesses and government. The solution is enabled by Rekor Systems' vehicle recognition solutions and Cygnet's blockchain and engineering solutions. Sachin Bedi, CEO of Cygnet Infotech, will transition to ROKER and serve as its CEO. ROKER will immediately begin raising a Series A round of funding, with the advisement of Cooley LLP, who also helped them finalize formation in mid-May. Cooley advises 6,000+ innovative, high-growth companies from pre-formation founder teams to many of the most sophisticated tech companies in the world."

08:52 EDT Independence Realty Trust provides business update - "IRT remains committed to working with our residents in order to support retention and sustain portfolio occupancy." said Scott Schaeffer, chairman and CEO of IRT. "As of May 31st, same store occupancy was 93.5% and we have collected 98.1% of May rent receipts, including 1.2% in deferred payment plans. These figures are a result of our efforts to actively engage with our current residents and attract new residents to our communities. In particular, we improved the quality and availability of virtual tours, which has translated into a 45% conversion rate to signed applications in May, representing a year-over-year increase of 15 percentage points." Schaeffer continued, "We have the financial flexibility to act decisively, as we are prepared to participate in an eventual market recovery. Our total liquidity position is approximately $248 million as of May 31st, which includes unrestricted cash, as well as additional capacity through our unsecured line of credit and remaining proceeds from the forward equity raise. IRT is well-positioned to manage the impact of this pandemic and continues to adhere to strict safety measures, as all of our states in which we have properties have begun to ease restrictions. We remain confident in our resilient portfolio and sustainable business model."

08:50 EDT Lexagene Holdings provides update on commercializing pathogen detection system - LexaGene Holdings provided the following update on the Company's development plans of its flagship pathogen detection platform for the human clinical, veterinary diagnostics, and food safety sectors. As previously announced, LexaGene has recently placed a pre-commercial unit of its LX Analyzer in a major US hospital laboratory for the testing of COVID-19 and has submitted its plan to the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization. The Company also recently gave an interview to expand on this news. To support ramping up of final improvements to the pre-commercial system and manufacturing process, LexaGene has recently hired two additional members to the product development team in the areas of software and systems engineering. The Company also plans to hire sales staff in the summer in advance of the commercial launch in the fall. LexaGene is in the final stages of selecting a contract manufacturer to assist beyond the Company's in-house manufacturing capabilities in scaling up production of its analyzers in the fall to help meet the demand of testing needs in various markets. As is standard practice, until the FDA grants LexaGene's instrument EUA for COVID-19 testing, all work using LexaGene instruments is classified as Research Use Only and cannot be used for human clinical diagnostics. The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 at this time.

08:48 EDT Vicon releases thermal body temperature measurement camera - Vicon, a subsidiary of Cemtrex, announced the release of its new Thermal Body Temperature Measurement Camera, the V1100B-THM-TEMP. The camera is designed to help organizations of all types to minimize the risk of reopening their facilities during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Designed to help businesses screen people for elevated temperatures, the V1100B-THM-TEMP thermal camera provides contactless body temperature detection for individual or multiple people with a stunning accuracy of +/-0.54 degrees F. The powerful, dual-spectrum camera alerts operators to critical events, such as a high-temperature detection or individuals who are not wearing a mask and takes a snapshot of the person's face so operators can quickly identify the individual for further screening and verification.

08:47 EDT Exscribe Orthopaedic Healthcare Solutions selects MTBC Force - MTBC announced the signing of a cooperative agreement with Exscribe Orthopaedic Healthcare Solutions. As part of the agreement, MTBC Force will provide custom software development services as well as give Exscribe clients the opportunity to access MTBC's sophisticated, end-to-end Revenue Cycle Management solutions. As part of this collaboration, MTBC Force will provide Exscribe clients with a dedicated team of orthopaedic-specific medical billers, specifically those trained in Exscribe's EHR software. In addition, MTBC's team of software developers will assist Exscribe's development team in bringing to market new and innovative solutions to complement their existing products and services. The marketing and sales teams of both companies will work together to co-launch this offering to Exscribe's physician client base.

08:45 EDT Hancock Jaffe Laboratories announces intent to merge with Catheter Precision - Hancock Jaffe Laboratories announced that the Company has signed a non-binding letter of intent to merge with Catheter Precision, a private medical device company focused on cardiovascular diseases, including heart arrythmias. The company said in a release, "Catheter Precision has developed a software imaging system called VIVO, an initial version of which is FDA cleared and CE marked, and that produces a 3-D virtual image of the heart on a computer monitor for the purpose of accurately identifying and targeting the anatomical location of ventricular arrhythmias for catheter ablation therapy. Ventricular arrhythmias are commonly associated with sudden cardiac death, which accounts for approximately 325,000 fatalities in the U.S. each year. Details of the proposed transaction and a time frame for completing the proposed merger will be announced if and when the parties execute a definitive agreement. The parties have entered into a period of exclusivity in order to negotiate the proposed transaction in good faith. Following the definitive merger agreement, the transaction will require approval by Nasdaq, and Hancock Jaffe shareholders."

08:44 EDT Camber Energy, Viking Energy amend merger agreement - Camber Energy and Viking Energy Group announced that they have entered into an amendment to the definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger signed by the parties on February 3. The companies said in a release, "Details regarding the Merger, along with a copy of the Merger Agreement, were included in Viking's and Camber's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 5, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and are available under "Investors" at www.vikingenergygroup.com and www.camber.energy. Terms were also summarized in press releases filed by each company on the same date. The amendment (i) modified and clarified the mechanisms pursuant to which Camber's and Viking's post-combination percentage of Camber would be determined; (ii) placed a cap of 5% (up or down) on the adjustment mechanism; (iii) corrected a prior error in the Merger Agreement relating to such calculation; and (iv) included a prohibition on either party raising capital from the other party's existing shareholders without prior written consent. As disclosed previously, the planned merger contemplates Camber issuing newly-issued shares of common stock to the equity holders of Viking in exchange for 100% of the outstanding equity securities of Viking by means of a reverse triangular merger in which a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Camber will merge with and into Viking, with Viking continuing as the surviving corporation and as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Camber after the Merger. If the closing of the Merger occurs (the "Closing"), the Viking equity holders prior to the Merger will own approximately 80% of Camber's issued and outstanding common stock immediately after the Merger, and the Camber equity holders prior to the Merger shall own approximately 20% of Camber's issued and outstanding common stock immediately after the Merger, subject to adjustment mechanisms set out in the Merger Agreement, and in each case on a fully-diluted, as-converted basis as of immediately prior to the Closing (including options, warrants and other rights to acquire equity securities of Viking or Camber), but without taking into account any shares of common stock issuable to the holder of Camber's Series C Preferred Stock upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock. Completion of the Merger is subject to a number of closing conditions, as set out in the Merger Agreement. Specifically, the Merger Agreement, as amended, provides that the Camber Percentage is to be adjusted as follows: (i) for each (A) $500,000 in Camber unencumbered cash (without any associated debt) available for use by the combined company after the effective time of the Merger, which comes from equity sold by Camber for cash from February 3, 2020, through the Effective Time, which is not contingent or conditional upon the closing of the Merger, or (B) $500,000 in other unencumbered assets acquired by Camber prior to closing without increasing Camber's liabilities, the Camber Percentage will increase by an incremental 0.5%; and (ii) for each additional $500,000 in Viking unencumbered cash (without any associated debt) for use by the Combined Company after the Effective Time which is not contingent or conditional upon the closing of the Merger, in excess of $500,000, which comes from equity sold by Viking for cash from February 3, 2020 through the Effective Time, the Camber Percentage will decrease by an incremental 0.5%. The aggregate Camber Percentage Increase or Camber Percentage Decrease shall not exceed 5%."

08:41 EDT Ferroglobe announces 'unqualified' audit opinion including going concern - Ferroglobe filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F, the annual SEC filing required of foreign private issuers with securities listed on U.S. exchanges on May 29, 2020. The filing includes audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 and is available at www.ferroglobe.com and www.sec.gov. As reflected therein, the Company had an operating loss of $355.6 million and a net loss of $285.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. As of that date, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $123.2 million, of which $28.3 is restricted. The Company's financial statements are accompanied by an unqualified audit opinion from its independent auditors. However, the opinion does include a going concern explanatory paragraph. This is attributable in part to the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the limited visibility of the impact on the business. As of the date of the issuance of the financial statements, the COVID-19 pandemic has not had a material effect on the Company's liquidity or financial position. Management continues to monitor the impact the pandemic is having on the Company and the economies in which the Company operates. Based on current visibility and scenario testing, our analysis supports an expectation that the Company will have sufficient cash to continue to operate through the next twelve months. The audit opinion's going concern explanatory language is also due in part to provisions of the Indenture governing the Company's outstanding Senior Notes that, in the event of a change of control, would require the Company to offer to redeem its outstanding Senior Notes at 101% of par value plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Management believes a change of control as defined in the Indenture is unlikely to occur, yet the matter is beyond the Company's control. If such a change of control were to occur, the Company may not have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy all of its obligations.

08:41 EDT Resideo names Phillip Theodore as Chief Transformation Officer - Resideo Technologies announced that Phillip Theodore will join the company as chief transformation officer, effective June 1. Phillip Theodore is the founder and managing director of Ironhawk Advisory Group, a boutique investment advisory service firm. He previously served as interim CEO of the Consumer Division of Artesyn Embedded Technologies.

08:39 EDT ANI Pharmaceuticals provides update regarding Cortrophin Gel sNDA filing - ANI Pharmaceuticals announced that it continues to make progress toward addressing items identified in the Refusal to File letter received from the FDA relating to its Cortrophin Gel sNDA filing. "The most efficient path forward is to concentrate efforts on the preparation of the resubmission of the sNDA," commented ANI Pharmaceuticals Interim CEO Patrick Walsh. "As such, we decided to forego a request for a Type-A meeting with the FDA and respond to all observations as part of the comprehensive resubmission of the sNDA. To further support our efforts, we have retained a prominent regulatory consulting firm to support the company's re-filing plan, including a comprehensive review of the entire application before re-submission." The company plans on refiling its sNDA for Cortrophin Gel with the FDA upon completion of the review process.

08:37 EDT Iterum Therapeutics evaluating corporate, strategic, financial alternatives - Based on the trial results, Iterum Therapeutics is evaluating its corporate, strategic and financial alternatives with the goal of maximizing value for its stakeholders while prudently managing its remaining resources. These alternatives could potentially include the licensing, sale or divestiture of the company's assets or proprietary technologies, a sale of the company, a merger or other business combination, another strategic transaction involving the company, restructuring activities, winding down of operations, dissolving and liquidating assets or seeking protection under bankruptcy laws. The evaluation of corporate, strategic and financial alternatives may not result in any particular action or any transaction being pursued, entered into or consummated, and there is no assurance as to the timing, sequence or outcome of any action or transaction or series of actions or transactions.

08:37 EDT Anixa Biosciences, OntoChem synthesize four potential COVID-19 compounds - Anixa Biosciences announced that the company, together with partner OntoChem GmbH, has synthesized four potential Covid-19 compounds that will advance to biological assay testing. Anixa and OntoChem announced their partnership on April 20 and announced discovery of its first potential Covid-19 candidate two weeks later on May 4.

08:36 EDT EIB, Voxeljet expand partnership to bring 3D printing into series production - Voxeljet announced that the company has expanded its partnership with the European Investment Bank to bring 3D printing into series production. European Investment Bank, or EIB, and Voxeljet further expanded their partnership to bring, among other things, 3D printing into series production Next EUR5M under the venture debt deal signed with the EIB in 2017 now expected to be disbursed in June with a bullet repayment after five years. Without the commitment of the EIB, the development of VJET X would not have been possible in this form. A leading German car maker is the first customer and plans to use the systems to mass-produce new conformal cooling components to increase the efficiency of its vehicles. Voxeljet is currently developing a large, high-speed polymer sintering 3D printer for the series production of all kind of plastic polymer parts The finance covenants in the finance contract with the EIB were amended to replace the total net financial debt to EBITDA ratio with a minimum cash/cash equivalents requirement.

08:35 EDT Twin River Worldwide to open nearly entire portfolio of operating casinos - Twin River Worldwide announced the reopening of its Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, DE effective June 1st. The Company also announced that it plans to reopen its two casinos in Rhode Island, including its flagship Twin River Casino Hotel, on June 8th, at which time over 90% of the company's current portfolio will have resumed operations. This announcement follows the successful reopening of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Biloxi on May 21st. The company has been encouraged by the strong initial results of its operations at Hard Rock Biloxi, which points to strong pent-up demand in regional markets. Through the first ten days of operations, this property experienced slot and table win results that were up approximately 30% and 150% compared to the same period in the prior year, respectively. As part of Twin River's overall COVID-19 reopening plan, the company has committed to meeting or exceeding all guidelines established by the CDC. As such, the company has implemented property-specific comprehensive health and safety protocols, developed in close consultation with applicable state regulators and public health officials in local jurisdictions. At Dover Downs, the company reopened with 30% of capacity which will allow for approximately 950 VLT machines to be in operation. Table games and the hotel will not be opened in the first phase of reopening. In Rhode Island, the company will initially open to invited guests with 1,570 VLTs available at Twin River Casino, and approximately 375 VLTs at Tiverton Casino Hotel. Table games and the hotels will not be open in the initial re-opening phase; however, stadium gaming positions, with appropriate social distancing, will be open to provide customers with a live dealer experience. The company also announced today that it believes its previously announced acquisition of Isle of Capri Kansas City in Missouri and Lady Luck Vicksburg in Mississippi, both of which have resumed operations, will close in early July, pending Missouri regulatory approval.

08:32 EDT Equinix acquires 13 data centers across Canada from BCE for $750M in cash - Equinix (EQIX) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase a portfolio of 13 data centers across Canada from BCE (BCE) for $750M in an all-cash transaction. The 13 data center sites, which represent 25 Bell data center facilities, are expected to generate approximately $105M annualized revenue which represents a purchase multiple of approximately 15x EV / adjusted EBITDA. The acquisition is expected to close in 2H 2020, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approval, and it is expected to be immediately accretive to Equinix's adjusted funds from operations per share upon close, excluding integration costs.

08:30 EDT Aytu BioScience announces Emergency Use Authorization of COVID-19 rapid test - Aytu BioScience announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Emergency Use Authorization, or EUA, for the COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette distributed by the company. "This is only the fourth lateral flow COVID-19 rapid serology test authorized by the FDA. Additionally, more than 1.4 million COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid tests have been delivered to the company's warehouse in San Diego and are available for distribution," said Aytu. Emergency Use Authorization of the COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette was granted by the FDA on May 29 to Healgen Scientific, the U.S. subsidiary of manufacturer Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech, Limited. Aytu BioScience announced a U.S. distribution agreement to distribute the Zhejiang Orient Gene rapid test on March 10, the company noted.

08:29 EDT Capstone Turbine announces 10-year FPP service contract on 1 MW system in CA - Capstone Turbine announced that Cal Microturbine, the Capstone exclusive distributor for California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii & Nevada signed a new Factory Protection Plan, or FPP, long-term service contract for a 1 megawatt Capstone C1000 Signature Series microturbine system installed at a Waste Water Treatment Plant, or WWTP, in Southern California. The company said in a release, "The 1 MW system has been placed under Capstone's industry-leading Factory Protection Plan long-term service product providing 10-years of comprehensive service coverage, including both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. The wastewater treatment plant will operate the Capstone microturbines on biosolid-based renewable fuel for 24x7 electrical & thermal generation achieving over 75% overall system efficiency."

08:26 EDT Cooper Tire restarts production at tire manufacturing plant in Mexico - Cooper Tire announced that its tire manufacturing plant in El Salto, Mexico will begin the process of restarting production on a limited basis. Cooper has put in place a set of procedures that include required employee health disclosures, increased cleaning and disinfecting of facilities and equipment, social distancing and physical barriers, visitor restrictions and other measures. Similar procedures have been in effect at Cooper plants in China, the United States and Serbia, all of which reopened after temporary closures, and are ramping tire production back up according to demand, which has been impacted industry wide by coronavirus. Throughout the global pandemic, Cooper's distribution centers around the globe have continued to operate and flow product to customers.

08:25 EDT Minerva changes date of webcast on Phase 3 trial of roluperidone - Minerva Neurosciences announced that the company will hold a webcast on Friday, June 5, 2020 at 8.30 a.m. to present additional results and analyses from its Phase 3 trial in negative symptoms. This webcast replaces that previously scheduled for June 1 announced by the Company on May 29, 2020. Minerva management will be joined on the webcast by key opinion leaders Philip Harvey, Ph.D. and Brian Kirkpatrick, M.D. who will discuss these findings.

08:25 EDT Hancock Jaffe Laboratories Inc trading halted, news pending

08:24 EDT iCAD hosts virtual roundtable event on breast cancer surgery - iCAD announced it will host a free virtual roundtable event for clinicians, titled "The Impact of COVID-19 on Breast Cancer Surgery and Targeted Radiation Therapy," on June 4, 2020 at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT. Xoft breast IORT is a single-fraction therapy option that allows select early-stage breast cancer patients to replace weeks of daily radiation with one treatment, delivered at the time of surgery. This targeted treatment option offers a full course of radiation in just one day, which could contribute to a reduction in the healthcare system resources needed for breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce those patients' risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus by minimizing the number of visits required to a hospital or medical facility. Positive results from a long-term study involving Xoft breast IORT conducted at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian were published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology in 2019.2 Led by Melvin J. Silverstein, MD, Medical Director of the Hoag Breast Center, the prospective study, titled Intraoperative Radiation Therapy: A Series of 1000 Tumors, found breast cancer recurrence rates of patients who were treated with Xoft breast IORT were comparable to those seen in the cornerstone, randomized TARGIT-A and ELIOT trials, which evaluated IORT using different technology. This virtual roundtable event is a part of larger series of webinars hosted by iCAD in recent weeks, featuring leading experts in breast cancer detection and treatment. This series has examined various aspects of breast cancer care in the era of COVID-19, including risk adaptive tools and pragmatic solutions for both screening and treatment.

08:23 EDT Xperi shareholders approve merger agreement with TiVo - In a regulatory filing on Friday, Xperi (XPER) shareholders voted to approve the merger agreement with TiVo (TIVO).

08:23 EDT PolarityTE announces publication of two SkinTE manuscripts - PolarityTE reported the recent publication of two peer-reviewed manuscripts involving the application of SkinTE in a pilot study of diabetic foot ulcers and a 15-patient case series evaluating multiple wound types. A publication reporting results from the company's diabetic foot ulcer, or DFU, pilot study was published in the International Wound Journal. The primary endpoint of the pilot was the rate of closure at 12 weeks following SkinTE treatment. According to the abstract, "All 11 DFUs demonstrated successful graft take. Ten DFUs closed within 8 weeks. The median time-to-complete closure was 25 days." PolarityTE is currently conducting a multi-center randomized controlled trial to further evaluate the use of SkinTE in DFUs. Another publication was published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open. The retrospective, noncontrolled, 15-patient case series evaluated various wound etiologies, including five acute and chronic, four acute traumatic, and six chronic wounds. According to the publication, "All wounds were closed with a single application of AHSC manufactured from a single tissue harvest."

08:22 EDT Corbus Pharmaceuticals publishes Phase 1b CF study patient demographics - Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings announced baseline patient demographics and disease characteristics in its Phase 2b study of lenabasum in cystic fibrosis. The information was published in an electronic supplement of the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis in connection with the 43rd European Cystic Fibrosis Conference. Topline results from the Phase 2b cystic fibrosis study are on track for the summer of 2020.

08:20 EDT Infinera appoints George Riedel, Christine Bucklin to board - Infinera announced the appointment of George Riedel and Christine Bucklin to its board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Riedel has served as a Senior Lecturer in the General Management Unit at Harvard Business School since 2017. Ms. Bucklin served as Managing Director, Operations Group at Gryphon Investors, Inc., a private equity firm, from 2015 to 2018. In connection with Mr. Riedel's and Ms. Bucklin's appointments, Infinera's board of directors increased from nine to 11 members. Mr. Riedel will serve as a Class I director with a term expiring at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Ms. Bucklin will serve as a Class III director with a term expiring at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Ms. Bucklin is the Independent Designee as defined in the Letter Agreement between Infinera and Oaktree Optical Holdings L.P., dated April 13, 2020.

08:18 EDT Opko Health announces FDA authorization for trial evaluating RAYALDEE - OPKO Health announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized OPKO to undertake a Phase 2 trial with RAYALDEE as a treatment for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The trial, entitled "A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of RAYALDEE Extended-release Capsules to Treat Symptomatic Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2," is estimated to enroll 166 subjects, including many with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease. The REsCue trial will have 4 weeks of treatment with RAYALDEE or placebo and 2 weeks of follow-up. The objective is to raise and maintain serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D within the range of 50-100 ng/mL in order to mitigate COVID-19 severity.

08:16 EDT LiveXLive Media achieves triple-digit growth across core metrics - LiveXLive Media announced that it has achieved triple-digit growth across core metrics, including the numbers of events, artists and hours streamed on its platform. Since January 2020, LiveXLive has streamed 48 events, up 336%, and over 1,000 artist performances, up 821%. Its programming has generated more than 66M live stream views, an increase of 175% over the same time period last year. Total hours streamed increased by over 179%. Sponsorship revenues also climbed significantly over the same period last year. LiveXLive's technology enables artists to simulcast performances to fans worldwide across social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitch, TikTok and YouTube. Engagements within its social media channels also garnered a triple-digit increase with total engagements up over 109% and average engagements per post saw 128%. LiveXLive has also added several additional revenue formats, including pay-per-view events, an artist ambassador program, a new video podcast format, tipping, merchandise and virtual gifts. The company is seeing promising trends in those categories as well.

08:15 EDT NovaGold exploring legal options against J Capital Research - The company said, "NOVAGOLD RESOURCES confirmed that within a week it would provide a comprehensive and formal response to the catalogue of inaccuracies and falsehoods made by short-seller J Capital Research on May 28, 2020. NOVAGOLD, its Board of Directors, and management team are committed to operating with the utmost professionalism and integrity, which will be demonstrated in the Company's formal response in a meticulous manner. Additionally, NOVAGOLD is exploring all of its legal options in various jurisdictions against J Capital Research and any other parties who may be complicit in any effort to manipulate NOVAGOLD's share price through the dissemination of falsehoods and distortions. NOVAGOLD would like to extend sincere gratitude to its shareholders for their continued support and engagement with management."

08:13 EDT NMI Holdings enters into quota share reinsurance arrangement - NMI Holdings has entered into a new quota share reinsurance arrangement, subject to customary approvals, with a broad panel of highly rated reinsurers. Under the new agreement, National MI will cede, subject to certain limitations, exclusions, and conditions, 10.5% of its primary new insurance written for the period from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The ceded percentage may be increased with additions to the reinsurance panel. The company will receive a ceding commission equal to 20% of ceded premiums, as well as a profit commission of up to 50% of ceded premiums, reduced by any losses ceded under the agreement.

08:12 EDT Cellectar Biosciences granted SME status by EMA - Cellectar Biosciences announced that it has been granted Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise status by the European Medicines Agency's Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise office. The newly granted SME status allows Cellectar to participate in significant financial incentives that include a 90% to 100% EMA fee reduction for scientific advice, clinical study protocol design, endpoints and statistical considerations, quality inspections of facilities and fee waivers for selective EMA pre and post-authorization regulatory filings, including orphan drug and PRIME designations. Cellectar is also eligible to obtain EMA certification of quality and manufacturing data prior to review of clinical data. Other financial incentives include EMA-provided translational services of all regulatory documents required for market authorization, further reducing the financial burden of the market authorization process.

08:10 EDT Flexsteel Industries announces $6M stock repurchase program - The board authorized a stock repurchase program under which the company may repurchase up to $6M of its outstanding common shares. The company said the board determined that a modest stock buy-back program could help mitigate undue pressure on the stock given the uncertainty of the Russell reconstitution, while not jeopardizing business plans and debt covenants. The repurchase program is authorized to last through June 9, 2021.

08:09 EDT Mudrick Capital Acquisition acquires Hycroft Mining - Mudrick Capital Acquisition and Hycroft Mining, a U.S.-based, gold and silver producer in Nevada, are pleased to announce the consummation of the purchase of Hycroft by MUDS. The shareholders of each of MUDS and Hycroft approved the transaction, which closed on May 29, creating a new world-class mining company named Hycroft Mining Holding that will trade publicly on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol "HYMC." Hycroft has sold all of the equity interests of Hycroft's subsidiaries and substantially all of its other assets to MUDS, and MUDS has discharged and paid or assumed all or substantially all of Hycroft's liabilities. HYMC has 50.2M common shares outstanding, as of the consummation of the transaction.

08:08 EDT Flexsteel Industries implements conservative cash strategies amid COVID-19 - Flexsteel Industries announced that, in light of the continued economic uncertainty and dampened demand for furniture related to COVID-19, the company and its board have implemented conservative cash strategies to ensure the viability of the company and to maximize its financial flexibility until economic conditions stabilize. The company has extended 25% salary reductions for the CEO and CFO/COO and 50% cash compensation reduction for the board through October 1. Flexsteel is also evaluating and renegotiating company lease obligations where feasible. Lastly, the company has gained a commitment from Dubuque Bank & Trust for a new secured $45M credit facility with a two-year term. On April 28, the company announced its intent to exit the recreational vehicle seating and remaining hospitality businesses after determining they were no longer strategic to the future of the company. As a result of these planned actions, the company anticipates incurring pre-tax restructuring and related expenses between $25M and $28M, with a majority of expenses to be incurred in Q4. Cash charges are expected to be between $3M to $5M, and non-cash charges, including asset impairments, are expected to be between $22M and $23M.

08:06 EDT Neoleukin Therapeutics appoints Erin Lavelle to board of directors - Neoleukin Therapeutics announced the appointment of Erin Lavelle to the company's Board of Directors. Ms. Lavelle has more than 20 years of strategic and operational leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and most recently served as COO for Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. She succeeds Sean Nolan, who will be stepping down from the Board. Mr. Nolan has served as a director of Aquinox Pharmaceutics since 2015 and remained on the Neoleukin Board after the merger in August 2019.

08:04 EDT Flexsteel Industries lowers quarterly dividend to 5c per share - The board declared a Q4 dividend of 5c per share, payable July 6 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 19. The decision to set the quarterly dividend at a lower level compared to previous quarters reflects the continued economic uncertainty and softer demand for furniture related to COVID-19.

08:02 EDT Oppenheimer & Co. to acquire Brandis Tallman, terms not disclosed - Oppenheimer & Co., a subsidiary of Oppenheimer Holdings, announced an agreement to acquire San Francisco-based Brandis Tallman, one of the top investment banks specializing in the underwriting and placement of municipal debt for California issuers. Completion of the transaction is subject to pending regulatory review and approvals.

08:00 EDT Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation trading resumes

07:54 EDT Chuy's says 87 dining rooms in operation at varying levels of capacity - The company said, "As the Company has reopened its dining rooms, recent off-premise sales have continued at a rate of more than double pre-COVID-19 levels and the comparable restaurant sales have begun to show a significant improvement over immediately preceding weeks. As of today, 87 of the company's dining rooms were in operation in varying levels of capacity, while five restaurants continue to operate with enhanced off-premise service only, and nine restaurants remain temporarily closed. As of May 24, 2020, we had approximately $32M of cash and cash equivalents as compared to approximately $28 million of cash and cash equivalents as of March 29, 2020. During the eight-week period ended May 24, 2020, we remained current with all of our vendors but deferred a majority of our lease obligations and as allowed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act deferred the payment of our employer social security taxes. Had we fully paid these expenses during such period, we estimate that we would have had approximately $27M of cash and cash equivalents as of May 24, 2020."

07:51 EDT Spero Therapeutics announces inducement grants under Nasdaq listing rule - Spero Therapeutics announced that on May 29, 2020, the Compensation Committee of Spero's Board of Directors granted non-qualified stock option awards to purchase an aggregate of 29,500 shares of its common stock to four new employees under the Spero Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2019 Inducement Plan. The stock options were granted as inducements material to the new employees becoming employees of Spero in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The 2019 Inducement Plan is used exclusively for the grant of equity awards to individuals who were not previously employees of Spero, as an inducement material to such individuals' entering into employment with Spero, pursuant to Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The options have an exercise price of $11.82 per share, which is equal to the closing price of Spero's common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 29, 2020. Each option will vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the shares vesting after 12 months and the remaining shares vesting monthly over the following 36 months, subject to each employee's continued employment with Spero on such vesting dates. The options are subject to the terms and conditions of the 2019 Inducement Plan and the terms and conditions of a stock option agreement covering the grant.

07:48 EDT Mayo Clinic joins Biomerica's InFoods IBS diagnostic-guided therapy trial - Biomerica announced they have signed definitive agreements with Mayo Clinic to join the clinical trial for Biomerica's new InFoods diagnostic-guided therapy, designed to alleviate Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. Mayo Clinic is joining Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Inc., a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital, Houston Methodist and the University of Michigan as primary enrollment centers for this study. Mayo Clinic can now begin enrollment of patients in this trial. Biomerica has added several new, large medical centers and groups to assist with accelerating completion of the endpoint trial and to participate in the subsequent pivotal trial needed for final FDA clearance. Biomerica continues to add leading gastrointestinal physicians operating in world-renowned centers to the InFoods IBS clinical study, who are potential users and advocates for this product once cleared by the FDA. Biomerica also announced today that the Japanese Patent Office has issued Biomerica' s first Japanese patent pertaining to the Company's InFoods family of products that allow for a revolutionary new treatment option for patients suffering from IBS and several other disease states. Specifically, this patent contains numerous claims that broadly cover a product that enables physicians to identify patient-specific foods, that when removed from the diet, may alleviate or improve an individual's IBS symptoms including, but not limited to, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, pain and indigestion. It is estimated that about 19 million people in Japan suffer from IBS. It is estimated that over 45 million Americans suffer from IBS and the symptoms are often triggered by consumption of specific foods. The total cost of IBS has been estimated at $30 billion annually in the United States. IBS is a common condition that can substantially impair physical and mental well-being of a patient and a person's ability to function both at home and in the workplace. A clinical lab version of the product is being used in this clinical trial. However, the Company is also developing InFoods IBS DGT as a point-of-care product that allows physicians to perform the test in-office using a finger stick blood sample. A billable CPT code that can be used by both clinical labs and physicians' offices is already available for the InFoods IBS products. Market research conducted by a leading, independent pharmaceutical marketing research firm, determined that seventy percent of physicians surveyed would utilize the InFoods DGT without reimbursement and over 90% would utilize it with reimbursement. Importantly, the InFoods DGT can be used without or in conjunction with current pharmaceuticals to potentially improve patient outcomes. Since the InFoods product is a diagnostic-guided therapy and not a drug, it has no drug-type side effects. The clinical trials are randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Inc., a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital, has completed its enrollment of patients for this endpoint study but will continue to participate in the final pivotal trial once that commences. This clinical endpoint trial is expected to be completed in approximately 6 months. However, due to the novel coronavirus' impact on the U.S.'s healthcare system, it may take longer. If all goes as expected, Biomerica plans to commence the final pivotal trial several months thereafter, which is needed for submission to the FDA for final clearance. The endpoint trial stratifies enrollment by the three main IBS subclasses. There is currently no FDA cleared therapy for IBS-Mixed. The study design has already received a non-significant risk determination from FDA.

07:42 EDT Auxly Cannabis says established foundation to move towards positive cash flows - The company said, "With the launch of the Company's Cannabis 2.0 Products in December 2019, Auxly has established the foundation the Company plans to build on in 2020 to increase revenues and move towards positive cash flows. Auxly's objectives for 2020, which may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to be concentrated on its Canadian operations, with a view to international opportunities that may be profitable in the near to long term. Broadly, the Company's objectives for the year ahead are as follows: Be a leader in the Canadian Cannabis 2.0 Products market. Complete remaining construction and licensing of all Canadian operations to leverage existing assets and increase revenues. Work with the Sunens team to secure supply of input materials for use in the Company's product offerings in 2020. Collaborate with the Company's strategic partners to move towards commercialization of a small number of products for sale internationally or, if and when permitted, as part of the Cannabis 3.0 Products market. The Company looks forward to continuing its success over the year ahead as it gets closer to realizing on its vision of being a global leader focused on branded cannabis products that deliver on Auxly's consumer promise of quality, safety and efficacy"

07:36 EDT Bombardier completes sale of CRJ program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries - Bombardier (BDRBF) confirmed the closing of the previously announced sale of the CRJ Series aircraft program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd (MHVYF) for a cash consideration of approximately $550M, subject to post-closing adjustments and the assumption of liabilities by MHI related to credit and residual value guarantees and lease subsidies amounting to approximately $200M. Under the agreement, the Corporation's net beneficial interest in the Regional Aircraft Securitization Program, which is valued at approximately $170M, has been transferred to MHI. Through this sale, MHI acquires the maintenance, support, refurbishment, marketing, and sales activities for the CRJ Series aircraft, including the related services and support network located in Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, Ontario, and its service centres located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, and Tucson, Arizona, as well as the type certificates. Bombardier will continue to supply components and spare parts and will assemble the remaining 15 CRJ aircraft in the backlog as of March 31, 2020 on behalf of MHI until the complete delivery of the current backlog, expected in the second half of 2020. Bombardier retains certain liabilities representing a portion of the credit and residual value guarantees totalling $288M as of March 31, 2020. This amount is largely fixed and not subject to future changes in aircraft value and is mainly payable by Bombardier over the next four years.

07:34 EDT Spartan Motors changes corporate name to The Shyft Group - Spartan Motors (SPAR) announced its corporate name change to The Shyft Group (SHYF), following the divestiture of its Emergency Response business. As part of the name change, the company has released a new company logo and has launched a new corporate website at www.theshyftgroup.com. The Shyft Group is headquartered in Novi, Michigan. The company begins trading under the NASDAQ ticker symbol "SHYF", effective June 1.

07:31 EDT Bed Bath & Beyond names Harriet Edelman independent Chair of Board - Bed Bath & Beyond announced that Harriet Edelman has been appointed as independent Chair of the Board, effective immediately. Patrick Gaston has stepped down as Chairman of the Board and, after 13 years as a director of the company, has notified the Board that he does not plan to stand for re-election at the company's 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In connection with Ms. Edelman's appointment as Chair of the Board, she has stepped down as Chair of the Audit Committee. The Board has appointed Joshua Schechter as Chair of the Audit Committee, effective immediately.

07:22 EDT Altimmune launches clinical trial of T-COVID intranasal immune modulator - Altimmune announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the Company to proceed with a clinical trial of T-COVID, an investigational agent for the treatment of early COVID-19. Patient enrollment in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial is expected to commence in June, with data readout anticipated in Q4 2020. T-COVID is based on the same replication-deficient adenovirus 5 vector technology behind Altimmune's intranasal vaccine candidates, which include NasoVAX for influenza, NasoShield for anthrax, and AdCOVID for COVID-19, but it acts through a different mechanism. In preclinical studies sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, intranasal administration of RD-Ad5 vectors modulated the innate immune response to lethal challenge with a respiratory virus in mice and protected them from death. The immunomodulatory effects resulted in significantly decreased cellular inflammation and lower concentrations of IL-6 and other inflammatory cytokines in the lungs of treated animals compared to controls. Excessive production of inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 has been associated with the lung pathology and death in COVID-19. The protective effects were independent of any specific immunity or vaccine effects against the challenge virus. These protective effects were only observed with intranasal administration of RD-Ad5, and intramuscular administration provided no survival benefit. The Company believes that treatment with T-COVID administered as a single intranasal dose to patients with an early onset of symptoms and recent diagnosis of COVID-19 may prevent the progression to severe lung inflammation and thereby decrease the development of severe COVID-19 and the need for hospitalization. The FDA has agreed that the Company may use its existing lot of RD-Ad5-based NasoVAX influenza vaccine for the planned T-COVID clinical trial allowing the Company to immediately initiate the study. The planned clinical trial will evaluate the potential of T-COVID to prevent clinical worsening in patients with early COVID-19. The double-blind trial is expected to enroll approximately 100 patients who are 35 years and older randomized 1:1 to receive either intranasal T-COVID or placebo administered in an outpatient setting within 48 hours of onset of symptoms and 24 hours of diagnosis. The study will be enrolled in 3 cohorts of increasing risk factors for severe COVID-19, with the final cohort enrolling patients of all ages and risk factors. The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of patients with clinical worsening, defined as a 4% decrease in pulse oxygen saturation, or need for hospitalization. The Company believes this approach is differentiated from other COVID-19 therapeutics currently in development as it is focused on non-hospitalized patients prior to the development of pulmonary dysfunction or the need for hospitalization. T-COVID is being studied as a single intranasal dose, not requiring the use of needles or infusions, and has the potential to be self-administered. Additionally, based on the current stability profile at ambient temperatures, T-COVID has the potential to be widely distributed without the need for refrigeration. The Company's intranasal RD-Ad5 vectors have been studied in five clinical studies in healthy subjects and appeared to be safe and well-tolerated. Pending a successful trial readout, Altimmune anticipates future discussions with FDA about additional clinical trials and Emergency Use Authorization. The Company believes the mechanism of action underlying T-COVID has the potential to be studied for both pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis for higher-risk individuals, such as frontline healthcare workers, making it attractive as a potential first-line defense for other viral pathogens for which vaccines are not yet available, such as in an influenza pandemic or new strains of coronavirus. This therapeutic intervention complements the Company's development of AdCOVID, a single-dose, prophylactic intranasal vaccine candidate designed to specifically protect against COVID-19, which is also based on the RD-Ad5 vector. It is expected that AdCOVID, which expresses the spike antigen of SARS-CoV-2 virus, will promote mucosal and systemic immunity including IgA in the nasal cavity, neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses as previously demonstrated in a clinical study with the Company's intranasal adenoviral vector technology. Stimulation of nasal mucosal immunity may be especially important in the prevention and control of COVID-19 as the nasal cavity is a key site for SARS-CoV-2 replication.

07:20 EDT Amarin to increase Vascepa promotion and education initiatives - Amarin announced that it intends to increase the level and breadth of its promotion and education initiatives regarding Vascepa. "As early signs emerge of patients returning to physicians' offices, Amarin plans to emphasize its key marketing messages including positioning Vascepa as the only FDA-approved drug for lowering the persistent cardiovascular risk beyond statin therapy for millions of high-risk patients...Most healthcare professionals and at-risk patients are unaware that Vascepa is the first and only drug with this important new indication. For this reason, and the emerging return of patients, Amarin believes the opportunity exists for increasing awareness of Vascepa and its potential to provide an important healthcare solution to reduce cardiovascular risk in high-risk patients," the company said in a statement. Amarin plans to adjust its level of promotion and educational activities upward or downward based on various factors, including whether any generic company takes the risk of launching a generic version of Vascepa during the patent litigation appeal process and the amount of any product launched. Amarin "does not believe generic companies have made the investment of resources, know-how and time to develop sufficient quantities of quality supply to meet current and growing demand. Accordingly, Amarin believes that if any generic determines to launch its product after an FDA approval that any such launch would be limited in scope."

07:18 EDT Tonix selects Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies as manufacturing partner - Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (TNXP) announced an agreement whereby FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (FUJIY) will provide contract manufacturing and development services to support the manufacturing of Tonix's COVID-19 vaccine candidate, TNX-1800, for clinical trial supply. Under the agreement, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies will develop a manufacturing process, manufacture, and stock a supply of TNX-1800 at FDB's College Station, Texas site for Tonix's clinical development. FDB's manufacturing site in College Station, Texas is a state-of-the-art facility designed to operate as a flexible, responsive contract manufacturing facility to support production on multiple scales as candidates move through the clinical process from clinical stages into commercialization. In February, Tonix announced a strategic collaboration with Southern Research to support the development of TNX-1800 to protect against the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, based on Tonix's proprietary horsepox vaccine platform. Tonix is developing TNX-801 as a potential smallpox preventing vaccine for the U.S. strategic national stockpile and as a monkeypox preventing vaccine. The Company believes that its proprietary horsepox virus has the potential to serve as a vector for vaccines to protect against other infectious agents.

07:17 EDT Amarin says Q2 Vascepa prescription growth 'considerably slower' than Q1 - Amarin said in a press release, "As the United States reopens from the COVID-19 epidemic, Amarin intends to resume field-based face-to-face interactions with healthcare providers by its sales force, commencing on a pilot scale basis before the end of June 2020, based on current expectations. Assuming that these interactions prove to be helpful and other parts of the country reopen, the company plans to expand such interactions on a phased basis across select geographies. Prescription growth on a year-over-year basis in Q2'20 has, as expected due to COVID-19, been considerably slower than in Q1'20. However, Amarin believes that there are early signs that patient care for chronic conditions, such as treating the risks of cardiovascular disease, is increasing with more patients returning to their healthcare providers for routine medical visits."

07:14 EDT Xebec Adsorption, Fonds de solidarite FTQ launch investment fund - Xebec Adsorption and Fonds de solidarite FTQ announced the creation of the GNR Quebec Capital L.P. investment fund. With an initial capitalization of $20M, this new investment vehicle aims to increase renewable natural gas production in Quebec. Partners, particularly from the agricultural and municipal sectors, will have access to the capital and expertise needed to develop and operate efficient facilities to treat organic waste. The creation of a fund of this type for renewable natural gas projects is a first in Quebec. Xebec and the Fonds will each initially invest $10less than into the partnership. Over time, Xebec and the Fonds expect that the partnership could receive an aggregate $100M in equity capital from Xebec, the Fonds and other investors. Xebec and the Fonds' initiative could, with a 75:25 debt to equity ratio, fund 12 to 15 renewable natural gas projects in Quebec with an aggregate investment of $400M over the next decade. The general partner, GNR Quebec Capital Management Inc., overseen by a Board of Directors nominated by Xebec and the Fonds will be managing the partnership.

07:13 EDT Zynga up 4.5% after announcing acquisition of Peak, updating guidance

07:12 EDT Provectus publishes updated data from metastatic NET Phase 1 PV-10 study - Provectus announced that updated data from the first cohort of the Company's neuroendocrine tumors metastatic to the liver Phase 1 study of investigational autolytic cancer immunotherapy PV-10 were published as an abstract as part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2020 Virtual Scientific Program, held online May 29-31, 2020. Small molecule-based PV-10 is administered either by cutaneous intratumoral injection to superficial melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer tumors or by percutaneous IT injection to visceral primary and metastatic hepatic tumors. By targeting tumor cell lysosomes, PV-10 treatment may yield immunogenic cell death in solid tumor cancers that results in tumor-specific reactivity in circulating T cells and a T cell mediated immune response against treatment refractory and immunologically cold tumors. Adaptive immunity may be enhanced by combining immune checkpoint blockade with PV-10. This single-center Phase 1 study is being conducted at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, Australia to evaluate the potential safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of single-agent PV-10 treatment in symptomatic mNET patients refractory to systemic somatostatin analogues and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. The primary endpoint of the trial is safety; secondary endpoints include objective response rate of injected target and measurable bystander lesions, target lesion somatostatin receptor expression, and biochemical response. Response assessments were conducted using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria and by independent review. Six patients in the first cohort each received one percutaneously-administered IT injection of PV-10 to one target lesion per treatment cycle. Patients in the second cohort can receive PV-10 injection of multiple lesions per cycle; enrollment of this cohort is nearing completion. Highlights from the mNET Presentation at ASCO: Baseline characteristics: 67% male; median age of 65 years. Disease characteristics: Primary tumor site: small bowel, pancreas, and caecal. NET grades: Grade 1 and Grade 2. All patients were refractory to SSA and PRRT. PV-10 treatment summary: Median of 1 cycle. Safety: Post-procedure pain, carcinoid flare, and nausea. Injected target lesion efficacy: 50% partial response, 50%ORR. Patient-level efficacy. 83%a disease control rate. Progression-free survival: Not reached by computerized tomography scan; 6.1 months by positron emission tomography scan. Overall survival: greater than22.5 months; 50% ongoing response follow-up at the January 2020 data cut-off.

07:10 EDT CTI BioPharma: First patient enrolled in Phase 3 PRE-VENT trial - CTI BioPharma announced that it has enrolled the first patient in the Phase 3 PRE-VENT trial of pacritinib in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19. PRE-VENT, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study, will compare pacritinib plus standard of care versus placebo and standard of care in 358 hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, including patients with and without cancer. The primary endpoint of the trial will assess the proportion of patients who progress to invasive mechanical ventilation and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or die by Day 28.

07:08 EDT Colliers International completes acquistion of Dougherty - Colliers International has completed its previously announced acquisition of a controlling interest in Dougherty Mortgage, Dougherty Funding, Dougherty & Company and Dougherty Insurance Agency. Under Colliers' unique partnership model, Dougherty's senior leadership team will continue to drive operations and will remain significant shareholders. Headquartered in Minneapolis, with more than 250 professionals operating from nine offices, Dougherty provides mortgage banking, loan servicing, mortgage brokerage and investment banking services across 21 U.S. states. Dougherty originates $2.5B of real estate loans annually, services $7B in real estate loans and generated revenue in excess of $100M in 2019. Dougherty's mortgage banking operations have rebranded as Colliers Mortgage and will continue to provide specialty real estate debt financing for multifamily, healthcare and senior housing real estate through U.S. Government-Sponsored Enterprises. This includes origination, underwriting, asset management and loan servicing for Fannie Mae, the Federal Housing Administration/U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, Colliers Mortgage will originate and service a broad range of other commercial real estate loans for real estate owners and developers nationwide. Going forward, all brokerage, investment banking, capital markets and public finance services will be carried on through newly branded Colliers Securities which is licensed under the Securities and Exchange Commission and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

07:07 EDT Compugen: FDA clears IND for Phase 1/2 study of COM701/Opdivo/BMS-986207 - Compugen (CGEN) announced that the U.S. FDA has cleared the investigational new drug application for its Phase 1/2 study evaluating the triple combination of COM701, Compugen's first-in-class anti-PVRIG antibody, Opdivo, Bristol Myers Squibb's (BMY) PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor and BMS-986207, Bristol Myers Squibb's investigational anti-TIGIT antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors. The triple combination study is designed to evaluate the simultaneous blockade of three immune checkpoint pathways, PVRIG, TIGIT and PD-1, and will accelerate the clinical evaluation of Compugen's DNAM axis hypothesis and biomarker-driven approach in patients with advanced solid tumors, including those that may be refractory or non-responsive to standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitors. The study is expected to commence in the second half of 2020.

07:06 EDT Axogen general counsel Greg Freitag retires - Axogen announced the appointment of Brad Ottinger as general counsel and chief compliance officer. He will assume the duties of Greg Freitag who retired from his position as general counsel. Freitag will continue as a member of the Company's Board of Directors and assume the role of Special Counsel during a transition period expected through October 2020. Ottinger's appointment is effective June 1, 2020. He will report directly to CEO Karen Zaderej and be responsible for all legal and compliance activities for Axogen. Prior to joining Axogen, Ottinger served as VP, general counsel, CAO and secretary of MicroPort Orthopedics.

07:05 EDT Regeneron, Intellia Therapeutics expand pact to develop CRISPR/Cas9 treatments - Regeneron (REGN) and Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) announced an expansion of their existing collaboration to provide Regeneron with rights to develop products for additional in vivo CRISPR/Cas9-based therapeutic targets and for the companies to jointly develop potential products for the treatment of hemophilia A and B. Regeneron also receives non-exclusive rights to independently develop and commercialize ex vivo gene edited products. Intellia will receive an upfront payment of $70M, and Regeneron will make an additional equity investment in Intellia of $30M at $32.42 per share. Under the amended agreement, the term of the companies' existing collaboration is extended until April 2024, with Regeneron having an option to renew for an additional two years. Regeneron will have rights to discover and develop CRISPR/Cas9-based therapeutic products for an additional five in vivo liver targets, for a total of up to 15 targets. As currently set forth in the existing collaboration, the parties will jointly research these in vivo targets, and thereafter certain targets may be developed by Regeneron or Intellia, or co-developed under certain conditions. Per the terms of the original agreement, Regeneron will pay potential royalties and milestone payments for the in vivo products it independently develops. In addition, Regeneron will receive a royalty-bearing, non-exclusive license to certain Intellia intellectual property to develop and commercialize up to 10 ex vivo CRISPR/Cas9 products in defined cell types.

07:04 EDT El Paso Electric, IIF agree to extend termination date for proposed acquisition - El Paso Electricand the Infrastructure Investments Fund, or IIF, announced that they have mutually agreed to extend the termination date for the transaction under the terms of the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger to September 1. As previously announced, the proposed acquisition is pending final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC. On April 15, EPE and IIF filed proposed mitigation options with the FERC as requested by the FERC in its March 30 order conditionally approving the proposed acquisition. The FERC's approval of the parties' mitigation plan is the last regulatory approval needed to close the proposed acquisition. EPE and IIF continue to expect to close the transaction in the first half of 2020.

07:03 EDT Sterling Bancorp to hire Thomas O'Brien as CEO - Sterling Bancorp announced that the company and the Bank have agreed to hire Thomas O'Brien as the Chairman, President and CEO of the company and the Bank, subject to prior receipt of regulatory non-objection from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. O'Brien currently serves as a consultant to the Board of Directors of the Bank and will not assume the duties and responsibilities of President and CEO until such regulatory non-objection is received. Steve Huber, current CFO and Treasurer of the company, will continue to serve as Interim President and CEO until the time O'Brien becomes an employee of the company. O'Brien most recently he served as Vice Chairman of New York City-based Emigrant Bancorp and Emigrant Bank from October 2018 to March 2020.

07:01 EDT Bristol-Myers announces commercial launch of ZEPOSIA - Bristol Myers announced that ZEPOSIA 0.92 mg, a new once-daily oral medication for adults for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, or RMS, including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, is now commercially available in the U.S. ZEPOSIA was approved by the FDA on March 25.

06:59 EDT CytoDyn files request with FDA seeking Priority Review for leronlimab BLA - CytoDyn announced that it has filed with the U.S. FDA a request seeking Priority Review designation for the company's Biologics License Application for leronlimab as a combination therapy for HIV indication.

06:57 EDT Mallinckrodt to appeal District Court ruling - Mallinckrodt announced that it will appeal a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in a lawsuit filed by its subsidiary, Mallinckrodt ARD LLC, against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, regarding the Medicaid drug rebate calculation for Acthar Gel. "The District Court denied the Company's request to reconsider its previous decision that declined to declare unlawful an action by CMS to effectuate a change in the base date average manufacturer price used to calculate those rebates. The Court also denied the company's request that it temporarily block CMS' action pending an appeal. The Company will immediately appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where it will seek to overturn the lower court decision and temporarily block CMS action during the appellate process," the company said in a release. "We are disappointed by the Court's unwillingness to reconsider its previous decision. We believe the Court has misinterpreted the statute that governs the Medicaid drug rebate program and failed to hold the government accountable to a bedrock principle of administrative law that the government must give fair notice and a clear, legal basis for a change in policy, particularly when that policy has been relied upon by a regulated entity such as Mallinckrodt," said Mark Casey, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Mallinckrodt. "We plan to immediately appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Mallinckrodt remains committed to ensuring Medicaid patients have access to Acthar Gel therapy for the long term." The company added, "In asking the Court to temporarily block CMS' action, the Company described the risk that allowing CMS to move forward could inhibit the Company's ability to fund research and development activities, including COVID-19 related activities, and effectuate its opioid settlement, among other issues. As previously announced, in the absence of court intervention, the company would pay roughly $640 million in retroactive non-recurring charges from January 1, 2013 to March 27, 2020, and the annualized prospective change to the Medicaid rebate calculation would reduce Acthar Gel net sales by roughly $90 million to $100 million. Under a previous agreement with the government, CMS has agreed to not enforce a change in the Medicaid drug rebate calculation for Acthar Gel until at least June 14."

06:52 EDT TherapeuticsMD CFO Daniel Cartwright retires, James D'Arecca to succeed - TherapeuticsMD announced the appointment of James D'Arecca as the company's CFO, effective June 1. D'Arecca succeeds Daniel Cartwright, who has retired from his position as the company's CFO, also effective June 1. Cartwright will remain with the company as an advisor for a transitional period. D'Arecca joins TherapeuticsMD with broad experience in corporate and operational finance, most recently as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Allergan.

06:47 EDT Merck, AstraZeneca: LYNPARZA receives positive opinion from EU CHMP - AstraZeneca (AZN) and Merck (MRK) announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion, recommending LYNPARZA for approval as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations who have metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and have not progressed after a minimum of 16 weeks of platinum treatment within a first-line chemotherapy regimen. The CHMP based its positive opinion on results from the Phase 3 POLO trial, which were previously published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The trial demonstrated LYNPARZA nearly doubled the time patients with gBRCAm metastatic pancreatic cancer lived without disease progression or death to a median of 7.4 months vs. 3.8 months on placebo.

06:41 EDT Emergent BioSolutions issued task order for COVID-19 vaccine development - Emergent BioSolutions announced that it has been issued a task order under an existing contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, to deploy its contract development and manufacturing capacities, capabilities, and expertise to support the U.S. government's efforts to accelerate delivery of COVID-19 vaccines. This task order, valued at approximately $628M, is being issued under the company's 2012 contract with BARDA that established Emergent's Baltimore Bayview facility as a Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing for pandemic preparedness, and expands the partnership to include investments in Emergent's Baltimore Camden and Rockville facilities, creating a U.S.-based manufacturing supply chain for pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovators of COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Under the task order, Emergent will deploy its molecule-to-market CDMO offering, committing manufacturing capacity, valued at approximately $542.7M, for production of COVID-19 vaccine candidates through 2021. This award secures, on behalf of leading COVID-19 vaccine innovators that are supported by the U.S. government, capacity for drug substance manufacturing at the company's Baltimore Bayview facility and for drug product manufacturing at the Baltimore Camden and Rockville locations. The task order also includes an investment of approximately $85.5M for the rapid expansion of Emergent's viral and non-viral CDMO drug product fill/finish capacity at the Baltimore Camden and Rockville facilities.

06:35 EDT KKR to make $1B investment in Coty via convertible preferred shares - KKR (KKR) is making a $1B investment into Coty (COTY) via convertible preferred shares. These shares carry a coupon of 9% and will be convertible into Coty shares at $6.24, equating to a 20% premium to Coty's closing stock price on May 8, 2020 of $5.20, the last trading day before entry into the investment agreement. The initial $750M of this investment was completed on May 26, 2020, with the remaining $250M expected to be completed in the next two months. Assuming full conversion, JAB will remain Coty's largest shareholder, with 50% ownership in the company. KKR will be the second largest shareholder, with a 17% stake. KKR's majority investment in Wella values the business at $4.3B on a cash- and debt- free basis. This equates to 12.3x FY19 adjusted EBITDA of ~$350 million on a fully-allocated basis, which includes approximately $160M of central costs which will not transfer as part of the transaction. At the closing of the deal, expected in the next six to nine months, the Wella business is anticipated to issue approximately $1B of debt and distribute the proceeds to its respective shareholders. This will result in total net cash proceeds to Coty of approximately $2.5B, including $2.6B relating to 60% of Wella's enterprise value and $0.4 billion from the dividend distribution, net of $0.2B relating to debt items and $0.3B of tax and transaction fees. Based on Coty's FY19 results ended June 30, 2019, this two-pronged transaction lowers Coty's net debt/adjusted EBITDA leverage from ~5.6x to ~4.5x on a pro forma basis, adding meaningful stability.

06:32 EDT Coty announces definitive agreement with KKR on Wella - Coty (COTY) announced the signing of a definitive agreement with KKR (KKR) as part of a strategic transformation that will deleverage its balance sheet, streamline its operations and strengthen its leadership team. Under the definitive agreement, Coty and KKR have entered into a strategic transaction for Coty's Professional and Retail Hair business, including the Wella, Clairol, OPI and ghd brands, valuing the businesses at $4.3B on a cash- and debt-free basis. KKR will own 60% of this separately managed entity and Coty will own the remaining 40%. As previously announced, KKR is investing $1B directly into Coty through the issuance of convertible preferred shares.

06:16 EDT Target temporarily closing or shortening hours at 200 stores - Target said in a statement this weekend: "We are heartbroken by the death of George Floyd and the pain it is causing communities across the country. The safety of our team and guests is our top priority. At this time, we are making the decision to adjust store hours or close stores temporarily. We recognize the important role we play in helping our communities shop for the food, medicine and other essentials they need. We apologize for the inconvenience and will reopen our stores on their normally scheduled hours as soon as it is safe to do so. We're providing community support and prioritizing the rebuilding of our Lake Street store, which is near where George Floyd was killed. We have teams working to provide basic first aid supplies, water and essentials through partnerships with local nonprofits. We appreciate members of the community and our team who have assisted in cleaning in and around that location. We are now boarding the store up until we can survey the location and begin recovery efforts. Team members are receiving direct communications updates from leaders regarding any store impact where they work. Additionally, team members impacted by store closures will be paid for up to 14 days of scheduled hours during store closures, including COVID-19 premium pay. They will also be able to work at other nearby Target locations." Reference Link

05:51 EDT Synlogic announces publication in Nature Communications highlighting SYNB1891 - Synlogic announced the publication in Nature Communications of preclinical data supporting its first clinical immuno-oncology program, SYNB1891, which is being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma. Data described in the publication demonstrate that SYNB1891 treatment cleared tumors and stimulated antitumor immunity in preclinical models of cancer. "The targeted delivery and dual immune stimulatory activity of SYNB1891 offer distinct advantages over other approaches," said Aoife Brennan, M.B., Ch. B., Synlogic's president and CEO. "The preclinical data published today highlight the transformative potential of SYNB1891. Together with the early experience in the clinic demonstrating feasibility and tolerability in the initial cohorts of the clinical trial, these data provide support for the continued development of SYNB1891 as a potential therapeutic option to expand the benefits of immunotherapy to more patients with cancer." The company said in a release, "The publication titled, 'Immunotherapy with an engineered bacteria by targeting the STING pathway for anti-tumor immunity,' details the engineering and characterization of SYNB1891. The work describes preclinical studies that demonstrate anti-tumor activity and generation of immunological memory by SYNB1891 in mouse models of cancer, as well as its robust activation of human antigen presenting cells, or APCs, that are key to the generation of an anti-tumoral immune response."

05:38 EDT Chi-Med plans to submit NDA for surufatinib following pre-NDA meeting with FDA - Hutchison China MediTech, or Chi-Med, announces that it has held its pre-New Drug Application, or NDA, meeting with the FDA for surufatinib for the treatment of patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors, or NET. The company said in a release, "Chi-Med has reached an agreement with the FDA that the completed SANET-ep, non-pancreatic NET, and SANET-p, pancreatic NET, studies, along with existing data from surufatinib in U.S. non-pancreatic and pancreatic NET patients, could form the basis to support a U.S. NDA submission. The FDA granted Fast Track Designation status to surufatinib for the non-pancreatic and pancreatic NET development programs in April 2020. Chi-Med has initiated preparatory work for the U.S. NDA and intends to utilize a rolling submission under Fast Track Designation Status. The rolling NDA allows completed portions of an NDA to be submitted and reviewed by the FDA on an ongoing basis. Filing acceptance of the NDA is subject to FDA review of the complete application. The planned start of the NDA submission is late 2020."

05:33 EDT AbbVie enters strategic collaboration with Jacobio Pharmaceuticals - AbbVie and Jacobio Pharmaceuticals announced a global, strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize SHP2 inhibitors, which target a key node in cancer and immune cells. The companies said in a release, "SHP2 is an important protein mediator of cellular signaling through RAS/MAP kinase pathway. Many tumors have genetic mutations, driving abnormal cancer cell growth which relies on SHP2 activity. SHP2 also plays a key role to control cytokine production and immune cell response. Therefore, inhibition of SHP2 is believed to have dual effects by potentially reducing cancer cell growth and modulating immune responses to generate anti-tumor activities. Jacobio's early clinical stage SHP2 assets, JAB-3068 and JAB-3312, are oral small molecules designed to specifically inhibit SHP2 activity. Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will be granted an exclusive license to the SHP2 portfolio. Jacobio will continue to conduct early global clinical trials of JAB-3068 and JAB-3312 with AbbVie covering R&D expenses. Upon completion, AbbVie will assume global development and commercialization responsibilities. Jacobio has an option, exercisable before the initiation of registrational trials, to exclusively develop and commercialize the SHP2 program in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Financial terms were not disclosed and the transaction is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act."

05:12 EDT Libbey files voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 - Libbey announced that the Company and its U.S.-based subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for a court-supervised reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The company said in a release, "Libbey's international subsidiaries in Canada, China, Mexico, the Netherlands and Portugal are not included in the Chapter 11 proceedings and are operating in the normal course of business. Libbey expects to use the court-supervised restructuring process to strengthen its balance sheet to navigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and better position the Company for the future. Libbey is continuing constructive discussions with its lenders and other stakeholders regarding the terms of a consensual financial restructuring plan and is focused on moving through the process as efficiently as possible. Certain of Libbey's existing lenders have agreed to provide up to $160 million in debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing, including a $100 million revolving credit facility and a $60 million term loan. Following court approval, the Company expects this financing, together with cash flow from operations, to support the business during the court-supervised process. The Company is continuing to serve customers and end users globally, and will continue to evaluate the operating environment and make adjustments, as necessary, to adapt to the impact of COVID-19. Libbey is filing customary first day motions that, once approved by the Court, will allow the Company to smoothly transition its business into Chapter 11, including, among other things, granting authority to pay employee wages and benefits and honor customer commitments in the ordinary course of business. The Company will also pay vendors in the ordinary course for all goods and services provided on or after the Chapter 11 filing date."