Market Newsdesk

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

Consumer Sentiment on Housing Dips Slightly Despite Growing Labor Market Optimism

Eighty-Two Percent of Consumers Report Not Being Concerned About Losing Their Job in Next 12 Months

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) Home Purchase Sentiment Index^® (HPSI) decreased in February by 1.2 points to 76.5. Four of the HPSI’s six components fell month over month, including most notably the homebuying conditions and household income components. Offsetting much of that decline, however, was increased optimism regarding job security, with consumers reporting a significantly more positive view of the labor market compared to January. Year over year, the HPSI is down 16.0 points.

“As we expected, the HPSI remained relatively flat in February, but underlying data indicate growing job-related optimism among consumers, especially among lower-income and renter groups,” said Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae Senior Vice President and Chief Economist. “With the growing likelihood that lockdown restrictions will continue easing as vaccination efforts ramp up, and with warmer weather on the horizon and another round of fiscal stimulus pending, these two segments of consumers may have good reason to feel more positive about the labor market. This optimism appears to be well-placed, too, given Friday’s jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which showed the strongest net gain in payroll employment since October, although the unemployment rate remains quite high by historical standards. However, other components of the index remain well below pre-pandemic levels, so we believe there may still be room for improvement in housing and economic attitudes in the coming months, depending in part on the future path of mortgage rates.”

Home Purchase Sentiment Index – Component Highlights

Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) decreased in February by 1.2 points to 76.5. The HPSI is down 16.0 points compared to the same time last year. Read the full research report for additional information.

Good/Bad Time to Buy: The percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to buy a home decreased from 52% to 48%, while the percentage who say it is a bad time to buy increased from 37% to 43%. As a result, the net share of those who say it is a good time to buy decreased 10 percentage points month over month.
Good/Bad Time to Sell: The percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to sell a home decreased from 57% to 55%, while the percentage who say it’s a bad time to sell increased from 33% to 35%. As a result, the net share of those who say it is a good time to sell decreased 4 percentage points month over month.
Home Price Expectations: The percentage of respondents who say home prices will go up in the next 12 months increased from 41% to 47%, while the percentage who say home prices will go down increased from 17% to 18%. The share who think home prices will stay the same decreased from 34% to 29%. As a result, the net share of Americans who say home prices will go up increased 5 percentage points month over month.
Mortgage Rate Expectations: The percentage of respondents who say mortgage rates will go down in the next 12 months decreased from 9% to 8%, while the percentage who expect mortgage rates to go up increased from 45% to 47%. The share who think mortgage rates will stay the same increased from 37% to 38%. As a result, the net share of Americans who say mortgage rates will go down over the next 12 months decreased 3 percentage points month over month.
Job Concerns: The percentage of respondents who say they are not concerned about losing their job in the next 12 months increased from 75% to 82%, while the percentage who say they are concerned decreased from 24% to 17%. As a result, the net share of Americans who say they are not concerned about losing their job increased 14 percentage points month over month.
Household Income: The percentage of respondents who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago decreased from 21% to 17%, while the percentage who say their household income is significantly lower increased from 14% to 19%. The percentage who say their household income is about the same decreased from 64% to 61%. As a result, the net share of those who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago decreased 9 percentage points month over month.

About Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index
The Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) distills information about consumers’ home purchase sentiment from Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey® (NHS) into a single number. The HPSI reflects consumers’ current views and forward-looking expectations of housing market conditions and complements existing data sources to inform housing-related analysis and decision making. The HPSI is constructed from answers to six NHS questions that solicit consumers’ evaluations of housing market conditions and address topics that are related to their home purchase decisions. The questions ask consumers whether they think that it is a good or bad time to buy or to sell a house, what direction they expect home prices and mortgage interest rates to move, how concerned they are about losing their jobs, and whether their incomes are higher than they were a year earlier.

About Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey
The most detailed consumer attitudinal survey of its kind, Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey (NHS) polled approximately 1,000 respondents via live telephone interview to assess their attitudes toward owning and renting a home, home and rental price changes, homeownership distress, the economy, household finances, and overall consumer confidence. Homeowners and renters are asked more than 100 questions used to track attitudinal shifts, six of which are used to construct the HPSI (findings are compared with the same survey conducted monthly beginning June 2010). As cell phones have become common and many households no longer have landline phones, the NHS contacts 70 percent of respondents via their cell phones (as of January 2018). For more information, please see the Technical Notes. Fannie Mae conducts this survey and shares monthly and quarterly results so that we may help industry partners and market participants target our collective efforts to support the housing market. The February 2021 National Housing Survey was conducted between February 1, 2021 and February 23, 2021. Most of the data collection occurred during the first two weeks of this period. Interviews were conducted by PSB, in coordination with Fannie Mae.

Detailed HPSI & NHS Findings
For detailed findings from the February 2021 Home Purchase Sentiment Index and National Housing Survey, as well as a brief HPSI overview and detailed white paper, technical notes on the NHS methodology, and questions asked of respondents associated with each monthly indicator, please visit the Surveys page on fanniemae.com. Also available on the site are in-depth special topic studies, which provide a detailed assessment of combined data results from three monthly studies of NHS results.

To receive e-mail updates with other housing market research from Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research Group, please click here.

About Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae helps make the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and affordable rental housing possible for millions of people in America. We partner with lenders to create housing opportunities for families across the country. We are driving positive changes in housing finance to make the home buying process easier, while reducing costs and risk. To learn more, visit: fanniemae.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Blog

Fannie Mae Newsroom

https://www.fanniemae.com/news

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Fannie Mae Resource Center
1-800-2FANNIE

Opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, and other views of Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research (ESR) Group included in these materials should not be construed as indicating Fannie Mae’s business prospects or expected results, are based on a number of assumptions, and are subject to change without notice. How this information affects Fannie Mae will depend on many factors. Although the ESR Group bases its opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, and other views on information it considers reliable, it does not guarantee that the information provided in these materials is accurate, current, or suitable for any particular purpose. Changes in the assumptions or the information underlying these views could produce materially different results. The analyses, opinions, estimates, forecasts, and other views published by the ESR Group represent the views of that group as of the date indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of Fannie Mae or its management.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-sentiment-on-housing-dips-slightly-despite-growing-labor-market-optimism-301241875.html

SOURCE Fannie Mae

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

LMN Architects and Booth Hansen Celebrate the Design and Construction of the New Computer Design, Research, and Learning Center at the University of Illinois Chicago

The Computer Design Center will be a new campus hub and is being delivered on an accelerated schedule to meet the demands of the department, doubling its capacity by 2023.

Seattle, March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LMN Architects in collaboration with Booth Hansen is pleased to celebrate the design and construction of the new Computer Design, Research, and Learning Center at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Located at a unique prominent site on campus, the structure celebrates the garden and elliptical form of the Harry W. Pearce Memorial Grove and establishes a new front door for technology in downtown Chicago.

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is Chicago’s only public research university and one of the most diverse universities in the United States. The new 135,000 SFT Computer Design, Research, and Learning Center (CDRLC) at UIC will consolidate the currently fragmented Computer & Science Department in a new home and co-locate it with a large cluster of university-administered classrooms at the heart of the east campus. The building is designed to be a welcoming, inclusive, and inviting space for the diverse student body. The building will serve research needs with state-of-the-art facilities, accommodate the rapidly increasing undergraduate enrollment in computer science and become a new campus hub.

“Illinois is home to the best universities and research centers in the world and boasts a talented workforce that attracts companies from across the globe,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This new learning center on the UIC campus, made possible through funding from our historic bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan, will further cement the university’s place as a world-class institution that excels in preparing talented students for the careers of tomorrow.”

“This project is a top priority to meet the needs of students in our growing computer science program and helps to strengthen the high-tech boom in Chicago. We are grateful to Governor Pritzker for his support,” said UIC Chancellor Michael D. Amiridis.

“The new CDRLC represents the future of higher education at UIC and is intended to be a welcoming space to promote innovation, collaboration, and discovery. We placed an intentional emphasis on the public spaces, research labs and collaborative areas to enhance the experience that each student will have, and it has been a pleasure collaborating with LMN Architects and Booth Hansen,” said Peter Nelson, Dean, UIC College of Engineering. “Students at UIC will have a new building on campus where they can unleash their curiosity and enjoy a space that is focused on learning, research and teamwork.”

The CDRLC is the third recent academic building to be built on the east campus originally designed by Walter Netsch in 1965. The building will be delivered on an accelerated schedule to meet the demands of the department, doubling its capacity by 2023. It will create a hub for both engineering and computer science that includes research areas comprised of faculty offices, collaboration areas, dry lab and specialty lab; administrative and student affairs office spaces; collaborative teaching and learning spaces for undergraduate and graduate students; an undergraduate learning and community center; and a flexible events room; all stitched together by a five-story daylit atrium.

“Together with the department, University, and CBD, our team of LMN and Booth Hansen have designed the building to become a welcoming hub, a building that embraces the old and presents an iconic new presence along Taylor Street,” says LMN Partner Stephen Van Dyck, AIA. “Throughout the design process, we have been inspired by the convergences that this project represents. At the heart of it all is the convergence of UIC’s mission and the region’s growing tech prominence. For so many in the region, this new building will symbolize opportunity.”

Creating a contemporary addition to this iconic brutalist campus, the building is functional, flexible, and respectful of the context. Located at a unique, prominent site on campus, the structure celebrates the natural setting and organic form of the Memorial Grove and establishes a new front door for technology in Chicago.

Together with the existing lab building, the new CDRLC creates a dramatic public atrium for social interactions with visual and physical connections to all floors. The refined precast concrete and terra cotta façade of the building are inspired by Netsch’s late modern architecture and respond to the site conditions and the Memorial Grove.

“The creation of the Computer Design, Research, and Learning Center at UIC is the type of investment Illinois needs to give our students a competitive advantage in the digital age. I’m fortunate to have an incredible research facility like UIC in my district, and I look forward to seeing the output of this building once complete,” stated State Representative Lakesia Collins.

“The announcement of the new Computer Design, Research, and Learning Center at UIC is crucial in order for the university to keep producing the incredible talent that it does. This state-of-the-art facility will further enhance the research taking place at UIC, while also welcoming prospective students to a unique learning environment,” said State Senator Patricia Van Pelt. “I look forward to seeing this project completed in such an expedited timeframe, doubling the capacity of the Computer & Science Department in just two years,” added Van Pelt.

David Mann, Booth Hansen Principal, Comments: “The new building will be located adjacent to one of the original Netsch buildings, near other College of Engineering facilities and Memorial Grove. This unique site allows for an innovative design that is inspired by the context, materiality, and qualities of precast concrete material. The project breaks free from the rigid orthogonal character of the campus with a more organic connected form that reframes this edge of campus and the Grove.”

Building on UIC’s successes with geo-thermal energy resources, the project will include a substantial new geo-thermal farm in the Memorial Grove, and the building has been designed to achieve LEED Gold certification. Reflecting a complex organization of requirements, the building will prompt students to cross paths with one another and enhance intellectual exchange. The atrium will be porous and dynamic with connections to the campus and the community, honoring the past and looking to the future.

Booth Hansen has collaborated with many academic institutions in the Midwest over the last 40 years. Those colleges and universities include the University of Illinois Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Columbia College, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin-Madison and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

LMN Architects is a leader in the design of higher education facilities across the United States. Other completed projects include the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington; the Voxman Music Building at the University of Iowa in Iowa City; the Anteater Learning Pavilion at the University of California, Irvine; and the Huntsman School of Business Addition at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

About LMN Architects

Since its founding in 1979, LMN Architects has dedicated its practice to the health and vitality of communities of all scales. Internationally recognized for the planning and design of environments that elevate the social experience. The firm works across a diversity of project typologies, including higher education facilities, science and technology, civic and cultural projects, conference and convention centers, urban mixed-use and transportation.

LMN has successfully completed more than 700 projects across North America, such as the Voxman Music Building at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas; Vancouver Convention Centre West in Vancouver, Canada; Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences Middle School in Seattle, Washington; Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington; Sound Transit University of Washington Station in Seattle, Washington; and the recently completed expansion and renovation of the Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Based in Seattle, Washington, the firm employs 150 talented professionals practicing architecture, interior design, and urban design. The quality of the work has been recognized with nearly 300 national and international design awards, including the prestigious 2016 National Architecture Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

For more information on the work of LMN Architects, please visit lmnarchitects.com

Attachments

Edgar Almaguer, Communications & Media Strategist
LMN Architects
2066823460
[email protected]

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

Sharps Compliance to Attend Gabelli & Company’s 7th Annual Waste & Environmental Services Symposium

HOUSTON, March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sharps Compliance Corp. (Nasdaq: SMED) announced today that David P. Tusa, President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat and conduct one-on-one meetings throughout the day at Gabelli & Company’s 7^th Annual Waste & Environmental Services Symposium, to be held virtually on Thursday March 18, 2021.

About Sharps Compliance Corp.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Sharps Compliance (NASDAQ: SMED) is a leading business-to-business services provider to the healthcare, long-term care and retail pharmacy markets. Sharps Compliance offers comprehensive solutions for the management of regulated medical waste, hazardous waste and unused medications. For more information, visit: www.sharpsinc.com.

Company Contact:	Diana Diaz
	Sharps Compliance Corp.
	Email: [email protected]
	Office: (713) 660-3547

Investor Contact:	John Nesbett/Jennifer Belodeau
	Institutional Marketing Services
	Email: [email protected]
	Office: (203) 972-9200

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

Casa Systems Unveils Revolutionary 5G O-RAN Mid-Band Radio

New massive bandwidth, mid-band radio supporting single or dual bands across 5G CBRS, C-Band, n41, n77 and n78
Industry-leading 5G O-RAN radio solution brings the power of 5G to indoor networks
Expands end-to-end 5G indoor and campus solutions for carrier, private and neutral host networks

ANDOVER, Mass., March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Casa Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASA) today announced the launch of its new O-RAN mid-band radio, the ApexÔ 5G Evo, the latest addition to its industry-leading 5G wireless solution portfolio built for today’s public and private networks. This revolutionary new indoor radio solution is the first to provide simultaneous use of multiple mid-band channels enabling service providers to increase coverage, boost data speeds and deliver multi-gigabit 5G user experiences to both consumers and enterprises.

Apex 5G Evo: Software Defined, 5G Delivered

The ultimate intersection of flexibility and bandwidth, Casa’s new Apex 5G Evo is a fully O-RAN compliant radio unit (RU) that supports multiple mid-band channels. In the United States, the Apex 5G Evo allows service providers to simultaneously use both CBRS and C-Band frequencies. Globally, multiple bands within n41, n78 and n77 can also be supported simultaneously.

Casa designed the Apex 5G Evo for in-field flexibility with remotely managed software-defined band selection. This allows customers to install the Apex 5G Evo once and change bands as their spectrum position changes. With both indoor and future campus outdoor models, the Apex 5G Evo supports carrier-based deployments, enterprise private networks and neutral-host architectures.

Casa’s new 5G radio portfolio also includes high throughput, high-efficient fronthaul gateway, distributed unit (DU) and centralized unit (CU) options.

“As we enter a new decade of 5G evolution, Casa will continue to create new solutions that disrupt legacy ways of thinking and introduce new technologies that unlock new opportunities for service providers and their customers,” said Jerry Guo, CEO at Casa Systems. “Until now, 5G access solutions have concentrated primarily on outdoor networks. Our new Apex 5G Evo brings the power of 5G indoors allowing service providers to consistently deliver true multi-gigabit 5G user experiences.”

From the Core to the Customer: End-to-End 5G Solutions

Casa Systems’ end-to-end 5G wireless solutions portfolio addresses the coverage and capacity needs for today’s public and private networks. Powered by its Axyom Software Framework, Casa’s cloud-native 5G Core enables a next-generation of mobile networks that are more flexible, scalable and automated with the high performance and low latency required to support a variety of consumer and business devices, services and use cases. Casa’s Apex Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions include a range of 4G and 5G small cells that adapt to any indoor or campus environment – supporting home, enterprise, carrier and neutral-host driven network needs. Casa’s broad 5G wireless portfolio allows service providers to take advantage of new technologies that provide high-value feature content such as RAN slicing, low latency, local breakout, and wireless and wireline convergence solutions.

For more information about Casa’s new Apex 5G Evo and 5G solutions portfolio, visit www.casa-systems.com.

About Casa Systems, Inc.

Casa Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASA) delivers the core-to-customer building blocks to speed 5G transformation with future-proof solutions and cutting-edge bandwidth for all access types. In today’s increasingly personalized world, Casa creates disruptive architectures built specifically to meet the needs of service provider networks. Our suite of open, cloud-native network solutions unlocks new ways for service providers to build networks without boundaries and maximize revenue-generating capabilities. Commercially deployed in more than 70 countries, Casa serves over 475 Tier 1 and regional service providers worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.casa-systems.com.

PR CONTACT INFORMATION:

Alicia Thomas

Casa Systems, Inc.
100 Old River Road
Andover, Mass. 01810
+1.817.909.8921
[email protected]

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

Saatchi Art Presents the Launch of The Other Art Fair Virtual Editions, An Innovative New Virtual Reality Art Fair Series

In Partnership with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE
^®
, the Global Launch of these VR Art Fairs Offers Guests Unique Programming, Live Experiences and Unparalleled Access to Top Emerging Artists

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Other Art Fair, a leading artist fair for discovering emerging artists, will launch its new virtual reality art fair series with The Other Art Fair Global Virtual Editions on March 10-14. This debut Global Virtual Edition event will feature 75 of The Other Art Fair’s top emerging artists from around the globe within a three-dimensional virtual fair environment — no headset required. The event will be supported by an immersive online program hosted on theotherartfair.com that will bring the unique experience of attending one of The Other Art Fair’s live events to life virtually for a global audience.

“The Other Art Fair is known for creating a highly experiential program for fairgoers, while providing them access to exciting new emerging artists,” said Ryan Stanier, founder of The Other Art Fair. “Our new Virtual Edition fairs beautifully adapt that in-real-life experience to our innovative virtual platform, offering participants the chance to explore artist booths, participate in live fair tours, workshops and lectures, and gain direct access to the exhibiting artists, all from the comfort of their computer or phone.”

The Global Virtual Edition kicks off the worldwide 2021 virtual fair tour for The Other Art Fair, which will include dedicated virtual events for all Fair exhibitions, including events in Los Angeles, London, Sydney, Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, and Toronto. Each Virtual Edition event will also feature workshops and VR programming unique to that city, creating a special experience that celebrates each market and its local art community. A signature element to every The Other Art Fair event is the direct connection attendees have to exhibiting artists. The Virtual Edition allows fairgoers to schedule a live chat with an exhibiting artist for a one-on-one discussion about the artist’s process, key artworks for sale and a chance to learn more about the artist’s background.

Added Sean Moriarty, CEO of Leaf Group, “at Leaf Group, we are constantly striving to create the best experience possible for our audiences, and we are excited for the launch of The Other Art Fair’s first virtual reality fair. This innovative program further strengthens our mission of supporting artists worldwide through a virtual reality platform that connects them with a global art collector audience.”

The Other Art Fair Global Virtual Edition runs from March 10-14, with Artist Room Preview Days on March 10, 11, 12. The event will showcase 75 of the top emerging artists, supported by a program of interactive virtual content. Some highlights from the Global Virtual Edition programming include:

Chat With An Artist
:
Opportunities to meet and talk to the talented exhibiting artists about their work, inspiration and process, or to see an artwork in more detail and ask questions about a specific piece.
Virtual Editions Live Talks, Workshops and Tours: Explore the artist’s studios through engaging talks and tours that uncover the creative process behind many of the works on display at the Virtual Edition. All free to register, talks and tours will include:

º

Bombay & Tonic Customization with Valentino Longo

:
The Other Art Fair has partnered with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE^® to create a virtual workshop for guests to learn about the BOMBAY & Tonic, why the two pair together so well, and how to make three upgraded versions at home. Guests must be of legal drinking age to view and share this workshop.

º

Invest in Art with Rebecca Wilson: Join Saatchi Art’s Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson as she shares what to look for when investing in emerging artists.

º

Artistic Process: For many artists, the process is just as important as the finished product. Saatchi Art Curator Megan Wright introduces the makers of some of the fair’s most popular artworks to gain insights into their creation.

º

Live Fair Tours of Artist Rooms 1, 2, and 3:
LA and Dallas Fair Director Nicole Garton introduces her top artists from Artist Room 1; London Fair Manager Anouka Pedley introduces her top artists from Artist Room 2; East Coast Fair Assistant Sasha Ali introduces her top artists from Artist Room 3.

Build Your Own Happy Character – An Interactive Experience by Eva Cremers: Through an interactive experience, visitors can tap into their own cheeky, creative side with an interactive, drag-and-drop tool that allows you to create your own Happy Character.
Gommie Live Poetry Reading
:
Artist and poet Gommie will perform live and showcase some of his artwork.
Girls in Film Short Film Screenings:
Girls in Film represents, champions and connects the new generation of female-identified creatives in the film industry. The organization has curated a selection of five short films for The Other Art Fair to showcase rising filmmakers from London, South Africa, Prague and Amsterdam.

ARTIST ROOMS

The featured artists will be showcased across three rooms to allow the visitor to more easily digest all artist stands. Each Artist Room will also contain exclusive experiential content and have its own dedicated Preview day, providing a first look at that Artist Room’s exhibitors while the other rooms are closed. Visitors are encouraged to pre-register, for free access to these Previews. All rooms will be carefully curated by the fair team to ensure an exciting and varied breadth of medium. Visitors can also take a pre-recorded ‘Room Highlights’ tour by the Fair Director before they enter.

ROOM 1 | Preview on Wednesday, March 10

Discover bright colors, fun sculptural works, inspirational portraits, plus much more

ROOM 2 | Preview on Thursday, March 11

Get lost in large-scale abstracts, thoughtful photography, poetry, street art, plus more

ROOM 3 | Preview opens on Friday, March 12

Be swept away by some beautiful paintings, enchanting illustrations, photography, and more

To learn more about The Other Art Fair Global Virtual Edition, visit https://www.theotherartfair.com/.

About The Other Art Fair

The Other Art Fair, a leading artist fair for discovering emerging artists, provides a platform for artists to present and sell their work directly to art buyers both through in-person events and online. Each fair presents more than 90 artists chosen by a selection committee of art experts, enabling both collectors and first-time buyers to buy directly from emerging artists. Since 2011, The Other Art Fair has worked with over 3,000 artists from more than 20 countries, with fairs based in the UK, US and Australia. Unlike “other” fairs, The Other Art Fair creates an accessible and open fair designed for visitors to enjoy an interactive and immersive experience. www.theotherartfair.com

About Saatchi Art

Leading online art gallery Saatchi Art features one of the world’s largest selections of original art and helps people all over the world find art and artists they love. The online art gallery offers original paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs by over 100,000 emerging artists from over 100 countries. Saatchi Art is redefining the experience of buying and selling art by providing art lovers with free art advisory services and an expertly curated selection of art, while giving artists a convenient and welcoming environment in which to exhibit and sell their work. To discover the world of Saatchi Art, please visit www.saatchiart.com. Saatchi Online, Inc., which operates Saatchi Art, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Leaf Group Ltd. (NYSE: LEAF).

About Leaf Group

Leaf Group Ltd. (NYSE: LEAF) is a diversified consumer internet company that builds enduring, creator-driven brands that reach passionate audiences in large and growing lifestyle categories, including fitness & wellness (Well+Good, Livestrong.com and MyPlate App), and home, art & design (Saatchi Art, Society6 and Hunker). For more information about Leaf Group, visit www.leafgroup.com.

Media Contact:

Sharna Daduk
VP, Communications
[email protected]

Mia Mendez
Director, Public Relations
[email protected]

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

ChemoCentryx Announces Appointment of Susan M. Kanaya to Board of Directors

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ChemoCentryx, Inc., (Nasdaq: CCXI), today announced the appointment of Susan M. Kanaya, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, to the ChemoCentryx Board of Directors effective March 2, 2021.

“Susan Kanaya’s many fundamental contributions have been key to ChemoCentryx’s growth and prosperity,” said Thomas J. Schall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ChemoCentryx. “Over many formative years of our enterprise, she ensured our strong financial position, allowing us to achieve our operational plans and thus increasing shareholder value while serving patients’ needs. As a true ‘go-to’ executive, Susan has been instrumental in growing this organization, which is now at the cusp of achieving its long-stated goal of being a fully integrated biopharmaceutical enterprise. To all of this, we now have the great fortune of adding Susan’s many strengths to our Board.”

Ms. Kanaya has served as ChemoCentryx’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer since October 2016 and as Secretary since February 2006. Prior to that she served as the Company’s Senior Vice President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer. Before joining ChemoCentryx, Ms. Kanaya was the Senior Vice President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer at Kosan Biosciences Inc., from 1999 to 2005. Prior to this, she served in financial management positions at SUGEN, Inc., including Vice President, Finance, and Treasurer. Ms. Kanaya also served as Controller with high technology companies and as a public accountant with KPMG. Ms. Kanaya received her B.S. in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

“I’m honored to be joining the ChemoCentryx Board of Directors and look forward to playing a larger role in driving our Company’s growth and supporting its strategic and operational direction,” said Ms. Kanaya. “We’re at a pivotal point in our evolution as we near our first commercial launch, and I look forward to these expanded responsibilities as we continue working toward delivering on our promise to patients, providers and shareholders.”

About ChemoCentryx

ChemoCentryx is a biopharmaceutical company developing new medications for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cancer. ChemoCentryx targets the chemokine and chemoattractant systems to discover, develop and commercialize orally-administered therapies. ChemoCentryx’s lead drug candidate, avacopan (CCX168), successfully completed a pivotal Phase III trial in ANCA-associated vasculitis and a New Drug Application is under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Avacopan is also in late stage clinical development for the treatment of severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa and C3 glomerulopathy (C3G).
ChemoCentryx also has early stage drug candidates that target chemoattractant receptors in other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and in cancer.

Forward-Looking Statements

ChemoCentryx cautions that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “seek,” “contemplate,” “potential,” “continue” or “project” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include the Company’s statements regarding the Company’s goal of being a fully integrated biopharmaceutical enterprise, the achievement of anticipated goals and milestones, whether avacopan will be approved by the FDA or EMA for the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis, and whether the Company’s drug candidates will be shown to be effective in ongoing or future clinical trials. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by ChemoCentryx that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the ChemoCentryx business and other risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and ChemoCentryx undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading “Risk Factors” in ChemoCentryx’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including ChemoCentryx’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021 and its other reports which are available from the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) and on ChemoCentryx’s website (www.chemocentryx.com) under the heading “Investors.” All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contacts:

Susan M. Kanaya
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
[email protected]

Media:

Stephanie Tomei
408.234.1279
[email protected]

Investors:

Burns McClellan, Inc.
Lee Roth
212.213.0006
[email protected]

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

Open letter to Shareholders of Blue Star Foods Corp. (OTC Pink: BSFC):

Miami, Florida, March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blue Star Foods Corp. (“Blue Star” or the “Company”) was started as a small company with a big dream. Back in 1995, when I founded the Company, my ambition was to offer the North American market a healthy and delicious crab product that was caught responsibly and produced sustainably. Without losing sight of this vision, we have grown Blue Star into one of the largest importers of pasteurized crab meat in the United States.

Throughout the past twenty-five years, sustainable development has been at the core of everything we do, including our business strategy and brand ethos. For Blue Star, sustainability is not just a trend or marketing strategy; it is central to all of our operations and serves as the spark that helps us innovate and grow the company.

Blue Star’s focus on sustainability today is stronger than ever, especially considering that many of our industry’s biggest obstacles to growth are in some ways linked to the lack of long-term sustainable planning. The looming effects of climate change, over-harvesting of marine stock, and plastic pollution, are the most significant issues that we face. Another concern for our industry that needs to be collectively addressed, are the harsh working conditions some seafood workers face throughout the global supply chain.

As we navigate our way through the maze of these complex challenges, Blue Star remains steadfast in finding a balance between environmental conservation, social equity, and commercial success. In January 2021, we announced the publication of our first GRI Standard Sustainability Report for 2020, which we intend to publish on a bi-annual basis. The 89-page report shows our company’s performance during the last two years against globally recognized, quantifiable and standardized Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Key Performance Indicators, and is the only report of its kind focused on the Blue Crabmeat category of the seafood industry.

Over the last ten years, I have been tracking several developments in the seafood space with some concern. Demand for seafood continues to grow, and traditional wild-caught production peaked in the mid-90s (and is in continuous danger of being over-harvested), and the traditional aquaculture operations that stepped up to meet the growing demand have brought their own new environmental problems.

In this same timeframe, I have been tracking the development of Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology with keen interest and watched as various teams encountered major challenges in developing these systems. I wondered if the management team expertise and the technology would ever get into a position to scale in a meaningful way.

We believe that the RAS technology and management team know-how have finally come together, and that is why in December 2020, we announced our proposed acquisition of Taste of BC Aquafarms, a company that is focused on land-based, Steelhead Salmon farming, through RAS. This is the oldest, continuously run operation of its kind in North America, which was started by the Atkinson family in Nanaimo, in British Columbia in 2010. Through their ingenuity, and perseverance, they have built an operation that is profitable and is currently in production with delicious, fresh product being consumed in Western Canada. They differentiate themselves through their experience in solving issues that others are just beginning to wrestle with, and in the modular way in which their operations can be scaled.

With this pending partnership with the Atkinson family, we believe that we are taking our company and our shareholders into the future of sustainability in the seafood industry. Blue Star is ready to join in the efforts to grow the RAS industry as the next-generation solution to attempting to meet the growing demand for seafood and producing it in a way that all stakeholders can be proud of.

2020 was a challenging year for everyone, including Blue Star. The first two quarters of the year were difficult, but we emerged from 2020 as a leaner, more nimble organization. We saw several of our competitors fall by the wayside in a very tough operating environment, and we take comfort that, when our team was tested, we emerged to the other side in many ways a stronger company. We are looking forward to getting back to the revenue numbers we have had in the past as the general economy normalizes.

2021 is a year full of hope, as we look forward to accomplishing many things that we have been putting in motion for quite some time, including closing of the anticipated acquisition of Taste of BC, adding new board of director members to our team, and starting the process of applying for and uplisting to a senior U.S. securities exchange. We believe our future is bright and we thank you for being on this ride with us and your continued support.

John Keeler
Chairman & CEO
Blue Star Foods Corp.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This letter includes “forward-looking statements.” All statements other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated herein may constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary significantly from those expressed or implied in such statements and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that affect the Company’s operations, financial performance, and other factors as discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Among the factors that could cause results to differ materially are those risks discussed in the periodic reports the Company files with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. You are urged to carefully review and consider the cautionary statements and other disclosures made in those filings, specifically those under the heading “Risk Factors.” The Company does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.

Contacts

Constantino Gutierrez | Newbridge Securities Corporation
[email protected] | Office: (480) 207-1824

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

NaturalShrimp, Inc Announces Filing of Shelf Registration Statement for the Sale of Up to $100 Million of its Securities

Dallas, TX, March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NewMediaWire–NaturalShrimp, Inc. (OTCQB:SHMP), an aquaculture company which has developed and patented the first commercially operational Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for shrimp, announced today that it has filed a primary shelf registration statement on Form S-3 to sell up to $100 million of its securities. Any potential offerings are subject to the Form S-3 being declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when any offerings may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offerings. If one or more offerings are completed, all of the securities in the offerings will be sold by NaturalShrimp, Inc.

If the SEC declares the Form S-3 effective then securities may be offered only by means of a written prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. An electronic prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to any offerings will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor there any sales of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict and beyond the Company’s control, and could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from those described. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions. These statements include statements regarding moving forward with executing the Company’s global growth strategy. The statements are based upon current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict. The Company is providing this information as of the date of this press release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to the Risk Factors and other information set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on June 26, 2020, and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:
Richard Brown
(508).462.9638

SOURCE: Natural Shrimp

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

Bubblr Engages PubCo Reporting Solutions to Elevate Reporting Status on Path to Uplisting

LONDON, UK, March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NewMediaWire – Bubblr, Inc. (OTC PINK: BBLR) (“Bubblr” or the “Company”), an ethical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of mobile-first technologies, today announced that it has engaged the services of PubCo Reporting Solutions, Inc.

PubCo Reporting Solutions specializes in Outsourced CFO, financial reporting and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulatory compliance solutions for public companies. PubCo partners with management teams offering internal control assessment and implementation services as well as assisting them with complex financial reporting requirements.

Steven Saunders, Chief Executive Officer of Bubblr, commented, “Among our goals since becoming a public company in August 2020 is the completion of an initial independent audit, which is the first step to become a fully SEC reporting company. Pubco Reporting Solutions will assist us in the preparation of financial statements that we plan to have audited by a PCOAB auditor prior to reporting with the SEC. We believe this is the path that best supports our goals for an upgrade to the OTCQB quotation tier and eventually to listing with a national exchange. We are resolute in our intention to follow this roadmap and accomplish that goal. PubCo Reporting has extensive experience in assisting public companies in realizing these important objectives, and we welcome them to the Bubblr team.”

About Bubblr, Inc.

Bubblr, Inc. is an ethical technology company focused on mobile-first technology that aims to bring back privacy to users, trust in online content, and sustainability to the digital marketplace. Through its portfolio of digital mobile apps, Bubblr’s next-generation mobile ecosystem, and platform, partners with publishers to address challenges related to free online content, while protecting end-users from data harvesting and manipulation. These ecosystems connect into a new model for online search, which is a fair and sustainable ad-free marketplace. For more information, visit http://www.bubblr.com.

Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the definition of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such as in section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements should not be used to make an investment decision. The words’ estimate,’ ‘possible’ and ‘seeking’ and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date the statement was made. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted, or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties to which forward-looking statements are subject include, but are not limited to, the effect of government regulation, competition, and other material risks.

Contact:

Investor Relations
Stephanie Prince
PCG Advisory
(646) 863-6341
[email protected]

March 8, 2021 8:33 am

Predictive Oncology’s, Skyline Medical Division, Developing Generation 3 Direct-to-Drain Automated Fluid Waste Management System

MINNEAPOLIS, March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI), a knowledge-driven company focused on applying artificial intelligence (“AI”) to personalized medicine and drug discovery, announced today that its Skyline Medical Division is renewing developing a new Generation 3 STREAMWAY ® System for direct-to-drain fluid waste management. The new device will see no change to its intended use and will not require a separate 501(k) submission with the Food and Drug Administration.

Some of the key changes to the new generation product will include a 25% size reduction, a portable wall mounting plate to simplify installation thus reducing installation costs, an automated dripless system that ensures optimal reliability when changing out the filters between procedures, modularized subassemblies which will streamline assembly and servicing, a new drop down cover design that allows for access to the core of the unit also for easier servicing, a new software providing state of the art on screen graphics with the latest technology to allow for on screen training as needed, a reduction in both electrical and mechanical internal connections increasing vacuum efficiency, eliminating relays and I/O’s (input/output) through a newly developed integrated PC board providing for real time fluid waste measurement. Lastly, this new design will be smaller, lighter, easier to install with the goal of improving operator reliability, reducing manufacturing costs, increasing durability and simplifying servicing.

“Skyline Medical plans to follow shortly with a Generation 3 Plus machine which includes an integrated on board vacuum pump so the facility vacuum supply will not be required or at the least can be augmented if needed,” commented Dr. Carl Schwartz, CEO of Predictive Oncology.

About Predictive Oncology Inc.

Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI) operates through three segments (Skyline, Helomics and Soluble Biotech), which contain four subsidiaries: Helomics, TumorGenesis, Skyline Medical and Soluble Biotech.

Helomics applies artificial intelligence to its rich data gathered from patient tumors to both personalize cancer therapies for patients and drive the development of new targeted therapies in collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. TumorGenesis Inc. specializes in media that help cancer cells grow and retain their DNA/RNA and proteomic signatures, providing researchers with a tool to expand and study cancer cell types found in tumors of the blood and organ systems of all mammals, including humans. Skyline Medical markets its patented and FDA cleared STREAMWAY System, which automates the collection, measurement, and disposal of waste fluid, including blood, irrigation fluid and others, within a medical facility, through both domestic and international divisions. Soluble Biotech is a provider of soluble and stable formulations for proteins including vaccines, antibodies, large and small proteins, and protein complexes.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our operations and the investments we make. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue and financial performance, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “would,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward- looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Our actual future performance may materially differ from that contemplated by the forward-looking statements because of a variety of factors including, among other things, factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our filings with the SEC. Except as expressly required by law, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact:

Landon Capital
Keith Pinder
(404) 995-6671
[email protected]