Stockwinners Market Radar for February 09, 2024 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:22 EST Cathie Wood's ARK Investment bought 1.14M shares of Pinterest today

19:50 EST Sino-Global Shipping America trading halted, news pending

17:20 EST South State announces cybersecurity incident on February 6 - In a regulatory filing, South State said, "SouthState Bank detected what was determined to be a cybersecurity incident on February 6, 2024. Upon detection, the company initiated its incident response and business continuity protocols and began taking measures to disrupt the unauthorized activity. As part of its process to address the incident, the company proactively took measures to isolate parts of its network, which resulted in some disruption to the company's business processes. The company's operations have continued throughout this process in all material respects. The company is conducting a thorough investigation and a cybersecurity firm has been engaged. Banking regulators and law enforcement have been notified. While the investigation is ongoing, as of the date of this filing, the incident has not had a material impact on the company's operations, and the company has not determined the incident is reasonably likely to materially impact the company's financial conditions or results of operations."

17:02 EST P10 COO Souder to retire - P10 announced that William "Fritz" Souder, the Chief Operating Officer of P10, Inc., will be retiring from the company in May of 2024. Prior to Souder's departure the company expects to announce a reallocation of his responsibilities. "Fritz has played an important role in establishing and growing P10 into the world-class alternative asset management firm it is today," said Luke Sarsfield, Chief Executive Officer. "From his time as one of the founding partners of RCP, the first of our investment strategies to join the platform, to his time as P10's COO, he has done an outstanding job for limited partners, shareholders and employees as well as the many community organizations he participates in. The firm is incredibly grateful for his years of service and wishes him all of the best in his next chapter. We look forward to sharing some more updates on our organizational structure during our fourth quarter 2023 earnings conference call on February 29, 2024."

16:47 EST Splash Beverage clarifies distribution pact with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment - Splash Beverage Group (SBEV) announced on February 2nd, that its Pulpoloco Sangria will be offered in all of Sea World Parks & Entertainment's (SEAS) venues across California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Texas. In the February 7th release, the company announced the arrangement as a "partnership" with Sea World Parks & Entertainment. As a clarification to the release: the company is not an official corporate partner of Sea World Parks & Entertainment, yet a traditional vendor. Splash considers its retail, venue and on-premise customers partners but this arrangement with Sea World Parks & Entertainment is a distribution arrangement for Pulpoloco only as the products will be available at its parks but is not an official partnership. The terms of the announcement remain unchanged.

16:38 EST First BanCorp exec McDonald sells 57,600 common shares - In a regulatory filing, First BanCorp executive VP Michael McDonald disclosed the sale of 57,600 common shares of the company on January 30 at a price of $17.3381 per share.

16:32 EST Vulcan Materials increases quarterly dividend 7% to 46c per share - The board of directors of Vulcan Materials declared a quarterly cash dividend of 46c per share on its common stock. The dividend will be payable on March 18 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 4. The new quarterly dividend represents an increase of 7% from 43c to 46c per share.

16:19 EST Artisan Partners reports preliminary AUM $150.9B at January 31 - Artisan Partners Asset Management reported that its preliminary assets under management as of January 31 totaled $150.9B. Artisan Funds and Artisan Global Funds accounted for $73.1B of total firm AUM, while separate accounts and other AUM accounted for $77.8B.

16:16 EST HF Foods Group names Felix Lin president - HF Foods Group announced the appointment of Mr. Xi Lin, also known as Felix Lin, as President of the Company, in addition to his current role as the Company's Chief Operating Officer, effective February 12, 2024. Mr. Lin has served as the Company's Chief Operating Officer since May 1, 2022. He also previously served as an Independent Board Member for the Company from November 2019 to April 2022. Mr. Lin's experience includes serving as Vice President and a Senior Strategy Officer for Blue Bird Corporation (the leading school bus manufacturer in North America), overseeing Human Resources, Corporate and Operations Training, Government Relations, Compliance, and Strategy. During his time at Blue Bird Corporation, Mr. Lin also held leadership positions in Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Accounting. Earlier in his career, Mr. Lin worked as a key member of the China and Middle East business development team for Blue Bird Corporation under Cerberus Capital Management, LLP.

16:12 EST Allied Gaming & Entertainment announces limited-duration shareholder rights plan - Allied Gaming & Entertainment announced that its board of directors has unanimously approved the adoption of a limited-duration shareholder rights plan under which shareholders will receive rights to purchase a new series of preferred stock in certain circumstances. The company issued the following statement: "In accordance with its fiduciary duties, our Board of Directors is firmly committed to taking actions that are in the best interest of all of the Company's shareholders. In that regard, our Board is focused on providing a growing audience of gamers with unique experiences through renowned assets, products, and services and regularly evaluates the Company's capital allocation to ensure that it is best positioned to optimize shareholder returns. As we've noted, the Company recently completed its strategic review of its business operations and announced plans to restructure the existing esports business and expand its focus to include a broader array of entertainment and gaming products and services. We believe it is imperative that AGAE shareholders are given the opportunity to realize the full long-term potential of their AGAE investment. Our Board is therefore adopting this Rights Plan to prevent AGAE shareholders from being deprived of that opportunity by any self-interested group taking control of the Company in a manner or at a price that is not in the best interest of all shareholders. The Rights Plan is similar to plans adopted by other publicly traded companies. It is intended to promote the fair and equal treatment of all AGAE shareholders and ensure that no person or group can gain control of AGAE through open market accumulation or other tactics potentially disadvantaging the interest of all shareholders. The Rights Plan applies equally to all current and future shareholders and is not intended to deter offers that are fair and otherwise in the best interest of all the Company's shareholders. Pursuant to the Rights Plan, the Company is issuing one right for each share of common stock as of the start of business at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on February 9, 2024. The rights will initially trade with AGAE's common stock and will become exercisable only if any person acquires 10% or more of the Company's outstanding common stock. In that case, each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person, whose rights will become void and will not be exercisable) will be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, additional shares of common stock having a then-current market value of twice the exercise price of the right. Any shareholders with beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Company's outstanding common stock prior to this announcement are grandfathered at their current ownership levels but are not permitted to increase their ownership without triggering the Rights Plan. The Rights Plan is effective immediately and will expire on February 9, 2027."

16:00 EST Quantum FinTech Acquisition Corp trading resumes

15:12 EST Electra Battery Materials receives $5M investment from Government of Canada - Electra Battery Materials announced that it has received a $5M investment from the Government of Canada towards the construction of North America's first cobalt sulfate refinery. Located in Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, the facility will produce approximately 5% of the global supply of battery grade cobalt needed for electric vehicles. The investment will be provided in the form of a grant from the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario.

14:35 EST Phoenix Biotech Acquisition Corp trading resumes

13:39 EST Ameren raises quarterly dividend 6.3% to 67c per share - The board of directors of Ameren Corporation declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of 67c per share, a 6.3% increase from the prior quarterly cash dividend of 63c per share, resulting in an annualized equivalent dividend rate of $2.68 per share. The previous annualized equivalent dividend rate was $2.52 per share.

13:01 EST Baker Hughes reports U.S. rig count up 4 to 623 rigs

12:00 EST Pinterest falls -13.0% - Pinterest is down -13.0%, or -$5.28 to $35.44.

12:00 EST Cloudflare rises 21.4% - Cloudflare is up 21.4%, or $19.30 to $109.61.

12:00 EST Masonite rises 34.8% - Masonite is up 34.8%, or $33.58 to $130.19.

10:28 EST Paramount CEO says 'job one is creating shareholder value' - Paramount CEO Bob Bakish, asked during an interview on CNBC about recent media reports that said the company or its parent National Amusements may be sold, responded that "job one" for the company's and its management team is "creating shareholder value." Pressed further on reports of a bid made by Byron Allen, Bob Bakish added that he is "not going to comment on speculation."

10:01 EST Jet.AI partners with FL3XX to integrate DynoFlight - Jet.AI announced a collaboration with FL3XX, an app-based aviation management platform, to introduce the DynoFlight carbon offset platform to hundreds of FL3XX customers. Scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2024, the integration is expected to empower private aircraft operators utilizing the FL3XX platform to gain effortless access to DynoFlight.

10:00 EST Pinterest falls -11.4% - Pinterest is down -11.4%, or -$4.66 to $36.06.

10:00 EST Spire Global rises 16.8% - Spire Global is up 16.8%, or $1.37 to $9.52.

10:00 EST Masonite rises 34.3% - Masonite is up 34.3%, or $33.09 to $129.70.

09:47 EST Doximity falls -10.2% - Doximity is down -10.2%, or -$2.89 to $25.35.

09:47 EST Natural Grocers rises 16.4% - Natural Grocers is up 16.4%, or $2.43 to $17.24.

09:47 EST Masonite rises 34.5% - Masonite is up 34.5%, or $33.31 to $129.93.

09:41 EST Jin Medical International Ltd trading resumes

09:38 EST eGain trading resumes

09:34 EST BetMGM, X sign exclusive sports betting partnership - BetMGM announced a strategic partnership with X, becoming the social media platform's exclusive Live Odds Sports Betting partner. The first-of-its-kind partnership between a premier social media brand and a sports betting operator will integrate BetMGM's odds and branding into X, with each game linking to BetMGM's website and app. X users in the United States can explore BetMGM's latest betting odds on pro football, with each of the major professional and college sports expected to follow in the coming weeks. The odds interface provides an easy clickthrough for each game to BetMGM's app or website, creating a seamless user experience. The integration will continue to evolve and grow in its functionality over the coming months.

09:32 EST Eli Lilly Treasurer Philip Johnson to retire - Eli Lilly and Company announced that after more than 28 years, Philip Johnson, group vice president and treasurer, will retire from the company at the end of February to pursue a new professional opportunity. Johnson's successor will be named at a future date.

09:31 EST Gryphon Digital Mining debuts on Nasdaq - Gryphon Digital Mining announced its Nasdaq debut under the ticker symbol "GRYP" following its merger with Akerna Corp. Gryphon's mission is to create a leading carbon-negative bitcoin miner and build upon its industry leading operational performance and pedigreed management team. Gryphon joins Nasdaq with a total attributable hashrate of up to 1.3 exahash per second following the purchase of newer generation S19K Pro machines. In 2023, Gryphon produced 788 bitcoin-equivalent coins. The Company is also an established leader in bitcoin efficiency, consistently ranking among the top three in bitcoin efficiency rankings relative to publicly disclosing peers and placing at or tied for first in nine of the 12 months of 2023. In 2024, Gryphon expects to conduct its bitcoin mining operations using 100% hydro power as verified by Energy Web, an independent, third-party auditor of carbon emissions. Gryphon was one of the original recipients of the "Green Proofs for Bitcoin" certification, which helps Bitcoin miners measure and manage their energy footprint to help accelerate decarbonization. Moreover, Gryphon seeks to lead the way through a carbon negative strategy as the Company owns carbon offset credits that may be used against its non-core Scope 3 emissions.

09:28 EST Prenetics enters MOU for investment, research collaboration with Metavisionaries - Prenetics Global announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, that paves the way for a strategic investment in Metavisionaries and a pioneering five-year research agreement with them and their partners Space Application Services through their Metaspace Venture. The parties will also establish a Space Innovation Lab within the UAE Space Agency. The inaugural Prenetics research cube is scheduled to on-board the SpaceX to the ISS in Q4 of 2024. As space exploration ignites a new era of discovery, the first endeavor by Prenetics will be with the Botnar Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences at the University of Oxford, NDORMS, led by Dr. Ghada Alsaleh. The joint project will be to research cellular solutions that promote rejuvenation and vitality to combat the phenomenon of accelerated aging in space due to its zero-gravity environment. The potential of this research could lead to new advances in healthcare, enhancing cellular health and longevity for all ages on Earth. Prenetics also announced that Dr. James Green, Chairman of Metavisionaries and former Chief Scientist of NASA, alongside Dr. Tara Ruttley, Director of Sciences of Metavisionaries and former Associate Chief Scientist of NASA, will join the Prenetics Scientific Advisory Board. Concurrently, Danny Yeung, CEO of Prenetics will join the Board of Directors at Metavisionaries, fortifying its strategic vision.

09:11 EST Diana Shipping announces time charter contract for m/v Leonidas - Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Ming Wah International Shipping Company Limited, for one of its Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Leonidas P. C. The gross charter rate is $17,000, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum August 20, 2025 up to maximum October 20, 2025. The charter is expected to commence on February 21, 2024. The "Leonidas P. C." is a 82,165 dwt Kamsarmax dry bulk vessel built in 2011. The employment of "Leonidas P. C." is anticipated to generate approximately $9.18M of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter.

09:06 EST Dropbox announces multi-year partnership with McLaren Formula 1 Team - Dropbox and McLaren Racing announced a multi-year partnership with the McLaren Formula 1 Team for the 2024 season and beyond. The partnership marks Dropbox's first entry into the sport, helping the McLaren team collaborate, share files and content, and save time.

09:03 EST Bravo Multinational to acquire Streaming TVEE assets - Bravo Multinational has entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to acquire the assets of Streaming TVEE, Inc., thus solidifying its entry into the dynamic world of streaming. This strategic move establishes the business foundation for its previously announced flagship offering, aptly named TVee NOW, slated for Beta launch in Q1 2024, the new streaming service will be available directly to consumers via the web on any Connected TV, smartphone or tablet. The Company is actively launching TVee NOW applications, which will be available for download in the Roku Channel Store, Apple Store, and Google Play Store. TVee NOW intends to offer linear TV, often referred to as traditional broadcast TV, which encompasses cable and satellite networks through a joint venture with Pythia Experiences currently set to close at a later date. The Platform will also extend an array of on-demand content, including but not limited to, movies, series/shows, concerts, comedy specials, events, and more - all at no or low-cost to its viewers. TVee NOW also plans to supplement its own slate of original and exclusive content. A key highlight of the Agreement includes Streaming TVEE's recent acquisition of MWP Entertainment Group's video property assets, which includes exclusive rights, image and likeness, label waivers, and exploitation rights for streaming of 117 high-definition music and comedy performances, each offering a director's cut and multiple camera perspectives. Some music artists on the list include H.E.R., Jane's Addiction, Snoop Dogg, and Moonalice; along with comedic performances from Bill Burr, Jim Gaffigan, Kristen Schaal, Rob Delaney, and more. The Agreement includes acquiring the license of OTT streaming technology which is a hybrid model comprised of Advertising-based Video-on-Demand, utilizing programmatic advertising through ad servers, and Subscription-based Video-on-Demand, which the Company plans to offer at competitive rates compared to other services.

08:51 EST AMC Networks says continues to see 'challenging' advertising environment - Remains "disciplined" with advertising spend. Sees long runway of growth for AMC+. Says has "substantial flexibility" with balance sheet. Says capital allocation strategy remains unchanged. Comments taken from Q4 earnings conference call.

08:34 EST Gulf Resources has not ordered delivery of remaining equipment for Yuxin factory - Gulf Resources updates shareholders on the status of the Yuxin Chemical factory. The company said, "At this time, the company has still not ordered the delivery of the remaining equipment for the factory while it evaluates market opportunities. The Chinese economy is currently weak. The weakness is especially significant in the housing market, which is a significant customer of bromine. The Company believes that most Chinese chemical companies in our niche, are currently losing money. While the company believes the economy will eventually improve, it does not believe it should spend more money on a business that is likely to lose money in the short term. Once the company sees improvement in the economy, it can take delivery of the remaining equipment and begin production. The Company continues to evaluate different segments of the chemical market to see which, if any, offer the best opportunity for profits. The Company is especially focusing on market segments possibility, such as pharmaceuticals, that may offer the opportunity to generate capital offshore, so the company may consider to generate funds for the benefit of its shareholders. The company is also continuing to monitor events in the Middle East. Since approximately 74% of the world's bromine production takes place in the Dead Sea region between Israel and Jordan, the company is aware that any expansion of the war could materially change world-wide market conditions. The company is also continuing to explore other potential business opportunities. The most interesting current opportunity may be in the field of sodium-ion batteries. Two major Chinese auto manufacturers and BYD are already producing cars with sodium-ion batteries. The company has not completed its study on the opportunities for sodium-ion batteries, but it believes this could be a logical extension for its crude salt business. Gulf Resources believes it will eventually move ahead with the completion of its chemical factory. However, if the Chinese economy continues to remain weak and if the Company believes this weakness will continue, the company may theoretically utilize its chemical factory for the production of Sodium-Ion batteries."

08:33 EST Bridgeline Digital's HawkSearch chosen by Schaedler Yesco - Bridgeline Digital announced Schaedler Yesco, an Electrical Distribution Company with 29 locations representing over 1,000 brands including Siemens, Philips, Rockwell Automation and 3M, has chosen Bridgeline's HawkSearch to power its website's search. HawkSearch will enhance Schaedler Yesco's eCommerce strategy by offering precise search tailored to electrical industry professionals and consumers alike. This includes advanced part number search functionality for both full and partial numbers, unit of measurement conversion, and merchandising tools to run product-specific campaigns. Ari Kahn, CEO of Bridgeline Digital, said, "Our partnership with Schaedler Yesco demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the electrical distributor industry. HawkSearch's advanced search functionalities are crucial for meeting the complex demands of Schaedler Yesco's clientele, ensuring a seamless and efficient online shopping experience."

08:31 EST Dollar Tree expands COO role - Dollar Tree announced a key role expansion for the company's COO Mike Creedon, who will add leadership of Dollar Tree & Family Dollar Merchandising and Supply Chain to his scope.

08:11 EST Hyliion Holdings names Govindaraj Ramasamy chief commercial officerCummins - Hyliion Holdings (HYLN) has announced that Govindaraj Ramasamy has joined the company as chief commercial officer. In his role, Ramasamy will lead the commercial growth and performance for Hyliion, ensuring that the customer needs for 24/7 energy with a low emissions footprint are met globally. During his tenure at Cummins (CMI), Ramasamy held various leadership roles across China, the Middle East, and North America, providing him with a unique global perspective on market needs and applications.

08:08 EST Nikola board rejects slate of directors nominated by Trevor Milton - Nikola said that its Board of Directors has rejected a slate of five dissident nominees proposed by an entity controlled by former Executive Chairman Trevor Milton for election as directors at Nikola's 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. On January 26, Nikola received a notice from M&M Residual, Milton's entity, declaring its intent to nominate a slate of five directors for its eight-member board: Cole Cannon, Derek Johnson, Hans Peterson, Paul Southam and Dave Sparks. The Board of Directors reviewed the director nominees and rejected the slate and does not endorse their nomination. The director nominees have no public company experience, add no skills or experience to the board, and indisputably lack the depth of experience that the current Nikola board members bring to the company. Additionally, it is the company's belief that the director nominees lack the expertise or knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of a zero-emissions trucking and energy infrastructure business.

08:06 EST Golden Sun Education announces strategic transition into wellness industry - Golden Sun Health Technology Group Limited, formerly known as Golden Sun Education Group, announced its strategic transition into the wellness industry in China. Since 2023, the Company has been endeavoring to establish its own wellness brands and an e-commerce platform that will be used to promote and sell wellness products, through a number of business initiatives. Xueyuan Weng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "We are thrilled to enter a new chapter with our strategic transition into the wellness industry. We have been proactively adapting to a challenging business landscape by seeking new driving forces for long-term growth. As younger generations become increasingly health-conscious, we anticipate that our shift towards the wellness industry may be beneficial to our long-term development plan and may generate greater shareholder value."

08:04 EST FLJ Group amends maturity data of promissory notes - FLJ Group has agreed with the Alpha Mind Promissory Noteholders to extend the maturity date of the Alpha Mind Promissory Note from March 25, 2024 to June 30, 2024. As previously announced, the Company acquired all the issued and outstanding shares in Alpha Mind Technology Limited for an aggregate all-cash purchase price of $180,000,000 or RMB equivalent, paid in the form of the notes which were delivered to each of the sellers in an aggregate amount equal to the purchase price on December 28, 2023.

08:01 EST Ageagle Aerial Systems announces effectiveness of 1-for-20 reverse stock split - AgEagle Aerial Systems announced that, on February 8, 2024, AgEagle Aerial Systems filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date, effecting a 1-for-20 reverse stock split of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share, for the primary purpose of increasing the per share price of the Company's Common Stock in order to maintain the listing of its Common Stock on the NYSE American. The Reverse Stock Split was previously approved by the Company's stockholders and the Board of the Directors of the Company and became effective on February 9, 2024. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, every twenty shares of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock were converted into one share of issued and outstanding common stock. The number of authorized shares remains unchanged. The Reverse Stock Split was effected simultaneously for all of the Company's outstanding Common Stock and the exchange ratio will be the same for all of the Company's outstanding Common Stock. The Reverse Stock Split will affect all of the Company's shareholders uniformly and will not affect any shareholder's percentage ownership interests in the Company, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split results in any of the Company's shareholders owning a fractional share. Each stockholder and holders of options and warrants otherwise entitled to a fractional share resulting from the Reverse Stock Split will receive such additional fractions of a share to round up to a full share. It will not be necessary for stockholders to exchange their existing stock certificates for new stock certificates in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders who hold their shares in brokerage accounts are not required to take any action to exchange their shares. The Reverse Stock Split will have no impact on shareholders' proportionate equity interests or voting rights in the Company or the par value of the Company's common stock, which remains unchanged.

07:44 EST NFI Group presents at Clean Bus Manufacturing Roundtable - NFI Group announced that Paul Soubry, NFI's President and CEO, and Jennifer McNeill, Vice President, Public Sales and Marketing for subsidiaries New Flyer and MCI, presented at a Clean Bus Manufacturing Roundtable at the White House in Washington, DC on February 7, 2024. The White House in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration and the American Public Transportation Association, convened the Roundtable focused on ensuring U.S. domestic manufacturing capacity to deliver clean transit buses is at the scale and pace needed to meet market demand and achieve national climate and equity goals. The collaborative discussion centered on the financial and operational impacts supply disruption, inflation, and vehicle customization has had on U.S. transit bus manufacturers, leading to a number of recent exits by market competitors, impacting total production capacity. Key recommendations from APTA's Bus Manufacturing Task Force and the FTA's Transit Vehicle Innovation Deployment Centers Program were presented, along with actions taken by the FTA to educate and encourage funding grantees on use of procurement best practices and resources available from the Biden-Harris Administration to support manufacturers. APTA's Task Force, assembled in late 2023 under the leadership of Dorval R. Carter, Jr., President of the Chicago Transit Authority and former APTA Chair and co-chair Richard A. Davey, President of New York City Transit, presented immediate actions to bolster competitiveness and stability in the U.S. bus manufacturing sector. The Task Force recommended, amongst other things, three immediate changes in bus contracts: price adjustments, progress payments, and the use of price indices. The full set of recommendations are available on the APTA website.

07:38 EST Plains All American sees 2024 adjusted EBITDA $2.625B-$2.725B - Expect full-year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA attributable to PAA of $2.625 - $2.725 billion; Reaffirming leverage ratio target range of 3.25x - 3.75x reflecting commitment to balance sheet strength and flexibility; Expect to generate approximately $1.65 billion of Adjusted Free Cash Flow and $500 million of Adjusted Free Cash Flow after Distributions. Remain focused on disciplined capital investments, anticipating full-year 2024 Investment and Maintenance Capital of +/- $375 million and +/- $230 million, net to PAA, respectively

07:33 EST Krispy Kreme enters JV with AmPm Comestiveis to expand into Brazil - Krispy Kreme announced an agreement to enter a joint venture, or JV, with AmPm Comestiveis, or AmPm, to bring Krispy Kreme to Brazil. Krispy Kreme will offer doughnuts to Brazilian consumers through a network of Krispy Kreme shops and AmPm convenience stores. Brazil represents a priority growth market for Krispy Kreme and this news follows its December 2023 launch in Paris. The company anticipates launching in Brazil between the end of 2024 and early 2025. The joint venture is subject to approval by the Brazilian antitrust authority.

07:20 EST Owens Corning to acquire Masonite for $133.00 per share in cash - Owens Corning (OC) and Masonite International Corporation (DOOR) announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Owens Corning will acquire all outstanding shares of Masonite for $133.00 per share in cash, representing an approximate 38% premium to Masonite's closing share price on February 8 and an approximate 46% premium to Masonite's 20-day volume-weighted average price. The implied transaction value is approximately $3.9B, implying a purchase multiple of approximately 8.6x 2023E adjusted EBITDA or 6.8x when including synergies of $125M. The transaction will be implemented by way of a statutory plan of arrangement pursuant to the Business Corporations Act. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction. The transaction is expected to close mid-2024, subject to Masonite shareholder approval, regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions including the issuance of interim and final orders by the Supreme Court of British Columbia approving the plan of arrangement. The transaction will be financed by cash on hand and committed debt financing of $3B provided by Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.

07:08 EST Carbon Streaming provides corporate update - The Sheep Creek Reforestation Project has been revised to include an additional section of the Sheep Creek Ranch, increasing the carbon credit generation expected under the Sheep Creek Reforestation Stream from approximately 225,000 carbon credits to approximately 285,000 carbon credits. The project has also secured a grant, enabling Carbon Streaming to reduce its upfront capital commitment to the project by US$0.25 million. The Company has entered into an amendment to its Sheep Creek Reforestation streaming agreement to reflect these updates. Following the issuance in 2022 of Regulation No. 21 of 2022 - the Indonesian carbon regulation, in 2023 the Ministry of Environment & Forestry issued MOEF Regulation No. 7 of 2023 on Carbon Trading Procedure in Forestry Sector - which serves as a sectoral carbon trading regulation for the forestry sector; and MOEF Decree No. 1027 of 2023 on Carbon Trading Road Map for Forestry Sector. Although these regulations have been issued, carbon trading activities in the forestry sector have not yet commenced and there continues to be no indication as to when such trading activities will begin. On January 23, 2024, as part of ongoing modernization of its methodologies, Verra announced that it had inactivated 'VM0004 Methodology for Avoided Planned Land Use Conversion in Peat Swamp Forests, v2.0'. Verra confirmed that projects validated under VM0004 may continue to use it until their next baseline reassessment or crediting period renewal, whichever is the earliest. Verra further reported that it anticipates releasing revised modules for Avoided Planned Deforestation activities in peatlands under the VM0007 REDD+ Methodology Framework by the end of Q1 2024, and is aiming to complete a new standalone methodology for tropical peatlands by the end of 2024. The VM0004 carbon credit methodology has historically been used at the Rimba Raya project for carbon credit validation and verification. As previously announced, the Rimba Raya project was validated under Reg 21 and with the government-operated carbon registry, Sistem Registri Nasional Pengendalian Perubahan Iklim. In December 2022, Rimba Raya received validation under the SRN using an adaptation of the World Bank BioCarbon Fund's Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes Emission Reduction Program Requirements Version 2.0_2021. The Company believes that Verra's routine inactivation of the methodology currently has no implications for the Rimba Raya project. Carbon Streaming is working with its partners to monitor any impacts that may arise in the future. The Company also understands that Verra and the SRN, through its joint taskforce, are continuing to advance discussions on the development of a Mutual Recognition Agreement that would allow for SRN carbon credits to be validated and verified using Verra methodologies and for such carbon credits to be issued and tracked by both the SRN and Verra. The timeline for agreeing on and implementing any potential MRA is unknown at this time. Carbon Streaming has also entered into a second amendment to the Nalgonda Rice Farming streaming agreement with Core CarbonX Pte Ltd. and its service provider, Core CarbonX Solutions Private Limited. The Amendment provides, among other things, that Core CarbonX use a portion of the second installment to fund pre-payments to farmers and provides that Core CarbonX will implement Alternate Wetting and Drying in rice fields covering 62,000 ha. The project is completing registration under Verra and has been selected by the standard to participate in its remote sensing analysis pilot.

07:05 EST Enbridge reaffirms FY24 EBITDA and DCF guidance

07:03 EST Standard Lithium spearheads Arkansas Lithium Innovation Summit - Standard Lithium (SLI) announce its presenting sponsorship of the Arkansas Lithium Innovation Summit, together with ExxonMobil (XOM), Albemarle (ALB), and TETRA Technologies (TTI). Scheduled for February 15-16, 2024, at the Robinson Center in Little Rock, the summit will bring together a cross-section of industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders. Discussions will focus on Arkansas's strategic contribution to the U.S. lithium supply chain through the high-grade Smackover brine resource and innovative direct lithium extraction technologies. The event aims to spotlight environmentally responsible practices and draw on the region's energy and brine expertise to enhance the business landscape for commercial lithium production.

07:01 EST Centessa to present data from third year of Phase 2a study of SerpinPC - Centessa Pharmaceuticals announced that data from an additional 52-weeks of continuous treatment from the third year of the ongoing Phase 2a study of SerpinPC for the treatment of hemophilia, will be presented during an oral presentation at the 17th Annual Congress of the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders in Frankfurt, Germany, today, February 9, 2024. "EAHAD provides an exciting opportunity to highlight the therapeutic potential of SerpinPC," said Saurabh Saha MD PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Centessa. "The compelling data from the ongoing Phase 2a study further demonstrate the potential for SerpinPC to be a convenient subcutaneous treatment with a differentiated safety profile for people living with hemophilia. These data also reinforce our confidence in SerpinPC's novel mechanism of action as we continue to advance the registrational studies with the goal of bringing a new therapy option to patients and physicians."

06:34 EST YS Biopharma to sell 95.269M shares at 41.99c in private placement - YS Biopharma announced that it has entered into a share purchase agreement with an institutional investor for the private placement of 95,269,762 ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.00002 per share at a purchase price of $0.41986 per share for an aggregate of $40M in proceeds.

06:12 EST PepsiCo raises annual dividend 7% to $5.42 per share - The Company announced a 7 percent increase in its annualized dividend to $5.42 per share from $5.06 per share, effective with the dividend expected to be paid in June 2024. This represents the Company's 52nd consecutive annual dividend per share increase.

06:05 EST Fortis announces C$25B five-year capital plan - Fortis continues to enhance shareholder value through the execution of its capital plan, the balance and strength of its diversified portfolio of regulated utility businesses, and growth opportunities within and proximate to its service territories. The corporation's C$25B five-year capital plan is expected to increase midyear rate base from C$37B in 2023 to C$49.4B by 2028, translating into a five-year compound annual growth rate of 6.3%. Beyond the five-year capital plan, additional opportunities to expand and extend growth include: further expansion of the electric transmission grid in the U.S. to facilitate the interconnection of cleaner energy, including infrastructure investments associated with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the MISO LRTP; climate adaptation and grid resiliency investments; renewable natural gas solutions and liquefied natural gas infrastructure in British Columbia; and the acceleration of cleaner energy infrastructure investments across our jurisdictions. Fortis expects its long-term growth in rate base will drive earnings that support dividend growth guidance of 4%-6% annually through 2028.

05:54 EST Spotify says paid out $9B to music rights holders in 2023 - Spotify paid out $9B to music rights holders in 2023, a "figure that has tripled over the past six years," and more than $48B since its founding, the company said. Further details will be shared in its annual Loud & Clear report, Spotify said. Reference Link