Stockwinners Market Radar for December 23, 2024 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:17 EST PolyPid announces DSMB recommendation to continue Phase 3 D-PLEX study - The company states: "PolyPid announced that following the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board's, DSMB, review of unblinded efficacy data from the first 430 enrolled patients in the SHIELD II Phase 3 trial for D-PLEX100 for the prevention of surgical site infections in patients undergoing abdominal colorectal surgery with large incisions, the DSMB's recommendation was to conclude the study upon enrollment of 800 patients, which is the lowest sample size reassessment stop after the minimum planned number of 624 patients. At this interim analysis, the DSMB also had the option to recommend stopping SHIELD II due to futility or overwhelming efficacy or to reassess the trial's sample size to a maximum of 1,100 patients. In addition, the DSMB's confirmed the good safety profile of D-PLEX100 in SHIELD II to date. The study has enrolled 630 patients to date and enrollment of the last 170 patients is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2025. The Company anticipates reporting top-line results in the second quarter of 2025. Upon potential positive Phase 3 data, the Company expects to submit an NDA with the advantages of the Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations, which were granted to D-PLEX100 in 2020. PolyPid also announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement for a private placement financing - the "PIPE" - led by existing institutional shareholders for $14.5M in gross proceeds priced at $3.22 per share, the closing price on December 20, 2024. In connection with the PIPE financing, the Company has agreed to consider Yitzchak Jacobovitz, CFA, partner and lead healthcare analyst at AIGH Capital Management, for appointment to the Company's board of directors. The PIPE is expected to close on December 26, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for its ongoing SHIELD II Phase 3 clinical trial, working capital and general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the financing extend PolyPid's cash runway into the third quarter of 2025, beyond expected top-line results from SHIELD II. Proceeds of all warrants issued in this transaction, if exercised, would provide the Company with capital beyond NDA approval. Citizens JMP is acting as exclusive placement agent in the offering."

20:12 EST Penumbra CEO sells $3.64M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Penumbra disclosed that its CEO Adam Elsesser sold 15K shares of common stock on December 20th in a total transaction size of $3.64M.

20:08 EST Cathie Wood's ARK Investment buys 78.2K shares of GitLab today

20:06 EST Honda to buy back up to 1.1T yen of common stock - The company states: "Honda Motor provides notice that, as announced in the Notice Concerning Acquisition of the Company's Own Shares dated November 6, 2024, at a board meeting held on that day, the Board of Directors resolved to acquire its own shares pursuant to Article 459, Paragraph 1 of the Company Law and Article 36 of the Company's Articles of Incorporation, but at a board meeting held on December 23, 2024, the Board of Directors resolved a new resolution to acquire its own shares and to suspend the Old Resolution for Acquisition of its own Shares which was resolved on November 6, 2024. The Company will acquire its own shares for the purpose, among others, of improving efficiency of its capital structure, implementing a flexible capital strategy and strengthening shareholder returns . Total amount of shares to be acquired: Up to 1,100 billion yen."Reference Link

19:50 EST China Liberal Education Holdings Ltd trading halted, news pending

17:46 EST NeueHealth in merger plan by NEA to be taken private - On December 23 NeueHealth entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with NH Holdings 2025 and NH Holdings Acquisition 2025 pursuant to which, among other things and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into the company with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Parent and Merger Sub are indirectly controlled by private investment funds affiliated with New Enterprise Associates, or NEA. In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company have entered into rollover agreements with NH Holdings...If the Merger is consummated, the Company Common Stock will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference Link

17:29 EST Kore Group receives 'acceptance letter' from NYSE 'to regain compliance - KORE Group Holdings announced it has received notification Acceptance Letter from the New York Stock Exchange that the NYSE has accepted the company's previously-submitted plan to regain compliance with the NYSE's continued listing standards set forth in Section 802.01B of the NYSE Listed Company Manual relating to minimum market capitalization and stockholders' equity. In the Acceptance Letter, the NYSE granted the Company an 18-month period from September 12...to regain compliance with the continued listing standards. As part of the Plan, the Company is required to provide the NYSE quarterly updates regarding its progress towards the goals and initiatives in the Plan. In the Plan, Kore included details regarding previously reported operational restructuring activities, as well as an outlook on the Company's business...

17:27 EST General Dynamics awarded $139.2M Navy contract - General Dynamics was awarded a $139.2M fixed-price-incentive, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only contract for the production of MK 54 MOD 1 Lightweight Torpedo Kits and related test equipment, spares, provisioned item orders, engineering support and hardware support for the MK 54 Lightweight Torpedo Program. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $808.6M. This contract combines purchases for the Navy and the Foreign Military Sales program. Work is expected to be completed by December 2027. If all options are exercised, work will continue through December 2033. FY24 weapons procurement funds in the amount of $59.72M; FY23 weapons procurement funds in the amount of $26.47M; FY25 weapons procurement funds in the amount of $23.61M and FMS funds in the amount of $3.68M will be obligated at time of award, of which $26.47M will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204. Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity.

17:22 EST IAMGold in expanded credit facility to lower debt, improve capital structure - IAMGOLD is pleased to announce that the company and its syndicate of lenders have executed an amendment to its existing secured revolving credit facility. Under the amendment, the term has been extended to four years now maturing on December 20, 2028 and the Facility size has been increased from $425M to $650M. The expanded Facility will be available for general working capital purposes and provides flexibility as the Company looks to lower the cost of its debt and improve its capital structure in 2025. "We would like to thank our lenders for their continued support and confidence in IAMGOLD," commented Renaud Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer of IAMGOLD. "The upsize to the credit facility will position the company well as it provides additional flexibility to potentially lower the cost of our debt, as the make-whole premium expires on our 2nd Lien Term Loan in May and assuming no unforeseen changes in the operating or macroeconomic environment. As we look into next year, IAMGOLD is positioned to generate significant cashflows following the termination of the gold prepayment arrangements mid-year, coupled with the expectation of strong mine-site free cashflow at Essakane, Westwood, and Cote Gold - which is expected to achieve nameplate production later in 2025. Together, this will allow IAMGOLD to begin the important process of de-levering the balance sheet and put in place a more efficient capital structure." Reference Link

17:18 EST International Seaways to replace Consolidated Communications in S&P 600 on 12/30 - International Seaways (INSW) will replace Consolidated Communications Holdings (CNSL) in the S&P SmallCap 600 effective prior to the opening of trading on Monday, December 30. Searchlight Capital Partners and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation are acquiring Consolidated Communications in a deal expected to be completed soon, pending final closing conditions.

17:06 EST Four Corners Property acquires National Veterinary Associates property for $3.5M - Four Corners Property Trust announced the acquisition of a National Veterinary Associates property for $3.5M. The property is located in Connecticut and is corporate-operated under a new long-term, triple net lease with annual rent bumps. The transaction was priced at a cap rate in range with previous FCPT transactions.

17:01 EST Ashland to sell Avoca business to Mane, terms not disclosed - Ashland announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Avoca business to Mane. The transaction is expected to close in the calendar first quarter 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Ashland's Avoca business supplies Sclareolide, a fragrance fixative, and a range of contract manufacturing capabilities from two production facilities in North Carolina and Wisconsin. The Avoca business line represents the last entity from Ashland's previous acquisition of Pharmachem.

16:50 EST Hyperscale Data receives noncompliance notice from NYSE - Hyperscale Data announced that it was notified by the NYSE American that due to the company's disclosure in its Form 10-Q filed for the fiscal period ended September 30, which reported stockholders' equity of approximately $2.2M, it no longer meets the requirement that it must have no less than $6M or more in stockholders' equity pursuant to the listing standard set forth under Section 1003 and of the NYSE American because the company has reported losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in five of its most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2023. Under the applicable NYSE American listing rules, the company must by January 17, 2025 submit a compliance plan that demonstrates how it intends to regain compliance with the Listing Standards within 18 months of the receipt of the notice, or June 18, 2026.

16:47 EST Chewy CEO sells $2.3M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Chewy disclosed that its CEO Sumit Singh sold 71.2K shares of common stock on December 19th in a total transaction size of $2.3M.

16:42 EST Vertical Aerospace finalises investment agreement for up to $50M in new funding - Vertical Aerospace has entered into definitive documents and received shareholder approval for a transaction that includes up to $50 million in new committed funding. Jason Mudrick, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Mudrick Capital Management, said: "Vertical is revolutionizing how the world moves, and we are proud to play a pivotal role in positioning the company for success. We look forward to continuing to partner with Vertical's exceptional team and contributing capital market and other expertise in helping to bring their groundbreaking product offering to reality."

16:32 EST Lowe's director buys $245.5K in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Lowe's disclosed that its director Lawrence Simkins bought 1K shares of common stock on December 20th in a total transaction size of $245.5K.

16:27 EST Arhaus COO Moran leaves company - In a regulatory filing, the company states: "On December 17, 2024, John Moran separated from Arhaus. Mr. Moran previously served as the company's Chief Operating Officer."

16:20 EST Rayonier enters into pore space easement pact w/ Reliant Carbon affiliate - Rayonier "announced that it has entered into an underground pore space easement agreement with an affiliate of Reliant Carbon Capture & Storage covering approximately 104,000 acres in Alabama. Reliant specializes in capturing CO2 emissions from power plants and industrial facilities and safely sequestering this CO2 in subsurface geologic formations. Along with this significant pore space agreement, Reliant is currently completing a front-end engineering design report for a power generating station in the area."

16:18 EST Nano Dimension issues response to Desktop Metal lawsuit against the company - Nano Dimension (NNDM) shared its response to a December 20 lawsuit filed by Desktop Metal (DM) against the company in the Delaware Court of Chancery alleging Nano Dimension has failed to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain regulatory approval in connection with the merger agreement between the parties dated July 2. Nano Dimension said, "The Company believes the lawsuit is without merit and inconsistent with the terms of the Merger Agreement, particularly with respect to the Company's right to work through the review process that is under way with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The Company believes the lawsuit is nothing more than an effort by Desktop Metal to prevent the Company from exercising its rights under the Merger Agreement and to impose deadlines and obligations that are inconsistent with that agreement. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself and preserve its rights under the Merger Agreement."

16:17 EST Builders FirstSource to acquire Alpine Lumber, terms not disclosed - Builders FirstSource announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Alpine Lumber Company. Founded in Englewood, Colorado, by the Kurtz family in 1963 and subsequently converted to a 100% employee-owned and operated company, Alpine has 21 locations serving homebuilders and contractors in the Front Range of Colorado, western Colorado and northern New Mexico with a broad product range including prefabricated trusses and wall panels and millwork. Alpine reported TTM sales of approximately $500M as of November 2024. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to the company's adjusted earnings per share in 2025 and will be funded through a combination of existing cash and credit facilities. It is expected to close early in the first quarter of 2025 subject to customary closing conditions.

16:14 EST Limoneira sees FY25 avocado volume lower compared to FY24 - "Looking ahead, we continue to see a strong EBITDA outlook that is underpinned by plans to expand avocado production by 1,000 acres through fiscal year 2027 to capitalize on robust consumer demand trends. During this transition, the Company expects fiscal year 2025 avocado volume to be lower compared to fiscal year 2024 due to the alternate bearing nature of avocado trees. These operational results do not take into account anticipated additional gains from asset monetization," said the company in its quarterly release.

16:11 EST Limoneira sees FY25 fresh lemon volumes 5M-5.5M cartons - The Company expects fresh lemon volumes to be in the range of 5M to 5.5M cartons for fiscal year 2025. Avocado volumes are expected to be in the range of 7M to 8.0M pounds for fiscal year 2025. The Company expects to receive total proceeds of $180M from Harvest, and East Area spread out over seven fiscal years, with approximately $15M received in fiscal year 2024.

16:08 EST Arcadium Lithium announces shareholder approval of Rio Tinto transaction - Arcadium Lithium (ALTM) "announced that it has obtained all requisite shareholder approvals in connection with the proposed acquisition by Rio Tinto (RIO) previously announced on October 9, 2024. As of this release, merger control clearance has been satisfied or waived in Australia, Canada, China, the United Kingdom and the United States (Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976). Additionally, investment screening approval has been satisfied in the United Kingdom. The proposed transaction is still expected to close in mid-2025, subject to the receipt of remaining regulatory approvals and other closing conditions."

16:06 EST Fed to seek public comment on changes to bank stress tests - The Federal Reserve stated: "In view of the evolving legal landscape, the Federal Reserve Board will soon seek public comment on significant changes to improve the transparency of its bank stress tests and to reduce the volatility of resulting capital buffer requirements.The Board's stress test evaluates the resilience of large banks by estimating their losses, revenue, and capital levels under a hypothetical recession scenario that changes each year. Capital acts as a cushion to absorb losses and allows banks to continue lending to households and businesses even during a recession. Since its inception over 15 years ago, large banks in the stress test have more than doubled their capital levels, an increase of more than $1 trillion. The Board intends to propose changes that include, but are not limited to: disclosing and seeking public comment on all of the models that determine the hypothetical losses and revenue of banks under stress; averaging results over two years to reduce the year-over-year changes in the capital requirements that result from the stress test; and ensuring that the public can comment on the hypothetical scenarios used annually for the test, before the scenarios are finalized. These proposed changes are not designed to materially affect overall capital requirements." Publicly traded large cap banks include Bank of America (BAC), Citi (C), Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan (JPM), Morgan Stanley (MS), U.S. Bancorp (USB) and Wells Fargo (WFC). Reference Link

16:04 EST Avita Medical discloses FDA premarket approval for ECELL GO mini - The company states: "AVITA Medical announced that the FDA has approved its premarket approval, PMA, supplement for RECELL GO mini. As a line extension of the RECELL GO system, the RECELL GO mini disposable cartridge is designed specifically to treat smaller wounds up to 480 square centimeters, compared to the standard RECELL GO disposable cartridge, which treats an area of 1,920 square centimeters. RECELL GO mini addresses a critical need in the full-thickness skin defect market, which includes a high volume of smaller wounds. As part of the RECELL GO platform, RECELL GO mini uses the same multi-use processing device as the standard disposable cartridge but features a modified cartridge optimized for smaller skin samples that reduces resource use and minimizes waste. This design provides an entry point for clinicians who may not have previously used the RECELL GO platform for smaller wounds, enabling broader accessibility and use in trauma and burn centers. The company expects RECELL GO mini to serve as a growth driver within the broader RECELL GO platform, further advancing AVITA Medical's strategy to expand its impact on patient care. Rollout will begin with trauma and burn centers that currently treat smaller wounds during the first quarter of 2025."

15:41 EST Espey Mfg. awarded $29.5M contract - Espey Mfg. & Electronics (ESP) announces new material contract. The company has been awarded a contract valued at $29.5M, when fully funded, to provide electric power distribution panels for the U.S. Navy's Columbia class submarines. Espey was chosen by General Dynamics (GD) Electric Boat and the U.S. Navy to manufacture components previously designed by Espey for the next-generation ballistic missile submarine fleet. The Columbia class submarine is a top priority for the U.S. Navy and was designed to replace the fleet of Ohio class submarines. The Columbia class submarines will be the largest ever built by the United States and rely on a "first-of-its-kind" electric drive propulsion system. Deliveries under the contract are expected through calendar year 2030 for the next 4 of 12 planned ships.

14:33 EST Altus Power up 15% after Reuters report on TPG takeover talks

14:21 EST HomesToLife Ltd trading resumes

14:16 EST HomesToLife Ltd trading halted, volatility trading pause

13:58 EST Destination XL confirms receipt of non-binding proposal from Fund 1 Investments - Destination XL Group has received a non-binding proposal from Fund 1 Investments to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company. The Board of Directors regularly reviews opportunities to create and enhance shareholder value and will carefully review and evaluate this proposal and other strategic alternatives together with its financial and legal advisors.

13:03 EST Stingray Group acquires Loupe Art - Stingray announced the acquisition of Loupe Art, a visual art streaming service on Smart TVs and Digital Signage. "This strategic acquisition aims to expand Stingray's presence on Connected TVs and significantly enhance its offering for businesses, particularly in digital signage. Founded in 2016, Loupe Art's platform includes over 10,000 original artworks from more than 750 artists across 50 countries. It offers expertly curated art collections and themed episodes that combine visual art with music, providing an unparalleled ambient entertainment experience. Loupe Art reaches audiences worldwide through partnerships with major platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon, Google TV, Samsung, LG, Comcast, LocalNow, Freecast, WhaleTV+ and others. The acquisition will enable Stingray to leverage Loupe's patented technology and extensive content catalog to enhance its FAST channels on Connected TVs. It will also bolster Stingray Business by integrating Loupe's tailored art displays into its digital signage solutions, offering businesses a flexible and customized visual experience across their locations," the company stated.

12:28 EST Coliseum Acquisition Corp trading resumes

12:00 EST Ginkgo Bioworks falls -7.7% - Ginkgo Bioworks is down -7.7%, or -78c to $9.30.

12:00 EST Clipper Realty falls -11.6% - Clipper Realty is down -11.6%, or -67c to $5.13.

12:00 EST D-Wave Quantum rises 23.2% - D-Wave Quantum is up 23.2%, or $1.50 to $7.93.

11:50 EST Walmart heir Jim Walton registers 12M shares for potential sale - In a regulatory filing late Friday, Jim C. Walton, as trustee of the Walton Family Holdings Trust, registered for sale 12M shares of Walmart stock. Jim C. Walton is the youngest son of Walmart co-founder Sam Walton and Helen Walton. The shares registered for potential sale have an aggregate market value of about $1.12B as of the time of the filing, the filing with the SEC shows. Reference Link

11:11 EST FDA approves Hikma generic referencing Victoza for type 2 diabetes - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it has approved the first generic referencing Victoza, or liraglutide injection, 18 milligram/3 milliliter, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise. "The FDA approved the first generic in this class of medications last month with the approval of a generic referencing Byetta," the agency stated. The FDA granted the approval of generic liraglutide injection to Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

10:52 EST Marimed commences wholesale operations in Missouri - MariMed announces the launch of cannabis wholesale operations in Missouri. MariMed's products are now available in select dispensaries across the state. MariMed's product lines, including Betty's Eddies fruit chews, Bubby's Baked fresh baked confections, Vibations hydrating drink mixes, and InHouse flower, vapes, and gummies will be distributed to as many dispensaries as possible across Missouri over the next several months.

10:16 EST Court grants 10x Genomics' motion in part in patent suit against NanoString - In an order posted to the site of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, the court stated: "10x Genomics, Inc. and Prognosys Biosciences, Inc. sued NanoString Technologies, Inc.1 for patent infringement. Following a five-day trial, the jury found that NanoString willfully, directly, and indirectly infringed 10x's asserted patents. The jury awarded 10x over twenty-five million dollars in lost profits and over six million dollars in lost royalties. NanoString has moved for judgment as a matter of law on invalidity, infringement, and damages or, in the alternative, for a new trial. 10x, on the other hand, has moved for entry of a permanent injunction, enhancement of damages, attorneys' fees, supplemental damages, and pre-judgment and post-judgment interest... the Court denies NanoString's motion and grants 10x's motion in part." The filing noted: "Bruker Corporation acquired NanoString following the filing of these motions. In this decision, the Court will refer to the defendants as NanoString."

10:01 EST Ibotta names Chris Riedy as new Chief Revenue Officer - Ibotta announced that Chris Riedy will join the company as Chief Revenue Officer, effective January 13, 2025. He will report to CEO and founder, Bryan Leach, and will join the company's Senior Leadership Team. Riedy brings over 25 years of experience in sales, business development, product and marketing to Ibotta. He joins the company from tvScientific, where he served as Chief Revenue Officer.

10:00 EST Vince Holding rises 24.6% - Vince Holding is up 24.6%, or $1.19 to $6.01.

10:00 EST Offerpad Solutions falls -6.8% - Offerpad Solutions is down -6.8%, or -25c to $3.40.

10:00 EST ZKH Group falls -9.7% - ZKH Group is down -9.7%, or -36c to $3.34.

09:51 EST Nvni Group Ltd trading resumes

09:50 EST Vermilion Energy falls -6.4% - Vermilion Energy is down -6.4%, or -57c to $8.30.

09:49 EST Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3X Shares falls -6.5% - Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3X Shares is down -6.5%, or -$1.51 to $21.60.

09:48 EST D-Wave Quantum rises 21.8% - D-Wave Quantum is up 21.8%, or $1.41 to $7.84.

09:47 EST Despegar.com rises 32.6% - Despegar.com is up 32.6%, or $4.78 to $19.43.

09:44 EST Puma Biotechnology neratinib included in NCCN guidelines - Puma Biotechnology announced that the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, or NCCN, Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Cervical Cancer were updated to include an addition involving neratinib. The updated NCCN Practice Guidelines for Cervical Cancer include neratinib monotherapy for use as second-line or subsequent therapy for recurrent or metastatic disease as an option for patients with HER2-mutated tumors with a designation of Category 2A. The NCCN Guidelines Category of Preference is designated as "useful in certain circumstances" as a treatment option for patients with HER2-mutated tumors.

09:42 EST Intchains Group Ltd (ADR) trading resumes

09:41 EST Nvni Group Ltd trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:36 EST Amesite Inc trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:32 EST Chanson International Holding trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:28 EST Cosmos Health CEO, CFO collectively increase stake by 343,000 shares - Cosmos Health announced that its CEO, Greg Siokas, and CFO, George Terzis, increased their stake in the Company by approximately 343,122 common shares, valued at $200,000, based on the closing share price on Friday, December 20, 2024. Specifically, Mr. Siokas increased his stake by approximately 257,334 common shares, valued at $150,000, while Mr. Terzis increased his stake by approximately 85,778 common shares, valued at $50,000.

09:21 EST Terreno Realty announces lease in Hialeah, FL - Terreno Realty announced that it has pre-leased 50% of Countyline Corporate Park Phase IV Building 32 in Hialeah, Florida. The ten-year lease for 82,000 square feet, with an aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul provider, will commence upon completion of building construction and tenant improvements expected to be in June 2025. Currently under construction, Building 32 of Terreno Realty Corporation's Countyline Corporate Park is a 164,000 square foot 36-foot clear height rear-load industrial distribution building on 8.3 acres with 53 dock-high and two grade-level loading positions and parking for 148 cars. The building is expected to achieve LEED certification, the total expected investment is $41.9M and the estimated stabilized cap rate is 6.0%. Countyline Corporate Park Phase IV consists of a 121-acre project entitled for 2.2M square feet of industrial distribution buildings in Miami's Countyline Corporate Park mmediately adjacent to Terreno Realty Corporation's seven buildings within Countyline...

09:19 EST Rocket Lab successfully deploys satellite to complete 16 missions in 2024 - Rocket Lab USA announced it successfully completed the company's 16th launch for the year, deploying a satellite for Japanese Earth-observation constellation operator Synspective. "Rocket Lab launched 16 missions in 2024, besting the company's previous annual launch record of 10 missions, achieved in 2023 and representing a launch cadence increase of 60% year-on-year. Rocket Lab maintained a record of 100% mission success for all launches in 2024. The 'Owl The Way' up launch was Rocket Lab's final scheduled launch for 2024 with the next Electron launch scheduled in Q1 2025," the company stated. Reference Link

09:10 EST Beneficient enters transactions to deliver tangible book value - Beneficient has entered into an agreement with entities controlled by its founder and CEO, Brad Heppner, designed to enhance current and future shareholder value and drive long term growth. Pursuant to the Agreement, the holders of the preferred equity of Beneficient Company Holdings, a subsidiary of the Company, agreed, among other things, to amend the governing documents of Beneficient Holdings to allow the Company's public company stockholders to share in the liquidation priority historically and currently reserved only for the Preferred Equity creating tangible book value attributable to the Company's public company stockholders following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement. As part of the Public Stockholder Enhancement Transactions, following closing, Ben's public company stockholders, through the Company's indirect interest in Beneficient Holdings, would receive preferential treatment in the event of a liquidation of Beneficient Holdings in an amount equal to 10% of the first $100M distributed to equity holders of Beneficient Holdings; and 33.3333% of the net asset value of up to $5B of alternative assets added to the Company's consolidated balance sheet on or after December 22, 2024, in connection with the Company's ordinary course liquidity business. Giving pro forma effect to the Capitalization Adjustments, the Company expects the tangible book value attributable to the public company stockholders of Ben as of September 30, 2024, to increase to approximately $10M from $0, and Ben's market capitalization of its Class A and Class B common stock based on the closing price of the Class A common stock at market close on December 20, 2024 was $5,077,555. The Company believes these changes will further align the interests of the holders of Preferred Equity with Ben's public company stockholders. This increased alignment is particularly apparent in connection with liquidity transactions where the Company issues equity to customers participating in ExchangeTrust transactions. Each such transaction would be expected to generate an additional immediate benefit in the form of increased tangible book value attributable to Ben's public company stockholders. While the Company continues to believe its true value is best assessed through its ability to grow over time by executing on its business plan, based on discussions with current and potential customers, advisors, and other market participants, the Company believes the Capitalization Adjustments will help bolster the value of its common stock and facilitate closing future transactions. The Company expects to begin closing additional ExchangeTrust transactions as soon as the first calendar quarter of 2025. Additionally, in a customer service initiative and as a part of the Public Stockholder Enhancement Transactions, upon closing, entities controlled by the Company's founder and CEO and an affiliate of the Company owned by certain current and former directors, officers, and employees of the Company would forego the right to receive up to $400 million of equity in Beneficient Holdings that is exchangeable into common stock of the Company for the benefit of certain of the Company's existing customers that elect to receive such rights. To the extent any customers elect not to participate in the Customer Relations Initiative, their pro rata portion of such rights would instead be delivered to the Company for additional benefit of Ben's public company stockholders.

09:08 EST La Rosa Holdings to offer bitcoin, cryptocurrency payment options - La Rosa Holdings announced it will offer Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a payment option for its network of agents. This initiative provides agents the flexibility to receive certain payments in digital assets, marking a progressive step toward integrating blockchain technology into real estate transactions. The plan addresses the growing demand for alternative payment methods among agents and clients alike. Joe La Rosa, CEO of La Rosa, commented, "We are proud to introduce this groundbreaking payment option, enabling agents to receive their commissions in cryptocurrency. We believe that once we effectuate this plan, this move will not only position us at the forefront of technological innovation in real estate but also will deliver tangible benefits for our agents. In our view, cryptocurrency payments offer faster, more secure transactions with lower fees while providing the potential for income growth through the value appreciation of digital assets"

09:07 EST GRI Bio announces issuance of decision to grant for European patent on GRI-0803 - GRI Bio announced that European Patent Office has issued a decision to grant notice for patent application number 19,166,502 titled, "Oxygenated Amino- or Ammonium-Containing Sulfonic Acid, Phosphonic Acid and Carboxylic Acid Derivatives and Their Medical Use." Based on the intention to grant notice, the Company expects the EPO to issue a patent January 16, 2025. The patent claims include coverage of GRI-0803, the Company's novel activator of human type 2 NKT cells in development for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, with an initial focus on systemic lupus erythematosus. Activation of type 2 NKT leads to a dendritic cell-mediated inhibition of iNKT cells. In the Company's preclinical studies, type 2 NKT activating molecules, GRI-0803 and GRI-0124, were observed to inhibit both murine and human iNKT cells. Oral administration of these type 2 NKT activating molecules was observed to inhibit lupus nephritis and to significantly improve overall survival. The Company is currently focusing its available resources on GRI-0621, but, pending additional funding, the GRI-0803 IND-enabling and Phase1 program will continue in 2025. The Company is currently advancing the development of its lead program, GRI-0621, in a Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled, parallel-design, 2-arm study for the treatment of IPF. Interim data from the Phase 2a biomarker study is expected in the first quarter of 2025 and topline results are expected in the second quarter of 2025.

09:06 EST XBiotech pauses rheumatology program - XBiotech is halting its clinical program in rheumatological disease while it seeks to understand the outcome from its recently completed Phase II, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized study in Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Phase II study failed to meet its primary endpoint amid substantial irregularities that make unequivocal interpretation of the findings difficult. XBiotech was planning launch of additional studies in arthritis as well as other areas of rheumatology, including ankylosing spondylitis, which are now on hold while recent findings are evaluated. About 230 subjects with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled into the Phase II arthritis study, which examined the Company's candidate drug, Natrunix, in combination with methotrexate. The study's primary endpoint was the American College of Rheumatology 20 response rate after 12 weeks of treatment. Various other rheumatological assessments were also performed, including NRS-pain scores, arthritic joint counts, quality of life assessments, and safety. The study population was randomized into three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio: 200 mg or 400mg Natrunix weekly in combination with MTX; or placebo weekly with MTX. Irregularities in the Phase II study involved the highest enrolling clinical sites, including numerous subjects being enrolled multiple times. Although the study did not meet efficacy endpoints, discrepancies found during data analysis suggest caution in interpreting results. Findings of the study are still being analysed in order to better understand the implications of the findings and determine how these results can be used to guide potential further rheumatology studies for Natrunix.

09:05 EST Nasdaq notifies Comtech of delinquency in filing 10-Q - Comtech Telecommunications received a letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market notifying the Company that it is not in compliance with periodic requirements for continued listing set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c) because the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 31 was not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the required extended due date of December 16, 2024. This Letter received from Nasdaq has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company's shares...The Company is diligently working to complete its Report, and the Company expects to complete and file its Report with the SEC to regain compliance with the Listing Rule prior to the expiration of the 60-day period.

09:04 EST CrossFirst Bancshares, First Busey announce shareholder merger approval - First Busey (BUSE) jointly announced that First Busey shareholders and CrossFirst (CFB) shareholders have each voted to adopt and approve, as applicable, all proposals relating to the previously announced merger in which First Busey will acquire CrossFirst. The special shareholder meetings were held on Friday, December 20, 2024. "Our shareholders' overwhelming approval of this business combination is an important milestone in the process of closing this transaction," said First Busey Chairman and CEO Van Dukeman. "This approval reflects our shareholders' confidence in this compelling merger that will create significant upside for our associates, customers, communities and shareholders. The next step is receiving the required regulatory approvals, followed by the closing of the merger of the holding companies and successful integration of these two premier franchises. In our next chapter, First Busey will remain focused on providing enhanced financial services and expertise while maintaining the community bank values that our customers and communities expect and deserve."

09:04 EST Hon Hai Precision, Zettabyte partner on AI data centers - Zettabyte is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Hon Hai Technology Group. This collaboration, underpinned by capital funding, aims to drive innovation and expand the adoption of energy-efficient AI solutions worldwide. Partnering with Zettabyte aligns with Foxconn's commitment to advancing sustainable technologies. According to Foxconn, Zware's ability to enhance AI data center operations while significantly reducing energy consumption opens opportunities to set new benchmarks for the future of AI data centers.

09:02 EST 60 Degrees, Tufts Medical Center announces patent license agreement - 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals and Tufts Medical Center announced the signing of a Patent License Agreement to jointly advance the development and commercialization of tafenoquine for the treatment and prevention of babesiosis. Tafenoquine is not currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment and prevention of babesiosis. The agreement follows initiation of collaboration between researchers from both organizations to study the activity of tafenoquine against babesiosis, a serious tick-borne disease caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells. The study formed the basis of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/461,060, and related U.S. utility and PCT applications, granting the parties shared intellectual property rights to tafenoquine's potential future use for babesiosis. Joint Patent Ownership: 60 Degrees and Tufts MC will co-own patent applications related to tafenoquine for babesiosis, with the Company leading prosecution and maintenance activities worldwide. Commercialization Rights: 60 Degrees holds exclusive global rights to commercialize tafenoquine for babesiosis, including sublicensing to third parties for product development and sales. Research Collaboration: Tufts MC retains a royalty-free, global license for research purposes, further advancing innovation in this area. Royalties and Revenue Sharing: Tufts MC will receive royalties on net sales of tafenoquine-based products labeled for babesiosis treatment or prevention. Commitment to Development: 60 Degrees has committed to using commercially reasonable efforts to bring tafenoquine products to market and to expanding access to innovative therapies for babesiosis.

09:00 EST Singular Genomics Systems trading resumes

08:55 EST Walmart sued by CFPB for opening deposit accounts for over 1M delivery drivers - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that it has sued Walmart and Branch Messenger for forcing delivery drivers to use costly deposit accounts to get paid and for deceiving workers -- "last mile" drivers in Walmart's Spark Driver program -- about how they could access their earnings. The CFPB's lawsuit alleges that Walmart and Branch opened Branch accounts for Spark Drivers, and Walmart then deposited drivers' pay into these accounts, without the drivers' consent. Walmart told Spark Drivers that they were required to use Branch to get paid and that they would terminate workers who did not want to use these accounts. Walmart and Branch also misled workers about the availability of same-day access to their earnings. Drivers had to follow a complex process to access their funds, and when they finally did, they faced further delays or fees if they needed to transfer the money they earned into an account of their choice. This resulted in workers paying more than $10M in fees to transfer their earnings to an account of their choice. "Walmart made false promises, illegally opened accounts, and took advantage of more than a million delivery drivers," said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. "Companies cannot force workers into getting paid through accounts that drain their earnings with junk fees." Reference Link

08:52 EST Unusual Machines CEO says 'well-positioned' to keep executing on vision - Unusual Machines issued a shareholder letter by CEO Allan Evans, which read in part, " I hope this letter finds you well this holiday season. While this communication is unusual for this time of year, I feel it's important to address a matter that has been brought to my attention. Short sellers are likely planning to create a negative news cycle targeting Unusual Machines, taking advantage of the holidays to manipulate our share price for personal financial gain. While unfortunate, these predatory tactics are something that comes with our growing profile and the increasing significance of what we're building. I want to provide you with the facts about our progress and position, enabling you to make investment decisions for yourselves, free from the noise of misinformation. Let me be clear: this company's mission and integrity are unshakeable, and we are well-positioned to keep executing on our vision. We hold ourselves to high standards of transparency and accountability, even when it requires difficult decisions. For example: Proactive Auditor Changes: Leading up to our IPO, we identified concerns with our auditing firm. While we were unable to change firm prior to the IPO, we highlighted it as a risk factor in our S-1 filing. Then, immediately following the IPO, we transitioned to a more diligent firm. Notably, the firm we left was later deemed unsuitable for hundreds of other companies. This proactive decision is an example our commitment to accountability to our shareholders. Transparency in Communication: We work to maintain a high level of transparency by providing shareholder letters like this one. In our end of quarter letters, we directly highlight important aspects like our cash burn and present it plainly so that investors can have accurate information to make decisions. Simplified Corporate Structure: We streamlined our corporate structure, moving our jurisdiction of incorporation from Puerto Rico to Nevada, and simplified our cap table, which now consists entirely of common stock with a few remaining cash warrants. We have worked very hard to simplify our ownership structure so that there is no obscurity or structure that could disadvantage any of our shareholders.Our actions have and will continue to reflect our integrity...In today's media landscape, it's easy to throw around accusations like "pump and dump." While our stock price jumped recently, it was not the result of any marketing campaign initiated or sponsored by us. Let me assure you: this team is deeply committed to building a company that diversifies drone supply chains and supports U.S. manufacturing. Our actions reflect this long-term focus... We know that increased visibility invites increased scrutiny. Rest assured: negative media or attempts to manipulate our share price will not distract us. We are focused on executing our vision of becoming a major U.S. drone technology company, strengthening supply chains, and reducing reliance on foreign manufacturers. To the short sellers hoping to profit from undermining our work: you underestimate the strength of our team, our shareholders, and our mission. To our supporters-thank you for believing in us and helping to build a stronger, more secure future for the drone industry."

08:50 EST MetLife to acquire PineBridge Investments for $800M - MetLife Investment Management, the institutional asset management business of MetLife, announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire PineBridge Investments. The transaction is comprised of $800M in cash at closing, $200M subject to achieving certain 2025 financial metrics and $200M subject to a multi-year earnout. The acquisition excludes PineBridge's private equity funds group business and its joint venture in China. More than half of the client assets being acquired in the transaction held by investors outside of the U.S., and about one-third of the assets held in Asia. This transaction is targeted to close in 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

08:48 EST OptimizeRx announces departure of CEO Febbo, appoint Silvestro as interim CEO - OptimizeRx announced that William Febbo, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, and Board Member, will be departing the Company, effective as of December 31, 2024, to pursue other opportunities. Febbo will provide the Company with advisory services through March 31, 2025. The Company's Board of Directors has retained a search firm to assist in this transition.

08:47 EST Greenlane appoints Rob Shields as CGO - Greenlane announced that Rob Shields has been appointed to the new role of Greenlane's Chief Growth Officer. n his new role, Shields will lead strategic growth initiatives focusing on expanding Greenlane's market reach, driving business development, and enhancing customer relationships. He joins Greenlane from MOOMOO Financial Canada, a leading online trading platform with over 24 million users, where, as President and Country Head, he was responsible for all aspects of market entry and expansion across Canada including regulatory,legal, human resources, marketing, and financial operations.

08:44 EST CN announces Unifor ratifies four-year tenative collective agreements - CN announced that its new four-year tentative collective agreements with Unifor were formally ratified by employees on Sunday, December 22, 2024. The union represents approximately 3,300 employees at CN in Canada, working in different mechanical, clerical, and intermodal functions, all covered by multiple collective agreements. These new four-year agreements include 3% wage increases annually. They expire on December 31st, 2028.

08:44 EST Thumzup exceeds 600 advertisers, fueled by growth of adtech platform - Thumzup Media reports continued strong growth in its advertiser base, which now exceeds 600 just weeks after the Company announced it surpassed 500 advertisers. This momentum and robust growth trajectory should position Thumzup as an increasingly disruptive force in social media advertising. "Our rapid expansion to over 600 advertisers highlights the strength of our disruptive advertising model," stated Robert Steele, CEO of Thumzup. "As a leader in authentic and creator driven social media advertising, our platform continues to empower brands with wider access to various audiences, while offering users real monetary incentives for our app users. This growth is a testament to the effectiveness of our innovative approach."

08:43 EST FlexShopper announces initial holiday season results - FlexShopper announced record initial holiday season financial results, as the Company benefits from the continued success of its direct-to-consumer, DTC, and business-to-business, B2B, growth strategies. For the first two months of the 2024 fourth quarter, compared to the same two-month period in 2023, lease gross revenue increased 15%, and lease net revenue increased over 25%, as bad debt expense, as a percent of gross revenue declined by 600 basis points. As a result, lease gross profit increased 51% for the first two months of the 2024 fourth quarter, while lease marketing expense has declined over 40% for the same period. New loan originations increased over 34% versus the same two-month period last year.

08:42 EST Navient to sell Government Services business to Gallant Capital - Navient reached an agreement to sell its Government Services business to an affiliate of Gallant Capital Partners. Navient's Government Services business includes Navient Business Processing Group, Duncan Solutions, Gila, Pioneer Credit Recovery and Navient BPO. Approximately 1,200 employees will be included in the transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to certain conditions.

08:40 EST Ormat Technologies secures strategic land parcels in Utah BLM Auction - Ormat Technologies announced it has successfully secured 1,678 acres in Utah's Bureau of Land Management, BLM, Auction. These lease acquisitions will significantly support Ormat's ongoing operations and development projects in the state, further strengthening the company's commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions and meeting Utah's increasing demand for sustainable energy. "We believe the parcels we targeted and successfully won have a high probability of success that will support our short- and long-term growth plans in the U.S.," said Doron Blachar, CEO of Ormat Technologies. "This marks a significant milestone in our efforts to harness geothermal energy and contribute to a sustainable and low carbon future. Our team is dedicated to exploring and developing these resources to their fullest potential, providing reliable and eco-friendly energy to the people of Utah."

08:39 EST Orezone Gold closes term loan for Phase II Hard Rock expansion - Orezone Gold has closed on its previously announced Phase II Term Loan with Coris Bank. Loan proceeds will be directed towards the Phase II Hard Rock Expansion that is currently under construction at the Bombore Mine, with first gold scheduled in Q4-2025. The Phase II Term Loan is for a principal amount of XOF 35B, bears interest of 11.0% per annum, and has a term of three years. Principal repayments are deferred until January 2026 when the Phase II hard rock plant is expected to be in commercial production. The first drawdown of the Phase II Term Loan was completed today with the remaining loan facility available for drawdown as needed in 2025. With strong operating cashflows continuing into the current quarter, the Company has also repaid the $20M bridge loan that was drawn in May 2024. The Company has agreed to amend certain terms of its outstanding convertible debentures to secure the consent of the debenture holders for the Phase II Term Loan. The key amendment involves an adjustment to the conversion price, which has been revised to $0.70 per common share from the previous conversion price of $1.08.

08:36 EST Reliance Global reflects 2024, looks ahead to 2025 - Reliance Global provided a year-end review of its operations, as well as a look to the future. Ezra Beyman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Reliance commented, "2024 has been a transformative year for Reliance. During this pivotal period, we initiated the Company's transformation to the RELI Exchange OneFirm approach, establishing a unified platform that has greatly enhanced operational efficiency across all areas of our business. We are confident that this integrated strategy has positioned us for sustainable growth and long-term value creation... Looking ahead, we anticipate sharing additional positive updates early in the new year as we continue making progress toward our corporate goals. With the OneFirm transformation well underway and the Spetner acquisition nearing completion, we believe we are well-positioned to realize our vision of building a multi-billion dollar, highly profitable enterprise through strategic expansion, innovation, and disciplined fiscal management. We remain confident that our focused approach will continue driving meaningful results, delivering long-term value for our shareholders and stakeholders alike."

08:35 EST Singular Genomics to be acquired by Deerfield for $20.00 per share in case - Singular Genomics Systems announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement whereby an affiliate of Deerfield Management Company, will acquire Singular Genomics in an all-cash transaction for $20.00 per share. The $20.00 per share represents 254% premium to the last closing share price for Singular's common stock prior to the September 12, 2024 public disclosure of Deerfield's initial acquisition proposal. The Singular Genomics Board of Directors formed a special committee composed entirely of independent and disinterested directors to evaluate the Company's strategic alternatives. The Special Committee led negotiations with the assistance of independent financial and legal advisors. Following the Special Committee's unanimous recommendation that the Singular Genomics Board of Directors approve the merger agreement, the Singular Genomics Board of Directors approved the merger agreement with newly-formed entities affiliated with Deerfield and recommended that Singular Genomics stockholders adopt and approve the merger agreement and the transaction. Following approval by the Singular Genomics Board, the merger agreement was signed. The transaction is subject to a number of customary conditions, including a vote of the holders of Singular Genomics' common stock to approve the transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, Singular Genomics will become a private company, which the Singular Board of Directors believes will provide Singular Genomics with greater flexibility to continue advancing its business strategy. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the stockholder approval described above. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.

08:34 EST iKena Oncology, Inmagene enter definitive merger agreement, private placement - Ikena Oncology and Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals have entered into a definitive merger agreement. In connection with the merger, Ikena has entered into subscription agreements for a $75 million private placement with a syndicate that includes new investors such as Deep Track Capital, Foresite Capital, RTW Investments, and existing Ikena investors such as BVF Partners, Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, Omega Funds, and OrbiMed. The combined company will focus on the development of IMG-007, a monoclonal antibody targeting OX40, for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. The combined company plans to operate under the name "ImageneBio" and trade on NASDAQ under the ticker "IMA". OX40 is a costimulatory receptor that presents primarily on activated T cells. Anti-OX40 mAbs have demonstrated efficacy in placebo-controlled studies in atopic dermatitis. IMG-007 is a mAb targeting OX40 with potential utility in a wide range of inflammatory indications, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, hidradenitis suppurativa, systemic sclerosis and others. IMG-007 has a longer half-life compared to other OX40-targeting mAbs in Phase 2 and later development, enabling its potential for dose and schedule optimization. In addition, IMG-007 has silenced antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity function, and is non-T cell depleting, leading to a potentially improved tolerability profile relative to other mAbs in the class. IMG-007's Phase 2b clinical trial in atopic dermatitis is expected to begin in early 2025. Following the closing of the merger and the Financing, Ikena stockholders are expected to own approximately 34.8% of the combined company. Inmagene equity holders are expected to own approximately 43.5%, and the Financing investors are expected to own approximately 21.7%. The board of directors of the combined company will be comprised of three directors from the current Inmagene board, two directors from the current Ikena board, a board member representing the investors in the Financing, and a new independent board member. Inmagene and Ikena will mutually decide on future leadership of ImageneBio and a formal search for the chief executive officer of the combined company has been initiated. The shareholders of the two companies will obtain contingent value rights. The Inmagene shareholders will receive CVRs for Inmagene's non-IMG-007 assets, and the Ikena shareholders will receive CVRs for Ikena's legacy pipeline assets. The transaction has been approved by the board of directors of both companies and is expected to close in mid-2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the shareholders of each company. In connection with the reverse merger, directors and officers of both companies, certain shareholders of Inmagene and certain shareholders of Ikena have executed support agreements, pursuant to the terms of which they have agreed to vote all of their shares of capital stock in favor of the merger or the issuance of Ikena shares in the merger, as applicable.

08:30 EST Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom Family and Liverpool in $6.25B deal

08:25 EST Singular Genomics Systems trading halted, news pending

08:24 EST Ensysce Biosciences regains compliance with Nasdaq - Ensysce Biosciences received notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market that the company has demonstrated compliance with the minimum bid price requirement in Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Ensysce had previously regained compliance with the stockholders' equity requirement in Listing Rule 5550(b)(1). As a result, the Company has met all requirements outlined in the Nasdaq Hearings Panel decision dated November 5, 2024, and Ensysce common stock will continue trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

08:17 EST Ocean Power finalized the assembly of PowerBuoy for Naval Postgraduate School - Ocean Power Technologies (OPTT) announced it has finalized the main assembly of the previously announced PowerBuoy for Naval Postgraduate School. The full system, which includes installing AT&T (T) 5G technology and integrating advanced subsea sensors into a PowerBuoy equipped with OPT's latest Merrows suite for AI capable seamless integration of Maritime Domain Awareness, MDA, across platforms, is now being readied for shipment ready for deployment in early 2025 alongside the Technology Showcase NPS is hosting in January. Once deployed, the PowerBuoy will provide continuous, autonomous monitoring and data collection capabilities in one of the world's most strategically significant maritime environments. This is another step forward in executing the Company's robust strategic plan.

08:15 EST Intuitive Machines secured additional contracts from NASA's NSN for DTE - Intuitive Machines has secured additional contracts from NASA's Near Space Network, NSN, for Direct-to-Earth, DTE, services. These contracts further position Intuitive Machines as a vital partner in supporting NASA's missions to the Moon, and beyond. DTE communication and navigation services are critical for enabling missions to exit Earth's orbit, reach lunar destinations, and explore deep space. The new contract awards include: Subcategory 1.2: DTE Geostationary, GEO, to Cislunar DTE Services, offering enhanced data transmission capabilities and autonomous operations. Subcategory 1.3: xCislunar DTE Services, addressing mission needs for highly elliptical orbits and deep space operations.

08:14 EST NV5 Global awarded $5M five-year contract by the GDOT - NV5 announced that it has been awarded a $5M, five-year contract by the Georgia Department of Transportation, GDOT, to lead the Watkinsville Bypass project connecting SR 24 and SR 15 in Oconee County, Georgia. NV5 will deliver a full suite of services, including geomatics, environmental studies, roadway and bridge design, hydraulic and hydrological analysis, traffic and geotechnical engineering, right-of-way services, and erosion control.

08:12 EST Fly-E Group selected as official e-bike provider for NYC DOT's trade-in program - Fly-E Group announced that its flagship e-bike model, the Fly-11 PRO, has been officially selected by the New York City Department of Transportation, NYC DOT, as the official e-bike for the E-Bike Trade-In Program. NYC DOT expects to distribute approximately 400 e-bikes during the pilot period. This Program underscores New York City's commitment to improving safety and sustainability by replacing uncertified e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries with models meeting UL 2849 safety standards and featuring UL 2271-certified batteries.

08:10 EST White Gold closes $5M tranche of upsized private placement - White Gold (WHGOF) announced the closing of the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5,015,000 consisting of the sale of: 8,063,000 common shares in the capital of the Company that qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act at a price of C$0.26 per share; 5,092,593 FT Shares that will also qualify for the federal 30% Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit at a price of $0.27 per share; and 7,013,182 Common Shares a price of C$0.22 per share. Pursuant to an investor rights agreement between the Company and Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) dated December 13, 2016, Agnico has indicated that it intends to acquire approximately 1,136.363 HD Shares pursuant to the Offering that is expected to close on or about January 3, 2025. In addition, certain officers and directors of the Company acquired 1,217,273 HD Shares pursuant to the Offering.

08:08 EST Cion Investment declares 5c special distribution payable on January 27 - CION Investment Corporation announced that it has declared a special distribution for the year ending December 31, 2024 in the amount of 5c per share, payable on January 27 to shareholders of record as of December 30, which results in total distributions declared in 2024 of $1.52 per share. The special distribution represents a portion of the Company's investment company taxable income generated through the course of the year. Michael A. Reisner, co-CEO of CION stated, "We are pleased to announce a year-end special dividend for 2024, driven by the consistent income generation of our portfolio. Looking ahead, we believe our first-lien focus, flexible balance sheet, and disciplined capital deployment positions CION well for attractive risk-adjusted returns for shareholders."

08:07 EST MicroStrategy acquired 5,262 bitcoins for about $561M from Dec. 16-22 - In a regulatory filing, MicroStrategy disclosed that on December 23, the company announced that, during the period between December 16 and December 22, the company acquired approximately 5,262 bitcoins for approximately $561M in cash, at an average price of approximately $106,662 per bitcoin, inclusive of fees and expenses. The bitcoin purchases were made using proceeds from the issuance and sale of shares under the company's previously announced sales agreement. As of December 22, the company, together with its subsidiaries, held an aggregate of approximately 444,262 bitcoins, which were acquired at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $27.7B and an average purchase price of approximately $62,257 per bitcoin, inclusive of fees and expenses, the filing noted. Reference Link

08:06 EST authID became a member of the ADIA - authID announced it has become a member of the Accountable Digital Identity Association, ADIA, an open industry association created to drive the development of a standardized, interoperable framework for decentralized identity services to ensure the authenticity of, and to establish trust in, reusable digital identities. ADIA promotes a uniform specification for creating and managing portable digital identities, allowing users to leverage a single set of credentials to access multiple online services. This protocol is already being adopted by a number of large organizations.

08:05 EST Lucid Diagnostics granted 180-day extension by Nasdaq to regain compliance - Lucid Diagnostics announced that it had received written notification from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market that the company was eligible for a 180-day extension to regain compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). The company now has until June 16, 2025 to meet the requirement.

08:04 EST Sigma Lithium to ship 22,650t of Quintuple Zero Green Lithium to Abu Dhabi - Sigma Lithium is pleased to announce that it is currently loading 22,650 tonnes of its Quintuple Zero Green Lithium for shipment from the Port of Vitoria to IRH Global Trading LTD in Abu Dhabi, reflecting the company's continued operational excellence.

08:03 EST iLearningEngines voluntary initiates Chapter 11 proceedings - iLearningEngines announced that on December 20, 2024 the Company voluntarily initiated Chapter 11 proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Company will seek Court approval to continue operating on a business as usual basis during the proceedings and intends to continue to provide support to its installed customer base that relies on its Applied AI platform to run their businesses. In coming days, the Company will file certain customary motions seeking Court approval to support its operations during the process, including the continued payment of employee wages and benefits as well as compensating vendors and suppliers under normal terms for goods and services provided on or after the filing dates.

08:02 EST Innoviz Technologies enters multi-year NRE payment plan with key customers - Innoviz Technologies announced a multi-year NRE payment plan of approximately $80M with key existing customers which is expected to bolster the company's financial position. NREs are expected to be paid between 2025 and 2027, of which over $40M are expected to be paid in 2025 with further amounts expected in 2026 and 2027. These payments will be incremental to revenues generated from ongoing sales of LiDAR products based on existing and new orders coming from new programs.

07:54 EST Osisko Gold announces acquisition of additional Gibraltar silver stream interest - Osisko Gold Royalties (OR) has completed an amendment to its silver stream with respect to the Gibraltar copper mine, located in British Columbia, Canada, which is operated by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Taseko Mines (TGB). Osisko and Taseko have amended the Silver Stream to increase Osisko's attributable silver percentage by 12.5% to 100%. Further to this, Osisko and Taseko have also extended the step-down silver delivery threshold to 6,811,603 ounces delivered, accounting for Osisko's additional silver ownership. In exchange for these amendments Osisko has paid an additional deposit amount of $12.7M to Taseko. These amendments were concluded further to the announcement by Taseko on March 25th, 2024 that it had entered into a definitive agreement to consolidate a 100% interest in Gibraltar by acquiring the remaining 12.5% interest from Dowa Metals & Mining and Furukawa. Separately, Osisko is pleased to announce the successful closing of its transaction to acquire a 1.8% gross revenue royalty on the Dalgaranga Gold project operated by Spartan Resources in Western Australia for $44M, as originally announced on September 30th, 2024. Osisko's complementary transaction to acquire a 1.35% GRR on additional regional exploration licenses in proximity to Dalgaranga for $6M has also closed.

07:46 EST Rectitude Holdings secures first sales contracts for AIMS product - Rectitude Holdingshas secured its first sales contracts for its new product, the All-in-One Intelligence Micro-grid System. These contracts are expected to generate approximately $1M in revenue. With the launch of AIMS and Rectitude's expansion into Thailand, the Company is well-positioned to further growth across Southeast Asia.

07:44 EST Telomir confirms copper binding capabilities of Telomir-1 - Telomir Pharmaceuticals announced findings from its copper binding studies with Telomir-1. The company said, "This is a promising development as the company explores Telomir-1 for the treatment of Wilson's disease and other copper related disorders. The announcement marks an important step forward in Telomir's mission to address critical unmet medical needs while continuing to explore transformative therapies. Recent preclinical in vitro studies conducted by Recipharm and Smart Assays have demonstrated Telomir-1's exceptional binding affinity for copper ions, highlighting its ability to selectively interact with and regulate copper metabolism. Additionally, Telomir-1's capability to bind and exchange key ions, including copper, iron, and zinc, emphasizes its unique profile and positions it as a promising candidate for further research. These findings form a strong foundation for investigating Telomir-1's potential in addressing Wilson's disease, a rare genetic disorder characterized by excessive copper accumulation that can result in significant damage to the liver, brain, and other vital organs." Earlier this year, Telomir partnered with Midwest Veterinary Services to launch a planned large-scale study on osteoarthritis in dogs. While only the safety phase of the study was completed-showing no adverse effects-the Company chose to discontinue the study. This decision was based on the requirement to induce osteoarthritis in the dogs, a practice that conflicted with the new management's commitment to the Company's mission and values. Instead, the Company is now in discussions with a well-known veterinary institution to design a new study that will recruit elderly dogs who naturally suffer from osteoarthritis. As such, Telomir is committed to obtaining an Investigational New Animal Drug application for pets while progressing toward an IND Investigational New Drug application for humans. The company said, "As we continue to gather scientific data and delve deeper into the molecular mechanisms of action of Telomir-1, we are positioning ourselves to identify the most impactful indication for our initial IND application. The Company is currently working on the optimization of manufacturing processes to enable an affordable and scalable approach. This will support the production of GMP-grade quantities necessary for IND-enabling studies and clinical trials. The Company plans to carry out the IND-enabling safety studies in Q2 2025, targeting IND submission by Q4 2025, with first-in-human clinical trials anticipated in the first half of 2026. The company also plans to secure an INAD for pets, paving the way for Telomir-1's dual application in both human and veterinary medicine."

07:41 EST Cingulate completes financing transaction for net proceeds of $5M - Cingulate has completed a financing transaction with an accredited investor which provided net proceeds to CING of $5M. The transaction was structured as a non-convertible, unsecured promissory note in the principal amount of $5,480,000. The promissory note accumulates interest at a rate of 9% per annum and matures 18 months after its issuance date. CING intends to use the net proceeds for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Based on planned expenditures, this additional capital provides CING the cash runway to fund clinical, manufacturing, and regulatory activities, as well as operating costs, into the fourth quarter of 2025. Filing of the NDA for potential FDA approval of CTx-1301 is targeted for mid-2025.

07:40 EST Psyence Biomedical regains full compliance with Nasdaq requirements - Psyence Biomedical announced that it has received notice from the Nasdaq Hearings panel that the Company has regained compliance with all applicable Nasdaq continued listing requirements. As previously announced, Psyence Biomed requested to be transferred from The Nasdaq Global Market to The Nasdaq Capital Market, effective November 15, 2024. As a result of this transfer, the Company regained compliance with listing rules 5550(a)(5), the $1.0 million minimum market value of publicly held shares requirement, and 5550(b)(1), the $2.5 million minimum stockholders' equity requirement.

07:39 EST FlexShopper announces extension of rights offering - FlexShopper has extended the expiration date of its previously announced rights offering to ensure adequate time for holders of rights to make their first come first serve investment decision and for additional orders to be processed on a first come first serve basis. All other terms and conditions, including pricing, of the rights offering remain unchanged. A myriad of events, including the disruption in the equity markets resulting from macroeconomic factors, the overhang from the budget deadlines and delivery of documents to our Canadian shareholders as a result of the recently ended Canada postal strike, are contributing factors to the extension. FlexShopper has extended the expiration of the rights offering to 5:00 pm ET on Friday, January 10, 2025. Only shareholders that exercise their initial units will receive Series A, B, and C rights to purchase FlexShopper's common stock. The respective expiration dates will be extended accordingly for the Series A, B and C common stock purchase rights, which are 30, 60 and 90 days following the closing date of the subscription offering. The rights offering allows FlexShopper's stockholders of record as of December 2, 2024 to purchase up to 35,000,000 units. The rights offering was made through a dividend in the form of two non-transferable basic subscription rights for each share of common stock or common stock equivalent owned on the record date. Each right permits the holder to purchase one unit at a fixed subscription price of $1.70 per unit. Each unit consists of one share of common stock, as well as short-term Series A, B and C rights to purchase additional shares of common stock at varying discounted market-based prices.

07:38 EST TC Energy provides results of Series 1, Series 2 conversion elections - TC Energy announced that 42,200 of its 14,577,184 fixed rate Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 1 have been elected for conversion on Dec. 31, 2024, on a one-for-one basis, into floating rate Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series 2; and 3,889,020 of its 7,422,816 Series 2 Shares have been elected for conversion, on a one-for-one basis, into Series 1 Shares. As a result of the conversions, TC Energy will have 18,424,004 Series 1 Shares and 3,575,996 Series 2 Shares issued and outstanding. The Series 1 Shares and Series 2 Shares will continue to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TRP.PR.A and TRP.PR.F, respectively. The Series 1 Shares will pay on a quarterly basis for the five-year period beginning on Dec. 31, 2024, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of TC Energy, a fixed dividend at an annualized rate of 4.939 per cent. The Series 2 Shares will pay a floating rate quarterly dividend for the five-year period beginning on Dec. 31, 2024, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of TC Energy. The dividend rate for the Series 2 Shares for the first quarterly floating rate period commencing Dec. 31, 2024 to but excluding Mar. 31, 2025 is 5.401 per cent and will be reset every quarter.

07:36 EST Saputo COO Frank Guido to step down, Carl Colizza named interim - Saputo announced that Frank Guido will step down from his role as COO, Saputo, effective immediately, for personal reasons. In addition to his current responsibilities, Carl Colizza, President and CEO, will assume the duties of COO, Saputo, by interim.

07:34 EST QuickLogic announces $6.575M contract award - QuickLogic announced it has been awarded a $6.575M contract. This funding will support the continued development and demonstration of Strategic Radiation Hardened high reliability Field Programmable Gate Array technology. The initiative aims to meet current and future Department of Defense strategic and space system requirements.

07:34 EST Algorhythm announces pause on capital raising activities - Algorhythm Holdings will pause new capital raising activities for the next six months. In light of the Company's current cash position, combined with a comprehensive assessment of the current market environment and our business operations, the management team has decided to suspend seeking out any new financing plans for the next six months. During this period, the Company will not seek new investments including transactions like an "At-the-Market" offering or usage of the Company's Shelf registration statement. Additionally, the Company intends to seek the approval of its stockholders at its upcoming annual meeting of stockholders in January 2025, to implement a reverse stock split of its outstanding common stock to regain compliance with The Nasdaq Stock Market minimum bid requirement.

07:33 EST Lennox confirms inclusion in S&P 500 Index - Lennox announced its inclusion in the S&P 500 Index, effective prior to the opening of trading. This milestone recognizes the company's sustained growth, innovation, and dedication to delivering advanced HVACR products that prioritize comfort and efficiency.

07:31 EST CleanSpark exceeds 2024 year-end guidance of 37 EH/s - CleanSpark announced it has achieved and exceeded the previously announced year-end target of 37 EH/s of operating hashrate. The company's newest data centers in Tennessee and Wyoming were energized last week. This is part of a multistage energization process that will continue into the next quarter. The added hashrate from these sites paired with site expansion, and ongoing fleet upgrades, has allowed the company to exceed 2024 YE guidance and deliver 37.5 EH/s of operating hashrate. Fleet efficiency has reached 17.7 J/Th and is expected to continue to improve as the company continues its strategic growth plans. The company expects its operating leverage to continue to increase as it proceeds with its next phase of growth to 50 EH/s, which is fully funded and expected in the first half of 2025. This growth is expected to be achieved through a mix of greenfield infrastructure development, organic growth via existing site expansion, and strategic M&A, all funded with a portion of the proceeds of the company's most recent offering. The current portfolio of data centers includes locations in Georgia, Wyoming, Tennessee, Mississippi, and New York.

07:22 EST TeraWulf signs long-term data center lease agreements with Core42 - TeraWulf announced the signing of long-term data center lease agreements with Core42. Under the data center lease agreements, TeraWulf will deliver over 70 megawatts of turn-key data center infrastructure to host Core42's deployment at the Lake Mariner facility in Upstate New York. The infrastructure will be released for production in phases between Q1 and Q3 2025. TeraWulf will customize the data halls to support Core42's GPU clusters, which will feature Dell Integrated Rack Scalable Solutions, the Dell IR5000. These integrated racks include direct liquid cooled Dell PowerEdge XE9680L GPU servers and will come online in phases. The data center leases include two five-year renewal options, providing a long-term, stable, high-margin revenue stream for TeraWulf. Additionally, the data center lease agreements include provisions for expanding near-term hosting capacity for Core42 by an additional 135 MW gross, which is equivalent to 108 MW of critical IT load.

07:18 EST Enviri appoints Christophe Reitemeier as president, Harsco Environmental - Enviri Corporationannounced the appointment of Christophe Reitemeier to senior vice president and president, Harsco Environmental, effective January 1, 2025. Reitemeier is a member of the Company's Executive Leadership Team and will be based at Harsco Environmental's headquarters in England. Reitemeier has served as vice president and CFO, Harsco Environmental since 2020 and joined the Enviri ELT last year.

07:15 EST Castle Biosciences provides update on AD gene expression profile test - Castle Biosciences provided an update on its test currently in development for use in patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, or AD, who are seeking systemic treatment. Based on preliminary data from the company's ongoing prospective development and validation study, Castle's pipeline test has shown potential to identify a subset of patients with AD who have an increased likelihood to achieve a super response to targeted therapies, indicated by a 90% or greater reduction in Eczema Area and Severity Index, or EASI, score at three months. Assuming successful validation, the company currently expects to launch its pipeline test by the end of 2025. Castle has enrolled more than 1,100 patients across 39 active clinical study sites for this development and validation study. Follow-up is ongoing with many of these patients, as the company is assessing response at three months, which is the first typical timepoint for clinicians and patients to determine if the current therapy is effective. Launch strategy planning for the company's pipeline test, including selecting the reimbursement pathway, is ongoing.

07:15 EST Laser Photonics gets order for Cooper Nuclear Station in Nebraska, no terms - Laser Photonics announced that it received an order from the Cooper Nuclear Station CNS , Nebraska's largest single-unit generator providing clean and reliable electricity. "Laser cleaning technology is rapidly gaining ground as a highly effective alternative to hazardous surface preparation methods," said John Armstrong, Executive Vice President of Laser Photonics. "LPC is serving a growing number of clients in the nuclear energy sector, and we are thrilled that Cooper Nuclear entrusted us in providing its team with innovative laser-powered equipment."

07:12 EST Despegar to be acquired by Prosus for $19.50 per share - Prosus announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Despegar for $19.50 per share, equating to a 33% premium to the closing share price as of December 20, and a 34% premium to Despegar's 90-day VWAP. The proposed transaction was approved by Despegar's board of directors, who recommended that Despegar shareholders vote in favor of the proposed transaction following the unanimous recommendation by a transaction committee. The company handles over 9.5M transactions annually, generating $5.3B in gross bookings, $706M in revenue, and delivering a reported EBITDA of $116M based on its full-year 2023 results. Through this acquisition, Prosus plans to create synergies between Despegar and its other regional businesses, such as iFood. The transaction has been entered into on terms and conditions customary for transaction of this nature, and is subject to the customary closing conditions, including approval by Despegar shareholders and the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in Q2 2025. The purchase consideration will be funded from existing cash resources.

07:12 EST Glaukos submits NDA to U.S. FDA for Epioxa to treat keratoconus - Glaukos announced the submission of its New Drug Application NDA to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA or Epioxa or Epi-on, its next-generation corneal cross-linking iLink therapy for the treatment of keratoconus, a progressive, sight-threatening corneal disease. "The NDA submission for Epioxa represents an important milestone for our company as it brings us one step closer in being able to provide keratoconus patients and the ophthalmic community with the first FDA-approved, non-invasive corneal cross-linking drug therapy that does not require removal of the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the front of the eye," said Thomas Burns, Glaukos chairman and chief executive officer. "We look forward to working closely with the FDA in their pending review process and continue to believe Epioxa, which is designed to reduce procedure times, improve patient comfort and shorten recovery time, represents a potentially meaningful advancement in the treatment paradigm for patients suffering from keratoconus." Epioxa, which is designed to preserve the corneal epithelium, reduce procedure times, improve patient comfort and shorten recovery time, utilizes a proprietary, novel drug formulation designed to penetrate the epithelial layer of the cornea, a stronger UV-A irradiation protocol and supplemental oxygen to enhance cross-linking. If approved, the company anticipates Epioxa would be the first FDA-approved, non-invasive corneal cross-linking therapy that does not require removal of the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the front of the eye.

07:10 EST Avista receives commission decision in Washington general rate cases - Avista'selectric and natural gas general rate cases filed in January 2024 have concluded, with an order from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission approving a two-year rate plan that will change electric and natural gas rates, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026. For electric operations, the Commission approved rates designed to provide a 0.1 percent, or $0.8 million increase in base revenue for Rate Year 1, and a 11.6 percent, or $68.9 million increase in base revenue for Rate Year 2. For natural gas operations, the Commission approved rates designed to provide a 11.2 percent, or $14.2 million increase in base revenue for Rate Year 1, and a 2.8 percent, or $4.0 million increase in base revenue for Rate Year 2.

07:10 EST Aldebaran Resources receives notice on second payment from Nuton - Aldebaran Resources announced that Nuton Holdings, a Rio Tinto venture, has confirmed it will make the second payment pursuant to the Option to Joint Venture Agreement with Aldebaran announced on November 7, 2024. Aldebaran anticipates receiving the payment in early January 2025. Transaction Details: Aldebaran entered into an Option to Joint Venture Agreement with Nuton, whereby Nuton has the exclusive right to acquire a 20% interest in the Altar project by making the following payments: $10 Million upon signing; $20 Million upon delivery of an updated mineral resource estimate; $30 Million upon delivery of a Preliminary Economic Assessment; PEA expected to be completed in Q2-2025; $190 Million upon delivery of a Pre-Feasibility Study; PFS expected to be completed in H2-2026.

07:08 EST Mixed Martial Arts Group issues letter to shareholders, announces 2025 goals - Mixed Martial Arts Group issued a letter to shareholders from its Founder and CEO, Nick Langton: "Looking Ahead: Key Goals for 2025. MMA is poised for a transformative year and inflection points as we build upon our momentum and focus on accelerating key growth initiatives: 1. Expanding our partnership with UFC Gym... 2. Scaling Technology and Infrastructure... 3. Deepening Customer Engagement... 4. Driving Industry Integration... As we enter 2025, Mixed Martial Arts Group stands at its most exciting juncture in our growth journey. With a strong foundation of industry leading strategic partnerships, innovative products and a passionate community, we are ideally positioned to build significantly on our 2024 achievements. Our mission to unify and empower the global martial arts and combat sports industry has never been more relevant and the opportunities ahead feel boundless."

07:07 EST Fiserv to acquire Payfare, terms undislosed - Fiserv announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Payfare, a provider of program management solutions with a particular focus on new economy workforces. The transaction is subject to obtaining shareholder and court approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the first half of 2025.

07:06 EST Helius Medical announces first PoNS System sale to VA Healthcare System - Helius Medical Technologies announced the first PoNS System sale to the VA Healthcare System. The PoNS System sale through our distributor, Lovell Government Services, was at the contracted price of $23,844, comprised of $16,499 for the PoNS Controller and $7,345 for the PoNS Mouthpiece. "We are excited to announce the first PoNS System sale to the VA and are proud to support advancing the treatment of gait deficit for Veterans with MS," said Dane Andreeff, Helius President and Chief Executive Officer. "Since the approval of PoNS for inclusion on the Federal Supply Schedule contract, we have worked hard to integrate with the VA as an approved vendor to streamline future operations. "

07:05 EST Lithium Americas announces closing of Thacker Pass JV with General Motors - Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) announced the closing of its previously announced joint venture, or JV, with General Motors (GM) to fund, develop, construct and operate Thacker Pass in Humboldt County, Nevada to supply battery-quality lithium carbonate for the North American critical minerals supply chain. Lithium Americas now holds a 62% interest in Thacker Pass and will manage the project. GM has acquired a 38% interest in Thacker Pass for $625M in total cash and letters of credit, comprised of $430M of direct cash funding to the JV to support the construction of Phase 11 and a $195M letter of credit facility. As part of closing, GM has funded $330M of cash into the JV alongside $138M of funding from Lithium Americas. The remaining $100M cash contribution from GM, and Lithium Americas' $181M contribution, is to be contributed at the final investment decision, or FID, for Phase 1. GM will post the LC Facility prior to first draw on the Company's previously announced $2.26B loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, which is expected to occur in the middle of 2025.

07:05 EST DIH Holding appoints Shepherd Center as DIH Center of Excellence - DIH Holding US announced the appointment of Shepherd Center as DIH Center of Excellence. Through this partnership, DIH and Shepherd Center aim to further enhance rehabilitation outcomes and drive advancements in rehabilitation, creating new opportunities for patient recovery.

07:04 EST Rapt Therapeutics, Jemincare enter exclusive license agreement for JBY1904 - RAPT Therapeutics and Shanghai Jemincare Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Jiangxi Jemincare Group, announced they have entered into an exclusive license agreement for JYB1904, a clinical-stage, half-life extended anti-immunoglobulin E monoclonal antibody. Under the terms of the license agreement, RAPT is granted worldwide rights excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to develop and commercialize RPT904. As consideration for the license, Jemincare receives a $35 million upfront license fee, up to $672.5 million in additional payments upon the achievement of various regulatory and commercial milestones, and royalties on future sales of RPT904 outside the Jemincare Territory. RAPT plans to pursue development of RPT904 initially in food allergy. Separately, Jemincare is conducting Phase 2 clinical trials of JYB1904 in China in asthma and CSU.

07:02 EST Boralex adds another 97 MW in UK portfolio - Boralex has entered into a joint venture for the development, construction and operation of the proposed 145MW Clashindarroch Wind Farm Extension and adjacent 50MW Battery Energy Storage System, for a total capacity of 195MW. The project is located near Dufftown in Moray, Scotland. Boralex has been developing this project for a number of years on behalf of Clashindarroch Wind Farm Extension Ltd.

06:57 EST Aecom-led JV selected by Amtrak for Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project - Aecom announced that an Aecom-led joint venture with STV has been selected by Amtrak to provide project management services for the Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project, a key component of the Gateway Program that aims to address state of good repair needs and double passenger train capacity on the most congested 10-mile section of the Northeast Corridor. The project will deliver three new bridges along a 1.9-mile corridor in Kearny, N.J., between Newark Penn Station and Secaucus Junction.

06:51 EST Zura Bio launches global Phase 2 TibuSURE study evaluating tibulizumab - Zura Bio announced the launch of TibuSURE, a Phase 2 global study evaluating tibulizumab for the treatment of systemic sclerosis in adults.

06:49 EST Castellum wins OASIS+ unrestricted IDIQ contract - Castellum announces that its subsidiary, Specialty Systems, teaming with Castellum's other two subsidiaries Corvus Consulting and Global Technology and Management Resources, was awarded all four unrestricted domains upon which it submitted proposals. This award is in addition to the three small business domains the Castellum team has already been awarded on One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services Plus. OASIS+ is a suite of government-wide, multi-award contracts designed to support federal agencies' procurement requirements for services-based solutions. With a potential ten-year performance period and no ceiling value, OASIS+ represents a significant opportunity for the Castellum team to expand its support to federal customers.

06:45 EST Xerox confirms agreement to acquire Lexmark International in $1.5B deal - Xerox announced it has agreed to acquire Lexmark International from Ninestar Corporation, PAG Asia Capital, and Shanghai Shouda Investment Centre in a deal valued at $1.5B, inclusive of assumed liabilities. In conjunction with this financing, the Xerox Board of Directors approved a change in the dividend policy to reduce the Xerox annual dividend from $1 per share to 50c per share starting with the dividend expected to be declared in the first quarter of 2025. This lowered dividend payment provides incremental capacity to reduce debt while continuing to reward shareholders with an above-market yield. The Xerox Board of Directors has unanimously approved the transaction. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, approval of Ninestar's shareholders, and other customary closing conditions. It is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Until then, both Xerox and Lexmark will maintain their current operations and operate independently.

06:42 EST Xerox to acquire Lexmark International in deal valued at $1.5B - Xerox announced it has agreed to acquire Lexmark International from Ninestar Corporation, PAG Asia Capital, and Shanghai Shouda Investment Centre in a deal valued at $1.5B, inclusive of assumed liabilities. "This acquisition will strengthen the Xerox core print portfolio and build a broader global print and managed print services business better suited to meet the evolving needs of clients in the hybrid workplace," the company stated. Under the terms of the agreement, Xerox will acquire Lexmark for total consideration of $1.5B, inclusive of net debt and other assumed liabilities. Xerox expects to finance the acquisition with a combination of cash on hand and committed debt financing. In conjunction with this financing, the Xerox board of directors approved a change in the dividend policy to reduce the Xerox annual dividend from $1 per share to 50 cents per share starting with the dividend expected to be declared in the first quarter of 2025. This lowered dividend payment provides incremental capacity to reduce debt while continuing to reward shareholders with an above-market yield. The Xerox board has unanimously approved the transaction. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, approval of Ninestar's shareholders, and other customary closing conditions. It is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Until then, both Xerox and Lexmark will maintain their current operations and operate independently. "Our acquisition of Lexmark will bring together two industry-leading companies with shared values, complementary strengths, and a deep commitment to advancing the print industry to create one stronger organization," said Steve Bandrowczak, chief executive officer at Xerox. "By combining our capabilities, we will be better positioned to drive long-term profitable growth and serve our clients, furthering our Reinvention."

06:34 EST Prosus to acquire Despegar for $1.7B or $19.50 per share - Prosus announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Despegar (DESP) a leading Latin American Online Travel Agency, for $19.50 per share, equating to a 33% premium to the closing share price as of December 20, and a 34% premium to Despegar's 90-day volume weighted average price. "The proposed transaction was approved by Despegar's board of directors, who recommended that Despegar shareholders vote in favour of the proposed transaction following the unanimous recommendation by a transaction committee. The transaction introduces a significant and compelling addition to Prosus's Latin America ecosystem, which, post-transaction, will expand to serve over 100 million customers across local e-commerce, travel, and fintech sectors," Prosus stated in a notice to the London Stock Exchange. Fabricio Bloisi, CEO of Prosus Group said: "This acquisition is a clear demonstration of our strategy to build value by creating a high-quality ecosystem of complementary businesses. Despegar is a highly profitable company, with an attractive market position, and an experienced management team - making it a natural addition to our presence in Latin America. We will accelerate Despegar's growth by leveraging the extensive customer touchpoints within our portfolio, along with our operational expertise and advanced AI capabilities." The transaction has been entered into on terms and conditions customary for transaction of this nature, and is subject to the customary closing conditions, including approval by Despegar shareholders and the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in Q2 2025. The purchase consideration will be funded from existing cash resources.

06:21 EST Hyatt announces exclusive discussions with Playa Hotels & Resorts - Hyatt Hotels (H) disclosed it has executed an exclusivity agreement with Playa Hotels & Resorts (PLYA) under which Playa has agreed to negotiate exclusively with Hyatt regarding potential strategic alternatives, which may include the acquisition of Playa by Hyatt. Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO of Hyatt, said, "Playa has been a valuable partner for many years, is one of the world's strongest operators of all-inclusive resorts, and owns a premier portfolio of high-quality, high-end all-inclusive resorts in iconic locations and key markets across the Caribbean and Mexico. Strategic alternatives under consideration could have compelling strategic merit to add new incremental durable fee streams for Hyatt. We remain steadfastly committed to our asset-light business model and if this process continues, we will continue to map out a clear path for an asset-light outcome for any strategic alternatives we undertake." There can be no assurances that any transaction will result from Hyatt's exclusive discussions with Playa, or on what terms. Hyatt does not intend to comment further on these discussions unless and until a definitive agreement has been fully executed.

06:03 EST AstraZeneca's Tagrisso approved in EU for certain types of NSCLC - AstraZeneca's Tagrisso has been approved in the European Union for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletions or exon 21 substitution mutations and whose disease has not progressed during or following platinum-based chemoradiation therapy, the company announced. The approval by the European Commission follows the positive opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use and is based on results from the LAURA Phase III trial, which were published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the company noted.

05:49 EST Google announces remedies proposal in DOJ's search distribution case - Lee-Anne Mulholland Vice President, Regulatory Affairs at Google (GOOGL), wrote in a blog post that the company "strongly disagrees with and will appeal" the decision in the Department of Justice's search distribution lawsuit. The company says it has filed its own proposal, based on the actual findings in the Court's decision. "This was a decision about our search distribution contracts, so our proposed remedies are directed to that," Mulholland said. "Browser companies like Apple (AAPL) and Mozilla should continue to have the freedom to do deals with whatever search engine they think is best for their users. The Court accepted that browser companies 'occasionally assess Google's search quality relative to its rivals and find Google's to be superior.' And for companies like Mozilla, these contracts generate vital revenue. Our proposal allows browsers to continue to offer Google Search to their users and earn revenue from that partnership. But it also provides them with additional flexibility: It would allow for multiple default agreements across different platforms (e.g., a different default search engine for iPhones and iPads) and browsing modes, plus the ability to change their default search provider at least every 12 months. Our proposal means device makers have additional flexibility in preloading multiple search engines, and preloading any Google app independently of preloading Search or Chrome. Again, this will give our partners additional flexibility and our rivals like Microsoft more chances to bid for placement. Our proposal includes a robust mechanism to ensure we comply with the Court's order without giving the Government extensive power over the design of your online experience. We don't propose these changes lightly. They would come at a cost to our partners by regulating how they must go about picking the best search engine for their customers. But we believe that they fully address the Court's findings, and do so without putting Americans' privacy and security at risk or harming America's global technology leadership." Reference Link

05:25 EST BW LPG announces insider share purchases - On December 20, primary insiders of BW LPG have purchased shares in the company. Kristian Sorensen, CEO purchased 1,000 shares at NOK 114.6. Samantha Xu, CFO purchases 2,000 shares at $10.00.

05:06 EST ICL appoints Elad Aharonson as CEO - ICL announced its board has approved the appointment of Elad Aharonson as ICL's new president and chief executive officer, effective March 13, 2025. He will succeed Raviv Zoller who will work with Aharonson to ensure a transition. Elad Aharonson has served as president of ICL's growing solutions business since April of 2021. During his tenure, he led the development of ICL's specialty fertilizer solutions and the expansion of these product offerings into new territories.