Market Newsdesk

CHICAGO, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The newly released TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) 2021 consumer credit forecast found that access to credit cards and personal loans is expected to rebound through the first half of next year while new auto loans will shift toward lower risk consumers. Despite potential obstacles to the consumer credit market, TransUnion foresees positive trends buoyed by expected improvements in macroeconomic factors such as unemployment and GDP.

The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was most apparent for originations in the second quarter of 2020 as lending slowed dramatically for unsecured credit products such as personal loans and credit cards in comparison to the preceding quarter. In 2021, TransUnion sees Q2 playing another big role – this time in the form of new originations returning to pre-COVID levels with credit card and personal loan volumes expected to rise at the greatest rate.

“The re-opening of America and the expected addition of more jobs and increased wages will make the greatest impact in how consumers are able to manage their debts in 2021,” said Matt Komos, vice president of research and consulting at TransUnion. “We are forecasting robust origination activity, and barring any unforeseen shocks to the economy, we anticipate this growth will commence at the beginning of the second quarter of 2021 for most credit products. Our forecast also sees a greater percentage of new loans going to lower risk consumers, which we believe will benefit the overall serious delinquency picture.”

Originations Could Grow in First Half of 2021, Especially in the Second Quarter

Loan*/Time Period	Q1 2020	Q1 2021 Projection	YOY % Change		Q2 2020	Q2 2021 Projection	YOY % Change
Auto	6.34 million	6.85 million	8.0%		6.46 million	7.40 million	14.6%
Credit Card	15.52 million	12.52 million	-19.3%		8.59 million	14.13 million	64.5%
Personal Loan	3.90 million	3.30 million	-15.4%		2.60 million	4.22 million	62.3%
Mortgage	1.87 million	2.13 million*	13.9%		3.03 million	2.05 million*	-32.3%

*Mortgage origination projection based on figures from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

How quickly the consumer credit market rebounds in 2021 will be influenced by mortgage borrowers, specifically those starting the year still in accommodation programs. Through October 2020, 84% of all accounts that entered forbearance since March 2020 have exited accommodation status. The remaining accounts in accommodation are most elevated for mortgages (5.4%) while less than 4% of overall total account volume remains for auto, credit card and personal loans.

In addition to having a higher percentage of consumers remaining in accommodation status, mortgage loans also have exhibited different trends from other credit products. Whereas other credit products are seeing a high rate of consumers exiting forbearance, in September 2020, mortgage loans reached an inflection point as the rate of entry and exit from accommodation programs were nearly equal. Furthermore, consumers that have a mortgage in forbearance also have a higher percentage of other credit products in their wallet, which could impact future delinquency rates.

“Serious consumer delinquency rates have remained low in 2020 primarily because of the accommodation programs provided to consumers at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we believe those consumers with accounts still in mortgage forbearance also may be the ones who will find it most difficult to make their monthly payments once accommodation programs end. A lot of external factors could influence their payment behaviors, including additional stimulus, the widespread release of vaccines and the pace of economic recovery, though timing could play a major role in the impact to consumer credit. At this time, our 2021 projections point to a year that will be more reminiscent of 2019 than the COVID-19-impacted consumer credit market of 2020,” concluded Komos.

For more information about the 2021 TransUnion forecast and to register for a webinar providing detailed projections, please click here.

TransUnion Forecast: Four Other Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2021

Trend #1: Forbearance Programs and Origination Activity to Impact the Mortgage Market

Following a small potential end-of-year spike in Q4 2020, the number of mortgage accounts in forbearance is expected to roughly remain flat for the first quarter of 2021. Mortgage accounts in forbearance are then expected to sharply decline in April and May (exactly one year from the height of mortgage forbearance enrollment during the pandemic). Mortgages are not viewed as being delinquent while they are in forbearance, hence delinquencies are expected to climb from historic lows when these programs expire. The big drivers in the mortgage market will be how the economic recovery looks, along with how government and lender programs accommodate borrowers so they resume making payments. Refinancing activity will continue into 2021 at a lower rate than the all-time highs observed in 2020. In 2021, first-time homebuyers will continue to make up the majority of purchase borrowers, though their share is expected to drop from the 70% high mark that occurred in early 2020.

Instant Analysis


“While origination activity will slow from the breakneck growth observed in 2020, and the bulk of volume will shift to purchase, continued low interest rates will keep refinancing an attractive option for consumers. Cash out refinancing is expected to gain traction in the second half of next year as we return to a ‘more normal’ economic landscape and lenders feel more comfortable with riskier cash-out refi programs. This will become a source of liquidity to borrowers who will be able to tap their home equity, which is at all-time highs as home prices continue to climb.”

• 
  Joe Mellman, senior vice president and TransUnion’s mortgage line of business leader
  

Trend #2: Credit Card Origination Volumes Will Rebound in 2021

The number of credit card originations reached a 10-year low of 8.6 million in Q2 2020, but the market began to rebound in the second half of the year. Forecasted improvements in unemployment and GDP growth are expected to drive a 64% year-over-year increase in origination volume during the first half of the year as card issuers look to ramp up growth across their portfolios. However, economic uncertainty will impact consumer spending through the first half of 2021. The spending suppression trend will drive a decline in total card balances from $723B in Q3 2020 to $666B in Q3 2021. This decline in spending, however, will help lift credit card performance as delinquencies are forecasted to remain lower than 2019 levels. Severe credit card delinquency at the end of 2021 is not expected to exceed 1.3%.

Instant Analysis


“Origination activity in the credit card market is expected to return to pre-COVID levels in 2021 with growth occurring across all risk tiers. Extenuating circumstances surrounding the pandemic, such as lockdowns and unemployment as well as continued uncertainty in the sector, will lead many card issuers to take a measured approach to lending. We expect this to happen in the form of smaller credit lines to account for a decrease in consumer spending. With balance growth remaining muted for the foreseeable future, delinquency levels will continue to improve and stay well below post-recessionary levels.”

• 
  Paul Siegfried, senior vice president and TransUnion’s credit card line of business leader
  

Trend #3: Consumer Lending Market Will Continue a Steady Recovery


Reminiscent of


2019 Record Levels

As unemployment declines and investor demand for unsecured installment loans continues its steady recovery, originations will trend upwards through 2021, inching back toward 2019’s record levels. Pent-up consumer demand for vacations and other large expenditures will further boost originations, especially as the economy begins to reopen. Q1 loan volumes are expected to reach 3.3 million, but in the second quarter originations are expected to grow to 4.2 million – well above the 2.6 million observed in the second quarter of the pandemic. This activity, however, still remains below the 4.8 million originations reported in Q2 2019. Delinquencies will increase slightly as forbearance periods start to expire.

Instant Analysis


“Consumer demand and investor-fueled lender supply are expected to continue a steady rebound and drive loan volumes back to healthy levels in 2021. Growth in home improvement loans for renovation projects will continue to be an attractive option for consumers as they adjust to extended work-from-home arrangements in the new year. Following historically low delinquency rates in 2020, 2021 rates are expected to inch up as stimulus programs expire and forbearance periods end across mortgages and other products. We do not, however, expect delinquency rates to markedly exceed levels seen in the past several years.”

• 
  Liz Pagel, senior vice president and TransUnion’s consumer lending line of business leader
  

Trend #4: New Auto Loans Will Shift Toward Lower Risk Consumers

A double-digit decline and negative growth rate for new auto sales was observed throughout the first half of 2020. The decrease in auto sales is expected to flatten in 2021 – signaling underlying improvements to the health of the auto finance market. Origination activity in Q1 and Q2 2021 is expected to generate 6.8 million and 7.4 million new accounts, respectively, with a greater share of loans shifting to the prime and above risk tiers. This origination mix shift is a reflection of changing consumer demand and adjustments to auto lender strategies due to the pandemic. As subprime originations decline, the total share of non-prime balances is expected to gradually decrease throughout the year.

Instant Analysis


“New auto originations will shift toward lower risk consumers as auto lenders continue to grapple with the aftermath of the pandemic. However, the forecasted origination activity represents a fairly healthy rebound for the industry given the challenges seen in 2020. As long as supply issues do not persist, auto loan originators should expect a steady 2021. Performance should also stabilize as auto accommodations continue to decline – currently representing 3.8% of auto loans. While consumers with a mortgage forbearance may impact auto loan delinquencies, we are anticipating this to be relatively small. Over the years our research has shown that, especially in a time of need, many consumers prioritize auto payments more so than other credit products. And now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear that many Americans will continue to value having access to a vehicle, as it is the lifeblood of many consumers.”

• 
  Satyan Merchant, senior vice president and TransUnion’s auto line of business leader
  

Registration for a TransUnion webinar providing detailed 2021 projections can be accessed here. Additional resources for consumers looking to protect their credit during the COVID-19 pandemic can be found at transunion.com/covid-19.

About the TransUnion 2021 Forecast:

TransUnion’s forecasts are based on various economic assumptions, such as gross domestic product, home prices, personal disposable income and unemployment rates. The forecasts could change if there are unanticipated shocks to the economy, including further increases in the number of COVID-19 cases. Better-than-expected improvements in the economy, such as increases in GDP and disposable income, or quick deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine could also impact these forecasts.

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing a comprehensive picture of each person so they can be reliably and safely represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good.®

A leading presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences, and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people.

http://www.transunion.com/business

Contact	Dave Blumberg TransUnion
E-mail	[email protected]
Telephone	312-972-6646

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d1a63d2-63c4-44d0-ae9f-f4e937d2a86a

Jerry
Durso
Appointed
CEO
Effective
January 1, 2021
;

Founder,
President and CEO Mark Pruzansk
i
to
Continue
as
Board Member
and Advis
o
r

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICPT), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat progressive non-viral liver diseases, today announced that Jerome (Jerry) Durso, currently Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Mark Pruzanski as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2021. Mr. Durso will also be appointed to the Board of Directors following the transition. Dr. Pruzanski will remain with Intercept as a director on the Board and retained advisor to the company.

Paolo Fundarò, Chairman of the Board of Directors, stated, “During his nearly two decades at the helm since founding Intercept, Mark has established the company as a pioneering leader in non-viral liver disease. He has led the company through many important milestones, including our IPO in 2012, the worldwide approval and commercialization of Ocaliva for PBC – our first marketed product – and the only successful Phase 3 NASH program to date. We have been working closely together on planning a seamless transition and will benefit from Mark’s continued involvement to support the company’s future success.”

Mr. Fundarò continued, “Jerry has broad global leadership experience, a proven track record of execution and strong commercial expertise. He is well suited to lead the company going forward as we focus on enhancing the growth of our foundational PBC business, supporting our NASH regulatory process in the US and Europe, and building our pipeline. As we enter this next phase of the company’s trajectory, I am confident that this is the right time to transition leadership responsibilities to Jerry.”

Dr. Pruzanski said, “It has been an enormous privilege to have created and led Intercept for these many years, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished driving science and innovation for the benefit of patients suffering from liver disease. I am very pleased to transition leadership of the company to Jerry, whose experience and expertise position him extremely well to lead the company into our next chapter. I look forward to being a resource for Jerry, particularly on our global NASH program and pipeline efforts, and remaining an active member of our Board. Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of our employees for their tireless efforts, which have been – and will continue to be – the key to our success in delivering pioneering therapies to patients.”

“I am honored and proud to become Intercept’s next CEO,” said Mr. Durso. “This is a pivotal time for the company as we advance our foundational rare liver disease business and work towards the potential resubmission of our NDA in NASH fibrosis. I am confident that we will leverage our core strengths and capabilities across the business to execute on plans for continued growth and advancement of our pipeline to drive the future success of Intercept. I look forward to leading our talented team as we continue to build on our solid foundation to further our goals to help patients living with serious liver diseases and deliver for all of our stakeholders.”

Jerry Durso has served as Intercept’s Chief Operating Officer since February 2017 and has played a critical leadership role in all aspects of Intercept’s business globally, including the continued growth of the PBC business in over 35 countries with more than $310 million in revenues anticipated this year. Mr. Durso has over 25 years of experience in building and leading commercial and business operations in life sciences organizations both in the United States and abroad. Prior to joining Intercept, he spent the majority of his career at Sanofi, a global pharmaceutical company, where he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer of the Global Diabetes Division. Prior to that, Mr. Durso was Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer of Sanofi’s U.S. pharmaceuticals business and also served in a number of commercial leadership roles of increasing responsibility in business unit and brand management, marketing and sales since he first joined Sanofi in 1993.

About Intercept

Intercept is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat progressive non-viral liver diseases, including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Founded in 2002 in New York, Intercept has operations in the United States, Europe and Canada. For more information, please visit www.interceptpharma.com or connect with the company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Dr. Pruzanski’s continued service as a director of and advisor to Intercept, our future growth and plans, including our focus on expanding our PBC business with Ocaliva, supporting our NASH regulatory process with the FDA and potentially resubmitting our NDA in NASH fibrosis and otherwise furthering our product pipeline.

These statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “possible,” “continue” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by our management that, although believed to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks. The following represent some, but not necessarily all, of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated or predicted by our forward-looking statements: our ability to successfully commercialize Ocaliva for PBC; our ability to maintain our regulatory approval of Ocaliva for PBC in the United States, Europe, Canada, Israel, Australia and other jurisdictions in which we have or may receive marketing authorization; our ability to timely and cost-effectively file for and obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates on an accelerated basis or at all, including OCA for liver fibrosis due to NASH following the issuance of the CRL by the FDA; any advisory committee recommendation or dispute resolution determination that our product candidates, including OCA for liver fibrosis due to NASH, should not be approved or approved only under certain conditions; any future determination that the regulatory applications and subsequent information we submit for our product candidates, including OCA for liver fibrosis due to NASH, do not contain adequate clinical or other data or meet applicable regulatory requirements for approval; conditions that may be imposed by regulatory authorities on our marketing approvals for our products and product candidates, including OCA for liver fibrosis due to NASH, such as the need for clinical outcomes data (and not just results based on achievement of a surrogate endpoint), any risk mitigation programs such as a REMS, and any related restrictions, limitations and/or warnings contained in the label of any of our products or product candidates; any potential side effects associated with Ocaliva for PBC, OCA for liver fibrosis due to NASH or our other product candidates that could delay or prevent approval, require that an approved product be taken off the market, require the inclusion of safety warnings or precautions, or otherwise limit the sale of such product or product candidate; the initiation, timing, cost, conduct, progress and results of our research and development activities, preclinical studies and clinical trials, including any issues, delays or failures in identifying patients, enrolling patients, treating patients, retaining patients, meeting specific endpoints in the jurisdictions in which we intend to seek approval or completing and timely reporting the results of our NASH or PBC clinical trials; our ability to establish and maintain relationships with, and the performance of, third-party manufacturers, contract research organizations and other vendors upon whom we are substantially dependent for, among other things, the manufacture and supply of our products, including Ocaliva for PBC and, if approved, OCA for liver fibrosis due to NASH, and our clinical trial activities; our ability to identify, develop and successfully commercialize our products and product candidates, including our ability to successfully launch OCA for liver fibrosis due to NASH, if approved; our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our products and product candidates, including our ability to cost-effectively file, prosecute, defend and enforce any patent claims or other intellectual property rights; the size and growth of the markets for our products and product candidates and our ability to serve those markets; the degree of market acceptance of Ocaliva for PBC and, if approved, OCA for liver fibrosis due to NASH or our other product candidates among physicians, patients and healthcare payors; the availability of adequate coverage and reimbursement from governmental and private healthcare payors for our products, including Ocaliva for PBC and, if approved, OCA for liver fibrosis due to NASH, and our ability to obtain adequate pricing for such products; our ability to establish and maintain effective sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, either directly or through collaborations with third parties; competition from existing drugs or new drugs that become available; our ability to prevent system failures, data breaches or violations of data protection laws; costs and outcomes relating to any disputes, governmental inquiries or investigations, regulatory proceedings, legal proceedings or litigation, including any securities, intellectual property, employment, product liability or other litigation; our collaborators’ election to pursue research, development and commercialization activities; our ability to establish and maintain relationships with collaborators with development, regulatory and commercialization expertise; our need for and ability to generate or obtain additional financing; our estimates regarding future expenses, revenues and capital requirements and the accuracy thereof; our use of cash and short-term investments; our ability to acquire, license and invest in businesses, technologies, product candidates and products; our ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively; our ability to manage the growth of our operations, infrastructure, personnel, systems and controls; our ability to obtain and maintain adequate insurance coverage; the impact of COVID-19, including any impact on our results of operations or financial position, related quarantines and government actions, delays relating to our regulatory applications, disruptions relating to our ongoing clinical trials or involving our contract research organizations, study sites or other clinical partners, disruptions relating to our supply chain or involving our third-party manufacturers, distributors or other distribution partners, facility closures or other restrictions, and the extent and duration thereof; the impact of general U.S. and foreign economic, industry, market, regulatory or political conditions, including the potential impact of Brexit; and the other risks and uncertainties identified in our periodic filings filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Contact
s

For more information about Intercept, please contact:

Lisa DeFrancesco
+1-646-565-4833
[email protected]

Christopher Frates
+1-646-757-2371
[email protected]

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION INTO THE USA

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Independence Gold Corp. (TSX.V: IGO) (the “Company”) wishes to announce that due to demand it has increased the size of its initially announced $1.5 million private placement financing (the “Offering”). The increase will allow for up to 9,375,000 flow-through common shares (the “FT Shares”) at a price of $0.16 FT Share, for aggregate proceeds of $1,500,000; and 4,285,714 additional common shares (each a “Unit”) at a price of $0.14 per Unit for aggregate proceeds of $600,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a “Share”) and one half of one common share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Share at an exercise price of $0.20 per common share for a period of 24 months. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and the approval of the Exchange, finders’ fees may be payable to eligible arm’s length persons with respect to certain subscriptions accepted by the Company.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company to fund a winter drill program at the 3Ts Property, expected to commence in February 2021, as well as advance the Merit and Nicoamen properties in the Spences Bridge Gold Belt. Proceeds will also be used for general and administrative purposes.

Closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued will be subject to a standard four month hold period.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD of Independence Gold Corp.

“Randy Turner”

Randy Turner, President and CEO

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

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are “forward-looking information” with respect to Independence within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to the Company’s planned drilling and exploration activities. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those identified and reported in Independence’s public filings under Independence Gold Corp.’s SEDAR profile at

www.sedar.com

.  Although Independence has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Independence disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

UNITED STATES ADVISORY. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), have been offered and sold outside the United States to eligible investors pursuant to Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, or resold in the United States or to, or for the account of or benefit of, a U.S. Person (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act) unless the securities are registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Hedging transactions involving the securities must not be conducted unless in accordance with the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in the state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

For further information please contact Randy Turner at 604-687-3959 or [email protected].

New York, NY, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hanzo Hold has become favored as the “best practice” legal and compliance application to manage Enterprise data within Slack, now allows customers to extend their matter management to G Suite (Google Workspace) data. Starting with “Follow-the-Link,” customers can identify critical Google data nested within Slack threads, messages, and groups, retrieve that data, and combine both Enterprise data sets into a single, surgical export for import into today’s industry-standard review platforms. 

Following this initial launch, Hanzo will be adding support for Google Drive, Gmail, and other Google Workspace data sources — with the roadmap accelerating quickly from there. In 2021, Hanzo Hold will be the authoritative source for internal investigations, security checks, legal holds, and compliance archiving across all dynamic, complex content types.

Follow-the-link functionality for G Suite within Slack is just one example of how Hanzo applies its mission by leveraging its deep experience in dynamic data today to help customers manage tomorrow’s data challenges.

“Our customers have come to rely on Hanzo Hold’s comprehensive Slack preservation, early case assessment, and review capabilities,” said Brad Harris, VP of Product at Hanzo. “Now, with the addition of G Suite and our roadmap for Google Workspace, we anticipate efficiencies well beyond initial expectations. We listen intently to the market and rely on our close partnership with our customers to ensure the software is built the way it is supposed to be built – with the customer in mind.”

“Enterprise SaaS applications are in high demand mode, and the risk, legal and compliance challenges that present themselves as this application ecosystem expands are non-trivial,” said Keith Laska, CEO of Hanzo. “Hanzo made a long-term commitment to our Enterprise customers. We’ve pledged to listen, design, and build best-practice application layers for the identification, early case assessment, and exporting of critical data to industry-standard systems hosted by law firms and legal service providers such as Relativity, DISCO, and Reveal Data. This release extends to Slack and the immense ecosystem of Google Workplace instances, where the vast majority of mission-critical data sits.”

About Hanzo

Hanzo brings context and a greater understanding of enterprise data to corporate legal and compliance teams by providing in-house control over dynamic and collaborative data sources. This control allows organizations to reduce billions of dollars in risk, litigation, and compliance costs and elevate their corporate legal and regulatory compliance responses. Hanzo’s software empowers defensible preservation, targeted collection, and efficient review of dynamic content from enterprise collaboration applications and complex websites. Hanzo is SOC 2® Type 2 certified, demonstrating its commitment to data security and serves large corporations worldwide.  Learn more at hanzo.co and follow updates on Twitter: @gethanzo or on LinkedIn.

Attachment

• 2020-12-pr-hanzo-hold-complements-slack-legal-data-management-release-gsuite-google-workspace-social

Sarena Regazzoni
Hanzo, Inc.
5034074208
[email protected]

Vancouver, Canada, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oroco Resource Corp. (TSX-V: OCO) (“Oroco” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement of 12,900,000 units at a price of $1.20 per unit (each, a “Unit”), for gross proceeds of $15,480,000 (the “Financing”). Each Unit consists of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole share purchase warrant will be exercisable into one additional common share of Oroco for a period of 24 months from closing at a price of $1.60 per share.

“We are very pleased that the global investment community has provided such widespread and substantial support for Oroco and its Santo Tomas Project,” stated Craig Dalziel, Oroco’s CEO. “This funding will give Oroco the opportunity to more fully exploit the targets identified by its developing 3D IP model, which further de-risks the project and allows Oroco to generate a more thorough and detailed project profile for potential acquisitors.”

The proceeds of the Financing will be used to generally advance the Santo Tomas Project, including the environmental permits, expansion of the Company’s Definition drill program, which will include both additional infill and step-out drilling, preliminary engineering studies, and general corporate purposes. In addition, certain contingent legal costs relating to the acquisition of the core Santo Tomas concessions are to be paid.

Pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, all shares issued by way of this Financing, and any shares issued pursuant to the exercise of the share purchase warrants, are subject to a hold period expiring April 9, 2021. The Financing is subject to TSX Venture Exchange final approval.

In consideration for assistance in arranging the private placement, the Company is paying finder’s fees of $50,000 and 40,000 finder’s fee warrants to RFC Ambrian Limited; 38,400 Units and 10,000 finder’s fee warrants to Longford Capital Corp.; and 70,000 finder’s fee warrants to Mariusz Skonieczny. Each finder’s fee warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company for a period of 24 months from closing at a price of $1.20 per share. All shares and finder’s fee warrants issued in relation to these finder’s fees are subject to a hold period expiring April 9, 2021

ABOUT OROCO:

The Company holds a net 61.4% interest in the collective 1,172.9 ha core concessions of the Santo Tomas Project in NW Mexico, and may increase that majority interest up to an 81.0% interest with a project investment of up to CAD$30 million. The Company also holds a 77.5% interest in 7,807.9 ha of mineral concessions surrounding and adjacent to the core concessions (a total project size of 8,980.8 ha). The Project is situated within the Santo Tomas District, which extends from Santo Tomas up to the Jinchuan Group’s Bahuerachi project, approximately 14 km to the north-east. Santo Tomas hosts a significant copper porphyry deposit defined by prior exploration spanning the period from 1968 to 1994.

During that time, the property was tested by over 100 diamond drill and reverse circulation drill holes, totaling approximately 30,000 meters. Based on data generated by these drill programs, a Prefeasibility Study was completed by Bateman Engineering Inc. in 1994. The Santo Tomas Project is located within 160 km of the Pacific deep-water port at Topolobampo, and is serviced via highway and proximal rail (and parallel corridors of trunk grid power lines and natural gas) through the city of Los Mochis to the northern city of Choix. The property is reached by a 32 km access road originally built to service Goldcorp’s El Sauzal Mine in Chihuahua State. The reader is directed to the Company’s August, 2019 Technical Report filed on SEDAR, as amended, and the Company’s website at orocoresourcecorp.com/santo-tomas-technical-report.

Neither 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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, statements relating to future events or achievements of the Company, are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in such statements. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these matters. Oroco does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements should they change, except as required by law. Readers are also cautioned that this news release includes reference to certain historical reports and studies that are cited in the Report. 

Craig Dalziel, CEO
Oroco Resource Corp. 
(604) 688-6200
[email protected]

NASHUA, N.H. and DALLAS, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iCAD, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICAD), a global medical technology leader providing innovative cancer detection and therapy solutions, and Solis Mammography, the largest independent provider of mammography and breast health services in the United States, today announced a five-year partnership whereby iCAD will provide Solis Mammography’s nationwide network with its latest artificial intelligence (AI) breast health solutions, including ProFound AI® for DBT and ProFound AI Risk, the first and only clinical decision support tool to provide an accurate two-year breast cancer risk estimation based on a screening mammogram.

“After a thorough evaluation of all available AI solutions, we have chosen iCAD’s ProFound AI platform as our sole breast health AI solution to integrate with our Hologic 3D mammography systems throughout our entire network,” said Grant Davies, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solis Mammography. “ProFound AI will further enhance patient care and outcomes for the over one million women we serve while also supporting our continued growth and expansion.”

ProFound AI for DBT is a high-performing workflow solution trained with the latest in deep-learning AI capabilities. It assists radiologists by rapidly and accurately analyzing each individual DBT image to identify potentially malignant lesions. The ProFound AI platform powered by Panorama is compatible with all leading mammography systems and allows for seamless integration with major PACS for decision support capabilities across large networks.

“Our partnership with Solis underscores our ongoing commitment to improving women’s health and we are thrilled that even more women across the United States will benefit from our revolutionary technology that is helping to improve lives,” said Michael Klein, Chairman and CEO of iCAD. “ProFound AI powered by Panorama offers unparalleled benefits to patients and radiologists alike, including a clinically proven improvement in sensitivity and specificity, which dramatically improves reading accuracy for mammograms and reduces the rate of false positives. Likewise, with the addition of our recently introduced ProFound AI Risk offering, we believe we will move mammography from what is today an age-based screening paradigm to a risk-adjusted precision screening paradigm that is personalized for every woman.”

In September 2020, compelling research published in the peer-reviewed journal, Radiology concluded that the ProFound AI Risk model is effective in identifying women at a high likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer within two years of a negative screening mammogram and in possible need of supplemental screening.

“We’ve reinvented the mammography experience with a compassionate, patient-focused approach,” said Alexander Sardiña, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Solis Mammography. “We ensure that all of our facilities are equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art screening and diagnostic technologies designed to improve the patient experience and offer women peace of mind. The recent adoption of ProFound AI for DBT throughout our network will allow our radiologists to quickly and accurately evaluate their patients’ 3D mammography images and aid in the identification of suspicious lesions earlier. In addition, the ability to provide a short-term, two-year breast cancer risk assessment will significantly enhance clinical decision making and further complement the armamentarium of breast cancer diagnostic and therapeutic tools available at Solis Mammography.”

ProFound AI for DBT is proven to curtail workflow challenges substantially by reducing radiologists’ reading time by 52.7%, thereby reducing by half the amount of time it takes radiologists to read 3D mammography datasets. Additionally, the platform improved radiologists’ performance measured by Area Under the Curve (AUC) by nearly 6% and reduced unnecessary patient recall rates by more than 7%.¹

About Solis Mammography

Solis Mammography is the nation’s largest independent provider of breast screening and diagnostic services. It operates more than 80 Solis-branded centers in 11 states, as well as seven offices in the Washington, DC metro area through its affiliate brand, Washington Radiology. Solis has been dedicated to helping women achieve and maintain breast health and peace of mind for more than 30 years and more than five million procedures. As a pioneer and innovator in 3D mammography, Solis has stayed at the forefront of breast health by continuing to deliver a better experience and a more accurate mammogram to the generations of women we serve.

About iCAD, Inc.

Headquartered in Nashua, NH, iCAD is a global medical technology leader providing innovative cancer detection and therapy solutions. ProFound AI® is a high-performing workflow solution for 2D and 3D mammography, or digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), featuring the latest in deep-learning artificial intelligence (AI). In 2018, ProFound AI for DBT became the first AI software for DBT to be FDA-cleared; it was also CE marked and Health Canada licensed that same year. It provides crucial information, such as Certainty of Finding lesion and Case Scores, which assists in clinical decision-making and improving reading efficiency. ProFound AI Risk is currently available on an introductory basis for 2D mammography and will subsequently be available for the rapidly growing 3D mammography market. For more information, visit www.icadmed.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this News Release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the benefits of the Company’s agreement with Solis and future prospects for the Company’s technology platforms and products. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited, to the Company’s ability to achieve business and strategic objectives, the willingness of patients to undergo mammography screening in light of risks of potential exposure to Covid-19, whether mammography screening will be treated as an essential procedure, whether ProFound AI will improve reading efficiency, improve specificity and sensitivity, reduce false positives and otherwise prove to be more beneficial for patients and clinicians, the impact of supply and manufacturing constraints or difficulties on our ability to fulfill our orders, uncertainty of future sales levels, to defend itself in litigation matters, protection of patents and other proprietary rights, product market acceptance, possible technological obsolescence of products, increased competition, government regulation, changes in Medicare or other reimbursement policies, risks relating to our existing and future debt obligations, competitive factors, the effects of a decline in the economy or markets served by the Company; and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words “believe,” “demonstrate,” “intend,” “expect,” “estimate,” “will,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “likely,” “seek,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on those forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. The Company is under no obligation to provide any updates to any information contained in this release. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iCAD, please see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available on the Investors section of our website at http://www.icadmed.com and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. 

Contacts:

Media inquiries:
Amy Cook, iCAD
+1-925-200-2125
[email protected]

Investor relations:
Jeremy Feffer, LifeSci Advisors
+1-212-915-2568
[email protected]

¹ Conant, E et al. (2019). Improving Accuracy and Efficiency with Concurrent Use of Artificial Intelligence for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis. Radiology: Artificial Intelligence. 1 (4). Accessed via https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/ryai.2019180096

TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POET Technologies Inc. (“POET” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: PTK; OTCQX: POETF), the designer and developer of the POET Optical Interposer™ and Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) for the data center and tele-communication markets, announced today that Suresh Venkatesan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the LD Micro Main Event Conference, which will be held as a virtual event. Management is scheduled to present to a live virtual panel on Tuesday, December 15^th at 2:40 p.m. EST.

Following the conference a webcast replay of management’s presentation will be available on the “Presentations & Events” page in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

About POET Technologies Inc.

POET Technologies is a design and development company offering integration solutions based on the POET Optical Interposer™ a novel platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single multi-chip module using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques and packaging methods. POET’s Optical Interposer eliminates costly components and labor-intensive assembly, alignment, burn-in and testing methods employed in conventional photonics. The cost-efficient integration scheme and scalability of the POET Optical Interposer brings value to any device or system that integrates electronics and photonics, including some of the highest growth areas of computing, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles and high-speed networking for cloud service providers and data centers. POET is headquartered in Toronto, with operations in Allentown, PA and Singapore. More information may be obtained at www.poet-technologies.com.

Shareholder Contact: Shelton Group Brett L. Perry [email protected]

Company Contact: Thomas R. Mika, EVP & CFO [email protected]

This news release contains “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “outlook”, “foresee” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include the Company’s expectations with respect to the success of the Company’s product development efforts, the expected results of its operations, meeting revenue targets, and the expectation of continued success in the financing efforts, the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Company’s technology as well as the market acceptance, inclusion and timing of the Company’s technology in current and future products.

Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, management’s expectations regarding the success and timing for completion of its development efforts, financing activities, receiving full payment for its sale of its DenseLight subsidiary, future growth, plans for and completion of projects by the Company’s third-party consultants, contractors and partners, availability of capital, and the necessity to incur capital and other expenditures. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, operational risks in the completion of the Company’s anticipated projects, delays or changes in plans with respect to the development of the Company’s anticipated projects by the Company’s third-party relationships, risks affecting the Company’s ability to execute projects, the ability of the Company to generate sales for its products, the ability to attract key personnel, and the ability to raise additional capital. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law.

Neither 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.

120 Eglinton Avenue, East, Suite 1107, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E2- Tel: 416-368-9411 – Fax: 416-322-5075

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SYH)(OTCQB:SYHBF) (Frankfurt:SC1P) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce that its partner company Azincourt Energy’s (TSX.V: AAZ) ground-based geophysical exploration program at the East Preston uranium project, located in the western Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is now 50% complete.

Preston Uranium Project Map:

http://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/m
a
ps/SYH-Patterson-Lake.pdf

The program is comprised of a horizontal loop electromagnetic survey (“HLEM”) consisting of a total of 33 line-km of line-cutting and surveying. The survey commenced in late November and to date 16.5 line-km have been completed. The survey was originally scheduled for the summer but had been delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions and disruptions.
  
The HLEM survey is being utilized to refine and prioritize target areas where untested conductive corridors have been identified in existing property wide airborne VTEM survey results. Unconformity related uranium deposits associated with the Athabasca Basin are closely associated with basement conductive packages. VTEM surveys have identified conductive corridors within the East Preston land package and the HLEM survey will narrow down where within these corridors future drilling should focus.

Target corridors at East Preston Uranium Project, Western Athabasca Basin Saskatchewan:

https://www.skyharbourltd.com/_
r
esources/maps/Target-Corridors-East-Preston.png

“We’re eager to continue drilling East Preston,” said Alex Klenman, President & CEO of Azincourt Energy. “We know the area is target rich and we’ve only drill tested a handful to date. The additional geophysics will add to the targeting and help refine priority areas. In addition, this round of work will allow us to meet the spend threshold of the option agreement with Skyharbour and Dixie. It’s a significant milestone for the company,” continued Mr. Klenman.

Bingham Geoscience of Saskatoon continues to oversee Azincourt’s geophysical programs and interpretation work. Patterson Geophysics of La Ronge, Saskatchewan, is conducting the program.

Proposed areas for upcoming HLEM survey at the East Preston Uranium Project
:

https://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources
/
maps/HLEM-Survey-East-Preston.png

About East Preston:

Skyharbour and Dixie Gold Inc. (“Dixie Gold”) entered into an Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Azincourt whereby Azincourt has an earn-in option to acquire a 70% working interest in a portion of the Preston Uranium Project known as the East Preston Property. Under the Agreement, Azincourt has issued common shares and will contribute cash and exploration expenditure consideration totaling up to CAD $3,500,000 in exchange for up to 70% of the applicable property area over three years. Of the $3,500,000 in project consideration, $1,000,000 will be in cash payments to Skyharbour and Dixie Gold, as well as $2,500,000 in exploration expenditures over the three-year period. Skyharbour and Dixie Gold agreed to extend the deadline for the remaining obligations owing to complete the acquisition of a 70% interest in the Project, which include incurring a small portion of the exploration expenditures remaining on the Project and completion of a final cash payment of CAD $400,000 (see News Release dated April 16, 2020). The deadline for these obligations has been extended through until March 31^st, 2021 and in consideration for the extension, Azincourt issued common shares to Skyharbour and Dixie Gold.

Three prospective conductive, low magnetic signature corridors have been discovered on the property. The three distinct corridors have a total strike length of over 25 km, each with multiple EM conductor trends identified. Ground prospecting and sampling work completed to date has identified outcrop, soil, biogeochemical and radon anomalies, which are key pathfinder elements for unconformity uranium deposit discovery.

The East Preston Project has multiple long linear conductors with flexural changes in orientation and offset breaks in the vicinity of interpreted fault lineaments – classic targets for basement-hosted unconformity uranium deposits. These are not just simple basement conductors; they are clearly upgraded/enhanced prospectivity targets because of the structural complexity.

The targets are basement-hosted unconformity related uranium deposits similar to NexGen’s Arrow deposit and Cameco’s Eagle Point mine. East Preston is near the southern edge of the western Athabasca Basin, where targets are in a near surface environment without Athabasca sandstone cover; therefore, they are relatively shallow targets but can have great depth extent when discovered. The project ground is located along a parallel conductive trend between the PLS-Arrow trend and Cameco’s Centennial deposit (Virgin River-Dufferin Lake trend).

Qualified Person:

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Richard Kusmirski, P.Geo., M.Sc., Skyharbour’s Head Technical Advisor and a Qualified Person.

About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:

Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium and thorium exploration projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with six drill-ready projects. Skyharbour has acquired from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, a 100% interest in the Moore Uranium Project which is located 15 kilometres east of Denison’s Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco’s McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced stage uranium exploration property with high grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone with drill results returning up to 6.0% U3O8 over 5.9 metres including 20.8% U3O8 over 1.5 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres.

Skyharbour has option agreements with Orano Canada Inc. and Azincourt Energy whereby Orano and Azincourt can earn in up to 70% of the Preston Project through a combined $9,800,000 in total exploration expenditures, as well as $1,700,000 in total cash payments and Azincourt shares. Preston is a large, geologically prospective property proximal to Fission Uranium’s Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy’s Arrow deposit.

The Company owns a 100% interest in the South Falcon Uranium Project on the eastern perimeter of the Basin which contains a NI 43-101 inferred resource totaling 7.0 million pounds of U3O8 at 0.03% and 5.3 million pounds of ThO2 at 0.023%. Recently, Skyharbour signed a LOI with Australian company Pitchblende Energy, which is being acquired by ASX-listed Valor Resources, on the North Falcon Uranium Project whereby Pitchblende can earn-in 80% of the project through $3,500,000 in total exploration expenditures and $475,000 in total cash payments over three years as well as shares in the company.

Skyharbour’s goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions

Skyharbour’s Uranium Project Map in the Athabasca Basin:

http://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/maps/SYH-Athabasca-Map.pdf

To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SYH) visit the Company’s website at www.skyharbourltd.com.

SKYHARBOUR RESOURCES LTD.

“Jordan Trimble”
___________________________
Jordan Trimble
President and CEO

For further information contact myself or:
Spencer Coulter
Corporate Communications
Skyharbour Resources Ltd.
Telephone: 604-687-3800
Toll Free: 800-567-8181
Facsimile: 604-687-3119
Email: [email protected]

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.  

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — How has the vulnerability landscape changed over the past decade? Coinciding with the company’s 10-year anniversary, Kenna Security, the enterprise leader in risk-based vulnerability management, has released a data-driven review of the vulnerability trends and risks that have shaped cybersecurity over the past decade.

“So much of cybersecurity has changed over the past decade, but one thing has stayed the same: it involves running from one crisis to another,” said Ed Bellis, founder and CTO of Kenna Security. “It’s rare for practitioners to have a chance to look back and see how their jobs have changed. But major shifts over the past decade can provide new clues about what the future holds for cybersecurity.”

The number of total vulnerabilities discovered per year has exploded from 4,100 in 2011 to more than 17,500 in 2020. Yet the proportion of vulnerabilities that hackers have been willing or able to weaponize has not kept pace. While the overall volume of vulnerabilities reported each year has quadrupled, the percentage of newly discovered vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the wild has declined to just 0.38 percent from a high of 1.64 percent in 2012.

And yet, CVSS, a commonly used metric that some enterprise security teams use to prioritize vulnerability management, does not offer clarity. Over 13 percent of CVEs have a CVSS score of 9 or greater, even though the vast majority have never been exploited in the wild. 

Kenna Security’s analysis also found:

• Just 0.18 percent of vulnerabilities – a total of 171 – have a Kenna Risk Score of 100, representing the highest risk vulnerabilities from the past ten years. They have an average CVSS score of 9.
• Numerous vulnerabilities with a Kenna Risk Score of 100 have CVSS scores that are far lower. In fact, the average CVSS score for this class of critical vulnerabilities in 2018 was 7.6, and it was 8.7 in 2017.
• There’s also been a shift in the vendors whose products often have vulnerabilities with a 100 Kenna Risk Score. Between 2011 and 2014, vulnerabilities affecting Adobe, Oracle Java, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Mozilla dominated the list. Recently discovered critical vulnerabilities, which tend to focus on cloud platforms and servers, affect a more diverse set of products and vendors.
• More than one-in-four vulnerabilities involved remote code execution, while nearly one-in-five involved denial of service.

Over the past ten years, Kenna Security has made several major contributions to the cybersecurity community, including the Exploit Prediction Scoring System, a free tool that helps companies assess the danger of individual vulnerabilities. The company’s Prioritization to Prediction series, now in its sixth volume, has leveraged Kenna’s unique dataset to show that companies have the capacity to mitigate just one out of every ten vulnerabilities.

“We founded Kenna a decade ago because CISOs and their security teams were overwhelmed by the number of vulnerabilities on their systems and the lack of rational and effective ways to manage them,” continued Bellis. “Now as we look back on the last ten years, it’s clear that the challenge has only grown. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Approaching this challenge with data science and a focus on risk can level the playing field for CISOs. This has made modern vulnerability management more manageable and efficient.”

Additional Resources

• 
  A Decade of
  Insights
  
• 
  The Top Vulnerabilities Of The
  Decade
  
• Engage with Kenna on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About Kenna Security

Kenna Security is the enterprise leader in risk-based vulnerability management. The Kenna Security Platform enables organizations to work cross-functionally to determine and remediate cyber risks. It leverages machine learning and data science to track and predict real-world exploitations, empowering security teams to focus on what matters most. Headquartered in San Francisco, Kenna serves nearly every major vertical and counts CVS, KPMG, and many Fortune 100 companies among its customers.

Media & Analyst Contact:

Matt McLoughlin

Gregory FCA for Kenna Security

Phone: 609-385-2058

Email: [email protected]

CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acutus Medical (Nasdaq: AFIB), an arrhythmia management company focused on improving the way cardiac arrhythmias are diagnosed and treated, today announced CE Mark and European launch of their integrated family of transseptal crossing products, designed to deliver safe and efficient access to the left atrium. Coupled with their previously received FDA clearance, Acutus now has regulatory approval to gain access to key global geographies in the large and growing market for transseptal crossing products.

The AcQCross Transseptal System includes the AcQCross Qx packaged with either the fixed AcQGuide™ MINI or steerable AcQGuide FLEX introducer sheath. The AcQCross Qx is comprised of an integrated needle and dilator that supports the passthrough of an 0.032” guidewire, allowing the guidewire to always be loaded during left atrial access. Physicians now have the ability to position, reposition, and cross the atrial septum without removing the guidewire, thereby reducing the number of exchanges required for a variety of electrophysiology and structural heart procedures, including: atrial fibrillation ablations, left atrial appendage closure, and transcatheter mitral valve repair and replacement.

This versatile system not only offers manual and safe crossing with a spring-tension needle but also provides the option to use RF energy to facilitate septal crossing in patients with challenging anatomy. The system is compatible with Valleylab^® generators which are already present in most labs and operating rooms, eliminating the need for and cost associated with proprietary RF generators.

“The AcQCross Transseptal System greatly enhances my procedural efficiency by reducing the number of exchanges,” commented Dr. Jose Osorio from Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. “I particularly appreciate the ability to quickly reposition the catheter tip to allow for optimizing the septal crossing location on the fossa, as angle of approach can have an important impact on the speed and quality of ablations and implants.”

“This is a terrific product line and we are seeing really impressive demo-to-conversion rates across the full spectrum of customer segments,” said Vince Burgess, President and CEO of Acutus Medical, Inc. “As we mentioned on our last quarterly update, our US transseptal crossing sales have been growing steadily. Despite the continuing Covid headwinds, we remain encouraged by adoption trends in the US and, with our CE Mark now in hand, we look forward to building sales in additional geographies.

About
Acutus
Medical

Acutus Medical is an arrhythmia management company focused on improving the way cardiac arrhythmias are diagnosed and treated. Acutus is committed to advancing the field of electrophysiology with a unique array of products and technologies which will enable more physicians to treat more patients more efficiently and effectively. Through internal product development, acquisitions and global partnerships, Acutus has established a global sales presence delivering a broad portfolio of highly differentiated electrophysiology products that provide its customers with a complete solution for catheter-based treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in each of its geographic markets. Founded in 2011, Acutus is based in Carlsbad, California.

Follow
Acutus
Medical on:

• Twitter: @AcutusMedical
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/acutus-medical-inc-/
• Facebook: @AcutusMedical

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