These are the African countries investors should pay attention to
About half of all the African countries either host significant operating mines or have advanced exploration projects, yet investors tend to shy away due to perceived risks such as high levels of corruption and political uncertainty, a new report shows.
There are many rankings that aim to help companies choose the best countries to set up shop in the region, such as Canada’s Fraser Institute annual report and Transparency International’s corruption index, but London-based finnCap has come up with one of its own.
The investment bank analyzed the 25 (roughly) countries in Africa that have working mines or or advanced exploration projects, incorporating the best known rankings available, but factoring each country’s geological potential and their current security risk.
So, what did they conclude?
The first and main finding is that there is an urgent need to refill the mining project pipeline of all African countries with early stage exploration projects of all shapes and sizes.
But where to start? According to finnCap, investors would be better off in Ghana, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Senegal, which already have companies successfully operating inside their borders. These include, just to name a few, Kennedy Ventures (Tantalite Valley tantalum mine) and Weatherley (Tschudi copper mine) in Namibia, as well as Firestone Diamonds (Liqhobong diamond mine) and Gem Diamonds (Lesteng diamond mine) in Lesotho.
At the bottom of the bank’s list figure Eritrea, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Guinea and Angola, which also have a few known names present in their mining sector. Those include Avocet (Tri-K gold project) in Guinea, ASA Resource Group (Freda Rebecca gold mine and Bindura nickel mine) and Caledonian (Blanket gold mine) in Zimbabwe, and Base Resources (Kwale mineral sands mine in Kenya.
“There is a lot of money to be made if country risk and entry timing can correctly be judged,” the reports says, citing as an example Randgold Resources’ success story in Mali, which started off with a small gold mine back in 1995 when the country had had no mining industry other than some artisanal operations.
Within five years, Randgold’s Morila gold mine (jointly owned and managed with AngloGold) had become one of the world’s more profitable mines and laid the foundations for the growth of the business.
So the lesson for investors should be to always look at the risk/reward balance, the analysts say. Does outstanding geology beat corruption and security issues, including but not limited to the threat of the radical Muslim insurgencies? This mostly comes down to the quality of company management and their in-country experience, they conclude.
Source (Mining.com)
- Published in Blog, Deep South Resources Inc., Mining
Cobalt Crunch Time
Cobalt Crunch Time
Source – Rockstone Research
http://www.rockstone-research.com/images/PDF/KingsBay2en.pdf
Apparently, there is no shortage of lithium development projects worldwide, but there is a shortage of lithium processing capacities.
In case of the other battery-critical element, cobalt, there is a shortage of development projects especially in safe jurisdictions. Some 65{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} of global cobalt production comes from the “Democratic Republic” of the Congo, an extremely political unstable country with deeply-rooted corruption, where approximately 20{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} of the nation’s cobalt output originates from unregulated, illegal artisanal miners, of which an estimated 40,000 miners are children according to UNICEF. James West recently explained:
“Auto makers need cobalt that is not mined artisanally because the supply chain gets audited. So the hot commodity is to find non-Congolese cobalt sulphate and nickel sulphate.”
Andrew Miller from Benchmark said:
“In many ways, the cobalt industry has the most fragile supply structure of all battery raw materials.”
In 2014, Tesla pledged to use only North American resources for its battery production at its Gigafactory and has also claimed to stop sourcing its cobalt from the Philippines due to environmental concerns, which will be a future issue for cobalt as demand rises.
The cobalt market has been gaining momentum both in price and global awareness about the precariously escalating supply-demand metrics. Cobalt is about to become the next “big thing”, a hype that has unique fundamental ingredients to outshine the lithium boom. MetalBulletin recently noted:
“Cobalt prices continued to surge this week as stocks remained in tight hands amid anticipations of further investor-fuelled price rises.”
No wonder that Tesla’s big kahuna, Elon Musk, has started to knock on cobalt doors in the Western World to offer offtake agreements. However, cobalt developers are in a much stronger negotiating position than mighty Musk has previously thought. This is somewhat in stark contrast to the lithium space and shows quite plainly that the cobalt boom will be different from lithium. It will be pivotal, for Tesla and all the others trying to jump on the bandwagon of global electrification. No cobalt, no Tesla?
The current battery of a Tesla Model S includes about 23 kg of cobalt, that´s up to 60{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} cobalt by weight. Already today, battery usage accounts for almost half of total cobalt demand. By 2020, cobalt use in battery applications alone is expected to be greater than the entire world market for refined cobalt in 2015. About 97{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} of global cobalt supply comes as a by-product. According to CRU, 60{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} of current cobalt production comes from copper mining, 38{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} from nickel operations and only 2{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} from primary cobalt mines in Morocco and Uganda. Last year, Freeport McMoRan and Lundin sold its stakes in the Tenke Fungurume Mine in Congo, one of the world´s largest known cobalt deposits, to China Molybdenum.
James West recently spoke to Robert Friedland from Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., who had the following story to share:
“Elon came to me because we have a nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate operation in Australia, not the Congo,” he said. “And Elon said ‘I’ve got the world’s biggest battery factory, so I want to buy your nickel and your cobalt at the current metal price for 10 years, because I’m the biggest buyer.’ “
So we told Elon Musk, you know, Elon, that’s interesting. We’ll think about it. And then two months later we went back to him and said “Elon, you’re totally screwed. The Germans are building a gigafactory twice as big as yours, the Chinese are building four of them bigger than yours, the Japanese are building two and the Koreans are building one. So unless you’re willing to pay to buy our cobalt and our nickel at whatever the price may be in the future, you’re not going to be able to build any batteries in your own gigafactory and your whole company is going out of business, and we’re going to make money shorting your stock.”
Surface sampling on the Lynx Lake Property returned high grades of cobalt and copper.
Looking at cobalt projects around the world and particularly in North America, Rockstone has found the Lynx Lake Copper-Cobalt Project from King’s Bay Gold Corp. being one of the best early-stage projects, with a real chance of making a significant discovery with a drill program. Generally, cobalt grades of 0.5{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} are considered world-class.
Although surface grades are not comparable to resources, reserves or production grades, King’s Bay’s grab samples of 0.94{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} cobalt, 1.39{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} copper, 0.21{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} nickel, 0.23{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} vanadium, 0.39{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} molybdenum, 0.0112{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} bismuth and 6.5 g/t silver are an indication of what the upcoming drill program may discover.
Above map shows the The Lynx Lake Property before it was expanded from 20 to 240 km2. The property benefits from proximity to the Trans-Labrador Highway (to the left of below picture) and a 3-phase power line running across the property (to the right of below pricture). The Trans-Labrador Highway goes directly to deep water ports.
With so much interest being garnered in the cobalt sector the company has been feverishly working to advance its Lynx Lake Copper-Cobalt Property in Labrador. Below is a list of milestones that King’s Bay has completed in the first 20 days of 2017.
On January 3, the company closed a financing with total proceeds of $938,753 CAD.
On January 11, the permit for an airborne electromagnetic (“EM”) geophysics survey was received.
On January 17, the company increased the Lynx Lake Copper-Cobalt Property land package from 20 to 240 km2 in order to adequately cover the geological structures and geophysical signatures of interest.
On January 19, the closing of the Lynx Lake Property acquisition was announced.
The next steps for King’s Bay will be the completion the airborne survey and evaluation of the data for high priority drilling targets in the spring. The company will be looking to expand its holdings in the cobalt sector through potential acquistions and or joint ventures.
Historical Timeline Lynx Lake Copper-Cobalt Property
This survey will be strategically placed within the newly expanded land area in order to explain some of the EM anomalies that have been discovered during surficial reconnaissance. Government regional low resolution residual magnetic surveys and preliminary handheld electromagnetic surveys done by local prospectors have shown strong conductors beneath the overburden, and provide incentive to explore the area further for additional subsurface mineralization.
Prior to 2008, the property was deemed too remote and as such remained virtually unexplored. In 2008, the Department of Transportation constructed the new Trans-Labrador Highway, which now runs through the property, making it easily accessible. During blasting for road aggregate on the property in the same year, disseminated and massive sulphide mineralization was discovered.
In 2009, local prospectors sampled and assayed the aggregate quarry on the eastern portion of the property and assayed up to 0.94{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} cobalt, 1.39{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} copper, 0.21{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} nickel and 6.5 g/t silver.
In 2014, regional low resolution magnetic surveys by the government and hand-held electromagnetic surveys by local prospectors revealed strong conductors beneath the overburden.
In 2015, the western portion of the property was grab sampled, yielding 0.57{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} cobalt, 1.03{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} copper, 0.1{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} nickel, 0.36{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} chromium, 0.39{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} molybdenum, 0.23{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} vanadium and 5 g/t silver.
Discovery Potential
Although the property has never been drilled before, the sampling assays in both the eastern and western part of the property (before it was expanded) indicate great possibility for a large body of mineralization at shallow depths. Thanks to excellent road accessibility to deep sea water ports, a power line that runs directly adjacent to the property and the proximity to the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, King’s Bay believes that it’s a perfect time now to explore this highly prospective property amid rising energy metal prices, first and foremost the battery-critical element cobalt.
King´s Bay will be exhibiting at the upcoming Vancouver Resource Investment Conference(booth #301) this Sunday and Monday as well as the AME Round Up which runs from January 30 to February 2 (booth #424). The Government of Newfoundland & Labrador has provided King´s Bay with an opportunity to participate within their booth. CEO Kevin Bottomley and Director Brad Hoeppner will be travelling to St. John´s for the Northern Exposure Conference (booth #201) which runs from January 24 to 26.
Rockstone is looking forward to King’s Bay’s upcoming geophysics and subsequent drill program as a massive cobalt-rich deposit may get discovered.
Previous Coverage
Report #1: “Potential for a Massive Discovery of Cobalt, Copper and High-Tech Metals” (October 27, 2016)
Company Details
King‘s Bay Gold Corp.
Suite 1450 – 789 West Pender Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 1H2 Canada
Phone: +1 604 681 1568
Email: brad@kingsbayres.com
www.kingsbayres.com
Shares Issued & Outstanding: 40,806,423
Canadian Symbol (TSX.V): KBG
Current Price: $0.11 CAD (01/19/2017)
Market Capitalization: $5 million CAD
German Symbol / WKN (Frankfurt): KGB1 / A2AN0E
Current Price: €0.073 EUR (01/19/2017)
Market Capitalization: €3 million EUR
Disclaimer: Please read the full disclaimer within the full research report as a PDF (here) as fundamental risks and conflicts of interest exist.
- Published in Blog, King's Bay, Mining
Support the Troops: Invest in Legal Cannabis!
How to Make Money and Save Lives at the Same Time
It’s not just about the money.
I know, this is not typically something you’d expect to read from an investment analyst, so let me explain …
A few years ago, I started writing about investment opportunities in the legal cannabis space. As a result, I was accused by many of compromising my ethics in an attempt to make a quick buck. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Yes, one of the reasons I invest in the cannabis space is because it’s insanely profitable. And I make no apologies for this, nor should any other right-minded capitalist who enjoys the spoils of free markets and the good fortune to create wealth and prosperity.
The truth is, at the moment, there is no greater investment opportunity than legal cannabis. And I have dozens of double- and triple-digit winners in my portfolio to back up this claim. Some of my most profitable cannabis investments right now include a 501{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} gain on Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: CGC), a 373{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} gain on Aphria, Inc. (TSX-V: APH), and a 567{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} gain on OrganiGram (TSX-V: OGI). And there are plenty more to come, too.
But while few things make me smile more than watching my brokerage account grow, this is not the onlyreason to invest in the legal cannabis market.
Three Reasons to Invest in Legal Cannabis
Aside from the massive profit potential, there are three other reasons you should be investing in legal cannabis right now:
- Legalization helps slow the war on drugs, which has been one of the most violent and costliest wars in recorded history. More than $1 trillion has already been spent on this war, and it’s put millions of folks — particularly the poor — in early graves.
- Legalization helps build local economies, which, in this day and age, is something we need to embrace, not shun.
- Legalization on the medical side allows millions of Americans to treat illness when other “legal” pharmaceuticals have failed. How anyone could look at a young child with severe epilepsy and deny that child a medical cannabis therapy that’s proved to work is beyond me.
Of course, it’s not just kids with epilepsy that have benefited from cannabis.
Support the Troops
Last year, while attending a legal cannabis conference in New York City, I met a man named Sean Kiernan.
Kiernan is the co-founder of a group called Weed for Warriors. It’s an advocacy group that works to provide access to medical cannabis for military veterans suffering from PTSD.
Now, the fact that a military veteran — someone who has risked his or her life for this country — can be denied medicine to treat PTSD is despicable. Especially when you look at some pretty unsettling statistics.
The suicide rate for veterans is extremely high. Every year, about 8,000 veterans commit suicide. That means that since we first invaded Iraq back in 1991, more than 200,000 U.S. veterans have taken their own lives. And understand, this is a group that makes up just 7{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} of the U.S. population but represents 20{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} of the national suicide rate. And that’s assuming these numbers are accurate — which they are not.
Truth is, this data has only been collected from 21 states and only accounts for the vets who have been seen by the Veterans Affairs Administration. Sadly, those numbers are likely considerably higher. And that’s an absolute travesty. Especially when you consider that many of these deaths could’ve been avoided.
You see, there’s a significant amount of evidence that indicates cannabis can effectively treat the symptoms of PTSD. One study in particular, conducted by the scientific journal Drug Testing and Analysis found that cannabis could “dampen the strength or emotional impact of traumatic memories through synergistic mechanisms that might make it easier for people with PTSD to rest or sleep and to feel less anxious and less involved with flashback memories.”
Of course, to get similar conclusions, one could also simply ask any veteran who uses cannabis to treat the effects of PTSD.
Some do it legally, assuming they live in states where cannabis has been legalized for the treatment of PTSD, and some do it illegally, since the very country that sent them off to war won’t allow them to medicate as they see fit.
Think about that for a moment.
These folks put their lives on the line for us every single day. They’re not paid large sums of money to do this either. These are honorable men and women who not only deserve to be treated with the respect they’ve earned, but also deserve the right to use any medication they choose to keep them safe and healthy.
How any lawmaker in this country could deny a United States veteran medication is beyond me. As far as I’m concerned, this is nothing short of a human rights violation.
Regular People have the Power to do Great Things
Most of us are just regular people.
We’re not billionaires with loads of influence in Washington. We’re not lawmakers, judges, or high-profile celebrities. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do our part to keep our vets healthy and safe.
You see, as investors, collectively, we have an enormous amount of power. Every day, billions of dollars worth of public equities are bought and sold on the open market. And I’m not talking about fancy algorithms created by investment banks and hedge funds. I’m talking about regular, retail investors. Folks that have online trading accounts and are happy with year-end returns of eight to ten percent.
Now imagine if all these investors decided to allocate just one percent of their portfolios to stocks that represent companies that are making it possible for our veterans to get the relief many of them need by providing medical-grade cannabis.
While the U.S. government may not be willing to do right by the very people that protect our democracy, we can override that decision through our collective purchasing power, which will result in strengthening the cannabis industry thereby making it harder and harder for the government to continue its prohibition against something that, quite frankly, never should’ve been prohibited in the first place.
Of course, I’m not suggesting you run out and buy a bunch of random cannabis stocks. Especially those listed in the U.S., which, for the most part, are garbage. Investing in a stock that’s not going to make you any money makes no sense. Particularly because such a stock is likely issued by a company that’s not going to be around very long. And that’s not going to help anyone.
But there are exceptions. Take Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE: IIPR) for instance. This is a REIT that acquires specialized industrial real estate assets that are used for growing medical-use cannabis and operated by state-licensed growers. Just a few weeks ago, IIPR closed its first transaction with PharmaCann, a cultivator of medical-grade cannabis. This transaction alone guarantees the company an initial base rent of $319,580 per month. That ain’t chump change.
It should also be noted that the company’s executive chairman is the guy who co-founded BioMed Realty Trust, which was sold to Blackstone last year for $8 billion. These guys aren’t amateurs.
Of course, if you’d rather focus on actual cannabis producers, one of your best bets might be with Emblem Corp. (TSX-V: EMC).
While this is a Canadian cannabis producer, management is actively developing advanced cannabis formulations designed to help folks with PTSD. This research alone could prove to be incredibly valuable to other producers in the U.S. that are currently providing cannabis for vets with PTSD.
Here’s the bottom line: As a legal cannabis investor, we can not only make a lot of money, but we can also help facilitate a movement that can help our veterans get the medication they need… a medication that could help these folks live normal lives… a medication that could quite possibly decrease the number of veterans that commit suicide, too.
And that, my friend, is an honorable investment.
Source (Wealth Daily)
- Published in Blog, Medical Marijuana, Namaste Technologies, Tetra Bio Pharma
MOBI724 Global Solutions (CSE: MOS) Invites Current and Future Investors to a Webinar for a Material Management Update
MOBI724 Global Solutions (CSE: MOS) Invites Current and Future Investors to a Webinar for a Material Management Update
– Momentum Public Relations –
Press Releases: January 19th, 2017
MONTREAL, Canada – January 19, 2017 — MOBI724 Global Solutions Inc. (“MOBI724” or the “Company”) (CSE: MOS), a FinTech leader offering integrated EMV payment, Card-Linked Offers and Digital Marketing, hereby invites its current shareholders as well as the public to assist a webinar presided by Marcel Vienneau, CEO of MOBI724 to provide a material management update and to answer questions. In compliance with Canadian Securities Regulations, the Company advises that management has requested, on a voluntary basis, that the trading on the MOBI724 shares be halted temporarily due to the dissemination of material news and the presentation the management update webinar.
Interested parties may log in at the following web address:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4434060295078281987
Please register for Management update on Jan 19, 2017 1:00 PM EST
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Brought to you by GoToWebinar®
Webinars Made Easy®
About MOBI724 Global Solutions
Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, MOBI724 Global Solutions Inc. (CSE: MOS), a leader in the FinTech industry, offers a unique and fully integrated suite of Card-Link Offers, Digital Marketing and EMV Payment solutions.
MOBI724 is innovating the market with a combined EMV payment, Card-Linked Offers and Digital Marketing Platform that works on any payment card and any mobile device. MOBI724 pioneered the addition of intelligence to all types of transactions benefiting banks, retailers and cardholders. MOBI724 succeeds in leveraging all available user and purchasing data to increase transaction volumes and spend.
MOBI724 provides a turnkey solution to clients to capture payment card transactions on any mobile device, at any POS or from any payment card. Our easy-to-adapt gateway switch is designed for simple integration with all payment protocols.
Within the same suite, MOBI724 combined its Card-Linked Offers solution and provided payment card issuers, banks and retailers with the ability to add offers and/or coupons, which can be redeemed directly at the POS in a seamless user experience for all the parties in the ecosystem
MOBI724 provides its customers with full and comprehensive traceability and enriched consumer data through its offering. Its solutions enable card associations, payment card issuers, banks and retailers to create, manage, deliver and “track and measure” incentive campaigns worldwide to any payment card, to any mobile device and allow redemption at any POS.
MOBI724 ’s credit and debit EMV payment solutions allow banks to process end-to-end EMV transactions, focusing on authentication, PCI security and quick merchant adoption, which allows to process payments with a wide range of devices.
MOBI724 Global Solutions unleashes the true potential of both Card-Link Offers and smart payment transactions.
For more information, visit www.mobi724globalsolutions.com or call Marcel Vienneau at 1-514-394-5200 x 413.
- Published in Blog, Financial Technology, Mobi724 Global Solutions, Mobile Technology, News Home, Technology
Medical Cannabis: an Effective Tool to Manage Severe Pain
Medical Cannabis: an Effective Tool to Manage Severe Pain
Many people have heard about medical cannabis or medical marijuana. This natural remedy can be used to treat inflammation in the body, as well as symptoms of a number of other medical conditions. Do you know why it is so effective as a means to manage severe pain?
About Cannabis: An Overview
Cannabis is a plant that grows wild in many parts of the world. Marijuana refers to the flowers (buds) and leaves of the female plant, which are cured (dried). Hemp is cannabis that is grown for its fibre. It’s used to make a variety of products, including rope, paper and clothing.
Medical marijuana is specifically bred to have larger buds than the wild variety. It also has higher levels of the compounds that affect the mind. These active pharmacological components of cannabis are effective in treating pain and other medical conditions in the human body because they are similar to a system that already exists in the human body. It is called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).
Endocannabinoid System
The body’s ECS is controlled by chemicals that it produces, which are known as endocannabinoids. These endocannabinoids are the chemicals that are responsible for keeping a number of the body’s functions in balance, such as appetite, sleep and immune function. They also regulate pain. When the body is stressed in some manner, these specialized chemicals go to work and attempt to deal with the issue.
When someone ingests cannabis, it mimics the function of these types of chemicals that the body produces naturally, resulting in relief from pain. Cannabis also lowers inflammation by working with the body’s endocannabinoid system.
Active Ingredients in Cannabis
Cannabis is a type of plant that contains more than 400 active chemicals. The active components found in cannabis are referred to as cannabinoids. There are more than 100 different cannabinoids present in cannabis. The most common one is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. This is the ingredient that produces the feeling of being “high” that recreational users experience.
CBD is another cannabinoid contained in cannabis. Unlike THC, it doesn’t give users a “high.” Instead it helps to dampen the effects of THC (euphoria and lethargy).
Heath Benefits of THC and CBD
THC and CBD offer a number of health benefits when ingested. THC is a strong pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, having many more powerful properties than both Aspirin and hydrocortisone. THC has anti-spasmodic and muscle relaxant qualities. It is also a powerful antioxidant.
CBD is second most powerful cannabinoid contained cannabis. It is the most common one found in hemp plants. CBD is known for its ability to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as tachycardia (rapid heartbeat). It has also been used to control some forms of epilepsy, can help to regulate blood pressure and reduce nausea.
CBD-rich cannabis strains provides powerful therapeutic benefits without giving users the sense of euphoria or lethargy that ones with higher levels of THC produce. Medical cannabis would be made up of these types of specially-bred strains. The medical marijuana available from authorized distributors is not the same product that the public pictures being available from street vendors.
The plant strains are selected and bred to provide the best results for patients. In the case of a medical treatment strain, the marijuana would likely contain a balance of THC and CBD that would balance its pain-relief, anti-inflammatory and other benefits with the risk of producing a feeling of euphoria and lethargy. Patients who use marijuana for medical purposes want to be able to remain functional while achieving pain relief and other benefits.
All cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, must be heated in order to convert their acids into active ingredients. For this reason, smoking is an effective way of ingesting the product. It’s the most expedient way to get the THC and CBD into the bloodstream. The interior of the lungs’ surfaces are covered with millions of alveoli (tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs). These air sacs have a surface area much greater than the skin, making it easy for the chemicals in the medical marijuana to enter the body, usually within seconds after ingestion. Vaporizers, which heat the cannabis to a level in order to vaporize the active ingredients without burning, may also be used to ingest medical cannabis.
Smokable Bio Cannabis Pharmaceutical from Tetra Bio-Pharma
Tetra Bio-Pharma is a publicly-traded company (CSE:TBP) that is actively engaged in developing bio pharmaceuticals and natural health products. The company works with cannabis and other medicinally-based plant elements as the basis for developing its products. One of the products Tetra Bio-Pharma is currently developing a smokable bio-cannabis pharmaceutical. For more information on Tetra Bio-Pharma’s products and clinical trials check out this link to their site: http://tetrabiopharma.com/products/
- Published in Blog, Medical Marijuana, Tetra Bio Pharma
2017 PREVIEW – LORD COPPER: Electric vehicle sector could be the driving force for metals commodities
Electric vehicle sector could be the driving force for metals commodities
Metals – or commodities generally – are no longer the pariah class, as funds once again dip their toes into the pool, Lord Copper asserts as he looks to the year ahead with cautious optimism.
2016 finished on a quietly positive note. Through the second part of last year, we saw metal prices stage a rally (of sorts: not, I concede, what we became used to during the boom period that now lives only in the memories and bank accounts of those who were there at the time, but a rally nonetheless), which has served to give a boost to the confidence of commodity investors.
Cyclicality has had a part to play here: nothing goes in one direction for ever and things that were out of fashion come back into focus as part of the natural order of the world. But that’s not all. As I suggested would be the case at the beginning of the year, selected mining equities have indeed pointed the way, with that sector of the FTSE powering the index to its new record high. (Incidentally, I noted a couple of weeks ago that Danny Fortson, in the Sunday Times, rated Rio Tinto a definite sell on the back of its (well-publicised) problems. I’m not an analyst, so my views are strictly those of a slightly educated outsider, but I’d still put that company among the best of the bunch, given where it sits on the cost curve in the majority of its products. I certainly wouldn’t dream of giving advice, but neither would I sell Rio from my portfolio.)
So what are we really looking at? The major influence – both up and down – in recent times has been China; this time, though, I’m not sure that it is as central as we have come to expect. Certainly, we all correctly and keenly watch that economy for signs good or bad, but at the moment the signals seem a bit fuzzy. The property market remains a problem, but on the other hand the government is projecting stimulus which should aid the commodity markets. But there is still overcapacity, and where does it go? All the aluminium can’t end up in the Mexican desert; and what does the Trump ascendancy presage for trade relations between the world’s two largest economies? Looked at coldly, unfortunately I can’t see a clear signal of a consistent China once again driving the commodity freight train.
My optimism comes from a slightly different direction, and one where we have to be very cautious, as this is more commodity-selective than China’s overall appetite. As often in the past, technological development holds a key position for the market. One of the hottest topics in scientific research right now is the work being done on the storage of electricity – in other words, better, smaller and cheaper batteries. This is being driven principally – but not exclusively – by the increase in demand for electric vehicles. The beneficiaries of this demand will be lithium (obviously), cobalt and nickel – as the cathode and anode – and also copper, not directly for use in batteries, but because an electric vehicle uses something like four times the copper of a conventional one. And, of course, one should also bear in mind the increased copper usage that will come through the continuing development of charging networks.
One of many charging points for Tesla electric vehicles
For an idea of how that will roll out, look at the growth in the network of petrol stations in the first part of the 20th century. (As an aside – for those who are interested – have a look on catch-up TV for the 2016 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, where Saiful Islam, a chemistry professor from the University of Bath, is talking precisely about this issue of power generation and storage; it’s interesting stuff.)
So, I’m not a scientist, but I can see the way the world is going, and it’s towards an environment where the renewable generation of electricity and its storage will become of increasing importance. Lithium is a clear beneficiary; right now, you would bet on nickel and cobalt, but beware – battery technology may change to use other metals…. And copper, still the most effective means of power transmission, looks very secure.
I don’t expect a boom again, but a selective investment in metals could be the right way to go in 2017.
- Published in Blog, Deep South Resources Inc., King's Bay
Namaste Provides Corporate Update and Files Audited 2016 Annual Financials
Namaste Provides Corporate Update and Files Audited 2016 Annual Financials
– Momentum Public Relations –
Press Release: January 6, 2017
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – Jan. 6, 2017) – Namaste Technologies Inc. (“Namaste” or the “Company“) (CSE:N) (CSE:N.CN) (FRANKFURT:M5BQ) announces the filing of its annual audited financial statements, management discussion and analysis, and certification of the annual filings for the year ended August 31, 2016 (collectively, the “2016 Financials“). The Company also provides investors an overview of corporate activities and outlines objectives for 2017. The statements for the period can be accessed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Operational Highlights
During the financial reporting period and year-to-date, the Company focused efforts on expanding its customer base, completing a public listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange, securing growth capital, bringing the latest vaporizer and accessory products to the global market, accelerating organic sales generation from more costly pay-per-click advertising, completing strategic partnerships and acquisitions, and expanding the management team and board. As a result of these focused initiatives, the Company achieved the following:
- Expanded its customer list to over 250,000 individuals producing monthly traffic of nearly 600,000 site visits;
- Expanded its portfolio to over 3,000 products from over 200 vendors and delivered these products to retail customers in 75 countries;
- Expanded commercial relationships with Pax Labs, Firefly, eBay, VaporTown USA, and Inhalator;
- Acquired the VaporSeller and URT1 Limited (“URT1”) assets;
- Raised approximately $5.7 million; and
- Appointed experienced members to the management team and board.
Financial Results
During the period from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016, the Company’s inbound organic revenue generation strategy produced e-commerce revenue of $3,488,902 and gross profit of $1,220,474 (including all transportation and shipping costs), resulting in a 32{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} gross profit margin. These financial results include revenues for a 47-day period from the VaporSeller asset acquisition, which produced revenue of $394,901. On a proforma basis, including the acquisition of assets relating to URT1 Limited during Q1 of fiscal 2017, management estimates the combined assets of Namaste, VaporSeller and URT1 generated revenue of $12,423,486. 2016 financial results include the following:
- Revenue of $3,488,902 (2015 – $4,568,276), a decline of 23.6{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} as compared to the year ended August 31, 2015. This decline in revenue is due to a change in business model, from pay-per-click advertising to growing organic traffic through search engine optimization. Due to this change in strategy, the annual spending on advertising during the period was substantially reduced to $203,423 from $466,379 in the prior period, a reduction of 56{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} in total expenditure. Going forward, the Company’s investment of resources into this strategy will result in more sustainable and recurring revenue generation at a lower customer acquisition cost compared to utilizing pay-per-click advertising.
- Cost of sales of $2,368,428 (2015 – $2,565,251), which resulted in a gross profit of $1,120,474 (2015 – $2,003,025). As a percentage of sales, the gross margin was 32{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} compared to 44{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} in the previous year. This reflects the acquisition of VaporSeller which generates lower gross margin sales. Going forward, the Company is optimizing its product mix to include higher margin glassware, private label products such as the Gurutm and related product accessories, products sourced from larger volume manufacturers, and driving higher average purchase prices from the acquisition of VaporSeller and URT1.
- Operating costs of $3,286,666 (2015 – $1,414,157), an increase of 132{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce}. This increase in operating costs includes non-cash, non-recurring and currency expenses of $1,372,505. These costs relate to the share issuance value associated with listing the Company on the Canadian Securities Exchange through a reverse takeover, share based compensation, legal expenses for listing the Company, financings and the acquisition of VaporSeller, and foreign exchange movements in the Company’s source currencies including the British Pound and Euro. After adjusting for these numbers, management estimates total operating costs of $1,914,161 for the period. In addition to these expenditures, the Company has also incurred costs associated with positioning the business for scalability and the administration of its public listing.
- Comprehensive loss of $1,927,776 (2015 – profit of $355,230). This decrease in net income is attributable to the transition of the Company’s business model, decline in gross margin and increase in operating costs. Going forward, management anticipates sales growth to strengthen from organic revenue generation and completed acquisitions, cost of sales to reduce due to high volume purchases and optimization of the product portfolio, and operating costs to reduce as a result of normalized operations. The Company anticipates being profitable and cash flow positive in fiscal 2017.
2017 Corporate Objectives
In 2017, the Company will continue to focus on key objectives to deliver value to its shareholders. These objectives include the following:
- Continue to focus on high growth markets and position the Company to capitalize on the destigmatization of cannabis in major markets including the US and Canada. Grow organic sales at greater than 30{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} year-over-year from current business efforts and reach portability;
- Complete multiple strategic acquisitions that expand the Company’s geographical presence, product offering and e-commerce capabilities. Seamlessly integrate these acquisitions into existing operations.
- Further enhance e-commerce systems and further streamline the Company’s analytical reporting capabilities. Utilize the latest technologies to provide in-depth information on consumer and industry buying trends.
- Expand the Company’s board and management team with qualified professionals and further train and develop existing staff members. Generate a results driven corporate culture focused on shared objectives.
Cease Trade Order
As disclosed in the Company’s press release dated January 5, 2017, trading of the Company’s common shares has been halted pursuant to a cease trade order of same date (“CTO“) issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission (the “Commission“) under National Policy 11-207 Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders and Revocations in Multiple Jurisidictions. The filing of the 2016 Financials constitutes the Company’s application for removal of the CTO and initiates the Commission’s review process. The Company will provide additional disclosure as and when information becomes available in respect of the Commission’s review process.
Management Commentary
Sean Dollinger, President and CEO of Namaste, comments: “2016 has been a transformation year for Namaste. Looking back at the accomplishments of our team and our goals for 2017, I see nothing but opportunity. The hallmark of our team’s execution capabilities has been based on defining attainable objectives, implementing the right strategy, focusing the right people on executing that strategy, and overcoming any challenges as a team. I would like to thank all of our stakeholders for their support in 2016 and believe we will look back at 2017 with the same sense of accomplishment and optimism for the future.”
About Namaste Technologies Inc.
Namaste Technologies Inc. is an emerging leader in vaporizer and accessories space. Namaste has 26 ecommerce retail stores in 20 countries, offers the largest range of brand name vaporizers products on the market and is actively manufacturing and launching multiple unique proprietary products for retail and wholesale distribution. The Company is currently focused on expanding its product offering, acquisitions and strategic partnerships, and entering new markets globally.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Sean Dollinger, Chief Executive Officer
Further information on the Company and its products can be accessed through the links below:
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance of the Company. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may“, “will“, “should“, “expect“, “plan“, “anticipate“, “believe“, “estimate“, “predict“, “potential“, “continue“, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management of the Company to predict all of these factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company‘s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement or information. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
- Published in Blog, Medical Marijuana, Namaste Technologies, News Home
International Wastewater Systems (IWS:CSE) on Bloomberg TV
When Being Clean Means Getting Dirty – Bloomberg
– Momentum Public Relations –
In the News: International Wastewater Systems (IWS:CSE) (IWI:FSE)
Next time you’re taking a shower, or washing your hands, think about this — about 30{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} of the world’s energy ends up going down the drain every day. In the US, that’s 350 billion kilowatt hours of heat. Lynn Meuller came up with a solution called Sharc and Pirranah, which capture heat energy in sewage and wastewater and return it to a building’s hot water systems. His company is called International Wastewater Systems. Bloomberg TV’s Anthony Lacavera speaks to the President and CEO of IWS. (Source: Bloomberg)
Click the following link to view the full episode of Bloomberg North which aired December 6th, 2016 at 6:00PM : http://bloombergtv.ca/shows/bloomberg-north/bloomberg-north-episode/?epid=459&sgid=2
About International Wastewater Systems
International Wastewater Systems Inc. is a world leader in thermal heat recovery. IWS systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating the most energy efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water for commercial, residential and industrial buildings. IWS is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: IWS), the United States (OTC: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWI).
- Published in Blog, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems
Tetra Bio-Pharma Looks to Make Cannabis Affordable
Tetra Bio-Pharma (TBP:CSE) Looks to Make Cannabis Affordable — CFN Media
– Momentum Public Relations –
CFN Media Group (“CannabisFN”), the leading creative agency and digital media network dedicated to legal cannabis, announces publication of an exclusive interview and story covering Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc.’s (CSE: TBP) (OTC PINK: GRPOF) unique approach in using the natural cannabis plant, rather than synthetics, to develop pharmaceuticals based on the active ingredients in marijuana. The interview is with Ryan Brown, Tetra’s Co-Founder and Vice President of Business Development.
Medical cannabis may be legal throughout Canada and nearly 30 U.S. states, but patients cannot always easily access the drug. The lack of clinical trials has left many physicians unwilling to prescribe the medicine, while insurance companies provide little to no coverage. Patients must pay hundreds of dollars per month out-of-pocket for access to the drug, which can be a prohibitive amount for many families – including those with the greatest need. This article takes a closer look at how Tetra Bio-Pharma could change these dynamics and make medical cannabis more affordable to everyone.
Taking a Unique Approach
Tetra Bio-Pharma is conducting clinical trials in Canada to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of cannabis in treating a range of conditions. The company is following all appropriate FDA guidelines to allow for approval in the United States. Unlike many of its competitors, the company is developing biopharmaceuticals incorporating the actual cannabis plant rather than making pharmaceuticals with synthetic compounds. This approach results in both a lower cost and a more sure-fire path to regulatory approval given the large body of existing data within the medical cannabis industry.
The company’s PPP001 is an inhaled product that consists of medical marijuana and a titanium pipe that are linked by the labeling of each component. Once approved, the company hopes to sell the product in pharmacies as a blister pack where each blister contains marijuana with a standardized amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The pipe would provide combustion and the inhaled smoke would be the delivery mechanism.
In November, the company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed a review of its inhalation-based medical marijuana program. The agency confirmed that the product is a combination product and assigned it to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) as the lead agency center for premarket review and regulation based on its determination of marijuana’s primary mode of action.
Attractive Business Model
Tetra Bio-Pharma aims to seek reimbursement from insurance companies to make medical cannabis more affordable for patients. In addition, an approved product would be more widely accepted among physicians looking for solid clinical data to support their decisions. The combination of these factors could translate to a significantly larger market than what currently exists across both the United States and Canada.
The company’s Canada-based operations provide another advantage over many other companies operating in the space. While the cost of FDA/DEA approved medical marijuana can be upwards of $100,000 per kilogram in the U.S., the company’s agreement with a leading Canadian licensed producer means that it can acquire product at less than $3,000 per kilogram and readily access ancillary services like processing and packaging.
Tetra Bio-Pharma trades with a market capitalization of just C$22 million, which is a fraction of many other companies operating in the space. Investors looking for a unique approach to the market may want to check out the company as it proceeds with preclinical filings with the FDA and builds a path toward regulatory approval.
Follow the link to read the full article and see the interview: http://www.cannabisfn.com/tetra-bio-pharma-looks-to-make-cannabis-affordable/
Learn how to become a CFN Media client company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/become-featured-company/
Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from the palm of your hand: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8
Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com
About CFN Media
CFN Media (CannabisFN), the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to legal cannabis, helps marijuana businesses attract investors, customers (B2B, B2C), capital, and media visibility. Private and public marijuana companies and brands in the US and Canada rely on CFN Media to grow and succeed.
CFN launched in June of 2013 to initially serve the growing universe of publicly traded marijuana companies across North America. Today, CFN Media is also the digital media choice for the emerging brands in the space.
About Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc.
Tetra Bio-Pharma is a Canadian Bio Pharmaceutical company at the forefront of Cannabis based pharmaceutical development. The company recently received a research grant from the federal government and will be working with McGill University to develop both prescription and over the counter products. The first product, PPP001, will begin clinical trials in Q4 2016.
- Published in Blog, Medical Marijuana, Tetra Bio Pharma
IWS Interview on Bloomberg TV
IWS Interview on Bloomberg TV
– Momentum Public Relations –
Press Release: December 2, 2016
International Wastewater Systems Inc. (“IWS” or the “Company”) (CSE:IWS)(CSE:IWS.CN)(CNSX:IWS)(FRANKFURT:IWI)(OTC PINK:INTWF) is pleased to announce that IWS Founder and CEO Mr. Lynn Mueller will be interviewed on Bloomberg TV Canada (“Bloomberg”) on December 6th, 2016.
The interview with Mr. Mueller will be featured on the Bloomberg North show, for a special edition of the program focusing on innovative clean technology companies that are reshaping the way we live our lives. The show is hosted by Bloomberg contributor Anthony Lacavera who is the founder of Globalive Capital and a regular Bloomberg commentator on innovation, technology and investing.
The interview will focus on IWS’s innovative sewage heat recovery systems and the Company’s rapid growth from a Canadian-based business to a world leader with operations and clients across the globe.
The show will air on Bloomberg TV Canada at 6.00pm EST on Tuesday December 6th, 2016. Bloomberg TV Canada reaches nearly 7 million Canadian households, and through its partners can reach up to 350 million+ households and businesses worldwide.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Lynn Mueller, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
About International Wastewater Systems Inc.
International Wastewater Systems Inc. is a world leader in thermal heat recovery. IWS systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating the most energy efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water for commercial, residential and industrial buildings. IWS is publicly traded in Canada (CSE:IWS), the United States (OTC PINK:INTWF) and Germany (FRANKFURT:IWI).
- Published in Blog, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems, News Home, Technology