The legendary hotel chain Hyatt Hotels are branching out into home rentals by investing in a startup called onefinestay. The startup specializes in providing a platform for people to rent private luxury homes. For Hyatt Hotels Corp., this investment marks a way to fulfill the needs of consumers who would rather rent a home than stay in a hotel room. It is rare to see a hotel operator pairing with a home rental company.
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Xiamomi, a leading smartphone manufacturer in China, will soon sell its affordable accessories to the US, as well as to UK, Germany, and France. Previously it did not offer its products to any of these countries.
The new efforts are a test to see what the audience is response is before Xiaomi decides whether to sell its smartphones to the west. The accessories for sale will include headphones, portable battery packs, and fitness wristbands. All of these types of products very popular right now in the US.
Iconix Brand Group, a brand management company engaged in licensing, marketing and providing trend direction for a portfolio of consumer and entertainment brands, said Monday that it has acquired the remaining 50% of Iconix China from its joint venture partner Novel Fashion Brands Limited for $56.4 million in cash and stock.
The consideration was made up of $40.4 million in cash and $16 million in the company’s common stock.
The transaction provides ICON with full control and ownership of Iconix China, which owns equity stakes in two joint ventures with the recently public Shanghai La Chapelle that can be put to Shanghai La Chapelle for cash; publicly traded shares in China Outfitters; equity stakes in an additional six retail ventures of which four have plans to go public in the next 5 years; control over a portfolio of 15 unplaced brands; and an office and staff in Hong Kong dedicated to Iconix China. Shares closed at $33.75, with a 52-week range of $32.69 – $44.81.
Endo International Monday reported it launched Natesto, which it described as the market’s first nasal gel for testosterone-replacement therapy in adult males diagnosed with hypogonadism, or lack of testosterone.
Endo noted the nasal gel was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in May 2014 for adult men with deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone, including conditions both congenital or acquired.
Endo also makes and sells other testosterone gels and implantable testosterone pellets, but it said the nasal gel reduces the risk of transference via intranasal application.
The company said it obtained rights to the nasal gel for sale in the U.S. and Mexico from Trimel Pharmaceuticals for $25 million, plus additional payments related to regulatory and sales milestones. ENDP was up 0.9% in recent pre-market trading at $88.11, in a 52-week range of $53.62 to $92.80.
Business, Press Releases, Technology
CannaInsider.com Estimates 200,000 New Jobs in the Cannabis Industry by 2015
Colorado and Washington State are not the only states that have legalized adult use of cannabis. Oregon, Alaska, and Washington, D.C. ended prohibition during the November 2014 elections.
The benefits of legalizing cannabis are manifold. There are the most frequently noted and obvious benefits like the increased tax revenue for state and local governments, in addition to reduced stress on the criminal justice system. However the biggest advantage of legalizing adult use of cannabis is increased job growth.
CannaInsider.com has estimated that states that have passed adult use of cannabis will create over 200,000 new jobs in the cannabis field in 2015. CannaInsider.com provides a comprehensive list of some of these job descriptions created by the cannabis industry, allowing people to become familiar with these new opportunities.
One new job that is highly sought after is that of a “bud tender” — the term originally derived from “bar tender” — which describes the sommelier of the cannabis world. It is the job of the bud tender to help a medical marijuana patient or recreational user understand the best strain of cannabis for a specific desired effect. It is not uncommon for bud tenders to have huge tip jars filled by grateful patrons.
Other positions resulted from the cannabis industry hold the titles of: edible artisan, extraction technician, and dispensary manager. While a stigma remains associated with cannabis use in many parts of the country, it is fading fast – especially among young adults in the “Millennial” generation who are struggling to pay off student loans and may still be living with their parents.
Melissa Hopkins of Broomfield Colorado was recently hired in a cannabis-testing lab in Denver. “I graduated with a sociology degree last year, and it has been a struggle to find full-time work. I am excited by the job opportunities in the cannabis space, I feel like this industry is here to stay and I can work my way up the ladder.”
According to Matt Karnes, Founder and Managing Partner of GreenWave Advisors, LLC, an independent financial research and advisory firm for the marijuana industry, “By 2020, assuming the most likely progression of state by state legalization, we expect the combined (medical and adult use) retail marijuana market to reach $21 Billion. Jobs are just the beginning, a cultural shift towards the cannabis plant is taking place.”
Press Releases, Stocks, Technology
Cannabis Kinetics Corp. to Launch Re-Branded Monarch America Social Media Strategy
Cannabis Kinetics Corp. (“Cannabis Kinetics” or the “Company”) (pending name change to Monarch America Inc.) is pleased to announce the Company’s plan to launch its re-branded social media presence and strategy.
“Re-branding our established social media presence as Monarch America and implementing an effective pro-active social media strategy will be an important factor to our success going-forward as we communicate our new expanded multifaceted business model, particularly outside the marijuana sector,” stated Eric Hagen, CEO of the Company. “This integrated social media strategy will engage with our current and potential customers, partners, retailers, distributors, and the investment community to build and maintain a positive image of Monarch America as we launch new exclusive consumer products and brands, potentially expand into new markets across the country, and identify further possible partnerships and targeted acquisitions.”
Hagen concluded, “Our social media friends and followers have the opportunity to receive the latest company news, discuss Monarch America brand products and services, view exclusive photos and videos, and connect with important new product launch information. We are confident that this coordinated social media strategy will help to build awareness for Monarch America and support the Company’s mission to become an innovative corporate and community leader.”
The Company anticipates providing new website and social media links through its current website www.CannabisKinetics.com over the next 72 hours and in subsequent press releases.
Cannabis Kinetics Corp. (pending name change to Monarch America Inc.) files reports with the Securities & Exchange Commission on EDGAR and anticipates continuing to file such reports. The Company’s filings can be viewed at www.sec.gov.