Market Newsdesk

OAKVILLE, Ontario, April 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Terrestrial Energy has signed an engineering and construction services agreement with Aecon Group Inc. to support construction planning for an Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR), Generation IV advanced nuclear power plant. Under this agreement, Aecon will review Terrestrial Energy’s construction costs and schedules for IMSR, as well as undertake constructability, modularization, and supplier assessments for a broad range of activities including plans for site development and heavy civil construction.

Aecon Nuclear is the largest nuclear constructor in Canada. It provides a full spectrum of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services, with specialized service capabilities unique to the nuclear industry. Aecon’s nuclear qualifications cover a broad range of specialized engineering and construction services. It continues to play a critical role in the ongoing success of the two largest nuclear refurbishment projects in Ontario, which underscores its proven reputation as a partner-of-choice for planning, site preparation, construction and commissioning of Small Modular Reactors (SMR). To support the nuclear sector in Canada, Aecon maintains a nuclear quality management system compliant to the requirements of relevant nuclear standards including CSA Standards.

“One of our focus areas is to support SMR vendors and SMR deployment, where we can leverage our existing capabilities and resources in this fast-developing market,” said Sean Sexstone, Senior Vice President, Aecon Nuclear. “We are pleased to support Terrestrial Energy and look forward to assisting further with the Company’s IMSR power plant needs.”

“We are making consistent progress with engineering, procurement and regulatory programs, all needed for first Canadian deployment of an IMSR power plant as early as 2028,” said Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy. “This agreement with Aecon ensures that IMSR deployment is supported by expert engineering and construction resources, particularly those to confirm construction costs, construction schedule and pre-construction plans.”

About Terrestrial Energy

Terrestrial Energy is a developer of Generation IV advanced nuclear power plants that use its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR^®) technology. IMSR^® technology represents true innovation in cost reduction, versatility and functionality of nuclear power plants. IMSR^® power plants will provide zero-carbon, reliable, dispatchable, cost-competitive electric power and high-grade industrial heat for use in many industrial applications, such as chemical synthesis and desalination, and in so doing extend the application of nuclear energy far beyond electric power markets. They have the potential to make important contributions to industrial competitiveness, energy security, and economic growth. Their deployment will support rapid global decarbonization of the primary energy system by displacing fossil fuel combustion across a broad spectrum. Using an innovative design, and proven and demonstrated molten salt reactor technology, Terrestrial Energy is engaged with regulators and industrial partners to complete IMSR^® engineering and to commission first IMSR^® power plants in the late 2020s.  

About Aecon

As a Canadian leader in construction and infrastructure development with global expertise, Aecon Group Inc. (TSX: ARE) strives to be the number one Canadian infrastructure company and is proud to be recognized as one of the Best Employers in Canada. Aecon safely, profitably and sustainably delivers integrated solutions to private and public-sector clients through its Construction segment in the Civil, Urban Transportation, Nuclear, Utility and Industrial sectors, and provides project development, financing, investment and management services through its Concessions segment. Join our online community on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram @AeconGroup.

Contact: Brian Smith Terrestrial Energy Phone: +1 (416) 822-3130 Email: [email protected] Contact: Jarret Adams Terrestrial Energy Phone: +1 (202) 815-9234 Email: [email protected] Website: www.terrestrialenergy.com E-mail: [email protected] Social Media Facebook: TerrestrialMSR Twitter: TerrestrialMSR YouTube: Terrestrial Energy LinkedIn: Terrestrial-Energy-Inc Instagram: Terrestrial.Energy Keywords Environment Climate Nuclear Energy Construction EPC

Contact: Mark Schildroth Manager, Corporate Affairs, Aecon Phone: +1 (647) 317-9196 Email: [email protected] Contact: Greg Thede Aecon Nuclear Phone: +1 (519) 239-3156 Email: [email protected] Website: aecon.com Social Media Facebook: Aecon Group Inc.         Twitter: AeconGroup         Instagram: aecongroupinc         LinkedIn: Aecon Group Inc.         Keywords Environnent Climate Nuclear Energy Construction EPC

 

• The partnership aims to innovate 5G and Mobile Edge Compute (MEC) virtual-reality applications for enterprise, public sector, education and entertainment
• Verizon and Dreamscape Learn will form a 5G innovation lab to develop immersive VR learning experiences for various education levels and environments
• As part of the partnership, Verizon Ventures has taken an equity stake in Dreamscape
  

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., April 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verizon and Dreamscape Immersive today announced a partnership aimed at innovating virtual reality (VR) applications using 5G and mobile edge computing (MEC). The partnership’s first priorities will focus on 5G immersive-learning and training innovations for use in enterprise, public sector, and education environments.

“Verizon’s partnership with Dreamscape shows how innovative tech built on our 5G network can revolutionize industries,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. “Using 5G and Edge computing, we are creating immensely powerful and complex VR experiences using lower-cost, tetherless VR hardware, and advancing VR education and training simulations beyond what was previously thought possible. This opens the door to new experiences and makes VR training more accessible for students, trainees, and professionals.”

“Dreamscape is founded on the premise that we can think beyond physical limitations to create new ways for our world to learn, play, and work. With Verizon as our partner, we’re able to push the limits of VR. Together, we’ll set the standard for VR innovation and application in every field,” said Walter Parkes, CEO of Dreamscape.

As Dreamscape’s official 5G innovation partner, Verizon has taken an equity stake in Dreamscape through Verizon Ventures, joining a list of Dreamscape investors and partners across entertainment, education, and government.

Verizon and Dreamscape Learn, a partnership between Dreamscape and Arizona State University, will work together to innovate immersive VR learning experiences for various education levels and environments. To accelerate these advances, Dreamscape and Verizon will also form a dedicated innovation lab to incubate 5G- and MEC-enabled VR-learning applications.

“Dreamscape Learn’s goal is to marry the emotionality of Hollywood storytelling with cutting-edge technology and advanced pedagogical theories to provide vivid, active VR environments in which the student becomes a scientist explorer, discovering new worlds and solving complex issues and problems,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow. “This is a completely new and transformative approach to education, and through the power of Verizon’s 5G network, we can deliver these singular experiences to a whole generation of learners, inspiring them to think outside of the box and challenge traditional learning models and outcomes.”

Outside of the classroom, Verizon and Dreamscape will collaborate to develop and market avatar-driven synthetic training and simulation experiences for government and specialized professional learning uses. The experiences will combine Verizon’s 5G capabilities and Dreamscape’s ADEPT (Avatar Driven Educational and Practical Training) Platform, which leverages Dreamscape’s proprietary tracking and rendering technologies, to deliver vivid and life-like VR scenarios.

Dreamscape’s revolutionary VR platform combines Hollywood storytelling with proprietary full-body tracking technology to allow a level of immersion, precision and interaction never before achieved in the industry. By merging motion capture with body mapping and advanced kinematics, Dreamscape experiences allow large groups to interact with each other with ultra-low latency. Paired with the fast speeds, ultra-low latency, and high bandwidth of Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband, which is available in parts of select cities, and 5G Edge platform, the partnership will aim to create low lag immersive applications that unlock the power of connectivity, remote networking, and virtual collaboration.

About Verizon Communications Inc.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $128.3 billion in 2020. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control.

About Dreamscape Immersive

Dreamscape Immersive is a world-leading VR company which combines the emotional power of Hollywood storytelling and the visceral excitement of great theme-park rides with a proprietary full-body tracking technology to create pioneering experiences for entertainment, education, and enterprise solutions. Backed by some of the biggest names in entertainment and media – including WarnerMedia, Viacom, AMC, Steven Spielberg, and Hans Zimmer – Dreamscape VR provides for a level of user-engagement never before experienced in the industry.

Dreamscape has now extended its state-of-the-art VR platform and immersive content capabilities to students, researchers, and educators via Dreamscape Learn, a new partnership with the nation’s leading innovator in education, Arizona State University.

Dreamscape was founded in 2017 by an unlikely pairing: an extraordinary group of Swiss technologists with roots in medicine called Artanim and a mix of proven leaders in entertainment who came together under a collective mission: to leverage singular VR technology with Hollywood-certified storytelling to create unforgettable virtual reality experiences. Dreamscape’s founders include its CEO, former producer, screenwriter and former head of DreamWorks Motion Pictures Walter Parkes; former Chief Creative Officer of Disney Imagineering, Bruce Vaughn; global music events producer and serial entrepreneur Kevin Wall; and global live events producer, Aaron Grosky; Swiss computer scientists Caecilia Charbonnier and Sylvain Chagué; entrepreneur Ronald Menzel.

The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with a facility in Geneva. Its location-based VR venues began rolling out across the US and Middle East in December 2018, with additional domestic and international locations coming soon. Dreamscape Learn is set to rollout in 2021. To learn more about Dreamscape Immersive, visit our corporate site at corp.dreamscapeimmersive.com.

VERIZON’S ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at verizon.com/news. News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/.

Media contact:
Matt Conte
[email protected]
917-848-3040

NEW YORK, April 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Creative Spirit is the first 501c3 non-profit organization devoted to finding fair-wage integrated positions at the best companies in the world for individuals with intellectual, developmental and learning disabilities (IDDs) – the largest, most impoverished minority population. Those with IDD’s are unemployed at an astounding 85% and there has been no meaningful progress since the passing of the ADA over 30 years ago. In honor of Autism Awareness Month and in anticipation of the growing number of college graduates with disabilities, Creative Spirit released the first large-scale research study, titled #HireDifferent, that reveals the obstacles to hiring neurodiverse talent. Creative Spirit engaged 250 corporate decision-makers responsible for hiring to determine the attitudes, behaviors and barriers to hiring those with IDD’s into fair-wage integrated positions.

Diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace has been challenged with many moments of reckoning amid the #BLM movement and insidious social happenings in the past year. Individuals with IDDs are a minority constituency that repeatedly get lost amid talks about DE&I. The premise of the research is to capture baseline hiring practices data, hiring data specifically related to IDDs, and a reaction to the Creative Spirit model.

“Neurodiversity is a sector of DE&I that is most often overlooked in the workforce and this has gone on for far too long,” said Laurel Rossi, Co-Founder and CEO of Creative Spirit. “The barriers found in the study are things we can easily overcome – especially in an era where technology prevails, there is a growing minimum wage and tremendous workforce mobility. Our goal in commissioning and publishing this research is to provide direction for businesses – guiding them towards hiring, retaining and supporting individuals with IDDs and allowing candidates with disabilities to become a fundamental part of their hiring process.”

The main findings derived from the research clearly indicated:

• Almost all decision-makers who took part in the study, believed that hiring candidates with IDDs is good for business.
• The most prominent barriers to or myths about hiring people with IDDs are:

	1.	There is no centralized pipeline of candidates with IDDs, with over 45% of respondents in agreement.
	2.	Despite the fact that 87% of decision-makers have diversity hiring ambitions, 47% of respondents believe that they would need tremendous resources to be successful at hiring those with IDDs, and therefore do not follow through with hiring.
	3.	The majority of decision-makers do not believe that those with disabilities are able to do the work required to be successful, in spite of the growing education levels and modern work skills training.

Creative Spirit has established a robust pipeline of individuals with IDDs, provides corporate diversity training and the skills training, coaching and mentoring necessary to ensure the long-term success of those with disabilities in fair-wage integrated jobs. The good news in the study was near ubiquitous interest among corporate decision-makers in hiring those with IDDs after exposure to the services that Creative Spirit provides.

About Creative Spirit

Creative Spirit is a non-profit 501c3 organization devoted to creating integrated employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Our mission is simple: to create and support the successful placement of individuals with IDDs at the most creative, forward-thinking companies in the world. Creative Spirit was born and is dedicated to providing the opportunity for employers to be matched with individuals who are loyal, enthusiastic, qualified, and bring a new kind of energy to any organization. The goal is to create 1 million jobs during this decade, for the upwards of 10 million people with IDDs in the US alone who are currently unemployed—a staggering 85% of ready, willing, and able adults. Creative Spirit offers corporate training and consulting to organizations interested in adding disability to their DE&I agenda. Currently, 15% of those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) who work are subject to significant pay gaps or go unpaid altogether. This is a global crisis, and likely the most profound human rights employment issue of our time, yet it goes unsolved.

Contact Creative Spirit at www.creativespirit-us.org and follow along on social across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Register for our annual gala on May 6^th, HERE #hiredifferent

Media Contact:
Jaime Rice
[email protected] 

Therapeutic Vaccine Would Address Medical Need of Over 250 Million Worldwide

Atlanta, GA, April 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NewMediaWire — GeoVax Labs, Inc. (NasdaqCM: GOVX) (“GeoVax” or the “Company”), a biotechnology company developing human immunotherapies and vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for Patent Application No. 16/305,305 entitled “Composition and Methods of Generating an Immune Response to Hepatitis B Virus.”

The work supporting the patent application was performed through a collaboration between GeoVax and Georgia State University and the patent is jointly owned by the Company and the Georgia State University Research Foundation (GSURF).

David Dodd, GeoVax’s Chairman & CEO, commented, “There is a clear, critical unmet medical need to treat chronic HBV infections, which affects over 250 million people worldwide. For many infected people, Hepatitis B has become a long-term, chronic infection that can lead to serious, or even life-threatening health issues like cirrhosis or liver cancer. Multiple vaccines exist to protect against HBV infection, but they cannot help patients already diagnosed with the disease. Although chronic HBV can be treated with drugs, the treatments do not cure 95% of patients, only suppressing the replication of the virus, forcing those who begin such treatments to continue with them for the rest of their lives.

“While our corporate focus and development priorities continue to be our COVID-19 vaccine and cancer immunotherapy programs, developing a treatment for chronic Hepatitis B infections is also of interest and under consideration as part of our longer-term focus.  This patent allowance adds to our growing portfolio of wholly owned, co-owned, and in-licensed intellectual property, which now stands at over 70 granted or pending patent applications spread over 20 patent families,” concluded Mr. Dodd.

“This project is a good example of how the combined expertise and talent of academic researchers and industry partners can solve problems, innovate, and create value,” added Clifford Michaels, Ph.D., Director of Georgia State University’s Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization. “We were excited to partner with GeoVax on this project and are looking forward to seeing this technology continue to advance.” 

About GeoVax

GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing human vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer using a novel patented Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Virus Like Particle (MVA-VLP) based vaccine platform. On this platform, MVA, a large virus capable of carrying several vaccine antigens, expresses proteins that assemble into VLP immunogens in the person receiving the vaccine. The production of VLPs in the person being vaccinated can mimic virus production in a natural infection, stimulating both the humoral and cellular arms of the immune system to recognize, prevent, and control the target infection. The MVA-VLP derived vaccines can elicit durable immune responses in the host similar to a live-attenuated virus, while providing the safety characteristics of a replication-defective vector.

GeoVax’s current development programs are focused on preventive vaccines against COVID-19, HIV, Zika Virus, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, and Lassa), and malaria, as well as therapeutic vaccines against multiple cancers. The Company has designed a preventive HIV vaccine candidate to fight against the subtype of HIV prevalent in the commercial markets of the Americas, Western Europe, Japan, and Australia; human clinical trials for this program are managed by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) with the support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). GeoVax’s HIV vaccine is also part of two separate collaborative efforts to apply its innovative gene therapy approach toward a functional cure for HIV.

About Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)

The creation of our MVA viral vectors described in our patent filings was made possible through contribution of materials and methods developed in the laboratory of Dr. Bernard Moss of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Laboratory of Viral Diseases (LVD).

Forward-Looking Statements

This release and the related conference call contain forward-looking statements regarding GeoVax’s business plans and financial results. The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, including whether: GeoVax is able to realize potential benefits from the patent protection it has received, GeoVax’s vaccines can provoke the desired immune responses, and those vaccines can be used effectively as a primary or booster to other vaccines, GeoVax’s viral vector technology adequately amplifies immune responses to cancer antigens, GeoVax can develop and manufacture its vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax’s vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax’s vaccines will effectively prevent targeted infections in humans, GeoVax’s vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete vaccine development, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax’s products, GeoVax will be able to enter into favorable manufacturing and distribution agreements, and other factors, over which GeoVax has no control.

Further information on our risk factors is contained in our registration statement on Form S-1 and the periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K that we have filed and will file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. 

GeoVax Labs, Inc.
6783847220
[email protected]

norcross, April 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GWC Warranty and MAS Financial Services are pleased to announce they have entered into a strategic partnership, combining GWC’s industry-leading F&I solutions for used vehicles with MAS Financial’s competitive financing options for dealers. 

MAS Financial Services, specializing in the financing and servicing of subprime automobile loans, has provided dealerships in California with financing options and superior customer service for over 15 years. With a focus on flexibility, MAS offers solutions that allow dealers to provide financing to customers who may not be able to go through traditional means. Partnering with GWC will enable MAS’s dealer partners to offer F&I products tailored to their customers, keeping buyers on the road and protecting their investment.

“This alliance means MAS dealers can provide the kind of experience that keeps customers coming back, supported by GWC’s expertise and focus on providing solutions that generate value,” says Wendy Pratt, Area Vice President of Strategic Alliances for GWC Warranty. “In addition to offering industry-leading F&I products designed to best-serve buyers and protect dealer reputations, MAS partners now have an additional avenue to drive profit and protect their portfolio.” 

Since 1995, GWC has built a strong reputation for delivering a best-in-class experience for partners and consumers. With over $3.5 billion in claims paid and 11 million drivers protected as part of APCO Holdings, LLC, this relationship allows MAS to benefit from GWC’s experience in the industry. 

“Teaming up with a partner who can offer superior benefits to customers and additional revenue opportunities to our dealers will help protect our portfolio and ensure our continued growth,” says Brent Braunstein, Chief Operating Officer at MAS. “GWC’s F&I solutions, unmatched customer service, and expert training and development team give our dealers the tools they need to stand out in a very competitive market.”

 

About GWC  

 Since 1995, GWC Warranty has provided dealerships of all sizes with the right F&I solutions for used vehicles. Our vehicle protection products, training, and profit-building programs help dealers optimize every sale, with a best-in-class claims experience to help strengthen dealership reputations. GWC has the only F&I products named a “MotorTrend Recommended Best Buy” for Independent Dealers and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. GWC is part of the APCO Holdings, LLC, family of brands, which has protected over 11 million customers and paid over $3.5 billion in claims. For more information about GWC, please visit gwcwarranty.com. For more information about the APCO Holdings family of brands, please visit apcoholdings.com. 

 

Sarah Baker
GWC Warranty
404-270-2190
[email protected]

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alpha Lithium Corporation (TSX.V: ALLI) (OTC: ALLIF) (Frankfurt: 2P62) (“Alpha” or the “Company”), sole owner of one of the last large, undeveloped salars in Argentina’s Lithium Triangle, is pleased to announce it has engaged Lilac Solutions Inc (“Lilac”) to undertake initial Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) engineering work on brine samples from Alpha’s Tolillar Salar. Lilac’s engineering work is intended to complement Alpha’s in-house engineering being done by the principals of Beyond Lithium SA, a world-renowned team of chemical process engineers with decades of lithium chemistry experience.

Lilac has been engaged to commence Stage 1 Engineering. This first stage requires initial brine samples to be sent directly from the Tolillar Salar to Lilac’s offices in Oakland, California. The brine will be passed through Lilac’s proprietary lithium extraction modules for approximately three weeks and the results will be monitored and reported.

This initial test will provide the Company with:

• The lithium recovery rate (what percentage of lithium is able to be recovered from the brine using Lilac’s process)
• Lithium purity assessment
• Determination of lithium chloride chemical analysis
• Initial indications of reagent volumes used
• Indicative range of what operating expenses (“OPEX”) might be in a future commercial production facility

Based on the results of Stage 1 Engineering the Company may choose to continue to Stage 2 Engineering, which would involve significantly more brine volumes and time. Stage 2 Engineering would accomplish several things, including:

• Approximately three months of continuous lithium production at lab scale
• Refining of the initial OPEX numbers
• Establish process design criteria and complete lithium extraction test work for a Feasibility Study
• Define a tailored process flow diagram for a pilot plant at Tolillar Salar

Brad Nichol, President and CEO, commented, “Since recently establishing a treasury of more than $35 million, our primary focus on the Tolillar Salar has been on achieving production. This requires a trusted and proven DLE technology partner. It is crucially important to understand that DLE is a bespoke process which is unique to every operation and every salar. Ultimately, a successful DLE implementation will require an absolute understanding of the brine chemistry. Internally, our Beyond Lithium team has been working for months on developing its knowledge base of our brine through in-depth chemical analyses and benchtop studies. Now is the perfect time to combine our brine knowledge with the technology developed by Lilac, who have extensively studied dozens of brines from the Lithium Triangle. They are a well-funded, fast-growing company that has developed a proprietary ion exchange process capable of recovering 80% of the lithium on a timeline measured in hours, not years.”

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ALPHA LITHIUM CORPORATION

“Brad Nichol”

Brad Nichol
President, CEO and Director

For more information:

Alpha Lithium Investor Relations
Tel: +1 844 592 6337
[email protected]

About Alpha Lithium (TSX.V: ALLI) (OTC: ALLIF) (Frankfurt: 2P62)

Alpha Lithium is a growing team of industry professionals and experienced stakeholders focused on the development of the Tolillar Salar. Together, we have assembled 100% ownership of what may be one of Argentina’s last undeveloped lithium salars, encompassing 27,500 hectares (67,954 acres), neighboring multi-billion-dollar lithium players in the heart of the renowned “Lithium Triangle”. Other companies in the area exploring for lithium brines or currently in production include Galaxy Lithium, Livent, and POSCO in Salar del Hombre Muerto; Orocobre in Salar Olaroz; Eramine SudAmerica S.A. in Salar de Centenario; and Gangfeng and Lithium Americas in Salar de Cauchari.

About Lilac Solutions Inc.

Lilac Solutions is a mining technology company based in Oakland, California. Lilac has developed a patented ion exchange technology that facilitates production of lithium from abundant brine resources with minimal cost and ultra-low environmental footprint. Lilac’s mission is to increase lithium supplies needed for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Lilac recently raised $20 million led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures (Bill Gates), a $1 billion fund established by many of the world’s top business leaders, to support companies with the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Participation in the financing also included The Engine (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Lowercarbon Capital, and The Grantham Foundation.

Forward-Looking Statements

No securities regulatory authority has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “will”, “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “expects” and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

San Diego, California, April 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HUMBL, Inc. (OTCMARKETS: HMBL) announced today the planned availability of its BLOCK Exchange Traded Index (ETXs) products to United States customers beginning on April 2, 2021.

HUMBL Financial^™ created its BLOCK ETX products to simplify digital asset investing for customers and institutions seeking exposure to a new, 24/7 digital asset class.

HUMBL Financial has developed proprietary, multi-factor blockchain indexes, trading algorithms and financial services for the new digital asset trading markets.

BLOCK ETXs comprise over 20,000 lines of proprietary code and are architected across index, active and thematic investment strategies.

BLOCK ETXs are completely non-custodial, algorithmically driven software services that allow customers to purchase and hold digital assets in pre-set allocations through their own digital asset exchange accounts.

BLOCK ETXs will be compatible for United States customers who have accounts with Coinbase Pro, Bittrex US or Binance US.

BLOCK ETXs are also available to non-US customers who have accounts with Bittrex Global.

BLOCK ETXs will be served first on the desktop and web version of the HUMBL platform, with the goal of future applications inside the HUMBL Mobile Application.

HUMBL Financial is open to the licensing of the BLOCK ETXs to institutions and exchanges.

HUMBL Financial also plans to offer trusted, third party financial services in areas such as payments, investments, credit card services and lending across the HUMBL platform over time.

HUMBL Financial is led by the former CEO of Coinbook, Calvin Weight, as well as Jacob Davis, Sr. VP, Blockchain and Algorithm Technologies, and is advised by Jane Edmondson, CEO of EQM Indexes, among others.

More information is available at: www.humblpay.com

About HUMBL

HUMBL is a new, Web 3 platform that seamlessly connects consumers and merchants with simple tools for the digital economy. HUMBL has three core divisions: HUMBL Mobile, HUMBL Marketplace, and HUMBL Financial, which will work together to optimize new technologies like blockchain and digital assets for global consumers.

Legal Disclaimers

HUMBL Financial is not a broker dealer, transactional intermediary, counterparty or investment advisor. HUMBL Financial is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an Investment Advisor. HUMBL Financial does not provide investment or trading advice. Any investment decision a user of the HUMBL Financial platform may make is solely at his or her own discretion and risk. Trading in financial instruments is risky and can result in losses greater than the trader’s initial deposit. Hypothetical back-testing and real-time track records should not be relied upon in predicting future performance. HUMBL Financial and its agents, brokers, affiliates or employees do not prepare and cannot be responsible for data and data compilation contained in or derived from back-testing and simulation features. Trading or investing in financial instruments, digital assets or commodities is risky and can result in the total loss of your investment.

Safe Harbor Disclaimer

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “continue,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to successfully execute its expanded business strategy, including by entering into definitive agreements with suppliers, commercial partners and customers; general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing various engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technical advances and delivering technological innovations, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, regulatory requirements and the ability to meet them, government agency rules and changes, and various other factors beyond the Company’s control.

CONTACT:

HUMBL, Inc.
[email protected]

Attachment

• HUMBL, Inc.

BROOKFIELD, NEWS, April 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sagen MI Canada Inc. (formerly Genworth MI Canada Inc.) (the “Company”) (TSX: MIC) and Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (NSYE: BBU) (TSX: BBU.UN) (“BBU”) are pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced plan of arrangement (the “Transaction”) pursuant to which BBU, together with certain of its affiliates and institutional partners (collectively, “Brookfield”), purchased all of the outstanding common shares of the Company (the “Common Shares”) that were not already owned by Brookfield at a price of C$43.50 in cash per Common Share.

The Common Shares are expected to be de-listed from the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) at the close of business on April 6, 2021. The Company’s outstanding Class A Preferred Shares, Series 1 will remain listed on the TSX, and the Company will remain a reporting issuer in each of the provinces and territories of Canada.

In connection with the closing of the Transaction, all of the Common Shares were exchanged in a reorganization transaction pursuant to which 1,000,000 Class A Common Shares were issued to Brookfield (the “Share Exchange”), resulting in no Common Shares outstanding and Brookfield holding all of the Class A Common Shares. The Class A Common Shares will not be listed on the TSX.

About Sagen MI Canada Inc.

Sagen MI Canada Inc. (TSX: MIC), operating through its wholly owned subsidiary, Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Company Canada (doing business as Sagen^TM), is the largest private sector residential mortgage insurer in Canada. The Company provides mortgage default insurance to Canadian residential mortgage lenders, making homeownership more accessible to first-time homebuyers. The Company differentiates itself through customer service excellence, innovative processing technology, and a robust risk management framework. For more than two decades, the Company has supported the housing market by providing thought leadership and a focus on the safety and soundness of the mortgage finance system. As at December 31, 2020, the Company had C$7.5 billion total assets and C$3.9 billion shareholders’ equity. Find out more at www.sagen.ca.

The Company’s head office is located at 2060 Winston Park Drive, Suite 300, Oakville, Ontario, L6H 5R7.

About Brookfield Business Partners L.P.

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (NSYE: BBU) (TSX: BBU.UN) is a business services and industrials company focused on owning and operating high-quality businesses that benefit from barriers to entry and/or low production costs.

Brookfield Business Partners is the flagship listed business services and industrials company of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: BAM) (TSX: BAM.A), a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately US$600 billion of assets under management. More information is available at www.brookfield.com.

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should go to https://bbu.brookfield.com to access this information.

Required Early Warning Reporting

The Common Shares acquired by Brookfield pursuant to the Transaction were purchased by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Falcon Holding LP, an affiliate of Brookfield Business Partners L.P, for aggregate consideration of approximately C$1.6 billion. Immediately before closing of the Transaction, Brookfield indirectly held 48,944,645 Common Shares, representing approximately 56.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. As a result of the closing of the Transaction, and immediately prior to the Share Exchange, Brookfield indirectly held 86,407,979 Common Shares representing 100% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. After giving effect to the Share Exchange, Brookfield indirectly holds 1,000,000 Class A Common Shares, representing 100% of the issued and outstanding Class A Common Shares.

An amended early warning report will be filed by Brookfield with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities. To obtain copies of the early warning report, please contact Alan Fleming, Brookfield Business Partners, 416-645-2736.

The head office of Brookfield is located at Brookfield Place, 181 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2T3.

Caution regarding forward-looking information and statements

Certain statements made in this news release contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). When used in this news release, the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “seek”, “propose”, “estimate”, “expect”, and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the de-listing of the Common Shares on the TSX.
Since forward-looking statements relate to future events and conditions, by their very nature they require making assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, these risks and uncertainties give rise to the possibility that actual results may differ materially from the expectations set out in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

For more information, please contact:

Media: Claire Holland Tel: (416) 369-8236 Email: [email protected]

Investors: Alan Fleming Tel: (416) 645-2736 Email: [email protected]