Stockwinners Market Radar for May 17, 2022 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:07 EDT Cathie Wood's ARK Investment bought 4.05M shares of Ginkgo Bioworks today

19:09 EDT New Mountain Finance director buys $832K in common stock - In a regulatory filing, New Mountain Finance disclosed that its director Steven Klinsky bought 65.2K shares of common stock on May 13th in a total transaction size of $832K.

18:50 EDT Disney, XFL reach exclusive, global multi-year broadcast agreement - The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and the XFL have reached an exclusive, global multi-year agreement that calls for every regular-season and playoff game to be presented on an ESPN/TWDC platform. The professional football league, featuring an ownership group led by Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital Partners, is planning to kick off a return season on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, and continue through the spring with 40 regular-season matchups, two semifinal playoff games and the championship. XFL matchups will be featured on a combination of ABC, ESPN networks and FX. Additionally, the agreement includes exclusive content rights across TWDC/ESPN's digital, social and direct-to-consumer outlets such as ESPN+. Specific details on scheduling dates, times and platforms will be determined and announced on a later date. Global rights for TWDC/ESPN are also included in the agreement. Reference Link

18:17 EDT Six Flags director buys $12.26M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Six Flags disclosed that its director Arik Ruchim bought 425K shares of common stock on May 13th in a total transaction size of $12.26M.

18:13 EDT Northrop Grumman raises quarterly dividend 10% to $1.73 per share - The board of directors of Northrop Grumman Corporation declared a quarterly dividend of $1.73 per share on Northrop Grumman common stock, payable June 15, 2022, to shareholders of record as of the close of business May 31, 2022. "Northrop Grumman remains focused on deploying our capital in value-creating ways for our customers and investors," said Kathy Warden, chair, chief executive officer and president. "We are investing in our business to support our growth and we continue to provide a competitive return of capital to shareholders. This includes today's 10 percent increase to our dividend, which represents the 19th consecutive annual increase."

17:52 EDT Montrose Environmental director Price acquires 11,807 common shares - In a regulatory filing, Montrose Environmental Group director James Price disclosed the purchase of 11,807 common shares of the company on May 17 at a price of $42.35 per share.

17:47 EDT SmartRent director buys $1.04M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, SmartRent disclosed that its director Robert Best bought 225K shares of common stock on May 13th in a total transaction size of $1.04M.

17:44 EDT HCA Healthcare chief HR officer Berres sells 2,358 common shares - In a regulatory filing, HCA Healthcare senior VP and chief human resources officer Jennifer Berres disclosed the sale of 2,358 common shares of the company on May 13 at a price of $218.8662 per share.

17:31 EDT Brown & Brown names Kiet Tran as chief technology officer - Brown & Brown (BRO) has announced the appointment of Kiet Tran as chief technology officer for Brown & Brown. Before joining Brown & Brown, he led IT infrastructure and operations for ADT (ADT).

17:24 EDT Envista to acquire Osteogenics biomedical business - Envista Holdings "announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Osteogenics Biomedical Inc, Allotech LLC and OBI Biologics, Inc. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and expected to close in Q3. Osteogenics is a leader in the development of innovative regenerative solutions for periodontists, oral & maxillofacial surgeons, and clinicians involved in implant dentistry throughout the world. Primarily sold under the CytoplastTM brand name, Osteogenics offers a complete line of bone grafting products."

17:14 EDT Digital Turbine to restate financial statements for thre interim periods fo FY21 - Digital Turbine announced that it will restate its financial statements for the interim periods ended June 30, 2021, September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2021, following a review of the presentation of revenue net of license fees and revenue share for the Company's recently acquired businesses. The revenue for certain product lines of the recently acquired businesses, which are separate reportable segments, will now be reported net of license fees and revenue share, rather than on a gross basis, as had been previously reported. The changes have the offsetting effect of decreasing both revenue and license fees and revenue share in a like amount, while simultaneously increasing reported gross profit margin and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA margin, in the interim financial statements for each relevant period. There is no change to the previously reported GAAP income from operations, GAAP net income/loss, Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP free cash flow results. Restated interim consolidated financial statements for each of the affected quarters will be filed as amendments to the respective Company's Form 10-Q filings with the SEC on or before May 31.

17:01 EDT Container Store jumps 10% to $7.92 after Q4 earnings beat

16:42 EDT AMC Entertainment discloses 6.8% passive stake in National CineMedia - American Multi-Cinema, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) disclosed a 6.8% stake in National CineMedia (NCMI), which represents over 5.98M shares. The filing does not allow for activism. Shares of National CineMedia are up 13.1% at $1.64 after-hours.

16:34 EDT Doximity falls over 17% to $27.90 after Q4 results, below-consensus Q1 guidance

16:31 EDT NewAge gets Nasdaq notice on late filing - NewAge "announced that it received an additional delinquency notice from the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 12, 2022 notifying the Company that it is not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250 due to the Company's failure to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Rule requires listed companies to timely file all periodic financial reports with the SEC."

16:20 EDT RPC announces leadership transition - RPC announced several changes within its senior leadership team and among its Board of Directors. RPC provides a broad range of specialized oilfield services and equipment primarily to independent and major oilfield companies engaged in the exploration, production and development of oil and gas properties throughout the United States and in selected international markets. The following changes to RPC's Executive Officers and Board of Directors are effective immediately: The transition of Richard A. Hubbell, President and CEO, to Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors; The relinquishment by Gary W. Rollins of his position as RPC's Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, while continuing as an RPC Director; The promotion of Ben M. Palmer, CFO, to President and CEO, and his election by the Board as a Class I Director; The appointment of Michael L. Schmit to CFO and Corporate Secretary. Richard A. Hubbell previously served as President of RPC since 1987 and CEO since April 2005. He has also served as a Director of RPC. Hubbell is currently the Executive Chairman of the Board of Marine Products Corporation, and he previously served as President and CEO of Marine Products since its formation in 2001. Ben M. Palmer previously served as CFO of RPC, since 1996 and as Corporate Secretary since 2018. Mr. Palmer is currently the President and CEO, and a Director of Marine Products Corporation. Michael L. Schmit joins RPC from SWM International, where he served as Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller of Chart Industries. Effective today, he is also the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Marine Products.

16:18 EDT Alpha Metallurgical: Activist short seller report 'filled with inaccuracies' - Alpha Metallurgical Resources issued the following statement regarding a report from an activist short-selling firm containing false and misleading characterizations about Alpha's business. David Stetson, chair and CEO, stated: "We have worked hard to earn a strong reputation for ethical operations and transparent reporting, and these principles remain critically important to all of us at Alpha. The document released by an activist short seller today is filled with inaccuracies and appears to be fueled by an inadequate understanding of coal mining and our reporting requirements. It is clear to us that this report was designed for the sole purpose of negatively impacting Alpha's share price for the short seller's own benefit. Alpha's management remains focused, as we always are, on safely running the business and continuing to create long-term value for our many stakeholders and investors." Alpha's board of directors affirmed its confidence in the company's management and strategic direction. Lead independent director, Michael Quillen, stated: "On behalf of the entire board, we stand in support of the exceptional management team running Alpha Metallurgical Resources. Their collective efforts have produced the company's strong recent quarterly results, a significantly deleveraged balanced sheet, and the establishment of robust shareholder return programs - including our newly increased $600 million share repurchase plan and the establishment of a quarterly dividend. Alpha's board believes the short-seller report is the work of a self-interested activist investor hoping to distort the company's record for its own gain. It's our view that Alpha remains well-positioned for long-term success and the board continues to have great confidence in our strategic direction."

16:17 EDT Grindrod Shipping announces Matuku sale, acquisition of IVS Pinehurst - Grindrod Shipping Holdings announced the following transactions. The company entered into a contract to sell the 2016-built medium range product tanker, Matuku, for $30.0M. In anticipation of the sale, they have exercised the purchase option for Matuku under her existing lease financing arrangement at a cost of $25.4M following the expiration of the bareboat charter under which the vessel operated. Delivery to us is expected on or about May 30, before onward delivery to her new owners planned on or about June 1. The company exercised the purchase option on the chartered-in 2015-built supramax bulk carrier, IVS Pinehurst, for an amount of $18.0M with delivery planned on or about June 18. The vessel will remain chartered-in at her original contract rate until delivery to the company. The company agreed to extend the long-term charter on the 2014-built supramax bulk carrier, IVS Crimson Creek, for a period of 11 to 13 months at a net charter-in rate of $26,276 per day commencing on May 1.

16:16 EDT Cushman & Wakefield acquires Cresa Partners of Los Angeles, terms not disclosed - Cushman & Wakefield announced the firm has acquired Cresa Partners of Los Angeles. Cresa's operations comprise three Los Angeles County offices located in West Los Angeles, Woodland Hills and Westlake Village. Representing occupiers exclusively, Cresa professionals have extensive experience providing commercial real estate services to clients in diverse industries, including entertainment, technology, interactive entertainment, professional services, biotech and transportation. The team comprises over 40 professionals, made up of occupier representatives and project managers. "This is a significant milestone for Cushman & Wakefield, and we are excited to add the depth of occupier services talent this exceptional group from Cresa offers. Our platform locally as well as regionally is now even stronger and more robust," said Dan Broderick, President of the West Region for Cushman & Wakefield. "The group's reputation for professionalism, collaboration, teamwork and integrity is perfectly aligned with Cushman & Wakefield's culture. They are known for building strong relationships with their clients based on a deep level of trust, and for working cooperatively with brokerage professionals around the country."

16:15 EDT Havertys increases quarterly cash dividend 12% to 28c per share - Havertys announced that its board of directors declared a 12% increase in the quarterly dividend rate, from 25c per share to 28c per share on the company's common stock. The quarterly dividend for the company's Class A common stock is also being increased from 23c per share to 26c per share. The dividend is payable on June 17 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 2. Havertys has paid a cash dividend in each year since 1935.

16:14 EDT Aquestive Therapeutics appoints Daniel Barber CEO - Aquestive Therapeutics announced that Keith Kendall, President and CEO and member of the board of the company, is leaving the company. The board has appointed Daniel Barber, the current COO and long-tenured executive of the company, to succeed Kendall as the president and CEO of Aquestive and member of its board effective immediately. The company and Kendall entered into a consulting agreement effective upon his departure. Under the terms of the consulting agreement, Kendall will assist in the transition of the role of CEO and the execution of the company's business strategy and operations until the end of the year.

16:09 EDT Interface approves $100M share repurchase program - Interface announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a new share repurchase program for up to $100M of the Company's common stock. In addition, the Company also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 1c per share, payable June 17, to shareholders of record as of June 3.

16:05 EDT Keros Therapeutics announces results from RKER-012 study - Keros Therapeutics announced results from a preclinical study of RKER-012 on pulmonary arterial pressure and right ventricle hypertrophy in an established rodent model of pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH, at the American Thoracic Society, or ATS, International Conference held May 13 through 18. Additional data from a separate nonclinical study in cynomolgus monkeys was also included in the presentation. Keros combined administration of SUGEN5416, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1/2, with exposure to chronic hypoxia to recapitulate the biology in PAH. A research form of KER-012 was tested in this SUGEN/hypoxia rat model of PAH. Adult male rats were subjected to SH and received either vehicle, 10 mg/kg of activin receptor type IIA-Fc or 10 mg/kg RKER-012 twice weekly for three weeks. Rats maintained under normal oxygen conditions received only vehicle. Consistent with the development of cardiac and pulmonary impairment, vehicle-treated SH rats exhibited increases in Fulton index, which measures enlargement of the right ventricle and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure relative to normoxic controls. Treatment of the SH rats with ActRIIA-Fc attenuated increased Fulton index and sPAP, relative to the vehicle-treated SH rats. Similarly, relative to the vehicle-treated SH rats, treatment of the SH rats with RKER-012 attenuated increased Fulton index (pless than0.001) and prevented an increase in sPAP such that the observed sPAP was not different from normoxic controls. In a separate nonclinical study, six months of treatment with KER-012 did not increase red blood cells in healthy naive non-human primates, a model highly translatable to humans. Additionally, vehicle-treated SH rats exhibited increased lung inflammation/fibrosis and smooth muscle hypertrophy relative to normoxic controls, while treatment with RKER-012 reduced these pathologies. Vehicle-treated SH rats also exhibited increased atrial natriuretic peptide, or ANP, and B-type natriuretic peptide relative to normoxic controls. Treatment with RKER-012 significantly reduced ANP expression and trended to reduce BNP expression, which Keros believes indicates that KER-012 could potentially reduce PAH-induced damage to the heart. Finally, vehicle-treated SH rats exhibited elevated expression of genes associated with the development of PAH-associated pathology in the lung and right ventricle, which were reduced with RKER-012 treatment.

14:28 EDT Nanobiotix SA (ADS) trading resumes

13:58 EDT Google introduces Assured Open Source Software service - In a blog post, Google announced Assured Open Source Software service. Assured OSS enables enterprise and public sector users of open source software to easily incorporate the same OSS packages that Google uses into their own developer workflows. Packages curated by the Assured OSS service: are regularly scanned, analyzed, and fuzz-tested for vulnerabilities; have corresponding enriched metadata incorporating Container/Artifact Analysis data; are built with Cloud Build including evidence of verifiable SLSA-compliance; are verifiably signed by Google, and; are distributed from an Artifact Registry secured and protected by Google. As a result, Assured OSS lets organizations benefit from Google's extensive security experience and can reduce their need to develop, maintain, and operate complex processes to secure their open source dependencies. Assured OSS is expected to enter Preview in Q3 2022. In addition, Google Cloud and Snyk announced their intent to collaborate to further help developers understand the risk and impact of their open source dependencies, and use Assured OSS to help reduce their risk. Reference Link

13:25 EDT MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc (ADS) trading halted, volatility trading pause

12:49 EDT Heska up 7% to $99.97 following guidance at investor day

12:01 EDT Daily S&P Biotech Bear 3x Shares falls -10.2% - Daily S&P Biotech Bear 3x Shares is down -10.2%, or -$6.18 to $54.62.

12:01 EDT Valens Semiconductor falls -15.9% - Valens Semiconductor is down -15.9%, or -59c to $3.12.

12:00 EDT Jumia Technologies rises 26.1% - Jumia Technologies is up 26.1%, or $1.44 to $6.97.

11:57 EDT Societe Generale CEO Frederic Oudea to end term in May 2023 - Societe Generale announced that Frederic Oudea, its Chief Executive Officer since 2008, announced that he would not be seeking the renewal of his term of office as Director and Chief Executive Officer in May 2023. Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, indicated that a process to select a new CEO has been approved based on a proposal from the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee and will be completed by 2023. Frederic Oudea's term expires at the end of the annual general meeting to be held on May 23, 2023.

11:39 EDT Q2 extends rally, shares up 11% to $46.80 after Bloomberg report

11:33 EDT Allianz pays over $5B in Structured Alpha settlements with DOJ, SEC - Allianz SE announces that its indirect subsidiary Allianz Global Investors U.S. has entered into settlements with the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Structured Alpha matter. Pursuant to the DOJ resolution, AGI U.S. will plead guilty to one count of criminal securities fraud, and the SEC resolution establishes that AGI U.S. violated relevant U.S. securities laws. These settlements fully resolve the U.S. governmental investigations of the Structured Alpha matter for Allianz. In connection with the settlements AGI U.S. will pay forfeiture of $174.3M to the DOJ, and $675M as a penalty to the SEC that may be used in some part as compensation for investors. Other monetary obligations addressed by the DOJ and the SEC have been or will be satisfied by the approximately $5B in compensation paid to Structured Alpha investors. Any such amounts payable and the $5B of compensation have already been reflected in the provisions set for 2021 and Q1 of 2022, Allianz said.

11:31 EDT Tegna shareholders approve merger agreement with Standard General affiliate - Tegna announced that at a special meeting of shareholders, its shareholders voted to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 22, pursuant to which Tegna will be acquired by an affiliate of Standard General L.P. According to the preliminary results announced at the special meeting, subject to certification by the independent Inspector of Election, approximately 78% of Tegna's outstanding common shares voted to adopt the Merger Agreement. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Upon closing, Tegna will become a private company, and its shares will no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

11:27 EDT Partner Communications chairperson Osnat Ronen resigns - Partner Communications Company announces that further to the Company's report dated April 12, 2022 regarding the resignation of Osnat Ronen, from her position as Chairperson of the Company's Board of Directors, Ms. Ronen has informed the Board of Directors that her resignation from her position as Chairperson of the Company's Board of Directors and as a member of the Board of Directors will become effective today.

11:22 EDT Q2 Holdings trading halted, volatility trading pause

10:52 EDT Voya Financial trading resumes

10:38 EDT Voya Financial, Allianz plan to enter long-term strategic partnership - Voya Financial announced that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding relating to AllianzGI's transfer of selected investment teams and assets comprising the substantial majority of its U.S. business to Voya IM, Voya's asset management business. The planned strategic partnership is being disclosed in anticipation of a definitive purchase agreement being finalized in the coming weeks, consistent with the timetable announced today for AllianzGI's plans to divest AGI U.S. Under the proposed transaction, Voya IM will acquire AGI U.S.'s highly complementary and internationally established equity and fixed income investment teams, select client service and sales professionals, and approximately $120 billion of assets under management (AUM), which consist of income and growth, fundamental equity, and private placement assets. On a pro forma basis and based on AUM as of March 31, 2022, Voya IM's AUM would increase to approximately $370 billion. The terms of the MOU include a long-term strategic-distribution partnership whereby AllianzGI would distribute Voya IM's investment strategies outside the U.S. This arrangement will allow Voya IM to benefit from AllianzGI's diverse, global reach, and enable Voya IM to offer its attractive U.S. asset-based investment strategies to an even larger client base. As consideration for the acquisition, AllianzGI would receive an up to 24% stake in Voya IM. The planned acquisition will require no external financing or use of Voya's excess capital. Voya IM's management and leadership team, including Hurtsellers and Voya IM's chief investment officers, would continue in their roles leading Voya IM, including the newly incorporated investment teams that would join from AGI U.S. Further details of the transaction will be announced upon execution of definitive agreements. Voya and Allianz are working expeditiously to finalize the terms of the transaction and are targeting execution of a definitive asset purchase agreement and distribution agreement within the next several weeks.

10:17 EDT Charlotte's Web reports data from industry-sponsored liver safety study - Charlotte's Web Holdings shared the conclusions of the combined first and second cohort of the industry-sponsored liver safety study. Cohort two added another 222 adults who daily consumed hemp CBD tinctures orally for 60 days. The second cohort combined with the first study cohort used 17 commercially available brands and 39 hemp CBD products across a total of 1,061 participants, increasing statistical certainty to 98%. The investigation's preliminary findings mirror the first cohort's results: no association of increased prevalence of increased liver function test, no clinical liver disease, zero product related adverse events and new data concluding no daytime drowsiness and no testosterone deficiency. The Food and Drug Administration's earlier requests for scientific data on liver safety have now been formally addressed through safety investigations of 1,061 adults who supplied blood lab samples and maintained daily journals. Validcare, the contract research organization which ran the study, gained FDA feedback on the IRB approved protocol and augmented the protocol over time to collect additional lab results at the request of FDA. While liver safety outcomes were the announced primary focus of the study, secondary outcomes from the study include: No increase in daytime drowsiness reported per Stanford Sleep Scale. CBD use by male study participants does NOT increase prevalence of low testosterone at any age. Data suggests CBD use may be helpful in preventing low testosterone in older individuals.

10:12 EDT LivePerson, ConsenSys partner to create VillageDAO platform - ConsenSys and LivePerson announced plans to create the world's first decentralized customer care platform: VillageDAO. VillageDAO will focus on empowering Web3 brands to self-service issue resolution by enhancing community engagement. Community members will be incentivized to contribute to the platform and its partner brands. MetaMask will be the first client for VillageDAO, and the platform is currently being piloted. This follows last year's announcement by ConsenSys and LivePerson of their collaboration to further empower MetaMask users to get the support they need at the moment they need it through LivePerson's Conversational AI.

10:08 EDT Telus investing $17.5B across British Columbia from 2022 to 2026 - TELUS announced the investment of $17.5 billion in network infrastructure, operations, and spectrum across British Columbia over the next four years and has committed to investing $70 billion overall across Canada by 2026. These significant investments include: Generating jobs for 5,500 British Columbians at TELUS and through its vast partner ecosystem now through 2026, with a focus on construction, engineering, emerging technologies and other supporting industries. TELUS is helping to rebuild Merritt following last year's significant flooding across the region, as well as Lytton and the Lytton First Nation following 2021's devastating wildfire. TELUS will connect homes and businesses in both communities to its PureFibre network, bringing residents B.C.'s fastest Internet speeds in Nooaitch 10 and Pauls Basin 2 First Nation Reserves, and helping the community of Lytton achieve its goal of becoming net-zero. A PureFibre connection is more sustainable and resilient compared to copper networks because it uses less power and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions. In both communities, this means their new communications infrastructure will be more robust and stronger in the face of extreme weather events such as wildfires and floods, making the communities safer during an emergency. As part of TELUS' commitment to economic recovery in the Lytton area, we will seek to hire and train local workers and will rent construction equipment from local vendors, supporting the community's economic recovery. In addition to bringing its PureFibre network to Lytton and Merritt, TELUS will connect hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses across B.C. including Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Parksville, Prince George, Saanich, Squamish, and Sydney. PureFibre is B.C.'s only 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-home network and currently reaches more than 1.6 million homes and businesses across the province. The symmetrical upload and download Internet speeds and nearly infinite bandwidth enabled only by PureFibre means everyone can work, stream, game, or make video calls at the same time. With the rollout of the 3.5 GHz spectrum later this year, Canadians in B.C. will have access to TELUS' 5G network delivering an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. British Columbians living in some rural and remote communities are also some of the first in the country to access home Internet speeds of 100 Mbps through TELUS' 5G fixed wireless network, using the capabilities of 5G to provide a powerful alternative to a wired Internet connection. TELUS will introduce its 5G standalone network this year and bring multi-access edge computing capabilities that will further advance IoT and industry solutions that will enable important innovations for businesses and sectors, including health, agriculture, energy, transportation, and manufacturing.

10:04 EDT Square expands Afterpay integration to in-person points of sale - Square marks another key milestone in its integration of Afterpay, extending buy now, pay later functionality to its millions of in-person sellers in the United States and Australia. Just three months after first bringing Afterpay into the Square ecosystem with e-commerce integration, Square and Afterpay moved swiftly to unlock the ability for sellers using any Square point of sale software - Square Point of Sale, Square for Retail, Square Appointments, or Square for Restaurants - to now offer Afterpay across online and in-person commerce. To use Afterpay in-person, buyers simply tap to pay using a mobile wallet loaded with their virtual Afterpay card, and pay over four interest-free installments. Square sellers receive their full earnings from each sale immediately.

10:00 EDT Benson Hill falls -8.5% - Benson Hill is down -8.5%, or -31c to $3.35.

10:00 EDT Daily S&P Biotech Bear 3x Shares falls -8.7% - Daily S&P Biotech Bear 3x Shares is down -8.7%, or -$5.30 to $55.50.

10:00 EDT Janus International Group rises 16.5% - Janus International Group is up 16.5%, or $1.49 to $10.53.

09:59 EDT Home Depot expects housing shortage to continue for 5-7 years - Says undersupply of homes to continue for "some time." Says inflation "about two times" as expected. Says inflation impacting transactions, but not to the extent anticipated. Expects inflation to "hold steady" in product categories for balance of year. "Confident" in ability to take market share in any environment. Says "building an ecosystem for the Pro." Pro customer "remains incredibly strong." Expects Pro trends to continue to "power the business." Says "super encouraged" with results from supply chain investments. Expects positive comps in 2H22. Expects "slight pressure" on margins due to supply chain spending.

09:47 EDT Walmart falls -7.7% - Walmart is down -7.7%, or -$11.40 to $136.81.

09:47 EDT F45 Training falls -9.4% - F45 Training is down -9.4%, or -65c to $6.26.

09:47 EDT Sea Limited rises 14.4% - Sea Limited is up 14.4%, or $10.11 to $80.44.

09:41 EDT Plug Power secures 1 GW electrolyzer order with H2 Energy Europe - Plug Power has been awarded an order to deliver a one gigawatt electrolyzer to hydrogen company H2 Energy Europe. Planned for a green hydrogen production complex in Denmark, this is the largest capacity electrolyzer installation in the world to date. Harnessing offshore wind power, Plug's electrolyzer technology will enable the production of up to 100,000 metric tonnes per year of green hydrogen for use in the energy and transportation sector in northern Europe, supplying the fuel needed for the equivalent of approximately 15,000 heavy duty vehicles per day. Through its joint venture with Hyundai, H2 Energy will supply fleets of heavy-duty fuel cell trucks. In addition, earlier this year H2 Energy entered a joint venture with Phillips 66 to build more than 250 hydrogen refueling stations in Denmark, Germany and Austria supplied with green hydrogen from H2 Energy. Pairing Plug's leading electrolyzer technology with H2 Energy Europe's engineering capabilities and strong partnerships, this project is a major step towards reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector for key countries in northern Europe while building energy security. Plug's electrolyzer products destined for H2 Energy's Danish complex will be manufactured at Plug's gigafactory in Rochester, N.Y., the world's first and largest fuel cell and electrolyzer manufacturing gigafactory. Deployment of the technology at H2 Energy's complex is expected in 2024, with production of green hydrogen in 2025. The hydrogen production complex, announced in September 2021 by the Danish government, will be located near Esbjerg and owned and operated by H2 Energy Europe.

09:34 EDT Professional Fighters League selects TicketSmarter as official ticket partner - The Professional Fighters League and TicketSmarter have agreed to a partnership that will see TicketSmarter become the official ticket partner of the PFL. TicketSmarter will bring an enhanced ticketing experience to PFL fans. As part of the agreement, TicketSmarter will gain exclusive marketing and sponsorship rights for PFL and provide PFL fans a safe, trusted ticketing marketplace.

09:30 EDT Home Depot: Q1 results driven by continued strength across the business - Says continues to offset transportation costs increases. Says inflation "definitely higher" than anticipated. Says not seeing pullback from customers. Says in-stock positions "healthiest since pandemic began." Expects FY CapEx 2% of annual sales. Says fundamentals for home improvement "remain incredibly supportive."

09:23 EDT Trust Stamp partners with letus for security in the rental space - Trust Stamp announces a partnership with letus. Together, letus and Trust Stamp are transforming rental accessibility and risk management with secure screening and financial tools backed by leading biometric identity verification and data protection solutions. letus empowers renters to balance their paychecks and build their financial status through flexible rent and credit bureau reporting while landlords collect rent on time and in full. With mom-and-pop ownership of over 20.5M rental units in the U.S. and synthetic identity fraud on the rise, this partnership addresses a massively underserved market with an accessible, convenient, and flexible payments infrastructure secured by cutting-edge privacy-first identity technology.

09:21 EDT CNH Industrial announces subsidiary notes offering - CNH Industrial announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, CNH Industrial Capital LLC, plans to offer new notes, subject to market conditions. The notes will be guaranteed by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC and New Holland Credit Company, LLC, each a wholly owned subsidiary of CNH Industrial Capital LLC. CNH Industrial Capital LLC is the North American arm of CNH Industrial's global financial services business. CNH Industrial Capital LLC intends to add the net proceeds from the offering to its general funds and use them for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including, among other things, the purchase of receivables or other assets in the ordinary course of business. The net proceeds may also be applied to repay CNH Industrial Capital LLC's indebtedness as it becomes due.

09:19 EDT Casa Systems, VNPT signs MoU for next generation of 5G technologies in Vietnam - Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, VNPT, and Casa Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, this week to explore 5G capabilities and pave the way for next-generation network services in Vietnam. The partnership will focus on cementing VNPT's leadership position at the forefront of Vietnam's digitalization efforts and driving 5G monetization opportunities. VNPT Group is in the process of implementing its 5G network development strategy and developing a portfolio of digital services to meet the needs of corporate, government and consumer customers. As part of the agreement, both companies will explore the potential of 4G and 5G technologies across various use cases including Public and Private Networks, In-Building Solutions and Home Networking. Jerry Guo, Chief Executive Officer at Casa Systems, said: "We look forward to working with VNPT and support Vietnam's digital transformation journey. We will leverage our global expertise in cloud-native and access network technologies to help VNPT discover new business models and create new and innovative offerings, ensuring that fast and reliable connectivity is accessible across the country."

09:18 EDT CBTX, Allegiance Bancshares introduce Stellar Bank resulting from merger - CBTX, Inc. (CBTX) and Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. (ABTX) jointly announced that Stellar Bancorp, Inc. will be the name of the combined company and Stellar Bank will be the name of the combined bank to be created through their merger of equals. Upon completion of the merger, Stellar Bank is expected to have over $11 billion in assets and have the 6th largest deposit market share in Houston. The two companies took a purposeful and collaborative approach to the development of the new name. Guided by research and branding consultants, extensive exploration resulted in the name, Stellar Bank. The companies will reveal additional brand elements, such as the logo, at a later date. The organizations expect to operate under the Stellar Bank name later in the year, once system conversion has been completed, which will take place after the legal closing of the merger. Until then, customers will continue to be served under the Allegiance Bank and CommunityBank of Texas brands for the near future. The merger is expected to close during the second quarter, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals and approval by the shareholders of each company.

09:16 EDT AMD announces Kria KR260 Robotics Starter Kit - AMD announced the Kria KR260 Robotics Starter Kit, the latest addition to the Kria portfolio of adaptive system-on-modules and developer kits. A scalable and out-of-the-box development platform for robotics, the Kria KR260 offers a seamless path to production deployment with the existing Kria K26 adaptive SOMs. With native ROS 2 support, the standard framework for robotics application development, and pre-built interfaces for robotics and industrial solutions, the new SOM starter kit enables rapid development of hardware-accelerated applications for robotics, machine vision and industrial communication and control.

09:15 EDT AvidXchange, ResMan offer full API integration for real estate professionals - AvidXchange Holdings announced a full application programming interface integration is available for property management companies using ResMan technology. This new API integration offers users a more efficient accounts payable process by replacing the existing, manual file-based integration, with accounting code matching, supplier sync and invoice batching within the integrated platform, as well the option to execute more secure payments via the AvidPay Network.

09:14 EDT Home Depot says FY22 'off to a strong start' - Says project backlogs "very healthy." "Thrilled" with Pro performance during Q1. Says Pros' backlogs remain strong. Pro sales growth outpaced DIY in Q1. Says customers continue to trade up for premium products. Level of innovation across the business is "robust." "Encouraged" by strength of business in first two weeks of Q2. Says big ticket transactions up 12.4% y/y in Q1. Comments taken from Q1 earnings conference call.

09:14 EDT Net 1 UEPS amends finalization datas for use of new stock tickers - Net 1 UEPS Technologies announced that it has amended its finalization dates for use of its new stock tickers. The Company had expected the new name change to be effective on May 18, 2022. As reported on May 6, 2022, the Company's shareholders approved the new name of Lesaka Technologies, Inc. On May 16, 2022, the Florida Secretary of State confirmed the registration of the Company's amendments to its amended and restated articles of incorporation. The Company has now officially changed its name from Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc. to Lesaka Technologies, Inc. Trading under the new name is expected to commence on May 25, 2022, on both the NasdaqGS and Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

09:13 EDT Telus investing $17B across Alberta from 2022 to 2026 - TELUS announced the investment of $17 billion in network infrastructure, operations, and spectrum across Alberta over the next four years and has committed to investing $70 billion overall across Canada by 2026. These significant investments include: Generating jobs for 8,500 Albertans at TELUS and through its vast partner ecosystem now through 2026, with a focus on construction, engineering, emerging technologies and other supporting industries. TELUS will connect hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses across Alberta including in Airdrie, Calgary, Edmonton, Leduc, Lloydminster, Spruce Grove, and St. Albert. PureFibre is Alberta's only 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-home network and currently reaches nearly 1 million homes and businesses across the province. The symmetrical upload and download Internet speeds and nearly infinite bandwidth enabled only by PureFibre means everyone can work, stream, game, or make video calls at the same time. With the rollout of 3.5 GHz spectrum additions later this year, Albertans will have access to TELUS' 5G network delivering an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. Albertans living in some rural and remote communities are also some of the first in the country to access home Internet speeds of 100 Mbps through TELUS' 5G fixed wireless network, using the capabilities of 5G to provide a powerful alternative to a wired Internet connection. TELUS' global-leading wireless network was rated the fastest mobile network for the eighth consecutive time by UK-based Opensignal, while also earning the title of North America's Fastest Mobile Network and being named Canada's Fastest Mobile Network by Seattle-based Ookla for the ninth consecutive time. TELUS will introduce its 5G standalone network this year and bring multi-access edge computing capabilities that will further advance IoT and industry solutions that will enable important innovations for businesses and sectors, including health, agriculture, energy, transportation, and manufacturing. Our network and crucial investments will support the digitization of the economy, and our transition to a sustainable future, including through optimisation of energy consumption at home, reduction of food waste or intelligent transport systems that result in fewer emissions. As a global leader in sustainability, TELUS' network infrastructure and investments are helping us transition to a sustainable future through the digitization of the economy, including optimizing energy consumption at home and reducing food waste through its TELUS Agriculture solutions. The 2021 Sustainability Report outlines TELUS' environmental, social, and governance strategy and priorities which includes the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. Moreover, TELUS' world-leading wireless and wireline networks enable significant carbon avoidance by providing the networks required for TELUS team members and millions of Albertans to work remotely and avoid commuting; access education, healthcare, and social connections virtually; and enable other businesses to take their workforce virtual leading to less energy consumption in office buildings and fewer commuters on the road. To date, TELUS has planted more than 800,000 trees and by the time its millionth tree is planted later this year, it will have planted the equivalent of 20,000 acres of forest, which is nearly the size of Red Deer. TELUS Agriculture is investing in integrated data management software, helping to scale animal health technology to deliver valuable insights and enable a more sustainable, responsive food supply chain. With a comprehensive portfolio of grower and advisor solutions, TELUS Agriculture is helping to improve both productivity and profitability for farmers in Alberta, notably with field-specific nutrient management programs aimed at increasing fertilizer efficiency and maximizing yield potential. Since 2000 through 2021, TELUS has invested $220 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $55 billion in technology and operations in Alberta. The investments announced in this media release are consistent with TELUS' capital expenditure guidance for 2022, released in the fourth quarter of 2021 earnings release dated February 10, 2022.

09:12 EDT Ericsson and Intel pool to create Cloud RAN solutions - Ericsson (ERIC) and Intel (INTC) are pooling R&D excellence to create a Cloud RAN solutions. The companies have launched a tech hub in California, USA. It focuses on the benefits that Ericsson Cloud RAN and Intel technology can bring to: improving energy efficiency and network performance, reducing time to market, and monetizing new business opportunities such as enterprise applications. Called Ericsson-Intel Tech Hub, the center is based in Ericsson's D-15 facility in Santa Clara and is already operational. The current focus includes activities in power management and performance planned this year as well as joint work on Cloud RAN containerized network function applications on upcoming generations of processing platforms. Ericsson and Intel's latest collaboration was unveiled at the Big 5G Event in Austin, USA.

09:10 EDT Alpha Metallurgical drops 3% to $147 after Spruce Point short report

09:09 EDT Verisk announces two companies using LightSpeed for Personal Auto solution - Two companies are transforming the online auto insurance purchasing experience with Verisk's LightSpeed for Personal Auto solution. Way.com and Roamly are using Verisk automation to simplify the application process for auto insurance and quickly deliver quotes that meet the needs of today's consumers.

09:07 EDT SoundHound announces seven-year deal with Hyundai - SoundHound announced a seven-year deal with Hyundai to include SoundHound's Edge+Cloud voice AI technology, music recognition software, voice commerce solution, and multiple-language conversational intelligence in a broad range of vehicle models globally. This announcement coincides with SoundHound's 2022 Q1 earnings release, featuring $230M in cumulative bookings spanning multiple verticals and demonstrating broad business momentum. Through its long-term partnership with Hyundai, SoundHound is expected to further grow bookings based on upcoming delivery milestones.

09:06 EDT JX Luxventure forms special committee to explore sale of menswear sector - JX Luxventure announced that its board of directors has formed a special board committee consisting of Li Hui Dan, Chairman of the Board, Mu Ruifeng, Chairman of the Audit Committee and Jin Yan, a member of the Audit Committee, to explore a potential sale of the menswear segment of the Company's business operation. Sun "Ice" Lei, CEO of the Company commented: "We have experienced a decrease in sales revenue and increase in loss of menswear segment of our business for several years, including in 2021. The management of the Company evaluated this trend and determined that there is no viable short-term strategy to make our menswear business profitable and that a potential sale of the menswear segment of our business would allow the Company to focus on the two fast-growing segments of our business operations: the cross-border merchandise and tourism. The operations of these two segments achieved a record revenue of $54,040,948 in 2021, an increase of 4046% from revenue of $1,335,374 in 2020 and will be the engine to fuel our growth through 2022 and beyond."

09:06 EDT Sidus Space announces NASA team milestone for ASTRA project - Sidus Space announced that the NASA team successfully completed their Preliminary Design Review, or PDR, milestone on May 6, to support the ASTRA project, selected under NASA's Project Polaris. In support of NASA's Autonomous Satellite Technology for Resilient Applications, or ASTRA, project, NASA's Autonomous Systems Lab, or ASL, team joined with Sidus Space to integrate and demonstrate for the first time, Mars Campaign Development Division derived autonomous operations in a spaceflight environment. The demonstration expects to provide the necessary flight heritage for an autonomous system development platform that could be used on future deep space missions. ASTRA plans to infuse multiple new technologies on a Sidus-built LizzieSat-1 satellite which is scheduled to be deployed from the International Space Station using the SSIKLOPS deployer.

09:04 EDT Vicor to celebrate opening of ChiP fab - On May 18, state and local officials will celebrate the opening of a new, state-of-the-art power module manufacturing facility. The Chip fabrication facility, or "ChiP fab" enables scalable, automated, cost-effective manufacturing of power modules in the United States. At 400 Federal Street, at 10:00am on May 18th, 2022, Vicor employees and senior management will be joined by state and local government representatives. With its new ChiP foundry, Vicor takes a major step toward realizing its vision to enable high-performance, modular power system solutions capable of satisfying demanding power requirements.

09:04 EDT Hard Rock Sportsbook launches instant deposits, payouts with Nuvei - Nuvei announces that it has partnered with Hard Rock Digital to provide payments services for its Hard Rock Sportsbook mobile app. Players in Arizona, Virginia and states with upcoming launches of the all-new Hard Rock Sportsbook platform will be able to instantly deposit funds to their gaming wallet from their bank account using Nuvei's Instant Bank Transfer technology. Players can also withdraw funds directly to their bank account in real-time 24/7 thanks to Nuvei's integration with The Clearing House's Real Time Payments network."We know players want to be able to deposit and access funds from their gaming account immediately when they request a withdrawal, which is why we were first to market last year offering players instant payouts via the Real Time Payments network," said Nuvei Chair and CEO Philip Fayer. "Enabling Hard Rock Sportsbook to offer instant deposits and payouts is just another example of why Nuvei is the leading payments technology partner for the iGaming industry in the U.S."

09:03 EDT JX Luxventure forms special committee to explore potential sale - JX Luxventure announced that its board of directors has formed a special board committee consisting of Li Hui Dan, Chairman of the Board, Mu Ruifeng, Chairman of the Audit Committee and Jin Yan, a member of the Audit Committee, to explore a potential sale of the menswear segment of the Company's business operation. Sun "Ice" Lei, CEO of the Company commented: "We have experienced a decrease in sales revenue and increase in loss of menswear segment of our business for several years, including in 2021. The management of the Company evaluated this trend and determined that there is no viable short-term strategy to make our menswear business profitable and that a potential sale of the menswear segment of our business would allow the Company to focus on the two fast-growing segments of our business operations: the cross-border merchandise and tourism. The operations of these two segments achieved a record revenue of $54,040,948 in 2021, an increase of 4046% from revenue of $1,335,374 in 2020 and will be the engine to fuel our growth through 2022 and beyond."

09:02 EDT Sorrento announces FDA clearance of IND for Abivertinib Phase 2 study - Sorrento Therapeutics announced that it has received clearance from the FDA for its investigational new drug application, IND, for Abivertinib for the Phase 2 MAVERICK study to be conducted in participants with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer, mCRPC, at multiple centers in the United States. The MAVERICK study will be conducted in a partnership with the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium and will enroll participants with both abiraterone-naive and abiraterone-progressing mCRPC. The MAVERICK trial will be conducted as an open-label study of Abivertinib with abiraterone in up to 100 participants harboring the adrenal-permissive HSD3beta1 allele. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of Abivertinib with abiraterone via an assessment of 6-month radiographic progression-free survival and the primary endpoint is the 6-month rPFS defined as a percent of subjects alive and without progression by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 for measurable disease and Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 criteria for bone metastases. Participants will remain on treatment until radiographic progression, unacceptable toxicity, intercurrent illness or other reasons.

09:02 EDT Target announces ongoing partnership with Tabitha Brown - Target announced an ongoing partnership with actress, author and social media phenomenon Tabitha Brown, encompassing four limited-time-only collections that will launch over the next year. Celebrated for her daily doses of encouragement, Tabitha Brown is teaming up with Target to deliver positive wellbeing and joy for guests through Brown's vibrant and inspirational style. The collections span categories across apparel, swim and accessories items, home and office, food and kitchenware, entertaining and more. Starting Saturday, June 11, Target guests can shop the first collection of more than 75 apparel, swim and accessories items - with most items under $30 - on Target.com and in most Target stores, while supplies last. The first Tabitha Brown for Target collection includes apparel, swim and accessories items, in bright hues and bold patterns that are easy to mix and match, in sizes XXS-4X. Ranging in price from $10-$44, the collection will be available on Target.com and in most Target stores starting June 11, as well as via Target's contactless same-day pickup options, Drive Up and Order Pickup.

08:55 EDT Critical Elements Lithium produces battery grade lithium hydroxide - Critical Elements Lithium Corporation is pleased to announce the results from the Corporation's pilot plant program recently completed at the Metso Outotec Research Center, successfully converting spodumene concentrate from the Rose Project into battery grade lithium hydroxide using a thermal leaching process. The pilot plant conversion process from spodumene concentrate to lithium hydroxide was further optimized and confirmed the previous strong results with extraction and conversion rates of 92 %. In addition, the pilot plant produced battery grade lithium hydroxide. A summary of impurity levels is provided below The two critical steps of the process to recover the lithium from spodumene are the conversion from alpha spodumene to beta spodumene where the piloting work achieved 98% conversion rate and the separation of the lithium hydroxide from the calcined spodumene by soda-leaching and conversion to lithium hydroxide. Battery grade lithium hydroxide with a further improved quality profile; High spodumene alpha/beta conversion / leaching / conversion rates of combined 92%; Efficiency for the calcination 98%; Efficiency for the soda-leaching 98%; Efficiency for the lithium hydroxide conversion 96%. The pilot plant work program was conducted at Metso Outotec's Research Center in Finland: Test work campaign, related to Metso Outotec's lithium hydroxide production process, was carried out for Critical Elements Lithium Corporation at the Metso Outotec Research Center in Finland and Germany. Varying concentrate grades were tested during the test work campaign. Two different North American lime sources have been qualified and approved. Process parameters have been modified and adapted. Concentrate used for pilot plant testing was provided from sample taken from Critical Elements Rose and Rose South zones. During the test campaign, the process flowsheet was optimized. The main unit operations in the pilot process were: Calcination of alpha spodumene; Slurry preparation for soda leach; Soda leach of calcined spodumene; Soda leach residue filtration and washing; Lithium hydroxide conversion by lime; Conversion residue filtration and washing; Solution purification by ion exchange; Lithium hydroxide crystallisation; Crystallization mother liquor recycling. High, 92% Li extraction from alpha spodumene and after calcination/soda leach and lithium hydroxide conversion. Successful results using a thermal leaching process demonstrate that Critical Elements can deliver a battery grade lithium hydroxide to the electric vehicle market. Additional tests may need to be conducted by the Corporation in order to meet customer specific requirements. Following this successful lithium hydroxide process optimization campaign, Critical Elements will finalize its feasibility study for a lithium hydroxide conversion facility. As the study is still underway, it is important to note that the Corporation is not in a position to confirm as of the date hereof if the hydroxide chemical plant to produce high quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate will ever be implemented or that it will form part of the Rose project.

08:50 EDT Sigma Labs to operate as Sigma Additive Solutions - Sigma Labs announced that, effectively immediately, it will begin doing business under the name "Sigma Additive Solutions", reflecting the evolution of the Company from its origins as a laboratory engaged in research and development of 3D metal printing technology - into a solutions provider focused on enabling its customers and OEM partner providers to use a standard set of patented quality metrics across 3D printers from different manufacturers, using different processes, for the total additive manufacturing, or AM, industry in metal, polymer parts, and beyond. In conjunction with the change, the company's common stock will begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the new ticker symbol SASI, effective at the open of market trading on May 19, 2022. No action is required from Sigma's stockholders and the CUSIP number for the common stock will remain unchanged. The company has also changed its corporate web address to www.sigmaadditive.com. Jacob Brunsberg, President and CEO of Sigma, stated, "Our company's decision to operate as Sigma Additive Solutions is an acknowledgement of the progress the Sigma team has made in creating the quality standard in additive manufacturing. For some time, we have been working with customers, OEMs and standards organizations to remove the quality barrier through advanced meltpool monitoring and analytics. We intend to significantly impact the entire AM quality continuum with scalable solutions that improve machine, process and part quality. We are also pleased that our ticker symbol will be aligned with our brand and our vision."

08:47 EDT Nano Dimension initiates up to $100M share repurchase plan process - Nano Dimension announced that its board of directors has authorized a one-year share repurchase plan allowing the Company to invest up to $100M to repurchase its American Depository Shares, ADS. The Company may repurchase all or a portion of the authorized repurchase amount. The Repurchase Plan does not obligate the Company to repurchase any specific number of the ADSs and may be suspended or terminated at any time at management's discretion.

08:46 EDT RUBICONSmartCity launches offering to optimize snow removal - Rubicon Technologies announced that it has launched a new product feature to optimize municipal snow removal. RUBICONSmartCity is a proprietary, cloud-based technology suite that helps city governments run faster, smarter, and more effective waste, recycling, and heavy-duty municipal fleet operations. This new product feature from RUBICONSmartCity drives innovation in government snow removal operations, bringing the next generation of technology to snow plows.

08:44 EDT Great Elm Capital announces launch of non-transferable rights offering - Great Elm Capital announced the terms of its previously announced non-transferable subscription rights offering to purchase shares of its common stock. The Company will issue to its stockholders of record as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 23, 2022, non-transferable rights to subscribe for up to an aggregate of 4,601,391 shares of the Company's common stock. Record date stockholders will receive one right for each share of common stock owned on the record date. The rights entitle the holders to purchase at the subscription price one new share of common stock for every one right held, and record date stockholders who fully exercise their rights will be entitled to subscribe, subject to certain limitations set forth in the prospectus and subject to allotment, for additional shares of common stock that were not subscribed for by other holders of record. Stockholders may exercise their rights at any time during the subscription period, which commences on May 26, 2022 and ends at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 10, 2022, unless extended by the Company in its sole discretion. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering primarily to make opportunistic investments, in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, including investments in specialty finance businesses and for general corporate purposes. The rights are non-transferable and will not be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other stock exchange. The rights may not be purchased or sold, and there will not be any market for trading the rights. The shares of the Company's common stock to be issued pursuant to the offering will be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "GECC." The subscription price for the shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to the offering will be $12.50 per share. Rights holders will be required initially to pay for both the shares of common stock subscribed for pursuant to the initial subscription right and, if eligible, any additional shares of common stock subscribed for pursuant to the over-subscription privilege. Great Elm Group intends to subscribe for at least $12.5 million in the rights offering, and certain other affiliates of GEG have indicated that they intend to subscribe. Any over-subscription by the Participating Shareholders will be effected only after pro rata allocation of over-subscription shares to record date holders who fully exercise all rights issued to them. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Participating Shareholders will acquire any shares of the Company's common stock through their exercise of over-subscription privileges.

08:42 EDT Bridgeline Digital announces two wins with AB Commerce partnership - Bridgeline Digital announced two back-to-back wins in Irish pharmacies with their AB Commerce partnership. Crowley's Pharmacy and Ronaghan's Pharmacy have both recently selected Bridgeline's site search software, Celebros, to support their online pharmacy sites on the AB Commerce platform. Ari Kahn, CEO of Bridgeline says, "With our site search technology, customers have seen on average a 30% increase in conversion rates and revenue. We hope to continue growing with our partners to deliver a better search experience for their customers."

08:41 EDT Global Ship Lease announces new forward charter agreement - Global Ship Lease announced a forward agreement of a 48-52 month charter for the 8,600 TEU, 2004-built GSL Ningbo. The charter under the new terms is scheduled to commence in July 2023, at a rate generating average annualized EBITDA of approximately $16.6M, which is 3.1 times that under its existing charter agreed in late 2020. George Youroukos, Executive Chairman of Global Ship Lease, commented, "We are proud to announce this forward charter for the GSL Ningbo, at an attractive rate and multi-year duration that demonstrate the continued strength of the charter market. We believe that this long-term forward charter on a vessel that will be approaching 20 years old is illustrative of not just an expectation by our liner customers that containerized freight demand will remain robust, but also a recognition that a highly specified and well-maintained older vessel can remain a key contributor well into its third decade of operation. This forward charter materially improves our contract cover and forward visibility on cash flows, consistent with our conservative and risk-averse strategy of locking in value over time, and we remain focused on securing similar such attractive charters moving forward."

08:40 EDT American Noble Gas provides update on drilling operations in farm-out agreement - American Noble Gas is pleased to provide an update on its drilling operations regarding AMGAS's participation in its previously announced farm-out agreement to develop its oil and gas and brine interests in the Hugoton Field in Haskell and Finney Counties Kansas. These exploratory drilling operations are designed to reveal important data on previously untapped gas in-place reserves of natural gas and helium gas. If successful, our exploration program may indicate the discovery of substantial new reserves within the Hugoton Gas Field which will reinvigorate the Hugoton Gas Field, the largest conventional onshore natural gas and helium field in North America. The initial well in which AMGAS has acquired a 40% participation together with three other venture partners and was spud on May 7, 2022 has identified at least two potential zones with substantial potential gas and helium reserves. One of the zones of particular interest revealed a gas show across it. This particular zone was below previous completion attempts in a neighboring well and the completion logs of the zone revealed indications of permeability. The other zone that was previously completed in a neighboring well appeared to release gas while drilling indicating that gas reserve potential exists. The Company's first production well has been drilled, logged and production casing set and is currently awaiting completion activities. The well completion is estimated to begin in May and will be completed in 2 phases. The lower zone will be completed and produced. The upper zones will subsequently be completed and then co-mingled. Electricity and pipeline infrastructure are currently being prepared to connect the new well to produce the potential methane and helium gases and for disposal of produced water. AMGAS and its Venture partners will complete the well as expeditiously as possible subject to potential adverse weather and the availability of raw materials and oil and gas service companies. The Company will apprise shareholders of its progress including the release of appropriate initial production rates and the natural gas and helium percentages.

08:37 EDT Federated Hermes awarded $1B private equity mandate from BTPS - Federated Hermes has been awarded $1B private equity mandate from BT Pension Scheme, or BTPS, one of the UK's largest occupational pension schemes. The mandate, called Horizon III, will be managed by Hermes GPE, a specialist global private equity investor and wholly owned subsidiary of Federated Hermes, and will be invested over three years. Horizon III will pursue the global thematically diversified strategy through a proven 50/50 funds and direct co-investment model established following similarly sized investment allocations managed for BTPS.

08:36 EDT America First Multifamily Investors announces sale of Vantage at Westover Hills - America First Multifamily announced that on May 11, 2022, Vantage at Westover Hills, a 288-unit market rate multifamily property located in San Antonio, TX, was sold at the direction of the managing member of Vantage at Westover Hills. The Partnership's investment in the property was originated in January 2020 and the Partnership contributed equity totaling approximately $7.3 million during construction. As a result of the sale, the Partnership's equity investment in the Property Owner was redeemed. At closing of the sale, the Partnership received net cash of approximately $20.9 million, inclusive of the return of its contributed equity. The Partnership will recognize the following in the second quarter of 2022: Gain on sale of approximately $12.7 million, before settlement of final proceeds and expenses, Net income of approximately 57c per Beneficial Unit Certificate, BUC, basic and diluted, based on the number of BUCs outstanding on the date of sale, and Cash Available for Distribution of approximately 57c per BUC, basic and diluted, based on the number of BUCs outstanding on the date of sale.

08:34 EDT Harbor Custom Development contracts to sell land tracts for $5.4M to Noffke - Harbor Custom Development announced it has closed on the sale of three undeveloped multi-family land tracts in its Horizon at Semiahmoo subdivision in Blaine, Washington, to Noffke Landholdings for $5.4M. The three land tracts total 15.44 acres and are Noffke's second purchase of multi-family properties within the Horizon subdivision in 2022. The residential homes will feature a mix of two-story triplexes and fourplexes, ranging from approximately 1,600 to 1,900 square feet, and feature views of Birch Bay and the Cascade Mountains. "It is a pleasure to continue working with Noffke Landholdings on these transactions. Their commitment to accumulating undeveloped multi-family tracts is a validation of our business model that focuses on monetizing our real estate assets at the most opportune time in the development cycle," stated Sterling Griffin, President and CEO of Harbor Custom Development.

08:33 EDT Caterpillar to highlight growth opportunities at 2022 Investor Day - Caterpillar is hosting its Investor Day centered around the theme of services, technology and sustainability. The leadership team will provide details on the company's achievements, priorities and opportunities including: Executing strategy through operational excellence, expanded offerings, services and sustainability; Achieved Investor Day targets for adjusted operating profit margin and generated strong ME&T free cash flow; Expecting higher long-term sales growth as energy transition expands Caterpillar's addressable market; Reaffirming adjusted operating margin targets while investing in technology; ME&T free cash flow to increase with sales growth. "Our global team has done an excellent job executing our strategy for long-term profitable growth," said Caterpillar Chairman & CEO, Jim Umpleby. "Since 2017, we've achieved our adjusted operating profit margin targets every year and generated $26 billion of free cash flow over that time. We remain committed to continuing our strong financial performance." Umpleby added, "We believe services and the energy transition represent significant opportunities for Caterpillar to drive long-term profitable growth and shareholder value, as we help our customers build a better, more sustainable world." The company will also discuss its commitment to return substantially all free cash flow to shareholders over time, illustrated by the board of directors' recent approval of a new authorization to repurchase up to $15B of common stock. It is effective August 1, with no expiration date.

08:23 EDT Meta Materials appoints Raj Rajaram as CMO - Meta Materials announced the appointment of Dr. Raj Rajaram as Chief Marketing Officer. As CMO, Dr Rajaram will be responsible for building and strengthening META's brand, supporting growth strategies, cultivating opportunities in new and existing markets, and increasing demand for META's products and solutions globally. META will invest in the newest marketing technologies to build a world-class digital marketing infrastructure. Dr. Rajaram was most recently Senior Vice President, Global Marketing with Protective Industries, where he led global strategic growth with a focus on digital marketing, e-commerce, and global expansion both organically and through M&A, while developing a structured process for continuously improving profitability.

08:22 EDT Blockchain Intelligence names Goodwin director regulatory, institutional affairs - BIGG Digital Assets is pleased to announce the appointment of Kenneth Goodwin, Jr. as the Director of Regulatory and Institutional Affairs. Goodwin served as the General Managing Partner and Founder at Jeanensis, a capital markets advisory and digital asset management firm.

08:19 EDT Meta Materials appoints Raj Rajaram as chief marketing officer - Meta Materials announced the appointment of Raj Rajaram as chief marketing officer. He brings more than twenty-five years of experience as a senior global marketing and commercial operations executive within public and private companies across multiple industries, along with experience spearheading due diligence and integration of acquisitions in North America and across Europe. Rajaram was most recently senior VP, global marketing with Protective Industries, where he led global strategic growth with a focus on digital marketing, e-commerce, and global expansion both organically and through M&A, while developing a structured process for continuously improving profitability.

08:17 EDT aTyr Pharma presents clinical data for efzofitimod - aTyr Pharma announced that clinical data for efzofitimod, its lead therapeutic candidate, will be presented in two posters today from 11:15AM - 1:15PM PT at the American Thoracic Society, ATS, 2022 International Conference in San Francisco, CA. Title: "Safety and Efficacy ATYR1923, a Novel Immunomodulator for Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: Results of a Phase 1b/2a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial." The poster presents findings from a Phase 1b/2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of efzofitimod in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Monthly dosing of efzofitimod was safe and well tolerated. There was a dose-dependent improvement in efficacy parameters, including corticosteroid taper, percent-predicted forced vital capacity, and patient reported outcomes. Clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements at week 24 were observed for key symptom measures in the 5.0 mg/kg treatment group. In small studies such as this, which was not powered for statistical significance, dose dependent improvements are strong evidence for efficacy. Title: "ATYR1923 Treatment Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Serum Biomarkers in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis Patients." The poster presents clinical biomarker findings from a Phase 1b/2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of efzofitimod in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Efzofitimod demonstrated dose dependent control of inflammatory and sarcoidosis disease biomarkers over 24 weeks in the context of a corticosteroid taper. These results are the first demonstration of efzofitimod's anti-inflammatory mechanism in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

08:15 EDT Walmart CEO 'not happy with profit performance' in Q1

08:13 EDT QSAM Biosciences expects cash to fund operations into 3Q22 - As of March 31, 2022, the Company had cash of approximately $872,066. The Company believes this is sufficient to support operations at the current pace into the third quarter of 2022. The Company expects to raise additional capital through equity or debt offerings in 2022.

08:12 EDT Shift4 Payments selected by Wells Fargo Center as official payment processor - Wells Fargo Center has selected Shift4 to process payments for all of its online and in-person ticketing, food and beverage concessions, and retail sales. Under the agreement, Shift4 will become the official payment processor for Wells Fargo Center and the Philadelphia Flyers. The company also assumes naming rights for the Center City Club, the Wells Fargo Center's exclusive event-level club, which Shift4 plans to rename as the "Shift4 Club." Shift4 will process the concessions and retail transactions beginning with the 2022-2023 Flyers and 76ers seasons. The ticketing transactions will be processed via an integration with Paciolan by the end of the year.

08:11 EDT Alzamend Neuro submits pre-IND meeting request for AL001 to FDA - Alzamend Neuro announced that it has submitted a pre-IND meeting request for AL001 and supporting briefing documents to the FDA for the treatment of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

08:10 EDT Entasis Therapeutics presents data highlights from Phase 3 ATTACK trial - Entasis Therapeutics announced that the company presented data highlights from its pivotal Phase 3 ATTACK trial at the American Thoracic Society, ATS, annual conference, held this week from May 16-18, 2022, in San Francisco, California. The poster presentation: "P628 Sulbactam-Durlobactam Treatment Is Associated with Lower Mortality from Index Acinetobacter Infections in the Attack Phase 3 Registrational Trial." It presented key data from the landmark ATTACK trial. Sulbactam-durlobactam is an investigational drug in development for the treatment of infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii including carbapenem-resistant and multi-drug resistant strains. Key findings in this presentation include: There was a notable divergence in all-cause mortality between days 6-14 with higher rates of mortality in the colistin treatment arm; Twice as many deaths occurred in the colistin arm than in the SUL-DUR arm through Day 28; Investigator-assessed deaths related to the index carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus infection occurred more frequently during days 6-14 in the colistin arm; Patients in the colistin arm who died during days 6-14 were younger than patients who died during days 0-5/15-28; These observations suggest that deaths early in treatment were more attributed to failure of treatment of Acinetobacter while deaths later in treatment were due to underlying co-morbidities. "We are pleased to share data from our Phase 3 ATTACK trial at ATS 2022, the first time we presented these highlights at a medical congress of pulmonary and critical care specialists," said Manos Perros, Chief Executive Officer at Entasis Therapeutics. "Physicians in the critical care setting have limited options when treating patients with hospital acquired infections so we expect this data to be of keen interest for this audience."

08:08 EDT Applied UV subsidiary included on multi-million dollar contract in Washington - Applied UV announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Sterilumen has been notified that its US Dealer, DA International, has been included in a multi-million dollar contract which will include in its offering, the company's suite of Airocide air purification solutions and other related disinfection supplies to non-public schools throughout the State of Washington. Under the terms of the Contract, DA International will begin offering the companies patented and globally recognized Airocide by Sterilumen product suite of air purification solutions as well as other disinfection related supplies throughout non-public schools in the state of Washington. There are approximately 700 non-public schools located throughout the state and once the initial contract award has been fulfilled, it could be expanded.

08:07 EDT Medtronic announces data on Symplicity Blood Pressure Procedure with RDN - Medtronic announced data showing the benefits of the Symplicity Blood Pressure Procedure with the Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation, or RDN, system on achieving target blood pressure level ranges. As part of the SPYRAL HTN Global Clinical Program, three-year data from SPYRAL HTN-ON MED and GSR-DEFINE were presented at EuroPCR 2022 as late-breaking clinical trials on May 17. Time in target range, or TTR, plays an important role in the management of many chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, measuring how well a parameter is controlled in patients. Specifically, for hypertension, increasing TTR has been shown to be an independent predictor of reductions in cardiovascular risks, including stroke, heart attack, and death.

08:06 EDT Helix Energy to acquire Alliance for $120M in cash - Helix Energy announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interests of the Alliance group of companies for $120M cash at closing, plus the potential for post-closing earnout consideration. Alliance is a Louisiana-based privately held company that provides services in support of the upstream and midstream industries in the Gulf of Mexico shelf, including offshore oil field decommissioning and reclamation, project management, engineered solutions, intervention, maintenance, repair, heavy lift and commercial diving services. Based on the assets being acquired, the parties' assumptions and market conditions, and anticipating Alliance potential annual EBITDA in excess of $30M-$40M, the transaction is expected to add accretive free cash flow and diversify Helix's asset base and revenue stream, at an attractive valuation. The purchase price is equal to $120 million of cash at closing, plus the potential for post-closing earnout consideration payable in 2024, in the event the Alliance business achieves certain financial metrics in 2022 and 2023. Helix has the option to pay any earnout consideration in cash, Helix stock, or a combination thereof. The agreement contains customary terms and conditions, including representations, warranties and covenants including buyer-side protections. The acquisition is expected to close mid-2022 and is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. There is no guarantee that the transaction will be consummated on the terms or timeframe currently contemplated, or at all.

08:06 EDT StoneX Markets executes first cash-settled BTC/USD swap - StoneX Markets, a subsidiary of StoneX Group, announced that it successfully executed and settled its first cash-settled BTC/USD swap. The counterparty to the trade was one of StoneX's institutional FX clients, Liquidity Solutions Global, the London-based subsidiary of DriveWealth Holdings and a liquidity provider to multiple cryptocurrency venues.

08:04 EDT Walmart 'pleased' with momentum the company is seeing so far in Q2 - Comments taken from Q1 earnings conference call.

08:04 EDT Soluna Holdings says on track to achieve 1.26 EH/s by June 30 - Soluna Holdings announced the release of its April site level financials. Michael Toporek, CEO of Soluna Holdings stated, "We had a strong month in April and, despite Bitcoin's average price dropping by almost 25%, are set for a solid May. Our proprietary hash rate in May relative to April will grow by over 60%. Our margins will be solid as our costs are amongst the best in the industry. I am especially proud of this month's announcement that Spring Lane is investing in our projects. They are deeply experienced green infrastructure investors and believe our projects are one of the few "real green" projects in the sector. Moreover, they deeply diligenced and benchmarked our Dorothy project and believe the economics are amongst the best in the industry. Our team and investors should be proud of their company." Key Summary Highlights: April was the best month in Soluna's history; Compared to March, April Cash Contribution dollars increased by 38%; Proprietary mining revenue grew sequentially by 10%, hashrate by 15%, and BTC equivalent generated by 11%; Drivers to margin growth were Sophie and Marie facilities continue to scale, driving better absorption of fixed costs; Sophie moved to its 83% uptime for power costs of 2.5-2.7 c per kWh; Revenue growth continues as hashrate grows; 61% growth in proprietary hashrate expected from April to May; By the end of Q2 2022, tracking to achieve 1.26 EH ; As of May 8, 983 PH plugged in with 147 PH on the ground for a total of 1.13 EH; By the end of Q2 2022, should have about 1 EH proprietary and 260-280 PH hosted.

08:03 EDT Vital Farms announces expansion of Egg Central Station - Vital Farms announced the expansion of Egg Central Station, its egg washing and packing facility in Springfield, Missouri. The 150,000 square foot facility nearly doubled from its original size, creating additional capacity that will enable Vital Farms to continue growing its pasture-raised egg business. The expanded facility will create even more high-quality jobs for the Springfield community and is expected to generate over $300M in additional revenue for Vital Farms. "Like everything across our business, Egg Central Station is a reflection of how we make decisions to support the long-term sustainability of our stakeholders who include farmers and suppliers, crew members, customers and consumers, communities and the environment, and stockholders," said Russell Diez-Canseco, President and CEO, Vital Farms. "It's through this lens that we've created what I believe is the best food production facility in the country. We provide a work experience that's rare for production, meaningfully investing in the health, safety, and financial well-being of our crew members. We've also thoughtfully designed the facility to conserve natural resources and spend time supporting the community around us." The expansion will be LEED Silver Certified and utilize solar panels, which significantly reduces electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions.

08:02 EDT Ultragenyx acquires global rights to AVO-102 from Abeona - Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (RARE) and Abeona Therapeutics (ABEO) announced an exclusive license agreement for AAV gene therapy ABO-102, now UX111, for the treatment of Sanfilippo syndrome type A. Under the terms of the agreement, Ultragenyx will assume responsibility for the ABO-102 program and in return Abeona is eligible to receive tiered royalties of up to 10% on net sales and commercial milestone payments following regulatory approval. "Based on promising data from Abeona's clinical program, regulatory feedback to date, and our experience developing treatments for other MPS diseases, we believe ABO-102 has the potential to be a transformative therapy for patients with MPS IIIA," said Emil D. Kakkis, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Ultragenyx. "Our team's expertise in MPS and gene therapy clinical development makes this program a seamless integration, and it has the potential to be our first gene therapy to market. The Sanfilippo community has been waiting too long for a first treatment and we believe we can help accelerate this program."

07:58 EDT Incannex announces constructive pre-IND meeting with FDA for IHL-42X - Incannex Healthcare announced that it completed a highly constructive Pre-Investigational New Drug Application, or pre-IND, meeting with the FDA to discuss the development IHL-42X. IHL-42X is a fixed dose combination of dronabinol and acetazolamide that is being developed as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea, or OSA, in adults. Incannex submitted a pre-IND meeting package and meeting request to the FDA in February 2022. The meeting package included an overview of the development program, and specific questions Incannex had on the regulatory requirements for opening an investigational new drug, or IND, application. Opening an IND is required to conduct clinical trials in the U.S and ensures that trials are designed so that they meet the data requirements necessary for FDA marketing approval. FDA provided guidance on Incannex's proposed long-term development strategy, including specific parameters to demonstrate safety and efficacy in phase 2 and 3 pivotal studies. Guidance provided by the FDA to the Company will inform adjustments to the clinical trial protocols to ensure that they generate the data required for a 505 NDA. In a decision that will save Incannex time and cost, FDA agreed that Incannex does not need to conduct studies in animals. Therefore, the next step for the development of IHL-42X will be the adjustment of clinical trial designs and arrangement of operational imperatives necessary to open an IND with FDA.

07:53 EDT Ondas, Siemens Mobility to participate at Railway System Supplier Show - Ondas Holdings announced that Ondas Networks and Siemens Mobility will be jointly exhibiting today and Wednesday the Siemens branded Airlink product line at this year's 61st Annual Railway System Supplier Show in Kansas City, Missouri. Products to be showcased include the jointly developed ATCS radio platform, along with Siemens branded Airlink products based on Ondas Networks' MC-IoT FullMAX platform. The companies will demonstrate simultaneous operation of the legacy ATCS analog protocol and MC-IoT connectivity in the greenfield 900 MHz band. This capacity is viewed as a key feature as the rails transition from the legacy 900 MHz frequencies to the new band for muti-purpose, multi-application IP-based networks. Additionally on display in the Siemens booth will be the new Head-of-Train radio technology jointly developed by Siemens and Ondas Networks. The two companies continue to make significant progress on this new development program with sales expected to commence in the second half of the year.

07:50 EDT Teva announces new findings for ProAir Digihaler inhalation powder - Teva announced new study findings based on newly established clinical thresholds on short-acting beta agonist, or SABA, use that highlight real-world SABA usage among patients with asthma in the U.S. and the potential for ProAir Digihaler inhalation powder, a digital inhaler, to help inform treatment discussions and decisions. The findings were presented in a late-breaking oral session at the American Thoracic Society, or ATS, 2022 annual meeting. Among the study findings, nearly one-third of asthma patients made 138 or more inhalations during the 12-week study period, which was equivalent to 600 or more inhalations, or three or more canisters, per year. In this study analysis, valid inhalations are defined as events when the patient inhales at a peak inspiratory flow, or PIF, rate between 18 to 120 liters/minute with no errors in use. The findings are the first application of evidence-based clinical statements from an independent U.S. expert consensus that identify risk of asthma exacerbation, including potential for a life-threatening event, based on patients' SABA overuse. These results suggest digital inhalers may help healthcare professionals identify and address SABA reliever overuse and help inform clinical decision-making based on individual insights from objective patient SABA reliever usage data downloaded directly from their ProAir Digihaler.

07:49 EDT Moderna announces research findings at Science and Technology Day - Moderna announced new research findings as part of the Company's fifth annual Science and Technology Day. Moderna continues to highlight investments in the expansion of the utility of the mRNA platform, characterization of the Company's vaccines, biodistribution of vaccines, and using clinical data to predict vaccine dosing. Multiple biological barriers must be overcome to deliver mRNA medicines and maximize their clinical potential. In most cases, the effective delivery of mRNA-based medicines is enabled by encapsulating the mRNA in tiny lipid droplets, known as lipid nanoparticles in order to protect it against degradation and facilitate uptake by cells. Moderna announces advances in developing numerous proprietary LNPs, each suited to target different cell types and optimized for different routes of administration. Moderna has invested in the development of LNPs for systemic, intramuscular, intratumoral, and pulmonary delivery of mRNA. With Moderna's focus on respiratory diseases, the Company has invested in designing mRNA delivery systems tailored to targeting pulmonary disease. For pulmonary applications, delivery of mRNA medicines directly to the lungs by inhalation is the preferred method of administration in order to maximize the concentration of the medicine locally in the lung. Moderna researchers have developed a new LNP formulation that addresses many of the challenges associated with lung delivery of mRNA. This pulmonary LNP formulation is delivered by inhalation, uses multiple lipids, and is able to target specific areas of the lung. Moderna's optimization of pulmonary delivery of mRNA provides opportunities to address a range of unmet medical needs. Moderna is collaborating with Vertex to deliver mRNA directly to the lungs via aerosolization to enable production of a functional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein. CFTR is an important target for treatment because it is a defect in the CFTR gene that leads to buildup of thick mucus in the airways, chronic lung infections, inflammation and eventual respiratory failure. To date, the companies have completed IND studies that are supportive of advancing to clinical development. Vertex expects to submit an IND for this program in the second half of this year. In a second collaboration, the companies are collaborating to develop a portfolio of mRNA CF treatments, through the discovery and development of novel LNPs and mRNAs for the delivery of gene-editing therapies for the treatment of CF. mRNA is inherently unstable, but with continued investments in innovative science, Moderna researchers have developed a detailed understanding of the reactions that drive instability and lead to mRNA inactivation and degradation. mRNA stability has practical implications for product storage and shelf-life. In addition to known chemical reactions that contribute to mRNA instability upon storage of product, Moderna researchers have identified and elucidated another mechanism that leads to a loss in mRNA activity: the formation of lipid-mRNA complexes, known as adducts. Since mRNA must be intact to be translated, adduct formation renders mRNA untranslatable, leading to a decrease in the expression of the proteins needed to treat or prevent disease. In addition to the clinical benefits of stabilizing mRNA integrity, manufacturing protocols that limit the formation of lipid-mRNA adducts can improve product shelf-life. It thus remains critical to ensure robust analytical methods and stringent manufacturing controls to ensure mRNA stability and high activity in LNP delivery systems. Moderna's adduct formation research has led to the development of manufacturing processes designed to identify and mitigate lipid-driven impurities that would otherwise disrupt mRNA translation and reduce product shelf-life. As a result, new manufacturing controls have resulted in improved shelf-life, improved product activity, and higher storage temperatures. With hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccines administered, numerous observational studies and in-depth animal research, current data supports the safety of vaccination relative to fertility, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. In addition to examination of real-world and observational data, Moderna reviewed guidelines from several health agencies, including the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency, the European Medicines Agency's COVID-19 Task Force, the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Taken together, current data supports the safety of COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant or breastfeeding women and suggests no safety concerns in regard to fertility. Currently there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems in women or men. Observational data from vaccinated pregnant women has not shown an increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes and no increased risk for miscarriage has been seen Observational data from women who were breastfeeding after COVID-19 vaccination have not shown a risk for adverse effects in breastfed newborns/infants. As per the CDC, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. To further characterize Moderna's IM vaccines, biodistribution studies were conducted to demonstrate where mRNA goes in the body after injection. Studies demonstrate that injected mRNA remains predominantly at the injection site and in nearby draining lymph nodes. Furthermore, consistent with its transient nature, mRNA is undetectable in the body 5 days after injection, with minimal mRNA detectable after only 3 days. Selecting an optimal dose for new vaccine candidates is important in reaching maximal vaccine efficacy at a desirable safety level. Well-informed decisions about dose selection can reduce the development time and expense for new candidates. Moderna presented an immunostimulatory/immunodynamic modeling approach that simulates immune response by vaccination and the resulting measured immune response dynamics. The model was developed, tested and shown to be effective using data from Moderna's cytomegalovirus and COVID vaccines. With the goal of maximizing immunogenicity and reducing risk of adverse reactions, Moderna will apply the model to support dose selection for upcoming clinical studies.

07:46 EDT CalAmp elects Maier as next Independent Chair - CalAmp announced the election of Henry Maier as incoming Independent Chair of the CalAmp Board of Directors, effective as of the Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Maier will succeed Amal Johnson, who has served as Chair of the Board since August 2020 and, as previously announced, will not stand for re-election at the upcoming Annual Meeting. Maier joined the CalAmp Board in June 2021 and serves on the Board's Audit Committee and Human Capital Committee.

07:45 EDT React to offer LOOT.BET esports wagering skin via HHRP in Philippines - React Gaming announces that its subsidiary Generationz Gaming Entertainment has signed a white label revenue sharing agreement with HHRP to operate LOOT.BET's esports wagering platform in the Philippines, pending successful certification of the LOOT.BET platform by Gaming Laboratories International. "We are thrilled to have HHRP as a partner for the Philippines market, HHRP being one of only four companies holding online gaming licences in a country of more than 109 million people," said Laurent Benezra, President and CEO of React Gaming. "This agreement is part of our two-pronged growth strategy to expand LOOT.BET's reach into the B2C and B2B markets. The advantage of the B2B market is that LOOT.BET's platform will be offered to established customer bases, thus involving no customer acquisition cost on our part. Our partner will offer our white-label platform as its own to its customers and we will receive a portion of the revenue generated when those customers use the platform. The more popular our platform, the more revenue it will generate. The great thing about this model is that we can replicate it in multiple markets and with multiple online gaming providers at minimal cost."

07:42 EDT Guardforce AI to offer new bundled robotic disinfection services - Guardforce AI announced it has expanded its robotic disinfection services through new bundled offerings in response to the latest COVID-19 outbreak in China. Guardforce AI has bundled disinfectant solutions with its robot service as a unified subscription-based offering. This new service is being tested in Shenzhen, with additional cities to follow. Terence Yap, Chairman of Guardforce AI, stated, "We continue to evolve our robotic ecosystem with a goal of providing our clients a one-stop-shop solution. Based on a recent report from ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global disinfection robot market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30.1% from 2021 to 2028 and will reach $2.79 billion by 2028. Through our robots-as-as-service model, bundled with disinfectant supplies, we can provide our customers with a truly hassle-free and cost-effective solution. Following our pilot program in Shenzhen, we plan to promote this robotic disinfection solution in other regions across China and around the world."

07:41 EDT Emerita Resources accelerates diamond drill program at Romanera deposit - Emerita Resources announces that with the permitting for the Romanera and El Cura deposits now completed at its wholly owned Iberia Belt West Project the focus of the program has shifted to the Romanera Deposit. In order to delineate this deposit and accelerate the Project towards a production decision, the Company intends to complete 70 km of diamond drilling this year. The Romanera deposit is by far the largest massive sulfide deposit found to date on the IBW property and as such is most important in terms of the potential economic viability of the Project. The Company is accelerating the delineation of the deposit, including potential expansions at depth and along strike, by increasing the number of drills to six dedicated to the Romanera deposit drilling, in order to complete 70,000 meters of drilling before year-end. If required, additional drills will be contracted. There are a total of eight drills on the IBW property and two rigs will continue to drill the Infanta and El Cura deposit areas. Following the completion of the drill program, the Company expects to publish its inaugural NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate at the IBW Project. The existing historical resource area is outlined by 51 drill holes which when augmented by the new drill campaign are expected to meet the criteria for establishing a NI 43-101 measured mineral resource estimate. The new drill core will also provide sample material for completing metallurgical studies. The areas along strike and at depth will see 50 meter drill spacing on section with 100 meter step outs between sections. Infill drilling between sections will be completed where required to increase the confidence in the new resource area. The Romanera deposit was drilled by Asturiana de Zinc in the 1960's and by Minera Rio Tinto in the 1990's and is reported to contain 34 million tonnes grading 0.42% copper, 2.20% lead, 2.3% zinc 44.4g/t silver and 0.8 g/t gold within which there is a higher grade resource of 11.21 million tonnes grading 0.40% copper, 2.47% lead, 5.50% zinc, 64.0 g/t silver and 1.0 g/t gold. A qualified person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has not done sufficient work on behalf of Emerita to classify the historical estimate reported above as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and Emerita is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The historical estimate should not be relied upon. The deposit extends from surface to approximately 350 meters depth based on historical drilling.

07:39 EDT Probe, Midland begin drilling program on La Peltrie - Midland Exploration, in partnership with Probe Metals, is pleased to announce the commencement of an important drilling program totalling more than 3,125 metres to test new high-priority targets on the La Peltrie project. This project, wholly owned by Midland and under option by Probe since July 2020, is located along the Lower Detour Fault, approximately 25 kilometres southeast of Zone 58N currently held by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. Highlights: Identification of new drilling targets - Geological, geophysical and geochemical targets; Drilling program totalling more than 3,125 metres; 9 drilling targets Targets located proximal to the regional Lower Detour Fault; Drilling set to commence at the end of this month; New high-priority drilling targets proximal to the Lower Detour Fault. Following execution of the option agreement on the La Peltrie property in the summer of 2020, Probe conducted systematic biogeochemical survey covering the entire property and also completed several localized induced polarization grids to cover the best gold anomalies. This work resulted in the identification of nine new high-priority drilling targets that will be tested during this maiden drilling program totalling 3,125 metres set to begin at the end of May. More than twenty additional targets were also identified and will be reassessed pending the results of this first phase of drilling. The La Peltrie property is located approximately 25 kilometres southeast of the high-grade Lower Detour Zone 58N gold deposit held by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, which hosts indicated resources totalling 2.87 million tonnes at a grade of 5.8 g/t Au and inferred resources totalling 0.97 million tonnes at a grade of 4.35 g/t Au. It is also located proximal to the B26 deposit held by SOQUEM, where indicated resources are estimated at 6.97 million tonnes grading 1.32% Cu, 1.80% Zn, 0.60 g/t Au and 43.0 g/t Ag, and inferred resources at 4.41 million tonnes grading 2.03% Cu, 0.22% Zn, 1.07 g/t Au and 9.0 g/t Ag. The La Peltrie property is also located 25 kilometres northwest of the former Selbaie mine, which historically produced 56.5 million tonnes of ore grading 1.9% Zn, 0.9% Cu, 38.0 g/t Ag and 0.6 g/t Au. Probe may earn 50% interest in the La Peltrie property over a period of four years in consideration of the following: Cash payments totalling $400,000; and Exploration expenditures totalling $3,500,000; After exercising this first option to earn 50% interest, Probe may increase its interest to 65% over a period of two years in consideration of exploration expenditures or cash payments totalling $5,000,000.

07:37 EDT Accuray appoints Sandeep Chalke as Chief Commercial Officer - Accuray (ARAY) announced that Sandeep Chalke has joined the company as senior vice president, Chief Commercial Officer effective May 16. Chalke will have responsibility for the global commercial, product development, R&D and engineering functions for the company reporting to Accuray president and forthcoming CEO, Suzanne Winter. Chalke brings more than 25 years of medical device expertise in commercialization, business development and operations, spanning multiple healthcare industry segments including interventional catheterization systems, diagnostic x-ray, C-arm linear accelerators, anesthesia and respiratory care, advanced wound dressing & diabetes. Most recently, he served as president, Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions at Vyaire Medical, a global respiratory care manufacturer, where he had full P&L responsibility along with oversight of select manufacturing sites. Prior to Vyaire, Chalke held various global leadership positions at Medtronic (MDT), Acelity. and GE Healthcare, where he led the development of new products and service solutions, established new markets and partnerships with government organizations and private payors to drive revenue growth, margin expansion and technology leadership.

07:36 EDT Helius Medical adds Shepherd Center to Therapeutic Experience Program - Helius Medical Technologies announced the addition of Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia to its Therapeutic Experience Program. This initiative will be led by Deborah Backus, PT, Ph.D., FACRM, Vice President of Research and Innovation and Director of Multiple Sclerosis Research at the Virginia C. Crawford Research Institute at Shepherd Center. Shepherd Center joins NYU Langone Health as the second Center of Excellence in this company-sponsored open-label observational trial designed to evaluate the impact of subjects' adherence to Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis.

07:34 EDT FDA to convene Advisory Committee Meeting on Cytokinetics' omecamtiv mecarbil - Cytokinetics, Incorporated announced the Company recently participated in a mid-cycle communication meeting with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and was informed that the Agency plans to convene an Advisory Committee meeting for the New Drug Application for omecamtiv mecarbil. Cytokinetics expects the FDA to inform it of the date and topics for the Advisory Committee Meeting in a subsequent communication. A late-cycle communication meeting has been proposed to occur later this year. Omecamtiv mecarbil is an investigational, selective, small molecule cardiac myosin activator for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The FDA has assigned the NDA a standard review with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of November 30, 2022.

07:33 EDT Galmed announces cost reduction plan, clinical development strategy - Galmed Pharmaceuticals announced the company's clinical development strategy will expand into new anti-fibrotic indications to maximize the potential of its lead compound, Aramchol while at the same time discontinuing the Open Label Part of the Armor Study having reached its objectives. Expansion of Aramchol's clinical development to additional indications provide a potentially faster development pathway for regulatory approval based on three important factors: positive results from the first part of the ARMOR study showing a consistent antifibrotic effect, the timing of the initiation of the Double-Blind Part with the improved formulation of Aramchol Meglumine, and the pre-clinical data supporting the anti-fibrotic activity of Aramchol in other fibrotic and pro-fibrotic indications. The change aims to maximize the potential of Aramchol with better use of company resources. The company believes that the positive results obtained from the Open Label Part already provide sufficient data with regards to treatment duration, magnitude and consistency of effect, and taking into consideration biopsy reading challenges and potential new biopsy reading modalities, the company concluded that the Open-Label Part has met its objective. At this stage continuing the Open Label Part as a standalone study is not expected to provide additional data to justify its continuation. In connection with the shift in development strategy, the company is initiating a comprehensive plan which includes a cost reduction effort which will enable Galmed to develop Aramchol for new fibrotic indications with high unmet need and faster development pathways, while preparing for the registrational part of the ARMOR study which is expected to commence in the second half of 2023. To date, only limited anti-fibrotic drugs are approved or are in development, most of which have restricting side effects. The distinctive, direct anti-fibrotic mechanism of action of Aramchol and long-term safety profile demonstrated so far in advanced clinical studies make Aramchol a promising candidate for such indications. Galmed expects to be able to leverage in part the current clinical data to rapidly progress Aramchol into Phase 2 and 3 studies in new indications for use as monotherapy and in-combination. The company has not stated a definitive timeline for completion of the evaluation process and there can be no assurance that the evaluation process will result in Galmed pursuing any strategic alternative, or that a strategic alternative, if any, would be completed successfully or at all. There can be no assurance that the review will result in any transaction or other strategic change or outcome. The company does not intend to comment further until it determines that further disclosure is appropriate or necessary.

07:31 EDT Wabash announces new parts distribution network - Wabash announced the creation of a new tech-enabled Wabash Parts distribution network. This will unify and expand Wabash's parts distribution capabilities across all product lines, and provides immediate scale to grow. This single channel distribution network will, over time, include the entire Wabash aftermarket portfolio as well as a wide range of transportation parts with increased inventory and faster shipping. Wabash Parts distribution will utilize the company's extensive network of equipment dealers' service capabilities, as well as the infrastructure of industry-leading partners of national wholesale distribution for aftermarket heavy-duty truck and trailers parts, using multiple distribution centers across the country.

07:30 EDT Evotec, Sernova enter partnership for iPSC-based beta cell replacement therapy - Sernova and Evotec are pleased to announce an exclusive global strategic partnership to develop a best-in-class cell therapy treatment for people living with insulin-dependent diabetes. The two Companies will combine and leverage their respective technologies and scientific expertise to develop an implantable iPSC-based beta cell replacement therapy to provide an unlimited insulin-producing cell source to treat patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. The collaboration agreement is a transformative partnership that combines Sernova's Cell Pouch System technologies, which has demonstrated Phase 1/2 clinical proof-of-concept using human donor islets, with Evotec's iPSC-based beta cells. Incorporating Evotec's insulin-producing, ethically-derived beta cells within Sernova's Cell Pouch platform creates the potential to provide a 'functional cure' for millions of people suffering from diabetes using a cGMP controlled and scalable off-the-shelf product. With its long-standing beta cell development program, Evotec has demonstrated the ability to reliably produce an unlimited supply of high quality, stable, human iPSC-derived beta cells using its proprietary process for producing islet-like clusters in a quality-controlled scalable bioreactor process. These islet-like clusters have now been proven to be functionally equivalent to primary human islets in their ability to normalize blood glucose using in vivo models of type 1 diabetes. The partnership provides Sernova a global exclusive option to license Evotec's iPSC-based beta cells for use in treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In addition to entering into the collaboration agreement, Evotec has made a strategic equity investment of EUR 15M and will make a further investment of EUR 5M. Specifically, concurrently with the entering into the collaboration agreement, Evotec acquired a total of 12,944,904 common shares at a price of CAD $1.57 per share for gross proceeds to Sernova of $20,323,500. In addition, pursuant to an unconditional purchase warrant, Evotec will acquire, on or before August 31, 2022, a further 2,709,800 common shares at a price of CAD$2.50 per share for gross proceeds of $6,774,500. All of the securities issued to Evotec are subject to a four month hold period. Further to the collaboration and Evotec's strategic equity investment, Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec will join Sernova's Board of Directors. Sernova has acquired an option for an exclusive global license to Evotec's Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell, based Beta cells to treat patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. From an operational perspective, the preclinical development program will be jointly funded by Sernova and Evotec until IND acceptance. Sernova has the right to exercise its option for an exclusive global license upon IND filing. Evotec will contribute its cell manufacturing capabilities through research, development and product commercialization and will decide in the future on the joint funding of clinical development. Upon commercialization, there will be a profit-sharing arrangement between the two companies, with the split being dependent on Evotec's participation in funding the clinical development program.

07:28 EDT Natural Gas announces CEO Taylor to retire, Chisholm appointed interim CEO - Natural Gas Services announced that Stephen Taylor, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer. He will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors through his term which expires at the annual meeting in June, 2023. The Board of Directors has appointed John Chisholm, currently the lead independent director of the Company's Board, as the interim President and Chief Executive Officer. The leadership transition will begin with today's earnings call as Chisholm begins his interim role. As noted, Taylor will continue as Chairman of the Board, and will remain active in the transition process throughout his term as Chairman. David Bradshaw, current independent director and Chair of the Board of Directors Audit Committee, has been appointed lead independent director. The other members of the senior leadership team will remain with Chisholm as the interim Chief Executive Officer, including Micah Foster, Chief Financial Officer, and James Hazlett, Vice President of Technical Services.

07:27 EDT Amryt Pharma announces details of EMA Contingent Value Rights payment - Amryt announces that, following the CHMP positive opinion for Filsuvez on April 22, 2022, the European Medicines Agency Contingent Value Rights issued to those Amryt shareholders and option holders who held Amryt shares or options prior to the acquisition of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals will now become payable. The total amount payable to CVR Holders will be approximately $5.7million. Each CVR Holder will be issued with one loan note of $0.0995 for each CVR they hold. The certificates for the Loan Notes will be held by the Company's Registrar, Link Group, in electronic form on behalf of each CVR Holder. The Loan Notes will be redeemed in full on September 14, 2022 in accordance with the terms and conditions of the CVR Deed Poll and the Deed Poll constituting the Loan Notes, which was executed by the Company on May 3, 2022. The total amount due to each CVR Holder will be paid by cheque on the Payment Date.

07:24 EDT LGI Homes opens Winter Creek community - LGI Homes announced the expansion of the Terrata Homes brand into the Oklahoma City market, with the grand opening of its newest community, Winter Creek. Winter Creek offers homebuyers the opportunity to own a luxury, new home situated along the prestigious, championship golf course at Winter Creek. Within the community, Terrata Homes is offering an exclusive collection of five home plans. Titled the Country Club Collection, these new homes have been carefully constructed with meticulous attention to detail, presenting elevated aesthetics, exquisite interior upgrades and functional, spacious layouts. Ranging in size from 2,602 square feet to over 3,700 square feet, these homes offer four and five bedrooms with up to three-and-a-half bathrooms. Open floor plans with fully equipped kitchens, formal dining rooms, media rooms and fantastic family rooms are available within the community. Every new Terrata home at Winter Creek will showcase a multitude of incredible, included upgrades such as a full suite of stainless steel kitchen appliances, sparkling quartz countertops, an electric fireplace, oversized wood cabinetry with crown molding detail, beautiful, wood-look, tile flooring, attached two- to three-car garages, covered outdoor living spaces and sprawling half-acre homesites.

07:23 EDT Codiak presents new preclinical data on exosome-based strategy - Codiak BioSciences announced new preclinical data on the Company's engEx-AAV discovery program, a novel strategy that aims to leverage exosomes to improve adeno-associated virus vector gene therapy. The data, which are being presented today at the 25th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, demonstrate that exosome engineering generates significant increases in AAV yield compared to unmodified exosomes, while retaining the functionality to transduce cells with AAV and resist neutralizing antibodies that impair gene therapy efficacy. AAV is a commonly used gene therapy vector whose "once and done" clinical potential faces challenges including the presence or subsequent development of neutralizing antibodies preventing treatment or re-dosing, waning transgene expression, and difficulties in producing sufficient quantities of AAV. Encapsulation of AAV within exosomes represents a strategy to protect AAV from antibody-mediated neutralization and efficiently deliver AAV to specific cell types, leading to higher potency and lower systemic exposure. In an in vivo retinal model, engEx-AAV transduced cell types that were not affected in AAV-injected eyes, indicating engineered engEx-AAV exhibits a preferential tropism that could offer important utility in ocular disease indications. The data presented at ASGCT describe the identification and characterization of engEx-AAV constructs engineered to increase AAV yield while retaining desired functionality. A proprietary peptide derived from the protein BASP1 was used as a scaffold to facilitate AAV loading into the lumen of the exosome through the use of a camelid nanobody (VHH) that binds AAV capsids. BASP1-VHH fusions improved exosome AAV capsid loading by 2-3 log orders, while retaining transduction activity. The highest performing engineered engEx-AAV constructs showed significant transduction compared to un-engineered controls.

07:22 EDT Societal CDMO unveils '20/80 Second Source Technical Transfer' service model - Societal CDMO unveiled the company's new "20/80 Second Source Technical Transfer" service model. This new CDMO offering is designed to provide pharmaceutical companies with a time- and cost-efficient preparedness strategy for mitigating supply chain risks and vulnerabilities. Societal introduced the "20/80 Second Source Technical Transfer" model in conjunction with the CPhI North America 2022 Meeting, held May 17-19, 2022, in Philadelphia, PA. Societal created this new service model in response to the growing risks and vulnerabilities associated with the global supply chain that have significantly elevated the importance of second source suppliers within the pharmaceutical industry. Over the past decade, supply chains in the global life sciences industry have been increasingly interrupted and/or impacted by a broad range of natural disasters, geopolitical threats, and regulatory/compliance failures, as well as the global COVID-19 pandemic. This volatility has created an environment in which risk mitigation, reshoring of manufacturing to the United States, and supply chain continuity have become much more critical considerations for supply chain management within the pharmaceutical sector. Under the framework of Societal's "20/80 Second Source Technical Transfer" model, pharmaceutical companies are able to collaborate with Societal to execute all sourcing and planning phase activities of a standard technical transfer process prior to the time that product supply is needed. By undertaking these activities in advance, Societal customers can complete approximately half of the technical transfer process and position themselves to initiate the transfer of material and commence the batch manufacturing whenever new and/or additional finished drug product supply is required. By executing the materials sourcing, planning and other production preparation phases of the technical transfer, a Societal customer can be "supply ready" approximately a full year sooner than if it commenced these activities at the onset of a supply disruption. Importantly, investing in the initial sourcing and planning phase activities accounts for 20 percent, on average, of the total technical transfer costs for a commercial product, whereas the execution/manufacturing phase makes up the remaining 80 percent of costs.

07:20 EDT Royalty: 'Significant opportunity to deploy capital' in life science innovation - The biopharmaceutical ecosystem is expected to generate significant demands for capital to fund the ongoing wave of healthcare innovation. Royalty Pharma estimates that academic institutions and non-profits will spend more than $1 trillion to fund life sciences research and development over the next decade, which is expected to generate many new royalty opportunities. Over that same time period, today's unprofitable biotechnology companies are expected to require over $1 trillion to fund operating expenses in order to develop and commercialize their pipelines and global pharmaceutical companies are also expected to invest an estimated $1.6 trillion in research and development. Given the company's unique role at the heart of funding life sciences innovation, Royalty Pharma believes that there will be significant opportunity to deploy capital and fund innovation, while creating value for its stakeholders.

07:18 EDT Royalty expects compounded annual growth in ACR of 11%-14% through 2025 - Given the strong fundamental outlook for the royalty funding market, the company's positive business momentum and the increase in its capital deployment plans, Royalty Pharma is today raising its long-term growth guidance for Adjusted Cash Receipts. Over the period from 2020 through 2025, Royalty Pharma now expects to deliver compounded annual growth in Adjusted Cash Receipts of between 11% to 14%. Furthermore, Royalty Pharma also introduced its target for Adjusted Cash Receipts to grow 10% or more on a compounded annual basis from 2020 to 2030 - positioning it among the fastest growing biopharmaceutical companies. Royalty Pharma today provides this long-term outlook based on its most up-to-date view of its prospects. Royalty Pharma assumes no major unforeseen adverse events subsequent to the date of this press release. Furthermore, Royalty Pharma may amend its long-term outlook in the event it engages in new royalty transactions. Royalty Pharma has not reconciled its non-GAAP long-term outlook to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net cash provided by operating activities, at this time due to the inherent difficulty in accurately forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation, including, primarily, payments for operating and professional costs, distributions from non-consolidated affiliates and interest received. Royalty Pharma is not able to forecast on a GAAP basis with reasonable certainty all adjustments needed in order to project net cash provided by operating activities at this time.

07:16 EDT Royalty Pharma to hold Investor Day in NYC - Royalty Pharma will host its inaugural Investor Day in New York City today. Royalty Pharma's management team will provide an update on the company's capital deployment opportunities and long-term outlook and the prospects for royalty funding in life sciences. "Royalty Pharma has made tremendous progress since our IPO in June 2020," said Pablo Legorreta, Royalty Pharma's founder and Chief Executive Officer. "We are the pioneers and leaders in the biopharmaceutical royalty market. Our unique and powerful business model drives tremendous opportunity for strong compounding growth in the coming years. And most importantly, by funding and accelerating the 'golden age' of life sciences innovation, we are helping to transform patients' lives. Today, my team and I are excited to provide a deep review of our business and outlook - and ultimately why we believe we represent a uniquely attractive and straightforward investment proposition for investors seeking consistently strong growth and value creation."

07:13 EDT Appreciate to become public through PropTech Investment II combination - PropTech Investment Corporation II (PTIC), a special purpose acquisition company targeting businesses in the real estate technology industry, and RW National Holdings, d/b/a Appreciate, the parent holding company of Renters Warehouse, a leading end-to-end Single Family Rental, or "SFR," marketplace and management platform, have entered into a definitive agreement which will result in Appreciate becoming a publicly listed company. Upon closing of the transaction, PropTech II will be renamed Appreciate and will remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the new ticker symbol "SFR." Through its operating company, Renters Warehouse, Appreciate offers a full-service technology platform for investing in and owning SFR properties. The company provides a proprietary online marketplace and full-service brokerage teams in over 40 markets, allowing investors to execute with efficiency and confidence. Appreciate's clients benefit from a SFR property management platform that addresses the full spectrum of investor needs, from resident placement and property management to analytics and reporting. The combined company will have an estimated post-transaction enterprise value of $416M, consisting of an estimated equity value of $575M, $159M in cash, and no debt, assuming no redemptions by PropTech II public stockholders. Cash proceeds raised will consist of PropTech II's approximately $230M of cash in trust and a committed equity facility of $100M from CF Principal Investments LLC, an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., subject to certain conditions precedent. With no minimum cash condition, the cash in the PTIC trust account and Cantor's committed equity facility is anticipated to support the company's growth capital needs for 2022 and 2023. The net proceeds raised from the transaction will be used to support Appreciate's compelling growth strategy. Appreciate is projected to generate revenue and EBITDA of $113 million and $23M, respectively, in 2023, exclusive of any accretive benefits from M&A activity made possible by this transaction. Current Appreciate management, employees and existing shareholders will roll 96% to 100% of their existing equity holdings into equity of the combined company, subject to redemptions by PTIC public stockholders. Assuming no redemptions, existing Appreciate security holders will receive approximately 50% of the pro forma equity as part of the transaction. The business combination has been approved by the boards of directors of both Appreciate and PropTech II. The business combination is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals and other customary closing conditions.

07:10 EDT Appreciate to become public through PropTech Investment combination - PropTech Investment Corporation II (NASDAQ: PTIC) ("PropTech II" or "PTIC"), a special purpose acquisition company targeting businesses in the real estate technology industry, and RW National Holdings, LLC (d/b/a Appreciate) ("Appreciate" or "the company"), the parent holding company of Renters Warehouse, a leading end-to-end Single Family Rental ("SFR") marketplace and management platform, have entered into a definitive agreement which will result in Appreciate becoming a publicly listed company. Upon closing of the transaction, PropTech II will be renamed Appreciate and will remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the new ticker symbol "SFR." Through its operating company, Renters Warehouse, Appreciate offers a full-service technology platform for investing in and owning SFR properties. The company provides a proprietary online marketplace and full-service brokerage teams in over 40 markets, allowing investors to execute with efficiency and confidence. Appreciate's clients benefit from a SFR property management platform that addresses the full spectrum of investor needs, from resident placement and property management to analytics and reporting. Substantial Addressable Market: Appreciate competes in a U.S. total addressable market estimated at more than $145 billion, with powerful demographic and secular tailwinds. The space remains highly fragmented, with no marketplace platform achieving greater than 1% market share. End-to-End Marketplace Addresses Industry Gap: Appreciate's proprietary, end-to-end SFR platform brings together both the marketplace and management segments of SFR that have traditionally been serviced independently. Appreciate helps a diversified customer base of both retail and institutional investors buy, lease, manage and sell SFR property, all in one place, creating a strong network effect and higher customer lifetime value. Strong Unit Economics: The company has a highly scalable, recurring revenue model with an LTV/CAC3 of over 13x which supports investment in growth. 65% of Appreciate's revenue base is front-loaded4 and realized in the first three months of a customer's life on its platform. Demonstrable Growth Opportunities: Significant growth opportunities exist across all business segments, including marketing-driven growth with retail investors, geographic expansion, M&A, and new products and services including payments, insurance and mortgage referrals, and landlord and resident services. Experienced Management: Appreciate's team includes leaders with deep SFR industry and operating expertise and accomplished track records of growing and scaling businesses. The combined company will have an estimated post-transaction enterprise value of $416 million, consisting of an estimated equity value of $575 million, $159 million in cash, and no debt, assuming no redemptions by PropTech II public stockholders. Cash proceeds raised will consist of PropTech II's approximately $230 million of cash in trust and a committed equity facility of $100 million from CF Principal Investments LLC, an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., subject to certain conditions precedent. With no minimum cash condition, the cash in the PTIC trust account and Cantor's committed equity facility is anticipated to support the company's growth capital needs for 2022 and 2023. The net proceeds raised from the transaction will be used to support Appreciate's compelling growth strategy. Appreciate is projected to generate revenue and EBITDA of $113 million and $23 million, respectively, in 2023, exclusive of any accretive benefits from M&A activity made possible by this transaction. Current Appreciate management, employees and existing shareholders will roll 96% to 100% of their existing equity holdings into equity of the combined company, subject to redemptions by PTIC public stockholders. Assuming no redemptions, existing Appreciate security holders will receive approximately 50% of the pro forma equity as part of the transaction. The business combination has been approved by the boards of directors of both Appreciate and PropTech II. The business combination is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals and other customary closing conditions.

07:06 EDT BP, Linde plan major CCS project in Texas - BP (BP) and Linde (LIN) announced plans to advance a major carbon capture and storage project in Texas that will enable low carbon hydrogen production at Linde's existing facilities. The development will also support the storage of carbon dioxide captured from other industrial facilities -- paving the way for large-scale decarbonization of the Texas Gulf Coast industrial corridor. Upon completion, the project will capture and store CO2 from Linde's hydrogen production facilities in the greater Houston area -- and potentially from its other Texas facilities - to produce low carbon hydrogen for the region. The low carbon hydrogen will be sold to customers along Linde's hydrogen pipeline network under long-term contracts to enable production of low carbon chemicals and fuels. As part of the project, bp will appraise, develop and permit the geological storage sites for permanent sequestration of the CO2. bp's trading and shipping business aims to bring custom low carbon solutions to the project, including renewable power and certified natural gas, along with commodity trading and price risk management expertise. Linde will use its proprietary technology and operational expertise to capture and compress the CO2 from its hydrogen production facilities for the project. Together with its extensive infrastructure of hydrogen production facilities and its storage cavern connected through its pipeline network across the Texas Gulf Coast, this project will enable Linde to supply cost-effective, reliable low carbon hydrogen and, together with bp, provide carbon capture and storage solutions.

07:04 EDT EdtechX Holdings Acquisition II and zSpace enter into merger agreement - zSpace and EdtechX Holdings Acquisition Corp. II announced that the two companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement that would result in zSpace becoming publicly traded. Following the anticipated closing of the proposed business combination, the combined company is expected to be named zSpace Technologies, Inc. and listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the new ticker symbol "ZSPX." zSpace is a provider of commercial augmented reality and virtual reality technology in the global education market.

07:02 EDT MediWound sees 2022 cash use $11M-$13M - As of March 31, 2022, MediWound had $16.8 million in cash and short-term investments, compared with $11.0 million as of December 31, 2021. MediWound remained on budget, utilizing $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2022 for its operational activities. The Company expects cash use for 2022 to be in the range of $11 to $13 million.

06:46 EDT Vertex Pharmaceuticals announces expansion plans in Boston's Seaport - At a dedication of the new Jeffrey Leiden Center for Cell and Genetic Therapies in Boston's Seaport, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced plans to build another 344,000 square foot facility in the Seaport to support the company's continued rapid growth, in particular the expansion of its cell and genetic therapies programs. With the completion of this new site expected in 2025, Vertex will occupy 1.9M square feet of real estate in the Seaport across five sites, making it the largest biotech in Boston in terms of square footage.

06:34 EDT Nextdoor announces first API partnership with Microsoft - Nextdoor (KIND) is partnering with Microsoft (MSFT) to display Nextdoor's hyperlocal, neighbor-generated content directly within Microsoft properties including MSN and Microsoft Bing. This marks the first time a partner is using a Nextdoor-built API to fetch content and host on their site or app. Going forward, trending public posts from Nextdoor will be integrated directly into Microsoft properties, delivering engaging local neighborhood content to Microsoft users in the United States. For example, people using Microsoft Bing, Microsoft Start Feed, or MSN in their preferred city will be able to view Nextdoor content for that specific area.

06:14 EDT MannKind to acquire Zealand Pharma's V-Go for $10M - MannKind (MNKD) announced that it has entered into an agreement with Zealand Pharma (ZEAL) to acquire V-Go for $10M, with additional sales-based milestones plus the cost of certain inventory. The acquisition of V-Go allows MannKind to expand its portfolio and strengthen its commitment to providing innovative mealtime diabetes solutions. V-Go is a once-daily, wearable, insulin delivery device that helps provide blood sugar control for everyday lifestyles. Designed to be patient-friendly, V-Go is worn like a patch and eliminates the need for taking multiple daily shots.

06:12 EDT Li-Cycle's recycling facility in Arizona begins commercial operations - Li-Cycle announced that its previously announced Arizona Spoke facility located in Gilbert, Arizona has commenced commercial operations. Arizona presents a significant opportunity for lithium-ion battery recycling due to the emerging electric vehicle supply chain in the region, as well as its close proximity to large markets such as California, which are expected to produce an increasing supply of end-of-life batteries available for recycling from EVs, energy storage projects and consumer electronics.

06:10 EDT Check Point to partner with Provision-ISR - Check Point Software Technologies has announced it is partnering with an international CCTV market leader Provision-ISR. The partnership will involve Check Point Quantum IoT Protect Nano Agent being embedded in Provision-ISR's CCTV cameras for on-device runtime protection against zero-day attacks. The solution brings an entirely new level of cybersecurity to the video surveillance market.

06:07 EDT Twitter files preliminary proxy statement for deal to be acquired by Elon Musk - Twitter announced that it has filed its preliminary proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the previously announced agreement for Twitter to be acquired by affiliates of Elon Musk for $54.20 per share in cash. Twitter said it is committed to completing the transaction on the agreed price and terms as promptly as practicable. The preliminary proxy statement contains information including the background of, and reasons for, Twitter's transaction with Musk. The transaction is subject to the approval of Twitter stockholders, the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in 2022.

06:06 EDT FDA approves LabCorp's nonprescription test for Covid-19, flu, RSV - On Monday, the FDA authorized the Labcorp Seasonal Respiratory Virus RT-PCR DTC Test for use without a prescription by individuals with symptoms of respiratory viral infection consistent with COVID-19. This product is the first direct-to-consumer multi-analyte COVID-19 test authorized by FDA and allows an individual to self-collect a nasal swab sample at home and then send that sample to Labcorp for testing. The test can identify and differentiate multiple respiratory viruses at the same time, detecting influenza A and B, commonly known as the flu, respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, along with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the FDA said. Results are delivered through an online portal, with follow-up from a health care provider for positive or invalid test results. "While the FDA has now authorized many COVID-19 tests without a prescription, this is the first test authorized for flu and RSV, along with COVID-19, where an individual can self-identify their need for a test, order it, collect their sample and send it to the lab for testing, without consulting a health care professional," said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

06:03 EDT Clearfield to acquire Nestor Cables for $23M - Clearfield has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Finnish company Nestor Cables Oy, a developer and manufacturer of fiber optic cable solutions. The pending acquisition follows a long-standing, synergistic relationship between Clearfield and Nestor, who have worked together for over a decade. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Clearfield earnings. The value of the transaction including fees is approximately $23M. Clearfield expects to fund the acquisition through its credit facility. The transaction is expected to close in a few months and is subject to customary Finnish regulatory approvals. Upon close of the transaction, Nestor will be operated as a subsidiary of Clearfield.

05:16 EDT BeiGene opens new office in Switzerland - BeiGene announced the opening of a new regional office in Basel, Switzerland. BeiGene has built a European organization, including commercial and clinical teams, and this new location will serve as a hub for the company's operations in the region.

05:08 EDT Zegna provides medium-term outlook ahead of Capital Markets Day - Ermenegildo Zegna will host a Capital Markets Day during which the company will share its medium-term financial ambitions as well as its newly unveiled ESG strategy and targets. With regards to medium-term financial goals, the group is aiming for revenues to exceed EUR 2B and for adjusted EBIT as a % of revenues to reach at least 15%. The group expects an increase in store productivity and continuing development of the price/mix to be key drivers of the top line, reflecting on profitability together with favorable operational leverage. These improvements should more than offset the strengthening of its marketing investments which, together with capital expenditures at about 5% of group revenues, are planned to support the Zegna rebranding and the overall growth strategy. Ermenegildo Zegna, chairman and CEO of the Zegna Group, said: "I am very much looking forward to welcoming our investors and financial analysts to Oasi Zegna today. This special place embodies our roots, values, and culture and is an integral part of our past and future. It is also the cradle of our century-long commitment to caring for the natural world around us, our people, and our communities. The ESG targets announced today reaffirm our commitment to a path of responsible growth and take us boldly to the future. We have rooted our financial goals in our values, which makes me confident in our ability to deliver against the ambitions set out in our business strategy."