Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:21 PM on Thursday, April 11th, 2019
SPONSOR: Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSX-V: EGLX) Uniting gaming communities with 80 owned and affiliated websites, currently reaching over 75 million monthly visitors. The company’s partial 2018 (first 9 months) revenue of $7.4 million representing a 625% increase over the same period in 2017.
EGLX: TSX-V ———————————-
Chinese esports expected to be worth £2.3bn by 2020
According to the report from CCTV, the Chinese esports market reached 8.48bn RMB (£960m) in 2018, and the total output value of Chinese esports industry is expected to reach ¥21.1 bn RMB (£2.3bn) by 2020.
China’s prominent state television broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported the current state of the Chinese esports market and expectations for the future of the industry.
According to the report from CCTV,
the Chinese esports market reached 8.48bn RMB (£960m) in 2018, and the
total output value of Chinese esports industry is expected to reach
¥21.1 bn RMB (£2.3bn) by 2020. CCTV also reported that there are over
50,000 working in the industry — a number which is expected to increase
to past 250,000 by 2020.
Bang Xu, the vice president of Tomorrowland Esports Ltd,
told to CCTV that: “Three years ago, it may have taken two or three
months to get one or two applicants for the director of an esports
league. The number of esports leagues in 2016 was just less than 10. At
present, we may have dozens of applicants in a month, and the number of
esports leagues has exceeded 100.
“Although
more and more people are willing to engage in the esports industry,
esports talents are still in short supply compared to the speed of the
industry development.â€
To meet the
demand from the esports industry, numerous Chinese colleges have opened
esports related courses to cultivate talents across different areas
including event management, event operation, esports broadcasting and
esports streaming.
“Esports talents are still in short supply compared to the speed of the industry developmentâ€
Besides
adding esports majors to education, the Chinese government is also
trying to raise public awareness of esports as a whole. On Apr.3, the Chinese government officially confirmed
“esports operator†and “esports player†as two new professions in the
country. With support from the government, Chinese esports lovers are
more confident to engage in the industry and contribute to the
development of Chinese esports.
Esports
Insider says: “The Chinese government have noticed the great potential
in China’s esports market and they are trying to develop it deeply. With
announcements of multiple policies for Chinese esports industry, we may
see how Chinese practitioners can effectively utilise the country’s
support to develop the esports industry.â€
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 2:32 PM on Thursday, April 11th, 2019
SPONSOR: North Bud Farms Inc. (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high
quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both
bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Click Here For More Information
NBUD: CSE
—————
Highs & Lows: Ontario’s First Week of Cannabis Retail
Business got off to a roaring start
The stores drew long lines of cannabis enthusiasts and curiosity seekers. Some people stood in line for hours and at least one went further.
Five and a half months after Canada became the first G7 nation and
the second country in the world to pass legislation legalizing
recreational cannabis, the first brick-and-mortar stores opened in
Ontario. Nine stores opened for business on April 1, the government-designated date. One opened six days later.
Here are the highs and lows of cannabis retail in Week One.
Highs
Business got off to a roaring start. The stores drew long lines of
cannabis enthusiasts and curiosity seekers. Some people stood in line
for hours and at least one went further. Caryma’ Sa’d set up a pup tent outside The Hunny Pot in downtown Toronto almost 24 hours before the store opened its doors Monday morning.
“Someone had to be first in line so why not me? My office is just
down the street and I do have a professional interest in what’s going on
here,†Sa’d, a lawyer who specializes in cases where cannabis issues
intersect with criminal law and landlord-tenant law, told Leafly. “It’s a
historic moment.â€
7/10 Ontario stores that opened Apr. 1 recorded an average of $50,913 in sales and 867 transactions.
Cova Software
“I haven’t been able to purchase cannabis from the Ontario Cannabis
Store website [which launched in October] because I have a Visa debit
card and that doesn’t work on the site,†she added. “I’m also mindful
that people who don’t have fixed addresses or don’t have computer
literacy also haven’t been able to purchase cannabis online—and they are
some of our most vulnerable community members.â€
The budtenders at The Hunny Pot had background knowledge and
experience in cannabis and made some good recommendations,†she said,
adding that she had purchased her a gram of her go-to strain, Tangerine Dream.
The Hunny Pot, the only cannabis store to open in Toronto on Apr. 1, was jammed with customers for the next four days.
He was just one of many cannabis consumers who was high on the excitement of the day.
Sales were brisk on Day One. According to Cova Software, an American
cannabis retail software provider that serves 100 stores in Canada,
seven of the ten Ontario stores that opened Apr. 1 recorded an average
of $50,913 in sales and 867 transactions. Other Canadian stores that are
tracked by Cova averaged $4,976 in sales per day and 111 transactions
over the first quarter of this year.
Cova’s chief executive officer, Gary Cohen, said sales in Ontario
exceeded expectations. “When you think of what the stores in other parts
of the country looked like, compared to what we’re seeing in Ontario,â€
he told Bloomberg News, “Ontario is just on a bigger scale.â€
It’s amazing to see it come to life after all the work we’ve put in the last couple of months.
Hunny Gawri, Hunny Pot
None were more enthusiastic about the stores’ robust sales than the
owners, each of whom had won the right to apply for a cannabis retail
license through a government-run lottery.
“It’s amazing to see it come to life after all the work we’ve put in
the last couple of months,†Hunny Gawri, the owner of Hunny Pot, told
Leafly. “The last few months have been a challenge, but a fun
challenge.â€
Photos by Jesse Milns for Leafly
“I’m happy with the way the day has gone,†Clint Seukeran, the owner of Ganjika House
in Brampton, ON., told Leafly. “We had a couple of issues with software
early on but other than that, everything is going according to plan. I
think the customers are having a fantastic experience.â€
This resulted in such high demand at the stores that did open, there
were concerns about supply shortages. When he was asked about the
possibility of running out of product at The Hunny Pot, Gawri gave an
equivocal response. “It’s hard to say,†he told The Canadian Press.
A consultant affiliated with Ameri,
a store that opened in the upscale Toronto neighbourhood of Yorkville
on Apr. 7, did his best to allay concerns. “We have more than enough
product. There’s no need to panic to come down and buy product,†he said. He requested his last name not be used because of concerns crossing the Canada-US border.
While some cannabis consumers fretted over possible product
shortages, others raised concerns about accessibility. Not all the
stores were prepared to accommodate customers with limited mobility—no
small glitch considering the high number of consumers who use cannabis
for therapeutic purposes.
The Hunny Pot said it had a ramp that customers on wheelchairs,
scooters and other wheel-assisted devices could use to enter the
building but none was spotted. As a result, some customers faced
challenges entering the building and moving around the multi-level
store. About 400 kilometres east, in Ottawa, Fire & Flower,
didn’t have an accessibility ramp either. Representatives of both
stores say they plan to make their outlets more accessible, in
compliance with Ontario law.
“I’m not sure what accommodations are in place at these stores. I
think that is something we should all turn our mind to,†said Sa’d.
“That being said, I’m excited about having our first brick-and-mortar
stores,†she said. “But we have a long way to go.â€
Chegg eyes India for next level growth, aims to cash in on edtech boom
Santa Clara-based education technology (edtech) major Chegg is eyeing India for its next level of growth.
Company is studying the market, including other edtech firms, to gauge the feasibility of starting operations in the country.
Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, it is a major player in the connected learning or online education space.
It has a subscription-based model for college students, offering
study help, writing and learning tools, tutoring and text book rental.
Currently, India is one of the biggest markets for Chegg for
talent and content acquisition, and is employing more than 500 people
for the same. In addition to its full-time employees, they also have a
network of 80,000 qualified experts and students.
“For us, Chegg India is
the hub of content and talent. Also, a chunk of our back end
engineering teams that power our technology platform are based out of
India. It remains one of the most attractive markets beyond the US, and
we will continue to evaluate options,†said Nathan Schultz, president of
learning services at Chegg.
The company said that it has over 3.1 million paid subscribers in the US, an increase of 38 per cent year-on-year.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 11th, 2019
SPONSOR: ThreeD Capital Inc. (IDK:CSE) Led by
legendary financier, Sheldon Inwentash, ThreeD is a Canadian-based
venture capital firm that only invests in best of breed small-cap
companies which are both defensible and mass scalable. More than just
lip service, Inwentash has financed many of Canada’s biggest small-cap
exits. Click Here For More Information.
———————
Will Technical Factors Push Bitcoin To $50,000 In The Coming Years?
Bitcoin could could experience a parabolic bull run to $50,000, climbing more than 800% from current prices, says a prominent technical analyst.
Veteran trader Peter Brandt recently made a bold prediction, stating that bitcoin could reach $50,000 in the next two years.
Bitcoin could could experience a parabolic bull run to $50,000,
climbing more than 800% from current prices, says a prominent technical
analyst.
Veteran trader Peter Brandt recently made a bold prediction, stating that bitcoin could reach $50,000 in the next two years.
Credited with forecasting bitcoin’s more than 80% decline in 2018, Brandt cited market history and technical analysis when providing this estimate.
“I believe that charts reflect underlying supply and demand fundamentals and that’s how we have to look at it,” he stated on Yahoo Finance YFi PM.
After bottoming out in 2015, bitcoin prices enjoyed a parabolic advance, emphasized Brandt.
Now, he expects cryptocurrencies will once again enter a parabolic bull market.
[Ed note: Investing in cryptocoins or tokens is highly speculative
and the market is largely unregulated. Anyone considering it should be
prepared to lose their entire investment.]
Analyst Skepticism
While several analysts emphasized that Brandt’s prediction certainly
could materialize, many were understandably skeptical, emphasizing their
wariness of price forecasts.
“Peter Brandt’s assessment is purely based on technical indicators
and market history,” noted Joe DiPasquale, CEO of cryptocurrency fund of
hedge funds BitBull Capital.
“While technical analysis has a place in all markets, past performance is no guarantee for future results,” he stated.
“Meanwhile, however, the current rally is consolidating nicely and we
can expect further price appreciation if the trend continues,”
added DiPasquale.
Marouane Garcon, managing director of crypto-to-crypto derivatives platform Amulet, urged caution.
“We have to be careful when trying to predict markets,” he noted.
“Parabolic movements happen once in a blue moon,” said Garcon.
As a result, “we can’t depend on them as they tell us more about the crowd’s sentiment than the actual value of the asset.”
He emphasized that while market history can prove helpful, “going
forward we have to be more careful because the market has matured and
the participants have changed.”
Adoption’s Key Role
Several analysts emphasized the key importance of bitcoin expanding
its user base, emphasizing that if the digital currency makes enough
progress on this front, it could hit $50,000.
“The focus, I believe, should be on adoption instead of price, because the latter follows the former,” said DiPasquale.
“If Bitcoin adoption continues to grow exponentially in the next two
years, we can easily see it hitting the $50,000 mark,” he noted.
“On the other hand, if adoption drives fail and there is no meaningful traction, even $5,000 will be difficult to hold.”
“As a blockchain gains more users,
the price moves up on a quadratic growth curve — similar to [Brandt’s]
idea of a parabolic advance.”
Charles Cascarilla, cofounder & CEO of Paxos, offered a similar take.
“The next wave of growth in this cycle will be driven by adoption
from mainstream retail and institutions, markets that are order of
magnitudes larger than the current users. In that context, $50k seems
possible.”
Disclosure: I own some bitcoin, bitcoin cash and ether.
Tags: Bitcoin, blockchain, CSE, ether, stocks, tsx, tsx-v Posted in All Recent Posts | Comments Off on ThreeD Capital Inc. $IDK.ca – Will Technical Factors Push Bitcoin To $50,000 In The Coming Years? $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:08 AM on Thursday, April 11th, 2019
Signs Agreement to Become Exclusive Monetization Partner
Addicting Games network of .io games reaches over 10 million gamers a month
Increases Enthusiast’s revenue and profits through 8 large web properties
Advanced internet speed and
browser capabilities have propelled .io and “browser multiplayer†games
into a fast growing gaming sector
Investment by Enthusiast allows Addicting Games to continue building network and developing new .io games
TORONTO, April 11, 2019 — Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: EGLX) (OTCQB: EGHIF), (“Enthusiast†or the “Companyâ€), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Senior Convertible Debenture Purchase Agreement (the “Agreementâ€) to invest in Addicting Games Inc. (“Addicting Gamesâ€), one of the largest online game networks in the United States.
The Addicting Games network reaches over 10 million gamers
monthly(1). They are leaders in developing and distributing browser
games, and their platform focuses on the increasingly popular “browser
multiplayer†.io website games. .io games are a popular new genre of
real-time multiplayer games which are played in a browser, featuring
addictive online multiplayer battles, with simple but hard to master
gameplay. These games are becoming increasingly popular due to easy
accessibility, mass multiplayer battles, and allowing players to play
games within seconds from any computer with an internet connection.
The network includes popular games: Tactics Core (tacticscore.io),
pumking.io, warfronts.io, shotz.io, skywars.io, seapop.io, skyarena.io
and break out hit, Little Big Snake (littlebigsnake.io). It also
includes Shockwave, the original “Netflix†of games, where players
subscribe to play over 1500 games online. Addicting Games and Shockwave
were previously purchased for $200 million in 2006 by Viacom. Most
recently, Addicting Games was bought from Defy Media by the original
founders and they have been expanding the network rapidly ever since.
Under the Agreement, Enthusiast will invest US$1.5 million by way of a 3 year secured convertible debenture (the “Debentureâ€)
with interest accruing at 2% per annum which is convertible into equity
at the value of Addicting Games’ next equity raise. Enthusiast invested
in Addicting Games to capitalize on the rapidly growing .io games
sector and a new niche of lifestyle gamer that the network currently
doesn’t reach.
Menashe Kestenbaum, CEO of Enthusiast, commented, “With
the rise in mobile gaming and the advent of HTML5 technology, every
browser can now be a game console and therefore attract significantly
more visitors. We see the growth potential in console agnostic games
and are excited to be partnering with Addicting Games to provide them
with the best monetization strategy to execute on their continued growth
and development of new browser based games.â€
Bill Karamouzis, CEO of Addicting Games, commented, “It’s
an exciting time to be in the gaming industry. The maturing of new
technology has resulted in new alternative platforms for game
distribution as well as ways to connect players in real time with each
other to enhance the player experience. Addicting Games has always been
the place to find great new fun games that can be played instantly and
enjoyed by everyone. Partnering with Enthusiast is a natural fit with
their deep commitment to gamers and community. We hope to leverage their
expertise as we commit to the next generation of casual gamers and game
developers.â€
Enthusiast has also entered into a Representation Agreement to
exclusively monetize advertisements across the Addicting Games portfolio
of websites. The exclusive representation will increase Enthusiast’s
revenue and profits through Addicting Games’ eight large digital
properties. The Company plans to utilize its strong sales force and
programmatic engine to further optimize the monetization of the
Addicting Games platform which will help fund the development and
acquisition of new .io games.
About Addicting Games
Founded by Bill Karamouzis, the world famous Addicting Games
pioneered the casual game genre in the early 2000’s and continues to
develop and distribute the very best games online.
Reaching over 10 million gamers every month Addicting Games network
players can enjoy a wide range of free browser-based games from brands
such as Shockwave to the latest in streaming gaming IO Games Space. Visit us for the best free games released every week. Learn more about Addicting Games here: http://company.addictinggames.com/
Founded in 2014, Enthusiast is the fastest-growing online community
of video gamers. Through the Company’s unique acquisition strategy, it
has a platform of over 80 owned and affiliated websites and currently
reaches over 75 million monthly visitors with its unique and curated
content and over 50 million YouTube visitors. Enthusiast also owns and
operates Canada’s largest gaming expo, Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo,
EGLX, (eglx.ca) with over 55,000 people attending in 2018. For more information on the Company, visit www.enthusiastgaming.com.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Investor Relations: Julia Becker Head of Investor Relations & Marketing [email protected] (604) 785.0850
This news release contains certain statements that may constitute
forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. All
statements, other than those of historical fact, which address
activities, events, outcomes, results, developments, performance or
achievements that Enthusiast anticipates or expects may or will occur in
the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking
information. Such information may involve, but is not limited to,
comments with respect to strategies, expectations, planned operations
and future actions of the Company. Often, but not always,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such
as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”,
“estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or
variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or
statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain
actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will”
(or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or
come to pass. Forward-looking information is based on currently
available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans,
strategies or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors
that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
Enthusiast to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
information. Such factors may be based on information currently
available to Enthusiast, including information obtained from third-party
industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on
management’s current expectations or beliefs regarding future growth,
results of operations, future capital (including the amount, nature and
sources of funding thereof) and expenditures. Any and all
forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly
qualified by this cautionary statement. Trading in the securities of
the Company should be considered highly speculative.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
The securities of the Corporation have not
been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act
of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States
absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration
requirement. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or
the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the
securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale
would be unlawful.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:23 PM on Wednesday, April 10th, 2019
SPONSOR: Esports Entertainment
$GMBL Esports audience is 350M, growing to 590M, Esports wagering is
projected at $23 BILLION by 2020. The company has launched VIE.gg
esports betting platform and has accelerated affiliate marketing
agreements with 190 Esports teams. Click here for more information
GMBL: OTCQB
———————–
eSports is Playing Out to Be a Big Opportunity for Investors
Esports sector represented just 1% of the global gaming market at nearly $700 million in 2017, with the industry expecting to reach $1.65 billion by 2021, representing a 27.4% CAGR estimates Newzoo.
Worldwide eSports viewership is expected to grow by nearly 50% from 2018 levels to 560 million by 2021
Sean Mason | April 10, 2019 | SmallCapPower: Video games are nothing new – people have been playing them since the 1970s. But with the proliferation of social media in recent years, electronic sports, or eSports, could eventually generate more revenue than traditional professional sporting events, such as National Football League (NFL) games.
eSports can be most simply defined as organized, competitive video
gaming at the professional level, where participants compete in a
virtual environment for money and recognition. Much of eSports’ appeal
is in its inclusivity, as anyone with dexterity and determination can,
in theory and with plenty of practice, reach an elite level regardless
of their athleticism. And thanks to the Internet, eSports tournaments
have quickly gone global. This, after all, is due to the fact that the
distribution of eSports is almost entirely digital, with fans being able
to stream eSports content for free anywhere in the world.
To give you an idea how much growth potential exists within the
eSports sector, it represented just 1% of the global gaming market at
nearly $700 million in 2017, with the industry expecting to reach $1.65
billion by 2021, representing a 27.4% CAGR estimates Newzoo.
With its popularity rising, worldwide eSports viewership is expected
to grow by nearly 50% from 2018 levels to 560 million by 2021. In fact,
in the U.S. eSports viewership on key streaming platforms such as
Twitch, Youtube, and TV with traditional channels like TBS, ESPN have
already surpassed that of the NHL and is expected to take the #2 spot
behind the NFL by 2021, according to an August 2018 report by Eight
Capital, adding that the sector remains under-monetized relative to
traditional sports. To put that into perspective, average revenue per
eSports enthusiast was just $3.60 in 2017, a fraction of the $15 average
revenue per basketball fan and $54 average per sports fan globally,
this based on a study by Newzoo.
Audience engagement for eSports is extremely high, which has become
ideal for advertisers to target a captive and young demographic.
According to a Goldman Sachs eSports report dated October 2018, eSports
generated an estimated $655 million in annual revenue in 2017, 38% of
which came from sponsorships, 14% from media rights, and 9% from ticket
revenue. By 2022, though, media rights are anticipated to reach 40% of
total eSports revenue, with sponsorship expected to become the second
largest contributor of revenue at 35%.
Goldman Sachs believes eSports will increasingly migrate from PCs to
other platforms, such as console and mobile. For mobile eSports, Goldman
Sachs said it is seeing increased venture investment in the space.
Since 2013, there has been $3.3 billion of venture capital investment in
eSports-related start-ups, which is set to capitalize on two primary
trends: the opportunity for live-streaming to monetize the growth in
eSports; and the popularity of eSports in Asia. China’s eSports market
is derived from the largest gamer base in the world, with approximately
442 million gamers by the end of 2017 and a 57.2% penetration rate of
China Internet users, according to CNNIC.
Technological evolution in the eSports space will likely mean more
money will flow into trends such as streaming, mobile, and Virtual
Reality (VR). To that end, Canadian company YDX Innovation Corp. (TSXV:YDX) already has direct experience in eSports in addition to a product that fits well with the segment.
“When we created our VR game a year and a half ago, we already knew
we were taking the platform in an eSports direction,†YDX Innovation CEO
Daniel Japiassu told SmallCapPower in an interview.
YDX Innovation’s Arkave VR Arena is a gaming platform that brings an
immersive Virtual Reality experience to different venues – a highly
scalable business model according to the Company. YDX Innovation
announced recently that it had signed an agreement with eSports company
Jackpot Rising to organize tournaments using Arkave VR.
And, in 2019, YDX plans to launch its Game On festival for the new
gamers, younger players who have not yet experienced competitive
gaming.
“This is an industry (eSports) fueled by people 10 years of age and
older,†Mr. Japiassu said, adding that although it’s a new industry
there’s already a substantial number of participants.
Disclosure: Neither the author nor his family own shares in the company mentioned above.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:46 PM on Wednesday, April 10th, 2019
Empower Clinics Inc. has changed its ticker symbol to CSE: CBDT
Proposes to change the Company name to CBD Therapeutics Corporation at the Company annual general meeting in June 2019.
VANCOUVER, April 10, 2019 – EMPOWER CLINICS INC. (CSE: EPW) (Frankfurt 8EC) (“Empower” or the “Company“), a growth oriented, diversified health and wellness company, announces that it has changed the Company’s ticker symbol on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE“) to CSE: CBDT. The Company also intends to seek shareholder approval for a change of name of the Company to CBD Therapeutics Corporation, and to launch a new Company website at www.empowerclinics.com
In recent weeks, the Company has been re-positioning its overall
strategy to become a vertically integrated health and wellness company
that connects to its 120,000 patients using a data driven focus to
improve patients’ lives with products, technology and health systems.
The Company believes the change of name will allow its patients,
customers, shareholders, partners, team members and the investment
community to have a simple and clear understanding of the Company’s
focus – a brand that is passionate about CBD based therapies, products
and treatment options.
The Company’s new ticker symbol, CSE: CBDT, supports the new brand
initiative and makes it easier for the Company’s followers in the
investment community to associate the Company to its presence in the
capital markets.
The Company has also launched a new website that is a better
reflection of its health & wellness brand, providing users with a
more functional and pleasant experience on desktop and mobile devices.
The website will continue to evolve with new content and functionality
being added over time, including educational sections, links to an
e-commerce store to purchase CBD products, and a directory to the
Company’s growing network of clinics.
The Company intends to change the domain name for the website in
conjunction with the official name change, after approval of same at the
Company’s next annual general and special meeting of shareholders.
“Evolving the business model and brand of the Company has been an
imperative initiative for me on behalf of our shareholders, and the
announcement of the Company’s ticker symbol change and proposed name
change reflects our path going forward,” stated Steven McAuley,
Empower’s Chairman and CEO. “We believe the new website will allow us
to drive traffic with confidence, knowing our online presence tells the
story of our brand and provides users access to our extensive
knowledge-base, product offerings and world-class physicians throughout
our network of clinics.”
ABOUT EMPOWER
Empower is a leading owner/operator of a network of physician-staffed
clinics focused on helping patients improve and protect their health
through innovative physician recommended treatment options. It is
expected that Empower’s proprietary product line “Sollievo” will offer
patients a variety of delivery methods of doctor recommended cannabidiol
(CBD) based products in its clinics, online and at major retailers.
With over 120,000 patients, an expanding clinic footprint, a focus on
new technologies, including tele-medicine, and an expanded product
development strategy, Empower is undertaking new growth initiatives to
be positioned as a vertically integrated, diverse, market-leading
service provider for complex patient requirements in 2019 and beyond.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Steven McAuley Chief Executive Officer
DISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements”
or “forward-looking information” (collectively “forward looking
statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, are
forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and
projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements
can frequently be identified by words such as “plans”, “continues”,
“expects”, “projects”, “intends”, “believes”, “anticipates”,
“estimates”, “may”, “will”, “potential”, “proposed” and other similar
words, or information that certain events or conditions “may” or “will”
occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include
statements regarding the Company’s proposed name change; new website;
and the expected benefits of same for the Company and its stakeholders.
Such statements are only projections, are based on assumptions known to
management at this time, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that
may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ
materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements,
including: that the proposed acquisitions and partnerships, including
that: the name change may not be approved by the Company’s shareholders
or may not be completed; that the website may not operate as expected;
that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate financing to pursue
its business plan; general business, economic, competitive, political
and social uncertainties; failure to obtain any necessary approvals in
connection with the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; and other
factors beyond the Company’s control. No assurance can be given that any
of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur
or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking
statements in this release, which are qualified in their entirety by
these cautionary statements. The Company is under no obligation, and
expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any
forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by
applicable laws.
Investors: Steve Low, Boom Capital Markets, 647-620-5101; For French inquiries: Remy Scalabrini, Maricom Inc., E: [email protected], T: (888) 585-6274; Investors: Steven McAuley, CEO, [email protected], 604-789-2146Copyright CNW Group 2019
Tags: Cannabis, CSE, Hemp, Marijuana, stocks, tsx, tsx-v, weed Posted in Empower Clinics Inc. | Comments Off on Empower $EPW.ca Announces Ticker Symbol Change, New Website and Pending Company Name Change $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 2:47 PM on Wednesday, April 10th, 2019
SPONSOR: Tartisan Nickel (TN:CSE) Kenbridge Property has a measured
and indicated resource of 7.14 million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33%
copper. Tartisan also has interests in Peru, including a 20 percent
equity stake in Eloro Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria
property. Click her for more information
The production of EVs is still small-scale, and last year they accounted for only 2.5% of global vehicle sales, however the 60% growth YoY was significant.
Even with consensus trend of a growth rate of 25-30% in sales a year, the share of EVs will grow steadily. April 9, 2019
By Jim Lennon, Managing Director, Red Door Research Ltd
Historically, nickel has been a boom/ bust metal. Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen one of the most incredible booms in this metal followed by a prolonged bust. However, we think this metal is now on the cusp of another boom, due to the likely switch from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles (powered by high-nickel lithium-ion batteries) in the coming decades.
Since the price boom of 2006/07, it has been a rough time for nickel.
As one of the main beneficiaries of the take-off in Chinese demand in
the 2000s, nickel quickly came became a victim of its own success. After
peaking at an all-time high of over $50,000/t in May 2007, prices fell
to below $10,000/t by late-2008. High prices led to Chinese substitution
away from the standard 300-series stainless steel, which contains 8%
nickel, to 200-series stainless steel, containing only 1-2% nickel.
On the supply side, high nickel prices led to the development of a
new source of nickel in the form of nickel pig iron. Nickel pig iron is a
cheap alternative to pure nickel, used in the production of stainless
steel. It’s made in an energy-intensive way, using blast and electric
furnaces, and low-grade laterite nickel ores, mainly from the
Philippines and Indonesia. Nickel pig iron now accounts for 35% of
global nickel supply, compared to near- zero in 2006.
The low-point for nickel prices came in February 2016, when prices
dipped below $8,000/t, resulting in over 80% of the global industry
losing cash. Combined market inventories reached almost six months of
consumption by the end of 2015, one of the highest levels ever seen in
this market.
The combination of large closures of supply (over 200,000t) and a
steady recovery in global demand has led to a remarkable recovery in the
market over the past three years, with prices at one stage doubling
from their lows.
The recovery in the past year or so has been hesitant given the
still-high level of inventories hanging over the market, and
uncertainties in Indonesian and Filipino government policy.
Despite a large deficit between supply and demand last year, prices
were also hit by global macroeconomic concerns, including fears of a
Chinese slowdown and the negative impact on global growth from a
US-China and US-everyone else trade war.
So far, so good. Nickel prices have recovered to levels that are
acceptable to most producers, but they still remain well below levels
needed to incentivise investment in the next generation of supply.
Nickel supply has become reliant on growth in nickel pig iron to meet
incremental demand growth, and production by non-nickel pig iron
producers in aggregate has been declining in recent years due to massive
under investment in sustaining capital (see chart above).
This would be acceptable if the growth in nickel demand would
continue to come mainly from stainless steel, but there is a new kid on
the block: batteries. The use of nickel in batteries threatens a major
transformation of nickel supply and demand over the next decade.
Last year, primary nickel use in batteries was just below 6% of total
nickel demand compared with 70% for stainless steel. So far, the impact
of nickel use in batteries on nickel pricing has been small, but that’s
about to change – and probably sooner than many think.
Driven by governmental policy and environmental concerns, the
switchover of the existing car fleet from internal combustion engines to
hybrid, and ultimately fully electric vehicles (EVs), is now under way.
The production of EVs is still small-scale, and last year they
accounted for only 2.5% of global vehicle sales, however the 60% growth
YoY was significant. Even with consensus trend of a growth rate of
25-30% in sales a year, the share of EVs will grow steadily.
The predominant battery technology, at least for the next decade, is
lithium-ion batteries. The big kicker for nickel over the other raw
materials in the batteries (cobalt, manganese, lithium and graphite) is
that, in order to increase the energy density of the batteries (raising
the range between charges) and to reduce cobalt usage (perceived to be
overly dependent on the Congo for supplies), the amount of nickel used
per battery could easily more than double over the next 5-7 years.
There is massive forecast uncertainty regarding the growth in
electric vehicles and the take-up of different battery technologies (see
chart below). This is always the case with breakthrough technologies,
and history shows that forecasts are almost always too conservative
(just look at the move from horses to internal combustion engines, and
in the switch from fixed-line phones to mobile phones).
For that reason, we see a skewing of the high-case to the upside.
Using the base case forecast, we foresee 440kt growth in nickel use in
batteries over the next 10 years. Due to stainless steel’s dominant
share of demand, stainless will continue to grow, and the need for new
nickel supply in all uses will exceed 1mt, compared with 747kt within
the next decade.
The nickel requirements for battery makers are very specific, with
the main input being high-purity nickel sulphate. Until now, the main
inputs for nickel sulphate production have been nickel-cobalt
intermediates from the high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) and nickel
leaching processes (nickel-cobalt hydroxides and sulphides), and class 1
nickel powders and briquettes. Class 1 nickel powders and briquettes
are preferable to class 1 cathodes, due to their ability to dissolve
quickly in sulphuric acid to make nickel sulphate.
We think the bulk of future demand for nickel in batteries will be
met by the planned construction of HPAL and its capacity to make
nickel-cobalt hydroxides. Projects currently exist in Australia, Turkey,
Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. Demand will also be met by existing
nickel powder and briquette producers, who currently sell to the
stainless steel industry.
Over the past six months, the nickel market has been rocked by
announcements of multiple Chinese investments in Indonesia totalling
over 150ktpa of nickel, seemingly at extremely low capital costs (under
$20,000/t of nickel capacity) and extremely quick construction times
(1-2 years). History suggests that these expectations are too optimistic
and that projects built over the past 25 years have a tendency to cost
2-3 times more than original estimates and take 2-3 times longer to
build and reach full capacity.
The reality is that all of these projects – and more – will be needed
to meet burgeoning demand for nickel for batteries in the 2020s. Nickel
prices are likely to rise to the $15-20,000/t range over the next five
years as a result of an expected ongoing deficit between supply and
demand, and in order to incentivise new investment. Exciting times are
ahead for the nickel market.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:16 AM on Wednesday, April 10th, 2019
SPONSOR: North Bud Farms Inc. (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high
quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both
bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Click Here For More Information
NBUD: CSE
—————
Cannabis Infused Food Is the Hottest Trend Currently
Three in four cooks stated that CBD- and hashish-infused meals could be a scorching development this year.
By Richard King
The FDA will not approve of this year’s
hot meals pattern. The National Restaurant Association and the American
Culinary Federation surveyed 650 skilled cooks concerning the original
culinary and restaurant ideas for 2019. Three in four cooks stated that
CBD- and hashish-infused meals could be a scorching development this
year.
Cooks’ curiosity in hashish and CBD, a
non-psychoactive compound discovered within the hashish plant, doesn’t
essentially imply that it’s coming to eating places anytime quickly.
Hashish stays unlawful on the general
degree, and solely 10 states have legalized it for leisure functions.
Some restaurateurs seeking to get in on the pattern with somewhat less
scrutiny have turned to personal supper golf equipment that supplies
menus with upscale hashish-infused dishes.
That’s true in Canada too; the place
edibles received’t are authorized till October regardless of the
nation’s 2018 legalization of marijuana.
Chef Travis Petersen travels throughout
Canada internet hosting hashish-infused dinners at Airbnb leases. To
remain comparatively underneath the radar, he advertises his dinners on
social media. A lot of his diners are “canna-curious†and barely nervous
about hashish-infused meals, so, for now, he sticks to utilizing
odorless, tasteless hashish oil.
Rich shoppers in states like Colorado
and Washington — the place the drug is authorized for leisure use – have
additionally turned to personal cooks who focus on cannabis-infused
meals, in accordance with Donna Hood Crecca, a principal at Technomic.
In the meantime, most CBD merchandise is
federally authorized after President Donald Trump signed the farm
invoice again in December. Nonetheless, the Food and Drug Administration
prohibits including CBD to meals and drinks as a result of it’s an
energetic ingredient in an FDA-authorized drug. The regulator has set
its first public hearing on legalizing CBD in food and drinks for May
31.
That hasn’t stopped some eating places
from promoting CBD-infused merchandise to reply to client demand. CBD,
brief for cannabidiol, is pitched as serving to the physique loosen up
without altering the thoughts like THC.
Tags: CBD, CSE, Hemp, Marijuana, stocks, tsx, tsx-v, weed Posted in North Bud Farms Inc | Comments Off on North Bud Farms Inc. $NBUD.ca – #Cannabis Infused Food Is the Hottest Trend Currently $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $TRST.ca $OGI.ca
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 9:11 AM on Wednesday, April 10th, 2019
Entered into a binding letter of intent to acquire all of the issued and outstanding equity units of mPlore, LLC, a leading mobile content delivery platform based in Texas with operations in Newport Beach, California
Clients include Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and Ericsson
Upon completion, the accretive acquisition will add another revenue stream to GLN’s growing platform of advertising solutions.
Vancouver, British Columbia–(April 10, 2019) – Good Life Networks Inc. (TSXV: GOOD) (FSE: 4G5) (“GLN“, or the “Company“), a Vancouver-based programmatic advertising technology company is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding letter of intent (the “LOI“) to acquire all of the issued and outstanding equity units (the “Units“) of mPlore, LLC (“mPlore“), a leading mobile content delivery platform based in Texas with operations in Newport Beach, California (the “Transaction“). GLN will acquire the Units for an aggregate purchase price of US$7,000,000, subject to adjustments.
The acquisition of mPlore will allow GLN to access the growing mobile
advertising segment and capitalize on mPlore’s cutting edge mobile
platforms used to deliver content, mobile apps, mobile search and
advertising solutions to consumers. Established in 2015, mPlore
currently works with tier-one mobile carriers like T-Mobile and Sprint
along with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) device manufacturers
worldwide to deliver solutions to market. mPlore’s clients include
Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and Ericsson. Upon completion, the accretive
acquisition will add another revenue stream to GLN’s growing platform of
advertising solutions.
“Following the success of our recent Net Applications R&D
project, providing on page advertising technology to consumer’s mobile
devices, we are excited to announce the acquisition of their mobile
division, mPlore,” said Jesse Dylan, CEO of GLN.
“mPlore is a leader in mobile ad technology, with a suite of innovative
products targeting mobile users. According to the IAB’s (Interactive
Advertising Bureau), Canadian Media Usage Study, 91% of adults 18-34
access the internet on their mobile device and we are thrilled to expand
our revenue opportunities into one of the fastest growing segments,
mobile advertising.
“It is predicted that the mobile ad spend will surpass all traditional media combined by 2020 (1),” stated mPlore Chairman, Pete Wilson.
“Our technology combined with GLN’s will allow us to expand and
capitalize on the exciting advertising opportunities available as more
and more consumers view content on their mobile device.”
Under the terms of the LOI, consideration for the Units will consist of the following:
US$2,850,000 in cash, payable to the Unit holders of mPlore upon closing of the Transaction;
a performance earn-out of up to US$2,100,000 in cash based on mPlore
achieving mutually agreeable benchmarks over 24 months (terms to be
disclosed upon signing the Definitive Agreement); and
a performance earn-out of up to US$2,100,000 in common share purchase warrants of the Company (“Warrants“)
payable upon mPlore achieving mutually agreeable benchmarks, over 24
months (terms to be disclosed upon signing the Definitive Agreement)
based upon the greater of (i) the 10-day volume weighted average trading
price of the Company’s common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV“) immediately prior to the date of issuance; and (ii) the lowest price permitted by the policies of the TSXV.
The LOI contemplates the parties acting in good faith to finalize and enter into a definitive share purchase agreement (the “Definitive Agreement“) within one-hundred and twenty (120) days from the execution of the LOI. The LOI was negotiated at arm’s length.
The closing of the Transaction will result in the termination of a
research & development agreement entered into by GLN and Net
Applications Holdings LLC (“Net Applications“) in 2018. mPlore is the mobile division of Net Applications.
The closing of the Transaction is conditional upon the Board of
Directors and TSXV approval and the satisfaction of customary closing
conditions to be contained in the Definitive Agreement.
About mPlore
mPlore is a division of Net Applications, a leader in digital
performance solutions by enhancing impression quality and brand safety.
Established in 2015, mPlore is a mobile content delivery platform which
delivers a suite of products including, mobile search, content, mobile
data and ad delivery to its clients. mPlore allows clients to target,
display, market, deliver and monetize content and advertising to mobile
device users.
The GLN Story
GLN’s patent pending technology is the engine that sits between
advertisers and publishers. A highlight of GLN’s tech is that it does
not collect PII (Personal Identifiable Information). Built for cross
device video advertising: Mobile, In-App, Desktop and CTV (Connected
Television) the GLN Programmatic Video Advertising Platform has among
the lowest fraud rates of similar vendors in the industry. Advertisers
make more money by reaching their target audience more effectively. GLN
makes money by retaining a percentage of the advertiser’s fee.
GLN is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada with offices in Newport
Beach and Santa Monica California, New York and UK and trades on the
TSXV under the stock symbol “GOOD” and The Frankfurt Stock Exchange
under the stock symbol 4G5. For further information on the Company,
visit www.glninc.ca
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Forward Looking Statements:
Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future
performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs regarding future
events of management of GLN. This information and these statements,
referred to herein as “forwardâ€looking statements”, are not historical
facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without
limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates
and forecasts and statements as to management’s expectations and
intentions with respect to the Company’s acquisition of mPlore. These
statements generally can be identified by use of forward-looking words
such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “intends”,
“believe” or “continue” or the negative thereof or similar variations.
These forwardâ€looking statements involve numerous risks and
uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results
suggested in any forward-looking statements. Important factors that may
cause actual results to vary include without limitation, risks relating
to the timing of the acquisition of mPlore, successful completion of the
acquisition of the Units, execution of the Definitive Agreement, the
number of securities of GLN that may be issued in connection with the
Transaction; GLN realizing on the anticipated value of acquiring the
Units, GLN maintaining its projected growth, approval of the TSXV and
general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets.
In making the forwardâ€looking statements in this news release,
the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without
limitation that the integration with mPlore’s technology will be
successfully completed in the time expected by management and will
generate the anticipated revenue and expand GLN’s global reach per
management’s expectations. GLN does not assume any obligation to update
the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual
results could differ from those reflected in the forward
looking-statements, unless and until required by applicable securities
laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is
contained in GLN’s filings with the Canadian securities regulators,
which filings are available at www.sedar.com.
Tags: adtech, CSE, digital advertising, stocks, tsx, tsx-v Posted in Good Life Networks | Comments Off on Good Life Networks $GOOD.ca Expands Reach in Mobile Advertising with a Binding Letter of Intent to Acquire #mPlore, a Leading #Mobile Ad Technology Company #Adtech $TTD $RUBI $AT.ca $TRMR $FUEL
