• FEXD is working to develop a global financial technology ecosystem comprising a network of mobile money platforms, technologies, applications, products, and services
• The company aims to use emerging technologies like blockchain, web 3.0, AI, and the metaverse to reduce costs and accelerate the processing of money transfers, loans, and other lifestyle services
• Blockchain is disrupting financial institutions in new ways, creating an entirely new market and an avenue to bank the unbanked
• It offers benefits such as speed, security, accessibility, transparency, and cost reductions
• FEXD hopes to leverage emerging technologies like blockchain to ease the process of moving money across borders

When Satoshi Nakamoto, a mysterious figure whose identity remains unknown more than a decade later, launched Bitcoin, a digital currency built on top of a peer-to-peer network that recorded transactions by “hashing them into an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work” that could not be changed “without redoing the proof-of-work” (https://ibn.fm/9rYlI), they may only have had an inkling of what they had set in motion.

But as revolutionary as the idea of a digital currency backed by a proof-of-work chain, later renamed the blockchain, appears presently, it did not immediately catch on, much like most technologies. While Satoshi published their proof-of-work white paper in 2008 and launched Bitcoin at the beginning of the following year, blockchain development was still limited toward the end of 2009 (https://ibn.fm/OzfJW). But the somewhat delayed recognition of the power of blockchain did little to disrupt the trajectory of a technology whose time had indeed come.

At its core, and based on its initially intended use case, blockchain allows the decentralized transaction of digital currencies without the intervention of or assistance from centralized bodies such as banks. It is a shared, immutable digital ledger that records transactions and cannot be erased, copied, or changed; each cryptocurrency has its blockchain. Of course, the underlying operating mechanism is much more complicated than this short explanation.

But the bottom line is that blockchain is disrupting financial institutions in new ways, creating an entirely new market and an avenue to bank the unbanked. “Blockchain is creating new financial solutions that scale faster and cheaper, more secure, and more accessible to even ordinary men on the street. It has removed the barriers to enjoying financial services, enforced security, removed middlemen, and enhanced transparency,” explains an article in Forbes (https://ibn.fm/8mF2q).

The disruptive power of blockchain has drawn in Fintech Ecosystem Development (NASDAQ: FEXD), a company working to develop a global financial technology ecosystem comprising a network of mobile money platforms, technologies, applications, products, and services. The technologies, the company’s website states, are meant to “make it easy to move money across borders to almost any place in the world, in virtually any currency, using your mobile phone or laptop.”

FEXD aims to use emerging technologies such as blockchain, web 3.0, artificial intelligence (“AI”), and the metaverse to reduce costs and accelerate the processing of money transfers, loans, and other lifestyle services, which will benefit consumers and businesses in many countries, according to Dr. Sainful Khandaker, CEO, President and Founder of FEXD (https://ibn.fm/WQLO4).

Looking at what blockchain offers or is expected to offer, it is easy to appreciate the motivation behind FEXD’s focus. First, the technology has been promoted as a solution to wide-ranging issues affecting businesses, from identity verification and supply chain monitoring to fraud management (https://ibn.fm/FC2dt). Beyond this benefit, blockchain is also expected to:

• Provide personalized services that fit consumers’ specific needs
• Save businesses substantial amounts of time and money by eliminating complex and expensive processes
• Shift control and management of data to users by doing away with intermediaries
• Support and manage high volumes of transactions without slowing down
• Enable faster transactions
• Leverage smart contracts – a set of rules that define conditions for transactions and is executed automatically (https://ibn.fm/N0oGL) – to help fintech companies and financial institutions reduce their operational expenses by reducing the need for a large number of employees
• Improve transparency of transactions

Blockchain is also set to impact other aspects of everyday life beyond the realm of business. For instance, it can be used to protect important documents, such as property deeds and legal documents, from alteration, abuse, or theft. It can also be deployed in the travel and hospitality sector to reduce booking errors and store travelers’ information. And on the intellectual property (“IP”) front, it can help prevent the theft and fraud of IP by confirming ownership (https://ibn.fm/n9jSA). Indeed, blockchain may not be new, but the opportunities it is opening up hold the potential to be disruptive.

With a goal of leveraging the power of such emerging technologies to benefit businesses and consumers downstream, FEXD is not only developing platforms and applications that support cashless transactions but also seeking to acquire and merge with high-growth global fintech companies primarily operating in South Asia with a high volume of customers and extensive network of agents.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to FEXD are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/FEXD

• Canada-based Ucore Rare Metals Inc. has developed a novel RapidSX(TM) technology for processing rare earth elements (“REEs”) considered critical to modern computer technologies and is preparing to scale up to commercial operation
• Because REEs not only have significant importance to the retail sector, but also to the function of many technologies that further government policies and military capabilities, the U.S. Department of Defense has taken an interest in supporting domestic REE development
• Ucore recently received a $4 million award from the DOD to help demonstrate RapidSX(TM) capabilities under the REE supply chain development program
• The company held its initial meeting with the DOD July 6 regarding use of the award

Ucore Rare Metals (TSX.V: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF), a supply chain and technology innovator for essential rare earth metals, is building toward commercial-scale operations utilizing its novel RapidSX(TM) solvent extraction process for separating rare earth elements (“REEs”) from their host ore, and is simultaneously working with the U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”) to demonstrate that RapidSX(TM) is capable of delivering a North America-based REE technology for sustaining both traditional and emerging defense manufacturing sectors.

On June 6 the company announced that the DOD has awarded a $4 million project grant (Other Transaction Agreement, or OTA) to show that Ucore and RapidSX(TM) are able to meet government benchmarks (https://ibn.fm/sTBLd) as part of its efforts to establish an alternative supply chain for REEs not dependent on the People’s Republic of China, which currently wields control over 36.7 percent of the world’s REE reserves, 63 percent of its mining capacity, and over 90 percent of its refining capacity (https://ibn.fm/atWpm).

REEs are considered critical to the functions of most modern devices based on computerized technologies. They are particularly important in manufacture of permanent magnets used in computer hard drives, MRI scanners, wind turbine generators, high function motors including those in hybrid and electric vehicles, roller coaster technology and electric guitar pickups, to provide a short list (https://ibn.fm/bgyM2). They also may serve military applications in Abrams tanks and F-35 jets.

Ucore stated July 13 that it has conducted the initial conference with the DOD regarding use of the award at the company’s demonstration plant in Ontario, Canada, which was designed to test RapidSX in preparation for the company’s commercial plans at a yet-to-be-built facility in Louisiana. Construction there is slated to begin later this year.

“Last week’s [July 6] kickoff meeting allowed us to present our current detailed Project plan of execution to the DoD and ultimately incorporate our potential pathway to rare earth commercial separation through the Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex [SMC] in Alexandria,” Ucore VP and COO Mike Schrider, P.E., stated  in the company announcement (https://ibn.fm/bzxYc). “The OTA has a provision for potential follow-on opportunities for deployment of the RapidSX(TM) technology in the United States — this is a critical aspect of ensuring the United States has access to modern critical metals separation technologies that are competitive on the world stage.”

According to the statement, the goal of the Project is to develop solutions that advance and sustain both traditional and emerging defense manufacturing sectors, preserve critical and unique manufacturing and design skills, support and expand reliable sources, and identify and mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities.

At the demonstration plant, the company is demonstrating how RapidSX(TM) holds up against the conventional solvent extraction process (SX or CSX) in a 52-stage pilot-scale plant, as well as the technology’s ability to efficiently and quickly separate individual light and heavy REEs and compounds originating from North American sources, using the same equipment for both classes of REEs.

“We believe that Ucore’s Kingston, Ontario, Demo Plant is currently the largest heavy REE separation plant in North America,” Schrider stated in a June news release about the plant’s feedstocks (https://ibn.fm/PI6xd). “It is capable of processing tens of tonnes of light and heavy REEs utilizing the exact same equipment — and represents a unique technological advantage.”

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to UURAF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/UURAF

• GEMXX has a qualified Regulation A offering in place to raise up to $6 million at $0.40 per share
• GEMXX’s net income for the three months ended December 31, 2022, increased to $182,992, as compared to $126,360 in the previous quarter
• The company’s most recent financial results filing continues to report positive net revenues for the year and no long-term debt
• In March 2023, GEMXX announced it had signed an Ammolite Master Supply Agreement with Canadian Ammolite Gems by Kenneth Bradley

GEMXX (OTC: GEMZ) is a mine-to-market enterprise specializing in gold, gemstone, and jewelry production. With ownership of mining resources, production facilities, and operational assets, the company maintains control over every aspect of its production process, from gold mining and gemstone extraction to jewelry manufacturing and global distribution.

As a prominent player in the industry, GEMXX stands out as a leading producer of high-quality finished Ammolite jewelry. Notably, it holds the distinction of being the sole public company engaged in Ammolite mining worldwide. In addition to its Ammolite operations, the company is actively involved in gold mining and prides itself on its ability to design and manufacture exquisite jewelry pieces and exceptionally rare, natural fossil decor items for clientele around the globe.

One of GEMXX’s key advantages lies in mining its own gold reserves to be utilized in its jewelry production. This strategic approach provides the company with a cost-saving edge over other producers in the market.

Ammolite is similar to black opal and is a biogenic gem like amber and pearl. It is derived from the fossilized shells of ammonites, a group of extinct marine nautiluses.

GEMXX’s world class gemstone cutters and jewelry designers are continuously leading the Ammolite industry. Its team believes in the company’s philosophy, vision and goals, and works every day to continue to drive the Ammolite industry to the forefront of the gem world.

The company has offices in Las Vegas and Hong Kong.

Projects and Operations

GEMXX has formulated an ambitious growth plan that, while challenging, is deemed attainable. The company’s strategy revolves around bolstering its market share through several key initiatives. Firstly, GEMXX aims to strengthen its position in current markets by nurturing and expanding existing relationships with customers and partners.

Secondly, the company plans to venture into untapped markets strategically. By identifying and targeting new areas, GEMXX seeks to establish a presence in regions that present promising opportunities for growth.

Additionally, GEMXX envisions growth through acquisitions. By considering and integrating key services, distribution networks and retail outlets into its fold, the company aims to consolidate its market position and capitalize on synergies for enhanced success.

To cater to the rising demand for its products, GEMXX has placed a primary focus on increasing gemstone production. The company’s southern properties, situated in Alberta, Canada, hold valuable deposits of rough Ammolite gemstone. By tapping into these resources, GEMXX is poised to meet the demand for its exquisite gemstone products and further fuel its expansion plans.

GEMXX possesses significant mineral assets in the form of a Mineral Work Permit covering an 800-acre area and two Ammonite Shell Mineral agreements encompassing 217 acres within the same region. The company’s management effectively operated mines in close proximity to these properties. Moreover, core sampling, along with fossil outcroppings on the riverbanks, confirms a substantial Ammolite resource present in these designated areas.

Both the Mineral Work Permit and the Ammonite Shell Mineral agreements grant GEMXX unrestricted access to all Ammolite resources within their respective demarcations. Notably, the company is not obligated to pay any royalties to third parties, thereby enabling GEMXX to fully capitalize on the potential of these valuable resources.

Furthermore, there are no stringent regulatory conditions that GEMXX must fulfill to gain or retain access to the Ammolite deposits. This freedom of access allows the company to proceed with its mining and production operations unimpeded, providing an advantageous position for future growth and success.

In March 2023, GEMXX made a significant announcement, revealing its acquisition of a 50% ownership stake in Crazy Horse Mining Inc., a Canadian gold mining company with assets situated in the province of British Columbia. As part of this deal, Crazy Horse’s assets, which encompass a 100% interest in two gold projects, called Snow Creek and Rosella Creek, spread across a substantial area exceeding 700 acres, now become part of GEMXX’s portfolio.

Under the terms of this strategic partnership, GEMXX and Crazy Horse will jointly share the expenses related to mining operations on these projects. Additionally, the two companies will share the gold produced from these ventures, leading to a collaborative and mutually beneficial arrangement.

Initial tests conducted on the property, combined with gold already recovered this season, confirm all expectations for the claims and substantiate the company’s estimated extraction target of over 100,000 ounces of easily recoverable gold. To validate and provide a more comprehensive assessment of this estimate, an S-K 1300-compliant Resource Report is scheduled to be conducted during the summer of 2023.

By acquiring this stake in Crazy Horse Mining Inc., GEMXX has positioned itself for further growth in the gold mining sector and is poised to capitalize on cost of goods savings in its jewelry business.

Market Opportunity

Leading independent market research companies such as Data Monitor and GIA estimate the worldwide market for luxury or premium lifestyle products, which include gems and jewelry, at over $90 billion annually and growing. Ammolite sales around the world have seen unprecedented growth over the past 20 years. Worldwide retail sales are now estimated to be over $100 million.

Ammolite jewelry and fossils are featured aboard cruise ships and can be found in specialty shops in almost every cruise port in North America. Asian markets have grown since feng shui master Edward Li called Ammolite the most influential stone of the new millennium, referring to it as the “Seven Color Prosperity Stone.” Home shopping channels in Japan, Australia, France, Germany, the UK, Canada and the U.S. have all featured Ammolite jewelry.

Ammolite and ammonites can also be found on many ecommerce sales platforms, including Amazon, eBay and Etsy. Ammolite is sold around the world in tourist and traditional jewelry markets. The company has established customers in home shopping channels, cruise tourism, jewelry retailers, Asian feng shui markets, Asian retail markets and ecommerce platforms.

Management Team

With over 160 years in Ammolite management, operations, and sales, GEMXX possesses an unparalleled wealth of knowledge and expertise. Its team members have extensive backgrounds in every facet of the Ammolite business, allowing the company to excel in product development, maintain rigorous quality control measures, and maximize profitability. The breadth and depth of the GEMXX team’s experience enable the company to navigate the industry with precision, ensuring that GEMXX remains at the forefront of the Ammolite market. GEMXX leverages its collective wisdom to drive innovation, deliver exceptional products, and optimize business strategies to achieve long-term success.

Jay Maull is Founder, CEO and Chairman of GEMXX. With a career spanning more than three decades, he has been deeply involved in the Ammolite industry, from mining and production to marketing. He has owned and operated the world’s largest Ammolite mine and has delivered exceptional Ammolite products to customers across all continents. He has also established the world’s largest Ammolite ecommerce platform.

Richard Clowater is President of GEMXX. He is a skilled sales and marketing professional with a focus on research, data analysis and strategic planning. He has successfully implemented initiatives to expand markets, boost profits and foster customer loyalty. He has an impressive track record of negotiating sales and contracts worth over $250 million with influential stakeholders, including key purchasing personnel, C-suite executives and government entities at all levels.

Tom Dryden is a Vice President of GEMXX and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the production and marketing of Ammolite, spanning over 30 years. His extensive involvement in the industry has granted him unparalleled knowledge of the Bearpaw Ammonite bearing formations. As a recognized authority in the field, Mr. Dryden’s research and papers on Canadian Ammonites have garnered global recognition, being published worldwide. In his role at GEMXX, Mr. Dryden assumes the responsibility of overseeing the company’s Canadian-based production facilities.

P. K. Chung is Business Manager Asia at GEMXX. With a track record of over 25 years in Ammolite business management, production and marketing in Asia, she is a recognized authority in the industry. Based in the Hong Kong gem district, she possesses an intricate understanding of the Asian gem and jewelry markets, including market dynamics, consumer preferences and industry trends specific to the region. Her strategic insights and deep connections enable GEMXX to thrive in this influential market.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GEMZ are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/GEMZ

• IEA projects EV sales to grow by 35% this year to reach 14 million
• Drilling results confirm Midlothian as a “significant discovery,” states CEO
• Testing was comprised of four drillholes, which were completed during winter 2023

With the electric vehicle (“EV”) market growing — and projected to increase even more in the coming years (https://ibn.fm/gRiIU) — demand for EV components, including nickel, is growing as well. Nickel is an essential material used in many EV batteries, and Canada Nickel Company (TSX.V: CNC) (OTCQX: CNIKF) is committed to increase its production to meet the growing demand. As evidence of that commitment, the company recently released the latest drill results from its Midlothian property, indicating all on the project show good nickel grades (https://ibn.fm/OICtU).

“The global auto industry is undergoing a sea change,” an International Energy Association (“IEA”) report stated. “Global sales of electric cars are set to surge to yet another record this year, expanding their share of the overall car market to close to one-fifth and leading a major transformation of the auto industry that has implications for the energy sector, especially oil.

“The new edition of the IEA’s annual Global Electric Vehicle Outlook shows that more than 10 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2022 and that sales are expected to grow by another 35% this year to reach 14 million,” the report continued. “This explosive growth means electric cars’ share of the overall car market has risen from around 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022 and is set to increase further to 18% this year, based on the latest IEA projections.” The report went on to note that EVs “are one of the driving forces in the new global energy economy that is rapidly emerging – and they are bringing about a historic transformation of the car manufacturing industry worldwide.”

Canada Nickel is focused on advancing the next generation of high-quality, high-potential nickel-cobalt projects in order to deliver the metals needed to power the electric vehicle revolution as well as feed the high-growth stainless steel market (https://ibn.fm/aVjkr). With the latest drill reports in hand, the company’s Ontario-based Midlothian property is shaping up to be a key piece of that strategy.

The report noted the following significant results from the final three of four holes drilled on the property:

• All drill holes yielded long intervals grading 0.29% nickel and ending in mineralization, with all four four holes collared in mineralization within 10 meters of surface
• Mineralization is delineated along 2.0 kilometers strike length and across a width of 250 meters within a target geophysical footprint 12% larger than the Crawford resource footprint
• Latest mineralogy results show significant brucite content, the mineral utilized by Canada Nickel’s carbon storage process, nearly four times higher than Crawford average of 1.9%

“These outstanding Midlothian results, with all holes showing good nickel grades across long mineralized intervals of multihundred meters that start less than ten meters from surface, confirm Midlothian as a significant discovery,” said Canada Nickel CEO Mark Selby. “Midlothian is one of our ten properties with a target geophysical footprint larger than Crawford, and these latest results further confirm the success of our geophysical targeting approach. As well, these latest samples with high brucite content also demonstrate the potential for substantial carbon storage at Midlothian utilizing the In-Process Tailings (‘IPT’) Carbonation process the company is developing.”

The testing was comprised of four drillholes, which were completed during winter 2023. All four holes intersected mineralized dunite at shallow depths and were drilled on a target measuring 2.7 kilometers long and 0.4 to 0.9 kilometers wide with a target footprint of 1.7 km2.

Canada Nickel Company is pursuing the development of processes to allow the production of net-zero carbon nickel, cobalt and iron products. The company provides investors with leverage to nickel in low political-risk jurisdictions. Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its wholly owned flagship Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CNIKF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CNIKF

• North America is actively developing domestic graphite supply as part of the EV revolution to reduce dependence upon China, the world’s top supplier
• Reflex Advanced Materials is executing on a “mine-to-market” strategy where it will have integrated domestic operations to supply high purity natural graphite for hi-tech applications, including EV batteries
• Reflex recently completed a TDEM and magnetic helicopter survey on its Ruby Graphite property, which will deliver additional data to map the depth and extent of mineral deposits planned to be drilled this summer

As it goes, China is currently the dominant player in the electric vehicle supply chain, but it is growing increasingly clear that some countries intend to change the paradigm, namely the U.S. and Canada. The plan is in motion to transition North America into a growing power for several metals integral to EV production, including graphite, a metal labeled as critical to national security by both Ottawa and Washington, D.C.

On May 4, 2023, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) called attention to China’s control over the supply chain for batteries, including critical minerals, and outlined the issues that Congress should address. Amongst other facts detailing China’s near monopoly, Sen. Cornyn noted “Last year, China’s battery manufacturing capacity accounted for 77% of the global total. Its production capacity is greater than that of the rest of the world combined.” Noting the vulnerable nature of the EV supply chain, the senator is calling for bipartisan support to address the situation.

In 2021, the U.S. relied on foreign sources for 100% of the 53,000 metric tons of graphite it used. Graphite has not been produced in the U.S. since the 1950s. In short, the country needs a graphite plan and needs it fast.

The Biden administration stands in full support of a green economy and setting up domestic supply for critical minerals, pledging hundreds of millions of dollars and incentives for infrastructure. Companies have responded. After President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022, the U.S. gigafactory capacity pipeline to 2031 shot to a record high, passing Europe’s for the first time ever in April, according to Benchmark.

Given that some of the world’s leading EV manufacturers, such as Tesla, Ford, and General Motors, are based in the U.S., developing local infrastructure that can provide a competitive edge. In addition, if the U.S. decides to implement new tariffs on graphite and other materials coming from China, the need for domestic supply becomes even more imperative to contain costs.

The U.S. may not produce graphite right now, but it does have substantial resources that are being explored. The largest known graphite deposit in the country is the Graphite Creek deposit in Alaska where exploration has identified a Measured and Indicated resource of more than 10 million metric tons of ore with 7.8 to 8 percent graphite.

Reflex Advanced Materials (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF) is advancing its flagship Ruby Graphite Project in Beaverhead County in southwestern Montana. With its “mine-to-market” strategy, Reflex aims to improve domestic specialty mineral infrastructure efficiencies to meet surging national demand from North American manufacturers, effectively positioning itself as one of the only North American suppliers of high purity natural graphite for hi-tech applications.

Reflex in June completed a TDEM (time-domain electromagnetic) and magnetic helicopter survey on its Ruby Graphite property. These surveys, which covered the entirety of the project, are used to map the depth and extent of mineral deposits and enhance Reflex’s understanding of Ruby’s geological characteristics.

Preliminary results from the TDEM and magnetic survey have demonstrated promising anomalies, indicating the presence of conductive structures, several new anomalies, and potential graphite mineral deposits within the Ruby Graphite property. The survey data will be integrated with existing geological data and other exploration data to prioritize target areas for future drilling and further exploration efforts, including a summer drill program.

Reflex is no ordinary explorer. The company has a comprehensive strategy for proving the economics of the property which has extremely high-quality graphite material based on a USGS survey of the Ruby property. Once mined, the company intends to custom process graphite products to customer specifications via partners that operate world-class processing facilities capable of micronization, spheronization, purification, and coating of graphite particles required to manufacture high purity materials from graphite concentrate.

Reflex has relationships with 25+ key North American prospective customers and has already begun the qualification processes with these companies, making this the type of activity necessary to develop a North American graphite supply chain, breaking a 70-year drought and loosening China’s stranglehold on the market.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to RFLXF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/RFLXF

• The Happy Co. has unveiled Tropical Twist, a cool and refreshing addition to its PerX energy drink line
• PerX beverages are formulated to provide natural appetite control while boosting metabolism and energy
• The company also launched Probio8, a new probiotic dietary supplement product

Sharing Services Global’s (OTCQB: SHRG) wholly owned subsidiary, The Happy Co., has recently added to its exclusive product line. The company unveiled a new limited-time seasonal flavor for its popular energy drink PerX (https://ibn.fm/F3Lzz) and also launched a new probiotic dietary supplement product called Probio8 (https://ibn.fm/D6mqR). The Happy Co. is a leading producer and distributor of nootropic, functional beverage products with a focus on health and wellness.

Called Tropical Twist, the new PerX product is a cool and refreshing energy drink designed to be “your neXt-level nootropic beverage.” The Happy Co. initially announced its PerX brand in January 2023, and since then the energy drink has become one of the most popular choices in the company’s product offerings. Featuring a proprietary nootropic formulation, the beverage is designed to provide natural appetite control while boosting metabolism and energy. Tropical Twist is the third flavor for the PerX brand; this limited-time release follows Frost, a previous limited release, and will be available along with PerX’s Berry Blast.

“The launch of this new flavor comes at the perfect time,” said Sharing Services CEO John “JT” Thatch. “PerX has already become a big favorite among our customers, and this new flavor is a fantastic way to give them something exciting for summer as well as being a great way for our brand partners to introduce new customers to this incredible product. We’re extremely pleased with how PerX has performed so far. By introducing new flavors in this limited-release format, we have the opportunity to continually expand this product category by learning what works directly from our customer base.”

In addition to its Tropic Twist announcement, SHRG’s The Happy Co. has launched a new probiotic dietary supplement product: Probio8. This gluten-free, sugar-free and vegan capsule offering contains eight different strains of beneficial probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics, with each daily dose containing up to 23 billion healthy bacteria.

“The pursuit of exceptional health is central to everything we do here,” said Thatch. “We know that gut health is foundational to overall wellness, so developing a product as powerful as Probio8 means our customers have the greatest possible advantage when it comes to achieving their personal health goals.

“We’ve never been content to rest on the success of our existing products alone,” Thatch continued. “We’re committed to always expanding and improving what we do. Probio8 is a great example of how, even with our best products, we’re always looking for opportunities to innovate and to serve our customers better.”

Sharing Services Global Corporation is a publicly traded diversified company dedicated to maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition and development of innovative companies, products and technologies. The Sharing Services combined platform leverages the capabilities and expertise of various companies that market and sell products direct to the consumer.

For more information and to see the full range of solutions offered by SHRG, visit the company’s website at www.SHRGInc.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SHRG are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/SHRG

• Genprex recently received a patent in China covering the use of its drug candidate REQORSA(R) immunogene therapy in combination with PD-1 antibodies, such as Keytruda(R), to treat cancers
• The REQORSA-Keytruda drug combination is the subject of Genprex’s ongoing Acclaim-2 clinical trial, which targets patients with advanced, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose disease progressed after treatment with Keytruda
• The company has received patent protection for the REQORSA-Keytruda drug combination in the U.S., Japan, Australia, Russia, Mexico, and China, meaning the company has secured exclusivity in many of the largest markets
• The granted patents, three Fast Track Designations, and positive preclinical and clinical data are poised to help the company accelerate its clinical development of REQORSA in its various development programs

Genprex (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company on a mission to develop life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, recently received a patent in China – Genprex China Patent No: 201780076886.X – from the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The granted patent broadly covers the use of the company’s drug candidate REQORSAI immunogene therapy in combination with PD-1 antibodies, such as KeytrI(R), to treat cancers (https://ibn.fm/AD3iX).

The REQORSA gene therapy in combination with Keytruda is the subject of the company’s ongoing Acclaim-2 clinical trial for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”). In this trial, the company is enrolling and treating patients with advanced, metastatic NSCLC whose disease progressed after treatment with Keytruda. The first patient was dosed in this study in April of last year (https://ibn.fm/7lqLl).

Against the backdrop of the ongoing study, Thomas Gallagher, Esq., Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Genprex, described how the patent granted in China provides Genprex with important additional protection for the use of the REQORSA and PD-1 antibody combination.

“Now with the latest patent grant in China, we have secured exclusivity for the use of this drug combination for the treatment of cancer in some of the most important markets in the world.  The company already has received patent protection in the U.S., Australia, Mexico, Japan and Russia.  This patent protection prevents others from using this drug combination to treat cancer in these jurisdictions,” Gallagher explains.

REQORSA uses the company’s non-viral ONCOPREX(R) Nanoparticle Delivery System, a systemic gene therapy platform for cancer. The system encapsulates within lipid nanoparticles a plasmid that expresses the TUSC2 tumor suppressor gene, creating the REQORSA drug product. The company then intravenously administers the encapsulated plasmid, which is then taken up by the tumor cells, after which the tumor suppressor genes express proteins that are missing or found in low quantities in these cells (https://ibn.fm/I80mh).

According to the company, “REQORSA has a multimodal mechanism of action whereby it interrupts cell signaling pathways that cause replication and proliferation of cancer cells, re-establishes pathways for programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells, and modulates the immune response against cancer cells.” This lead product candidate is initially being developed in combination with prominent cancer drugs Tagrisso(R), Keytruda(R), and Tecentriq(R) to treat NSCLC and small cell lung cancer (“SCLC”) (https://ibn.fm/gf7tO).

Having received three separate Fast Track Designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for its combination therapies with Tagrisso, Keytruda and Tecentriq, the company looks forward to accelerating the clinical development of REQORSA and potentially providing new treatments for patients. Moreover, Genprex’s growing patent portfolio is expected to boost these clinical development efforts.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GNPX are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/GNPX

• Lexaria’s new patent includes claims for many types of nicotine, including nicotine benzoate, nicotine ditartrate, nicotine citrate, nicotine polacrilex, and many others, for use in sublingual delivery formats like oral pouches
• The global oral nicotine pouch market was valued at $4.69 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to $11.91 billion by 2029, driven by the growing ban on e-cigarettes worldwide
• The white pouch category is one of the fastest-growing, tobacco-free alternatives to smoking and vaping – growing at a CAGR of 13.4%

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator of drug delivery platforms, has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has granted a strategically important new patent in the oral nicotine sector for its patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology. The granting of the new patent further substantiates the superior DehydraTECH processing and sublingual compositions through exceptional scientific study results and recognition by the USPTO (https://ibn.fm/862eh).

Lexaria’s new patent, US patent #11,700,875 Compositions and Methods For Sublingual Delivery of Nicotine, includes claims for many types of nicotine, including nicotine benzoate, nicotine ditartrate, nicotine citrate, nicotine polacrilex, and many others, for use in sublingual delivery formats like oral pouches. DehydraTECH-nicotine has shown in multiple sets of animal testing that it can be delivered to the bloodstream up to 10-times to 20-times faster at up to 10-fold higher levels of nicotine into blood plasma from oral absorption than concentration-matched controls. The speed of onset has proven vital to nicotine users.

The oral nicotine pouch category interests Lexaria and the nicotine products industry, growing partly because of its reduced risk of health outcomes, as the US Food and Drug Administration has previously noted. The white pouch delivery method specifically avoids harmful lung outcomes experienced by smokers or vapers. It involves absorption primarily through the buccal and sublingual tissues of the mouth of purified nicotine that has been separated from the harmful substances found in most other formats.

The global oral nicotine pouch market was valued at $4.69 billion in 2022 and is growing at a CAGR of 13.4% (https://ibn.fm/JhQ04). By 2029, the market is expected to reach $11.91 billion – driven by multiple countries banning the sale of e-cigarettes, the devices used in vaping. Currently, 37 countries have banned these devices, representing a cumulative population of over 2.3 billion people (https://ibn.fm/aX9Cj). The initial purpose of vaping was to help wean people off cigarette use, but it has become controversial and is limited in certain countries, with many restrictions and bans worldwide.

The US-granted patent is also progressing as a patent application through other jurisdictions internationally. The US patent and international patent applications are partly supported by the superior pharmacokinetic blood plasma data from Lexaria in its animal studies conducted from 2017 through 2021. This new patent builds nicely upon the company’s growing patent portfolio in the oral nicotine delivery sector, including the white pouch category for sublingual and buccal tissue delivery. The patents are built on a foundation of nicotine-specific patent filings dating back to 2019 and DehydraTECH patents dating back to 2016.

Lexaria’s DehydraTECH-nicotine has patents granted for oral nicotine delivery in the US, Canada, Australia, and is pending in numerous other countries. The white pouch category is one of the fastest growing, tobacco-free alternatives to smoking and vaping – emitting no smoke, odors, or vapors that can affect nearby persons and are a superior nicotine delivery method. Lexaria demonstrates this through its granted patents, subsequent studies, and future endeavors for sublingual and buccal delivery with DehydraTECH.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LEXX

• The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) proposed a rule mandating speed limiters for most commercial vehicles
• The ATA has supported the move, while OOIDA (Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association) has opposed it, terming it as an attempt to eliminate one of the few advantages they enjoy over big business
• The FMCSA is yet to communicate its decision on the matter, pending its review of over 15,000 comments on the issue

Freight Technologies (NASDAQ: FRGT) (“Fr8Tech”), a tech company on a mission to revolutionize cross-border shipping by offering carriers increased growth opportunities and shippers with flexibility, visibility, and simplicity, is closely monitoring the developing situation with speed limiter directives on commercial vehicles. As a company heavily invested in the industry, such a directive could impact its performance and service delivery.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) proposed a rule that would mandate speed limiters for most commercial vehicles. While the exact speed has not been confirmed, safety groups have proposed a 60 mph limit for heavy-duty trucks. This is not the first time such a proposal has been brought forth. Back in the Obama administration, a similar suggestion was made, ultimately facing opposition from the American Trucking Association (“ATA”) (https://ibn.fm/P8pMY).

The latest development has seen ATA rescind its stand in 2016, mainly on the basis that “Safety is a winning issue, and ATA enjoys winning.”  To this end, the association supports the rule requiring tamper-proof devices limiting Class 7 and 8 trucks to a fixed maximum of 65 mph, or 70 mph, with adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. This, its management notes, is in response to new emerging data and technologies forcing the industry to adapt.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (“OOIDA”) has opposed the proposition, terming it as a motive to eliminate one of the few advantages they enjoy over big businesses. For one, a survey conducted by the OOIDA Foundation in 2022 showed that only 10% of owner-operators had their trucks equipped with automatic emergency braking, while only 20% had adaptive cruise control. In comparison, large fleets, represented by ATA, already have installed speed limiters, mainly for liability and fuel efficiency reasons. In addition, these fleets are also more likely to have adaptive cruise control technology equipped, which alienates owner-operators (https://ibn.fm/Bdwqi).

The FMCSA has yet to communicate its decision on the matter, pending its review of over 15,000 comments. The ruling is projected to come in late summer or early fall, but FRGT is keeping a close eye on the matter and monitoring its development.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Fr8Technologies.com, and its freight matching platform information site at www.Fr8.App.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to FRGT are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/FRGT

Corporate Communications
IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork)
Los Angeles, California
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
310.299.1717 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

• Global ambitions to achieve net zero status will necessitate a near tripling in annual clean energy investment
• Silver has emerged as a critical component of clean energy infrastructure due to its exceptional electric and thermal conductivity
• Nevertheless, a decrease in global silver production coupled with rising demand has left the precious metal in deficit – with the market undersupplied by nearly 238mn tonnes in 2022
• Eloro Resources’ Iska Iska deposit may be poised to emerge as a rare greenfield silver project with the company set to publish its inaugural NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate

Global warming has become an undeniable force around the globe, with news of widespread droughts, record temperatures, forest fires, and ravaged agricultural harvests increasing in frequency. In response, global leaders came together during 2021’s COP26 event in Glasgow to propose a global Net Zero initiative, aimed towards achieving a balance between global greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and those being removed from the atmosphere. Whilst a number of countries have since published their own legislation, detailing the measures and timeframes through which they expect to achieve a net zero status, there is a common consensus amongst all – the change will not be easy. Forecasts by the International Energy Agency now suggest that to reach global net zero emissions by 2050, annual clean energy investment around the globe will need to more than triple to approximately $4 trillion per annum by 2030.

The shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources is resulting in a spending surge that is set to directly benefit businesses entrenched within the global renewable energy supply chain; in particular, commodities such as silver – a critical component within green energy technologies – are poised to witness a dramatic uptick in demand.

The average electric vehicle (“EV”) today contains anywhere between 25 and 50 grams of silver depending on the model, with hybrid cars using between 18 to 34 grams of silver. The precious metal’s electric and thermal properties combine to make silver an increasingly crucial constituent within electric vehicle batteries; today, the automotive sector uses 55 million ounces of silver annually, with demand anticipated to swell to as much as 90 million ounces by 2025 (https://ibn.fm/d1Z1I). Coupled with growing demand from solar panel manufacturers – a solar panel measuring approximately 2 square meters can use up to 20 grams of silver – the global silver market has now operated at a net deficit dating back to early 2021.

Global demand for silver rocketed by 18% last year to a record high of 1.24 billion ounces, resulting in a significant supply deficit, according to the Silver Institute (https://ibn.fm/pc6fv). The silver market was undersupplied by 237.7 million ounces in 2022, the institute said in its latest World Silver Survey, calling this “possibly the most significant deficit on record”.

“As demand associated with the electrification of the global economy grows, in order to fight climate change, it looks like the world will face persistent primary silver deficits over the long term. Silver uptake by the emerging EVs industry, smart devices, electrical grids, solar power generation and the conventional industrial products looks set to outpace the quantities produced by miners and recyclers,” explained Bart Melek, Head of Commodity Strategy at TD Securities. “If deficits persist for a prolonged period as expected, the inventory of above-ground stocks will diminish to levels which will be too low to consistently provide the buffer against deficits. This implies very high prices, as the silver sector will operate above the conventional supply curve.”

Although an approximate 1.3 billion oz in silver inventories may help stopgap the ongoing supply shortfall, the need for new, longer-term supplies of mined silver is gaining increased urgency. With its sights set on developing its promising Iska Iska project, Eloro Resources (TSX: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) (FSE: P2QM), an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec, has emerged as one of the key potential beneficiaries from the global boom in silver demand.

Nestled in the foothills of Bolivia’s Cerro Rico de Potosi, Eloro Resources’ Iska Iska deposit is situated deep within a region renowned for its prolific silver deposits. Despite accounting for nearly 80% of the world’s silver supply between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Potosi region was recently estimated to hold a world-class silver and tin reserve amounting to over 500 million tonnes grading ~100g/t Ag and 0.2 Sn.

Silver prices to date have not fully reflected the underlying supply-demand imbalance affecting the precious metal – with a combination of rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, and a deteriorating global macroeconomic environment weighing on investor sentiment. Nevertheless, growing expectations of a ‘dovish’ monetary policy tilt by the FOMC, alongside prospects of a ‘soft’-landing in the United States have led to rising longer-term price forecasts for the commodity.

 “As it becomes clear that the Fed and other central banks will start to pivot to a more dovish monetary policy stance in the early months of 2024, boosting the prospects for an economic recovery on the horizon, we expect the white metal will set its sights towards $26/oz in the final days 2023,” commented TD Securities’ Melek.

Eloro Resources’ initial exploratory drilling work within the Iska Iska deposit thus far has revealed the existence of a “magnificent core, which is remarkably consistent, continuous, and high grade at 90g/t silver equivalent and greater”. With Eloro on track to publish its inaugural NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (“MRE”) in the coming months, it may be fair to presume that Bolivia’s rich veins of silver may begin flowing again in the not-too-distant future.

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

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ELRRF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ELRRF