• Rise in transaction volume, product enhancements and asset acquisition show Net Element’s ongoing growth strategy
• SeeThruEquity labels Net Element an ‘intriguing’ high-risk, high-reward growth company with stable share price target
• Since 2014, Net Element’s revenues from payment processing services have nearly tripled

A series of optimistic developments for payment tech processor Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) has led independent equity research firm SeeThruEquity to issue an update of its coverage on the company (http://ibn.fm/7NBjg). The research firm is taking note of Net Element’s forecast for an increase in gross profits based on its acquisition of services assets from partner Universal Payment Systems (“UPS”), an approximately 40 percent increase in its trading volume and number of transactions, and its addition of a smart security function in its business-to-business vendor payment platform Netevia (www.Netevia.com).

“NETE’s announcements suggest the company continued to identify growth initiatives, as evidenced by growth in transaction volume, new product enhancements, and the UPS deal announcement,” SeeThruEquity wrote (http://ibn.fm/hgjTQ), labeling the company an “intriguing” high-risk, high-reward growth company in the financial technology space.

Net Element is a company that serves small to medium enterprises through its innovative productivity-generating platforms. Its expertise in generating multi-payment channel possibilities to consumers extends to mobile technology, linking brick and mortar business, as well as unbanked, web-based businesses, to their customers. The company also provides transaction analysis capability to help businesses optimize their revenue streams.

The transaction growth reports cited by SeeThruEquity show that, during the first half of 2018, Net Element outperformed its first-half 2017 results, processing $1.62 billion in transactions over the previous $1.18 billion transaction mark. The number of transactions processed by the Netevia platform grew from 35.7 million to 50.2 million, a sign that the platform is increasingly being adopted for completing financial transactions. Since SeeThruEquity began coverage on Net Element in 2014, its annual revenues have increased from $21.2 million to $60.1 million.

The $2.7 million UPS deal is expected to generate $5 million in gross profits alone over the next four years, with ongoing profit contribution thereafter. UPS is a California-based provider of bankcard payment processing services and value adds, and the deal transfers a suite of solutions to Net Element.

SeeThruEquity continues to hold to a share price target of $25 for the company. During the past year, shares have fluctuated between $2.60 and $33.51, but the $25 mark would generate a value of 1.3 times the estimated revenues of $72.1 million this year, the agency states.

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

• Response rate to PRO 140 rose from 40 percent at 350mg dose to 70 percent at 525mg
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) allows trials of viral-entry inhibitor to continue at 700mg dose
• PRO 140 is an FDA fast-track candidate

Following clinical trial results showing that its new anti-HIV treatment is more effective at higher dosages, biotechnology company CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY) is set to give trial participants an increased weekly dose of PRO 140 (http://ibn.fm/oyLRe).

The latest round of trial results showed that the response rate among trial participants treated with the viral-entry inhibitor rose from 40 percent at a 350mg weekly dose to 70 percent at 525mg. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) has given CytoDyn the go-ahead to give newly-enrolled trial participants a 700mg weekly dose of the viral-entry inhibitor. Current trial participants who did not respond to the lower dosage will also be allowed to continue on the 700mg weekly dose.

In a news release, CytoDyn president and CEO Nader Pourhassan, Ph.D., said, “We are able to increase the dose of PRO 140 due to its positive safety profile in prior clinical trials.” He added that the treatment’s safety is a key reason why the IRB has approved the higher dosage.

“Also of note, patients who achieve suppressed HIV viral load with 52 mg tend to maintain suppressed viral load after 10 weeks of monotherapy,” Pourhassan added. “Interestingly, some patients in our Phase 2b extension study are now achieving suppressed HIV viral load for nearly four years with PRO 140 as a single agent.”

The development of PRO 140 is of particular interest, because it could allow people living with HIV to take just one weekly dose instead of the daily pills required by current therapies.

An antibody rather than a drug, PRO 140 works by blocking the most prevalent HIV subtype from entering healthy cells, thus protecting them from infection. Recognizing the treatment’s potential, the FDA has designated PRO 140 a fast-track candidate. To qualify for fast-track status, a treatment must be intended for a serious condition and must also show an advantage over currently available treatment options.

Pourhassan noted, “Approximately 70 percent of trial participants who started with PRO 140 at the 525mg dose and have been treated between one and nine months are achieving HIV viral load suppression. This response rate is very promising and we are excited to evaluate PRO 140 at an even higher dose.”

Speaking of those trial participants who did not respond to PRO 140, the principal investigator of CytoDyn’s current trial said that these patients had been able to successfully return to their previous highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treatments.

Jacob Lalezari, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF/Mount Zion Hospital, noted, “Of key importance in the Phase 3 monotherapy trial, all non-responders to PRO 140 have safely achieved suppressed HIV viral load upon returning to their prior HAART regimens before PRO 140 monotherapy.”

In addition to HIV treatment, PRO 140 is also being explored for other inflammatory indications and is being studied in a phase 2 graft versus host disease clinical trial for patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome who are undergoing bone marrow transplant or are at risk of developing graft versus host disease.

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

• The handheld testing device technology under development by Zenosense aims to deliver rapid results and state-of-the-art, laboratory-accurate results for the quick diagnosis of heart attacks
• Medical professionals believe that diagnosis within 30 minutes of a heart attack is the golden standard for ensuring adequate treatment
• Cardiac diagnostic testing market estimated between $2 billion and $6 billion in the U.S. alone

MIDS Cardiac™, a handheld diagnostic device for cardiac emergency triage being developed by Zenosense, Inc. (OTCQB: ZENO), could prove to be revolutionary in the diagnostic process. Incorporating the patented MIDS technology, which is predicated on the nano-magnetic detection of assay beads and has demonstrated detection of low enough assay bead numbers to be suitable for high sensitivity cardiac biomarker tests, shows real potential to be able to ensure accurate results, delivered at a fraction of the time required by large and expensive laboratory analyzers and right at the point of care, according to an article by Zacks Small Cap Research (http://ibn.fm/h4VPb) and recent quantitative results released by Zenosense.

The device technology is being created via a partnership between Zenosense and a third-party medical detection device developer. The joint venture carries the name MIDS Medical, and it was set up in the summer of 2016. Zenosense has 40 percent interest in the venture that is based in the UK.

MIDS Cardiac™ is unique, because the technology is being developed to detect very low levels of cardiac markers to deliver accuracy that’s equal or superior to expensive state-of-the-art central laboratory analyzers, all while being accessible at the point of care and offering results within minutes.

The need for such reliable medical technology is growing in the U.S. and throughout the Western world. Anywhere from six to eight million Americans undertake an emergency hospital visit each year due to chest pain and suspected heart attacks. Cardiac diagnostic testing has become incredibly important, and the market niche has grown over the past few years. Currently, the value of the market is estimated between $2 billion and $6 billion in the U.S., as detailed in the Zacks article.

Standard procedure for chest pain patients is an immediate ECG, complemented by blood tests for the cardiac markers troponin I or T, to diagnose AMI. However, the sensitivity of an ECG is recognized as only around 55-75 percent accurate. Troponin proteins are associated with the cardiac muscle and they enter the bloodstream immediately after cardiac arrest. So far, high sensitivity troponin testing requires state-of-the-art laboratory analyzers, which are often unavailable and require at least an hour to turnaround results – a lengthy process that often includes repeated testing to rule out false positives.

Speedy diagnosis is of paramount importance for the treatment of people who have suffered heart attacks. Whenever the flow of blood to the heart is restricted after cardiac arrest, the muscle will begin to deteriorate. The process can be initiated in less than 30 minutes, which is why time is of the essence. Those who receive diagnosis and treatment within the so-called golden hour are more likely to recover without adverse side effects. If treatment does not occur within six hours, most of the heart will be injured beyond repair.

According to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, myocardial infarction blood tests should ideally be available within 30 minutes. The use of a device like MIDS Cardiac™ could help achieve this goal, as test results are available in a few minutes right at the point of care.

The successful development of MIDS Cardiac™ would be the first step in the development of a wider technology platform that could be adapted to a range of point of care immunoassay tests, based on the same concepts of speed, accuracy, ease of use and cost-effectiveness. Zenosense is planning to use the platform to develop a multi-capability point of care device that would test for different conditions, including prostate, colorectal and other cancers, inflammatory and autoimmune disease, osteoporosis, endocrine ailments, blood infections, respiratory viruses, meningitis, rheumatism, hepatitis, HIV, chlamydia and many more.

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

• New equipment, Cavitation Technologies agreement boosting efficiency as Petroteq launches environmentally friendly operations
• Company awaiting word on its application to uplist to Nasdaq Capital Market
• Petroteq expects to begin production at 1,000 barrels per day and ramp up to 8,000 barrels within about two years

Petroteq Energy Inc. (TSX.V: PQE) (OTC: PQEFF) (FSE: PQCF), a company actively proving its environmentally friendly, proprietary oil extraction technology, has announced the completion of continuity testing as it builds up to full capacity extraction of 1,000 barrels of oil per day utilizing the technology at its Asphalt Ridge facility in Utah’s desert tar sand-rich desert.

The company is now making final arrangements for continuous operations and marketing activities, refining its techniques for more efficient production in part through an agreement with Cavitation Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: CVAT) that aims to keep Petroteq’s production costs at a minimum by establishing efficient workflow processes, as well as through ongoing analysis of how the company’s technology itself is working.

“The operational readiness of the facility coincides with the laboratory testing that we have been conducting. With multiple samples that have been taken from our mining operations, we have determined the proprietary solvent molecular and volumetric specifications to effectively and efficiently work with our proprietary extraction process,” Petroteq Chief Technology Officer Vladimir Podlipskiy stated in a news release this month (http://ibn.fm/MGrZz). “We are also looking at the many new and compelling products that will work with and integrate with our proprietary solvent process to improve the separation of oil from sand as well as stabilize and reduce asphaltenes in the oil to produce a better grade of heavy oil.”

Petroteq’s closed-loop extraction process uses no water, produces zero greenhouse gas, zero waste and requires no high temperatures. Its aim is to extract commercial amounts of crude oil from the desert tar sand rock through a crushing and recyclable solvent distilling operation.

“We continue to focus on becoming the first environmentally friendly oil sands mining facility,” company President Jerry Bailey stated. “I am extremely impressed with the work completed by our site operations team. As I review all 14 operating processes that comprise the ten stages of our facility, I have to mention the dedication and experience of our field team.”

CEO David Sealock reported that pricing of the extracted oil and the structure of the marketing strategy are still being finalized, but the company is confident that its costs and its discounts to buyers will be comparatively well positioned with Canada’s crude market.

“We believe that the market for Petroteq’s heavy oil product is attractive as our Asphalt Ridge facility is in close proximity to major refineries in Utah,” Sealock added. “We expect pricing to track West Texas Intermediate quite closely, as the refiners are already used to buying and using Utah Heavy Oil as part of their refining mix.”

Petroteq is awaiting word on its application to uplist on the Nasdaq stock exchange, where it hopes to attract a larger amount of investor interest as the promotion of its zero-harm extraction technology advances. The company expects to begin producing 1,000 barrels of oil per day as operations get up to full speed, and it is optimistic that it can increase its output to 8,000 barrels per day by late 2020 or early 2021 (http://ibn.fm/SmXJg).

The company aims to establish not only its technology, but a heightened domestic production market in North America. The Utah site is a 2,541-acre mineral lease with an expected yield of about 87.5 million barrels over the lifespan of the undertaking.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Petroteq.energy

• Modern green movement leverages modern scientific breakthroughs
• Auscrete aims to increase home ownership stats
• ASCK lightweight concrete panels open new possibilities

In a world that’s keenly aware of the impact that every action has on the environment, businesses in all types of industries are committing to operate as sustainably as possible. Auscrete Corp. (OTC: ASCK) offers a unique path to environmental responsibility and economic efficiency. The building materials manufacturing company is focused on leading the way in the “green” movement.

Auscrete is acutely aware that the lack of affordable housing has reached what some are calling crisis proportions, and the company is equally dedicated to making its building material as affordable as possible. This dual focus — to provide technology-driven and eco-friendly housing to those who may not otherwise be able to afford it —differentiates the Washington state-based company from the competition.

The green movement is a combination of diverse scientific, social, conservation and political measures that broadly address the concerns of environmentalism. Although the modern movement gained prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, environmental awareness has been growing throughout history. One thing that marks today’s green movement is its emphasis on detailed research and resulting advanced technologies.

Auscrete is an example of that emphasis. The company’s unique process incorporates modern technology and research to produce a nontoxic medium that is highly soundproof, offers exceptional insulation values, requires low maintenance, won’t burn and resists damage from the forces of hurricanes and earth tremors, as well as insects and mold.

Finally, the company’s products are designed to be cost effective. Housing prices have seen significant growth coming out of the recession, particularly in hot real estate markets such as Seattle and New York City, but even in smaller cities and rural areas (http://ibn.fm/O5ydY). As housing prices rise, home ownership has been decreasing. July 2018 Census Bureau statistics note that home ownership now amounts to approximately 64 percent, continuing a steady decline that’s persisted since 2004 (http://ibn.fm/BRjwO).

That’s a trend that Auscrete hopes to help change as the company works to offer a ready-to-move-in turnkey house for around $100 per square foot, which is significantly less than the 2017 median list price of $148 per square foot.

This impressive feat can be accomplished because Auscrete produces hybrid cementitious building products in the form of wall and roof segments that are infused with millions of minuscule air “aggregates” that are evenly distributed throughout the cast sections. This creates a superior, lightweight product, without compromising strength or structural integrity. Each hybrid panel also incorporates a distinctive XPS insulation composition that ensures greater comfort in a wide range of climatic conditions and reduces heating and cooling costs.

Because the product has a reduced weight that is nearly half of normal concrete, architects and engineers can develop new design and construction concepts. Each hybrid panel can be cast in large sections for easier transportation and faster construction on site, translating to enhanced savings in the energy efficiency of the product, as well as the mass-production techniques practiced in its manufacture.

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

• SHRV selects Global Payroll Gateway as payment processor and e-commerce partner for its subsidiaries, including Elepreneur and Elevacity Global; company projects a 25 percent savings
• Elepreneurs are home-based independent sales representatives who employ the direct selling method
• Earlier this year, SHRV announced its intent to expand the Elepreneur brand to Asia via a signed joint venture agreement with a Hong Kong-based company; SHRV has strategic vision for international expansion

Sharing Services, Inc. (OTC: SHRV) has appointed network marketing veteran Keith Halls to the positions of president and COO of its Elepreneur, LLC subsidiary. Moving forward, he will be tasked with leading the company’s global growth (http://ibn.fm/6zoqo). SHRV has also appointed Global Payroll Gateway (GPG) as its payment processor and e-commerce financial partner (http://ibn.fm/6ZtmF). That company is seen as an important asset as SHRV expands internationally.

SHRV is a Plano, Texas-based diversified holding company that owns, operates or controls a variety of companies engaged in direct selling through independent sales representatives. It also offers services such as energy, technology and insurance. It focuses on life-changing wellness products integrated with a rewards program. The line includes Timeless branded skincare for men and women, Vitamin Patches designed to generate energy and anti-aging Elier Mud.

Halls will lead a worldwide team of network marketers. SHRV commenced the growth of Elepreneurs globally when it finalized a joint venture with Hong Kong-based Health Wealth and Happiness Ltd. (HWH) earlier this year to expand its brand throughout Asia. The new company will be named Elepreneurs Asia Limited and will have the sales rights to countries including China, Japan and South Korea (http://ibn.fm/lZhao).

In adding Global Payroll Gateway, SHRV seeks fraud protection for its customers and also a comprehensive financial solution program for its suite of services. Additionally, it offers a unified system enabling SHRV to transact with its vendors and independent sales force. In a news release, John “JT” Thatch, CEO of SHRV, added, “We will save approximately 25 percent from our current model, which will quickly be reflected in our bottom line.”

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

• Ecommerce platform fostering international trade between Brazil and China
• Based on marquee hyperledger blockchain technology
• Built on IBM Hyperledger Blockchain BaaS Infrastructure

Since the publication of Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’ in 1776, which, among other things, set out the theory of absolute advantage, and David Ricardo’s ‘On the Principles of Political Economy’, published in 1819, which introduced the advantageous subtleties of comparative advantage, no sensible person has sought to deny that international trade has its benefits. Even if a nation were the most efficient producer of all goods and services, it could still profit from trade because of the inescapable toll of opportunity cost. Economic resources are scarce and so making one thing always means not producing some other thing. Consequently, rather than trying to be a jack of all trades, which inevitably means being master of none, a nation should specialize in what it does best. In line with that economic theory, accepted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Software, Inc. (OTC: PFSF) is now out to facilitate global trade (http://ibn.fm/SckQz). The company has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to begin construction of its proprietary ecommerce trade platform.

Under the agreement, Cobalt 47 Technologies Ltd., a spin-off of KBQuest Group, will commence construction of Pacific Software’s multi-lingual e-commerce B2B and B2C trade platform (http://ibn.fm/SuY3S). The platform is expected to be in production by November 2018 and will integrate blockchain components, including the company’s Agri-Blockchain. The technology, designed to work as an overlay to existing international distribution channels, is meant to facilitate trade between exporters in Brazil and importers in China, but, as may be expected, it has wider application. KBQuest Group, Inc. is the leading Microsoft distributor in China and was named ‘Microsoft SQL Partner of the Year 2017’.

Development of the PFSF platform will be undertaken using IBM’s Hyperledger Blockchain “Backend as a Service” (BaaS) Infrastructure The IBM BaaS platform has the capability to record, store and track a variety of digital product information, such as farm origination details, batch numbers, factory and processing data, expiration dates, storage temperatures and shipping details.

Hyperledger is the name given to an initiative, which began in 2015, when a number of blockchain developers decided to pool their resources. The 30 founding members were ABN AMRO, Accenture, ANZ Bank, Blockchain, BNY Mellon, Calastone, Cisco, CLS, CME Group, ConsenSys, Credits, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), Deutsche Börse Group, Digital Asset Holdings, Fujitsu Limited, Guardtime, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, IntellectEU, J.P. Morgan, NEC, NTT DATA, R3, Red Hat, State Street, SWIFT, Symbiont, VMware and Wells Fargo.

These companies selected the nonprofit Linux to manage the enterprise, which has grown rapidly since inception. There are now more than 230 member organizations working on the current 10 projects, involving some 3.6 million lines of code. To date, the 10 active working groups have drawn close to 28,000 participants who have attended the 110+ meetings held so far. The aim of the Hyperledger project is to make blockchain technology available as modular, open-source platforms that are easy to utilize.

Initially, PFSF’s Agri-Blockchain platform may target Brazil’s substantial beef exports to China. Every year, the South American giant exports about $5 billion of beef, most of which goes to Hong Kong. The advantages of implementing a blockchain system for Brazilian meat exports are many. The blockchain will ensure transparency and trust with regard to origin, product quality, product safety and other factors. Additionally, in the event of food contamination, blockchain will be allow experts to pinpoint the exact source, which will reduce costs tremendously. Typically, under present supply chain systems, large quantities of good food are recalled and destroyed after an alert or warning is issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This, of course, adds the costs of wasting good food to the damage sustained by removing the infected food. Every year, around 420,000 people die due to food contaminated by bacteria, chemicals, viruses, parasites and toxins.

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

• In Canada and Brazil, ETST is lab testing three new cannabidiol formulations, developing two more CBD products and conducting studies on its Hygee device for women
• In the U.S., it is researching CBD’s impact on breast cancer and immune cells
• ETST is focused on the development of innovative products to reach its goal of becoming a world leader in the CBD space, with three new CBD formulas being developed under a provisory patent

Earth Science Tech, Inc. (OTC: ETST) is testing in Canada and Brazil a diverse mix of cannabidiol (CBD) formulations, including a superfood formula (http://ibn.fm/0y5lu). It is also conducting pre-launch lab studies of a medical device scheduled to be marketed internationally (http://ibn.fm/8iIOO).

ETST is a biotech company based in Doral, Florida, marketing and developing CBD products for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields. The company manufactures, markets and distributes its own cannabinoid products, including capsules and oils. ETST has revamped its line of CBD products and will extend its line of raw dark chocolates with three new flavors in conjunction with joint venture partner Karmavore Superfoods. An anticipated launch is planned for the third quarter of 2018 (http://ibn.fm/aM8s0).

In Canada, the company is testing three new CBD IP formulations. They include a neuron protector and a breast protector. R&D is being conducted by the Centre de Developpement bioalimentaire du Quebec (CDBQ) or Quebec Agrifood Innovation Center (QAIC). An additional formulation will include a natural protective agent that will extend shelf life. A third product is a superfood that includes a mix of hemp oil and a highly potent antioxidant. In Quebec, the company is also clinically testing its Hygee MSN-2 medical device for detection of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in women at the Clinique Santé Amitié.

ETST is developing two new products in Brazil through a joint venture with Bionatus Laboratrio Botnico of Brazil and its Canadian division, Bionatus Botanical Laboratories, Inc. The products are Propovit, enriched with ETST hemp oil, and a reformulation of Bionatus’ product featuring CBD.

In the U.S., it is conducting studies with the University of Central Oklahoma of high grade full spectrum CBD on breast cancer and immune cells.

ETST holds several wholly owned subsidiaries. Cannabis Therapeutics is an emerging biotechnology company. KannaBidioiD manufactures and distributes in the recreational sector. Earth Science Foundation, Inc., is becoming a non-profit and accepts grants and donations to conduct additional studies. Earth Science Pharmaceutical develops medical diagnostic tools and vaccines. ETST also recently formed subsidiary Canno Inno Laboratories Inc., a strategic Montreal, Canada-based company that provides ETST with access to government grants.

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

• Incentivized gaming apps generate data and analytics that add new customers, stimulate sales, build brand loyalty and offer retailers a better understanding of their audiences
• Strategy aims to convert unknown social media followers into identified email subscribers through games and surveys, thereby establishing a platform that drives revenue and branding
• 2018 goals include the debut of enhanced paid version of its Gamify slide out app; company also plans an in-store product launch in February 2019

DeepMarkit Inc. (TSX.V: MKT) (OTCQB: MKTDF) utilizes the marriage of game-like features to a non-game platform to develop gamification marketing. The result is collection of consumer data from online games. The application of real-time analytics is performed, and information is created for retailers to better understand their customer audiences (http://ibn.fm/XPT3H). MKTDF’s adaptable gamification app for online customers can be used on the Shopify, Inc. platform (NYSE: SHOP) (http://ibn.fm/6jlFe).

MKTDF is focusing on this strategy in a gamification market that’s projected to reach $22.9 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 41.8 percent from 2014-2022, according to P&S Market Research (http://ibn.fm/J6blm). These are online games for business purposes, the company says. The goals are leads, product promotions, brand building and more sales.

MKTDF is planning a second half 2018 launch for its enhanced Gamify paid slide out app from the current free version, available on multiple e-commerce platforms. It is also readying the debut of its survey product by year-end, as noted in the company’s June 2018 investor presentation (http://ibn.fm/VW3fQ). In addition, it is planning an in-store product launch in February 2019.

MKTDF is a Canada-based technology company focused on the monetization of gamification. It seeks, through incentivized gaming apps, to convert visitors to loyal customers who confirm their identities as they participate. Increasing the conversion rate by only one percent can double revenue, MKTDF’s presentation says. MKTDF’s revenue comes from a three-tiered pricing program per campaign.

The company’s proprietary technology platform is patent-pending, and MKTDF says that it represents the only publicly-listed firm focused on gamification. The company’s aim is to capture, through gamification, the interest of individuals who wish to earn prizes and discounts through its branded digital games. This results in the creation of loyal customers and increased branding as visitors are converted. MKTDF offers investors the opportunity to become involved in gamification as a monetized tool for businesses to promote products, generate leads and drive sales.

Darold Parken, CEO and president of MKTDF, says in a corporate investor video that the company’s markets are international and its ambitions are global (http://ibn.fm/jOi2O). The company believes that a growing passion in the Asia-Pacific region for gaming is creating a major opportunity for global gamification growth. MKTDF explains that China and India, together, are projected in a study by U.S. media agency Zenith to have nearly two billion smartphone users in 2018.

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

• Petroteq is developing the first-ever environmentally friendly oil sands mining facility
• The company’s Asphalt Ridge facility is located in close proximity to major oil refineries in Utah, giving Petroteq’s heavy oil product great market potential
• Petroteq has 2,541 leased acres and 87.49 million barrels of mineable oil sands and expects to increase its output to 5,000-8,000 barrels of oil per day by late 2020 or early 2021

Focused on operating the first-ever environmentally friendly oil sands mining facility, fully integrated oil and gas company Petroteq Energy Inc. (TSX.V: PQE) (OTC: PQEFF) (FSE: PQCF) recently announced that it has finalized continuity testing at its Asphalt Ridge facility in Utah’s Uintah Basin and is making final arrangements for continuous operations and marketing activities (http://ibn.fm/AbdIl).

Petroteq’s focus is on a new proprietary, patented, environmentally safe and sustainable technology for extracting heavy oils from oil sands, oil shale deposits and shallow oil deposits. The company is engaged in developing and implementing its innovative heavy oil processing and extraction technologies, which produce zero greenhouse gases, produce no waste, use no water and require no high temperatures. The Asphalt Ridge extraction facility comprises 10 stages containing a total of 14 operating processes.

The site operations and field teams at the Asphalt Ridge facility have been working hard to expand the site’s production capacity and to bring the facility to operational status. The company’s onsite team includes U.S. Armed Forces veterans, Native Americans and local workers from the Uintah Basin.

The pricing and structure of Petroteq’s sales production and marketing strategy for the Asphalt Ridge site are not yet finalized, but the company’s management is confident that its operational costs and related discounts will be much lower than the current discount on heavy crude oil from Canada, which recently hit close to a five-year high. With pipelines at capacity and refining customers going offline for seasonal maintenance, the discount is expected to remain high.

Petroteq believes that its heavy oil product has promising market potential, as the company’s Asphalt Ridge Facility is located in close proximity to major oil refineries in Utah. The company anticipates pricing to closely track that of West Texas Intermediate, as refiners are already accustomed to purchasing and using Utah heavy oil as part of their refining mixes.

As Petroteq progresses in its operational activities, primary aspects of the company’s operations and proprietary solvent processes are being reviewed and vetted by company president and Director Dr. Jerry Bailey, and by company CTO Vladimir Podlipskiy. A great deal of new equipment has been added to the enhanced Asphalt Ridge facility, and the company is finding opportunities to refine its techniques for more efficient production.

The operational preparedness of the Asphalt Ridge facility coincides with the laboratory testing that Petroteq has been conducting. Multiple samples have been taken from the company’s mining operations, and Petroteq has determined the proprietary solvent molecular and volumetric specifications needed to efficiently and effectively work with its extraction process. Petroteq is also considering various new and compelling products that will work with and integrate with its proprietary solvent process to improve separation of oil from sand and to stabilize and mitigate asphaltenes in the oil, resulting in the production of an improved grade of heavy oil.

To date, Petroteq boasts 2,541 leased acres and 87.49 million barrels of mineable oil sands. The company expects to boost its output to the point of producing 5,000 to 8,000 barrels of oil per day by late 2020 or early 2021 (http://ibn.fm/5V1k6).

In addition to its proprietary heavy oil extraction technologies, Petroteq is also developing the very first blockchain-based platform created exclusively to meet the supply chain needs of the oil and gas sector. Being developed through PetroBLOQ, LLC, Petroteq’s wholly owned subsidiary, this platform works hand-in-hand with Petroteq’s production system to ensure efficiency.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Petroteq.energy