Stockwinners Market Radar for September 11, 2020 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

17:59 EDT Sunrun, Vivint Solar granted early termination of HSR waiting period from DOJ - Sunrun (RUN) and Vivint Solar (VSLR) announced that they have received notification from the Department of Justice of early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. The transaction remains subject to other customary closing conditions, including approval by the stockholders of Sunrun and Vivint Solar and is expected to close in early October.

17:22 EDT Broadcom Chief Sales Officer sells 9.4K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, Broadcom disclosed that its Chief Sales Officer Charlie Kawwas sold 9,364 shares of common stock on September 9th in a total transaction size of $3.36M. The holding represents about 12% of his total owned.

17:02 EDT UFP Technologies VP Shaw sells 7,759 common shares - In a regulatory filing, UFP Technologies vice president Daniel J. Shaw disclosed the sale of 7,759 common shares of the company on September 10 at a price of $40.80 per share.

16:54 EDT Angi Homeservices COO Craig Smith to step down - In a regulatory filing, Angi Homeservices announced that COO Craig Smith will step down effective December 31 or earlier. Reference Link

16:46 EDT Crowdstrike CEO sells 212K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, Crowdstrike disclosed that its CEO George Kurtz sold 212K shares of common stock on September 9th in a total transaction size of $27.0M. The holding represents about 51% of his total owned.

16:31 EDT Xerox announces departure of CFO William Osbourn - Xerox Holdings announced its CFO William Osbourn will leave the company for personal reasons, effective September 30. Xavier Heiss will serve as interim CFO while the company conducts a search, both internally and externally, for a permanent successor. Heiss has served in various leadership positions in finance, business transformation and sales. Prior to being promoted to executive vice president and president of EMEA Operations earlier this year, Heiss served as controller of the company and chief financial officer of the company's Americas Operations.

16:16 EDT Hoegh LNG Partners names Andrew Jamieson non-executive chairman - Hoegh LNG Partners LP announced that the partnership's board of directors has appointed as Non-Executive Chairman Andrew Jamieson, who has served as a director of the Partnership since its formation. Sveinung J. S. Stohle, CEO of Hoegh LNG Partners LP, will remain a director, and the seven-person board will consist of four independent members, including Mr. Jamieson.

16:08 EDT Keros Therapeutics presents results from KER-012 preclinical studies - Keros Therapeutics announced results from preclinical studies of KER-012 at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, or ASBMR, 2020 annual meeting virtual event held September 11-15. TGF-beta superfamily ligands, including activin A and B, are negative regulators of bone remodeling, suppressing bone growth. KER-012 is a modified activin receptor type II ligand trap designed to bind to and inhibit activins and SMAD 2/3 signaling. In adult male mice, administration of KER-012 resulted in the following statistically significant changes relative to vehicle treatment: Increased trabecular bone volume, higher trabecular bone volume fraction and increased trabecular number. Increased trabecular thickness and reduced trabecular separation. Enhanced bone anabolism was demonstrated through: Increased trabecular mineralizing surface, trabecular mineral apposition rate and trabecular bone formation rate, as well as a trend towards increased osteoblast number. Reductions in bone catabolism were evidenced by reduced trabecular eroded surface and trabecular osteoclast number. The observed increase in osteoblast/osteoclast ratio is potentially indicative of the dual mechanism of increased anabolism and decreased catabolism.

13:01 EDT Baker Hughes reports U.S. rig count down 2 to 254 rigs - Baker Hughes reports that the U.S. rig count is down 2 from last week to 254 with oil rigs down 1 to 180, gas rigs down 1 to 71, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 3. The U.S. Rig Count is down 632 rigs from last year's count of 886, with oil rigs down 553, gas rigs down 82, and miscellaneous rigs up 3 to 3. The U.S. Offshore Rig Count is unchanged at 15 down 10 year-over-year. The Canada Rig Count is unchanged from last week at 52, with oil rigs unchanged at 19, gas rigs unchanged at 33. The Canada Rig Count is down 82 rigs from last year's count of 134, with oil rigs down 74, gas rigs down 8.

12:00 EDT Shift4 Payments falls -6.9% - Shift4 Payments is down -6.9%, or -$3.45 to $46.57.

12:00 EDT Brigham Minerals falls -12.2% - Brigham Minerals is down -12.2%, or -$1.14 to $8.18.

12:00 EDT Zymeworks rises 13.1% - Zymeworks is up 13.1%, or $4.25 to $36.77.

11:49 EDT Tesla CEO teases 'many exciting things' to be unveiled at battery day event - Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted: "Many exciting things will be unveiled on Battery Day 9/22" Reference Link

11:33 EDT Giga Metals comments on trading, says 'no material announcement forthcoming' - Martin Vydra, President of Giga Metals Corp. (HNCKF) provided an update regarding recent media reports, stating: "Giga Metals has been mentioned in recent media articles as they pertain to ongoing efforts to advance the Turnagain deposit to commercialization," said Martin Vydra, President. "What I can say is that there is no material announcement forthcoming and we will keep regulators and investors informed of any material changes that require disclosure in accordance with securities regulations. It is evident that interest in sustainable and carbon neutral nickel production is driving renewed interests in deposits such as Turnagain as the world will need significant nickel to meet future EV demand. Turnagain is one of a handful of deposits that could meet this future demand". Earlier, Reuters' Pratima Desai reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter, that Tesla (TSLA) is in talks with Giga Metals about helping to develop a large mine that would give the automaker access to low carbon nickel for its batteries. Reference Link

10:38 EDT Kroger: Q3 ID sales growth QTD up in low double digits

10:29 EDT Intel says continuing to ramp up capacity, invest in manufacturing facilities - In a post to the company's corporate blog, Intel's VP General Manager, Manufacturing and Operations Keyvan Esfarjani said, "As I take on the leadership of Intel's renowned Manufacturing and Operations organization, my team and I are committed to doing what is necessary to deliver a predictable cadence of leadership products for our customers. I also want to publicly recognize the outstanding work done by this group and provide an update on the development of our global manufacturing operations. Last week, we launched our 11th Gen Intel Core processors, the latest system-on-chip from Intel. Tiger Lake SoCs incorporate several innovations in process technology, such as gate and interconnect design improvements, that will deliver a new era of laptop performance and unprecedented value for our customers... We continue to gain a competitive advantage from the strong connection across manufacturing, architecture, process design and packaging technologies. I want to recognize Intel's team in Oregon, which has done much of the heavy lifting to bring Tiger Lake to reality with outstanding quality. Our Fab Operations in Arizona and Israel have also done excellent jobs with process matching and accelerating the 10nm ramp ahead of schedule...Manufacturing and Operations is committed to be the supplier of choice to our customers. Fortunately, we have had high demand for our products. As a result, we continue to ramp up capacity and invest in our manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and around the world. Intel CFO George Davis said in our second-quarter earnings call that we expect 2020 capital expenditures of approximately $15B. In October we will celebrate 40 years of Intel operations in Arizona with our newest multibillion-dollar state-of-the-art factory expansion. We are also currently expanding our manufacturing facilities in Oregon, Ireland and Israel and investing in New Mexico for leading-edge product adjacencies such as Intel Optane advanced memory. Having these additional fab spaces will allow Intel to support the growing needs of our customers worldwide. As always, site expansion and the related investment will occur in stages and are subject to change based on business, economic and other factors." Reference Link

10:14 EDT Dave & Buster's issues update to clarify on Q2 comparable store sales decrease - Dave & Buster's is issuing an updated version of its Q2 earnings press release to clarify that the second quarter comparable store sales decrease of 87% was for the entire 115 comparable store sales base, 47 of which were closed, and also to update the sales figure for all 115 comparable stores and for the 68 reopened comparable stores during the two-week period ended September 7. In its revised release, the company stated: "The company's second quarter 2020 financial results were severely impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic when compared against the results of the second quarter of 2019. As of March 20, 2020, all of the company's stores were temporarily closed in compliance with state-by-state COVID-19 mitigation mandates. The company reopened 1 store on April 30, had re-opened 26 stores by the end of May, 66 stores by the end of June, and ended the second quarter with 84 re-opened stores in 27 states. As of September 9, the company had reopened 89 stores, all operating under reduced hours and capacity limitations as dictated by each locality, new seating and game configurations to promote social distancing, a temporarily condensed food and beverage menu, and extensive incremental cleaning and sanitation procedures to protect the health and safety of guests and team members."

10:00 EDT Par Pacific falls -6.7% - Par Pacific is down -6.7%, or -55c to $7.63.

10:00 EDT Teck Resources rises 7.2% - Teck Resources is up 7.2%, or 84c to $12.57.

10:00 EDT Daqo New Energy rises 17.4% - Daqo New Energy is up 17.4%, or $16.80 to $113.33.

09:47 EDT Loop Industries, Suez to build Infinite Loop recycling facility in Europe - Loop Industries and Suez announce plans to build the first Infinite Loop recycling facility in Europe. Based on enhanced recycling, the partnership will combine the resource management expertise of Suez and Loop's unique breakthrough technology for the production of virgin quality, food grade, 100% recycled and infinitely recyclable plastic. Located in Europe, the new facility will offer a sustainable and truly needed solution to global consumer goods companies.

09:47 EDT Valhi Inc falls -4.7% - Valhi Inc is down -4.7%, or -69c to $14.00.

09:47 EDT GTT Communications rises 6.6% - GTT Communications is up 6.6%, or 39c to $6.22.

09:47 EDT Daqo New Energy rises 13.8% - Daqo New Energy is up 13.8%, or $13.32 to $109.85.

09:33 EDT Adtalem to acquire Walden University from Laureate Education for $1.48B in cash - Adtalem (ATGE) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Walden University, an online healthcare education provider, from Laureate Education (LAUR), Inc. for $1.48B in cash. With the addition of Walden, Adtalem will become a national healthcare educator, providing workforce solutions to employers through learning modalities with academic outcomes. By adding Walden to its existing healthcare portfolio, Adtalem said it is better positioned to increase the talent supply to address the rapidly growing and unmet demand for healthcare professionals in the U.S. and globally. The combined organization will have 26 campuses across 15 states and four countries, 6,100 faculty members, and more than 90,000 students with 34% African American enrollees. The company said, "The acquisition is expected to provide significant potential for growth and margin expansion through new and expanded offerings as well as revenue and cost synergies. These financial benefits are expected to lead to substantial gross margin and EBITDA margin expansion, and robust cash flow generation to invest in its offerings while paying down debt." Adtalem expects to generate upside to revenue by providing new and complementary educational offerings, increased student acquisition and retention capabilities as well as enhanced scale and coverage that will allow for new partnerships with large-sized employer partners in the healthcare sector. The company noted, "The purchase price represents a compelling, pre-synergy adjusted EBITDA multiple of 8.4x, and the transaction is expected to contribute significantly to Adtalem's free cash flow and earnings per share, generating $60 million in incremental free cash flow excluding special items in year one and adding $0.75 in earnings per share from continuing operations excluding special items in year two as synergies begin to offset the dilutive effect of purchase price accounting." Adtalem expects to generate annual cost savings of approximately $60M driven by increased efficiencies in marketing spend and back office operations. Approximately $30M of these cost savings are anticipated within 12 months of closing and the remainder within 24 months of closing. Additionally, Adtalem expects that this acquisition will generate between 10% and 12% ROIC beginning in year one, significantly exceeding the company's current WACC of approximately 8%. Adtalem expects to fund the cash consideration through a combination of cash from its balance sheet and committed debt financing. Adtalem expects to realize the full potential of the transaction while maintaining a strong balance sheet. The transaction is expected to close in Q1 of FY22, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

09:09 EDT Nikola's Milton 'won't comment further' on short report now that SEC 'involved' - Nikola founder and executive chairman Trevor Milton tweeted: "Nikola retained outside counsel Kirkland & Ellis LLP and authorized them to reach out directly to the SEC. The allegations are false and deceptive. On advice of counsel however, I won't comment further now other than saying that we have involved SEC. It is in their hands and i ... have to let them run their process. I want you to see how I have addressed each point, but it will have to wait to be until the SEC finishes their work. Let's be clear, Nikola approached the SEC, not the other way around. The author wanted emotion and we won't give it to them" Reference Link

09:05 EDT Natera's Signatera MRD test receives final coverage decision from Noridian - Natera announced that Noridian, the Medicare Administrative Contractor for Northern California, has finalized a final local coverage article to provide Medicare benefits for serial use of the Signatera molecular residual disease test in patients with a history of colorectal cancer. The Noridian article is in line with the positive coverage determination issued by the CMS Molecular Diagnostics program last week via Palmetto GBA and shares the same effective date of October 18th.

09:02 EDT Redwood Trust raises quarterly dividend 12% to 14c from 12.5c per share - The third quarter dividend is payable on September 29 to stockholders of record on September 22.

08:49 EDT Nestle Health Science expands distribution of hemp products with VESIsorb - Geocann and Nestle Health Science announced the European launch of CBD soft gel formulations utilizing the patented VESIsorb drug delivery system for dramatically improved absorption and bioavailability. The first large-scale production was completed and delivered earlier this month using only European resources, from the cultivation and extraction of the hemp biomass in Slovenia to the drug delivery technology and soft gel capsule production in Switzerland.

08:41 EDT Nikola refutes activist short-seller allegations - Nikola issued the following statement in response to claims made about the company by an activist short-seller: "Yesterday, an activist short-seller whose motivation is to manipulate the market and profit from a manufactured decline in our stock price published a so-called "report" replete with misleading information and salacious accusations directed at our founder and executive chairman. To be clear, this was not a research report and it is not accurate. This was a hit job for short sale profit driven by greed. We have nothing to hide and we will refute these allegations. They have already taken up more time and attention than they deserve. We have retained leading law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP to evaluate potential legal recourse, including with respect to the activist short seller and any others acting in concert. Nikola also intends to bring the actions of the activist short-seller, together with evidence and documentation, to the attention of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We respect the rights of investors and the integrity of the market and will be back to you after we have advanced the process with the SEC. Most importantly, Nikola remains focused on delivering on the promises we've made to our stakeholders."

08:39 EDT Victory Capital reports AUM of $136.8B as of August 31

08:38 EDT Avinger receives 510 clearance from FDA for Tigeryeye - Avinger announced that the company received 510 clearance from the FDA for its Ocelaris next generation image-guided chronic total occlusion, or CTO, crossing system. The new device will be marketed under the brand name Tigereye. Tigereye is a product line extension of Avinger's Ocelot family of image-guided CTO crossing catheters. Its design elements include an upgrade of the image capture rate to provide high definition, real-time intravascular imaging similar to the company's Pantheris image-guided atherectomy system and a user-controlled deflectable tip designed to assist in steerability within the lumen. Tigereye also features a new distal tip configuration with faster rotational speeds up to 1000 RPM designed to penetrate challenging lesions. The Tigereye catheter has a working length of 140 cm and 5 French sheath compatibility for treatment of lesions in the peripheral vessels both above and below the knee.

08:38 EDT Kroger up 3% to $35.85 after Q2 results beat estimates, FY20 guidance updated

08:36 EDT Ascendant Digital announces separate trading of ordinary shares, warrants - Ascendant Digital Acquisition announced that, commencing September 14, 2020, holders of the units sold in the Company's initial public offering may elect to separately trade the Company's Class A ordinary shares and warrants included in the units. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The Class A ordinary shares and warrants that are separated will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols "ACND" and "ACND WS," respectively. Those units not separated will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACND.U." Holders of units will need to have their brokers contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company's transfer agent, in order to separate the units into Class A ordinary shares and warrants.

08:35 EDT Clearside's partner doses first patient in Phase 2 study in chorodial melanoma - Clearside Biomedical announced that its licensing partner, Aura Biosciences, has dosed the first patient in its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of suprachoroidal administration of AU-011 as a potential first-line treatment for patients with primary choroidal melanoma. Aura is using Clearside's SCS Microinjector to deliver AU-011 into the suprachoroidal space. Aura also announced that AU-011 passed the Safety Review for the first dose escalation cohort which demonstrated favorable safety data with no safety findings and no adverse events noted.

08:34 EDT Alico sells land to State of Florida for $28.5M - Alico announces the State of Florida purchased, under the Florida Forever program, approximately 10,702 acres of Alico Ranch for $28.5M pursuant to an option agreement entered into between the State of Florida and Alico.

08:33 EDT Prothena says prasinezumab slows progression on measures of Parkinson's disease - Prothena Corporation announced that results from the Phase 2 PASADENA study of prasinezumab are being highlighted today at the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society's MDS Virtual Congress 2020. Prasinezumab is the first potentially disease-modifying, anti-alpha-synuclein antibody to demonstrate signals of efficacy on multiple pre-specified secondary and exploratory clinical endpoints in patients with early Parkinson's disease. As previously reported, the study did not meet the primary objective, but signals of efficacy showing a reduction in disease progression were observed in both of the prasinezumab arms when compared to placebo. In the study, prasinezumab significantly reduced decline in motor function by 35% vs. placebo after one year of treatment on the centrally rated assessment of Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III, a clinical examination of motor function. Motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease include slowness of movement, tremor, rigidity, and gait. Prasinezumab-treated patients also demonstrated a significant delay in time to clinically meaningful worsening of motor progression on the site rated assessment of time to at least a 5-point progression on MDS-UPDRS Part III vs. placebo over one year, with a hazard ratio of 0.82. There are currently no treatments available that target the underlying cause of Parkinson's disease and can slow its progression. The clinical results will be posted online today on the MDS Virtual Congress website as an ePoster in the Virtual Poster Hall and will also be presented by Roche on Tuesday, September 15, as a Top Abstract oral presentation. Prothena will conduct an investor webcast on Tuesday, September 15 at 1:30PM ET. Prasinezumab is being developed through a worldwide collaboration between Prothena and Roche.

08:31 EDT Extended Stay America appoints David Clarkson as CFO - Extended Stay America announced that David Clarkson has been appointed CFO, effective September 11, 2020. Mr. Clarkson will succeed Brian Nicholson, who has resigned from the CFO role effective immediately to pursue other interests. Mr. Nicholson will continue with STAY in a consulting role until February 26, 2021 to assist with the transition. Mr. Nicholson's resignation is not related to any issues involving the Company's operations, financial statements, internal controls, policies or practices. Clarkson has served as Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis and Treasurer of the Company since September 2015 and Treasurer since May 2013.

08:17 EDT Veracyte initiates PROCURE consensus study - Veracyte said in a release, "Veracyte announced the initiation of a European study that will utilize the Delphi methodology to generate consensus regarding the clinical utility of genomic tests in breast cancer treatment. Led by an independent scientific committee of breast cancer experts with input from 180 breast cancer clinicians practicing in 12 European countries, the PROCURE study will explore and achieve consensus on the evidence supporting the most frequently used breast cancer multigene signatures (i.e., genomic tests). The Delphi method is a survey technique and established methodology for facilitating consensus on complex issues. The process includes at least two rounds of a structured questionnaire containing items to which participants express their degree of agreement. Consensus is reached by grouping participants' responses after each successive wave of questioning. The PROCURE study will be conducted by Adelphi Targis, a medical research, education and communication agency with extensive experience using the Delphi methodology, and guided by an independent scientific committee led by Dr. Curigliano."

08:08 EDT Ryman Hospitality says future group business for 2021, 2022 remains healthy - Four of five Gaylord Hotels are reopened and realized occupancy levels during weekends of nearly 32%, while total occupancy is averaging nearly 19%; Operating costs are coming in lower than initially anticipated while maintaining guest satisfaction and enhanced cleaning standards; A robust schedule of holiday programming for the upcoming months will continue to drive leisure demand for the back half of 2020; Future group business for 2021 and 2022 remains healthy and sets the hotels up for recovery once group business is able and willing to travel. Comments taken from investor update slides.

08:06 EDT Radient Technologies completes first shipment to B.C. - Radient Technologies announced that the Company has successfully completed its first shipment of products to the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, with Premium 5 products now available across British Columbia, including the first live resin based vape cartridges in Canada. Radient anticipates further purchase orders imminently, following recent completion of the provincial registration process in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Company is working with additional provincial boards to register products and increase the distribution capabilities for its white label products. A total of 14 Premium 5 products are currently available in B.C. with 22 expected to be available by the end of September. Consumers in B.C. can view the products online at the BC Cannabis Store.

08:04 EDT Biogen presents MS portfolio data at ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS meeting - Biogen announced new data underscoring the efficacy and safety of its broad, industry-leading portfolio of multiple sclerosis therapies. These data will be presented during MSVirtual2020, the eighth joint meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, which will be held virtually September 11-13, 2020. New Phase 3 Data Further Characterize the Effectiveness and Patient-Reported GI Tolerability of VUMERITY: New data from the VUMERITY Phase 3 clinical program further define the effectiveness and safety profile of Biogen's latest oral fumarate therapy. Findings from the five-week EVOLVE-MS-2 study reinforce clinically meaningful improvements in patient-assessed gastrointestinal tolerability associated with VUMERITY treatment compared to TECFIDERA, and support its impact on quality of life for people with relapsing MS. Study participants taking VUMERITY reported a lower likelihood of experiencing GI symptoms that interfered with daily activities or were associated with missed work, as well as less concomitant medication use to treat GI symptoms. An exploratory analysis from the ongoing EVOLVE-MS-1 study assessed the effects of VUMERITY on brain volume change and other clinical measures in people with relapsing MS treated for up to two years. Separate studies have shown brain volume loss may be associated with cognitive impairment, physical disability and reduced quality of life in people with MS. Data from EVOLVE-MS-1 show: The annual rate of brain volume change in study participants treated with VUMERITY for two years was similar to the rate observed in healthy individuals; and Approximately 90 percent of people treated with VUMERITY remained free from confirmed disability progression and around 84 percent were relapse-free at two years. Also being presented at the meeting are final data from the Phase 3 ENDORSE study, which further demonstrate the sustained efficacy and well-characterized safety profile of TECFIDERA in patients followed for up to 13 years. Real-World Data From Separate Analyses in the Relapsing MS Population Show Improved Outcomes With TYSABRI, PLEGRIDY and AVONEX: Through MS PATHS, Biogen is collaborating with leading MS centers in Europe and the U.S. to generate standardized, high-quality data from a diverse, real-world MS patient population. To date, more than 17,000 patients have been enrolled in MS PATHS. Data being presented from treatment in the real-world setting support improved outcomes associated with TYSABRI, PLEGRIDY and AVONEX. Results from separate analyses of MS PATHS data reveal the following: In the first comparison of MS PATHS standardized magnetic resonance imaging protocols, analyses of changes in brain MRI were compared during natalizumab treatment with extended interval dosing to the approved every-four-week dosing. The analysis reported no significant differences in the rates of new T2 lesions, T2 lesion volumes and brain atrophy. Differences in MRI scanners and acquisition protocols in clinical practice have made comparisons of brain MRI outcomes challenging. Multiple real-world studies have suggested the effectiveness of natalizumab EID is similar to the approved Q4W dosing.3-7 Biogen continues to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of natalizumab EID through the prospective NOVA trial, and recently filed with regulatory authorities for a subcutaneous dosing formulation which, if approved, would allow for more options for TYSABRI administration. Treatment with TYSABRI was associated with greater improvements than Ocrevus in several quality of life domains according to the Neuro-QoL assessment. In a subgroup analysis of matched patients treated with TYSABRI or Ocrevus, significant improvement was observed in nine of 12 Neuro-QoL domains in patients treated with TYSABRI and in four of 12 domains in patients treated with Ocrevus. Overall, annualized rates of improvement were higher with TYSABRI than with Ocrevus and significant differences were observed in three domains: positive affect and well-being, satisfaction with social roles and activities and sleep disturbance. Clinical outcomes in people with MS aged 60 or older, compared to those under 60, indicate that PLEGRIDY and AVONEX may provide real-world treatment benefits over two years in both age groups. Data show functional improvements in processing speed test and contrast sensitivity test over one year in both age groups. Additionally, a majority of participants in both age groups remained free from relapse over two years. Data From a Phase 1 Study of BIIB091 Supports Continued Development for the Treatment of MS: Biogen also presented data from a Phase 1 study of BIIB091, an orally active selective, reversible, small molecule inhibitor of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase. Data evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single and multiple ascending oral doses in healthy adult participants. Selective BTK inhibition may be beneficial for the treatment of MS by preventing B-cell and myeloid cell activation without immune cell depletion.

07:49 EDT Altice Europe to be acquired by Patrick Drahi for EUR 4.11 per share - Altice Europe (ALLVF) announced that a conditional agreement has been reached on a recommended public offer to be made for all common shares A and common shares B in the capital of Altice Europe for EUR 4.11 in cash per share. This represents a total consideration of approximately EUR 2.5B. Following the offer, the offeror, Next Private B.V., wishes to delist Altice Europe. The transaction "will enable Altice Europe to further enhance the sustainable and long-term success of its business under the private ownership of the Offeror," the company said in a statement. The board of Altice Europe believes the transaction is in the best interest of Altice Europe, its employees, customers, shareholders, debt providers and other stakeholders. The offeror is owned and controlled by Patrick Drahi, the founder and majority shareholder of Altice. Drahi currently owns approximately 77.58% of Altice Europe's issued share capital.

07:33 EDT Third Point Reinsurance announces agreement with Sirius International Insurance Group - Third Point Reinsurance (TPRE) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the holders of Sirius International Insurance Group's (SG) Series B Preference Shares, pursuant to which such holders have agreed to remain investors in the company (to be renamed SiriusPoint Ltd.) upon the closing of the proposed merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement between the company and Sirius. Under the Agreement, the four institutional investors that hold Sirius's Series B Preference Shares, Bain Capital Special Situations Asia, L.P., CCOF Master, L.P., Centerbridge Credit Partners Master, LP and Centerbridge Special Credit Partners III, LP, and GPC Partners Investments LP have agreed that upon the closing of the Merger, they will convert their existing Series B Preference Shares of Sirius into up to $260M face value of newly-issued Series B Preference Shares of SiriusPoint. The New Preference Shares will be perpetual in nature, carry an 8.00% annual cumulative cash dividend, and will be callable by SiriusPoint on each fifth anniversary of the closing of the Merger or upon certain other events. At the time of issuance upon the closing of the Merger, SiriusPoint will have the option to substitute up to $60M in cash in lieu of an equal face amount of the New Preferred Stock (or pay in cash the agreed New Preference Shares face amount of $260M in full). In exchange for the New Preference Shares, the Cornerstone Investors have also agreed to toll certain potential claims they may have against Sirius from the date of the Agreement until the closing of the Merger or the earlier termination of the Agreement, and upon the closing of the Merger agree to release such potential claims.

07:10 EDT mPhase says Travel Buddhi division 'progressing' with white label solution - mPhase Technologies is providing the following update to highlight notable improvements in its travel and customer engagement divisions. The Company's Travel Buddhi division is progressing with its white label travel solution, which provides travel agents with a turnkey portal to create and monitor their customers' travel plans. Travel Buddhi is using a measured roll-out as it completes its technology, gaining valuable insight from initial customers. With 60 travel agent customers already onboard during the early sign-up period and new agent customers signing each week, this marks the beginning of the software as a service revenue cycle for Travel Buddhi. This is a major milestone in the division's goal to develop multiple revenue streams, beginning with core recurring monthly subscription revenue and eventually adding transaction-based revenue. Early adopters have said that vacation-related queries have increased over the last month, with many travelers seeking assistance in planning around pandemic-related travel challenges. This has created a tremendous opportunity for the Travel Buddhi platform, which gives a travel agent the ability to replicate traditional in-person interaction. To accelerate adoption, Travel Buddhi is currently working to integrate a customer relationship management solution into the platform. In its completed form, the platform will enable a travel agent to manage the entire life cycle of a customer's travel - via a complete set of tools - including a website, mobile app, chatbot, itinerary planner, secure payment gateway, and growing collection of content.

07:07 EDT Brown & Brown announces asset acquisition of Frank E. Neal & Co. - J. Scott Penny, Chief Acquisitions Officer of Brown & Brown and Wink, Mark and Brent Neal, the owners of Frank E. Neal & Co. announced that Brown & Brown of Tennessee, Inc., a subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc., has acquired substantially all of the assets of the Frank E. Neal & Co. Agency. For over 45 years, Frank E. Neal & Co. has provided commercial, surety, personal and employee benefits insurance solutions to entrepreneurs, established businesses and individuals throughout the Southeast region of the United States. The agency has unique experience and deep expertise in providing surety bonds and commercial insurance solutions within the construction industry which helps fuel economic growth. The Frank E. Neal team will join with the existing Brown & Brown of Tennessee team in Nashville. Brown & Brown of Tennessee operates under local leadership of Ryan Rothrock and regional leadership of John Esposito.

07:06 EDT Zentalis to host KOL meeting on ZN-c3 for treatment of advanced solid tumors - Zentalis Pharmaceuticals announced that it will host a Key Opinion Leader virtual meeting on its clinical candidate ZN-c3, the Company's WEE1 inhibitor, and its potential in the treatment of advanced solid tumors on Thursday, September 24, 2020. The virtual event will feature presentations by KOL Kwok-Kin Wong, MD, PhD, Professor of Oncology, Department of Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Director of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology Chief at The Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Medical Center and KOL Gordon Mills, MD, PhD, Professor of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine and Director of Precision Oncology and SMMART Trials, Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University. The Zentalis management team will also provide an overview of the ongoing clinical development strategy of ZN-c3. The inhibition of WEE1 aims to generate sufficient DNA damage to cancer cells, resulting in programmed cell death and prevention of tumor growth. ZN-c3 is designed to have a best-in-class product profile with significant advantages over other investigational WEE1 inhibitor therapies, including good solubility, target selectivity and pharmacokinetic properties. The Company is currently conducting a Phase 1/2 trial in patients with advanced solid tumors. Dr. Wong's research, teaching and clinical activities focus on understanding the genetic alterations driving lung tumor formation and the testing of new targeted and immune lung cancer therapies. The unique models used in Dr. Wong's laboratory allow scientists to investigate the efficacy of new targeted therapeutics and immunotherapeutics. Dr. Wong and his team continue to lead the search for curative treatments for patients with advanced lung cancer. Dr. Mills is responsible for the implementation of an integrated program of tumor analysis, decision-making and implementation of novel precision oncology trials. His key goal is to use serial tumor and liquid biopsies to evaluate and target adaptive responses in real time to interdict cancer evolution. Dr. Mills has published more than 1,000 papers and holds more than 20 patents.

07:05 EDT Acasti Pharma files, mails information circular, announces change in record date - Acasti Pharma announced that it has filed and mailed the information circular and management proxy statement for its upcoming annual and special meeting of shareholders to be held on September 30, 2020. The Meeting will take place at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, online only, via a virtual meeting portal, through which shareholders of the Company can listen to the Meeting, submit questions and vote online. In addition, the board of directors of the Company has resolved to change the record date for the Meeting as indicated in the Circular for the purpose of determining the Company's shareholders which are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting from August 26, 2020 to September 8, 2020. Shareholders registered as of September 8, 2020 are entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting. Shareholders who wish to be represented by proxy at the Meeting must, to entitle the person appointed by the proxy to attend and vote, deliver their proxies at the place, in the manner and within the time set forth in the Circular. Shareholders are encouraged to submit their duly completed proxies as soon as possible ahead of the Meeting, as further described in the Circular. Subject to the approvals of the TSX Venture Exchange and of the shareholders of the Company at the Meeting, the Board resolved to amend the Company's stock option plan and equity incentive plan for purposes of maintaining a fixed stock option and equity incentive pool that may be granted under both plans, collectively representing 15% of the shares currently outstanding for the two plans combined. Such renewal approval is consistent with the Company's historical use of plans with a fixed limit set at 15% of the then-applicable outstanding shares, as compared to a "rolling" plan, which allows for an automatic increase of the available pool upon an increase in the number of outstanding shares. In accordance with the above, with respect to the Stock Option Plan, the Board resolved to increase the maximum allowable fixed number of common shares of the Company that may be issued upon the exercise of all options granted under the Stock Option Plan to 14,533,811 Common Shares, corresponding to the 15% fixed pool, based on the number of Common Shares issued and outstanding as of August 26, 2020. In addition to the 15% Fixed Pool applicable to both Company plans, the Equity Incentive Plan is subject to a plan-specific sublimit further limiting the number of Common Shares available under such plan to a maximum 2.5% of the number of Common Shares currently outstanding. Accordingly, the Board of Directors resolved to set the total number of Common Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan to an aggregate number that for so long as the Common Shares are listed on the TSXV, shall not exceed the lower of 2,422,313 Common Shares, and the number of Common Shares remaining available for issuance under the 15% Fixed Pool, currently representing 14,533,881 Common Shares. The Company also wishes to announce that Jean-Francois Boily, Vice-President, Finance of the Company, has tendered his resignation to the Company to pursue other business opportunities. Mr. Boily will assist the Company with a smooth and orderly transition of his functions and the Company expects that its existing internal finance team currently in place will be able to assume Mr. Boily's functions going forward.

07:03 EDT Plymouth Industrial REIT acquires 3 industrial properties for $51M - Plymouth Industrial REIT said in a release, "Plymouth Industrial REIT announced the recent acquisition of two industrial properties in St. Louis, Missouri totaling 566,408 square feet and one industrial property in Jacksonville, Florida totaling 289,850 square feet for a total purchase price of $51.2 million. The acquisitions expand Plymouth's existing presence in these key industrial markets. The acquisitions were funded with working capital and borrowings under the Company's credit facilities. Located in the downtown St. Louis market, Commerce Center I & II is comprised of two Class A- industrial in-fill buildings totaling 487,150 square feet that are 100% leased to five tenants. The buildings were acquired for $27.0 million and are projected to provide an initial yield of approximately 7.2%. 2326 Grissom Drive in St. Louis is comprised of two Class B industrial buildings totaling 79,258 square feet and 100% occupied by a single tenant. Located in close proximity to St. Louis Lambert International Airport, the property was acquired for $3.7 million and is projected to provide an initial yield of approximately 7.5%. 8451 Western Way in Jacksonville, Florida is a Class B industrial building totaling 289,850 square feet and 100% leased to five tenants. Located off I-95 and in close proximity to Plymouth's Centerpoint Business Park and Liberty Business Park, the property was acquired for $20.5 million and is projected to provide an initial yield of approximately 8.8%."

07:02 EDT SouthCrest Financial Group to acquire Thomaston branch of Colony Bank - SouthCrest Financial Group (SCSG) announced an agreement to acquire the Thomaston branch of Colony Bank (CBAN). The agreement includes the purchase of almost $40M in deposits and approximately $3M of loans from Colony as of the announcement date. The parties expect to close the transaction at the end of the fourth quarter pending the standard regulatory approval process. Janney Montgomery Scott acted as an advisor to SouthCrest in this transaction.

06:56 EDT Eli Lilly CENTURION study meets all 18 gated endpoints - Adults who took Reyvow C-V for their migraine attacks at doses of 100 mg or 200 mg had 3.8 and 4.6 times greater odds, respectively, of achieving pain freedom at two hours compared to those taking placebo, the co-primary endpoint, according to results from the recently completed Phase 3 study CENTURION. Additionally, Eli Lilly's Reyvow demonstrated superiority over placebo in all gated endpoints, including proportions of study participants who after treating their first migraine attack reported pain freedom at one hour, pain relief at one hour and two hours, sustained pain freedom at 24 hours and 48 hours, and no disability at two hours. These results are being presented virtually at the PAINWeek conference, September 11-13. The CENTURION study assessed Reyvow's efficacy and safety, including consistency of response, in the acute treatment of migraine for adults, with or without aura, across four attacks. In the trial, 1,471 people with migraine were randomized and received at least one dose of either Reyvow 200 mg, REYVOW 100 mg or control treatment per attack. Study participants treated a migraine attack when their pain was at least of moderate severity and within four hours after pain onset. Co-primary efficacy endpoints included pain freedom at two hours for the first attack and pain freedom at two hours for two of three attacks. Secondary endpoints included pain freedom at 60 minutes, sustained pain freedom at 24 and 48 hours, and pain relief at one hour and two hours, among others. Patients entered results into an electronic diary at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, as well as 2, 4, 6, 24 and 48 hours after dosing. All of the study's treatment comparisons were prespecified and 18 endpoints were gated, meaning they were set before the study ended and each comparison was reviewed separately in a specified order to verify the accuracy of the study results. Study results show that people receiving Reyvow 200 mg had 4.6 times greater odds of achieving pain freedom at two hours than those on placebo, with a therapeutic gain of approximately 21%. Study participants taking Reyvow 100 mg had 3.8 times greater odds of achieving pain freedom at two hours than those on placebo, with a therapeutic gain of approximately 17%. These therapeutic gains capture the differences between Reyvow and placebo groups in the percentages of patients who were pain-free at two hours. At 60 minutes, people who took Reyvow 200 mg had seven times greater odds of achieving pain freedom than those on placebo. Although not a gated endpoint, 6% of people receiving Reyvow 100 mg were pain-free at one hour vs. 2% on placebo. Study participants receiving Reyvow 200 mg had 4.7 times greater odds to reach sustained pain freedom at 24 hours than those on placebo, and those receiving REYVOW 100 mg had 3.5 times greater odds compared to placebo. People receiving Reyvow 200 mg had 4.1 times greater odds of achieving sustained pain freedom at 48 hours than those receiving placebo. Although not a gated endpoint, 9.3% of people taking Reyvow 100 mg had sustained pain freedom at 48 hours, compared to 4.3% for placebo. Nearly two-thirds of people on Reyvow reported pain relief at two hours, 65.2% and 65.4% for Reyvow 200 mg and 100 mg, respectively, compared to 41.3% taking placebo. At 60 minutes, almost half of participants on Reyvow achieved pain relief, 47.2% for those taking Reyvow 200 mg and 48.7% for those on Reyvow 100 mg, compared to 29.3% for those on placebo. When patients were asked whether their migraine interfered with daily activities at 2 hours after treatment, nearly one in five of those taking Reyvow reported that no longer was the case, approximately twice the proportion of people on placebo. For study participants who had previously tried triptans that proved ineffective, intolerable or became contraindicated in treating their migraine attacks, close to three times as many people on Reyvow were pain-free at 2 hours, compared to those taking placebo. Observed safety findings in the CENTURION study were generally consistent with those seen in previous Reyvow clinical trials. The incidence of serious treatment-emergent adverse events, or TEAEs, during the study was similar across treatment arms: Reyvow 200 mg, Reyvow 100 mg and placebo. The most frequent TEAEs seen after treatment for the first attack for Reyvow included dizziness, paresthesia, fatigue, nausea, vertigo, somnolence, hypoesthesia, muscle weakness, asthenia and feeling abnormal.

06:46 EDT Lazard reports preliminary AUM approximately $232.3B as of August 31 - The month's AUM included market appreciation of $8.2B, net inflows of $0.5B and foreign exchange appreciation of $1.1B.

06:33 EDT MediciNova: BioComo's RS virus vaccine induced high neutralizing antibodies - MediciNova announced that BioComo, co-developer of MediciNova's SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for COVID-19, announced that its Respiratory Syncytial virus vaccine using BC-PIV technology induced high neutralizing antibodies in mice. BioComo issued a press release on September 11. BioComo's RS virus vaccine was created using the BC-PIV and VLP-BC-PIV platform technology developed by BioComo and Mie University. The RS virus specific antigen was loaded into BC-PIV and VLP-BC-PIV and mice were inoculated by intranasal administration. Strong induction of neutralizing antibodies against the prefusion F antigen was confirmed. The successful induction of neutralizing antibodies against the RS virus using BC-PIV technology and the intranasal route of administration support the scientific and technical rationale of MediciNova's intranasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for COVID-19. This confirmation of neutralizing antibody induction by the RS virus vaccine strongly supports the likelihood of successful induction of neutralizing antibodies by MediciNova's intranasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine which also uses BC-PIV technology.

06:03 EDT BBX Capital announces record date for proposed spin-off of BBX Capital Florida - BBX Capital announced that its Board of Directors has set a record date of September 22 for determining shareholders entitled to receive the distribution of shares in connection with the company's proposed spin-off of its subsidiary, BBX Capital Florida. If the spin-off is completed, the company's shareholders will continue to own their shares of the company's Common Stock and will also receive one share of New BBX Capital's Class A Common Stock for each share of the company's Class A Common Stock held as of the close of business on September 22, 2020 and one share of New BBX Capital's Class B Common Stock for each share of the company's Class B Common Stock held as of the close of business on September 22, in each case, subject to any trading of the company's shares between the record date and distribution date with an entitlement to shares of New BBX Capital. The company currently anticipates that the distribution of New BBX Capital's shares will occur on September 30. Information regarding any change in the distribution date for the spin-off will be disclosed in a subsequent press release by the company. Trading of New BBX Capital's Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will commence on the OTCQX upon approval and announcement by FINRA of the commencement of trading on the date established by FINRA. There is no assurance when trading of New BBX Capital's Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will begin. The company will provide a subsequent press release with updated information regarding the trading of New BBX Capital's Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock following the company's receipt of such information from FINRA.

05:37 EDT Amyris responds to LAVVAN filing of lawsuit - Amyris said in a release, "Amyris responds to LAVVAN's press release related to its commencement of a lawsuit against Amyris for patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation on Thursday, September 10. Amyris and LAVVAN entered into a Research, Collaboration and License Agreement in March 2019 valued at $300 million in milestone payments to be made by LAVVAN to Amyris along with a royalty arrangement based on LAVVAN's commercial sales of designated biosynthetic cannabinoids. LAVVAN made a single payment of $10 million in 2019 for delivery of the first technical milestone. Amyris wishes to clarify the following points: Continued to deploy R&D resources to LAVVAN program: Amyris has been deploying its R&D resources in accordance with the RCL Agreement since the start of the collaboration program with LAVVAN and has continued to work toward the collaboration deliverables through 2020; The excluded market: The RCL Agreement permits Amyris to conduct its development and commercialization efforts with regards to cannabinoids in the excluded market as defined under the RCL Agreement. Amyris will continue to exercise its rights to bring unique biosynthetic solutions to market within the boundaries of the RCL Agreement. Amyris will make the RCL Agreement, as amended, publicly available on a Form 8-K today; 2020 revenue expectation not impacted: Amyris de-risked its 2020 sales revenue expectation by significantly reducing collaboration revenue anticipated from the RCL Agreement. Accordingly, Amyris does not expect a negative revenue impact for the balance of the year caused by the RCL Agreement."

05:23 EDT Forterra announces 'favorable' decision in earnout arbitration - Forterra said in a release, "Forterra announced that a decision favorable to the Company has been rendered in the arbitration proceeding involving the earnout provision in the purchase agreement relating to the 2015 acquisition of certain businesses now owned by the Company from HeidelbergCement, A.G. A neutral accounting arbitrator engaged by the parties rendered a written decision on September 10, 2020 in which he determined that no earnout payment was due under the terms of the purchase agreement. In the proceeding, Heidelberg had sought an earnout payment of the maximum amount of $100 million from the parties that had entered into the purchase agreement with Heidelberg." Forterra's CEO Karl Watson, Jr. commented, "We are pleased with the ruling from the arbitrator, as we have consistently held the view that no earnout payment was owed in this matter. We look forward to moving on from this and continuing to execute on our five improvement pillars which have created significant momentum over the past several quarters. Comparing our recent second quarter 2020 results to the second quarter of 2019, in each case on a last twelve-month basis, we have increased our sales by 7%, gross profit by 26%, improved from a net loss of $34 million to net income of $28 million, and improved Adjusted EBITDA by 37%, with Adjusted EBITDA margin increasing from 12.0% to 15.3%. Before suspending our 2020 guidance, we stated that we intended to voluntarily prepay an additional $50 to $100 million of our long-term debt by year's end. Due to our strong momentum, and the increased confidence this decision provides us, we now expect to voluntarily prepay between $125 and $175 million of our long-term debt in 2020."