• Continued exploratory work confirms that cobalt mineralization goes beyond the initial assessment at Iron Creek Cobalt Project
• Because of the continuous interception of higher-grade mineralization, First Cobalt is classifying the project as an advanced and unique exploration asset
• The discovery is of crucial importance, with cobalt being classified as a critical metal and demand for it constantly growing

First Cobalt Corp. (TSX.V: FCC) (OTCQX: FTSSF) (ASX: FCC), a North American pure-play cobalt company, recently reported new intercepts of high-grade mineralization at its Iron Creek Cobalt Project in Idaho. The exploration suggests that the mineralization extends to a depth in the eastern portion of the current resource area, according to a company press release (http://ibn.fm/yJPl5).

First Cobalt President and CEO Trent Mell said in a news release that mineralization has been discovered between the eastern and western extents of the known resource area and that higher grade mineralization is repeatedly being intercepted between the two main zones. “These results confirm the continuity and consistency of mineralization predicted by our geological model and add further support for the development vision for the future of the project as we build toward the updated resource estimate in early 2019,” Mell said.

Drilling at the Iron Creek Cobalt Project is ongoing. The aim is to extend the strike length of the mineralization zone from over 500 to over 1,000 meters. Results reported on November 19 include three holes in the central part of the property and three in the eastern margin.

Results from the central holes confirm both the grade and the thickness of the mineralization to approximately 50 meters below the known resource area and infill some gaps where cobalt mineralization was historically considered low.

Drilling in the eastern region continues to intercept high grades of mineralization. These include 32.3 meters at 0.31 percent Co and 0.31 percent Cu in hole ICS18-06B and 21.1 meters at 0.32 percent Co and 0.20 percent Cu in hole ICS18-05. Consistently, drilling has identified several lenses of cobalt mineralization between the main massive sulphide horizons.

Previously, First Cobalt classified its Iron Creek Cobalt Project as an advanced, unique asset. According to company representatives, Iron Creek is one of the most crucial projects in North America in terms of cobalt mining. New drilling results confirm the scope and extent of mineralization beyond initial expectations.

Cobalt is relatively scarce, and demand for it is on the rise worldwide, being fed by the lithium-ion battery industry. A lot of the global cobalt sourcing is facing major challenges because of an extensive dependence on the resource found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Child labor is common there, giving alternative producers like First Cobalt a significant ethical advantage.

Industry analysis suggests that the demand from the li-ion battery sector alone will more than double until 2027. There are also concerns about the inability of cobalt miners to continue meeting this demand after 2021. Predictive analysis further confirms the importance of the work First Cobalt is doing at the Iron Creek Cobalt Project.

First Cobalt is a North American pure-play cobalt company whose flagship asset is the Iron Creek Cobalt Project in Idaho, which has inferred mineral resources of 26.9 million tonnes grading 0.11 percent cobalt equivalent. The company’s other assets include 50 past-producing mines in the Canadian Cobalt Camp and the only permitted cobalt refinery in North America capable of producing battery materials.

For more information, visit the company’s website at http://ibn.fm/FTSSF

• Sales of marine vessels at peak levels, with industry sales reaching $39 billion in 2017
• Victory Marine Holdings offers top products at competitive price points
• Company leadership implements strategic approach to maintain client satisfaction

Victory Marine Holdings Corp. (OTC: VMHG) is a world-class yacht sales, brokerage and consulting firm that has penetrated the luxury vessel market on all levels due to its three-pronged plan. This robust growth strategy is based on three interconnected strands: expanding the company’s sales team and current inventory, manufacturing its own line of boat trailers and manufacturing and selling its own line of boats.

The luxury boat market demands increasingly higher amounts of product (http://ibn.fm/he0JV), as “the perspective seems to be that life is short and fragile, so clients want to enjoy their wealth.” Victory Marine Holdings will meet this economic opportunity by offering a unique line of boats and boat trailers at a competitive price point.

The United States is a main player in the luxury yacht industry, with Europe and Asia also being top contenders. Marine sales are the highest they have been in 10 years, but manufacturing and delivery timelines can last up to 18 months. With this in mind, Victory Marine is taking steps to accelerate that timeline by partnering with yacht manufacturers to not only sell top product, but to produce its own unique brand of boats as well.

Victory Marine features products like the Renegade 38, a 38-foot long boat featuring triple outboard motors totaling 1,200 horsepower of pure adrenalin, (http://ibn.fm/mH81I) and the Invincible 40, a 40-foot vessel (http://ibn.fm/jUwc1) built to “tear through seas from any direction, while still being able to maneuver turns at high speeds.”

The leadership at the helm of this auspicious company offers decades of experience in the marine industry. CEO Orlando Hernandez leads the company with marine industry experience, including negotiation, business planning, investor relations, operations management and sales. He prides himself on cultivating strong customer loyalty (http://ibn.fm/3jFOm), promising, “The need of the client always comes first.” At his side is Gary Beaver, whose experience in the marine industry spans 20 years, and his portfolio of 25 vessel listings exceeds $10 million. The marine vessel industry saw peak earnings in 2017, bringing in $39 billion.

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

• The company has partnered with Dermagate of Quebec, Canada, for the manufacture of ETST’s Hygee device, which tests women for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• ETST has started the qualification process for the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP), a new certification program, and plans to grow its portfolio of medical devices in 2019
• SeeThruEquity, LLC update projects that ETST will achieve $7.1 million in revenues by FY2020 as it grows its product line and expands into full spectrum cannabinoid beverages

Earth Science Tech, Inc. (OTCQB: ETST), a biotech company that markets and develops hemp cannabinoid (CBD) products, sees FY2019 as its pivotal expansion year. It is progressing in the development of its Hygee medical device, increasing its portfolio of devices and introducing two new nutraceutical products (http://ibn.fm/nezv1). It has formed a strategic partnership for Hygee’s manufacture with Dermagate, a company that specializes in the production of dermatology and wound care products.

The new partnership would also give ETST access to other medical devices that can be marketed in the future along with Hygee and Nanoderm, a unique wound care product that ETST distributes. Prior, ETST finalized an agreement with Groupe Opmedic Inc. and its Procrea Fertility Laboratories for lab services to detect STIs in women using Hygee (http://ibn.fm/ooaiI).

ETST, based in Doral, Florida, produces and sells CBD products, as well as dietary supplements for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields. The company is focused on the cannabidiol, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors, along with the development, through subsidiaries, of medical devices and research. ETST’s goal is to become a world leader in the CBD space.

Nickolas S. Tabraue, president, director and chairman of ETST, said in a news release that he expects certification of the Hygee device in Canada in early 2019. He and Gatan Houle, president and CEO of PharmaGate Group Inc. and Dermagate, expressed optimism that the MDSAP certification audit for Hygee manufacturing would begin as early as January 2019. He added that ETST would launch two new products for the nutraceutical market in 2019.

Both Tabraue and Dr. Michel Aubé, ETST’s CEO and chief science officer, believe that Health Canada’s requirement that the new MDSAP certification be attained by manufacturers in the new year is a positive marketing development for ETST. They believe that it will thin the field of smaller manufacturers who are unable to meet the standard. It is seen as giving ETST an opportunity to expand its product portfolio with existing products that would need new distributors, the company said.

A benefit is that ETST, under the new regulations, will be able to audit Hygee for up to five different medical device markets, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan and the United States. These represent part of the company’s target market. STIs are a worldwide problem. Tabraue said that he expects Hygee to be certified by mid-2019 in other countries, too, seeking to adopt the new accreditation and facilitate the commercialization of medical devices.

SeeThruEquity sees ETST’s participation in the booming CBD industry, focusing on the hemp-derived segment, enabling it to reach revenues of $7.1 million by FY2020. The research report described its diversity, including its line of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, TV campaign and uplisting to the OCTQB Venture Market (http://ibn.fm/omeQM).

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 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

• Therma Bright to establish subsidiary to hold pain relief device-related technology and intellectual property developed for application/use of cannabis formulations
• Therma Bright portfolio currently includes products, devices and treatments offering cosmetic, medicinal or therapeutic benefits for effective, non-invasive, pain-free skin care for cold sores, insect and marine life bites
• Proprietary thermal therapy device technology has received Class II medical device status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Legal cannabis market expected to reach $146.5 billion by end of 2025 with CAGR of 34 percent

Therma Bright, Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) continues to develop a new pain relief device that incorporates the company’s thermal therapy technology with medical grade cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD) sourced from hemp as a cream or gel to provide relief of back, knee and other joint pain. A wholly owned subsidiary is being incorporated to hold any device or technology that Therma Bright develops for use or application of cannabis, the company announced in a news release (http://ibn.fm/OiWmz).

Therma Bright will conduct all research and handling of any medicinal cannabis through authorized and licensed research facilities (http://ibn.fm/6pDG5). The company has also initiated patent and trademark protection for its thermal therapy technology that incorporates medicinal cannabis. Once approvals are secured, Therma Bright plans to sell the device through licensed cannabis producers and retailers across Canada and in international markets where cannabis has been legalized.

Rob Fia, Therma Bright CEO, said that, over the last several weeks, the company has reviewed several device delivery systems designed for recreational or medicinal cannabis use, along with personal cannabis home growing systems. These devices and systems could present unique acquisition opportunities and help further the company’s strategic approach to the cannabis space, Fia said.

“Therma Bright has reviewed some exciting technology over the last several weeks which we believe would be an excellent fit for our current product offerings. Both the medicinal, and specifically the recreational cannabis markets, are projected to be large markets in Canada and worldwide,” Fia said in a news release. “We felt this was an ideal time to explore cannabis device delivery systems and are pleased to have been approached by numerous companies to review what is in our opinion excellent technology. Therma Bright is pleased with the launch of ColdSores.com and looks forward to updating shareholders on our marketing strategy for the e-commerce site prior to year-end.”

Grand View Research, Inc., reports that the legal cannabis market is expected to reach $146.5 billion by the end of 2025 with a compound annual growth rate of 34 percent (http://ibn.fm/SQhrl). Growing adoption of cannabis in several medical applications such as cancer, mental disorders, chronic pain and others is expected to propel revenue growth in the future, the report states. The number of conditions treated using medical cannabis is growing rapidly as new patients are added to the market.

Therma Bright currently has two products on the market and another in the research and development phase. InterceptCS is a thermal therapy device available without prescription for the treatment and prevention of cold sores caused by the herpes simplex Type 1 virus. When used at the first sign of an oncoming cold sore, application of InterceptCS can prevent symptoms from developing*.

TherOZap is a next generation thermal therapy device powered by the company’s core technology, which is approved by the FDA as a Class II medical device for the relief of the symptoms of insect bites. Testing of a new, easier-to-use prototype of the device for effectiveness against the Zika virus and other diseases carried by mosquitoes is underway. Once the technology proves effective, Therma Bright intends to seek regulatory approvals and extend the prototype enhancements to a new, commercial version of TherOZap.

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

• Based on double blind placebo study, InterceptCS™ is approved for the claim “For prevention of cold sores when used within 3 hours of the onset of the prodrome.” by Health Canada. InterceptCS™ is not approved by the United States FDA for any claim of clinical indication, clinical efficacy and/or cure or prevention of disease.

• Spectrum Global Solutions made its presentation on December 5, the second day of the 11th annual LD Micro Main Event
• The company’s CEO and president met with investors and highlighted future plans for the growth of Spectrum Global Solutions
• Spectrum Global recently received over $500,000 in new contract awards, a topic that was also tackled during the presentation

Spectrum Global Solutions, Inc. (OTC: SGSI), a leading telecommunications engineering and infrastructure services and staffing solutions provider, recently announced its participation in the 11th annual LD Micro Main Event that took place from December 4 to 6 in Los Angeles (http://ibn.fm/PJVOE).

Company President Keith Hayter presented on December 5, at 2:30 p.m. PST. In addition, he met with investors throughout the day. The aim of the session was to discuss the company’s recently filed third quarter 10-Q and upcoming corporate development plans for 2019. Spectrum Global Solutions CEO Roger Ponder participated in the session alongside Hayter to highlight key developments.

This year, LD Micro Main Event featured 250 companies. The estimated attendance was 1,200 people. LD Micro started in 2006 as an independent resource in the microcap space. Originally, it featured a newsletter highlighting noteworthy companies. Today, LD Micro Main Event has transformed into a range of influential occurrences that take place throughout the year. More information about attending the events can be found on LD Micro’s official website.

Spectrum Global Solutions is a leading single-source provider of end-to-end, next-generation wireless and wireline network infrastructure services and staffing solutions to the service provider (carrier) and corporate enterprise markets of the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Caribbean region. Recently, the company announced that it has received over $500,000 in new contract awards (http://ibn.fm/bU3cy). The aim of these awards is to support carrier network upgrades across the U.S.

“We continue to build upon our pipeline of new opportunities as carriers deploy upgrades of their services and technologies across the U.S.,” Ponder said in a news release. According to the CEO, Spectrum Global Solutions is actively discussing merger and acquisition opportunities that will enable the company to capitalize on new opportunities like the rollout of true 5G mobile services throughout the U.S.

New technological developments and the expansion of communication networks have resulted in unparalleled growth opportunities for companies like Spectrum Global Solutions. Through its subsidiaries, the company is a single-source provider of professional telecommunication development, deployment and maintenance solutions. Its activities range from single activity to multi-region turnkey development contracts. Spectrum Global Solutions has completed over 150,000 projects on the regional, national and international levels to date.

The telecom field is expected to experience significant and sustainable growth over the next few years. Domestic mobile data traffic in the U.S. will reach $150 billion in fiber investment over the coming five to seven years, according to a Deloitte Consulting analysis (http://ibn.fm/66sfn). The worldwide adoption of mobile technologies is providing additional opportunities for market growth through infrastructural developments.

The new contract awards, as well as additional Spectrum Global Solutions announcements/projections for the future, were discussed in further detail during the annual LD Micro Main Event.

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

• DVLP is a diversified company in the CBD industry launching a new software division, Greener Grows, which will share metrics and network with the industry’s top innovators
• On its Where’s Weed website, the company’s ‘Business Resource Center’ helps cannabis dispensaries by listing how to raise local search rankings and leverage social media
• Company sees its Greener Grows software division as an industry data collection tool to help improve the performance of cannabis growers; DVLP says it will also gain product/services exposure

Golden Developing Solutions, Inc. (OTC: DVLP) is emerging as a cannabis industry leader, offering to dispensaries multiple suggestions for success prior to introducing its Greener Grows software division. The company’s Greener Grows division is designed to offer industrywide data on cannabis growing and, at the same time, increase awareness of DVLP (http://ibn.fm/DeMRV).

In a news release, Stavros Triant, CEO of DVLP, said, “We are excited to introduce Greener Grows as a data collection tool that can be used across the country to help improve cannabis growing and operations. This is an excellent opportunity to build industry relationships and gain exposure for our products and services.”

DVLP is a diversified emerging leader in the cannabis sector. It markets a line of branded hemp and CBD-related products through its wholly owned subsidiary, Pura Vida Vitamins, LLC. The line includes CBD edible gummies and Pura Vida brand wellness vitamins and minerals. The products also include superfoods and fish oil, in addition to CBD vapes and vape oils.

Prior to the launch of its Greener Grows divison, the company, on its WheresWeed.com site, took a leadership position by offering ways for cannabis dispensaries to improve their local search rankings. Tips include using targeted keywords within the titles of their sites, seeking third party listings, listing in directories and handling reviews, good or bad. The platform also describes how to leverage social media to build loyalty and create relationships within the local community (http://ibn.fm/lcAkA).

DVLP additionally offers a Where’s Weed app that helps consumers locate local cannabis sources, such as dispensaries and physicians.

For more information, visit the company’s websites at www.PuraVidaVitamins.com and www.WheresWeed.com

• Youngevity representatives met one-on-one with investors at 11th annual LD Micro Main Event on Wednesday, December 5
• Co-Founder Dr. Joel Wallach featured in documentary showcasing his impactful career of spreading health and wellness awareness across the globe
• Online viewing of both the presentation and the documentary available

Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ:YGYI), a leading omni-direct lifestyle company, presented at the 11th annual LD Micro Main Event in Los Angeles, California, on December 5. This event was the largest independent conference for small and micro-cap businesses, hosting 250 companies with attendees grossing over 1,200.

Youngevity President and Chief Financial Officer Dave Briskie led the company’s presentation, which took place at 2:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, December 5. Company representatives attended personalized meetings with institutional investors throughout the day, allocating one-on-one time to discuss individual investor concerns.

For over 20 years since it was founded, Youngevity has continued to revolutionize its products, driven by one central question: “How can we live younger, longer?” This question, posed by its co-founder, Dr. Joel Wallach, reveals his passion for improving health and wellness for animals, people and environments all over the world.

A recent documentary on the Youngevity founder has been released by Carpe Diem Media. It is titled “The Audacity of Health: The Dr. Joel Wallach Story” and has already garnered a global following thanks to social media. The documentary traces the evolution of Wallach’s quest to spread health and wellness from the 1960s through his four decades of work in the industry. Most notably, the film showcases his early research-driven activism to save the white rhino from pollution in the 1960s, as well as his monumental victory petitioning the FDA to mandate supplement manufacturers to require important nutrients like folate, among others, as required dietary supplements. Folate, once a negligibly known substance, is now recognized as a critical component in prenatal vitamins to foster fetal health and development. The benefits of his work for the health and wellness of citizens are innumerable and far-reaching.

Youngevity CEO Steve Wallach narrated portions of the documentary. He sees the documentary (http://ibn.fm/KXN84) as a “fitting tribute” to his father, whose life’s work was to “[positively] impact…health and wellness around the world.”

Initially, the documentary was hosted on Facebook’s new “Facebook Premier” feature in an effort to reach a global audience. This post was viewed by over 30,000 people and garnered more than 1,000 comments. Viewing engagements continue to be booked. The documentary can also be viewed at JoelWallachDocumentary.com. The latest viewer statistics indicate that the documentary has already exceeded 10,000 views, covering all 50 states and over 62 countries. It can also be viewed through Youngevity.com.

Both the success of the documentary and the popularity of Youngevity’s products have allowed Dr. Joel Wallach to realize (http://ibn.fm/NbVZq) his dream – to “educate the public about the importance of proper nutrition,” hoping to reach “tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of people.”

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

• Youngevity offers products in the top eight selling retail categories
• The company offers a hybrid of the direct selling business model
• Youngevity is also developing a line of proprietary, hemp-derived cannabidiol oil products

A top omni-direct lifestyle company, Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) operates in the Direct Selling and Coffee Industry segments. The retail categories in which it participates include health and nutrition, home and family, food and beverage, spa and beauty, fashion, essential oils, photo and unique services. Chula Vista, California-based Youngevity International is among the top 100 global direct selling companies.

Youngevity is concentrating on three diverse growth channels. These encompass expansion into Latin America and Asia, its new technology platform and green coffee distribution through expansion of its brands. Moreover, the company is in the process of entering the cannabis market.

Youngevity offers a synthesis of the direct selling business model. This business model includes person-to-person selling relationships consisting of a “network of networks.” Tied in with this, the company’s technology-driven web platform supports Youngevity’s expansion of global e-commerce and social selling platforms.

Revenue drivers for Youngevity include newly-acquired distributors and customers, product approvals and corporate infrastructure. Youngevity has greater than 2,000 SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) that are poised to boost future growth. In addition, international expansion is at the heart of Youngevity’s strategic initiatives.

Youngevity supports its direct sellers with its innovative YoungevityGo2 app. This distributor app simplifies the selling process. It features social media campaigns and engaging video. It also features customer retention and distributor education, custom websites, data analytics, digital flipcharts and magazines.

Youngevity has its proprietary web-based acquisition portal for acquiring companies and their intellectual property. Its acquisition strategy centers on streamlined onboarding of customers, distributors and products. The company’s acquisition portfolio includes Via Viente, BellaVita, David Allen Capital, Inc., Nature Direct, Heritage Makers and Gigi Hill, among many others. Fundamentally, with this varied portfolio, Youngevity is a global Main Street of products and services under one corporate entity.

Regarding the coffee industry, Youngevity International has its wholly owned subsidiary, CLR Roasters. It is driving coffee revenue growth via green coffee distribution and private-label roasting. It is also driving growth through the sales of owned brands. Brands include Cafe La Rica and Josie’s Java House, as well as retail and food service brands. Supporting Youngevity’s coffee strategy is the company’s coffee plantation and modern dry-processing facility in Matagalpa, Nicaragua (http://ibn.fm/9TRQz). The 1,000 acres under management produce 100 percent Arabica coffee beans.

Furthermore, Youngevity has its hemp initiative. It is developing a complete line of proprietary hemp-derived cannabidiol oil products and has two new products with the expansion of its HempFX line. The two new products are HempFX Hydration – Sleep and HempFX Hydration – Pure. The company recently announced online availability of its hemp-derived cannabidiol HempFX products, which are available for purchase at www.HempFX.com.

Youngevity International’s commitment is to aggressive expansion via organic growth, mergers and acquisitions. The company’s annual revenue grew from $75 million in 2012 to $166 million in 2017. With its varied portfolio and direct selling model, Youngevity is poised to reward its stakeholders in the years ahead through its creative initiatives.

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

As one of the first STOs (security token offerings) in the hydrocarbon resource sector, Aziza Project LLC has had to navigate numerous regulatory hurdles. Throughout the evolution of the fund, a clear vision of powering and connecting southern Africa through localized, ethical oil and gas projects has driven things forward. The realization of its vision hinges on the successful execution of a differentiated and professional crypto offering, which is geared toward institutional investors.

The Aziza Coin is structured in such a way that the token will appeal readily to institutional buyers like hedge funds, who have gone from being a relatively minor player in ICOs to representing the lion’s share of ICO investment (http://ibn.fm/812j3) – a shift in the ICO market that is especially true, now that the sector has burnt off a lot of the speculative fervor. The reduced market volatility over the summer of 2018 brought in more institutional investors (http://ibn.fm/GqhXi), even as clear signs emerge that overall crypto adoption is increasing among both regular consumers and seasoned investors.

Essentially a tokenized equity, Aziza Coin’s initial asset is 20 percent ownership of Africa New Energies (ANE), which holds the rights to a massive 8,494-square-mile concession in Namibia that is nearly the size of New Hampshire. With a gross unrisked prospective resource of some 1.6 billion BOE (barrels of oil equivalent) and advanced exploration technologies (http://ibn.fm/QodAh) such as amplified geochemical imaging and the combination of hydrocarbon seepage analysis with passive seismic tomography, ANE has its sights set on becoming one of the world’s lowest cost finders of hydrocarbons. ANE estimates that its holistic multi-layer exploration approach could yield an above average discovery rate on wells drilled post discovery and is targeting dry-well drilling costs, which are half that of the average cost per foot in Texas.

The Aziza Coin offering, begun in October 2018, is seeking to raise $60 million for a 10-well drilling program on the concession. With 41 billion barrels of oil and 319 trillion cubic feet of gas undiscovered in sub-Saharan Africa (http://ibn.fm/Gb4mB) and an ongoing oil boom that has seen rig counts jump back up to 2015 levels, as sector majors and wildcatters alike continue snapping up explorations rights and signing deals, the iron is now ready to strike for Aziza’s innovative funding model.

The Aziza Project team has spent the last six months or more diligently crafting the ideal formulation and structure for its funding model. The project started out by interviewing some of the best ICO advisory groups in the game today for actionable intelligence, most of which recommended taking the easy route and simply doing a utility token. However, with the team’s commitment to structuring an offering that would reward token holders as the sole economic beneficiaries of the project and a CEO who is the former finance director for Unilever’s $25 billion-plus beauty and personal care division, Aziza decided to take the time and do it the right way, while also helping to carve a path to mainstream institutions and crypto investors for such offerings.

The Aziza Project began by pursuing an Isle of Man foundation, before running into legal and regulatory pitfalls that subsequently caused the team to pursue migration to other jurisdictions such as Switzerland, Gibraltar, Malta and the UK (where the structure would’ve been deemed a collective investment scheme, requiring costly approvals). After running aground with its UK plans, the team, well behind its initially road-mapped schedule, determined that it would be best to simply fully embrace U.S. securities laws. The team then set about resolving the tax implications for non-U.S. investors by turning to the Cayman Islands as a jurisdiction. As a Cayman investment fund, the sale could still take place in compliance with U.S. securities laws, but without the potential tax implications for non-U.S. investors.

The project decided on a Wall Street lawyer who understands the traditional securities space and set a forward trajectory focused on making the project attractive to high net worth and institutional investors, hedge funds and VC companies in the crypto space. The final hurdle was discovering an exemption to the Investment Companies Act of 1940 for funds investing solely in oil, gas or mineral extraction that allowed Aziza to up the potential investor pool from 100 to 2,000.

Acquiring the capital for drilling via asset-backed security token ICO is an innovative approach to hydrocarbon development and is the kind of rapid on-ramp approach that could really catch fire in Africa. Investors will likely also be attracted to features such as the absence of fees or administrative charges, and, because the Aziza Coin is a kind of borderless alternative to securities, it also possesses a distinct geographical advantage when it comes to enticing large investors from all over the world. Furthermore, the unique structure of the Aziza Project’s offering eliminates a lot of the intermediaries and middle men that could otherwise hamper liquidity and potential returns.

It seems like the Aziza Project could go from one asset to multiple assets as investors catch on and the initial Namibia concession moves forward, especially in Africa, where over 600 million people still live without power and there is substantial unmet need for localized energy production in undeveloped areas. Such localized projects could be just the ticket for offsetting diminishing foreign aid to Africa from industrialized countries, which is being supplanted by an emphasis on trade. This is particularly true when it comes to increasing the benefits to local populations and minimizing the harm from such hydrocarbon development (http://ibn.fm/JzvVQ), as localized projects may be better for Africa (http://ibn.fm/j0YtQ).

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

• Experienced cannabis industry experts and Master Grower at helm of state-of-the-art indoor grow facility
• Facility in prime location for expansion in business-friendly city near Toronto, Canada
• Established cannabis consultants assisting with CVG’s ACMPR application as it moves forward through Health Canada’s licensing process
• Agreement with private company to open access to retail market in Alberta, Canada, once CVG’s cannabis products are approved for sale
• Cannabis industry analysts predict potential shortfall of cannabis products in Canada as demand soars under full legalization
• Extensive brand experience and in-licensing branding opportunities for recreational cannabis products.
• Canada’s cannabis industry projected to exceed $22 billion over the coming years

Icon Exploration Inc.’s (TSX.V: IEX.H) primary objective is to create a well-diversified company focused on assessing and potentially acquiring targets in the cannabis industry. Icon Exploration recently signed a formal share exchange agreement relating to its proposed acquisition of privately held City View Green (“CVG”), a vertically integrated cannabis company incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada. CVG’s application to Health Canada for an Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (“ACMPR”) license is now at the in-depth review stage of the licensing process.

CVG is preparing a 40,000-square-foot growing facility near Toronto to produce pharmaceutical-grade cannabis once its ACMPR license is granted. About half of the facility will initially be outfitted with state-of-the-art LED lighting, HVAC and dehumidification systems, and automation technologies to optimize the quality, safety and consistency of cannabis production. About 4,000 square feet will be devoted to an extraction laboratory featuring an ultra-efficient CO2 supercritical extraction process with plans to include ethanol extraction technology in the future.

Another 4.3 acres remains available for future construction of up to 125,000 square feet of grow and extraction space. Production plans include producing high quality edible products, distillates, and water-soluble products for the rapidly expanding CBD-infused (cannabidiol) beverage market.

Management

Icon and CVG have assembled a talented team that includes a Master Grower with cannabis-industry experience to manage indoor grow operations and an extraction expert whose expertise in developing and launching new products was honed while working in Washington state’s cannabis sector. Having gained experience in the Washington state market the extraction expert has a number of brand ideas and recreational cannabis products that became popular in the Washington market as well as a number of in-licensing branding opportunities available to CVG. CVG has also negotiated an agreement with a private company seeking 37 retail cannabis licenses in Alberta, Canada, that provides a reciprocal exchange of shares, product, shelf space and distribution lines. Early discussions with various entities in Europe to arrange an off-take agreement for CBD oils and extracts are also underway.

Market Opportunity

The Canadian medical cannabis market has steadily been growing with an average 10 percent increase in patients each month. Now that the Canadian federal government has legalized recreational cannabis for adult users nationwide, analysts project a compound annual growth rate of nearly 78 percent from 2018 to 2021, reaching an estimated $3 billion by 2021, ArcView Market Research reports. One study from Deloitte pegged the potential economic impact of legalized medical and recreational marijuana in Canada – including transportation, licensing fees and security – at more than $22 billion over the coming years. Health Canada’s most recent data show that sales of cannabis extracts grew 961 percent in the second quarter of 2017, compared to an 89 percent increase in growth of dried cannabis during the same period.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.IconExploration.net