Sign Up NowThis Month's Tiny Gems - August 2018

Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI)
CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY)
DPW Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: DPW)
First Cobalt Corp. (TSX.V: FCC) (OTCQX: FTSSF)
Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: FRSX) (TASE: FRSX)
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP)
Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE)
Phivida Holdings Inc. (CSE: VIDA) (OTCQX: PHVAF)
Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQX: SNNVF)
TMSR Holding Company Ltd. (NASDAQ: TMSR)

 

Featured Company

Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI)

 

 

Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) is a leading omni-direct lifestyle company offering a hybrid of the direct selling business model that includes e-commerce and the power of social selling. Among the Top 100 Global Direct Selling Companies, Youngevity offers products from the six top selling retail categories: health/nutrition, home/family, food/beverage (including coffee), spa/beauty, apparel/jewelry, and a range of innovative services. Created through the 2011 merger of Youngevity Essential Life Sciences with Javalution® Coffee Company, today's Youngevity International Inc. is a virtual worldwide Main Street of products and services under one corporate entity that supports a healthy and empowered lifestyle.

 

Youngevity International is dedicated to improving lifestyles through the universal desires of vibrant health and flourishing economics. Catering to health-conscious consumers, Youngevity believes that combining the best of the direct selling industry with the fundamentals and capabilities of a traditional business model will maximize shareholder value. The company's Nutritional, Lifestyle and Telecommunications products and services are distributed through a global network of Preferred Customers and Distributors.

 

Youngevity's wholly owned CLR Roasters LLC business line offers quality branded and private label coffee to retail stores, office coffee services, hospitality, food services, distributors, convenience, petrol stores and vending businesses. Today, CLR Roasters is the largest coffee provider for cruise lines in North America and the second largest roaster in the state of Florida. Producing a consistent premium product with superior taste, CLR Roasters has earned numerous certifications that demonstrate the company's commitment to the craft of providing the highest quality coffee products using the best practice standards available.

 

Youngevity, operating in the direct-selling channel, is rapidly expanding its product and distributor base through acquisitions and mergers under an innovative concept called "the Network Cloud" that provides other direct selling companies with a home base. The company's YoungevityGO2 mobile distributor app, a new technology-driven web platform supporting expansion of global e-commerce and social selling platforms, is available on Google Play and the App Store. In addition to the Network Cloud concept, Youngevity International owns CLR Coffee Roasters which operates a traditional coffee roasting business offering a JavaFit® gourmet product line that vertically integrates with Youngevity and its growing network of direct marketers.

 

Youngevity International offers more than 1,000 high quality, technologically advanced products under the following categories:

  • Health and Nutrition
  • Home and Family
  • Food and Beverage
  • Spa and Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Essential Oils
  • Photo and scrapbooking
  • Services for Home and Business

 

Youngevity International Inc. has compiled a best-in-class management team with a strong track record of success in private and public companies. Steve Wallach, CEO, has nearly two decades of sales and network marketing experience and has successfully guided Youngevity International Inc. to become an international, publicly-traded direct marketing company positioned for worldwide growth. Dave Briskie, president and CFO, has shepherded the company's development into a fully vertical coffee roasting and distribution company that owns the direct marketing brand JavaFit® and the retail brand, Café La Rica.

 

Youngevity has also attracted a stunning group of Brand Evangelists who endorse its products. Among these are actress, author and well-known health and wellness activist Marilu Henner; former NBA basket player, Mike "Stinger" Glenn; former NFL wide receiver Drew Pearson; "Greatest Natural Bodybuilder in the World" Gene Nelson; and WNBA champion, Olympic gold medalist Delisha Jones.

 

 

 

CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY)

 

CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY) is a biotechnology company focused on the clinical development and potential commercialization of a new class of HIV/AIDS therapeutics or viral-entry inhibitors intended to protect healthy cells from viral infection. The company's pipeline includes its lead product, PRO 140 for multiple indications among which are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), colon cancer, and multiple sclerosis (MS), each in various stages of development. CytoDyn's first approval is focused on HIV indications for two different HIV populations.

 

PRO 140 is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed at CCR5, a molecular portal that HIV uses to enter T-cells. PRO 140 works by blocking the predominant HIV (R5) subtype entry into T-cells by masking this required co-receptor, CCR5.

 

CytoDyn has completed one pivotal phase 3 clinical trials of PRO 140 use in combination with current drugs for population that has limited treatment options. PRO 140 is also currently in another phase 3 (investigative trial) for a second approval for another HIV population. HIV continues to be a major global public health issue. There is no cure for the disease that has claimed more than 35 million lives to date, according to the World Health Organization ("WHO"). In 2017, 940,000 people around the world died from HIV-related causes. There were approximately 36.9 million people living with HIV at the end of 2017 with 1.8 million people becoming newly infected during that same year. The WHO estimates there were 21.7 million people globally receiving antiretroviral therapy ("ART") in 2017.

 

HIV targets the immune system and weakens the body's defense systems against infections and some types of cancer. As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient which results in increased susceptibility to a wide range of infections, cancers and other diseases that people with healthy immune systems can fight off. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which can take from 2 to 15 years to develop depending on the individual.

 

PRO 140 functions by blocking the HIV co-receptor CCR5, a molecular portal HIV uses to enter T-cells, thus preventing the HIV virus from entering the cell. CCR5 is a protein located on the surface of white blood cells that normally serves as a receptor for chemicals that attract immune cells to the site of inflammation. Clinical trials to date indicate PRO 140 does not interfere with these normal CCR5 functions. Results from phase 1 and phase 2 human clinical trials have shown PRO 140 significantly reduces viral burden in people infected with HIV. Importantly, in a recent phase 2b clinical trial, PRO 140 demonstrated it can allow a subset of R5 strain of HIV population to replace their current HIV regimen (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy or "HAART.") by a simple sub-cutaneous self-injectable dose of PRO 140 which is administered once a week. Some of those patients have received PRO 140 as their only therapy for almost four years.

 

The PRO 140 antibody appears to be a powerful antiviral agent with hardly any side effects, toxicity. More than 500 patients have used PRO 140 in clinical trial and no resistance has ever been developed in any patients including patients in monotherapy of PRO 140 for almost four years.

 

PRO 140, which is taken as an easy-to-use, weekly, subcutaneous self-administered dose, has almost no side effects or toxicity with no report of any serious adverse event related to PRO 140 in more than 500 patients in eight different clinical trial.

 

As we indicated earlier patients given PRO 140 showed no drug resistance on monotherapy for some almost four years while 76% of HAART patients developed a resistance to some portion of the lifetime drug regimen. Patient compliance with HAART is also the main reason why only 35% of HIV patients in US reporting complete viral load (VL) suppression which is VL<50 cp/mL.

 

In addition to its research into the powerful potential of PRO 140 for use in HIV patients, CytoDyn is pursuing PRO 140 as a therapeutic anti-viral agent in other non-HIV indications that could benefit from PRO 140's ability to block CCR5. These immunologic indications include new reactions to cancer, transplantation rejection, autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation such as Multiple Sclerosis. The company sees the significant potential for multiple pipeline opportunities for PRO 140.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has designated PRO 140 as a "fast track" product for HIV and granted Orphan Drug Designation to it for the prevention of GvHD in transplant patients. CytoDyn has initiated its first clinical trial with PRO 140 in an immunological indication for GvHD in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who are undergoing bone marrow stem cell transplantation. The company is also investigating PRO 140 in animal models of cancer progression and autoimmunity with positive results and has published its animal study results in GvHD in peer-reviewed journal.

 

CytoDyn president and CEO Nader Z. Pourhassan, Ph.D. joined the company in 2008 and is credited for purchasing PRO 140 from Progenics in 2012 and has taken a new path to approval for the product. He is the co-inventor of monotherapy path for PRO 140. He has taken PRO 140 development from phase 2 to Completed successful phase 3 in about four years. He now has more than 10 years of drug development experience and has overseen the rapid clinical development of PRO 140 as a therapy for HIV into two phase 3 for two different indications. He also initiated PRO 140 first immunological indication in GvHD (currently in phase 2). He is also involved in preclinical and clinical development of PRO 140 in additional immunological indications. Dr. Pourhassan, who has more than 20 years of business development experience, has led CytoDyn's capital market activities since joining the company in 2008. He received his Bachelor of Science from Utah State University, Master of Science from Brigham Young University, and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah and is the author of three books.

 

 

 

 

DPW Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: DPW)

 

DPW Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: DPW) is a diverse holding company pursuing a growth strategy of acquiring undervalued assets with disruptive technologies with a global impact.

 

The company invests in diverse industries within the commercial, defense/aerospace, industrial, communication, medical, crypto-mining, hospitality, textile, and corporate investment/lending sectors. DPW has evolved and grown from being a leader in advanced power products. Through its subsidiaries, the company continues to be a leader and supplier of innovative technologies, advanced design and development services, and state-of-the-art power products and solutions.

 

Through its wholly owned Coolisys Technologies, Inc. subsidiary, DPW is committed to offering world-class technology-based solutions for critical applications and lifesaving services that are primarily driven by innovation. Coolisys targets to the defense, aerospace, naval, homeland security, medical, telecom, datacom and industrial markets. Its growth strategy centers on core markets that are characterized by "high barriers to entry" and require specialized products and services not likely to be commoditized. Through a portfolio of companies, Coolisys is engaged in developing and manufacturing advanced switching power products and power solutions that utilize a customized digital power management and resonant topology to attain:

 

Coolisys offers its technology and services through three primary groups: the Power Solutions Group (PSG), the Defense and Aerospace Solutions Group (DSG), and the Advanced Service Industries (ASI) Group. Coolisys manages five divisions:

 

DPW's portfolio of wholly owned subsidiaries also includes Digital Power Lending, LLC (DPL), a California private lending company operating under Financial Lender's License ##60DBO-77905. DPL is dedicated to strategically providing capital to small and middle-size businesses for an equity interest in addition to loan fees and interest. DPL provides secured and unsecured debt financing for public and private companies. These loans will typically have a six to 12-month maturity and range from $250,000-$5 million. DPL is active in bridge loans, receivable financing, inter company loans and micro loans. DPL will work with a network of company owned ATMs (terminals) in California, which will help utilize its CA Finance Lending License and enable the company to offer micro loans of up to $500 or less.

 

Management has over 50 years of Wall Street experience of investing in, and building companies. DPL's desire is to bring world-class companies lending opportunities while allowing main street investors to participate. Deal flow and organization comes from an extensive network of investment bankers, business brokers, family offices, and institutional clients enabling DPL to engage and fund the most compelling companies from Silicon Valley to Wall Street.

 

To date, DPL has funded over $19 million in loans. Since inception, DPL has internally funded over $15 million to DPW's portfolio companies and wholly owned subsidiaries. As for companies outside DPW, DPL has lent over $4 million in commercial and real estate loans. DPL has funded INVO Bioscience, Medovex, Parallax, Alzamend Neuro, as well as hospitality clients, such as Guilia DTLA and Prep Kitchens.

 

Another subsidiary wholly owned by DPW is Super Crypto Mining, Inc., a cloud computing service that provides shared and managed computing resources optimized for various block chain mining solutions. Based in Newport Beach, California, Super Crypto Mining leverages its engineering expertise and existing locations to create cryptocurrency mining facilities throughout the world. The company owns and maintains the computing resources and sells access to their use. The established mining is on the Top 3 crypto-currencies with the goal of having 10,000 miners deployed in 2018. Super Crypto Mining endeavors to leverage its engineering expertise and existing global facilities (high-security defense business locations) to secure mining farms. Super Crypto Mining is a rapidly growing organization that recently strategically secured 25 mega watts to power the company's mining farm. For crypto currency mining, locations with inexpensive power and secure capacity are minimal and hence costly. Having such a location allows the company to grow its mining business to more than 20,000 mining machines. Super Crypto Mining continues to purchase mining machines and explore opportunities to expand its services into other related areas including mining farm real estate investments, mining machine development, and mainstream blockchain projects.

 

DPW additionally has beneficiary ownership in MTIX International, Inc., the parent company of MTIX, Ltd. and I.AM, Inc.

 

MTIX was acquired by Avalanche International aka MTIX International, Inc., in August 2017 and offers "green technology" that uses a proprietary laser process to enhance the surface of textiles. This process reduces water usage by approximately 75 percent, reduces greenhouse gases by approximately 90 percent, and reduces chemical use by approximately 95 percent.

 

I.AM, acquired in May 2018, owns and operates hospitality offerings that include four Prep Kitchen brand restaurants and Giulia DTLA.

 

Utilizing a shareholder-centric approach to compensation, DPW has formulated the following 10-year objectives:

 

DPW is led by a seasoned team of successful business professionals and entrepreneurs. The company is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

 

 

 

First Cobalt Corp. (TSX.V: FCC) (OTCQX: FTSSF)

 

First Cobalt Corp. (TSX.V: FCC) (OTCQX: FTSSF), with headquarters in Canada, is a vertically integrated pure-play cobalt company with three significant North American assets. Its most prospective, flagship asset, the Iron Creek Project, is located in Idaho. Exploration of the Iron Creek Project is supported by a $9 million work program engineered to increase drilling along a mineralized strike with the hope of fast-tracking the prized asset for future production. Cobalt is a critical low-heat element of the lithium-ion batteries that fuel smartphones, laptops and a burgeoning market in electrical vehicles sought as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-driven cars.

 

First Cobalt, which recently acquired the Iron Creek Project, is conducting a mineral resource estimate to confirm a historic estimate (non-compliant with NI 43-101) of 1.3 million tons grading 0.59 percent cobalt at the site. The company intends to publish a resource estimate by October 2018 and complete an additional 30,000 meters of drilling designed to double the mineralized zone along strike beyond the area drilled in 2017.

 

"First Cobalt acquired US Cobalt because we believe that Iron Creek is one of the most prospective and advanced projects in North America. With a historic resource estimate, patented land and 600 meters of underground development, Iron Creek is a prized high grade primary cobalt asset in a great mining jurisdiction," Trent Mell, president and CEO of First Cobalt, states. "Today's budget and work program is a testament to our conviction about this cobalt-copper projects' ability to be expanded and ultimately fast-tracked for future production in North America."

 

First Cobalt's exploration project in Idaho and an additional one in Canada's famed Cobalt Camp mining region position it well to also take advantage of conflict metal concerns surrounding the reported human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo's cobalt-rich mines, which currently supply about two-thirds of the entire cobalt supply worldwide.

 

The company's assets in Canada also include the only permitted cobalt extraction refinery in North America capable of producing battery material, providing an integrated solution for cobalt projects. A study is underway to determine the appropriate scale and capital requirements for restarting the facility, which has been on care and maintenance since 2015. Results of this study are expected mid-2018.

 

First Cobalt is the largest land owner in the Cobalt Camp in Ontario with control of over 10,000 hectares (nearly 25,000 acres) of prospective land and 50 historic cobalt/silver mines. First Cobalt's 2018 $C7 million drilling program, which includes testing different styles of mineralized areas throughout the Cobalt Camp in more than 10 past-producing mines known to contain cobalt, is a significant expansion over its 2017 exploration activities. Also ongoing is a prospecting sampling program of existing muckpiles around the camp's historic mines, trenches, pits and surrounding bedrock with a view to providing a possible early production scenario.

 

First Cobalt Corp. is moving quickly to leverage its potential against an economic background that estimates global consumption for refined cobalt is set to grow at an average rate of approximately 5 percent per annum for the next 10 years. The electric vehicle market, in particular, is driving this sector since more than 50 percent of the world's current production of cobalt is used in the manufacture of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The global lithium-ion battery market, as estimated by Zion Market Research, indicates the value at around USD $31 billion in 2016 and is expected to generate revenue of nearly USD $68 billion by end of 2022, growing at a compound annual growth rate of slightly above 17 percent.

 

First Cobalt is embracing innovation in the mining sector, utilizing a digital compilation of 100-plus years of mining and geological data spanning the historically prolific Cobalt Mining Camp's lifespan. First Cobalt's management team is also assessing the ability of artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery cycle. As a member of the Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) and Metal Earth Project, First Cobalt is participating in regional geophysical surveys for geological interpretation of structures controlling cobalt-silver mineralization.

 

The company's clear pathway to production and cash flow generation includes its mineral rich Iron Creek Project in Idaho and being one of only four fully permitted cobalt extraction refineries in Canada with significant material and processing infrastructure on site. With the price of cobalt increasing significantly and its importance in the growing battery market underpinning a strong long-term demand forecast, First Cobalt Corp. and its mining interests are primed for success.

 

First Cobalt Corp. President and CEO Trent Mell, a mining executive and capital markets professional with 20 years of operating and transactional experience, is joined by a team of reputable and seasoned mine builders, mine operators and deal-makers with decades of global experience in exploration, business development, geoscience, engineering and finance.

 

 

 

 

Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: FRSX) (TASE: FRSX)

 

Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: FRSX) (TASE: FRSX), founded in 2015 and headquartered in Israel, is a technological innovator in automotive vision systems and driver assistance technology. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Foresight Automotive Ltd., Foresight is engaged in the design, development and commercialization of stereo/quad-camera vision systems and V2X cellular-based solutions for the automotive industry based on 3D video analysis, advanced algorithms for image processing and sensor fusion. The company's powerful and patented stereoscopic technology is derived from field-proven technology that has been deployed throughout the world for almost two decades.

 

Foresight's innovative autonomous driving solutions are based on mature, proprietary stereoscopic image technology that uses two synchronized cameras to mimic human depth perception and produce a three-dimensional image. This 3D image can anticipate possible collisions with other vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and other obstacles. The technology provides highly accurate real-time alerts about the vehicle's surroundings while in motion. The systems are designed to improve driving safety by enabling highly accurate and reliable threat detection while ensuring the lowest rates of false alerts.

 

The company's patents provide IP protection for its robust and proven proprietary stereoscopic technology, which was developed using the security technology of Foresight's major shareholder, Magna B.S.P.

 

Foresight has developed three main products:

 

In 2017, Foresight sought more opportunities within the international market. The Company signed pilot agreements with three leading car manufacturers in China and completed pilot projects meeting all pre-defined requirements and criteria. In addition, FRSX completed a pilot project with Uniti Sweden.

 

Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety continue to emphasize the dramatic reduction in accidents and injury-related crashes reported when vehicles are equipped with collision avoidance systems. A recent study by the Institute states that the rate of single-vehicle, sideswipe and head-on crashes was 11 percent lower in vehicles with the warning systems. More importantly, the study shows collision avoidance technology cut the rates of injury crashes of the same type by 21 percent.

 

Foresight Autonomous Holdings, Inc. also holds a 32 percent interest in RailVision, a company that develops advanced systems for railway safety and maintenance. RailVision has successfully completed 13 tests in Israel, Germany, Italy and Switzerland in addition to a real-time system test with a European railway operator. Over the course of 2017, RailVision successfully completed rounds of financing totaling $5.8 million and started the process of licensing the system according to European standards.

 

Haim Siboni is the founder of Foresight and has served as the company's chief executive officer and director since 2015. Siboni, a passionate entrepreneur, has an extensive background in the marketing and business management sectors in the fields of electronics, video, TV, multimedia, computerized systems, line and wireless telecommunication, design and development of systems and devices, including electro-optic radar systems. He is the founder and CEO of Magna B.S.P., Foresight's major shareholder and a leading innovator in the field of homeland security surveillance solutions.

 

 

 

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP)

 

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) has developed and out-licenses its proprietary technology for improved taste, rapidity, and delivery of bioactive compounds, including cannabinoids. Though boasting a wide range of health benefits, cannabinoids are traditionally poorly absorbed by the body's gastrointestinal tract. To achieve higher effectiveness, consumers usually default to smoking. Lexaria provides a superior administration method by delivering hemp oil ingredients – or through locally licensed partners, cannabis oil ingredients – through a patented process within food products.

 

The key differentiator between Lexaria's products and others on the market is the company's disruptive technology proven to enhance the absorption of orally ingested cannabinoids while improving the "unusual" taste of cannabinoids and allowing for lower overall dosing with higher efficacy. Lexaria is primarily a B2B enterprise, and is in licensing discussions or has existing agreements with companies in Canada, the largest-market states in the USA, and internationally. Lexaria has also developed its own brands partly for demonstration purposes, utilizing its patented technology to infuse hemp oil ingredients within lipids in popular foods. These brands include ViPova™, Lexaria Energy Foods, and TurboCBD™.

 

In 2015, Lexaria commissioned an independent, third-party lab to test its technology under carefully monitored in vitro conditions. Results showed that the company's technological process and lipid formulation both improve intestinal absorption as much as 500%. Additional follow-up studies in human volunteers suggested that Lexaria's processed, lipid-infused tea may be more effective in an actual gastrointestinal system than in an in vitro simulation with results indicating as much as a 1,000% increase in overall absorption.

 

Lexaria also has an R&D partnership with the Canadian government's National Research Council. That R&D is expected to characterize molecular bond formation theorized to occur with Lexaria's unique technology between the lipid delivery agents and the bioactive substances it processes and combines. Results from this R&D are expected to support accelerating B2B relationships – not just in the cannabis industry, but also to support new B2B business relationships in the fields of vitamins, NSAIDs, and nicotine delivery. All of these sectors expected to offer additional future growth potential.

 

Aside from testing, a critical component of Lexaria Bioscience's business model is a strong intellectual property portfolio that utilizes the most commonly used food processing techniques. As of 2017, the company's patent portfolio includes 19 patent applications filed and pending in more than 40 countries around the world. The most recent patent applications expand Lexaria's lipophilic food and beverage composition claims to include the processing of cannabinoids, vitamins, NSAIDs and nicotine in many of the world's most commonly used food processing ingredients. Lexaria is expecting additional new patent awards both in the USA and internationally in 2017 and 2018.

 

Royalties play a vital role in Lexaria's revenue-generating business model. The company out-licenses its technology (royalty) to third party partners, and has several deals signed and/or pending. The company's growth initiatives are guided by a management team headed by CEO Chris Bunka, a serial entrepreneur who has raised more than $50 million in working capital for the companies he has led over the course of his career. He is supported by a team of professionals with extensive experience in pharmaceutical and bioscience sectors, invention, toxicology, consumer goods, and other relevant skillsets.

 

 

 

 

Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE)

 

Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE) is a global financial technology and value-added solutions group that supports electronic payments acceptance in an omni-channel environment spanning across point-of-sale, e-commerce, and mobile devices. Net Element operates a payments-as-a-service transactional model and value-added services platform for small to medium enterprises in the U.S. and selected emerging markets. Internationally, Net Element's strategy is to leverage its omni-channel platform to deliver flexible offerings to emerging markets with diverse banking, regulatory and demographic conditions. Net Element was ranked as one of the fastest growing companies in North America on Deloitte's 2017 Technology Fast 500 ™ and South Florida Business Journal's 2016 fastest growing technology companies.

 

Net Element believes the future of global commerce is being revolutionized as consumers quickly migrate toward omni-channel shopping utilizing mobile devices, desktop, and online services. Net Element's all-in-one payment solutions support and unify a whole range of applications through a single, robust platform, allowing global onboarding and support for multiple payment methods.

 

Net Element has also launched a new blockchain-focused business unit that will develop and deploy blockchain technology-based solutions. Net Element expects the new division to create a decentralized crypto-based ecosystem that will act as a framework for an unlimited number of value-added services, connecting merchants and consumers in a seamless, economically efficient transaction. This new business unit intends to also identify and invest in unique projects that decentralize and disrupt the payment processing industry by combining blockchain technology and real-world applications with talented development teams, strong fundamentals and addressable markets large in size.

 

"We believe that we're at the dawn of a new evolution where additional digital payment methods are being introduced," Net Element CEO Oleg Firer, says. "Introduction of our division focused on blockchain as part of the NASDAQ-listed entity will add transparency and compliance assurance to our investors as well as provide access to deploy value-added services to over 20 million electronic commerce clients that are currently part of Net Element's growing network."

 

Net Element clients are treated to customized solutions that provide the flexibility needed to keep up with customers. Among the services offered are mobile payment apps that accept payments anywhere, anytime; cloud-based solutions built to increase productivity and enhance revenue for clients and partners; marketing solutions that turn lookers into buyers; and business analytics that make it easy for clients to monitor business metrics, engage with customers and compare the competition. Its multi-channel platform combines e-commerce, offline, point-of-sale, comprehensive back office tools, mobile point-of-sale, credit scoring and customer interaction in one powerful platform-as-a-service technology.

 

Net Element owns and operates a global mobile payments and transactional processing provider, TOT Group, Inc., with the following subsidiaries:

 

Net Element is ranked No. 418 on Deloitte's 2017 Technology Fast 500™ list of North America's 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies. Net Element grew 190 percent. The company's chief executive officer, Oleg Firer, credits the company's progression to organic growth in its North America Transactions Segment, specifically the success of its Unified Payments brand, which focuses on value-added payment acceptance solutions for small to medium enterprises in the United States.

 

"The Deloitte 2017 North America Technology Fast 500 winners underscore the impact of technological innovation and world class customer service in driving growth, in a fiercely competitive environment," said Sandra Shirai, vice chairman, Deloitte Consulting LLP and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. "These companies are on the cutting edge, and are transforming the way we do business."

 

Net Element's suite of application performing interfaces (APIs) and connectors power commerce for businesses of all sizes through multi-channel platforms, all-in-one digital solutions, and end-to-end encryption of cardholder data utilizing tamper resistant hardware that ensures integrity and simplifies security.

 

Net Element's corporate team is led by director and CEO Oleg Firer, who is responsible for the overall vision, strategy and execution of the company's mission of powering global commerce. He is joined by CFO Jeffrey Ginsburg, CPA, and Steven Wolberg, who is the company's chief legal officer and secretary. Each corporate officer brings a unique blend of leadership, vision, experience and creative energy to the company.

 

From mobile payments and value-added transactional innovations such as Digital Provider and Aptito to e-commerce and retail payment transaction processing brands like Payonline and United Payments, Net Element is transforming the online and mobile experience.

 

 

 

Phivida Holdings Inc. (CSE: VIDA) (OTCQX: PHVAF)

 

Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations offices in southern California, Phivida Holdings Inc. (CSE: VIDA) (OTCQX: PHVAF) is a premium food and beverage company that develops CBD-infused functional foods, beverages and supplements poised for global distribution. All products in the Phivida label are infused with organic, hemp-derived cannabinoids into a variety of premium foods, beverages and clinical products for everyday health. Phivida is guided by a team of Fortune 500-caliber executives focused on a new strategic portfolio of products and brands, comprehensive consumer research, new product and brand development, improved visual identity and packaging design, and a strong distribution strategy.

 

The company's motto – "Celebrating Health and Wellness, in Harmony™" – underscores Phivida's mission to lead the alternative health care sector as the benchmark standard in premium CBD-infused functional beverages and tinctures. To execute this goal, Phivida is taking advantage of positive legislative developments in the United States and has defined an elevated national route-to-market strategy across the U.S. where small regional distributors will be now be replaced with large national distributors.

 

Management

 

Phivida's management team includes president and CEO Jim Bailey, former president of Red Bull Canada and global chief marketing officer for Merrell Outdoors; Chief Marketing Officer Michael Cornwell, former chief marketing officer for Samsung New Zealand and the former director of marketing for Red Bull Canada; and Doug Campbell, former director of sales for Red Bull North America, who as Phivida's chief commercial officer is tasked with driving new sales revenue growth.

 

Publicly traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE.VIDA) and recently graduated to the OTCQX Best Market in the USA (OTCQX.PHVAF), the company's strong balance sheet carries CAD$15.7 million with no debt or loans with less than 60 million shares outstanding and the company is now well-capitalized to fun major mainstream distribution with a solid structure poised for long-term growth.

 

The Science

 

Using encapsulation technology, Phivida uses full spectrum CBD-hemp oil (rich in naturally occurring phytocannabinoids) converted into a water-soluble delivery format, which enhances delivery and absorption of the cannabinoids into the human body – up to an estimated tenfold.

 

Encapsulated CBD is infused into functional beverages, food and supplements containing a proprietary blend of phytonutraceuticals studied to target a range of health and wellness conditions. Phivida tests every product for microbials, heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, terpenes, and potency to guarantee less than 0.3 percent THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical compound in cannabis responsible for a euphoric high) is present.

 

Regulations

 

Federally legal under the 2014 Farm Bill, CBD from Hemp Oil is a rapid growth market across the USA. When derived from marijuana, CBD remains a schedule one controlled substances, giving hemp derived CBD oil infused products a competitive advantage on regulations. On June 28, 2018, the U.S. Senate passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (i.e. the "Farm Bill), lifting the USA Industrial Hemp laws to an agricultural commodity status and effectively removed hemp from the controlled substance list.

 

Earlier this year, another milestone court ruling also provided significant regulatory support for the US CBD-Hemp sector. In February 2018, the Supreme Court preceded over the HIA (Hemp Industry Association) vs. DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) in a class-action suit concerning the issue of CBD extracted from hemp, and the legality of industrial hemp. In the final ruling the Supreme Court unequivocally determined that – when produced domestically under the Farm Bill – hemp (and its derivatives) are not a controlled substance.

 

The Supreme Court ruling also found the Farm Bill (as it relates to hemp) "pre-empts" the Controlled Substances Act. Congress has since exempted Farm Bill hemp from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) giving the Farm Bill primary jurisdiction over the governance of the CBD-Hemp Oil industry in the USA.

 

The DEA further conceded it does not "seek to control cannabinoids," and that only marijuana derived cannabinoids are governed under the Controlled Substances Act. In May of 2018, the DEA issued a formal directive to all federal agencies (e.g. US Customs and Border Patrol) stating that cannabinoids are not controlled substances unless derived from marijuana, and that the "mere presence of cannabinoids" in any product or derivative does not render it a controlled substance. The Supreme Court ruling also resulted in the mediation of a settlement in what is now the third successful HIA vs. DEA suit in over a decade.

 

In Canada, the Senate approval of Bill C-45 legalized the production, distribution and use of recreation cannabis – with edibles to be added in 2019. The bill will officially become law as of October 17, 2018, creating a legal framework for the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis across Canada including cannabinoid-infused beverages.

 

3 Wholly Owned Subsidiaries

WeedMD-Phivida

 

Phivida has signed a binding letter of intent to joint venture WeedMD Inc. (TSX-V: WMD) (OTC:WDDMF) (FSE:4WE), a Health Canada federally licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis, to form a joint venture focused on cannabis-infused beverages. The new joint-venture company, Cannabis Beverages Inc. ("CanBev"), plans to develop a production facility at WeedMD's state-of-the-art greenhouse facility in Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. CanBev is on track to build and operate the first cannabis-infused beverage production facilities in Canada. The joint venture will focus on manufacturing, marketing and distribution of cannabinoid-infused beverages for the legalized medical and adult-use cannabis markets.

 

Management from both WeedMD and Phivida are collaborating on design and engineering strategies and site evaluations on a 610,000-square-foot, state-of-the art facility in Strathroy for the development of CanBev. As an emerging certified food grade production plant, the Strathroy facility is an ideal location and comes is equipped with extensive production infrastructure, including 50,000 sq. ft. of food production and packaging area, cold storage, loading docks, and adequate space to expand for future growth.

 

Strategic Agreements

 

Phivida Organics has also entered into an agreement to carry out a pharmacokinetic (PK) study on its hemp-derived, nanoencapsulated CBD with Artelo Biosciences Inc. at the University of Nottingham, School of Medicine at the Royal Derby Hospital, England. The study will test encapsulated-CBD on healthy volunteers and measure how fast and how much CBD enters the blood stream after oral consumption with each of the different formulations developed by Phivida Organics.

 

Phivida has also activated distribution agreements with Asayake Inc. to become one of the first federally approved CBD-infused food and supplement brands in Japan. With first mover status achieved, Phivida now markets to an underserved, yet highly informed population of 127 million patients and practitioners. The supplement market in Japan is estimated at US$10 billion with the overall functional foods market at US$21 billion. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest growing market for natural plant-based supplements. Phivida now plans to prepare a formal application to Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency to register the company's CBD-infused functional food and beverage products for approval under the country's Food with Functional Claims regime. The functional beverage market in Japan is estimated at US$10.35 billion with a CAGR of 2.5 percent (2015-2025).

 

 

 

Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQX: SNNVF)

 

Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQX: SNNVF) is a vertically integrated medical cannabis company operating in the world's two largest cannabis markets – Canada and California – committed to delivering safe, consistent, high-quality products and services. Sunniva operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries: Sunniva Medical Inc., CP Logistics, LLC, Natural Health Service Ltd., and Full-Scale Distributors, LLC. Sunniva's vision is to become the lowest cost, highest quality cannabis producer in the markets it serves by building large scale purpose-built cGMP compliant greenhouses, offering best quality assurance with cannabis products free from pesticides, providing better patient and doctor access to cannabis education, and sourcing better therapeutic delivery devices.

 

is a vertically integrated medical cannabis company operating in the world's two largest cannabis markets – Canada and California – committed to delivering safe, consistent, high-quality products and services. Sunniva operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries: Sunniva Medical Inc., CP Logistics, LLC, Natural Health Service Ltd., and Full-Scale Distributors, LLC. Sunniva's vision is to become the lowest cost, highest quality cannabis producer in the markets it serves by building large scale purpose-built cGMP compliant greenhouses, offering best quality assurance with cannabis products free from pesticides, providing better patient and doctor access to cannabis education, and sourcing better therapeutic delivery devices.

 

The company is establishing sophisticated distribution channels, including Sunniva's ownership of Natural Health Services Ltd. cannabis clinics in Canada with over 95,000 active patients, to purchase the significant quantities of high quality Sunniva-branded and Sunniva private-labeled cannabis products.

 

Sunniva is an ancient English name which means, "Gift of the Sun." Sunniva's team of horticulturists, scientists and engineers is helping to set best practices for the industry, believing that sun-grown, solar-powered cultivation is the most sustainable and cost-effective way to grow high-quality, premium cannabis.

 

The Sunniva Family includes:

 

CP Logistics, LLC

 

Through its subsidiary, CP Logistics LLC, Sunniva is developing the Sunniva Campus, a state-of-the-art, purpose-built greenhouse facility in Cathedral City, California. This modern purpose-built, agri-technology greenhouse is designed to be cGMP compliant which assures proper design, monitoring and control of manufacturing processes and facilities.

 

Phase 1 of the project includes a fully funded 325,000 square foot greenhouse capable of producing 60,000 kg per year of dry cannabis at capacity with operations commencing Q3 2018. Approximately 50 percent of initial total production will be converted into oils and extracts. Phase 2 is expected to increase the greenhouse by 165,000 square feet and grow production by about 40,000 kgs. per year.

 

These uniquely sealed greenhouses are designed to deploy custom, automation assembly line cultivation processes at a large scale. Energy consumption will be reduced while utilizing the energy of the sun and microclimatic controls to provide precise growing conditions. The greenhouse will recirculate air for more efficient climate control, and the company's Integrated Pest Management System is designed to ensure every plant grown is certified clean and free of all contaminants and pesticides.

 

Sunniva Medical Inc.

 

Sunniva Medical Inc. is designing and preparing to break ground on the Sunniva Canada Campus encompassing 700,000 square feet of purpose-built cGMP greenhouse facilities in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. The total campus is expected to produce 100,000 kg of premium medical cannabis annually plus additional trim used for extraction. This facility will produce pesticide-free products and will convert trim to extracted products such as cannabis oil that can be used for drug delivery formats such as capsules, dissolvable strips, vaporization cartridges, tinctures and creams.

 

Sunniva and Canopy Growth Corporation (Canopy Growth) recently announced a large take or pay supply agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Canopy Growth will purchase up to 45,000 kgs. of dried cannabis annually commencing Q1 2019, which includes the distribution of Sunniva branded products. Sunniva Medical is a late-stage applicant under Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) and is in the final review stage of the process.

 

Natural Health Services Ltd.

 

Natural Health Services Ltd. owns and operates a network of eight medical clinics in Canada specializing in medical cannabis under the ACMPR. Natural Health Services connects licensed producers to their 21 physicians and patients with its proprietary SPARK software which utilizes a software-as-a-service revenue model. To date, there are 27 integrated licensed producers utilizing the SPARK software.

 

In-house physicians specializing in the endocannabinoid system provide expert consultation, education and recommendations for targeted phytoceutical remedies and wellness plans to improve the quality of life for all patients. NHS enjoys a long-term relationship with patients due to the quality of its physician-patient experience. A rapidly expanding NHS cannabis clinic network serves more than 96,000 active patients in Canada. NHS has also initiated a pilot program with a national pharmacy chain to aggregate more patients.

 

Full-Scale Distributors, LLC

 

Full-Scale Distributors, LLC is an industry leading provider of custom, private-label vaporizers through its brand, Vapor Connoisseur. The company currently serves the needs of over 80 top brands in the North American marketplace. Vapor Connoisseur is recognized for its high quality and innovative therapeutic delivery devices. Products are tailored to client needs, ensuring both safety and reliability.

 

Sunniva's highly experienced management team is building partnerships with leading scientists, universities and clinical trial groups to deliver proprietary cannabis formulations to a broad spectrum of health ailments and conditions. These global partners require cGMP-certified facilities for the processing and manufacturing of cannabis products. Sunniva is committed to providing safe, pesticide-free, high quality, reproducible cannabis medicines.

 

Leading Sunniva is co-founder, chairman and CEO Dr. Anthony (Tony) Holler. He is the former CEO and founder of ID Biomedical, which was acquired in 2005 for $1.7 billion by GlaxoSmithKline. He is also the former chairman of Corriente Resources Inc., which was sold for approximately $700 million to CRCC-Tongguan Investment Co. Dr. Holler is currently chairman of CRH Medical Corporation, a public company trading on the TSX and NYSE. His expertise includes strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions and financing with a singular focus on increasing shareholder value.

 

Dr. Holler is joined by co-founder Leith Pedersen, who serves as president of Sunniva. Pedersen is the former owner and CEO of Vida Wealth Management Bahamas and was a former investment advisor at Canaccord Wealth Management. He is a former partner and director at JF Mackie and Company, an independent brokerage firm in Calgary, Alberta, that managed capital in excess of $2 billion for high net worth clients. Pedersen's expertise is in corporate strategy, financing and mergers and acquisitions. Investment Considerations Uniquely positioned in the largest legalized medical and recreational cannabis markets – California and Canada Construction underway for a modern, agri-technology greenhouse facility in California capable of producing over 100,000 kg of premium medical cannabis annually, once phase 1 and 2 are complete Received all required California temporary licenses to cultivate, process cannabis; will apply for annual state licenses within next four months Designs completed for purpose-built current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) compliant greenhouse facilities in British Columbia capable of producing 100,000 kg of premium medical cannabis per year and over 25,000 kg of trim used for extraction Application for medical cannabis production license at BC facility from Health Canada under final review Additional Resources Company Website Fact Sheet NewsRoom Presentation twitter

 

 

 

 

TMSR Holding Company Ltd. (NASDAQ: TMSR)

 

TMSR Holding Company Ltd. (NASDAQ: TMSR), together with its subsidiaries, is a recognized leader in the research, development, production and sale of solid waste recycling systems and zero emissions process systems, for the industrial and mining sectors in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through its wholly owned business divisions: Shengrong Environmental and Wuhan HOST Coating Materials.

 

TMSR's Shengrong subsidiary designs, builds, sells and services customized solid waste recycling systems and equipment for some of the largest industries in China. The company provides customers full-service, tailor-made systems from conceptual design to planning, production, modernization, optimization, assembly, start-up, conversions, disassembly, maintenance and servicing of components to complete zero emissions solid waste recycling and process systems.

 

Utilizing what management believed to be the world's most advanced technologies of physical magnetic industrial solid waste recovery, Shengrong can process a variety of industrial solid waste materials and is able to extract valuable metal byproducts from the waste without generating any chemical pollution. Shengrong's patented equipment can process aluminum slag, copper mine tailings, iron mine tailings, red mud manganese tailings, and molybdenum tailings among many others. Unlike traditional chemical-based recovery methods, the company extracts resalable metals from the waste without generating any pollution. The residues are processed to manufacture high-quality construction materials, turning polluted solid waste into valuable industrial materials with zero discharge.

 

Industrial solid waste recycling and heavy metal removal are significant worldwide technical, financial and environmental issues. Through Shengrong, TMSR is addressing this profound unmet market need by delivering end users a clean alternative to traditional waste disposal. The company intends to leverage these serious unmet needs, expand its patented industrial waste recycling systems to broad international markets, and provide global industrial and mining businesses cost-effective, patented green technology platforms that create new-found revenue streams for end users.

 

Through Shengrong, TMSR owns two U.S. patents and five patents granted by the Peoples Republic of China, including four invention patents and two utility model patents. The company's research and development efforts have achieved technological advancements that allow end users to eliminate pollutant discharge as well as generate new revenue streams by selling valuable byproducts extracted from industrial waste.

 

TMSR subsidiary, Wuhan HOST Coating Materials, is the largest manufacturer of inorganic Zinc-rich resin and one-component epoxy Zinc-rich resin in China. Established in 2010, Wuhan HOST is a leader in the research and development, production and sale of Zinc-rich coating materials throughout the PRC and has a broad customer base that includes some of the foremost enterprises in major industries such as electricity, metallurgy, machinery, chemicals, bridge and shipping. TMSR completed the acquisition of 100% equity interest in Wuhan HOST Coating Materials on May 1, 2018.

 

Notably, TMSR first went public as JM Global Holding Company, a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) formed to effect a merger, asset acquisition or other business combination that had exceptional growth potential. After reviewing over 50 potential targets and completing due diligence and third party analysis, JM Global identified China Sunlong Environmental Technology Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries as the acquisition target. Upon closing the business combination, the company was re-named TMSR Holding Company Ltd.

 

Demand for TMSR's products is expected to grow significantly due to Chinese policies that encourage mining and manufacturing companies to adopt "green" technology. Approximately 3 billion tons of industrial solid waste were generated annually in China between 2011 through 2015. Currently, 95% of industrial solid waste in China is stored in special facilities and sites; however, the cost of storage, disposal and incineration of industrial solid wastes is high. TMSR is focused on exploiting this unmet need, providing end users in the solid waste recycling markets a clean alternative to traditional waste disposal, significantly reducing solid waste discharge into the environment and enabling end users to extract value from industrial waste materials.