Stockwinners Market Radar for April 22, 2024 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

21:54 EDT GAP Airports reports Q1 EBITDA MXN4.6B, down 1% from last year - The company states: "In 1Q24, the generation of positive net cash flow from operating activities continued for Ps. 4,534.4 million. The Company reported a financial position of cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024, of Ps. 11,541.6 million. In 1Q24, the Company issued long-term bond certificates worth Ps. 3,000.0 million. The proceeds were used to pay the bond certificate "GAP 19" which matured on March 22, 2024. During 1Q24, total passengers at the Company's 14 airports increased by 16.4 thousand passengers, an increase of 0.1%, compared to 1Q23."

20:30 EDT VirnetX announces strategic defense advisory board - VirnetX "announced that it has established an advisory board comprised of four retired senior U.S. Air Force leaders. The board will assist and advise on business development and operational direction of VirnetX's Zero Trust Network Access security technology as a necessary layer of security for defense communications and data management to Department of Defense government officials and commercial contractors."

20:19 EDT Cathie Wood's ARK Investment buys 123K shares of Tesla today

19:50 EDT Zapp Electric Vehicles Group Ltd trading halted, news pending

19:50 EDT My Size trading halted, news pending

17:50 EDT UnitedHealth provides update on on Change Healthcare cyberattack - UnitedHealth Group is announcing support for people who may be concerned about their personal data potentially being impacted based on preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation and review of the data involved in the malicious criminal cyberattack on Change Healthcare. The company is also providing an update on progress in restoring Change Healthcare's products and services. Based on initial targeted data sampling to date, the company has found files containing protected health information or personally identifiable information, which could cover a substantial proportion of people in America. To date, the company has not seen evidence of exfiltration of materials such as doctors' charts or full medical histories among the data. "We know this attack has caused concern and been disruptive for consumers and providers, and we are committed to doing everything possible to help and provide support to anyone who may need it," said Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group. Given the ongoing nature and complexity of the data review, it is likely to take several months of continued analysis before enough information will be available to identify and notify impacted customers and individuals. As the company continues to work with leading industry experts to analyze data involved in this cyberattack, it is immediately providing support and robust protections, rather than waiting until the conclusion of the data review. People can visit a dedicated website at changecybersupport.com to get more information and details on these resources. A dedicated call center has been established to offer free credit monitoring and identity theft protections for two years to anyone impacted. The call center will also include trained clinicians to provide support services. Given the ongoing nature and complexity of the data review, the call center will not be able to provide any specifics on individual data impact at this time. The call center can be reached at 1-866-262-5342 and further details can be found on the website. The company, along with leading external industry experts, continues to monitor the internet and dark web to determine if data has been published. There were 22 screenshots, allegedly from exfiltrated files, some containing PHI and PII, posted for about a week on the dark web by a malicious threat actor. No further publication of PHI or PII has occurred at this time. While this comprehensive data analysis is conducted, the company is in communication with law enforcement and regulators and will provide appropriate notifications when the company can confirm the information involved. This is not an official breach notification. The company will reach out to stakeholders when there is sufficient information for notifications and will be transparent with the process. To help ease reporting obligations on other stakeholders whose data may have been compromised as part of this cyberattack, UnitedHealth Group has offered to make notifications and undertake related administrative requirements on behalf of any provider or customer. Change Healthcare has made continued strong progress restoring services impacted by the event. We have prioritized the restoration of services that impact patient access to care or medication. Pharmacy services are now back to near-normal levels, with 99% of pre-incident pharmacies able to process claims. Medical claims across the U.S. health system are now flowing at near-normal levels as systems come back online or providers switch to other methods of submission. Change Healthcare realizes there are a small number of providers who continue to be adversely impacted and is working with them to find alternative submission solutions and will continue to provide financial support as needed. Payment processing by Change Healthcare, which represents approximately 6% of all payments in the U.S health care system, is at approximately 86% of pre-incident levels and is increasing as additional functionality is restored. Other Change Healthcare services, including eligibility software and analytical tools, are being restored on a rolling basis with the active reconnection of our customers now the priority. To date, approximately 80% of Change functionality has been restored on the major platforms and products, and the company expects full restoration of other systems to be completed in the coming weeks. For the latest information on service restoration and customer support, please visit www.uhg.com/changehealthcarecyberresponse.

17:28 EDT FTC moves to block Tapestry's acquisition of Capri Holdings - The Federal Trade Commission announces that it has "sued to block Tapestry's (TPR) $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings (CPRI), a deal that seeks to combine three close competitors - Tapestry's Coach and Kate Spade brands and Capri's Michael Kors brand. If allowed, the deal would eliminate direct head-to-head competition between Tapestry's and Capri's brands. It would also give Tapestry a dominant share of the "accessible luxury" handbag market, a term coined by Tapestry to describe quality leather and craftsmanship handbags at an affordable price. The Commission issued an administrative complaint and authorized a lawsuit in federal court to block the proposed acquisition, alleging that Tapestry's acquisition of Capri will eliminate fierce competition between the two companies. The proposed merger threatens to deprive millions of American consumers of the benefits of Tapestry and Capri's head-to-head competition, which includes competition on price, discounts and promotions, innovation, design, marketing, and advertising. The deal also threatens to eliminate the incentive for the two companies to compete for employees and could negatively affect employees' wages and workplace benefits. Post acquisition, the combined Tapestry and Capri would employ roughly 33,000 employees worldwide. Given Tapestry's pattern of serial acquisitions, the acquisition of Capri will further entrench Tapestry's stronghold, making it harder for new brands to both enter the market and have a meaningful presence, the FTC alleges. This deal isn't likely to be Tapestry's last, as the acquisition of Capri will give Tapestry additional leverage to make even more acquisitions in the future, according to the complaint. As the FTC's complaint states, documents produced by Tapestry indicate that it has no plans to stop acquisitions even after this proposed merger. The Commission vote to issue the administrative complaint and authorize staff to seek a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction was 5-0." Reference Link

17:18 EDT Northrop Grumman awarded $167.11M Navy contract modification - Northrop Grumman was awarded a $167.11M modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This modification provides for the exercise of Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR, full rate production Lot Six options to procure four full rate production G/ATOR systems and associated data and travel. Work has an expected completion date of February 2029. FY24 other procurement funds in the amount of $167.11M are being obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps is the contracting activity.

17:11 EDT Capri 'strongly disagrees' with FTC's decision to block Tapestry deal - Capri Holdings (CPRI) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's unprecedented challenge to the proposed acquisition of Capri by Tapestry (TPR): "Capri Holdings strongly disagrees with the FTC's decision. The market realities, which the government's challenge ignores, overwhelmingly demonstrate that this transaction will not limit, reduce, or constrain competition. Tapestry and Capri operate in the fiercely competitive and highly fragmented global luxury industry. Consumers have hundreds of handbag choices at every price point across all channels, and barriers to entry are low. Capri intends to vigorously defend this case in court alongside Tapestry and complete the pending acquisition. The U.S. FTC is the only regulator that did not approve this transaction, which received required approvals from all other jurisdictions. We remain confident in this combination and the value it will bring to all stakeholders."

17:07 EDT iSun names Jeff Peck as new CEO, Rob Vanderbeek as interim CFO - iSun "announces a strategic restructuring of its executive team aimed at driving innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring sustained performance in a rapidly evolving market landscape. Effective immediately, Jeff Peck is appointed as Chief Executive Officer of iSun, Inc. Additionally, Rob Vanderbeek is appointed as the Interim Chief Financial Officer of iSun, Inc. iSun is pleased to welcome Mr. Vanderbeek to the executive team during this critical period of restructuring and growth. His extensive experience in operational and financial challenges will be invaluable as iSun continues to navigate market dynamics and pursue strategic opportunities. Rob Vanderbeek brings more than 30 years of restructuring, performance improvement, and corporate finance expertise to iSun. As a partner at Novo Advisors, LLC, he has a deep understanding of various industries, including healthcare, renewable energy, financial services, transportation, manufacturing, real estate, and more. Mr. Vanderbeek has led numerous companies through restructuring and sales processes."

17:01 EDT Tapestry responds to FTC's lawsuit to block proposed acquisition of Capri - Tapestry (TPR) issued the following statement in response to the Federal Trade Commission's attempt to block its proposed acquisition of Capri Holdings (CPRI). "There is no question that this is a pro-competitive, pro-consumer deal and that the FTC fundamentally misunderstands both the marketplace and the way in which consumers shop. Tapestry and Capri operate in an intensely competitive and highly fragmented industry alongside hundreds of rival brands, including both established players and new entrants. We also compete for consumers who are cross-shopping a wide range of channels and brands along a vast pricing spectrum when considering what to purchase. The reality is that consumers have a host of choices when shopping for luxury handbags and accessories, footwear, and apparel, and they are exercising them. The bottom line is that Tapestry and Capri face competitive pressures from both lower- and higher-priced products. In bringing this case, the FTC has chosen to ignore the reality of today's dynamic and expanding $200 billion global luxury industry. This transaction will unite six brands that offer products across a wide range of categories. With Capri, Tapestry will gain access to a broader set of global luxury consumers and geographies and will drive sustainable, healthy growth for Capri's iconic brands, building desire and engagement with consumers globally. Tapestry has a strong record of not only innovating for consumers but also providing industry-leading wages and benefits for our employees. The combined company will continue to set the bar for both consumer and employee experiences. We have full confidence in the merits and pro-competitive nature of this transaction. It will bring significant benefits to the combined company's customers, employees, partners, and shareholders in the U.S. and around the world. We have strong legal arguments in defense of this transaction and look forward to presenting them in court and working expeditiously to close the transaction in calendar year 2024."

16:55 EDT Centuri CEO buys $525K in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Centuri disclosed that its CEO William Fehrman bought 25K shares of common stock on April 22nd in a total transaction size of $525K.

16:52 EDT Centuri director buys $1.5M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Centuri disclosed that its director Anne Mariucci bought 71.4K shares of common stock on April 22nd in a total transaction size of $1.5M

16:38 EDT Critical Metals CEO Dietrich Wanke transitions to new role, Tony Sage to succeed - Critical Metals announced the appointment of Tony Sage as its CEO. Sage will continue in his role as chairman of the board and the current CEO, Dietrich Wanke, has been named the company's president of European Operations to operationalize the Wolfsberg Project. These strategic appointments will better support the development and future operations of Critical Metals' flagship asset in Europe, the Wolfsberg Lithium Project, and open up additional opportunities for Critical Metals. Wanke's new role enables him to focus entirely on overseeing the Wolfsburg Project operations and advancing the mine's development and future production. The company is aiming to operationalize its lithium spodumene concentrator in Wolfsberg, which will be the next significant source of lithium spodumene for European lithium-ion battery market, by 2027. As CEO and chairman of the board, Sage will oversee corporate strategy and commercial development for the Wolfsberg Lithium Project, and he will focus on evaluating additional strategic assets in the critical metals space to be brought under the company's banner.

16:36 EDT Nucor falls 6% to $180 after Q1 results miss estimates - The company also guided Q2 earnings to decrease compared to Q1, consensus $3.63.

16:35 EDT Adicet Bio's new preclinical data highlighting ADI-270 selected for ASGCT - Adicet Bio "announced that an abstract featuring new preclinical data highlighting ADI-270, an armored allogeneic "off-the-shelf" gamma delta CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cell therapy candidate targeting CD70 positive cancers, has been selected for an oral presentation at the ASGCT 27th Annual Meeting taking place from May 7-11, 2024, in Baltimore, MD. The oral presentation will take place on May 10, 2024 in the Targeted Gene and Cell Therapy session, co-chaired by Adicet Bio's Chief Scientific Officer, Blake Aftab, Ph.D. Findings from this study have further characterized and have provided comparative benchmarking for the mechanisms by which ADI-270 provides enhanced functionality and potency in CD70 positive expressing tumors such as clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and facilitates a robust anti-tumor effect that supports its continued development. The preclinical findings indicate: ADI-270 demonstrated potent in vitro cytotoxicity against multiple CD70 positive tumor cell lines expressing varying levels of CD70. ADI-270 demonstrated robust cytotoxicity against heterogeneous CD70 negative and CD70 positive tumor cell cultures, highlighting the potential of gamma delta CAR T cells to be effective against tumors with mixed antigen expression. ADI-270's unique use of CD27-based targeting of CD70 demonstrated robust CAR-mediated killing in multiple cancer models including ccRCC, non-small cell lung cancer and T cell lymphoma, and including those models with lower levels of CD70 expression. ADI-270 inhibited tumor growth in the context of suppressive tumor microenvironment attributed to inclusion of dominant-negative transforming growth factor beta receptor and demonstrated resilience to clearance by host T cells attributed to the function of CD27-based CAR targeting of CD70 also expressed on host T cells. Robust anti-tumor effects in an in vivo model of ccRCC, such as tumor infiltration, proliferation, and effector function, were observed after administration, resulting in eradication of CD70 positive tumor cells."

16:34 EDT Azitra announces new preclinical data to be presented at ASGCT - Azitra "announced preclinical data from the Company's platform and pipeline. The data will be presented on Friday, May 10, 2024, in two oral sessions entitled "Engineered Staphylococcus Epidermidis as a Protein Delivery System for Treating Skin Diseases" and "Staphylococcus epidermidis Strain Expressing LEKTI-D6 for Netherton Syndrome." ATR-12 is an engineered strain of S. epidermidis that expresses a fragment of human lympho-epithelial Kazal-type-related inhibitor (LEKTI) protein, which is missing in patients with Netherton syndrome, a chronic and sometimes fatal disease of the skin estimated to affect approximately one to nine in every 100,000. ATR-12 has been engineered to deliver missing LEKTI protein when applied topically to Netherton syndrome patients. Azitra has an open IND for a Phase 1b clinical trial in adult patients. The data in the abstracts released online today show that topical application of ATR-12 in preclinical models reduced produced reduced IL-36gamma by 93% compared to skin extracts induced to overexpress IL-36gamma. Additionally, topical application of ATR-12 significantly reduced protease activity in skin samples compared to a Netherton syndrome model skin. Finally, ATR-12 produced higher amounts of LEKTI compared to topical application of LEKTI protein alone (6.0 microgram vs. 2.3 microgram, respectively, pless than0.01) after 24 hours and resulted in deeper skin penetration of LEKTI." "We are thrilled to announce new preclinical data for our precision dermatology platform that demonstrate proof-of-concept data supporting the use of genetically engineered skin commensals to deliver proteins to the skin," said Travis Whitfill, Azitra's co-founder and COO. "These data show the robust preclinical activity of ATR-12 in Netherton syndrome models and further supports the rationale behind our Phase 1b clinical trial in Netherton syndrome patients."

16:32 EDT Archer Daniels discloses CFO Vikram Luthar to resign - In a regulatory filing, Archer Daniels-Midland disclosed that on April 19, the company and CFO Vikram Luthar entered into a transition agreement under which Luthar will resign effective September 30, 2024. Until such resignation date, Luthar will be available to assist the company and provide transitional support as needed, as a non-executive employee.

16:27 EDT Laser Photonics gets Nasdaq compliance letters related to late filing - Laser Photonics announced that on April 17 it received a notice from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications department of The Nasdaq Stock Market stating that since the Company has not yet filed its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31 and it no longer complies with Nasdaq's Listing Rules specifically Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), for continued listing. Under the Rules, the Company has 60 calendar days to submit a plan to regain compliance, and if Nasdaq accepts the Company's plan, Nasdaq can grant an exception of up to 180 calendar days from the Filing's due date, or until October 14 to regain compliance. Please note that any subsequent periodic filing that is due within the 180-day exception period must be filed no later than the end of the period.

16:21 EDT Spruce Biosciences announces upcoming poster presentation - Spruce Biosciences "announced that a submitted abstract was accepted for poster presentation at the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) 2024 Annual Meeting taking place May 2-5, 2024, in Chicago, IL. In the poster presentation, Paul Thornton, M.B.B.S., will highlight baseline characteristics from Spruce's CAHmelia program evaluating tildacerfont in adult congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), as an illustration of outcomes of current pediatric CAH disease management."

16:21 EDT Hess Midstream LP raises quarterly distribution 2.7% to 65.16c per share - Hess Midstream announced that the Board of Directors of its general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.6516 per Class A share for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The distribution represents an approximate 2.7% increase in the quarterly distribution per Class A share for the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. This increase consists of an approximate 1.5% increase in Hess Midstream's distribution level per Class A share in addition to the quarterly 1.2% increase per Class A share consistent with its target of at least 5% growth in annual distributions per Class A share through 2026. "We continue to execute on our differentiated financial strategy, prioritizing consistent and ongoing return of capital to our shareholders," said Jonathan Stein, Chief Financial Officer of Hess Midstream. "With today's announcement, we have once again utilized our excess adjusted free cash flow beyond our growing distributions to provide a further return of capital to our shareholders through a 1.5% increase per Class A share in our quarterly distribution level in addition to the quarterly 1.2% increase per Class A share consistent with our target of at least 5% growth in annual distributions per Class A share through 2026. With the combination of our 5% targeted annual distribution growth and our distribution level increases, we have increased our distribution per Class A share by approximately 45% since the first quarter of 2021. We expect to continue to have more than $1.25 billion of financial flexibility through 2026 that can be used to support our return of capital framework, including potential additional and ongoing unit repurchases that could support further distribution per share level increases."

16:19 EDT TopBuild announces termination of agreement to acquire SPI, pays $23M fee - TopBuild announced the mutual termination of its agreement to acquire Specialty Products and Insulation, or SPI, originally announced on July 27, 2023. Robert Buck, President and Chief Executive Officer of TopBuild, stated, "Over the last several months, we worked cooperatively to explore alternatives in a manner consistent with the Department of Justice's view of the metal building insulation ("MBI") business, which they defined narrowly. Because the parties were not able to agree to terms at a value that worked for both parties and that would be likely to obtain regulatory approval within the DOJ's view of the MBI business, we have agreed to terminate the transaction. We intend to stay active on the acquisition front. We have a robust pipeline of opportunities, a core competency in integrating businesses and a proven M&A track record. Our total addressable market is more than $18 billion across the highly fragmented residential, commercial, and industrial and mechanical insulation end markets, and we continue to believe that reinvesting our strong free cash flow to make acquisitions will drive increased shareholder value." The parties agreed to terminate the transaction and withdrew their Hart-Scott Rodino filings effective April 22. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, TopBuild paid a termination fee of $23M.

16:17 EDT Hexcel reports Q1 gross margin 25.0% vs. 27.9% last year - The company states: "Gross margin for the first quarter of 2024 saw another sequential improvement achieving 25.0%. The first quarter of 2023 had a gross margin of 27.9% and benefited from a number of items including particularly favorable absorption and a favorable sales mix."

16:15 EDT Cleveland-Cliffs reports Q1 steel product sales shipments 3.9M tons - The company reports Q1 steel product sales volumes of 3.9 million net tons consisted of 32% hot-rolled, 31% coated, 17% cold-rolled, 5% plate, 4% stainless and electrical, and 11% other, including slabs and rail.

16:13 EDT Clover Health appoints Peter Kuipers as CFO - Clover Health (CLOV) announced the appointment of Peter Kuipers as CFO effective as of the day after the filing of the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter-ended March 31. Kuipers will drive strategic financial initiatives around profitability, growth and potential new revenue streams. Kuipers brings over 25 years of experience to the CFO role at Clover. Kuipers was the former executive VP and CFO at Omnicell (OMCL).

16:11 EDT Ameriprise raises quarterly dividend 10% to $1.48 per share - The Board of Directors of Ameriprise Financial increased the company's quarterly cash dividend by 10 percent, or $0.13 per common share, to $1.48 per common share payable on May 17, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 6, 2024.

16:09 EDT Ethan Allen increases quarterly dividend 8.3% to 39c per share - Ethan Allen announced that its board of directors declared and increased the regular quarterly cash dividend to 39c per share, payable on May 23 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 7. As previously announced on April 3, the company will release its fiscal 2024 third quarter financial results on April 24.

16:08 EDT SAP reaffirms 2024 outlook

16:08 EDT Cleveland-Cliffs backs FY24 capex view of $675M-$725M - The Company maintained all of its previously guided expectations for the full-year 2024, including: Steel shipment volumes of 16.5 million net tons; Year-over-year steel unit cost reductions of approximately $30 per net ton, corresponding to an approximate $500 million Adjusted EBITDA benefit compared to 2023; and Capital expenditures of $675M to $725M.

16:04 EDT SPI Energy receives noncompliance notification from Nasdaq - SPI Energy announced that it received a notice from Nasdaq notifying the company that due to the company's failure to timely file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, with the SEC, the company is not in compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250, which requires the timely filing of all required periodic reports with the SEC.

16:01 EDT Abeona Therapeutics trading halted, news pending

13:08 EDT Legend Biotech says Carvykti approved by EC for second-line multiple myeloma - Legend Biotech (LEGN) announced that the European Commission, or EC, has granted approval of Carvykti for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior line of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent, have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy and are refractory to lenalidomide. The Type-II variation application was submitted to the European Medicines Agency by Janssen-Cilag International N.V., an affiliate of Janssen Biotech, a Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) company, Legend Biotech's collaborator for the development and commercialization of Carvykti. "The European Commission's approval of Carvykti has the potential to transform the treatment paradigm for patients battling multiple myeloma by bringing our novel therapy to them earlier in the course of this incurable disease," said Ying Huang, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Legend Biotech. "This approval is a testament to our innovative science and galvanizes our efforts to provide new options that will improve outcomes for patients and give hope to them and their families."

12:58 EDT SB Value Partners reports 7.7% stake in Ameriserve Financial - SB Value Partners disclosed a 7.7% stake in Ameriserve Financial, which represents over 1.3M shares. The filing allows for activism. SB Value says that "as a result of its extensive experience as a knowledgeable investor in community banks and community bank trust departments," it will regularly consult on financial performance metrics, business development, and similar matters. In addition, SB Value and Ameriserve Financial agreed to "actively engage in substantive collaborative discussions designed to promote performance improvement" and optimal performance.

12:04 EDT Meta opening up OS powering Quest devices to third-party hardware makers - In a post to its Quest blog, Meta stated: "Today we're taking the next step toward our vision for a more open computing platform for the metaverse. We're opening up the operating system powering our Meta Quest devices to third-party hardware makers, giving more choice to consumers and a larger ecosystem for developers to build for. We're working with leading global technology companies to bring this new ecosystem to life and making it even easier for developers to build apps and reach their audiences on the platform. This new hardware ecosystem will run on Meta Horizon OS, the mixed reality operating system that powers our Meta Quest headsets. We chose this name to reflect our vision of a computing platform built around people and connection-and the shared social fabric that makes this possible. Meta Horizon OS combines the core technologies powering today's mixed reality experiences with a suite of features that put social presence at the center of the platform." Reference Link

12:00 EDT Metropolitan Bank rises 8.7% - Metropolitan Bank is up 8.7%, or $3.39 to $42.45.

12:00 EDT DRDGold falls -6.9% - DRDGold is down -6.9%, or -59c to $7.96.

12:00 EDT Informatica falls -8.2% - Informatica is down -8.2%, or -$2.90 to $32.30.

11:45 EDT Telomir Pharmaceuticals Inc trading resumes

11:17 EDT U.S. Department of Defense selects Intel Foundry for phase three of RAMP-C - The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Intel Foundry Phase Three of its Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes - Commercial, or RAMP-C, program, the company announced. "The award was announced through the National Security Technology Accelerator's consortium-based Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems Other Transaction Authority program. The third phase of RAMP-C advances the tape-out and testing of early defense industrial base product prototypes, signifying a critical milestone for the program that highlights the readiness of Intel 18A process technology, intellectual property and ecosystem solutions for high-volume manufacturing. As part of the announcement, RAMP-C customers can begin manufacturing commercial and DIB product prototypes on Intel 18A process technology," Intel stated. Reference Link

10:08 EDT Datasea, iPower partner to expand product distribution in U.S. online markets - Datasea (DTSS) announced that has announced its entry into a Framework Agreement with iPower (IPW) for Product Cooperation, marking the commencement of a joint effort to bolster product distribution within the US online market. iPower stands ready to harness its strengths within the online market. This agreement underscores the shared vision and commitment of both companies to leverage their synergies and collaborate in distributing Datasea's advanced products across the burgeoning US online market. As part of the agreement, Datasea will introduce a diverse range of acoustic intelligence products in the United States, while also providing essential technical support to facilitate their expansion into the American market. In reciprocation, iPower will leverage its internal expertise and external resources to bolster Datasea's product promotion endeavors, particularly within the online domain.

10:00 EDT Harmony Gold falls -7.6% - Harmony Gold is down -7.6%, or -70c to $8.59.

10:00 EDT Informatica falls -11.8% - Informatica is down -11.8%, or -$4.16 to $31.03.

10:00 EDT Sea Limited rises 9.0% - Sea Limited is up 9.0%, or $4.97 to $60.03.

09:51 EDT Graphjet Technology trading resumes

09:50 EDT Matterport trading resumes

09:47 EDT Sea Limited rises 9.3% - Sea Limited is up 9.3%, or $5.14 to $60.20.

09:47 EDT DRDGold falls -7.6% - DRDGold is down -7.6%, or -65c to $7.90.

09:47 EDT Coeur Mining falls -9.8% - Coeur Mining is down -9.8%, or -44c to $4.06.

09:40 EDT Tungray Technologies Inc trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:36 EDT DESTINY TECH100 INC trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:30 EDT Graphjet Technology trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:28 EDT American Rebel reaches distribution agreement with Best Brands - American Rebel Holdings announced a distribution agreement with Best Brands for the state of Tennessee. Best Brands will begin distributing American Rebel Light Beer as soon as product can be integrated into the Best Brands network. This agreement will make American Rebel Beer available to locations and customers within Best Brands' territory statewide in Tennessee.

09:24 EDT Informatica says Jitesh Ghai, EVP Chief Product Officer resigns - The company announced that Jitesh Ghai, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, is resigning to pursue an executive opportunity at another company. "On behalf of the Informatica team, I thank Jitesh for his many contributions," continued Mr. Walia. "We wish Jitesh all the best in this exciting next step of his career."

09:22 EDT American Battery begins commissioning of lithium pilot plant in Nevada - American Battery completed the construction and started commissioning of its lithium hydroxide pilot plant. The company has been developing its Tonopah Flats Lithium Project with over 10,000 acres of lithium-bearing claystone resource which has been assessed to be one of the largest lithium resources in the U.S. The construction and commissioning of this pilot plant enables American Battery to demonstrate its technologies for accessing the lithium housed in its unconventional resource, Tonopah Lithium Flats Project, in an integrated and continuous system, and to generate large amounts of battery grade lithium hydroxide for delivery to customers for qualifications and evaluation. The construction and operation of this pilot demonstration plant are supported by a competitively awarded grant from the Department of Energy for this $4.5M effort. Testing and validation of the lithium hydroxide from the claystone material processed at this plant will be performed by prospective customers such as automotive OEMs, battery manufacturers, and cathode manufacturers. ABTC plans to further evolve this technology by constructing a commercial-scale 30,000 tons lithium hydroxide per year refinery utilizing this system design directly at its TFLP property.

09:20 EDT DraftKings appoints Lori Kalani as chief responsible gaming officer - DraftKings announced the appointment of Lori Kalani as Chief Responsible Gaming Officer reporting into DraftKings' CEO, Jason Robins. Kalani becomes DraftKings' first Chief Responsible Gaming Officer committed to the continued elevation and integration of the company's player safety and protection activities and initiatives across all facets of its platforms and player communities. Kalani previously was a partner at the Cozen O'Connor law firm and Co-Chaired the State Attorneys General practice.

09:19 EDT Edible Garden regains compliance with Nasdaq bid price rule - Edible Garden AG announced that it received notice from Nasdaq on April 19, 2024 indicating that the Company had regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement under Nasdaq Rule 5550(a)(2).

09:11 EDT GD Culture Group enhances TikTok marketing for small, medium-sized businesses - GD Culture Group announced that the Company has attained significant achievements in expanding market reach for small and medium-sized businesses through TikTok, notably highlighted by the strategic partnership with Bloom Koselig, a well-renowned perfume brand on TikTok. Xiaojian Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company highlighted, "We are committed to leveraging our integrated AI advertising and marketing solutions and comprehensive TikTok services to create tailored content and campaigns that resonate with specific audiences on TikTok. Our cutting-edge technologies, enhanced by state-of-the-art AI Video and Digital Human capabilities, empower SMBs with ample resources to craft dynamic, captivating content that deeply resonates with contemporary digital audiences." He also added, "This holistic approach not only improves brand visibility but also drives deeper engagement and interaction, setting our clients apart from the competitive market."

09:09 EDT Matterport to resume trading at 9:50 am ET - Matterport (MTTR) is scheduled to resume trading at 9:50 am ET, with quotation set to resume at 9:45 am ET, according to Nasdaq. The shares were halted, pending news, ahead of Matterport announcing that the company has entered into a definitive agreement with CoStar Group (CSGP), pursuant to which CoStar Group will acquire all outstanding shares of Matterport in a cash and stock transaction valued at $5.50 per share, representing an equity value of approximately $2.1B and an enterprise value of approximately $1.6B based on the closing price for CoStar Group common stock on April 19.

09:08 EDT Mountaineer Partners urges Vishay board to adopt accelerated share repurchase - Mountaineer Partners Management which owns over 2 million shares of Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share, of Vishay Intertechnology, has issued an open letter to the Company's board of directors, urging the Board to enhance shareholder value at the Company by adopting and implementing a $600 million accelerated share repurchase. The letter read, in part, " Mountaineer Partners has been a long-term significant holder of Vishay Intertechnology for more than two years, with ownership of more than 2 million of the Company's shares outstanding. We have appreciated our ongoing dialogue with management and the Company's board of directors throughout the course of our investment and the opportunity to share our views on the steps the Board can take to unlock value for the benefit of its shareholders. As I am sure you agree, CEO Joel Smejkal and his team presented a very compelling business plan on April 2, 2024 at Vishay's first ever Investor Day. The market, however, had a very different take as it sent Vishay shares down that day and lower still through the end of the week. Given Vishay's overcapitalized balance sheet, the Board should take advantage of Vishay's irrationally low valuation by approving and implementing a $600 million accelerated share repurchase. With over $1.5 billion of cash and revolver availability, and a stock trading at 8.8x 2023 Adj. EPS, a $600 million share repurchase is a prudent mechanism for delivering compelling shareholder returns. Our research indicates that should the Company combine a $600 million accelerated share repurchase with the $725 million of repurchases through 2028 indicated in the Investor Day planix, Vishay could repurchase 45% of shares outstanding at current prices while comfortably funding the compelling growth plan presented at the Investor Day."

09:08 EDT Allbirds unveils Tree Runner Go - Allbirds's latest launch just touched down: The Tree Runner Go. This addition to Allbirds's Tree franchise comes with an elevated design, extra cushioning, and improved durability, all packaged in a light, breezy material that's "great for when you're on the go," the company said.

09:07 EDT Verra Mobility appoints Cate Prescott as Chief People Officer - Verra Mobility appointed Cate Prescott as EVP and Chief People Officer. Prescott joins Verra Mobility from National Instruments, where she served as Chief People Officer. In her 10 years at National Instruments, Prescott held a number of global HR leadership roles in both the U.S. and Europe. Her professional experience includes HR leadership roles at BAE Systems, Woolsworth Group and Unipart.

09:05 EDT Avalon announces launch of U.S. sales of KetoAir Breathalyzer - Avalon GloboCare announced the official launch of the KetoAir breathalyzer device and related accessories in the U.S. at the Hack Your Health by KetoCon 2024 Conference being held from May 31 to June 2, 2024 in Austin, Texas. "We're excited to announce the official launch of KetoAir(TM) breathalyzer sales in the U.S. at the Hack Your Health conference," stated David Jin, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Avalon GloboCare. "Our initial focus will revolve around targeting the diabetes reversal and obesity markets to help self-management using the KetoAir(TM) innovation for ketogenic health management. With the ketogenic diet proving effective in addressing both diabetes and weight management, we see a lot of potential in tackling these critical health concerns. We can't wait to introduce the KetoAir(TM) to individuals keen on elevating their health and wellness journey."

09:04 EDT Matterport to be acquired CoStar Group for $5.50 per share - Matterport (MTTR) has entered into a definitive agreement with CoStar Group (CSGP), pursuant to which CoStar Group will acquire all outstanding shares of Matterport in a cash and stock transaction valued at $5.50 per share, representing an equity value of approximately $2.1 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $1.6 billion based on the closing price for CoStar Group common stock on April 19, 2024. Under the terms and subject to the conditions of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by Matterport's Board of Directors, Matterport stockholders will receive $2.75 in cash and $2.75 in shares of CoStar Group common stock for each share of Matterport common stock. Founded in 2011, Matterport pioneered the development of the first 3D capture solution to deliver dimensionally accurate, photorealistic virtual tours or "digital twins" for any type of property. Matterport's proprietary and patented technology enables anyone to digitize a property using a variety of camera technologies including cameras found on most smartphones. Matterport also produces a line of innovative 3D capture devices, including the company's flagship LiDAR-based Pro3 camera which is capable of high-precision indoor and outdoor capture. At the center of the solution is Cortex, a powerful artificial intelligence software engine that automatically generates the 3D digital twin and virtual tour while providing property insights like detailed property dimensions, room layouts, and more. Matterport's 3D technology is utilized in nearly every sector of real estate, spanning residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, and industrial spaces, among others. Over the years, Matterport has curated what is considered the largest and most precise collection of spatial property data worldwide, with over 12 million spaces captured in 177 countries, and representing more than 38 billion square feet of digital property under management. Contributing to this growth, Matterport has established a global network of several thousand photographers, capture services technicians, and service partners producing hundreds of thousands of new 3D digital twins for properties each month. CoStar Group operates some of the most effective and widely recognized real estate information solutions and online property marketplaces in the world including Apartments.com, LoopNet, CoStar, and Homes.com, all of which feature Matterport's 3D virtual tours. CoStar Group was one of the first adopters of Matterport's technology, and currently has almost 300,000 Matterport digital twins available in the CoStar information product and online property marketplaces. Advertisers on CoStar Group marketplaces clearly recognize the value of Matterport virtual tours. In March 2024, there were over 7.4 million views of Matterport 3D Tours on Apartments.com, with consumers spending 20% more time viewing an apartment listing when Matterports were available. CoStar Group intends to utilize Matterport in a similar fashion on Homes.com to further enhance the most comprehensive agent, seller and buyer friendly residential portal on the market. The transaction, which is expected to be completed during the year, is subject to the approval of Matterport stockholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals. Directors, Officers and certain other stockholders of Matterport, representing approximately 15% of Matterport's fully diluted shares, have entered into voting agreements to support the transaction. The transaction is subject to a 10% symmetrical collar based on a CoStar Group share price of $86.02 as the midpoint.

09:02 EDT CoStar Group to acquire Matterport in cash/stock deal valued at $5.50 per share

08:55 EDT Cidara Therapeutics announces 1-for-20 reverse stock split - Cidara Therapeutics announced that the Company effected a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common stock, at a ratio of 1-for-20. The effective time of the reverse stock split will be 5 p.m. ET on April 23, 2024. The Company's common stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis commencing upon market open on April 24, 2024. As previously disclosed, at a special meeting of stockholders held on April 4, 2024, the Company's stockholders voted to approve a proposal authorizing the Board of Directors of the Company to amend the Company's certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse stock split and a corresponding reduction in the authorized shares of the Company's common stock at a ratio that is equal to half of the reverse split ratio. On April 12, 2024, the Board of Directors approved a 1-for-20 reverse stock split. As a result of the reverse split, each 20 shares of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock will be automatically combined and converted into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. The Company's common stock will trade under a new CUSIP number, 171757206, effective April 24, 2024, and remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "CDTX". The reverse stock split reduces the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Company's outstanding shares of preferred stock and the exercise or vesting of its outstanding stock options, restricted stock units and warrants in proportion to the ratio of the reverse stock split and causes a proportionate increase in the conversion and exercise prices of such preferred stock, stock options and warrants.

08:54 EDT Aslan announces interim results from Phase 2 study of eblasakimab - ASLAN Pharmaceuticals announced interim results from the Phase 2 study of eblasakimab in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis adult patients previously treated with dupilumab, TREK-DX. The primary endpoint, which is the percent change in Eczema Area Severity Index score from baseline to week 16, was statistically significant when compared to placebo, even though the interim analysis was not powered for statistical significance due to the sample size. 73.3% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved a reduction in EASI score of at least 75% from baseline compared to 14.3% on placebo. Summary of the interim data: The TREK-DX trial is enrolling moderate-to-severe adult AD patients who have discontinued dupilumab treatment for any reason, including inadequate control of AD, loss of access or an adverse event, after at least 16 weeks of dupilumab treatment. In an interim analysis of data from 22 patients, comprising the intent-to-treat population, that were randomized 2:1 active to placebo, 17 patients completed the 16-week treatment period and five patients discontinued before the completion of the 16-week treatment period. Patients treated with eblasakimab 400mg once weekly saw a rapid onset of action in the first few weeks of treatment, with a statistically significant improvement in EASI score by Week 4 compared to placebo. By Week 16, a 86.9% mean reduction4 in EASI score from baseline was observed for eblasakimab-treated patients compared to a 51.2% reduction for placebo. Clinically meaningful improvements were achieved in other key efficacy measures compared to placebo at Week 16, including: 73.3% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved EASI-75, versus 14.3% on placebo. 60.0% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved EASI-90, versus 14.3% on placebo. 20.0% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved EASI-100, versus 0% on placebo. 66.7% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved a vIGA score of 0 or 1, versus 14.3% with placebo. 58.9% mean reduction in peak pruritus numerical rating scale score for eblasakimab-treated patients, versus a 12.9% reduction for placebo. 53.8% of eblasakimab-treated patients, with a baseline score of at least 4, achieved a 4-point reduction in PP-NRS score, versus 14.3% on placebo. Of the six patients treated with eblasakimab who previously had an inadequate response to dupilumab, 66.7% achieved EASI-90 and 66.7% achieved a vIGA score of 0 or 1. Treatment was well-tolerated and no new safety signals were identified. There were no reports of conjunctivitis or injection site reactions in the active or placebo arm. Summary of data from subgroup with baseline EASI score of 18 or above: As previously announced, the TREK-DX recruitment criteria were tightened in October 2023 to enroll only patients with a baseline EASI score of 18 or above. These more stringent criteria will be the basis of analysis in the topline readout, expected at the end of 2024. Of the 22 patients in this interim analysis, 15 meet these amended enrollment criteria, and have the following efficacy findings at Week 16: 89.2% mean reduction in EASI score from baseline for eblasakimab-treated patients, versus a 45.7% reduction for placebo. 83.3% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved EASI-75, versus 0% on placebo. 66.7% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved EASI-90, versus 0% on placebo. 25% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved EASI-100, versus 0% on placebo. 75.0% of eblasakimab-treated patients achieved a vIGA score of 0 or 1, versus 0% with placebo. 61.2% mean reduction in PP-NRS score for eblasakimab-treated patients, versus a 1.5% increase for placebo. 60% of eblasakimab-treated patients, with a baseline score of least 4, achieved a 4-point reduction in PP-NRS score, versus 0% on placebo. The interim data will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming scientific conference.

08:44 EDT Linkage Global's subsidiary signs advertising deployment contract - Linkage Global announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, HQT Network, has entered into an advertising deployment contract with a major client with a budget of $40 million. Under the terms of the Contract, HQT Network will provide comprehensive and professional advertising deployment services to the client, that will include providing support to the client's advertising account, such as account setup, account binding/authorization, and account top-up, as well as advertisement campaign services, such as multimedia content production, ad creation, and data optimization. Wu Zhihua, Chairman and CEO of Linkage, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Linkage is dedicated to providing the client with superior and professional advertising deployment services, aiming to enhance the client's brand influence, recognition, reputation, and market competitiveness. We eagerly anticipate achieving mutual success and remarkable outcomes through this collaborative endeavor."

08:42 EDT Velo3D names Hull Xu as new CFO, replacing Chung - Velo3D announced changes to its leadership structure as well as that its re-alignment initiatives to maximize cash flow and operational efficiency remain on plan. The Company has appointed Hull Xu as its new Chief Financial Officer, replacing acting CFO Bernard Chung, who will leave the Company on April 29 following the acceptance of another opportunity. Mr. Xu brings more than 15 years of corporate finance experience in the technology industry, most recently with Cepton, Inc. as Chief Financial Officer as well as significant capital markets and investment banking experience at the Royal Bank of Canada, Barclays Capital, and GE Capital. He will be responsible for the Company's finance, accounting, treasury, corporate development, and investor relations activities. Mr. Xu holds an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. Additionally, Michelle Sidwell, the company's Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Commercial Officer to unify sales, product strategy, and the company's customer service initiatives. She will now oversee the company's sales, marketing, customer service and business development organizations. The company also announced that Renette Youssef, Chief Marketing Officer, will be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. "

08:42 EDT Maxeon Solar files patent infringement suit against Hanwha Q CELLS - Maxeon Solar Technologies announced that it has initiated a patent infringement lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas against Hanwha Q CELLS, alleging their infringement of Maxeon patents relating to TOPCon solar cell technology. "In November 2023, Maxeon initiated a TOPCon patent infringement investigation in the United States, and this lawsuit against Hanwha Q CELLS, along with recent similar actions against Canadian Solar, Inc. and REC Solar Holdings AS, are results of that investigation," said Marc Robinson, Maxeon's Associate General Counsel. "Maxeon has the responsibility to protect the leadership position it has earned from its substantial R&D investments and will continue to enforce its patent rights against those who are attempting to sell infringing products in the U.S. and its other markets."

08:41 EDT Adial Pharmaceuticals granted key patent from USPTO - Adial Pharmaceuticals announced patent number 11957664 was issued April 16, 2024 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO. This patent expands Adial's intellectual property protection and covers the combination of the Company's proprietary genetic diagnostic to identify patients with specific genotypes for genetically targeted treatment of alcohol use disorder and other drug dependencies, such as opioid use disorder, with the Company's lead investigational new drug product AD04. Cary Claiborne, CEO of Adial, commented, "We are proud to have secured this new patent, which covers important aspects of the combination of our proprietary genetic diagnostic and AD04 to treat AUD, OUD, and other drug dependencies. Importantly, we have identified specific genotypes that have responded with clinically meaningful changes in drinking behavior compared to placebo in the AD04 post hoc analysis, which represents an addressable market of approximately $40 billion in the U.S. alone. We believe our unique personalized approach can offer new hope to the millions affected by AUD, OUD and other addictive disorders such as obesity and gambling."

08:40 EDT Gaucho Group says Argentina's NATO bid could pave way for economic growth - Gaucho Group announced that Argentina's recent effort to become a "global partner" of NATO could herald significant economic stability and growth. This alignment, which seeks to reconnect Argentina with the U.S. and other Western economies, is anticipated to boost the business environment and, by extension, enhance the value of Gaucho Holdings' luxury real estate investments in the region. Given the historical economic boosts observed in countries post-NATO alliances, Gaucho Holdings is optimistic about Argentina's resultant economic stability and growth. Argentina's effort to form a partnership with NATO comes at a time when the country is taking considerable steps to mend and strengthen its economic policies and international relationships. These actions are expected to foster an environment rife for investment and growth, particularly in sectors where Gaucho Holdings operates. The Company's CEO and Founder, Scott Mathis, commented on the development, stating, "We are observing a pivotal transformation in Argentina's international relations, which we believe can lead to substantial economic stability and growth. Such an environment is conducive for significant appreciation in real estate values, especially in prime markets where Gaucho Holdings maintains considerable assets. This move could greatly benefit our stakeholders and enhance the intrinsic value of our extensive portfolio in Argentina."

08:38 EDT Peyto Exploration announces filing, mailing of circular for Annual Meeting - Peyto Exploration & Development announced its notice of annual meeting of shareholders and management information circular are now available on the Company's website at https://www.peyto.com/MIC.aspx as well as under Peyto's profile on SEDAR+. The Company commenced the mailing of the Circular and related materials for the meeting to Peyto's shareholders on April 22, 2024. Peyto will hold the Meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at +15 Level, 600 - 3rd Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0G5. We encourage all shareholders to vote and attend the Meeting. The Board of Directors of Peyto recommends that Shareholders vote FOR ALL proposed items.

08:35 EDT Fundamental Global announces $6.5M sale of Digital Ignition - Fundamental Global announced the sale of its Digital Ignition building and wholly owned subsidiary for $6.5 million. Fundamental Global will receive approximately $1.3 million in cash, net of closing costs and repayment of debt. In addition, the Company expects annual operating costs to be reduced by approximately $1 million as a result of the sale. Kyle Cerminara, Chairman and CEO of Fundamental Global, commented, "We are committed to reducing expenses and increasing scale, focus and profitability. When I returned as CEO it became obvious that Digital Ignition was not core to the new strategic focus and that we should sell and focus our time, effort and capital. This sale is one of many steps we are taking to consolidate and simplify our operations, reduce costs, and focus our efforts on a few highly scalable and high ROIC businesses."

08:34 EDT NSTS Bancorp appoints Emily Ansani to board of directors - NSTS Bancorp announced today that Ms. Emily Ansani has been appointed to the Board of Directors of both the Company and the Bank. Ms. Ansani was appointed to fill the vacancy in the class of directors whose term expires at the Company's annual stockholder meeting in 2025. Ansani previously served as a Vice President with Bank of America, where she held various positions in Capital Markets Risk Management, the Futures Clearing Division, the Special Assets Division and the Global Corporate Bank.

08:33 EDT P10 appoints Tracey Benford to board of directors - P10 announced the appointment of Tracey Benford to its Board of Directors as an independent Class II director, effective April 22, 2024. Ms. Benford will serve on the Company's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. As a former Partner from Goldman Sachs, Ms. Benford oversaw the Global Markets Division for the Midwest, Southwest and Canada, while managing some of the firm's largest alternative asset managers, pension funds and insurance companies.

08:33 EDT VCI Global receives investment from Legacy Credit - VCI Global Limited announced a significant milestone with Legacy Credit, a leading Malaysian financial institutional shareholder, making a substantial investment exceeding 5% stake through a private placement. Under this shares placement agreement, Legacy Credit will invest $2.5 million in VCIG, effective April 10, 2024.

08:25 EDT Intrusion to acquire minority stake in Klever AI - Intrusion has agreed to acquire a minority stake in Klever AI, a Houston, TX based artificial intelligence company, in an all-stock transaction. Klever AI, a cutting-edge technology company at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution, has been helping organizations thrive in the digital age by developing innovative and practical AI and machine learning solutions that assist in transforming businesses. Klever AI currently operates in a wide range of industries, such as healthcare, security, finance and IoT. The company empowers organizations by using its AI/ML solutions to help unlock valuable insights, drive operational efficiency, and make data-driven decisions with confidence. Over the past two years, Klever AI has been both a partner and a customer of Intrusion, assisting with both the design and development of Intrusion Shield Endpoint and Cloud solutions, as well as incorporating Shield technology as a part of its customer solutions.

08:22 EDT Moderna announces contract with Brazil to supply 12.5M COVID-19 vaccines - Moderna announced a contract with the Ministry of Health in Brazil to supply its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine as an integral part of Brazil's 2024 national vaccination campaign against COVID-19. This contract follows the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency's, ANVISA, approval of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine in March 2024, which encodes the spike protein of the XBB.1.5 sublineage of SARS-CoV-2 for active immunization for the prevention of COVID-19 in children from six months of age and adults. "We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Health to provide our mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for the first time in Brazil as part of the national vaccination campaign," said Stephane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. "This agreement underscores our commitment to global health and our role in supporting Brazil's efforts to protect its citizens against COVID-19. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Health to help maintain health security in Brazil." Under the contract, 12.5 million doses of Moderna's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine are anticipated for delivery in the second quarter of 2024, marking a significant milestone in Brazil's ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19.

08:21 EDT DZS appoints Chestnut as Chief Accounting Officer - DZS announced that Brian Chesnut has been appointed as the company's Chief Accounting Officer, CAO, reporting directly to Chief Financial Officer, CFO, Misty Kawecki. Chesnut will be responsible for working closely with the CFO, senior leadership and the company's new independent public accounting firm, BDO USA, overseeing all corporate accounting functions including reporting, governance and internal controls. Chesnut is an accomplished executive who brings to DZS nearly 15 years of accounting leadership experience. Before joining DZS, Chesnut was the Vice President and Head of Corporate Accounting for Continental Battery Systems.

08:19 EDT INNOVATE Corp. announces preliminary results of rights offering - INNOVATE announced the preliminary results of its successful rights offering, which expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 19, 2024. According to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as of the expiration date, 18.1 million basic subscription rights were exercised to purchase an aggregate of 5.2 million shares of common stock and 0.1 million additional shares of common stock were subscribed for under the over-subscription privilege, subject to proration. Further, in accordance with the Investment Agreement entered into by the Company with Lancer Capital, an investment fund led by Avram Glazer, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Company's largest stockholder, Lancer Capital agreed to partially backstop the rights offering in an amount not to exceed $19.0 million by purchasing newly issued Series C Non-Voting Convertible Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share. Based on the preliminary results, we expect that 15.3 thousand shares of preferred stock at a price of $1,000 per share will be purchased under the backstop commitment. This includes 6.3 thousand shares of preferred stock to be purchased at the upcoming closing and 9.0 thousand shares already purchased as part of an equity advance arrangement under the Investment Agreement. On March 28, 2024, the Company issued and sold 25.0 thousand shares of the preferred stock to Lancer Capital for an aggregate purchase price of $25.0 million under the equity advance. The remaining 16.0 thousand shares of preferred stock purchased under the equity advance are part of the previously announced concurrent private placement. The preferred stock can be convertible into common stock at the price equivalent to the subscription price under the rights offering contingent on shareholder approval, which will be voted on at the next annual meeting. The shares of common stock to be issued at the closing of the rights offering will be purchased at the subscription price of $0.70 per whole share. The Company expects the subscription agent to distribute the shares of common stock and the proceeds from the rights offering on or about April 24, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. The results of the rights offering are preliminary and subject to change pending finalization of subscription procedures by the subscription agent. The Company expects to issue a press release on April 24, 2024, to announce the final results of the rights offering. The Company will receive aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $35.0 million from the rights offering and concurrent private placement, and expects to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including debt service and for working capital.

08:17 EDT Amarin anounces results of annual general meeting of shareholders - Amarin Corporation announced shareholder approval of all proposed resolutions specified at its 2024 Annual General Meeting. Importantly, shareholders approved each of the two proposals required for the Company to proceed with its previously announced intent to pursue a share repurchase program of up to $50 million. This permits the Company to request U.K. High Court approval, as required under U.K. company law, and if approved by the U.K. High Court, commence the share repurchase program by the end of the second quarter of 2024. As part of the Annual General Meeting, shareholders also approved the following resolutions: Re-elected Mr. Patrick Holt, Mr. Louis Sterling III and Ms. Patrice Bonfiglio as directors of the Company; Approved the compensation of the Company's "named executive officers" as described in full in the "Executive Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section of the Company's definitive proxy statement; Approved the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors of the Company until the conclusion of the next general meeting; Approved the proposed amendment to the Company's 2020 Stock Incentive Plan; Authorized and approved the amended and restated articles of association to require all directors to retire and seek re-election at each annual general meeting of the Company.

08:15 EDT Verb Technology's MARKET.live adds another 1q00 retail brands to platform - Verb Technology Company continues the expansion of its MARKET.live livestream social shopping platform with the addition of another ONE HUNDRED innovative brands. "The continued rapid expansion of our business is a testament to the unique value proposition that MARKET.live represents, as thousands of brands and retailers attempt to navigate the sea change that has occurred and continues to occur in consumer retail as we know it - or rather, as we knew it," states Rory J. Cutaia, VERB CEO. "MARKET.live sits at the center of a new universe where social media has become the retail distribution channel of choice, and where entertainment is forever inextricably intertwined with commerce."

08:13 EDT Pfizer announces EC approval for Emblaveo - Pfizer announced that the European Commission, or EC, has granted marketing authorization for Emblaveo for the treatment of adult patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections, or cIAI, hospital-acquired pneumonia, or HAP, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, or VAP, and complicated urinary tract infections, or cUTI, including pyelonephritis. It is also indicated for the treatment of infections due to aerobic Gram-negative organisms in adult patients with limited treatment options.

08:11 EDT Satellogic signs LOI with O.N.E. Amazon to provide earth observation data - Satellogic announced that it has signed a letter of intent with O.N.E. Amazon, a company focused on creating sustainable impact for the environment and investors by using next-generation technology to bring innovation to conservation. The announcement coincides with Earth Day, amplifying the importance of advancing geospatial sciences for planetary health and preservation. Satellogic will look to support O.N.E. Amazon's creation of the Internet of Forests , a large-scale sensor network that, along with machine intelligence infrastructure, will be used to monitor key variables within the Amazon rainforest..."Tokenization of the Amazon rainforest requires a granular assessment of environmental and social conditions within a given area of land. We believe Satellogic's state-of-the-art earth-mapping technology will play a key role in the success of IoF," said Rodrigo Veloso, CEO, O.N.E. Amazon. "The Internet of Forests is intended to ensure reliable measurements of key environmental and social metrics; serve as world-class data collection and storage infrastructure for scientific analysis of forest environments; and enable local communities to better understand how their behavior and the behavior of institutions impact the natural environment within the rainforest."

08:10 EDT Sysco is driving more eco-friendly products, solutions to reduce plastic - Sysco Corporation is taking action to improve the sustainability of product packaging. Earlier this year, the company introduced packaging guidelines to encourage all supplier partners to transition to materials and design principles that will collectively reduce our environmental footprint. "We only have One Planet, and right now that planet is overwhelmed with plastic and packaging waste. This year's Earth Day theme of 'Planet vs. Plastics' was a perfect opportunity to highlight how we are working with our suppliers and customers to reduce plastics and packaging waste," said Neil Russell, Sysco's Chief Administrative Officer.

08:07 EDT Cherry Hill Mortgage announces special committee to explore strategic options - Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment announced that its Board of Directors has established a special committee of the Board to explore strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value. The Special Committee is comprised solely of independent and disinterested directors and intends to consider the full range of strategic alternatives, including, but not limited to, a business combination involving the Company, a sale of all or part of the Company's assets or an internalization of the management of the Company. Guggenheim Securities is serving as the financial advisor to the Special Committee. There can be no assurance that the exploration of strategic alternatives will result in any transaction or other strategic outcome. There is no formal timetable for the Special Committee's completion of its exploration of strategic alternatives and the Company does not intend to disclose any developments with respect to the process until the evaluation of strategic alternatives has been completed or the Special Committee determines disclosure is appropriate or legally required.

08:06 EDT Enphase Energy partners with Octopus Energy Group - Enphase Energy announced a new strategic relationship with global energy and tech company, Octopus Energy Group. The parties will focus on deploying Enphase IQ8 Microinverters and IQ Battery 5P in the United Kingdom. Octopus Energy's retail customers in the United Kingdom can now integrate Enphase's home solar and battery systems in their energy plans to unlock low-cost residential energy rates. Octopus Energy will also use Kraken, its proprietary software platform for managing, controlling, and optimizing distributed energy resources, to allow its clients to create virtual power plants with Enphase's solar and battery systems. "This strategic relationship is an exciting step forward in solar technology growth and homeowner empowerment in the United Kingdom," said Devrim Celal, CEO of Kraken Technologies, part of the Octopus Energy Group. "By integrating Enphase's systems with Octopus Energy's forward-thinking approach to energy management, we're not only driving down costs for consumers but also creating a cheaper, greener grid in real-time."

08:06 EDT Chipotle announces opening of its first location in Kuwait City - Chipotle Mexican Grill announced the opening of its first location in Kuwait City in partnership with leading international franchise retail operator Alshaya Group. The restaurant has been operating with adjusted hours since the beginning of the month to account for holidays and training and will hold its official grand opening on April 23. Chipotle's location in Kuwait marks the first time the company has entered a new country in over 10 years. The new restaurant is located at The Avenues, Kuwait's largest shopping mall and a hub for international and local brands with over 1,100 stores and approximately one million visitors per week.

08:05 EDT Oracle announces accreditation of three cloud regions for U.S. DoD - Oracle announced the accreditation of three cloud regions for the U.S. Department of Defense with Defense Information Systems Agency Impact Level 6 authorization to host Secret classified workloads. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is now available at all DoD classification levels, providing defense customers support for their full technology portfolio and more capability to fulfill their mission.

08:02 EDT Bragg Gaming, Light & Wonder agree to international distribution deal - Bragg Gaming (BRAG) announced it has signed an international online casino content distribution agreement with Light & Wonder (LNW). The agreement will see high-performing games from Bragg's proprietary studios, Atomic Slot Lab, Indigo Magic, Wild Streak Gaming and Spin Games added to Light & Wonder's online ecosystem. Exclusive content from the supplier's Powered by Bragg partners will also be integrated, providing Light & Wonder with a wide selection of highly localized and unique titles. The deal will encompass numerous European regulated markets as well as USA and Canada, significantly growing the reach of Bragg's content to new audiences and strengthening the supplier's casino offering with new titles.

07:56 EDT Syra Health awarded five-year contract from Sedgwick County Health Department - Syra Health announced that it has been awarded a five-year contract from the Sedgwick County Health Department in Kansas. As part of the agreement, Syra Health will provide Overdose Data to Action training to first responders and faith-based community organizations in Sedgwick County. The training sessions provided by Syra Health will include education on substance use disorder (SUD), harm reduction, overdose trends, naloxone use, and treatment options. Additionally, the training will cover linkage to care, offering techniques and strategies for first responders to guide individuals to the appropriate resources. The training will also address stigma and its impact on individuals with SUD, providing insights into how stigmatizing behavior and language can negatively affect these individuals and ways to mitigate such effects.

07:48 EDT Critical Elements Lithium reports results from program at Rose West Discovery - Critical Elements Lithium announced the most recent results from the winter 31-hole, 3,670-meter drill program on its 100% owned Rose West Discovery with multiple wide intersections of lithium-rich pegmatites. The Rose West Discovery is situated within the Rose Lithium-Tantalum and Rose South property blocks, which constitute 395 km2, or only 38% of the total 1,050 km2 in the Corporation's highly prospective exploration portfolio in Quebec. The 2024 winter drill campaign successfully completed 3,670 meters of drilling in 31 holes on the spodumene-bearing pegmatite showings discovered during the 2023 summer prospecting campaign, herein referred to as Rose West. Drilling results to date have demonstrated the continuity of a mineralized pegmatite body, which thus far extends over 450 m strike, 370 m down dip and to a vertical depth of 140 m. In the west, the body is comprised of multiple near surface mineralized pegmatites that range up to an apparent thickness of 12.40 m individually. These bodies appear to coalesce into a more substantial spodumene-bearing pegmatite in the east with an apparent width of up to 40.40 m. The near surface pegmatites appear to strike northwesterly with a gentle dip of 15 degrees , while the thicker pegmatite appears to strike easterly with a near-horizontal dip of 13 degrees. The body is still open in all directions, while the greatest exploration potential appears to be to the east. New assay results from the drill program have been received for fourteen new drillholes. Several of the new drillhole results returned wide high grade lithium assays, as highlighted: 1.39% Li2O and 157 ppm Ta2O5 over 35.30 m, including 2.33% Li2O and 152 ppm Ta2O5 over 9.00 m in hole RD-24-25A; 1.29% Li2O and 121 ppm Ta2O5 over 31.50 m, including 1.69% Li2O and 127 ppm Ta2O5 over 13.50 m in hole RD-24-24; 1.22% Li2O and 250 ppm Ta2O5 over 20.50 m, including 1.60% Li2O and 181 ppm Ta2O5 over 15.00 m in hole RD-24-17; 1.27% Li2O and 192 ppm Ta2O5 over 18.65 m in hole RD-24-27; 1.59% Li2O and 127 ppm Ta2O5 over 13.80 m in hole RD-24-18; 1.75% Li2O and 201 ppm Ta2O5 over 10.10 m in hole RD-24-19.

07:45 EDT Blackstone bid for Hipgnosis receives backing from board - The company said, "The Board of Hipgnosis (HPGSF) notes the announcement by Blackstone Europe (BX), acting as sub- advisor to the Blackstone Funds and confirms that it yesterday received an improved proposal to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Hipgnosis on the terms set out in the Blackstone announcement. The Board, having reviewed the Proposal with its financial adviser, Singer Capital Markets, has indicated to Blackstone that the Proposal is at a value that it would be minded to recommend to its shareholders should Blackstone announce a firm intention to make an offer pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the Code on such financial terms." The statement comes following a Saturday announcement by Hipgnosis, which said, "Blackstone Europe LLP, acting as sub-advisor to the Blackstone Funds notes the recent speculation regarding Hipgnosis. Blackstone confirms that it has made a series of proposals regarding a possible offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Hipgnosis. Blackstone furthermore notes Concord Chorus Limited's firm offer on 18 April 2024 to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Hipgnosis. Blackstone has made an improved fourth proposal to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Hipgnosis at a price of $1.24 per share in cash. Should Blackstone announce a firm intention to make an offer for Hipgnosis pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the Code under the terms of the Fourth Proposal, it is intended that such a Firm Offer would be effected by means of a takeover offer as defined in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act 2006. However, Blackstone would reserve the right, pursuant to its rights under the Code to implement any such Firm Offer by way of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 should a Firm Offer be announced." Reference Link

07:42 EDT Cognition Therapeutics provided recap of virtual KOL event - Cognition Therapeutics provided a recap of the virtual KOL event hosted on April 12, 2024. "The KOL roundtable we conducted featured a panel of Alzheimer's disease expert clinicians and researchers who highlighted the need to find Alzheimer's disease treatments that are less burdensome for patients and their care partners," said Lisa Ricciardi, Cognition's president and CEO. "They reinforced the importance of removing toxic oligomers as an important step in slowing the progress of Alzheimer's disease and highlighted the need for new treatment modalities to use alone or in conjunction with the currently approved treatments." The KOLs shared their perspectives on the currently approved immunotherapies for early Alzheimer's disease, including perception of their effectiveness in targeting plaque, impact of amyloid related imaging abnormalities on commercial uptake, and the clinical meaningfulness of the reported changes in disease progression.

07:39 EDT Pinellas County selects Kapsch TrafficCom for ATCMTD-sponsored project - Pinellas County, Florida, has selected Kapsch TrafficCom for the ATCMTD-sponsored project to improve mobility and safety. Funded by a $4.6 million grant by the Federal Highway Administration, Kapsch TrafficCom will implement advanced technology solutions to address safety and mobility issues in the region. The project continues the county's commitment of investing in emerging technologies to advance transportation operations.

07:37 EDT Kura Oncology receives breakthrough therapy designation for ziftomenib - Kura Oncology announced that its investigational drug, ziftomenib, has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation, BTD, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia. FDA granted BTD for ziftomenib based on data from Kura's ongoing KOMET-001 clinical trial in patients with R/R NPM1-mutant AML. BTD is for a drug that treats a serious or life-threatening condition and for which preliminary clinical evidence indicates the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement on a clinically significant endpoint(s) over available therapies. "We are highly encouraged by FDA's decision to grant Breakthrough Therapy Designation to ziftomenib, recognizing its potential as an innovative medicine for patients with relapsed/refractory NPM1-mutant AML," said Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kura Oncology. "NPM1-mutant AML represents approximately 30% of new AML cases annually, and this designation reflects that NPM1-mutant AML is a disease of significant unmet need for which there is no approved targeted therapy as well as the fact that ziftomenib offers potential to demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapies. We remain committed to bringing ziftomenib to the market as quickly as possible and look forward to working more closely with FDA to bring our ziftomenib program to patients in urgent need of effective treatments."

07:36 EDT Lexeo announces license agreement to accelerate development of LX2006 - Lexeo Therapeutics announced an in-license agreement with Cornell University to expedite development of the investigational gene therapy candidate LX2006 for the treatment of Friedreich ataxia cardiomyopathy. Under the license agreement, Lexeo has acquired certain rights1 including rights to current and future data generated in an ongoing investigator-initiated Phase 1A trial of AAVrh.10hFXN to treat FA cardiomyopathy. The agreement will support Lexeo's efforts to develop a potentially life-changing therapy for this unmet need. The investigator-initiated trial is being conducted by Weill Cornell Medicine, which has pioneered groundbreaking research on the potential of gene therapy in FA, published preclinical data that supported the first ever gene therapy IND clearance for FA, and sponsored a natural history study for almost a decade to better characterize the condition and its progression. Lexeo previously licensed know-how relating to AAVrh.10hFXN from Weill Cornell Medicine and collaborated with researchers there to further study the candidate, which Lexeo refers to as LX2006. The interim clinical data readout of LX2006 is expected mid-year 2024.

07:35 EDT Vista Outdoor advises MNC capital to increase offer price - Vista Outdoor confirmed it is engaging in discussions with MNC Capital related to its March 25 unsolicited indication of interest pursuant to which MNC expressed interest in acquiring Vista Outdoor in an all-cash transaction for $37.50 per Vista share. The company advised MNC it expects MNC to deliver an improved economic proposal following the company providing MNC with access to certain diligence information as permitted in accordance with the terms of the existing merger agreement with Czechoslovak Group, or CSG. Michael Callahan, chairman of the Vista Outdoor board of directors, said, "The Vista Outdoor Board does not consider MNC's revised proposal to be superior to the transaction with CSG and continues to believe MNC's proposed offer price undervalues the Revelyst business. That said, the Board has determined MNC's revised proposal meets the standard under the merger agreement with CSG permitting engagement with MNC. Accordingly, the Board has authorized Vista management to provide MNC with non-public information so MNC can increase its offer price. The Board remains committed to acting in the best interest of Vista Outdoor and its stockholders." Given these ongoing discussions, the company will adjourn the special meeting of its stockholders with respect to the CSG transaction, originally scheduled to be held at 9:00 am on May 16 to June 14. The record date of April 1 remains unchanged. Vista Outdoor notes there can be no assurance the discussions with MNC will result in either an increased offer price or any transaction with MNC. Vista Outdoor remains bound by the terms of the merger agreement with CSG and the Vista Outdoor board of directors continues to recommend Vista stockholders vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the existing merger agreement with CSG. Vista Outdoor continues to be confident that it will receive clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, with respect to the proposed transaction with CSG and that all other closing conditions will be satisfied.

07:33 EDT Titan Medical provides update on planned merger with Conavi - Titan Medical provided an update on its planned merger with Conavi Medical as previously announced on March 18, 2024. As previously announced, Titan has entered into a definitive amalgamation agreement dated March 17, 2024 with Conavi Medical providing for the combination of the companies in an all-stock transaction. The combined company will focus on continuing to commercialize Conavi's Novasight Hybrid System designed to guide common minimally invasive coronary procedures. Titan and Conavi continue to work towards the satisfaction of the conditions to completion of the Transaction set forth in the Amalgamation Agreement, including the parties' work currently underway in respect of the following: Preparation of submissions to the TSXV in connection with Titan's planned applications for the listing of its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange and their delisting from the Toronto Stock Exchange and for TSXV approval of the Transaction; Completion of Titan's management information circular and related documents in connection with Titan's annual and special meeting at which Titan's shareholders will be asked to approve the Transaction and other related matters; and Conavi's efforts in connection with a concurrent financing of subscription receipts, the terms of which will be announced at a later date, for minimum gross proceeds of $15 million up to a maximum of $20 million.

07:26 EDT Gryphon Digital Mining announces $5M stock repurchase program - Gryphon Digital Mining announced a new share buyback program, authorized by its Board of Directors, and the completion of its machine upgrade program ahead of schedule. This strategic move allows for the repurchase of up to $5 million of Gryphon's common stock. "This share buyback program authorization demonstrates the Board and management team's confidence in Gryphon's strategy and commitment to shareholder value creation while maintaining a balanced approach to capital allocation moving forward. From our track record of ranking at the top of peer bitcoin efficiency charts throughout our operational existence and being among the lowest cost producers of bitcoin at ~$18,200 per bitcoin in 2023, our dedication towards shareholder friendly decisions is relentless." said Rob Chang, CEO, President, and Director. "The authorization of a share buyback program is a key initiative that we expect to create long-term value for shareholders. In an industry where share sales are common, Gryphon is showing that share capital management goes both ways. We have completed our miner upgrade program ahead of schedule, which is set to significantly boost our operational efficiency. Our previously announced batch of Bitmain S21 200 TH/s miners that were ordered to replace a portion of our older fleet of machines are now deployed. This improvement is expected to add approximately 23 PH/s to our hashing power and improve our average fleet efficiency to 28.5 J/T. Gryphon's self-mining hashrate now stands at approximately 0.94 EH/s."

07:23 EDT Nevada Copper provides financing update - Nevada Copper provides an update on its financing activities in connection with the ramp-up of its wholly owned Pumpkin Hollow Underground copper mine. As previously disclosed, the Company requires further funding in the near term to complete the commissioning and ramp-up of its underground mine and to continue operations. The Company has been in discussions with a third-party regarding a proposal for additional financing and a potential change of control transaction. While the exclusivity period relating thereto has lapsed, discussions are continuing. The Company is also in discussions with its key stakeholders to obtain funding and is seeking to enter into discussions with other parties in order to obtain funding and/or enter into a change of control transaction. There can be no assurance that any such discussions will progress or that any funding or transaction will be obtained or entered into.

07:22 EDT StorageVault Canada to acquire two storage locations for $43M - STORAGEVAULT CANADA has agreed to acquire two stores from two arm's length vendor groups for an aggregate purchase price of $43,000,000, subject to customary adjustments, and the purchase price is expected to be paid with funds on hand and first mortgages. The Acquisitions are expected to close in May 2024. The Acquisitions are subject to customary closing conditions for both StorageVault and the Vendors.

07:21 EDT Xortx Therapeutics announces publication on research of ADPKD - XORTX Therapeutics announces a research paper titled "Raising serum uric acid with a uricase inhibitor worsens PKD in rat and mouse models" has been accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology and published online April 19, 2024. This study reports health consequences associated with increasing serum uric acid in mice or rat models of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, specifically the effects of increasing SUA on cyst growth and kidney size. Cyst genesis and cyst growth and their rates of change are important indicators of disease progression and are correlated with declining filtering capacity and end stage renal disease . This study shows, for the first time, that chronically increased SUA can significantly increase cyst index and increase kidney size in ADPKD. According to the study's findings, saturating concentrations of SUA contributing to "crystal injury" were not necessary to negatively alter both structure and function of the ADPKD kidney. Moderately high SUA concentrations were also found to be associated with an increased inflammatory state in both serum and kidney tissue. Independent of the modifying effects of chronically increased SUA, a fundamental new discovery from this study was that over expression of xanthine oxidase in kidney tissue was present, suggesting aberrant purine metabolism may be present in ADPKD and suggesting a possible role of XO in disease progression. When considered together, SUA above the normal range and overexpression of XO, especially in the location of cysts, in an ADPKD kidney represents a strong impetus for the use of XO inhibition to attenuate this newly described mechanism of injury. Inhibition of XO using XORLO, XORTX's proprietary formulation of oxypurinol, substantially lowered uric acid concentrations, attenuated the effects of chronically increased SUA on cyst index and kidney size in the RC/RC mouse model of ADPKD in this study.

07:17 EDT GeoPark announces final results of tender offer - GeoPark announced the final results of its tender offer to purchase its common shares, or the shares, at prices specified by the tendering shareholders of not greater than $10.00 nor less than $9.00 per common share or at the purchase price determined in accordance with the tender offer. The tender offer expired on April 17. A total of 4,369,181 common shares of GeoPark were properly tendered and not properly withdrawn at the final cash purchase price of $10.00 per share. Accordingly, GeoPark acquired 4,369,181 shares at a purchase price of $10.00 per share, for a total cost of approximately $43.7M. These shares represent 7.87% of the issued and outstanding common shares of GeoPark as of April 19. After giving effect to the purchase of the common shares, GeoPark will have 51,117,757 outstanding common shares. GeoPark funded the share purchases in the tender offer from its cash and investments.

07:16 EDT Krystal Biotech announces first patient dosed in Phase 1 trial of KB707 - Krystal Biotech announced that the first patient was dosed in its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating inhaled KB707, a modified HSV-1 vector designed to deliver genes encoding both human interleukin-12 and interleukin-2 to the lung, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors of the lung. "Cytokine therapy holds significant potential for the treatment of solid tumors but its utility has been limited by a lack of safe and effective delivery options," said David Chien, M.D., Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Krystal Biotech. "Cytokine delivery via inhalation is a first-of-its-kind therapeutic approach made possible by the unique attributes of Krystal's HSV-1-based vector platform. Together with intratumoral KB707, inhaled KB707 has the potential to significantly expand the clinical utility of cytokine therapy to treat a wide range of otherwise difficult-to-treat and standard of care refractory solid tumors. Dosing the first patient in KYANITE-1 is an exciting step toward our goal of delivering a new class of cancer immunotherapies."

07:14 EDT Mueller Industries acquires Nehring for $575M in accretive acquisition - Mueller Industries announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Nehring Electrical Works Company and certain of its affiliated companies for approximately $575M subject to customary purchase price adjustments, plus an additional $25M earn out. ...For the twelve months ended December 31 Nehring's annual net sales were approximately $400 million. Greg Christopher, Mueller's CEO commented, "We are excited to welcome Nehring into our portfolio of companies. This acquisition provides a substantial platform for long-term growth in the electrical and power infrastructure space and complements the other critical infrastructure sectors we support. In addition to its operational culture, which is well aligned with our own, the addition of Nehring leverages our deep expertise in metals, particularly copper and aluminum extrusion, and provides synergies to both companies." Christopher added, "The acquisition is expected to be accretive to our 2024 financial results. Moreover, Nehring's attractive margin and cash flow profile, combined with significant investments that are underway, make it well positioned to benefit from the highly anticipated infrastructure investment cycle to come." The acquisition, which will be funded with cash on hand, is expected to close during the second quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Mueller will retain significant cash reserves after the transaction to support additional growth opportunities.

07:12 EDT Descartes Systems acquires Aerospace Software Developments - Descartes Systems announced that it has acquired Aerospace Software Developments, ASD, a leading provider of customs and regulatory compliance solutions. ASD provides customs declaration software solutions for logistics services providers and shippers, as well as RFID solutions that help the air logistics community track assets. "As customers increasingly look to cover more business processes with one provider, we continue to add solutions to the GLN for them to do so," Edward Ryan, Descartes' CEO. "ASD shares a common vision to serve the wider global logistics community of shippers, carriers and LSPs. We're excited to welcome the ASD employees, customers and partners into the Descartes family."

07:11 EDT Bonaccord Capital announces strategic minority investment in Lead Edge - Bonaccord Capital Partners, a part of P10, announced that it has acquired a passive minority equity interest in Lead Edge Capital, a growth equity firm focused on investing in market-leading software, internet, consumer, and tech-enabled businesses globally. Bonaccord's investment and strategic development platform will support Lead Edge's value creation initiatives and further growth. There will be no change to Lead Edge's investment process, day-to-day management, or firm operations.

07:10 EDT Troilus announces strategic shareholder transition - Troilus Gold reports that Sayona Mining has divested its entire equity position in Troilus. Last week, Sayona sold approximately 19.2 million Troilus shares at C$0.63, which was executed through a block trade facilitated by a Tier-1 Canadian brokerage firm. These shares have been acquired by a group of new and existing core institutional shareholders. An additional 1.2 million shares were sold on the open market. Sayona, who became a large shareholder in Troilus in late 2022 following the acquisition of some of the Company's non-core claims, covering 985 square kilometres, sold its position in the Company to strengthen its balance sheet. Troilus retained a 2% net smelter returns royalty on all mineral products from these properties.

07:08 EDT Verizon reports Q1 broadband net additions of 389,000 - Total broadband net additions of 389,000, including 53,000 Fios Internet net additions. Verizon Business reported 151,000 fixed wireless net additions in first-quarter 2024, their best quarterly result to date. 11.1 million total broadband subscribers as of the end of first-quarter 2024, including 3.4 million subscribers on fixed wireless. Verizon added more than 3 million broadband subscribers in the last two years. Fixed wireless revenue for the first-quarter 2024 was $452 million, up $197 million compared to the prior year period.

07:06 EDT Bruker to acquire NanoString in $329.6M asset deal, sees accretion - Bruker announced that it has entered into a definitive acquisition agreement with NanoString Technologies, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, a provider of solutions for spatial transcriptomics and gene expression analysis. Under the asset purchase agreement, Bruker expects to acquire substantially all of the assets and rights associated with NanoString's business, including the nCounter, GeoMx, CosMx and AtoMx product lines, for approximately $392.6M in cash, and the assumption of certain liabilities. In 2023, NanoString generated revenues of approximately $168M. On April 19, the transaction was approved under a court-supervised Chapter 11 sale process pursuant to Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and it is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. NanoString is a provider of life science tools for discovery and translational research with leading solutions for spatial transcriptomics and gene expression analysis. For over fifteen years, and with over 7,000 peer-reviewed publications, scientists and medical researchers have relied on NanoString's pioneering instruments to advance biological, translational and clinical disease research. Bruker expects to fund the acquisition with cash on hand and established debt instruments. Following the closing, the NanoString business will become part of the Bruker Spatial Biology business. Bruker is unable to provide guidance estimates for the NanoString business for the remainder of 2024, as its financial performance cannot yet be reliably estimated, given the disruption of the Chapter 11 reorganization, the previous European Unified Patent Court's injunction on CosMx sales, and the uncertainties of various U.S. and European IP and antitrust litigation proceedings against an unusually aggressive, larger spatial and single-cell biology competitor. As a preliminary estimate, for the remainder of 2024, the transaction is expected to be dilutive to non-GAAP EPS by 15c to 20c. By 2026, Bruker expects the NanoString business to have rebounded and to be near break-even with resumed revenue growth and margin improvements, also taking advantage of deal synergies, as Bruker is not acquiring NanoString's public company overhead in this asset deal.

07:05 EDT Otis Worldwide's emissions reduction targets approved by SBTi - Otis announced that the Science Based Targets initiative - SBTi - has approved its near-term science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Otis' SBTi-approved targets are: reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 55% by 2033 from a 2021 base year; reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, business travel, and use of sold products 33% within the same timeframe; these targets demonstrate the company's commitment to meeting the objective of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. SBTi is a partnership that defines and promotes best practices in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies' targets.

07:02 EDT Bristol Myers and Cellares sign $380M agreement for CAR T cell therapies - Bristol Myers Squibb and Cellares, a development and manufacturing organization dedicated to clinical and industrial-scale cell therapy manufacturing, announced a worldwide capacity reservation and supply agreement for the manufacture of CAR T cell therapies in a transaction valued up to $380M in upfront and milestone payments. As part of the agreement, Cellares will optimize, automate, and tech-transfer select Bristol Myers Squibb CAR T cell therapies onto its automated and high-throughput manufacturing platform, the Cell Shuttle. Cellares will dedicate multiple Cell Shuttle and Cell Q systems with fully automated, high-throughput quality control for Bristol Myers Squibb's exclusive use. The Cell Shuttles and Cell Qs will be deployed in Cellares' Smart Factories in the U.S., EU, and Japan. This agreement expands upon the existing collaborations between Bristol Myers Squibb and Cellares. In August 2023, Bristol Myers Squibb participated in Cellares' Series C financing to launch the first IDMO Smart Factory in an effort to meet the demand for cell therapies globally. That same month, Bristol Myers Squibb joined Cellares' Technology Adoption Partnership Program to evaluate the Cell Shuttle's automated manufacturing capabilities.

06:50 EDT CNH Industrial appoints Gerrit Marx to replace Scott Wine as CEO - CNH Industrial announced the appointment of Gerrit Marx to the role of CEO effective July 1. He succeeds Scott Wine, whose request to leave the company at the end of the current three-year business plan cycle to pursue other interests, has been accepted by the Board. "Mr. Marx rejoins CNH from Iveco Group where as CEO he has led that company's drive into a new era of connectivity, integrating the latest digital and data technologies with Iveco's product offering. He has also chaired Iveco's powertrain business overseeing its transition to alternative propulsion systems. Prior to first joining CNH in January 2019, Mr. Marx worked for 20 years in senior roles at McKinsey, Daimler Trucks, and Bain Capital, living in Brazil, China, Europe and Japan... With Mr. Marx's appointment as the company's new CEO taking effect on July 1, 2024, the Board has decided that the Investor Day presentation scheduled for May 21, 2024, will be postponed to a later date to allow Mr. Marx to lead the company's planning and objectives for the next phase of its development. In the meantime, the company's first quarter financial results will be presented as planned in a conference call on May 2, 2024 by Mr. Wine, who will continue as the company's CEO until the end of June," the company stated.

06:41 EDT GEE Group concludes strategic review - GEE Group announced its board of directors unanimously concluded a review of strategic alternatives. After extensive evaluation and deliberation, the board determined the ongoing execution of the company's strategic plan for internal growth coupled with an accelerated program for strategic acquisitions is the best way to maximize value for shareholders at this time. The GEE Group board initiated the review of strategic alternatives process through its mergers and acquisition committee, comprised solely of independent members of the board. The committee, together with its advisor, DC Advisory, evaluated a comprehensive range of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value. The company previously commenced the formal strategic alternatives review process in December, 2023. After consideration, the board unanimously determined that: share buybacks should not be recommenced. All available capital should be earmarked to execute and accelerate the company's current internal growth plan and future strategic acquisition growth. Recommence a systematic, disciplined and accelerated acquisition strategy to accelerate growth and deepen and broaden the company's current platform - acquisitions offer both higher growth and needed scale to GEE Group -while the fragmented industry provides the Company with significant opportunities for GEE to take advantage of its financial resources and flexibility to provide higher returns to shareholders with increasing EBITDA.

06:36 EDT TotalEnergies to acquire remaining 50% of SapuraOMV in Malaysia - TotalEnergies has signed an agreement with Sapura Upstream Assets to acquire its 50% interest in Malaysian independent gas producer and operator SapuraOMV Upstream for a consideration of $530M, subject to closing adjustments. Closing is expected in the second half of 2024. This agreement follows a first agreement signed with OMV on January 31st, 2024, for the acquisition of its 50% interest in SapuraOMV. After completion of both transactions, TotalEnergies would own 100% of SapuraOMV. SapuraOMV's main assets are its 40% operated interest in block SK408 and 30% operated interest in block SK310, both located offshore Sarawak in Malaysia. In 2023, SapuraOMV's operated production was about 500 Mcf/d of natural gas. SapuraOMV also holds interests in exploration licenses in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico, where a discovery was made in 2023 on block 30.

06:24 EDT Sandoz confirms European Commission approval of Pyzchiva - Sandoz announces that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Pyzchiva, biosimilar ustekinumab, developed and registered by Samsung Bioepis. Pyzchiva is approved as a biologic therapy within gastroenterology, dermatology, and rheumatology. Pyzchiva is "a key biosimilar value driver for the company over the mid-term and this approval is a major step in advancing Sandoz growth strategy," Sandoz stated.

06:12 EDT Ideaya Biosciences announces selection of move-forward expansion dose for IDE397 - Ideaya Biosciences announced selection of a move-forward Phase 2 expansion dose for IDE397 monotherapy in MTAP-deletion squamous non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, based on adverse event profile and preliminary clinical efficacy observed, including multiple partial responses by RECIST 1.1.

06:09 EDT Canaan CEO, CFO to purchase at least $2M of shares - Canaan announced that Nangeng Zhang, chairman and CEO of Canaan, and James Jin Cheng, CFO of Canaan, informed the company their intention to use their personal funds to jointly purchase no less than $2M of the company's Class A ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares, or ADSs, each ADS representing 15 of the company's Class A ordinary shares, subject to the company's insider trading policy and in compliance with legal guidelines.

06:02 EDT RWS joins Meta's Open Loop program - RWS, a unique provider of technology-enabled language, content and intellectual property solutions, has joined forces with industry leaders to bridge the gap between rapid advances in AI innovation and policy-making through Meta's Open Loop program. Open Loop is a global program that connects policymakers and technology companies to help develop effective and evidence-based policies around AI and specifically generative AI systems. The program, initiated and supported by Meta, in partnership with Accenture, includes a consortium of technology businesses, academics and civil society representatives.

05:43 EDT Ipsen, Skyhawk Therapeutics announce worldwide RNA targeting collaboration - Ipsen and Skyhawk Therapeutics announced the signing of an exclusive worldwide collaboration to discover and develop novel small molecules that modulate RNA for rare neurological diseases. The agreement includes an option pursuant to which Ipsen would acquire exclusive license for the worldwide rights to develop successful development candidates, or DC. Following successful DC nomination, Ipsen will be responsible for all activities. Skyhawk's unique platform accelerates building RNA-targeting small molecules across several therapeutic areas, including rare neurological diseases. Under the terms of the agreement Skyhawk is eligible to receive up to $1.8B in development, regulatory and commercial milestones, including an upfront payment, for the option and research collaboration, plus potential for tiered royalties.

05:36 EDT Rivian Automotive, MEVCO partner to provide EVs to mining industry - Mining Electric Vehicle Company, or MEVCO, has entered an exclusive global partnership with Rivian Automotive to provide EVs to the mining, mining services and mining equipment industries. MEVCO specializes in providing sustainable and efficient electric vehicle fleets solutions to the mining industry. This collaboration signals a new standard for responsible and forward-thinking mining practices and is a catalyst for change in the mining landscape.

05:24 EDT ROHM, STMicroelectronics expand silicon carbide wafer supply agreement - ROHM and STMicroelectronics announced the expansion of the existing multi-year, long-term 150mm silicon carbide, or SiC, substrate wafers supply agreement with SiCrystal, a ROHM group company. The new multi-year agreement governs the supply of larger volumes of SiC substrate wafers manufactured in Nuremberg, Germany, for a minimum expected value of $230M. Energy-efficient SiC power semiconductors enable electrification in the automotive and industrial sectors in a more sustainable way. By facilitating more efficient energy generation, distribution and storage, SiC supports the transition to cleaner mobility solutions, lower emissions industrial processes and a greener energy future, as well as more reliable power supplies for resource-intensive infrastructure like data centers dedicated to AI applications.

05:16 EDT Chubb to acquire Healthy Paws from Aon plc, terms undisclosed - Chubb (CB) announced a definitive agreement to acquire Healthy Paws, a U.S.-based managing general agent, or MGA, specializing in pet insurance, from Aon plc (AON). Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, were not disclosed. Since 2013, Chubb has been the exclusive underwriter of the Healthy Paws pet insurance program for Aon. Founded in 2009, Healthy Paws has been a trailblazer in the pet insurance domain and currently serves more than 500,000 dogs and cats in the U.S. The company provides program and claims administration via a digital proprietary platform.

05:10 EDT Gildan Activewear announces board refreshment - Gildan Activewear announced a refreshed board of directors that has been constructed based on shareholder engagement. The new board will guide the company's next phase under the leadership of president and CEO Vince Tyra and ensure the previously announced sale process is conducted. The company is pleased to announce that its board of directors has appointed Timothy Hodgson, former special advisor to Governor Carney at the Bank of Canada and former CEO of Goldman Sachs Canada, Lewis Bird III, former chairman and CEO of At Home Group, Jane Craighead, former senior VP global human resources at Scotiabank, Lynn Loewen, former president of Minogue Medical and Les Viner, former managing partner of Torys LLP, as independent directors of the board, effective May 1. The five new directors take the seats of directors Donald Berg, Maryse Bertrand, Shirley Cunningham, Charles Herington, and Craig Leavitt. The board decided that near-term board refreshment was in the best interests of Gildan. To facilitate a transition process at this important junction, the new directors have been recent observers to the board. In addition, Luc Jobin and Chris Shackelton, members of the special committee supervising the ongoing sale process, will continue in their roles to help transition the special committee to the refreshed board. They have informed the board that they will not stand for re-election at the Company's 2024 annual meeting and will retire after the meeting. The board recommends that shareholders vote for the elections of Karen Stuckey and J.P. Towner, who have been nominated by a shareholder, Browning West. The board requested to interview all of Browning West's candidates, but that request was declined. It was clear to the board during deliberations, through prior consideration of potential candidates for board refreshment, and feedback received from shareholders and other stakeholders of the company, that Karen Stuckey and J.P. Towner would be additive to the board as Gildan pursues its growth agenda. The board does not believe that the rest of Browning West's slate offers an increase in expertise or experience to Gildan's business, and accordingly, they do not represent the best mix of Director candidates. The board unanimously recommends and it is expected that the new board as it will be constituted on May 1 will appoint Tim Hodgson as independent / non-executive chair, effective that day. "Over the past five months, Gildan's Board has engaged with, welcomed and sought out the views of the Company's shareholders including Browning West and their supporters. Our first choice has always been to resolve this unnecessary proxy contest in a mutually agreeable manner that benefits all shareholders of Gildan. Throughout this process, the Board has sought to maintain open lines of communication with Browning West, including discussing numerous settlement possibilities that balance Browning West's interests with those of Gildan's broader shareholder base. The Board and management team have held 87 meetings with shareholders, including multiple meetings with Gildan's top 25 shareholders and those who Browning West has deemed as supportive. Through that engagement, it was evident that there was not unanimous support for the Browning West nominees - even amongst those who Browning West counts publicly as supportive. Specifically, there was concern about Mr. Chamandy returning to the Company, that the nominees were selected by Browning West without input from other shareholders, and about providing Browning West with unchecked control of the Company. It became clear that the type of board that shareholders wanted to see moving forward was a board that balanced fresh perspectives with historic knowledge; previous board experience with a focus on governance, industry, and manufacturing experience; and one that was responsive to the views of shareholders. With this significant input from shareholders, the Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committee, which included members who were not targeted by Browning West, conducted an extensive recruitment process with the assistance of an external independent recruitment firm. Our slate strikes a balance between ensuring the Board retains historical continuity during a period of transition and provides fresh perspectives to ensure it continues to serve its important oversight function on behalf of all shareholders. In Browning West's rush to get the board they wanted - and in their unwillingness to engage constructively - they overlooked one obvious fact that underscores how needless their actions of the last four months have been: The Board has always been open to and pursued proactive refreshment to ensure the right balance of fresh perspectives and historical continuity. This includes a regular pattern of planned refreshment. If this is about governance and expertise required for the future success of the company, as Browning West asserts, then they should have no problem supporting this board. But if this is about putting their interests first and getting the board they picked with no checks and balances as shareholders have expressed concern about, then they will continue to drive forward with the slate they, not other shareholders, have picked. The new Board greatly appreciates the support and leadership that Donald, Maryse, Shirley, Luc, Charles, Craig, and Chris provided Gildan and wish them the best."