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Niche Media Events Hosts Largest Leadership Summit in Chicago

Niche Media Events

Over 90 niche media publishers, CEOs, revenue heads, and suppliers gathered in Chicago for the 11th annual Niche Media Leadership Summit. The 2023 media conference is the largest event in the history of the annual publishing leadership gathering and was held September 20-22, 2023. The 2023 event hosted over 90 attendees and 16 sponsoring vendors at the Royal Sonesta Riverfront, making it the largest leadership retreat of its kind in the media industry. The Niche Media Leadership Summit focuses on discussion groups and keynotes specifically to educate, inspire and connect magazine and media owners and leaders. Topics include digital and print publishing strategy, new media technologies, company hiring and culture, audience expansion, and revenue ideas for publishers. “We are excited and honored to welcome so many niche media owners and leaders to this year’s Summit. The record attendance is a testament to the importance of the niche audience media industry, as well as the need for leaders to share best practices and discuss industry challenges ahead of 2024 budgeting and strategy.”, said Ryan Dohrn, owner of Niche Media Events. Featured keynotes included Jonathan Reitz, CEO of Fluxify, who spoke to hiring and retaining media sales staff; Steven Iwersen, founder of Aurora Pointe, who presented on leading media companies in uncertain times; and Andrew Davis, marketing industry icon, who led discussion on AI influence, opportunities and cautions for media. Attendees also met throughout the event in discussion groups for B2B, Consumer and Sales Leadership. 80% of attendees' time was devoted to discussion groups, networking parties and dinners with colleagues. Sponsoring industry vendors included: 032 Outsourcing, Audativ, Media OS (formerly Ad Sales Genius), Publication Printers, AdCellerant, AdOrbit (formerly MagHub), Baxter Research Center, January Spring, KODI Collective, Omeda, Quad, Sheridan and The Magazine Manager. Additionally, new sponsors joined for the first time: AdMall/SalesFuel, Fox Associates and WoodWing. “The Niche Leadership Summit offers a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with peers in your market (B2B or Consumer) or in specific roles (Sales Leadership) to share solutions, create connections for post-event conversations and resources, and access cutting edge leadership, culture, and industry developments to drive success for each attendee’s media company and employees”, continued Dohrn. The next Niche Media publishing conference will be their annual, multi-track, full staff training Niche Media Conference, April 17-19, 2024, also in downtown Chicago at the Radisson Blu Aqua. To learn more about Niche Media Events, visit NicheMediaEvents.com. About Niche Media Events Niche Media Events helps publishers generate growth in ALL their revenue channels: print, digital, sales, audience and events. We’ve got it all… incredible learning and peer-to-peer connections at our live conferences, awesome online educational content, and expert resources from the best minds in media. Whether you’re a B2B, B2C/Consumer, Digital-Only, City & Regional, or Association publisher, Niche Media is your “go-to” resource for practical, actionable education & training (plus a healthy dose of F-U-N) to help you maximize revenue. Together, we’re connecting the entire Niche Nation! Contact Details Niche Media Ryan Dohrn ryan@nichemediaevents.com Company Website https://www.www.nichemediaevents.com

October 10, 2023 11:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Global Connectivity looking to pass 350,000 UK homes within the next year

Global Connectivity PLC

Global Connectivity PLC (AQSE:GCON) Executive Chairman Keith Harris speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive about the strides the business is making in bringing high-speed internet to the UK's rural communities. Founded three years ago as Rural Broadband Solutions PLC, GCON aims to narrow the digital divide between metropolitan and rural regions. Harris highlighted that 80% of the UK is designated as rural, housing 20% of the population. He says that while major firms focus on metropolitan areas, Global Connectivity instead zeroes in on rural communities. The company recently partnered with US-based Tiger Infrastructure Partners Fund III LP, which acquired 85% of Global Connectivity for a £75 million investment. Additionally, a merger with Macquarie and another infrastructure fund has positioned the resulting entity Voneus as the UK's largest rural broadband player, with plans to invest £250 million and reach 350,000 homes within the next year. Harris concludes by saying that he anticipates significant sector consolidation by early 2025. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

October 10, 2023 09:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Media Veterans to FCC: Lawsuits Bolster Claim that FOX & Murdochs Lack Character Required of Public Broadcast License Trustees

Raynor Ave.

Media veterans filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), bringing the FCC’s attention to four shareholder derivative lawsuits accusing Fox Corporation's (FOX) Board of Directors of breaching its fiduciary duty. The lawsuits allege that Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and various officers and directors were complicit in decisions to disseminate false news and operate Fox News outside the bounds of First Amendment protections; and as a result, the company failed to safeguard shareholders from various journalistic integrity issues. The Media and Democracy Project (MAD) filed a motion requesting the FCC to compel FOX to produce key nonpublic discovery from its various lawsuits to ensure full transparency and accountability for its actions. MAD’s motion seeks evidence from the Dominion and Smartmatic litigations, all documents reviewed in the four stockholder derivative lawsuits, and internal communications from FOX Corp-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF). Duggan-Kristol Derivative Filing The comment submitted by former PBS President and FCC Commissioner Ervin S. Duggan and media veteran and former Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol advances as yet another damning argument in support of the Media and Democracy Project’s (MAD) Petition to Deny the broadcast license renewal application for FOX Corp-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF). “The pension funds' lawsuits address FOX leadership's willingness knowingly to lie about important matters, and go to the heart of the issue before the FCC,” said William Kristol. “These lawsuits paint the story of a corporation led by the Murdochs that lacks the character expected of a broadcast licensee.” Delaware law allows the plaintiffs to review nonpublic corporate information known as Section 220 material in preparation for drafting a complaint. This nonpublic information goes to the core questions before the commission. One lawsuit details how FOX scrapped processes in place at the Board of Directors level to monitor journalistic integrity issues in 2019. Those policies were only reconsidered in mid-2021 after the Dominion (and pending Smartmatic) litigation was filed, according to the complaint filed by Tredje AP-Fonden and other plaintiffs. The same complaint also raises the issue of whether the Board’s lack of journalistic integrity policies was related in some way to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch’s desire to stem viewer defection to preserve their influence in conservative politics, which the complaint argues they prioritized above broadcasting the truth. These lawsuits offer critical new evidence from Section 220 material and reflect that FOX shareholders are as troubled by the same core issues that should trouble the Commission. The Duggan-Kristol filing ends by saying the FCC “should not—cannot—don blinders as to the implications that the questions being weighed in [the Delaware Court of Chancery] must have on its judgment as to whether FOX and its Controllers can be trusted to operate broadcast stations in the public interest.” “These lawsuits show the parent corporation of the broadcast licensee showed poor judgment and questionable character in managing a business that—but for FCC licensure—is identical in core objectives and operation of its subsidiary broadcast station,” said Ervin S. Duggan. “We believe firmly that these nonpartisan lawsuits demonstrating bad judgment and suspect character should speak loudly to the Commission.” Two of the four lawsuits filed by pension funds representing workers in New York City, Oregon, Rhode Island, and the Swedish Government, cite MAD’s Petition to Deny as an outcome of the recklessness of the FOX Board’s inability to reign senior leadership in, allowing them to continue to promote lies about the 2020 election. From the Tredje AP-Fonden Complaint: Defendants’ breaches of fiduciary duty have not only resulted in massive economic and reputational damages to the Company and caused untold societal harm, but they also threaten to deny Fox’s ability to continue operating as a broadcast news media business, which is its core business. ( paragraph 308 ) From the New York City Complaint: The Murdochs’ decision to embrace Trump’s claims of a stolen election not only led to the $787.5 million settlement payment to Dominion, but also endangered Fox’s broadcast licenses. ( paragraph 211 ) A copy of the filing from Duggan and Kristol can be found here. Media and Democracy Project Motion for Documents While a great deal of discovery evidence has been produced in the various FOX litigations, this evidence is only available to the FCC and MAD in snippets. The public interest imperative of this proceeding requires a full review of all the evidence to ensure a complete and transparent evaluation of the renewal application and the Commission’s decision to designate a hearing. MAD’s motion seeks the FCC to require FOX to produce a range of nonpublic documents, emails, and testimony related to the following areas: All documents and deposition transcripts submitted or provided in connection with the Dominion and Smartmatic litigations. All documents submitted in the four Delaware Chancery stockholder derivative lawsuits in response to any party’s Delaware Section 220 demand for inspection of books and records. From January 2020 to the present, all documents and written communications between political advertisers, their representatives and advertising agencies concerning political advertising, lowest unit rate charges or requests to purchase advertising on station WTXF-TV. From January 2020 to the present, all written communications from any FOX, Fox Television Stations, LLC or WTXF-TV station employees indicating that the FCC’s electronic filing system was malfunctioning or that an attempt was made to upload WTXF-TV political files but was unsuccessful due to the FCC database not operating properly. A copy of the motion from MAD can be found here. The Media and Democracy Project: MAD is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, grassroots civic membership organization fighting for a more informative and pro-democracy media operating in the public interest. MAD aims to improve our national discourse so that American voters can engage in informed decision-making. As part of that goal, MAD has an interest in the responsibility of journalists and media to report fully, accurately, and fairly on the electoral process and the outcome of elections. Additional information is available at www.MediaAndDemocracyProject.org. Ervin S. Duggan is a veteran of the Lyndon Johnson White House, a former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, and former President of PBS. William Kristol is a veteran political analyst and commentator. He served in senior positions in the Ronald Reagan administration and the George H.W. Bush White House. For two decades, he edited The Weekly Standard magazine, and is now editor at large of The Bulwark and a director of the educational and advocacy group, Defending Democracy Together. Contact Details Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/

October 10, 2023 09:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Knightscope Robot

Benzinga

By Faith Ashmore, Benzinga Click here to learn more about the Knightscope Public Safety Infrastructure Bond. For many decades, people have been imagining how robots would fit into the future. Whether it was Sonny from Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot, the equally awe-inspiring and terror-inducing Terminator, or everyone’s favorite Wall-E, robots have been a part of pop culture for decades. Well, now robots are no longer a thing solely reserved for Hollywood. And better yet, they are helping keep the streets safe without the risk of going rogue. The future is now. In an ever-evolving world, public safety is in need of an upgrade. AI and robotics are part of the solution to create safer public spaces while decreasing human error that can come from human police officers. Knightscope (NASDAQ: KSCP) is a technology company ushering in the dawn of Autonomous Security Robots (ASRs) and working hard to protect U.S. citizens from crime across the country. The company has over a decade of experience and has shown its solutions to be effective. For example, when one of its units was deployed in Huntington Park, Los Angeles County, there were 46% fewer crime reports overall – and they have recently renewed the contract for the 5th year in a row. Knightscope’s success has garnered national attention, and the company has won corporate contracts with major corporations such as PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ: PENN), PG&E (NYSE: PCG), ABM (NYSE: ABM) and Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) The company’s robots are designed to enhance safety and security in various environments, such as corporate campuses, shopping malls and hospitals. Knightscope robots operate autonomously, meaning they can navigate and patrol areas without human intervention. They utilize a combination of sensors, cameras and artificial intelligence algorithms to detect and analyze their surroundings in real time. The robots are equipped with 360-degree cameras, thermal imaging sensors, and license plate recognition capabilities to capture and analyze visual data. They can also detect signals from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, helping to identify potential security threats. The data collected by the Knightscope robots is sent to a central command center through a secure wireless network. The command center operators can monitor the robot's feed, receive alerts for suspicious activity, and control the robot's movements remotely when necessary. The robots were also designed with a large physical presence to serve as a deterrent, as their presence often helps to discourage criminal activity. Knightscope’s influence and reach seem to be on the rise. Just in 2023, the company has made more than 50 announcements including numerous contracts and reports it is on track to double its revenue versus 2022. These contracts further validate the growing demand for Knightscope's robotic solutions as they continue to work through a nearly $5 million backlog of new orders.. The company is also joining the NYPD and MTA in New York City. Their robots will operate within the subway system during the late-night hours of 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. The K5 robots maintain a balance of effectiveness and approachability, being both engaging and respectful of privacy. Better yet, they were designed to be photogenic, and NYC tourists are sure to get a kick out of the recent development. This deployment signifies the continued expansion of Knightscope's robots to support policing efforts throughout the United States – with the largest city in the country with the largest police department in the country taking the lead Another notable development is the launch of their School Safety Grant Program. This initiative enables individuals to contribute to creating safer learning environments in K-12 schools. By pooling together non-deductible donations, the program aims to partially subsidize schools facing budget constraints, preventing them from implementing Knightscope's advanced security technologies. This endeavor is a powerful way to protect children, faculty, and administrators within educational institutions. The company is currently offering an investment opportunity for interested parties to buy bonds. Over recent years, there has been an increase in the development of robotic technologies for everyday life activities. Positive attitudes towards robots are increasing, and while there are mixed views globally, there is an overall recognition of the potential benefits and positive impact of robot use in society. The demand for robots is only poised to grow. In 2021. The robotics market was valued at $31.38 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $110.39 by 2030 with a CAGR of 15% from 2022-2030. Knightscope seems well-positioned to capitalize on this growth and be a potential leader in the U.S. market. Click here to learn more about the Rise of the Robots. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. AN OFFERING STATEMENT REGARDING THIS OFFERING HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SEC. THE SEC HAS QUALIFIED THAT OFFERING STATEMENT, WHICH ONLY MEANS THAT THE COMPANY MAY MAKE SALES OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED BY THE OFFERING STATEMENT. THE OFFERING CIRCULAR THAT IS PART OF THAT OFFERING STATEMENT IS AVAILABLE HERE. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

October 10, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Starpax’s Cancer Technology Looks To Address A Major Problem That Chemotherapy And Immunotherapy Haven’t Solved For A Century

Benzinga

By Kimberly Adams, Benzinga The human body has healthy cells that reproduce to replace damaged or missing cells in the tissues. Cancer starts when one of those cells begins to have an abnormal reaction that causes it to reproduce perpetually. It takes approximately one billion of these cancer cells to end up with a ¾-inch tumor. So, imagine how many cancer cells a 2-inch tumor gets. If you don’t kill all these cancer cells, a single cancer cell left could cause the cancer to come back. When tumors grow, blood vessels in the tumor begin to malfunction, becoming chaotic and often collapsing. Drugs and immune cells need blood vessels to reach all cancer cells in a tumor, however, unfortunately, there are regions of the tumor where cancer cells are totally inaccessible. These regions are called hypoxic zones – where the level of oxygen is extremely low – and this is where the cancer stem cells are located. It is very important for a cancer treatment to eliminate cancer stem cells because they are the major driver of metastasis in the patient’s body and resistance to treatment. It is well documented that systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy fails to reach hypoxia zones to kill cancer stem cells. The reason is simple – if there are no blood vessels to bring drugs or immune cells next to a cancer cell, the counter-tumor action cannot work because drugs or immune cells are not self-propelled to travel by themselves in the interstitial spaces of the tumor tissues. Of course, when the blood vessels in a tumor are not too damaged and hypoxic zones are still absent, patients see treatments showing some efficacy. But the problem is that cancer diagnostics often come too late and hypoxic zones are too often already present in the tumor at the patient’s first exam. This is where Starpax’s never-before-seen extraordinary technology comes in – to address specifically this problem of reaching cancer cells in hypoxic zones. Starpax Magnetodrones™ are self-propelled, meaning they can swim in the interstitial space of tumor tissues without the need for blood vessels. The Magnetodrones are proprietary nonpathogenic Starpax living bacteria (Bn1-S™) developed in-laboratory, conceived to transport FDA-approved anticancer molecules attached to their surface. They are injected directly into the tumor, not in the blood vessels. They are sensitive to very special magnetic fields generated by the Starpax Polartrak™, a medical device invented by Starpax in which the patient is installed. The Polartrak creates unique patented virtual monopole magnetic fields vectors that control the trajectory of the Magnetodrones in 3D with millimetric precision inside the tumor in order to force them to spread throughout the whole volume of the tumor while they release drugs to the cancer cells on their path. Also, the PolarTrak is conceived to create a magnetic sphere around the tumor that keeps the Magnetodrones captive inside the tumor, thus aiming to avoid toxicity to the rest of the patient’s body and typical side effects of systemic treatments that could damage healthy tissues and organs. Another specific characteristic of the Magnetodrones is they are aerotactic – that means they search for a low level of oxygen to be comfortable. The Magnetodrones have been developed to live in a culture media with an excessively low oxygen level which is the same as the oxygen level in a hypoxic zone. So, when they pass by a hypoxic zone, they stop swimming, penetrate and accumulate into it to deliver anticancer drug to stem cells inaccessible by current systemic treatments or even immune cells. Since stem cells do not divide in hypoxia zones – The Magnetodrones bring a specific drug molecule into this area that reverses chemoresistance of the hypoxic zones in order to destroy stem cells. Magnetodrones cannot proliferate in the human body as they die within 60 minutes after the injection because the temperature of the human body is too high for them to survive. Having reached 100% remission rate and no side effects observed in their preclinical studies, Starpax is confident of achieving similar results in its human clinical studies scheduled for the end of the first quarter of 2024. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

October 10, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Vertiqal Studios strengthens position in Australia with appointment of Rifle as agency of record

Vertiqal Studios

Vertiqal Studios CEO Jon Dwyer joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with news that the company has appointed Rifle Agency as its agency of record for Australia. The move comes as Vertiqal experiences substantial growth in Australia and New Zealand, where viewer preferences align with those in North America and the UK. The agency will handle both creative video production and distribution across Vertiqal Studios' network. Vertiqal Studios already reaches almost 20% of the Australian audience organically and the partnership aims to strengthen Vertiqal's presence in Australia further. The collaboration between Vertiqal and Rifle Agency is marked by a regionally exclusive white-label partnership, where Rifle will market and sell Vertiqal's creative assets and distribution services. This unique arrangement allows Rifle to leverage Vertiqal Studios' creative expertise and extensive distribution network while offering brands tailored video content and distribution solutions. It's a low-risk strategy for both parties to explore the Australian market and offers exciting growth opportunities. Contact Details Proactive Investors +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

October 09, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Direct Launches "Trade Wins", an Analytics Enhancement Designed to Better Gauge Vertical Media Engagement

News Direct

News Direct today announced Trade Wins, a significant enhancement to its performance analytics that provides users actionable data regarding engagement with news releases from among industry trade media. Unlike legacy newswires which rely on sometimes decades-old internal databases of trade publication contacts, often with limited staff keeping them current, News Direct's partnership with one of the industry’s leading media monitoring and media database platforms enables it to provide up-to-date targeting of key journalists at tens of thousands of publications. News Direct leverages a comprehensive global directly of media contacts to create highly in-depth lists of trade journalists from within hundreds of industry verticals and sub-verticals, which are automatically refreshed to the most recent update each time any category is selected. The platform is then able to deliver meaningful analytics that provide the issuer with open rates, unique opens, total opens, click rates, unique clicks and engagement over time, which forms the basis of Trade Wins reports. The service will be available to all users for $50 per report. “From the beginning, News Direct has aimed to offer users as much useful data as possible to help them understand the impact of their news distribution efforts. Until now, that's been primarily focused on information that can be gathered from digital media and news portals. Trade Wins provides a more granular view of the engagement their content is receiving within the trade media, which for many companies represents the most fertile opportunities for earned media coverage”, observed Gregg Castano, News Direct Founder and CEO. About News Direct News Direct is a technology-driven content distribution and amplification platform for PR, IR, corporate communications and marketing professionals. Our automated platform delivers a completely reimagined, modernized user experience for newswire users that has reshaped the industry landscape. Additionally, the company has expanded its offerings to include an array of technology-enhanced message amplification tools ranging from sponsored content to podcasting products, all from one online destination. Contact Details News Direct Media at News Direct media@newsdirect.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

October 09, 2023 08:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Greater Miami Jewish Federation to Hold Israel Solidarity Rally on Tuesday, Oct. 10 from 6-7 p.m. at Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach

Greater Miami Jewish Federation

What: Israel Solidarity Rally community-wide gathering Where: Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, 1933-1945 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Who: Greater Miami Jewish Federation, its Jewish Community Relations Council, the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami and other community organizations When: 6 - 7 p.m., Tuesday, October 10, 2023 Why: In the wake of the unprovoked, deadly, multi-front Hamas attacks on Israel, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation will gather the Miami community at the Holocaust Memorial to show solidarity with the people of Israel. Local leaders, clergy and elected officials will speak. Editor’s note: Media credentials will be required. A media platform will be available for cameras. Live trucks can be parked at 19 th Street. English and Spanish interviews will be available. Day of contact: John P. David at 305.724.3903. In addition to the rally, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation has opened an Israel Emergency Fund. Federation is in close contact with its overseas partners and anticipates an unprecedented need for cash to assist victims of terror and their families. As always, Federation will absorb all administrative costs so that 100 percent of funds donated to this emergency campaign will provide critically needed aid to victims and their families. Those wishing to contribute can visit JewishMiami.org/ief or call 305.576.4000. The Mission of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation is to mobilize human and financial resources to care for those in need, strengthen Jewish life and advance the unity, values and shared purpose of the Jewish people in Miami, in Israel and around the world. Contact Details Bonnie Reiter-Lehrer +1 305-798-4422 breiter@gmjf.org John P. David +1 305-724-3903 john@davidpr.com Company Website https://jewishmiami.org/

October 08, 2023 12:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Sharps Technology (STSS) To Enter The Copolymer Prefillable Syringe Market With Strength And Ahead of Plan Through Pending Manufacturing Facility Acquisition and $400M Nephron Deal

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga Sharps Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: STSS) is pushing into the copolymer prefillable syringe market thanks to a deal with Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp., a leader in contract manufacturing of generic medications and 503B outsourcing that includes prefillable sterile syringes. Sharps announced the signing of an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) to acquire Nephron’s InjectEZ specialty syringe manufacturing facility for $50 Million. This includes a 10-Year purchase agreement for over $400 Million from Nephron Pharmaceuticals for Sharps’ next-generation copolymer prefillable syringe systems. Product delivery is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024 with revenue totaling approximately $30 Million for the first twelve months of production and subsequent revenue of over $45 Million per year beginning in 2025, and continuing through 2033. “With this landmark purchase agreement in place for our copolymer prefillable syringes, we will accelerate the realization of our shared goals, transition the company to revenue, and propel Sharps into a new phase of growth and sustainability,” commented Robert Hayes, CEO of the medical device and pharmaceutical packaging company specializing in developing and manufacturing copolymer drug delivery systems. “At the forefront of our growth trajectory are our copolymer-based prefillable syringe systems, a sector that is experiencing escalating market demand and is poised to shape the future of Sharps.” Owning Manufacturing For A Market Poised For Growth Market research is forecasting significant growth within the prefillable syringe segment, with product demand outstripping supply for the foreseeable future. The market for prefilled syringes is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of ~12% from 2022 to 2030, according to Grand View Research. The prefilled syringe market is a niche sub-industry within the healthcare sector and Sharps will serve both Nephron and other customers within the copolymer segment of the market. Contributing to the demand for copolymer-based syringes are the glass-like features without breakage, and the market could be ripe for growth due to the global lack of capacity for these products and technical challenges in production that Sharps’ team reports a wealth of experience in. Under the terms of the deal, Sharps is paying $50 million for the InjectEZ specialty copolymer syringe manufacturing facility, which is one of the only fully dedicated facilities to manufacture these types of syringes in North America. Located on Nephron’s campus in West Columbia, South Carolina, InjectEZ has fully automated prefillable syringe system manufacturing capabilities that utilize ISO cleanrooms for all key areas including injection molding, high-speed automated assembly, and specialty packaging lines that are equipped with Husky molding machines and Hahn automation. With full control of the InjectEZ facility through this transaction and the capacity from the Company’s wholly-owned manufacturing facility in Hungary, Sharps will have the ability to supply Nephron with their prefilled syringe needs and also commercialize products to the broader healthcare syringe market. The company expects the deal to generate “significant” short and long-term revenue. Nephron Inks 10-Year Purchase Agreement As a result of this deal the Company’s first customer will be Nephron, which inked a 10-year purchase agreement for Sharps’ next-generation copolymer prefillable 10 mL and 50 mL syringes. Minimum orders will be over $400 Million during that period. Sharps expects to begin delivering products to Nephron in the first quarter of 2024, representing about $30 million in revenue for the first 12 months of production. Starting in 2025, Sharps expects revenue of at least $45 million per year through 2033 from Nephron, with additional revenue from its capacity to serve the broader market for its products. “As a company that is transitioning from research and development to commercialization, this is a significant development that will have a meaningful impact on Sharps’ revenue and profitability,'' states Mr. Hayes. We anticipate Nephron's start-up volume to be approximately 60% of our initial planned manufacturing capacity, which will provide Sharps with the ability to fully service Nephron’s needs and to also sign purchase orders for our products from other companies in the healthcare market.” To finance the acquisition of InjectEZ, Sharps retained Lampert Capital Advisors, a provider of financing solutions to public and private companies. Lampert is engaged in a financing process that has resulted in a signed term sheet with a leading middle-market lender for up to $75 Million in debt financing to be used for the acquisition of InjectEZ, production line enhancements, working capital, transaction fees and expenses, and general corporate purposes. Continuing Relationships and Growth Sharps announced a manufacturing and research partnership with Nephron Pharmaceuticals in November 2022 to support the manufacturing of its innovative prefillable syringe systems. Through the successful completion of the new Asset Purchase Agreement and the 10-year purchase agreement, Sharps is poised to have a full partnership and a U.S. footprint that will provide a strong baseline of revenue for Sharps for many years. The new agreement will leverage synergies from both companies and enable Sharps to commercially enter the prefilled syringe landscape with manufacturing strength and ahead of plan. These developments are the culmination of a strong partnership developed in 2022, and may be just the beginning: “We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we strengthen our relationship with Nephron and will update our shareholders as the transaction advances,” said Mr. Hayes. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

October 06, 2023 08:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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