Oil prices held relatively steady on Wednesday, July 16, as competing forces in the global energy market kept prices from making strong moves in either direction. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude hovered near $66 per barrel after an earlier dip in the session.
The market saw downward pressure from an unexpected rise in crude inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, a key storage and pricing hub. At the same time, distillate fuel demand, which includes diesel, showed signs of softening. These developments signaled a possible easing of near-term consumption, raising concerns about oversupply.
Despite those pressures, oil has shown strength over the past several weeks. Seasonal demand, particularly during summer months when travel activity peaks, has provided a degree of support. At the same time, the broader financial markets saw a boost after political tensions appeared to ease in Washington, improving investor sentiment across risk assets.
Globally, oil supply continues to rise as major producers ramp up output. The OPEC+ group has been reintroducing volumes that were previously held back, while production across North and South America has also grown. This increase in supply has raised the potential for a looser market in the months ahead, especially if demand growth slows.
Even so, signs of tightness remain in the short term. U.S. crude inventories fell by nearly 4 million barrels in the most recent report, and distillate stockpiles remain at their lowest seasonal level in decades. These conditions suggest that supply constraints are still present in certain segments of the market.
The structure of oil futures continues to indicate firm short-term demand. The price for immediate delivery remains higher than later-dated contracts, a pattern known as backwardation. This typically reflects a market that is undersupplied in the near term, even if concerns about oversupply persist further out.
Globally, oil stockpiles have been increasing in some regions, though the build-up has been concentrated in markets that do not heavily influence futures prices. This uneven distribution of supply has helped keep benchmark prices relatively supported, especially in Atlantic-based markets where Brent crude is priced.
As the oil market navigates seasonal trends, evolving supply dynamics, and shifts in global demand, prices are likely to remain rangebound in the near term. While inventory changes and geopolitical developments can trigger short-term fluctuations, the overall outlook continues to be shaped by a complex balance of economic and physical market factors.
Welcome to a multi-part article series authored by leading cross-border M&A professionals from CBIZ, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Noble Capital Markets, and Pathfinder Advisors LLC. This series provides a comprehensive guide for middle-market and larger European companies and investors seeking strategic acquisitions in the U.S. across the manufacturing, distribution, logistics, business services, and retail sectors. It will illuminate the compelling market dynamics, operational advantages, and strategic imperatives driving these transatlantic deals now, while also offering practical insights on navigating the complexities of U.S. market entry, robust financial and operational due diligence, talent integration, and regulatory considerations. The series aims to equip company owners, corporate development executives, family offices, and private equity professionals with the knowledge to unlock significant value and establish a resilient U.S. presence.
In an era defined by rapid economic shifts and evolving global dynamics, European enterprises may now have unprecedented opportunities to look across the Atlantic for strategic growth opportunities. The U.S. market, with its vast scale and inherent resilience, could present a compelling landscape for inbound M&A. This first article in our series explores why the current climate favors European acquirers and how strategic U.S. acquisitions could unlock significant value and establish a robust, resilient long-term presence.
THE U.S. ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE: A MAGNET FOR GLOBAL CAPITAL
Several factors contribute to the U.S. market’s allure for European companies. Despite global uncertainties, theAmerican economy consistently demonstrates remarkable resilience and growth, driven by strong domestic demand and a vast consumer base.
For businesses in manufacturing, distribution, logistics, business services, and retail, this can translate into unparalleled opportunities for scaling operations and accessing a diverse, expansive customer demographic. Unlike other regions, the U.S. provides a stable and predictable economic environment, making it a potentially reliable destination for significant capital deployment. Indeed, while some regions have seen a decline in foreign direct investment (FDI), North America has seen an increase, partly due to the U.S. market’s enduring appeal.
Legally and regulatorily, the U.S. provides a stable and transparent system, which is a major draw for European companies. It features strong intellectual property (IP) protections, generally favorable employer-friendly laws in most states, and a robust legal system that supports contract enforcement.
Beyond tolerance, the U.S. actively encourages FDI, recognizing its role in economic development and job creation, making it a highly attractive destination for European capital.
Adding to these draws, the U.S. labor market is generally more operationally flexible compared to many European economies. It features less pervasive unionization, fewer statutory time-off mandates, and largely defined contribution pension structures, all of which may help streamline post-acquisition integration and cost management for European acquirers.
COMPELLING VALUATION DYNAMICS & DEAL STRUCTURES: A BUYER’S WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Recent market adjustments have tempered the soaring valuations seen in previous years, creating a more balanced and favorable buyer’s market. In 2024, average middle market M&A valuations eased to 9.4x EV/EBITDA, down from 9.6x in 2023.
While the median EBITDA multiple also dropped, signaling continued buyer selectivity, the share of deals closing at 10.0x EBITDA or higher rebounded significantly. This suggests that while overall valuations have stabilized, high-quality assets, particularly in service-focused areas, continue to attract strong competition and premium pricing. At the same time, the average enterprise value of targets increased, indicating a strategic shift towards larger, more synergistic acquisitions.
This environment is supported by a constructive lending landscape. Private credit has grown, taking a permanent share of the corporate lending market and offering flexible financing solutions.
Adding to this buyer-favorable backdrop, the U.S. Dollar has lost over 13% of its value against the Euro this year, potentially boosting the valuation case for European acquirers as a stronger Euro effectively discounts U.S. acquisitions by the same margin.
Despite some recent volatility in the middle market debt environment due to factors like credit downgrades and persistent high-yield spreads, optimism about private equity dealmaking remains high. This continued demand, alongside improving macroeconomic conditions, makes the market increasingly conducive to transactions.
Moreover, understanding the nuances of U.S. deal structures—from asset versus stock purchases to the strategic use of earn-outs—is key to optimizing transaction outcomes and aligning interests.
STRATEGIC SUPPLY CHAIN RECONFIGURATION: LOCALIZING FOR RESILIENCE AND OPERATIONAL ADVANTAGE
Global events have clearly highlighted the vulnerabilities of extended supply chains. For many European firms, enhancing supply chain resilience has become a top strategic priority.
While U.S. manufacturing output “barely increased” in 2024, indicating a lag between investment announcements and operational capacity coming online, this may create an opportunity for M&A. Acquiring existing U.S. companies could offer an immediate and impactful solution for nearshoring or reshoring production and distribution capabilities, circumventing these lags and accelerating market entry.
Establishing a U.S. footprint can directly impact lead times, reduces international transportation costs, and mitigates exposure to geopolitical disruptions and tariffs.
European firms are increasingly seeking U.S. acquisitions to create “tariff-proof” manufacturing and supply chains. Imagine a European manufacturer of specialized industrial components acquiring a U.S. distributor with strategically located warehouses; this not only ensures closer proximity to end-customers but could also help build a more secure and efficient North American supply network, providing diversification away from global reliance.
A WELCOMING POLICY ENVIRONMENT: INCENTIVES FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND GROWTH
The U.S. government has adopted a supportive stance towards domestic investment, offering substantial incentives that can indirectly benefit foreign acquirers. Initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and CHIPS Act, while often associated with specific high-tech manufacturing, create a broader environment that could favor industrial growth.
The CHIPS Act, for example, not only boosts semiconductor production but also strongly encourages supply chain diversification and risk mitigation across related industries. While some specific tax credits might face adjustments, certain benefits of the IRA are expected to remain intact, continuing to make U.S. investment attractive.
This supportive policy environment, combined with a stable regulatory landscape compared to other global jurisdictions, could further de-risk direct foreign investment. The U.S. actively encourages FDI, recognizing its role in economic development and job creation, making it a highly attractive destination for European capital.
Beyond direct governmental initiatives, the U.S. tax environment offers key advantages that may enhance its appeal for cross-border M&A.
U.S. tax law broadly allows for the amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets in the case of asset acquisitions. Moreover, in certain circumstances, transactions structured as stock acquisitions can be treated as asset acquisitions for income tax purposes with the appropriate election, allowing buyers to obtain assets with a “stepped up” tax basis, alongside the benefit of intangible asset amortization.
Importantly for European acquirers, the U.S. maintains a wide treaty network with Europe. This network may enable the efficient repatriation of after-tax earnings with favorable withholding tax rates, further making the U.S. an attractive destination for international expansion.
SECTOR-SPECIFIC READINESS: RIPE OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS INDUSTRIES
Beyond macroeconomic factors, the U.S. market may offer significant opportunities in specific sectors. In manufacturing, there is a strong push for modernization and efficiency, that could make established U.S. facilities ripe for European investment and technological enhancement.
The fragmented nature of the U.S. distribution and logistics sectors may present opportunities for consolidation, allowing European players to build scalable networks. Indeed, recent trends show a noticeable uptick in European buyers seeking to expand their U.S. footprint, often driven by a desire to mitigate tariff impacts.
Business services and retail, driven by a dynamic consumer base and rapid technological adoption, offer avenues for market expansion and digital transformation. For example, a European logistics firm might acquire several regional U.S. trucking companies to quickly establish a national network, leveraging existing customer relationships and infrastructure and benefiting from the observed M&A activity in logistics, where cross-border deals accounted for 44% in 2024.
CONCLUSION: POSITIONING FOR ENDURING SUCCESS IN THE U.S.
The combination of attractive valuations, a resilient market, strategic supply chain needs, and a supportive policy environment may create a window of opportunity for European companies.
Proactive engagement in U.S. M&A now is not just about growth; it is about building long-term resilience and securing a dominant position in a critical global market.
Our next article, “Expanding Your Footprint: Strategic Opportunities in U.S. Manufacturing, Distribution & Logistics,” will delve deeper into the specific operational and technological advantages awaiting European acquirers in these core industrial sectors.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Nico Pronk is Managing Partner, CEO, and Head of Investment Banking at Noble Capital Markets. Nico has over 35 years of experience working with IPOs, Secondary Offerings, Private Placements and Mergers and Acquisitions including complex cross-border transactions. During his career he has served as Director or Advisor to numerous privately held and publicly traded companies.
Bruce C. Rosetto is a Senior Partner and Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig LLP and represents private and public companies, private equity funds, hedge funds, investment banks, and entrepreneurial clients in a wide variety of industries. He has broad experience in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, raising capital, securities work, private placement financings, corporate governance, alternate assets, and projects qualifying for investment under the EB-5 Entrepreneur Investment Visa Program. He also forms private equity funds and family offices and represents affiliated portfolio companies.
Fred Campos is a Managing Director atCBIZ with more than 20 years of experience in accounting and finance and more than 300 executed buy-side and sell-side M&A engagements. Prior to joining CBIZ, Fred founded and led a boutique advisory services firm focused on mergers and acquisitions and exit readiness. Earlier in his career, he was part of the cross-border practice at Ernst & Young (EY) where he assisted EY’s global clients on cross-border deals. Fred also established and led the regional transaction advisory services practice for a global top tier public accounting firm.
Mark Chaves, Managing Director with CBIZ, assists companies with domestic and international tax planning and structuring, mergers and acquisitions, and business reorganizations. Mark has focused his career on working with multinational corporations to manage cross-border direct and indirect tax issues, foreign tax credit and repatriation planning, reorganization of expatriate and inpatriate tax matters, and ASC 740 reporting. Additionally, Mark assists individuals with international estate planning, inbound tax structuring of investments in U.S. real property, and pre-immigration planning as well as with cross-border tax issues and filings for FINCEN compliance.
Matthew (Matt) Podowitz is the founder and Principal Consultant of Pathfinder Advisors LLC, bringing experience on 400+ global M&A engagements to his clients. Matt specializes in the critical operational and technology aspects of M&A transactions, providing due diligence, carve-out, integration, and value creation services. Leveraging his perspective as a dual US/EU citizen, he provides seamless support for cross-border M&A transactions through every step of the transaction lifecycle in both markets. His background includes leadership roles at firms like Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, and CFGI.
Key Points: – S&P 500 and Nasdaq near record highs as strong June retail sales and jobless claims data signal economic resilience. – Tech sector leads gains, boosted by TSMC’s record earnings and rising AI-related demand. – Investors look past political noise, focusing instead on steady consumer activity and strong corporate performance.
U.S. stock markets continued their upward momentum on Thursday, with major indexes climbing toward record highs as upbeat economic data and solid corporate earnings supported investor sentiment. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were both on track to close at fresh all-time highs, bolstered by renewed strength in technology stocks and encouraging signals from consumers and the labor market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also posted modest gains, contributing to a broadly positive tone across equities.
Retail sales rose in June, easing concerns that recently imposed tariffs by President Donald Trump would dampen consumer spending. The rebound in sales provided reassurance that household demand remains resilient, even amid ongoing trade policy uncertainty. The data served as a key indicator of economic stability, reinforcing the notion that U.S. consumers—who drive a significant portion of economic activity—remain active despite geopolitical and financial headwinds.
At the same time, the Department of Labor reported that weekly jobless claims fell to 221,000 in the week ending July 12, the lowest in three months. After an uptick in claims earlier this spring, the recent decline suggests that the labor market remains relatively strong. The drop in new unemployment filings adds to growing optimism that the broader economy is on stable footing heading into the second half of the year.
Corporate earnings also played a major role in Thursday’s market momentum. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), a key supplier to Nvidia and other major chipmakers, posted record quarterly profits, citing strong demand for artificial intelligence-related components. The announcement sent TSMC shares higher and sparked a rally among semiconductor stocks, further fueling the tech-heavy Nasdaq’s gains. Meanwhile, PepsiCo surprised investors with a revenue beat and revised its 2025 profit forecast to a smaller decline, suggesting stronger-than-expected consumer demand in the beverage and snack sectors.
Attention also turned to Netflix, which was scheduled to report earnings after the market close. As the first of the Big Tech companies to release quarterly results this season, the streaming giant’s performance is seen as a bellwether for investor expectations in the sector. Netflix shares have been on a strong run in 2025, reflecting optimism about its growth trajectory and content strategy.
In the background, political developments in Washington continued to simmer, with President Trump’s criticisms of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell drawing attention. While Trump said he had no current plans to remove Powell, his public comments have reignited speculation about potential interference with central bank policy. However, markets appeared to shrug off the rhetoric for now, focusing instead on tangible economic and earnings data.
Looking ahead, investors are closely watching the Federal Reserve’s upcoming meeting in two weeks. Market expectations overwhelmingly point to no change in interest rates, as inflation data remains mixed and the Fed stays cautious. For the moment, the combination of strong consumer data, robust earnings, and a relatively stable economic outlook appears to be outweighing political noise, helping stocks push further into record territory.
European Medicines Agency Supports Streamlined Development Pathway for GEO-MVA Vaccine Candidate via a Single Phase 3 Immuno-bridging Trial
ATLANTA, GA – July 16, 2025 – GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer, today issued a statement underscoring the increasing urgency of expanding global Mpox vaccine access, as recent data from the Airfinity July 2025 Mpox Report highlight significant new outbreaks and rising global transmission of Clade I and Clade II Mpox.
The company previously announced favorable Scientific Advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) supporting the company’s proposed expedited development pathway for GEO-MVA. EMA confirmed that a single Phase 3 immuno-bridging trial, combined with proposed preclinical data, would be sufficient to support a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) via the centralized procedure. Immuno-bridging studies allow for vaccine approval by demonstrating comparable immune responses—rather than requiring traditional large-scale efficacy trials—thereby reducing development time while maintaining regulatory rigor. GeoVax is now accelerating engagement with global and regional health authorities as Mpox re-emerges with more virulent and transmissible strains in vulnerable populations.
“The global Mpox situation is expanding in both scope and severity, especially with the silent spread of Clade I in China, Europe, and the United States,” said David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax. “The increasing number of breakthrough infections, pregnancy-related complications, and international importation threats make the need for second-source MVA-based vaccines not only strategic—but urgent. We are encouraged by EMA’s endorsement of a streamlined regulatory approach, which enables us to accelerate clinical development and scale-up planning for GEO-MVA.”
Global Spread of Clade I Mpox Highlights Need for Vaccine Diversification
The Airfinity report shows:
Clade I Mpox cases now span all continents, with new detections confirmed in China, United Kingdom, Italy and the U.S., including wastewater tracing.
Local Clade I transmission in China raises concern of sustained spread in one of the world’s most populous regions.
Travel-linked cases from Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) indicate high exportation risk to G7 countries, including the U.S. and France.
New data from the DRC confirmed vertical transmission of Mpox—meaning the virus was passed from mother to child during pregnancy—prompting renewed calls for next-generation vaccines with broader safety data and global availability.
GEO-MVA Positioned as Scalable, Strategic Alternative
GeoVax’s GEO-MVA vaccine candidate is being positioned as a second source MVA-based vaccine to address emerging global needs with:
EMA Scientific Advice concurrence on the company’s proposed expedited development pathway offering a near-term alternative MVA supply option.
Planned transition to a modernized AGE1 continuous cell-line-based manufacturing system, offering the potential for scalable, lower-cost, and U.S.-based production.
“As the global MVA vaccine stockpile is stretched and a single supplier model becomes increasingly untenable, GEO-MVA offers both immediate and long-term solutions to expand access, improve durability, and restore resilience to the world’s Mpox vaccine infrastructure,” added Dodd.
GeoVax is actively engaging with global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC, and Gavi, as well as the U.S. Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to explore advance purchase agreements, regional partnerships, and manufacturing alliances to enable rapid deployment of GEO-MVA in current and emerging hotspots.
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. GeoVax is also developing a vaccine targeting Mpox and smallpox and, based on recent regulatory guidance, anticipates progressing directly to a Phase 3 clinical evaluation, omitting Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials. 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.
NEW YORK, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bit Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq: BTBT) (“Bit Digital” or the “Company”), today announced that its wholly-owned HPC subsidiary, WhiteFiber Inc. (“WhiteFiber”), has publicly filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to the proposed initial public offering of WhiteFiber’s ordinary shares.
The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The initial public offering is subject to market and other conditions and the completion of the SEC’s review process. WhiteFiber intends to list its ordinary shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “WYFI.”
B. Riley Securities and Needham & Company are acting as the joint-bookrunning managers for the proposed offering.
The proposed offering of these securities will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the proposed initial public offering may be obtained from: B. Riley Securities, 1300 17th Street North, Suite 1300, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Prospectus Department, by telephone at (703) 312-9580 or by email at prospectuses@brileysecurities.com; or from: Needham & Company, LLC, 250 Park Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10177, Attn: Prospectus Department, prospectus@needhamco.com or by telephone at (800) 903-3268.
A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.
This press release is being made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 134 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws.
About Bit Digital
Bit Digital is a publicly traded digital asset platform focused on Ethereum-native treasury and staking strategies. The Company began accumulating and staking ETH in 2022 and now operates one of the largest institutional Ethereum staking infrastructures globally. Bit Digital’s platform includes advanced validator operations, institutional-grade custody, active protocol governance, and yield optimization. Through strategic partnerships across the Ethereum ecosystem, Bit Digital aims to deliver exposure to secure, scalable, and compliant access to onchain yield. For additional information, please contact ir@bit-digital.com or follow us on LinkedIn or X.
CALGARY, AB, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ – InPlay Oil Corp. (TSX: IPO) (OTCQX: IPOOF) (“InPlay” or the “Company“) announces that Obsidian Energy Ltd. (“Obsidian“) has provided the Company notice of a non-binding agreement between Obsidian and a third party in respect of the sale of all 9,139,784 common shares (“Common Shares“) in the capital of InPlay currently held by Obsidian (the “Third Party Offer“).
InPlay understands that the proposed price per Common Share under the Third Party Offer is in excess of the closing price of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of July 15, 2025. The sale of any Common Shares by Obsidian to the third party remains subject to numerous terms and conditions, including, without limitation, execution of a definitive agreement and the approval of the Company pursuant to its investor rights agreement with Obsidian. While negotiations are continuing, there is no assurance that any binding agreement will be entered into in the future or that any transaction will be completed.
As a result of the Third Party Offer, Obsidian announced today that it will not launch its previously announced exchange offer to purchase up to approximately $10 million of its common shares for consideration consisting of Common Shares.
InPlay does not intend to issue any further public updates regarding this matter unless the situation warrants or as may be required by applicable securities laws or stock exchange rules.
SOURCE InPlay Oil Corp.
For further information please contact: Doug Bartole, President and Chief Executive Officer, InPlay Oil Corp., Telephone: (587) 955-0632; Kevin Leonard, Vice President, Business & Corporate Development, InPlay Oil Corp., Telephone: (587) 893-6804
The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) is a leading diversified government service provider, specializing in design, financing, development, and support services for secure facilities, processing centers, and community reentry centers in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. GEO’s diversified services include enhanced in-custody rehabilitation and post-release support through the award-winning GEO Continuum of Care®, secure transportation, electronic monitoring, community-based programs, and correctional health and mental health care. GEO’s worldwide operations include the ownership and/or delivery of support services for 103 facilities totaling approximately 83,000 beds, including idle facilities and projects under development, with a workforce of up to approximately 18,000 employees.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Amended Facility. The GEO Group announced amendments to its April 2024 Credit Agreement that provide enhanced flexibility, better terms, and an extended maturity. Along with the additional payments on the outstanding debt, GEO has taken another step closer to being able to return capital to shareholders, in our view.
Details. The Amendment increases GEO’s revolver commitments from $310 million to $450 million and extends the maturity to July 14, 2030. The Amendment further provides that interest will accrue on outstanding revolving credit loans at a rate determined with reference to the Company’s total leverage ratio, which, as of today, reduces the rate by 0.50% from the prior applicable rate. The Amendment also increases GEO’s capacity to make restricted payments over the next five years.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Patrick McCann, CFA, Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Equity Research Analyst, Digital, Media & Technology , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Setting up fiscal 2026. We are adjusting our fiscal Q4 estimates to reflect updated expectations for the Medicare Advantage market, with a particular focus on recent regulatory changes affecting Special Needs Plans (SNPs). While these developments introduce near-term challenges, we believe SelectQuote is well-positioned heading into fiscal 2026. We expect the company to rebuild agent capacity ahead of the next Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), to support a trajectory of sustained revenue growth and adj. EBITDA margin expansion.
Special Needs changes. Our revised Q4 outlook is primarily driven by recent changes implemented by CMS that restructure Special Needs Plan switching rights. The policy shift narrows mid-year enrollment flexibility for a significant portion of dual-eligible consumers (those enrolled in non-integrated D-SNPs), leading to the prospect of a smaller pool of shopping beneficiaries during the middle of calendar 2025. In addition, we are accounting for SelectQuote’s reduced year-over-year agent count, which entered fiscal 2025 approximately 22% below the prior-year level due to capital constraints at the time. These factors combined create a more muted backdrop for near-term Medicare Advantage performance.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Hans Baldau, Associate Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Special dividend. Hemisphere Energy declared a special dividend of C$0.03 per common share that is payable on August 15 to shareholders of record as of July 31. It is in addition to the company’s quarterly base dividend of C$0.025 per common share and is Hemisphere’s second special dividend payment in 2025.
Normal course issuer bid. Hemisphere Energy recently announced that the TSX Venture Exchange had accepted its notice to renew its Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) to purchase for cancellation up to 7,934,731 common shares. Purchases will be made on the open market at prevailing market prices through the TSXV. The NCIB commenced on July 14, 2025, and will terminate on July 13, 2026.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
In a major milestone for type 1 diabetes treatment, a groundbreaking clinical trial has shown that stem cell-derived islet cell transplantation can effectively eliminate the need for insulin in patients. This advancement marks a turning point in diabetes care and highlights the efforts of leading researchers, including Dr. Piotr Witkowski at the University of Chicago, and the collaborative work of Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) and Eledon Pharmaceuticals (ELDN).
Historically, islet cell transplantation involved harvesting pancreatic islets from deceased organ donors—a limited and logistically challenging source. Patients often required multiple transplants to see long-term benefits, and donor scarcity severely limited access to the therapy. But now, lab-manufactured islets derived from stem cells are changing the game, offering a consistent, scalable, and potentially off-the-shelf solution to treating the most severe forms of type 1 diabetes.
In the ongoing multicenter clinical trial, presented at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 10 of 12 patients remained insulin-independent for over a year after just a single infusion of stem cell-derived islets. This level of success, particularly from a single dose, is unprecedented in the field and demonstrates the power of scientific innovation to transform chronic disease management.
Dr. Witkowski, a lead investigator and transplant surgeon at the University of Chicago, has been at the forefront of this effort. His involvement traces back to the early development of the clinical protocol in 2019 with Andrea Vergani at Semma Therapeutics. After Vertex Pharmaceuticals acquired Semma, Dr. Witkowski continued his work as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board and as a principal investigator performing transplants. As of last week, his team has successfully infused their 10th patient with Vertex’s stem cell-derived islets.
While these results are promising, patients receiving the treatment still require immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection—typically involving drugs like tacrolimus, which can be toxic over time. That’s where Eledon Pharmaceuticals (ELDN) enters the picture. In a parallel pilot study, researchers are evaluating Tegoprubart, Eledon’s novel immunosuppressive agent designed to reduce toxicity while maintaining immune protection. If successful, Tegoprubart could offer a safer path forward and expand access to islet transplantation for a broader population.
The future is bright. Trials are now underway to test the therapy in kidney transplant recipients—patients already on immunosuppressants—providing an ideal setting to further prove the therapy’s safety and effectiveness. With continued success, stem cell-derived islets could soon become a standard-of-care treatment, immediately benefitting the 40,000+ patients in the U.S. suffering from the most unmanageable forms of diabetes.
Thanks to the visionary work of scientists, clinicians, and companies like Vertex and Eledon, what was once a highly experimental and limited therapy is on track to become a scalable medical solution. As Dr. Piotr Witkowski and his team continue their work, the path to a functional cure for type 1 diabetes is finally within reach.
AngloGold Ashanti has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Augusta Gold Corp. in a deal valued at approximately C$152 million (US$111 million), marking a strategic move to consolidate its footprint in the Beatty District of Nevada—one of the most promising gold regions in North America.
The all-cash transaction offers C$1.70 per share to Augusta Gold shareholders, representing a 28% premium over the company’s July 15 closing price and a 37% premium over its 20-day volume-weighted average. The acquisition also includes the repayment of shareholder loans amounting to US$32.6 million as of March 31, 2025.
AngloGold Ashanti’s acquisition of Augusta Gold is aimed at bolstering its development plans in the Beatty District. The deal includes Augusta Gold’s key assets—namely the Reward and Bullfrog projects, both adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti’s existing land holdings.
“This acquisition reinforces the value we see in one of North America’s most prolific gold districts,” said Alberto Calderon, CEO of AngloGold Ashanti. “It strengthens our ability to plan and develop this region under an integrated strategy—streamlining operations, improving infrastructure access, and enhancing stakeholder collaboration.”
The Reward project is a permitted, feasibility-stage asset, while the Bullfrog deposit brings significant additional mineral resources. The acquired properties also come with surrounding tenements, further expanding AngloGold’s regional influence.
Under the agreement, Augusta Gold will become an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti. Upon closing, its shares will be delisted from public exchanges and cease trading over-the-counter.
The deal has received unanimous approval from Augusta Gold’s board of directors and its audit committee. Furthermore, key shareholders—representing approximately 31.5% of Augusta’s outstanding stock—have signed voting support agreements to approve the merger.
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending standard regulatory and shareholder approvals. Augusta Gold will seek approval from a majority of shareholders, excluding related parties, at a special meeting later this year.
AngloGold Ashanti is working with RBC Capital Markets as financial advisor, with legal counsel provided by Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in the U.S., and Stikeman Elliott LLP in Canada.
Headquartered in Denver, AngloGold Ashanti is a leading global gold mining company with operations, projects, and exploration activities across ten countries on four continents. The company’s expansion in the U.S. through strategic acquisitions is part of its broader plan to enhance production capabilities and resource access in high-potential districts.
As the Beatty District emerges as a critical gold hub, this acquisition marks a significant milestone for AngloGold Ashanti. By integrating Augusta Gold’s assets, the company aims to unlock further value in the region, streamline its development efforts, and reinforce its status as a dominant force in North American gold mining.
CULVER CITY, Calif., July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) (“Snail Games” or the “Company”), a leading global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment, announced its intention to explore pursuing a strategic digital asset initiative that includes the evaluation and feasibility for introduction of its own proprietary stablecoin. This initiative would be subject to a range of factors, including but not limited to, regulatory approvals, market conditions, technical feasibility, cybersecurity safeguards, financial controls, and internal governance. The Company believes that exploring stablecoin infrastructure may position it as an early mover within the digital entertainment industry. While no decisions have been made to integrate such technology into the Company’s corporate strategy, it continues to evaluate and explore opportunities as part of its broader innovation roadmap.
Recognizing the growing potential of crypto-based transactions in the digital entertainment and gaming industry, the Company is currently assessing the feasibility of developing and exploring its stablecoin with multiple external use cases, with no current timeline or commitment.
To support this initiative, Snail Games has retained Dr. George Cao, an external consultant. Dr. Cao earned his PhD degree in Computer Science from the University of Chicago and is the Founder and the Chief Executive Officer of AscendEX, a full-stack cryptocurrency financial platform that offers simple solutions for investing, trading, and earning to global users. In addition, the Company also retained seasoned legal advisors, including a nationally recognized law firm ranked by Chambers FinTech Legal USA as a leading firm serving cryptocurrency and blockchain clients.
“This stablecoin exploration is a natural evolution of our innovation-led strategy and will support a broader effort to evaluate how blockchain-based technologies could be aligned with the Company’s long-term goal to be at the forefront of digital transformation in the entertainment space,” said Snail, Inc. co-CEO Hai Shi. “To support this initiative, we’ve engaged a nationally recognized law firm and a seasoned strategic advisor to support and guide the successful exploration of this opportunity. We are evaluating potential future phase hiring needs for professionals with specialized experience in blockchain, stablecoins, and digital asset strategy. While our focus continues to remain on gaming across our ARK franchise, indie titles, and other up-and-coming genres, this investigation into the crypto space and evaluation of the feasibility of launching our own stablecoin would mark a key step in advancing our vision of driving innovation across digital entertainment. We’re excited to share continued updates as we reach meaningful milestones in our evaluation.”
About Snail, Inc. Snail, Inc. (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 in our public filings with the SEC and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) the evaluation and feasibility for introduction of Snail’s own proprietary stablecoin and any future implementation, which will depend on multiple factors, including regulatory considerations, technical readiness, risk assessments and strategic alignment with Snail’s core business, (ii) Snail as a pioneer among public companies within the digital entertainment industry to integrate stablecoin infrastructure directly into its corporate strategy, (iii) Snail showcasing its ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and innovation across its global portfolio, (iv) Snail’s long-term investment in the next generation of gamers and creators, and (v) Gen Alpha projected to become the most digitally fluent and commercially influential generation to date. 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.
Disclaimer:
This press release does not constitute an offer, sale or solicitation of an offer to buy any digital asset or security. The Company has not committed to a specific launch timeline or use case deployment. Any future implementation will depend on multiple factors, including regulatory considerations, technical readiness, risk assessments and strategic alignment with Snail’s core business. Snail may determine at any time to abandon its current intent to explore the issuance of A proprietary US dollar-backed stablecoin.
Investor Contact: John Yi and Steven Shinmachi Gateway Group, Inc. 949-574-3860 SNAL@gateway-grp.com
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – July 15, 2025) – Hemisphere Energy Corporation (TSXV: HME) (OTCQX: HMENF) (“Hemisphere” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved the declaration of a special dividend to shareholders.
Special Dividend
Given the strong financial position and performance outlook of the Company, Hemisphere’s board of directors has approved the declaration of a special dividend of $0.03 per common share, in accordance with its dividend policy. The special dividend will be paid on August 15, 2025 to shareholders of record on July 31, 2025, and is designated as an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes. It is in addition to the Company’s quarterly base dividend of $0.025 per common share and is the Company’s second special dividend payment in 2025.
Hemisphere remains committed to delivering value to its shareholders, having already returned a total of $12.2 million ($0.13 per common share) to date in 2025, including $4.5 million in share repurchases and cancellations under the Company’s normal course issuer bid, $4.8 million in quarterly dividend payments, and $2.9 million in special dividends. This return of capital is funded entirely by the Company’s free cash flow and is supported by Hemisphere’s high-margin enhanced oil recovery (“EOR”) assets, ultra-low production decline, and healthy balance sheet.
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, ultra-low decline conventional heavy oil assets through polymer flood EOR 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 including that a special dividend will be paid to shareholders on August 15, 2025 to shareholders of record on July 31, 2025 and the Company’s views of a strong performance outlook.
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 timing for payment of the special dividend; 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; 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 project timelines and workstreams; changes in commodity prices; changes in the demand for or supply of Hemisphere’s products, 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.
All dollar amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.
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.
