(Image via Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.)
Market activity has been swaying worldwide these past few weeks. Looking at media headlines, are we about to see a full recovery of the global economy as it opens up … or is more trouble ahead?
Everyone has their own views on the matter, but everyone can agree that it often pays to stay focused on performance during uncertain times.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the markets deeply for more than a year, but since that time, each sector has been affected differently. Some have crumbled, others have coasted, while some have even soared to new heights.
This has given investors a few angles to consider, who is just a “flash in the pan” and who is a stable long-term value play?
Sponsored by
Canadian mining company
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX: IVN, Forum) could probably be classified as the latter. It is advancing its three mining projects in Southern Africa and released its
financial results for the three months ended March 31st, 2021 this week.
Bullboarders were impressed with news that the copper production at its Kamoa-Kakula Mine is to begin imminently, with the first phase projected to produce approximately 200,000 tonnes of copper per year. Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 2 expansion, scheduled for Q3 2022, will double annual copper output to approximately 400,000 tonnes. Kamoa-Kakula’s initial production guidance, on a 100%-project basis, is between 80,000 and 95,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate for the remainder of 2021. At the end of April 2021, Kamoa-Kakula's pre-production ore stockpiles held three million tonnes grading 4.74% copper, containing more than 140,000 tonnes of copper.
Another Canadian copper producer,
Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX: NCU, Forum) also released its financial statements this week, looking at
Q1 2021, it had initiated stope mining with the first stoping area carrying an average grade of 2.5% CuEq. NCU also completed a public offering of units for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $38 million (CAD) and concurrent private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $13.1 million (CAD).
Lateral development continued to ramp-up in the quarter at the company’s underground mine at its Pumpkin Hollow project in Nevada.
Nevada Copper Corp’s Chief Executive Officer, Mike Ciricillo praised the progress achieved in Q1 at its underground mine and the dedication of the team.
“The operation made significant progress through the ramp-up during the first quarter, and we look forward to the interim milestone of production rates of 3,000 tpd expected in June, 2021 and continuing our ramp-up to steady state production.”
Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (TSX-V: RECO, Forum) entered into a definitive arrangement where it has agreed to
acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares and convertible securities of
Renaissance Oil Corp. (TSX-V: ROE) (an onshore operator in Mexico with 100% working interest in approximately 1,200 boe/day) by way of a statutory plan of arrangement. The value was calculated $0 .35 per Renaissance Share or approximately $155 million (CAD).
Once known for being the world's largest smartphone manufacturer,
BlackBerry Limited (TSX: BB, Forum) is now exclusively a software provider who has been advancing
new platforms that have been covered in numerous editions of Buzz on the Bullboards, the latest of which is BlackBerry Optics 3.0, its next-generation cloud-based endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution and BlackBerry Gateway, the company's first AI-empowered Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) product. Rooted in a prevention-first and AI-driven approach, BlackBerry's new endpoint and network security capabilities will help differentiate BlackBerry's extended detection and response (XDR) strategy.
A leader in smart buildings and cities through IoT, cloud, and SaaS technology,
Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE: KNR, Forum) reported this week that it had completed
a successful pilot using multiple BioCloud units in various training locations. Data from the BioCloud operation mirrored the independent PCR testing completed over the duration of the pilot.
That's not all, KNR’s BioCloud commenced its operational pilot in the Middle East, will launch its first large Canadian hospital pilot in Q2 2021, recently added a new distribution partner in India on a non-exclusive basis, and commenced discussions for a US based lease financing program for BioCloud sales south of the border.
Each BioCloud unit in operation logs thousands of data points daily in real-time and Kontrol Technologies Corp.’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Ghezzi explained that the company continue to progress the BioCloud technology as a global solution for real-time viral detection and safer spaces.
“With units in the field collecting data, in real-time, we have completed another round of significant milestones. We are now in a position where we can showcase live operating results with distribution partners, customers, and other interested parties. Further the successful pilots and the data generated have been an important source of technology advancement. We also have our first distribution partner in India.”
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The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a notice of allowance for Vancouver, BC-based
NexOptic Technology Corp.’s (TSX-V: NXO, Forum) patent application for low light technology.
The new technology is part of the company's
All Light Intelligent Imaging Solutions (ALIIS), a suite of AI solutions for all levels of imaging including video, data compression and more.
A notice of allowance is an indication that the invention qualifies for a patent and that administrative and other steps are required prior to its issuance. An invention is still considered "patent pending" until the final patent has been issued.
Once issued, the patent will provide key intellectual property protection for NexOptic’s AI technology. The company is expecting additional approvals for pending patents and continues to file patents covering all aspects of its ALIIS technology.
Paul McKenzie, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of NexOptic said that the company is working to fortify its our leadership position in AI imaging by a growing patent estate.
“This notice of allowance is a meaningful step in this direction.”
HEXO Corp. (TSX: HEXO, Forum) and
48North Cannabis Corp (TSX-V: NRTH) have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, HEXO will acquire all 48North’s issued and outstanding common shares in an all-share transaction valued at approximately
$50 million (CAD).
HEXO Corp. co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sebastien St-Louis (pictured below) said that the company looks forward to welcoming the 48North team into the HEXO family, as the company continues down its path towards achieving a top two position in Canada by adult-use sales.
“48North’s innovative product portfolio complements HEXO’s existing brands which, combined with their additional market penetration, will further strengthen HEXO’s position in the Canadian market. We expect the deal could offer up to $12 million worth of accretive synergies within one year following the close and ideally position HEXO to continue executing on our domestic and international growth strategy.”
(Image via HEXO Corp.)
48North’s Chief Executive Officer, Charles Vennat added that his company has always been a brand-led, consumer-centric licensed cannabis producer with a mission to provide an expansive portfolio of high-quality, accessibly priced products across the country.
“Like HEXO, 48North believes that the combination should deliver meaningful synergies, a stronger financial position with increased flexibility, and should position the combined company to meet growing consumer demand on a national basis. I believe this transaction is beneficial to our shareholders, customers, partners, and other stakeholders. We look forward to working closely with HEXO to complete this transaction.”
On Tuesday, June 1st, 2021, the world’s biggest cannabis producer,
Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX: WEED, Forum) will release its financial results for
Q4 2020 and fiscal year 2021 ended March 31st, 2021.
This time last year, Canopy Growth reported that it had generated net revenue of
$399 million in its fiscal year 2020, up 76% over its fiscal year 2019. What kind of figures can we expect for the year ahead? What kind of indication will it serve for a true “cannabis comeback” in 2021? Time will tell.
What do you think? Do you see the cannabis market as thriving compared to this time last year? Let us know your thoughts by clicking the image below and casting your vote in our Investor Pulse Poll.
(Click image to vote.)
Last week’s poll was an absolute split of opinion on the current oil price glut and whether Stockhouse users believe this is a trend that is here to stay.
Finally, we have
Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. (TSX-V: TBP, Forum), a leader in cannabinoid-derived drug discovery and development, who reported this week that its team had closed its bought-deal public offering of units. A total of 25 million units of the company were sold at a price of $0.40 per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds to the company of
$10 million (CAD).
Next week is a shorter trading week in Canada, yet the news and global market activity will continue. Any action or event can have a cascading effect on the rest of the markets, so it is important for investors to keep their eyes fixated on the trading pulse. The best way to stay up to date on the latest small cap movements is to keep checking the weekly Buzz on the Bullboards. For previous editions:
click here.