Stockwinners Market Radar for February 28, 2023 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

20:41 EST First Bancshares announces new buyback program for up to $50M - The First Bancshares, the holding company for The First Bank, "announced that the Company's board of directors has approved a new share repurchase program for the 2023 calendar year. Under the program, the Company may, but is not required to, from time to time repurchase up to $50 million of shares of its common stock in any manner determined appropriate by the Company's management."

20:04 EST Regeneron and Sanofi's Kevzara approved by FDA for polymyalgia rheumatica - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) and Sanofi (SNY) "announced that the FDA has approved Kevzara, or sarilumab, for the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica, an inflammatory rheumatic disease, in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or who cannot tolerate corticosteroid taper. The FDA evaluated the Kevzara application for PMR under Priority Review, which is granted to therapies that have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of serious conditions. Kevzara was previously approved for the treatment of moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more disease-modifying antirhermatic drugs. The FDA approval for this additional indication for Kevzara is based on results from the SAPHYR Phase 3 randomized clinical trial in patients with steroid-resistant active PMR, who flared on greater than or equal to7.5 mg/day prednisone or equivalent during taper. In the trial, patients were randomized to receive either Kevzara 200 mg every two weeks along with a 14-week taper of CS or placebo every two weeks along with a 52-week CS taper. At 52 weeks, the trial met its primary endpoint with 28% of Kevzara-treated patients achieving sustained remission compared to 10% for placebo. Sustained remission was defined as being in disease remission by week 12, absence of disease flare, C-reactive protein normalization from weeks 12 to 52, and adherence to the CS taper protocol from weeks 12 to 52."

19:27 EST PubMatic sees FY23 adjusted EBITDA margin at 30% or more - Sees FY23 free cash flow "similar to 2022" and CapEx to be in the range of $13M - $16M, a decrease of more than 50% over 2022.

19:23 EST Clean Energy sees FY23 adjusted EBITDA $50M-$60M vs. $50M in FY22

18:34 EST Chevron CEO: We're investing to grow and growing faster than the market - In an interview on CNBC's Mad Money, Mike Wirth said Chevron is buying back shares consistent with its track record. It will continue to buy back shares through oil cycles. The company intends to lead in both traditional and new energy, he noted. "We need to work towards an orderly transition that doesn't create chaos."

18:25 EST Cigna CEO sells $5.92M in common stock - In a regulatory filing, Cigna disclosed that its CEO David Cordani sold 20.1K shares of common stock on February 27th in a total transaction size of $5.92M.

18:23 EST Dutch Bros CEO: There wasn't anything significantly off in Q4 - In an interview on CNBC's Mad Money, Joth Ricci said the cold drink trend continues. 83% of the drinks that Dutch Bros sold in 2022 were cold. All indicators are great for the company, he noted. The number one reason people don't visit is due to long lines, he added. Dutch Bros is investing in labor, employment, and managing volume across all its markets, with plans to expand in 2023.

18:17 EST Urban Outfitters says Q1 revenue growth could be 'similar to Q4' - CFO Melanie Marein-Efron states: "We are pleased that overall consumer demand has remained strong to start the quarter, and we believe this strength will continue throughout the first quarter. Right now, we believe that first quarter total company sales growth could be similar to Q4. Sales growth in Q1 could result from a doubling of Nuuly segment year and Retail segment comp sales growing low single digit. Our growth in the Retail segment and Nuuly segments is likely to be partially offset by sales decline in our Wholesale segment. Additionally, similar to the fourth quarter, we believe that foreign exchange could negatively impact total sales growth by approximately 100 basis points. Based on current sales performance and plan, we believe our gross profit margins for Q1 could improve by approximately 100bps vs. Q1 of FY23." Comments taken from Q4 earnings conference call.

18:00 EST MiMedx sees continued growth in wound and surgical end markets in 2023 - The Company's goal is to deliver net sales percentage growth in the low double-digits annually. In 2023, the Company expects to see continued growth in both the wound and surgical end markets throughout the year, particularly in the hospital and wound care clinic sites-of-service, as well as a modest contribution from sales generated in Japan. However, in light of the ongoing uncertainty around potential changes to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reimbursement in the private physician office setting, the Company anticipates a continued challenging environment in this site-of-service during the year. As previously communicated, the Company has goals to achieve a Wound & Surgical segment contribution margin at or above 30% of segment net sales and corporate expenses as a percentage of sales below 20%.

17:58 EST BorgWarner VP Wingfield sold 16,000 shares of company stock - VP of BorgWarner Tania Wingfield disclosed in a regulatory filing that she had sold 16,000 shares of company stock at $50.30 per share on February 27, for a total transaction amount of $804,808.

17:55 EST Reata Pharmaceuticals trading resumes

17:27 EST Lockheed Martin awarded $1134.43M Missile Defense Agency contract modification - Lockheed Martin was awarded a $113.43M modification to previously awarded contract under Foreign Military Sales, or FMS, Case JA-P-NCO. Under this modification, the contractor will purchase specialized transportation containers; and continue performance on development, program management, engineering, logistics, and radar integration. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey. This modification includes cost-plus-incentive-fee and firm-fixed-price contract line items. The total value of the contract is increased from $555.19M to $668.62M. The period of performance for this action is from March 1 through December 31. Case JA-P-NCO funds in the amount of approximately $106.57M are being obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity.

17:24 EST Raytheon Technologies awarded $219.87M Army contract modification - Raytheon was awarded a $219.87M modification to a contract for the production of 155 mm Excalibur Increment Ib projectiles. Work has an estimated completion date of April 29, 2024. FY23 Foreign Military Sales funds and fiscal FY23 ammunition procurement, Army funds in the amount of $219.87M were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command is the contracting activity.

17:19 EST Bain Capital Specialty Finance increases dividend 6% to 38c - Bain Capital Specialty Finance has declared a dividend of 38 per share for the Q1. Michael Ewald, CEO, said, "For the second consecutive quarter, we are raising our regular quarterly dividend by 6% to 38c per share which represents a 9% annualized yield on book value, reflecting our view of the Company's higher earnings power."

17:08 EST Aravive receives orphan drug designation for batiraxcept from FDA - Aravive announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation, or ODD, to batiraxcept for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer, or PDAC.

17:05 EST Smart Sand repurchases 5.18M shares from Clearlake Capital Partners for $8.85M - Smart Sand announced that it has repurchased 5.18M shares of the company's common stock from Clearlake Capital Partners II, an affiliate of Clearlake Capital Group, for approximately $8.85M, of which $4.42M was paid in cash and the remainder was financed through an unsecured promissory note issued to Clearlake. The promissory note will mature on December 15. The Shares represent all of the common stock owned by Clearlake and approximately 11.3% of the outstanding shares of the company's common stock immediately prior to the purchase.

17:02 EST Jackson Financial announces $450M increase to share buyback

17:01 EST Lumos completes patient enrollment in OraGrowtH studies for idiopathic PGHD - Lumos Pharma announced that the last subjects have been enrolled and randomized in the Company's OraGrowtH210 and OraGrowtH212 trials evaluating LUM-201 for the treatment of moderate idiopathic PGHD. The Company now expects data on 82 subjects in the OraGrowtH210 Trial and 22 subjects in the PK/PD OraGrowtH212 Trial. "We are very pleased to have reached these important milestones, which will allow us to complete our OraGrowtH trials and announce top line results in the fourth quarter of 2023," said Rick Hawkins, Chairman and CEO of Lumos Pharma. "The interim data we announced in November showed that in the 1.6 mg/kg/day LUM-201 arm in the OraGrowtH210 study, mean annualized height velocity of 8.6 cm/yr was observed, in line with 8.3 - 8.6 cm/yr expected based on growth on rhGH for moderate PGHD subjects consistently observed in multiple large datasets. We look forward to building on these initial data, reporting primary outcome results, and continuing to advance our clinical program and planning for our pivotal Phase 3 trial for potentially the first oral therapeutic for PGHD."

16:53 EST OneSpan raises long-term revenue CAGR view to 12%-14% from 10%-12% - The company also guides: "ARR to grow at a 20% or higher CAGR through 2025, consistent with our previous target; NRR to exceed 120% exiting 2025, consistent with our previous target; Gross profit margin to exceed 70% in 2025, as compared to our previous target of approximately 70%; Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of 10% - 12% in 2025, as compared to our previous target of 8% - 10%."

16:47 EST MGM Resorts, BetMGM launch 'MGM Riches' - MGM Resorts International (MGM) and BetMGM have launched MGM Riches, the companies' first custom slot experience that can be played both online via BetMGM and as a traditional slot game at MGM Resorts properties throughout the U.S. Developed in collaboration with Everi Holdings (EVRI), MGM Riches is a multi-denomination, multi-level progressive slot game offering players two themes - 'MGM Riches Triple Ruby' and 'MGM Riches 5x Sapphire.' Gameplay is consistent whether in-person at 15 MGM Resorts destinations across the country or online via BetMGM's iCasino platform in Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The game is scheduled to launch in West Virginia in the near future.

16:44 EST Rocket Lab signs multi-launch deal to deploy satellite constellation - Rocket Lab USA "announced it has secured a multi-launch deal for a rapid succession of four Electron missions for Capella Space, an American space tech company and the world's leading provider of commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. Scheduled for launch beginning in the second half of 2023, each Electron mission will deploy a single SAR Earth-imaging Acadia satellite, a new generation satellite designed, manufactured, and operated by Capella Space, to low Earth orbit. These missions, scheduled to launch in quick succession, will follow an existing launch on the Rocket Lab manifest for Capella Space, the "Stronger Together" mission which is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 2 in Wallops, Virginia in March 2023. Capella Space is a returning customer to Electron, with Rocket Lab having launched a dedicated mission for the SAR company in August 2020."

16:43 EST Rocket Lab plans two launches from U.S. and New Zealand - Rocket Lab (RKLB) "announced it is preparing to launch two dedicated missions in March from the Company's launch sites in the United States and New Zealand - within days of each other. One Electron rocket is ready and in position at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand to deploy satellites for Spaceflight Inc. customer BlackSky (BKSY), a real-time geospatial intelligence company. Meanwhile, a second rocket is simultaneously undergoing final launch preparations at Launch Complex 2 in Virginia to deploy satellites for American space tech company Capella Space, the world's leading provider of commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery. Both launches are scheduled to take place in March with the launch windows to be finalized based on individual customer and range requirements; however, both missions are expected to launch within days of each other. Capella Space's two satellites have been integrated to Electron at Launch Complex 2 and are ready for launch, while BlackSky's two satellites are undergoing final check outs before integration to Electron at Launch Complex 1. Rocket Lab has also completed a Wet Dress Rehearsal at Launch Complex 2 and the mission is now awaiting range clearances from NASA and the FAA to proceed with launch. Meanwhile, Launch Complex 1's Wet Dress Rehearsal is scheduled to take place in the coming days."

16:38 EST Fuel Tech awarded air pollution orders totaling $5.2M - Fuel Tech "announced the receipt of multiple air pollution control (APC) contracts from new and existing customers in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. These awards support projects serving various end markets, and have an aggregate value of approximately $5.2 million."

16:37 EST ArcBest to sell FleetNet America to Cox Enterprises - ArcBest has reached an agreement, following a process that began in early 2022, to sell FleetNet America, a provider of fleet maintenance and repair services, to Cox Automotive Mobility Solutions, a division of Cox Enterprises. The sale is effective February 28. Terms of the transaction include a cash payment at closing of $100M, subject to certain tax and other customary adjustments, customary representations and warranties of the seller, FleetNet and Cox Enterprises. On a preliminary basis, ArcBest expects to receive proceeds, net of tax and transaction expenses, of approximately $75M and to record an estimated after-tax gain of approximately $50M on this transaction. In addition, ArcBest announced that its board of directors has increased the total amount available under the company's common stock repurchase program to $125M. Stephens acted as financial advisor to ArcBest for the transaction. Vinson & Elkins acted as legal advisor to ArcBest. BakerHostetler acted as legal advisor to Cox Automotive.

16:35 EST SIFCO Industries discloses non-compliance notice from NYSE - SIFCO Industries received a notice on February 22, 2023 from the NYSE American LLC indicating that, due to the delay in the filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2022, the Company is not in compliance with the continued listing standards of the NYSE American, and is subject to the procedures and requirements set forth in Section 1007 of the NYSE American Company Guide. Under the applicable provisions of the NYSE American Company Guide, until SIFCO files its Form 10-Q, its common stock will remain listed on the NYSE American under the symbol "SIF," but will be assigned an ".LF" indicator to indicate late filing status. Five business days following the receipt of this noncompliance notice, SIFCO will be added to the list of NYSE American noncompliant issuers on the website and the indicator will be disseminated with the Company's ticker symbol. The indicator will be removed once the Company has regained compliance with all applicable listing standards.

16:28 EST AMC Entertainment says 'recovery will continue apace' in 2023 - The company said, "But the real story is that in 2022, AMC Entertainment continued on a multi-year glide path to recovery. AMC's full-year 2022 results represented our strongest year since pre-pandemic 2019, with 2022 results improving over 2021, which in turn were better than those of 2020. Indeed, in full year 2022, AMC saw our annual revenue increase by more than 54% year-over-year and Adjusted EBITDA improved in a single year by more than $338 million versus 2021. We expect the recovery will continue apace in 2023, as Hollywood is expected to release approximately 75% more major movie titles than it did in 2022."

16:25 EST Rocket Lab establishes Australian subsidiary - Rocket Lab USA announced it has established a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Rocket Lab Australia, to explore opportunities to support the expansion of Australia's national space capabilities. "Australia has an accomplished history in the space sector having developed strong capabilities in Earth observation, space tracking and satellite operations. Coupled with Australia's renewed focus on industrial capability and advanced manufacturing, the industry is now poised for an era of rapid expansion driven by new technology, a growing demand for space enabled data, private investment, and a significantly increased funding commitment from the Australian Government," said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck.

16:24 EST Health Catalyst announces partnership with Bryan Health - Health Catalyst announced an expansive, multi-year partnership with Bryan Health, an award-winning Nebraska-based health system. Bryan Health is renowned for providing both community and highly complex care at its medical centers in Eastern and central Nebraska. Bryan Health meets the diverse needs of Nebraskans with over 700 physicians across the state - Bryan Heart, Bryan Physician Network, Bryan Telemedicine, Bryan Foundation, Bryan College of Health Sciences, and Bryan Health Connect - Bryan's Physician-Hospital Organization, or PHO.

16:23 EST Everi Holdings begins construction of new facility in Las Vegas - Everi Holdings announced that it has begun construction of a new facility that upon completion will consolidate the manufacturing, assembly and distribution of its gaming machines currently done in Austin, TX with its self-service fully integrated cash access kiosks, loyalty kiosks and other FinTech products currently assembled in Las Vegas. The new Las Vegas facility, which will adhere to high levels of environmental and sustainable stewardship during construction and operation, is expected to streamline production and simplify supply chain processes and the distribution of completed products to customers. The Company currently expects it will record approximately $4.5M of expense in 2023 related to planned closure and exit costs, relocation, employee retention, and other associated costs for transition of production to the new facility. The new 182,500-square foot leased facility is located in Las Vegas, the epicenter of the U.S. Gaming industry. In addition to production, receiving and shipping, the new facility will include space to co-locate lab facilities for both Games and FinTech businesses, house service and customer installation teams and administrative staff, and have room for future expansion to accommodate expected growth in the business. The building is expected to be completed in October 2023 and is being built to Everi's specifications to encompass high levels of environmental sustainability and create an employee-friendly working environment. The facility is anticipated to meet the certification level of 3 Green Globes science-based rating system established in accordance with the Green Building Initiative

16:20 EST Inter Parfums board raises annual cash dividend rate 25% to $2.50 per share - Inter Parfums also announced that its Board of Directors approved a 25% increase in the Company's annual cash dividend rate to $2.50 per share, payable quarterly. MAtwood noted, "The 25% increase in our dividend rate further demonstrates the confidence our Board has in the prospects for our business for both the near and longer term. Our strong financial position enables us to invest in growth opportunities within our portfolio and enlarge our brand portfolio, while continuing to reward our shareholders." The next cash dividend of $0.625 per share will be paid on March 31, 2023 to shareholders of record on March 15, 2023.

16:19 EST Regenxbio expects available cash and equivalents to fund operations into 2025 - REGENXBIO expects its balance in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $565.2M as of December 31, 2022 to fund its operations into 2025. This cash runway guidance is based on the Company's current operational plans and excludes the impact of any payments that may be received from AbbVie upon the achievement of development or commercial milestones under our RGX-314 collaboration.

16:18 EST Verisk Analytics board approved 9.7% increase in quarterly dividend to 34c - Verisk said that on February 14, its Board of Directors approved a 9.7% increase in our cash dividend to 34 cents per share payable on March 31, 2023.

16:16 EST Rivian Automotive down 6% following quarterly report - Rivian shares are down $1.16, or 6%, to $18.14 in after-hours trading.

16:15 EST Rivian Automotive sees 50,000 vehicles produced in 2023 - Rivian said: "During 2023, our gross margin is expected to remain negative, but we anticipate improving on a dollar basis for the year as production volumes in the factory increase, and we make progress on our commercial, engineering, and operational cost down efforts. For 2023, total operating expenses are expected to modestly increase as compared to 2022. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $(4,300) million in 2023. We continue to rationalize our capital expenditures due to a greater focus on our core business. Capital expenditures in 2023 are expected to be $2,000 million, driven by additional investment in our Normal factory, next generation technologies, our Georgia facility, and go-to-market operations... As previously stated, we have scheduled downtime in production this year to enhance our products and production process. During the first quarter of 2023, we have intentionally slowed the commercial van production line for the implementation of our Enduro motor system and LFP battery packs. These technologies are expected to provide significant performance and cost advantages. We expect the ramp of our second shift for the R1 line to continue to progress through the first quarter of 2023. During the fourth quarter of 2023, we intend to take both the R1 and RCV line down for a limited time to prepare for the integration of vehicle technologies we plan to implement in 2024. We believe the supply chain will continue to be the main limiting factor of our Normal facility output. Our team continues to work on the introduction of new engineering design changes and key technologies which will take effect during the second half of 2023 to help mitigate anticipated supply chain constraints."

16:10 EST Fulgent Genetics launches new Beacon787 expanded carrier screening panel - Fulgent Genetics "announced the immediate availability of their new Beacon787 expanded carrier screening panel. Beacon787 will include a total of 787 genes associated with autosomal recessive and X-linked conditions. Included in this panel are all of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) tier 3 genes, which ACMG published in their latest practice guideline for carrier screening, recommending that all pregnant patients and those planning a pregnancy be offered this set of genes as an equitable, pan-ethnic screening approach. The ACMG list includes genes with carrier frequency of greater than1/200 for autosomal recessive conditions and disease prevalence of greater than1/40,000 for X-linked conditions. Leveraging Fulgent's proprietary platform and informatics, Beacon frequently excels as it relates to analytical detection rates, ability to discern pseudogenes, and reliable copy number calls."

16:09 EST Omnicell announces CFO Kuipers to step down - Omnicell announced that Peter Kuipers will step down from his role as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, effective July 1, 2023. Pending his departure, Kuipers will continue to serve as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer while the Company searches for a new Chief Financial Officer and will assist with the transition of his role and responsibilities. The Company has commenced a national search for his successor, and Peter will help to assist in a smooth transition.

16:05 EST Schrodinger sees FY23 software revenue growth 13%-17% - Drug discovery revenue is expected to range from $70 million to $90 million; Software gross margin is expected to be similar to software gross margin for the full year 2022; Operating expense growth in 2023 is expected to be significantly lower than operating expense growth in 2022 and to be similar to revenue growth in 2023; Cash used for operating activities in 2023 is expected to be below cash used for operating activities in 2022

15:55 EST Microsoft debuts new AI-powered Bing to Windows 11 taskbar - Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer at Microsoft, said partly in a blog post earlier: " Today's major update to Windows 11, that I am pumped to introduce, meets this new age of AI and reinvents and improves the way people get things done on their PCs. Launched just over a year ago, Windows 11 gave the PC a modern refresh and all new experiences that enable each of us to connect, participate, and be seen and heard. Since the launch, Windows 11 users continue to be more engaged than Windows 10 users and our US consumer customer satisfaction is higher than any version of Windows ever. In the last three weeks, we also launched the new AI-powered Bing into preview for more than 1 million people in 169 countries, and expanded the new Bing to the Bing and Edge mobile apps as well as introduced it into Skype. It is a new era in Search, Chat and Creation and with the new Bing and Edge you now have your own copilot for the web... We take the next major step forward adding to the incredible breadth and ease of use of the Windows PC by implementing a typable Windows search box and the amazing capability of the new AI-powered Bing directly into the taskbar. Putting all your search needs for Windows in one easy to find location.We're also excited to introduce a host of new features from across the team that will make your everyday easier on Windows 11. For example, you will be able to link your iPhone(R) mobile device directly to your Windows 11 PC using a new preview of Phone Link for iOS..." Reference Link

15:31 EST Lionheart III Corp trading resumes

15:25 EST Luminar off earlier highs, goes red after Q4 business update at 'Luminar Day' - A page posted to the corporate website, which was subsequently pulled down, indicates the company reports Q4 revenue of $11.1M and Q4 non-GAAP EPS of (26c). Consensus for Q4 revenue and EPS were $12.52M and (21c), respectively.

15:08 EST Globalstar spikes 10% after disclosing $252M loan from Apple - In an 8k filing, out earlier on Tuesday February 28, Globalstar (GSAT) said it and Apple (AAPL) , its partner in Emergency SOS via satellite services, agreed to amend its previously disclosed Partnership Agreements to provide for, among other things, the Partner's prepayment of $252M to the Company . The Company plans to use the proceeds of the Prepayment to pay amounts currently due and payable, and future amounts due, under its previously disclosed Satellite Procurement Agreement with Macdonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation, as well as launch, insurance and ancillary costs incurred in connection with the construction and launch of these satellites. The Prepayment replaces the Company's requirement to raise third-party financing for such costs as previously required under the Partnership Agreements and will be funded on a quarterly basis, subject to certain conditions in the agreement. The remaining amount of the satellite costs is expected to be funded from Globalstar's operating cash flows. The Fly notes that in early November last year, Apple said that a majority of funding for its $450M investment from Apple's Advanced Manufacturing Fund provides the critical infrastructure that supports Emergency SOS via satellite for iPhone 14 models goes to Globalstar, a global satellite service headquartered in Covington, Louisiana. "Apple's investment provides critical enhancements to Globalstar's satellite network and ground stations, ensuring iPhone 14 users are able to connect to emergency services when off the grid." Shares of Globalstar are currently up 9.5% or 11c per share to $1.27 per share.

14:03 EST Arconic jumps 10% to $24.29 after WSJ report of Apollo buyout talks

13:34 EST Luminar unveils new Iris+ sensor, announces Luminar AI Engine - Luminar announced it is hosting "Luminar Day" at its headquarters and via live webcast, during which the company said it is announcing "a flurry of news, which includes the reveal of its new Iris+ sensor and associated software, which Mercedes-Benz is integrating into its next generation vehicle lineup." Luminar is also "unveiling its product roadmap, several new exclusive commercial agreements, the acquisition of Seagate's lidar-related assets, Luminar Semiconductor subsidiary, and a new insurance initiative in partnership with Swiss Re to reduce insurance cost for vehicles equipped with Luminar," the company stated in a press release. Reference Link

13:28 EST SolarWinds, HCLSoftware expand partnership for 5G network observability platform - HCLSoftware and SolarWinds are expanding their partnership announced in October 2022 to build an end-to-end 5G network observability platform from Cloud to RAN. This joint AI-based solution combines HCLSoftware's Augmented Network Automation platform, HCL DRYiCE iObserve powered by SolarWinds, and other HCLSoftware telecom products with the SolarWinds observability, monitoring, and service management platform to provide a Cloud to RAN5G telecommunications observability platform for mobile network operators.

13:01 EST Citi, Walmart introduce the Bridge built by Citi platform to Walmart suppliers - Walmart (WMT) and Citi (C) are collaborating to introduce the Bridge built by Citi platform to Walmart's 10,000 small- and medium-sized businesses in their US-based supplier network. Bridge is a digital platform that connects SMBs with a diverse group of more than 70 lenders that provide qualifying businesses with loans of up to $10M, the companies said. They added: "Through a single loan request form, Walmart suppliers can interact with a broad group of lenders located across the United States. Once a request is submitted, the platform seamlessly connects suppliers with multiple potential lenders that can evaluate their requests. This provides for a more efficient loan process for both the suppliers and lenders and empowers suppliers by offering them greater choice, convenience, and access to capital. It also provides lenders with the potential to expand their reach beyond their immediate local market and diversify their lending businesses. In preparation for this launch, the platform's lender base has grown from 18 banks in 2021 to more than 70 lenders nationwide currently on the platform."

12:23 EST Marathon Digital cancels conference call, postpones Q4, 2022 results - Marathon Digital Holding has cancelled its webcast and conference call for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2022, initially scheduled for February 28, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, and will postpone the publication of its corresponding financial results. For further information, please review the Company's Form NT 10-K filed with the SEC. The Company intends to provide additional updates at an appropriate time in the future.

12:12 EST H3X Technologies announces completion of Lockheed Martin Ventures investment - H3X Technologies announced the completion of an investment by Lockheed Martin Ventures, the venture arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company. H3X designs and manufactures advanced electric motors to enable sustainable aviation and other high-performance applications. This latest funding brings the total raised by H3X to $9M. The investment will be used to accelerate technology development and commercialization of H3X's HPDM family of integrated motor drives and the scale-up of their new headquarters facility in Louisville, Colorado for production. "At H3X, we are building integrated motor drives from 30kW to 3MW that are unparalleled in performance in terms of specific power and efficiency," according to Jason Sylvestre, Co-Founder and CEO of H3X. "We are thrilled to have support from Lockheed Martin and are excited for the opportunity to work together and collaborate on next-generation defense technology using our motors."

12:00 EST Owens & Minor falls -19.1% - Owens & Minor is down -19.1%, or -$3.74 to $15.87.

12:00 EST Hyster-Yale Materials rises 20.2% - Hyster-Yale Materials is up 20.2%, or $6.51 to $38.76.

12:00 EST Chico's rises 22.2% - Chico's is up 22.2%, or $1.10 to $6.05.

11:48 EST Marathon Digital reports receipt of letter from Corporation Finance Staff of SEC - In a regulatory filing, Marathon Digital Holdings disclosed that on February 22, the company received a comment letter from the Corporation Finance Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to, among other things, certain accounting matters as described further below. "On February 27, 2023, the Company's Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, after consultation with Marcum LLP, the Company's independent auditor, concluded that due to certain accounting errors, as described below, the previously issued audited consolidated financial statements contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and the previously issued unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the interim periods in 2022 and 2021 as contained in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2022, June 30, 2021 and 2022 and September 30, 2021 and 2022 should no longer be relied upon. Similarly, related earnings releases and other financial communications for these periods should no longer be relied upon. The Company intends to correct the errors and will be restating the Impacted Financial Statements. Management and the Audit Committee have discussed these matters with Marcum LLP. As a result of receiving the SEC comments on February 22, 2023 and the Audit Committee's determination to restate the Impacted Financial Statements, the Company is unable to complete and file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 ("2022 Form 10-K") and to make the required corrections to its financials and accompanying disclosures for the Impacted Financial Statements by the filing deadline for the Company's 2022 Form 10-K of March 1, 2023. The Company expects to file a Form 12b-25 with the SEC indicating that the Company intends to file its 2022 Form 10-K on or before the fifteenth calendar day following the prescribed due date," the filing stated.

11:43 EST Goldman Sachs CEO feels good about performance in 2022 - Solomon says Goldman is focused more on executing for now.

11:37 EST American Water acquires Stewartsville water and wastewater systems in Missouri - Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, announced the company's recent acquisition of the Stewartsville water and wastewater systems. "Located approximately 20 miles east of St. Joseph, Missouri, the acquisition adds approximately 700 total customers to the company's northwestern service area... In November 2021, 90% of the voters approved a ballot measure selecting Missouri American Water as their trusted provider of water and wastewater service," the company said.

11:02 EST Decarbonization Plus Acqustn Corpn IV trading resumes

10:42 EST Sarissa Capital announces proxy contest win against Amarin - Sarissa Capital Management issued the following statement regarding Amarin: "Amarin shareholders have sent a loud and clear message repudiating the incumbent Amarin board. Sarissa thanks fellow shareholders for their support in a resounding victory against the Amarin board. Our estimate is that up to nearly 80% of shareholder votes were in support of Sarissa. As Amarin's largest shareholder, we are grateful for the opportunity to remake Amarin for the benefit of all shareholders. Vascepa, the foundation on which Amarin is built, is a tremendous drug that is compelling for patients and payors - a unique proposition for a drug. While there is a lot of work to be done, we remain confident in our ability to leverage Vascepa's rare and highly beneficial profile to unlock tremendous value for all shareholders."

10:25 EST S&T Bank eliminates non-sufficient funds fee - S&T Bank will no longer charge consumer and business deposit account customers non-sufficient funds fees beginning April 3, 2023. An NSF fee, sometimes referred to as a returned item fee, was previously chargewhen a check, recurring debit card payment or automatic payment was presented against a customer's account with insufficient funds available and was returned by the bank unpaid. S&T also introduces S&T $10 Cushion, a new overdraft assistance benefit. With the launch of S&T $10 Cushion, if a customer's account is overdrawn by $10 or less after nightly processing, an overdraft fee will not be charged. In addition to these changes, S&T announced it will eliminate ACH return item fees, deposited return item fees and transfer fees when money is moved from a savings account or line of credit to cover transactions that overdraw an account.

10:05 EST Marriott signs agreement with Grimit to bring Ritz-Carlton brand to Italy - Marriott International signed an agreement with Grimit S.r.l. to bring The Ritz-Carlton brand to Italy. Through a significant conversion of the former Hotel Grande Bretagne in Bellagio, the brand will bring its service and aesthetic to Lake Como, one of Italy's most coveted destinations. Expected to open in 2026, the waterfront property is slated to offer 59 guestrooms and 46 suites.

10:00 EST Emergent BioSolutions falls -11.4% - Emergent BioSolutions is down -11.4%, or -$1.59 to $12.41.

10:00 EST Owens & Minor falls -16.3% - Owens & Minor is down -16.3%, or -$3.20 to $16.41.

10:00 EST Rayonier Advanced Materials rises 15.7% - Rayonier Advanced Materials is up 15.7%, or $1.05 to $7.78.

09:57 EST Verde Clean Fuels Inc trading resumes

09:51 EST Splash Beverage reaches agreement with three distributors for SALT Tequila - Splash Beverage Group reached agreements with three new distributors who will give SALT Tequila wide coverage in the majority of the counties in New York, not including New York City, Try-It Distributing, A. L. George Distributing & Saratoga Eagle Sales & Service.

09:47 EST Ameresco falls -8.3% - Ameresco is down -8.3%, or -$4.30 to $47.50.

09:47 EST Owens & Minor falls -19.8% - Owens & Minor is down -19.8%, or -$3.89 to $15.72.

09:47 EST Hims & Hers rises 11.3% - Hims & Hers is up 11.3%, or $1.09 to $10.74.

09:46 EST LUNR Stock trading resumes

09:36 EST LUNR Stock trading halted, volatility trading pause

09:28 EST Cinedigm acquires faith & family streaming properties Dove.org, Christian Cinema - Cinedigm acquired movie review and ratings service Dove.org and faith-based streaming platform Christian Cinema from Giving Company. These two brands will be combined with Cinedigm's existing streaming service the Dove Channel, providing a single-stop solution for faith and family entertainment across subscription, advertising, commerce, editorial and podcasts. Founded in 1991, Dove.org's mission is "to encourage and promote the creation, production, distribution and consumption of wholesome family entertainment." Today the organization publishes reviews, news, podcasts and rates films, TV shows, video games, online content and more through its website, email newsletters and social channels to help families make informed media choices. Cinedigm and Dove.org first partnered in 2015 to launch the family-focused Dove Channel, and Cinedigm will now operate both services by integrating them together in order to super-serve consumers seeking safe, family-friendly content. Christian Cinema is a transactional video-on-demand service for faith-based films, offering the ability to buy or rent movies with Christian values via ChristianCinema.com as well as app platforms such as Apple TV, iOS, Android, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, and Amazon Fire tablets.

09:20 EST Cassava Sciences announces 2023 scientific goals - The company said, "In Q2 2023, we expect to complete patient dosing for our on-going Cognition Maintenance Study, in which over 100 patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease are randomized to simufilam or placebo for six months. In Q3 2023, we expect to announce top-line results of the Cognition Maintenance Study.In Q4 2023, we expect to complete patient enrollment for both of our Phase 3 studies. Mid-year 2023, we expect an independent, third party to present evidential data for the biological activity of simufilam outside the field of neurodegeneration. Mid-year 2023, we expect an independent, third party to generate new data for SavaDx using mass spectrometry."

09:16 EST Volcon enters collaboration with BFGoodrich Tires - Volcon announced today a collaboration with BFGoodrich Tires for Volcon's off-road racing program. Volcon and BFGoodrich will showcase their racing vehicle at the BFGoodrich sponsored Mint 400 on March 8, 2023, and through the weekend.

09:08 EST Celanese announces Hytrel price increases - Celanese announced price increases for Hytrel TPC resins by 0.45 EUR/kg in the EMEA region and by 0.5 USD/kg in Asia Pacific and the Americas. These price increases will be effective on March 15, or as contracts otherwise allow. Additionally, individual grades may be subject to higher increases than specified herein.

09:08 EST Flowserve, Clariter enter agreement to reduce plastic waste - Flowserve and Clariter announced that the companies have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to advance production of Clariter's high-quality, green petrochemicals made from plastic waste. As part of this long-term collaboration agreement, Flowserve will contribute its flow-control expertise, optimum equipment sizing, and commissioning support for the scale-up of Clariter's commercial production plants. Through this partnership, Flowserve will be the single-source supplier of all pumps, valves, seals, and RedRaven products for Clariter's first four commercial-scale chemical recycling facilities. Additionally, Clariter will continue to source parts and aftermarket services from Flowserve once construction of the plants has been completed. The companies are also committed to developing new, sustainable formulations for the lubrication of pumps and valves, to be made from recycled plastic waste.

09:07 EST PowerFleet selected by Kearney for next-generation maintenance, safety - The Kearney Companies has deployed Powerfleet's SaaS-based fleet intelligence platform, Unity. Combined with Powerfleet's telematics devices and dash cam solutions, Kearney has a powerful, agnostic system to ingest, process and enrich data from every vehicle and asset. "Powerfleet's intelligent solution complements our approach to offering the highest quality of work to our customers and helps our employees efficiently and safely do their job," said Tom Spangler, Chief Financial Officer at The Kearney Companies. "The ability to rapidly make sense of a myriad of data, supported with Powerfleet's intuitive and dynamic interface, intrigued us. Furthermore, implementation across our various sites and depots went seamlessly. We're working with a true partner - one that puts us and our customers' needs first."

09:05 EST STMicroelectronics earns USB-IF certification - STMicroelectronics has achieved USB-IF certification of two ICs for use in adapter and device sides of a USB Power Delivery EPR1 power supply/charger product. The new ICs extend the range of a universal charger to 140W. Now, a single AC to DC adapter can charge equipment such as computers, smart-home actuators, power tools, and e-bikes, as well as traditional applications including smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches.

09:04 EST Microbot meeting with potential strategic, commercial partners at SIR meeting - Microbot Medical announced that Harel Gadot, Chairman, CEO and President, Dr. Eyal Morag, Chief Medical Officer, and other leaders from the business team, will be attending the upcoming Society of Interventional Radiologist annual meeting. The Company is meeting with potential strategic and commercial partners as well as leading interventional radiologists, looking to further expand its network of Key Opinion Leaders while also sharing the progress of the LIBERTY Robotic System as it gets closer to commercialization.

09:03 EST Kohl's appoints Dave Alves COO - Kohl's announced that 30-year retail veteran Dave Alves has been named Kohl's president and COO, reporting to CEO Tom Kingsbury, effective in April. In this role, Alves will be responsible for Kohl's enterprise operations including its nearly 1,200 stores, global supply chain and distribution centers, real estate portfolio, purchasing, sustainability, risk management & compliance functions.

09:01 EST RCI Hospitality increases quarterly cash dividend 20% to 6c per share - RCI Hospitality has increased its quarterly cash dividend by 20%, to 6c per share from 5c, for Q2. The 2Q23 dividend is payable March 29 to holders of record March 15, with an ex-dividend date of March 14.

08:57 EST Hyperfine receives FDA 510(k) clearance for Swoop system software update - Hyperfine announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance of the latest update of its Swoop system software. This updated software, which significantly improves diffusion-weighted imaging, highlights the company's commitment to continuously improving image quality. In this clearance, Hyperfine, Inc. achieved a significant 42% increase in the signal-to-noise ratio for the DWI sequence compared to the previous software version. This increase in SNR, coupled with more robust compensation for subtle patient motion, yields substantially improved image quality for the DWI sequence. The updated software also provides enhanced image uniformity for all sequences.The updated Swoop system software is expected to roll out to customers in March 2023.

08:54 EST Aclara Resources provides exploration results for potential second module - Aclara Resources announced drilling results completed over Veronica Norte located 45 km from Concepcion, Chile. The Project corresponds to a new target area approximately 45 kms south of the Penco Module Project. Approximately 2,905 meters from 125 sonic drill holes were completed in the Project in the second half of 2022 as part of an initial drilling campaign covering 982 hectares of total target of 5,055 Ha. The purpose of this initial drilling campaign was to confirm the depth extension of the positive results obtained from surface geological reconnaissance and geochemical sampling and to test the lateral extents of the mineralization. The drill hole program: confirmed rare-earth elements mineralization recognized through geological work, including geochemical sampling continued at depth. recognized that the mineralization occurs mainly in the first 15m below surface, with an economic horizon of approximately 7m. confirmed that REE are highly absorbed into ionic clays resulting in a high percentage of REE exchangeable fraction recovery. confirmed attractive recoverable values of the heavy rare earths Dysprosium and Terbium, as well as the light rare earths, Neodymium and Praseodymium. confirmed that the mineralization remains open on its lateral extents at different topographic levels.

08:52 EST Ensysce Biosciences announces database lock for HAP study of PF614 - Ensysce Biosciences announced the database lock on February 24, 2023 for the oral Human Abuse Potential study of PF614. PF614 is a TAAP product to treat severe pain. With the database lock, no further change to the trial data is permissible such that all clinical trial data is concluded with all subjects' information being complete, accurate, consistent and free from discrepancy. This key study, PF614-104, is being conducted by Dr. Vince Clinical Research. The PF614-104 trial was designed to evaluate the abuse potential, drug liking and pharmacokinetics of oral administration of PF614 versus immediate-release oxycodone HCl in non-dependent, recreational drug users. HAP studies are critical for gaining Abuse Deterrent labeling as outlined by the FDA. Unblinding of the study data began on February 27, 2023 and the Company remains on track to report results by the end of March.

08:51 EST RedHill Biopharma says opaganib selected by NIH RNCP for development - RedHill Biopharma announced that the Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, has selected opaganib for the nuclear medical countermeasures product development pipeline as a potential treatment for Acute Radiation Syndrome. As part of this collaboration, contractors directed and supported by the RNCP will undertake studies, designed in collaboration with RedHill, to test opaganib in established ARS models. In an ARS setting, opaganib is thought to exert its protective effects via an anti-inflammatory mechanism of action involving ceramide elevation and reduction of sphingosine 1-phosphate in human cells. The molecule is believed to reduce inflammatory damage to normal tissue and thus suppress toxicity from unintended ionizing radiation exposure and promote viability and robustness of hematopoietic stem cells. A recent publication in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, entitled "Opaganib Protects against Radiation Toxicity: Implications for Homeland Security and Antitumor Radiotherapy" describes the collective results of eight U.S. Government-funded in vivo studies by RedHill and Apogee Biotechnology Corporation, as well as additional experiments, establishing opaganib's potential radiation protection capabilities. In the relevant study models, opaganib was associated with protection of normal tissue, including the gastrointestinal tract, from damage due to ionizing radiation exposure from total-body exposure or targeted cancer radiotherapy. Additional independent studies demonstrate the role of inhibition of sphingosine kinase-2, the target of opaganib, in radioprotection in bone marrow, with knockout of SPHK2 showing enhanced survival in mice irradiated with lethal models of whole-body radiation. Opaganib, a novel, oral, small molecule pill with a five-year shelf-life, is easy to administer and distribute, supporting potential central government stockpiling for use in mass casualty nuclear radiation incidents, if approved.

08:47 EST Nascent Biotech completes Phase 1 clinical trial for pritumumab - Nascent Biotech has completed and closed its Phase I clinical trial evaluating safety and tolerance for Pritumumab as a treatment for Primary and Metastatic Brain Cancers. Previous announcements shared the end of the enrollment and dosing period of the Phase I trial. Nascent will continue to collect and evaluate the Clinical data from the Phase I trial as it prepares to submit results to the U.S. FDA for Phase II consideration. Completing the Phase I trial is a major milestone and Nascent is excited to move toward finalizing plans for Phase II research. Phase I reinforced the companies' determination and excitement around this unique monoclonal antibody treatment approach and Phase I has shown that it can be given safely at high doses. This is a new pathway toward attacking one of the defining health challenges we face, with longer-term implications that transcend the brain cancer market. We look forward to the opportunity to see our unique R&D platform become a game changer for patients suffering from brain cancer.

08:47 EST AIM ImmunoTech announces Phase 2 study of Ampligen open, recruiting patients - AIM ImmunoTech announced that the AMP-270 Phase 2 study of Ampligen as a therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer, LAPC, has opened its first clinical site and has begun recruiting patients. Thomas Equels, M.S., J.D., Chief Executive Officer of AIM ImmunoTech, commented, "We continue to believe that Ampligen and the AMP-270 study have the potential to establish a much-needed new standard of care for LAPC where there remains a significant unmet need. Our team continues to execute on advancing this important study forward and we are pleased that the first of our sites is open for recruitment. We are working closely with preeminent cancer institutions across the United States and Europe to build momentum toward the commencement of patient enrollment and dosing and look forward to achieving those milestones as soon as possible."

08:44 EST First Solar announces Lightsource bp places multi-year order for 4 GW - First Solar announced that global solar leader, Lightsource bp has placed an order for 4 gigawatts DC of advanced thin film solar modules. The modules, scheduled to be delivered between 2026 and 2028, are expected to power Lightsource bp projects in the United States. This latest deal follows a prior order by Lightsource bp for up to 4.3 GWDC signed in 2021, and places the company on the path to becoming one of the world's largest users of First Solar's ultra-low carbon solar technology. "The US solar industry is at a pivotal moment, poised to expand at an exponential rate with the Inflation Reduction Act serving as the catalyst," said Kevin Smith, chief executive officer, Americas, Lightsource bp. "We are seizing the opportunity by not just growing our 20 GW development pipeline across the United States, but also creating sizeable demand for our US-based partner First Solar, which, in turn, is investing in innovation and manufacturing, and supporting thousands of direct and indirect American jobs." The deal includes orders for First Solar's Series 6 Plus and next-generation Series 7 modules. Designed and developed at its R&D centers in California and Ohio, First Solar's advanced thin film PV modules set industry benchmarks for quality, durability, reliability, design, and environmental performance.

08:43 EST Goldman Sachs CEO: Working hard to raise floor on returns

08:42 EST iCoreConnect continues to expand in Maryland with iCoreRx ePrescription - iCoreConnect announced that the Maryland State Dental Association, MSDA, endorsed its second iCoreConnect product, iCoreRx Electronic Prescription software. In June 2021, MSDA endorsed iCoreConnect's automated insurance verification software, iCoreVerify due to the strong subscriber growth and strengthening relationship. The current timing of the iCoreRx endorsement is critical for its members. As of January 1, 2023, doctors in Maryland are required to send electronic prescriptions for controlled substances. iCoreConnect President and CEO Robert McDermott commented, "The MSDA was an early adopter of iCoreVerify with the endorsement in June 2021. Now, with the mandate for ePrescribing upon them and the fact that iCoreRx resides in the same platform as iCoreVerify, we were an obvious choice. Once again, the market is confirming that our strategy of developing a platform of products that improve workflow automation, efficiency and profitability was the right decision."

08:40 EST ABVC BioPharma provides 2023 pipeline update - ABVC BioPharma provided an update to drug and medical device developments expected in 2023. Major Depressive Disorder: ABVC's MDD medicine, ABV-1504, has successfully completed Phase II at the Stanford University Medical Center and five major medical centers in Taiwan. Later this year, with the help of Dr. Maurizio Fava and Dr. Thomas Laughren, the company expects to conclude discussions with the US FDA on acceptable protocols for Phase III trials for MDD, allowing ABVC to seek potential distribution partners active in manufacturing and distributing Central Nervous System medicines. ADHD: The company's ADHD medicine ABV-1505, is currently in Phase II, part 2, clinical trials at five prestigious medical centers in Taiwan. In addition, in the next several months the part 2 study will begin at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. This study is expected to eventually enroll approximately 100 patients in Taiwan and the United States. Cancer Patient Depression: A Phase I study of ABV-1601 for treating depression in cancer patients is expected to begin in the first Quarter of 2023 at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The Phase I study is open label and will be conducted with 12 cancer patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the safety of PDC-1421, the primary active ingredient in ABV-1601 in cancer patients. Oncology: ABVC has initiated a Phase II trial for ABV-1703 for pancreatic cancer at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center utilizing an herbal active ingredient that showed significant promise during Phase I testing conducted in Japan and at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. While the company's additional oncology medicines have yet to be determined, ABVC anticipates clinical studies for ABV-1519 for non-small cell lung cancer and ABV-1501 for triple negative breast cancer will be initiated in Q3 2023. The clinical study for ABV-1702 for myelodysplastic syndrome is expected to start in Q4 of 2023. Vitargus: Vitargus is the first biodegradable vitreous substitute to facilitate retina reattachment surgery. The company expects to complete the Phase II trial of Vitargus in Thailand, Australia and Taiwan by the end of 2023 which may lead to distribution agreements in Asia by the end of 2023.

08:39 EST Manitou Gold to be acquired by Alamos Gold for C$0.05 per share - MANITOU GOLD announced that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement dated February 28, 2023 pursuant to which Alamos Gold will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Manitou not already owned by Alamos, by plan of arrangement for deemed consideration of C$0.05 per Manitou Share, representing a total transaction value of approximately C$17.2 million. The consideration will be satisfied by the issuance of common shares of Alamos at a deemed price of C$14.18 per Alamos Share, which is based on the 20-day volume weighted price of the Alamos Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange immediately preceding the execution of the Agreement. The Arrangement is non-arm's length as Alamos currently owns 65,211,077 Manitou Shares, representing approximately 19% of the issued and outstanding Manitou Shares. Under the terms of the Arrangement, holders of Manitou Shares will receive, one Alamos Share for every 283.68 Manitou Share held, which represents a 100% premium to the closing price of Manitou Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on February 27, 2023. Manitou intends to convene a special meeting of shareholders to be held in May 2023 to seek shareholder approval for the Arrangement. The transaction will be effected by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under Section 182 of the Business Corporations Act and will require: approval of at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Manitou shareholders at the Meeting; and a simple majority of the votes cast by Manitou shareholders, excluding votes from certain shareholders, including Alamos, as required under Multilateral Instrument 61-101. The completion of the transaction is also subject to the receipt of court, stock exchange and any other required regulatory approvals, and is subject to certain customary closing conditions for transactions of this nature. The Arrangement does not require the approval of the shareholders of Alamos. The directors and senior officers and certain other shareholders of Manitou, holding in aggregate over 16% of the issued and outstanding Manitou Shares, have entered into voting support agreements with Alamos, pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their Manitou Shares in favour of the transaction. Together with Manitou Shares already owned or held by Alamos, in excess of 35% of Manitou's issued and outstanding shares would be voted in support of the Arrangement. The transaction is expected to close in May 2023.

08:38 EST BlueLinx announces expansion of distribution partnership with Louisiana-Pacific - BlueLinx (BXC) and Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LPX) announced the expansion of its distribution partnership. The expansion includes LP's Siding Solutions brands and prefinished solutions in the Southeast and Midwest Regions, specifically in Atlanta, Omaha, and Pensacola. The expanded distribution will begin later in the first quarter of 2023. Mike Wilson, SVP of Product Management at BlueLinx, states "LP has great brand recognition, and this new partnership expands our siding offering to customers, bringing innovative solutions to home builders, remodelers, and homeowners. The timing of the partnership is ideal as the industry gravitates toward prefinished siding, and the LP SmartSide and ExpertFinish brand portfolios align well with our growth strategy of delivering what matters to the industry: building solutions that drive more efficient installations, increased jobsite workability, and beautiful aesthetics."

08:36 EST Ardelyx publishes ESG report - Ardelyx published its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance, ESG, Report, the first time the company has reported on its sustainability efforts in these areas. "I am pleased to share our 2022 Ardelyx ESG report, which showcases the ways we have invested in our patients, employees and the communities we serve, to build a more equitable and sustainable society," said Mike Raab, president and chief executive officer of Ardelyx. "In recent years, we have proven our resilience as a company, as a society and as individuals, and all of us at Ardelyx are committed to continuing to adapt and grow. While we are still early in our ESG journey, I am proud of the foundation and culture within Ardelyx that embraces social consciousness and sustainability. We look forward to continuing to work with our stakeholders, with a priority towards the patients we seek to serve, to shape a better future for all."

08:35 EST 3D Systems announces restructuring initiative to improve operating efficiencies - 3D Systems announced a multi-faceted restructuring initiative designed to improve operating efficiencies that include optimizing its European metal printer operations and streamlining its software organization. The initiative is expected to reduce operating expenses in 2023 by approximately $2.5M to $3.5M, and provide an annualized savings of approximately $5.5M to $7M in 2024 and beyond. As a key aspect of the restructuring initiative, the company will consolidate the engineering and manufacturing of its metal printers to reduce cycle time on new product introductions and increase operational efficiencies. The company's metal additive manufacturing products include the DMP 200, DMP 350, and DMP 500, direct laser sintering systems.Also as part of the restructuring initiative, 3D Systems has streamlined its software development operating structure to further reduce ongoing operating expenses. Software is an essential element of the company's future growth strategy, and over the past year, the company has merged its legacy portfolio of 3D printing applications with the Oqton Manufacturing Operating System organization, creating an integrated end-to-end software suite under a unified management structure. The software-related cost savings announced today reflect synergies derived from this successful integration effort. Activities related to these restructuring initiatives will begin immediately and are expected to be completed by mid-2023.

08:33 EST China Natural Resources acquires lithium mine in Zimbabwe - China Natural Resources has entered into a definitive agreement with Feishang Group and Top Pacific China and Li Feilie and Yao Yuguang, to acquire Williams Minerals, which owns the mining permit for a Zimbabwean lithium mine. Feishang Group, CHNR's controlling shareholder, owns 70% of Williams Minerals and Top Pacific China, a non-affiliate, owns the remaining 30%. It is expected that the company will indirectly acquire all interests in Williams Minerals in Q2, and that the company's "ownership" of the Zimbabwean lithium mine will vest cumulatively, region by region from 2024 through 2026. For each region of the lithium mine, until the company's ownership vests, the sellers will maintain legal possession and control. The company plans to issue restricted shares as 50% of the consideration for the Acquisition, with the remaining 50% of the consideration comprised of a promissory note and/or cash, for maximum consideration of $1.75B - 3.5 million estimated tons of measured, indicated and inferred resources of lithium oxide priced at $500 per ton -. The company will pay an aggregate of $35M by way of promissory notes and/or cash as a deposit if it chooses to proceed with the Acquisition after completion of due diligence, and an aggregate of $140M by way of promissory notes and/or cash as an initial installment. Completion of the Acquisition is contingent upon the satisfaction of a number of conditions.

08:33 EST Occidental Petroleum sees FY23 total company production 1.15-1.21Mboed - Sees FY23 Oxychem pre-tax income $1.3B-$1.6B, midstream & marketing pre-tax income ($100M)-$100M. Sees total company capital budget $5.4B-$6.2B.

08:32 EST Occidental Petroleum sees Q1 total company production 1.16-1.2 Mboed - Sees Q11 Oxychem pre-tax income $475M, midstream & marketing pre-tax income $10M-$110M.

08:31 EST Occidental Petroleum sets FY23 capital plan at $5.2B-$5.6B - Comments taken from Q4 earnings conference call presentation slides.

08:31 EST Sutro Biopharma appoints Borgman as Chief Medical Officer - Sutro Biopharma (STRO) announced the appointment of Anne Borgman, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer, effective February 28, 2023. Prior to joining Sutro, Dr. Borgman served as Vice President and Therapeutic Area Lead, Oncology, Hematology, and Transplant, at Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ), where she was responsible for global drug development for four marketed products and drug development plans for several emerging targets.

08:29 EST Magnite with S&P Global Mobility to enrich streaming TV inventory - Magnite announced it is partnering with Polk Automotive Solutions from S&P Global Mobility, to provide advertisers with access to robust insights including auto purchase intent and loyalty detail to enable more precise targeting and measurement across CTV and OTT. Polk Automotive Solutions leverages data and technology to provide the most complete and accurate automotive information to help marketers connect more effectively with consumers. "By integrating Polk Automotive Solutions' rich data sets into our platform, advertisers can tap into the most comprehensive source of automotive data and leverage that across Magnite's unparalleled streaming TV supply," said Kristen Williams, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at Magnite. "Advertising on CTV makes it possible for automotive marketers to combine TV's unparalleled branding capabilities with the precise targeting and measurement opportunities of digital."

08:27 EST Galaxy Gaming installs first international placement of 3 Dice Baccarat - Galaxy Gaming has installed its first international placement of 3 Dice Baccarat game, with the Aspers Group at Aspers Casino Westfield, Stratford City.

08:25 EST Baker Hughes awarded major subsea contract with Azule Energy - Baker Hughes has been awarded a major contract to provide subsea equipment and services by Azule Energy for work in the Agogo oilfield, offshore Angola. This award represents the first major new greenfield project awarded in offshore Angola in more than five years. The scope of work includes 23 standard subsea trees, 11 Aptara manifolds, SemStar5 fiber optic controls and the related system scope of supply. Baker Hughes will also provide services and aftermarket support for the Agogo integrated west hub subsea production system. "Our local manufacturing capabilities, deepwater development equipment and innovative subsea control system technology enable us to provide exceptional support to Azule Energy in their efforts to increase oil production in Angola," said Maria Claudia Borras, executive vice president of Oilfield Services and Equipment at Baker Hughes. "Our expertise and comprehensive solutions well-equip us to reduce complexity, support project schedules, and deliver successful outcomes for Azule Energy and further contribute to the growth of Angola's energy industry."

08:23 EST Digital World Acquisition extends combination date to June 8 - In a regulatory filing, Digital World Acquisition Corp. disclosed that the company extended the date by which the company has to complete its initial business combination from March 8th, 2023 to June 8th, 2023. "The extension is the third of four three-month extensions permitted under the company's governing documents and provides the company with additional time to complete its initial business combination," Digital World Acquisition stated.

08:21 EST Walmart, CareSource enter agreement to address health disparities - Walmart and CareSource, a nonprofit, managed care organization, announced it has entered into a agreement, to address racial health inequities. The three-year deal will leverage Walmart's position as a retailer and provider of health and wellness services, and CareSource's role in the administration and delivery of Medicaid, Medicare and other health plan benefits and services. The two companies will aim to cultivate innovative, evidence-based solutions to improve health outcomes in under-resourced and underserved communities where racial health inequities are widespread. The two entities will also work together on a maternal and child health program to support positive lifestyle behavior change and improve maternal and child health outcomes in Georgia, the state with the second-highest maternal mortality rate in the country. Under the agreement, expecting mothers or mothers that are 12-months post-partum and enrolled in CareSource's Georgia Medicaid managed care plan will have access to Walmart in-store Community Health Workers, a "directed spend" program providing monthly funds to spend on food, tele-nutrition services, tele-doula services and will receive a Walmart+ membership.

08:21 EST Zevra becomes Corporate Council member of NORD - Zevra Therapeutics announced that it has become a Corporate Council member of the National Organization for Rare Disorders and reiterated its commitment to the rare disease community by celebrating Rare Disease Day 2023.

08:20 EST QSAM completes enrollment of initial cohort in Phase 1 study of CycloSam - QSAM Biosciences announces the completion of enrollment in the first participant grouping of its Phase 1 study evaluating CycloSam in the treatment of bone cancer. The last participant dosed was a breast cancer patient with active metastatic bone cancer. QSAM's study is a multiple center, open label, dose escalation clinical trial intended to determine the maximum tolerated dose of CycloSam in patients, and also assess early safety and efficacy signals. The completed cohort of three participants received the lowest dosage of CycloSam in the study. The total dosage of the active radioisotope Samarium-153 to be received by the second cohort, expected to commence in early Q2 2023, will be 50% higher. The most recent participant in QSAM's clinical trial was a patient with breast cancer that had metastasized to the bone, a serious and life-threatening disease for which there is an unmet need by patients and an area of high interest by management for the clinical trials and product development of CycloSam.

08:20 EST Baytex Energy to acquire Ranger Oil for $2.5B including assumption of debt - Baytex Energy (BTE) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ranger Oil Corporation (ROCC), a "pure play Eagle Ford company." The total consideration to be paid by Baytex, including assumption of net debt, is approximately $2.5B, or C$3.4B. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of Baytex and Ranger and is expected to close late in the second quarter of 2023. Under the terms of the Agreement, Ranger shareholders will receive 7.49 Baytex shares plus $13.31 cash, for each Ranger common share, for total consideration of approximately $44.36 per share. Commenting on the Acquisition, Eric Greager, President and CEO of Baytex, said: "The Ranger acquisition is strategic. We are acquiring a strong operating capability in the Eagle Ford, on-trend with our non-operated position in the Karnes Trough and driving meaningful per-share accretion on all metrics. The transaction more than doubles our EBITDA and nearly doubles our free cash flow. The Ranger inventory immediately competes for capital in our portfolio and brings 12 to 15 years of quality oil-weighted drilling opportunities. We are building quality scale and a more durable business with a lower breakeven WTI price. We are committed to enhancing direct shareholder returns, and through this transaction we are returning more value to our shareholders on a per-share basis. Upon closing of this transaction, we intend to initiate a dividend, which will be a key means of delivering reliable value to shareholders going forward. We are building an even stronger Canadian energy company with a high-quality diversified oil-weighted portfolio across the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and the Eagle Ford."

08:18 EST Catalyst Biosciences provides update on asset purchase agreements - Catalyst Biosciences provided two corporate updates. In connection with the Company's previously announced asset purchase agreement with GNI Group and GNI Hong Kong Limited to purchase all of the assets and intellectual property rights primarily related to GNI's proprietary hydronidone compound outside of China, and the definitive agreement with GNI and other minority stockholders to purchase their controlling interest in Beijing Continent Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company, GNI Group reported its Consolidated Financial Results for its Fiscal Year 2022 on February 15, 2023 showing continued revenue and profit growth from pirfenidone sales in China for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which includes revenue of approximately $102 million and net profit of approximately $23 million. On February 27, 2023, the Company signed an asset purchase agreement with GC Biopharma pursuant to which GCBP acquired the Company's legacy rare bleeding disorders programs including marzeptacog alpha activated, dalcinonacog alpha and CB-2679d-GT for a total of $6 million, $1 million payable on signing and $5 million payable on February 28, 2025, subject to satisfaction of post-closing indemnification obligations. Once received, the net proceeds from the transaction will be distributed to holders of the contingent value right issued to Catalyst stockholders of record on January 5, 2023.

08:18 EST Goldman Sachs sees reducing balance sheet to $35B in medium term, says CEO

08:17 EST Prudential and Vitality Global in 10-year, expanded partnership - Prudential Financial and Vitality Global have entered a 10-year, expanded partnership. Under this agreement, Prudential will leverage Vitality's model to promote healthier lifestyles to complement its Total Wellness offering throughout Latin America. This new agreement expands on the successful partnership the two firms launched in 2020 to offer health and wellness services in Brazil and Argentina through the Vitality program. This collaboration supports Prudential's broader strategy of expanding access to a suite of physical, mental and financial wellness solutions across emerging markets in Latin America and beyond. "Based on the outstanding results of our joint offering in Brazil and Argentina and aligned with our mission to democratize access to Wellness, I am proud that our expanded partnership with Vitality will allow Prudential to help more people to live longer and better lives," said Federico Spagnoli, vice president, International Wellness Solutions at Prudential International Insurance. "This collaboration will enable our growth in emerging markets by delivering the differentiated products customers need and want."

08:17 EST Goldman CEO: Biggest opportunities for growth are asset, wealth management - CEO David Solomon is speaking on CNBC's Squawk Box ahead of the company's Investor Day event.

08:15 EST DZS CEO Charlie Vogt to discuss 'The State of Fiber in America' - DZS announced that CEO Charlie Vogt will participate in a panel discussion on "The State of Fiber in America" at the upcoming OFC conference in San Diego on March 8. Vogt will join other panelists to discuss the unprecedented funding in excess of $130 billion that has been allocated to bring high-speed broadband to all citizens, highlight the challenges of connecting every community and amplify the economic and societal benefits to be gained.

08:13 EST Bandwidth expands long relationship with Amazon Web Services - Bandwidth (BAND) announced it is again expanding its long relationship with Amazon Web Services (AMZN) to use the Amazon Chime Software Development Kit increasing the pace of innovation and extending the ecosystem for the Bandwidth Communications Cloud. In the first phase of its work with AWS, Bandwidth's global engineering team will utilize the Amazon Chime SDK to embed intelligent, machine-learning generated, real-time communication capabilities into applications.

08:12 EST Valmont increases dividend to 60c per share and announces $400M buyback - Valmont ndustries announced that its Board of Directors approved an increase to its quarterly dividend and a reauthorization of the current share repurchase program. Under the reauthorization, which will be effective once the current authorization is completed, the Company is authorized to purchase up to $400M of its outstanding common stock from time to time, by means of open market purchases or through privately-negotiated transactions. The reauthorization has no stated expiration date. The Company is not obligated to make any repurchases and may discontinue the program at any time. As of December 31 , the Company had approximately $81M remaining under the current share repurchase reauthorization announced in October 2018. Valmont currently has approximately 21.35M shares outstanding. The Valmont Board also approved an increase to its quarterly cash dividend to 60c per share, or a rate of $2.40 per share on an annualized basis. This represents an increase of 9% from the prior quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per share. The dividend will be payable on April 14, 2023 to shareholders of record on March 31. The Company previously increased the dividend by 10% in February 2022. "Our record financial performance in 2022, including strong cash flow generation, creates further opportunities to meaningfully deploy capital. While we remain committed to a disciplined approach of growing our businesses and returning cash to shareholders, reauthorizing our stock repurchase program provides us with additional flexibility to leverage our performance," said Stephen G. Kaniewski, President and Chief Executive Officer. He continued, "The increase in our dividend is reflective of our earnings growth and we are focused on enhancing shareholder value as the strength of our business continues."

08:12 EST TD Synnex announces partnership with Xcitium - Xcitium, formerly known as Comodo Security Solutions, announced a partnership with TD SYNNEX to deliver its patented ZeroDwell endpoint technology to companies across the globe. Xcitium ZeroDwell Containment is the only solution on the market preventing potential damage from ransomware and other malware with its Kernel-level API Virtualization technology that instantly contains unknown threats to determine their intent before they inflict any damage. This partnership will make ZeroDwell Containment and its entire portfolio of threat protection solutions available to TechData Synnex's North American customers. "TD SYNNEX is committed to uniting IT solutions that deliver business outcomes today and unlock growth for the future," said Scott Young, Senior Vice President, Product Management, TD SYNNEX. "With Xcitium added to our vast portfolio, we're able to enrich the breadth and depth of our offerings, so customers can do great things with technology."

08:09 EST Riley Exploration to acquire oil and gas assets from Pecos Oil & Gas for $330M - Riley Exploration Permian announced that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire oil and gas assets from Pecos Oil & Gas, an affiliate of Cibolo Energy Partners, for cash consideration of $330M. The acquisition will be funded through a combination of borrowings under the company's revolving credit facility and the proceeds from the issuance of new senior unsecured notes. Concurrent with the signing of the purchase agreement, the company entered into a commitment letter with EOC Partners Advisors L.P. for the issuance of $200M of senior unsecured notes upon closing of the acquisition and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. The transaction is subject to customary terms and conditions, including purchase price closing adjustments. The transaction has an effective date of January 1, 2023 and is expected to close early in the second quarter of 2023.

08:07 EST Dynavax: UK's MHRA grants market authorization for HEPLISAV B - Dynavax Technologies announced that the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has granted Marketing Authorization in Great Britain for HEPLISAV B for the active immunization against hepatitis B virus infection caused by all known subtypes of hepatitis B virus in adults 18 years of age and older. The approval was based on the positive benefit-risk for HEPLISAV B as demonstrated by the safety and immunogenicity results of three Phase 3 clinical trials. The approval was issued to Dynavax's affiliate Dynavax GmbH via the European Commission Decision Reliance Procedure.

07:56 EST Solitario reports assay results from Spur Gold Zone, Zig Zag - Solitario Zinc received additional assay results from trenching and surface rock sampling at the Spur Gold Zone and from a recently discovered gold-rich area to the east called Zig Zag. The Geyser, Spur and Zig Zag zones are new surface gold discoveries made during the 2022 field season on Solitario's Golden Crest project in South Dakota. Highlights of newly released assays include: Spur Trench 1: 234 meters grading 0.82 grams per tonne gold consisting of a continuous channel of 78-three-meter samples predominantly from bedrock and open at both ends of the trench. Zig Zag Trench 1: 27 meters grading 3.22 gpt gold consisting of a continuous channel of 9-three-meter samples predominantly from bedrock and open at both ends of the trench. Seventeen new widely-spaced select high-grade grab samples with assays above 5.0 gpt gold, including two from the new Zig Zag Gold Zone, are reported in this release and significantly expand the currently delineated higher-grade area. These surface sample assays include: 5.6, 5.9, 7.5, 8.1, 9.5, 11.3, 13.4, 14.3, 14.5, 15.7, 16.8, 16.9 17.0 20.6, 24.0, 29.0, and 36.4 gpt gold. The combined Geyser-Spur-Zig Zag Gold Zone now encompasses an area approximately 800 x 700 meters with a significant population of multi-gram gold values in trench and surface rock grab samples. This large area of moderate-to-high-grade gold values remains open to expansion in all directions. Chris Herald, President and CEO of Solitario, stated: "We continue to discover and enlarge new areas displaying strong gold values at surface and anticipate this trend will continue. Spur Trench 1 assay results are exceptional, especially the consistency of mineralization over a length of 234 meters. The average grade of the 78 three-meter sample intervals is not carried by a couple of high-grade gold values, but rather nearly half of the intervals are greater than 0.50 gpt gold with the three highest 3-meter intervals grading 7.05, 3.25 and 3.07 gpt gold. It's the same story at Zig Zag where seven out of the nine three-meter samples are greater than 2.6 gpt gold."

07:53 EST Nextech AR Solutions on track for 'record' Q1 for 3D modeling revenue - Nextech AR Solutions announced that with the Company's generative AI technology, Q1 2023 is currently tracking to be a record quarter for 3D modeling. The timing of record 3D modeling demand and record production capabilities on the back of its generative AI is expected to drive record 2023 revenue for the 3D model business in ecommerce.

07:48 EST Applied Materials introduces Centura Sculpta Patterning System - To help chipmakers continue shrinking designs without the added cost, complexity, and energy and materials consumption of EUV double patterning, Applied Materials worked closely with leading customers to develop the Centura Sculpta patterning system. Chipmakers can now print a single EUV pattern and then use the Sculpta system to elongate the shapes in any chosen direction to reduce the space between features and increase pattern density. Because the final pattern is created from a single mask, design cost and complexity are reduced, and the yield risk from double-patterning alignment errors is eliminated.

07:47 EST Applied Materials introduces new eBeam metrology system - Applied Materials introduced a new eBeam metrology system specifically designed to precisely measure the critical dimensions of semiconductor device features patterned with EUV and emerging High-NA EUV lithography. Applied's new VeritySEM 10 system features a unique architecture that enables low landing energy at 2X better resolution compared to conventional CD-SEMs. It also provides a 30-percent faster scan rate to further reduce interaction with the photoresist and increase throughput. The system's industry-leading resolution and scan rate provide improved control of EUV and High-NA EUV lithography and etch processes to help chipmakers accelerate process development and maximize yield in high-volume manufacturing.

07:44 EST Draganfly successfully completes landmine reconnaissance missions in Ukraine - Draganfly announces that its Field Operations Team successfully completed site assessments in Ukraine as part of the first phase of integration of its landmine detection technology. Draganfly personnel has completed operations and site assessments to integrate personnel and technology into upcoming landmine detection operations. These missions were critical in determining the array of complex sensors and equipment required to be deployed to help to advance mine clearance strategies and assist in field resource allocation. "Drone technology is revolutionizing the way military and civilian organizations gather information about their operating environment," Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. "Draganfly is honored to be working at the forefront helping solve these important challenges with technology that can save time, money, and lives on a global scale."

07:43 EST nCino selected by JFG to modernize multiple lines of business - nCino announced that Johnson Financial Group, JFG, will be using nCino's cloud banking platform across multiple lines of business, including Commercial, Small Business, Retail and Deposit Account Openings. JFG will also be adding nCino solutions for Commercial Pricing and Profitability, as well as Auto Spreading to further harness the advantage of a single platform. "JFG is not only putting their client's experience at the center of everything, but they are making forward looking change that can provide the very best experiences for every family that uses its services," said nCino's SVP of Community and Regional Banking Will Cameron. "JFG is laying the groundwork for a scalable and sustainable technological foundation, which will empower it further in providing its clients what they need, while still upholding its commitment to personal service and attention. We're incredibly proud to be working with JFG and eager to see the value that the nCino platform will bring."

07:41 EST VIQ Solutions teams with 7 of top 10 insurance companies to boost productivity - VIQ Solutions announces a partnership with another top ten U.S. insurance company, increasing its partnerships to seven of the top ten, as the Company continues to drive change in the Insurance documentation market. Fortune 500 Insurers are moving towards a more strategic and modern approach to documentation. There is growing demand to leverage advanced automation tools which are a critical factor to increase capacity, reduce inefficiencies and improve compliance. VIQ offers the insurance industry a unique combination of innovative technology, industry domain knowledge and services expertise that speeds the documentation process using powerful workflow automation and secure AI-powered technology.

07:39 EST Tilt Holdings enters licensing agreement with Jupiter Research - TILT Holdings announced an exclusive licensing agreement of a patented stackable cartridge technology. Jupiter Research will distribute the technology as Thredz and is expected to launch in the second quarter of this year. Thredz is an adaptation of a 510 cartridge, enabling consumers to connect two cartridges in series to create a custom blend of oils drawn from the cartridges simultaneously.

07:38 EST Stellantis announces $155M investment in three Indiana plants - Stellantis announced that it will invest a total of $155M in three Kokomo, Indiana, plants to produce new electric drive modules that will help power future electric vehicles assembled in North America and to support the goal of 50% battery-electric sales in the U.S. by 2030. Investments will be made at the Indiana Transmission, Kokomo Transmission and Kokomo Casting plants. The gearbox cover will be cast at Kokomo Casting and machined at Kokomo Transmission. Gear machining and final assembly will be at the Indiana Transmission Plant. Production is expected to start in the third quarter of 2024, following retooling. With the investment, more than 265 jobs will be retained across all three plants.

07:37 EST Syneos Health launches Decentralized Clinical Trial Site Network - Syneos Health announced the launch of a Decentralized Clinical Trial Site Network to drive appropriate DCT adoption and enable high quality delivery of DCTs and digital health technology solutions. The introduction of the Syneos Health DCT Site Network complements the Company's existing Site Advocacy Group, continuing the momentum for decentralized solutions to bring clinical trials closer to the patient. The novel DCT Site Network was created by leveraging Syneos Health's global connections of Catalyst Sites, Networks and experienced Principal Investigators. First launching in the US and Canada, the DCT Site Network will cover various therapeutic areas such as Internal and General Medicine, Family Practice, Neurology, Endocrinology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Cardiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology, and Respiratory. Over time, Syneos Health will expand the network to include numerous sites across Europe and APAC.

07:36 EST Enveric Biosciences appoints Kevin Coveney as CFO - Enveric Biosciences announced the appointment of Kevin Coveney, CPA, to the position of Chief Financial Officer, effective March 13. Mr. Coveney brings 30+ years of accounting, finance, and operations experience to Enveric, having previously served as Chief Financial Officer for multiple biotechnology companies.

07:35 EST Stratasys in deal with Ricoh USA for print-on-demand medical models - Stratasys announced it has signed an agreement with Ricoh USA to provide on-demand 3D-printed anatomic models for clinical settings. Stratasys' Patient-Specific 3D Solutions combines 3D printing technology from Stratasys, the cloud-based Segmentation-as-a-ServiceTM solution from Axial3D, and precision additive manufacturing services from Ricoh into one convenient solution. The new service builds on an existing relationship between Ricoh 3D for Healthcare and Stratasys to expand access to 3D-printed medical modelsThe new offering gives clinicians and patients increased access to patient-specific 3D-printed models for pre-operative surgical planning, diagnostic use, and surgical education. Using these models, clinicians can demonstrate treatment decisions to patients and surgical staff. Surgical planning with patient-specific 3D models can improve clinical outcomes and drive significant savings through improved productivity.... The service will be available starting March 3, 2023. For more information, please visit the Axial3D and Stratasys websites. Axial3D Stratasys and Ricoh will exhibit and further discuss their shared ambition to increase access to patient-specific 3D printed models at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting and tradeshow in Las Vegas from March 7 to 11.

07:29 EST Beauty Health to acquire SkinStylus, terms undisclosed - Beauty Health announced a definitive agreement to acquire SkinStylus, an FDA-cleared microneedling device. Co-invented by a team of skincare and aesthetics professionals, the SkinStylus microneedling device is categorized by the FDA as a class II Medical Device and is cleared as clinically proven to improve the appearance of surgical or traumatic hypertrophic scars on the abdomen in adults aged 22 years and older. In time, BeautyHealth intends to seek FDA clearance for additional indications and regulatory approvals in other markets outside of the U.S. Upon successful integration of SkinStylus into the BeautyHealth portfolio, the company expects upside from the acquisition in 2024 and beyond.

07:27 EST Incannex commences Phase 2 trial of IHL-675A for treatment of pain in RA - Incannex Healthcare commenced a Phase 2 clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of its proprietary anti-inflammatory combination drug IHL-675A in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. IHL-675A is a proprietary fixed dose combination drug comprising cannabidiol and hydroxychloroquine. This Phase 2 clinical trial follows the successful Phase 1 clinical trial whereby IHL-675A was observed to be well tolerated, with no adverse events of concern. Prior to commencing clinical trials, Incannex observed positive results from an animal model of RA. IHL-675A was observed to be more effective than a standard dose of HCQ at reducing arthritis across multiple assessments including; clinical score, paw volume, pannus score, total histology score and serum cytokine levels than the rodent equivalent of a standard dose of HCQ, or equivalent dose of CBD. The reduction in disease assessments achieved by IHL-675A were 1.06-3.52 times that observed for HCQ alone at the standard dose. These promising observations led the Company to prioritise rapid clinical assessment of IHL-675A, particularly given that HCQ, marketed as Plaquenil and generic equivalents, is a common long-standing treatment prescribed for RA. The Phase 2 trial now commenced will assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of IHL-675A compared to the respective component Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, CBD and HCQ, and placebo. The treatments will be double blinded, meaning neither the investigators nor patients will know which treatment an individual is receiving. The trial will be managed by Avance Clinical, an Australian and US CRO, who will identify and onboard 8-10 clinical trial sites with expertise in RA to conduct patient recruitment and assessments. Avance will manage the sites and study conduct, ensure that the data is of necessary quality and undertake analysis of data collected across all trial sites. The Phase 2 trial will include 120 participants who meet the eligibility criteria. Participants will be randomised to one of four arms: either IHL-675A, CBD alone, HCQ alone or placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial is pain and function, relative to baseline, determined via the score on the RAPID3 assessment at 24 weeks. Participants will also record their pain and function outcomes daily, by completing questionnaires on pain, fatigue, joint stiffness and quality of life, using an electronic Patient Reported Outcomes device. The trial participants will attend monthly visits at the clinical trial site, where blood tests, and physical examinations will monitor additional safety and efficacy outcomes including inflammatory biomarkers. The trial will also include a sub-study examining joint damage via magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects will be assessed for eligibility in the MRI study based on their Rheumatoid Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score at screening. Post completion of the 24-week randomisation period, there will be an option for trial participants to roll over into the open label extension study, where all eligible participants will receive IHL-675A for a further 24 weeks, regardless of the initial treatment arm allocated in the first 24 weeks. The results of this study will establish the safety and efficacy of IHL-675A in rheumatoid arthritis and will be a critical component of future regulatory applications, including contributing to the combination rule assessment in the FDA505(b)2 new drug application dossier.

07:22 EST Aldeyra announces top-line results from a 12-month, trial of reproxalap for DED - Aldeyra Therapeutics announced top-line results from a 12-month, vehicle-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group safety clinical trial of reproxalap, an investigational new drug, in dry eye disease patients. The primary endpoints of treatment-related serious adverse events in ocular safety were not observed in any patient. Ocular safety events were similar across reproxalap and vehicle treatment groups. In a post-hoc analysis, reproxalap was statistically superior to vehicle in improvement from baseline in distance visual acuity, potentially representing the first demonstration of improvement in distance visual acuity with a topically administered therapy. "The lack of treatment-related serious adverse events over 12 months confirms the safety profile of reproxalap observed in prior clinical trials, and the potentially landmark evidence of improvement in visual acuity may differentiate reproxalap, if approved for sale, from other therapeutic options for the treatment of dry eye disease," stated Todd C. Brady, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aldeyra. The 12-month safety clinical trial population was comprised of 447 dry eye disease patients; 299 patients were treated with reproxalap and 148 patients were treated with vehicle. Visual acuity and ocular safety assessments, including assessment of intraocular pressure, slit-lamp examination, corneal endothelial cell density, and dilated fundoscopy, were performed at baseline, and after 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and one year of treatment. The primary endpoints were the proportion of treatment-related ocular safety events related to visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit-lamp examination, and dilated fundoscopy in reproxalap-treated patients compared to vehicle-treated patients. Change from baseline in visual acuity, as assessed by the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution , was analyzed post-hoc over 12 months using a repeated measures analysis. No serious adverse events related to treatment were observed in any patient. Ocular safety parameters were similar between treatment groups. Consistent with prior experience with reproxalap and other topical ocular medications, the most common adverse event in reproxalap-treated patients was mild and transient instillation site irritation.

07:20 EST Six Flags, Coca-Cola extend multi-year partnership - Six Flags (SIX) and Coca-Cola (KO) announced that they are extending their multi-year partnership. Coca-Cola will continue to have exclusive rights across the drink portfolio. As part of the extension, Six Flags and Coca-Cola will create activations and in-park offerings that can only be experienced at Six Flags. In Summer 2023, the partnership will launch an new endeavor in the eGaming space that will deliver some experiences. In addition to eGaming, the partnership will deliver long-term guest enhancements throughout the parks, engaging with millions of guests through VIP lounges, specialty beverages, and multiple tentpole events and festivals.

07:19 EST Auddia files foundational patent to improve GPT algorithms - Auddia filed a broad and foundational patent application aimed at improving the shortcomings being exposed in existing GPTs such as Azure OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard. The patent application introduces two significant improvements. First, the patent covers the development of new machine learning algorithms that use the rich data inherent in chat conversations to learn how to optimize GPT prompts to more efficiently extract the best results from large language model GPTs. Second, the patent covers capturing the AI generated prompt improvements and the enriched outputs of the large language model GPTs to create new GPTs with industry specific domain expertise. Although Auddia's patent pending process is applicable to every field, i.e., healthcare, education, law, etc., the Company is focusing its use of the technology in supporting the Company's mission of reinventing how consumers engage with audio. This will be executed by introducing ChatMusic into the Company's audio superapp, faidr, as the Company's differentiated music player. Currently, faidr leverages the Company's existing AI to offer a highly differentiated premium, commercial-free AM/FM listening experience in addition to offering exclusive content through faidrRadio. Podcasting will be added to faidr this quarter with differentiation and margin in podcasting being introduced through Vodacast innovation in the back half of 2023. The addition of ChatMusic will continue the Company's strategy of leading the audio superapp space with differentiation and margin. Auddia will be going live with a website for ChatMusic in March and will announce its launch in a follow up press release.

07:18 EST Evogene subsidiary reports positive results for bio-fungicide candidates - Evogene's subsidiary Lavie Bio announced progress in its bio-fungicides programs based on successful results from field trials conducted in 2022 for its bio-fungicides LAV311 and LAV321, after conclusion of the analysis of its statistic results. Current efforts to protect crops against fungal disease largely depend on chemical application, with global fungicide chemicals estimated at approximately $21B in 2022 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% over the coming years. Lavie Bio's product candidates LAV311 and LAV321 are bio-fungicides that were discovered and developed utilizing Lavie Bio's Biology Driven Design platform, based on Evogene's MicroBoost AI tech-engine which leverages big-data and advanced artificial intelligence algorithms. LAV311 underwent several vineyard trials in target fields in Europe and the US during 2022. It was found that the performance of LAV311, provided improved protection against bunch rot diseases, at a better efficacy and consistency than existing comparable commercial biological benchmarks. They were also competitive to current commercial chemical benchmarks. The positive results provide further support for Lavie Bio's plan to commercialize LAV311 for use in fruit and vegetables in 2024, assuming the receipt of registration with the EPA, following the application that was submitted by Lavie in late 2022. Lavie Bio's bio-fungicide product LAV321 targets oomycetes class diseases. Various trials were conducted to protect grape against downy mildew, potato against late blight, and tomato against early blight during 2022. Initial results typically showed improved efficacy over equivalent biological products. In 2023, field tests are expected to be broadened, covering additional acreage as well as additional crops under a further improved formulation.

07:17 EST Aslan Pharmaceuticals to advance farudodstat into Phase 2 clinical testing - ASLAN Pharmaceuticals announced that it is advancing its clinical program to investigate farudodstat, an oral dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, DHODH, inhibitor, in a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial as a potential first-in-class treatment for alopecia areata, AA. "We are excited to advance the clinical development of farudodstat, which has the potential to be a first-in-class therapy addressing the unmet needs of alopecia areata patients," commented Dr Carl Firth, Chief Executive Officer, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals. "Despite recent advancements in treatment options, the long-term safety of therapies for AA remains a top priority for physicians. We have generated encouraging data that supports our belief that farudodstat can prevent, and potentially restore, the loss of immune privilege in hair follicles, offering a safe and effective treatment option for AA with a competitive profile." The Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial is a 2:1 randomized trial, with patients receiving oral doses of either farudodstat or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks, followed by a crossover treatment period. The trial will recruit about 60 patients in the US and enrollment is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023. The interim topline readout following the first 12-week treatment period is expected in 1Q 2024 and will inform the design of the subsequent Phase 2b dose-ranging study. The primary objective of the trial is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of farudodstat in adult subjects with severe alopecia areata.

07:16 EST Transcode Therapeutics announces ODD status for TTX-MC138 - TransCode Therapeutics announced that it has received Orphan Drug Designation, ODD, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, for its lead therapeutic candidate, TTX-MC138, in pancreatic cancer. "We are pleased to have received Orphan Drug Designation from FDA with our lead therapeutic candidate in pancreatic cancer," said TransCode's Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Michael Dudley. "This is the second drug in our pipeline to receive such status. In June 2022, FDA granted ODD status for our checkpoint inhibitor, TTX-siPDL1, also for treatment of pancreatic cancer," added Dudley. The Company believes that TTX-MC138 has the potential to dramatically improve clinical outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer. TTX-MC138 is designed to inhibit the pro-metastatic RNA, microRNA-10b, described as the master regulator of metastasis in a number of advanced solid tumors. TransCode believes that TTX-MC138 could be used as a treatment for many of these cancers.

07:15 EST RedHill Biopharma: Opaganib chosen for NIH radiation, nuclear countermeasures - RedHill Biopharma announced that the Radiation and Nuclear Countermeasures Program, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, has selected opaganib for the nuclear medical countermeasures product development pipeline as a potential treatment for Acute Radiation Syndrome. As part of this collaboration, contractors directed and supported by the RNCP will undertake studies, designed in collaboration with RedHill, to test opaganib in established ARS models.

07:13 EST ADC Therapeutics sees Zynlonta sales growth double-digit percentage - Expected to grow ZYNLONTA FY 2023 net product sales by a double-digit percentage year-over-year. This includes a gross-to-net increase as compared to 2022 of: Approximately 2 to 3 percentage points related to Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contracting Mid- to high-single-digit percentage points resulting from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's requirement for manufacturers of certain single-source drugs separately paid for under Medicare Part B and marketed in single-dose containers to provide annual refunds for unused drug,effective January 1 and anticipated decrease in total operating expenses in 2023 and 2024 as compared to 2022.. Expected cash runway extended into the middle of 2025

07:10 EST Norwegian Cruise Line expects occupancy to average 100% for Q1 - 2023 Outlook: Entered the year with a record booked position and at higher pricing. WAVE season demand has been very strong with the Company's brands experiencing record launches for WAVE offers and highest-ever booking months in November 2022 and January 2023. Occupancy is expected to average approximately 100% for the first quarter and is on track to reach historical levels for the second quarter. Capacity is expected to increase approximately 19% compared to 2019 including the delivery of three newbuilds in 2023: Oceania Cruises' Vista, Norwegian Viva and Regent's Seven Seas Grandeur. Net Per Diem is expected to increase in the range of 8.75 to 10.25% as-reported and 9.00 to 10.50% in Constant Currency versus 2019. Net Yield is expected to increase in the range of 4.75 to 6.25% as-reported and 5.00 to 6.50% in Constant Currency versus 2019. The Company is undertaking a broad and ongoing margin enhancement initiative and took several steps in recent months to improve operating efficiencies, reduce costs, and maximize revenue generation opportunities while continuing to provide value to its guests. As part of this initiative, operating efficiency and cost reduction efforts are expected to result in a decrease of nearly 15% in Adjusted Net Cruise Costs excluding Fuel per Capacity Day for full year 2023 as compared to the second half of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $1.8 to $1.95 billion.

07:07 EST Compass Pathways sees 2023 net cash use $85M-$110M - First quarter 2023 net cash used in operating activities is expected to be in the range of $24 million to $32 million and the full-year 2023 to be in the range of $85 million to $110 million.

06:47 EST Merck provides updates on KEYNOTE-641, KEYNOTE-789 trials - Merck provided updates on two Phase 3 trials, KEYNOTE-641 and KEYNOTE-789. Merck is discontinuing the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-641 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA, Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with enzalutamide and androgen deprivation therapy for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer based on the recommendation of an independent Data Monitoring Committee. At an interim analysis, KEYTRUDA in combination with enzalutamide and ADT did not demonstrate an improvement in radiographic progression-free survival or overall survival, the trial's dual primary endpoints, compared to placebo plus enzalutamide and ADT, and crossed a pre-specified futility boundary for OS. Merck is informing study investigators of the decision and advises patients in the study to speak to their physician regarding treatment. Merck also announced that the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-789 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed plus platinum-based chemotherapy did not meet its dual primary endpoint of OS for the treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, with epidermal growth factor receptor-genomic tumor mutations, who have previously progressed on a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, including osimertinib. At the final analysis of the study, there was an improvement in OS for patients who received KEYTRUDA plus pemetrexed with platinum-based chemotherapy compared to pemetrexed with platinum-based chemotherapy; however, these results did not meet statistical significance per the pre-specified statistical plan. At an earlier interim analysis, the trial's other dual primary endpoint, progression-free survival was tested and showed an improvement in the KEYTRUDA arm compared to chemotherapy alone, but these results did not reach statistical significance. In KEYNOTE-641 and KEYNOTE-789, the safety profile of KEYTRUDA was consistent with that observed in previously reported studies and no new safety signals were identified. In KEYNOTE-641, the combination was associated with a higher incidence of Grade 3-5 adverse events and serious adverse events compared to the control arm. Results will be shared at future scientific congresses.

06:36 EST Advance Auto Parts says Greco to retire as president and CEO at year-end - Advance Auto Parts announced that Tom Greco has informed the company of his plan to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company at the end of the year. "Following Mr. Greco's retirement, he plans to serve in an advisory capacity through a transition period. In connection with Mr. Greco's planned retirement and the company's succession planning process, the Advance Auto Parts Board has formed a Succession Committee, composed of independent directors. The Board intends to retain a leading executive search firm to assist in a thorough and comprehensive search that considers both internal and external candidates," the company stated.

06:10 EST Bayer proposes to raise dividend 20% to EUR 2.40 - "Together with the Supervisory Board, we are proposing a dividend of 2.40 euros to the Annual Stockholders' Meeting. This represents a 20 percent increase compared to the previous year," said CFO Wolfgang Nickl. With 982.42 million shares entitled to the dividend, the company is therefore set to distribute a total of 2.358 billion euros to stockholders for fiscal 2022."

05:58 EST Stanley Black & Decker discloses possible foreign bribery violations - In a regulatory filing last week, Stanley Black & Decker said it has identified transactions among its international operations that may have violated U.S. antibribery laws. The company said it has "voluntarily disclosed this information to the U.S. Department of Justice and the SEC. The Company is cooperating with both agencies in their investigations."

05:44 EST Chevron reaffirms long-term objectives at investor meeting - At its annual investor meeting, Chevron reported on its progress to leverage its strengths to safely deliver lower carbon energy to a growing world. Chevron expects to maintain capital and cost discipline to deliver higher returns while growing energy supplies. In line with these objectives, the company announced it is: maintaining its guidance for annual organic capital expenditures of $13B to $15B through 2027. Affirming its oil and gas production guidance of more than 3% annual growth by 2027. Extending its 12% return on capital employed target to 2027 at $60 Brent. High return production growth supports growing shareholder distributions. The company expects annual free cash flow growth greater than 10% at $60 Brent and is raising its share buyback guidance range to $10B to $20B per year. In addition, the company will raise its targeted annual share buyback rate to $17.5B starting in the second quarter.

05:35 EST Roche expands collaboration with CDC to strengthen laboratory capabilities - Roche announced the expansion of its collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, to strengthen laboratory capabilities in countries greatly affected by the HIV and tuberculosis, or TB, epidemics. Through the implementation of a public-private partnership, named "Lab Networks for Health," Roche and the CDC will seek to improve HIV and tuberculosis prevention, detection, and treatment outcomes in select countries of Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere.

05:24 EST VMware, NTT DATA announce expanded collaboration - NTT DATA and VMware announced an expanded collaboration to accelerate the path to software-defined, large-scale Open RAN deployments through combined solutions and services. The companies will further collaborate to enable the global Communications Service Provider, or CSPs, industry to continue to transform from traditional operations to more agile, cloud-smart approaches in the RAN.

05:21 EST VMware expands collaboration with Samsung - VMware (VMW) announced an expanded collaboration with Samsung (SSNLF) resulting in the integration of Samsung's O-RAN compliant virtualized RAN solutions and VMware Telco Cloud Platform as part of the DISH Wireless 5G network buildout. This milestone advances the ongoing efforts between the two companies to enable Communication Service Providers, or CSPs, to gain the full benefits of Open RAN networks. VMware and Samsung announced their global 5G collaboration in 2020, and have since co-developed a validated architecture and cell site deployment model integrating the Samsung virtualized Distributed Unit running on top of the VMware Telco Cloud Platform. This advanced topology is tested and fully interoperable, and can help CSPs accelerate and streamline their RAN deployments at scale while reducing network costs. The joint topology provides the flexibility to support a diverse ecosystem of partners. The two companies are now working together to make the evolution of 5G Open RAN networks enabled by a cloud-native architecture simpler for CSPs. VMware is collaborating with Samsung on building the foremost network architecture to support the DISH Wireless traffic on their cloud-native Open RAN 5G network. Samsung has been supporting DISH since last year, when it was selected for the deployment of 5G Open Radio Access Network solutions across the DISH 5G network.

05:14 EST Metalpha Technology announces up to $5M share repurchase program - Metalpha Technology announced that its board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program under which the company may repurchase up to $5M of its shares over the next 12 months, following the post-completion of its mainland China business divestiture.