Stockwinners Market Radar for September 25, 2021 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

17:40 EDT IBM awarded $138.35M Army contract - IBM was awarded a $138.35M cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide information technology services on behalf of the Product Director Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Enterprise System and Services. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work will be performed in Radford, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of September 23, 2026. FY21 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $15.64M were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command is the contracting activity.

17:36 EDT Rolls-Royce awarded $500.87M Air Force contract - Rolls-Royce has been awarded an estimated $500.87M indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a six-year base period for B-52 Replacement Engines, with a potential total of $2.6B if all options are exercised. This contract provides for 608 commercial engines plus spare engines, associated support equipment and commercial engineering data, to include sustainment activities, to be used on the B-52H bomber fleet. The location of performance is Indianapolis, Indiana, and work is expected to be completed by September 23, 2038. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition in which one solicitation was posted and four offers were received. FY21 research and development funds in the amount of $5.46M are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is the contracting activity.

17:32 EDT 21Vianet COO Chunfeng Cai to resign - 21Vianet announced that Chunfeng Cai, the company's COO, has decided to resign from his current post and leave the company due to personal reasons, effective on October 1.

17:26 EDT Lockheed Martin awarded $1.1B Navy contract modification - Lockheed Martin was awarded a $1.1B modification to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive advance acquisition contract. This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of 16, Lot 15 F-35 Lightning II aircraft: 10 for the Air Force and six for the Marine Corps. Work is expected to be completed in May 2026. FY21 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $439.94M and FY21 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $659.69M will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity.

16:34 EDT Rafael Holdings appoints Ashok Marin as chief legal officer - Rafael Holdings announced the appointment of Ashok Marin, chief legal officer. Marin has more than two decades of life sciences experience with responsibilities across multiple legal and regulatory and commercial functions. Previously he served as VP, deputy general counsel, chief compliance officer and chief privacy officer, at Immunomedics, where he helped launch the novel antibody-drug conjugate Trodelvy and provided key legal support for the company's eventual acquisition.

16:21 EDT Middleby acquires Imperial Commercial Cooking Equipment - The Middleby Corporation announced the acquisition of Imperial Commercial Cooking Equipment. Based in Corona, Calif., the company manufactures ranges, fryers, ovens, countertop equipment and other specialty cooking products for the commercial kitchen. Imperial has annual revenues of approximately $40M.

16:06 EDT Sonoco Products to increase paperboard prices in Europe - Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l. announced that due to the rapidly escalating cost of European energy it will raise prices by EUR 50/tonne on all recycled paperboard grades sold in the company's EMEA regions, effective for all shipments made on or after the October 4. Sonoco Alcore S.a.r.l. is wholly owned by Sonoco and operates 24 tube and core plants and five paperboard mills in Europe.

16:06 EDT Spring Valley, AeroFarms continuing to work toward closing transaction - Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. (SV) and Dream Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) provided an update on the closing process and related timeline for their previously announced business combination, which was approved by shareholders on August 30, 2021. Both parties are continuing to work diligently toward the transaction. Per the transaction agreements, absent any termination, the parties are permitted up to 30 additional days, expiring October 24, 2021 to close the transaction. Upon closing, the combined company's stock and warrants would trade under the ticker symbols "ARFM" and "ARFMW", respectively.

16:01 EDT Terminix COO Kim Scott resigns, company affirms FY21 guidance - Terminix Global Holdings announced Chief Operating Officer Kim Scott has resigned after accepting another job opportunity. As a result of Kim's departure and in a continued effort to simplify and stream-line the business, the sales, marketing, and field operations leadership will now report directly to CEO Brett Ponton. The company will report its third-quarter 2021 earnings in early November and affirms full-year 2021 guidance.

15:49 EDT FDA approves Amgen's Repatha as add-on for HeFH and HoFH in ages 10-plus - FDA has approved Repatha injection as an add-on treatment to diet alone or together with certain other therapies for patients aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or HeFH, and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or HoFH. Repatha works to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL-C, known colloquially as "bad cholesterol." FDA previously approved Repatha to reduce the risk of certain complications of cardiovascular disease in adults. The drug was also previously approved as an add-on therapy to reduce LDL-C cholesterol levels in adults with HeFH and patients with HoFH based on studies in adults and pediatric patients aged 13 and older. Reference Link

15:23 EDT Intel announces breaking ground on two new Arizona chip factories - Intel announced that it broke ground today on two new "leading-edge chip factories" at the company's Ocotillo campus in Chandler, Arizona. Today's celebration marks an important milestone as we work to boost capacity and meet the incredible demand for semiconductors: the foundational technology for the digitization of everything. We are ushering in a new era of innovation - for Intel, for Arizona and for the world. This $20 billion expansion will bring our total investment in Arizona to more than $50 billion since opening the site over 40 years ago. As the only U.S.-based leading-edge chipmaker, we are committed to building on this long-term investment and helping the United States regain semiconductor leadership," said Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO.

13:47 EDT Shasta County DA announces criminal charges against PG&E for Zogg fire - District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett of Shasta County, California is announcing in a press conference that her office is bringing charges against PG&E, including 11 felony counts, related to the 2020 Zogg fire. Reference Link

13:02 EDT CIBC signs multi-year sponsorship deal with Montreal Canadiens - CIBC announced a new sponsorship agreement with the Montreal Canadiens that reflects the organizations' shared purpose of strengthening the relationship with the team's fans and supporting communities across the province. "The Canadiens' storied franchise holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Quebec and hockey fans everywhere - and we are proud to partner with the team to make their fans' ambition to bring a championship back to Montreal a reality," said Stephen Forbes, Executive Vice-President, Purpose, Brand, and Corporate Affairs, CIBC. "In addition, the genuine enthusiasm our Quebec team members have for the Habs will undoubtedly be on display throughout the season - adding significant bench strength to an already passionate fan base." Beginning with the 2021-2022 hockey season, key aspects of the partnership include CIBC's recently unveiled brand adorning the team's white away helmets and displayed prominently at the club's home arena in Montreal, including at centre ice. The branded helmets will be revealed during the Canadiens' September 25 preseason game in Toronto. In addition, CIBC is working with the Canadiens to engage fans in new and unique ways, in and outside of the arena. The partnership will involve the two organizations collaborating on fan activities, exciting experiences, and more. Further information and details will be announced in the coming months.

12:51 EDT United Airlines fined $1.9M for DOT tarmac delay rule violations - The U.S. Department of Transportation fined United Airlines $1.9M for violating federal statutes and the Department's rule prohibiting long tarmac delays. The airline was also ordered to cease and desist from future similar violations. This is the largest fine issued by the Department for tarmac delay violations., the DOT said in a statement. An extensive investigation by the Department's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection found that between December 2015 and February 2021, United allowed twenty domestic flights and five international flights at various airports throughout the United States to remain on the tarmac for a lengthy period of time without providing passengers an opportunity to deplane, in violation of the Department's tarmac delay rule. The tarmac delays affected a total of 3,218 passengers.

12:00 EDT Altice USA falls -8.4% - Altice USA is down -8.4%, or -$1.84 to $20.21.

12:00 EDT Nerdy falls -12.6% - Nerdy is down -12.6%, or -$1.46 to $10.09.

12:00 EDT ATI Physical Therapy rises 7.1% - ATI Physical Therapy is up 7.1%, or 25c to $3.75.

11:45 EDT Newest version of Microsoft Edge now available on Xbox consoles - Microsoft said in a blog post yesterday that the latest version of Microsoft Edge is now available on all Xbox consoles. "This update will bring you the best of the web, with improved web standards and a fast, secure, and modern browsing experience right from your console," the company said. "You'll also enjoy a more streamlined gaming experience across your signed-in devices. If a game opens a new window on Microsoft Edge for hints or guides, send that tab to another signed-in device so you can continue gaming on your console seamlessly. This update also comes with mouse and sync support, so you can manage your profile settings easily within Microsoft Edge on your Xbox console." Reference Link

10:04 EDT Rite Aid expands partnership with Uber for delivery nationwide - Rite Aid (RAD) announced the expansion of its partnership with Uber Technologies (UBER) to offer delivery of Rite Aid products nationwide through Uber Eats. "This partnership will allow customers to conveniently order and receive essential healthcare and grocery items directly to their homes," the company said in a statement. On-demand delivery is now available for 2,185 Rite Aid locations across 17 states on Uber Eats. "Customers who wish to order Rite Aid items for delivery simply need to open the Uber Eats app, tap the convenience or pharmacy icons, select Rite Aid, and begin shopping. Within the app, users can access a full catalog of healthcare and grocery products from their local Rite Aid store. Uber Pass and Eats Pass customers will also enjoy $0 Delivery Fee and 5% off on all orders over $15," it added.

10:00 EDT Nike falls -6.7% - Nike is down -6.7%, or -$10.68 to $148.90.

10:00 EDT DigitalOcean falls -8.8% - DigitalOcean is down -8.8%, or -$7.75 to $79.92.

10:00 EDT Huaneng Power rises 6.5% - Huaneng Power is up 6.5%, or $1.43 to $23.36.

09:54 EDT Walgreens: Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine booster shots now available nationwide - Walgreens (WBA) announced that eligible individuals can now receive Pfizer (PFE) COVID-19 booster vaccinations in stores nationwide, following FDA Emergency Use Authorization and new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

09:47 EDT Sinopec Shanghai falls -5.4% - Sinopec Shanghai is down -5.4%, or -$1.40 to $24.70.

09:47 EDT Moderna announces supply pact with Peru for 20M COVID-19 vaccine doses - Moderna announced a supply agreement with the government of Peru for 20 million doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine to begin delivery in the first quarter of 2022. "The COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna is not currently approved for use in Peru, and the company will work with regulators to pursue necessary approvals prior to distribution," the company stated.

09:47 EDT Huaneng Power rises 4.9% - Huaneng Power is up 4.9%, or $1.07 to $23.00.

09:47 EDT Meredith rises 26.4% - Meredith is up 26.4%, or $11.86 to $56.75.

09:28 EDT Evercel, Inc announces $20M share repurchase program - Evercel announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new share repurchase authorization of up to $20M of the Company's common stock. Under this program, the Company may repurchase outstanding shares of its common stock at times and prices considered to be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. The share repurchase authorization is effective starting October 30th and, unless earlier terminated by our Board of Directors, is expected to be completed within two years thereafter. Repurchases will be funded by a combination of cash on hand, dividends from the Company's investments and cash received from the sale of any investments.

09:25 EDT Joyy sinks 10% after Reuters report of likely rejection of Baidu deal

09:21 EDT Carnival says booked position for 2H22 at 'new historical high' - CEO Donald added, "Our booked position for the second half of 2022 is at a new historical high, including our seasonally strong third quarter with all our ships planned to be in operation, despite reduced marketing spending. The broader environment for travel, while choppy, has improved dramatically since last summer and we believe it should improve even further by next summer, if the current trend of vaccine roll outs and advancements in therapies continues. We have also opened bookings for further out cruises in 2023, with unprecedented early demand." Booking volumes for all future cruises during the third quarter of 2021 were higher than booking volumes during the first quarter of 2021, albeit not as robust as the second quarter of 2021, primarily as a result of lower booking volumes in August 2021, reflecting the impact on overall U.S. consumer confidence resulting from heightened uncertainty around the COVID-19 Delta variant. Cumulative advanced bookings for the second half of 2022 are ahead of a very strong 2019 as of August 31, 2021. (Due to the gradual resumption in guest cruise operations, the company's current booking trends will be compared to booking trends for 2019 sailings.) Total customer deposits increased $630 million to $3.1 billion as of August 31, 2021 from $2.5 billion as of May 31, 2021. For the second consecutive quarter since March 2020, the company has continued to see an increase in customer deposits.

09:18 EDT Carnival says voyages for Q3 cash flow positive, expects trend to continue - Carnival Corporation & plc President and CEO Arnold Donald noted, "We are very glad to be back doing what we do best, delivering memorable vacation experiences for our guests, while doing so in a way that best serves the interests of public health. Our team members are executing exceptionally well on our return to service, exceeding the expectations of our guests and taking guest satisfaction to new heights. Even at this early stage with intentionally constrained occupancy levels, our voyages are already cash flow positive." Voyages for the third quarter of 2021 were cash flow positive and the company expects this trend to continue. For the cruise segments, revenue per passenger cruise day for the third quarter of 2021 increased compared to a strong 2019, despite the current constraints on itinerary offerings, which did not include many of the destination rich itineraries offered in 2019. The increase was driven in part by exceptionally strong onboard and other revenue. Occupancy in the third quarter of 2021 was 54%, building consistently month-to-month from 39% in June to 59% in August. Available lower berth days for the third quarter of 2021 were 3.8 million, which represents 17% of total fleet capacity. ALBDs are expected to be 10.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, which represents 47% of total fleet capacity.

09:03 EDT Patriot Bank expresses condolences for passing of director Raymond Smith - Patriot National Bancorp announced the passing of Raymond B. Smyth on September 22, 2021 who had been battling a severe illness. Mr. Smyth had proudly served as a longstanding Director of Patriot Bank since 2008.

09:03 EDT First Long Island raises quarterly dividend 5.3% to 20c per share - The First of Long Island Corporation announced the declaration of a third quarter cash dividend in the amount of 20c per share. This represents a 5.3% increase over the dividend of 19c per share declared in the same quarter last year. The dividend will be paid on October 18, 2021 to shareholders of record on October 8, 2021.

09:01 EDT Vail Resorts, Toyota announce mobility partnership - Vail Resorts (MTN) and Toyota (TM) have announced a multi-year strategic partnership across the 33 mountain resorts in Vail Resorts' U.S. portfolio, including iconic destinations like Vail Mountain, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Park City Mountain, and Stowe Mountain Resort. In addition to providing safe and fuel-efficient transportation for guests staying in resort lodging and mountain operations teams, as Vail Resorts' first-ever Mobility Partner, Toyota will provide best-in-class activities that enhance how guests experience the mountains, including interactive events and ski and ride terrain features.

08:41 EDT Hoegh LNG Partners announces long-term FSRU contract for Hoegh Gallant - Hoegh LNG Partners (HMLP) announced that it has entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of New Fortress Energy (NFE) to charter the Hoegh Gallant for FSRU operations for a period of ten years, with a planned commencement during the fourth quarter of 2021. The Partnership has further entered into an agreement to suspend the existing charter for the Hoegh Gallant with a subsidiary of Hoegh LNG Holdings Ltd., with effect from the commencement of the New Charter. The charter rate under the New Charter, in line with the current market, will be lower than under the existing charter for the Hoegh Gallant. However, under the Suspension Agreement, Hoegh LNG's subsidiary shall compensate the Partnership monthly for the difference between the charter rate earned under the New Charter and the charter rate earned under the existing charter with the addition of a modest increase until July 31, 2025, the expiry date of the existing charter. After that, the Partnership will earn the charter rate agreed with New Fortress for the remaining term of the New Charter. In addition, pursuant to the Suspension Agreement, certain capital expenditures incurred to ready and relocate the Hoegh Gallant for performance under the New Charter will be shared 50/50 between Hoegh LNG and the Partnership, subject to a maximum obligation of the Partnership. The Board of Directors of the Partnership and the Conflicts Committees have approved the New Charter and the Suspension Agreement. The Conflicts Committee retained an outside financial advisor and outside legal advisors to assist with its evaluation of the agreements.

08:32 EDT Assure Holdings approved for listing on Nasdaq Capital Market - Assure Holdings announced that its shares of common stock were approved for listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market. Trading on NASDAQ is scheduled to commence on September 29, 2021, under the ticker symbol "IONM." The Company's common stock will continue to trade on the OTCQB Venture Market, operated by OTC Markets Group, until trading commences on NASDAQ. The Company will also retain its listing on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol "IOM."

08:30 EDT iClick Interactive Asia trading resumes

08:07 EDT Crown Holdings announces new beverage can plant in Mesquite, Nevada - Crown Holdings reported that its previously announced Southwestern United States aluminum beverage can manufacturing facility will be located in Mesquite, Nevada. This two line state-of-the-art plant will supply standard and specialty beverage cans to the company's customers serving a variety of categories, including carbonated soft drinks, sparkling water, energy drinks, hard seltzers, beer and ready-to-drink cocktails. This facility improves the company's ability not only to serve existing customers in the Western United States, but also to support growth of new beverage introductions in aluminum cans. Located in the Mesquite Technology and Commerce Center, the 355,000 square foot facility is expected to begin operations in the second quarter of 2023 and will create 126 new jobs.

08:04 EDT Bank of Marin CEO Russell Colombo to retire, Tim Myers to succeed - Russell Colombo, CEO of Bank of Marin, has formally announced his retirement, effective October 31. The board of directors of Bank of Marin named Tim Myers, currently president and COO as his successor. Tim Myers will assume the role of CEO on November 1. Colombo will remain on the boards of Bancorp and the Bank; Myers will join both Boards.

07:57 EDT Cisco's Acacia introduces solution with the industry's first 1.2TB/s module - The company states: "Acacia, now part of Cisco, is once again introducing a ground-breaking coherent solution with the industry's first 1.2 terabits per second faceplate pluggable coherent module, highlighting a new 8th generation Coherent Interconnect Module family, powered by Acacia's Jannu 5nm CMOS digital signal processor ASIC. This solution delivers industry-leading performance with single carrier 1.2T operation and combines the Jannu DSP with 3D Siliconization packaging technology which includes the silicon photonics integrated circuit, high-speed modulator driver and transimpedance amplifier in a single opto-electronic package." Reference Link

07:54 EDT Clearway Energy Operating LLC announces proposed offering of $350M Green Bond - Clearway Energy Operating LLC intends to commence an offering of $350M in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2032. The New Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Clearway Operating and will be guaranteed by Clearway Energy LLC, Clearway Operating's parent company, and by each of Clearway Operating's wholly owned current and future subsidiaries that guarantees indebtedness under its credit agreement. Clearway Operating intends to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds from the offering of the New Notes to finance or refinance, in part or in full, new and existing projects and assets meeting certain renewable energy generation eligibility criteria. Specifically, Clearway Operating intends to use the net proceeds of the offering, together with existing corporate liquidity, to repurchase any and all of the $350 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 5.000% senior notes due 2026 and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the repurchase of the 2026 Notes.

07:37 EDT Pipestone announces distribution of shares by CNOR, updated investor rights - Pipestone Energy also reports that Pipestone Energy's largest single shareholder, Canadian Non-Operated Resources is in the process of being dissolved and as such has distributed its 103,750,000 common shares of Pipestone Energy to its limited partners. As a result, and based on information publicly filed, Riverstone V REL CNOR LP now beneficially owns 47,159,714 Common Shares and its affiliate Riverstone Pipestone LP continues to own 52,690 convertible preferred shares, representing an aggregate approximate 40.5% of the voting securities of Pipestone Energy; and Al Mehwar Commercial Investments, an affiliate of Amwal Investments, now beneficially owns 31,439,809 Common Shares, representing approximately 11.2% of the voting securities of Pipestone Energy. The remainder of CNOR LP's Common Shares, being 25,150,477 Common Shares representing an approximate 9.0% of the voting securities of Pipestone Energy, were distributed to the other limited partners of CNOR LP with no public filings issued. The CNOR LP nomination agreement, dated January 4, 2019 which entitled it to nominate three directors for election to the Pipestone Board for so long as it held in excess of 30% of the Common Shares, has been terminated. In its place Riverstone can now nominate two directors for election to the Pipestone Board pursuant to the Riverstone LP nomination agreement dated effective September 15, 2020 for so long as it and its affiliates hold in excess of 20% of the voting securities of the Corporation. Currently, Riverstone is represented on the Pipestone Board by Messrs. Robert Tichio and Jesal Shah. Pipestone has also entered into a new nomination agreement with Al Mehwar, providing that Al Mehwar can nominate one director for election to the Pipestone Board for so long as it or its affiliates collectively hold in excess of 10% of the voting securities of the Corporation. The Riverstone LP and Al Mehwar nomination agreements are available at www.sedar.com. CNOR LP has assigned its existing registration rights agreement with Pipestone Energy dated effective January 4, 2019 to Riverstone V, which provides for four customary "prospectus demand rights", three of which have been waived by Riverstone V. Riverstone therefore has a total of four prospectus demand rights considering the three existing rights that Riverstone LP has pursuant to the registration rights agreement dated effective September 15, 2020 among Riverstone LP, GMT Capital Corp. and the Corporation. Following the Distribution, all of the outstanding investor rights for significant shareholders are summarized above, plus those rights held by GMT Capital, which was not involved in the Distribution, pursuant to the Preferred Share Investor Registration Rights Agreement, being two customary prospectus demand rights and piggy-back rights; and GMT Capital is entitled to nominate one director for election to the Pipestone Board pursuant to the GMT Capital nomination agreement dated effective September 15, 2020 for so long as it, its affiliates or GMT Exploration Company LLC holds in excess of 10% of the voting securities of the Corporation. Certain hedge fund and private client accounts of GMT Capital beneficially own 20,424,509 Common Shares and 11,540 Preferred Shares, representing 15.1% of the voting securities of Pipestone Energy. The GMT Capital nomination agreement is available at www.sedar.com. Paul Wanklyn, President and CEO of Pipestone Energy would like to thank the limited partners of CNOR LP for their vision and support of both Pipestone Energy, and the previous private company, Pipestone Oil Corp in making the commitments which allowed for the exciting development taking place in the field today. The Pipestone area holds significant future value potential for all shareholders, and each of Riverstone, Al Mehwar, GMT Capital and GMT Exploration Company LLC continues to support Pipestone Energy's exceptional growth strategy.

07:34 EDT Eguana Technologies licenses E-GEAR EMS Cloud platform - Eguana Technologies announces that it has licensed the energy management system, or EMS, Cloud platform from its long-standing partner E-GEAR. Under the agreement, Eguana will take control of operation and development of the same cloud platform it has been using for several years in the US energy storage market and will also manufacture the site controller hardware. The site controller firmware and IoT network will continue to be developed and maintained by E-Gear. "This step takes our integrated energy storage system forward in a very big way" added Eguana Founder and EVP Brent Harris, "over the past few years we have worked closely with E-Gear to move the fully integrated solution forward for consumers and position Eguana to provide grid services for recurring revenue streams. Under the agreement Eguana will take control of the customer experience as we expand across the USA and directly offer a complete Virtual Power Plant solution to customers while simplifying the entire process." The agreement is effective immediately and the parties have begun collaboration on the transition which is expected to occur over the next several months.

07:13 EDT vTv Therapeutics announces favorable safety profile for HPP737 in psoriasis - In a press release yesterday, vTv Therapeutics "announced results of a multiple ascending dose study evaluating HPP737, an orally administered phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor, in healthy adults. The trial enrolled 12 subjects in each of two dose cohorts, 15mg and 20mg, randomized to receive HPP737 or placebo orally once daily for 14 days. Dose escalation up to 20mg/day demonstrated approximate dose proportional increases in exposure, while maintaining a favorable safety and tolerability profile with no dose limiting safety or tolerability findings observed. There were no serious adverse events and no discontinuations due to treatment emergent adverse events. vTv therefore believes that the current safety profile allows it to move forward in development with a drug that may achieve anti-inflammatory and anti-psoriatic responses without the significant safety issues of other PDE4 inhibitors. Results of the two multiple ascending dose studies conducted by vTv to date will be presented at an upcoming scientific conference focused on dermatology. With these results, vTv held a successful pre-IND meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Division of Dermatology and Dentistry. As a key outcome of the meeting, the company obtained acknowledgement that the completed studies appear reasonable to support the proposed dosing regimen of 20mg/day for 12 weeks. In addition, the Company obtained feedback on the proposed safety monitoring and clinical trial endpoints. vTv plans to file an IND application later this year for a 12-week Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of HPP737 in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis with study initiation targeted for early 2022." Shares of vTv Therapeutics are up 21.5% in pre-market trading at $2.15 per share following the news.

07:08 EDT Electric Last Mile names Rob Song Deputy CFO, treasurer, Ron Feldeisen CRO - Electric Last Mile Solutions (ELMS) announced two executive appointments. Rob Song was appointed as Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer bringing nearly 20 years of diverse finance experience to ELMS, spanning public company finances, investments, debt and equity capital markets and investor relations. Ron Feldeisen joined as Chief Revenue Officer with 30 years of automotive, business-to-business and large enterprise sales experience. Before joining ELMS, Mr. Song served as Chief Investment Officer of CorePoint Lodging (CPLG). Feldeisen previously served as Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at JR Automation.

07:06 EDT Hudson Technologies reports EPA's issuance of final rule on HFC allowances - Hudson Technologies announced that, on September 23, 2021, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued the final rule establishing the framework to allocate allowances for virgin production and consumption of HFCs. The EPA is responsible for the administration of the HFC phase down enacted by Congress under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020. The AIM Act directs the EPA to address the reduction in virgin HFCs and provides authority to do so in three respects: phase down the production and consumption of listed HFCs, manage these HFCs and their substitutes, and facilitate the transition to next-generation technologies. Congress also required that EPA shall consider ways to promote reclamation in all phases of its implementation of the AIM Act. The final rule, announced yesterday, introduces a stepdown of 10% from baseline levels. The actual number of allowances per allowance holder will be issued by October 1, 2021, and these allowances will apply for the 2022 year. Allowances for 2023 and beyond will be issued at a later date, and a subsequent allowance rule must establish a cumulative 40% reduction in the baseline for 2024. Brian Coleman, President and CEO of Hudson Technologies, commented, "We have long been supporters of the bipartisan AIM Act and its directive to the EPA relating to the phase down in production and consumption of virgin HFCs, which we believe will have significant positive impact in the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. The ODS phaseout tightened the supply of virgin refrigerants more gradually, over a 15-year period. With the AIM Act, in a little over two years there will be a 40% reduction in virgin production and importation from the current baseline. The reduction in virgin supply should help stimulate significant growth of reclamation in the coming years. With the EPA's publication of the final rule for HFC allowances, we now have more visibility around how we, and others in our industry, are positioned to supply what is already a large, and growing, installed base of HFC equipment. As the virgin supply of HFCs becomes more limited, we anticipate that reclamation will be critical to maintaining necessary supply during this HFC phasedown period and welcome new industry initiatives that help drive refrigerant recovery and reclamation. With our reclamation capabilities and robust distribution network, Hudson is uniquely positioned as both a supplier and a reclaimer, to meet potential supply shortfalls as virgin HFC production is reduced by 85% in the year 2036. A key focus for our Company is promoting sustainability and supporting a circular economy in the refrigerant industry, which we have been doing since our existence. Over the last few decades, we have developed an industry-leading reclamation infrastructure and we also offer complementary services in support of reclamation and system optimization. While the current HFC phasedown has similarities to the previous phaseout of R-22 refrigerants, an important difference is that, today, the reclamation industry is established, while HFC reclaim is in its early stages, with Hudson representing approximately 35% of refrigerant reclamation activity in the U.S. Reclamation is a key component of the orderly phasedown of virgin refrigerants and the AIM Act is designed to assist the EPA to promote the growth of reclamation during the HFC phasedown period. We believe the current phasedown represents a significant long-term growth opportunity and Hudson is ideally and competitively positioned to capitalize on these changes to our industry landscape to grow our customer base and capture additional revenue."

07:04 EDT Capricor Therapeutics announce 'positive' final data from Phase 2 HOPE-2 trial - Capricor Therapeutics announced positive final data from the HOPE-2 clinical trial using CAP-1002 to treat patients in advanced stages of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD. The HOPE-2 clinical trial met its primary efficacy endpoint of mid-PUL v1.2 as well as various skeletal and cardiac endpoints suggesting clinically relevant slowing of disease progression. CAP-1002 is Capricor's cell-based therapeutic candidate whose mechanism of action is immunomodulatory, anti-fibrotic and has been shown to regenerate skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. HOPE-2 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 clinical trial of the Company's lead investigational therapy, CAP-1002, in boys and young men who have DMD and are non-ambulant, the later stage of the disease process. The trial was conducted at nine sites across the United States. Final data analysis demonstrated that young men in the advanced stages of DMD experienced improvements in skeletal and cardiac measurements after receiving four doses of CAP-1002 over the course of 1 year. Subjects in the trial were evaluated using the Performance of the Upper Limb, a validated tool specifically designed for assessing high, mid and distal function, with a conceptual framework reflecting the progression of weakness in upper limb function. CAP-1002 was generally safe and well tolerated throughout the study. With the exception of two hypersensitivity reactions early in the clinical trial, which were mitigated with a common pre-medication regimen, there were no serious safety signals identified by the HOPE-2 Data and Safety Monitoring Board. "The significance of this data is vitally important to patients and the DMD community. The data suggests that CAP-1002 slowed the decline of DMD in patients for whom few options currently exist," said Dr. Linda Marban, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Capricor. "Now that we have clarity from the FDA and based on the strength of this data set, we are poised to embark on the HOPE-3 pivotal trial once we have secured an appropriate partner that can help drive CAP-1002 forward towards commercialization. Most importantly, we are thankful to the patients and families who participated in this study so that we can demonstrate the impact of CAP-1002 in treating DMD." This is the second clinical trial investigating CAP-1002 showing similar results in the treatment of DMD patients.

07:03 EDT Intema announces closing of Team Bloodhounds acquisition - Intema Solutions has completed the acquisition of Team Bloodhounds, owner of the Team BH esports team, previously disclosed on June 22, 2021. Di Penta launched Team BH in April 2018, and it has quickly become one of the most successful esports brands, with a roster of influencers, professional gamers, and streamers, and more than 7.25 million combined followers across YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and TikTok. Currently, Team Bloodhounds Inc. has 14 Fortnite players signed to its roster. The team hopes to extend into Activision's Call of Duty and Riot Games' Valorant. Team BH does not yet have competitive or content teams in either game, but this will be a top priority now that the transaction is complete.

06:56 EDT Aecom selected by NASA to provide architecture and engineering services - Aecom announced that it has been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to provide architecture and engineering services as part of its Southeast Regional Architect and Engineering program. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity, multiple-award contract has a shared program ceiling of $300M for its five-year term.

06:06 EDT Hollysys gives update on court decision denying claim of Baiqing Shao, Ace Lead - HollySys provided an update on the litigation filed by Baiqing Shao and Ace Lead against the Company in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Territory of the British Virgin Islands. As previously disclosed, on January 7, the company adopted amendments to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the company, or 2021 M&AA. Baiqing Shao and Ace Lead initiated proceedings against the company in the court on February 4 seeking to prevent the company from enforcing the 2021 amendments. On September 22, the court handed down a judgment rejecting the claim. The court's decision means that the 2021 Amendments were validly adopted, the 2021 M&AA are currently effective, and the company can take steps in reliance on the 2021 M&AA. In denying the claim, the Court found that "the [Company's] directors all acted for proper motives and that the amendments were not made in breach of their fiduciary duties to Hollysys". The decision of the court may be appealed within 42 days of the date of the ruling. The court ordered the claimants to pay the company's costs of the litigation, which the company will enforce, including by seeking satisfaction against the shares in the company held by Baiqing Shao. The court decision, dated September 22, is expected to become publicly available in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Territory of the British Virgin Islands and will be posted on the company's website.

05:43 EDT AstraZeneca's Lynparza meets endpoint in Phase III prostate cancer study - AstraZeneca (AZN) said the PROpel Phase III trial showed it and Merck's (MRK) Lynparza in combination with abiraterone demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in radiographic progression-free survival versus standard-of-care abiraterone as a first-line treatment for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with or without homologous recombination repair gene mutations. At a planned interim analysis, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee concluded that the trial met the primary endpoint of rPFS in men with mCRPC who had not received treatment in the 1st-line setting including with new hormonal agents or chemotherapy. The trial also showed a trend at this interim analysis towards improved overall survival. "However, the data are still immature and the trial will continue to assess OS as a key secondary endpoint. The safety and tolerability were consistent with the known profiles of each medicine," AstraZeneca said in a statement. Reference Link

05:19 EDT Cnooc announces Bozhong 19-4 oilfield project commences production - Cnooc announced that Bozhong 19-4 oilfield comprehensive adjustment project has commenced production. Bozhong 19-4 oilfield comprehensive adjustment project is located in the south of Bohai Sea, with average water depth of about 21 meters. In addition to fully utilizing the existing processing facilities of Bozhong 25-1 oilfield, the project has built a new eight-legged central equipment platform. A total of 25 development wells are planned, including 18 production wells, seven water injection wells. The project is expected to reach its peak production of approximately 11,000 barrels of crude oil per day in 2022. Cnooc holds 100% interest in Bozhong 19-4 oilfield comprehensive adjustment project and acts as the operator.

05:12 EDT Mercedes-Benz becomes partner of ACC, commits to increase capacity to 120 GWh - Stellantis (STLA), TotalEnergies (TTE) and Mercedes-Benz (DDAIF) have entered into agreements to welcome Mercedes-Benz as a new partner of Automotive Cells Company, or ACC. Following its entry, the partners commit to increase ACC's industrial capacity to at least 120 GWh by 2030. The transaction is subject to agreement on definitive documentation and customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. ACC results from the initiative taken in 2020 by Stellantis and TotalEnergies and supported by the French, German and European authorities, to create a European battery company for electric vehicles. ACC's objective is to develop and produce battery cells and modules for electric vehicles. The updated ACC capacity plan will mobilize an investment of more than EUR 7B, which will be supported by subsidies and financed by equity and debt.