Stockwinners Market Radar for February 07, 2022 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:18 EST Cathie Wood's ARK Investment bought 730K shares of Roblox today

19:33 EST Las Vegas Sands unveils $1B reinvestment in Marina Bay Sands - The company states: "Marina Bay Sands has embarked on a major reinvestment programme for its existing property, spanning hotel rooms and suites, new food and beverage offerings and other enhancements that will position the Integrated Resort, or IR, for strong growth as the recovery of global tourism continues. The $1B reinvestment is the biggest since the IR's opening in 2010, demonstrating parent company Las Vegas Sands' confidence in Singapore and ongoing commitment to the country's tourism industry. The reinvestment is in addition to the multi-billion-dollar expansion announced in April 2019, which will include the development of a state-of-the-art entertainment arena, an ultra-luxury hotel tower and additional MICE space, adjacent to the current IR. The reinvestment encompasses extensive upgrading of all rooms and suites in Towers 1 and 2 of the Hotel. Renovation works will be completed in phases over 2022 and 2023, transforming the design and significantly elevating the hospitality experience in the luxury travel segment, which is predicted to lead the tourism recovery."

18:10 EST Editas Medicine Chief Medical Officer Lisa Michaels terminated - In a regulatory 8-K filing, the company states: "On February 7, 2022, Lisa Michaels' employment with Editas Medicine, Inc. as Chief Medical Officer was terminated, effective immediately. In connection with the termination, Dr. Michaels will receive compensation in accordance with the Company's amended and restated severance benefits plan. Pursuant to the Severance Plan, Dr. Michaels will receive (i) her base salary for a period of 12 months following the date of her termination, (ii) company contributions to the cost of health care continuation under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act for the Severance Period, and (iii) the amount of any unpaid annual bonus determined by the Company's Board of Directors to be payable to her for any completed bonus period which ended prior to the date of her termination."

18:02 EST Astellas Pharma announces positive safety data from FORTIS study of AT845 - Astellas Pharma announced positive interim safety data from FORTIS, the Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating AT845, an investigational adeno-associated virus gene replacement therapy to deliver a functional alpha-glucosidase gene to express acid alpha-glucosidase directly in muscle cells in adults with Late-Onset Pompe Disease. "We are pleased that AT845 has been well-tolerated so far in the four adults with LOPD who have received treatment," said Weston Miller, M.D., Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development at Astellas Gene Therapies. "In the two participants in Cohort 1 with follow-up duration through week 24 after dosing, AT845 demonstrated an encouraging safety profile. Importantly, there have been no serious adverse events reported following dosing in any of the four participants as of the time of the data cut. One participant experienced elevated transaminases, which is considered a common immune-mediated treatment response based on the time of onset after dosing, its presentation during steroid taper initiation and its reversal with steroid re-initiation. These safety data are encouraging, and the program continues to enroll participants."

17:57 EST U.S. charges China telco Hytera of conspiring with ex-Motorola staff - A federal indictment was unsealed in the Northern District of Illinois, charging a telecommunications company with conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets. The indictment alleges that a telecommunications company conspired with former employees of Chicago-based Motorola Solutions Inc. to steal digital mobile radio DMR technology developed by Motorola. According to court documents, Motorola Solutions developed the DMR technology through years of research and design. Motorola Solutions marketed and sold the radios, which are sometimes referred to as "walkie-talkies," in the United States and elsewhere. The indictment alleges that PRC-based Hytera Communications Corp. LTD recruited and hired Motorola Solutions employees and directed them to take proprietary and trade secret information from Motorola without authorization. The charges allege that, while still employed at Motorola, some of the employees allegedly accessed the trade secret information from Motorola's internal database and sent multiple emails describing their intentions to use the technology at Hytera. As alleged, from 2007 to 2020, Hytera and the recruited employees used Motorola's proprietary and trade secret information to accelerate the development of Hytera's DMR products, train Hytera employees, and market and sell Hytera's DMR products throughout the world, the indictment states. According to the indictment, Hytera paid the recruited employees higher salaries and benefits than what they received at Motorola. Reference Link

17:35 EST GATX CFO Ellman sells $2.7M in company shares - GATX CFO Thomas Ellman disclosed in a filing that he had sold 25,600 shares of company stock at $105.37 per share on February 3, for a total transaction amount of $2,697,449.

17:31 EST Granite awarded $155M project in Utah - Granite announced that Sand Ridge Constructors, a joint venture of Granite and W.W. Clyde & Co., has been awarded the $16.5 million construction manager portion of the 5600 South Progressive Design Build project by the Utah Department of Transportation. The project construction contract is anticipated to be $155M with Granite taking $93M of the total. The construction manager contract was included in Granite's 2021 fourth quarter CAP.

17:17 EST AMC Entertainment Theaters offers Batman NFTs to advance ticket buyers - AMC Theatres (AMC) announced that all AMC guests who purchase or reserve an advance ticket by end of day EST on February 14, for a showtime of the DC and Warner Bros. (T) upcoming film THE BATMAN through March 6, and scan their ticket in theatre can receive a limited-edition THE BATMAN NFT. Adam Aron, Chairman and CEO, AMC, commented: "We are excited to fill AMC Theatres across the country this March with DC fans enjoying THE BATMAN. Rewarding early ticket purchasers with this limited edition THE BATMAN NFT will deliver fans more of the franchise they love."

16:56 EST Yum! Brands raises quarterly dividend 14% to 57c from 50c per share - The quarterly dividend will be distributed March 11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 18.

16:36 EST Simon Property reports occupancy was 93.4% at December 31, 2021 - Compared to 91.3% at December 31, 2020. Base minimum rent per square foot was $53.91 at December 31, 2021.

16:34 EST Simmons Bank's application approved by Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - Simmons First National announced that the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has approved Simmons Bank's application for its proposed acquisition of Spirit of Texas Bank SSB, the bank subsidiary of Spirit of Texas Bancshares based in Conroe, Texas. The Federal Reserve also accepted Simmons' waiver request with respect to its application for its proposed acquisition of Spirit. The transaction with Spirit, which has already been approved by the organizations' respective boards of directors, is expected to close in the Q2, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including, among others, approval of Spirit's shareholders, as well as approval by the Arkansas State Bank Department. Conversion of Spirit of Texas Bank SSB customer accounts into Simmons Bank is expected to take place immediately after closing. Until conversion, customers will continue to be served through their respective Simmons Bank and Spirit of Texas Bank SSB branches, website and mobile apps.

16:32 EST MidWestOne CEO Charlie Funk to retire - MidWestOne announced that its CEO Charlie Funk will retire later this year, following a 21-year career with the organization. Funk joined MidWestOne in November 2000 and has served as CEO since March 2008. MidWestOne's board of directors has engaged executive search firm Spencer Stuart to conduct a national search to identify Funk's successor. Funk will remain with MidWestOne until a successor is chosen and in place to ensure a transition. He will continue to serve as a member of the company's board of directors.

16:32 EST R1 RCM announces lead director Mandl will not stand for re-election to board - R1 RCM Inc. announced that Alex Mandl informed the company he will not stand for re-election to the R1 board of directors at its next annual meeting of stockholders. Mandl was elected to the R1 board of directors in 2013 and has served as lead director since 2018 and chair of the audit committee since 2015. "Alex has been an invaluable voice of experience on the R1 board and a respected advisor for the R1 leadership team," said Joe Flanagan, president and CEO of R1. "We cannot thank Alex enough for his contributions." R1 also announced that John B. Henneman, III, a member of the R1 board of directors since 2016, has been appointed as lead director, effective immediately.

16:31 EST Second Sight, Nano Precision announces all-stock merger agreement - Second Sight Medical Products and Nano Precision Medical announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which privately held NPM will merge with a wholly owned subsidiary of Second Sight in an all-stock transaction. NPM will be the surviving company and owned by Second Sight. The resulting company will focus on development of innovative drug and device medical implants that treat chronic diseases with high unmet medical need. Nano Precision Medical, leveraging its proprietary NanoPortal drug implant technology, is creating a portfolio of new drugs that address medication non-adherence, a leading reason for poor clinical outcomes. The NanoPortal implant system combines innovative drug development, engineering and nanotechnology that can deliver minimally fluctuating drug release profiles across a wide range of small molecules, peptides, and monoclonal antibodies. NPM's lead program, NPM-119, is a near clinical stage GLP-1 receptor agonist which is being developed to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes for up to 6 months with a single, tiny subdermal implant. Completion of non-clinical studies to support an Investigational New Drug Application (IND), filing the IND with the Food and Drug Administration and initiation of the First-in-Human clinical study, also known as the LIBERATE-1 trial, are anticipated by late 2022. Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will be under the leadership of NPM's co-founder, CEO and Chairman, Adam Mendelsohn, Ph.D. In addition to advancing NPM's drug implant portfolio, the company will continue to explore opportunities intended to create artificial forms of useful vision for the profoundly blind. Second Sight is currently developing the Orion(R) Visual Cortical Prosthesis System, an investigational device intended to bring artificial vision to individuals who are blind due to a wide range of causes, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, optic nerve injury or disease, or forms of cancer and trauma. Orion is currently being studied in an early feasibility study at UCLA and Baylor College of Medicine. Second Sight's legacy product, the Argus II, was approved by the FDA for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa and was the world's first FDA and CE Mark approved device that provides artificial vision to individuals with bare to no light perception. Since the Orion bypasses the optic nerve and directly stimulates the visual cortex of the brain, it has the potential to treat a much larger patient population than that associated with the Argus II. Prior to the merger, Second Sight is providing NPM with $8 million for working capital and to enable acceleration of pipeline programs. The Boards of both companies voted to support the proposed merger agreement. If the proposed merger is consummated, Second Sight shareholders will join NPM shareholders, including AstraZeneca which has been a strategic investor in NPM since 2016. The parties anticipate completion of the merger in 2Q/3Q 2022.

16:27 EST Cooper Companies to acquire Cook Medical reproductive health business for $875M - Cooper Companies announced it has signed a binding letter of intent to acquire Cook Medical's reproductive health business, a manufacturer of minimally invasive medical devices focused on the fertility, obstetrics and gynecology markets. Cooper will pay approximately $875M comprised of $675M at closing and $200M paid in four $50M annual installments. Cook Medical's Reproductive Health business had annual revenues of approximately $158M in calendar 2021, up roughly 17% year-over-year in constant currency. Excluding one-time charges and deal-related amortization, the transaction is expected to be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share by approximately 60c in the first year after closing. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including entry into a definitive acquisition agreement and regulatory approvals, and compliance with local consultation requirements.

16:25 EST Second Sight trading halted, news pending

16:24 EST iRadimed announces $1.00 per share special cash dividend - iRadimed announced that its board of directors approved a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share on the company's outstanding common stock. This special cash dividend is payable on February 24 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 17.

16:20 EST Simpson Manufacturing sees FY22 CapEx $65M-$70M - Based on business trends and conditions as of February 7, the company's outlook (excluding Etanco) for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 is as follows: Operating margin is estimated to be in the range of 17.5% to 19.0%. The effective tax rate is estimated to be in the range of 25.5% to 26.5%, including both federal and state income tax rates and assuming no tax law changes are enacted. Capital expenditures are estimated to be in the range of $65M-$70M. While the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on general economic conditions remain uncertain, the company continues to monitor the impact of the pandemic on its operations and financial condition, which was not significantly adversely impacted in fiscal 2021.

16:18 EST Bowlero announces $200M share repurchase program - Bowlero announced that its board of directors has approved a repurchase program for up to $200M of its outstanding shares of Class A common stock and warrants through February 3 . Bowlero plans to repurchase its shares or warrants either in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. "The authorization to buy back up to $200 million of its shares of Class A common stock and warrants provides the Company with another mechanism to maximize long-term value for our shareholders," said Tom Shannon, Bowlero Corp's Chairman and CEO. "We remain confident in our strategy and believe that our current stock price represents a significant discount to the intrinsic value of the Company. We plan to continue to invest in the acquisition, building and converting of bowling centers, and the repurchase program announced today provides us with additional flexibility to create long-term value for investors. We remain committed to a disciplined capital allocation strategy, including investments in our strategic priorities and return of capital to our shareholders."

16:18 EST Velodyne Lidar nearly doubles in after-hours after deal for Amazon to take stake

16:17 EST Velodyne Lidar issues warrant to Amazon to buy up to 39.59M shares - In a regulatory filing, Velodyne Lidar (VLDR) disclosed that the company and Amazon.com (AMZN) entered into a transaction agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Velodyne agreed to issue to Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon, a warrant to acquire up to 39,594,032 shares of the Velodyne's common stock. "The vesting of the warrant shares ... is based on discretionary payments made by Amazon, whether made directly from Amazon, its affiliates or by a third party on behalf of Amazon, pursuant to existing commercial agreements between the company and Amazon or its affiliates, which relate to the use of the company's technology to continue to improve the customer experience, any possible future commercial agreements between the company and Amazon or its affiliates, and the anticipated entry into an agreement between the company and Amazon or its affiliates related to the use of the company's technology," the filing stated. In after-hours trading, Velodyne Lidar shares are up $3.55, or 94%, to $7.32.

16:16 EST Amgen reports Q4 total product sales down 1% - Total product sales decreased 1% for the fourth quarter of 2021 versus the fourth quarter of 2020. Unit volumes grew 7% but were more than offset by lower net selling price and lower inventory levels. Product sales for the full year were flat versus 2020 with 7% growth in unit volumes offset by a 7% decline in net selling price. Full-year product sales in the U.S. declined 4%, with unit volumes increasing by 3% and net selling price declining by 6%. Full-year product sales outside the U.S. grew 12%, including 36% sales growth in the Asia-Pacific region. "During 2021 there has been a gradual recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with patient visits and diagnosis rates approaching pre-pandemic levels by early in the fourth quarter. Late in the year, the Omicron variant began to impact the healthcare sector. As a result, we have seen some shift back to virtual engagement by our field staff, delayed healthcare procedures, and variability in demand patterns."

16:14 EST Nuance expects merger with Microsoft to close at end of Q1 - The company said, "On April 11, 2021, Nuance (NUAN) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Microsoft (MSFT). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, Microsoft, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Nuance common stock for $56.00 per share in an all-cash transaction. As a result of the Merger, Nuance will cease to be a publicly traded company. The acquisition has been approved by Nuance's shareholders, and we expect it to close by the end of the first calendar quarter of 2022, subject to the satisfaction of certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions."

16:10 EST Fortune Brands names May Russell chief digital officer - Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (FBHS) announced that May Russell has joined the company as its first-ever chief digital officer. In this newly established role, Russell will lead the company's digital strategy and digital transformation as well as enterprise information technology. "May is an extremely talented executive with experience successfully leading enterprise-wide digital initiatives, and I am so pleased to welcome her to Fortune Brands," said Nicholas Fink, chief executive officer, Fortune Brands. "Our ability to attract an executive of her caliber speaks to the tremendous potential we have for digital transformation within our portfolio and throughout our business." Russell joins Fortune Brands from Ford Motor Company (F), where she most recently served as chief technology officer of Ford Commercial Solutions.

16:09 EST Kforce to increase dividend 15%, share repurchase plan $100M - David M. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer, commented, "We are extremely pleased with our performance in 2021 and believe that our strategic position and the momentum we are carrying into 2022 has positioned us well to continue delivering significantly above-market revenue growth. As revenues have meaningfully expanded, we have also enhanced our profitability as demonstrated by achieving record earnings per share of $3.54, an increase of approximately 35% year-over-year. Our business continues to generate significant operating cash flows and we were again active in repurchasing nearly $10 million of stock during the fourth quarter. Given our confidence in our future growth prospects, we expect to remain active in repurchasing our shares at current stock price levels. To support our intentions going forward, our Board of Directors ("Board") recently approved an increase in share repurchase authorizations under our existing repurchase program to $100 million. As an additional signal of our belief in the strength of our operating trends going into 2022, our Board approved an increase of approximately 15% to our quarterly dividend from $0.26 per share to $0.30 per share, effective in the first quarter. This dividend will be payable on March 25, 2022, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 11, 2022."

16:09 EST Kennametal sees FY22 capital spending $110M-$120M - Sees FY22 strong operating leverage; prior year temporary cost controls of approximately $25M; free operating cash flow at approximately 100% of adjusted net income; capital spending $110M-$120M; primary working capital trending toward 30% of sales by year-end; and adjusted ETR 26%-28%.

16:03 EST AAR Corp. extends component maintenance deal with IAMCO for NATO AWACS fleet - AAR announced a 10-year extension of its component maintenance, repair, and overhaul contract with International Aerospace Management Company IAMCO, which is responsible for depot-level maintenance for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's E-3A AWACS aircraft fleet. The services will be performed at AAR's Component Repair facility in Amsterdam. AAR's Amsterdam facility has served IAMCO for two decades and been ranked an "Outstanding Source of Repair" on numerous occasions. "AAR is honored to announce the extension of this long-term service contract," says Eric Bron, AAR General Manager, Component Repair - Amsterdam. "We look forward to continuing a partnership with NATO and providing outstanding service." "IAMCO is very pleased to confirm AAR as one of its sources of repair for component MRO in this extension of the E-3A program," says Bernard Masuy, IAMCO Branch Manager, Components. "AAR's Amsterdam facility proves to be a reliable partner and a strong pillar of the E3A DLM component maintenance program."

15:17 EST Astra Space aborts ELaNa 41 launch today amid 'telemetry issues' - Astra Space said it is "standing down" from its ELaNa 41 rocket launch attempt today due to "telemetry issues." Astra shares are down 16% in afternoon trading. Reference Link

14:17 EST Astra Space 'keeping options open' on today's launch - Astra Space announced that it is "keeping options open" on today's launch and is hoping to "recycle" it. NASA Spaceflight and Astra are partnering to broadcast the ELaNa 41 mission launch. Astra Space shares are down 8% to $4.93 after the initial launch was aborted.

14:00 EST Astra Space says 'we have time to try again' - Astra Space said via Twitter: "Abort at T-0. Teams are currently reviewing. We have time to try again. Stay tuned." The stock halted for volatility after dropping 9% to $4.84 after the launch of a rocket with four satellites in Florida was delayed.

13:58 EST PA Department of Health recalls some vaporized medical marijuana products - In a notice posted on February 4 by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Department noted that it had issued a mandatory recall for a group of vaporized medical marijuana products that it had determined contained some added ingredients that have not been approved for inhalation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Reference Link

13:50 EST Astra Space trading halted, volatility trading pause

13:29 EST GreenLight Bioscences agrees to operate field research station in Spain - GreenLight Biosciences announced its agreement to operate a field research station in Spain. Located south of Seville, a key agricultural area with intensive year-round production, the farmland will allow GreenLight to accelerate its transition of research and discovery compounds into the field. GreenLight intends to lease about 10 to 20 hectares to support field trials, plant pathogens, entomology, and office space. The expansion will initially support GreenLight's work in Europe to address crop challenges caused by powdery mildew, botrytis, fusarium, and the Colorado potato beetle.

12:04 EST Cian falls -11.2% - Cian is down -11.2%, or -$1.02 to $8.08.

12:03 EST Spirit Airlines rises 13.7% - Spirit Airlines is up 13.7%, or $2.97 to $24.70.

12:00 EST Bakkt rises 23.1% - Bakkt is up 23.1%, or $1.00 to $5.33.

11:18 EST Rumble offers Joe Rogan $100M over four years 'with no censorship' - Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski offered Spotify's (SPOT) Joe Rogan $100M over four years to bring over all of his podcasts, both old and new, "with no censorship." Video platform Rumble and CF Acquisition Corp. VI (CFVI), a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald, previously announced that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement that values Rumble at an initial enterprise value of $2.1B. After closing, which is expected in Q2, the combined company will be called Rumble Inc. and expects to be publicly listed on Nasdaq. Reference Link

11:04 EST Bruker, IonOpticks enter OEM partnership - IonOpticks has entered an OEM partnership with the Bruker Corporation, allowing Bruker to expand their portfolio of 4D-Proteomics solutions with the release of the Bruker Focus Series columns which will leverage the technology of IonOpticks' revolutionary Aurora Series columns.

10:47 EST Entain acquires Avid Gaming for C$300M - Entain announces that it has acquired Deis Ltd, or "Avid Gaming," for C$300M, or approximately GBP 174M, from Middlebrook Investments Limited. "Avid Gaming owns Sports Interaction, Canada's leading online sports betting brand. It is headquartered in Jersey, with offices in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawa:ke and Ireland. Avid Gaming exclusively licenses the Sports Interaction trademark and provides proprietary online betting and gaming products and services to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawa:ke ("MCK") and the Mohawk Online socioeconomic initiative. Mohawk Online, which is wholly-owned by the MCK, operates Sports Interaction in Canada. Canada is a highly attractive and fast-growing sports betting and gaming market. Together with Entain's application for an Ontario licence, this acquisition provides an excellent opportunity to drive further growth, in line with the Group's growth and sustainability strategy. Sports Interaction's sports-led offering is highly complementary to Entain's existing Canadian business, comprising the Party and bwin brands. The combination will bring Entain's global scale, expertise and market-leading platform together with Sports Interaction's local expertise, capabilities and partnerships. As a result the combined business will provide customers with a broader offering of engaging products and services for the Canadian market. Will Golby, Avid Gaming's CEO, along with other members of the leadership team, will transition to Entain," the company stated in a notice issued to the London Stock Exchange.

10:33 EST Valvoline pilots EV service offerings in U.S. retail stores - Valvoline has announced that it has begun piloting electric vehicle services in its retail stores. The company said, "These pilots, in a limited number of our retail locations, are the next step in advancing Valvoline's strategy to extend its world-class preventive auto maintenance service model to EV owners, OEMs and fleets." The Valvoline retail service centers that are piloting the program are providing inspection and maintenance-based services such as 12-volt battery replacement, tire rotations, key fob battery replacement, cabin air filter replacement, wiper replacement and state safety inspections. Many of these services are already performed in Valvoline's retail locations but will now be piloted with a specific focus on electric vehicles. Phase two is expected to include additional services targeted to EVs and will begin summer 2022 in select company-owned stores.

10:29 EST SharpLink Gaming announces proposed domestication to Delaware - SharpLink Gaming announced that it has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to which it intends to change its jurisdiction of incorporation from Israel to Delaware. In order to effect the domestication, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger with its newly-formed Delaware subsidiary, SharpLink Gaming and a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of SharpLink Delaware formed under Israeli law. Pursuant to the merger agreement, the newly-formed Israeli subsidiary will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving such merger and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of SharpLink Delaware. In the merger, each outstanding ordinary and preferred share of the Company will automatically be exchanged for one share of SharpLink Delaware common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, and all outstanding options and warrants to purchase ordinary shares of the Company will convert to the right to purchase the same number of shares of common stock of SharpLink Delaware. The Company expects that the common stock of SharpLink Delaware will continue trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the same SBET trading symbol when the domestication merger becomes effective. After the SEC has declared the registration statement relating to the domestication effective, the Company will hold a special meeting of its shareholders at which it will seek approval for the U.S. domestication. Details of such shareholder meeting will be announced at a later date. Subject to shareholder approval, the Company currently expects the domestication to become effective in the second quarter of 2022.

10:26 EST ON Semiconductor sees 2022 gross margin 46.5%-47.5% - Comments taken from Q4 earnings conference call.

10:15 EST Teva reaches $225M agreement to settle Texas opioid-related claims - Teva Pharmaceuticals has reached an agreement with the Attorney General of Texas that settles the state's and its subdivisions opioid-related claims. Under the terms of the settlement, Teva will pay Texas $150M over a 15-year time period and will provide the recently launched, lifesaving medicine generic Narcan, valued at $75M over 10 years. "Expanding access to lifesaving medicines is at the core of Teva's mission. The Texas Attorney General is taking steps to address the opioid epidemic in the State by negotiating a settlement that includes critical medicines as part of their solution," said Kare Schultz, Teva's President and CEO. "While the settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing by Teva or its affiliates, it remains in the best interest of Teva to put these cases behind us and continue to focus on the patients we serve every day."

10:02 EST First Bancorp raises quarterly dividend 10%, announces $40M share repurchase - The Board of Directors of First Bancorp has declared a cash dividend on its common stock of 22c per share payable on April 25 to shareholders of record as of March 31. The 22c dividend rate represents a 10% increase over the previous dividend rate of 20c. Additionally, the Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program, pursuant to which the company may purchase shares of its common stock for an aggregate repurchase price not to exceed $40M. The initial expiration of the Share Repurchase Program is set for December 31, 2022 and replaces and supersedes the prior share repurchase program put in place in 2021.

10:01 EST BP Prudhoe Bay falls -7.7% - BP Prudhoe Bay is down -7.7%, or -81c to $9.71.

10:00 EST Elevate Credit rises 9.8% - Elevate Credit is up 9.8%, or 30c to $3.37.

10:00 EST Velo3D rises 9.8% - Velo3D is up 9.8%, or 62c to $6.93.

09:48 EST Zimmer Biomet falls -6.8% - Zimmer Biomet is down -6.8%, or -$8.34 to $114.50.

09:47 EST Viveve issued FDA 510(k) Premarket Notification for 2.0 System - Viveve was issued an FDA 510(k) Premarket Notification with a decision date of February 2 for the Viveve 2.0 System, which was judged to be "Substantially Equivalent," according to a post to the agency's website. Reference Link

09:47 EST Elevate Credit rises 9.1% - Elevate Credit is up 9.1%, or 28c to $3.35.

09:47 EST Spirit Airlines rises 14.5% - Spirit Airlines is up 14.5%, or $3.14 to $24.87.

09:43 EST Tyson Foods 'still excited' about plant-based protein, says CEO

09:40 EST Cerence trading resumes

09:38 EST NAPCO Security trading resumes

09:33 EST NAPCO Security trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:32 EST Leafly commences trading on Nasdaq - Leafly Holdings announced that its common stock has begun trading on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol LFLY.

09:27 EST Adamis Pharmaceuticals doses over 100 subjects in Phase 2/3 study of Tempol - Adamis Pharmaceuticals announced the enrollment and dosing of more than 100 subjects in the Company's ongoing Phase 2/3 study of Tempol for the treatment of COVID-19. The Data Safety Monitoring Board will now examine clinical and safety data from the first 50 subjects as part of the first interim analysis. COVID-19 is a complex disease that manifests in multiple phases including, among others, viral replication and hyperinflammation. Preclinical studies of Tempol have shown it to have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity. The Company believes this unique mechanism of action, combined with the benign safety profile shown in preclinical and ongoing clinical studies, could provide physicians with a tool to intervene to slow or stop progression of COVID-19 at multiple phases of the disease. If proven, this could provide Tempol with a significant advantage over the two oral antiviral drugs that the FDA has recently granted Emergency Use Authorization.

09:27 EST Tyson Foods sees FY22 CapEx $2B

09:25 EST GenTech reports 3000 units sold of American Metabolix in January - GenTech Holdings grows all of its brands in January as it see its newest brand "Storm" unit sales grow from strength to strength. GenTech's American Metabolix outsold all other brands, boasting an impressive 3000 units sold across the range, with the most units sold being the "Muscle Test" products. Hot on their heals though was the new Storm brand which the Company launched at the Olympia in Orlando in October 2021 to great reception from both consumers and retailers alike. Aimed at the younger demographic with its new flavor types, it was recently announced that Deshawn Jordan, an X-Games Gold Medal Winner in the Men's Street Skateboarding category in 2021 is a STORM brand ambassador. Leonard Armenta, GenTech's President, commented that "it's so exciting to see that whilst our industry leading brand American Metabolix(R) still leads the way in sales, it is the new boy on the block, Storm, who is second. I was not at all surprised to see that STORM's Pre-Workout Blue Raspberry Rage was the third-biggest selling item by unit numbers in January. For such a young brand to be growing so quickly is incredible. It won't be long before Fizzique and Storm are fighting for that top spot in the company of most units sold." GenTech recently announced that its Nature Soothie suckers sold +100,000 individual soothies between August 2021 and present day, showing incredible growth over the previous period and is testament that the sales operation at SINFIT Nutrition, Inc. drives exponential growth into brands. The Company attributed growth both to its increase in the number of independent retailers as well as to impressive growth from Sprouts and Whole Foods. Nature Soothie is available from Clark's Nutritional Centers in California, through Harmon's in Utah and across to the Natural Retail Group in Florida are all stocking the product, as well as many other incredibly successful partners in between.

09:22 EST Tyson Foods expects to recover cost increases in FY22

09:20 EST Edoc Acquisition urges shareholders to vote in favor of extension amendment - Edoc Acquisition encourages its shareholders to vote in favor of the proposal to amend its charter to extend the date by which the Company has to complete a business combination from February 12, 2022 to August 12, 2022. An extraordinary general meeting of the Company's shareholders to approve the Extension Amendment will be held on February 9, 2022 at 10:00 AM, Eastern Time. The Extension will provide Edoc with additional time to complete the previously announced proposed business combination with Calidi Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is pioneering the development of cell-based delivery of oncolytic viruses. In connection with the proposed Transaction, Edoc entered into backstop arrangements with certain institutional investors for the purchase of up to 2.2 million shares of Edoc Class A ordinary shares in connection with Edoc's shareholder meeting to approve the business combination as well as the Special Meeting for the Extension, with the actual amount dependent upon the amount of cash available after each such shareholder meeting after any redemptions.

09:18 EST Laurentian Bank appoints Bindu Cudjoe as CLO, corporate secretary - Laurentian Bank of Canada (LRCDF) announces the appointment of Bindu Cudjoe to its executive management team, serving as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, effective February 7, 2022. In this new role, Bindu will bring her energy and focus to effectively and innovatively manage and oversee the Bank's legal, regulatory and compliance functions as well as matters related to corporate governance and reputational risks, acting as a trusted and strategically minded advisor to business partners, the Bank's Board of Directors, and key stakeholders. Before joining Laurentian Bank, Bindu held the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Canadian Western Bank (CBWBF).

09:17 EST Telus sets out 2022 social purpose goals - The company said, "Today, we are reaffirming our goals to address some of the most pressing social challenges our communities are facing today and in the future. As the global leader in social purpose, we want to inspire Canadians, customers, team members, and retirees across the country to join us in creating a friendlier future for generations to come by continuing to use our technology and human compassion to help make the world a better place: Let's make healthcare more accessible by providing care for 25 million Canadians. Let's make better quality food to help feed the 800 million hungry people around the world. Let's make opportunities equal by expanding our Connecting for Good programs to 3 million Canadians in need. Let's make our planet healthier by using 100% renewable energy by 2025. Let's make our communities stronger by giving $1.4B and counting."

09:15 EST Barrick, Latin Metals enter earn-in agreement for projects in Argentina - Latin Metals announces that it has entered into an earn-in agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation. Under the terms of the Earn-In Agreement, Barrick has the right to acquire up to an 85% interest in the Company's Cerro Bayo, Cerro Bayo Sur and La Flora properties, located in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. Barrick's earn-in right consists of an initial option to acquire a 70% interest in the Properties and a second option to acquire an additional 15% interest. The Properties are currently subject to an underlying option agreement dated February 7, 2019, as amended, pursuant to which Latin Metals has the right to acquire an ultimate 100% interest in the Properties. To exercise the First Option and earn a 70% interest by the seventh anniversary of the Effective Date of the Earn-In Agreement, Barrick must: Make cash payments totaling $2,321,793 pursuant to the Underlying Option Agreement; Make cash payments to Latin Metals totaling $750,000; Incur exploration expenditures with respect to the Properties totaling $5,000,000, of which $1,000,000 is a binding commitment to be spent before the second anniversary of the Effective Date; and Prepare and deliver to Latin Metals a Preliminary Economic Assessment prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. To exercise the Second Option and earn an additional 15% interest by the ninth anniversary, Barrick must: Make additional cash payments to Latin Metals totaling $425,000; and Sole fund all costs and deliver to Latin Metals a Prefeasibility Study prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The binding nature of Barrick's expenditure commitment does not become effective until the parties have entered into an agreement with the underlying property owner to acknowledge Barrick's rights under the Earn-In Agreement and authorize Barrick to conduct operation on the properties. In the event that such agreement is not reached within 60 days of executing the Earn-In Agreement, Barrick may terminate the Earn-In Agreement immediately upon notice to Latin Metals. Barrick may at any time during the term of the Earn-In Agreement accelerate the timing for payment of any or all cash payments to Latin Metals and the underlying owner of the Properties, delivery of technical studies, and incurring exploration expenditures. During the term of the First Option, Barrick will have the exclusive right to explore and conduct operations on the Properties and Latin Metals will be responsible for maintaining the Properties valid and in good standing. Upon the exercise of the First Option, Latin Metals and Barrick will form a joint venture for the continued exploration, development and, if warranted, mining of the Properties. The initial participating interests of the parties in the JV will be Barrick - 70% and Latin Metals - 30%. If Barrick exercises the Second Option, the interests of the participants will be Barrick - 85% and Latin Metals - 15%. The party with the majority participating interest will be the operator of the Properties. Funding of the JV's operations will be based on each party's prevailing proportionate participating interest. Dilution of a party's participating interest will apply in the case of funding shortfalls by either party. If a party's participating interest in the JV falls to below 5%, it will be converted into a 1.5% net smelter returns royalty. The transfer of the Dilution Royalty shall be subject to a right of first refusal in favour of the non-diluting party.

09:10 EST Tyson Foods seeing lower turnover, absenteeism since omicron surge - Comments taken from Q1 earnings conference call.

09:09 EST Pop Culture Group announces Shenzhen Jam Box Technology joint venture - Pop Culture Group announced that a strategic partnership with an investor and Shenzhen HipHopJust Information Technology, an innovative company engaging in third-party services for dance events and Internet information services for the dance industry, to establish a joint venture known as Shenzhen Jam Box Technology. JBT will be a first-ever software-as-a-service, or SaaS, platform provider that focuses on street dance chain in China, and it will enable the Company to scale its business and to support the growing number of dance organizations. Upon finalization of JBT, the Company will own a 60% controlling interest and HIT will own a 20% interest and the investor will own a 20% interest. JBT is expected to provide comprehensive services on SaaS platform, covering event IP services, educational services, teaching and research services, sales services, and management services.

09:08 EST Real Brands files to uplist to OTCQB - Real Brands has filed its application with the OTC Markets Group as one of the final steps necessary to qualify for uplisting from the OTC Pink market to the OTCQB.

09:07 EST ISS urges Griffon shareholders to vote 'FOR' Voss's BLUE proxy card - Voss Capital, a significant shareholder of Griffon, announced that leading proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services has recommended that Griffon shareholders vote on the BLUE proxy card for Voss's truly independent and engaged director candidate Charlie Diao. ISS concurred with Voss's criticisms of Griffon management's compensation, specifically pointing to the extreme disconnect between high executive pay, weak shareholder returns and the company's lack of response to persistently low say on pay results.

09:07 EST Hornbeck Offshore acquires three OSVs from U.S. MARAD - Hornbeck Offshore Services announced that it has acquired three high-spec new generation offshore supply vessels, or OSVs, from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration, or MARAD, for an undisclosed amount of cash. All three of the vessels that were acquired at auction are U.S.-flagged, Jones Act-qualified, 280 class DP-2 OSVs with capacities of circa 4,600 DWT. Upon taking physical delivery of the vessels from MARAD, the Company expects to conduct reactivation and regulatory drydockings of all three vessels.

09:05 EST Boeing buys 2M gallons of sustainable aviation fuel from EPIC Fuels - Boeing announced a supply agreement for 2M gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel with EPIC Fuels to power its Commercial Airplanes operations in Washington state and South Carolina through 2022. The agreement is the largest announced SAF procurement by an airframer and further demonstrates Boeing's commitment to decarbonizing aviation.

09:04 EST BioRestorative initiates site selection process for Phase 2 trial of BRTX-100 - BioRestorative Therapies announced that it has initiated the site selection process for its active Phase 2 clinical trial targeting chronic lumbar disc disease. BioRestorative's Phase 2 trial is a double-blind controlled, randomized study to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of a single dose intradiscal injection of BRTX-100. A total of up to 99 eligible patients will be randomized at 15 centers in the United States to receive either the investigational drug or control in a 2:1 fashion.

09:02 EST CytomX Therapeutics announces promotion of Amy Peterson to president, COO - CytomX Therapeutics announced the promotion of Amy Peterson, M.D., to the position of president and chief operating officer, COO, effective immediately. Dr. Peterson has served as the company's executive vice president and chief development officer since October 2019 and will continue to report to Sean McCarthy, D. Phil., chief executive officer and chairman of CytomX. "I am delighted to announce Amy's advancement to president and chief operating officer. Over the past two years, as our chief development officer, Amy has applied her exceptional combination of clinical development, operating and strategic experience to advance and broaden the CytomX Probody Therapeutic pipeline," said Sean McCarthy, D.Phil., chief executive officer and chairman.

08:56 EST Quanta's Medolife Rx revamping online marketing platform - Medolife Rx announced that the Company is in progress of revamping their online marketing platform, starting off with a change in the marketing and brand development for their AELIA brand wellness products that utilize the company's polarized ingredients. MThe Company's manager of marketing and brand development, Maggie Dumais, has stepped down from their position under mutual agreement with the Company. In order to support the Company's vision of a new marketing strategy, Medolife is finalizing an agreement with a new director of marketing and brand development, whose name will be announced at a later date. The Company also hired a new team to oversee the overhaul of AELIA's websites, product listings and social media presence.

08:52 EST Midwest Energy comments on EPA proposal to reaffirm 2012 MATS for power plants - Midwest Energy Emissions commented on the EPA's announcement on Monday, January 31, 2022, proposing to reaffirm the scientific, economic, and legal underpinnings of the 2012 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants, which require significant reductions of mercury, acid gases, and other harmful pollutants. The proposal would leave the current emissions standards unchanged but would ensure the continuation of public health protections provided by these requirements, while seeking information from the public on opportunities for additional pollution reductions. In 2012, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards were established under the Clean Air Act. The standard affected new and existing commercial coal- and oil-fired power plants. It set standards designed to dramatically reduce releases of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants into the atmosphere. EPA has estimated that by 2017 power plant emissions of hazardous mercury pollution into the air and water were reduced by 86%. In May 2020, the previous administration reversed EPA's prior finding, undermining for the legal basis for MATS. In the announcement issued by the EPA on January 31, 2022, EPA proposes to find that the 2020 action was based under a flawed interpretation of the Clean Air Act. In addition to the recent announcement to reaffirm the MATS rule, the EPA is reviewing and plans to propose stricter air-quality standards in 2022 for mercury and other toxic pollutants, and new restrictions on wastewater generated by coal-fired power plants. Commenting on the EPA proposal, Richard MacPherson, CEO of ME2C Environmental, stated, "We believe that the EPA's reaffirmation of the MATS rule as appropriate and necessary is a key step in paving the way for a potential strengthening of both the air and water regulations. The EPA ruling reinforces the stability and growth of the U.S. coal-fired power sector. Our core business in mercury emissions capture and patented Sorbent Enhancement Additive technology will continue to play a vital role in enabling our customers to meet or exceed their mercury mitigation requirements. Widespread industry adoption and recognition of the value of our technology is accelerating, with additional new supply business announced in first month of 2022 with major utility customers. The prospect of new EPA restrictions aimed at further reducing mercury contamination in power plant wastewater supports our focused effort to provide a reliable remediation system to address mercury. With more than 1,100 coal ash ponds across the U.S., mercury is a primary concern for power plant wastewater and typically requires costly treatment prior to discharge to ensure environmental and public health. We are looking forward to working with our customers to deploy new technologies, in addition to our core business, that will support any challenges they may face with meeting more stringent compliance requirements."

08:48 EST Mullen Automotive bolsters balance sheet with $4M in funding - Mullen Automotive announces it has bolstered its balance sheet with $4 million in funding over the past week through a combination of the initial drawdown of $2.5 million under a $30 million equity line from Esousa Holdings and debt financing from existing shareholders, bringing the total funding received over the past two months to more than $40 million.

08:44 EST Asure Software partners with Jackson Lewis law firm to help educate clients - Asure Software has partnered with Jackson Lewis P.C. to provide vital HR compliance education to Asure's 80,000 client businesses via video webinars, podcasts, and articles. "Jackson Lewis is recognized as a national leader in HR and employment law," said Pat Goepel, Chairman and CEO of Asure. "Bringing their expertise to our clients is part of our vision to 'Be the most trusted Human Capital Management resource to entrepreneurs everywhere.'" The most recent discussion, titled "Key New Employment Laws in 2022," centered on the legal changes impacting small and mid-sized businesses in 2022 and beyond.

08:44 EST Innovid to acquire TVSquared in $160M cash, stock transaction - Innovid and TVSquared have entered into a definitive agreement in which Innovid will acquire TVSquared in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $160M. The company said, "With the industry calling for a more transparent and accountable TV ecosystem, the deal establishes a new currency-grade standard for cross-platform measurement, powered by the scale and automation of an independent global ad server." Upon closing, Calum Smeaton will be stepping down as TVSquared CEO to take on a strategy role in support of the integration with Innovid. TVSquared's president, Jo Kinsella, who has been with the company almost since its inception will join the Innovid executive team, reporting into Netter and leading the measurement business. The combined entity will represent buy-and sell-side customers and process billions of impressions events daily. The joint offering will include ad serving, creative personalization and optimization, outcomes and audience measurement, including reach, frequency and unique unduplicated reach, for the total TV and digital universe. The TVSquared acquisition is expected to close by the end of Innovid's fiscal second quarter, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. All financial information for TVSquared is prepared under UK GAAP which may not be comparable to financial results prepared under US GAAP. TVSquared was advised by LUMA Partners.

08:41 EST Muscle Maker's Pokemoto signs new franchise agreement in Connecticut - Muscle Maker's newest subsidiary Pokemoto announced it has signed a new franchise agreement in Connecticut, the brand's core market with the strongest presence of Pokemoto eateries. With this latest addition, Connecticut now has 15 Pokemoto locations. This signing brings the total of new franchise agreements inked to 31 since November 2021. The new franchise agreement in Connecticut is focused on Hartford County; specifically the town of Berlin, CT. Mike Roper, CEO of Muscle Maker, said, "Connecticut is where the Pokemoto brand started and we're the largest poke player in the market with 10 open locations and 5 new agreements in place. We're proud of our expansion efforts as we have been executing tirelessly against our franchising and growth plans since the acquisition. Just last week we announced expanding into Florida. We're thrilled to see our internal growth plans coming to fruition... In fact, the Pokemoto franchise sales team had a successful showing at the NJ/NY franchise expo last weekend and will be hosting a franchise discovery day on February 9 and 10 at the Stamford, CT location. We welcome any interested prospective franchisee partners to attend to learn about what makes Pokemoto different."

08:41 EST Birks Group regains compliance with NYSE - Birks Group announced that the company is back in compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standards.

08:40 EST Montrose Environmental acquires Environmental Standards, terms undisclosed - Montrose Environmental announced the acquisition of Environmental Standards. Environmental Standards' leadership team, including founder and CEO Rock Vitale, CEAC, will join Montrose's Assessment, Permitting & Response segment. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1987 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Environmental Standards is an environmental consulting firm providing services in the oil & gas, utilities/energy, chemical, industrial/manufacturing, coal/mining, real estate, legal, financial, insurance, non-regulatory government, and landfill markets. With a presence in eleven states, the company specializes in environmental chemistry, consulting geosciences, environmental data management, emergency response quality assurance oversight, and auditing/health and safety support.

08:39 EST MusclePharm rolls out impoved MP Combat Protein Powder to Costco US - MusclePharm (MSLP) announced the expansion of its product line with Costco US (COST) with the roll out of its reformulated MP Combat Protein Powder in a newly sized tub. The reformulated product has an improved taste and mixability factor and is now being sold in Costco US in a recyclable, 6.2-liter tub. The new product will be part of a promotion running in all Costco US stores this March with samples available for customers to try out the new taste.

08:37 EST Apollo Global launches Supplier Diversity program - Apollo announced the launch of a Supplier Diversity program focused on growing direct and indirect spending with diverse businesses across its private equity portfolio, with the goal of achieving more than $1 billion in spend by 2024. This program is the latest initiative undertaken by Apollo as part of its commitment to expanding opportunity across its workplace, marketplace and communities. As part of the supplier diversity program, Apollo is targeting 20% year-over-year growth in diverse spend across its funds' portfolio companies with emphasis on minority- and women-owned businesses in strategic areas such as professional, technical, and scientific services. Apollo's Portfolio Performance Solutions will work closely with its portfolio companies' procurement teams on implementation and provide a comprehensive toolkit to ensure best practices. The program will be offered to all current portfolio companies and review of supplier diversity capabilities and baseline impact will be considered as part of procurement due diligence.

08:37 EST FTC Solar awarded contract by APA Group - FTC Solar was awarded a contract from leading Australian energy infrastructure business APA Group to supply FTC Solar's 2P Voyager tracker in an effort to ensure maximum installation efficiency on APA's new 88 MW solar project in Mica Creek, QLD, Australia. The solar project, located in Mount Isa Australia represents FTC Solar's largest project outside the United States.FTC Solar's Voyager+ 2P tracker will help APA Group achieve higher energy yields and greater power density. In addition, this will be FTC Solar's largest project to date outside the U.S.

08:36 EST Utz Brands completes accretive acquisition of Clem Snacks and J&D Snacks - Utz Brands announced that its subsidiaries have completed the acquisition of the assets of two existing third party direct store delivery DSD distributors, Clem Snacks and J&D Snack . The Company used balance sheet cash and its revolving credit facility to fund the acquisition and the impact to the Company's net leverage ratio is not meaningful. Utz continues to expect the transaction to be accretive to earnings in fiscal 2022 and beyond.

08:34 EST Alector appoints Marc Grasso as Chief Financial Officer - Alector (ALEC) announced the appointment of Marc Grasso, M.D., as Chief Financial Officer, CFO. As Alector's CFO, Dr. Grasso will lead all aspects of the company's financial operations and play a critical role in supporting corporate strategy. Dr. Grasso will report to Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alector. Dr. Grasso succeeds Linda Rubinstein, Partner at FLG Partners, who served as interim CFO with Alector since September 2021. Dr. Grasso joins Alector from Kura Oncology (KURA) where he served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer.

08:34 EST iStar promotes Theresa Ulyatt to Chief People Officer - iStar announced the promotion of Theresa Ulyatt to Chief People Officer, reporting to President and Chief Investment Officer Marcos Alvarado. In her newly created position, she will lead talent acquisition and management, performance management, employee engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion, as well all traditional human resources functions. Ulyatt joined iStar in 2018 and was most recently Senior Vice President of People, Talent and Inclusion. Prior to joining iStar, Ulyatt spent over 2 decades in the human capital space both at Fortune 50 and emerging, entrepreneurial organizations. Ms. Ulyatt is a Certified Diversity Executive and completed her studies in Psychology at Russell Sage College.

08:32 EST ElectraMeccanica delivered 20 SOLO EVs to 15 customers since October 2021 - ElectraMeccanica Vehicles announced the Company has delivered a total of 20 SOLO EVs to 15 fleet and commercial customers since deliveries began in October 2021. Year-to-date for 2022, the Company has delivered a total of 20 SOLO EVs to reservation and fleet holders as of January 31, 2022. Kevin Pavlov, CEO of ElectraMeccanica commented, "We continue to focus on deliveries to our fleet and commercial customers, representing a broad spectrum of industries and organizations looking for a right-sized sustainable solution. As of February 6, we have delivered 20 SOLO EV vehicles to commercial fleet customers, with more in the queue. Early reservation customers who are current vehicle operators are reporting on the advantages and benefits of utilizing SOLO EVs in their operations, including Skechers USA, Faction Technology, Cyber Yogurt and Ruby's Diner.

08:32 EST PLUS selects Manhattan Associates' cloud solution for delivery network - Manhattan Associates announced that PLUS, a grocery retailer in the Netherlands, is operating Manhattan's Transportation Management System to streamline its delivery network and optimise route planning.

08:26 EST Newell sells connected home, security business to Resideo Technologies for $593M - Newell Brands said it agreed to sell its connected home and security business to Resideo Technologies for $593M in cash. Newell said the unit, which makes and distributes smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, fire suppressants, fireproof safes and other home-safety product under BRK and First Alert brands, had sales of about $395M last year.

08:22 EST Exela increases consideration being offered for shares of common stock - Exela Technologies announced that it has amended the previously announced offer to exchange up to 100,000,000 shares of its Common Stock for unsecured 6.00% senior notes due 2029. The Offer has been amended to increase the consideration being offered for each share of Common Stock from $1.00 per share to $1.25 per share. Shareholders can now exchange Common Stock in 20 share increments for $25 of New Notes. As a result of the increase in the consideration, shares of Common Stock may now only be tendered in 20 share increments, and an aggregate of up to $125,000,000 of New Notes may be issued in the Exchange Offer.

08:18 EST Missfresh to provide food delivery and vending machines for Beijing Winter Games - Missfresh to provide express food delivery and Convenience Go smart vending machines for support staff stationed in Taizicheng Snow Town, Zhangjiakou, the main zone of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in Hebei Province. Missfresh launched these services in Taizicheng after more than three months of preparatory work by over 100 staff members, Jiahong Ji, the head of Missfresh's "Taizicheng Special Retail Services" team, shared. Leveraging on the capabilities of its Retail Cloud system, Missfresh developed a new mini online shopping platform with around-the-clock express delivery service in order to meet the everyday fresh food needs of volunteers, logistics and support staff, and security personnel across the entire Winter Olympics support area in Taizicheng Snow Town.

08:16 EST Lee Enterprises asks shareholders to vote 'FOR' board's three nominees - Lee Enterprises sent an informational brochure to shareholders in connection with its upcoming Annual Meeting on March 10, 2022. All shareholders at the close of business on January 12, 2022 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The brochure provides an overview of Lee's Three Pillar Digital Growth Strategy. Lee's Board urges shareholders to protect their investment by voting "FOR" ALL the Board's three nominees using the WHITE proxy card.

08:15 EST Monarch sells additional 0.75% NSR on Beaufor to Triple Flag Precious Metals - MONARCH MINING CORPORATION announced that it has entered into an agreement with Triple Flag Precious Metals whereby Triple Flag will acquire an additional 0.75% net smelter return royalty on gold production at the Beaufor Mine for cash consideration of $4.5M. This transaction follows the acquisition announced this morning by Triple Flag of an existing 2% NSR and includes the cancellation of the 1% step-down under a prior royalty agreement. Upon completion of both transactions, Triple Flag will hold a 2.75% NSR on the Beaufor Mine. In preparation for the restart, approximately 15,000 tonnes of ore have been extracted and transported to the Beacon Mill. The objective is to begin by processing barren rock to properly recommission the plant, and then process the ore and pour the first gold bar. The Corporation expects this process to take 6 to 10 weeks.The Corporation expects to close the agreement with Triple Flag on or around February 11, 2022.

08:12 EST Trinseo provides update on chemical recycling plant in Europe - Trinseo announced that plans for a chemical recycling plant in Europe are progressing rapidly. In late 2021, Trinseo contracted with global technology provider Synova and global engineering services company Worley, and is currently working on an engineering package and preparing Trinseo' s Tessenderlo, Belgium site for recycling operations. Trinseo is targeting to begin construction by the end of 2022. The plant will be dedicated to recycled polystyrene, or rPS, meeting increased demand for the material as brand owners seek sustainable options. It will process 15 kilotons of rPS flakes annually that will be converted into high quality recycled styrene to enable further production of polystyrene, or PS, and/or a styrene derivative including Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or ABS, and Styrene Acrylonitrile, or SAN.

08:11 EST Alimera Sciences announces launch of ILUVIEN for uveitis in Spain - Alimera Sciences announces that Alimera Sciences Europe Limited, its Ireland-based European subsidiary, will launch ILUVIEN for non-infectious posterior uveitis in Spain, through its distribution partner, Brill Pharma. Brill has received a positive resolution for the pricing and reimbursement approval for ILUVIEN for prevention of relapse in recurrent non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye from the Spanish Ministry of Health. "We are pleased to begin 2022 with this launch in Spain, our third major market to add the posterior uveitis indication," said Rick Eiswirth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alimera. "ILUVIEN is the first and only treatment to deliver drug for up to thirty-six months, reducing the recurrence of symptoms of disease, and enabling patients to see better, longer with fewer injections."

08:10 EST Acurx reports results of Phase 2a clinical trial of Ibezapolstat - Acurx Pharmaceuticals announced that results of its positive Phase 2a clinical trial have been published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, the official publication of the Infectious Disease Society of America. The senior author of the publication is Dr. Kevin Garey, Professor and Chair, University of Houston College of Pharmacy and the Principal Investigator for the microbiome aspects of the trial. Garey stated: "In this publication, we are particularly pleased to present the totality of the ibezapolstat Phase 2a clinical and microbiome data for this promising novel antibiotic which appears to possess key properties of an ideal oral antibiotic for CDI: highly potent against C. difficile; good tolerability; and limited gastrointestinal absorption, resulting in very high fecal concentrations which may reach three orders of magnitude above the MIC for C. difficile."

08:09 EST Catalyst Pharmaceuticals notes FDA invalidation of Ruzurgi approval - On February 3, 2022, Catalyst announced that the District Court Judge in its case against the FDA had issued an order granting Catalyst Summary Judgment in its action against the FDA. As a consequence of that order, the FDA has invalidated Ruzurgi's approval. The District Court's order put into effect the September 2021 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit declaring that FDA's approval of Ruzurgi violated Catalyst's Orphan Drug exclusivity for FIRDAPSE for LEMS.

08:08 EST Catalyst Pharmaceuticals announces 2022 strategic priorities - Catalyst Pharmaceuticals 2022 Strategic Priorities: Sustain "patient first" commitment through established access programs to all patients seeking access to FIRDAPSE for LEMS treatment. Continue to grow U.S. revenues for FIRDAPSE through awareness and education to both patients and healthcare professionals, with an expanded focus on paraneoplastic LEMS patients and providers. Pursue label expansion for FIRDAPSE through a pediatric supplemental new drug application to the FDA in the U.S. to further ensure that all LEMS patients have a treatment option. Continue to leverage data from the FIRDAPSE NDA and additional data via third-party relationships to further expand FIRDAPSE regulatory approvals internationally, with initial focus in Japan and Canada. Ongoing focused strategic efforts to expand our product pipeline by building a differentiated portfolio of products to treat rare diseases which are currently without any approved therapy to drive long-term sustainable growth.

08:06 EST Eltek receives letter of intent for purchase order worth $1.4M - Eltek announced that the company has received a letter of intent for a purchase order in the amount of $1.4M from an existing customer in the defense sector. The order, once released, will be supplied by Eltek over a period of fourteen months commencing April. The customer has an option to increase the purchase order to a total amount of $2.1M.

08:06 EST Kratos Defense wins $14M in contract awards for drone system logistics support - Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced that it has recently received approximately $14M in contract awards for logistics support, spares, consumables, and support needed to address the growing demand for Kratos' customer drone system operations. Due to customer-related, competitive, security, and other considerations, no additional information will be provided. Steve Fendley, President of the Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said, "These awards signal that with the pent-up demand for increased operational missions, Kratos drones are well-supported with the various parts, consumables, logistics, and engineering support necessary to keep our customers' air vehicles flying and enabling operations personnel to maintain a high level of readiness. We are proud that our systems continue to be procured and operated all over the world."

08:05 EST Qorvo awarded $4.1M NIH contract for SARS-CoV-2/Flu Combo, Antigen Pooling - Qorvo announced it has been awarded a $4.1M follow-on contract with the National Institutes of Health, NIH, through the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics initiative. The contract, awarded to Qorvo Biotechnologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qorvo, will help advance the clinical trials and market launch of both a SARS-CoV-2/ Flu Combo Assay and SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Pooling on the Qorvo Omnia diagnostic test platform. The SARS-CoV-2/Flu Combo Assay will simultaneously detect and differentiate between SARS-CoV-2, Flu A and Flu B in an all-in-one test using a single swab sample in approximately 20 minutes. Combined with a previous NIH contract award of $24.4 million, this award positions Qorvo to accelerate the production and market launch of multiple COVID testing solutions using a single platform. Philip Chesley, president of Qorvo Biotechnologies, said, "Today's COVID testing market is demanding high quality testing infrastructure at the point of care, with automated workflow, menu expansion and scalability to serve future needs of the pandemic. This contract award and continued RADx support enable Qorvo to more effectively address the expanding requirements of diverse end use settings."

08:03 EST Resideo to acquire First Alert from Newell Brands for $593M in cash - Resideo Technologies (REZI) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire First Alert, a provider of home safety products, from Newell Brands (NWL) for $593M in an all cash transaction, or approximately $547M net of expected future tax benefits. For the year ended December 31, 2021, First Alert generated approximately $395 million of sales and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $55M. Resideo is targeting $30M in annual cost synergies by the end of 2023 from the integration of manufacturing and distribution operations, and general operational and business support efficiency efforts. Resideo expects to realize approximately $46M in net present value of tax benefits as a result of making a joint election with Newell under Section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code, which treats the majority of the transaction as an asset purchase for tax purposes. Net of the present value of the anticipated acquired tax benefits and including expected cost synergies, the purchase price represents a multiple of approximately 6.4x 2021 adjusted EBITDA. First Alert has over 2,800 employees and its operations include manufacturing in Juarez, Mexico, and a primary distribution facility in El Paso, Texas. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

08:02 EST Apollo Hybrid Value to invest $125M in Hero FinCorp - Apollo announced that funds within its Hybrid Value strategy have committed to invest $125M in Hero FinCorp Limited, one of the largest privately owned non-banking financial companies in India with a $3.7B loan book. The commitment is part of a $267M fundraise by the Company, in which Apollo funds are investing alongside the Hero Group, a key sponsor of HFL. This investment continues the strong pace of activity of Apollo's Hybrid Value strategy, which has led more than $11B of investment commitments since inception. The investment will support HFL's growth strategy as the Company continues to diversify its product offerings across retail and corporate lending. HFL was founded as a financier to customers of its parent company, Hero Motocorp, the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer, and the Company has since expanded to become one of India's fastest growing NBFCs. Through this fundraise, HFL was seeking a value-added capital partner to help the execute its growth plans across various product segments. Apollo's Hybrid Value team was able to create a timely equity solution, enabling HFL's shareholders and management team to pursue their goals. The investment in HFL is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of certain regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in Q2 2022. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co served as legal counsel to the Apollo Funds.

08:00 EST Axcella Health appoints Robert Crane as CFO - Axcella announced the appointment of Robert Crane as the company's new CFO. Crane brings to Axcella over 35 years of experience building therapeutics, diagnostics and medical device companies. Following his role as a partner of the venture capital firm Montgomery Ventures, he has served as CFO and in senior leadership roles for a number of public and private life sciences companies.

07:47 EST Jacobs acquires StreetLight Data - Jacobs announced it has acquired StreetLight Data, a pioneer of mobility analytics who uses its vast data and machine learning resources to shed light on mobility, enabling users to solve complex transportation problems. The addition of StreetLight accelerates Jacobs' strategy in growing its end-to-end digital solutions portfolio and focus on ESG, while adding highly recurring revenue software businesses. StreetLight applies proprietary processing technology to location data from millions of mobile devices, connected vehicles, IoT sensors and geospatial databases to measure multimodal travel patterns - and makes them available via its online SaaS solution StreetLight InSight. Designed for smart cities and the transportation industry, the on-demand software provides industry-targeted analytic tools to support critical infrastructure planning, investment and policy decisions.

07:39 EST LabCorp opens new lab in South Bend, expanding services in the Midwest - Labcorp announced the opening of a new diagnostics laboratory in South Bend, Indiana, allowing the company to enhance service levels and offerings to patients and physicians in South Bend and throughout the region. The approximately 25,000-square-foot facility features expanded capabilities and new equipment for performing high-quality and efficient testing-creating more robust lab offerings for the community. The laboratory, which currently employs 100 individuals, will include STAT testing to expedite results for high-priority tests. "This new lab offers increased capabilities for microbiology testing, allowing for a more flexible test menu that is tailored to fit the needs of our providers," said Amy Rhine-Pallas, senior vice president of Labcorp's North Central Division. "Ultimately, this leads to better patient diagnoses and outcomes. Our goal is to continue to invest in and provide the highest-quality service to patients and health care providers across the Midwest."

07:38 EST Ayr Wellness opens 45th Florida dispensary in Tampa - Ayr Wellness announced the opening of its 45th Florida dispensary, located in South Tampa. "I'm proud to see our Florida team continue to thoughtfully expand our presence throughout the state, leading with the quality of the locations we are securing and the new stores that we're building," said Jon Sandelman, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ayr. "Combined with recent improvements in selection in our stores - Origyn Extracts, Secret Orchard Sun Gems and fruit-forward vapes, Big Pete's Cookies, and enhanced flower offerings - we feel better than ever about customer experience throughout our 45-store Florida footprint. We still have more to do to realize our full potential, but we're very excited about progress so far."

07:36 EST Navidea in pact with Penn studying Tc99m tilmanocep as a GBM marker - Navidea Biopharmaceuticals announced the signing of a Sponsored Research Agreement with the University of Pennsylvania for a project to evaluate the use of Tc99m tilmanocept imaging in glioblastoma as a prognostic agent for tumor growth rate and overall survival. The research is led by Principal Investigator Ali Nabavizadeh, MD, of the Department of Radiology in the Perelman School of Medicine at Penn. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and most common primary central nervous system tumor in adults and there is an urgent need for new therapies. Macrophages play an important role in tumor biology. They are a major population of non-cancer cells in GBM, representing as many as half of all cells in some cases. These Tumor Associated Macrophages may then be a viable target for tumor therapies or serve as a biomarker for monitoring tumor status. Broadly, active macrophages can be of a tumor suppressing type, M1 macrophages, or of a tumor promoting type, M2 macrophages. The TAMs are typically M2-like and are known to express high levels of CD206, the macrophage mannose receptor that Tc99m tilmanocept targets. This research has as its hypothesis that the M2 TAMs in GBM can be imaged with Tc99m tilmanocept, and that this imaging can serve as a predictive tool for outcome with and without use of an immunotherapy that works in part to change the M2-like macrophage population to a more M1-like state, promoting tumor killing.

07:32 EST Tyson Foods targets $1B in productivity savings by end of fiscal 2024 - For fiscal 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture indicates domestic protein production should be relatively flat as compared to fiscal 2021 levels. The company said, "Beginning in fiscal 2022, we launched a new productivity program, which is designed to drive a better, faster and more agile organization that is supported by a culture of continuous improvement and faster decision making. We are targeting $1 billion in productivity savings by the end of fiscal 2024 and $300 million to $400 million in fiscal 2022, relative to a fiscal 2021 cost baseline. We are currently on track to achieve our planned productivity savings for fiscal 2022."

07:31 EST Clarivate announces $1B share repurchase program - Clarivate announced that its Board of Directors has approved the purchase of up to $1B of the company's ordinary shares through open-market purchases, to be executed through December 31, 2023.

07:17 EST Delta CEO asks attorney general to bar unruly passengers from flying - Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian sent a letter sent to attorney general Merrick Garland. "At Delta, nothing is more important than ensuring a safe and secure travel experience for consumers as they reclaim the skies in the months ahead. That's why, on behalf of Delta's entire family of 75,000 employees, I want to thank you for your recent steps to prioritize the prosecution of federal crimes that endanger the safety and security of our people and customers... While such cases represent a small fraction of overall flights, the rate of incidents with unruly passengers on Delta has increased nearly 100 percent since 2019. We fully support using the full force of the law in these cases... In addition to the welcome increase in enforcement and prosecutions, we are requesting you support our efforts with respect to the much-needed step of putting any person convicted of an on-board disruption on a national, comprehensive, unruly passenger "no-fly" list that would bar that person from traveling on any commercial air carrier. This action will help prevent future incidents and serve as a strong symbol of the consequences of not complying with crew member instructions on commercial aircraft... Delta's mission is to connect people and communities, create opportunities and foster understanding - something that's only possible in a safe and secure environment. Thank you for your continued partnership to safeguard our nation's air travel system as we move forward together." Reference Link

07:16 EST The Digital IF Interoperability Consortium announces five new members - The Digital IF Interoperability Consortium announced the addition of five new members from across space industry sectors, including: ViaLite Communications - a designer and manufacturer of RF-over-fiber links and systems; Swedish Microwave AB - a maker of frequency converters and components; Cobham SATCOM - a developer of satellite and radio communication terminals; Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) - a technology integrator across defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets; and National Space Organization - develops and conducts researches on aerospace and natural science in Taiwan. DIFI members are coming together to support innovation and the digital transformation of space, satellite and related network technologies through the development of industry interoperability standards. In August, DIFI introduced version 1.0 of its interoperability standard based upon VITA 49, entitled IEEE-ISTO Std 4900-2021: Digital IF Interoperability Standard. The founding members of DIFI include Hawkeye 360, Intelsat, Kongsberg Satellite Services, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS), Microsoft (MSFT), and the U.S. Navy.

07:12 EST CareDx partners with MOTTEP for 'Heart Health' webinar - CareDx announced that in partnership with MOTTEP, The National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program, and in recognition of Black History Month and Heart Month, both occurring in February, it is hosting a webinar focused on educating kidney transplant on how to maintain optimal heart health to help prevent cardiovascular complications, which can contribute to kidney transplant failure. The webinar will take place on Thursday, February 10, 2022, 6-7pm EST/ 3-4pm PST. The webinar will be moderated by Dr. Velma Scantlebury, the first African-American, female transplant surgeon. The panel will cover: Getting on an organ transplant waitlist; Pre-existing conditions and their impact on kidney transplant; Maintaining good heart health post-kidney transplant; Managing post-transplant diabetes and high blood pressure.

07:11 EST Origin Materials and Minafin Group in strategic pact to industrialize material - Origin Materials, and the Green Chemistry Division of the Minafin Group are entering into a strategic partnership to industrialize high-value specialty materials based on Origin's carbon-negative materials. The partnership includes multiple collaboration areas and is an important milestone for bringing cost-competitive biobased products to the market, with applications in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetics and personal care, and automotive industries. As part of the partnership, Minafin affiliate Pennakem aims to develop new technologies with Origin to further expand the market for Pennakem's biobased products. Through this partnership, Origin aims to develop and industrialize additional high-value products based on its core technology platform, leveraging the proprietary technologies, manufacturing know-how and customer relationships of Minafin. In addition, Minafin business unit EcoXtract is in discussions with Origin to commercialize its revolutionary biobased extraction process using sustainable carbon-negative materials produced by Origin. The EcoXtract process efficiently extracts useful plant oils for food, cosmetics, and other applications.

07:10 EST Spirit Airlines jumps 10% to $23.88 after merger announcement with Frontier Group

07:08 EST DoD picks Veritone as AI partner for $249M BPA by DoD to advance AI - Veritone announced it has been selected as an AI partner in a $249M Blanket Purchase Agreement BPA awarded by the Department of Defense, DoD, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center JAIC. Under the terms of the agreement, the JAIC will be able to leverage the Veritone aiWARE platform and key applications for Test & Evaluation capabilities to accelerate the government's full spectrum of emerging AI technologies including Machine Learning , Deep Learning , and Neural Networks. "We are pleased to be among the select companies entrusted by the DoD to advance its mission to accelerate the delivery of AI-enabled capabilities, scale the department-wide impact of AI, and synchronize DoD AI activities to expand Joint Force advantages," said Jon Gacek, head of government, Veritone. "To keep up with the ever-increasing velocity and influx of multi-intelligence , the DoD must employ a platform that can accommodate bespoke AI models to extract actionable insights from each INT type, while also having the capability to test and evaluate all resulting model predictions at scale. With the flexibility to test, evaluate and run such AI models, the need to monitor those running processes over time is critical for not only performance but also maintaining costs and processing within acceptable control parameters. Veritone aiWARE allows these processes to scale at the organizational level across many development and operational environments as needed. By making T&E of AI/ML models systematic, scalable, serviceable and user friendly, non-technical personnel can also compare and determine model drift, accuracy, bias and vulnerability to ultimately foster trust and reliance of deployed AI solutions."

07:06 EST uniQure announces dosing of first patients in Phase Ib/II trial of AMT-130 - uniQure announced the dosing of the first two patients in its European open-label Phase Ib/II clinical trial of AMT-130, a potential one-time gene-therapy approach for the treatment of Huntington's disease. The clinical trial is taking place at several sites in Poland, the United Kingdom and Germany. "We are very pleased to expand the clinical development of AMT-130 and to build on our ongoing experience in the Phase I/II clinical trial in the United States," stated Ricardo Dolmetsch, Ph.D., president of research and development at uniQure. "We expect to complete patient enrollment in this European study by the end of the year and to provide safety and target-engagement data from the full 10-patient, low-dose cohort in the U.S. trial in the second quarter of this year." The European Phase Ib/II clinical trial of AMT-130 for the treatment of Huntington's disease will explore the safety, proof of concept, and dosing in 15 total patients with early manifest Huntington's disease split into a five person, low-dose open-label cohort, followed by a nine patient, higher-dose open-label cohort. All patients will be dosed with AMT-130.

07:05 EST Evelo announces significant reductions in cytokines in Phase 2 trial of EDP1815 - Evelo Biosciences announced the results of immunological biomarker analyses from its previously reported Phase 2 trial of orally-dosed EDP1815 in mild and moderate psoriasis. Evelo previously reported reductions in inflammatory cytokines in a Phase 1b trial of EDP1815 in mild and moderate psoriasis. These data have now been replicated in the Phase 2 psoriasis trial, with high statistical significance. Blood samples were taken from 96 patients at baseline and after 16 weeks of dosing with EDP1815 or placebo. Three different stimuli were used on each sample and the results from all three stimuli are presented together in the figures, giving the aggregate N numbers shown in the figures. Treatment with EDP1815 led to a statistically significant reduction in the release of cytokines compared to placebo. The effect of EDP1815 is clearly seen by the deep tail of reduced cytokine production on the left of the distribution for each cytokine, which is absent in the placebo groups. There was no worsening compared to placebo on the right of the distributions, resulting in the overall significant difference between EDP1815 and placebo. In addition, skin biopsies of active lesions were taken from a subset of six patients who received EDP1815 and achieved at least a 50% improvement in their Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score from baseline at week 16. RNAseq analysis showed reductions in transcript levels for psoriasis-relevant cytokines interleukin 23, interleukin 12b, and interleukin 17 in these lesions between baseline and week 16. These data were consistent with the systemic effects in blood described above, suggesting that EDP1815 reduces inflammation in the skin by modulating multiple proinflammatory cytokines systemically. There was no observed distribution of EDP1815 outside the gut. In the Phase 2 trial, EDP1815 was observed to have safety and tolerability data comparable to placebo. Six-month follow-up efficacy and safety data from the Phase 2 trial will be available later this quarter.

07:04 EST Origin Agritech sees FY22 revenue growth over 300%, expects to be profitable - Origin Agritech announced that it expects revenues to grow in excess of 300%, to over 150M RMB, and expects to turn a profit for fiscal 2022. The expected revenue growth is driven by both growth in its existing hybrid seed business and the addition of a new revenue stream of selling nutritionally enhanced crops to feedstock companies. Due to increased pre-orders, Origin is already sold out of its hybrid seeds for this year's planting season. The company is increasing its production capabilities for the next planting season as it expects this trend in demand to continue as climate change continues to pose increasingly significant challenges to farmers. Additionally, Origin expects its partnership with BaoDao Feed Ltd to provide sizable revenue growth. Its nutritionally enhanced corn varieties are able to eliminate the need for costly additives and are estimated to double the gross margins for the feedstock companies. Origin is currently in discussions for similar partnerships with other feedstock producers with the goal of creating bespoke crops for each customer, which Origin plans to achieve through its GMO and CRISPR technologies.

07:03 EST Wheaton Precious Metals reports FY21 gold equivalent ounces production 750,220 - Wheaton Precios Metals reported 2021 gold equivalent ounces production of 750,220, within FY21 guidance of 735,000 to 765,000. "The importance of having a diversified, high-quality portfolio of low-cost assets was especially apparent in 2021. Strong performances from Penasquito, Antamina and Constancia more than offset challenges at some of our other mines and resulted in Wheaton's production meeting our guidance range yet again," said Randy Smallwood, Wheaton's President and CEO ", Wheaton further diversified its asset base in 2021 by adding five additional streams on development assets, which will contribute to our steady organic growth over the next five years. Given the strong tenure of our reserve and resource base, we are also pleased to present ten-year production guidance showing continued strength in our portfolio."

06:55 EST Descartes' route planning solution selected by Atlantic Tire Distributors - Descartes Systems Group announced that Edenton, NC-based Atlantic Tire Distributors will use Descartes' cloud-based route planning solution to improve the efficiency of its delivery operations to wholesale customers across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Descartes' integrated routing and mobile solution provides an easy way to plan, optimize, dispatch routes, track and monitor delivery fleets in real-time.

06:51 EST Solo Brands announces CFO transition plan, reaffirms Q4, FY21 guidance - Solo Brands announced that CFO Sam Simmons will begin transitioning from Solo Brands this year. Simmons will remain in the CFO role until a successor is named and then support the transition. The company has initiated a national search for his successor. The company plans to report fourth quarter and full year 2021 results in late-March. The company reaffirms the previous guidance provided in its press release on January 10 for the fourth quarter and the full year 2021.

06:47 EST Linde expands existing agreement with Celanese - Linde (LIN) announced it has expanded its existing agreement with Celanese (CE) and will begin supplying carbon dioxide and hydrogen to the Celanese manufacturing facility in Clear Lake, Texas. Linde currently supplies oxygen, nitrogen and carbon monoxide to the Clear Lake facility. Under the terms of the expanded agreement, Linde will now also supply carbon dioxide captured in its nearby carbon monoxide production facility. Celanese will use the carbon dioxide, plus hydrogen, as an alternative feedstock to produce methanol with a significantly lower carbon intensity in their Fairway Methanol joint venture. By using the carbon dioxide captured from Linde's facility, the hydrogen supplied by Linde will also have a lower carbon intensity. Supply is expected to commence in the first half of 2023.

06:45 EST Trilogy Metals announces approved program, budget for Ambler Access Project - Trilogy Metals (TMQ) announced that the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, or AIDEA, has formally approved the proposed plan and budget for the 2022 summer field season activities and services of up to $30.8M for the Ambler Access Project. The cost will be shared 50/50 by AIDEA and Ambler Metals, the joint venture operating company equally owned by Trilogy and South32 (SOUHY). The board of AIDEA, a public corporation of the State of Alaska with the purpose to promote, develop and advance the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of Alaska, has authorized up to $15.4M for field season activities on the Ambler Access Project. These funds will be matched by up to another $15.4M from Ambler Metals under the terms of the Ambler Access Development Agreement that was approved by the AIDEA board on February 10, 2021, and subsequently executed by both parties. Both South32 and Trilogy have approved Ambler Metals portion of this budget. The $15.4M amount that Ambler Metals is contributing to this year's AAP budget is in addition to the $28.5M that was approved by Trilogy and South32 for the 2022 program at the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects, or UKMP. During the 2022 field season, AIDEA will be carrying out additional work including, geotechnical investigations, right-of-way surveys, environmental studies, road and bridge engineering design work, and cultural resources work. According to AIDEA, the AAP is expected to create thousands of new jobs resulting in over $5B in wages paid during the lifetime of the project and that the bulk of the work force required for the construction, management and maintenance of the road will be from the local communities.

06:37 EST Hasbro says 'on track' with debt/adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2-2.5X by end of 2023 - Hasbro retired $1.08B of long-term debt in 2021. Combined with the 23% growth in adjusted EBITDA, the company reduced its gross debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio by 1.7X to 3.1X and remains on track to return to its 2.0 to 2.5X target by year-end 2023. A share repurchase program continues to be an important long-term component of Hasbro's capital allocation strategy and Hasbro has $367M available under its authorized share repurchase programs. "We anticipate resuming share repurchase when it is not expected to materially impact the timeline to reach leverage targets. The company believes this could be in the second half of 2023 or sooner, depending on business performance and other factors."

06:35 EST Hasbro raises quarterly dividend 3% to 70c per share - The dividend will be payable on May 16 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 2.

06:15 EST Fiserv to acquire remaining ownership interest of Finxact for $650M - Fiserv announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Finxact, developer of the cloud-native banking solution that is powering digital transformation throughout the financial services sector. Fiserv was an early investor in Finxact and, under the terms of the agreement, Fiserv will acquire the remaining ownership interest for approximately $650M. The transaction is subject to customary approvals and closing conditions and is expected to close later this year.

06:12 EST Walker & Dunlop to acquire GeoPhy for $85M in cash - Walker & Dunlop announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GeoPhy, a commercial real estate technology company. GeoPhy CEO and co-founder, Teun van den Dries will continue to lead the GeoPhy team and assume leadership of the Apprise and SBL businesses while supporting continued innovation throughout Walker & Dunlop. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Walker & Dunlop will acquire GeoPhy for $85M in cash to be paid at closing with an additional $205M of cash earn-out potential structured to directly align with Walker & Dunlop's Drive to '25 goals surrounding growth in appraisal revenues, SBL volumes and mortgage banking gains. The transaction is expected to close during Q1 of 2022. Closing is subject to certain approvals and consents.

06:06 EST Everi Holdings to acquire ecash Holdings for A$33M - Everi Holdings announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire ecash Holdings, a privately owned, Australia-based developer and provider of cash handling and financial payment solutions for the broader gaming industry in Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States. The acquisition will provide Everi with a portfolio of new customer locations throughout Australia, the United States and other geographies. The closing of the transaction, subject to customary conditions, is expected to occur within 60 days. Everi will acquire ecash for guaranteed payments totaling A$33M, with an initial payment at the time of closing of A$20M with the remaining payments to be made on each of the first and second anniversaries in 2023 and 2024, respectively, following the date of the transaction's closing. Subject to achieving certain growth targets, there will be an additional contingent payment of up to A$10M, which could increase the total consideration up to A$43M. Everi expects to fund the total purchase price from existing cash on hand and future cash flow.

05:29 EST Toshiba provides update on strategic reorganization - Toshiba, as part of its Toshiba IR Day, provided an update on its November 12, 2021 strategic reorganization announcement. Toshiba announced its intention to separate the company into two standalone companies, instead of three, as previously announced: Toshiba/ Infrastructure Service, comprising Toshiba's Energy Systems & Solutions, Infrastructure Systems & Solutions, Digital Solutions and Battery businesses, in addition to Toshiba's ownership stake in Kioxia Holdings Corporation and Device Co.1, consisting of Toshiba's Electronic Devices & Storage Solutions business. The decision to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies is the result of the Toshiba board of directors' review of the strategic reorganization plan and process, as well as the company's engagement with shareholders, regulators and other stakeholders. Toshiba/ Infrastructure Service is expected to have net sales of 1.52T yen in FY21 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.3%, reaching 1.87T yen by FY25. It also expects to improve operating income margins from 3.6% to 6.4% over the same period. Toshiba will immediately monetize its shares in KHC to the extent which is practically possible to conduct, and will return the net proceeds in full to shareholders, within the limits stipulated by applicable laws and regulations. The company plans to put forward a shareholder resolution outlining its plans for its KHC holdings at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, which will take place in March. Device Co. is expected to have 860B yen in net sales in FY21 and is projected - when excluding the memory resale portion - to grow at a CAGR of 4.1%, reaching 1.01T yen by FY25. It expects operating income margins to improve from 6.4% in FY21 to 7.9% by FY25.

05:18 EST Vaalco Energy reports Q4 production 7,550 bopd NRI, or 8,700 bopd WI - The company said, "With the drilling of the Etame 8H-ST well, VAALCO began its 2021/2022 drilling campaign in December. The well had initial flow rates of approximately 5,000 gross BOPD, but has been choked back to about 4,200 BOPD for reservoir management purposes. VAALCO has moved the contracted jack-up rig to the Avouma platform to drill the Avouma 3H-ST1 development well. This is another development well targeting the Gamba reservoir and the first of two planned development wells to be drilled on the Avouma platform. The Company is currently planning to drill four wells as part of its 2021/2022 drilling campaign. VAALCO estimates the total cost of the 2021/2022 drilling campaign at Etame to be between $117.0 million and $143.0 million gross, or between $74.0 million and $91.0 million net to VAALCO's 63.6% participating interest. Production during the fourth quarter of 2021 was approximately 7,550 BOPD NRI, or 8,700 BOPD WI, slightly above the midpoint of guidance for the quarter. Additionally, production for the full year of 2021 was 7,120 BOPD NRI, or 8,200 BOPD WI, also above the midpoint of guidance."

05:12 EST Equinix opens new IBX data center in Aschheim - Equinix opened its new International Business Exchange data center-MU4-located in Aschheim near Munich, Germany. The new site is carrier-neutral and offers customers access to a digital ecosystem spanning various industries and markets through Platform Equinix.