Market Newsdesk

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nationally recognized law firm Berger Montague PC informs investors that a lawsuit was filed against MARQETA, INC. (“Marqeta” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: MQ) on behalf of purchasers of MARQETA securities between May 7, 2024 and November 4,2024, inclusive (the “Class Period”).

Investors that suffered losses from MARQETA (NASDAQ: MQ) investments can follow the link below for more information regarding the lawsuit:

CLICK HERE


to learn your rights.

Investors who purchased or acquired MARQETA securities during the Class Period may, no later than

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class.

Headquartered in Oakland, CA, Marqeta operates a cloud-based platform which enables businesses to issue and manage their own payment cards.

On November 4, 2024, the Company issued a press release entitled “Marqeta Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results.” In addition to reporting its third quarter results, Marqeta announced lower fourth quarter guidance which reflected “several changes that became apparent over the last few months with regards to the heightened scrutiny of the banking environment and specific customer program changes.”

On this news, the price of Marqeta stock fell $2.53 per share – more than 42% – from a close of $5.95 per share on November 4, 2024 to close at $3.42 per share on November 5, 2024.

For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation,




CLICK HERE




or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at




[email protected]




or (215) 875-3015, or Peter Hamner at




[email protected]


.

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Communicating with any counsel is not necessary to participate or share in any recovery achieved in this case. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of his/her choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member.

Berger Montague
, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

Contacts:

Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel
Berger Montague
(215) 875-3015
[email protected]  

Peter Hamner
Berger Montague PC
[email protected]

Seasoned Executive to Lead Strategy Across Capital Markets, Partner and Customer Development, and Global Operations

SINGAPORE and SAN DIEGO, Calif., Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helport AI Limited (NASDAQ: HPAI) (“Helport AI” or the “Company”), an AI technology company serving enterprise clients with intelligent customer communication software, services, and solutions, today announced the appointment of Amy Fong as President and as a director to its board of directors (the “Board”), effective January 1, 2025. Following the appointment of Ms. Fong, the Board will be comprised of 5 directors, 3 of whom are independent.

Amy Fong brings over 25 years’ of experience as a seasoned professional across multiple industries, including banking, private equity, management consulting, and the not-for-profit sector. Prior to joining Helport, she was the Chief Operating Officer and later Managing Director of Sustainability and Strategic Initiatives at FountainVest Partners (Asia) since 2019, before transitioning to the role of Senior Advisor in 2024. She was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Hong Kong, a non-governmental organization, and spent two decades working in financial services with JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, and Merrill Lynch in both the U.S. and Asia. Ms. Fong is also a member of the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. She holds an MBA degree in Finance from Columbia Business School and a BSBA degree in Accounting and International Finance from Georgetown University.

“On behalf of our board and management team, I would like to welcome Amy Fong to Helport AI,” said Guanghai Li, Chief Executive Officer of Helport AI. “We are privileged to have someone of her caliber and diverse skill set serving as our President. We believe that her achievements as well as expertise in finance and capital markets will make a significant contribution to the strategic operations and development of our company going forward. In this new role, Ms. Fong will lead and implement our capital market financing plans and strategies, as well as oversee investor relations and mergers and acquisitions. She will be responsible for expanding and establishing long-term relationships with strategic partners and core customers. She will also assist the leadership team in formulating strategic plans and driving the Company’s development.”

Ms. Fong added, “I am honored to be appointed President as we aspire to grow Helport AI into a global leader in its field. I look forward to working with Guanghai and the entire management team as we continue to execute our strategic and financial priorities and our commitments to all stakeholders.”

About Helport AI

Helport AI (NASDAQ: HPAI) is an AI technology company dedicated to optimizing customer communication through its digital platform and intelligent software solutions. Offering enterprise level customer contact services, Helport’s mission is to empower everyone to work as an expert. Learn more at www.helport.ai.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, Helport AI’s business plan and outlook. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on Helport AI’s current expectations and projections about future events that Helport AI believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. Helport AI undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although Helport AI believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and Helport AI cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in Helport AI’s registration statement and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Helport AI Investor Relations:

Meredith Fan
[email protected]
https://ir.helport.ai

External Investor Relations Contact:

Chris Tyson 
Executive Vice President
MZ North America
Direct: 949-491-8235
[email protected]
www.mzgroup.us

2024 revenue surpassed the predefined performance milestone of $3,712,500 

Silver Spring, MD, Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BTCS Inc. (Nasdaq: BTCS) (“BTCS” or the “Company”), a leader in blockchain infrastructure and technology, issued a letter to its shareholders describing the Company’s recent achievements and goals for 2025, including surpassing its predefined revenue performance target of $3,712,500. Further, the Company unveiled its refreshed investor presentation and a revamped website, accessible at www.btcs.com. These developments align with the Company’s strategy to effectively communicate its business model and growth opportunities.

The letter from Charles Allen, CEO of BTCS, is reprinted below in its entirety.

Dear Shareholders,

As we move forward into 2025, I am excited to reflect on the significant progress BTCS has made and to share our vision for the future. The past year has been a pivotal one for us. We have been diligently heads down focused on building the business, expanding our team with talented new employees, and navigating through rigorous inquiries from the SEC—challenges that now seem to be behind us.

Reflecting on our journey, it’s essential to recall our early recognition of the crypto market’s potential. In 2014, I identified growth opportunities in Bitcoin mining, and by year-end, BTCS became the first public company to mine Bitcoin. However, being ahead of the curve came with its challenges. In 2015, a steep 72% drop in Bitcoin’s price tested our resilience, and our operations could not withstand the downturn. By 2017, early investors in BTCS backed what would become major players in the market, specifically Riot Platforms and Marathon Holdings. Notably, I played a significant role in Marathon’s early days, when they had a mere $10 million market capitalization, providing them with a turnkey business model in connection with a merger that didn’t come to fruition. We were also the first public company to offer a digital asset treasury in 2017, three years before the likes of MicroStrategy entered the crypto market; though we were too early and too small to get noticed. However, our crypto treasury strategy laid the foundation for our current operations. For over a decade, I have sought the next regulatory-compliant, transformative opportunity in the crypto market that aligns with public market standards. This quest has finally culminated in the launch of our block-building operations in early 2024. I firmly believe that Ethereum infrastructure—focused on block-building and validation—presents the most compelling growth opportunity I’ve ever witnessed in the crypto space, surpassing even the early days of Bitcoin mining in 2017. Unlike traditional bitcoin mining operations that require substantial capital investments in hardware with depreciating value, our approach to vertically integrated Ethereum block-building and validation offers exceptional revenue growth potential without high capital constraints. We effectively offer the best of both worlds: direct Ethereum exposure, akin to MicroStrategy, and the growth potential of a 2017-era Bitcoin miner—all without the burden of intensive capital expenditures. Going forward we aim to be the leading Ethereum blockchain infrastructure company and are currently the only pure-play, publicly traded company focused on this strategy.

These are not pie-in-the-sky over-optimistic comments that many are accustomed to hearing from CEOs; they are backed by numbers. While I’ll need to wait for the audit completion to disclose our full-year 2024 revenue, I am proud to share that our unaudited revenue for 2024 surpassed the predefined performance milestone of $3,712,500 over a 177% gain from 2023. This achievement was a key factor in determining 2024 executive performance-based bonuses. Our executive compensation program for 2025 is once again fully performance-based, focusing on measurable outcomes to align leadership incentives with long-term shareholder value. For 2025, the compensation committee has yet again set ambitious targets with a clear progression: a revenue threshold of $4 million, a target of $8 million, and a cutoff of $20 million. You can read more details in the 8-K filed on January 2, 2025. While we cannot provide assurances or guarantees of future performance, our team’s goal is to exceed the $20 million cutoff, striving for the benefit of our shareholders and to further align with the company’s broader strategic objectives of driving sustainable growth and value creation.

Just as we led the charge in 2014 by becoming the first public company to mine Bitcoin, we are now pioneering Ethereum infrastructure and block-building in the public markets, making us the first and only public company with this focus. As we look to 2025 and beyond, our commitment to innovation, strategic growth, and shareholder value remains unwavering. While we were heads down and quiet for much of 2023 and 2024, we were laying the groundwork for the future. We are excited to share more over the coming weeks and months so stay tuned. Furthermore, the Company and I plan to be more active on social media, recognizing that most of our shareholders utilize platforms they’re more accustomed to instead of our SEC filings. Please follow our official X accounts: @Charles_BTCS and @Nasdaq_BTCS.

Lastly, a friendly reminder to our February 6, 2023, call to action press release: did you know that in 2023, Charles Schwab made $419 million loaning retail holders’ shares to short sellers to bet against them? If you care about our stock price as I do, please do your part and stop your broker from lending your shares to short sellers who bet against us. You can do this by moving your shares to a cash account instead of a margin account. I wonder what would happen if our 30k+ shareholders all moved their shares to cash accounts on the same day?

Thank you for your continued support and trust in BTCS.

Sincerely,

Charles Allen
CEO, BTCS Inc.

About BTCS:

BTCS Inc. (Nasdaq: BTCS) is a U.S.-based blockchain infrastructure technology company currently focused on driving scalable revenue growth through its blockchain infrastructure operations. BTCS has honed its expertise in blockchain network operations, particularly in block building and validator node management. Its branded block-building operation, Builder+, leverages advanced algorithms to optimize block construction for on-chain validation, thus maximizing gas fee revenues. BTCS also supports other blockchain networks by operating validator nodes and staking its crypto assets across multiple proof-of-stake networks, allowing crypto holders to delegate assets to BTCS-managed nodes. In addition, the Company has developed ChainQ, an AI-powered blockchain data analytics platform, which enhances user access and engagement within the blockchain ecosystem. Committed to innovation and adaptability, BTCS is strategically positioned to expand its blockchain operations and infrastructure beyond Ethereum as the ecosystem evolves. Explore how BTCS is revolutionizing blockchain infrastructure in the public markets by visiting www.btcs.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this shareholder letter constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding SEC inquiries/investigation being behind us, growth opportunities, belief regarding the Ethereum infrastructure presenting the most compelling growth opportunity, and exceptional revenue growth potential. Words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” “predict,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “intend” or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation the SEC seeking further information about our business, regulatory issues, the new administration’s failure to favor the crypto landscape as much as expected, unexpected issues with Builder+, and unexpected issues with ChainQ, as well as risks set forth in BTCS’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Thus, actual results could be materially different. BTCS expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor Relations:

Charles Allen – CEO
X (formerly Twitter): @Charles_BTCS
Email: [email protected]

OLD GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: STRR; STRRP) (“Star” or the “Company”), a diversified holding company, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, KBS Builders, Inc. (“KBS”), has signed a $3.2 million contract to manufacture a multifamily housing project in Maine.

The $3.2 million contract calls for the manufacturing of 40 modules to construct five 4-unit townhouse condominiums in Lincoln County, Maine. Production is expected to commence in January, with delivery to be completed in the second quarter of 2025. This project is the second of the two “future potential contracts totaling over $5 million” referenced in Star’s third quarter 2024 earnings release with the first being the $2.1 million Vermont project announced on December 19.

Rick Coleman, CEO of Star, noted, “This project marks another multifamily housing win for us in Maine and further solidifies KBS’ strong reputation and market position in New England. We are pleased with the recent pace at which we have been converting large commercial projects from our sales pipeline into booked backlog.”

Mr. Coleman added, “We believe our location and expertise uniquely position us to address the shortage of housing in New England and allow us to provide best-in-class construction solutions for our customers.”

About Star Equity Holdings, Inc.


Star Equity Holdings, Inc. is a diversified holding company currently composed of two divisions: Building Solutions and Investments.

Building Solutions

Our Building Solutions division operates in three businesses: (i) modular building manufacturing; (ii) structural wall panel and wood foundation manufacturing, including building supply distribution operations; and (iii) glue-laminated timber (glulam) column, beam, and truss manufacturing.

Investments

Our Investments division manages and finances the Company’s real estate assets as well as its investment positions in private and public companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this release that are not statements of historical fact are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking Statements include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to acquisitions and related integration, development of commercially viable products, novel technologies, and modern applicable services, (ii) projections of income (including income/loss), EBITDA, earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, free cash flow (FCF), capital expenditures, cost reductions, capital structure or other financial items, (iii) the future financial performance of the Company or acquisition targets and (iv) the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described above. Moreover, forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions on the Company’s part. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “plan”, “should”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “will be”, “will continue” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events, or circumstances and may not be realized because they are based upon the Company’s current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences, many of which the Company has no control over. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described above as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the inaccuracy of forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, the substantial amount of debt of the Company and the Company’s ability to repay or refinance it or incur additional debt in the future; the Company’s need for a significant amount of cash to service and repay the debt and to pay dividends on the Company’s preferred stock; the restrictions contained in the debt agreements that limit the discretion of management in operating the business; legal, regulatory, political and economic risks in markets and public health crises that reduce economic activity and cause restrictions on operations (including the recent coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak); the length of time associated with servicing customers; losses of significant contracts or failure to get potential contracts being discussed; disruptions in the relationship with third party vendors; accounts receivable turnover; insufficient cash flows and resulting lack of liquidity; the Company’s inability to expand the Company’s business; unfavorable changes in the extensive governmental legislation and regulations governing healthcare providers and the provision of healthcare services and the competitive impact of such changes (including unfavorable changes to reimbursement policies); high costs of regulatory compliance; the liability and compliance costs regarding environmental regulations; the underlying condition of the technology support industry; the lack of product diversification; development and introduction of new technologies and intense competition in the healthcare industry; existing or increased competition; risks to the price and volatility of the Company’s common stock and preferred stock; stock volatility and in liquidity; risks to preferred stockholders of not receiving dividends and risks to the Company’s ability to pursue growth opportunities if the Company continues to pay dividends according to the terms of the Company’s preferred stock; the Company’s ability to execute on its business strategy (including any cost reduction plans); the Company’s failure to realize expected benefits of restructuring and cost-cutting actions; the Company’s ability to preserve and monetize its net operating losses; risks associated with the Company’s possible pursuit of acquisitions; the Company’s ability to consummate successful acquisitions and execute related integration, as well as factors related to the Company’s business including economic and financial market conditions generally and economic conditions in the Company’s markets; failure to keep pace with evolving technologies and difficulties integrating technologies; system failures; losses of key management personnel and the inability to attract and retain highly qualified management and personnel in the future; and the continued demand for and market acceptance of the Company’s services. For a detailed discussion of cautionary statements and risks that may affect the Company’s future results of operations and financial results, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. This release reflects management’s views as of the date presented.

All forward-looking statements are necessarily only estimates of future results, and there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations, and, therefore, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

NEW YORK, Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fluent, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLNT), a leading commerce media solutions company, today announced the addition of several new media partners to its commerce media network, reflecting the growth of the Company’s Commerce Media Solutions.

Top-tier brands such as Fanatics, Vivid Seats, Barnes & Noble College, Forever 21, Belk, Bealls Florida, and Hammacher Schlemmer are now partnered with Fluent to capitalize on the rapidly growing opportunities in commerce media and generate new revenue streams for their businesses. By seamlessly integrating non-endemic advertising across their sites and mobile apps, partners can enhance the customer experience with personalized offers that deepen brand loyalty and maximize customer monetization.

“We’re proud to work with such an impressive roster of media partners across retail, grocery, ticketing, quick-service restaurants, and other emerging verticals,” said Tim Lukens, President of Commerce Media Solutions at Fluent. “With a growing media network comprised of over 100 million annual transactions, we aim to maximize revenue opportunities for partners, increase conversion rates for advertisers, and build more meaningful experiences for consumers.”

Fluent’s first-party identity graph and advanced AI-driven algorithms are a key differentiator among industry peers, enhancing ad relevance, boosting conversions, and creating stronger and more profitable connections between brands and consumers.

The commerce media sector continues to expand rapidly, with Boston Consulting Group estimating it will grow to $100 billion within five years, accounting for over 25% of digital media spending by 2026¹.

Fluent’s Commerce Media Solutions reflect this momentum, reporting a 341% year-over-year revenue increase in Q3 2024, rising to $10.4 million (16% of total revenue) from $2.3 million (3% of total revenue) in Q3 2023. With an annual recurring revenue run rate exceeding $50 million, Fluent’s Commerce Media Solutions demonstrate strong traction as the company executes a strategic pivot towards the fast-growing commerce media market.

¹Boston Consulting Group, How Retail Media is Reshaping Retail

About Fluent, Inc.

Fluent, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLNT) has been a leader in performance marketing since 2010, offering customer acquisition and partner monetization solutions that exceed client expectations. Leveraging untapped channels and diverse ad inventory across partner ecosystems and owned sites, Fluent connects brands with consumers at the most optimal moment, ensuring impactful engagement when it matters most. Constantly innovating and optimizing for performance, Fluent unlocks additional revenue streams for partners and empowers advertisers to acquire their most valuable customers at scale. For more insights visit https://www.fluentco.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “would,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “objective,” or comparable terminology referencing future events, conditions or circumstances, or the negative of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements about the Company’s expected growth and results of its strategic shift. Although Fluent believes that it has a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, they are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations about future events and circumstances and are subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. These risks, described under “Risk Factors” in Fluent’s most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K, as updated from time to time in Fluent’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements in this press release. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Fluent undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

Contact Information:

Investor Relations
Fluent, Inc.
[email protected]

Agreement covers 11 existing brands, supports launch 8 additional premium brands with Smoker Friendly retail and dealer locations

Creates foundation to launch additional reduced nicotine content brands in 2025

MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), a tobacco products company that is leading the fight against nicotine and believes smokers should have a choice about their nicotine consumption, today announced the completion of a new license and manufacturing agreement with Smoker Friendly, one of the largest independent cigarette retailers in the United States. The agreement includes 11 SF brands currently sold in the Smoker Friendly network of retail stores and dealers in the U.S., plus another eight new SF premium brands to be launched and establishes a framework for other planned future products to be added. 

The new five-year agreement builds on a business relationship of more than a decade and further secures a longstanding 22nd Century customer while opening additional opportunities for mutual expansion.

The 11 existing SF brands represent substantial contract manufacturing volume for 22nd Century’s MSA compliant facility in North Carolina. The eight new premium products to be launched will focus on the natural segment of the market, a new entry further expanding Smoker Friendly’s addressable market opportunity and volumes with 22nd Century. The brands are expected to occupy a premium position in the market as compared to lower tier products. 

The company also expects to expand on the master services agreement, such as integrating the existing filtered cigar business from Smoker Friendly and adding a reduced nicotine content brand that complements 22nd Century Group’s VLN product line. Adding a reduced nicotine content product would not only expand Smoker Friendly’s product line, but also provide additional options to customers interested in controlling their nicotine intake using its VLN^® reduced nicotine branded products.

“This agreement is foundational and represents the next era of Smoker Friendly’s long-standing relationship with 22nd Century, expanding the business opportunity for both companies,” said Larry Firestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group. “It also demonstrates the possibilities available to brands who want to use our integrated platform for licensing, predicate, manufacturing and other needs.

“Our next focus will be to expand the range of products covered under this agreement as well as our projects currently underway to add VLN companion brands that will help to build out a new category of reduced nicotine content products, creating greater visibility and sales reach for products that use our proprietary tobacco strains containing 95% less nicotine – a level considered to be non-addictive and shown in clinical studies to reduce smoking activity among adult smokers.”

“I am excited to align our business with dedicated manufacturing, licensing and distribution capabilities from 22nd Century, as well as secure new growth opportunities with additional products and brands that our customers are seeking,” said Keelan Gallagher, Vice President Operations at Smoker Friendly. “22nd Century provides not only high quality manufacturing, but also important predicate blends and additional product capabilities that will help us to further integrate our supply chain while adding new products.”

About 22nd Century Group, Inc.

22nd Century Group is the pioneering nicotine harm reduction company in the tobacco industry enabling smokers to take control of their nicotine consumption.

We created our flagship product, the VLN^® cigarette, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and familiar alternative that helps them take control of their nicotine consumption. VLN^® cigarettes have 95% less nicotine than the traditional cigarette and have been proven to greatly reduce nicotine consumption. Instead of offering new ways of delivering nicotine to addicted smokers, we offer smokers the option to take control of their nicotine consumption and make informed and more productive choices, including the choice to avoid addictive levels of nicotine altogether.

Our wholly owned subsidiaries include a leading cigarette manufacturer that produces all VLN^® products and provides turnkey contract manufacturing for other tobacco brands both domestically and internationally. The 60,000 square foot facility in Mocksville, North Carolina has the capacity to produce more than 45 million cartons of combusted tobacco products annually with additional space for expansion.

Our proprietary reduced nicotine tobacco blends are made possible by comprehensive and patented technologies that regulate nicotine biosynthesis activities in the tobacco plant, resulting in full flavor and high yield with 95% less nicotine. Our extensive patent portfolio has been developed to ensure we have the only low nicotine combustible cigarette in the United States and critical international markets. Our mission is to sell the last cigarette before the 22nd Century.

VLN^® and Helps You Smoke Less^® are registered trademarks of 22nd Century Limited LLC.

Learn more at xxiicentury.com, on X (formerly Twitter), on LinkedIn, and on YouTube.

Learn more about VLN^® at tryvln.com.

About The Cigarette Store LLC dba Smoker Friendly

Boulder, Colorado based Smoker Friendly operates 344 stores in 13 states. The stores are a mix of tobacco stores, cigar lounges, liquor stores, and fueling locations under the names Smoker Friendly, Tobacco Depot, Smoke ‘N Go, Havana Manor, and Gasamat.

The Smoker Friendly team also manages the Smoker Friendly Authorized Dealer program. This program provides a total tobacco private label portfolio, industry expertise, a well-known name, and geographic exclusivity to tobacco retailers desiring an alternative to the contracts offered by big tobacco.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our full year business outlook. Forward-looking statements typically contain terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “explore,” “foresee,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “preliminary,” “probable,” “project,” “promising,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) our cost reduction initiatives, (ii) our expectations regarding regulatory enforcement, including our ability to receive an exemption from new regulations, (iii) our financial and operating performance and (iv) our expectations for our business interruption insurance claim. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 28, 2024, and in the Company’s Quarterly Reports filed on May 15, 2024, August 13, 2024 and November 11, 2024. All information provided in this release is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Investor Relations & Media Contact

Matt Kreps
Investor Relations
22nd Century Group
[email protected]
214-597-8200

MIAMI, Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EzFill Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EZFL), a leading mobile fueling company, today announced the completion of its purchase of a fleet of trucks from Shell Retail and Convenience Operations LLC (“Shell”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Oil Products US. By integrating these trucks into its existing fleet, EzFill has significantly bolstered its operational capacity and expanded its service footprint in Texas while launching in Arizona and furthering its mission to provide efficient and reliable fueling solutions across its growing service areas.

The transaction closed on December 27, 2024. As a result, EzFill has officially commenced operations in four new markets: Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston, and Austin; and expanded operations in Dallas. EzFill has started integrating the Shell trucks into its fast-growing infrastructure.

The goals of the acquisition include:

Expanding EzFill’s Fleet: The acquisition adds 73 trucks, increasing the fleet to 139. This expansion will bolster operational capacity, allowing the Company to handle a larger volume of commercial accounts and ensure timely service delivery in new and existing markets. EzFill expects to deliver approximately 16 million gallons with these new trucks alone, in 2025.

Experiencing Market Growth and Further National Expansion: With the purchase, EzFill now has a presence in 6 states and 14 markets, including: Miami, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix.

“The expansion of our fleet and the opening of new markets is a significant milestone in our journey toward achieving national operations and a strong market presence,” said EzFill CEO Yehuda Levy. “We grew this company from a small four-truck operation in Miami Beach and are now operating 139 trucks across the country. As one of the largest app-based mobile fueling companies, we hope to deliver upwards of 26 million gallons and produce over $100 million in revenues in 2025. We will continue to grow consistent service standards and visibility while leveraging economies of scale to improve efficiency and competitiveness. Furthermore, we believe this new expansion will help us achieve the scale needed to reach profitability in the near term.”

Alongside recent strategic moves such as acquiring Yoshi Mobility’s fuel division, EzFill remains focused on driving innovation, scaling its service model, and delivering enhanced value to customers across a growing national footprint.

About EzFill Holdings, Inc.

EzFill is a Miami-based on-demand mobile fueling service that provides fuel delivery directly to consumers and businesses, eliminating the need for traditional gas stations. As one of the largest mobile fuel delivery platforms in the United States, EzFill focuses on convenience, safety, and efficiency for its users. Visit us at ezfl.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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Investor Contact:

PCG Advisory
Jeff Ramson
[email protected]

FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enovix Corporation (“Enovix”) (Nasdaq: ENVX), a Silicon Valley high-performance battery manufacturing company, today announced it received a sizable pre-paid purchase order from a Silicon Valley-based global technology leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and immersive technologies. The order is for a cutting-edge battery solution tailored for next-generation head-worn Mixed Reality (MR) wearables. These batteries will support the revolution of smart glasses, augmented reality devices, and other pioneering products in the MR space. Under the terms of the agreement, Enovix is scheduled to deliver initial shipments by mid-2025, solidifying its position as a leader in delivering breakthrough battery solutions.

Enovix CEO Dr. Raj Talluri commented, “I’m incredibly excited for Enovix to be selected by another leading OEM in this emerging space. This is a defining moment for Enovix. It not only adds meaningful contracted backlog for Fab2 in Penang, Malaysia, but also firmly establishes Enovix as a trusted partner for custom battery development with one of the largest and most influential companies driving AI and MR innovation. MR headsets are an ideal application for our unique 3D silicon anode technology, which meets the demanding requirements for high energy density, compact form factors, and unparalleled performance. With the launch of EX-1M this year and EX-2M slated for 2026, Enovix is committed to bolstering the MR ecosystem by delivering bespoke battery solutions that empower next-generation devices. This agreement underscores our leadership in advancing battery technology to power the devices of tomorrow.”

About Enovix

Enovix is on a mission to deliver high-performance batteries to unlock the full potential of technology products. Every electronic appliance – for IoT, mobile, and computing – needs a better battery. Enovix is partnering with OEMs worldwide to usher in a new era of user experiences. Our innovative, materials-agnostic battery architecture creates higher-performing batteries without compromising safety and keeps us on the cutting-edge.

Enovix is headquartered in Silicon Valley with facilities in India, Korea and Malaysia. For more information visit www.enovix.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

For media and investor inquiries, please contact: Robert Lahey Email: [email protected]