Stockwinners Market Radar for May 13, 2021 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

19:54 EDT CenterPoint Energy CEO buys 50K shares of common stock - In a regulatory filing, CenterPoint Energy disclosed that its CEO David Lesar bought 50K shares of common stock on May 13th in a total transaction size of $1.18M, boosting his total stake by about 18%.

19:48 EDT Blink Charging issues going concern notice in 10-Q filing - In a regulatory 10-Q filing, the company states: "We have experienced substantial net losses, and we expect to continue to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future. We incurred net losses of approximately $7.4M for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2021, we had net working capital of approximately $231M and an accumulated deficit of approximately $195M. We have not yet achieved profitability. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, as expressed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. Historically, we have been able to raise funds to support our business operations, although there can be no assurance we will be successful. If our revenue grows slower than we anticipate, or if our operating expenses are higher than we expect, we may not be able to achieve profitability and our financial condition could suffer. We can give no assurance that we will ever achieve profitable operations. Even if we achieve profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability in subsequent periods. Whether we can achieve cash flow levels sufficient to support our operations cannot be accurately predicted. Unless such cash flow levels are achieved, we may need to borrow additional funds or sell our debt or equity securities, or some combination of both, to provide funding for our operations. Such additional funding may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all."

18:57 EDT Elon Musk working with Dogecoin devs to 'improve system transaction efficiency' - Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he is working with Dogecoin developers to "improve system transaction efficiency." "Potentially promising," Musk added. Reference Link

18:53 EDT Canadian National enhances Kansas City Southern proposal to $325 per share - Canadian National (CNI) announced that following the completion of confirmatory due diligence, it submitted an "enhanced" binding superior proposal and merger agreement to the Kansas City Southern (KSU) Board of Directors. The KCS Board has determined CN's proposal to be a "company Superior Proposal" and has announced its intention to terminate the previously executed March 21, 2021 merger agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP), CN said. CN looks forward to promptly entering into a definitive merger agreement with KCS to create the premier railway for the 21st century, it said. CN's proposal offers KCS shareholders $325 per common share based on yesterday's closing price of CN shares, which implies a total enterprise value of $33.6B, including the assumption of approximately $3.8B of KCS debt. Under the terms of CN's revised proposal, KCS shareholders will receive $200 in cash and 1.129 shares of CN common stock for each KCS common share, with KCS shareholders expected to own 12.6% of the combined company. This represents an implied premium of 45% when compared to KCS' unaffected closing stock price on March 19, 2021. KCS' preferred shareholders will continue to receive $37.50 in cash for each preferred share. Under the terms of the revised proposal, a wholly owned subsidiary of CN has also agreed to reimburse $700M to KCS in connection with their payment of the termination fee to CP under the merger agreement with CP. "We are delighted that KCS has deemed CN's binding proposal superior, recognizing the many compelling benefits of our combination and expressing confidence in CN's ability to obtain the necessary approvals and successfully close the transaction. Our proposal offers a clear path to completion and is structured in a way that gives KCS shareholders both greater immediate value and the opportunity to participate in the future upside of the combined company," said CN CEO JJ Ruest. "Together, CN and KCS will seamlessly connect ports and rails in the United States, Mexico and Canada by providing superior service, enhanced competition and new market access to move goods across North America safely and efficiently. We are encouraged by the widespread support we have received for the transaction thus far and will continue to work closely with KCS and all relevant stakeholders to fully realize the benefits and opportunities available through a combined CN-KCS."

18:24 EDT Wesco director Raymund sells nearly 8,000 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Wesco director Steven Raymund disclosed the sale of 7,852 common shares of the company on May 11 at a price of $106.69 per share.

17:44 EDT ProPhase Labs announces special cash dividend of 30c per share - The dividend is payable on June 3 to stockholders of record as of May 25.

17:25 EDT Coinbase says the need to list coins first will be important to the business - Says taking the regulated approach takes time. Says there are current initiatives in Asia to expand offerings in that area. Says there is opportunity to help banks work with cryptocurrencies. Says millions of different crypto assets out there. Says cybersecurity and compliance are looked at when determining which coins to list. Says debut coins are very important. Says the need to list coins first will be important to the business. Says integrating with blockchains was is difficult. Says storing cryptocurrency has been a cybersecurity challenge. Says actively investing in Coinbase Cloud.

17:20 EDT Afya acquires 100% of total share capital of Shosp - Afya Limited announced the acquisition of 100% of the total share capital of Shosp, a clinical management software that offers all functionalities needed for clinics all over Brazil to manage their financials, patients appointments, medical records, marketing, and others. Shosp as of today has more than 450 clinics associated with 2,800 monthly active users, of which 1,937 are monthly active subscribers, with more than 3 million consultations since inception, generating an ARR of R$1.8M. Shosp users will be migrated to iClinic's platform to create a unique offering of clinical management software and Shosp team will join Afya's digital capabilities to contribute to the improvement of iClinic's revenue cycle management module. The aggregate purchase price paid to sellers was $5.98M, of which 100% was paid in cash. An earn-out of up to R$1.793M can be paid related to the migration of Shosp users and and implementation of some new functionalities in iClinic's platform in up to 24 months, starting in the date hereof.

17:12 EDT Dogecoin jumps above 41c from 39.5c after Coinbase comments on listing

17:08 EDT Coinbase says trying to accelerate listing of Doge to next 6-8 weeks - Comments taken from Q1 earnings conference call.

17:04 EDT Point72 Asset Mgmgt reports 5.2% passive stake in Global Blood Therapeutics - Point72 Asset Management disclosed a 5.2% stake in Global Blood Therapeutics, which represents over 3.22M shares. The filing does not allow for activism.

16:49 EDT Aurora Cannabis drops 9% to $6.65 after Q3 results, planned ATM offering

16:46 EDT Aurora Cannabis to transfer U.S. listing from NYSE to Nasdaq - Aurora announced that it will transfer its U.S. stock exchange listing from the New York Stock Exchange to The Nasdaq Global Select, effective May 24, after the market close. The last day of trading of the company's common stock on NYSE is expected to be May 24. The company expects its common stock will begin trading as a Nasdaq-listed security at market open on May 25, and will continue to be listed under the ticker symbol "ACB". The transfer is automatic, and shareholders are not required to take any action. This transition will not impact the company's primary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

16:45 EDT Biogen, Envisagenics announce RNA advancement collaboration - Biogen (BIIB) and Envisagenics announced a new collaboration to advance ribonucleic acid, or RNA, splicing research within central nervous system, or CNS, diseases. As part of the collaboration, Biogen will leverage Envisagenics' proprietary artificial intelligence, or AI-driven RNA splicing platform, SpliceCore, to define and understand the regulation of different RNA isoforms in CNS cell types. Genetic information encoded in the human chromosome is converted into RNA molecules which is then used as the template to make proteins. RNA splicing is the process that trims out extra information embedded in the intermediate RNA molecules, and this trimmed RNA is what is then used to produce functional proteins.

16:44 EDT Disney says reached renewal deal with MLB through 2028

16:42 EDT Disney on track to achieve 230M-260M Disney+ subscriber guidance by FY24 - Says two of its films will get an exclusive 45-day theater release. Comments taken from Q2 earnings conference call.

16:40 EDT Crowdstrike CSO Henry sells 7,000 class A shares - In a regulatory filing, CrowdStrike chief security officer Shawn Henry disclosed the sale of 7,000 class A common shares of the company on May 11 at a price of $178.50 per share.

16:36 EDT CPS Technologies appoints Michael McCormack CEO - CPS Technologies announced that Grant Bennett has decided to retire as president and CEO of the company effective July 1. He will continue to serve as a member of the board. He will be succeeded as president and CEO by Michael McCormack, who is currently the COO.

16:33 EDT Pennsylvania American Water announces $17M plan for water storage upgrades - Pennsylvania American Water announced its 2021 plans to rehabilitate 11 of its water storage tanks and construct seven new structures. Pennsylvania American Water's tank rehabilitation program of inspecting, sandblasting, and repainting tanks extends their service lives and helps protect water quality. The total cost of the company's water storage improvements this year is approximately $17 million. "Storage tanks are critical to meeting the supply demands of our customers and providing fire protection for our communities," said Pennsylvania American Water President Mike Doran. "Properly and proactively maintaining tanks benefits our customers because of the cost efficiencies we can achieve by rehabilitating rather than replacing them."

16:31 EDT Paycom increases stock repurchase plan to $300M - Paycom Software announced that its board has increased and extended its ongoing stock repurchase plan, such that $300 million is available for repurchases between May 14, 2021 and May 13, 2023.

16:28 EDT Poly changing NYSE ticker symbol change from "PLT" to "POLY" - Poly's ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange will change to "POLY" at the open of market trading on Monday, May 24. No action is required from Poly shareholders relative to the ticker symbol change. Poly's common stock will continue to be listed on the NYSE and the CUSIP will remain unchanged.

16:27 EDT Coinbase sees Q2 Trading Volume to meet or slightly exceed Q1 - The company said in its shareholder letter: "We expect total Trading Volume to meet or slightly exceed Q1 Trading Volume if our performance continues at the current pace. MTUs have grown since March 31, 2021 driven by continued strength in the crypto market and our increased investment in sales and marketing. Within Q2, Coinbase has spent over two weeks as a top 10 free app on iOS and Android. We expect our Q2 MTUs to be higher than Q1 levels."

16:26 EDT Coinbase sees FY21 ARPU exceeding historical range - In its shareholder letter, Coinbase said: "Over the last 2 years, we have seen average annual net revenue per retail MTU range between $34-$45 per month, with the low end of this range occurring in 2019, a period of low Bitcoin price and low crypto asset price volatility, and the high end of the range occurring in 2020, a period of rising Bitcoin price. Given the strong performance of Q1 2021, we anticipate the annual average net revenue per user will exceed this historical range. We expect meaningful growth in 2021 driven by transaction and custody revenue based on increasing volumes of institutional onboarding, increased capital allocations to crypto, and increased trading volumes from existing clients. In Q2 2021, we expect approximately $35 million of one-time expenses related to the Company's direct listing. Looking to full year 2021, in order to scale our operations and to continue to drive product innovation, we expect our technology and development expenses and our general and administrative expenses to be between $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion, excluding stock-based compensation. We anticipate transaction expenses will be in the low-to-mid teens as a percent of net revenue in 2021."

16:19 EDT Assurant authorizes additional $900M in share repurchases - Assurant announced that the company's Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $900 million of the company's outstanding common stock. The $900 million share repurchase authorization is in addition to the company's current authorizations, of which $731 million remained unused as of April 30, 2021. "Beyond completing our three-year $1.35 billion capital return objective this year, our new authorization will provide us with flexibility in returning 75 percent of the net proceeds from our sale of Global Preneed, which we plan to complete within one year of the transaction's expected third quarter close," said Alan Colberg, Assurant President and CEO. "Our long-standing track record of strong capital return is supported by the ongoing significant cash flow generation from our market-leading Connected World offerings and specialty P&C businesses, along with the disciplined management of our business portfolio."

16:16 EDT Catabasis Pharmaceuticals sees filing IND application for QLS-215 in 1H22 - Catabasis expects to file an Investigational New Drug application for QLS-215 in the first half of 2022 and plans to initiate a Phase 1a clinical trial with initial results anticipated by the end of 2022. Subsequently, Catabasis expects to initiate a Phase 1b/2 trial in patients affected by HAE in 2023 with initial results anticipated by the end of 2023.

16:15 EDT Catabasis sees cash sufficient to fund operating plan through 2023

16:10 EDT New Relic announces promotion of Bill Staples to CEO, effective July 1 - The company announced the promotion of Bill Staples to CEO, effective July 1, 2021. Staples will succeed founder and CEO, Lew Cirne, who will transition to Executive Chairman of the Board at the same time.

16:08 EDT Disney reports 103.6M Disney+ paid subscribers as of April 3 - Reports Disney+ paid subscribers of 103.6M, up from 33.5M last year. Reports ESPN+ paid subscribers 13.8M vs. 7.9M last year. Reports total Hulu paid subscribers 41.6M vs. 32.1M last year.

16:03 EDT DermTech sees Q2 assay revenue $2.4M-$2.8M - DermTech will not provide financial guidance for the fiscal year 2021 at this time. Management anticipates providing fiscal year 2021 revenue guidance at the time of its second quarter earnings announcement, to the extent practicable, based on available information at that time.

15:53 EDT Preclinical study supports clinical trial of Affimed NK cells, MD Anderson says - Cytokine-activated natural killer, or NK, cells derived from donated umbilical cord blood, combined with an investigational bispecific antibody targeting CD16a and CD30 known as AFM13, displayed potent anti-tumor activity against CD30+ lymphoma cells, according to a new preclinical study from researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Affimed's AFM13 is a proprietary bispecific antibody designed to bind to CD16a on NK cells and CD30 on lymphoma cells. The findings were published today in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, the center reported. Senior author Katy Rezvani, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, said, "This preclinical work provided proof of principle for NK cells precomplexed with AFM13, suggesting that they can effectively eliminate lymphoma cells expressing CD30 and warrant further clinical testing." Reference Link

14:41 EDT Kansas City Southern up 2% after WSJ says Canadian National may sweeten bid

14:32 EDT Medley Management trading halted, news pending

14:28 EDT U.S. airlines' March passengers rose 10% from same month last year, BTS reports - U.S. airlines carried almost 10% more scheduled service passengers in March 2021 than in March 2020, according to preliminary figures, the first year-over-year increase since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, or BTS, by 22 airlines that carry more than 90% of the passengers. "The reporting airlines carried 42.6 million passengers in March 2021 (preliminary), compared to 38.9 million passengers in March 2020. The systemwide increase was driven by a 14% increase in the number of domestic passengers (39.2M). Over the same period, the number of international passengers (3.4M) declined by 26%, the smallest year-over-year decline since February 2020. March 2020 was the first month in which airline travel was reduced by COVID-19. March 2021 passenger numbers declined from pre-pandemic March 2019: total passengers by 47%, domestic passengers by 44% and international passengers by 65%," BTS stated. Publicly traded airline companies include Alaska Air (ALK), American Airlines (AAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL), JetBlue (JBLU), Southwest (LUV), Spirit Airlines (SAVE) and United Airlines (UAL). Reference Link

14:24 EDT USITC opens probe of Peloton, Lululemon, others based on Dish complaint - The U.S. International Trade Commission, or USITC, announced it has voted to institute an investigation of certain fitness devices, streaming components thereof, and systems containing same. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by DISH DBS Corporation, DISH Technologies, and Sling TV on April 13, 2021. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain fitness devices, streaming components thereof, and systems containing same that infringe patents asserted by the complainants. The complainants request that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders. The USITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation: ICON Health & Fitness, Inc., of Logan, UT; FreeMotion Fitness, Inc., of Logan, UT; NordicTrack, Inc., of Logan, UT; lululemon athletica inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Curiouser Products Inc. d/b/a/ MIRROR of New York, NY; and Peloton Interactive, Inc., of New York, NY. The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period. Reference Link

14:12 EDT Lemonade co-founder says quotes designed be shareable, not vulnerability - Lemonade co-founder Shai Wininger responded to Muddy Waters' short report via Twitter, saying: "Let's set things straight up front: What @muddywatersre found were links to 4 insurance quotes shared by Lemonade users themselves. (aka, they loved it so much, they shared 'em). That is not a vulnerability, it's by design... We designed our quotes to be shareable. If someone wants to send their quote to their family, friends, or mortgage bank, they can. Btw, turns out people post their quotes on Pinterest and UX blogs, and these are the ones they stumbled upon...Since Google indexes Pinterest and blogs, these links end up being discoverable on Google...@muddywatersre I hope you didn't spend too much time on this."

14:07 EDT SL Green Realty says David Schonbraun, CIO leaving by Q2-end - SL Green Realty announced that David Schonbraun, Chief Investment Officer, will be leaving the company by the end of the second quarter of 2021. "It has been an incredible opportunity to lead SL Green's Investments team and work with Marc and Andrew over the last 19 years," noted Schonbraun, "but the time is right for me to pursue new challenges in today's evolving commercial real estate landscape." "David has been an integral member of SL Green for nearly two decades, helping to grow the company, overseeing the debt and preferred equity platform, and helping spearhead our industry-leading investment strategy. His dedication has brought great value across the firm, and we thank him for his years of service. From all of us at SL Green, we wish him well as he pursues new opportunities," said Marc Holliday, Chairman and CEO of SL Green Realty Corp. The Company's ambitious 2021 investment strategy, including asset sales and joint ventures to fund SL Green's world-class development pipeline in addition to stock buybacks, asset purchases and DPE lending, will be collectively overseen by Brett Herschenfeld, Robert Schiffer and Harrison Sitomer.

13:43 EDT Bitcoin price down 14% to $47,542 after Musk says Tesla no longer accepting - Bitcoin prices are down about 14% on a 24-hour change basis to $47,542 at time of writing, according to data from Coindesk, after Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced last night that his company has suspended vehicle purchases using Bitcoin. Reference Link

13:15 EDT Tencent's Tianmei Studio, Xbox Game Studios form strategic partnership - Tencent's (TCEHY) Tianmei Studio Group announced that it has formed an in-depth strategic partnership with Microsoft's (MSFT) Xbox Game Studios. The two parties will combine their respective experiences and advantages to carry out in-depth cooperation. Tianmei Studio Group is a boutique game research and operation team under Tencent Games. Through this strategic cooperation, Tianmei Studios will conduct multi-dimensional and in-depth cooperation and communication with Xbox Game Studios to jointly create "excellent" game content and bring a brand new game sensory experience to the majority of players, it said. The specific cooperation content between Tencent Tianmei Studios and Xbox Game Studios will officially meet with players within this year. Reference Link

12:19 EDT PayPal acquires online return marketplace Happy Returns - Happy Returns announced on its website: "Happy Returns has had a close relationship with PayPal throughout our history. We have a deep respect for PayPal's ecommerce leadership, inclusive and innovative company culture, and commitment to expanding access to the global economy, and couldn't be more thrilled to be joining the PayPal family. As part of PayPal, Happy Returns will continue offering a best-in-class returns experience to retailers and shoppers. Our technology and platform will help extend PayPal's commerce platform beyond discovery and payments to the post-purchase experience. With PayPal's support, we will also focus on improving our platform and expanding our footprint, all with the goal of providing more customers with the most seamless, cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to make and process returns." Frank Keller, senior vice president of consumer in-store and digital commerce at PayPal, told CNBC: "The post-purchase experience is something we've been looking into, since it's such a pain point - people want to shop online and return in store, and vice versa."

12:00 EDT Turquoise Hill falls -16.4% - Turquoise Hill is down -16.4%, or -$3.37 to $17.20.

12:00 EDT Verso rises 13.8% - Verso is up 13.8%, or $2.07 to $17.08.

12:00 EDT MultiPlan rises 17.8% - MultiPlan is up 17.8%, or $1.09 to $7.25.

11:44 EDT AMC Entertainment CEO says $428M capital raise to immediately fortify liquidity - AMC Entertainment announced that it has completed its previously announced 43M share at-the-market equity program launched on April 29. AMC raised approximately $428M of new equity capital, before commissions and fees, at an average price of $9.94 per share. Commenting on the capital raise, AMC CEO and President Adam Aron said, "Bringing in an additional $428M of new equity capital will immediately buttress and fortify our liquidity profile. The additional cash raised puts AMC in a stronger position to tackle the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead."

11:39 EDT Bumble CEO says 'video-first' dating trend will last after pandemic - Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd is being interviewed on CNBC after the company's earnings report last night.

11:32 EDT Bumble CEO says being 'cautiously conservative' with outlook due to pandemic - Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd said while being interviewed on CNBC that the company is being "cautiously conservative" with its outlook due to uncertainty related to the pandemic and the pace of reopening, but she added that the business' fundamental outlook remains "strong."

10:21 EDT Hyundai Motor to invest $7.4B in the U.S. by 2025 - Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, announced its plan to invest $7.4B in the U.S. by 2025 to produce future EVs, enhance production facilities and further its investments in smart mobility solutions. Jose Munoz, Hyundai Motor Company's Global Chief Operating Officer and President and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America said, "I am excited to make this announcement on behalf of the Hyundai Motor Group. This investment demonstrates our deep commitment to the U.S. market, our dealers and customers. Hyundai will lead the future of mobility in the United States and around the world. Our efforts are proof positive that Hyundai will continue to pursue excellence in our current and future product line-up." Hyundai and Kia will invest in growing its EV manufacturing footprint to scale production and satisfy U.S. market demands. Hyundai Motor will offer a suite of American-made electric vehicles to U.S. consumers starting next year. Hyundai Motor Group will launch a subsidiary in Washington, D.C. to spearhead the Group's UAM businesses.

10:14 EDT NorthWestern affirms FY21 EPS view $3.40-$3.60, consensus $3.50 - Guidance provided in slides that will be presented at the Credit Suisse Clean Tech Virtual Investor Conference.

10:05 EDT Freeline Therapeutics Holdings Plc (ADS) trading resumes

10:00 EDT Fluor falls -9.6% - Fluor is down -9.6%, or -$2.28 to $21.50.

10:00 EDT Haemonetics falls -14.9% - Haemonetics is down -14.9%, or -$8.91 to $50.92.

10:00 EDT Verso rises 15.5% - Verso is up 15.5%, or $2.33 to $17.34.

09:48 EDT BRT Realty Trust trading resumes

09:47 EDT Fluor falls -9.1% - Fluor is down -9.1%, or -$2.15 to $21.62.

09:47 EDT Haemonetics falls -13.2% - Haemonetics is down -13.2%, or -$7.89 to $51.94.

09:47 EDT Silvergate Capital rises 11.7% - Silvergate Capital is up 11.7%, or $9.45 to $90.27.

09:35 EDT Alkami Technology Inc trading resumes

09:33 EDT U.S. Department of HHS selects Box for cloud content management - Box announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary selected Box's cloud content management platform to power secure collaboration, critical processes for the delivery of health services, and drive new ways to work in the cloud.

09:30 EDT Ferroglobe announces note purchase agreement relating to $40M notes issuance - Ferroglobe refers to the Company's release on March 28, 2021 regarding the lock-up agreement dated March 27, 2021 between the Company and certain financial stakeholders. The Company is pleased to announce that on May 12, 2021 Ferroglobe Finance Company, PLC entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with the members of the "Ad Hoc Group" relating to the issuance of an initial $40 million of aggregate $60 million new senior secured notes. The $40 million new senior secured notes are expected to be issued early next week. In accordance with the terms of the transaction set out in the Lock-Up Agreement, all holders of the existing 9.375% Senior Notes due 2022 will have the right to subscribe for a pro rata share of the New $60 million Notes. Details of this process will be communicated to holders in due course.

09:29 EDT Terreno Realty acquires California industrial property for $6.3M - Terreno Realty has acquired an industrial property located in Torrance, California for a purchase price of approximately $6.3M. The property consists of one industrial distribution building containing approximately 17,000 square feet on 0.9 acres. The property is at 20405 Gramercy Place, west of I-405 between Los Angeles International Airport and the ports of LA and Long Beach, provides one dock-high and four grade-level loading positions and parking for 34 cars. The property is 100% leased to one tenant on a short-term basis and the estimated stabilized cap rate is 4.7%.

09:27 EDT Golar LNG appoints Karl Staubo as CEO, Eduardo Maranhao as CFO - The board of Golar LNG announces that they have appointed Karl Staubo as the new Chief Executive Officer of the company in their board meeting on May 13. Staubo has since September 2020 been acting as Chief Financial Officer of Golar. The board has in the same meeting also appointed Eduardo Maranhao to take over Staubo's role as Chief Financial Officer of Golar. Maranhao has since 2015 been supporting Golar in different functions including as Chief Financial Officer of Golar Power/Hygo Energy Transition Limited.

09:26 EDT Benefitfocus shareholder Indaba issues letter to board over governance lapses - Indaba Capital Management which beneficially owns approximately 9.9% of the outstanding common shares of Benefitfocus and approximately 22.9% of the outstanding issue of the Company's 1.25% convertible senior notes, issued the below open letter to the Company's Board of Directors.May 13. "Dear Members of the Board of Directors, Indaba Capital is a major holder of the common shares and convertible senior notes issued by Benefitfocus. The Board is well aware of our concerns regarding the Company's troublesome governance, concerning related party transactions, poor succession planning and weak financial results. The Board is also aware that we recently made a concerted effort to reach a good faith settlement that provided for Indaba withdrawing its nominations and accepting customary settlement terms in exchange for Benefitfocus adding a single shareholder-appointed director, Ronald P. Mitchell, to a Board of seven directors. We find the Company's refusal of such a modest addition to be extremely unusual and it leaves us questioning why the Company is so fiercely opposed to welcoming an independent shareholder designee into the boardroom. What does Benefitfocus have to hide?"

09:22 EDT HCA Healthcare to sell Redmond Regional Medical Center to AdventHealth for $635M - HCA Healthcare announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell Redmond Regional Medical Center, a 230 bed hospital in Rome, Georgia, to AdventHealth for approximately $635M. The sale completes the company's divestiture of hospitals in the surrounding areas of Atlanta. As a result of the sale of Redmond Regional Medical Center, the company will no longer have a presence in northwest Georgia. The transaction provides strategic value to HCA Healthcare by increasing financial flexibility for investments in ongoing and future initiatives in core markets.

09:21 EDT Patriot One Technologies announces enhancements to video recognition software - Patriot One Technologies announced enhancements to its Video Recognition Softwar for identifying weapons and other threats in crowds. Patriot One's VRS is an advanced artificial intelligence based video analytics solution that provides unprecedented accuracy in detecting threats and enabling businesses, schools and other organizations to protect employees, students, customers and assets. Businesses can also use its capabilities to gain valuable intelligence on customer traffic flow and behavior to optimize operations. With the ability to accurately detect weapons and disturbances of up to 150 feet away, Patriot One's VRS dramatically improves security and efficiency for organizations that host crowds or the general public, including retail stores, schools, casinos, entertainment venues and more.

09:20 EDT Lockheed Martin sees mid-single digit growth for missile unit

09:20 EDT Lockheed Martin invested $300M in hypersonic strike weapons, CFO says

09:14 EDT Tecogen releases letter to shareholdings regarding goals, strategies - "Tecogen is pleased to announce the release of a letter to shareholders that highlights Tecogen's vision for growth that supports our goal of profitable operations in 2021," the company said. The strategies identified in the shareholder letter include: further development of the company's network of manufacturers' representatives; commencement of maintenance services for the fleet of 26 cogeneration units sold to a housing development in Ontario, Canada in 2020; expansion of the market for the company's Tecofrost industrial refrigeration products; introduction of Tecopack drop-in cogeneration systems with all utility connections contained in a single package; development of air-cooled Tecochill chillers for facilities with cooling loads less than 500 tons; and development of markets for the company's Ultera emissions reduction technology for both stationary and mobile markets.

09:13 EDT California Resources announces $150M share repurchase pact - In May, CRC's Board of Directors authorized a Share Repurchase Program, SRP, to acquire up to $150M of CRC's common stock through March 31. The repurchases may be affected from time-to-time through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, Rule 10b5-1 plans, accelerated stock repurchases, derivative contracts or otherwise in compliance with Rule 10b-18, subject to market conditions. The SRP does not obligate CRC to repurchase any dollar amount or number of shares and CRC's Board of Directors may modify, suspend, or discontinue authorization of the program at any time. The Share Repurchase Program expires on March 31.

09:12 EDT ECMOHO announces the appointment of Xin Li as Chief Financial Officer - ECMOHO (MOHO) announced the appointment of Xin Li as the Chief Financial Officer of the company, effective as of May 13. Li replaces Leo Zeng, who departed from his position as the company's acting Chief Financial Officer, effective as of the same date. Prior to joining the company, Li had served as the CFO of AirNet Technology (ANTE) from March 2019 to March 2021.

09:10 EDT Lemonade dips after Muddy Waters announces short position, cites security flaw - Shares of Lemonade were down $1.17, or 2%, to $59.00 in pre-market trading after Muddy Waters' Carson Block disclosed that his firm is shorting Lemonade after finding in the course of doing "fundamental business research" that the company's site "contains an unforgivably negligent security flaw that potentially exposes its customers' personally identifiable information." The company "clearly" does not care about securing its users' personal information, Block contends. Lemonade's failures "possibly implicate costly legal and regulatory breaches," Block argues in an open letter to the company that he posted on Muddy Waters' website. In the letter, Block calls upon Lemonade to "take its site offline immediately and fix the vulnerability." Reference Link

09:09 EDT Live Nation and Liquid Death Water partner for sustainable event drinks - Live Nation Entertainment has selected Liquid Death, a beverage brand packaging water in recyclable tallboy cans, as the exclusive water at many venues and festivals across the U.S. As part of Live Nation's Green Nation sustainability charter launched in 2019, the company is aiming to phase out the sale of single-use plastics at all owned and operated venues and events. Live Nation will also be supporting Liquid Death brand sales and growth through marketing initiatives. Liquid Death will be integrated across concession service points, on-screen media commercials, and signage throughout venues and to be determined festivals.

09:08 EDT Amazon hiring 75K workers, average starting pay over $17 per hour, start bonus - Amazon announced that it is hiring 75,000 people in its fulfillment and logistics network across the U.S. and Canada as it continues to expand its footprint and serve customers. Amazon recently announced pay increases across its fulfillment and transportation networks, and these open roles offer an average starting pay of over $17 per hour, plus sign-on bonuses in many locations of up to $1,000. In addition, the company offers full-time employees industry-leading benefits, which include health, vision, and dental insurance, 401(k) with 50% company match, paid parental leave, and access to various company-funded upskilling opportunities, including Amazon's innovative Career Choice program, which prepays 95% of tuition for courses in high-demand fields. "We look forward to hiring 75,000 associates across our fulfillment and transportation network," said Alicia Boler Davis, Vice President of Global Customer Fulfillment at Amazon. "Working at Amazon also comes with an unwavering commitment to safety, especially as we continue to navigate a global pandemic. In addition to the great pay and robust benefits available to new hires starting on their first day, we're offering a $100 benefit to new hires who come to Amazon already vaccinated for COVID-19."

09:07 EDT Starbucks enters solar projects partnership with Generate in New York - Generate announced that it has put the first six of up to 23 New York State community solar projects into service under an multi-year facility with Starbucks. The projects are expected to supply solar energy for local Starbucks stores and up to 24,000 households, small businesses, nonprofits, churches, universities and stores in multiple geographies. In addition to clean energy, program participants will receive a discount to their current electricity rates under New York State's Community Distributed Generation program. The solar projects will provide more than 119,885 MWhs of clean energy to Starbucks New York stores and the surrounding community annually, supporting Starbucks' multi-decade commitment to becoming a resource-positive company by storing more carbon than it emits and reducing carbon by 50% by 2030. Starbucks has committed $97M of tax equity to the community solar projects, in a collaboration with Generate and Churchill Stateside Group.

09:05 EDT Uber Eats, Nimble announce prescription delivery in Seattle, Washington - Uber Technologies and Nimble announced the expansion of their partnership and launch of on-demand prescription delivery in Seattle, Washington. All Uber Eats users in this region will now have access to prescription delivery right to their doorstep in as little as one hour. "Through this partnership, consumers can get their medications delivered quickly from the safety and comfort of their homes. Users can easily transfer existing prescriptions - or fulfill new ones - from neighborhood pharmacies right from the Uber Eats app. From there, Nimble's network of quality neighborhood pharmacies coordinates fulfillment, and Uber Eats delivers the prescription directly to consumers," the company said. Today's expansion into Seattle follows a successful prescription delivery launch in New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County and others earlier this year. The service is also launching today in Washington, D.C.

09:05 EDT Corsair Gaming launches VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT gaming headset - Corsair Gaming launched a new model in its flagship VIRTUOSO family of premium gaming headsets: the VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT. Connecting via hyper-fast SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS and Bluetooth for simultaneous dual-wireless connections, in addition to high-fidelity USB and universal 3.5mm wired connection options, the VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT combines exquisite sound quality, comfort, and versatility. Now with Dolby Atmos three-dimensional spatial audio to complement its extensive 20Hz-40,000Hz frequency range, the VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT offers greater audio immersion than ever before.

09:03 EDT Medtronic and Medtronic Foundation add $3M to COVID-19 relief - Medtronic and the Medtronic Foundation announced an additional $3M for COVID-19 relief efforts - a combination of financial resources, personal protective equipment donations, and Medtronic employee engagement - focused on underserved areas of India, Brazil, the U.S., and other global regions. This latest COVID-19 response expands Medtronic and Medtronic Foundation's COVID-19 support to $56M. The Medtronic Foundation is partnering with established nonprofit organizations already on the ground and actively working with communities to combat the COVID-19 surges.

09:01 EDT Lockheed Martin sees Aerojet Rocketdyne deal closing by end of year

09:01 EDT Lockheed Martin working to grow cash, reduce contract assets, CFO says

08:59 EDT LabCorp receives EUA from FDA for Pixel COVID-19 PCR test kit for ages 2-17 - Labcorp announced that the FDA has granted emergency use authorization, or EUA, for its Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 PCR Test Home Collection Kit for ages two to 17. The authorization expands the use of Pixel by Labcorp to children and adolescents two years of age and older when purchased by a parent or guardian.

08:57 EDT CytoDyn signs distribution agreement with Macleods for leronlimab in India - CytoDyn announced it has executed an exclusive supply and distribution agreement with Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in India. This commercial agreement will enable Macleods to sell leronlimab in India following regulatory clearance.

08:55 EDT Aspira Women's Health to reveal ovarian cancer risk assessment technology - Aspira Women's Health announced that its abstract for "Serum-based Assay for Adnexal Mass Risk of Ovarian Malignancy" will be presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 meeting which will be held virtually June 4-8, 2021. The accepted abstract presents data demonstrating the analytical validation performance with initial clinical validity data of Aspira's OVASight blood-based biomarker test for ovarian malignancy risk assessment in all women with an adnexal mass. Samples collected from real-world evidence studies with a low prevalence population of malignancy detection were used to validate the algorithm. This third-generation technology, which is a laboratory-developed test, will provide clinicians with a high negative predictive value to provide confidence when managing or monitoring a suspected benign mass, as well as a greater positive predictive value to increase confidence in malignancy risk. The product is expected to be available in Q4 2021.

08:54 EDT BioCardia announces anticipated upcoming milestones - Q2 2021: Phase III pivotal trial prespecified independent DSMB Review of CardiAMP Heart Failure trial, scheduled for June 22, 2021. Q2 2021: Phase III pivotal trial first patient enrolled in CardiAMP Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Trial. Other 2021 anticipated milestones include: Roll-in cohort safety data from BCDA-02, our CardiAMP autologous cell therapy under Phase III development for the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia. Investigational New Drug acceptance of Phase I/II program of BCDA-03, our allogeneic Neurokinin-1 receptor positive Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the treatment of ischemic heart failure intended initially for those patients excluded from BCDA-01. IND acceptance of Phase I/II program for BCDA-04, our allogeneic NK1R+ MSC Phase I/II program for the treatment of acute respiratory distress resulting from COVID-19.

08:49 EDT Evaxion Biotech sees cash runway into 2022 - As of March 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents were $27.0 million compared to $5.8 million as of December 31, 2020. On February 9, 2021, we closed our IPO raising net proceeds of $27.9 million after underwriting discounts and commissions, but before offering expenses.

08:48 EDT Shapeways to be acquired by Galileo Acquisition Corp. - On April 28, Shapeways entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization with Galileo Acquisition Corp., pursuant to which Shapeways will be acquired by Galileo. Upon the closing of the acquisition, the combined company will be named Shapeways Holdings and is expected to remain listed on the NYSE. The business combination values Shapeways at a $410M pro forma enterprise value. The transaction is expected to provide more than $195M of net proceeds to Shapeways, including a $75M fully committed common stock PIPE, which implies an equity value of $605M assuming minimal redemptions by Galileo shareholders.

08:47 EDT MP Materials receives $3M Department of Energy Award for coal by-products study - MP Materials announced that it has received a $3M award from the Department of Energy, DOE, to complete a feasibility study, in concert with the University of Kentucky, on a system to produce rare earth oxides, metals, and other critical materials recovered from coal by-products. This project is enabled by a DOE exercised option of a previous MP Materials and UK conceptual study. Pursuant to this project, MP Materials and UK will advance their design for a modular system to concentrate coal by-product locally, in Kentucky. The concentrate will then be delivered to Mountain Pass, where MP Materials will leverage its existing capabilities to refine and extract the individual rare earth elements from concentrate before reducing them to metal. The collaboration seeks to minimize the system's capital and operating costs, as well as its environmental footprint, while maximizing economic opportunities for coal communities.

08:43 EDT NeoPhotonics announces limited availability of Class 60 CDM, Micro-ICR - NeoPhotonics announced limited availability of Class 60 versions of its Coherent Driver-Modulator, or CDM, and Intradyne Coherent Receiver, or Micro-ICR. These components are now shipping in initial quantities to multiple customers and address the next generation of 96 GBaud and above systems.

08:38 EDT Midwest Energy Emissions appoints Jami Satterthwaite as Chief Financial Officer - Midwest Energy Emissions announced that it has appointed Jami Satterthwaite, currently the company's Chief Accounting Officer, as Chief Financial Officer effective June 1. Jami Satterthwaite is a certified public accountant and was a partner at the accounting firm Nelson & Swaite, prior to joining ME2C Environmental in 2019.

08:37 EDT Urban Tea establishes new subsidiary for blockchain and cryptocurrency business - Urban Tea is establishing a new wholly-owned subsidiary in China under the name of Hunan Bit Brother. Hunan Bit Brother will conduct the company's planned business including but not limited to global cryptocurrency mine distribution, HashRate leasing, global cryptocurrency cross-regional payment and settlement system, cryptocurrency mining pool building and running, cryptocurrency deposit and loan, non-homogeneous tokens, and cryptocurrency exchange services. Hunan Bit Brother will begin applying for the required licenses and certifications in different countries and regions.

08:35 EDT Daxor announce 61% increase in Q1 sales revenue, acquisitions of BVA-100 - Daxor announced a Q1 2021 increase in revenue of 61% in its operating division on a year-over-year basis. In addition, the sales team has recorded the opening of five new customer accounts utilizing BVA and reports a growing pipeline of additional acquisitions of Daxor's BVA-100 Blood Volume Analyzer slated for Q3 2021 at major medical centers across the U.S. "Sales are accelerating as the COVID restrictions are relaxed at hospital centers, allowing our teams to resume on-site visits with customers, accelerating onboarding and the acquisition of our systems," said Jean Oertel, Vice President of Commercialization and Customer Experience. "We expect that we will have access to over 70% of our client hospitals by the end of Q2 2021. We anticipate that the ease of educating clinicians and providing hands-on training will further accelerate business in the ensuing quarters to come."

08:35 EDT Skyworks announces that Aldrich retires as chairman, Liam Griffin to succeed - Skyworks Solutions announced that David J. Aldrich has retired as the company's chairman of the board and that Liam K. Griffin has been appointed to succeed him. Mr. Griffin will continue to serve as president and CEO of Skyworks. The board's lead independent director, Christine King, will also continue to serve in her current role. Mr. Aldrich joined the company in 1995 and began serving as CEO and as a director in 2000. He was appointed chairman of the board in May 2014 and served as executive chairman from May 2016 to May 2018. "On behalf of the entire board, I want to congratulate Dave for his distinguished career and thank him for his steadfast service to Skyworks," said Ms. King. "Given Liam's nearly 20-year tenure at the company serving in executive roles, including the last five years as CEO, he possesses both the experience and skills that uniquely qualify him to lead the Skyworks board. I look forward to working with him as the company's lead independent director as we embark on achieving Skyworks' compelling long-term vision."

08:31 EDT Kratos Defense releases additional information on autonomous flight series - Kratos Defense & Security Solutions released additional information on the series of flight tests with the Skyborg autonomy core system aboard Kratos UTAP-22 Mako tactical unmanned vehicles at Tyndall AFB, Florida. This most recent series of Mako flights occurred from April 29, 2021-May 5, 2021. The U.S. Air Force reported: "The 96th Test Wing took part in a series of flight tests using a 19-foot unmanned aircraft launched from Tyndall Air Force Base from April 29 to May 5. Inside the aircraft, the Autonomy Core System, the "brain" of the autonomous aircraft, made its first three flights for the Autonomous Attritable Aircraft Experiment... The ACS operates by receiving basic commands from a ground station or airborne fighter and flies the aircraft by deciding on the best flight path and throttle settings to comply with the command. With this testing, autonomy technology moved from research to reality... Aircraft controllers on the ground provided commands to the ACS during this test series. In the future, the plan is for direct manned-unmanned teaming via commands sent from a manned F-16 Fighting Falcon to the ACS onboard the unmanned aircraft. These commands could task the ACS "brain" to find and track targets by flying the aircraft to the area of interest and reporting enemy contact locations to the manned fighter... This test demonstrated the building blocks of the autonomous capability. The ACS demonstrated proficiency in basic aviation abilities and responded to commands while navigating in a shared airspace with up to four manned fighter aircraft, including both F-16s and F-15Es from the 40th FLTS."

08:27 EDT Innovation files form 10-Q, says enrollment in Phase 2 brilacidin trial tops 70% - Innovation Pharmaceuticals announces the filing of its SEC Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. During the quarter, the Company made substantive progress in the development of Brilacidin, Innovation Pharma's flagship drug candidate in a new class of compounds called defensin-mimetics. Of particular note, in January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration designated the investigation of Brilacidin for the treatment for COVID-19 as a Fast Track development program. In February, recruitment began for the Company's international Phase 2, ~120-patient, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating Brilacidin for treatment of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. Early in April, enrollment in the trial reached 25 percent. Upon review of safety data, per protocol, the independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended increasing the dosing regimen of Brilacidin from 3 days to 5 days of treatment, which has been implemented and may further maximize Brilacidin's therapeutic benefits. At the end of April, enrollment in the COVID-19 trial reached 50 percent, and as of today, the Company is pleased to report enrollment now exceeds 70 percent. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Brilacidin has garnered attention due to its unique 3-in-1 therapeutic potential-antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial-to treat COVID-19 and associated complications. Extensive antiviral research conducted to date resulted in publication of findings related to Brilacidin's anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in Viruses, a peer-reviewed journal, with Brilacidin also selected for academic presentations, leading to added exposure for the Company. Further, an independent Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence model used to screen 1,482 compounds ranked Brilacidin in the top three percent of compounds predicted to be the most effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The Company is encouraged by the Brilacidin antiviral data generated thus far, as it is supportive of Brilacidin's potential to become a front-line antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Also in the pipeline, Alfasigma-the licensee of worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize rectally-administered Brilacidin for treatment of Ulcerative Proctitis/Ulcerative Proctosigmoiditis-notified the Company, in April, of its intentions to commence, in 2021, a Phase 2 multinational clinical trial of Brilacidin for UP/UPS. Alfasigma has placed an order with the Company for Brilacidin drug substance needed for the trial, which the Company is in the process of supplying. Per the licensing agreement, Innovation Pharma is eligible to receive $24 million in upfront and milestone payments, and a 6 percent royalty, upon the successful marketing of Brilacidin for UP/UPS.

08:25 EDT Certara releases new versions of QSP Simulators - Certara announced the launch of new versions of its Immunogenicity and Immuno-oncology Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Simulators to help address the challenges in the development of biologics and cancer therapies. These new versions further expand applications of QSP and advance the field of using virtual patients to conduct computer-based trials throughout drug discovery and development.

08:24 EDT Beam Global postpones Q1 results conference call - Beam Global announced that it will be postponing its Fiscal First Quarter 2021 financial results conference call, originally scheduled for Thursday May 13, 2021. Beam Global and its recently engaged independent auditors need additional time to complete its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. The conference call will be rescheduled.

08:22 EDT Heartland Bank appoints Jeff Ciochetto as Director of Credit - Heartland BancCorp's Heatland Bank announced that Jeff Ciochetto has joined Heartland Bank as Senior Vice President Director of Credit Administration. In this leadership role, Ciochetto will oversee Heartland's commercial, consumer and mortgage underwriting functions supporting the bank's sales teams. Ciochetto began his career with Heartland in January of 2021 with over 28 years of experience in banking focused in the areas of commercial, retail and credit. As a senior vice president at Heartland, Ciochetto will also be a contributory member of several of Heartland's strategic committees including loan, delinquency, compliance, risk management and quality committee.

08:17 EDT Equillium announces presentation on data from EQUATE study of itolizumab - Equillium announced that an abstract highlighting positive data from the EQUATE study of itolizumab in acute graft-versus-host disease has been accepted for oral presentation at EHA2021 Virtual Congress. The annual meeting of the European Hematology Association will be held virtually June 9 - 17, 2021. The abstract describes results from the ongoing Phase 1b EQUATE study of itolizumab in combination with steroids for the first-line treatment of patients with aGVHD. The primary cohorts enrolled 10 patients with Grade III-IV aGVHD that received itolizumab within 72 hours of first steroid dose, whereas the expansion cohorts also include subjects with Grade II aGVHD and an Ann Arbor Score of 2 or 3 that received itolizumab within 7 days of first steroid dose. The company will present data on all patient cohorts in the EQUATE study. The benefit-risk profile observed support continued evaluation in future randomized controlled trials.

08:16 EDT Cowen, PolySign launch strategic partnership, help clients access cryptocurrency - Cowen Digital Asset Investment, a division of Cowen, and PolySign announced a strategic partnership, with the goal of enabling Cowen's institutional clients to "seamlessly secure, access and leverage cryptocurrencies and digital assets in their portfolios," the company said. In support of the partnership, Cowen has made a $25M strategic investment in PolySign, leading the $53M initial closing of PolySign's Series B financing. Also investing in the round were Blockchain.com, Race Capital, Sandia Holdings and PilotRock Investments. The funds will be used to accelerate PolySign's ongoing development of institutional blockchain applications. "Cowen and PolySign plan to utilize and leverage each other's expertise as the companies work together to implement a comprehensive digital asset solution for institutional clients. Institutional-grade, regulated custody solutions for a wide array of digital assets will be provided by Standard Custody & Trust Company, a PolySign subsidiary," the company added.

08:11 EDT Aeterna Zentaris commences phase 3 DETECT trial studying macimorelin - Aeterna Zentaris announced the commencement of its pivotal Phase 3 safety and efficacy study AEZS-130-P02, or the DETECT trial, evaluating macimorelin for the diagnosis of childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency. The investigational new drug application, "Multicenter, open-label trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of a single oral dose of 1.0 mg/kg macimorelin acetate as growth hormone stimulation test in pediatric patients with suspected growth hormone deficiency," for the study is active and the first clinical site in the U.S. is open for patient recruitment. Children and adolescents from two to less than 18 years of age with suspected growth hormone deficiency are planned to be included. The study is expected to enroll approximately 100 participants worldwide, with at least 40 participants in pre-pubertal and 40 participants in pubertal status. A macimorelin GHST will be performed twice to ensure the repeatability of the data. Two standard GHSTs will be used as controls: arginine and clonidine. The study design is expected to be suitable to support a claim for potential stand-alone testing with macimorelin, if successful.

08:08 EDT Corbus Pharmaceuticals expects cash to fund operations into 1Q24 - The $125 million of cash and investments on hand, as of March 31, 2021, is expected to fund operations into the first quarter of 2024, based on the current planned expenditures.

08:07 EDT iHeartMedia and Catalina partner for podcast measurement and sales attribution - iHeartMedia has formed a partnership with Catalina, provider of shopper intelligence and omni-channel media solutions, to measure and attribute the impact of podcast advertising on offline sales in physical stores, which continue to represent the majority of CPG purchases. In addition, as part of this data partnership Catalina will provide iHeartMedia with audiences and measurement services within iHeartMedia's SmartAudio platform, for CPG ad campaigns that air on the latter's linear and streaming radio programming.

08:06 EDT Johnson & Johnson joins WHO to prevent spread of Ebola in West Africa - Johnson & Johnson announced the World Health Organization and the government of Sierra Leone have begun administering the company's Ebola vaccine regimen as part of a WHO early access clinical program aimed at preventing further spread of Ebola in West Africa. The vaccine regimen, developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in collaboration with Bavarian Nordic A/S, is being donated to the WHO by Janssen for the purposes of the early access clinical program. Johnson & Johnson also announced that its Ebola vaccine regimen has received Prequalification from the WHO, which will help accelerate its registration in countries where Ebola is a persistent public health threat and facilitate broader access to people at risk of exposure to this virus.

08:06 EDT United Community Banks announces acquisition of FinTrust Capital Partners - United Community Banks announced that its Advisory Services division will be expanding through the acquisition of FinTrust Capital Partners,and its operating subsidiaries FinTrust Capital Advisors, FinTrust Capital Benefit Group, and FinTrust Brokerage Services. As of March 31, 2021, FinTrust had assets under management of $2B across its advisory, retirement planning and brokerage businesses. The transaction has been approved by United's board of directors and is expected to close in Q3 2021, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and compliance with other customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, FinTrust will become an operating subsidiary of United. Certain businesses currently operating under the Seaside brand will be combined with FinTrust and its existing brand.

08:04 EDT Heron Therapeutics announces U.S. FDA approval of ZYNRELEF - Heron Therapeutics announced that the U.S. FDA has approved ZYNRELEF extended-release solution for use in adults for soft tissue or periarticular instillation to produce postsurgical analgesia for up to 72 hours after bunionectomy, open inguinal herniorrhaphy and total knee arthroplasty. ZYNRELEF, the first and only extended-release dual-acting local anesthetic, delivers a fixed-dose combination of the local anesthetic bupivacaine and a low dose of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam. The synergy between bupivacaine and meloxicam in ZYNRELEF has resulted in patients experiencing significantly less pain, including severe pain, and significantly more patients requiring no opioids after surgery as compared to bupivacaine solution, the current standard-of-care.

08:03 EDT Mogo increases ownership in Coinsquare to 37% in two transactions - Mogo (MOGO) announced that it intends to increase its ownership position in Coinsquare, Canada's digital asset trading platform, through the acquisition of an additional 5.4M common shares of Coinsquare, which would increase Mogo's ownership in Coinsquare from 19.9% to approximately 37%. The purchase is expected to be completed in two separate transactions: the exercising of Mogo's call option on 3.2M Coinsquare common shares from existing Coinsquare shareholders under the investment agreement between Mogo, Coinsquare and certain shareholders of Coinsquare dated February 10; and the purchase of 2.2M common shares of Coinsquare from Riot Blockchain (RIOT) pursuant to a binding term sheet entered by the parties on May 12. Purchase consideration for the Coinsquare shares to be acquired under the two transactions is expected to range between $46.9M and $48.6M, payable, at Mogo's option, in cash or common shares. The acquisition from Riot is expected to complete in late May and the option exercise is expected to complete in early June. The transactions are subject to certain closing conditions customary for transactions of this nature, including regulatory approval, which includes the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Following the closing of this transaction, Mogo will begin accounting for its position in Coinsquare using the equity method in accordance with IAS 28, whereby Mogo would report its proportionate share of Coinsquare's net income in its own statement of profit and loss. In addition to the agreement to acquire shares increasing Mogo's ownership to 37%, the company also holds a purchase warrant in Coinsquare that, if and when exercised, would increase its total ownership interest to approximately 48%.

08:01 EDT Verso announces modified Dutch auction tender to buy $55M in common stock - Verso CEO Randy Nebel said: "Even during this tumultuous time, we remain committed to returning value to our shareholders while maintaining our financial stability. Accordingly, this tender offer is part of Verso's commitment to return to our shareholders a portion of the net proceeds from our February 2020 sale of our Androscoggin and Stevens Point mills."

07:59 EDT Finch Therapeutics expects cash to fund expenditures into mid-2023 - Finch's cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2021 was $193.0 million compared to $99.7 million as of December 31, 2020. Finch expects that the cash and cash equivalents it had on hand at March 31, 2021 will be sufficient to fund operating expenses and capital expenditures into mid-2023.

07:57 EDT Thryv Holdings launches free ThryvPay app to accept, process payments - Thryv Holdings announced it has launched a free ThryvPay app designed specifically for service-based businesses. "The app is available for download at no cost on iOS and Android devices, and transforms the way service-based businesses accept and process payments from their customers. Typically handling larger payment amounts, they can now accept safe, contactless payments in just a few simple clicks with unique built-in features that save them significant time and money," the company said.

07:56 EDT CureVac, GSK announce rat model data for second COVID-19 vaccine candidate - CureVac (CVAC) announced together with its collaboration partner GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), first preclinical data in a rat model, showing that its second-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate, CV2CoV, induces high levels of antigen production as well as strong and dose-dependent immune responses in vaccinated animals. CV2CoV is a co-development between CureVac and GSK and is based on a new mRNA backbone, which differs from CureVac's first-generation vaccine candidate, CVnCoV, currently in late-stage clinical testing. Preclinical data in rats immunized with CV2CoV in the dose range of 0.5-40microgram demonstrated fast onset of strong immune responses already after the first dose. In addition, the serum of vaccinated animals showed significant cross-neutralization against variants first discovered in Denmark, the UK and South Africa.

07:54 EDT Lee Enterprises announces Wilson as vice president - brand, strategy marketing - Lee Enterprises announced it has selected Alexa Wilson to be vice president - brand and strategic marketing for the company. "The position of vice president - brand and strategic marketing is new to the company," said Nathan Bekke, Lee operating vice president and vice president of consumer sales and marketing. Bekke said the key position was created to develop strategies to drive readership and subscriptions, engagement, and consumer awareness for the company's portfolio of branded local digital and print products. Wilson, whose appointment to Lee is effective May 17, is the owner and founding partner of AWE Marketing Advisory.

07:52 EDT Strongbridge Biopharma announces FDA filing acceptance of NDA for recorlev - Strongbridge Biopharma announced that the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has accepted for review the company's New Drug Application, or NDA, for recorlev for the treatment of endogenous Cushing's syndrome. Earlier than anticipated and following Strongbridge's reporting of first quarter earnings results on May 12, 2021, the company received the official Day 74 letter from the FDA. Within the Day 74 letter, the FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of January 1, 2022, which reflects a projected 10-month standard review period. The letter made no mention of a plan to hold an advisory committee meeting.

07:49 EDT uniQure presents clinical data from phase III HOPE-B gene therapy trial - uniQure yesterday presented 26-week clinical data from the pivotal, Phase III HOPE-B gene therapy trial of etranacogene dezaparvovec showing clinical benefit in hemophilia B patients with pre-existing neutralizing antibodies to AAV5, and no relationship between AAV5 NAbs and the tolerability of the therapy. The data were featured on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, or ASGCT, Annual Meeting in an oral presentation by Michael Recht, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., professor of pediatrics, division of hematology and oncology at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine. These data were previously presented at a medical meeting late last year. Patients in the Phase III HOPE-B clinical study were initially enrolled into a prospective, observational lead-in period of at least six months during which bleeding events and FIX replacement therapy usage were monitored. All patients required prophylactic routine FIX replacement prior to entering the clinical trial, and patients were not excluded from the trial based on pre-existing NAbs to AAV5. Fifty-four participants were dosed and completed 26 weeks of follow-up, 31 of whom had no pre-existing NAbs to AAV5. Of the 23 participants with pre-existing NAbs, the median titer was 56.9, with a distribution representative of the general population. No clinically significant correlation of pre-existing NAbs with FIX activity was observed up to a titer of 678, a range expected to include more than 95 percent of the general population. Mean FIX activity at 26 weeks was 32.7% in participants with NAbs versus 41.3% in those without. A single participant with a NAb titer of 3,212 did not respond and remained on prophylaxis; it is expected that less than 1 percent of the general population have a pre-existing NAb titer of more than 3,000. All other participants, both with and without NAbs, discontinued prophylaxis and remained prophylaxis-free at 26 weeks.

07:48 EDT Yumanity Therapeutics expects cash to fund operations into 3Q22 - Cash position: As of March 31, 2021, cash, cash equivalents and investments was $62.9 million, compared to $85.3 million as of December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily due to spending on the clinical development of YMTX-7739 and costs related to being a public company, as well as certain one-time costs related to the Company's reverse merger with Proteostasis Therapeutics. The Company believes its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are sufficient to fund operations into the third quarter of 2022.

07:48 EDT Yumanity Therapeutics announces anticipated upcoming milestones - The Company remains on track to announce preliminary results from the Phase 1b part of the MAD study of YTX-7739 in patients with Parkinson's disease by mid-year 2021. The Company anticipates initiating a Phase 1 trial of YTX-9184, a novel SCD inhibitor being developed for the treatment of dementia with Lewy Bodies, in the second half of 2021. Yumanity is hosting a virtual R&D Day on May 17, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. The event is available via webcast at https://www.yumanity.com/investor-relations/events-presentations. Following the conclusion of the live event, a replay will be available for 60 days on the Events & Presentations page of the Yumanity website.

07:43 EDT Homology Medicines announces presentations on genetic medicines platform - Homology Medicines announced the presentation of data in multiple disease areas supporting the Company's human hematopoietic stem cell-derived adeno-associated virus vector platform. Among Homology's presentations are data from its new GTx-mAb platform targeting complement protein 5, which showed proof of principle in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. The Company also presented data from its gene therapy program for MPS II and gene editing program for phenylketonuria, both of which are on track to enter the clinic this year. Presentations also focused on the Company's internal commercial GMP manufacturing process and platform. These data were featured at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy 24th Annual Meeting. Highlights from Homology's 2021 ASGCT Presentations: Homology's first-ever data from its GTx-mAb platform in the presentation "Transducing the Liver as an Antibody Factory using AAVHSCs" showed: Proprietary vector containing a full-length antibody against C5 was delivered via AAVHSCs and engineered to express in the liver; Expression levels in the serum of two mouse models were consistent with C5 antibody therapeutics; Sustained and robust immunoglobulin G expression in vivo for the duration of the study in mice; In vivo expression of C5mAb had potent functional activity, as shown in an ex vivo hemolytic assay. In the presentation "Long-Term Expression of HMI-203: Investigational Gene Therapy Candidate for Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II, or Hunter Syndrome," a single I.V. dose of HMI-203 in the murine model: Demonstrated long-term transduction and expression in the brain, kidney, heart, lung, liver and spleen; Resulted in sustained secretion of iduronate-2-sulfatase into the serum; Reduced glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate in all tissues tested; Achieved phenotypic correction of joints and skeletal features; Significantly reduced GAG-HS levels in cerebrospinal fluid at all doses at 12 weeks post dose. In the presentation "Investigational Genetic Medicine Approaches for Phenylketonuria (PKU)," a single I.V. dose of AAVHSC15-based gene therapy or gene editing resulted in a sustained reduction of phenylalanine in a murine model of PKU on a normal diet, supporting the potential to address the underlying cause of PKU in individuals with either a fully developed or growing liver. In the study, the AAVHSCs: Achieved a sustained reduction of Phe in PAHenu2 mice on a normal diet; Integrated into the human target PAH locus with the human-specific gene editing vector; Showed integration levels that were similar with the human- and mouse-specific gene editing vectors and at rates that have resulted in sustained reduction of serum Phe in a murine model. In "Functional Characterization of AAVHSCs Compared to AAV serotypes: Activation of Cellular Pathways In Vitro and In Vivo Transduction Properties," the characterization of AAVHSCs compared to AAV capsids 1-8 in human induced pluripotent stem cells showed AAVHSCs: Did not significantly elicit p53-mediated cell death or impact cell division compared to non-Clade F vectors; Did not alter the cell cycle and cell division in iPSC or primary human fibroblasts compared to non-Clade F vectors; Had different intracellular transport and nuclear accumulation kinetics compared to AAV2; Were determined to be the most efficient liver transducers, alongside AAV8 and AAV9, among all capsids tested as determined by luciferase expression and vector genomes; Resulted in higher vector genomes and luciferase expression at the F8 locus when tested in vivo in mice compared to mice transduced with AAV6. On the manufacturing front, "Next Generation AAV Drug Products: Enhanced Stability & Clinical Ease for High Titer Preparations" demonstrated the marked stability of AAVHSCs in the liquid state and the impact of novel formulations on capsid stability, which: Achieved concentrations in excess of 1E14 vg/mL and demonstrated stability for a minimum of one year at 2-8 degrees C and more than six months at room temperature, reducing the need for -80 degrees C-storage infrastructure and simplifying the clinical supply chain by enabling 2-8 degrees C storage at the manufacturing site and clinical pharmacy. In "Wildtype AAV2 Rep Protein Produces Higher Titer AAVHSC Vectors with Improved Packaging Profiles Compared to Clade F Associated Chimeric Rep," wildtype AAV2 Rep protein was shown to be superior when compared with Clade F associated chimeric Rep protein. Vector produced with WT AAV2 Rep resulted in: Increased productivity in both adherent and suspension platforms across multiple AAV genome constructs, with an up to 88% increase in vector genomes and 40% increase in calculated full capsids; Increased productivity across multiple production scales; Improved or consistent quality attributes in vector packaging profile, infectivity and purity. In "Gene Therapy Candidate for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy: Summary of Preclinical In Vivo Data Following an Intravenous Delivery of HMI-202," a single I.V. dose of HMI-202 showed a direct motor benefit in MLD mice as evidenced by distribution patterns required to show a functional effect. In the MLD mouse model, data showed: Long-term transduction, expression and ARSA activity in the peripheral and brain tissues; Reduced sulfatides to normal levels in the brain; Phenotypic rescue in the rotarod assay. In non-human primates: AAVHSCs crossed the blood-brain barrier and blood-nerve barrier with expression in relevant cell types.

07:34 EDT Wave Life Sciences expects cash to fund requirements into 2Q23 - Wave expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents, together with expected and committed cash from its existing collaboration, will enable the company to fund its operating and capital expenditure requirements into the second quarter of 2023.

07:31 EDT Agrify signs definitive agreement with Greenstone Holdings for $2.5M - Agrify announced it entered into a definitive agreement with its existing customer Greenstone Holdings to complete the construction of a 25,000 square foot expansion of Greenstone's Denver facility, significantly increasing the facility's cultivation footprint. Under the terms of the agreement, Agrify will provide up to $2.5M in construction loans at 18% APR, to be repaid over a 24-month period following commencement of operations. Construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2021 with the completed facility expected to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2021. In addition to the construction, Agrify will receive recurring fees over a 10-year period of up to $11M to support the successful launch of Greenstone's operations. Under the agreement, Agrify may also extend additional construction financing, which would be used to convert Greenstone's existing traditional indoor grow facility with the addition of 200-220 VFUs and would provide Agrify the opportunity to earn an additional estimated $37M in production-based fees and consulting services. As part of the deal, Agrify agrees to retire Greenstone's current lease agreement with CCI-Finance at 50% of the original face value of $1.4M, or $700,000. The initial closing of the transactions contemplated by the agreement is expected to occur by May 30, 2021 and is subject to standard closing conditions.

07:27 EDT Sio Gene Therapies announces data from clinical trial studying AXO-AAV-GM1 - Sio Gene Therapies will present new biomarker data from the Company's study of AXO-AAV-GM1, its adeno-associated viral vector 9-based gene therapy candidate for the treatment of GM1 gangliosidosis, at the 24th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, or ASGCT, May 13, 2021. Dr. Cynthia Tifft, Deputy Clinical Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute and Principal Investigator in the study, will review patient-level data on safety and efficacy at six-months follow-up from the low-dose cohort of the company's ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical study, with a focus on new six-month biomarker data from cerebrospinal fluid. Key findings from the new biomarker analysis: 18-49% reductions from baseline in accumulated substrate, GM1 ganglioside, were observed in CSF of 4 out of 5 children in the low-dose cohort at 6 months; 3 out of 5 children demonstrated CSF GM1 ganglioside levels less than 100 ng/mL at the 6-month follow-up visit; one child, whose disease was the most advanced at baseline and who worsened on certain clinical parameters, exhibited an increase in CSF GM1 ganglioside of 19% from baseline at 6 months; literature reported mean levels of normal GM1 ganglioside in CSF range from 29.7- 52.3 ng/ml in healthy children 1 month to 18 years of age; these data represent the first direct evidence in humans that intravenously administered AXO-AAV-GM1 gene therapy exerts a measurable biochemical effect on GM1 ganglioside accumulation within the central nervous system; builds upon previous findings of widespread CNS transfection, disease modification, and improved survival in naturally occurring feline models. These preclinical studies suggest progressive normalization of GM1 ganglioside content in brain regions beginning at 4 months after intravenous gene therapy and continuing until 42 months of age; and additional evidence from a murine model of GM1 gangliosidosis suggests that the blood-brain barrier is more permeable than healthy controls due to local neuroinflammation, supporting the view that intravenous administration of AAV9 may enable widespread CNS distribution in GM1 gangliosidosis. Upcoming milestons for the study include: 12-month data from the low-dose cohort in the second half of 2021; 12-month data from the first two children dosed in the high-dose cohort in Q1 2022; and in the first half of 2022, meeting with the Food and Drug Administration to discuss the registrational pathway for AXO-AAV-GM1. The clinical study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and potential efficacy of AXO-AAV-GM1 delivered intravenously in children with Type I and Type II GM1 gangliosidosis. Stage 1 is a dose-escalation study in which the low-dose cohort is evaluating 1.5x1013 vg/kg and the high-dose cohort is evaluating a dose of 4.5x1013 vg/kg in early infantile, late infantile, and juvenile children.

07:25 EDT Sol-Gel Technologies expects cash to fund requirements into 3Q22 - As of March 31, 2021, Sol-Gel had $34.2 million in cash, cash equivalents and deposits, and $12.8 million in marketable securities for a total balance of $47.0 million. Sol-Gel expects its existing cash resources will enable funding of operational and capital expenditure requirements into the third quarter of 2022.

07:23 EDT Italy's AGCM fines Google over EUR100M for abuse of dominant position - The Italian Competition Authority has imposed a fine of over 100 million euros on Alphabet Inc., Google LLC and Google Italy S.r.l. for the violation of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Through the Android operating system and the Google Play app store, Google holds a dominant position allowing it to control the access of app developers to end users. About three quarters of smartphones in Italy use the Android system. Google is a major global player in the digital economy and relies on a very significant financial strength. According to the Authority's findings, Google did not allow Enel X Italia to develop a version of its JuicePass app compatible with Android Auto, a specific Android feature that allows apps to be used while the user is driving in compliance with safety, as well as distraction reduction, requirements. JuicePass enables a wide range of services for recharging electric vehicles, ranging from finding a charging station to managing the charging session and reserving a place at the station; this latter function guarantees the actual availability of the infrastructure once the user reaches it. In addition to imposing the sanction, the Antitrust Authority deemed it necessary to identify in the cease and desist order the behaviour that Google will have to adopt in order to stop the abuse and avoid the negative effects of the exclusion of Enel X Italia's app from Android Auto. Reference Link

07:18 EDT Akouos expects cash to fund operations for at least next two years - Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $286.6 million as of March 31, 2021, as compared to $308.0 million as of December 31, 2020. Akouos expects its cash balance to fund operations for at least the next two years.

07:17 EDT Ideanomics to acquire US Hybrid in cash and stock consideration - Ideanomics is pleased to announce it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of privately held US Hybrid in cash and stock consideration, the material terms of which are disclosed in the company's related 8-K filing. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. The acquisition of US Hybrid brings to Ideanomics the application of US-built technology, for use in its own vehicles, and significantly extends the company's capabilities in zero-emission transportation. US Hybrid will continue to service its existing customer base, and Ideanomics will assist them in scaling their business operations within the Ideanomics Mobility business division. US Hybrid operates from locations in California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. CEO Dr. Gordon Abas Goodarzi, PhD, PE is a 30-year veteran of BEV, FCe, and Hybrid industries and will become Chief Scientist for Ideanomics.

07:14 EDT Gemini Therapeutics completes enrollment in GEM103 trial - Gemini Therapeutics announced the completion of enrollment in its Phase 2a trial advancing GEM103 as a potential add-on therapy for patients suffering from wet AMD and requiring continued anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, or anti-VEGF, treatment who have, or may be at risk for, macular atrophy, or MA. Topline data related to safety, tolerability, effect on intraocular complement factor H (CFH) levels and disease-relevant biomarkers of complement regulation is expected in late 2021.

07:12 EDT Churchill Capital Corp II updates acquisition of Skillsoft and Global Knowledge - Churchill Capital Corp II announced updates related to its pending acquisition of Software Luxembourg, or Skillsoft, a provider of digital learning and talent management solutions, and Global Knowledge Training, a worldwide provider of IT and professional skills development. On May 3, Prosus, a global consumer internet group and technology investor, received notice from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States that it has approved Prosus's Second Step equity investment related to Churchill II's acquisition of Skillsoft and Global Knowledge. This approval brings Prosus's total investment to $500M. The CFIUS approval completes the required conditions for the investment by Prosus and the effectiveness of a strategic support agreement. The Prosus PIPE substantially satisfies the minimum cash condition in the Skillsoft merger agreement of $644M and excludes the benefit of any cash held in trust, net of any redemptions. Skillsoft and Global Knowledge have combined FY 2021 Adjusted Gross Revenue of $691M and Adjusted EBITDA of $163M exceeding expectations. Churchill II is reaffirming the combined FY 2022 outlook for Adjusted Gross Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $645M-675M and $155M-$175M, respectively. On May 11, Churchill II filed an amended annual report which reflects the accounting guidance announced by the SEC which impacts the classification of warrants in financial statements. Churchill II's management and the Audit Committee , concluded that the original financial statements should be restated and no longer be relied upon. The transaction is on its way towards completion in June.

07:07 EDT Akero Therapeutics announces anticipated milestones in 2021, 2022 - Akero announced multiple milestones for 2021 and 2022. Akero plans to report additional data from the BALANCED main study at the upcoming meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver on June 23-26, 2021. Akero plans to present new data at the upcoming meeting of the American Diabetes Association on June 25-29, 2021. Akero expects to initiate its planned SYMMETRY study, a Phase 2b, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in biopsy-confirmed NASH patients with compensated cirrhosis, Child-Pugh Class A, in the second half of 2021. Akero expects to report topline, preliminary results for the HARMONY study in the third quarter of 2022, based on the primary histology endpoint after 24 weeks of treatment. Akero expects to complete manufacturing of its planned Phase 3 combination drug/device product in 2022, with release for clinical trials in the first half of 2023.

07:06 EDT Arrival sees Q1 adjusted EBITDA loss EUR27M vs. EUR14M last year - Cash and cash equivalents of EUR516M as of March 31, 2021."Arrival's radical new method of designing and producing electric commercial vehicles will make mobility in cities cleaner, safer and more equitable. Our Microfactories, enabled by our vertically integrated in-house hardware, software and robotics, allow us to make vehicles more affordable for our customers. Microfactories also provide greater profitability for Arrival due to their lower capex and opex than traditional OEM factories. The rapid scalability of this decentralised production strategy gives Arrival the flexibility to meet the changes and growth in market demand globally. We also expect them to help supercharge the local communities they are situated in by creating local jobs and paying local taxes," said Denis Sverdlov founder and CEO of Arrival. "We are fully focused on executing our business plan to bring our Microfactories to multiple cities and markets to serve their communities and accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation. We continue to expect to have four vehicles - the Bus, Van, Large Van and Car - on the market by the end of 2023, creating the integrated mobility ecosystem cities and governments need to meet their emissions and sustainability targets, beginning with the start of production of the Arrival Bus in Q4 this year. We are excited for the future."

07:04 EDT Anavex sees sufficient cash runway for up to three years - Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2021 of approximately $75.9 million, sufficient cash runway for up to three years.

06:57 EDT Pennsylvania REIT signs new lease for New Jersey fulfillment center - Pennsylvania REIT announced that the company has signed a new lease for a fulfillment center at Cumberland Mall in Vineland, New Jersey. The approximately 80,000 square foot facility will soon occupy the former Burlington space delivering a new source of non-retail revenue. The property is ideally situated in a location which serves a large trade area along a route between Philadelphia and the Jersey shore.

06:41 EDT Hexo and REQ launch brand partnership to expand into U.S. - Hexo announced its partnership with REQ, a digital marketing and brand reputation firm. As U.S. Agency of Record, REQ will assist Hexo as it continues to expand its footprint in the U.S. and ramps up to support the growth initiatives of Truss CBD USA, its joint venture with Molson Coors, and for potential non-beverage CPG partners with whom the company is in ongoing discussions. REQ will evaluate Hexo's brand presence on- and offline in the U.S. market and evolve the Powered by Hexo brand in preparation for expansion and growth.

06:38 EDT JPMorgan releases carbon reduction targets for Paris-aligned financing - JPMorgan Chase released comprehensive steps it is taking in its efforts to align its financing activities with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. "There must be collective ambition and cooperation by business and government to tackle climate change," said Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase. "Setting our Paris-aligned targets is an important step toward accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy and meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. JPMorgan Chase is committed to doing its part by working with clients around the world to reduce emissions and by ensuring our own operations remain carbon neutral." Key aspects of JPMorgan Chase's approach and its portfolio targets, established against a 2019 baseline, include: Auto Manufacturing: 2030 target: 41% reduction in the carbon intensity from manufacturing of new vehicles, and tailpipe emissions from such vehicles. Covers global manufacturers of light duty vehicles, such as global passenger cars and U.S. light trucks. The firm will work with clients to help accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, and over time, quantify and address emissions from the automotive supply chain. Electric Power: 2030 target: 69% reduction in carbon intensity from electric power generation, which accounts for the vast majority of the sector's climate impact. Covers companies engaged in power generation. The firm will work to accelerate the power sector's shift to low- and zero-carbon sources, like solar and wind, to help reduce emissions from electricity grids globally. Oil & Gas: 2030 targets: 35% reduction in operational carbon intensity, as well as a 15% reduction in end-use carbon intensity - reflecting a decrease in emissions from the combustion of oil & natural gas downstream and increase in renewable energy generation. Covers producers of oil & natural gas, as well as refiners and integrated companies. The firm intends to work with clients to address methane leakage and flaring activity, in addition to encouraging shifts to renewable electricity to reduce operational emissions. JPMorgan Chase will also work with clients to address end-use emissions, including by shifting to lower-carbon fuels and exploring other business diversification strategies.

06:34 EDT Genworth postpones IPO of Enact Holdings subsidiary - Genworth announced that it has postponed the previously announced initial public offering, or IPO, of its subsidiary, Enact Holdings. "In light of the recent significant trading volatility in the mortgage insurance (MI) sector, Genworth's Board of Directors determined that current market pricing for the planned offering does not accurately reflect Enact's value. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the IPO and will continue to evaluate our options as market conditions develop," said Tom McInerney, Genworth president and CEO. "Our primary objective has been and will continue to be protecting the value of Enact. We maintain our positive long-term outlook for the MI sector, given strong trends in the U.S. housing market and expected tailwinds as the economy recovers from COVID-19."

06:14 EDT CleanSpark acquires 2,400 additional S19-Pro Bitcoin mining rigs - CleanSpark announced the purchase of 2,400 additional S19-Pro rigs for delivery in the coming month to increase the overall hashrate efficiency of its mining fleet. The replacement of older-generation equipment is a strategic step in the company's efforts to maximize energy efficiency in conjunction with its ESG focused approach to Bitcoin mining. The new miners will be deployed immediately upon arrival at the company's Bitcoin mining facilities outside of Atlanta, Georgia. These new units are expected to be delivered during the first week of June. Additionally, the company has entered into an agreement to sell a portion of the replaced, prior generation rigs which consume more power and produce a much lower hashrate. CleanSpark anticipates that the exchange will decrease overall energy consumption approximately 1 MW while increasing corresponding production efficiency of the replaced equipment by over 37.5%. The company also expects to recognize a significant profit on the sale of the displaced units, most of which were purchased as part of the acquisition of ATL Data Center in December of 2020.

06:10 EDT Becton Dickinson announces self-collection claim for HPV screening CE marked - Becton Dickinson announced the industry's first self-collection claim for HPV screening has been CE marked to the IVD directive 98/79/EC. The new claim allows laboratories and facilities to process self-collected samples via a BD diluent tube using the BD Onclarity HPV Assay on either the BD Viper LT or the BD COR System. The BD Viper LT is in use globally and the BD CORSystem, launched last year, is in use across Europe.

06:06 EDT Yeti CEO says 'exceptional start to the year' - Matt Reintjes, President and CEO, commented, "YETI had an exceptional start to the year with first quarter net sales growth of 42% fueled by continued strong demand for the brand throughout the period. Significant gross margin expansion powered nearly a 700-basis point improvement in operating margin for the period, contributing to a more than three-fold increase in earnings per share." Reintjes added, "Building upon the outstanding financial performance in the first quarter, we are focused on investments that will accelerate our future growth through global product and channel expansion, innovative marketing, and growing digital capabilities including enhanced data analytics. We believe that these efforts will not only foster a deep connection between our brand and consumers both digitally and, as the world reopens more fully, in a direct, personal way but will also support our plans for long-term, sustainable growth." Reintjes concluded, "After the strong start to 2021, we are raising both our full year net sales and earnings per share outlooks to 20% and 22% growth, respectively, versus the prior year. The YETI momentum carried over from 2020 and on display to start 2021 showcases the passion for the brand and the relevance of our product portfolio as consumers continue to participate in the significant growth in active, outdoor lifestyles. We believe we are well-positioned to generate and build upon this customer enthusiasm for the brand now and into the future."

05:41 EDT Telos awarded $35M five-year Army contract - Telos announced that it was awarded a five-year contract valued at approximately $35M by the Army Contracting Command. Telos will provide all necessary program management, design, engineering and implementation of systems to include inside and outside plant, voice, voice over internet protocol, communication systems, as well as wireless and communications infrastructure support. This effort also includes configuration management, cybersecurity, logistics and asset management.

05:29 EDT Iron Mountain to sell IPM business to NCC Group for $165M - Iron Mountain (IRM) signed an agreement to sell its intellectual property management, or IPM, business to NCC Group (NCCGF). All of the assets associated with IPM will be sold to NCC for gross proceeds of $220M, or approximately $165M, net of taxes and fees, subject to adjustments. For the year ended December 31, 2020, IPM represented revenue and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $33M and $22M, respectively. The transaction is expected to close in early June, subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of NCC's shareholders.

05:18 EDT Dr. Reddy's, Pregene announce license agreement for PRG1801 in India - Dr. Reddy's and Shenzhen Pregene Biopharma announced an agreement whereby Dr Reddy's will acquire an exclusive license in the Republic of India for PRG1801, Pregene's single domain antibody-based anti-BCMA chimeric antigen receptor T, or CAR-T, cell therapy injection. Dr. Reddy's acquires the exclusive rights to commercialize PRG1801 in India, and will be responsible for future development including clinical trials, in India. Pregene will be the exclusive supplier of the core material - lentiviral vectors for manufacturing PRG1801. Under the terms of the license agreement, Pregene will receive an upfront payment and future milestone payments of $5M for first indication and up to $7.5M of milestone payments for subsequent indications, and is eligible to receive a double-digit royalty, up to $150M, on future sales of PRG1801 in the licensed territory. PRG1801 is an autologous anti-BCMA CAR-T therapy in development for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, and has already demonstrated signs of efficacy and a safety profile in 34 patients in an investigator initiated trial in China. In 2020, PRG1801 was granted NMPA IND clearance, and a Phase I clinical trial of the product candidate is ongoing in China.