Solar3D, a provider of solar power solutions and the developer of a proprietary high efficiency solar cell, announced that it has inked a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Elite Solar, a Durham, California-based solar systems provider. The purchase is a continuation of Solar3D’s aggressive growth-by-acquisition strategy, which is intended to boost the company’s top line revenue as well as operating earnings.

Elite Solar designs and installs photovoltaic systems for residential, commercial, agricultural and municipal customers. The company is led by CEO Kirk Short, a solar power industry veteran with more than 15 years of experience in every facet of solar design and construction, on projects ranging from residential to large scale commercial and agricultural solar solutions.

Elite Solar is operating profitably and has experienced a breakthrough year. Revenue for 2015 is expected to approach $20 million, an increase of approximately 140% over the 2014 figure. Elite Solar also expects EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) to be approximately $2.2 million in 2015. Solar3D will pay $7.15 million for the company, with $2.5 million to be paid in cash and $4.65 million in common stock. The purchase agreement calls for additional consideration should certain sales and EBITDA milestones are met. The total purchase price, including earnouts, is intended to slightly over four times the trailing 12-month EBITDA for 2015. Following the acquisition, Elite Solar will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Solar3D-and work closely with Solar3D’s SUNworks division.

“We are thrilled to enter into this agreement with Elite Solar, a company known for its commitment to excellence and its strong leadership, which has led to the company’s tremendous sales growth,” said Jim Nelson, CEO of Solar3D. “This purchase is consistent with our plan to acquire profitable companies that give us a competitive advantage in the high-growth solar landscape. By combining Elite Solar’s experience and reach with Solar3D’s proven execution, we are significantly expanding the scale of our solar energy platform to become a leader in California’s commercial solar industry, especially within the fast growing agricultural sector. Our entire leadership team at Solar3D looks forward to working with CEO Kirk Short and his team, to enhance our company’s growth and increase the value for our shareholders.”

“The opportunity to join efforts with Solar3D and its subsidiaries provides the Elite Solar team with the opportunity and resources to drive our business even more aggressively,” said Kirk Short, CEO of Elite Solar. “We believe our expertise perfectly complements their existing leadership and solar services, and we think we will be a tremendous asset to their growth moving forward.”

The closing of the Elite Solar acquisition, as described in the definitive purchase agreement, is subject to Solar3D’s satisfactory review of the operations, financial (including an audit) and corporate records of Elite Solar. The transaction is expected to close on or before November 1, 2015.

For more information on Solar3D, visit http://www.Solar3D.com

Well Power is seeking to engage the attention of oil and gas producing companies in its operations. To accomplish this, the company is employing a two-pronged approach: (1) it is aiming to educate them about the unique micro-refinery unit it is backing; and (2) it is working on creating partnership opportunities that make these companies allies.

Well Power already has a strong ally in ME Resources (“MEC”), the license holder developing an economical, mobile and scalable Micro-Refinery Unit (the “MRU”) to process raw natural gas into clean power and green fuel (diluents, drop-in diesel and pipeline quality synthetic crude). MEC’s proposed solution works in chorus; it concurrently reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while creating positive income streams from minimal capital spending.

The MRU has modular configuration flexibilities. The unit is scalable, mobile, cost-effective, energy efficient, high yield, single vessel, skid mounted, custom configured and being primed to turn wasted gas into clean power and engineered fuels (i.e. revenue). According to MEC’s designs, the MRU assembles proven industrial technologies with a proprietary micro-reactor system for hydrocarbon processing and catalytic reactions. A notably novel system, this process is also the key technology component that enables the unit to be easily transported and financially viable.

Designed to process raw natural gas flows of between 75 Mcf to 250 Mcf, the MRU first conditions then converts methane and condensates to Syngas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen). Following this step, a Fischer-Tropsch reaction occurs that produces power from the heat generated by exothermic reactions and combustion as well as green fuel.

In short, once the micro-refinery unit is developed, its advantages would be ample:

• Energy efficient
• High yield (C5+ > 50%)
• Improved safety
• Units > 100 MCFD
• Mobility advantages

For more information, visit www.wellpowerinc.com

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International Stem Cell Corp. recently took a significant step toward expanding its clinical pipeline when it submitted preclinical data to the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regarding its impending phase I/IIa clinical trial for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. According to the submitted data, the company’s nine month study of 300 rodents resulted in no tumors being observed in any of the animal subjects, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of its human neural stem cells (hpNSCs), which were derived using ISCO’s proprietary parthenogenetic stem cell platform. The company predicts that this will be the final submittal required prior to the initiation of clinical studies.

“We expect that this study report will address the remaining safety elements necessary for regulatory approval,” Dr. Ruslan Semechkin, chief science officer of ISCO, stated in a news release. “Having provided this final submission we now look forward to receiving TGA authorization to begin our phase I/IIa clinical trial in Australia.”

If approved to begin clinical trials, ISCO will be in a strong strategic position to enter the Australian Parkinson’s disease treatment market in the future, which could provide the company with a substantial opportunity to achieve sustainable international growth. According to a report by Parkinson’s Queensland, approximately one in 350 Australians live with Parkinson’s disease, making it the country’s second most common neurodegenerative disorder. In 2011, the debilitating disease accounted for an estimated $480 million in national health system costs, further demonstrating the market potential of ISCO’s groundbreaking treatment option following regulatory approval.

ISCO’s proprietary approach to stem cell research, parthenogenesis, directly addresses many of the limiting factors typically associated with regenerative medicine. In particular, the company’s parthenogenetic homozygous stem cell line can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals with minimal risk of immune rejection following transplantation. Additionally, since its cells are derived from unfertilized eggs, ISCO avoids many of the ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells without sacrificing their transformative pluripotent qualities.

For prospective shareholders, the company’s strong progress toward expanding its market share in the global regenerative medicine industry could foreshadow an opportunity for sustainable returns in the months to come. Look for ISCO to build on this progress moving forward as it eagerly awaits TGA authorization to begin its pivotal clinical development program in the Australian market.

For more information, visit www.internationalstemcell.com

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Wisdom Homes of America, an owner and operator of manufactured homes retail centers, has positioned itself to provide homebuyers the opportunity to purchase quality, affordable manufactured homes.

“We previously stated that our goal was to expand into land/home transactions, which is exactly what we’ve done. We’re now closing land/home transactions, and our 90 day pipeline of transactions is increasingly land/home sales, and that pipeline is growing. Land/home purchases represent greater revenue, better margins and a faster closing cycle,” stated Jim Pakulis, CEO of Wisdom Homes of America, Inc. “We’re scheduling an expansive market campaign to begin in early September focusing on land/home transactions.”

“In addition to offering home buyers the opportunity to purchase a new model home from our retail centers, we’re now aligning home buyers with selected residential lots and are working on getting them into their new homes,” stated Brent Nelms, President of Wisdom Homes Manufacturing of America, Inc., a subsidiary of Wisdom Homes of America. “We’ve also increased the number of mortgage lenders that we’re working with, allowing the home buyer greater financial mortgage options when purchasing a house, whether it’s a stand-alone or as a land/home package.”

The manufactured housing industry is growing. In 2014 the sales of new manufactured homes exceeded $4.1 billion up from $3.8 billion in 2013. And that number is estimated to reach $4.5 billion in 2015. The industry growth is driven by demand for quality, affordable housing. WOFA also sees an adjacent market opportunity of approximately $10 billion annually in real estate acquisition, site preparations, ancillary services, and lending and lease communities for the manufactured housing industry that requires financing capital.

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

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Giggles N’ Hugs, owner and operator of family-friendly restaurants that bring together high-end, organic food with active, cutting-edge play and entertainment for children, today reports that it has been in active negotiations for its expansion with several of the largest mall owners in the U.S., including General Growth Properties, Simon Property Group, and Westfield Group, which collectively own more than 500 properties worldwide.

Current negotiations are focused on expanding Giggles N’ Hugs’ presence on the West Coast, initially targeting five properties in markets that include Seattle and San Francisco in the north and San Diego and Orange County in the south. Lease terms have been received for the proposed properties, which will be similar in size to the company’s current locations in Los Angeles.

The company also plans on expanding its footprint nationwide. Longer term and pending additional funding, Giggles N’ Hugs expects to grow from its three existing locations in Southern California to dozens of locations in key markets across the nation.

As part of its negotiations, Giggles N’ Hugs is seeking significant rent discounts and attractive tenant allowances to reduce construction costs for each new Giggles N’ Hugs location. The company has also retained the services of Todd Star, a highly regarded and successful senior executive with nearly three decades of real estate industry experience, to aid in its negotiations and growth strategy development. Star’s experience as a senior executive for Westfield, overseeing leasing operations for over 13 years, places him as one of the most knowledgeable and best in negotiating deals with mall operators. Todd currently serves as principal at Star Retail Advisors.

“We’re very excited to enter our next phase of operations and to begin replicating the success we’ve experienced with our first three locations in Los Angeles,” commented Giggles N’ Hugs CEO Joey Parsi. “While we’re doing good in Southern California, where we’re known for our warm weather and sunny climate, we anticipate our results will be even better in markets where the weather is often less than ideal.”

Parsi noted an increase in Giggles N’ Hugs traffics when it rains and how that advantage will fare well in locations with frequent precipitation.

“When it rains … people tend to come indoors to Giggles N’ Hugs to play rather than go to the park or other outdoor spaces. The same is true with birthday parties, which are a very high-margin business for us,” he said. “People can’t do parties in their backyard or a park when it rains, so we get massive bookings on rainy days and our sales spike. This unique aspect of our business should produce higher revenues and profit margins in markets like San Francisco and Seattle, driving strong shareholder value growth as we move forward with our expansion.”

For more information, visit www.gigglesnhugs.com/investor-relations/

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On the Move Systems this morning highlighted a new industry forecast that the trucking industry will soon experience an Uber-style transformation, where shared economy platforms and apps, like the one now under development by OMVS, will play an integral component of operations and revenue-generation.

The Frost & Sullivan report predicts that by 2025 such platforms will generate $26.4 billion in freight movement revenues as trucking companies take advantage of online, on-demand offerings such as route optimization. This key advantage will enable companies to more effectively utilize equipment and human resources to ensure mileage driven produces revenue rather than hauling an empty trailer.

OMVS also points to a Forbes.com article co-written by Frost & Sullivan’s Wallace Lau, who writes that smartphone-enabled shared economy apps, “will also help the driver locate nearby freight and carry it to its destination if the truck is also headed there. At the heart of this change will be mobile devices like smartphones that will enable people to connect freight to trucks, with spare freight-carrying capacity on an on-demand, ad-hoc, networked manner.”

OMVS CEO Robert Wilson agrees, noting his growing confidence in the company’s impending platform.

“Mr. Lau is certainly speaking our language and his market research hits right on target, backing up what we’ve found and validating our business model. The shared economy is going to transform logistics, from scheduling and route optimization to the hiring of drivers. This survey shows why we’re confident of the revenue potential of our upcoming platform, now under development,” says Wilson.

OMVS recently signed a letter of intent for development for its online, on-demand trucking platform, patterned on Uber’s cutting-edge shared economy model.

For more information visit www.onthemovesystems.com

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The Aristocrat Group Corp. announced that it plans on launching RWB Ultra-Premium Handcrafted Vodka in Canada using the same marketing tactics that made the brand a success in the U.S.

Late last month, the company revealed that its joint venture partner in Canada, Westcoast Spirits Company, Ltd., had begun a campaign to promote RWB Vodka in British Columbia. The international market expansion is a major step forward for the brand.

After the product is picked up by Canadian distributors, the company will set up in-store promotional events featuring RWB-branded swag and complimentary tastings at British Columbia Liquor Board-operated outlets as well as independent distilled spirits stores. Future plans call for potential sponsorship of rising music stars and sporting events, too, just as the company has successfully done in the U.S.

“Canada is an important market for us, so we plan to invest heavily in RWB’s success in British Columbia in order to establish a foothold,” ASCC CEO Robert Federowicz said. “Thanks to our experience in the U.S. market, we know which promotions are most effective. We’ll be putting that knowledge to good use in Canada.”

Handcrafted, American-made RWB Ultra-Premium Handcrafted Vodka is made with the highest-quality, non-GMO Idaho potatoes and pure mountain spring water and then refined by a five-stage filtration system that produces a gluten-free high-class vodka without the high-class price. It is available online to U.S. consumers and at more than 60 retail locations and 250 clubs, bars and restaurants.

For more information, visit www.aristocratgroupcorp.com/investors

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Great Basin Scientific is a molecular diagnostics company developing, manufacturing and commercializing breakthrough chip-based technologies that enable cost-effective, reliable infectious disease testing. By focusing on affordability and ease-of-use, the company is working to make molecular testing available to every patient, providing the means for greatly reduced misdiagnoses while significantly limiting the spread of dangerous infectious diseases.

In the first quarter of 2015, Great Basin successfully leveraged the marketability of its innovative product portfolio to realize strong financial growth. The company’s revenue for the three month period was $458,730, which represented a 31.4 percent year-over-year improvement. This performance was attributable to Great Basin’s tremendous progress in expanding upon its established customer base. As of the end of the quarter, the company reported just over 100 U.S. customers, which was a year-over-year increase of more than 42 percent.

The company has taken considerable steps toward building on this financial growth in recent weeks, highlighted by the commercial launch of its Group B Streptococcus (GBS) test in July. Early adopters of Great Basin’s new product – which received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance in April – have hailed the test’s ease-of-use and cost savings. Shortly after its release, the company announced that more than 40 sites were in active evaluation or scheduled to evaluate the sample-to-result test, further demonstrating the immense marketability of Great Basin’s groundbreaking technology.

“Initial response to our GBS test has exceeded our expectations,” Ryan Ashton, chief executive officer of Great Basin, stated in a news release. “We believe this speaks to an unmet need in the market that Great Basin addresses by delivering simplified workflow at appropriate cost [with] the sensitivity, specificity and speed of molecular testing that our lab customers demand.”

According to industry reports, the global molecular diagnostics market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.7 percent from 2013 to 2018, climbing to nearly $8 billion by the end of the period. For Great Basin, this market performance should provide a platform upon which to promote strong financial growth.

For more information, visit www.gbscience.com

Canadian biotech Aquinox Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AQXP) created quite the industry buzz last week when the company reported positive mid-stage trial results for its bladder pain drug, AQX-1125.

In addition to meeting secondary endpoints, the LEADERSHIP trial also demonstrated that a high proportion of patients (49%) achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in pain (2 points or greater on an 11-point NRS scale) as compared to placebo (39%).

“Consistently positive results from multiple secondary endpoints have strengthened our confidence in further development of AQX-1125 for BPS/IC,” David Main, president and CEO of Aquinox stated in the news release. “The encouraging effect of AQX-1125 observed on the primary endpoint of reduction in pain together with several statistically significant secondary endpoints, underscore the potential of AQX-1125 as a once daily, oral therapy for this debilitating disease.”

Aquinox also provided a general business update, recapping news from July when the company reported negative FLAGSHIP trial results for AQX-1125 as treatment for chronic pulmonary disease (COPD). As such, the company said it is not planning further development of AQX-1125 as a potential treatment for COPD.

Aquinox instead is reallocating resources to the prioritization of its activities to support possible future registration and planned pivotal clinical trials with AQX-1125 for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) and is deferring the initiation of its phase 2 trial in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Also on deck is approaching top line data in KINSHIP, a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AQX-1125 in atopic dermatitis. Target enrollment in the KINSHIP trial was achieved in early May 2015, and the company anticipates top line data from the trial in Q4 2015.

With Aquinox successfully advancing AQX-1125 for the treatment of a disease affecting between 5 and 12 million Americans each year, the company is aptly positioned to drive shareholder value – warranting a second glance at the small company making big waves in the biotech market.

For more information visit www.aqxpharma.com

PEDEVCO is focused on acquiring and developing high growth energy projects, including shale oil and gas assets, in the United States. Though the company’s principal asset is its D-J Basin Asset located in the D-J Basin in Colorado, PEDEVCO last month reported the initiation of drilling operations on seven new Wattenberg horizontal wells in Weld County, Colorado. The company has a 25 percent working interest in each of the seven wells and is on the fast-track to finish 2015 with strength.

Since its founding as a private company in 2011, PEDEVCO has steadily increased its acreage holding from less than 5,000 acres to current holdings of more than 25,000 net acres, demonstrating the company’s ability to identify and move-in on key growth opportunities. The Wattenberg locations represent one of several near-term growth drivers for PEDEVCO, which also include strategic downspacing, improved drilling and completion techniques and reducing costs.

A more long-term driver is the company’s intended merger with Dome Energy. In May 2015, PEDEVCO announced its merger agreement with Dome in which PEDEVCO will acquire all the U.S. oil and gas assets of Dome. On the operational side, PEDEVCO management sees great benefits in Dome’s expertise in conventional plays, diverse portfolio of operated wells, low cost and low risk production, and long-life, low decline production. Financially, Dome comes to the table with a strong balance sheet and cash flow generation, long-term hedges significantly above current market rates, low OPEX production, and a lower cost of capital with a 3.75 percent bank credit facility. Combined, PEDEVCO anticipates increased pro forma production to 3,300 BOE/D at closing, and an estimated PV10 of 1P reserves of approximately $280 million.

If PEDEVCO’s track record is any inclination, the company is well prepared to fully take advantage of these drivers.

Spearheading this momentum is a management team with collective decades of global experience in the oil and gas industry. PEDEVCO CEO Frank Ingriselli has more than 35 years of experience in the industry as a seasoned leader and entrepreneur with wide-ranging E&P experience in diverse geographies, business climates and political environments. Ingriselli is the founder of Pacific Asia Petroleum, Inc. – later known as CAMAC Energy Inc. (NYSE:CAK) – which has operations in Africa.

Prior to Pacific Asia Petroleum, Ingriselli spent 23 years at Texaco in diverse senior executive positions involving in power and gas operations, merger and acquisition activities, pipeline operations and corporate development. His tenure at Texaco included the positions of:

• President of Texaco Technology Ventures
• President and CEO of the Timan Pechora Company (owned by affiliates of Texaco, Exxon, Amoco, Norsk Hydro and Lukoil)
• President of Texaco International Operations Inc.

Ingriselli led Texaco’s global initiatives in exploration and development in key new countries at that time, including China and Russia, and was integral in the signing the company’s first successful international oil contract in China in 1983, which today is still generating over $1 billion a year in revenues.

Under this leadership, and despite a more than 50-percent drop in the price of oil, PEDEVCO in the first quarter of 2015 grew revenues to approximately $1.5 million compared to $1 million the year prior. Production for the same period grew to approximately 49,000 BOE from approximately 13,000 BOE in the comparable quarter of 2014.

Moving forward, PEDEVCO in a news release said it plans to maintain its pace, close its merger with Dome, and continue its focus on building shareholder value.

For more information, visit www.pacificenergydevelopment.com