NA Proactive news snapshot: HIRE Technologies, Arcadia Biosciences, ElectraMeccanica, Gatling Exploration, Blackrock Gold UPDATE ...

HIRE Technologies Inc (CVE:HIRE) announced that it has acquired Taylor Ryan Inc and TR Partners Inc, which jointly operate Taylor Ryan Executive Search Partners, in deal that is expected to be immediately accretive to HIRE and profitable. Vancouver-based Taylor Ryan, which offers retained search, contingency recruitment and human resource management solutions to niche real estate and construction sectors across Canada, generated $1.6 million in revenue and $1 million in EBITDA for the trailing 12 months ended November 30, 2020. Arcadia Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:RKDA) announced Friday a financing plan to raise up to $8 million to fund GoodWheat customer acquisition costs. The company said it has entered into definitive agreements with several institutional and other accredited investors to buy 2,618,658 shares at $3.055 each in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules. Additionally, Arcadia said it has agreed to issue to the investors unregistered warrants to purchase up to 2,618,658 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $3 per share that is immediately exercisable and will expire five and one-half years from the issue date. The Davis, California-based company said the potential gross proceeds from the exercise of the warrants, if fully exercised on a cash basis, would be about $7.86 million. No assurance can be given that any of the warrants will be exercised.  Stifel has initiated coverage of electric vehicle maker ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp (NASDAQ:SOLO) with a Buy rating, noting that the Canadian company “has a compelling lead in the high-growth affordable EV market.” The Vancouver-based firm is now building its SOLO EV, a three-wheeled, single-passenger car that boasts a top range of 100 miles and speeds of 82 miles per hour on a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and sells for $16,250 – about half the price of a Tesla.The EV, which is expected to go on sale in late 2020 in California Arizona, and Oregon, features front and rear crumple zones, side-impact protection, roll bar, torque-limiting control, as well as power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, and a Bluetooth entertainment system. In a December 16 note to clients, Stifel said ElectraMeccanica is establishing a leadership foothold in the emerging -- and affordable -- EV market.  In addition, Stifel has a $9 price target on the stock -- which based on the analyst's 2023 sales estimate of C$177.5 million for ElectraMeccanica. Gatling Exploration Inc (CVE:GTR) (OTCQB:GATGF) announced Friday it had closed a previously announced financing, raising total gross proceeds of C$4,643,427. The group issued 5,497,140 post-consolidation shares issued on a flow-through basis (FT shares) at C$0.55 each. It also issued 3.24 million units at C$0.50 each. Each unit will consist of one post-consolidated share and one-half of one transferable share purchase warrant, exercisable into one additional post-consolidated share at C$0.70 each. The warrants are exercisable until December 18, 2022. The gross proceeds will be used for Canadian exploration expenses, and will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures,” which will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2021. Gatling also announced that Jody Dahrouge has resigned as a director of the company. Blackrock Gold Corp (CVE:BRC) (OTCMKTS:BKRRF) reported that recent drill intercepts from the eastern border of the Tonopah West gold and silver project in Nevada show that the Victor vein target extends the project`s strike length 480 metres to the east. The company said core drilling along strike of the Victor/Murray vein returned results that included 1,079 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (5.19 g/t gold and 560 g/t silver) over a 0.9 metre (m) interval, in addition to 582 g/t silver equivalent over 0.7 metres.       Pacific Empire Minerals Corp (CVE:PEMC) (OTCQB:PEMSF) reported that it has signed a definitive agreement with CAVU Mining Corp, granting the company an exclusive option to earn up to a 100% interest in Pacific Empire’s 3,070-hectare Kitimat Copper-Gold Project in British Columbia. Under the terms of the agreement, CAVU can earn a 100% interest in the project by completing C$1.0 million in exploration expenditures on the project, as well as paying Pacific Empire Minerals C$390,000 in cash plus 1.325 million CAVU common shares by the third anniversary of the signing of the agreement. CleanSpark Inc (NASDAQ:CLSK), which acquired Bitcoin miner ATL Data Center LLC last week, said Friday that it has earned about 10 coins of the cryptocurrency to add nearly $200,000 to the company’s revenue stream. The Utah company purchased ATL Data for up to $19.4 million in CleanSpark stock as an opportunity to deploy its patented microgrid software and controls at the data center location to increase power capacity, energy savings, and resiliency. CleanSpark said it believes this will demonstrate to other mining operations the value of its microgrid solutions using distributed energy sources including solar, energy storage, and other renewables in a real-world, power-intensive application. This week, CleanSpark said it placed an order for 500 additional Bitcoin mining units (ASICs) to be deployed at the ATL location in Atlanta. Delivery of the new ASICs is scheduled for the second week of January. CleanSpark has also installed an additional 38 new S19 ASICs just this week. BioSig Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:BSGM) announced Friday that the company and its NeuroClear Technologies division signed a new research agreement with the University of Minnesota. Under the terms of the agreement, BioSig said it intends to launch a program to develop novel therapies to treat sympathetic nervous system disease. Due to launch in the fourth quarter of 2020, the program studies are expected to form a foundation for developing a new platform technology to address disorders of the autonomic nervous system, the company said. NeuroClear plans to develop new intellectual properties (IP) and products, including new hardware, software, and algorithmic solutions, with the support of a tier 1 US-based manufacturing partner. Then it plans to take the IP and products through US Food and Drug Administration to approval, manufacturing, and commercialization.  American Manganese Inc (CVE:AMY) has advanced its Wenden stockpile project in Arizona, saying it had sent representative samples of manganese off for analysis. The stockpile project is being funded by an award from the United States Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), to confirm the viability of efficient electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) production using American Manganese's ground-breaking recovery process. During two days, around 550 pounds of material was collected in 16 commercial-grade-heavy sealed buckets. Vox Royalty Corp (CVE:VOX) (OTCMKTS:VOXCF) described the year gone as 'transformational' on Friday as the company updated on partner operating news and said it had completed the previously announced acquisition of the Brits vanadium royalty. As reported in late November, Vox struck a deal with Sable Metals and Minerals Pty Ltd to acquire a 1.75% gross sales royalty for US$2 million, giving it exposure to a near-term production asset next to Bushveld Minerals (LON:BMN) producing Vamteco mine and processing facility. "The completion of the Brits transaction and this exciting operating partner news flow rounds out a truly transformational 2020 year for Vox and promises a catalyst-rich 2021 year," said Kyle Floyd, Vox chief executive, in a statement. "This year we announced the acquisition of over 30 new royalties, increased our producing royalty count and noted over 120,000 metres of partner-funded drilling on our royalty properties. We are very grateful to our 42 operating partners for their efforts during a dynamic 2020." CleanSpark Inc (NASDAQ:CLSK) reported a 122% surge in its fiscal 2020 revenue to more than $10.0 million, the third consecutive year in which the company’s revenues have more than doubled.  CleanSpark, which develops software to help companies become more energy-efficient, also said its gross margin for the period increased 21.1% to $2.12 million, driven largely by increased high-margin revenues derived from its software services and related revenue, while its net loss improved by $2,770,780 from 2019.  Adastra Labs Holdings Ltd (CSE:XTRX) (FRA:D2EP), the cannabis processing and analytical testing services company, announced on Friday that it has signed a joint venture agreement with JOYN Botanicals Limited for the exploitation of JOYN's patent-pending soluble cannabis powder. The Langley, British Columbia-based cannabis company said that Adastra and JOYN have incorporated Solucann Holdings Limited in an equal equity ownership shareholder agreement. JOYN has exclusively licensed its patent-pending soluble cannabis powder intellectual property “for five years to Solucann Holdings Canada-wide for development and launching products that will channel the disruptive technology,” said the company.  AEX Gold Inc (LON:AEXG) (CVE:AEX) said it has increased the size of the exploration licence at its Anoritooq project to 1,889 square kilometres (sq km), bringing its total ground in south Greenland now to 3,870 sq km. The newly granted area is underexplored and prospective for gold, with several historic stream sediment and heavy mineral concentrate gold anomalies indicating discovery potential. "I am very pleased to be able to announce this expansion of the Anoritooq licence. Early indications are that Anoritooq shows very similar geography to our Vagar licence, one of the most exciting exploration targets in our current portfolio with numerous high-grade discoveries, including an historic grab sample grading 2533 g/t gold. This region will be the focus of our exploration efforts next year," said CEO of AEX Eldur Olafsson in a statement. Vuzix Corporation (NASDAQ:VUZI) (FRA:V7XN) said Thursday that its augmented reality-based smart glasses remote training program has been deployed by Envirotainer, the largest provider of temperature-controlled air freight solutions for drug makers, to support its fleet in shipping COVID-19 vaccines. The Rochester, New York-based company said the remote training program with its flagship Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses supported Envirotainer’s fleet of more than 6,000 active temperature-controlled containers, which are being used to transport COVID-19 vaccines, as well as other pharmaceuticals.  Empower Clinics Inc (CSE:CBDT) (OTCQB:EPWCF) (FRA:8EC) is poised to acquire Momentum Health in a deal worth C$350,000, providing the company with a growing accretive business, seven clinics in the Greater Toronto area, and immediate plans to expand a winning model across Canada.  Momentum Health operates a network of medical clinics, which offer a holistic and hands-on approach. Key services include physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy and traditional Chinese medicine. It has two standalone wellness clinics and five new co-located clinics in the Greater Toronto Area, giving Empower immediate access to over 20,000 patients. Antibe Therapeutics Inc (TSX:ATE) (OTCQB:ATBPF) (FRA:4B7), a clinical-stage company leveraging its hydrogen sulfide platform to develop safer medicines for pain and inflammation, wants to unify the intellectual property (IP) ownership of its drugs and platform. In a statement Friday, the company said it has commenced preliminary discussions to amalgamate with Antibe Holdings Inc. The company said it believes that such an initiative would unlock value for potential partners and investors, while simplifying IP protection for pipeline expansion efforts now underway. Loop Insights Inc (CVE:MTRX) (OTCQB:RACMF) said Friday that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has conclusive evidence that a Venue Bubble is effective after recently turning to the company and its turnkey venue-tracing solution. NCAA executed not one but two bubbles to safeguard all involved in basketball games held during 10 days in Nevada (#VegasBubble) and Florida (#BeachBubble), the company said in a statement. Loop Insights also announced the availability of a broadcast titled “Loop Insights Achieves World Recognition After First-Ever Fully Integrated COVID-19 Testing, Tracing, Fan-Engagement Solution for NCAA.”  Gold Resource Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:GORO) announced on Friday that its board has approved the spin-off of Fortitude Gold Corporation and declared a pro-rata distribution of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Fortitude Gold to shareholders of Gold Resource Corporation. The gold and silver explorer and producer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico said its Board of Directors has established the record date as the close of business on December 28, 2020, and the distribution date as the close of business on December 31, 2020. As a result of the distribution, Gold Resource shareholders of record will receive one share of Fortitude Gold for every 3.5 shares of Gold Resource Corporation common stock they hold. Nano One Materials Corp (CVE:NNO) (OTCPINK:NNOMF) (FRA:LBMB) announced Friday that it has entered into a cathode evaluation and benchmark agreement with a multinational auto manufacturer to jointly evaluate Nano One's cathode materials for automotive lithium-ion batteries.  Financial compensation towards the project is confidential, Nano One noted in a statement. "The goal of this project is to evaluate the performance and commercial benefit of Nano One's patented One-Pot process for nickel-rich and cobalt-free cathode materials in electric vehicle applications," said Hamutal Ben Bassat, VP of business development for Nano One.  EdtechX Holdings (NASDAQ:EDTXU), the world’s only innovative investment platform focused on the future of education and work, said it listed a second SPAC IPO, EdtechX Holdings Acquisition Corp II on Nasdaq on Friday, December 11.  According to its filed prospectus, the SPAC intends to invest in companies in the private education, training and education technology sectors, with targets ranging from $400 million to $2 billion in entreprise value. Targets will be located predominantly in the US, and also in Europe and Asia (excluding China). The listing follows the successful IPO of EdtechX Holdings Acquisition Corp I, the world’s first education technology special purpose acquisition company, in October 2018. Ceylon Graphite Corp (CVE:CYL) (OTCMKTS:CYLUF) (FRA:CCY) has bolstered its team as the miner continues to advance its activity in Sri Lanka. Janaka Rathnayake will become general manager of operations for group subsidiary Sarcon Development and will be responsible for all exploration and mining-related business in Sri Lanka. Dr H.M Ranjith Premasiri becomes senior consultant geologist and will guide and lead Sarcon’s team as it expands its business footprint in Sri Lanka.  Altamira Gold Corp.(CVE:ALTA) said the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing an assignment and transfer of mining rights agreement dated April 6, 2020, among Alta Floresta Gold Mineracao Ltda., Para Alta Floresta Gold Mineracao Ltda. Epp -  subsidiaries of Altamira Gold Corp. -  and Mineracao Do Para Ltda. (MAP), whereby the subsidiaries will transfer the mineral rights to the Crepori gold project, located in the state of Para, Brazil, to MAP for a cash consideration of $500,000, subject to a 4% net smelter return (NSR) royalty to the company. GlobeX Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF)(CSE:SWIS), the leader in Swiss hosted secure data management and secure communications, said it granted on December 17, 2020, subject to any necessary regulatory approvals, incentive stock options to purchase in aggregate 3,210,000 shares of its common stock. Of such options, 2,670,000 were granted to a group of three officers and directors, while 520,000 were granted to a group of consultants and 20,000 were granted to an employee of the accounting firm of the company. 370,000 of said options were granted under the company's stock option plan and are exercisable until June 1 2021, and 2,840,000 of said options were granted under the company's stock option plan and are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of C$0.12 per share. They are subject to the company's customary vesting policy American Manganese Inc (CVE:AMY) said the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a non-brokered private placement announced on December 11, 2020, which will see the issue of 521,000 flow-through shares at a purchase price of 24 cents per share, together with 521,000 share purchase warrants with an exercise price of 30 cents for a two-year period with one placee. Pacton Gold Inc (CVE:PAC) said the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to a non-brokered private placement announced on December 7, 2020, which will see the issue of 1,807,778 non-flow-through shares at a purchase price of 90 cents per share, together with 1,807,778 share purchase warrants at an exercise price of $1.25 for a two-year period, subject to an acceleration clause, plus 2.01 million flow-through shares at a purchase price of $1 per share with 13 placees. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX:OTCM), the operator of financial markets for over 11,000 U.S. and global securities, has announced that Acquired Sales Corp. (OTCQX:AQSP), an investment company focused on hemp-derived, cannabinoid-infused products, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market and has upgraded today from the OTCQB Venture Market. Graduating to the OTCQX Best Market marks an important milestone for companies, enabling them to demonstrate their qualifications and build visibility among US investors. To qualify for OTCQX Best Market, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. William C. "Jake" Jacobs, AQSP's President and CFO, commented "We are thrilled to join the top-tier OTCQX Best Market. Acquired Sales Corp.'s wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifted Made, led by its CEO Nicholas S. Warrender, has been rapidly growing sales under its flagship brand Urb Finest Flowers, and continues to roll out innovative hemp-derived delta 8 THC and CBD products. Moreover, we are excited for the launch of our flavored tobacco-free nicotine pouches, which will be sold by SmplyLifted LLC, our 50-50 joint venture with SMPLSTC, Orange County, CA under the brand name "FR3SH". OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX:OTCM), the operator of financial markets for 11,000 US and global securities, has announced that MBH Corporation Plc (FRA:M8H) (OTCQX:MBHCF), a diversified investment holding company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Trading on the OTCQX Market offers companies efficient, cost-effective access to the U.S. capital markets. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the US. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Callum Laing, CEO, MBH Corporation, commented: "We see great opportunities arising from trading on OTCQX. It brings us closer to the many great small businesses in the US looking to join MBH and makes it easier for the many US investors to find and join us on this journey." Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU) (TSX:EFR) has announced the availability of a broadcast title: “It’s Elemental — Restoring the U.S. Rare Earth Element Supply Chain.” To hear the AudioPressRelease, investors can visit: https://nnw.fm/7GSZE