NA Proactive news snapshot: First Cobalt Corp, GlobeX Data Ltd, Loop Insights Inc, Else Nutrition Holdings Inc, Victory Square Technologies Inc...

First Cobalt Corp (CVE:FCC) (OTCQX:FTSSF) (FRA:18P) updated on its path to bring North America’s only permitted cobalt refinery back into production, saying it had awarded the contract to build the cobalt sulfate crystallizer. This equipment, which includes pumps and dryers, is the last step in the refining process and takes cobalt concentrated in an aqueous solution into a powder called cobalt sulfate. It will be built in the US and be shipped to site in less than 44 weeks, the company said, adding that it remains on track to recommission the facility in 4Q, 2022. GlobeX Data Ltd (OTCQB:SWISF) (CSE:SWIS) is raising nearly C$2.2 million to help market its Sekur messaging system in the US. The placement, which consists of nearly 7.3 million units priced at C$0.30 each, was upsized from its original C$2.1 million target. Sekur’s suite of communications products offer an independent, private and secure means of communications through secure messaging, voice record transfer, voice and video conferencing, and email through GlobeX’s proprietary technology and its Swiss-based servers. Loop Insights Inc (CVE:MTRX) (OTCQB:RACMF) said it had hired Emerging Markets Consulting LLC (EMC) to provide the company with investor and public relations services ahead of a potential uplisting to a major exchange this year. "With Loop now beginning to roll out implementations and creating brand awareness on a global scale, we want to make sure we have the equivalent capital markets awareness in many key investor markets," said Rob Anson, CEO of Loop Insights. Else Nutrition Holdings Inc (CVE:BABY) (OTCMKTS:BABY) (FRA:0YL) has announced that its plant-based Complete Nutrition drink for toddlers has launched at all 15 PCC Community Markets locations in Washington State. PCC is America's largest consumer-owned food cooperative and places an emphasis on organic and natural products, the company said. "Launching at PCC further strengthens our presence in the Pacific Northwest, and is directly on strategy, partnering with like-minded partners who support sustainability, organic and better-for-health food options," said Hamutal Yitzhak, CEO and co-founder of Else Nutrition, said in a statement. Victory Square Technologies Inc (CSE:VST) (OTC:VSQTF) (FRA:6F6) announced Friday that its portfolio company GameOn Entertainment Technologies Inc received conditional approval from the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) to list under the ticker symbol GET. Founded in 2018, GameOn delivers sports and entertainment content providers access to what it calls "the world’s simplest and most accessible gamification platform." Whether its clients are TV networks, over-the-top platforms, sportsbooks or leagues, GameOn helps its partners turn their content into interactive and social experiences through mobile and TV apps. The CSE conditional listing approval, which still requires GameOn to meet certain thresholds set by the exchange, comes after a strong year of growth for the Victory Square investee, the company said.  Jack Nathan Medical Corp (CVE:JNH) (OTCQB:JNHMF) said it has met the requirements and effective at market open on May 19 it will move to Tier 1 status from Tier 2 on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). The TSXV classifies issuers into different tiers based on certain standards including historical financial performance, stage of development and financial resources, with Tier 1 being the premier tier and reserved for the TSXV's most advanced issuers with the most significant financial resources. “Our graduation to a Tier 1 listing is yet another milestone for us and a signal to the market of how far we have come since our qualifying transaction in October 2020,” Jack Nathan’s chairman and chief executive George Barakat said in a statement. Gold Resource Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:GORO) (FRA:GIH), the Mexico-focused precious metals miner, has named Alberto Reyes as the group's new chief operating officer (COO). "A mining executive with over 20 years of global mining experience, sound technical knowledge and a genuinely practical leadership approach.  Alberto is known for producing higher performance operations, unifying workforces and delivering results," said Allen Palmiere, president and CEO of Gold Resource Corp. "I expect that Alberto's addition will allow us to embed these principles with the employees, enabling us to achieve our strategic vision, improve our safety record and operation's performance, and effectively improve our margins." Metalla Royalty & Streaming Ltd (CVE:MTA) (NYSEAMERICAN:MTA) (FRA:X9C) said it has entered a new equity distribution agreement with a syndicate of agents for a new at-the-market (ATM) equity program. The precious metals royalty and streaming company said the distribution deal will replace its previous arrangement and will allow the company to distribute up to US$35 million, or the equivalent in Canadian dollars, of common shares in the group under the New ATM Program. The shares will be issued by the company to the public from time to time, through the agents at the company’s discretion. Metalla added that the offered shares sold under the ATM Program will be sold at the prevailing market price at the time of sale.  Australis Capital Inc (CSE:AUSA) (OTCMKTS:AUSAF) (FRA:AC4) said it has appointed Leah S Bailey as its chief business development officer to drive commercial initiatives and provide leadership to the company's corporate development team. The cannabis group said with Bailey’s appointment, it is adding “a proven leader with a strong track record in driving revenues and profitability in both the cannabis and consumer packaged goods (CPG) sectors”. Before joining Australis, Bailey served as chief executive of Fluresh, a US vertically integrated cannabis company based in Michigan, where she built the operation and organization from a start-up to become one of the top cannabis businesses in the state. OTC Markets Group Inc.(OTCQX: OTCM), the operator of financial markets for 11,000 US and global securities, announced that CW Bancorp (OTCQX:CWBK), the holding company for CommerceWest Bank in Orange County, California, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. CW Bancorp upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market. In a statement, CW Bancorp said: "We are pleased to begin trading on OTCQX.  This is the next step in the company's development. Our team will continue to focus on expanding our market share in California, while at the same time creating more value for our shareholders." OTC Markets Group Inc (OTCQX: OTCM) revealed that Caldwell Partners International Inc (TSX:CWL) (OTCQX:CWLPF), a technology-powered talent acquisition firm, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. The company upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market. "Upgrading to the OTCQX market is an important step for our firm, our employees and our shareholders," said John Wallace, who is CEO of Caldwell Partners International Inc. "The United States has been an important market for us and the primary source of our growth since we entered it in 2009.Through the first half of F'21, more than 80% of the firm's total revenues were generated in the US. As we continue to transform into a high growth technology-powered talent acquisition firm, we expect that a growing number of US shareholders will be interested in Caldwell as an investment opportunity, so facilitating easier trading for them has been an important goal for us." OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), the operator of financial markets for 11,000 US and global securities, announced Matador Mining Ltd (ASX: MZZ) (OTCQX: MZZMF), a gold exploration with the Cape Ray Project in Newfoundland, Canada, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Matador Mining Ltd. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market. Executive Chairman of Matador Mining Ltd Ian Murray said: "With our largest ever exploration program underway, in arguably North America's most exciting gold jurisdiction, we have been receiving a significant increase from investors based in the region. Trading on OTCQX allows for North American investors to more effectively buy shares in Matador in their own time zone and currency.  We look forward to keeping investors updated in what promises to be an exciting year for the company."