Posts

Posted on

22nd Century Group to Present at 13th Annual LD Micro Main Event Conference

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y., Dec. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE American: XXII), a leading plant-based, biotechnology company that is focused on tobacco harm reduction, very low nicotine content tobacco, and hemp/cannabis research, announced today that it will be presenting at the 13th Annual LD Micro Main Event Conference on Monday, December 14, 2020, at 9:20 a.m. ET. James A. Mish, chief executive officer of 22nd Century Group, will be presenting to a live, virtual audience.

The Main Event will feature a new and unique format, with companies presenting for 10 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A by a panel of investors and analysts.

The live webcast and presentation will be accessible in the Investors section of 22nd Century’s website under Events. An archived replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the live event.

Register for the conference here: ve.mysequire.com/

About 22nd Century Group, Inc.

22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE American: XXII) is a leading plant biotechnology company focused on technologies that alter the level of nicotine in tobacco plants and the level of cannabinoids in hemp/cannabis plants through genetic engineering, gene-editing, and modern plant breeding. 22nd Century’s primary mission in tobacco is to reduce the harm caused by smoking through the Company’s proprietary reduced nicotine content tobacco cigarettes – containing 95% less nicotine than conventional cigarettes. The Company’s primary mission in hemp/cannabis is to develop and commercialize proprietary hemp/cannabis plants with valuable cannabinoid profiles and desirable agronomic traits.

Learn more at xxiicentury.com, on Twitter @_xxiicentury and on LinkedIn.

About LD Micro/SEQUIRE

LD Micro began in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource to the microcap world. What started as a newsletter highlighting unique companies, has transformed into the pre-eminent event platform in the space. For more information, please visit ldmicro.com.

The upcoming Main Event will be highlighting a new format that will benefit both executives and the investors tuning in from all over the globe. 

In September 2020, LD Micro. Inc. was acquired by SRAX, Inc., a financial technology company that unlocks data and insights for publicly traded companies. Through its premier investor intelligence and communications platform, Sequire, companies can track their investors’ behaviors and trends and use those insights to engage current and potential investors across marketing channels. For more information on SRAX, visit srax.com and mysequire.com.

Investor Relations & Media Contact:

Mei Kuo
Director, Communications & Investor Relations
22nd Century Group, Inc.
(716) 300-1221
[email protected]



Posted on

Virtu Adds SEC Rule 606 Reporting Aggregation Service to its Global Analytics Platform

NEW YORK, Dec. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Virtu Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIRT) a leading provider of global financial services technology, announced today the launch of its SEC Rule 606 Reporting Aggregation service, providing US buy-side subscribers with the ability to analyze the routing and execution practices across all their brokers from a single access point.

Virtu’s 606 Reporting Aggregation service addresses the need for clients to easily analyze vast amounts of data that is now provided from enhanced broker disclosures as required under the SEC’s newly implemented Rule 606(b)(3). Virtu’s aggregation service helps facilitate performance comparison with flexible and intuitive visualizations across brokers and includes metrics such as spread capture, fees and rebates by venue, routing choices and resting times.

The new service complements Virtu’s Analytics Portal which will now allow clients to analyze their Rule 606(b)(3) data from each of their respective brokers and create custom reports, use any number of standard reporting templates and/or marry the data to their existing TCA analytics.

“The purpose of Virtu’s SEC Rule 606 Aggregation Service is to provide clients with actionable insights into how their broker-dealers route orders, providing more transparency around each broker’s routing and execution practices,” said Kevin O’Connor, Global Head of Virtu’s Trade Analytics and Data. “When coupled with Virtu’s global analytics infrastructure, this new service will help improve execution quality assessment across brokers via a single, user-friendly platform, further demonstrating the firm’s commitment to innovation and technology for its clients.”

Virtu’s 606 Reporting Aggregation service is available via the Virtu Analytics Portal, which is offered by Virtu’s broker-neutral Workflow Technology and Trade Analytics & Data division, a provider of multi-asset solutions to buy- and sell-side firms around the globe to help monitor, analyze and improve quality of execution and streamline workflows.

About Virtu Financial

Virtu is a leading provider of financial services and products that leverages cutting-edge technology to deliver liquidity to the global markets and innovative, transparent trading solutions to its clients. Leveraging its global market making expertise and infrastructure, Virtu provides a robust product suite including offerings in execution, liquidity sourcing, analytics and broker-neutral, multi-dealer platforms in workflow technology. Virtu’s product offerings allow clients to trade on hundreds of venues across 50+ countries and in multiple asset classes, including global equities, ETFs, foreign exchange, futures, fixed income and myriad other commodities. In addition, Virtu’s integrated, multi-asset analytics platform provides a range of pre and post-trade services, data products and compliance tools that clients rely upon to invest, trade and manage risk across global markets.

Contact:
Investor Relations Media Relations
Deborah Belevan, IRC, CPA Andrew Smith
[email protected]  [email protected] 



Posted on

Stoke Therapeutics Announces Presentations Related to the Company’s Work to Advance STK-001, the First Potential New Medicine to Target the Underlying Cause of Dravet Syndrome at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) 2020 Annual Meeting

Stoke Therapeutics Announces Presentations Related to the Company’s Work to Advance STK-001, the First Potential New Medicine to Target the Underlying Cause of Dravet Syndrome at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) 2020 Annual Meeting

– Baseline data from the BUTTERFLY observational study provide initial validation of standard measures of cognition (BSID-III and WPPSI-IV) for use in evaluating non-seizure comorbidities in people with Dravet syndrome –

– The current design for the ongoing MONARCH Phase 1/2a study to assess both single and multiple ascending doses of STK-001 in children and adolescents with Dravet syndrome will be presented –

– New data in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome demonstrate that TANGO ASOs can help restore normal function of nerve cells which correlate to reductions in seizure frequency and extended survival –

BEDFORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Stoke Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: STOK), a biotechnology company pioneering a new way to treat the underlying cause of genetic diseases by precisely upregulating protein expression, today announced highlights from presentations being made at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting December 4-8, 2020 related to the Company’s work to advance STK-001, the first potential new medicine to target the underlying cause of Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome is a severe and progressive genetic epilepsy characterized by frequent, prolonged and refractory seizures that usually begin within the first year of life. The disease is classified as a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy due to the developmental delays and cognitive impairment associated with the disease. Highlights from the Company’s presentations include:

BUTTERFLY Observational Study – Baseline Analysis

Abst. 81. Observational Study to Investigate Cognition and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Dravet Syndrome: Baseline Analysis of the BUTTERFLY Study

December 5, 2020 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM; Track: 4. Clinical Epilepsy / 4B. Clinical Diagnosis

22 children and adolescents with Dravet syndrome were enrolled in the Company’s BUTTERFLY observational study and included in a baseline analysis.

All study participants evaluated are representative of patients with Dravet syndrome. The majority of patients were able to complete commonly used cognition assessments including either the BSID-III (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development) or the WPPSI-IV (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Fourth Edition), indicating that these measures are valid and appropriate for use in patients with Dravet syndrome. An initial analysis of data from 17/22 patients who completed one of these assessments showed substantially decreased neurocognitive abilities compared to children of the same age level despite the use of multiple anti-epileptic therapies. The assessment also demonstrated an apparent widening in overall intellectual development that increases with age. In addition, a gap in adaptive functioning was noted using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales.

“We have long known that Dravet syndrome is far more than seizures and the BUTTERFLY study is providing quantifiable information on cognition and quality of life that fill gaps in our understanding of this disease and its progression as children age,” said Joseph Sullivan, M.D., Professor of Neurology at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals and Director of the UCSF Pediatric Epilepsy Center of Excellence. “Initial results from the study show significantly diminished neurocognitive abilities in children with Dravet syndrome such that 10 year-olds are functioning below the level of a healthy 1 year-old even while they are being treated with available anti-epileptic medicines. The fact that the majority of patients in this study were able to complete standard assessments of neurocognition gives us confidence that we can objectively assess whether potential new disease-modifying medicines have an effect on the non-seizure comorbidities that make Dravet so devastating.”

“Dravet syndrome is characterized by an array of effects that go beyond seizures and include motor and speech impairment, intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral deficits and abnormal sleep patterns,” said Barry Ticho, M.D., Ph D., Chief Medical Officer of Stoke Therapeutics. “We continue to generate strong preclinical evidence supporting the potential for STK-001 to address the underlying cause of Dravet syndrome and reduce seizure frequency. Our goal is to develop a medicine that goes beyond seizure control to address many of the other comorbidities associated with Dravet syndrome. As we look to future clinical studies of STK-001, we are encouraged by data showing the ability to diagnose children earlier as well as the validation of tools that will help us measure the potential impact of STK-001 on cognition and quality of life.”

MONARCH Phase 1/2a Current Study Design

Abst. 344. Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Antisense Oligonucleotide STK-001 in Children and Adolescents with Dravet Syndrome: Single and Multiple Ascending Dose Design for the Open-Label Phase 1/2a MONARCH Study

December 6, 2020 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM; Track: 7. Antiepileptic Drugs / 7B. Clinical Trials

A review of the study design for MONARCH, the Company’s ongoing Phase 1/2a study of STK-001 in children and adolescents with Dravet syndrome will be presented during a poster session by Linda Laux, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Neurology and Epilepsy), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Following a recent protocol amendment, MONARCH is designed to evaluate both single and multiple ascending doses of up to 30mg of STK-001 in children and adolescents with Dravet syndrome. The primary endpoints are safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of STK-001 in Dravet syndrome patients. The impact of STK-001 on frequency of convulsive seizures and quality of life are secondary endpoints of this study. Patient enrollment and dosing in MONARCH is ongoing and preliminary safety and PK data are anticipated in 2021.

Restoration of Interneuron Firing Frequency in a Dravet Mouse Model

Abst. 236. Targeted Augmentation of Nuclear Gene Output (TANGO) of SCN1A Reduces Seizures and Rescues Parvalbumin Positive Interneuron Firing Frequency in a Mouse Model of Dravet Syndrome

December 5, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM; Platform A: Translational Research / Genetics

December 6, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM; Track: 2. Translational Research / 2B. Devices, Technologies, Stem Cells

New preclinical data provide additional evidence of the potential for TANGO antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to provide a gene-specific, disease-modifying treatment for Dravet syndrome. In this study, Dravet syndrome mice treated with a TANGO ASO had significantly decreased seizure frequency and increased survival. Data presented by Eric Wengert, graduate student at the University of Virginia, show that 100% of mice treated with a TANGO ASO were seizure free between postnatal day 16 and postnatal day 19 compared to 50% of vehicle-treated control mice. The data also provide evidence that decreases in seizures and mortality are, in part, due to restoration of excitability of parvalbumin (PV) expressing interneurons. PV interneurons are commonly hypoexcitable in Dravet syndrome. In this study, treatment with a TANGO ASO restored Dravet syndrome mouse PV interneuron firing frequency to that of wild-type mice.

Additional Work in a Dravet Mouse Model

Antisense Oligonucleotides Increase Scn1a Expression and Reduce Seizures and SUDEP Incidence in a Mouse Model of Dravet Syndrome

December 8, 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM; Annual Fundamentals Symposium: Fundamentally New Ideas in Epilepsy Treatment and Research

Lori Isom, Ph.D., Maurice H. Seevers Professor and Chair of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, will present a review of data from experiments conducted with TANGO ASOs in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome.

Early Diagnosis of Dravet Syndrome

Abst. 392. Reducing the Time to Diagnosis and Increasing the Detection of Individuals with SCN1A-related Disease Through a Sponsored Epilepsy Genetic Testing Program

December 6, 12:00- 1:30 PM; Track: 12. Genetics / 12A. Human Studies

Data from an analysis of 6,874 children who participated in a no-cost epilepsy genetic testing program co-sponsored by Stoke showed that 152 had a positive molecular diagnosis related to the SCN1A gene, accounting for 2.2% of all patients. Results demonstrated a substantial decrease in the time to diagnosis from >6 years of age (2011-2015) to <2 years of age (2019-2020).

About STK-001

STK-001 is an investigational new medicine for the treatment of Dravet syndrome currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial. Stoke believes that STK-001, a proprietary antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), has the potential to be the first disease-modifying therapy to address the genetic cause of Dravet syndrome. STK-001 is designed to upregulate NaV1.1 protein expression by leveraging the non-mutant (wild-type) copy of the SCN1A gene to restore physiological NaV1.1 levels, thereby reducing both occurrence of seizures and significant non-seizure comorbidities. Stoke has generated preclinical data demonstrating proof-of-mechanism and proof-of-concept for STK-001. STK-001 has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA as a potential new treatment for Dravet syndrome.

About the BUTTERFLY Observational Study

BUTTERFLY study, an ongoing, multicenter, longitudinal, prospective study of children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 who have been diagnosed with Dravet syndrome as a result of an SCN1A gene mutation. This observational study designed to evaluate neurodevelopmental status and change from baseline to 24 months. Secondary and exploratory endpoints in the study will evaluate changes in other disease measures, including seizures and additional non-seizure comorbidities. No investigational medications or other treatments will be provided. Participants continue to receive their usual care, and will be observed by a team of doctors and nurses over time for up to two years. The study is being conducted at approximately 20 sites in the United States.

About the Phase 1/2a Clinical Study (MONARCH)

The MONARCH study is a Phase 1/2a open-label study of children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 who have an established diagnosis of Dravet syndrome and have evidence of a pathogenic genetic mutation in the SCN1A gene. The primary objectives for the study will be to assess the safety and tolerability of STK-001, as well as to characterize human pharmacokinetics. A secondary objective will be to assess the efficacy as an adjunctive antiepileptic treatment with respect to the percentage change from baseline in convulsive seizure frequency over a 12-week treatment period. Stoke also intends to measure non-seizure aspects of the disease, such as quality of life, as secondary endpoints. Enrollment and dosing are ongoing in MONARCH and Stoke plans to enroll approximately 48 patients in the study across 20 sites in the United States.

Additional information about the MONARCH study can be found at https://www.monarchstudy.com/.

About Dravet Syndrome

Dravet syndrome is a severe and progressive genetic epilepsy characterized by frequent, prolonged and refractory seizures, beginning within the first year of life. Dravet syndrome is difficult to treat and has a poor long-term prognosis. Complications of the disease often contribute to a poor quality of life for patients and their caregivers. The effects of the disease go beyond seizures and often include severe intellectual disabilities, severe developmental disabilities, motor impairment, speech impairment, autism, behavioral difficulties and sleep abnormalities. Compared with the general epilepsy population, people living with Dravet syndrome have a higher risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, or SUDEP. Dravet syndrome affects approximately 35,000 people in the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, and it is not concentrated in a particular geographic area or ethnic group.

About Stoke Therapeutics

Stoke Therapeutics (Nasdaq: STOK) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new way to treat the underlying causes of severe genetic diseases by precisely upregulating protein expression to restore target proteins to near normal levels. Stoke aims to develop the first precision medicine platform to target the underlying cause of a broad spectrum of genetic diseases in which the patient has one healthy copy of a gene and one mutated copy that fails to produce a protein essential to health. These diseases, in which loss of approximately 50% of normal protein expression causes disease, are called autosomal dominant haploinsufficiencies. Stoke is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/ or follow the company on Twitter at @StokeTx.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to: preclinical data and study results regarding STK-001 and Dravet syndrome, including from the BUTTERFLY study; our future operating results, financial position and liquidity; the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 on our business, financial condition and operations, including on our expenses, supply chain, strategic partners, research and development costs, clinical trials and employees; our expectation about timing and execution of anticipated milestones, responses to regulatory authorities, expected nomination of future product candidates and timing thereof, and our ability to use study data to advance the development of STK-001; the ability of STK-001 to treat the underlying causes of Dravet syndrome; and the ability of TANGO to design medicines to increase protein production and the expected benefits thereof. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “possible,” “will,” “would,” and other words and terms of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including: our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize STK-001, OPA1 and future product candidates; the timing and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials; the risk that positive results in a clinical trial may not be replicated in subsequent trials or success in early stage clinical trials may not be predictive of results in later stage clinical trials; risks associated with clinical trials, including our ability to adequately manage clinical activities, unexpected concerns that may arise from additional data or analysis obtained during clinical trials, regulatory authorities may require additional information or further studies, or may fail to approve or may delay approval of our drug candidates; the occurrence of adverse safety events; failure to protect and enforce our intellectual property, and other proprietary rights; and the other risks and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of our most recent annual or quarterly report and in other reports we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.

Stoke Media & Investor Contact:

Dawn Kalmar

Vice President, Head of Corporate Affairs

[email protected]

781-303-8302

 

KEYWORDS: Massachusetts United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Biotechnology Genetics Health Clinical Trials

MEDIA:

Logo
Logo
Posted on

Energy Focus to Present at Annual LD Micro Main Event Conference

Energy Focus to Present at Annual LD Micro Main Event Conference

SOLON, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Energy Focus, Inc. (NASDAQ: EFOI), a leader in sustainable and human-centric lighting technologies, today announced that it will be presenting at the 13th annual LD Micro Main Event investor conference on Tuesday, December 15th at 1 p.m. EST. James Tu, Chairman & CEO of Energy Focus, will be presenting to a live virtual audience.

Register here for the event: ve.mysequire.com/

The Main Event will feature a new and unique format, with companies presenting for 10 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A by a panel of investors and analysts.

The Main Event will take place on December 14th and 15th, exclusively on the Sequire Virtual Events platform.

View Energy Focus’s profile here: http://www.ldmicro.com/profile/EFOI

Profiles powered by LD Micro

About Energy Focus

Energy Focus is an industry-leading innovator of sustainable and human-centric lighting technologies and solutions. As the creator of the first flicker-free LED lamps, Energy Focus develops high quality LED lighting products that provide extensive energy and maintenance savings, as well as aesthetics, safety, health and sustainability benefits over conventional lighting. Our EnFocus™ lighting control platform enables existing and new buildings to provide quality, convenient and affordable, dimmable and color-tunable, circadian and human-centric lighting capabilities. Our patent-pending UV-C Disinfection technologies and products, announced in October 2020, aim to provide effective, reliable and affordable UVCD solutions for buildings, facilities and homes. Energy Focus’ customers include U.S. and foreign navies, U.S. federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, as well as Fortune 500 companies. Since 2007, Energy Focus has installed approximately 900,000 lighting products across the U.S. Navy fleet, including tubular LEDs, waterline security lights, explosion-proof globes and berth lights, saving more than 5,000,000 gallons of fuel and 300,000 man-hours in lighting maintenance annually. Energy Focus is headquartered in Solon, Ohio. For more information, visit our website at www.energyfocus.com.

About LD Micro/SEQUIRE

LD Micro began in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource to the microcap world. What started as a newsletter highlighting unique companies, has transformed into the pre-eminent event platform in the space. For more information, please visit ldmicro.com.

The upcoming Main Event will be highlighting a new format that will benefit both executives and the investors tuning in from all over the globe.

In September 2020, LD Micro, Inc. was acquired by SRAX, Inc., a financial technology company that unlocks data and insights for publicly traded companies. Through its premier investor intelligence and communications platform, Sequire, companies can track their investors’ behaviors and trends and use those insights to engage current and potential investors across marketing channels. For more information on SRAX, visit srax.comand mysequire.com.

Investor Contact:

Hayden IR

Brett Maas

(646) 526-7331

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Ohio United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Energy Hardware Other Energy

MEDIA:

Posted on

2020 Hillsdale Investment Management – CFA Society Toronto Investment Research Award Winners

Overcoming a bias towards complexity

TORONTO, Dec. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 Hillsdale Investment Management – CFA Society Toronto Investment Research Award. This year’s award-winning research paper is Complex Instrument Allowance at Mutual Funds by Paul Calluzzo and Selim Topaloglu from Queen’s University Smith School of Business and Fabio Moneta from the University of Ottawa, Telfer School of Management.

“Completing high-level research for publication takes an extraordinary amount of effort and commitment. The conclusions reached by this paper are more valuable than statements of ‘fact’ that are determined without proper testing,” said Chris Guthrie, CFA, President & CEO, CIO, portfolio manager, and founding partner of Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.

The Hillsdale Investment Management – CFA Society Toronto Investment Research Award is open to global researchers conducting research related to Canadian capital markets including both academics (e.g. professors and students) and practitioners. Research papers are reviewed by a panel of CFA charterholding investment experts to ensure they are in line with the rigorous values and standards embodied in the CFA designation.

“At its roots, Hillsdale believes in and supports applied investment research and the need to continuously invest in our process for the benefit of our clients. Teaming up with CFA Society Toronto to further such research efforts is natural for us,” said Harry Marmer, CFA, executive vice president, and partner of Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.

The abstract of the paper: “We study the loosening of restrictions on the use of leverage, derivatives, and illiquid assets by mutual funds. In contrast to previous studies, we find that the allowance of these complex instruments is associated with poor performance and higher risk. The underperformance is most acute during market downturns and among weakly monitored funds. We also find that mutual funds that actually use these instruments underperform. Overall, our results suggest caution in allowing funds to use these complex instruments.”

Click here to read more about this year’s award-winning research paper.

About Hillsdale Investment Management Inc.
Celebrating over a quarter of a century of investment excellence, Hillsdale Investment Management is an independent, employee-owned and client-aligned investment boutique managing over $3.5 billion on behalf of a select group of institutional and private wealth investors. Hillsdale engages in disciplined active investment management, specializing in equities, alternatives, ESG and customized mandates. Hillsdale is recognized for both investment and service excellence – a reflection of its relentless pursuit of research and development and the dedication of its partners and employees.  For more information, please refer to www.hillsdaleinv.com.

About CFA Society Toronto
Founded in 1936, CFA Society Toronto is part of the worldwide network of CFA Institute member societies that lead the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. CFA Society Toronto represents the interests of over 10,000 investment professionals in the Greater Toronto Area through advocacy, education, events, and professional development.  For more information visit http://www.cfatoronto.ca or follow us on Twitter @cfatoronto and on LinkedIn CFA Society Toronto.

Chartered Financial Analyst® and CFA® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute. 



Jonathan Mai
CFA Society Toronto
4163665755235
[email protected]

Posted on

Ethereum Creator Vitalik Buterin to Deliver Special Keynote at LABITCONF’s Digital Experience December 7-12

Cryptocurrency Pioneers Anthony Di Iorio, Charlie Shrem, Adam Back, Peter McCormack, Erik Voorhees, Brock Pierce and Jukka Blomberg also join speaker lineup. LABITCONF will feature a scavenger hunt for a $1,000 crypto prize and a closing celebration on the “Moon”

ARGENTINA, Dec. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (via Blockchain Wire) – Latin American Bitcoin & Blockchain Conference (LABITCONF), the world’s longest running bitcoin and blockchain event in the LatAm region, today announced a special keynote address will be given by Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin at the LABITCONF virtual event December 7-12, 2020. 

Other LABITCONF key speakers include Blockstream Co-Founder Adam Back, host of “What Bitcoin Did” podcast and “Defiance” podcast Peter McCormack, ShapeShift CEO Erik Voorhees, and LocalBitcoins CMO Jukka Blomberg, as well as an “Oldies but Goodies” panel with cryptocurrency’s earliest pioneers including Ethereum Co-Founder Anthony Di Iorio, Bitcoin Foundation Founder Charlie Shrem, and former independent candidate for President of the United States Brock Pierce.
“We are excited to have these top industry leaders and early crypto pioneers headlining our event. Aligning with our space-theme, you could say our roster is like ‘a sky full of stars,” said Rodolfo Andragnes, LABITCONF Chief General Coordinator. “Our attendees can gain valuable insight into blockchain’s journey to look into its future.”
The full LABITCONF event will explore the impact of cryptocurrency on the Latin American and global scene, and its potential for social and financial transformation, all in a one-of-a-kind, free, digital experience. The agenda will be organized into five days, each with a theme: Bitcoin, Policy and Regulation, Bitcoin Development, Decentralized Finance, and Social Impact Projects. 
Day six will feature a VR ‘Moon Party’ closing celebration, complete with a live DJ, avatars in spacesuits, a dinosaur park, global art and more. LABITCONF is historically known not only for its content, but for giving attendees a cultural experience through unforgettable, fun, and creative networking events.
All attendees are welcome to participate in the sponsored Seed Pirates‘ scavenger hunt to figure out the 12 word seed (BIP39 dictionary) that opens a prize wallet of $1,000 in crypto. Clues will be floating in the Moon Party in the form of riddles, songs, movies, puzzles and more. Seed Pirates has been running since March and has given out over $5,000 over 30 maps (including one with the 4th of July’s declaration). To participate, register at seedpirates.com and join their Telegram channel to learn more about solving techniques.
All public and private institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, and the general public interested in the technical, political, and legal foundations of blockchain technology are encouraged to attend. Complimentary pre-registration is available at www.labitconf.com.

For more information, follow @LABITCONF on social media and follow the hashtag #LABITCONF2020 on Twitter.  

About LABITCONF  

Now in its 8th year, the “Latin American Bitcoin & Blockchain  Conference” (LABITCONF), is the oldest and most relevant blockchain event in the  region. Year after year 90+ international speakers share their  knowledge with attendees from different industries  with entrepreneurs and investors from Oceania, Asia and Europe.  

This non-profit event is organized annually in different Latin  American countries, with the aim of making visible the diverse trajectories  and initiatives of local projects that explore decentralized technologies.  

LABITCONF has positioned itself as the most prominent  Latin  American event for the crypto adopter ecosystem. This region has suffered  frequent currency crises and abusive capital controls, which is why these  countries have been more open to rethinking new alternatives and adopting  decentralized technologies through blockchain solutions. LABITCONF has fostered entrepreneurship, growing a  network of blockchain communities from several Latin  American countries that has led to the start of many large-scale projects.  

More about LABITCONF www.labitconf.com 

Social Media 

-Twitter: @labitconf https://twitter.com/labitconf 

-Linkedin: @labitconf https://www.linkedin.com/company/labitconf 

-Instagram @labitconf https://www.instagram.com/labitconf/ 

-Facebook @labitconf https://www.facebook.com/labitconf 



LABITCONF Media Contact
[email protected]

Posted on

EllisDon Earns Two Spots on Onsite + Site Partners 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction List.

Mississauga, Ontario, Dec. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EllisDon’s Max Mantha, Senior Vice President and Area Manager Civil, Toronto and Michael Casey, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel were named in Onsite + Site Partners 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction list.

On-Site Magazine and Site Partner’s inaugural 40 Under 40 awards recognize the most exceptional, progressive, and innovative young leaders who are advancing the movement of construction in Canada. 

Max Mantha currently leads a team of over 400 individuals building major Civil infrastructure across Canada. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to the development and construction of projects with a combined value of more than $10B. Max also contributes to a number of charitable and volunteer efforts such as mentoring sessions with students from various universities. Currently, Max sits on the Chair of The Lassonde School of Engineering, Civil Engineering Advisory Board at York University. 

“Max is a true innovative leader and we are very proud of everything he has achieved at EllisDon in his young career,” says Kieran Hawe, COO and Executive Vice President, Construction Operations. “Under his leadership, our Civil Division constantly achieves new heights thanks to his ambition, dedication and inspiration; this award is much-deserving.”

The top 40 list showcases a cross-section of top-performing individuals who have achieved professional success while displaying innovation and leadership abilities in the Canadian construction sector. 

Michael Casey joined EllisDon just two years after being called to the Bar. He started as Legal Counsel, and worked his way up to Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, where he was appointed as one of EllisDon’s youngest VPs. From the get-go, Michael made it a priority to learn the business inside and out and worked tirelessly to gain deep insight into the company’s operations and business priorities. Outside of EllisDon, he is the Vice-Chair of the Construction Corporate Counsel Forum and a member of the board of the Legal Committee for the Canada BIM Counsel.

“I am not at all surprised that Michael is being recognized as one of the best and brightest in the industry: this is very richly deserved. His work, reliability and leadership are invaluable to me and to the full legal services team. I am very fortunate to get to work with and learn from Michael, and to count him as a good friend,” says Andrés Durán, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, EllisDon.

To learn more and read the full 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction list, click here. 



Amanda DiPasquale
EllisDon
4169535400
[email protected]

Posted on

North Shore Global Uranium Mining ETF Marks Its First Year Anniversary

Fund grows to $20 million in assets under management in its first year

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The North Shore Global Uranium ETF (NYSE:URNM) will be celebrating its one-year anniversary.  Launched on 12/4/19, URNM is a targeted play that offers investors efficient access to a global, basket of companies in the uranium industry.

URNM has advanced 18.05% on a price basis since its inception (as of 11/30/20).1  Assets under management in the fund reached nearly $20MM, a 700% increase since its launch.

Performance quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so you may have a gain or loss when shares are sold. Current performance may be higher or lower than that quoted. Shares are bought and sold at market price and not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. For performance current to the most recent month end, visit
https://urnmetf.com/urnm
.

“Although the spot price of uranium has risen by 14% in the 12/1/19 – 11/30/202 period, we still believe that the underlying supply and demand dynamics are quite positive for uranium and the theme is in its early innings,” noted Tim Rotolo, CEO and Founder of North Shore Indices.  “The supply of uranium has been slashed by miners just as demand, in the form of new nuclear energy reactors, is accelerating,” Mr. Rotolo went on to note.

Based on North Shore’s proprietary research, uranium demand currently exceeds supply and is being filled by a drawdown in existing inventories.  Prices will need to rise substantially from their current levels to induce uranium miners to reopen closed mines and to develop new mines.3

URNM seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the North Shore Global Uranium Mining Index.

The index is designed to track the performance of companies that are involved in the mining, exploration, development and production of uranium as well as companies that hold physical uranium, uranium royalties or other non-mining assets.

Originally launched with a tilt toward junior miners, which may have a higher beta4 to an increase in the price of uranium, the index has increased that exposure over the past year as well as removing non-pure play miners. The market capitalization of the industry has grown in 2020 allowing for a greater selection of companies which meet the index selection criteria.

“We are proud of our partnership with North Shore and Tim Rotolo over the past year,” said, J. Garrett Stevens, CEO of Exchange Traded Concepts and advisor to the fund.  “URNM fits in well with our focus on providing investors with access to products that give them exposure to non-traditional sources of alpha5 that are not readily available in other investment products,” added Mr. Stevens.

1 Yahoo Finance
2 Source: Cameco website, https://www.cameco.com/invest/markets/uranium-price
3 Our team performed a comprehensive analysis on the supply and demand of uranium across the globe. Based on our estimates, uranium supply totals 170MM lbs.  However, demand seems to be closer to 200MM lbs.  Our estimate was based on an analysis of all current and prospective uranium mines, as well as all operating, under construction, and proposed nuclear reactors in the world. We believe current production is not enough to supply existing demand, let alone the potential future growth.  The supply deficit has been filled by a reduction in inventories.
4 Beta is a measure of how an individual asset moves, on average, when its benchmark increases or decreases.
5 Alpha is a measure of the return of an investment above its benchmark return.

Risk Disclosure and Important Information
Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the investment advisor. The Fund is distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456), which is not affiliated with Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, North Shore Indices, or any affiliates. Check the background of SIDCO on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

Carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risk factors, charges and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Fund’s full or summary prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting urnmetf.com.

Investors should read it carefully before investing or sending money. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, international investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from social, economic or political instability in other nations. Emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume. Narrowly focused investments, investments in smaller companies, and those in commodities typically exhibit higher volatility. Issuers in energy-related industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels.

Commodity prices may be influenced or characterized by unpredictable factors, including high volatility, changes in supply and demand relationships, weather, agriculture, trade, changes in interest rates and monetary and other governmental policies, action and inaction. Uranium Companies may be significantly subject to the effects of competitive pressures in the uranium business and the price of uranium. The price of uranium may be affected by changes in inflation rates, interest rates, monetary policy, economic conditions and political stability. The price of uranium may fluctuate substantially over short periods of time; therefore the Fund’s share price may be more volatile than other types of investments. In addition, they may also be significantly affected by import controls, worldwide competition, liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control devices, political and economic conditions in uranium producing and consuming countries, and uranium production levels and costs of production. Demand for nuclear energy may face considerable risk as a result of, among other risks, incidents and accidents, breaches of security, ill-intentioned acts of terrorism, air crashes, natural disasters, equipment malfunctions or mishandling in storage, handling, transportation, treatment or conditioning of substances and nuclear materials.

There is no guarantee the fund will achieve its stated objective. Indices are unmanaged and do not include the effect of fees. One cannot invest directly in an index. The fund is non-diversified.

Shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Market price returns are based upon the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4:00 PM Eastern time and do not represent the returns you would receive if you traded shares at other times. The first trading date is typically several days after the fund inception date. Therefore, NAV is used to calculate market returns prior to the first trade date because there is no bid/ask spread until the fund starts trading.

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-shore-global-uranium-mining-etf-marks-its-first-year-anniversary-301186567.html

SOURCE North Shore Indices

Posted on

Cannabis Profits In Focus: CEO’s of HEXO, Icanic Brands, Tilray, and Aurora Cannabis Discuss Next Wave of Global Growth Opportunities and Brands Innovation

NEW YORK, Dec. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wall Street Reporter, the trusted name in financial news since 1843, has published reports on the latest comments and insights from leaders at: Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY), Icanic Brands (OTC: ICNAF) (CSE: ICAN), Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), and HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO)

Cannabis leaders are focusing on innovation in premium branding, global expansion, and tight operational execution in the drive towards profitability. Wall Street Reporter highlights the latest comments from industry thought leaders:

Icanic Brands (OTC: ICNAF) (CSE: ICAN) CEO Brandon Kou:
”Ready to Scale with Quality Brands, and a Superior Gross Margin Profile”

“The Tesla of Cannabis” is what some savvy investors are calling Icanic Brands (OTC: ICNAF) (CSE: ICAN), after its recent presentation at Wall Street Reporter’s “Investors Discovery Day” livestream. ICNAF is a leader in the California market, and specifically in the pre-rolled space, with its award-winning “Ganja Gold” brand, sold in hundreds of retail outlets. A key component of ICNAF’s success is its pre-roll manufacturing technologies which produce consistent, high-quality pre rolls at high gross margins – a major competitive advantage in the cannabis industry.

Watch ICNAF Investors Discovery Day 12/4 Livestream:


https://bit.ly/3gbJJVf

In his livestream presentation, ICNAF CEO Brandon Kou outlines the company’s growth strategy, based on a “three pillar approach”: sales platform, technology, and vertical integration which lead to a superior gross margin profile. With a profitable foundation established, ICNAF is now at an inflection point where it’s ready to start scaling revenues and expand with strategic M&A opportunities. December 4, 2020 VIDEO: https://bit.ly/3gbJJVf

December 1 – ICNF reports $C7.9 million revenues and $560,000 in positive adjusted EBITDA for FY 2020. ICNAF also announces expansion to its new California facility which will house ICNAF’s second automated pre-roll machinery, being put into production in Q1-2021, resulting in a significant increase in overall production capacity. Over the past 12 months, ICNAF has seen a significant increased demand for its pre-roll brands (Ganja Gold and Taylors) and the addition of automation equipment that has been sourced and developed to keep up with the demand requires a much larger physical manufacturing facility.

November 10 – Ganja Gold has been recognized by LeafLink as Fastest Growing pre-rolls in the nation. LeafLink analyzes orders between 1,700+ cannabis brands and 5,500+ retailers, in North America. The Fastest-Growing categories represent the most popular brands and products on the platform in 2020.

Watch ICNAF Investors Discovery Day 12/4 Livestream:


https://bit.ly/3gbJJVf

HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO) CEO Sebastien St.Louis: ”Now On Path Towards Positive Earnings Growth”

“…Despite the many dire economic and social consequences the pandemic has caused, the cannabis industry continues to grow. And that’s a testament to the consumer demand for safe and legal product that we offer. The industry has a $2.9 billion run rate and continues to grow. We remain in a top four market share position closing in on the third spot and increasing the gap between number of ourselves and the number five and number six LPs…. We’ve been deliberate and selective in our launch of 2.0 products. We’ve launched vape pens, our Hash products and they’ve been overwhelming successes. Great quality reviews and we are number one in the Hash category. We continued to lead the way with Original Stash, including our 28 gram package format, which is a high quality consistent product priced to compete directly with the illicit market. This was an industry first and HEXO reset the Canadian market for dried flower as a result, many of our competitors scrambled to duplicate our efforts.

“…While we strive for consistent positive EBITDA, we’re also focused on learning from the past. It’s not our intention to overpay for assets or overbuild our capacity. With today’s announcement, we feel we’ve put ourselves on a path towards positive earnings per share. Our capital-light global strategy to partner with Fortune 500 companies continues…We have a lot of work to do, but the good news is that our revenues are growing. Our yields and volume sold have improved. Our normalized gross margin is healthy, and our costs continue to come down. Our adjusted EBITDA loss improved materially in the fourth quarter. And we hope to be EBITDA positive very soon…”

HEXO Corp. (NYSE:
HEXO
) Q4 2020 Earnings Highlights:


https://bit.ly/2JKlC4b

Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB) CEO, Miguel Martin: “Focused on Delivering ‘Quality Revenue’ through Premium Brands”

“…the consumer has demonstrated very dynamic tendencies with market share moving very quickly between brands, unlike in more stable CPG categories. This provides us with a great opening for our pivot to premium brands….Data from Canada and other mature markets indicate that premium and super premium brands have been and will continue to be successful in all formats. Therefore, Aurora has a real opportunity for a more articulated and balanced portfolio offering with a greater focus on higher margin and sustainable premium assets, such as vapes, pre-rolls and premium flower offerings across multiple price tiers….

We are also working to expand our leading concentrates and to refocus our dried flower business toward higher gross profit dollar pools…The key of course, is to ensure that in doing so we are delivering more dollars to the gross profit line versus simply just delivering low margin revenue. We are therefore much more interested in our market share within premium and super premium categories, along with our market share of categories, such as vapor, pre-rolls and concentrates that are margin accretive compared to our market share in the deep discount flower business…our intention is to generate not just revenue but quality revenue, that will deliver a healthy gross profit dollar as opposed to essentially just a gross margin percentage.”

Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) Earnings Call Highlights:


https://bit.ly/3lgMGWB

Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) CEO, Brendan Kennedy: 
“Europe Cannabis is Next Big Growth Opportunity”

“…We are operating in an efficient manner across our entire business, global medical cannabis, Canadian adult use-cannabis and global hemp. With the completion of our significant cost reductions, we are now poised to leverage our cost structure and ensure we are one of the global winners in this industry. We have ample cash availability on our ATM to execute our strategy…With our infrastructure in place, we will continue to focus on building brands and developing products that resonate with consumers and established Tilray as the most trusted cannabis and hemp company in the world.”

“…I think that we’ll see possibly the entire EU legalize cannabis for medical-use over the course of the next, let’s call it, 18 months…We are committed to long-term profitable growth in Europe as regulations continue to change and country markets develop…We are continuing to see increases in both the number of patients in Germany with cannabis prescriptions, as well as the number of doctors who are writing prescriptions for these patients… We believe that we are effectively building brand awareness similar to the way that we did in Canada four years ago and expect to see continued patient and revenue growth given Germany’s large population base. In fact, we believe that the adoption curve in Germany is occurring at a faster pace compared to Canada during 2014 and 2015. Recently, we have seen a number of competitors either cease European operations or significantly reduced their presence there. We believe this will become a long-term strategic advantage for Tilray. The commitments we have made to the EU market with our Portugal GMP campus and regional leadership team based in Germany, position us well to continue to capture market share in Germany and more broadly in Europe…”

Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) Earnings Call Highlights:


https://bit.ly/3m2MqdY

WALL STREET REPORTER

Wall Street Reporter (Est. 1843) is the leading financial news provider, focused on giving investors direct access to CEO’s of promising, publicly-traded companies, and market experts. www.WallStreetReporter.com

About Wall Street Reporter’s Next Super Stock conference:

Wall Street Reporter’s NEXT SUPER STOCK Live! conference is dedicated to featuring select companies that have near-term catalysts in place which can drive transformational growth (and stock appreciation) in the months ahead. Click here to join next livestream event: https://www.wallstreetreporter.com/next-superstock-online-investor-conference/

CONTACT:

WALL STREET REPORTER

(212) 871-2057 ext 7



www.WallStreetReporter.com



Posted on

AMPORTS Expands Footprint With Acquisition of Horizon Terminals

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMPORTS, Inc. (“AMPORTS”) today announced it has acquired a 100% equity interest in Horizon Terminal Services, LLC (“Horizon”), a marine terminal operator with operations in Jacksonville and Port Everglades, Florida, and Freeport, Texas, from Höegh Autoliners B.V. 

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Horizon is a private marine terminal operator that provides customers with a variety of professional and value-added services, including vehicle and equipment processing, warehousing, long- and short-term storage, road and railroad access, and Foreign-Trade Zones. Notably, Horizon is equipped to manage a variety of cargoes, including high and heavy, static, breakbulk and project cargoes, as well as factory-new and previously-owned vehicles.

“We are delighted to welcome Horizon to the AMPORTS family,” said Steve Taylor, AMPORTS’ Chief Executive Officer. “Working in partnership with the experienced team at Horizon, we look forward to further expanding and enhancing our award-winning operations, strengthening our competitive position in the marketplace and, above all, building on our commitment to safety, quality, operational excellence and customer satisfaction.”

Andreas Enger, Chief Executive Officer of Höegh Autoliners, commented: “As we simplify and consolidate our services around port-to-port ocean transport, we sought a new owner for our land-based terminals in the US that could invest and grow the business for the benefit of our customers and employees. In all areas, AMPORTS emerged as the ideal new owner, bringing its leading market position and strong long-term industry relationships to Horizon.”

AMPORTS is a vital link in the global automotive supply chain for many of the world’s largest automotive original equipment manufacturers, operating from strategically located facilities in the United States and Mexico on major coastal zones that provide access to land transport links and distribution networks in close proximity to major population centers. With the addition of Horizon, AMPORTS further expands its network of seven marine facilities in Florida, California, Texas, Maryland and Mexico. AMPORTS, which directly owns approximately 50% of its land portfolio, provides customers with seamless logistical and portside services in vehicle processing, rail loading and unloading, inspection, storage, accessory installations, and customizations, repairs, and regulatory homologation services.

The financial terms of the transaction are undisclosed. AMPORTS was advised by King & Spalding. Höegh Autoliners was advised by Cozen O’Connor.

About AMPORTS, Inc.

A leader in the global automotive service industry for over 60 years, AMPORTS is one of the largest auto processors in North America, with locations across the United States and Mexico. Our mission is to provide customers with seamless logistical solutions, ensuring our clients access to the quality, safety and operational excellence they require for today’s volumes and tomorrow’s growth potential. AMPORTS is owned by InstarAGF Asset Management, an independent alternative asset management firm focused on North American middle-market opportunities in the infrastructure sector and other alternative real asset categories.  

For more information: 

Media 
Gary Salvador, SVP Sales & Marketing 
[email protected] 
904-265-6268