Core Insights - 22nd Century Group, Inc. has launched its new Pinnacle VLN® Gold and Pinnacle VLN® Menthol reduced nicotine content cigarettes, with initial shipments supporting a sales launch on September 1, 2025, at nearly 1,000 locations across 12 states for a top-5 U.S. convenience store chain [1][2] - The Pinnacle VLN® products represent a significant innovation in the tobacco industry, offering a 95% reduction in nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes, aligning with the FDA's proposed low nicotine mandate [2][4] - The company aims to expand the reach of its VLN® products to promote harm reduction in smoking habits, backed by extensive clinical research [4][6] Product Details - VLN® products utilize proprietary tobacco that has 95% reduced nicotine content, making them the first combusted tobacco products compliant with the FDA's proposed new Tobacco Product Standard for Nicotine Yield [3][7] - The VLN® cigarette is designed to provide traditional smokers with a familiar alternative that allows them to control their nicotine consumption [6][7] - The company holds a comprehensive patent portfolio, ensuring it remains the only provider of low nicotine combustible cigarettes in the U.S. and critical international markets [7] Market Strategy - The launch of Pinnacle VLN® products is expected to enhance brand loyalty among customers of the convenience store chain, reinforcing the company's position in the tobacco harm reduction movement [2][4] - The company plans to continue adding more states and locations for Pinnacle VLN® products, along with re-ordering inventory through the distributor [2]

Core Insights - 22nd Century Group, Inc. has announced a significant increase in state authorizations for the sale of its VLN® reduced nicotine content cigarettes and other products, enabling new sales activities and product launches [1][2][3] - The company aims to achieve nationwide availability of VLN® products across all 50 states, demonstrating compliance with the FDA's Low Nicotine Mandate [3][4] - The company has over 2,000 partner VLN® retailers preparing to implement sales, with expectations for further growth in the second half of 2025 [3][4] Product and Market Expansion - The increase in state authorizations allows for the launch of new partner brands and private label VLN® products in large, untapped markets across the U.S. [4] - There are over 272,000 retail outlets in the U.S. selling tobacco products, presenting a substantial market opportunity for both VLN® and conventional products [4] - Key state authorizations include VLN® Gold and Green in 41 states, VLN® Red in 21 states, and various Smoker Friendly and Pinnacle® products across multiple states [8] Harm Reduction and Innovation - 22nd Century Group has been a leader in the tobacco harm reduction movement for 27 years, focusing on reducing smoking rates and health harms through its VLN® products [5][6] - VLN® cigarettes contain 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes, supported by decades of peer-reviewed studies indicating reduced smoking rates and health risks [5][7][10] - The company utilizes proprietary technologies to create reduced nicotine tobacco blends, ensuring a unique position in the market with its patented products [10]

Core Insights - 22nd Century Group is expanding the availability of its VLN® reduced nicotine content products through partnerships with multiple tobacco brands, aiming to reduce smoking rates and related health harms [1][2][3] - The FDA's proposed Tobacco Product Standard for nicotine yield, which sets a maximum nicotine content of 0.7 mg per gram of tobacco, is driving interest in VLN products, which average 0.5 mg per gram [3][4][5] - The implementation of the FDA's proposal could prevent approximately 48 million youth and young adults from starting to smoke by the year 2100 [4][6] Company Overview - 22nd Century Group is recognized as a pioneering company in nicotine harm reduction, providing smokers with options to control their nicotine consumption [7][8] - The VLN® cigarette is designed to offer a familiar alternative for traditional smokers, containing 95% less nicotine than conventional cigarettes [8][9] - The company holds a comprehensive patent portfolio that ensures it has the only low nicotine combustible cigarette in the U.S. and critical international markets [9]

Core Viewpoint - Valens Semiconductor will release its second quarter 2025 financial results on August 6, 2025, and will host a conference call to discuss these results and the business outlook [1][2]. Company Overview - Valens Semiconductor (NYSE: VLN) is a leader in high-performance connectivity, providing chipsets that enhance digital experiences globally [3]. - The company's technology is integral to advanced audio-video installations, next-generation videoconferencing, and the development of ADAS and autonomous driving systems [3]. - Valens is known for setting industry standards, including HDBaseT® and MIPI A-PHY [3]. Conference Call Details - The conference call will take place on August 6, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) [2]. - Access numbers for the call include U.S: +1 (888) 281-1167, UK: 0 (808) 101-2717, Israel: 03 918 0610, and other: +972 3 918 0610 [2]. - A live webcast will be available on Valens Semiconductor's investor relations website, with a replay accessible shortly after the call [2].

Core Insights - D3 Embedded and Valens Semiconductor are collaborating to promote the adoption of MIPI A-PHY technology in embedded vision systems, which is expected to transform deployment across various industries [1][2][3] - The A-PHY standard offers high-speed data transmission over long distances with excellent electromagnetic compatibility, addressing challenges in harsh environments and simplifying system design [1][2] - D3 Embedded's platform includes an NVIDIA Jetson Orin processor and multiple A-PHY input ports, enhancing connectivity and performance for developers [1] Company Overview - Valens Semiconductor is a leader in high-performance connectivity, providing chipsets that power advanced audio-video installations and autonomous driving technologies [2] - D3 Embedded specializes in end-to-end solutions that integrate sensors, connectivity, and AI for performance-critical applications, holding partnerships with major tech companies like NVIDIA and Intel [3]

Core Insights - Velan Inc. reported a strong financial performance for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with sales growth of 18.6% and improved gross profit margins [3][4][5] - The company achieved a net income of $17.8 million, a significant turnaround from a net loss of $2.2 million in the same period last year [17][5] - Velan's cash and cash equivalents reached $59.1 million, the highest level in five years, following the divestiture of asbestos-related liabilities and the sale of French assets [3][19] Financial Results - Sales from continuing operations totaled $72.2 million, an increase of $11.3 million compared to $60.9 million in the previous year [5][12] - Gross profit rose to $20.6 million, representing a gross margin of 28.6%, up from 27.6% the previous year [5][13] - The company incurred restructuring expenses of $5.4 million, which included transaction-related costs [15][5] Backlog and Bookings - The backlog as of May 31, 2025, was $286.1 million, reflecting a 4.1% increase from $274.9 million at the end of the previous quarter [9][10] - Bookings for the quarter amounted to $78.2 million, down from $83.0 million in the prior year, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.08 [10][9] Significant Transactions - Velan completed the sale of its French subsidiaries for a total consideration of $208.2 million, resulting in a gain of $95.8 million recorded in the first quarter [7][8] - The company also settled its asbestos-related litigation for $143.0 million, funded partly by the proceeds from the sale of the French assets [8][7] Dividend Policy - The Board of Directors approved a significant increase in the quarterly dividend payment from CA$0.03 to CA$0.10 per common share, reflecting confidence in future performance [21][22] Outlook - The company expects to deliver solid performance in fiscal 2026, with 84.4% of the backlog deliverable within the next 12 months [20][4]

Core Insights - Velan Inc. reported a strong financial performance for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with significant sales growth and improved gross profit margins [3][4][5] Financial Performance - Sales from continuing operations reached $72.2 million, an increase of $11.3 million or 18.6% compared to $60.9 million in the same period last year [5][11] - Gross profit rose to $20.6 million, representing a gross margin of 28.6%, up from 27.6% in the previous year [5][12] - Net income from continuing operations was $17.8 million, or $0.83 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.2 million, or a loss of $0.10 per share, in the prior year [5][16] Cash Position and Dividends - The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $59.1 million, the highest level in five years, following the divestiture of asbestos-related liabilities and the sale of French assets [3][4][18] - A significant increase in the quarterly dividend payment was approved, raising it from CA$0.03 to CA$0.10 per common share, reflecting confidence in future performance [20][21] Backlog and Bookings - The backlog stood at $286.1 million, up 4.1% from $274.9 million at the end of the previous quarter, with 84.4% expected to be delivered within the next 12 months [9][19] - Bookings for the quarter amounted to $78.2 million, down from $83.0 million in the previous year, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.08 [10][19] Significant Transactions - The company completed the sale of its French subsidiaries for a total consideration of $208.2 million, resulting in a gain of $95.8 million recorded in the first quarter [7][8] - Concurrently, Velan sold its exposure to asbestos-related litigation in the U.S. for $143.0 million [8]

Core Insights - 22nd Century Group is advancing a 100mm VLN® reduced nicotine content cigarette, targeting an FDA submission by Q4 2025, expanding its product line aimed at nicotine harm reduction [1][4] - The new 100mm product is designed to appeal to approximately half of the U.S. smoking population who prefer this size, enhancing the reach of VLN® products [3][4] - The company emphasizes that its proprietary reduced nicotine content tobacco has been validated through independent clinical studies, demonstrating effectiveness in reducing smoking behaviors [3][6] Product Development - The 100mm VLN® cigarette will be available under both VLN® branding and partner brands like Smoker Friendly and Pinnacle, if authorized [2] - The VLN® cigarette contains 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes, which has been shown to help smokers reduce consumption and increase quit attempts [6][9] Market Position - 22nd Century Group is positioned as a pioneering company in nicotine harm reduction within the tobacco industry, focusing on providing smokers with choices to control their nicotine consumption [5][7] - The company operates a manufacturing facility in Mocksville, North Carolina, capable of producing over 45 million cartons of combustible tobacco products annually, with room for expansion [8]

Core Insights - Velan Inc. reported significant improvements in bookings, sales, gross profit, and cash flow generation for fiscal year 2025, achieving a sales growth of 14.1% from continuing operations [2][6][16] - The company declared a dividend of CA$0.33 per share, which includes a special dividend of CA$0.30, reflecting its commitment to return funds to shareholders [1][33] Financial Performance - Sales for fiscal 2025 reached $295.2 million, an increase of $36.5 million or 14.1% compared to the previous year [6][16] - Gross profit improved significantly to $84.9 million, representing 28.8% of sales, up from $54.6 million or 21.1% of sales in the prior year [6][17] - Adjusted net income was $6.6 million, or $0.31 per share, compared to an adjusted net loss of $15.7 million, or a loss of $0.73 per share in fiscal 2024 [22] - Adjusted EBITDA rose to $27.5 million from $2.1 million in the previous year, driven by higher sales and gross profit [20][22] Cash Flow and Financial Position - The company ended fiscal 2025 with a net cash position of $32.4 million and cash and cash equivalents of $34.9 million, which is expected to increase to approximately $55.0 million following significant transactions [2][30] - Operating cash flows from continuing operations were $26.5 million, compared to $12.5 million in the previous year [6][30] Significant Transactions - Velan completed the divestiture of its asbestos-related liabilities and the sale of its French subsidiaries, which are expected to enhance liquidity and de-risk the balance sheet [8][9][10] - The asbestos-related liabilities were permanently removed from the balance sheet, and the sale of the French businesses generated a total consideration of $208.2 million [9][10] Backlog and Bookings - The backlog as of February 28, 2025, was $274.9 million, down 3.1% from $283.6 million a year earlier, with 82.1% of the backlog expected to be deliverable within the next 12 months [11][31] - Bookings for fiscal 2025 reached $292.5 million, an increase of 1.3% compared to the previous year, reflecting higher North American bookings in the nuclear sector [14][15] Outlook - The company anticipates continued strong performance in fiscal 2026, supported by a solid backlog and ongoing demand in clean energy markets, particularly nuclear energy [2][31]

Stonegate Capital Partners Updates Coverage on Valens Semiconductor Ltd. (VLN) Q1 25May 08, 2025 8:26 AM EDT | Source: Reportable, Inc. Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - May 8, 2025) - Valens Semiconductor Ltd. (NYSE: VLN): Stonegate Capital Partners updates their coverage on Valens Semiconductor Ltd. (NYSE: VLN). Valens Semiconductor achieved robust results in 1Q25, with revenues of $16.8M, surpassing both its prior guidance of $16.3-$16.6M and the previous quarter's revenue of $16.7M. This ma ...