MissionIR Small-Cap Investor Blog: October 2014

Friday, October 31, 2014

Breast Cancer Awareness Beyond October

Today, October 31st, marks the end of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) campaign. DreamTeamNetwork has supported and promoted this cause in a number of ways, including posting a series of blogs on breast cancer awareness.

We hope you’ve been reading and learning about the latest research and news concerning this disease. We also hope that whatever awareness you’ve gained this October endures beyond the month and year and into the future.

In that vein, we’d like to leave you with some parting words:

— As a global community, we all can benefit from a special reminder that breast cancer has no cure and cannot be ignored. It’s a disease that over 520,000 people worldwide and 40,000 people in the United States, mainly women but not exclusively so, die from each year.

– A major step you can take now in the fight against breast cancer is to do your research and learn more about the disease. Support organizations that are inspiring change through education and awareness. Visit the websites of major and minor breast cancer research organizations and advocacy groups.

– While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages or to encourage others to do the same. We could do more to change that.

— Too many people are wrestling with serious diseases year-round, not only breast cancer but other cancers and diseases as well. Dealing with these diseases can be overwhelming. We could do more to lend support.

– Patients should be informed of all of their options and given room to ask questions of their physicians. The best medical care happens when patients are educated about their condition and care options and share in decisions about their care.

In the end, cancer prevention is a collaborative effort. In support of the mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and women in our lives, we all can strive to inspire society to contribute to a healthier environment and, ultimately, a cancer-free world.

Let us hear your thoughts below:

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Net Element, Inc. (NETE) – A Leading Provider of Mobile Payments and Transactions

Net Element, a global technology-driven group that specializes in mobile payments and value-added transactional services, wants to transform the online and mobile experience. Using the most innovative and powerful web tools, including a multi-channel platform and an all-in-one digital solution that simplifies security, the company wants to bring communities together, enrich lives and improve relationships.

The company is the owner and operator of a global mobile payments and transactional processing provider, the TOT Group, which includes:

- Aptito, a next generation cloud-based point of sale payments platform;

- TOT Money, a leading provider of SMS messaging and mobile billing solutions; and

- Unified Payments, a fast-growing company.

Net Element’s offerings comprise a number of products and services, including:

1. A Restaurant mPOS Solution

Aptito’s All-In-One Digital Solution offers a complete package of features to bring the food and beverage industry into the modern age. Digital menus and kiosks offered on the iPad are easy to customize and seamlessly integrate with a full-featured Point-of-Sale (POS) system and smart phone app. With this solution, restaurant owners can more easily interact with their customers, manage their restaurant virtually, and increase their profitability.

2. A Unified Payment Platform

Unified Payments makes payment transactions secure, fast and easy for merchants and customers pretty much every second of every day. Using the company’s state-of-the-art POS terminal, clients can accept credit, debit and gift cards and, now, Apple Pay. This customized e-commerce solution helps merchants safely engage in online sales while keeping possible risks under control.

3. Reports and Analytics

Unified Payments also hosts Insights, an online business dashboard that gives merchants a 360-degree view of their business. With Merchant Insights, merchants can also see what customers are saying about their business across Yelp, TripAdvisor, Foursquare, OpenTable, Facebook, Twitter and many other social media platforms, all in one simple, easy-to-use dashboard. They are also able to compare their current revenue, online reputation, and social media activity to their past performance and similar businesses in their area.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.netelement.com

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Continues to Set Itself Apart with Affordable, Tailored Solutions Geared Toward SMEs

Emerging companies looking to IPO typically lack the in-house experience and sophistication required to successfully handle the increasingly complex nuances of the overall process and are turning in ever greater numbers to the services provided by stock transfer agents to navigate the choppy seas of an initial public offering in today’s markets. Established public companies are also increasingly seeking out the services of stock transfer agents in order to handle the tedious and equally complex aspects of ongoing stock accounting requirements, like stock ownership verification and signature guarantee tracking. Transfer agents have become an indisputably vital part of success for emerging public companies when it comes to handling the aforementioned tasks and oftentimes seemingly herculean amount of clerical activities required, which range from registrations and handling EDGAR/XBRL filings, to organizing annual meetings and election processes.

While most stock transfer agents generally offer the same suites of services, what differentiates operators in this space is a powerful mix of industry experience, highly-trained personnel and the kind of always-on customer service required to really handle the evolving daily needs of a given company. Particularly for SME class companies, the amount of work required to manage the various aspects of an IPO or ongoing record keeping and shareholder information maintenance, is often much better/more cost-effectively handled by a third party stock transfer agent, which specializes in the practice and knows all the tricks of the trade.

One of the stock transfer agent firms which has successfully differentiated itself over the years is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust. Continental not only provides clients with 24/7 access to their deep bench of senior-level experts, but something the big transfer agent shops simply cannot provide, custom-tailored solutions. Not just any customized solutions either; Continental Stock Transfer & Trust just rang the bell on their 50th year in the game and they have the track record of customized service, as well as industry accolades, to back up that enviable milestone.

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust just pulled down the prestigious TALON Award (Transfer Agent Leader Overall North America) for the fourth year in a row, clearly evincing the company’s status as the top dog transfer agent in North America when it comes to customer satisfaction. The TALON Award, which is the industry’s only performance survey the spans the entire gamut, also clearly signifies Continental Stock Transfer & Trust’s value proposition, with the most reasonable fees, as well as controls on out-of-pocket expenses, to be had anywhere.

Music to the ears of SMEs looking to up their own game and the award also indicates to potential clients that Continental’s technology is second to none. The company’s online, client-based issuer tool, ControlBook Reporting for instance, allows on-demand access to share controls, irrespective of stock class and provides real-time situational awareness, as well as operability, whether day or night. The company’s embracing of crowdfunding and their partnership with numerous crowdfunding portals like 99 Funding (www.99funding.com), highlighted by their extensive comment letter to the SEC commending them for their JOBS Act and crowdfunding exemption (SA1933 Section 4[a][6]) rules (designed to reduce associated regulatory costs for raising capital, while preserving key investor protections), further shows how far ahead of the curve Continental is.

Of particular note is the company’s guidance in their comment letter to the SEC on how essential a registered transfer agent for Title II and III issuers is, in order to protect investors. Similarly, their suggestion that transfer agents lower their pricing models in order to accommodate fledgling companies, in light of the simplified record keeping, is trend-setting in its conception. Such trend-setting industry guidance helps clear the way for crowdfunding issuers who want to maximize their business models and still afford rigorous record keeping.

The comprehensive services provided by Continental have been instrumental for companies like Energy XXI (NASDAQ:EXXI), an independent oil and gas E&P with primary operations in the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf Coast. Given EXXI’s dual listing on the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller growing companies, AIM (which requires monthly reconciliations), as well as tasks like employee stock-based compensation stock issuances and preferred stock conversions, it has been essential to have a company like Continental on board to “keep everything straight,” according to EXXI’s Senior VP, Hugh Menown.

These same service capabilities, delivered by an exceptionally experienced, deep bench of experts who are at the beck and call of clients, has helped companies like Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PCD), one of the most active drillers in the Permian/Eagle Ford’s Spraberry/Wolfcamp oil field in Texas, handle all their daily transfer agent needs. PCD’s Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Sam Hicks, has even gone on record thanking Continental for their exemplary transfer agent service to Pioneer. Continental’s relationship with Pioneer stretches back to PCD’s inception in1997 and Hicks has been keen to point out how out how the tailored servicing, with additional special services provided on an ad hoc basis (without a bunch of costly add-ons as would be the case with most other transfer agents), has really been a high value addition to the company’s overall business model, allowing them to prosper and continue gaining momentum with each passing year.

Visit the Continental Stock Transfer & Trust for more information: www.ContinentalStock.com

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Net Element (NETE) – Advancing the Mobile Payment to the Next Level

Net Element is a Florida based technological firm specializing in the development of mobile payment apps from the merchant end of transactions. Mobile payment apps allow customers to use an app on their smartphone to pay directly from their bank account to venders that accept mobile payments. This technology is designed to make it more convenient for consumers who don’t want to carry debit and credit cards in their wallets. It also makes it easier for businesses as mobile payments are not currently charged the surcharges required for the use of physical cards.

Net Element announced in September that they struck a deal with Apple to develop merchant end technology that would allow for Apple Pay users to make purchases at businesses that have installed Net Element’s mobile payment system offered through their subsidiary TOT Group. With the number of customers using Apple Pay and other mobile payment apps to make purchases, the demand for merchants to accept these payments continues to grow. The reality of the rise of mobile payments coupled with Net Element’s special deal with Apple is advantageous to Net Element’s place in the growing mobile payment industry.

Despite the advantages that come with mobile payments, there is some resistance from merchants regarding the new technology due to questions on resistant the payment information is against hacking. Unlike physical cards, mobile payment technology uses stored bank account information to make the payment process quicker. The main safeguard against hacking is that Apple Pay is the fingerprint system used when using an iPhone 6 or greater to make a purchase. Despite some concerns, mobile payment technology continues to be adopted by a rising number of merchants wanting to take advantage of a new way to sell their products. As a premier developer of merchant end mobile payment technology, Net Element continues to be a part of the technological boom of the 2010s.

For more information, visit www.NetElement.com

Monday, October 27, 2014

Chembio Partners, Inc. (CEMI) Announces Partnership with BioTherapeutics, Inc. to Develop Point-of-Care Diagnostic Tests for Ebola and Febrile Illness

Chembio Diagnostics, a leader in point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Integrated BioTherapeutics, Inc. (IBT), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery of novel vaccines and therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Chembio will combine its patented DPP® technology with IBT’s proprietary Ebola reagents to develop POC diagnostic tests for Ebola and febrile illness. Chembio will have exclusive rights to any POC product developed through this agreement. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

While Ebola has caused multiple outbreaks since 1976, the frequency of epidemics in the past 15 years has drastically increased and the current outbreak in West Africa has reached unprecedented dimensions. Over 10,000 people have been infected with Ebola and recent cases outside the African continent are drawing concern from public health officials. Currently, the diagnosis of Ebola hemorrhagic fever can only be performed in specialized laboratories. This limitation significantly delays the identification and isolation of the patients who have Ebola and in turn likely makes it more difficult to control an outbreak or prevent new epidemics.

Javan Esfandiari, Chembio’s Chief Science & Technology Officer and the inventor of Chembio’s DPP® technology, commented, “We are pleased to partner with IBT, a biotechnology company with extensive experience and a substantial number of reagents for Ebola and other filoviruses, to develop a DPP® Ebola assay. In 2013, we partnered with the U.S. Government to develop a multiplex POC febrile illness assay which, in 20 minutes, can detect antigens from five different viruses, bacteria, and parasites with a single, finger-stick drop of blood. The resulting product, DPP® Febrile Illness Assay, is currently in clinical trials in several countries, including the region of West Africa. Our intent is to develop a stand-alone POC DPP® Ebola test and also include an Ebola test as part of our existing multiplex DPP® Febrile Illness Assay.”

John Sperzel, Chembio’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The partnership with IBT is a significant step in our continued efforts to expand Chembio’s POC infectious disease portfolio. Our prior success developing the multiplex DPP® Febrile Illness Assay demonstrates Chembio’s ability to create such tests in a short amount of time, and we believe this partnership illustrates the value that our DPP® technology brings to the broader diagnostic market. Through this agreement, Chembio’s goal is to further develop innovative, sensitive and specific POC diagnostic tests for detection of febrile illnesses, including Ebola.”

M. Javad Aman, President and Chief Scientific Officer of IBT, commented, “We are facing a humanitarian crisis and global public health challenge. Development of a rapid POC test for Ebola will be a critical step towards enabling early detection and quarantine that could help save countless lives. Through this partnership, the capabilities of the two companies will be combined to produce a POC product we believe will meet this serious challenge in a timely manner.”

For more information, visit www.chembio.com

Friday, October 24, 2014

Stellar Biotechnologies (SBOTF), Biovest International Ink KLH Supply Agreement

Biotech companies Stellar Biotechnologies and Biovest International have signed a definitive supply agreement to establish the terms for the production and supply of Stellar KLH™ to Biovest for use as an active component in BiovaxID® active immunotherapy for the treatment of follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin) is an immune-stimulating protein commonly used as a carrier molecule in active immunotherapy drugs in development for certain cancers and other diseases. The supply agreement will meet Biovest’s requirements for Stellar’s KLH products for use in its BiovaxID® immunotherapy vaccine in commercial distribution as well as for future clinical trials.

“Stellar’s key growth initiative is to leverage our Stellar KLH™ technology into multiple clinical pathways and the BiovaxID® program is a good example of the value of our core business for this purpose,” Frank Oakes, president and chief executive officer of Stellar Biotechnologies, stated in the news release. “There are many new KLH-based immunotherapies advancing in clinical trials and we are positioning Stellar to be the leading company capable of delivering the scalable, sustainable supplies of KLH that will be needed by these pharmaceutical pipelines.”

Per the agreement, Stellar will deliver its KLH products to Biovest in accordance with the cGMP standards that are required for Biovest’s ongoing development and as an anticipated commercial supply. Biovest has agreed to purchase Stellar KLH™ at forecasted quantities and prices. In addition to the supply agreement’s initial three-year term, Biovest may renew the agreement for additional one-year periods.

The supply agreement provides for Stellar and Biovest to consummate a separate quality agreement, within three months, to list the quality aspects and procedures relating to manufacture and release of the cGMP-compliant Stellar KLH™. Biovest will appoint Stellar as the exclusive supplier of KLH in connection with the potential future commercialization of BiovaxID®, subject to negotiation and execution of commercial production and supply terms.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Stellar Biotechnologies to continue the clinical progress of our active immunotherapy (BiovaxID) and are proud to work with Stellar in anticipation of our future commercial success. BiovaxID immunotherapy has demonstrated ability in long-running clinical trials to elicit potent anti-tumor immune responses and extend remission duration in patients suffering from follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. If approved, we anticipate that this product will offer an innovative adjuvant/consolidation vaccine strategy for patients with this disease,” said Carlos Santos, Biovest Chief Executive Officer Carlos Santos.

For more information visit: www.stellarbiotech.com

Talking Prevention this Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October, which is known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, DreamTeamNetwork has been posting a series of blogs on breast cancer awareness, research and news. We’re pleased to show our support for this cause and hope you will too! We also hope that the awareness you gain this month endures beyond the month and into the future.

More than 2 million breast cancer survivors are living within the United States. This month, let’s take a moment and be inspired by the stories of women who have survived this cancer as well as those undergoing treatment for it.

At the same time, wouldn’t it be amazing to link this month to healthy, cancer-free girls and women? What could we do to prevent breast cancer and make this a reality? Research shows that cancer prevention efforts are most effective if they begin early in life.

• From an early age on, a healthy diet is vital. Nourishing meals full of whole grains, vegetables, nuts and fruits are highly encouraged. Lean protein, like fish and chicken, are also highly recommended, while processed meats, like bacon, should be avoided.

• Daily physical exercise is essential. Children, in particular, should be encouraged to walk more, and spend time after school running, riding bikes, jumping rope, and dancing.

• Research also shows that young women should shun alcohol because it may increase their risk for breast cancer. In fact, drinking alcohol is associated with an increased risk of not only breast cancer, but also cancer of the mouth, throat, liver and colon.

These simple recommendations to eat a plant-heavy diet, engage in daily physical activity, and shy away from alcohol can help girls avoid breast cancer later in life. Following these guidelines from early childhood through adolescence and adulthood can also reduce cancer risk, at least a fraction more than waiting until middle-age to begin such healthy habits.

In the end, cancer prevention is a collaborative effort. In support of the mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and women in our lives, we all can strive to inspire society–parents and children, schools, the media and medical community, government, industry, and advocacy groups–to contribute to a healthier environment and, ultimately, a cancer-free world. Together, let’s empower our children and ourselves with the tools we need to live stronger and healthier lives and to prevent cancer.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

One Analyst’s Analysis of Net Element, Inc.’s (NETE) Performance in Mobile Payment Industry

A smaller player in the massive mobile payment industry, Miami-based mobile commerce and payment processing company Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE) is corralled with larger companies whose share price and brand recognition often drafts off the momentum of behemoths like Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). As such, standing out in this market takes considerable tactic and potential, being positioned at the right place at the right time, or a sweet cocktail of each.

When Apple launched its new Apple Pay service October, 20 2014, the debut triggered a buying frenzy in the mobile payment market. While shares of most mobile payment providers rode the Apple Pay wave, Net Element’s shares slipped lower, catching the attention of Wall Street Daily chief technology analyst Marty Biancuzzo.

“Well, with a market cap of just $60 million, it’s one of the smallest players in a mobile payment market that’s only getting larger as the number of mobile devices continues to proliferate globally … However, while many of its mobile payment peers have enjoyed riding the wave that Apple Pay created, Net Element shares have dropped recently…,” Biancuzzo noted in an article titled Small Firm Set to Crack Big Mobile Payment Market?

The technology within Net Element’s Unified Payment brand enables merchants to accept mobile and cashless payments. Unified Payment was founded by Net Element CEO Oleg Firer and, representative of the company’s potential, in 2012 was named as Inc. 500 Magazine’s fastest-growing company. The company’s Aptito platform helps restaurants and hotels extend their reach by providing customer engagement and loyalty opportunities via mobile devices.

After noting Net Element’s “rough start” in terms of cash and profit into the mobile payments market 10 years ago, Biancuzzo pointed to the company’s “bright spot”: “an enormous jump in revenue – from $1.4 million in 2012 to $18.7 million in 2013.”

Notably, revenues decelerated 12% in the second quarter due, which the company primarily attributes to operational restructuring at its Russia location. The company was still able to achieve its first quarter of profit, however, with net income of $1.3 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to a loss of $20.2 million, or $0.72 per share, in the comparable quarter of 2013.

Biancuzzo also highlighted Net Element’s tactical debt exchange agreement with Crede CG III, Ltd., which eliminated nearly $16 million of the company’s indebtedness, which will be reflected in third-quarter results, and noted that the move “should obviously give the firm much more financial wiggle room.”

As Biancuzzo put it, “In terms of impact, Net Element is in the right market at the right time.”

On September 17, Net Element announced the alignment of its own point-of-sale (POS) mobile payment technology with Apple’s iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch devices, and the company last week filed a $50 million universal shelf registration (S-3) with the SEC to obtain financing to develop its technology and advanced its overarching business strategy.

So with all the progress, why the so-so stock performance? You may point to lack of market recognition (which the company is increasing); Biancuzzo surmised that it’s partially due to share dilution.

“Part of the reason is the S-3 filing I noted above, which will see a further two million shares of common stock issued at a par value $0.0001 per share … Share-dilution concerns have hammered the stock, but the hit should be temporary, especially given the company’s venture into profitability and the elimination of that $15.8 million in debt from the balance sheet,” wrote Biancuzzo.

Add to that the struggle for brand recognition among larger competition, and Net Element has a challenge on its hands. But it’s not one that CEO Firer, an experienced industry veteran, seems worried about.

In a letter to shareholders earlier this week, Firer said,

“Moving forward, Net Element aims to execute on its initiatives for accelerated growth with sustained profitability. Net Element management and board of directors are committed to reinforcing the company’s underlying business as well as identifying and pursuing strategic opportunities to increase shareholder value.

“For the rest of 2014 and moving into 2015 we intend to explore opportunities and the application of our technologies that will continue to propel Net Element toward its potential in the exciting global mobile payments market.

“My expectation is that 2014 will unlock additional opportunities that will undoubtedly serve to benefit all who are connected to the success of our Company.”

In today’s Wall Street Daily article, Biancuzzo also discussed Net Element’s current revenue streams and the potential benefit it may achieve through implementation of Apple Pay into its own services.

To read the article in its entirety visit http://www.wallstreetdaily.com/2014/10/23/chaos-system-net-element.

For more information on NETE visit www.netelement.com

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Net Element, Inc. (NETE) Summarizes Recent Milestones via Shareholder Letter from CEO

Net Element, a technology-driven group specializing in mobile payments and value-added transactional services in emerging countries and in the United States, today released a shareholder letter from the Company’s CEO, Oleg Firer. The complete message can be found below.

Dear Net Element Shareholders,

I am writing you today for several reasons. The past several weeks have been very busy and productive, and I would like to highlight several achievements that have advanced the Company’s short-term and long-term position both financially and operationally.

Let me begin by first thanking all shareholders for their support. Making an investment is not a light decision and we value the trust you have put into Net Element’s operations, management and service offerings. We continually strive to increase both company and shareholder value, and we believe that you will find evidence of this mission in the achievements we made last month.

Significant Achievements

We kicked off a series of milestones in the month of September by announcing that we will integrate the Apple® Pay service offering into our point-of-sale payment acceptance hardware and software via Apple iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch devices. Aligning Net Element’s services with one of the most reputable companies in the world is an achievement from which we expect to have long-term benefit.

In mid-September we finalized our debt exchange transaction with Crede Capital Group, LLC, eliminating $15,876,860 of debt from the Company’s balance sheet. This transaction, which will be reflected in our financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, significantly freed up our cash flow position and strengthened our balance sheet by replacing debt with equity.

Towards the end of September Net Element secured a new $11 million credit facility from Russia’s largest private bank, Alfa-Bank. The financing supports our growth initiatives in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States and is specifically allocated to our TOT Money business, which in April 2014 launched a new cutting-edge platform for mobile commerce, direct carrier billing and payment processing. The credit facility not only strengthened our liquidity, but also facilitates TOT Money’s ability to attract new customers and take advantage of additional growth opportunities in the region.

We also filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). If and when the SEC declares the registration statement effective, we will be able to raise up to $50 million, which we intend to use to execute our business strategy and invest in opportunities in mobile payments and value-added transactional services.

Also notable, brand exposure among the investment community is on the rise. In addition to SeeThruEquity, industry media outlets such as USA Today, TheStreet and 24/7 Wall St. also took notice of our progress and subsequent favorable trading activity following our news releases.

Collectively, these achievements allowed the Company to continue its momentum from our strong second-quarter performance. In the second quarter we received an additional $10 million financing from RBL Capital, after which Cayman Invest converted its $11.2 million of debt to equity. We also expanded our board of directors with the addition of Drew Freeman and William Healy, as well as launched an analytical toolbox product offering to our merchants.

The three months ended June 30, 2014, also marked Net Element’s first quarter of profitability as we reported net income of $1.3 million, or $0.04 per share, compared with a net loss of ($20.2 million), or $(0.72) per share, in the comparative second quarter. Due to restructuring of operations in Russia, second-quarter revenues decreased 12% to $4.9 million from $5.6 million in the second quarter of 2013. Liabilities decreased 40% to $22.8 million from $37.9 million at December 31, 2013. Working capital increased $8.3 million from ($8.0) million at December 31, 2013, to $0.3 million at June 30, 2014, primarily resulting from restructuring our indebtedness.

Outlook

Moving forward, Net Element aims to execute on its initiatives for accelerated growth with sustained profitability. Net Element management and board of directors are committed to reinforcing the company’s underlying business as well as identifying and pursuing strategic opportunities to increase shareholder value.

For the rest of 2014 and moving into 2015 we intend to explore opportunities and the application of our technologies that will continue to propel Net Element toward its potential in the exciting global mobile payments market.

My expectation is that 2014 will unlock additional opportunities that will undoubtedly serve to benefit all who are connected to the success of our Company. On behalf of the entire Net Element family, thank you for sharing in our success and being a partner in our future.

For more information, visit www.netelement.com

Monday, October 20, 2014

Noble Financial / Capital Markets Equity Conference on Club Med, Sandpiper Bay, Florida’s Horizon

Noble Financial / Capital Markets is in the midst of planning its 11th annual Equity Conference to be held January 18 – 21, 2015 at Club Med, Sandpaper Bay, Florida. This will be the second year in a row Noble has held the Equity Conference at the 220 acre resort. Sandpiper Bay is approximately 40 minutes from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI).

Called “the ultimate adventure in capitalism,” Noble will be host to one hundred fifty corporate executive teams and qualified institutional investors. The three-day program kicks off with a Sunday watch party featuring the AFC/NFC Championship NFL Games before continuing to formal presentations, cocktail receptions and one-on-ones. Also planned are scheduled executives / investors lunches and dinners, and three evening events that will expand the business day allowing for ample networking opportunities.

Registration includes all food and beverage and access to the club’s athletic and sporting amenities. Companies that register early have first call on the date and time of their presentations, a $1000 discount on the cost of registration, and allowance for one executive from each company to bring his or her spouse/partner at no additional cost.

Registrants can anticipate a spouse / partner & children’s program which promises to turn the conference into an enjoyable family experience. Noble encourages interested parties to plan early as space is limited as record attendance is expected. The conference marks the beginning of the company’s second decade of conferences (D2). Register today by going to www.nobleresearch.com/D2/2015.htm. For more information and a glimpse at the conference agenda please visit www.nobleresearch.com/D2/theAGENDA.htm.

Noble has been in the investment banking / capital markets business for nearly thirty years with its analysts and bankers averaging more than 25 years in the industry. The company has developed important verticals markets in technology, healthcare and media. Noble endeavors to be a market leader in the small-cap, emerging growth arena. Its strategy is to achieve this status by providing an ethical, timely, quality product to both its corporate partner and institutional investor customer base.

For more information on the company, visit www.nobleresearch.com

Cadiz, Inc. (CDZI) Water Project Forges Ahead to Tap Water Resources for Southern California Drought Relief

It is with great hope that Southern California could see above-average rainfall in the winter months ahead, but it won’t be enough to overcome the drought that meteorologists are saying will likely continue or intensify in many parts of the state. Mike Halpert, acting director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, adds, “The drought has been so severe and so long-lasting that it’s going to take more than one year to get you back to normal.”

Cadiz works on behalf of its shareholders by operating as a land and water resource development company in the United States. The company focus is on the water resource, land and agricultural development activities in San Bernardino County. It owns 34,000 acres of land, including subsurface areas that involve unsaturated soils and additional water rights in the Cadiz and Fenner valleys. In addition, CDZI also owns 11,000 acres in the eastern Mojave Desert in eastern San Bernardino County. Additionally, the company is involved in the cultivation of lemons and grapes/raisins, and spring and fall plantings of vegetables on the Cadiz Valley properties.

As with nearly all activity involving our environment, there have been voices of opposition to the company’s current Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery and Storage Project. Amid challenges of this nature, Cadiz has established a track record affirming its mission objectives at the highest levels for being a company that acts in an environmentally benign and acceptable fashion since 1983.

Wes May, Executive Director, Engineering Contractors Association, has commented, “The Cadiz Project is a strong example of private investment for public good, and will bring a reliable local Southern California water supply to approximately 400,000 people in the region. Designed to minimize the building footprint and with no long-term impacts to the desert environment, this project represents sustainable design and a tangible and long lasting improvement to the local water supply.” Commenting further was Inland Empire Economist, Dr. John Husing. “The construction phase of the Cadiz Valley Water Project would create a cumulative total of nearly 6,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs over the four years of effort, to tap into San Bernardino County’s extensive labor supply, where the high desert unemployment was 16.4% in March 2011. It would also support local manufacturers of materials used in construction of wells, pipelines, and power generation, with a net local four year economic impact of $878 million.”

CDZI has been a part of the eastern Mojave Desert community for over 25 years and is proud of a track record that points to its commitment to protecting the desert environment. As part of this commitment, the company pledges to manage the aquifer systems beneath its properties in a sustainable manner, to conserve water, to explore solar power opportunities and to continue to use sustainable agricultural practices. CDZI’s innovative Cadiz Valley Water Project is dedicated to providing a new local solution to meet Southern California’s water needs, while also protecting the long-term safety of the desert. The company has pledged to be guided by a Green Compact, which commits to the permanent preservation of lands, dedication of a portion of the land for solar power development, stringent plans for sustainable groundwater management and habitat conservation, and the dedication of water to restoring endangered aquatic ecosystems in California and the Colorado River basin. The company’s vision is one of a green company that works as a partner with the environment while aspiring to be a model to other private sector companies in the renewable resources business.

For more information on the company, visit www.cadizinc.com

Staffing 360 Solutions, Inc. (STAF) Readies for Investor Conference Call October 21, 2014

Staffing 360 Solutions, focusing on global buy-build strategy through the acquisition of domestic and international staffing organizations will be conducting a conference call on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11:00 am EST. On the call the company will be discussing its financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended August 31, 2014.

Call speakers will be Brendan Flood, Executive Chairman, Matt Briand, Chief Executive Officer and Jeff Mitchell, Chief Financial Officer. Following their comments, investors and other participants will be able to engage in Q&A.

Brendan Flood, Executive Chairman commented, “Our acquisition strategy has enabled us to grow significantly compared to our year-over-year numbers. We look forward to discussing more details about our financial results, our expanding footprint in the staffing industry and our future growth initiatives for the remainder of calendar 2014.”

Those interested in participating in the call are asked to dial toll-free 877-407-0778 within the United States, or 800-756-3429 within the UK. All other international parties should dial 201-689-8565. The company asks that participants dial in 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the call so as to ensure a prompt, uninterrupted start. There will be a playback of the teleconference available up to November 4, 2014. To listen to the playback, dial 877-660-6853 within the United States or 201-612-7415 internationally and use replay ID number: 13593807.

The conference call will be simultaneously webcast and available at: www.investorcalendar.com/event/173333

Staffing 360 Solutions works in the staffing sector where it acquires US and international staffing organizations to execute its global strategy. Contributing to its consolidation model, STAF is active in acquiring companies in the finance and accounting, administrative, engineering, IT and cybersecurity industries. The company believes the staffing industry offers opportunities to create a successful public company with a longer term objective of accretive acquisitions that will drive annual revenues to $300 million.

For more information on this company, visit www.staffing360solutions.com

Shifting the Focus of Breast Cancer Awareness

All throughout October 2014, DreamTeamNetwork will be posting a succession of blogs on breast cancer awareness, research and more news in support of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign. We are proud to show our continued support for this compassionate, laudable cause and hope you will too!

This year, we have been shining the light on a different kind of breast cancer awareness—a message more appropriate to today. Today’s message of awareness might adapt and shift focus in a number of different directions, including:

Emphasizing Unmet Needs

People with metastatic breast cancer are living an incredibly difficult existence with a long-term diagnosis. They go about their lives with an incurable condition, receiving treatment until death.

Pointing to Critical Areas for Research

Certain crucial areas to be researched include:

• Breast cancer’s causes – The more that is known about the causes of breast cancer, the more the cancer might be prevented;

• Metastases – The more is known about why secondary malignant growths develop at a distance from a primary site of cancer, the more these too might be prevented or better managed, if and/or when they arise;

• Better, more effective and less harmful treatments for all molecular subtypes of the disease; and

• Improvements in diagnostics or pathology so that patients with minimal or slow tumors can safely avoid overtreatment.

Stressing That Patients Have Options

Patients should be informed of all of their options and given room to ask questions of their physicians. The best medical care happens when patients are educated about their condition and care options, can enter the doctor’s office or clinic with a reasonable understanding of their condition and choices, and share in decisions about their care.

Recognizing That the World is Disease-ridden

Awareness is important but it also demands perspective, including the fact that breast cancer is one of many illnesses from which all kinds of people suffer and some die. There is no severity or merit contest for cancer. Each person in each situation deserves good medical care provided with respect and access to the necessary medication.

To take action and make a difference, consider supporting National Breast Cancer Foundation (www.nationalbreastcancer.org) or one of the many other organizations fighting against this deadly cancer.

Friday, October 17, 2014

The 2015 ROTH Conference – It’s All about the Experience

There is a place where hundreds of private equity investors, venture capitalists and institutional investors gather in the spring. It is a rich environment for business development opportunities in the small-cap and mid-cap space. It is the annual ROTH Conference.

The ROTH Conference is a must-see event, a powerfully effective marketing platform that brings together key decision makers within the U.S. and abroad. The conference was conceived to provide investors with unique opportunities where they could gain insight into emerging growth companies and is now considered one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. Last year’s event was even crowned one of the top business and financial industry events in the country.

The next ROTH Conference will be held on March 8-11, 2015 at The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California. It will be the 27th occurrence of the annual event.

Audience

In line with the success of previous years, next year’s conference will host over 3,000 attendees and nearly 500 participating companies.

Agenda

Over three and a half days, the event will present:

• 10 concurrent tracks of company presentations

• Thousands of one-on-one or small group meetings

• Numerous expert and thematic panel discussions

• A private track

• Three nights of signature evening entertainment

By the time the conference adjourns, it will have featured presentations from hundreds of public and private growth companies operating in a variety of sectors, including:

• Business Services

• Consumer

• E-Commerce and Retail

• Healthcare

• Industrials and Resources

• Media and Technology

• Solar and Cleantech

For more information about the conference, registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.roth.com

Transgenomic, Inc. (TBIO) Sees Cutting Edge Success with Advent of ‘Personalized Medicine’

There is currently great excitement among clinicians and scientists in the field of personalized treatment of cancer. Today’s advances in the biology of cancer and development of new tools for genome analysis have provided for a fresh perspective in what is commonly known today as personalized medicine. This type of medicine is centered on the tumor. The concept is not new and previous attempts to customize treatment have been carried out by the patient himself. Despite its limitations, decades ago body surface area based dosing was already a first step in this promising treatment type. Today, application of new pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacogenetics-driven concepts still provide some of the most promising tools for improving treatment management and clinical outcomes in patients with cancer.

Transgenomic is a global biotechnology company pushing the envelope on personalized medicine in cardiology, oncology, and inherited diseases through its proprietary molecular technologies and research services. The company is the global leader in cardiac genetic testing with several products, including its flagship C-GAAP test. The test is designed to detect gene mutations which indicate cardiac disorders, or which can lead to adverse problems down the road. Transgenomic has three divisions. They are Transgenomic Clinical Laboratories, which specializes in molecular diagnostics for cardiology, oncology, neurology, and mitochondrial disorders; Transgenomic Pharmacogenomic Services, a contract research laboratory that specializes in supporting all phases of pre-clinical and clinical trials for oncology drugs in development; and Transgenomic Diagnostic Tools, a producer of equipment, reagents, and other consumables that aid clinical and research applications in molecular testing and cytogenetics. Transgenomic sees great opportunity for further growth in all three businesses by using their synergistic capabilities, technologies, and expertise.

TBIO’s management team is built for success. Sandra J. Gunselman Ph. D. and Vice President of Clinical Operations achieved a B.S. in Biology from the David Lipscomb University and a Ph.D. in Cellular & Molecular Biology from Colorado State University. Dr. Gunselman has two decades of molecular biology lab experience. Dr. Gunselman specializes in DNA damage and repair.

For more information on the company, visit www.transgenomic.com

FX Energy, Inc. (FXEN) Eyes Value in Underexplored Polish Permian Basin

FX Energy builds value for its shareholders in the oil and gas exploration and production market with production in the U.S. and Poland. The company’s primary exploration and production activity targets Poland’s Permian Basin where the gas-bearing Rotliegend sandstone is a direct analog to the Southern Gas Basin offshore England. Operator and owner of 51% of the well, PGNiG, is running a full production test to determine flow rates and reserves.

The company recently reported that drilling, coring and logging of the Karmin-1 well have been completed. Results of these operations show 30 meters of gas-saturated Rotliegend sandstone with porosity approaching 30%. The well flowed at a rate up to 6.7 mmcfg/d on a 22/64″ choke with no water. It will now be completed for production and is expected to start producing at the start of 2016. The Baraniec-1 well, which began drilling in September of this year, has run casing to a depth of 3,894 meters at the base of the Zechstein. The well is a planned test of a Rotliegend sandstone structure. Pending the test’s measure of success, Baraniec-1 will be connected to the production facility at Lisewo and could be in production by the end of next year. Both wells are located in the Fences license.

The company’s oil and gas revenues for 2013 were $33.3 million, a modest 3% decrease compared to revenues for the following fiscal year. FXEN expects its 2014 production will net a rise from its 2013 production rates with the start of production at its Lisewo-2 and Komorze-3K wells. Further, this production will be included to a full year of production from its Lisewo-1 and Winna Gora wells, which is believed will be greater than the natural declines in production from producing wells.

FX Energy’s strategy is well defined. It believes Poland embodies a unique international exploration opportunity. Within the past half century, Western companies have invested billions of dollars into exploration efforts in the British, German, Dutch and Norwegian sectors in the North Sea area. Industry data suggests these efforts have resulted in the discovery of trillions of cubic feet of gas and more than a billion barrels of oil. Up until the late 1990’s, Poland been closed to exploration by foreign oil and gas companies. As of today, exploration activities conducted in the Polish onshore Permian Basin area are only a fraction of those conducted in the western part of the basin. As a result the company feels the Polish Permian Basin is underpenetrated and, therefore, has high potential for discovery of significant volumes of oil and gas relative to the North Sea or other mature oil and gas provinces in the United States and around the world. One example is that the estimated gross proved recoverable reserves per well associated with the 11 conventional gas discoveries in its core Fences concession in Poland are 12.7 Bcf.

As of the end of 2013, FX Energy estimated oil and gas reserves were 42.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 0.5 million barrels of oil. This amounts to a total of 44.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. The company retains oil and gas exploration rights in a range of project areas comprising approximately 2.7 million gross acres in Poland, as well as produces oil from approximately 10,730 gross acres in Montana and 400 gross acres in Nevada.

For more information on the company, visit www.fxenergy.com

Net Element, Inc. (NETE) Setting Up the Field for Serious Revenue Growth via Mobile Payment Processing Expansion in Russia, CIS

The number of iPhone users in the U.S. alone is projected around 63.2M this year and with the new Apple Pay NFC (near-field communications) payment system going live on October 20th, supported by payment giants American Express, MasterCard and Visa, the multi-billion dollar mobile payments and transactional services sector now appears to be hotter than ever. Alternative payment methods are set to easily overtake credit/debit cards globally according to renowned sector analyst WorldPay’s second edition of their extremely rigorous Global Guide to Alternative Payments, which shows that online buying using alternative methods will be as much as 59% of the space by just 2017.

E-wallets will become more dominant than cards over the same interval, with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin also playing an increasingly prominent driver role in the decline of debt/credit card usage. E-wallet payment processing was about $295B in 2012 alone, a figure set to rise a staggering 461% by 2017 to around $1,656B according to WorldPay. China will be an increasingly prominent force as well in the underlying dynamics, with 44% or more of transactions in China currently using e-wallets and the huge success of the Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) IPO telegraphing the future presence the company’s Alipay service, which represents more than 30% of all such payments.

It takes a shrewd company with considerable experience to make it in this game today and one such company is Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE). NETE is a tech-driven mobile payment and transaction services specialist with solid roots in the RUS Fed and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) via the company’s global processing provider subsidiary, TOT Group, Inc., which includes Inc. Magazine’s top pick for fastest growing company in 2012, Unified Payments. Also among the NETE umbrella is Aptito, a next-gen cloud-based visual POS (point of sale) payments platform developer (focused on iPad deployments). Aptito has an array of exciting digital menu and mobile ordering offerings that are seamlessly hooked into social media platforms like Facebook, right from inside the software itself. Aptito even offers a mobile POS system, mPOS, via a cloud-based app.

Net Element provides anywhere/anytime mobile payment solutions and value-added transactional services, as well as marketing solutions that leverage technologies like product review and recommendation engine dovetailing. The company even provides customers with comprehensive data-driven business analytics to make sense of it all. Another one of NETE’s companies, TOT Group division, TOT Money, is already ranked as the top SMS text messaging content provider in Russia by the country’s second largest telecom operator, Beeline. The TOT Money platform is directly integrated into billing systems of major mobile operators worldwide and offers websites a way to connect with customers, giving them an easy payment option.

NETE is in a unique position to help expand the still underdeveloped Russian/CIS mobile payment sector, with global development centers, as well as key, high-level business relationships throughout the region. CEO of NETE, Oleg Firer, who has over a decade of experience in the payments industry, with a particular emphasis on payments-based tech and M&A work, recently sat down with strategic communications and IR/PR firm MissionIR to cover the waterfront (http://nete.missionir.com/nete/interview.html).

Firer went into not only the diverse experience and capabilities of NETE’s management team, but a series of 2014 milestones that clearly detail the company’s path to success. Among the highlights are a spate of multi-million dollar financings the company has recently secured, completion of a $16M debt exchange transaction, as well as trimming of the company’s overall architecture via some non-core asset divestments. NETE has set itself up nicely for accelerating revenue growth moving forward and Firer was keen to point out in the interview how NETE is primed for some serious expansion in Russia/CIS, noting in particular the recent $11M financing from Russia’s biggest private bank, Alfa-Bank.

Acquire additional data on Net Element at www.NetElement.com