Release – Vera Bradley, Inc. Announces CEO Transition



Vera Bradley, Inc. Announces CEO Transition

Research, News, and Market Data on Vera Bradley

Retirement of President and CEO Robert Wallstrom planned at end of 2022; search for new CEO underway

Company also solidifies annual cost reduction initiatives totaling $25 million

FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vera Bradley, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRA) (the “Company”) today announced the planned retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Wallstrom. Wallstrom will remain President and CEO until a successor is named, which is expected by the beginning of 2023. Wallstrom will work with the Board of Directors in their national search for his successor.

Wallstrom has led Vera Bradley, Inc. as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2013, executing the Company’s business transformation while also championing corporate social responsibility, associate engagement, and philanthropy initiatives. Wallstrom oversaw the expansion of the Company’s portfolio in 2019 with the acquisition of lifestyle brand Pura Vida, which achieved B Corp Certification in 2022. Under Wallstrom’s leadership, in 2022, Vera Bradley, Inc. was named America’s #1 Best Midsize Employer and #11 Best Employer for Diversity by Forbes and Statista.  

Robert Hall, Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, noted, “Rob is a bold leader, an innovator, and a visionary who has worked tirelessly to evolve the Company and position it for growth. As an advocate for the power of business to create positive influence and outcomes for people and communities, Rob places a unique focus on building an organization with a strong culture that strives to positively impact all stakeholders. I am proud to have partnered with Rob over the last nine years, and we are grateful for his principled and collaborative leadership.”

Hall continued, “As we search for Rob’s successor, we are in the desirable position of having two strong, iconic brands – Vera Bradley and Pura Vida – with loyal and dedicated customer bases, a solid balance sheet, and a talented leadership team. The Board takes very seriously its responsibility to find the right CEO who will continue our focus on building consistent, sustainable growth over the long term. The next CEO also will have to successfully manage through this challenging economic period, including overseeing implementation of our cost reduction initiatives which will better position us for the future.”

Both internal and external candidates will be considered for the CEO role.

“It has been my great privilege to serve as President and CEO of Vera Bradley, Inc. over the last nine years, and it has been a tremendous honor to work with our highly talented, creative, and dedicated team of associates,” noted Wallstrom. “We have driven innovation across both of our brands, built strong engagement with our associates and customers, and enhanced our purpose-driven mission. I am confident the Company will thrive in the future. I look forward to continuing to guide the Company through this transition period and supporting my successor as they lead the company into the next stage of growth.”

Cost Reduction Initiatives

In conjunction with its first quarter financial results, Company management indicated they were in the midst of a comprehensive cost-reduction and efficiency process and expected to complete the identification of cost reductions in the second quarter of this fiscal year.

Management has identified annualized cost reductions totaling approximately $25 million, which will be fully implemented in the fiscal year ending February 3, 2024. A portion of the cost reductions will be realized in the fiscal year ending January 28, 2023 and have been included in the Company’s previously issued guidance.

Expense savings are derived across various areas of the Company, including retail store efficiencies, marketing expenses, information technology contracts, professional services, logistics and operational costs, and corporate payroll (primarily through attrition).

About Vera Bradley, Inc.

Vera Bradley, Inc. operates two unique lifestyle brands – Vera Bradley and Pura Vida. Vera Bradley and Pura Vida are complementary businesses, both with devoted, emotionally-connected, and multi-generational female customer bases; alignment as casual, comfortable, affordable, and fun brands; positioning as “gifting” and socially-connected brands; strong, entrepreneurial cultures; a keen focus on community, charity, and social consciousness; multi-channel distribution strategies; and talented leadership teams aligned and committed to the long-term success of their brands.

Vera Bradley, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a leading designer of women’s handbags, luggage and other travel items, fashion and home accessories, and unique gifts. Founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, the brand is known for its innovative designs, iconic patterns, and brilliant colors that inspire and connect women unlike any other brand in the global marketplace.

In July 2019, Vera Bradley, Inc. acquired a 75% interest in Creative Genius, Inc., which also operates under the name Pura Vida Bracelets (“Pura Vida”). Pura Vida, based in La Jolla, California, is a digitally native, highly-engaging lifestyle brand founded in 2010 by friends Paul Goodman and Griffin Thall. Pura Vida has a differentiated and expanding offering of bracelets, jewelry, and other lifestyle accessories.

The Company has three reportable segments: Vera Bradley Direct (“VB Direct”), Vera Bradley Indirect (“VB Indirect”), and Pura Vida. The VB Direct business consists of sales of Vera Bradley products through Vera Bradley full-line and factory outlet stores in the United States, verabradley.com, verabradley.ca, Vera Bradley’s online outlet site, and the Vera Bradley annual outlet sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The VB Indirect business consists of sales of Vera Bradley products to approximately 1,800 specialty retail locations throughout the United States, as well as select department stores, national accounts, third party e-commerce sites, and third-party inventory liquidators, and royalties recognized through licensing agreements related to the Vera Bradley brand. The Pura Vida segment consists of sales of Pura Vida products through the Pura Vida websites, www.puravidabracelets.com, www.puravidabracelets.eu, and www.puravidabracelets.ca, and through the distribution of its products to wholesale retailers and department stores.

Vera Bradley Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including: possible adverse changes in general economic conditions and their impact on consumer confidence and spending; possible inability to predict and respond in a timely manner to changes in consumer demand; possible loss of key management or design associates or inability to attract and retain the talent required for our business; possible inability to maintain and enhance our brands; possible inability to successfully implement the Company’s long-term strategic plan; possible inability to successfully open new stores, close targeted stores, and/or operate current stores as planned; incremental tariffs or adverse changes in the cost of raw materials and labor used to manufacture our products; possible adverse effects resulting from a significant disruption in our distribution facilities; or business disruption caused by COVID-19 or other pandemics. Risks, uncertainties, and assumptions also include the possibility that Pura Vida acquisition benefits may not materialize as expected and that Pura Vida’s business may not perform as expected. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

CONTACTS:
Investors:

Julia Bentley, VP of Investor Relations and Communications
jbentley@verabradley.com
(260) 207-5116

Media:           

mediacontact@verabradley.com
877-708-VERA (8372)

 


BioSig Technologies (BSGM) – BioSig Announces Real World PURE EP Physician-Initiated Research

Friday, July 22, 2022

BioSig Technologies (BSGM)
BioSig Announces Real World PURE EP Physician-Initiated Research

BioSig Technologies is a medical technology company commercializing a proprietary biomedical signal processing platform designed to improve signal fidelity and uncover the full range of ECG and intra-cardiac signals (www.biosig.com). The Company’s first product, PURE EP(TM) System is a computerized system intended for acquiring, digitizing, amplifying, filtering, measuring and calculating, displaying, recording and storing of electrocardiographic and intracardiac signals for patients undergoing electrophysiology (EP) procedures in an EP laboratory.

Gregory Aurand, Senior Research Analyst, Healthcare Services & Medical Devices, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

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

Announced study tests real-world AF patients.  BioSig announced yesterday a physician-initiated study. The research will study 30 patients with de novo paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF)  undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), with 6 month and 12 month follow-up. While the PURE EP 2.0 trial assessed PURE EP signal quality vs. current technology, this is the first real world study of patient outcomes. To date there have been few human trials that test the durability of PVI AF procedures. The study is officially registered at clincaltrials.gov NCT05464537 .

Kansas City Heart Rhythm Research Foundation is conducting the study.  Recall that Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at Overland Park Regional Medical Center recently purchased the PURE EP System. Dhanunjaya DJ Lakkireddy, MD, Medical Director for the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute, is initiating this research protocol analyzing the signals acquired by the PURE EP System during RF ablation.  Long lasting, contiguous and deep enough ablation lesions have been and are a clinical challenge due to thickness of atrial tissue in different regions, as well as factors like the power and contact force of the ablation catheter.  AF ablation procedures might need to be repeated if the ablated tissue does not prevent recurrence of AF.  PURE EP signal processing will be reviewed for helping produce more durable, quicker and cost-effective outcomes….

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 – Leading Technology Provider Selects Harte Hanks’ Audience Finder(TM) to Identify Interested Prospects



Leading Technology Provider Selects Harte Hanks’ Audience Finder(TM) to Identify Interested Prospects

Research, News, and Market Data on Harte Hanks

CHELMSFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 21, 2022 / Harte Hanks Inc. (NASDAQ:HHS), a leading global customer experience customer experience company focused on bringing companies closer to customers for nearly 100 years, announced today that it was selected by a leading business technology company, to support and enhance their B2B marketing campaigns using Harte Hanks proprietary technology.

Harte Hanks’ proprietary Audience Finder solution identifies in-market prospects that are signaling interest all while respecting privacy and consumer choice.

Janel Harris, Managing Director, Harte Hanks comments, “Our client is widely respected for their global technology products and services, but they challenged us to help them identify and engage with potential customers whose digital journey revealed a strong intent to purchase.”

Audience Finder
 further enhances the customer data by leveraging Harte Hanks’ proprietary DataView product. DataView is a multi-sourced database used to provide 3rd party data to augment a client’s data files to ensure a comprehensive understanding of prospects and customers.

According to Don Aicklen, SVP Sales & Marketing Harte Hanks. “Harte Hanks has a variety of proprietary solutions and will continue to develop solutions like Audience Finder to improve our clients’ ability to effectively reach their prospects. The combination of Audience Finder and DataView delivered a significant increase in marketing campaign performance by generating more qualified leads.”

About Harte Hanks:

Harte Hanks (NASDAQ:HHS) is a leading global customer experience company whose mission is to partner with clients to provide them with CX strategy, data-driven analytics and actionable insights combined with seamless program execution to better understand, attract and engage their customers.

Using its unparalleled resources and award-winning talent in the areas of Customer Care, Fulfillment and Logistics, and Marketing Services, Harte Hanks has a proven track record of driving results for some of the world’s premier brands, including Bank of America, GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, Pfizer, HBOMax, Volvo, Ford, FedEx, Midea, Sony and IBM among others. Headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Harte Hanks has over 2,500 employees in offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

For more information, visit hartehanks.com

For media inquiries, contact Jennifer London at Jen.London@HarteHanks.com

SOURCE: Harte Hanks, Inc.

 

Release – U.S. Enterprises Committing to IoT With Long-Term Plans



U.S. Enterprises Committing to IoT With Long-Term Plans

Research, News, and Market Data on Information Services Group

Companies
want both a future vision and short-term results, with goals for visibility,
data analytics and security, ISG Provider Lens™
 report says

STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– U.S. enterprises investing in the Internet of Things (IoT) increasingly are starting out with long-term strategies instead of just discrete proofs of concept, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.

The 2022 ISG Provider Lens™ Internet of Things — Services and Solutions report for the U.S. finds a growing number of U.S. organizations want to develop a high-level view of their IoT future while achieving immediate, measurable benefits from the technology.

“Enterprise IoT plans are growing more ambitious,” said John Lytle, industrial manufacturing client lead for ISG in the Americas. “Companies are looking to optimize their operations, address security threats and extract insights from IoT data.”

Advances in AI and machine learning have expanded the possibilities of IoT analytics, ISG says. In its most basic form, IoT gives enterprises visibility into their operations by collecting data from sensors in machine tools, vehicles and other assets. That data can be used in real time to track objects, generate alerts or predict failures. Using analytics tools, managed services providers are now using the same data sources to derive higher-level business insights.

As in most IT fields today, both enterprises and service providers face a tight market for qualified professionals who can design, integrate and operate complex IoT systems, the report says. Providers and clients are opening delivery centers in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific to spread out the risk of attrition beyond established centers in India.

“Managed IoT services are most affected by the skills shortage,” said Jan Erik Aase, partner and global leader, ISG Provider Lens Research. “Providers are responding with recruitment, training and intelligent automation.”

Enterprises are seeking plug-and-play interoperability among devices, software and networks so they can respond to future requirements and avoid vendor lock-in, but this remains a challenge, ISG says. To deliver maximum value, an enterprise’s IoT infrastructure often needs to be customized to work with specific telecom networks and hyperscale cloud platforms. Yet a lengthy integration process can cut into a project’s return on investment. Providers are continuing efforts to offer open platforms and smooth integration services.

The 2022 ISG Provider Lens™ Internet of Things — Services and Solutions report for the U.S. evaluates the capabilities of 33 providers across five quadrants: Strategy Consulting, Implementation and Integration, Managed Services, Mobile Asset Tracking and Management, and Data Management and AI on the Edge.

The report names Atos, Capgemini, Cognizant and HCL as Leaders in all five quadrants. It names HARMAN DTS and IBM as Leaders in four quadrants each and Accenture and Siemens as Leaders in three quadrants each. Verizon is named as a Leader in two quadrants, and Bosch, Infosys, LTTS, PwC, TCS and Wipro are named as Leaders in one quadrant each.

In addition, Hitachi Vantara is named as a Rising Star — a company with a “promising portfolio” and “high future potential” by ISG’s definition — in two quadrants. Cyient, eInfochips, HARMAN DTS, HPE, NTT and TCS are named as Rising Stars in one quadrant each.

Customized versions of the report are available from Cyient and PwC.

The 2022 ISG Provider Lens™ Internet of Things — Services and Solutions report for the U.S. is available to subscribers or for one-time purchase on this webpage.

About
ISG Provider Lens™
 Research

The ISG Provider Lens™ Quadrant research series is the only service provider evaluation of its kind to combine empirical, data-driven research and market analysis with the real-world experience and observations of ISG’s global advisory team. Enterprises will find a wealth of detailed data and market analysis to help guide their selection of appropriate sourcing partners, while ISG advisors use the reports to validate their own market knowledge and make recommendations to ISG’s enterprise clients. The research currently covers providers offering their services globally, across Europe, as well as in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, the U.K., France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, the Nordics, Australia and Singapore/Malaysia, with additional markets to be added in the future. For more information about ISG Provider Lens research, please visit this webpage.

A companion research series, the ISG Provider Lens Archetype reports, offer a first-of-its-kind evaluation of providers from the perspective of specific buyer types.

About
ISG

ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 800 clients, including more than 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,300 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry’s most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.

Source: Information Services Group, Inc.

 

Release – BioSig Announces Physician-Initiated Research Protocol at The Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute



BioSig Announces Physician-Initiated Research Protocol at The Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute

News and Market Data on BioSig Technologies

Led by Dhanunjaya DJ Lakkireddy, MD., the study will investigate expanded applications for the signals acquired by BioSig’s PURE EP(T.M.) System

Westport, CT, July 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BioSig Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: BSGM) (“BioSig” or the “Company”) a medical technology company advancing electrophysiology workflow by delivering greater intracardiac signal fidelity through its proprietary signal processing platform, today announced that Dhanunjaya DJ Lakkireddy, MD, Medical Director for the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute, will initiate a research protocol analyzing the signals acquired by the PURE EP(T.M.) System during Radiofrequency (RF) ablation.

The single center study at Overland Park Regional Medical Center and officially registered with clinicaltrials.gov [NCT05464537], will include 30 participants with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The study aims to build on previous research that claims the loss of the negative component of the unipole during PVI can serve as a tool for achieving durability with overall lesser procedure time and no significant increase in adverse events.  AF recurrence will be examined at 6 and 12-months post-procedure.

“Positive results from this study could substantially emphasize the value of the PURE EP System in the EP lab by decreasing procedural cost specific to both time and product spend,” commented Gray Fleming, Chief Commercialization Officer, BioSig Technologies, Inc.

Dr. Lakkireddy is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cardiologist specializing in electrophysiology. With more than 15 years of experience, he has specialized interest in complex arrhythmia management for all types of arrhythmias conditions. The Company recently announced that Overland Park Regional Medical Center (OPRMC) has signed an agreement to purchase the Pure EP(T.M.) System under the terms of the Company’s new leasing program. This represents BioSig’s first national purchasing agreement since announcing The Company’s new commercial structure and clinical support teams.

About The Kansas City
Heart Rhythm Institute

The Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute brings the highest quality clinical care, research and arrhythmia education to Kansas City and the surrounding area. With eight practicing Electrophysiologists, the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute has three Electrophysiology clinics in the greater Kansas City area as well as outreach locations in four major hospitals.

About Overland Park
Regional Medical Center

Overland Park Regional Medical Center is a licensed 343-bed facility offering acute medical care services to patients. Cardiovascular programs at OPRMC have received certification from The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). OPRMC’s clinician and physician experts excel in a wide range of interventional cardiology practices and complex electrophysiology procedures, including Complex Arrhythmia Management (AF, VTACH, PVC, SVT), Convergent AF Ablation (with C.T. surgeon and E.P.), Leadless Pacemakers & Internal Cardiac Defibrillators, and Left Atrial Appendage Closure.

About BioSig
Technologies

BioSig Technologies is a medical technology company commercializing a proprietary biomedical signal processing platform designed to improve signal fidelity and uncover the full range of ECG and intra-cardiac signals (www.biosig.com).

The Company’s first product, PURE EP(T.M.) System, is a novel signal processing and acquisition platform designed to extract advanced diagnostic and therapeutic data that enhances physician workflow and increases throughput. PURE EP(T.M.) was engineered to address the limitations of existing EP technologies by empowering physicians with superior signals and actionable insights.

The Company is in a national commercial launch of the PURE EP(T.M.) System. The technology is in regular use in some of the country’s leading centers of excellence, including 
Mayo Clinic, and Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St.
David’s Medical Center.

Clinical data acquired by the PURE EP(T.M.) System in a multi-center study at centers of excellence including Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center  was recently published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology and is available electronically with open access via the 
Wiley Online Library. Study results showed 93% consensus across the blinded reviewers with a 75% overall improvement in intracardiac signal quality and confidence in interpreting PURE EP(T.M.) signals over conventional sources.

Forward-looking
Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Such statements may be preceded by the words “intends,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,” “hopes,” “potential” or similar words. Forward- looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) market conditions and the Company’s intended use of proceeds, (ii) the geographic, social and economic impact of COVID-19 on our ability to conduct our business and raise capital in the future when needed, (iii) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own, or in collaboration with third parties; (iv) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (v) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (vi) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; and (vii) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


Andrew Ballou

BioSig Technologies, Inc.

Vice President, Investor Relations

55 Greens Farms Road, 1st Floor

Westport, CT 06880

aballou@biosigtech.com

203-409-5444, x13

Primary Logo

Source: BioSig Technologies, Inc.

Released July 21, 2022

 


Release – Entravision Expands Digital Partnership with Meta in Honduras and El Salvador Bringing Latin American Partnership to 11 Countries



Entravision Expands Digital Partnership with Meta in Honduras and El Salvador Bringing Latin American Partnership to 11 Countries

Research, News, and Market Data on Entravision

Expansion brings
Entravision’s presence to a total of 18 countries in Latin America
  

Entravision Cisneros Interactive will provide support and consulting
services to promote the commercial objectives of local businesses in the region

SANTA MONICA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Entravision (NYSE: EVC), a leading global advertising solutions, media and technology company, today announced that it has become the Authorized Sales
Partner
 of Meta, the company that owns the Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms, in Honduras and El Salvador. Through its business unit, Entravision Cisneros Interactive, Entravision will provide support, consulting, training and billing in local currency to help businesses achieve their advertising goals.

“We are very pleased to expand our alliance with Meta into Honduras and El Salvador, further strengthening our partnership and foothold in Latin America,” said Byron Cabrera, Country Manager of Honduras and El Salvador for Entravision Cisneros Interactive. “This expansion within Latin America will enable us to continue our mission of providing companies with strategic support, creative expertise and content development that facilitates the use of new tools which take full advantage of all that the Meta suite has to offer and are geared toward boosting their business in the region.”

Entravision Cisneros Interactive, as an Authorized Sales Partner, will focus on helping local businesses grow sales while at the same time deploy their advertising investments more efficiently. The new offices in Honduras and El Salvador join the 16 existing markets in Latin America in which the company already has a successful presence.

Commenting on this track record of success, Victor Kong, CEO of Entravision Cisneros Interactive, noted, “Our expansion throughout Latin America is a direct result of the progress we have delivered in the region over the past five years. In 2021, we trained more than 5,000 people, including advertisers and agencies, to leverage the Meta platform. This educational investment has allowed us to help advertisers increase their sales, minimize their customer service expenses and reduce their cancellation rates, along with many other core business objectives. It is this experience that provides us with the utmost confidence that we will achieve a similar impact on companies in Honduras and El Salvador by extending the top-notch experience we provide to our other clients in Latin America.”

“Meta is dedicated to expanding our stronghold in Latin America, and the expansion of our alliance with Entravision Cisneros Interactive in Honduras and El Salvador is a key sign of our commitment to the region,” said Christian Pretelt, Regional Reseller Leader for Meta in Latin America. “We are very excited to extend the reach of this successful program, helping advertisers and agencies create more meaningful connections with their consumers. As part of our collaboration, we will also implement digital marketing education programs to drive growth in Central America, instilling processes that will position companies to drive their short- and long-term business goals.”

About Entravision

Entravision is a leading global advertising solutions, media and technology company connecting brands to consumers. Our dynamic portfolio includes digital, television and audio offerings. Digital, our largest revenue segment, is comprised of four business units: our digital sales representation business; Smadex, our programmatic ad purchasing platform; our branding and mobile performance solutions business; and our digital audio business. Through our digital sales representation business, we connect global media companies such as Meta, Twitter, TikTok and Spotify with advertisers in primarily emerging growth markets worldwide. Smadex is our mobile-first demand side platform, enabling advertisers to execute performance campaigns using machine learning. We also offer a branding and mobile performance solutions business, which provides managed services to advertisers looking to connect with global consumers, primarily on mobile devices, and our digital audio business provides digital audio advertising solutions for advertisers in the Americas. In addition to digital, Entravision has 49 television stations and is the largest affiliate group of the Univision and UniMás television networks. Entravision also manages 46 primarily Spanish-language radio stations that feature nationally recognized, Emmy award-winning talent. Shares of Entravision Class A Common Stock trade on The New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol: EVC. Learn more about all of our media, marketing and technology offerings at entravision.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Entravision Cisneros Interactive

Entravision-Cisneros Interactive, a business unit of Entravision, is the leading digital advertising company serving Latin America. The company has an active presence in 18 countries, leveraging unique commercial partnerships with Meta, Spotify, LinkedIn, Anzu and other leading media and technology platforms. In addition, the company offers Audio.Ad, Latin America’s leading digital audio ad network, with more than 350 publishers through a full solution technology stack offering, and Justmob, the leading mobile marketing company with global reach.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this press release. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from these expectations, and the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements made by the Company. From time to time, these risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors
Christopher T. Young
Chief Financial Officer
310-447-3870

Kimberly Esterkin

Addo Investor Relations
evc@add.com
310-829-5400

Source: Entravision


Tokens.com Corp. (SMURF) – Hulk Labs is Getting Stronger

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Tokens.com Corp. (SMURF)
Hulk Labs is Getting Stronger

Tokens.com Corp is a publicly traded company that invests in Web3 assets and businesses focused on the Metaverse, NFTs, DeFi, and gaming based digital assets. Tokens.com is the majority owner of Metaverse Group, one of the world’s first virtual real estate companies. Hulk Labs, a wholly-owned Tokens.com subsidiary, focuses on investing in play-to-earn revenue generating gaming tokens and NFTs. Additionally, Tokens.com owns and stakes crypto assets to earn additional tokens. Through its growing digital assets and NFTs, Tokens.com provides public market investors with a simple and secure way to gain exposure to Web3.

Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, 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.

New Financing. Tokens.com’s management announced subsidiary Hulk Labs has completed a strategic financing round led by DV Investment Management. The total amount for the round was $750,000, with the pre-money valuation for Hulk Labs being at $8 million, according to management. The Company is participating in the round and will continue to own over 90% of the subsidiary. DV Investment Management represented themselves in the financing round.

Who is DV Investment Management? DV Investment Management is an affiliate of the DV Group of financial services companies, and serves as an independent proprietary trading firm. DV Group affiliates include two broker-dealers, a cryptocurrency market making firm, and a bourgeoning investment adviser….

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. 

Is Telomere Damage and Resultant Zombie Cells Beneficial or Harmful?


Image Credit: National Human Genome (Flickr)


Cells Become Zombies When the Ends of their Chromosomes are Damaged – a Tactic Both Helpful and Harmful for Health

This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news
site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by and
represents the research-based opinions of Patricia Opresko, Professor of
Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences
and Ryan Barnes, Postdoctoral
Researcher in Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh
Health Sciences.

Damage to the ends of your chromosomes can create “zombie cells” that are still alive but can’t function, according to our recently published study in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology.

When cells prepare to divide, their DNA is tightly wound around proteins to form chromosomes that provide structure and support for genetic material. At the ends of these chromosomes are repetitive stretches of DNA called telomeres that form a protective cap to prevent damage to the genetic material. However, telomeres shorten each time a cell divides. This means that as cells divide more and more as you age, your telomeres become increasingly shorter and more likely to lose their ability to protect your DNA.


Telomeres serve as protective caps at the ends of each chromosome.

Damage to genetic material can lead to mutations that cause cells to divide uncontrollably, resulting in cancer. Cells avoid becoming cancerous when their telomeres become too short after dividing too many times and potentially accruing damage along the way, however, they do this by entering a zombielike state that stops cells from dividing through a process called cellular senescence.

Because they are resistant to death, senescent – or “zombie” – cells accumulate with age. They can be beneficial to health by promoting senescence in nearby cells at risk of becoming cancerous and attracting immune cells to clear out cancer cells. But they can also contribute to disease by impairing tissue healing and immune function, and by secreting chemicals that promote inflammation and tumor growth.

We wanted to know if direct damage to telomeres can be sufficient to trigger senescence and make zombie cells. In order to figure this out, we needed to confine damage just to the telomeres. So we attached a protein to the telomeres of human cells grown in the lab. Then we added a dye to the protein that makes it sensitive to light. Shining a far-red light (or light with a wavelength slightly shorter than infrared light) on the cells induces the protein to produce oxygen free radicals – highly reactive molecules that can damage DNA – right at the telomeres, sparing the rest of the chromosome and the cell.

We found that direct damage to the telomeres was sufficient to turn cells into zombies, even when these protective caps weren’t shortened. The reason for this, we discovered, was likely a result of disrupted DNA replication at the telomeres that leaves chromosomes even more susceptible to damage or mutations.


The telomeres (green) at the tips of chromosomes (blue) damaged by free radicals become fragile (green arrows) and trigger senescence. Ryan Barnes/Opresko Lab

Why it Matters

Telomeres naturally shorten with age. They limit how many times a cell can divide by signaling cells to become zombies when they reach a certain length. But an excess of free radicals produced from both normal bodily processes as well as exposure to harmful chemicals like air pollution and tobacco smoke can lead to a condition called oxidative stress that can accelerate telomere shortening. This can prematurely trigger senescence and contribute to age-related diseases, including immunodeficiency, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and cancer.

Our study reveals that telomeres not only serve as alarm clocks that indicate a cell divided too many times, but also as warning bells for harmful levels of oxidative stress. Age-related shortening of telomeres isn’t the only thing that triggers senescence; telomere damage is also sufficient to turn a cell into a zombie.

 

What Other Research is Being Done

Researchers are studying treatments and interventions that can protect telomeres from damage and prevent zombie cell accumulation. A number of studies in mice have found that removing zombie cells can promote healthy aging by improving cognitive function, muscle mass and function and recovery from viral infections.

Researchers are also developing drugs called senolytics that can either kill zombie cells or prevent them from developing in the first place.

 

What’s Next

This study focuses on the consequences of telomere damage in actively dividing cells, like kidney and skin cells. We’re now looking at how this damage will play out in cells that don’t divide, like neurons or heart muscle cells. While researchers have shown that the telomeres of nondividing cells and tissues become more dysfunctional with age, it’s unclear why this happens when these telomeres should not be shortening in the first place.


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What Competitive Advantage Looks Like for Capital Markets Firms


Image Credit: Pok Rie (Pexels)


Gaining Competitive Edge: The Data Arms Race in Capital Markets

Capital markets firms are facing competition from many corners, from the continued dominance of passive investing on the buy-side to retail brokers that operate like quasi-fintechs on the sell-side. Gaining competitive edge over both new entrants and incumbents therefore relies on better use of all of a firm’s available assets.

That means gleaning valuable insights in real time from a wide variety of data sources, both internal and external, to better arm your front office decision-makers and trading desks. It also means better understanding your clients’ activities and tailoring your services more appropriately to their requirements.

Over the last decade, much has been written about the rising tide of external data sources from which firms can gain information about particular market trends or opportunities. Whether it’s the evolution of sentiment analytics based on social media data or the addition of new sources of data for tracking environmental information such as satellite imagery, data has been at the forefront of firms’ development of innovative trading strategies, and it will continue to play a significant role in the future.

However, there are many internal sources of data that firms have yet to mine fully for business insights and opportunities, as well as building a 360-degree view of a firm’s clients. Moreover, it’s often the combination of different data sets that makes for greater insights.

Combining internal transaction data with external sentiment data, for example, can highlight patterns of behavior over time that can feed into predictive models. From a transformation standpoint, the successful implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) also requires a high volume of high-quality data.

The evolution of the sell-side front-office has seen personnel change from pure sales traders to quants, who rely on these technologies and reliable data to deliver better returns. It has also witnessed an increasing role for risk management in a front-office context, with related increased demand for real-time risk data analytics.

Technology has become a catalyst for change and the deployment of next generation tools to handle more volume and to better manage risk is a competitive advantage. On the buy-side, there is also an efficiency play around better managing data to reduce the transaction costs for client portfolios. Staying ahead of market risk is key to better managing liquidity, which has been a regulatory concern over the last 24 months within the funds space.

Static reports based on stale data won’t cut it in today’s fast-moving market environment. The past two years have been characterized by market volatility and black swan events, which make up-to-the-second information critically important. For example, think of the difference in responding to breaking news as it happens versus a few hours or even days later. Everyone in the market understands that revenues can be seriously negatively impacted due to latency of information from a trading perspective. Yet C-suite executives often rely on internal reports that are based on stale data due to legacy technology and operational silos.

Many large financial institutions are in the throes of a multi-year transformation program, and most have placed data alongside digital as a pillar of their strategies for the future. After all, the target of aligning business units from a horizontal perspective across the organization can only be achieved via the introduction of a common data foundation.

From a cultural perspective, transformation requires lines of business to be on the same page as each other and greater collaboration can be enabled via the sharing of common data stores. This is where many firms have introduced application programming interface (API) platforms, taking a lead from the retail banking industry in Europe and its focus on open banking.

The move to a cloud environment is also part of this journey and given the regulatory and industry focus on resilience, ensuring the firm is able to switch cloud providers in the future, if required to, is increasingly important. Avoiding cloud platform lock-in is also a commercial imperative for firms that wish to retain negotiating power with their service providers. A data disintermediation layer between a firm and its cloud or software as a service provider is therefore important to enable faster onboarding and future resilience.

However, firms cannot stop and rebuild everything from scratch; they must work within the parameters of their existing technology architectures. APIs also expose the quality of the underlying data from source systems, which can result in a ‘garbage in, garbage out’ quality problem. This is where technologies such as data fabrics can come into play to normalize data from multiple sources and allow it to be consumable by downstream systems and applications. Business decision-makers can then rely on the high quality of the data on which they base their strategic insights, risk management and future plans.

The industry will continue to find new data sources to exploit and add new data-intensive services and technology applications. Just look at the growth of digital assets or the rise of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment strategies for proof of this dynamic over the last few years. As these new products and services evolve, the complexity of data is only going to increase, and the volumes will grow as firms add more required data sources. How teams surface insights from this data and how quickly they can turn these insights into client-focused activities is already an arms race within the industry. Adding AI and ML into the mix will accelerate the race further.

Firms will also continue to grow organically and inorganically. Silos are almost impossible to eradicate, so learning how to better live with them is part and parcel of a digital transformation program. Interoperability has become a keyword within the industry, due to  the need to connect multiple entities, internal systems and market infrastructures. Interoperability isn’t something that firms should only demand from external providers; it is equally important within the four walls of their organizations. At the heart of interoperable operations is the simplification of the data stack, not by ripping and replacing but via augmentation.

There is little appetite for big bang projects that require multi-year implementations with promised return on investment (ROI) several years down the line. Firms want to become more agile and deliver incremental benefits to their clients sooner rather than later. Building vast new internal platforms from scratch is therefore something best avoided, especially given the ongoing burden to maintain these systems over time. Partnerships with specialist vendors, who can offer the right level of expertise and support is more palatable for those looking for faster deployment and incremental delivery.

Building a more resilient financial institution that can withstand the volatility of the markets, address the new product and services whims of its varied client base, increase its overall agility, and stand its ground against its competitors, new and old, requires a solid data foundation. Firms with reliable, accurate, on-demand data can adapt as the market, regulators and their clients demand.

About the Author:

Virginie O’Shea is CEO and Founder of Firebrand Research. As an analyst
and consultant, Ms. O’Shea specializes in capital markets technology, covering
asset management, international banking systems, securities services and global
financial IT.


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How Bad Will the Housing Market Correction Be?



Image Credit: Dave Morgan (Pexels)


The Winds are Changing for Housing, How Long Can Prices Remain High?

Is the Housing market in a correction? Corrections, although unpleasant if your long the asset class, are viewed as normal and healthy. Home values have been climbing for a while. The forces that helped drive other markets higher over the past few years were also at work pushing residential properties up at an unsustainable pace. This year the stock and bond markets have come off of their steamy highs, it appears real estate and housing are setting up to do the same.

On Tuesday (July 19), it was reported by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)  that Single Family Starts fell to a two year low of 2%. This came just one day after it was reported that home builder confidence dropped by a steep 12 points to 55 in July. That separate report was a release of the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Sentiment has accelerated downward since December when it stood at 84 (based on 100). It is now at its lowest level since May 2020 and faced with tighter money conditions going forward.

In addition to tighter money (ie, higher mortgage rates), housing headwinds include building material supply chain bottlenecks and elevated construction costs. According to the NAHB, for the first time since June 2020, both single-family starts and permits fell below a 1 million annual pace.


Housing Starts

By falling 2%, housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.56 million units in June, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The June reading of 1.56 million starts is the number of housing units builders would begin if development kept the current pace for the next 12 months. Using this overall number, single-family starts decreased 8.1% to a 982,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate. This is the lowest single-family starts pace since June 2020. Multifamily dwellings, which include apartment buildings and condos, were on the upswing; this sector increased 10.3% an annualized 577,000 pace.

“Single-family starts are retreating on higher construction costs and interest rates, and this decline is reflected in our latest builder surveys, which show a steep drop in builder sentiment for the single-family market,” said Jerry Konter, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). By itself, fewer homes being built and entering the market could be bullish for home sales, but the reason for the slowdown, according to Mr. Konter, is “Builders are reporting weakening traffic as housing affordability declines.”

NAHB Chairman Konter said 13% of builders who participated in the monthly survey said they had reduced home prices over the last month to lure buyers.

Rober Dietz, the chief economist at the NAHB said, “While the multifamily market remains strong on solid rental housing demand, the softening of single-family construction data should send a strong signal to the Federal Reserve that tighter financial conditions are producing a housing downturn. Dietz is concerned that supply may not match needs, “Price growth will slow significantly this year, but a housing deficit relative to demographic need will persist through this ongoing cyclical downturn.”

Regionally and on a year-to-date basis, combined single-family and multifamily starts are 4.4% lower in the Northeast, 4.7% higher in the Midwest, 11.1% higher in the South, and 0.4% lower in the West.


Housing Permits

Overall, permits to build a new home decreased 0.6% in June. Single-family permits decreased 8.0%. This is the lowest pace for single-family permits since June 2020. Multifamily permits again increased by 11.5% to an annualized 718,000 pace.

Regional permit data on a year-to-date basis, permits are 5.1% lower in the Northeast, 2.5% higher in the Midwest, 2.9% higher in the South, and 3.0% higher in the West.


Interest Rates

The average contract interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed to 5.51% for the week ending on July 14. The same rate was just below 3% one year earlier.

 

Take Away

The NAHB indicated a drop in confidence within the housing market due to the impact of high inflation on building costs and rising interest rates. This has resulted in “dramatically slowing sales and buyer traffic.”

Mortgage rate increases come at a time when houses are still at or near their highs from the surge experienced during the pandemic. The housing “correction” could bring monthly costs of owning a home in line with what they had been prior to recent mortgage rate increases. This would mean prices low enough to equate to the same monthly outlay to the buyer. Should the economy weaken further, there is the potential for home prices to decline further.

All markets impact the others. When housing prices rise, people feel better about their financial situation. Owners also find it easier to borrow against their home’s appreciation. The economy and stock markets all tend to do better. Home prices have remained near their highs, a shallow correction might be welcome to those that are just now looking to enter the market for a home.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

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Understanding Drug Names – There is a Methodology


Image Credit: Diverse Stock Photos (Flickr)


Why are Drug Names So Long and Complicated? A Pharmacist Explains the Logic Behind the Nomenclature

At some point in your life, you’ll likely find yourself with a prescription from your doctor to fill. While it’s important to keep track of all the medications you’re taking, that can be hard to do when the names of so many of these drugs are difficult to pronounce and even harder to remember.

This article was republished with permission from The Conversation, a news
site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by and
represents the research-based opinions of Jasmine Cutler, Assistant
Professor of Pharmacotherapeutics, University of South Florida

In my role as a pharmacist, I’ve helped countless patients figure out exactly which medication they were taking for what ailment. Some wonder why they were prescribed the medication in the first place, or need help differentiating between drugs with names that seem like complete gibberish.

But there is a rhyme and a reason to drug names. All prescribed medications follow a standard nomenclature that describes what the drug is made of and how it functions.


Who Names Drugs?

Drugs get both a brand, or proprietary, name and a generic name that is nonproprietary. Each is assigned in a slightly different process.

As long as a drug compound isn’t trademarked, drug companies decide on a proprietary brand name for the medications they sell. Usually the brand name relates to the conditions the drug is intended to treat and is easy for both providers and patients to remember but doesn’t follow a standardized naming guideline. For example, the drug Lopressor helps lower blood pressure.

On the other hand, generic drug names all follow a standard nomenclature that helps medical providers and researchers more easily recognize and classify the drug. Lopressor, for example, has a generic name of metoprolol tartrate. The U.S. Adopted Names Council, composed of representatives from the Food and Drug Administration, American Medical Association, U.S. Pharmacopeia and American Pharmacists Association, works with the World Health Organization to assign international nonproprietary names, or INNs, to drug compounds. Similar organizations exist internationally.

A globally recognized naming process makes an otherwise confusing name game more manageable. It helps the medical community easily learn and categorize newly approved medications and reduce prescribing errors by providing a unique, standard name that reflects each active ingredient in the drug.

For example, several Type 2 diabetes medications fall under one class called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Although all medications in this class have different brand names, each of the generic versions ends in the suffix “-tide.” This helps health providers identify all the drugs that belong to this medication class. A few examples include Byetta (exenatide), Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Victoza (liraglutide).

 

How are Generic Drug Names Assigned?

The naming process starts when a drug company submits an application to the U.S. Adopted Names Council with a proposed generic name. USAN considers a number of factors when evaluating a name, such as whether it relates to how the drug works, how translatable it is to other languages and whether it is easy to say. In general, the name should be simple – fewer than four syllables long – and should not be easily confused with other existing generic drugs.

Once a name is agreed upon by USAN and the drug company, it is then proposed to the INN Expert Group. Sponsored by the World Health Organization, the INN Expert Group is composed of global specialists who represent the pharmaceutical, chemical, pharmacological and biochemical sciences. They may either accept the proposed name or suggest an alternative. Once the drug company, USAN and the INN Expert Group come to an agreement about a name, it is placed in the WHO Drug Information journal for four months for public comments or objections before final adoption.

 

What’s in a Generic Drug Name?

Generic names follow a prefix-infix-stem system. The prefix helps distinguish a drug from other drugs in the same class. The infix, used more occasionally, further subclassifies the drug. The stem at the very end of the name indicates the drug’s function and marks its place within the name game.

Stems are composed of one or two syllables that describe a drug’s biological effects as well as its physical and chemical qualities and structure. Drugs with the same stem share features like the conditions they treat and how they work in the body. The WHO publishes a regularly updated stem book to keep everything in line.

For example, the stem “-prazole” indicates that the drug is chemically related to a class of compounds called benzimidazoles that have similar functions. As a result, drugs such as lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium) and omeprazole (Prilosec) all treat acid reflux, ulcers and heartburn. The “e” prefix of esomeprazole differentiates it from omeprazole, which has a slightly different chemical structure.

Another common example is drugs that use the stem “stat,” which means enzyme inhibitors. Atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor) all belong to the same class of inhibitors that block a key enzyme in the body’s cholesterol production process. As a result, these cholesterol-reducing “statins” are used to prevent cardiovascular conditions like heart attack and stroke.

 

Are There Exceptions to the Name Game?

Although generic names stay consistent, there have been multiple changes to brand names over the past couple of decades after increases in prescribing and dispensing errors. Some examples include the acid reflux and stomach ulcer drug omeprazole, which was rebranded from Losec to Prilosec because it was frequently confused with the diuretic Lasix. Another example is when the antidepressant Brintellix was changed to Trintellix because it was commonly confused with the blood thinner Brilinta.

Some generic medications may work at multiple targets in the body and be used for multiple conditions. For example, drugs with the stem “-afil,” such as tadalafil (Cialis), sidenafil (Viagra) and vardenafil (Levitra), belong to a class of drugs that relax smooth muscle and widen the blood vessels. Although commonly prescribed for erectile dysfunction, they can also be used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, a specific type of elevated blood pressure that affects the arteries in the heart and lungs.

In addition, nomenclature guidelines
aren’t set in stone, and the U.S. Adopted Names Council anticipates that they
will continue to change as newer, more complex substances are discovered, developed
and marketed.

For example, a rise in the number of drugs developed with different salts and esters has led to the use of a modified naming process to incorporate the inactive parts of the compound.

As you can guess, it takes health care providers countless months and years to learn and understand this naming process. We are taught the science behind each chemical structure and how it works, which makes it easier to know the rules of the name game. But for those without a background in chemistry and biology, it can be like reading a foreign language.

There are several resources that can help you navigate the drug name game, however. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions about how your medication works or what it is used for. They are generally a phone call or visit away.


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An Alternative Explanation for Today’s Inverted Yield Curve



Image Credit: Karolina Grabowska


Does a Flat or Inverted Yield Curve Still Indicate Recession?

The shape of the treasury yield curve is one indicator the stock market, bond market, and real estate markets are viewing the economy with pessimism. Historically, conventional wisdom has been that if the market has priced rates lower for longer terms than shorter terms, it indicates economic weakness is expected down the road. This would include lower growth, less demand for borrowing, and at the same time, reduced inflationary pressure.

Current Interest Rates

Currently, US Treasuries maturing in one year, and those maturing in 30 years return approximately the same interest rate. The seven and ten-year terms offer rates lower than maturities, longer and shorter. This flat yield curve which is inverted in the shorter end, offers low yields across all maturities. Can we assume it means bond investors expect slowing growth, low inflation, and low inflation out for decades?


Source: US
Treasury


Current Inflation

The increase in the price for a set basket of goods as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) data was up 1.3% for the month of June (9.1% YoY). If inflation were to remain at June’s pace for the next two months (1.3%), the three-month compounded impact would be 3.95%. Much higher than the current three-month treasury yield. In fact, it would be higher than all other yields out through 2052. This suggests the mechanisms pricing the market aren’t looking at inflation expectations in the short term and may not be evaluating the risk in the long term either. Otherwise, within the shortest periods of time (3 months), one would expect the curve to be priced in-line with the most recent inflation numbers.


Source: Peter
G. Peterson Foundation

Using conventional wisdom, with the yield curve as a gauge, one would surmise the market expects that inflation will drop by half of the 1.3% it recorded in June over the next month.  If this is true, then the short end and perhaps the long end is priced appropriately. That is until one looks at the added supply that has already been added to treasuries outstanding and that which is expected to enter the market. The increased supply, based on conventional wisdom, should increase the yields needed to sell all the bonds. That’s how supply-demand pressures work.

Unconventional Yield Curve Pricing

The yield curve as an indicator of future economic expectations may be broken.

The U.S. has amassed $30,515,000,000,000. In debt. Put another way, if every single person (not household) split this debt burden in order to pay it off tomorrow, they each would owe $91,668. This is approximately double the amount it had been ten years ago, and it is now higher than GDP. As depicted in the chart below, if you go back ten years to 2012, a period with deflationary concerns, there was a yield difference between two-year and ten-year treasuries of plus 1.25%. Today it is negative 0.19% even though there is record inflation and less ability to pay the debt. Plus all rates on the upward sloping curve were higher in 2012 than they are now. Should two-year and ten-year maturities be inverted? Should rates across the curve be lower now even though there are not the same deflationary concerns?


Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank


What May Be Shaping the Curve

One possible answer is the (bond) market believes the US will be driven into such a deep recession that inflation drops to near zero within the next few months. There is no evidence of this in any leading indicators, including the stock market. So we’ll look to see if there is something else skewing the normal pricing mechanisms?

Since May of 2020, the Fed has been controlling interest rates along the entire curve by something they call Yield Curve Control (YCC). The chart below shows the Fed’s holding of US debt increased by $5 trillion from 2020 until today. Much of this was to manipulate the yield curve as they openly announced they would do in May 2020. It was part of their quantitative easing plan which continued into the second quarter of this year.

The Fed is now raising overnight rates quickly. A massive amount of debt in the mid and longer parts of the curve is still being held by the Fed and being unwound at a pace of less than $50 billion per month with the promise of accelerating that in pace September.


Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank

It makes sense that the (bond) market reaction, which includes a flight to quality into US dollar-denominated securities, is not pushing longer rates steeply upward. Despite an annual inflation rate that is higher than it has been in 40 years (treasuries were paying 13% in 1982), the bond market is inverted and hasn’t sold off significantly. This cycle it can’t sell off too much because the largest holder, by far, is not market driven. It is the Fed and is using unconventional policy announced two years ago. So the results don’t follow convention.

Are We Headed Toward a Recession?

The yield curve is slightly inverted. A steep inversion has in the past been a reliable indicator of a recession ahead. As an indicator, today’s yield curve can be expected to be far less accurate than in the past. This is because the Federal Reserve has, up until very recently, been buying treasuries to stimulate the economy and help shape the yield curve. The lowest part of the curve, one year and longer, is the 10-year Treasury note. This is the rate that 30-year mortgages are spread off of; should that rise too quickly, the housing market may fall at an uncomfortable pace.

The economy may very well be in a recession or enter one in the coming months. If it does, the current signs of this happening are less likely to be found in the yield curve than at any other time in US history.

Paul Hoffman

Managing Editor, Channelchek

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Sources

https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/debt-to-the-penny

https://www.pgpf.org/national-debt-clock#:~:text=The%20%2430%20trillion%20gross%20federal,that%20it%20owes%20to%20itself.

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/T10Y2Y

https://research.stlouisfed.org/

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Release – NexusBioAg and MustGrow Biologics Announce Exclusive Marketing and Distribution Agreement in Canada



NexusBioAg and MustGrow Biologics Announce Exclusive Marketing and Distribution Agreement in Canada

Research, News, and Market Data on MustGrow Biologics

Collaboration expands
innovative, sustainable and regenerative farming solutions for Canadian growers

Downers Grove, ILL. & SASKATOON, SASK. — July 20, 2022 — Univar Solutions Inc. (NYSE: UNVR) (“Univar
Solutions
“),  a leading global solutions provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, announced today that NexusBioAg, a division of Univar Solutions, and MustGrow Biologics Corp. (CSE: MGRO) (OTC: MGROF) (FRA: 0C0) (“MustGrow“), an agricultural biotechnology company focused on providing science-based biological solutions for high-value crops, have reached an exclusive marketing and distribution agreement in the Canadian canola and pulse market for TerraMG™, a mustard-derived soil biopesticide technology. The addition of this plant-based technology further diversifies and expands NexusBioAg’s extensive portfolio of inoculants, micronutrients, nitrogen stabilizers and foliars for the Canadian agricultural market.

In 2021, NexusBioAg and MustGrow initiated a field research program to develop MustGrow’s sustainable farming technology in Canadian canola and pulse crops. This technology has the potential to address the agronomic challenges of ClubRoot and Aphanomyces diseases which impact these crops. Building on the past data, the companies now are moving forward to the next stage of the development process. Through this exclusive marketing and distribution agreement, NexusBioAg customers have access to the latest in agronomic innovation, which is yet to be registered with Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

“TerraMG complements the NexusBioAg portfolio and we are excited to add this technology to our growing product offering. As the sole distributor of TerraMG in Canada for use in canola and pulse crops, this agreement further reinforces NexusBioAg’s commitment to collaborating with leading manufacturers to launch innovative, sustainable and cutting-edge solutions that provide value to the Canadian agricultural industry and benefit its growers,” said Matthew Ottaway, senior vice president, global consumer solutions for Univar Solutions.

NexusBioAg is committed to launching innovative, cutting-edge products, with a focus on sustainability and regenerative agriculture, which benefit the Canadian agricultural industry and growers. MustGrow specializes in the research and development of organic biopesticides, harnessing the mustard seed’s natural defense mechanism with a technology that has the potential to control diseases, pests and weeds. Combining the proficiencies of both companies in the agriculture market will help Canadian growers benefit from innovative and sustainable farming solutions.

“We are very pleased to partner with an organization like NexusBioAg. Their team’s technical and commercial expertise is unparalleled and will be advantageous in accelerating the development and growth of TerraMG for use in Canadian canola and pulse crops. The NexusBioAg team has tremendous knowledge of the Canadian agriculture market as well as sustainable farming solutions. We look forward to commercializing this biopesticide technology in the Canadian market together,” remarked MustGrow COO Colin Bletsky.

For more information about NexusBioAg’s crop nutrition solutions, please visit nexusbioag.com. To learn more about TerraMG™, visit mustgrow.ca.

About Univar Solutions
Univar Solutions (NYSE: UNVR) is a leading global chemical and ingredient distributor representing a premier portfolio from the world’s leading producers. With the industry’s largest private transportation fleet and technical sales force, unparalleled logistics know-how, deep market and regulatory knowledge, formulation and recipe development, and leading digital tools, Univar Solutions is well-positioned to offer tailored solutions and value-added services to a wide range of markets, industries, and applications. While fulfilling its purpose to help keep communities healthy, fed, clean and safe, Univar Solutions is committed to helping customers and suppliers innovate and focus on Growing Together. Learn more at univarsolutions.com.

About NexusBioAg
Univar Solutions’ NexusBioAg provides an expanded portfolio of crop nutrition solutions, including industry-leading inoculants, micronutrients, nitrogen stabilizers, 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 best-in-class capabilities, a collaborative team-oriented approach, and a commitment to agricultural integrity, NexusBioAg is helping customers innovate and grow. Learn more at NexusBioAg.com.

About MustGrow
MustGrow is an agriculture biotech company developing organic biopesticides and bioherbicides by harnessing the natural defense mechanism of the mustard plant to protect the global food supply from diseases, insect pests, and weeds. MustGrow and its leading global partners — Janssen (pharmaceutical division of Johnson & Johnson), Bayer, Sumitomo Corporation, and Univar Solutions’ NexusBioAg — are developing mustard-based organic solutions to potentially replace harmful synthetic chemicals. Over 100 independent tests have been completed, validating MustGrow’s safe and effective approach to crop and food protection. Pending regulatory approval, MustGrow’s patented liquid products could be applied through injection, standard drip or spray equipment, improving functionality and performance features. Now a platform technology, MustGrow and its global partners are pursuing applications in several different industries from preplant soil treatment and weed control, to postharvest disease control and food preservation. MustGrow has approximately 49.2 million basic common shares issued and outstanding and 55.1 million shares fully diluted. For further details please visit mustgrow.ca.  

Univar Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain statements relating to future events and Univar Solutions’ intentions, beliefs, expectations, and predictions for the future, which are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond Univar Solutions’ control. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations and assumptions. A detailed discussion of these factors and uncertainties is contained in Univar Solutions’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Potential factors that could affect such forward-looking statements include, among others: the ultimate geographic spread of the COVID-19 pandemic; the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; actions that may be taken by governmental authorities to address or otherwise mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and Univar Solutions’ customers and suppliers; the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Univar Solutions’ business, results of operations and financial condition; other fluctuations in general economic conditions, particularly in industrial production and the demands of Univar Solutions’ customers; significant changes in the business strategies of producers or in the operations of Univar Solutions’ customers; increased competitive pressures, including as a result of competitor consolidation; significant changes in the pricing, demand and availability of chemicals; Univar Solutions’ levels of indebtedness, the restrictions imposed by Univar Solutions’ debt instruments, and Univar Solutions’ ability to obtain additional financing when needed; the broad spectrum of laws and regulations that we are subject to, including extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; an inability to integrate the business and systems of companies we acquire, including of Nexeo Solutions, Inc., or to realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions; potential business disruptions and security breaches, including cybersecurity incidents; an inability to generate sufficient working capital; increases in transportation and fuel costs and changes in Univar Solutions’ relationship with third party providers; accidents, safety failures, environmental damage, product quality and liability issues and recalls; major or systemic delivery failures involving Univar Solutions’ distribution network or the products we carry; operational risks for which we may not be adequately insured; ongoing litigation and other legal and regulatory risks; challenges associated with international operations; exposure to interest rate and currency fluctuations; potential impairment of goodwill; liabilities associated with acquisitions, ventures and strategic investments; negative developments affecting Univar Solutions’ pension plans and multi-employer pensions; labor disruptions associated with the unionized portion of Univar Solutions’ workforce; and the other factors described in Univar Solutions’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events or results and that actual events or results may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “continue” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Any forward-looking information presented herein is made only as of the date of this press release, and Univar Solutions does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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: (i) potential product approvals; (ii) anticipated actions by partners to drive field development work including dose rates, application frequency, application methods, and the regulatory work necessary for commercialization; (iii) expected product efficacy of MustGrow’s mustard-based technologies; and (iv) expected outcomes from collaborations with commercial partners.

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 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, among others, the following: (i) the preferences and choices of agricultural regulators with respect to product approval timelines; (ii) the ability of MustGrow’s partners to meet obligations under their respective agreements; and (iii) other risks described in more detail in MustGrow’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2021 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by MustGrow with the applicable securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. Readers are referred to such documents for more detailed information about MustGrow, which is subject to the qualifications, assumptions and notes set forth therein.

This release does not constitute an offer for sale of, nor a solicitation for offers to buy, any securities in the United States.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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