Posted by AGORACOM
at 9:33 AM on Wednesday, July 24th, 2019
Drilling at the C.O.D. North vein – 421m has been drilled in 7 holes
1,965m drilled in 32 holes on the main COD vein – Assays Due
Drill testing “Anomaly” at depths between 500 and 800 metres
The anomaly is interpreted as a pipe-like structure measuring 1834 by 1377m
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 24, 2019 / GGX
Gold Corp. (TSX-v: GGX), (OTCQB: GGXXF), (FRA: 3SR2) (the “Company†or
“GGXâ€) provides the following update on its exploration activities at
its Gold Drop property in the Greenwood Mining Camp.
Drilling resumed as of July 16 at the C.O.D. North vein. As of July
22, a total of 421 metres has been drilled in 7 holes on the COD North,
in addition to the total of 1,965 metres drilled in 32 holes on the main
COD vein. An initial batch of samples was submitted for analyses in
late June, but assays have not yet been received.
Preparations are also underway to drill a relatively deep hole on a
geophysical anomaly (refer to news release dated July 4). Drill rods and
bits have been purchased and a night shift drill crew has been
arranged. The drill site has been selected and verified by a
representative for Earth Science Services Corporation of Oshawa, Ontario
(ESSCO). The initial hole is planned to be drilled to test the target
zone at depths between 500 and 800 metres. The anomaly is interpreted as
a pipe-like structure that measures 1834 by 1377 metres.
The Company also announces that it has repriced the flow through
portion of its private placement originally announced on June 18, 2019.
The non brokered private placement will now be an offering of up to
4,000,000 flow through units at a price of Cdn$0.25 per unit for gross
proceeds of $1,000,000. Each flow-through unit will comprise one common
share (which is a flow-through share for Canadian income tax purposes)
and one-half share purchase warrant. Each whole flow-through warrant
will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share which is
not a flow-through share at the price of $0.35 for 18 months after
closing. The term of the warrants may be accelerated in the event that
the issuer’s shares trade at or above a price of $0.40 cents per share
for a period of 10 consecutive days. In such case of accelerated
warrants, the issuer may give notice, in writing or by way of news
release, to the subscribers that the warrants will expire 20 days from
the date of providing such notice. The proceeds of the private placement
will be used for continued exploration work including diamond drilling
and trenching at the Company’s Gold Drop property near Greenwood in
Southern British Columbia.
The terms of the non-flow through placement remain as announced on June 18, 2019.
A finder’s fee may be paid to eligible finders in accordance to the
TSX-V policies. All securities issued pursuant to the offering will be
subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of
closing. The offerings and payment of finders’ fees are both subject to
approval by the TSX-V.
David Martin, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National
Instrument 43-101 and consultant to the Company, approved the technical
information in this release.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors George Sookochoff, President, 604-488-3900 [email protected]
Posted by AGORACOM
at 8:24 AM on Wednesday, July 24th, 2019
FY 2019 revenue of $707,062; a 258% increase from the previous fiscal year withQ4 revenue for the Company of $234,553, representing a 1202% increase from Q4 FY 2018;
Launched multiple new products and expanded into the Beverage and Health / Wellness category with Remedi Spa and Remedi Beverage and Shot
Appointed Raymond W. Urbanski MD, PhD as Director and CEO; Added 3 PhDs and 5 scientists to its operational team; Launched the first Organic Human Quality Pet Treats under the HerbalPet bran
Los Angeles, California–(Newsfile Corp. – July 24, 2019) – Applied
BioSciences Corp. (OTCQB: APPB), a vertically integrated company focused
on the development of science-driven cannabinoid biopharmaceuticals and
the production of high-quality CBD products, as well as testing and
analytics, and pet health industries, today announced that it has
achieved a record revenue quarter with multiple milestones for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. The Company has continued to make
strategic investments in select brands and companies believed to be
innovators in the consumer space. The investment remains on the balance
sheet under “Equity Investments,” however the Company has begun a
strategic review of options for the remaining equity stake.
Q4 FY 2019 Financial and Operational Highlights
FY 2019 revenue of $707,062; a 258% increase from the previous fiscal year withQ4 revenue for the Company of $234,553, representing a 1202% increase from Q4 FY 2018;
Launched
multiple new products and expanded into the Beverage and Health /
Wellness category with Remedi Spa and Remedi Beverage and Shot;
Started initial pharmacokinetic safety study with a leading firm in the veterinary space;
Commenced
discussions regarding proposed scientific trials with two leading
Universities specializing in Veterinary Medicine; and
Announced
the acquisition of Trace Analytics with over 65 years of combined
experience in the global testing market for Cannabis and Hemp.
“Applied
BioSciences’ results in the fourth quarter mark another record revenue
quarter and solid revenue acceleration in our core products businesses.
This has led to a historic year in a dynamic and rapidly evolving and
growing space. We look forward to providing a corporate update and 2019
business outlook to the investor community on our strategy, milestones
and continued progress in the near term,” stated Dr. Raymond W.
Urbanski, CEO of Applied BioSciences.
Subsequent to Q4 2019
Appointed Raymond W. Urbanski MD, PhD as Director and CEO;
Added 3 PhDs and 5 scientists to its operational team;
Launched the first Organic Human Quality Pet Treats under the HerbalPet brand; and
Appointed
Martin Schroeder to the Scientific Advisory Board and as President of
Applied BioPharma. Mr. Schroeder has over 30 years of experience in the
pharmaceutical and biotech industries and has helped many biotech and
pharmaceutical companies conduct search and evaluation of compounds and
molecules.
“Applied BioSciences continues to be at the
forefront of the evolving consumer and testing market, using organically
grown plants, without pesticides or herbicides as our main ingredient.
As the Company, continues to expand our product lines it is important
to know that our products have been thoroughly tested by trusted labs in
the industry for chemicals, pesticides and any harmful materials. All
our products are tested to ensure high-caliber and quality as well as
overall safety. We will now be able to test our products in an expedited
fashion as well as from third-party labs and continue to provide the
highest standard of testing results and safety protocols on all our
products,” commented JJ Southard, Vice President of Applied BioSciences
Corp.
About Applied BioSciences Corp.
Applied BioSciences Corp. (www.appliedbiocorp.com),
is a diversified company focused on multiple areas of the medical,
bioceutical and pet health industry. As a leading company in the CBD and
Pet health space, the company is currently shipping to the majority of
US states as well as to 5 International countries. The company is
focused on select investment, consumer brands, and partnership
opportunities in the medical, health and wellness, nutraceutical, and
media industries.
About Trace Analytics Inc.
Trace
Analytics Inc. is a leading cannabis and hemp science and technology
company with significant footprints in lab testing, research and
development and licensing. Trace Analytics was started by a group of
scientists who specialized in analytical chemistry, genetics and
molecular biology. The focus of the team is to ensure compliance with
public safety standards and end user safety. Trace Analytics is in the
process of expanding throughout the United States, and globally. With
the goal of helping the rest of the world adopt “best practices” in
cannabis and hemp testing, the company also provides expert consulting
services to legislators and regulators in many countries, states and
municipalities around the world. For more information, please visit:
http://traceanalytics.com
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 2:49 PM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019
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5 Essential Cannabis Trends You Can’t Afford to Miss
New research indicates these events will drive the global cannabis market.
Until recently, the cannabis market was dominated by THC products, but now CBD is on everyone’s lips. What happened? In 2018, two regulatory events changed the direction and growth trajectory for the cannabis market. Troy Dayton and Roy Bingham
Figuring out where the cannabis industry is heading next is no easy
task. The industry is filled with a seemingly daily deluge of noise and
breaking news. But there are a handful of trends and events you should
keep an eye on. Arcview Market Research in partnership with BDS Analytics has discovered key data points that reveal some of the big industry levers shaping things to come.
1. CBD will take center stage.
Until recently, the cannabis market was dominated by THC products,
but now CBD is on everyone’s lips. What happened? In 2018, two
regulatory events changed the direction and growth trajectory for the
cannabis market.
First, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) approved GW
Pharmaceutical’s seizure medication, Epidiolex, the first CBD
pharmaceutical-grade drug.
Second, hemp (the cannabis plant high in CBD and low in THC) was legalized for commercial production across the U.S.
Pharmaceutical companies have since unleashed numerous studies and
clinical trials — racing to isolate treatments for a diversity of
diseases – from cancer to sleep disorders. And, due to less government
restrictions placed on CBD, cannabis dispensaries no longer hold domain
over the sale of cannabis products.
Over time, fortune 500 companies will stampede into the CBD market.
In many U.S. markets, general retail stores are now free to stock
hemp-based products. And as creams, craft beer, and other CBD infused
products make their way onto grocery store shelves in growing numbers,
licensed dispensaries will be pushed to stay competitive.
Just how big is the U.S. CBD market expected to get?
Our research shows that CBD spending will grow from $1.9 billion in
2018 to a forecast of $20.1 billion by 2024. Include THC sales in the
number, and the total U.S. cannabinoid market will soar from $10.5 in
2018 to $44.8 billion as we turn the calendar to 2024.
This is a 49 percent compound annual growth rate forecast for cannabis and hemp-derived CBD products.
2. Eased regulations will be a catalyst for the cannabis market.
Fear of federal prosecution, the inability to easily use every-day
banking services (including depositing money), and little clarity around
CBD as a food additive, has been deadweights for the U.S cannabis
industry. However, two ground-breaking pieces of legislation are working
their way through the legislative labyrinth that should remedy these
problems.
First is an amendment to the STATES Act that will exempt the state’s
legal activities from the Controlled Substances Act (which classifies
cannabis as a Schedule 1 substance). The STATES Act would effectively
ease federal cannabis prohibition by ceding the regulation of cannabis
to the state level. Secondly, the SAFE Banking Act — which would allow
federally chartered banks the ability to accept money from state-legal
cannabis businesses.
On the CBD front, the FDA is under pressure to regulate and confirm
the rules of the game. Once these guidelines are announced, they are
likely to be the trigger for mass adoption of CBD.
3. Canada is still a significant player, but there are clouds on the horizon.
Canada’s historic legalization of adult-use cannabis last year
quickly spawned the world’s largest cannabis companies. Our research
indicates that by 2024, the Canadian adult-use market will expand to
almost $4.8 billion from $113.5 million (in the partial year of 2018).
In the short term, limitations on distribution and the marketing of
edibles and concentrates are likely to hamper growth. However,
regulations are expected to ease in October. But it will take suppliers
several months, maybe even years, to catch up with the product selection
and branding strategies, which are the chief drivers of U.S. market
growth.
The success of the continued retail roll-out and the federal election
in October could potentially dampen the Canadian growth story. Should
the liberals be ousted at the polling booths, a change in government
policy may curtail the growth trajectory.
4. Other countries will get in the game.
The global expansion of medical cannabis is attracting investor
attention. Our research shows that the international markets’
contribution to global legal sales will rise from 4.7 percent to 13.2
percent between 2018 and 2024. That’s a not inconsequential 33 percent
compound annual growth rate through the period.
Internationally, Germany leads the pack, making Europe the leading
region. But Uruguay’s pioneering legal adult-use, Luxembourg, Mexico,
and New Zealand could also have adult-use sales by 2024.
Reforms in Asia and Africa are also afoot. Patients in South Korea
and Thailand will gain access to medical cannabis treatments — albeit
highly restricted. And Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are
all in various stages of program development.
But, as a consequence of the opening up of these markets, there may
be a shift in the migration of production to regions like Africa and
Latin America. Canadian LPs could be left with stranded assets
5. Money will flow to M&As, as companies specialize and rationalize operations.
In two short years, an industry starved for funding is now seeing
billion-dollar deals. But the availability of money is becoming less
significant. Now it’s about how it will be spent.
Vertically integrated companies are buying out other operations for
scale, and the start of a trend towards diversification and
specialization is underway.
Over the medium term, a second wave of M&A to ‘rationalize assets’ (i.e.
match a firm’s investment in various types of assets to its projected
requirements, for achieving optimum ROI) may follow. Companies in
maturing industries usually work out what they are best at and divest
operations to those better suited to operate these.
Once federal prohibition ends, it’s also no stretch to imagine the
mainstream industry giants stepping in and buying out cannabis
companies. Courageous entrepreneurs will be richly rewarded for having
built attractive take-out targets.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019
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The number of electric car models on the European market is set to more than triple in the next three years
European Union will jump from around 60 models available at end-2018 to a total of 214 battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and fuel cell (FCEV) models in 2021
Production of EVs in Europe is set to surge six-fold between 2019 and 2025, reaching more than 4 million cars and vans
The
next two years are likely to be the tipping point for electric vehicles
(EVs) going mainstream in Europe, as the number of electric car models
on the European market is set to more than triple in the next three
years, Transport & Environment (T&E), Europe’s leading clean
transport campaign group, says in a new analysis.
According
to T&E, which analyzed the upcoming offerings using data from
authoritative industry source IHS Markit, the number of EV models made
across the European Union (EU) will jump from around 60 models available
at end-2018 to a total of 214 battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid
(PHEV), and fuel cell (FCEV) models in 2021, and further up to 333
models in 2025.
“Until
recently, the EV market was limited to a niche of early adopters but
tomorrow’s landscape will be very different as EVs enter a new phase and
near the mass market,†the report from T&E says.
Based
on IHS Markit’s light vehicle production forecast data and in-house
T&E analysis, the production of EVs in Europe is set to surge
six-fold between 2019 and 2025, reaching more than 4 million cars and
vans. This production volume would account more than a fifth of the EU
car production volumes.
EV
manufacturing will be replacing diesel-fueled car making across Europe,
with the largest production sites in western Europe—Germany, France,
Spain, and Italy, T&E’s analysis shows. In central and eastern
Europe, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary are also expected to
be significant EV production centers.
EV
production volumes forecasts for the UK are currently highly uncertain
because electric car manufacturing growth could easily be reversed in a
no-deal Brexit scenario, according to the analysis.
All
major European carmakers, including Germany’s Volkswagen, BMW, and
Daimler, France’s PSA, and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance are
expected to roll out a number of EVs in Europe. Fiat Chrysler, Ford, and
Tesla will also offer new models in Europe by 2025, the report showed. Related: Gloomy Investor Sentiment Darkens Outlook For Oil & Gas
“Thanks
to the EU car CO2 standards, Europe is about to see a wave of new,
longer range, and more affordable electric cars hit the market. That is
good news but the job is not yet done. We need governments to help roll
out EV charging at home and at work, and we need changes to car taxation
to make electric cars even more attractive than polluting diesels,
petrols or poor plug-in hybrid vehicles,†Lucien Mathieu, transport and
e-mobility analyst at T&E, said.
“This
is a pivotal moment for Europe’s automotive industry,†Mathieu added,
noting that carmakers are investing a combined US$163 billion (145
billion euro) in electrification, and “battery making is finally coming
to Europe.â€
“We
need to send a clear signal to industry that there is no way back, and
agree a phase-out of petrol and diesel car sales in cities, at national
and EU level. The age of the combustion engine is coming to an end,â€
Mathieu concluded.
Sales of EVs in Europe are growing, and the undisputed leader in terms of market penetration is Norway, which is not a member of the EU.
For the first time ever, EV sales in Norway in March outstripped sales
of gasoline and diesel cars combined, confirming the Nordic country’s
undisputed global leadership in EV market share. The nearly 60-percent
record EV market share in March was driven by two key factors—Norway’s
consistent government policies in incentivizing purchases of
zero-emission cars and a record number of Tesla Model 3 deliveries in
March.
Norway may have a population of just 5.3 million people, but it is an important market for all EV makers, especially for Tesla. This importance is also recognized by Elon Musk who retweeted with heart emoticons Norway’s sales numbers for March.
In
the United States, the absolute number of EV sales is still tiny
compared to the overall market. Yet new registrations of fully EVs in
the United States hit a record 208,000 cars in 2018, more than double the new registrations in 2017, IHS Markit said in an analysis earlier this year.
The EV market will grow in the United States and in the world, the analysis says,
but adds that one thing is clear: “the internal combustion engine is
not going away any time soon, with IHS Markit forecasters anticipating
them to continue to dominate the global market until past 2030.â€
SOURCE: By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Electric-Vehicle-Sales-Are-Exploding-In-Europe.html
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019
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EGLX: TSX-V ———————————-
Las Vegas Esports arena evolving with latest gaming trends
“It’s almost like an actual sports stadium feel,†General Manager Nico DeGeorge said. “We want people to have that awe-inspiring moment like when they go to Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park.â€
Prior to the opening of the Triple Crown
Royale at the HyperX Esports Arena at Luxor, employees were buzzing
about a new opening hype video.
The video showcased not only the arena’s
production capabilities but was a step toward proving this isn’t your
ordinary video game gathering spot.
“It’s almost like an actual sports stadium
feel,†General Manager Nico DeGeorge said. “We want people to have that
awe-inspiring moment like when they go to Yankee Stadium or Fenway
Park.â€
When the HyperX Esports Arena hosted the
Triple Crown Royale, it featured three of the most popular battle royale
games, Fortnite, Apex Legends and PUBG.
Several professional gamers took part in the event, as well as local players and gamers from across the country.
“We wanted to make it open to the fans,â€
NewEgg’s Vice President of Marketing, Mitesh Patel said. “Yet, we also
wanted to leverage our relationship with so-called influencers and give
people the opportunity to play with and compete against these
professionals. The arena allows us to give gamers a chance to play with
professionals on the same type of equipment that the professionals play
with.â€
The tournament featured two groups of players that competed in each game.
Organizers pulled out all the stops, including commentators, multiple cameras and giveaways.
“Right now, we see esports on more of a
local, community level,†DeGeorge said. “Now, the broad focus is
broadcast in general, being more content driven.â€
Since its opening, the arena has held several events.
“We’re putting more effort into the content
space and it’s also helping make people more aware of esports,†DeGeorge
said. “We have people walk in here every day and try and figure out
what’s going on. Events like this can be something fun and informative
as well.â€
Posted by AGORACOM
at 11:06 AM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019
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Next level for gold is $1500
Ray Dalio, Billionaire hedge fund manager pro gold
Potential interest rate cuts gold positive
Now that gold has broken through the $1,450 an ounce level, a six-high year high, the next big test is $1,500. And as I’ve said before, it can do this in the blink of an eye under the right conditions.
We may end up seeing those conditions emerge sooner rather than later.
Last Thursday, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John
Williams seemed to indicate that a rate cut could be expected later this
month, saying that central bankers need to “act quickly†as economic
growth cools. Although he later clarified his comment, claiming he was
simply citing research and not forecasting central bank action, the
price of gold jumped as much as 2 percent on the news before closing
above $1,440 for the first time since May 2013.
Investors took some profits last Friday, knocking the price down
around 1 percent after gold started to look overbought a day earlier.
The metal was up two standard deviations over the past 60 trading days,
its highest level since April 2016. I would consider each pullback such
as this a buying opportunity, though, because I believe the best is yet
to come for the metal.
Gold Price Up Two Standard Deviations
U.S. Global Investors
Ray Dalio seems to agree. In a lengthy post on LinkedIn—Dalio’s
favorite platform for getting the word out—the billionaire hedge fund
manager writes that he thinks we’re on the verge of a new economic
paradigm shift and that central banks’ accommodative policies, from low
rates to quantitative easing (QE), are unsustainable. To hedge against
this, Dalio says, “I believe that it would be both risk-reducing and
return-enhancing to consider adding gold to one’s portfolio.†Most
investors are underweighted in gold, “meaning that if they just wanted
to have a better balanced portfolio to reduce risk, they would have more
of this sort of asset,†he writes.
A Monster Rally for Juniors
Select junior and micro-cap gold and precious metal miners also
posted very strong growth over the past week, mostly on positive
drilling results. In a press release dated July 15, Brixton Metals
announced encouraging results at its wholly owned Thorn
Gold-Copper-Silver Project in British Columbia. Gary Thompson, chairman
and CEO of the Vancouver-based explorer and developer, said that Brixton
“continues to unlock a mountain of value†at the property, which
exhibits even greater mineralization than was previously thought.
Junior Miners Had a Strong Week
U.S. Global Investors
As for silver, I’m pleased to see that it’s finally playing “catch
up†to gold, its price having hit a 52-week high after an incredible six
straight days of gains.
Silver Is Trying to Narrow Its Gap With Gold
U.S. Global Investors
The Bullish Calls on Gold Continue
With gold having already broken out of its five-year trading range, is the best still yet to come?
I believe it is. And I’m not alone. Read what some analysts and strategists have to say:
Alpine Macro
“The Fed is getting ready to cut interest rates, which should set in
motion a multi-year bear market in the dollar,†write analysts at Alpine
Macro in a research note dated June 28. A weaker U.S. dollar is one of
three “key ingredients†for a bull market, according to Alpine Macro,
the other two being a more accommodative Fed and rising geopolitical
risks.
“The technical break above $1,400 an ounce is a positive sign,†the
firm adds. “New all-time highs for gold should be seen in the coming
years.â€
World Gold Council (WGC)
“The prospect of lower interest rates should support gold investment
demand,†the World Gold Council (WGC) says in its mid-year outlook. “Our
research indicates that the gold price was higher in the 12 months
following the end of a tightening cycle. Moreover, historical gold
returns are more than twice their long-term average during periods of
negative real rates—like the one we are likely to see later this year.â€
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
“We continue to see no signs of rate hikes on the horizon over the
next several years, and historically have seen gold continue on an
upward trajectory beyond the last rate cut,†writes CIBC in a note dated
July 14.
The bank points out that in two previous gold bull market cycles—in
the 1970s and 2000s—negative real rates were the main contributing
factor.
“During the last two major periods when real rates stayed below the 2
percent level and actually ticked into negative territory, the gold
price moved over 320 percent in the 1970s… and approximately 400 percent
from 2004 to peak in 2011.â€
For full disclosures pertaining to this post click here.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:09 AM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019
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BTRU: TSX-V
————————
Six Quick Things You Should Know About the Edtech Marketplace
Students gather around a table during a plumbing class at an IACM
Smart Learn Ltd. learning center in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, Oct.
10, 2017. Photographer: Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg
By: Derek Newton
Investors continue to be enticed by education technology companies and products.
So much so that edtech investment isn’t a fringe pastime anymore, it’s grown into a robust, big market that, according to education research firm HolonIQ, will surpass $7.5 billion this year.
They say some 400 deals have moved more than $3.5 billion already this year with a whopping 90 deals north of $5 million in funding.
While the movement of capital to and among edtech projects is
substantive, investors still make some mind-numbing mistakes such as
depending on technologies that aren’t practical, sales cycles that can’t
exist or, even more common, market forces that don’t apply to
education.
Nonetheless, whether you’re an investor or an observer, here are a few things you may want to know about the edtech marketplace.
The US is Flat
The U.S. edtech market is remarkably stable in terms of spending and
enrollment demand. There are a few demographic crests and troughs
expected over the next ten to fifteen years but nothing outside 5% in
either direction. And for the past five years, edtech investment in
American markets has been stable too – never more than $1.6 billion, not
less than $1.0 billion.
The Demand is Global
It’s not just that the American market is tepid, the growth is elsewhere.
According to HolonIQ,
70% of the global investment in education technology took place in just
two markets – India and China. Four of the five largest investment
deals in edtech so far this year have been logged in China. Their report
says matter-of-factly, “The US and Europe will steadily lose ground to
China and India†over the next 20 years.
Pivot to Workforce
More and more companies that launched as education reformers intent
on creating market change by design, technology or pedagogy are shifting to workforce training
instead, banking on demand for lifetime learning, a constant need to
retrain or refresh workers on technology skills. In many cases, the long
sales cycles and lack of demand have stalled the early projections.
Outside the Classroom
Most of the successful technology innovations in education will be outside the classroom. According to a 2016 report by McKinsey,
“Educational Services†was the least vulnerable sector to technology
disruption and automation. “The importance of human interaction is
evident in two sectors that, so far, have a relatively low technical
potential for automation: healthcare and education,†it read.
That doesn’t mean the door is closed. It’s somewhat open outside the
classroom. “27 percent of the activities in education—primarily those
that happen outside the classroom or on the sidelines—have the potential
to be automated with demonstrated technologies,†McKinsey said.
Online Higher Ed is Splitting
While enrollment in online higher ed classes continues to increase,
the pool of students is bifurcating. Competition for enrollment online
is increasingly being narrowed to two concerns – global brands that can
compete anywhere and hyper-local ones.
According to the 2019 Online College Students Report by Learning House,
a Wiley brand, more and more students who study online are doing it
closer and closer to home. “When this study was first conducted in 2012,
44% of online college students chose a school within 50 miles of their
residence. However, in 2019, 67% of online college students are
enrolling at schools within 50 miles of their residence, and 44% of
those students live within 25 miles of their school,†the report said.
Coding and STEM Skills Merging
Discrete, tech-heavy skills such as coding are increasingly being rolled into existing education offerings
by established education providers. Mergers, take-overs or expanded
offerings by community colleges and even four-year schools will expand
and stand-alone, bootcamp-style models will struggle due to increased
competition, lack of scale, non-competitive branding and lack of access
to federal student funding support.
This convergence is taking place against the backdrop of a repeated
employer surveys showing that so-called soft skills such as writing,
teamwork and flexibility are as important as the hard skills of coding,
for example.
Unfortunately, these quick points don’t easily melt into a neat
package of what’s happening in edtech. Nonetheless, a few themes emerge.
For example, investors who don’t think and look globally may be missing
the biggest growth opportunities. Another is that, in the U.S. at
least, innovations designed to work outside the classroom and/or support
career training may be better bets than those intended to change
teaching or compete with or disrupt established education norms.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 9:07 AM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019
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CBD-derived beauty, personal care and pet brands, among others, have made their way into national retail chains like Walgreens, Sephora and American Eagle Outfitters.
Industry experts say regulatory uncertainty and the young age of the category could result in more minority investments than buyouts in the near term.
With fewer restrictions than ever, buyers are increasingly curious about the smoking hot CBD-infused consumer products space, but industry experts say remaining regulatory uncertainty and the young age of the category could result in more minority investments than buyouts in the near term.
The inflection point for bringing CBD, or the non-psychoactive part of the cannabis plant, into the mainstream was the passage of
the 2018 US Farm Bill last December, which lifted restrictions on
selling hemp-derived products across state lines. Since then,
CBD-derived beauty, personal care and pet brands, among others, have
made their way into national retail chains like Walgreens, Sephora and American Eagle Outfitters.
CBD oil hemp products, Medicinal cannabis with extract oil in a bottle on a wooden table. Medical cannabis concept
Getty
Michael Lux, a Denver-based Partner at accounting firm Crowe,
said he expects strategic minority investments to make up the bulk of
CBD’s activity over the next 6-12 months. Although many of the
industry’s players are “growing like weeds,†he explained that most are
younger than five years old and not ready to explore full exits.
Despite the category’s youth, Lux said interest from consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies has been “very high,†and noted that many of his firm’s CBD-based consumer clients have been approached for strategic investments, as well as research and retail partnerships.
However, one industry banker cautioned that “it will be a bit offâ€
before the market can expect to see acquisitions from traditional CPG
groups, particularly for ingestible products like beverages and edibles,
since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still working to create
a regulatory framework for CBD.
Earlier this week, the FDA announced that
it is expediting its effort to create clearer guidelines for CBD, which
is believed to have healing property for a range of conditions,
including inflammation and anxiety. The department plans to publish a
report on its progress by early fall.
In the meantime, companies who operate in the personal care space,
with products like CBD-infused topical creams, beauty products and
tinctures, are more likely to receive strategic investments, said the
banker and a second banker interviewed for this report. Both noted that
regulators are more comfortable with non-digestible products, making
them a less risky investment.
Canadian cannabis companies, many of which have dual listings on the
Canadian and US stock exchanges, are especially likely to invest in US
CBD brands in the near term, each of the sources said. They explained
that these businesses provide entry into the US market without
jeopardizing their US listings, since THC is still federally illegal in
the US.
CBD stands for cannabiodil and lacks the psychoactive properties of
THC (which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol). Both naturally occur in
marijuana/hemp and the farm bill legalized hemp products with only low
concentrations of THC.
Seattle-based Lazarus Naturals, which was founded in
2014 and sells CBD-based supplements and personal care products, is one
such company. In an April interview with Mergermarket, CEO
Sequoia Price-Lazarus said the business has received approaches from
publicly-traded Canadian cannabis companies. Though not pursuing a sale,
the executive said the company is considering raising up to $20 million
in growth capital this year.
Cannabis producer Canopy Growth’sacquisition of London-based natural skincare company This Works in May was more evidence of hemp producers’ interest in the personal care space.
While some financial sponsors, such as Seattle-based Privateer Holdings, were built specifically to invest in CBD and cannabis brands, each of the sources said most US financial sponsors would be barred from investing in the category since most existing funds restrict investments in the space. Lux said he has “heard of a few†sponsors who are interested in raising CBD-friendly funds, but noted that this could take a significant amount of time.
Strategic buyers across a range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, consumer products and food and beverage, are expected to show interest in acquiring CBD brands once FDA regulations become more clear, but in the meantime, activity will be limited to minority investments, particularly from Canada, each of the sources agreed.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:36 AM on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019
MCOA:OTCQB
Company began sign-ups for Viva Buds Inc., a cannabis delivery service developed with joint venture partner Natural Plant Extracts of California
Viva Buds’ staff and marketing team have successfully initiated the prelaunch for prospective customers ahead of its official 2019 launch date.
ESCONDIDO, Calif., July 23, 2019 — via NetworkWire - MARIJUANA COMPANY OF AMERICA INC. (“MCOA†or the “Companyâ€) (OTCQB: MCOA), an innovative hemp and cannabis corporation, is pleased to announce the prelaunch of cannabis delivery service Viva Buds Inc. in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California, with sign-ups now available on its website at https://vivabuds.com.
Viva Buds’ staff and marketing team have successfully initiated the
prelaunch for prospective customers ahead of its official 2019 launch
date. By signing up for free for the Viva Buds prelaunch, customers will
have the opportunity to make referrals before the actual launch date.
Viva Buds will offer customers a dynamic opportunity to purchase
low-cost premium cannabis products and utilize the “call your friendâ€
approach to build their own personal business. Viva Buds will have its
own user-friendly app and will utilize its strategic partnership with
MassRoots Inc. to reach out to thousands of its social media followers,
beginning in the San Fernando Valley.
In March, Natural Plant Extracts of California (“NPEâ€) and MCOA
announced they had established a joint venture to form Viva Buds,
sharing the net profits on a 50-50 basis. NPE will manage all operations
pertaining to distribution, manufacturing and delivery of cannabis
products, and MCOA will provide capital, consulting and marketing
services. Additionally, MCOA is the direct owner of 20% of NPE.
“Our management team is excited to provide this innovative
opportunity to future customers of Viva Buds in one of the largest U.S.
markets for recreational cannabis,†said Mr. Don Steinberg, CEO of
Marijuana Company of America.
“We are excited to be a partner in what we believe will be a game
changing and disruptive delivery model in the marketplace,†said Mr.
Alan Tsai, CEO of Natural Plant Extracts of California. “We offer an
incentivized program that is mutually beneficial for our customers as
well as the company. We are confident this adds a lot of unique value
and will position Viva Buds as a key player in the delivery sector.â€
About Marijuana Company of America, Inc. MCOA is a
corporation that participates in: (1) product research and development
of legal hemp-based consumer products under the brand name “hempSMART™â€,
that targets general health and well-being; (2) an affiliate marketing
program to promote and sell its legal hemp-based consumer products
containing CBD; (3) leasing of real property to separate business
entities engaged in the growth and sale of cannabis in those states and
jurisdictions where cannabis has been legalized and properly regulated
for medicinal and recreational use; and, (4) the expansion of its
business into ancillary areas of the legalized cannabis and hemp
industry, as the legalized markets and opportunities in this segment
mature and develop.
About Our hempSMART Products Containing CBD The
United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized CBD
as a safe and effective drug for any indication. Our products containing
CBD derived from industrial hemp are not marketed or sold based upon
claims that their use is safe and effective treatment for any medical
condition as drugs or dietary supplements subject to the FDA’s
jurisdiction.
About Natural Plant Extracts of California NPE
is a fully licensed cannabis manufacturing, distribution and non-store
front retail delivery. The Company has secured its licenses with the
state of California and city of Lynwood, CA. For more information about
the Company, please visit its website at https://nldistribution.com The
owners and founders of NPE are marijuana industry veterans with decades
of experience in establishing retail, manufacturing and distribution of
cannabis in California, including obtaining the first retail dispensary
licenses in Los Angeles, CA.
Legal Status of Cannabis While legalized in
California for recreational and medicinal use, cannabis remains a
Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 811)
and illegal under the federal law.
Forward Looking Statements This news
release contains “forward-looking statements” which are not purely
historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans,
expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking
statements include, among other things, the development, costs and
results of new business opportunities and words such as “anticipate”,
“seek”, intend”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, or
similar phrases may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual
results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking
statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others,
the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S.
and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company’s
reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of
cannabis-based products. These forward-looking statements are made as of
the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update
the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual
results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking
statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations
and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can
be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or
intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of
the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk
factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-12G, our
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from
time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more
information, please visit www.sec.gov.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 9:00 PM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019
betterU and NSDC officially launched their partnership on July 15th, World Youth Skill Day in Delhi India. This partnership will support efforts to Skill India. Through collaboration, betterU and NSDC will work together to further develop programs to support each industry.
During the media conference, betterU also announced the launch of their Mobile App
and Upskill Engine that will put the world’s education in the hands of
anyone across India and help support efforts for individualized
learning.
