SoniVie Receives FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the TIVUS System for Renal Artery Denervation

 
– SoniVie Acquires New Intellectual Property and Other Assets from Cardiosonic Moving TIVUS into New Therapeutic Areas Beyond Pulmonary Hypertension –

TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SoniVie, an Israeli company developing a novel proprietary Therapeutic Intra-Vascular Ultrasound (TIVUS) System to treat a variety of hypertensive disorders, today announced that it has been granted Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the TIVUS System for renal artery denervation for the treatment of resistant hypertension, which is defined as blood pressure that remains above 140/90 mmHg despite use of three antihypertensive medications of different classes at the best tolerated doses, one of which must be a diuretic. Millions of people world-wide suffer from resistant hypertension which substantially increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

Breakthrough Device Designation is a special regulatory status granted to medical devices that provide a more effective treatment for life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases. The goal of the Breakthrough Devices Program is to provide patients and health care providers with timely access to these medical devices by speeding up their development, assessment, and review, while preserving the statutory standards for premarket approval, 510(k) clearance, and De Novo marketing authorization. The Company previously received Breakthrough Device Designation for the TIVUS System in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in September 2019.

“We are excited about moving the TIVUS System into therapeutic areas beyond PAH and believe that the technology has broad utility in a variety of serious health conditions,” said Chuck Carignan, MD, Chief Executive Officer at SoniVie. “A growing body of clinical evidence suggests that our ultrasound-based denervation technology may provide clinical benefit in the treatment of diseases that lack optimal medical management, including resistant hypertension. We believe that the TIVUS System can work synergistically with existing treatments to potentially improve clinical outcomes.”

The Company also announced that it has acquired the remaining intellectual property and other assets related to the use of the TIVUS System from Cardiosonic. SoniVie had previously licensed technology related to the use of TIVUS specifically in the treatment of PAH.

With this acquisition, SoniVie’s TIVUS procedure becomes the only platform denervation technology with active development programs in multiple therapeutic areas: pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) for pulmonary hypertension and renal artery denervation (RDN) for resistant hypertension along with other potential applications.

Dr. Carignan added, “With Breakthrough Device Designation in two indications and control of the intellectual property and other assets related to the use of the TIVUS System in multiple indications, we have a strong competitive advantage as we work to advance targeted denervation as a therapeutic approach that can provide best-in-class outcomes to patients.”

Renal denervation with the TIVUS System is a minimally invasive procedure that uses high-frequency non-focused ultrasound to ablate nerves in the renal artery. This causes a reduction in the nerve activity, which decreases blood pressure. This procedure is designed for patients who suffer from resistant hypertension. Cardiosonic previously conducted two clinical trials of RDN in patients with resistant hypertension using an earlier version of the TIVUS System, and these trials showed excellent feasibility in lowering blood pressure out to six months. Cardiosonic also received a CE Mark for the earlier version of the system.

“With our very encouraging clinical data in PAH, and the excellent published data from the TIVUS II study in renal artery denervation conducted by Cardiosonic, we may be able to offer a platform solution that can change the lives of millions of people worldwide, while reducing costs to healthcare systems,” said Dr. Irit Yaniv, Chair of SoniVie and founding partner and CEO of Almeda Ventures.

Building on the promising RDN clinical trials that Cardiosonic previously conducted, SoniVie expects to initiate new clinical trials of its current TIVUS System in patients with resistant hypertension in late 2021. In October 2020, the Company announced that it had received IDE approval for its pivotal trial of the TIVUS System in patients with PAH (NCT04570228), and it currently anticipates initiating enrollment in the study in early 2021.

About SoniVie

SoniVie is a medical device company developing the TIVUS Ultrasonic Denervation System, the only platform denervation technology with active development programs in three therapeutic areas: pulmonary artery denervation for pulmonary hypertension, renal artery denervation for resistant hypertension, and total lung denervation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with chronic bronchitis. These diseases affect millions of patients in the United States and Europe. The TIVUS procedure is performed during a standard right-heart catheterization procedure and has shown encouraging results in first-in-human clinical trials in Group 1 PAH patients. The company has also launched a clinical trial of TIVUS in Group 2 PH patients. The company’s offices are located in Rosh Haayin, Israel and in Boston, MA.

Media Contact – Lazar FINN Partners

Glenn Silver
[email protected]
646-871-8485



MATEON TO HOST VIRTUAL WEBINAR ADDRESSING COVID-19 AND THERAPIES AYURVEDA AND ARTEMISIA ON DECEMBER 16, 2020

  • Featuring Global Experts in Ayurveda and Pharmacology
  • December 16, 2020 7 AM PST- 10 AM EST- 8:30 PM IST
  • Panel Discussion and Q & A to follow

Agoura Hills, California, Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mateon Therapeutics, Inc. (“Mateon” or “Oncotelic) (OTCQB.MATN) today announced that it is hosting a webinar titled, “Ayurveda, Artemisia, and Covid-19.” This webinar will address the Covid-19 pandemic, and the healing therapies Artemisia and Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems developed more than 3,000 years ago in India, with the principles and processes of modern drug development.

The webinar will take place on December 16, 2020 at 10 AM EST/7AM PST/8:30 PM IST. The event is free and you may register in advance here.


https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eBswjPA1Tg2DJqOcpQspYw

“For thousands of years Ayurveda has been a safe and trusted approach to healing. Now during the Covid-19 pandemic, our clinical trials are studying its potential to treat inflammation, fevers and respiratory viruses,” said Saran Saund, CBO of Mateon. “We believe that with Windlas Biotech’s partnership, this new therapy will be a potential game-changer not only for India, but for other countries who don’t have the medical infrastructure in place to treat Covid-19.”

“As we enter the colder months in India, there is perhaps no other country that needs medical assistance with Covid-19 treatments more than India. India has lost 140,000 citizens and 9.5 million people have been infected, second only to the U.S.,” said CEO Vuong Trieu, Ph.D., Mateon Therapeutics. “Our studies are proving that inhibiting TGF-B is an effective treatment against many of the coronaviruses, including Covid-19. We are excited to bring safe and cost-effective treatments to those suffering.”

Presenters include:

  • Dr. Geetha Krishnan, M.D. (Ayurveda), BAMS
  • Dr. Renu Dixit, MD (Ayurveda) Ph.D., BAMS
  • Professor Maurice Iwu Ph.D.
  • Dr. Wanjun Chen, M.D.
  • Saran Saund, CBO Mateon Therapeutics
  • Hitesh Windlas, Founder and Managing Director Windlas Biotech Pvt. Ltd.


ARTIVeda – an Ethnobiology Drug

Mateon is pursuing several avenues with respect to the development and commercialization of ARTIVeda in the treatment of COVID-19. ARTIVeda™ is Ayurveda – Dvipaantara Damanaka – and is labeled as a capsule containing Artemisia Powder 500mg. It is a demonstration of how Ethnobiology can be used to drive drug development against emerging pandemics.

The classical pharmaceutical regulatory pathways have failed to provide fast-track to treatment. Government resources have concentrated on a few candidates most of which have failed. The Ayurvedic medicine route is proving to be an accelerated pathway to deploy a well-known, abundantly available and cost effective Ayurvedic medicine that is safe and being proven in-vitro and large-scale clinical trial to be effective.


ARTIVeda – Commercialization in India

Mateon announced that ARTIVeda™ has been approved for manufacture and marketing by the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) in India for the treatment of various symptoms including fever and inflammation, which can be associated with COVID-19. ARTIVeda is in co-development with Windlas Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Mateon’s commercial partner for India and is designed to be a readily available and cost-effective agent to combat COVID-19. Mateon expects sales of ARTIVeda will commence in India by year end.


ARTI-19 Multi-national Phase IV Trial, Currently in India

Mateon announced the enrollment of its first patient in a Phase IV study ARTI-19, “A Prospective, Randomized, Multi-center, Open label, Interventional Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Artemisinin 500 mg capsule in Treatment of Adult Subjects with COVID-19”. This trial will compare the efficacy of oral doses with standard-of-care (SOC) versus SOC alone. This is a global study with India to contribute at least 300 patients to the total aggregate of 3000 patients.

About Mateon Therapeutics

Mateon was created by the recent reverse merger with Oncotelic, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mateon, thereby creating an immuno-oncology company dedicated to the development of first in class RNA therapeutics as well as small molecule drugs against cancer and infectious diseases. OT-101, the lead immuno-oncology drug candidate of Mateon/Oncotelic, is a first-in-class anti-TGF-βRNA therapeutic that exhibited single agent activity in some relapsed/refractory cancer patients in clinical trial settings. OT-101 also has activity against SARS-CoV-2. Mateon/Oncotelic is seeking to leverage its deep expertise in oncology drug development to improve treatment outcomes and survival of cancer patients with a special emphasis on rare pediatric cancers. Mateon has rare pediatric designation for OT-101 for DIPG, CA4P for melanoma, and OXi4503 for AML.

For more information, please visit www.oncotelic.com and www.mateon.com and https://quantdata.us/news/18670223.

Mateon’s Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this communication regarding strategy, future operations, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Words such as “may”, “expect”, “anticipate” “hope”, “vision”, “optimism”, “design”, “exciting”, “promising”, “will”, “conviction”, “estimate,” “intend,” “believe”, “quest for a cure of cancer”, “innovation-driven”, “paradigm-shift”, “high scientific merit”, “impact potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans, the progress, timing, clinical development, scope and success of future clinical trials, the reporting of clinical data for the company’s product candidates and the potential use of the company’s product candidates to treat various cancer indications. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results, including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, clinical trial site activation or enrollment rates that are lower than expected, changes in expected or existing competition, changes in the regulatory environment, failure of collaborators to support or advance collaborations or product candidates and unexpected litigation or other disputes. These risks are not exhaustive, the company faces known and unknown risks, including the risk factors described in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on May 20, 2020 and in the company’s other periodic filings. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, whether as a result of new information future events, or otherwise.

Contact Information:

For Mateon Therapeutics, Inc.:
Amit Shah
[email protected]

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New social harmony index finds that nearly 75% of Canadians seek common ground

Study highlights national core values relate to social focus over individual focus

CALGARY, Alberta and TORONTO, Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Contrary to the perception of growing national polarization, and just in time for the season of peace and goodwill—the first annual Canadian Social Harmony Index™ has benchmarked Canadians’ willingness to accommodate different points of view and find common ground. Across regions, the findings were surprisingly consistent:

  • 73% personally seek to find common understanding with others, even if they have different beliefs
  • 64% said that like-minded people should be willing to listen to others and compromise
  • 82% said our differences are not so large that we cannot find common ground

Older respondents and those who held both liberal and conservative views were significantly more likely to want to find common ground. Younger respondents, and those whose views were either strongly progressive or strongly conservative were more likely to want to fight for their beliefs. In all cases, the majority of all subgroups, even the polarized wings, favoured common ground.

Inspired by the work of More in Common, the survey was self-funded and conducted by RA2 in partnership with Cause & Effect Marketing, agencies that use technology, behavioural science, and positive psychology to support government, business, and social sector clients.

“As we say goodbye to 2020, these results suggest a healthy level of goodwill that can be built on to promote social cooperation, social harmony, and social good. The key to maintaining that goodwill in the year ahead is to communicate with one another as friends rather than enemies,” says Joni Avram, President of Cause & Effect Marketing.

The survey also measured the core values that influence how Canadians think, feel, and act. The results revealed that Canadians have a greater social focus than personal focus. These results were also consistent across regions:

  • 78% valued caring for others within local communities or the larger world
  • 58% valued independence which includes freedom, curiosity, or personal challenge
  • 55% valued social stability, safety, and social harmony
  • 54% valued self-enhancement related to personal achievement, enjoyment, or status

The study also showed that messages that align with these core values dramatically increased positive engagement and willingness to share messages with friends and family.

“When messaging to a broad range of people, continually repeating a single perspective doesn’t work well. Instead, multiple messages that align with different core values can make respondents engage more positively with information and make them more willing to share it,” says Cameron Raynor, Principal of RA2.

The online study, conducted in mid-November across four regions (Atlantic, Ontario, Prairies, BC), surveyed 1575 Canadians representative of the general public based on age, gender, region, and education. A summary of findings is available here. Professional development training on how to apply these results to specific organizational and sector messages will be offered December 16, 2020.

Note to Editors: SqueezeCMM will be measuring engagement with survey results and monitoring sharing activity among engaged audiences. The goal is to track Index measures annually. We encourage advocates, educators, and communicators to work with us to promote social harmony and move the Index up in 2021.

RA2 is a communications consultancy that uses machine learning and market research to enable clients to grow their reach using empathic communication strategies that align with universal human values. RA2 has a global reach that includes not-for-profits, political organizations, and private firms.

Cause & Effect Marketing is an internationally recognized social marketing agency that supports not-for-profit, philanthropic, and business sector clients engaged in social change across Canada. President Joni Avram holds a Masters in Behavioural Science from the London School of Economics.

For more information contact:

Jennie Avram
Avram Communications
P: (306) 539.4700
E: [email protected]



Akoustis Awarded WiFi 6 RF Filter Design Win from New Customer

– New XBAW Design Win Supports New MU-MIMO Tri-Band Gateway/Router Using Company’s 5.2/5.6 GHz Coexistence RF Filter Solution –

– Company Expects Design to Ramp Production by 1H CY2021 –

Charlotte, N.C., Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Akoustis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKTS) (“Akoustis” or the “Company”), an integrated device manufacturer (IDM) of patented bulk acoustic wave (BAW) high-band RF filters for mobile and other wireless applications, announced today that it has been awarded a design win from a second WiFi 6 customer for its 5.2/5.6 GHz XBAW® RF coexistence filter solutions.

The gateway/router product uses multi-user multiple-in-multiple-out (MU-MIMO) configurations requiring multiple Akoustis filters. The Company expects the design to enter production in the first half of calendar 2021.

This is the second WiFi 6 design win announced by Akoustis. The Company’s first customer released a consumer tri-band MU-MIMO WiFi 6 router in November, which also incorporates multiple Akoustis filters.

Jeff Shealy, founder and CEO of Akoustis, stated, “We continue to see our sales funnel expand with increased design activity in our WiFi filter business, for both WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E.  This design win supports a key WiFi 6 business milestone targeted for the December quarter.” Mr. Shealy continued, “We anticipate additional filter design wins in WiFi over the next year from our expanding customer base, which we believe can drive significant long term, sustainable revenue.”

Akoustis’ high frequency, high performance XBAW® process and filters are experiencing growing interest as the Company has entered production in multiple markets in calendar 2020, including 5G network infrastructure, high-band WiFi and phased-array radar applications.

Akoustis has added 15 filters to its product catalog including a 5.6 GHz WiFi filter, a 5.2 GHz WiFi filter, a 5.5 GHz WiFi-6E filter, a 6.5 GHz WiFi 6E filter, three small cell 5G network infrastructure filters including two Band n77 filters and one Band n79 filter, a 3.8 GHz filter and five S-Band filters for defense phased-array radar applications, a 3.6 GHz filter for the CBRS 5G infrastructure market and a C-Band filter for the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) market. The Company is also developing several new filters for the sub-7 GHz bands targeting 5G mobile device, network infrastructure, WiFi CPE and defense markets.

About Akoustis Technologies, Inc.

Akoustis® (http://www.akoustis.com/) is a high-tech BAW RF filter solutions company that is pioneering next-generation materials science and MEMS wafer manufacturing to address the market requirements for improved RF filters – targeting higher bandwidth, higher operating frequencies and higher output power compared to incumbent polycrystalline BAW technology deployed today. The Company utilizes its proprietary XBAW® manufacturing process to produce bulk acoustic wave RF filters for mobile and other wireless markets, which facilitate signal acquisition and accelerate band performance between the antenna and digital back end. Superior performance is driven by the significant advances of high-purity, single-crystal and associated piezoelectric materials and the resonator-filter process technology which drives electro-mechanical coupling and translates to wide filter bandwidth. 

Akoustis plans to service the fast growing multi-billion-dollar RF filter market using its integrated device manufacturer (IDM) business model. The Company owns and operates a 120,000 sq. ft. ISO-9001:2015 registered commercial wafer-manufacturing facility located in Canandaigua, NY, which includes a class 100 / class 1000 cleanroom facility – tooled for 150-mm diameter wafers – for the design, development, fabrication and packaging of RF filters, MEMS and other semiconductor devices. Akoustis Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in the Piedmont technology corridor near Charlotte, North Carolina.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans or strategies for the future (including our possible future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, potential growth opportunities, potential market opportunities and the effects of competition), and the assumptions underlying such statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “might,” “would,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “project,” “expect,” “plan,” “strategy,” “anticipate,” “attempt,” “develop,” “help,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “intend,” “forecast,” “seek,” “potential,” “continue,” “future,” and similar words (including the negative of any of the foregoing), although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future results, performance, events or circumstances. Instead, these forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include, without limitation, risks relating to our ability to obtain adequate financing and sustain our status as a going concern; our limited operating history; the results of our research and development activities, including uncertainties relating to semiconductor process manufacturing; the development of our XBAW® technology and products presently under development and the anticipated timing of such development; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights that are valuable to our business, including patent and other intellectual property rights; our reliance on third parties to complete certain processes in connection with the manufacture of our products; product quality and defects; existing or increased competition; our ability to successfully manufacture, market and sell products based on our technologies; the ability to achieve qualification of our products for commercial manufacturing in a timely manner and the size and growth of the potential markets for any products so qualified; our ability to successfully scale our New York wafer fabrication facility and related operations while maintaining quality control and assurance and avoiding delays in output; the rate and degree of market acceptance of any of our products; our ability to achieve design wins from current and future customers; contracting with customers and other parties with greater bargaining power and agreeing to terms and conditions that may adversely affect our business; risks related to doing business in foreign countries; any security breaches or other disruptions compromising our proprietary information and exposing us to liability; our ability to raise funding to support operations and the continued development and qualification of our products and the technologies underlying them; our ability to service our outstanding indebtedness represented by our $25.0 million principal amount of senior convertible notes due in 2023; and the impact of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on our operations, financial condition and the worldwide economy, including its impact on our ability to access the capital markets; our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; and our ability to obtain and maintain the Trusted Foundry accreditation of our New York wafer fabrication facility. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in more detail in the Risk Factors and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Considering these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements regarding future events and circumstances discussed in this document may not occur, and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements included in this document speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or privately any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, for any reason after the date of this document to conform these statements to new information, actual results or to changes in our expectations.



Contact:

COMPANY:
Tom Sepenzis
Akoustis Technologies
VP of Corporate Development & IR
(980) 689-4961
[email protected]

The Del Mar Consulting Group, Inc.
Robert B. Prag, President
(858) 794-9500
[email protected]

GasLog Ltd. Declares Dividend on Series A Preference Shares

Piraeus, Greece, Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GasLog Ltd. (“GasLog” or “Company”) (NYSE: GLOG) today announced a dividend of $0.546875 per share on its 8.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preference Shares, payable on January 4, 2021 for all shareholders of record as of December 31, 2020.

Contacts: 

Joseph Nelson 
Head of Investor Relations 
Phone: +1 212-223-0643 

Email: [email protected] 


About GasLog
 

GasLog is an international owner, operator and manager of LNG carriers providing support to international energy companies as part of their LNG logistics chain. GasLog’s consolidated fleet consists of 35 LNG carriers. Of these vessels, 18 (15 on the water and three on order) are owned by GasLog, two have been sold to a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and to CMBFL, respectively, and leased back by GasLog under long-term bareboat charters and the remaining 15 LNG carriers are owned by the Company’s subsidiary, GasLog Partners. GasLog’s principal executive offices are at 69 Akti Miaouli, 18537 Piraeus, Greece. Visit GasLog’s website at http://www.gaslogltd.com.



Skylight Health Announces New OTCQX Ticker and Presentation at LD Micro in December

  • Skylight Health will begin trading under new ticker “SHGFF” on the OTCQX December 9, 2020
  • Company continues to trade under “SHG” on the Canadian Securities Exchange
  • Company announces its participation and presentation at the LD Micro conference December 15, 2020

TORONTO, Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skylight Health Group Inc (CSE:SHG; OTCQX: CBIIF) (“SHG” or the “Company”), one of the largest multi-specialty healthcare systems in the United States, announces that it will begin trading on the OTCQX under new ticker symbol “SHGFF” at the start of trading December 9, 2020. The Company continues to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under symbol “SHG”.

The Company also announces that CEO, Prad Sekar will be presenting at the LD Micro conference on December 15, 2020 at 11:20am EST on Track 1.

LD Micro plays host to one of the most influential conferences in the small-cap world. With the recent SRAX acquisition, LD has access to the largest active base of micro-cap investors in the world at over 2 million and growing. To register for this virtual conference, visit the link here.

About Skylight Health Group

Skylight Health Group (CSE:SHG OTCQX:CBIIF) is a healthcare services and technology company, working to positively impact patient health outcomes. The Company operates a US multi-state health network that comprises of physical multi-disciplinary medical clinics providing a range of services from primary care, sub-specialty, allied health and laboratory/diagnostic testing. The Company owns and operates a proprietary electronic health record system that supports the delivery of care to patients via telemedicine and other remote monitoring system integrations. With a patient roster of over 120,000 patients, the Company’s operations spread across 14 states and continues to expand in services and locations both organically and by way of strategic acquisitions.

The Company primarily operates a traditional insurable fee-for-service model contracting with Medicare, Medicaid and other Commercial Payors. The Company also offers a disruptive subscription-based telemedicine service for the un/under-insured population who have limited access to urgent care due to cost.

For more information, please visit www.skylighthealthgroup.com or contact:

Investor Relations
Jonathan L. Robinson CFA
Oak Hill Financial
[email protected]
416-669-1001

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in Skylight Health’s filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as “will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should,” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s unaudited financial results and projected growth.

Although Skylight Health as attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to
differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are subject to inconsistent legislation and regulation; change in laws; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and recreational-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management’s expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Skylight Health disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Skylight Health does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

No securities regulator or exchange has reviewed, approved, disapproved, or accepts responsibility for the content of this news release.



Author’s Novel Brings Family History with Mafia to Life

“The Consigliere, a Novel: A Mafia Lawyer’s Quest to Choose Love over Revenge” by Donna Masotto highlights the effects the mafia has on family and the community in her debut novel.

La Mesa, Calif., Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — “The Consigliere, a Novel: A Mafia Lawyer’s Quest to Choose Love over Revenge” by Donna Masotto tells the story of a mafia lawyer, Declan Quinn, who has dealt with the worst of the worst — men with nothing to lose and everything to gain by breaking the rules. After the tragic death of his eight-year-old daughter, he believed God had punished him for living a life of crime. The start of Declan’s journey out of depression and grief began when he informed the mafia Don he was abandoning his post of 30 years. In the mafia, no one leaves alive, and the Consigliere to the Don is no different than anyone else. Declan uses the tools of love, forgiveness, and courage as he tries to overcome life’s inevitable challenges brought about by the past that haunts him—and hunts him down.

 

Born into an Italian American family with a close familiarity to the mafia in Brooklyn, New York, Ms. Masotto’s writing is inspired by her first-hand account of the mob’s infiltration in her community. Her viewpoint of the mafia is real, raw, and dirty, yet, true and bold. Her perspective provides readers an insider’s view of life within the mafia that has never been told before. Crime is not glamorized in her work — the truth is.

 

“The author allows the religious, albeit spiritual, to intermingle with the mundane, exploring human nature from quite unique angles. It’s a story of man’s journey back to himself, but it is also a story of love that liberates from within,” said Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite.

 

Through descriptive storytelling and riveting storylines, Masotto has created an experience that readers can plunge into and consume. Ms. Masotto artfully weaves relatable elements of the human experience with the harsh reality of mafia life. “The Consigliere, a Novel” is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. It is so much more than just another book about the mafia.

 

“The Consigliere, a Novel: A Mafia Lawyer’s Quest to Choose Love over Revenge”

By Donna Masotto

ISBN: 9781982251147 (softcover); 9781982251154 (electronic)

Available at the Balboa Press Online Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble  

 

About the author

Donna Masotto was raised in Southern California. Her parents, Sam and Anna, moved their family away from Brooklyn, New York, in 1958 with her 10 siblings. While her family had to mingle with the mafia to keep the peace, it is not something she boasts about. Ms. Masotto is passionate about shedding light on the heartache and trauma families endure at the hands of the mob. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Human Services from California State University, and currently resides in La Mesa, California.

 


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Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, Inc. – a leading provider in publishing products that specialize in self-help and the mind, body, and spirit genres. Through an alliance with the worldwide self-publishing leader Author Solutions, LLC, authors benefit from the leadership of Hay House Publishing and the speed-to-market advantages of the self-publishing model. For more information, visit balboapress.com. To start publishing your book with Balboa Press, call 877-407-4847 today.

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Kayla Rutledge
LAVIDGE
480-648-7540
[email protected]

Applied Therapeutics Announces MRS Data from ACTION-Galactosemia Study

NEW YORK, Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APLT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel drug candidates against validated molecular targets in indications of high unmet medical need, today announced magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data on reduction of galactitol levels in the brain of Galactosemia patients treated with AT-007 in the ACTION-Galactodsemia adult study. Overall, plasma reduction in galactitol correlated with brain reduction in galactitol. There were two exceptions, which may have resulted from incomplete peak separation on the MRS scans. At the two doses which demonstrated statistically significant reduction in plasma galactitol, 20 and 40mg/kg, 3 out of 4 patients displayed substantial galactitol reduction ranging from 61.94% to 69.80% reduction from baseline.

“We are pleased to share our MRS data from ACTION-Galactosemia and believe this represents an important scientific advancement in the field of Galactosemia research,” said Riccardo Perfetti, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Applied Therapeutics. “We have demonstrated that galactitol can be quantitated in the brain of Galactosemia patients on a restricted diet, and that levels of galactitol in the brain can be reduced through treatment with a AT-007, a CNS penetrant aldose reductase inhibitor.”

Additional data on galactitol reduction in ACTION-Galactosemia can be found below. Applied Therapeutics will hold a conference call to discuss the data in more detail at 8:30 a.m. ET, and slides can be downloaded prior to the meeting at https://ir.appliedtherapeutics.com/.

Graphic 1 accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3c76cbc-4979-4ad2-8937-24b1c5cf1706

Conference Call at 8:30 a.m. E
astern
T
ime
Applied Therapeutics will hold a conference call to discuss MRS data from the ACTION-Galactosemia study today, December 9, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The live event will be available on the investor page of the Applied Therapeutics website at https://ir.appliedtherapeutics.com/ or by calling (800) 369-8554 (toll-free domestic) or (409) 937-8917 (international) five minutes prior to the start time and entering passcode 9978322. A replay of the call will be available on the Applied Therapeutics website approximately two hours after the completion of the call and will be archived for 30 days.

About Galactosemia
Galactosemia is a rare, slowly progressing metabolic disease caused by a genetic inability to break down the sugar galactose. Aldose Reductase (AR), an enzyme known to play a role in many diseases including Galactosemia, converts galactose into galactitol, a toxic metabolite that builds up in tissues and organs and can cause long-term disease complications. There are approximately 3,000 individuals with Galactosemia in the U.S. and about 3,500 individuals in the E.U. Most patients with Galactosemia are under the age 40, as newborn screening was not widely adopted until the 1980s. Galactosemia is now included as part of routine newborn screening in all 50 U.S. states, and in many countries in Europe.

About Applied Therapeutics
Applied Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel drug candidates against validated molecular targets in indications of high unmet medical need. The Company’s lead drug candidate, AT-007, is a novel central nervous system penetrant aldose reductase inhibitor (ARI) for the treatment of Galactosemia, a rare pediatric metabolic disease. The Company initiated a pivotal Phase 1/2 clinical trial in June 2019, read out positive top-line biomarker data in adult Galactosemia patients in January 2020 and announced full data from the trial in April 2020. A pediatric Galactosemia study commenced in June 2020. The Company is also developing AT-001, a novel potent ARI that is being developed for the treatment of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy, or DbCM, a fatal fibrosis of the heart. The Company initiated a Phase 3 registrational study in DbCM in September 2019. The preclinical pipeline also includes AT-003, an ARI designed to cross through the back of the eye when dosed orally, for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, as well as novel dual PI3k inhibitors in preclinical development for orphan oncology indications. To learn more, please visit www.appliedtherapeutics.com and follow the company on Twitter @Applied_Tx.

Investors:

Maeve Conneighton
(212) 600-1902 or
[email protected] 

Media:

Gleb Sagitov
[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release regarding strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are forward-looking statements. These include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the timing of our NDA submission for potential approval of AT-007, which will include data from the ACTION-Galactosemia Kids trial and the 90-day safety data in adults with Galactosemia, (ii) the design, scope and results of our clinical trials, (iii) the timing of the initiation and completion of our clinical trials, (iv) the likelihood that data from our clinical trials will support future development of our product candidates, and (v) the likelihood of obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates and qualifying for any special designations, such as orphan drug designation. Forward-looking statements in this release involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, and we, therefore cannot assure you that our plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, (i) our plans to develop and commercialize our product candidates, (ii) the initiation, timing, progress and results of our current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials and our research and development programs, (iii) our ability to take advantage of expedited regulatory pathways for any of our product candidates, (iv) our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing, (v) our ability to successfully acquire or license additional product candidates on reasonable terms, (vi) our ability to maintain and establish collaborations or obtain additional funding, (vii) our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our current and future product candidates, (viii) our expectations regarding the potential market size and the rate and degree of market acceptance of such product candidates, (ix) our ability to fund our working capital requirements and expectations regarding the sufficiency of our capital resources, (x) the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates, (xi) our intellectual property position and the duration of our patent rights, (xii) developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights, (xiii) our expectations regarding government and third-party payor coverage and reimbursement, (xiv) our ability to compete in the markets we serve, (xv) the impact of government laws and regulations and liabilities thereunder, (xvi) developments relating to our competitors and our industry, (xvii) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the timing and progress of our ongoing clinical trials and our business in general and (xviii) other factors that may impact our financial results. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur at all. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” contained therein. Except as otherwise required by law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.



The Lovesac Company Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2021 Financial Results

Third
Quarter Net Sales
Growth of
43.5
%
;
Comparable Sales
Growth of
53.
5
%

Net
Income
I
ncreases
to $
2.5
million
from ($6.7) million in
Third Quarter Fiscal 2021

Adjusted EBITDA
I
ncreases
to $
6.0
million
from ($3.7) million in Third Quarter Fiscal 2021

STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Lovesac Company (Nasdaq: LOVE) (“Lovesac” or the “Company”) today announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2021, which ended November 1, 2020.

Shawn Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Lovesac’s third quarter results exceeded our expectations on the top and bottom line, a strong affirmation that we continue to successfully navigate marketplace challenges. Highlights include strong topline growth of 43.5%, a total comparable sales increase of 53.5%, gross margin expansion of 487 bps and Adjusted EBITDA1 of $6.0 million. These results speak to the resiliency of our business model and the exceptional job our team has done to meet customer demand in a challenging and rapidly evolving environment.”

Mr. Nelson continued, “Our business fundamentals are strong, and our recently expanded partnership with Best Buy broadens our audience and expands Sactionals adoption in an agile, capital efficient manner. In combination with continued progress on our key strategic initiatives, we are well-positioned to capitalize on product demand and as such, we expect a strong year over year increase of 50% to 60% in Adjusted EBITDA1 for the fourth quarter. We look forward to building on our progress and success as we close out the fiscal year.”

Mr. Nelson added, “We believe that Lovesac leads the DTC and furniture categories in its commitment to sustainability and ESG initiatives, building sustainable products and contributing to a reduction of furniture waste in landfills. This is an endeavor that has been core to our DNA since the inception of our company, guided by our Designed For Life philosophy, with substantial progress to-date including sourcing all of our affixed upholstery fabric from 100% recycled plastic and repurposing over 20 million plastic bottles last year alone. Our products are built to last a lifetime and designed to evolve, and next year, we will be improving our communication on our tracking and impact. Adherence to our high bar for innovation and sustainability will, we believe, fuel market share gains in the current, and even new categories, in which we will compete. We will make operating decisions in support of our purpose, which is to inspire humankind to actually buy less, but buy better.”


Key Measures for the


Third


Quarter


and


Year





to





Date


Period of


Fiscal 2021


End


ing


N


ovember 1


,


2020:


(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

  Quarter Ended
November 1, 2020
Quarter Ended
November 3, 2019
%
Inc (Dec)
Year to Date Ended
November 1, 2020
Year to Date Ended
November 3, 2019
%
Inc (Dec)
Net Sales $ 74.7   $ 52.1   43.5 % $ 191.1   $ 141.2   35.3 %
Gross Profit1 $ 41.3   $ 26.3   57.3 % $ 99.6   $ 71.5   39.3 %
Gross Margin
1
  5
5.3
%   50.4 % 487
bps
  5
2
.2
%   50.
7
% 150
bps
Total Operating Expense $ 38.8   $ 33.1   17.1 % $ 106.5   $ 92.7   15.0 %
SG&A $ 25.9   $ 24.5   6.0 % $ 75.2   $ 70.3   6.9 %
SG&A as % of Net Sales   3
4
.7
%   4
7.0
% (
1
,
228
) bps
  39.3 %   49.8 % (
1
,
045
) bps
Advertising & Marketing $ 11.0   $ 7.3   51.2 % $ 26.3   $ 18.7   40.7 %
Advertising & Marketing as % of Net Sales   1
4.7
%   1
3.9
% 75
bps
  13.
8
%   1
3.3
% 5
3
bps
Basic EPS Income (Loss) $ 0.17   $ (0.46 ) (137.0 %) $ (0.48 ) $ (1.45 ) (66.9 %)
Diluted EPS Income (Loss) $ 0.16   $ (0.46 ) (134.8 %) $ (0.48 ) $ (1.45 ) (66.9 %)
Net income (loss) $ 2.5   $ (6.7 ) (136.7 %) $ (7.0 ) $ (20.6 ) (66.2 %)
Adjusted EBITDA2 $ 6.0   $ (3.7 ) 259.7 % $ 2.4   $ (11.7 ) 120.8 %
Cash (Used In) Provided by Operating Activities $ (5.1 ) $ (13.4 ) 61.9 % $ 6.9   $ (36.4 ) (119.0 %)

1 Estimated gross 25% tariff impact for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 to Gross Profit and Gross Margin was $2.8 million and 373 bps, respectively. Estimated gross 25% tariff impact for the Thirty-Nine weeks ending November 1, 2020 to Gross Profit and Gross Margin was $7.6 million and 399 bps, respectively. Estimated gross blended 10% to 25% tariff impact for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 to Gross Profit and Gross Margin was $3.3 million and 605 bps, respectively. Estimated gross blended 10% to 25% tariff impact for the Thirty-Nine weeks ending November 3, 2019 to Gross Profit and Gross Margin was $5.7 million and 351 bps, respectively.
2 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. See “Non-GAAP Information” and “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included in this press release.

  Percent Increase (Decrease), except showroom count
  Quarter Ended
November 1, 2020
Quarter Ended
November 3, 2019
Year to Date ended
November 1, 2020
Year to Date Ended
November 3, 2019
Total Comparable Sales (3)(4) 53.5 % 34.3 % 58.7 % 39.5 %
Comparable Showroom Sales (4) 25.5 % 29.7 % (14.2 %) 31.7 %
Internet Sales 125.2 % 47.7 % 247.2 % 64.7 %
Ending Showroom Count 107   84   107   84  

3 Total comparable sales include showroom transactions through the point of sale and internet net sales.
4 Comparable showroom sales reflect transactions through the point of sale and not necessarily product that has shipped to the customer. Product that has shipped to the customer is what is included in Net Sales. Showrooms were closed as required by local and state laws as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic effective March 18, 2020 but have since reopened in some format. We are abiding with federal, state and local guidelines with respect to the operating status of our showrooms. As of the end of the third quarter, most showrooms had fully reopened to the walk-in phase, with some still in the virtual or by appointment only phase.


Highlights for the


Quarter


Ended


November 1,


2020:

  • The net sales increase of 43.5% was driven by an increase in internet sales of 125.2%, coupled with an increase in showroom sales of 27.9% partially offset by a decrease of 8.7% in “Other” sales (which includes shop-in-shops and pop-up shops) related to a decrease in in store pop-up shops
  • The gross profit increase of $15.1 million, or 57.3%, was primarily due to the increase in net sales, higher average retail price due to less promotional discounts and favorable mix impact, partially offset by the impact of tariffs. The 487 basis point increase in gross margin versus the prior year period reflects 535 basis points improvement in gross profit as a result of a reduction in promotional discounts, positive mix impact and lower product costs related to vendor negotiated tariff mitigation initiatives partially offset by an increase of approximately 48 basis points in distribution and tariff related expenses.
  • SG&A expense as a percent of net sales decreased 1,228 basis points primarily due to leverage of employment costs, rent, and selling related expenses such as credit card fees and pop-up shop fees, partially offset by increases in equity compensation.
  • Advertising and marketing expense increased 51.2% over the prior year period and as a percent of net sales increased by 75 bps principally due to increased media and direct-to-consumer program spend which contributed to the third quarter sales increase over the prior year period.
  • Operating income was $2.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to an operating loss of $6.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Operating margin was 3.4% of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to (13.2%) of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.
  • Net income was $2.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to a net loss of $6.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.


Highlights for the


Thirty-Nine weeks


Ended


November 1


, 2020:

  • The net sales increase of 35.3% was driven by an increase in internet sales of 247.2%, partially offset by a decrease in showroom sales of 20.0% and a decrease of 21.2% in “Other” sales (which includes shop-in-shops and pop-up shops) due to the impact of closures related to COVID-19.
  • The gross profit increase of $28.1 million, or 39.3%, was primarily due to the increase in net sales, higher average retail price due to less promotional discounts and favorable mix impact partially offset by the impact of tariffs. The 150 basis point increase in gross margin versus the prior year period reflects 321 basis points improvement in gross profit as a result of a reduction in promotional discounts, lower product costs related to vendor negotiated tariff mitigation initiatives and a continued shift of product sourcing from outside of China, partially offset by an increase of approximately 171 basis points in distribution and tariff related expenses.
  • SG&A expense includes less than $0.1 million and $0.6 million of other non-recurring expenses related to financing and executive recruitment fees, respectively. SG&A expense as a percent of net sales decreased 1,045 basis points primarily due to leverage of employment costs, rent, selling related expenses such as credit card fees and pop-up shop fees and equity-based compensation, partially offset by increases in insurance and computer expense related to infrastructure investments.
  • Advertising and marketing expense increased 40.7% over the prior year period and as a percent of net sales increased by 53 bps principally due to increased media and direct-to-consumer program spend which contributed to the sales increase over the prior year period.
  • Operating loss was $6.9 million compared to $21.1 million in the prior year period. Operating margin was (3.6%) of net sales compared to (15.0%) of net sales in the prior year period.
  • Net loss was $7.0 million compared to $20.6 million in the prior year period.


Other Financial Highlights as of


November 1


, 2020:

  • The cash and cash equivalents balance as of November 1, 2020 was $47.7 million as compared to $27.9 million as of November 3, 2019. There was no debt outstanding on the Company’s line of credit as of November 1, 2020 and November 3, 2019, respectively. The Company’s availability under the line of credit was $19.2 million as of November 1, 2020 and $13.5 million as of November 3, 2019.
  • Total inventory was $57.8 million as of November 1, 2020 as compared to $50.2 million as of November 3, 2019.


Conference Call Information:


A conference call to discuss the third quarter of fiscal 2021 financial results is scheduled for today, December 9, 2020, at 8:30 am Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 877-407-3982 (international callers please dial 201-493-6780) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at investor.lovesac.com.

A recorded replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed online at investor.lovesac.com for 90 days.

Notes

1 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. See “Non-GAAP Information” and “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included in this press release.


About The Lovesac Company


Based in Stamford, Connecticut, The Lovesac Company is a technology driven company that designs, manufactures and sells unique, high quality furniture derived through its proprietary “Designed for Life” approach which results in products that are built to last a lifetime and designed to evolve as our customers’ lives do. Our current product offering is comprised of modular couches called Sactionals, premium foam beanbag chairs called Sacs, and their associated home decor accessories. Innovation is at the center of our design philosophy with all of our core products protected by a robust portfolio of utility patents. We market and sell our products primarily online directly at www.lovesac.com, supported by direct-to-consumer touch-feel points in the form of our own showrooms as well as through shop-in-shops and pop-up-shops with third party retailers.


Non-GAAP Information


Adjusted EBITDA is defined as a non-GAAP financial measure by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that is a supplemental measures of financial performance not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain non-cash and other items that we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing operating performance. These items include management fees, equity-based compensation expense, write-offs of property and equipment, deferred rent, financing expenses and certain other charges and gains that we do not believe reflect our underlying business performance. We have reconciled this non-GAAP financial measure with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure within the schedules attached hereto.

We have also presented herein certain forward-looking statements about the Company’s future financial performance that include non-GAAP (or “as-adjusted”) financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA. This non–GAAP financial measure is derived by excluding certain amounts, expenses or income, from the corresponding financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The determination of the amounts that are excluded from this non-GAAP financial measure is a matter of management judgment and depends upon, among other factors, the nature of the underlying expense or income amounts recognized in a given period. We are unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of the aforementioned forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures because management cannot reliably predict all of the necessary components of such GAAP measures, which could be significant in amount.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures not only provide its management with comparable financial data for internal financial analysis but also provide meaningful supplemental information to investors. Specifically, these non-GAAP financial measures allow investors to better understand the performance of our business, facilitate a more meaningful comparison of our actual results on a period-over-period basis and provide for a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. We have provided this information as a means to evaluate the results of our ongoing operations alongside GAAP measures such as gross profit, operating income (loss) and net income (loss). Other companies in tour industry may calculate these items differently than we do. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered as a substitute for the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as net income (loss) or net income (loss) per share as a measure of financial performance, cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP.


Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward Looking Statements


Certain statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections and statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results and outlook, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “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 which statements involve substantial risk and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words or phrases such as “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “aim(s),” “can,” “would,” “expect(s),” “estimate(s),” “project(s),” “forecast(s)”, “positioned,” “approximately,” “potential,” “goal,” “pro forma,” “strategy,” “outlook” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding strategy, future operations, future financial position or projections, future revenue, projected expenses, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and/or beliefs and assumptions that management considers reasonable, which assumptions may or may not prove correct. We may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. The preliminary financial results included in this press release represent the most current information available to management. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are the effect and consequences of the novel coronavirus public health crisis on matters including U.S. and local economies, our business operations and continuity, our ability to keep our showrooms open, the health and productivity of our associates, the ability of third-party providers to continue uninterrupted service, risks related to tariffs, the countermeasures and mitigation steps that we adopt in response to tariffs and other similar issues, the regulatory environment in which we operate, our ability to sustain recent growth rates, our ability to sustain the recent increase in our Internet sales, our ability to manage the growth of our operations over time, our ability to maintain, grow and enforce our brand and trademark rights, our ability to improve our products and develop new products, our ability to obtain, grow and enforce intellectual property related to our business and avoid infringement or other violation of the intellectual property rights of others, our ability to successfully open and operate new showrooms, and our ability to compete and succeed in a highly competitive and evolving industry, as well as those risks and uncertainties disclosed under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recent Form 10-K and in our Form 10-Qs filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and similar disclosures in subsequent reports filed with the SEC, which are available on our investor relations website at investor.lovesac.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date on which we make it. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.


Investor Relations Contact:


Rachel Schacter, ICR
(203) 682-8200
[email protected]

THE LOVESAC COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

  November 1, 2020   February 2, 2020
Assets (unaudited)    
       
Current Assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 47,686,348     $ 48,538,827  
Trade accounts receivable   7,231,414       7,188,925  
Merchandise inventories   57,758,331       36,399,862  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   10,869,620       8,050,122  
       
Total Current Assets   123,545,713       100,177,736  
       
Property and Equipment, Net   25,906,210       23,844,261  
       
Other Assets      
Goodwill   143,562       143,562  
Intangible assets, net   1,419,527       1,352,161  
Deferred financing costs, net   113,338       146,047  
       
Total Other Assets   1,676,427       1,641,770  
       
Total Assets $ 151,128,350     $ 125,663,767  
       
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
Current Liabilities      
Accounts payable $ 25,223,308     $ 19,887,611  
Accrued expenses   16,900,124       8,567,580  
Payroll payable   4,561,285       887,415  
Customer deposits   11,668,451       1,653,597  
Sales taxes payable   1,134,883       1,404,792  
Total Current Liabilities   59,488,051       32,400,995  
       
Deferred rent   6,387,801       3,108,245  
       
Line of credit          
       
Total Liabilities   65,875,852       35,509,240  
       
Stockholders’ Equity      
Preferred Stock $0.00001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding as of November 1, 2020 and February 2, 2020.          
Common Stock $.00001 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 14,683,138 shares issued and outstanding as of November 1, 2020 and 14,472,611 shares issued and outstanding as of February 2, 2020.   147       145  
Additional paid-in capital   170,391,395       168,317,210  
Accumulated deficit   (85,139,044 )     (78,162,828 )
       
Stockholders’ Equity   85,252,498       90,154,527  
       
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 151,128,350     $ 125,663,767  
       

THE LOVESAC COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

  Thirteen weeks ended   Thirty-nine weeks ended
  November 1, 2020   November 3, 2019   November 1, 2020   November 3, 2019
Net sales $ 74,742,200     $ 52,097,232     $ 191,060,017     $ 141,202,010  
Cost of merchandise sold   33,434,372       25,843,532       91,413,080       69,670,642  
Gross profit   41,307,828       26,253,700       99,646,937       71,531,368  
Operating expenses              
Selling, general and administration expenses   25,945,632       24,484,791       75,160,559       70,302,779  
Advertising and marketing   10,975,176       7,258,284       26,337,298       18,717,517  
Depreciation and amortization   1,853,922       1,377,659       5,033,484       3,649,072  
Total operating expenses   38,774,730       33,120,734       106,531,341       92,669,368  
               
Operating income (loss)   2,533,098       (6,867,034 )     (6,884,404 )     (21,138,000 )
Interest (expense) income, net   (43,860 )     134,416       (22,233 )     538,306  
Net income (loss) before taxes   2,489,238       (6,732,618 )     (6,906,637 )     (20,599,694 )
Provision for income taxes   (10,779 )     (15,692 )     (69,579 )     (21,392 )
Net income (loss) $ 2,478,459     $ (6,748,310 )   $ (6,976,216 )   $ (20,621,086 )
               
Net income (loss) per common share:              
Basic $ 0.17     $ (0.46 )   $ (0.48 )   $ (1.45 )
Diluted $ 0.16     $ (0.46 )   $ (0.48 )   $ (1.45 )
               
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:              
Basic   14,561,835       14,538,586       14,520,282       14,179,995  
Diluted   15,581,487       14,538,586       14,520,282       14,179,995  
               

THE LOVESAC COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

  Thirty-nine weeks ended
  November 1, 2020   November 3, 2019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities      
Net loss $ (6,976,216 )   $ (20,621,086 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment   4,603,971       3,457,737  
Amortization of other intangible assets   429,513       191,335  
Amortization of deferred financing fees   65,062       54,768  
Net loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment   5,487       (166,865 )
Equity based compensation   2,638,628       4,020,978  
Deferred rent   3,279,556       903,945  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
Trade accounts receivable   (42,489 )     (4,625,978 )
Merchandise inventories   (21,358,469 )     (24,052,012 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (2,801,852 )     (2,781,766 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   17,072,202       4,812,508  
Customer deposits   10,014,855       2,367,227  
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities   6,930,248       (36,439,209 )
Cash Flows from Investing Activities      
Purchase of property and equipment   (6,671,407 )     (6,834,382 )
Payments for patents and trademarks   (496,879 )     (449,278 )
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment         300,000  
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities   (7,168,286 )     (6,983,660 )
Cash Flows from Financing Activities      
Proceeds from the issuance of common shares, net         25,610,000  
Taxes paid for net share settlement of equity awards   (564,441 )     (3,342,304 )
Proceeds from the issuance of warrants, net         12,000  
Paydowns of line of credit         (31,373 )
Payment of deferred financing costs   (50,000 )      
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities   (614,441 )     22,248,323  
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents   (852,479 )     (21,174,546 )
Cash and Cash Equivalents – Beginning   48,538,827       49,070,952  
Cash and Cash Equivalents – Ending $ 47,686,348     $ 27,896,406  
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures      
Cash paid for taxes $ 69,579     $ 6,706  
Cash paid for interest $ 61,685     $ 38,632  
       

THE LOVESAC COMPANY

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(unaudited)

    Thirteen weeks ended   Thirteen weeks ended   Thirty-nine weeks ended   Thirty-nine weeks ended
  (dollars in thousands) November 1, 2020   November 3, 2019   November 1, 2020   November 3, 2019
  Net income (loss) $ 2,479   $ (6,748 )   $ (6,976 )   $ (20,621 )
  Interest expense (income), net   44     (134 )     22       (538 )
  Provision for income taxes   11     16       70       21  
  Depreciation and amortization   1,854     1,378       5,033       3,649  
  EBITDA   4,388     (5,488 )     (1,851 )     (17,489 )
  Management fees (a)   125     141       375       438  
  Deferred Rent (b)   378     816       1,234       904  
  Equity-based compensation (c)   1,063     628       2,638       4,021  
  Net loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment (d)             5       (167 )
  Other non-recurring expenses (e)(f)       174       36       598  
  Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,954   $ (3,729 )   $ 2,437     $ (11,695 )
                 
(a) Represents management fees and expenses charged by our equity sponsors.
(b) Represents the difference between rent expense recorded and the amount paid by the Company. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company records monthly rent expense equal to the total of the payments due over the lease term, divided by the number of months of the lease terms.
(c) Represents expenses associated with stock options and restricted stock units granted to our officers, employees, and board of directors
(d)  Represents the net loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets.
(e)  There were no other non-recurring expenses in the thirteen weeks ended November 1, 2020. Other non-recurring expenses in the thirteen weeks ended November 3, 2019 are made up of (1) $76 in financing fees associated with our primary and secondary offering and (2) $98 in executive recruitment fees.
(f) Other non-recurring expenses in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 1, 2020 are related to $36 in professional and legal fees related to financing initiatives. Other non-recurring expenses in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2019 are made up of (1) $247 in recruitment fees to build executive management team and Board of Directors; (2) $268 in fees associated with our primary and secondary shares offerings and (3) $83 in financing fees associated with our secondary offering.
   



XPO Logistics Receives Green Supply Chain Award from Supply & Demand Chain Executive

XPO honored by SDCE for supporting customer sustainability goals

GREENWICH, Conn., Dec. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO), a leading global provider of transportation and logistics solutions, has received a 2020 Green Supply Chain Award for assisting its customers in achieving measurable progress with sustainability. The 2020 awards were announced by Supply & Demand Chain Executive (SDCE) magazine, an executive manual for supply and demand chain transformation.

The SDCE Green Supply Chain Awards highlight companies that make environmental sustainability a core part of their supply chain strategies, as well as the service providers that help them realize their objectives.

Troy Cooper, president of XPO Logistics, said, “There’s a great deal our industry can do to help supply chains evolve in an environmentally sound direction. XPO’s investments in efficient transportation and logistics solutions are important for our customers now and in the future. We thank SDCE for recognizing the positive impacts of our commitment.”

XPO’s Sustainability Report provides details about the company’s initiatives to increase the efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of its operations, which include facilities certified to ISO 14001 standards for environmental management.

About XPO Logistics

XPO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: XPO) is a top ten global logistics provider of cutting-edge supply chain solutions to the most successful companies in the world. The company operates as a highly integrated network of people, technology and physical assets in 30 countries, with 1,499 locations and approximately 97,000 employees. XPO uses its network to help more than 50,000 customers manage their goods most efficiently throughout their supply chains. XPO’s corporate headquarters are in Greenwich, Conn., USA, and its European headquarters are in Lyon, France. xpo.com

Media Contact
XPO Logistics, Inc.
Joe Checkler
+1-203-423-2098
[email protected]