NEW YORK, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xcel Brands (NASDAQ: XELB), an industry leading media and consumer products company specializing in building influencer-driven brands through social commerce and livestreaming, is proud to announce an exciting partnership with Latina home and lifestyle creator Jenny Martinez. Jenny is a national best selling cookbook author and creator of Happy Bellies by Jenny. Together, they will launch a food and kitchenware brand designed to bring tradition and taste to every meal.
Jenny believes food connects, inspires, and creates lasting memories. Rooted in Mexican culture, her mission is to bring joy and creativity to every kitchen with thoughtfully designed, high-quality food and kitchenware. From authentic Latino flavors to new creations, Jenny Martinez products will bring the warmth of tradition into every bite.
“I’m so excited to partner with Xcel to create a truly authentic line of food and kitchenware that speaks to the Latina customer,” said Ms Martinez. “Xcel brings products to life for my audience to see and purchase directly.”
Jenny’s deep connection with her community and joyful approach to cooking made her a natural partner for Xcel Brands, which is committed to creating powerful lifestyle brands that resonate across cultures and generations. With a devoted following across social media and her growing online platforms, Jenny’s influence continues to bring families together through food, storytelling, and cultural pride.
“We are thrilled to partner with Jenny Martinez to launch this brand. Her expertise and deep love of cooking and her influence align perfectly with Xcel’s vision of creating innovative, lifestyle-driven consumer brands,” stated Robert W. D’Loren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xcel Brands. “This collaboration brings us one step closer to our goal of reaching over 100 million social media followers across our brand portfolio, reinforcing our commitment to transforming how consumers engage with the brands they love.”
This partnership will provide more than just high-quality products and educational resources— it’s a celebration of family, tradition, and authenticity. The Jenny Martinez Live brand is set to launch on live shopping channels and select retailers later this year. Stay updated on this exciting journey at www.xcelbrands.com
About Xcel Brands Xcel Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: XELB) is a media and consumer products company engaged in the design, licensing, marketing, live streaming, and social commerce sales of branded apparel, footwear, accessories, fine jewelry, home goods and other consumer products, and the acquisition of dynamic consumer lifestyle brands. Xcel was founded in 2011 with a vision to reimagine shopping, entertainment, and social media as social commerce. Xcel owns the Halston, Judith Ripka, and C. Wonder brands, as well as the Tower Hill by Christie Brinkley co-branded collaboration, and holds noncontrolling interests in the Isaac Mizrahi brand and Orme Live. Xcel also owns and manages the Longaberger brand through its controlling interest in Longaberger Licensing LLC. Xcel has recently announced the launch of new pet brand, Trust-Respect-Love by Cesar Millan and bakeware and cooking brand with Gemma Stafford. Xcel is pioneering a true modern consumer products sales strategy which includes the promotion and sale of products under its brands through interactive television, digital live-stream shopping, social commerce, brick-and-mortar retail, and e-commerce channels to be everywhere its customers shop. The company’s brands have generated in excess of $5 billion in retail sales via livestreaming in interactive television and digital channels alone, growing social media presence approximately 40 million followers across their brand profile and talent, and over 20,000 hours of livestream content production time and social commerce. Headquartered in New York City, Xcel Brands is led by an executive team with significant live streaming, production, merchandising, design, marketing, retailing, and licensing experience, and a proven track record of success in elevating branded consumer products companies. www.xcelbrands.com
About Jenny Martinez Jenny Martinez is well-known across social media platforms for sharing her authentic Mexican family recipes to the delight of millions of fans on TikTok and Instagram. Jenny was born in Mexico and moved to Los Angeles at age four, yet she has never lost touch with her Mexican heritage. The traditional recipes she shares with her followers have been passed down for generations in her family. Although she later mastered her culinary arts on her own, Jenny started by learning most of her mother’s recipes at the age of thirteen. Jenny considers a well-fed family the key to a happy family and believes that dinner should be celebrated every day. Food brings people together, and Jenny’s videos and recipes convey the spirit of family and community. She lives with her family in Los Angeles, California. Jenny’s first cookbook My Mexican Mesa, Y Listo! (Simon & Schuster) debuted in Spring 2024 featuring 100 recipes ranging from breakfast, appetizers & entrees to desserts, and even cocktails! Providing family-style recipes for every occasion & beautifully photographed to capture the authentic spirit of the cuisine, the cookbook is a must-have for home cooks looking for their next delicious meal. In 2024, Jenny launched her own line of cookware and dinnerware/tabletop at over 600 department stores nationally, as well as a spice line sold in grocery stores and online.
Jenny is represented by John Frierson at The Bureau New York City and managed by Lisa Shotland at Shotlandia. Her attorney is Phil Daniels at Ginsberg Daniels Kallis LLP
Achieved Record Full-Year Sales and Profitability, Adjusted EPS of $5.20 and GAAP EPS of $1.79
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AZZ Inc. (NYSE: AZZ), the leading independent provider of hot-dip galvanizing and coil coating solutions, today issued its audited consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2025.
Fiscal Year 2025 Overview (as compared to prior fiscal year 2024(1)):
Total Sales $1,577.7 million, up 2.6%
Metal Coatings sales of $665.1 million, up 1.4%
Precoat Metals sales of $912.6 million, up 3.5%
Net income of $128.8 million, up 26.8%; Net Income available to common shareholders of $52.4 million reflects the redemption premium payment on the Series A Preferred Stock of $75.2 million; Adjusted net income of $156.8 million, up 18.1%
GAAP diluted EPS of $1.79 per share, down 48.3%, which includes full redemption of Series A Preferred Stock, and Adjusted diluted EPS of $5.20, up 14.8%
Adjusted EBITDA of $347.9 million, or 22.0% of sales, up 4.3% versus prior year of $333.6 million, or 21.7% of sales
Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin of 30.9% for Metal Coatings and 19.6% for Precoat Metals
Debt reduction of $110.0 million for the year, resulting in net leverage below 2.5x
Fourth Quarter 2025 Overview (as compared to prior fiscal year fourth quarter(1)):
Total Sales of $351.9 million, down 4.0%, primarily due to inclement weather during the quarter
Metal Coatings sales of $148.4 million, down 3.9%
Precoat Metals sales of $203.5 million, down 4.1%
Net Income of $20.2 million, up 41.7%, and Adjusted net income of $29.6 million, up 7.9%
GAAP diluted EPS of $0.67 per share, up 19.6%, and Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.98, up 5.4%
Adjusted EBITDA of $71.2 million or 20.2% of sales, versus prior year of $73.9 million, or 20.2% of sales
Segment Adjusted EBITDA margins of 29.2% for Metal Coatings and 17.8% for Precoat Metals
______________________________________
(1) Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA and net leverage ratio are non-GAAP financial measures as defined and reconciled in the tables below.
Tom Ferguson, President, and Chief Executive Officer of AZZ, commented, “Fiscal year 2025 was a successful year for AZZ. We delivered record full year results and made significant progress on our growth initiatives throughout the year. We are pleased with full-year sales growth of 2.6%, which includes record results in both Metal Coatings and Precoat Metals, despite navigating significant weather impacts in the fourth quarter. For the year, our Metal Coatings segment delivered sales of $665.1 million, and 30.9% EBITDA margin, while Precoat Metals delivered sales of $912.6 million and 19.6% EBITDA margin.
“With sales of $1.58 billion and cash flow from operations of $250 million, we were able to substantially complete our greenfield project in Washington, Missouri while significantly paying down debt in fiscal 2025. We successfully completed a secondary public offering of common stock, and fully redeemed the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock. We are pleased with the financial condition of the Company and plan to further strengthen our balance sheet. We expect to accelerate debt paydown with proceeds from the AVAIL transaction which is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2026.
“I want to sincerely thank our entire AZZ team for their exceptional performance in fiscal 2025—our 38th consecutive year of profitability from continuing operations. As we capitalize on our strong market positions to meet rising demand in our end markets, I am confident in our ability to generate significant cash flow and drive long-term value. With a focus on strategic growth initiatives, we remain committed to enhancing shareholder value and seizing future opportunities as they arise,” Ferguson concluded.
Segment Performance
Full Year 2025 Metal Coatings
Strong sales of $665.1 million, up 1.4% from prior year. Improved sales were driven by an increase in volume for hot-dip galvanizing driven by continued strength within the renewables, utility and construction markets.
Segment EBITDA of $205.4 million was up 4.4% versus the prior year. EBITDA margin of 30.9% was at the upper end of our previously stated range of 25%-30%, and increased 90 basis points due to a higher volume of steel processed and operational efficiencies.
Full Year 2025 Precoat Metals
Sales of $912.6 million, up 3.5% from prior year due to higher volume.
Segment EBITDA of $179.0 million or 19.6% of sales, was up 6.9%, on higher volume.
Fourth Quarter 2025 Metal Coatings
Sales decreased 3.9% to $148.4 million and EBITDA decreased 2.1% to $43.2 million versus the prior quarter in fiscal 2024. Sales were lower as a result of decreased volume due to unfavorable weather conditions in the quarter.
Segment EBITDA margin increased to 29.2% of sales, or 60 basis points higher than the prior year fourth quarter EBITDA margin. The increase in EBITDA margin was a result of lower operating and selling, general and administrative costs.
Fourth Quarter 2025 Precoat Metals
Sales decreased 4.1% to $203.5 million and EBITDA decreased 3.9% to $36.2 million, versus the prior quarter in fiscal 2024. Sales were seasonally lower as a result of decreased volume due to unfavorable weather conditions and lower end market demand in transportation.
Segment EBITDA margin of 17.8% of sales, was flat compared to prior year fourth quarter EBITDA margin.
Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Capital Allocation
The Company generated significant operating cash of $249.9 million for fiscal 2025 through improved earnings and disciplined working capital management. At the end of the fourth quarter, the Company’s net leverage was below 2.5x trailing twelve months EBITDA. Consistent with the capital allocation strategy, the Company paid down debt of $110.0 million and returned cash to common shareholders through cash dividend payments totaling $23.1 million. Capital expenditures were $115.9 million during the year, which included $52.8 million for the greenfield facility in Washington, Missouri. Fiscal 2026 capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $60 – $80 million. In fiscal 2026, we will continue to allocate our strong cash flow generated from operations as well as the proceeds from the AVAIL joint venture transaction, which we now estimate will be over $200 million, to support our capital allocation strategy.
Financial Outlook — Reiterating Fiscal Year 2026 Guidance
We are reiterating our fiscal year guidance, reflecting our confidence in the Company’s strategic execution, operational resilience, and market positioning. Fiscal year 2026 guidance reflects our best estimates given expected market conditions for the full year, lower interest expense, an annualized effective tax rate of 25% and excludes M&A and any federal regulatory changes that may emerge.
FY2026 Guidance(1)
Sales
$1.625 – $1.725 billion
Adjusted EBITDA
$360 – $400 million
Adjusted Diluted EPS
$5.50 – $6.10
(1)
FY2026 Guidance Assumptions:
a.
Excludes the impact of any future acquisitions.
b.
Management defines adjusted earnings per share to exclude intangible asset amortization, acquisition expenses, transaction related expenses, certain legal settlements and accruals, and certain expenses related to non-recurring events from the reported GAAP measure.
c.
Assumes EBITDA margin range of 27 – 32% for the Metal Coatings segment and 17% – 22% for the Precoat Metals segment.
Conference Call Details
AZZ Inc. will conduct a live conference call with Tom Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, Jason Crawford, Chief Financial Officer, and David Nark, Chief Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations Officer to discuss financial results for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2025, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. ET. Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing (844) 855-9499 or (412) 317-5497 (international). A webcast of the call will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations page at http://www.azz.com/investor-relations.
A replay of the call will be available at (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088 (international), replay access code: 3079902 through April 29, 2025, or by visiting http://www.azz.com/investor-relations for the next 12 months.
About AZZ Inc.
AZZ Inc. is the leading independent provider of hot-dip galvanizing and coil coating solutions to a broad range of end-markets. Collectively, our business segments provide sustainable, unmatched metal coating solutions that enhance the longevity and appearance of buildings, products and infrastructure that are essential to everyday life.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements herein about our expectations of future events or results constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “will,” “might,” “would,” “projects,” “currently,” “intends,” “outlook,” “forecasts,” “targets,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and management’s views and assumptions regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are subject to risks that could cause them to differ materially from actual results. Certain factors could affect the outcome of the matters described herein. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, changes in customer demand for our manufactured solutions, including demand by the construction markets, the industrial markets, and the metal coatings markets. We could also experience additional increases in labor costs, components and raw materials including zinc and natural gas, which are used in our hot-dip galvanizing process, paint used in our coil coating process; supply-chain vendor delays; customer requested delays of our manufactured solutions; delays in additional acquisition opportunities; an increase in our debt leverage and/or interest rates on our debt, of which a significant portion is tied to variable interest rates; availability of experienced management and employees to implement AZZ’s growth strategy; a downturn in market conditions in any industry relating to the manufactured solutions that we provide; economic volatility, including a prolonged economic downturn or macroeconomic conditions such as inflation or changes in the political stability in the United States and other foreign markets in which we operate; tariffs, acts of war or terrorism inside the United States or abroad; and other changes in economic and financial conditions. AZZ has provided additional information regarding risks associated with the business, including in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, in AZZ’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, and other filings with the SEC, available for viewing on AZZ’s website at www.azz.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
You are urged to consider these factors carefully when evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are based on information as of the date hereof and AZZ assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Company Contact: David Nark, Chief Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations Officer AZZ Inc. (817) 810-0095 www.azz.com
Investor Contact: Sandy Martin / Phillip Kupper Three Part Advisors (214) 616-2207 or (817) 368-2556 www.threepa.com
CHICAGO, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FreightCar America, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAIL), a diversified manufacturer of railroad freight cars, today announced that it will release its first quarter 2025 financial results on Monday, May 5, 2025, after the market close and host a teleconference to discuss its first quarter 2025 results on the following day. Teleconference details are as follows:
Please note that the webcast is listen-only and webcast participants will not be able to participate in the question and answer portion of the conference call. Interested parties are asked to dial in approximately 10 to 15 minutes prior to the start time of the call.
An audio replay of the conference call will be available beginning at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. To access the replay, please dial (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671. The replay passcode is 13753235. An archived version of the webcast will also be available on the FreightCar America Investor Relations website.
About FreightCar America
FreightCar America, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a leading designer, producer and supplier of railroad freight cars, railcar parts and components. We also specialize in railcar repairs, complete railcar rebody services and railcar conversions that repurpose idled rail assets back into revenue service. Since 1901, our customers have trusted us to build quality railcars that are critical to economic growth and instrumental to the North American supply chain. To learn more about FreightCar America, visit www.freightcaramerica.com.
New Business Awards of $16.4 million in first quarter 2025; New Business Awards of over $150 million since Q1 2023; tracking ahead of its five-year plan
Company raises five-year Adjusted EBITDA margin target range to 13–14%, and reaffirms previous 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NN (NASDAQ: NNBR) today announced an update on its new business wins program and its ongoing above-plan margin results.
Highlights:
First quarter 2025 new business wins were $16.4 million; we believe NN is on pace to meet its 2025 goal of $65 million of new business awards
Approximately $98 million of new business awards will ramp into revenue stream during 2025 and beyond
New wins for the quarter were in the key focus areas of non-automotive industrial products, electrical and power products, medical, and automotive products
NN is leveraging its installed base of $340 million of assets and is selectively adding new capacity in certain growth areas
NN has secured more than $150 million in new wins since Q1 2023, tracking ahead of its five-year goal and supporting its long-term net sales targets which also assumes a stable base market for ongoing business
NN’s new business pipeline continues to expand in non-automotive, medical, industrial, and automotive products
NN has built a $340+ million pipeline in the targeted areas of electrical, medical, and industrial; or about half of its pipeline
NN’s adjusted EBITDA rate is ahead of its five-year plan due to cost-improvement actions and new business
NN is increasing its five-year Adjusted EBITDA target range up to 13-14%, up from prior range of 12-13%
Company is incurring immaterial direct tariff impacts due to its indigenous footprint strategy in the US
NN is reaffirming prior adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2025
Harold Bevis, Chief Executive Officer of NN Inc. commented, “First quarter 2025 was a good quarter for NN as we continued to execute on our transformation strategy, highlighted by strong new business growth of $16.4 million. Our commercial pipeline is building upon the strong momentum delivered since the launch of the transformation, and we are proud to be solidifying our position as an elite and preferred supplier in our key growth portfolios. Our base business is slightly less than expected in certain areas due to uncertainties, but the company is adjusting its cost positions where needed.”
Bevis concluded, “Our team remains highly focused on accretive margin expansion and driving operational improvements across the company. Our efforts to date have resulted in profitability improvements that are tracking ahead of our initial transformation plan, and as a result, we are increasing our five-year Adjusted EBITDA margin target up to the range of 13-14%. We are well underway with improving our cost structure, onboarding accretive new business, pivoting our ongoing accumulated pipeline, and improving our margin mix through continued wins in our key growth areas of stampings, electrical, and medical markets. While we are pleased with the momentum and early success of our program, we are only getting started and will implement further growth and cost-out initiatives to strengthen profitability and expand our margins as part of our commitment to growing shareholder value.”
ABOUT NN
NN is a global industrial company that combines advanced engineering and production capabilities to deliver solutions for high-precision components and assemblies for a variety of markets on a global basis. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, NN has facilities in North America, Asia, Europe, and South America. For more information, visit www.nninc.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except for specific historical information, many of the matters discussed in this press release may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to NN, Inc. (the “Company”) based on current beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “growth,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “trajectory” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are outside of management’s control and that may cause actual results to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, general economic conditions and economic conditions in the industrial sector; the impacts of pandemics, epidemics, disease outbreaks and other public health crises, on our financial condition, business operations and liquidity; competitive influences; risks that current customers will commence or increase captive production; risks of capacity underutilization; quality issues; material changes in the costs and availability of raw materials; economic, social, political and geopolitical instability, military conflict, currency fluctuation, and other risks of doing business outside of the United States; inflationary pressures and changes in the cost or availability of materials, supply chain shortages and disruptions, the availability of labor and labor disruptions along the supply chain; our dependence on certain major customers, some of whom are not parties to long-term agreements (and/or are terminable on short notice); the impact of acquisitions and divestitures, as well as expansion of end markets and product offerings; our ability to hire or retain key personnel; the level of our indebtedness; the restrictions contained in our debt agreements; our ability to obtain financing at favorable rates, if at all, and to refinance existing debt as it matures; our ability to secure, maintain or enforce patents or other appropriate protections for our intellectual property; new laws and governmental regulations; the impact of climate change on our operations; and cyber liability or potential liability for breaches of our or our service providers’ information technology systems or business operations disruptions. The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict their occurrence or how they will affect the Company. The Company qualifies all forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
Investor Relations: Joseph Caminiti or Stephen Poe, Investors NNBR@alpha-ir.com 312-445-2870
RESTON, Va., April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — V2X (NYSE: VVX) has named Melon Yeshoalul to Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer effective April 21, 2025. In this role, she will be responsible for the company’s global human resources strategy and operations including talent management, recruitment, leadership development, and compensation and benefits. She will join the executive team and report directly to President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy C. Wensinger.
“As we continue to scale globally and invest in the growth of our people, Melon brings the right combination of experience and leadership to help shape the future of our workforce,” said Wensinger. “She is deeply committed to building strong cultures and high-performing teams, and I am confident she will elevate our employee experience and strengthen our position as an employer of choice.”
Bringing more than two decades of experience, Yeshoalul has established herself as a leading professional in recruiting, compensation, and HR business partnering. Most recently, she served in a senior leadership role at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she helped deliver scalable talent and operations programs to support rapid growth and organizational effectiveness. Prior to AWS, she held top HR leadership positions at DXC Technology, PwC, and The Boeing Company.
“I’m thrilled to join V2X at such an exciting time in its evolution,” said Yeshoalul. “This is a company that is mission-driven, people-first, and poised for extraordinary growth. I look forward to working across the enterprise to unlock the potential of our talent, foster innovation, and drive a culture of excellence worldwide.”
Yeshoalul earned a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
About V2X V2X builds innovative solutions that integrate physical and digital environments by aligning people, actions, and technology. V2X is embedded in all elements of a critical mission’s lifecycle to enhance readiness, optimize resource management, and boost security. The company provides innovation spanning national security, defense, civilian, and international markets. With a global team of approximately 16,000 professionals, V2X enables mission success by injecting AI and machine learning capabilities to meet today’s toughest challenges across all operational domains.
Investor Contact Mike Smith, CFA Vice President, Treasury, Corporate Development and Investor Relations IR@goV2X.com 719-637-5773
Media Contact Angelica Spanos Deoudes Director, Corporate Communications Angelica.Deoudes@goV2X.com 571-338-5195
CULVER CITY, Calif., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) (“Snail Games” or the “Company”), a leading global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Interactive Films LLC (“Interactive Films”), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mega Matrix Inc. (NYSE American: MPU). Under this MOU, both parties will leverage their respective strengths to establish a comprehensive collaboration framework for the joint development, production, and global distribution of short dramas, further enhancing their presence in the entertainment industry.
Mr. Hai Shi, Chairman and Co-CEO of Snail Games, commented, “Today’s announcement represents a strategic step forward in advancing Interactive Films’ short-drama business line and expanding our growing portfolio of original short dramas alongside MPU. According to WiseGuyReports1, the global mini program short drama market is expected to grow at a strong 20.81% CAGR to $25.68 billion by 2032. North America particularly is a key market for short-form content driven by the rapid adoption of streaming services and the growing presence of major industry players. This accelerated momentum and rising global appetite for short dramas presents a compelling opportunity for us to further diversify our content portfolio, deepen production capabilities, and capitalize on our unique strengths in artificial intelligence and immersive storytelling. With a shared vision, both parties look forward to leveraging its respective platforms and proprietary apps to deliver a slate of innovative short films to audiences worldwide.”
Mr. Yucheng Hu, CEO of MPU, also commented, “This partnership marks an important step for MPU as we expand our content portfolio and strengthen our presence in the global short-drama industry. Short dramas are seeing increasing popularity, with audience demand for binge-worthy, serialized content on the rise. With Snail Games’ expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive storytelling, combined with MPU’s established production and distribution capabilities, we believe this collaboration has the potential to deliver compelling content that resonates with global audiences.”
Under the MOU, Interactive Films and MPU will collaborate on the creative direction and script development of short dramas, jointly overseeing production progress and budgeting. The content will be distributed globally through both companies’ platforms. Leveraging its experienced in-house team and extensive expertise in short-drama production, MPU will oversee outsourced production and post-production of the short drama to ensure high-quality content. Additionally, Snail Games’ expertise in AI and interactive technologies, honed through game development, may be integrated into personalized recommendations and interactive storytelling, delivering a next-generation immersive viewing experience for audiences.
Over the next 12 months (unless the MOU is earlier terminated upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party), Interactive Films and MPU have committed to co-developing at least 10 short dramas. By utilizing their well-established international distribution channels in gaming and micro-drama markets, the Company believes these productions will quickly reach audiences across North America, Southeast Asia, and other global regions, further amplifying both companies’ influence in the global entertainment sector.
This strategic partnership marks a further expansion of Snail Games’ short drama business and represents a significant milestone in MPU’s expansion within the entertainment industry. Through this collaboration, both companies can combine their strengths in content creation and technology, while leveraging MPU’s global distribution network to accelerate the global rollout of the short dramas. This collaboration is expected to accelerate Interactive Films’ business and short film portfolios while providing audiences with a diverse selection of high-quality short dramas.
About Mega Matrix Inc. Mega Matrix Inc. (NYSE American: MPU) is a holding company and operates FlexTV, a short-video streaming platform and producer of short dramas, through its subsidiary, Yuder Pte, Ltd. Mega Matrix Inc. is a Cayman Island corporation headquartered in Singapore. For more information, please contact info@megamatrix.io or visit: http://www.megamatrix.io.
About Snail Games Snail Games (Nasdaq: SNAL), is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices. For more information, please visit: https://snail.com/
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “may,” “predict,” “continue,” “estimate” and “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the respective strengths of Snail and MPU to establish a comprehensive collaboration framework for the joint development, production, and global distribution of short dramas; however, the MOU is not fully binding on either party and may be terminated upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed by the Company with the SEC on March 26, 2025 and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Contacts:
Investors: John Yi and Steven Shinmachi Gateway Group, Inc. 949-574-3860 SNAL@gateway-grp.com
LAKE ZURICH, Ill–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ACCO Brands Corporation (NYSE: ACCO) today announced that it will release its first quarter 2025 earnings after the market close on May 1, 2025. The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on May 2 at 8:30 a.m. EST. The webcast can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of www.accobrands.com and will be available for replay.
About ACCO Brands Corporation
ACCO Brands is the leader in branded consumer products that enable productivity, confidence and enjoyment while working, when learning and while playing. Our widely recognized brands include AT-A-GLANCE®, Five Star®, Kensington®, Leitz®, Mead®, PowerA®, Swingline®, Tilibra® and many others. More information about ACCO Brands Corporation (NYSE: ACCO) can be found at www.accobrands.com.
Christopher McGinnis Investor Relations (847) 796-4320
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – April 17, 2025) – Hemisphere Energy Corporation (TSXV: HME) (OTCQX: HMENF) (“Hemisphere” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.
2024 Highlights
Increased annual production by 10% to a record of 3,436 boe/d (99% heavy oil).
Generated annual revenue of $99.9 million, an 18% increase over the previous year.
Achieved a 16% increase in annual adjusted funds flow from operations (“AFF”)(1) to $45.8 million.
Invested $22 million to drill nine wells, upgrade facilities, and purchase land at Atlee Buffalo in Alberta, as well as drill five wells (three production wells and two injection wells) and build the facilities required to test a pilot polymer flood at Marsden, Saskatchewan.
Generated $23.9 million of annual free funds flow (“FFF”)(1), a 6% increase over annual FFF reported for 2023.
Achieved robust operating and transportation costs of $15.60/boe.
Distributed $9.8 million in quarterly base dividends to shareholders during the year.
Distributed $5.9 million in special dividends to shareholders during the year.
Purchased and cancelled 3.4 million shares at an average price of $1.62 per share under the Company’s normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”), returning $5.5 million to shareholders during the year.
Exited 2024 with a positive working capital(1) position of $6.4 million compared to $3.6 million at December 31, 2023.
Note: (1)Non-IFRS financial measure that is not a standardized financial measure under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and may not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Refer to “Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures” section below.
Financial and Operating Summary
Selected financial and operational highlights should be read in conjunction with Hemisphere’s audited consolidated financial statements and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024. These reports, including the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on Hemisphere’s website at www.hemisphereenergy.ca. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.
Operations Update and Outlook
2024 marked another strong year for Hemisphere, with record production levels of over 3,400 boe/d (99% heavy oil), near record AFF of $45.8 million, record shareholder returns of over $21 million ($0.21/share) through dividends and share buybacks, and an increase in its net cash position at year end to $6.4 million. The Company’s first quarter 2025 field estimated production has since grown to 3,800 boe/d (99% heavy oil) through continued success of its polymer floods, despite no new wells being drilled since the third quarter of 2024.
Given the strong financial position and performance outlook of the Company, Hemisphere recently announced a special dividend of C$0.03 per common share to be paid on April 28, 2025 to shareholders of record on April 17, 2025. In 2024, Hemisphere’s total dividend payments to shareholders of C$0.16 per common share included two special dividends of C$0.03 per common share (in each of July and November), in addition to the base annual dividend of C$0.10 per common share. These special dividends are an important part of Hemisphere’s overall shareholder return model.
As seen over the first two weeks of April, pricing outlook for the oil market is experiencing significant volatility influenced by geopolitical developments, supply-demand dynamics, and trade tensions. Hemisphere’s 2025 budget is extremely flexible with minimal capital spending planned until summer. The Company’s robust balance sheet, ultra-low decline assets, and limited sustaining capital requirements for 2025 position Hemisphere well to withstand these economic headwinds.
About Hemisphere Energy Corporation
Hemisphere is a dividend-paying Canadian oil company focused on maximizing value-per-share growth with the sustainable development of its high netback, low decline conventional heavy oil assets through polymer flood enhanced oil recovery methods. Hemisphere trades on the TSX Venture Exchange as a Tier 1 issuer under the symbol “HME” and on the OTCQX Venture Marketplace under the symbol “HMENF”.
For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.hemisphereenergy.ca to view its corporate presentation or contact:
Don Simmons, President & Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 685-9255 Email: info@hemisphereenergy.ca
Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-Looking statements are typically identified by words such as “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “could”, “plan”, “intend”, “should”, “believe”, “outlook”, “potential”, “target” and similar words suggesting future events or future performance. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this news release includes forward-looking statements that a special dividend will be paid to shareholders on April 28, 2025 to shareholders of record on April 17, 2025; Hemisphere’s intention to have minimal capital spending until summer; and the Company’s view that its robust balance sheet, ultra-low decline assets, and limited sustaining capital requirements for 2025 position Hemisphere well to withstand economic headwinds.
Forward‐Looking statements are based on a number of material factors, expectations or assumptions of Hemisphere which have been used to develop such statements and information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although Hemisphere believes that the expectations reflected in such forward‐looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward‐looking statements because Hemisphere can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified herein, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the current and go-forward oil price environment; that Hemisphere will continue to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with past operations; that results from drilling and development activities are consistent with past operations; current budgets; the quality of the reservoirs in which Hemisphere operates and continued performance from existing wells; the continued and timely development of infrastructure in areas of new production; the accuracy of the estimates of Hemisphere’s reserve volumes; certain commodity price and other cost assumptions; continued availability of debt and equity financing and cash flow to fund Hemisphere’s current and future plans and expenditures; the impact of increasing competition; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which Hemisphere operates; the general continuance of current industry conditions; the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of Hemisphere to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; drilling results; the ability of the operator of the projects in which Hemisphere has an interest in to operate the field in a safe, efficient and effective manner; the ability of Hemisphere to obtain financing on acceptable terms; field production rates and decline rates; the ability to replace and expand oil and natural gas reserves through acquisition, development and exploration; the timing and cost of pipeline, storage and facility construction and expansion and the ability of Hemisphere to secure adequate product transportation; future commodity prices; currency, exchange and interest rates; regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which Hemisphere operates; trade and tariff matters, including the impacts on costs and supply chains; and the ability of Hemisphere to successfully market its oil and natural gas products.
The forward‐looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such information and statements, including the assumptions made in respect thereof, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to defer materially from those anticipated in such forward‐looking statements including, without limitation: changes in commodity prices; changes in the demand for or supply of Hemisphere’s products, changes in Hemisphere’s budget, the early stage of development of some of the evaluated areas and zones; unanticipated operating results or production declines; changes in tax or environmental laws, royalty rates or other regulatory matters; changes in development plans of Hemisphere or by third party operators of Hemisphere’s properties, increased debt levels or debt service requirements; inaccurate estimation of Hemisphere’s oil and gas reserve volumes; limited, unfavourable or a lack of access to capital markets; increased costs; a lack of adequate insurance coverage; the impact of competitors; and certain other risks detailed from time‐to‐time in Hemisphere’s public disclosure documents, (including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release and in Hemisphere’s Annual Information Form).
The forward‐looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and Hemisphere does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the included forward‐looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
This MD&A contains the terms adjusted funds flow from operations, free funds flow, operating field netback and operating netback, capital expenditures and working capital/net debt, which are considered “non-IFRS financial measures” and any of these measures calculated on a per boe basis, which are considered “non-IFRS financial ratios”. These terms do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Accordingly, the Company’s use of these terms may not be comparable to similarly defined measures presented by other companies. Investors are cautioned that these measures should not be construed as an alternative to net income (loss) or cashflow from operations determined in accordance with IFRS and these measures should not be considered more meaningful than IFRS measures in evaluating the Company’s performance.
a)Adjusted funds flow from operations “AFF“ (Non-IFRS Financial Measure and Ratio if calculated on a per boe basis): The Company considers AFF to be a key measure that indicates the Company’s ability to generate the funds necessary to support future growth through capital investment and to repay any debt. AFF is a measure that represents cash flow generated by operating activities, before changes in non-cash working capital and adjusted for tax provision and decommissioning expenditures, and may not be comparable to measures used by other companies. The most directly comparable IFRS measure for AFF is cash provided by operating activities. AFF per share is calculatedusing the same weighted-average number of shares outstanding as in the case of the earnings per share calculation for the period.
b)Free funds flow (“FFF”) (Non-IFRS Financial Measures): Calculated by taking adjusted funds flow and subtracting capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions and dispositions. Management believes that free funds flow provides a useful measure to determine Hemisphere’s ability to improve returns and to manage the long-term value of the business.
c)Capital Expenditures (Non-IFRS Financial Measure): Management uses the term “capital expenditures” as a measure of capital investment in exploration and production assets, and such spending is compared to the Company’s annual budgeted capital expenditures. The most directly comparable IFRS measure for capital expenditures is cash flow used in investing activities. A summary of the reconciliation of cash flow used in investing activities to capital expenditures is set forth below:
d)Operating field netback (Non-IFRS Financial Measure and Ratio if calculated on a per boe basis): A benchmark used in the oil and natural gas industry and a key indicator of profitability relative to current commodity prices. Operating field netback is calculated as oil and gas sales, less royalties, operating expenses, and transportation costs on an absolute and per barrel of oil equivalent basis. These terms should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash flow from operating activities or net income or loss as determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of the Company’s performance.
e)Operating netback (Non-IFRS Financial Measure and Ratio if calculated on a per boe basis): Calculated as the operating field netback plus the Company’s realized gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments on an absolute and per barrel of oil equivalent basis.
f)Working capital/Net debt (Non-IFRS Financial Measure): Closely monitored by the Company to ensure that its capital structure is maintained by a strong balance sheet to fund the future growth of the Company. Working capital/net debt is used in this document in the context of liquidity and is calculated as the total of the Company’s current assets, less current liabilities, excluding derivative financial instruments, decommissioning obligations, and lease liabilities, adjusted for tax provision and including any bank debt. There is no IFRS measure that is reasonably comparable to working capital/net debt.
g)Supplementary Financial Measures and Ratios
“Adjusted Funds Flow from operations per basic share” is comprised of funds from operations divided by basic weighted average common shares. “Adjusted Funds Flow from operations per diluted share” is comprised of funds from operations divided by diluted weighted average common shares. “Annual Free Funds Flow” is comprised of free funds flow from the current three-month period multiplied by four. “Operating expense per boe” is comprised of operating expense, as determined in accordance with IFRS, divided by the Company’s total production. “Realized heavy oil price” is comprised of heavy crude oil commodity sales from production, as determined in accordance with IFRS, divided by the Company’s crude oil production. “Realized natural gas price” is comprised of natural gas commodity sales from production, as determined in accordance with IFRS, divided by the Company’s natural gas production. “Realized combined price” is comprised of total commodity sales from production, as determined in accordance with IFRS, divided by the Company’s total production. “Royalties per boe” is comprised of royalties, as determined in accordance with IFRS, divided by the Company’s total production. “Transportation costs per boe” is comprised of transportation expenses, as determined in accordance with IFRS, divided by the Company’s total production.
The Company has provided additional information on how these measures are calculated in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is available under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Oil and Gas Advisories
Any references in this news release to initial production rates (including as a result of recent water or polymer flood activities) are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons; however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for the Company. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time.
A barrel of oil equivalent (“boe”) may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 Bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. In addition, given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.
Definitions and Abbreviations
bbl
barrel
Mcf
thousand cubic feet
bbl/d
barrels per day
Mcf/d
thousand cubic feet per day
$/bbl
dollar per barrel
$/Mcf
dollar per thousand cubic feet
boe
barrel of oil equivalent
IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standards
boe/d
barrel of oil equivalent per day
WCS
Western Canadian Select
$/boe
dollar per barrel of oil equivalent
US$
United States Dollar
Mboe
thousand barrels of oil equivalent
C$
Canadian Dollar
MMboe
million barrels of oil equivalent
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
SAN DIEGO, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), a technology company in the defense, national security and global markets, announced today that it has received an approximate $30 million Sole Source Air Defense System Hardware Production award. Kratos is an industry leading designer, engineer and manufacturer of military grade hardware, at quantity, in support of United States air defense, hypersonic, propulsion, high-performance jet drones and other mission critical National Security related systems. Work under this production award will be performed at a secure Kratos manufacturing facility. Due to competitive, security related and other considerations, no additional information will be provided related to this award.
Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos, said, “Kratos is a recognized industry leader in designing, engineering and manufacturing military grade hardware for weapon systems—systems that have to work every time for our warfighters, partners and customers. Kratos’ C5ISR business unit is currently under contract and in large scale production on multiple hypersonic, missile, radar, and air defense related systems, including this program award we announced today. Our entire Company is proud to have been selected to produce and provide this critical air defense system hardware for this United States National Security customer.”
About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) is a technology, products, system and software company addressing the defense, national security, and commercial markets. Kratos makes true internally funded research, development, capital and other investments, to rapidly develop, produce and field solutions that address our customers’ mission critical needs and requirements. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we seek to utilize proven, leading edge approaches and technology, not unproven bleeding edge approaches or technology, with Kratos’ approach designed to reduce cost, schedule and risk, enabling us to be first to market with cost effective solutions. We believe that Kratos is known as an innovative disruptive change agent in the industry, a company that is an expert in designing products and systems up front for successful rapid, large quantity, low cost future manufacturing which is a value add competitive differentiator for our large traditional prime system integrator partners and also to our government and commercial customers. Kratos intends to pursue program and contract opportunities as the prime or lead contractor when we believe that our probability of win (PWin) is high and any investment required by Kratos is within our capital resource comfort level. We intend to partner and team with a large, traditional system integrator when our assessment of PWin is greater or required investment is beyond Kratos’ comfort level. Kratos’ primary business areas include virtualized ground systems for satellites and space vehicles including software for command & control (C2) and telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), jet powered unmanned aerial drone systems, hypersonic vehicles and rocket systems, propulsion systems for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems, space craft and launch systems, C5ISR and microwave electronic products for missile, radar, missile defense, space, satellite, counter UAS, directed energy, communication and other systems, and virtual & augmented reality training systems for the warfighter. For more information, visit www.KratosDefense.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 29, 2024, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.
RESTON, Va., April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — V2X, Inc., (NYSE: VVX), a leading provider of global mission solutions, will report first quarter 2025 financial results on Monday, May 5, 2025, after market close. Senior management will conduct a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET that same day.
U.S.-based participants may dial in to the conference call at 877-300-8521, while international participants may dial 412-317-6026. A live webcast of the conference call as well as an accompanying slide presentation will be available at https://app.webinar.net/0pq4wxEAbDQ and on the Investors section of the V2X website at https://gov2x.com/.
A replay of the conference call will be posted on the V2X website shortly after completion of the call and will be available for one year. A telephonic replay will also be available through May 19, 2025, at 844-512-2921 (domestic) or 412-317-6671 (international) with passcode 10198194.
About V2X V2X builds innovative solutions that integrate physical and digital environments by aligning people, actions, and technology. V2X is embedded in all elements of a critical mission’s lifecycle to enhance readiness, optimize resource management, and boost security. The company provides innovation spanning national security, defense, civilian, and international markets. With a global team of approximately 16,000 professionals, V2X enables mission success by injecting AI and machine learning capabilities to meet today’s toughest challenges across all operational domains.
Investor Contact Mike Smith, CFA Vice President, Treasury, Corporate Development and Investor Relations IR@goV2X.com 719-637-5773
Media Contact Angelica Spanos Deoudes Director, Corporate Communications Angelica.Deoudes@goV2X.com 571-338-5195
Company Reaffirms Commitment to Innovation in COVID-19, Oncology, and Biosecurity Amid Strategic Program Developments
ATLANTA, GA, April 16, 2025 – GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer, today addressed the termination of its Project NextGen (PNG) award by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), effective April 11, 2025. The Company also provided a comprehensive business update across its core programs, including the next-generation COVID-19 vaccine (GEO-CM04S1), cancer immunotherapy (Gedeptin®), Mpox/smallpox vaccine (GEO-MVA), and advanced MVA manufacturing process.
GeoVax expressed disappointment in the HHS/BARDA action but remains committed to the critical medical need addressed by GEO-CM04S1, particularly among the more than 40 million immunocompromised Americans—and over 400 million people globally—who remain inadequately protected by the current authorized COVID-19 vaccines. Thus far, clinical data in support of GEO-CM04S1 demonstrate encouraging support of the potential of GEO-CM04S1 for providing (a) more robust immune response, (b) increased durability and (c) protective immunity for those patients with depleted immune systems inadequately responding to the current authorized COVID-19 vaccines.
The Company also noted recent public statements by HHS leadership acknowledging the potential enhanced value of multi-antigen vaccines addressing respiratory viruses. Of special note is that GEO-CM04S1 was the only multi-antigen/polyvalent COVID-19 vaccine candidate selected under the PNG initiative.
“While the recent HHS/BARDA Stop Work Order action was disappointing and surprising, our commitment to protecting vulnerable populations remains unchanged, and our clinical momentum is strong in support of our ongoing Phase 2 GEO-CM04S1 programs,” said David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax.
Continued Progress Across a Catalyst-Rich Pipeline
GEO-CM04S1: Advancing to Meet Unmet COVID-19 Needs
GEO-CM04S1 continues to demonstrate potential as both a primary and booster vaccine, especially in immunocompromised patients. Key milestones anticipated during 2025 include:
Healthy Adult Booster Trial – Enrollment is complete; data readout expected in H1 2025.
CLL Patient Study (Immunocompromised patient study) – Ongoing enrollment; interim results resulted in continuation of the GEO-CM04S1 arm, whereas the Data Safety Review Board recommended early termination of the mRNA arm, which was subsequently implemented.
Stem Cell Transplant/CAR-T Trial (Immunocompromised patient study) – Enrollment and evaluation continue among hematological patients receiving stem cell transplantation or CAR-T therapy, comparing GEO-CM04S1 to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
GEO-CM04S1 is a multi-antigen COVID-19 vaccine, utilizing a synthetic-MVA platform, expressing both S and N antigens, offering the potential for broader, more durable protection than current mRNA vaccines.
Gedeptin®: Advancing into Phase 2 in Solid Tumors
GeoVax’s oncology program, utilizing the Gedeptin® technology, is planned to progress to a Phase 2 trial in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor for first recurrent head and neck cancer. Gedeptin has received Orphan Drug designation for use among advanced head & neck cancer patients. The Gedeptin technology provides potential for expansion into other solid tumors including triple-negative breast cancer, melanoma, and soft tissue sarcoma.
GEO-MVA: Addressing Biosecurity and Global Vaccine Equity
GeoVax anticipates initiating clinical trials in 2025 for GEO-MVA, its Mpox/smallpox vaccine candidate. The Company has successfully produced cGMP clinical product and is focused on completing the vaccine vialing in support of initiating clinical evaluation during H2 2025. GEO-MVA positions GeoVax to offer a U.S.-developed alternative to foreign-sourced vaccines amid rising global biosecurity threats and constrained supply.
Advanced Manufacturing: Scaling MVA for Global Reach
GeoVax is advancing continuous cell line manufacturing for MVA-based vaccines, offering a path to scalable, cost-effective production—including localized manufacturing for low- and middle-income countries. This innovation addresses critical gaps in vaccine self-sufficiency and supply resilience.
Outlook for 2025
Despite the PNG award termination, GeoVax anticipates a milestone-rich 2025 across its portfolio. The Company will continue to engage with government and industry partners, pursue clinical trial completions, and drive innovation through expanded AI integration to optimize development, trial operations, and manufacturing efficiency.
“Our scientific foundation is strong and our strategy is clear,” added Dodd. “GeoVax remains committed to delivering transformative solutions for unmet medical needs in infectious disease and cancer. We’re advancing with purpose and fully prepared to deliver on the promise of our development program.”
For further details on GeoVax’s programs and progress, visit www.geovax.com.
About GeoVax
GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel vaccines against infectious diseases and therapies for solid tumor cancers. The Company’s lead clinical program is GEO-CM04S1, a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine currently in three Phase 2 clinical trials, being evaluated as (1) a primary vaccine for immunocompromised patients such as those suffering from hematologic cancers and other patient populations for whom the current authorized COVID-19 vaccines are insufficient, (2) a booster vaccine in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and (3) a more robust, durable COVID-19 booster among healthy patients who previously received the mRNA vaccines. In oncology the lead clinical program is evaluating a novel oncolytic solid tumor gene-directed therapy, Gedeptin®, having recently completed a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial for advanced head and neck cancers. The Company is also developing GEO-MVA, a vaccine targeting Mpox and smallpox. GeoVax has a strong IP portfolio in support of its technologies and product candidates, holding worldwide rights for its technologies and products. For more information about the current status of our clinical trials and other updates, visit our website: www.geovax.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements regarding GeoVax’s business plans. The words “believe,” “look forward to,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, including whether: GeoVax is able to obtain acceptable results from ongoing or future clinical trials of its investigational products, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines can provoke the desired responses, and those products or vaccines can be used effectively, GeoVax’s viral vector technology adequately amplifies immune responses to cancer antigens, GeoVax can develop and manufacture its immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax’s vaccines will effectively prevent targeted infections in humans, GeoVax’s immuno-oncology products and preventative vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete development, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax’s products, GeoVax will be able to enter into favorable manufacturing and distribution agreements, and other factors, over which GeoVax has no control.
Further information on our risk factors is contained in our periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K that we have filed and will file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
JERICHO, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS) (the “Company”),a leading provider of gifts designed to help inspire customers to give more, connect more, and build more and better relationships, today announced that the Company will release financial results for its fiscal 2025 third quarter on Thursday, May 8,2025. The press release will be issued after the market close and will be followed by a conference call with members of senior management at 4:30 p.m. (ET).
The conference call will be available via live webcast from the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.1800flowersinc.com/investors. A recording of the call will be posted on the website within two hours of the call’s completion. A telephonic replay of the call can be accessed beginning at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on May 8, 2025, through May 15, 2025, at: (US) 1-877-344-7529; (Canada) 855-669-9658; (International) 1-412-317-0088; enter conference ID: #4626916.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Some of the statements contained in the Company’s scheduled Thursday, May 8, 2025, press release and conference call regarding its results for its fiscal 2025 third quarter, other than statements of historical fact, may be forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the applicable statements. For a more detailed description of these and other risk factors, please refer to the Company’s SEC filings including its Annual Reports and Forms 10K and 10Q available at the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at 1800flowersinc.com. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements made in the scheduled conference call and any recordings thereof, or in any of its SEC filings, except as may be otherwise stated by the Company.
About 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.
1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is a leading provider of gifts designed to help inspire customers to give more, connect more, and build more and better relationships. The Company’s e-commerce business platform features an all-star family of brands, including: 1-800-Flowers.com®, 1-800-Baskets.com®, Cheryl’s Cookies®, Harry & David®, PersonalizationMall.com®, Shari’s Berries®, FruitBouquets.com®, Things Remembered®, Moose Munch®, The Popcorn Factory®, Wolferman’s Bakery®, Vital Choice®, Simply Chocolate® and Scharffen Berger®. Through the Celebrations Passport® loyalty program, which provides members with free standard shipping and no service charge on eligible products across our portfolio of brands, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. strives to deepen relationships with customers. The Company also operates BloomNet®, an international floral and gift industry service provider offering a broad-range of products and services designed to help members grow their businesses profitably; Napco℠, a resource for floral gifts and seasonal décor; DesignPac Gifts, LLC, a manufacturer of gift baskets and towers; Alice’s Table®, a lifestyle business offering fully digital livestreaming and on demand floral, culinary and other experiences to guests across the country; and Card Isle®, an e-commerce greeting card service. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. was recognized among America’s Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. was also recognized as one of America’s Most Admired Workplaces for 2025 by Newsweek and was named to the Fortune 1000 list in 2022. Shares in 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, ticker symbol: FLWS. For more information, visit 1800flowersinc.com.
Virginia City, Nevada, April 16, 2025 – Comstock Inc. (NYSE American: LODE) announced today that its subsidiary, Comstock Metals LLC (“Comstock Metals”), a pioneer in sustainable, zero-landfill solar panel recycling has entered into a Master Services Agreement (MSA) with RWE Clean Energy, the U.S. subsidiary of leading global energy company, RWE.
Comstock Metals will provide RWE with recycling, decommissioning, and logistics services for their expansive U.S. solar installations ensuring a zero-landfill solution for 100% of the recovered solar panel materials.
Under the terms of this new agreement, Comstock Metals will serve as a preferred, strategic partner for the recycling, disposal, and decommissioning services for RWE’s solar installations. These projects will include the recycling of solar panels and related equipment, logistics management, eco-friendly disposal practices, and the safe transportation of materials. “This partnership underscores our shared commitment to sustainability and innovation,” stated Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. “RWE has consistently showcased exceptional commitment to their mission of providing renewable energy solutions by leading the adoption of solar energy and reducing carbon emissions. Comstock Metals complements RWE’s efforts as a trusted provider in the renewable energy market, ensuring environmentally conscious recycling of the solar panels and their components.”
This agreement represents a continuation and expansion of the successful collaboration between the dedicated teams of Comstock Metals and RWE on multiple projects throughout Nevada and California. Comstock Metals has already successfully coordinated the decommissioning, transportation, and recycling of more than 4 million pounds of end-of-life solar materials for RWE, with much more anticipated as demand for responsible recycling grows.
“Comstock Metals continues to systemically identify and close critical gaps in the nascent solar panel recycling sector, creating new capabilities and long-term service opportunities for both the company and the entire supply chain,” said Comstock Inc.’s Executive Chairman and CEO, Corrado De Gasperis. “With these rapidly expanding industry partnerships, we are creating unique, sustainable, and full-service solutions for the world’s most renowned renewable energy companies.”
About RWE in the U.S.
Through its subsidiary RWE Clean Energy, RWE is the third largest renewable energy company in the United States, with a presence in most U.S. states from coast to coast. RWE’s team of about 2,000 employees in the U.S. stands ready to help meet the nation’s growing energy needs. With its homegrown and fastest-to-market product, RWE supports the goal of American Energy dominance and independence. To that end, RWE Clean Energy is committed to increasing its already strong asset base of over 10 gigawatts of operating wind, solar and battery projects, focusing on providing high-quality jobs. RWE invests in local and rural communities while strengthening domestic manufacturing supporting the renaissance of American industry. This is complemented by RWE’s energy trading business. RWE is also a major offtaker of American liquified natural gas (LNG). To learn more, please visit RWE Clean Energy website.
As an energy company with a successful history spanning more than 125 years, RWE has an extensive knowledge of the energy markets and an excellent expertise in all major power generation and storage technologies, from nuclear, coal and gas to hydro, batteries, wind and solar.
About Comstock Metals
Comstock Metals is a leading, Nevada-based, zero-landfill recycling solution that specializes in the environmentally responsible recycling of solar panels and related renewable energy infrastructure and equipment. Comstock’s unique thermal delaminating processes, ongoing material innovations, and sustainable practices differentiates its recycling leadership and strengthens the supply chain of domestically manufactured electrification products. www.comstockmetals.com
About Comstock Inc.
Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) innovates and commercializes technologies that are deployable across entire industries to contribute to energy abundance by efficiently extracting and converting under-utilized natural resources, such as waste and other forms of woody biomass into renewable fuels, and end-of-life electronics into recovered electrification metals. Comstock’s innovations group is also developing and using artificial intelligence technologies for advanced materials development and mineral discovery for sustainable mining. To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc.
Comstock Social Media Policy
Comstock Inc. has used, and intends to continue using, its investor relations link and main website at www.comstock.inc in addition to its X.com, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts, as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
Contacts
For investor inquiries: William McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer Tel (775) 413-6222 ir@comstockinc.com
For media inquiries: Tracy Saville, Director of Marketing Tel (775) 847-7573 media@comstockinc.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any related calls or discussions may include 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. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “should,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of doing so. Forward-looking statements include statements about matters such as: future market conditions; future explorations or acquisitions; future changes in our research, development and exploration activities; future financial, natural, and social gains; future prices and sales of, and demand for, our products and services; land entitlements and uses; permits; production capacity and operations; operating and overhead costs; future capital expenditures and their impact on us; operational and management changes (including changes in the Board of Directors); changes in business strategies, planning and tactics; future employment and contributions of personnel, including consultants; future land and asset sales; investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, operational, tax, financial and restructuring initiatives, including the nature, timing and accounting for restructuring charges, derivative assets and liabilities and the impact thereof; contingencies; litigation, administrative or arbitration proceedings; environmental compliance and changes in the regulatory environment; offerings, limitations on sales or offering of equity or debt securities, including asset sales and associated costs; business opportunities, growth rates, future working capital, needs, revenues, variable costs, throughput rates, operating expenses, debt levels, cash flows, margins, taxes and earnings. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical and current trends, current conditions, possible future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, representations or warranties and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control and could cause actual results, developments, and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC and the following: adverse effects of climate changes or natural disasters; adverse effects of global or regional pandemic disease spread or other crises; global economic and capital market uncertainties; the speculative nature of gold or mineral exploration, and lithium, nickel and cobalt recycling, including risks of diminishing quantities or grades of qualified resources; operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, metal recycling, processing or mining activities; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with precious and other metal based activities, including environmentally friendly and economically enhancing clean mining and processing technologies, precious metal exploration, resource development, economic feasibility assessment and cash generating mineral production; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with metal recycling, processing or mining activities; contests over our title to properties; potential dilution to our stockholders from our stock issuances, recapitalization and balance sheet restructuring activities; potential inability to comply with applicable government regulations or law; adoption of or changes in legislation or regulations adversely affecting our businesses; permitting constraints or delays; challenges to, or potential inability to, achieve the benefits of business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, us, including those involving battery technology and efficacy, quantum computing and generative artificial intelligence supported advanced materials development, development of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and related material production; commercialization of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and generative artificial intelligence development services; ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, asset sales, and investments that we may be party to in the future; changes in the United States or other monetary or fiscal policies or regulations; interruptions in our production capabilities due to capital constraints; equipment failures; fluctuation of prices for gold or certain other commodities (such as silver, zinc, lithium, nickel, cobalt, cyanide, water, diesel, gasoline and alternative fuels and electricity); changes in generally accepted accounting principles; adverse effects of war, mass shooting, terrorism and geopolitical events; potential inability to implement our business strategies; potential inability to grow revenues; potential inability to attract and retain key personnel; interruptions in delivery of critical supplies, equipment and raw materials due to credit or other limitations imposed by vendors; assertion of claims, lawsuits and proceedings against us; potential inability to satisfy debt and lease obligations; potential inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting; potential inability or failure to timely file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; potential inability to list our securities on any securities exchange or market or maintain the listing of our securities; and work stoppages or other labor difficulties. Occurrence of such events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, or the market price of our securities. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Except as may be required by securities or other law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither this press release nor any related calls or discussions constitutes an offer to sell, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation with respect to any securities of the Company, the fund, or any other issuer.
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