• Growing environmental awareness creating demand for energy-saving solutions
• Smart controls make energy consumption manageable
• Zenergy owns retail energy provider in Texas

Growing environmental awareness and changing economics are creating halcyon days for the new Zero Cost Energy Saving Program from Zenergy Brands, Inc. (OTC: ZNGY). Cities across America are increasingly demanding cleaner energy and implementing energy conservation measures. Furthermore, data published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that, since 2017, the cost of electricity from renewables has fallen below the cost of fossil fuels (http://ibn.fm/ak4NE). These developments are set to usher in happy days for Zenergy, as its Zero Cost Program aligns with both trends. With its deployment of smart controls, the program holds the promise of limiting energy consumption while protecting the environment. Signing on to the program offers commercial, industrial and municipal customers the possibility of reducing their power consumption by 20 to 60 percent, and who isn’t in the market for conservative consumption?

The Zero Cost Program, made possible through an industry standard arrangement known as a Managed Energy Services Agreement (MESA), is a turnkey solution that enables customers to upgrade their older, inefficient equipment. The outdated assets are replaced by energy-efficient retrofits, such as HVAC and refrigeration motor controllers, load factor improvement technologies, building-envelope-based technologies, weatherization-based technologies, smart controls and LED lighting, all at no up-front cost to the client.

Under a MESA, Zenergy is obliged to develop, arrange financing for, install and maintain energy efficiency measures and equipment, all of which will be the property of Zenergy. The customer pays Zenergy a part of the savings in utility costs that follow the installation of the equipment, and Zenergy generates revenue from these “Service Payments.” Service Payments are fixed on a monthly basis over the term of the agreement. They scale down throughout the MESA, allowing the customer to reap increasing savings as time goes on. The minimum term of a MESA is five years, with an average life of seven years.

Zenergy has the ideal platform to promote its Zero Cost Program. In April 2018, the company completed its acquisition of Enertrade Electric LLC, a Texas-based retail electric provider (REP) (http://ibn.fm/QXqwZ). Now, Zenergy is in position to market its “smart energy” services to both residential and commercial customers. Bundling energy provision with energy efficiency services gives Zenergy a competitive advantage in the Texas market, which has over six million residential meters and nearly two million commercial meters. Zenergy’s strategy is to use its REP division to build scale in Texas and then expand to other deregulated markets across the nation. To date, 16 states – California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Washington DC – have deregulated markets for electricity (http://ibn.fm/Zla3B).

The company recently announced that it had signed up several new clients this year, one of which is Tanglewood Resort & Conference Center (http://ibn.fm/AP05C). Through its Zero Cost Program, Zenergy will be able to provide an entire suite of conservation-based products and services to enable the Tanglewood facility to achieve its sustainability goals, as well as a positive bottom line.

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

• The Aziza Project focuses on investing in operations in the underdeveloped Southern Africa region
• The company’s Aziza Coin is an asset-backed security token
• The Aziza Project owns 20 percent of Africa New Energies

London-based Aziza Project LLC offers digital tokens backed by assets. Aziza offers a tokenized oil and gas fund investment opportunity comprising a security token offering, which will permit coin holders to share in company profits. The Aziza Project owns 20 percent of Africa New Energies (ANE). ANE, which has been operating in Namibia for six years, has rights to a huge hydrocarbon concession in the nation valued at $500 million. The Aziza Project is looking to raise $60 million via the sale of the Aziza Coin, an asset-backed security token. The proceeds will be used to underwrite a drilling program and make investments in other early stage oil and gas companies.

A major difference between cryptocurrency tokens and coins is that tokens are built and hosted on existing blockchains. Coins, based on their own blockchains, are standalone cryptocurrencies (http://ibn.fm/xt0kR). The crypto industry is moving toward sensible mainstream regulation and adoption, as well as institutional investors. Entrepreneur (http://ibn.fm/4hfHN) notes that, “In fact, more investors are seeing cryptocurrencies as a viable asset because of their attractive returns: In December 2017 bitcoin hit a record high of almost $20,000 for one Bitcoin.”

The Aziza Coin is compliant with the Ethereum blockchain’s ERC-20 standard. ERC-20 is the official unified protocol. It is designed to solve the issue of compatibility of various coins and improve the functionality of the network (http://ibn.fm/NhNlg). The value of Aziza’s security token offering comes from the value of assets held by the Aziza Project. Fundamentally, Aziza Coins represent an indirect fractional ownership interest in the Aziza Project (http://ibn.fm/zOkwM).

The Aziza Project’s strategy is to invest in operations in the underdeveloped Southern Africa region. It selects oil and gas-related young businesses with the potential to create intergenerational wealth for token holders, shareholders, communities and entrepreneurs. ANE is preparing to drill wells on a Montana-sized portion of Namibia. With the Aziza Project owning 20 percent of ANE, the proving of this resource could potentially result in the Aziza Project’s holdings being worth more than $600 million.

The Aziza Project is working to raise funds to complete a 10-well drilling program in Namibia. Africa offers significant opportunity, as at least 90 percent of African countries currently explore for oil and gas (http://ibn.fm/ax7YT). Namibia ranks highly as being business- and, by extension, investor-friendly. The nation is ranked “1= most business-friendly regulations” in the Ease of Doing Business Index by Trading Economics (http://ibn.fm/GV2G2).

The outlook on the price of oil also portends well for the Aziza Project and ANE. Oilprice.com (http://ibn.fm/A0CkP) states that, “Oil Majors Cautious But Upbeat About 2019.” It also reports that a foremost oil trader foresees higher oil prices next year (http://ibn.fm/SdqVT). Therefore, the potential is there for investors willing to adapt a new investing paradigm with the Aziza Coin and ANE’s oil and gas initiative.

Advancing security tokens over utility tokens, the Aziza Project continues to focus on ethical oil and gas development in business/investor friendly Namibia. The company’s Aziza Coin could have significant value for investors who hold them because of ANE’s substantial hydrocarbon assets in Africa. The potential is there for the Aziza Project, ANE and investors looking for returns from emerging opportunities in Southern Africa.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Aziza.io

• Successful tradeshow and business development mission completed at China International Import Expo
• Pacific Software uniquely positioned to deliver multilingual B2B and B2C e-commerce blockchain solutions
• Brazil and China are longtime export/import partners with significant potential to increase trade relationship
• Proposed location for Pacific Software presence in Shanghai under review

As a co-sponsor of Latin America Night at the 124th session of the Canton Fair PDC (Product Development Council) Design Show in Guangzhou, China, in early November, representatives of Pacific Software, Inc. (OTC: PFSF) fostered emerging connections with high-level government contacts and prominent importers, a news release states (http://ibn.fm/SLhKo). The company’s expertise in e-commerce marketing solutions utilizing IBM’s Hyperledger Blockchain “Backend as a Service” (BaaS) infrastructure was a highlight in several discussions as connections were fostered with both government contacts and prominent private importers.

Pacific Software executive management team members also capitalized on their time in China by hosting and cosponsoring several events at the Canton Fair and during the first ever China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai. The CIIE attracted companies from around the globe in a bid to seal import/export deals with potential partners. According to several media reports, nearly $58 billion in planned deals for the upcoming year are now in the works (http://ibn.fm/Q5dYq).

The potential to boost trade between China and Brazil, the largest countries in Asia and South America, respectively, is significant. China is already Brazil’s largest trading partner, with exports from Brazil to China hovering around $40 billion per year. Pacific Software seeks to expand that trade relationship with a proprietary e-commerce trade platform under development that could also generate additional trade between other Asian and Latin American countries.

Pacific Software’s e-commerce platform will digitalize the trade process, which includes product certification, marketing, logistics, trade finance, cross-border payment solutions and customs clearance through smart contract technology for global supply chain management. The company has commissioned Cobalt 47 Technologies Ltd., a spin-off of KBQuest Group, to construct its multi-lingual e-commerce B2B and B2C trade platform using IBM’s BaaS infrastructure (http://ibn.fm/bZyIj). KBQuest Group, Inc. is a leading Microsoft distributor in China and was named ‘Microsoft SQL Partner of the Year 2017’.

The IBM BaaS platform is uniquely capable of tracking, recording and storing a variety of digital product information that makes agri-business more transparent and secure. This technology, which will integrate blockchain components and has the ability to link to the “Internet of Things,” will increase reliability and response time in the supply chain. As an emerging development technology corporation, Pacific Software’s trip to China was an undeniable success. The company will continue to foster trade between China and Brazil and has plans to open an office in Shanghai, China, to serve as a crossroads for business, development and networking opportunities.

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

• Worldwide mobile payment market expected to grow at a CAGR of 33.8 percent from 2017 to 2023 to a market size of $4.5 trillion
• Net Element ranked in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list as one of North America’s fastest-growing companies in 2018
• Net revenue for Q3 2018 increased 15.7 percent to reach $17.2 million, with overall net revenue for first nine months of 2018 reaching $49.7 million

Global technology and value-added solutions group Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) is answering the call for hassle-free purchase of goods and services as consumers and businesses seek the security and ease of digital and cashless payments. New strategies, such as Net Element’s recent announcement to bundle Netevia Light Point-of-Sale (“POS”) mobile payments acceptance software in PAX A920 and A80 smart terminals developed by PAX Technology, are seen as a robust solution to market demands, a news release notes (http://ibn.fm/PXgRD).

“Mobile payments market is growing rapidly and we are taking advantage of this trend by launching our proprietary software on multiple mobile touch points including PAX Technology smart terminal platform,” Vlad Sadovskiy, president of integrated payments for Net Element, stated in the release. “Our robust application and PAX’s powerful hardware will enable business owners to process payments with greater ease and more flexibility than ever before.”

Allied Market Research reports that the mobile payments market is anticipated to reach a market size of $4.5 trillion by 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 33.8 percent from 2017 to 2023 (http://ibn.fm/nkNaJ). The retail segment currently holds a dominant position in the global payment market and is expected to lead all categories by 2023, the report adds.

The combination of Netevia Light POS application and PAX Technology’s Android-based interactive smart payment terminals offers a flexible, state-of-the-art solution aimed at helping merchants conduct transactions in a seamless, convenient way that also provides a user-friendly experience to the consumer. Netevia Light POS application on Smart Terminals by PAX Technology brings all the functions and payment types of a classic point-of-sale terminal with the addition of:

• An easy setup on an all-in-one platform;
• A fully compliant cloud-based solution with real-time reporting;
• Smart inventory management with tip adjustment, discounts and loyalty management;
• Client management, invoicing and on-screen signature; and
• A complete back office solution via Netevia HQ.

Existing PAX technology clients can download the Netevia Light POS application via the smart terminal by PAX Technology without additional hardware, while United Payments clients have effortless access to the Smart Terminals by PAX Technology, as well. As part of United Payments’ comprehensive offerings, merchants can take advantage of the Unified Payments cash discount program in addition to other innovative programs that help merchants reduce fees and expenses while increasing sales.

Net Element supports electronic payments acceptance in a multi-channel environment, including point-of-sale, e-commerce and mobile devices. The company operates a payments-as-a-service transactional and value-added services platform for small to medium enterprise 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 2018 Technology Fast 500 (http://ibn.fm/xsTkS) and was listed among the South Florida Business Journal’s 2016 fastest-growing technology companies.

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

• Recently released Q3 2018 results provide evidence of production capacity enhancement and strengthening of the company’s international position
• To support its growth, The Green Organic Dutchman has also hired a number of reputable senior executives to fill key positions in the management team
• Milestones achieved throughout 2018 have granted the company a positive review from one of the world’s leading global investment banking entities
• Recent passage of the U.S. government’s farm bill legalizes hemp production

Recent company announcements reveal the numerous important milestones that The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF), a cannabis-focused research and development company, has managed to fulfill in 2018.

• Through the year, the company continued constructing its Hamilton, Ontario, and Valleyfield, Quebec, facilities. In the third quarter of 2018 alone, TGOD deployed $33 million in capital expenditure for this purpose. The company has also focused on optimizing commercial cultivation at its operational facility in Hamilton. The development of five new strains for placement on both the medical and the recreational markets will soon enable The Green Organic Dutchman to provide customers with consistently reliable services.
• In addition, The Green Organic Dutchman is focusing on the expansion of its international footprint. On October 1, 2018, TGOD finalized the HemPoland acquisition, gaining access to established production and sales of CBD oil and industrial hemp products across Europe (http://ibn.fm/C47Xo).
• Also in October, TGOD announced a strategic joint venture with LLACA Grupo Empresarial to create a 50/50-owned company to enter the medicinal cannabis market in Mexico (http://ibn.fm/13Q0R). The agreement will give The Green Organic Dutchman access to a network of 4,500 pharmacies and 3,100 supermarkets throughout Mexico.
• The company invested in Jamaica, as well, through Epican Medicinals (http://ibn.fm/ZNz1H). Sales are currently being run via its store in Kingston, and further expansion via four additional retail stores is anticipated. The Jamaican expansion is expected to increase production capacity by 14,000 kilograms.

With these improvements, The Green Organic Dutchman is anticipating its annual capacity across Canada and Jamaica to reach 170,000 kilograms. The scalable hemp capacity in Poland will add to the company’s international strategic advantage.

These expansion efforts have created a need for the strengthening of The Green Organic Dutchman team. In October 2018, Sean Bovingdon joined TGOD as the company’s new CFO. Bovigndon has over 30 years of experience in the financial management of both public and private companies (http://ibn.fm/rEL3r).

In November 2018, the company announced new additions to its senior management team in an attempt to fortify marketing and compliance efforts. Emily Demeo was appointed as the company’s marketing brand director and Terry Reid was chosen for the legal and compliance director position. Both experts have significant experience and an excellent reputation in their respective fields.

Because of these strategic milestones, TGOD earned a ‘Buy’ rating from Canaccord Genuity – a top investment bank whose analysts believe that the company deserves a speculative buy rating and a price target of C$7.00 ($5.40), almost double the present value (http://ibn.fm/GoVqv).

The Cannacord Genuity analysis points out that The Green Organic Dutchman differentiates itself from the competition on the basis of its organic production.

A recent survey suggests that 43 percent of Canadian recreational cannabis users prefer organic products over standard options. Based on this information, The Green Organic Dutchman’s production capacity is expected to translate to annual revenue in the range of $1.1 to $1.4 billion.

In addition, the recently announced U.S. passage of a comprehensive farm bill provides for the legalization of hemp production in the U.S., opening the door to even greater growth for the hemp industry in general. With presidential approval and imports being eventually allowed, TGOD could be able to export product from HemPoland into the U.S.

The Green Organic Dutchman is a premium organic cannabis company with operations focusing on the legal medicinal and recreational cannabis markets in Canada, Europe and Latin America. The company follows sustainable, all-natural principles in its cannabis production. All TGOD products are laboratory tested to ensure quality, standardization and safety.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.TGOD.ca

• Youngevity International offers unique products and a compelling business opportunity
• The company offers an array of products under one corporate entity
• Youngevity has its innovative HempFX product line

A foremost omni-direct lifestyle company, Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) offers products from the top eight selling retail categories. In addition, it offers a fusion of the direct selling business model. The company has a growing line of products coupled with its innovative business opportunity. Youngevity International is based in Chula Vista, California. The company was added to the Russell Microcap Index in June 2018.

Fundamentally, Youngevity International is a virtual global Main Street of products and services under one corporate entity. The company offers products in the health and nutrition, home and family, food and beverage, spa and beauty, fashion, essential oils, photo and innovative services categories. Regarding beverages, Youngevity has its wholly owned subsidiary, CLR Roasters. This subsidiary focuses on green coffee distribution, private-label roasting and the sale of owned brands.

Concerning Youngevity’s direct selling business model, it involves person-to-person selling relationships that comprise a “network of networks.” This model advances e-commerce and the strength of social selling. The company’s products and services undergo distribution through an international network of preferred customers and distributors.

Youngevity provides its direct sellers with its inventive YoungevityGo2 app. This distributor app makes the selling process easier for Youngevity’s representatives. Features of the app include data analytics, social media campaigns, digital flipcharts, customer retention and distributor education, digital magazines and engaging videos. For distributors, Youngevity offers low cost entry in three business categories. These consist of its Business Startup Kit, Business Essentials Kit and Business Builder Kit, as suits each individual’s needs.

Youngevity International is in the midst of its worldwide expansion, which includes manifold product approvals set for market. The company has more than 2,000 SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) that are fostering revenue growth (http://ibn.fm/UPsPN). Additionally, its new technology driven web-platform is driving international growth. This platform features a proprietary web-based acquisitions gateway that enables easy on-boarding of products, distributors and customers.

Furthermore, Youngevity is developing a comprehensive line of proprietary hemp-derived cannabidiol oil products. It is expanding its HempFX line. The company recently launched two new hemp-derived cannabidiol products: HempFX Hydration and Sleep and HempFX Hydration – Pure. Youngevity’s HempFX products are available for purchase at www.HempFX.com.

Steve Wallach, Youngevity’s chief executive officer, said in a recent news release (http://ibn.fm/a841g), “HempFX is an ideal representation of our plant-based approach to product development.” The company’s hemp-derived cannabidiol product line-up includes Uplift, Relax, Soothe and Hydration. HempFX sources its hemp-derived cannabinoid oil in Colorado at registered industrial farms. These farms are tested by the Colorado State Department of Agriculture for state and federal regulation compliance (http://ibn.fm/OgFXk).

Among the Top 100 Global Direct Selling Companies, Youngevity International’s commitment is to aggressive expansion. Its strategy to accomplish this includes organic growth, as well as mergers and acquisitions. Youngevity offers investors opportunities in the high-growth industries of direct selling, premium coffee and hemp-derived cannabidiol oil products.

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

• The Supreme Cannabis Company’s five-year partnership with KKE Canada will include brand management and cultivation consulting
• Deal marks the international expansion of popular Khalifa Kush premium brand
• Agreement builds on Supreme Cannabis’ development of 342,000-square-foot facility
• Supreme Cannabis’ 7ACRES subsidiary recently received ‘Brand of the Year’ honors from 2018 Canadian Cannabis Awards

Premium cannabis brand The Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTC: SPRWF) (FRA: 53S1) is building on the successes of an expansion and marketing effort that brought in a 229 percent year-over-year sales growth during the past year, thanks largely to its high-quality 7ACRES brand. The company announced this month that it will develop and launch an additional lineup of premium products in conjunction with Khalifa Kush Enterprises Canada ULC (“KKE Canada”).

The products are expected to include pre-rolls, extracts, capsules and cannabis oils to be sold by Supreme Cannabis under the KKE brand, based on KKE’s flagship “Khalifa Kush” strain established in the United States market, according to a December 6 news release (http://ibn.fm/GhqtX).

“With the idea for ‘Kush and Orange Juice’ being created in Toronto, it’s the perfect start for the international expansion of Khalifa Kush. My team and I have spent the past year finding a partner that shares our vision, values and passion for cannabis,” KKE principal Wiz Khalifa stated in the release. “The team at Supreme Cannabis understands the importance of high quality cannabis and how to produce high quality cannabis at scale. I am very excited to be working with them.”

The new premium cannabis brand will be offered in Canada and some additional international markets, excluding the United States. Under the terms of the five-year partnership, KKE Canada will provide Supreme Cannabis with consulting services on brand management and cultivation, including cannabis strain selection and consumer education services.

During the course of the renewable five-year partnership, Supreme Cannabis will have exclusive right to commercialize cannabis products under the KKE brand internationally (excluding the United States) for three years, subject to market approval by KKE and a legal framework in which to operate.

KKE Canada will receive more than 5.7 million common shares of Supreme Cannabis and an initial cash payment of C$1 million, followed by annual royalty payments based on the sale of products developed under the partnership.

“Wiz is a globally-recognized cannabis taste maker and connoisseur,” Supreme Cannabis Founding President John Fowler stated. “KKE has had incredible success in U.S. adult-use markets, establishing a brand that is synonymous with ultra-premium quality, based on world-leading genetics… We’re excited to be working with KKE Canada to build another brand with the same commitment to quality (as 7ACRES) to continue the premiumization of our brand portfolio.”

7ACRES flower is focused on pleasing three primary senses: aroma, visual appeal and flavor, according to Fowler. It is cultivated in a 342,000-square-foot facility that is building toward an annual output of 50,000 kilograms of capacity by the new year. The company has also reached an agreement to acquire communications firm Bayfield Strategy, Inc., which is expected to help with brand marketing (http://ibn.fm/2vzEu). The 2018 Canadian Cannabis Awards presented by Lift & Co. (TSX.V: LIFT) recently honored 7ACRES as the ‘Brand of the Year’ in its fifth annual proceedings (http://ibn.fm/EVXQy).

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Supreme.ca

• Direct sales industry includes a record 20.5 million involved individuals, promising great potential for entrepreneurs
• Sharing Services, Inc. empowers its team of ‘Elepreneurs’ with mentorship and support
• The company’s Blue Ocean Strategy seeks to set the company apart from the competition

Sharing Services, Inc. (OTCQB: SHRV), a diversified holdings company committed to redefining how entrepreneurs succeed, is reshaping the methodology and strategy inside the direct sales industry.

In an age when many are saying goodbye to the local department store in lieu of more personalized shopping done from the ease of their home computer screens, the direct selling industry promises great potential for entrepreneurs. In 2016, the industry saw a record 20.5 million people involved in direct sales, and that same year’s direct retail sales earnings estimate of $35.54 billion is the second highest in the industry’s history (http://ibn.fm/jkeP4).

Through its Blue Ocean Strategy, Sharing Services, Inc. seeks to redefine the direct selling methodology. Its three pronged approach includes supporting its team of home-based entrepreneurs (called ‘Elepreneurs’) by “utilizing the direct selling channel to generate 100% organic growth,” and cultivating as many new business leaders as possible (http://ibn.fm/8Vq8g). By emphasizing home-based entrepreneurial businesses, Sharing Services, Inc. is creating new factors to its industry that have never been offered, including flexibility and new product offerings, thus innovating the market.

SHRV’s Blue Ocean Strategy alludes to a book by two Harvard Business School professors, titled ‘Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant’. By improving how business is done in its industry, a company can “swim” away from a bloody “red ocean” to discover a non-competitive ocean, in effect claiming the “waters to itself” (http://ibn.fm/QOKZF). Incidentally, Sharing Services, Inc. is constantly expanding its team of Elepreneurs, as it has added roughly 10,000 independent sales representatives in the last few months alone.

One benefit of direct sales to the customer is a more personalized sales experience. Customers are able to receive “personal demonstration and explanation of products, home delivery,” and a greater emphasis on satisfaction guarantee (http://ibn.fm/RUFGv). Smaller entrepreneurial businesses have a larger investment in their customers’ happiness than do large box stores, so they more often take strides to ensure that the overall buying experience is a positive one to ensure that customers return.

Sharing Services, Inc. embraces this paradigm shift by empowering its entrepreneurs through training and mentorship. It is led by a team of businesspeople with decades of experience. The company’s chairman, Robert Oblon, boasts over 22 years in the online travel industry and many years observing a variety of business models. His experiences observing varying business concepts ultimately led to the company’s emphasis on Elepreneurs. Finding that individuals thrive from positive selling experiences with friendly people willing to add a personalized touch, Oblon encourages his team to consider the role that positive psychology and personal development have in direct sales.

Looking ahead, the company’s growth plan includes international expansion by the end of the fourth quarter of 2018.

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

• REFG’s Go delivers a compliant cashless and digital world for legalized cannabis transactions by dispensaries and merchants; retailers and consumers can sign up for Go online
• REFG is a hemp grower that owns SpeedyGrow, licensed in Colorado; it has established itself as a leader in payment processing by handling some 60 million transactions monthly
• The company’s goal is transactional safety and accuracy; it operates within Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) guidelines and offers a transparent and approved environment

Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions’ (OTC: REFG) ‘Go’ is a processing system which offers cannabis dispensaries, merchants and customers a digital payment program that ensures the safety and accuracy of legalized marijuana transactions (www.PayWithGo.com).

REFG is active in the industry as both a payment processor and hemp grower, as a growing number of U.S. states have legalized cannabis and Canada recently approved its use throughout the country (http://ibn.fm/fsh2N). Medical marijuana is now legal in 33 states plus D.C., and 10 states and D.C. have legalized both medical and recreational marijuana (http://ibn.fm/tzkMf). That bodes well for REFG’s activity in the cannabis industry.

REFG’s Go offers legalized cannabis dispensaries and merchants safety, accuracy and easy online sign-up. It is now available to the entire cannabis market. In addition to creating a cashless environment, Go can handle all payments necessary for a small business retailer, such as payroll and vendor disbursements, accounts payable and any other invoices.

Go is capable of processing cryptocurrency payments. The customer or patient can also pay directly from a bank account without requiring cash. REFG, in addition to processing legalized cannabis transactions through Go, is directly involved in growing and processing hemp. A Nevada-based company, it earlier acquired SpeedyGrow, a Wyoming-based firm licensed to grow and process hemp in Colorado (http://ibn.fm/NNMCi).

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

• Flagship Irgon Lithium Mine Project recently identified additional significant spodumene mineralization
• Global lithium-ion battery market forecast to reach $71 billion by 2025
• Worldwide sales of EVs expected to almost quadruple to 4.5 million units by 2020

An undeniable opportunity exists when referring to the Irgon Lithium Mine Project, wholly owned by Vancouver-based QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (OTC: QMCQF) (TSX.V: QMC) (FSE: 3LQ). As part of QMC’s ongoing exploration and development of the Irgon Project, located in southern Manitoba’s bountiful Cat Lake-Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field (http://ibn.fm/mDEzR), the company’s geotechnical field crews recently identified additional significant spodumene mineralization. This discovery is a significant one, since spodumene mineralization is known as being the primary source of hard-rock lithium. Pegmatites hosting spodumene mineralization may contain large amounts of lithium and, in addition, can host other rare-element-bearing minerals (http://ibn.fm/Umu8P).

Lithium is the main ingredient in the lithium-ion batteries used for energy storage and power provisioning. The global appetite for electric vehicles and the rise of modern devices that rely on lithium-ion batteries are expected to drive the lithium-ion battery market to reach $71 billion by 2025, according to a report by Research and Markets (http://ibn.fm/orEax). Almost all computer electronics, smartphones, tablets and other consumer electronic devices are powered by the lithium-ion battery; however, an article in Bloomberg states (http://ibn.fm/gTTEr) that it is the electric/hybrid vehicle market that is projected to require massive amounts of lithium. “Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, a research and data firm, projects demand to rise from about 220,000 tonnes of lithium-carbonate equivalent last year to more than 900,000 in 2025 and around 2 million by the early 2030s,” the article reads.

QMC has invested two years exploring the potential of the Irgon Lithium Mine Property and is working toward updating the historic 1950s resource estimate (1.2 MT at 1.51 percent Li2O). Channel sampling on the Irgon Dike returned results of 1.73 percent lithium-oxide over 14 meters (45.9 feet), which are higher than the historical numbers. Sampling elsewhere on additional targets in the area has produced concentrations of over 1.90 percent lithium-oxide and one that returned 2.62 percent (http://ibn.fm/cbqrz).

Hard rock mining of spodumene as a source for lithium has distinct advantages over reaping elemental lithium from brines, since only highly concentrated brines produce lithium economically and the process to extract the lithium is glacial. The company states (http://ibn.fm/cJL9f) that once the initial exploration phase has been completed on hard rock lithium pegmatites, such as at its Irgon Project, hard rock pegmatite deposits are faster to mine and production is more reliable. QMC is nearing the final stage of this exploration phase and approaching the point at which an updated NI 43-101 can be filed, which will likely lead the company closer to its goal of actively mining the Irgon Lithium Mine Property.

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