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AZZ Inc. (AZZ) – Favorable Outlook Through FY 2026; Increasing Estimates

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Friday, January 03, 2025

Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Corporate guidance for fiscal year 2025. Following AZZ’s strong second quarter earnings report for fiscal year 2025, the company maintained its FY 2025 sales guidance range of $1.525 billion to $1.625 billion, lifted the lower end of adjusted EBITDA to a range of $320 million to $360 million, and increased adjusted diluted EPS expectations to a range of $4.70 to $5.10. During the company’s second quarter investor conference call, management indicated that AZZ had experienced a strong start to the third quarter of fiscal year 2025. Moreover, the tone seemed to indicate that the company’s fiscal year 2025 guidance was grounded in conservative assumptions knowing that the latter half of the fiscal year is generally weaker than the first half due to seasonality. 

Updating estimates.We have increased our FY 2025 EBITDA and EPS estimates to $346.8 million and $5.05, respectively, from $344.8 million and $5.00. The revisions are driven mostly by higher third quarter margin expectations. Our estimates for FY 2026 revenue, EBITDA, and EPS have been increased to $1.675 billion, $371.5 million, and $5.70, respectively, from $1.673 billion, $367.4 million, and $5.60. We think the incoming Trump administration could support pro-growth economic policies that could favorably impact AZZ’s business.


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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. 

Biden Administration’s Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit Draws Mixed Reactions from Environmental Groups

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com
Key Points:
– The Biden administration finalized a tax credit offering up to $3 per kilogram for cleaner hydrogen production under the Inflation Reduction Act.
– Groups cautiously support the move but warn about potential loopholes rewarding “dirty” hydrogen producers.
– Clean hydrogen is expected to aid hard-to-electrify industries like steel manufacturing, aviation, and marine shipping in reducing carbon emissions.

The Biden administration has introduced finalized rules for a tax credit that promises billions of dollars to support cleaner hydrogen production. The rules, released Friday, aim to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels in industries like transportation, steelmaking, and manufacturing, sectors that are notoriously challenging to decarbonize.

Hydrogen, hailed as a potential clean energy solution, is primarily produced today from natural gas, which emits significant greenhouse gases. However, it can also be produced using renewable or low-emission energy sources like solar, wind, or nuclear power. The new credit, part of the Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to encourage such low-carbon methods.

Under the final rules, producers using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen can qualify for the full $3-per-kilogram credit. Producers relying on natural gas may also receive the full credit if they employ carbon capture and sequestration technologies. Alternative methods, such as using biogas or methane from landfills, could also qualify for varying levels of support.

Environmental groups have expressed cautious optimism about the rules. The Clean Air Task Force lauded the policy’s potential to reduce emissions by incentivizing cleaner hydrogen production methods.

“If the hydrogen qualifies for a credit, it means it’s being produced with fewer emissions than the fossil fuels it aims to replace,” said Conrad Schneider, senior director at the Clean Air Task Force.

However, concerns remain. Earthjustice highlighted the risk of “dirty hydrogen” producers exploiting loopholes. Critics worry that hydrogen derived from natural gas, even with carbon capture, might not meet stringent climate goals if methane emissions from gas extraction and transportation are not adequately monitored.

Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo emphasized that the credit, coupled with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, represents a transformative step for clean hydrogen development.

“We are advancing the world’s most ambitious policies to support clean hydrogen,” Adeyemo stated, pointing to its potential to replace fossil fuels in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like aviation and marine shipping.

The Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association, which includes over 100 members across the hydrogen value chain, welcomed the clarity provided by the finalized rules. However, Frank Wolak, the association’s president, expressed uncertainty about how the tax credit would impact industry investment decisions.

“The big question is whether this tax credit will universally spur confidence and drive investments or only work for certain players,” Wolak remarked.

As the clean hydrogen industry begins to navigate this new policy landscape, it faces challenges in ensuring the accurate tracking of emissions, particularly for hydrogen produced using natural gas. The effectiveness of the credit in advancing clean energy solutions while avoiding loopholes remains to be seen.

Unity Software Stock Jumps After ‘Roaring Kitty’ Shares Cryptic Post on Social Media

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com
Key Points:
– Unity Software shares surged nearly 10% after a cryptic post by Keith Gill, known as “Roaring Kitty,” on X.
– The post referenced a Rick James song titled “Unity,” which sparked enthusiasm among meme stock traders.
– Unity’s stock had fallen 45% in 2024 due to controversies, including the “runtime fee” and significant layoffs, but gained $700 million in market value after the surge.

Unity Software (U) saw its stock surge by nearly 10% on Thursday following a cryptic post by Keith Gill, better known as “Roaring Kitty,” on social media platform X. The post, which featured a brief clip of late musician Rick James, sparked enthusiasm among investors and prompted a surge in Unity’s stock price, pushing it as high as $26 on the first trading day of 2025.

Keith Gill’s social media presence has a history of influencing stock prices, as he became widely known during the 2021 meme stock frenzy that led to GameStop’s meteoric rise. Gill, who became a symbol for retail investors during the rally, has since been linked to stock movements that draw the attention of meme stock enthusiasts. His latest post, which referenced a Rick James song titled “Unity,” appears to have reignited similar enthusiasm, particularly among retail investors who tend to follow meme stock trends.

This surge comes at a critical time for Unity Software, which faced a tough year in 2024. The company’s shares fell by nearly 45% last year, following the backlash over its controversial “runtime fee” policy introduced in 2023. The backlash was so severe that Unity had to scrap the pricing model by 2024. Despite this, Unity remains an essential tool for millions of game developers worldwide, powering popular titles like “Pokemon Go,” “Beat Saber,” and “Hearthstone.”

Unity’s challenges were compounded by its decision to lay off about 25% of its workforce in 2024, following 8% job cuts in 2023. These measures were part of Unity’s efforts to focus on profitability amid a difficult market. Yet, the excitement generated by Gill’s post demonstrates the volatility of Unity’s stock and the power of social media in driving investor sentiment.

As Unity gains nearly $700 million in market value from Thursday’s trading gains, industry experts note the role that social media has in shaping stock movements. Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth, commented, “The leader of the meme stock post on social media, whether it’s Reddit or X, you’re certainly going to see that reaction by that small army of meme stock players — that’s what we’re seeing again today.” Hogan’s remarks highlight how social media trends continue to impact the stock market, particularly with stocks like Unity, which are viewed as volatile but promising.

Despite the excitement, some industry professionals are wary of the impact of meme stock trading. Thomas Hayes, chairman of Great Hill Capital LLC, cautioned against following trends driven by online communities, saying, “You would think people would have learned by now that playing these silly reindeer games ends in tears … it’s not the way to invest.” Hayes’ remarks reflect concerns about the sustainability of meme stock movements, which are often fueled by speculation rather than fundamentals.

Unity Software’s stock surge is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of meme stock trading, where social media influencers can significantly impact stock prices. While the company’s long-term outlook remains uncertain, Thursday’s surge offers a brief moment of optimism for investors following a challenging year.

Release – PDS Biotechnology Reports Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Posted on by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on PDSB

PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PDS Biotechnology Corporation

Each stock option has an exercise price of $2.25, the closing price of PDS Biotech’s common stock on December 3, 2024. Each stock option vests over a four-year period, with one-quarter of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining shares vesting monthly over the 36-month period thereafter, subject to continued employment with the company through the applicable vesting dates.

About PDS Biotechnology

PDS Biotechnology is a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines. The Company plans to initiate a pivotal clinical trial to advance its lead program in advanced HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell cancers. PDS Biotech’s lead investigational targeted immunotherapy Versamune® HPV is being developed in combination with a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor, and also in a triple combination including PDS01ADC, an IL-12 fused antibody drug conjugate (ADC), and a standard-of-care immune checkpoint inhibitor.

For more information, please visit www.pdsbiotech.com

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning PDS Biotechnology Corporation (the “Company”) and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast,” “guidance”, “outlook” and other similar expressions among others. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; the Company’s anticipated capital requirements, including the Company’s anticipated cash runway and the Company’s current expectations regarding its plans for future equity financings; the Company’s dependence on additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its product candidates, and the risks that raising such additional capital may restrict the Company’s operations or require the Company to relinquish rights to the Company’s technologies or product candidates; the Company’s limited operating history in the Company’s current line of business, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s prospects, the Company’s business plan or the likelihood of the Company’s successful implementation of such business plan; the timing for the Company or its partners to initiate the planned clinical trials for Versamune® HPV, PDS01ADC and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates; the future success of such trials; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and collaborations, including any collaboration studies concerning Versamune® HPV, PDS01ADC and other Versamune® and Infectimune® based product candidates and the Company’s interpretation of the results and findings of such programs and collaborations and whether such results are sufficient to support the future success of the Company’s product candidates; the success, timing and cost of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials and anticipated clinical trials for the Company’s current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation, pace of enrollment and completion of the trials (including the Company’s ability to fully fund its disclosed clinical trials, which assumes no material changes to the Company’s currently projected expenses), futility analyses, presentations at conferences and data reported in an abstract, and receipt of interim or preliminary results (including, without limitation, any preclinical results or data), which are not necessarily indicative of the final results of the Company’s ongoing clinical trials; any Company statements about its understanding of product candidates mechanisms of action and interpretation of preclinical and early clinical results from its clinical development programs and any collaboration studies; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; and other factors, including legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments not within the Company’s control. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the other risks, uncertainties, and other factors described under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  

Versamune® and Infectimune® are registered trademarks of PDS Biotechnology Corporation.

Investor Contact:
Mike Moyer
LifeSci Advisors
Phone +1 (617) 308-4306
Email: mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:
Janine McCargo
6 Degrees
Phone +1 (646) 528-4034
Email: jmccargo@6degreespr.com

Release – Aurania Directors Receive Stock Options in Lieu of Fees

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on AUIAF

Toronto, Ontario–(Newsfile Corp. – January 2, 2025) – Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) (“Aurania” or the “Company”) announces that its directors received their quarterly director fees in the form of stock options in lieu of cash for the period ended December 31, 2024.

Directors (the “Optionees“) of the Company have agreed to receive their quarterly director fees for 2024 in the form of stock options in lieu of cash. On December 31, 2024, each director was granted 13,500 stock options at an exercise price of C$0.425. An aggregate of 54,000 stock options were granted to directors in lieu of their director fees for the fourth financial quarter of 2024.

All such options will be exercisable for a period of three years from the date of grant and vested immediately upon grant. In the event an Optionee intends to exercise such Options, such Optionee shall be solely responsible for paying the entirety of the exercise price.

About Aurania

Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities – Cutucu Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador.

Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at www.aurania.com and www.sedarplus.ca, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auranialtd/, Twitter at https://twitter.com/auranialtd, and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurania-resources-ltd-.

For further information, please contact:

Carolyn Muir
VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations
Aurania Resources Ltd.
(416) 367-3200
carolyn.muir@aurania.com

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 release.info

SOURCE: Aurania Resources Ltd.

Release – MustGrow Biologics Completes Acquisition of NexusBioAg

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on MGROF

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Canada, January 2, 2025 – MustGrow Biologics Corp. (TSXV:MGRO) (OTC:MGROF) (FRA:0C0) (the “Company” or “MustGrow“) is pleased to announce the execution and closing of an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “APA“) dated December 31, 2024 with Univar Solutions Canada Ltd. (“Univar Solutions“) for the acquisition of certain assets that represent NexusBioAg (“NexusBioAg“).

MustGrow’s acquisition of NexusBioAg positions the Company as a fully integrated provider of biological and regenerative agriculture solutions with a sales, marketing and distribution division in Canada and the opportunity to expand the division’s operations into the U.S. The consideration payable to Univar Solutions pursuant to the APA is (i) a deferred cash payment of approximately $1,662,000.00, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the APA; and (ii) earn-out payments equal to a specified percentage amount of gross margin on certain itemized products sold by MGRO in 2025 and 2026. There are no finder fees payable in connection with the acquisition and the parties are acting at arm’s length. The TSX Venture Exchange has conditionally approved the acquisition, subject to customary post-closing requirements.

Under MustGrow, this division will market and sell the existing NexusBioAg product lines, MustGrow’s owned products and technology, and potentially other third-party products. The NexusBioAg sales and marketing team brings extensive experience in the biological and regenerative agriculture sector to MustGrow’s operations, supported by a broad industry network that is uniquely positioned to drive growth and innovation. The NexusBioAg team has well-established relationships with growers, channel partners, and industry influencers. They are adept at commercialization of new biological and regenerative products as well as at leveraging a proven business model. The Company expects significant sales synergies from the acquisition driven by enhanced market access and reduced distribution costs for MustGrow’s owned products and technology.

“This synergistic acquisition solidifies MustGrow’s position as a fully integrated biological and regenerative agriculture company with an established sales, marketing and distribution division offering the existing NexusBioAg product lines and supporting the commercialization of MustGrow’s own innovative products and technologies. Just like MustGrow’s own products and technologies, we are committed to growing the NexusBioAg division and we welcome the new team to MustGrow,” said Corey Giasson, President & CEO of MustGrow.

About NexusBioAg

NexusBioAg, a division of MustGrow, provides an expanded portfolio of crop nutrition solutions, including micronutrients, nitrogen stabilizers, biostimulants, and foliar products. With a diverse collection of inventory and logistics experts, procurement, customer service, agronomists, and sales and marketing experts, NexusBioAg strives to help meet increasingly unique agricultural businesses’ needs. Through these strong capabilities, a collaborative team-oriented approach, and a commitment to agricultural integrity, NexusBioAg is helping customers innovate and grow. Learn more at www.nexusbioag.com.

About MustGrow

MustGrow Biologics Corp. is a fully-integrated provider of innovative biological and regenerative agriculture solutions designed to support sustainable farming. The Company’s proprietary and third-party product lines offer eco-friendly alternatives to restricted or banned synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. In North America, MustGrow offers a portfolio of third-party crop nutrition solutions, including micronutrients, nitrogen stabilizers, biostimulants, and foliar products. These products are synergistically distributed alongside MustGrow’s wholly-owned proprietary products and technologies that are derived from mustard and developed into organic biocontrol and biofertility products to help replace banned or restricted synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. Outside of North America, MustGrow is focused on collaborating with agriculture companies, such as Bayer AG in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to commercialize MustGrow’s wholly-owned proprietary products and technologies. The Company is dedicated to driving shareholder value through on the commercialization and expansion of its intellectual property portfolio of approximately 112 patents that are currently issued and pending, and the sales and distribution of its proprietary and third-party product lines through NexusBioAg. MustGrow is a public traded company (TSXV-MGRO) and has approximately 51.6 million common shares issued and outstanding and 55.7 million shares fully diluted. For further details, please visit www.mustgrow.ca.

Contact Information

Corey Giasson
Director & CEO
Phone: +1-306-668-2652
info@mustgrow.ca

MustGrow Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the results, performance or achievements of MustGrow. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements MustGrow makes regarding: the potential expansion of the NexusBioAg division’s operations in the U.S.; the precise quantum of the consideration payable to Univar Solutions pursuant to the APA; whether the NexusBioAg division will market and sell the existing NexusBioAg product lines, MustGrow’s owned products and technology, and potentially other third-party products; and the expected significant sales synergies from the acquisition driven by enhanced market access and reduced distribution costs for MustGrow’s owned products and technology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of MustGrow to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will occur at all or have the expected consequences to, or effects on, MustGrow. Important factors that could cause MustGrow’s actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include: any required adjustments to the consideration payable to Univar Solutions pursuant to the APA (in accordance with the terms of the APA); the successful integration of the NexusBioAg division into MustGrow’s existing operations; changes to market conditions as a result of lower farm revenues due to lower yield because of weather events or lower crop prices, delayed planting due to weather impacting the application of additional technologies, reduced farm gate cash flow or credit ratings, higher farm input costs due to inflation, supply chain issues in production and shipping, increased competition from new products or lower prices for competing products, retail consolidation in the agribusiness sector, labour market issues, and third party product supply issues; and the risks described in MustGrow’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by MustGrow with the applicable securities regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are referred to such documents for more detailed information about MustGrow, which is subject to the qualifications, assumptions and notes set forth therein.

Neither the TSXV, nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV), nor the OTC Markets has approved the contents of this release or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

© 2025 MustGrow Biologics Corp. All rights reserved.

U.S. Unemployment Claims Drop to Lowest Level Since March

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com
Key Points:
– U.S. unemployment claims fell to 211,000 last week, the lowest since March, indicating strong job security.
– Layoffs remain below pre-pandemic levels, with total unemployment benefits recipients dropping to 1.84 million.
– Despite slower job growth, the labor market remains robust, supported by solid hiring and tempered inflation progress.

The U.S. labor market displayed resilience as unemployment claims fell to 211,000 last week, the lowest since March, according to data released by the Labor Department. This 9,000 drop from the previous week underscores strong job security across the country. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out weekly fluctuations, also declined by 3,500 to 223,250, further highlighting the robustness of the employment landscape.

Economists Thomas Simons and Sam Saliba of Jefferies called the decrease “encouraging” while cautioning that seasonal adjustments around the holidays can sometimes skew data. The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits fell sharply by 52,000 to 1.84 million, marking the lowest figure since September.

Despite cooling from the pandemic recovery highs of 2021-2023, the job market remains solid. Through November 2024, employers added an average of 180,000 jobs per month—a significant decline from the record 604,000 average in 2021 but still indicative of a resilient market. The Labor Department’s upcoming December hiring report is expected to show an additional 160,000 jobs, maintaining steady, albeit tempered, growth.

Layoffs, as measured by weekly jobless claims, remain below pre-pandemic levels. Although the unemployment rate has risen to 4.2%, up from the historic low of 3.4% in 2023, it remains relatively modest by historical standards.

The Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes in 2022 and 2023 successfully brought inflation down from a 40-year high of 9.1% in mid-2022 to 2.7% by November 2024. This progress allowed the Fed to cut its benchmark interest rates three times in 2024. However, with inflationary pressures persisting above the Fed’s 2% target, central bank policymakers have signaled a more cautious approach to further rate reductions in 2025, planning just two cuts compared to the four projected earlier.

Economists note that while the labor market remains healthy, external factors such as geopolitical tensions and global supply chain disruptions could impact future job growth. Additionally, businesses may adopt a more conservative hiring approach in anticipation of potential economic headwinds, particularly if inflation proves difficult to contain.

The continued strength of the job market, however, has provided a buffer against broader economic challenges. Consumer spending, which drives a significant portion of U.S. economic activity, remains resilient, supported by sustained employment and wage growth. Analysts are closely monitoring upcoming economic indicators to assess whether this stability can be maintained into 2025.

While job creation has slowed and inflationary challenges remain, the current labor market conditions reflect stability and adaptability. As the U.S. navigates high interest rates and cooling economic momentum, sustained low levels of layoffs and steady employment growth demonstrate resilience in the face of evolving economic dynamics.

FAT Brands (FAT) – New Locations

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Thursday, January 02, 2025

FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) is a leading global franchising company that strategically acquires, markets, and develops fast casual, quick-service, casual dining, and polished casual dining concepts around the world. The Company currently owns 17 restaurant brands: Round Table Pizza, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Twin Peaks, Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Native Grill & Wings, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses, and franchises and owns over 2,300 units worldwide. For more information on FAT Brands, please visit www.fatbrands.com.

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

Business Update. With 2024 coming to a close and the focus on the Twin Hospitality distribution, we wanted to review the ongoing business in terms of new openings for additional expansion. As we have emphasized in the past, the continuing expansion of the overall operating units provides a “cost free” means of improving overall adjusted EBITDA for FAT Brands.

New Openings. Since the beginning of November, or since FAT Brands reported third quarter results, the Company has announced the opening of a number of new locations, including a Hurricane Grill & Wings location in a Six Flags Great Escape Lodge in upstate NY, a Johnny Rockets in the Soaring Eagle Casino Resort in MI, a Pretzelmaker location in Clear Lake, IA, the fifth Round Table Pizza in Reno, NV, and five new locations for Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery in Texas.


Get the Full Report

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. 

Bit Digital (BTBT) – Executes an MSA with a New Client

Posted on by cpereira@noblefcm.com


Thursday, January 02, 2025

Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Joshua Zoepfel, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

MSA Underway. On Tuesday, Bit Digital announced the execution of an MSA with an AI Compute Fund managed by DNA Holdings Venture Inc., a new client. The MSA execution builds on the term sheet signed and disclosed on November 20, 2024. The contract provides for 576 Nvidia H200 GPUs over a two-year term and represents an aggregate revenue opportunity of roughly $20.2 million, or $10.1 million annually, and is expected to commence February 2025.

GPUs Ordered. To fulfill the contract, Bit Digital will use GPUs that are currently on order and awaiting delivery to a third-party data center in Iceland. Earlier in December, the Company ordered 130 H200 servers (or 1,040 GPUs) for approximately $30 million. Of those servers, 72 of them will be supplied to the customer, and management expects to deploy the remainder of the servers to separate customer contracts.


Get the Full Report

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. 

Release – LODE: Comstock Fuels Executes License Agreement with Gresham’s Eastern LTD

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on LODE

Bringing Renewable Fuel Production to Pakistan with Sustainable Biomass Refining Solutions

VIRGINIA CITY, NEVADA, December 30, 2024 – Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) today announced the execution of a binding agreement between Comstock Fuels Corporation (“Comstock Fuels”) and Gresham’s Eastern (Pvt) Ltd (“Gresham’s”), a leading sustainable energy engineering, equipment and construction company based in Pakistan, under which Comstock Fuels agreed to grant Gresham’s exclusive project and site development rights in Pakistan to enable Gresham’s to deploy Comstock Fuels’ proprietary and patented lignocellulosic biomass refining technologies to produce sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) and other renewable fuels in Pakistan.

Global Market Impact

Gresham’s will develop an initial demonstration facility in Lahore, Pakistan, capable of processing 75,000 metric tons of biomass annually. This facility is designed to generate the prerequisite operational and economic data for scaling up to a 1,000,000 metric tons per year commercial facility, aligning with rapid global market demand for increased SAF production, thereby positioning Pakistan as an emerging leader in the renewable fuels sector. Gresham’s plans on utilizing abundant, locally available agricultural and forestry residuals, as well as sustainably grown energy crops, unlocking billions of dollars in export potential, becoming a leading contributor of Pakistan’s commitment to producing 60% renewable energy by 2030.

Mian Suhall Husain, CEO of Gresham’s, commented, “This partnership exemplifies Gresham’s commitment to deploying both quality systems and cutting-edge technologies for truly sustainable energy solutions in Pakistan. We are on the doorstep of a globally significant opportunity where our combined competencies can create wealth for nations and communities alike.”  

Under the agreement, Gresham’s will lead the development, financing, construction, and management of renewable fuel production facilities based on Comstock Fuels’ proprietary Bioleum refining technologies. Each Bioleum Refinery will operate under a site-specific license agreement to ensure compliance with Comstock Fuels’ performance and quality standards. Comstock Fuels will contribute site specific technology rights in exchange for a 20% equity stake in each Bioleum Refinery, plus a royalty fee equal to 6% of each refinery’s sales of licensed products, and engineering fees equal to 6% of total capital and construction costs.

The inclusion of cellulosic ethanol production using Comstock Fuels’ advanced lignocellulosic refining process adds significant value to Pakistan’s existing renewable energy sector, where most of the domestically produced ethanol is exported. This process positions the partnership to capitalize on the country’s widely available agricultural residue biomass, currently representing over 100 million metric tons annually, enabling a sustainable, societal and economically impactful use for these resources. That amount of feedstock has the potential to yield upwards of 14 billion gallons of renewable fuels per year at Comstock Fuels’ proven yields exceeding about 140 gallons per dry metric ton of biomass (on a gasoline gallon equivalent basis, or “GGE”).

Wide Open Market Hidden in Plain Sight

Pakistan’s abundance of renewable biomass resources provides an ideal foundation for developing a robust renewable fuel production ecosystem. The Gresham’s projects will prioritize fulfilling regional demand while targeting export markets across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The combination of Gresham’s engineering, equipment fabrication, construction and extensive quality-systems operating and supply chain network, positions for strong market leadership. 

“Mian’s extraordinary track record and commitment to both quality systems and societal impact align perfectly with Comstock’s mission and approach,” stated David Winsness, President of Comstock Fuels. “Gresham has positioned itself as a leading integrator in Pakistan’s economic development and sustainable energy goals. We believe this partnership will be transformative to Pakistan’s leadership in SAF and renewable fuel production and showcases the quality and speed of the global adoption of our industry-leading solution. We are excited to get started in Lahore and well beyond.”

About Gresham’s Eastern (Pvt) Ltd. 

For the better part of six decades, Gresham’s name has been synonymous with Quality and Innovation. Today, Pakistan-based Gresham’s is a premier project developer, engineering, equipment fabricator and construction company focused on deploying technology-leading, sustainable energy solutions and initiatives across Pakistan. To learn more, visit www.gel1947.com.

About Comstock Fuels Corporation

Comstock Fuels delivers advanced lignocellulosic biomass refining solutions that set industry benchmarks for production of cellulosic ethanol, gasoline, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”), and other renewable fuels, with extremely low carbon intensity scores of 15 and market-leading yields of up to 140 gallons per dry metric ton of feedstock (on a gasoline gallon equivalent basis, or “GGE”), depending on feedstock, lignin content, site conditions, and other process parameters. Comstock Fuels plans to directly build, own, and operate a network of Bioleum Refineries in the U.S. to refine 50 million tons of biomass annually into 8 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2035, corresponding to 50% of the U.S. renewable fuel mandate. Comstock Fuels is currently evaluating several U.S. sites for construction of its Demonstration Scale Facility to validate its fully integrated process at 75,000 tons per year, paving the way for rapid full-scale commercialization. Comstock Fuels also licenses its advanced refining solutions to third parties for additional production in the U.S. and global markets, including several recently announced and other pending projects. To learn more, please visit www.comstockfuels.com. 

About Comstock Inc.

Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) innovates and commercializes technologies that are deployable across entire industries to contribute to global decarbonization and the clean energy transition 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 Twitter, 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:
RB Milestone Group LLC
Tel (203) 487-2759
ir@comstockinc.com

For media inquiries or questions:
Comstock Inc., Tracy Saville
Tel (775) 847-7532
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.

Release – Bit Digital, Inc. Executes MSA for 576 H200 GPU Deal with DNA AI Compute Fund

Posted on by dburczyk@noblecapitalmarkets.com

Research News and Market Data on BTBT

NEW YORK, December 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bit Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq: BTBT) (“Bit Digital” or the “Company”), a global platform for high-performance computing (“HPC”) infrastructure and digital asset production headquartered in New York, announced today that it has executed an MSA with a new client, an AI Compute Fund managed by DNA Holdings Venture Inc., which provides for 576 Nvidia H200 GPUs over a two-year term. The contract represents an aggregate revenue opportunity of approximately $20.2 million for Bit Digital and is expected to commence in February 2025.

This announcement builds on the term sheet previously signed and disclosed on November 20, 2024. Under the terms of the deal, Bit Digital will supply the customer with 72 H200 servers (576 GPUs) for an initial two-year term. Bit Digital will fulfill the contract with GPUs that are currently on order and awaiting delivery to a third-party data center in Iceland. Earlier this month, Bit Digital placed a purchase order for 130 H200 servers (1,040 GPUs) for approximately $30 million. The Company anticipates deploying the remainder of those GPUs to separate customer contracts.

Sam Tabar, Bit Digital’s CEO, commented: “We are thrilled to formalize our partnership with DNA Fund. This strategic collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering high-performance computing solutions tailored to our clients’ evolving needs.

This contract is a meaningful step toward achieving our long-term growth objectives. While we now expect to reach our $100MM annualized revenue run-rate goal for our HPC business in early 2025, this timeline reflects a deliberate strategy to prioritize high-quality revenue opportunities and disciplined capital management. As we navigate a significant chip upgrade cycle, we have been selective about the deals we pursue, focusing on the right customers, favorable terms, and pricing. This approach enables us to mitigate residual value risk while maintaining the financial flexibility needed to support our data center expansion and next-generation GPU investments.

With a robust balance sheet and a strong pipeline of opportunities, we remain confident in our ability to achieve sustained growth and strengthen our leadership position in the HPC market.”

About DNA Fund

DNA Holdings Venture Inc. aims to spearhead the next wave of financial innovation by seamlessly integrating Web 3, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and capital markets. DNA’s mission is to create a financial ecosystem that delivers cutting-edge fund management, strategic advisory services, and visionary financial solutions. By leading this technological and financial convergence, DNA Holdings empowers emerging brands to architect the future of finance, transforming the global economy and reshaping the world of capital markets. For additional information please contact investors@dna.fund or www.dna.fund.  For information on investing in DNA Funds please visit DNADealDesk.com

About Bit Digital

Bit Digital, Inc. is a global platform for high-performance computing (“HPC”) infrastructure and digital asset production headquartered in New York City. Our bitcoin mining operations are located in the US, Canada, and Iceland. For additional information, please contact ir@bit-digital.com or visit our website at www.bit-digital.com.

Investor Notice 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described under “Risk Factors” in Item 3.D of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (“Annual Report”). Notwithstanding the fact that Bit Digital Inc. has not conducted operations in the PRC since September 30, 2021 we have previously disclosed under Risk Factors in our Annual Report: “We may be subject to fines and penalties for any noncompliance with or any liabilities in our former business in China in a certain period from now on.” Although the statute of limitations for non-compliance by our former business in the PRC is generally two years and the Company has been out of the PRC, for more than two years, the Authority may still find its prior bitcoin mining operations involved a threat to financial security. In such event, the two-year period would be extended to five years. If any material risk was to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. Future changes in the network-wide mining difficulty rate or bitcoin hash rate may also materially affect the future performance of Bit Digital’s production of bitcoin. Actual operating results will vary depending on many factors including network difficulty rate, total hash rate of the network, the operations of our facilities, the status of our miners, and other factors. See “Safe Harbor Statement” below.

Safe Harbor Statement 

This press release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” relating to the business of Bit Digital, Inc., and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” or similar expressions, involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company’s periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at http://www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Release – Cocrystal Pharma to Extend Phase 2a Influenza Challenge Study with Oral PB2 inhibitor CC-42344

Posted on by aweinsoff@channelchek.com

Research News and Market Data on COCP

December 31, 2024

 Download as PDF

  • Data support favorable safety and tolerability profile with no serious adverse events (SAEs) or study-related drug discontinuations
  • Enrollment to be extended due to low influenza infection among challenged participants; virology results are uninterpretable

BOTHELL, Wash., Dec. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: COCP) (“Cocrystal” or the “Company”) announces plans to extend enrollment in the Phase 2a human challenge study with its investigational, broad-spectrum, oral influenza PB2 inhibitor CDI-42344 due to unexpectedly low influenza infection among study participants who were challenged with a H3N2 viral strain. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a study is evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), antiviral activity and clinical measurements of CC-42344 at a single site in the United Kingdom.

CC-42344 is a drug candidate in development as an oral treatment for pandemic avian and seasonal influenza A infections. In December 2023, Cocrystal Pharma announced enrollment of the first patient in this study and in May 2024, the Company announced full enrollment of 78 subjects.

“While CC-42344 showed a favorable safety and tolerability profile, we’re disappointed by the low infectivity rate of the challenge influenza strain used in this study. The establishment of robust influenza infection in healthy, uninfected study subjects is critical to determine clinical endpoints for evaluating antiviral molecules. The low infectivity obtained in this study hindered antiviral data analysis,” said Sam Lee, Ph.D., Cocrystal’s President and co-CEO.

“We remain optimistic about CC-42344 due to its unique mechanism of action with a high barrier to developing resistance, which could render it a best-in-class antiviral treatment for pandemic and seasonal influenza infections. We are also encouraged by CC-42344’s favorable safety and tolerability profile from the Phase 2a study to date, with no SAEs and no drug-related discontinuations by study participants.

“We are working with the clinical research organization to prepare a protocol amendment for approval by the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in order to extend enrollment in this study, and to ensure necessary infection rates among enrolled study subjects,” he added.

About CC-42344

CC-42344 is a new class of antiviral treatment designed to effectively block an essential step in the viral replication and transcription of pandemic and seasonal influenza A and was discovered using the Company’s proprietary structure-based drug discovery platform technology. CC-42344 showed excellent in vitro antiviral activity against pandemic and seasonal influenza A strains, as well as strains that are resistant to Tamiflu® and Xofluza®. In late 2022, Cocrystal reported favorable safety and tolerability results from a Phase 1 study in healthy subjects conducted in Australia. The Company initiated the Phase 2a human challenge study in December 2024 following authorization from the MHRA. In June 2024, the Company reported in vitro studies demonstrating that CC-42344 inhibited the activity of the PB2 protein in the new highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) PB2 protein recently identified in humans.

About Influenza A

Influenza is a major global health threat that may become more challenging to treat due to the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses and resistance to approved influenza antivirals. Each year there are approximately 1 billion cases of seasonal influenza worldwide, 3-5 million severe illnesses and up to 650,000 deaths. On average, about 8% of the U.S. population contracts influenza each season. In addition to the health risk, influenza is responsible for an estimated $11.2 billion in direct and indirect costs in the U.S. annually.

Structure-Based Platform Technology

Cocrystal’s proprietary structural biology, along with its expertise in enzymology and medicinal chemistry, enable its development of novel antiviral agents. The Company’s platform provides a three-dimensional structure of inhibitor complexes at near-atomic resolution, providing immediate insight to guide Structure Activity Relationships. This helps to identify novel binding sites and allows for a rapid turnaround of structural information through highly automated X-ray data processing and refinement. The goal of this technology is to facilitate the development of best-in-class antiviral therapies that have fast onset of action and/or shortened treatment time, are safe, well tolerated and easy to administer, are effective against all viral subtypes that cause disease and have a high barrier to viral resistance.

About Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), noroviruses and hepatitis C viruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the extension of enrollments, regulatory approval and achieving the necessary infection rate. The words “believe,” “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. Some or all of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks relating to our ability to obtain regulatory authority for and proceed with clinical trials including the recruiting of volunteers for such studies by our clinical research organizations and vendors, the results of such studies, our collaboration partners’ technology and software performing as expected, general risks arising from clinical studies, receipt of regulatory approvals, regulatory changes, and potential development of effective treatments and/or vaccines by competitors, including as part of the programs financed by the U.S. government, and potential mutations in a virus we are targeting that may result in variants that are resistant to a product candidate we develop. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. 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.

Investor Contact:
Alliance Advisors IR
Jody Cain
310-691-7100
jcain@allianceadvisors.com

Media Contact:
JQA Partners
Jules Abraham
917-885-7378
Jabraham@jqapartners.com

Chinese Hackers Breach U.S. Treasury in Major Cybersecurity Incident

Posted on by slightbourne@noblecapitalmarkets.com
Key Points:
– Chinese state-sponsored hackers accessed Treasury desktops via compromised third-party software.
– Multi-agency efforts are underway to assess the breach and mitigate its impact.
– The incident underscores the urgent need for strengthened cybersecurity in federal agencies.

The U.S. Treasury Department has confirmed a major cybersecurity breach attributed to a state-sponsored Chinese hacking group. The attack leveraged vulnerabilities in third-party software, BeyondTrust, enabling unauthorized access to the desktop computers of Treasury employees and compromising unclassified documents. Treasury officials, along with federal agencies, are actively investigating the incident to assess its full impact and prevent future breaches.

The breach was first reported to the Treasury Department on December 8, when BeyondTrust informed the department that the hackers had exploited a cryptographic key securing a cloud-based service used for remote technical support. This unauthorized access allowed the attackers to bypass security protocols and infiltrate user workstations within the Treasury’s Departmental Offices.

In a letter addressed to Senators Sherrod Brown and Tim Scott, Aditi Hardikar, Assistant Secretary for Management at the Treasury Department, outlined the timeline and scope of the breach. While the accessed information was unclassified, the incident has raised alarms about vulnerabilities in government cybersecurity measures, especially given the sensitive nature of Treasury operations.

China has denied the allegations, with Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning asserting that the claims are politically motivated and lack evidence. “China consistently opposes all forms of hacking and is firmly against the spread of false information targeting China for political purposes,” Ning stated during a press briefing.

The Treasury Department is collaborating with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the FBI, and other intelligence agencies to evaluate the breach. Third-party forensic investigators are also involved in determining the overall impact and addressing potential vulnerabilities. According to Treasury officials, the compromised BeyondTrust service has been deactivated, and there is no evidence that the attackers retain access to Treasury systems or data.

This incident highlights the persistent threat of cyberattacks targeting government agencies. Over the past four years, the Treasury Department has enhanced its cybersecurity defenses, yet this breach underscores the evolving tactics of state-sponsored hackers. Treasury officials emphasized their commitment to working with public and private sector partners to safeguard critical financial infrastructure from cyber threats.

The breach has also reignited discussions on the broader implications of state-sponsored cyber activities and the need for robust international cooperation to address such threats. In response to the incident, the Treasury Department has pledged to release a supplemental report within 30 days, providing additional details on the breach and steps taken to mitigate future risks.

As cybersecurity threats become increasingly sophisticated, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of securing digital systems in both public and private sectors. The U.S. government’s response to this breach will likely influence ongoing efforts to strengthen national cybersecurity protocols and protect sensitive data from malicious actors.