Posts Tagged ‘nasdaq’

Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (ALTI) spikes on Canon pact

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTI) shares jumped 29.6% Monday morning to $1.40, after the company today announced it had closed on a Share Subscription Agreement with Canon Investment Holdings Limited (Canon), through its affiliate, Energy Storage Technology (China) Group Limited (EST). Volume for Altair stock was 2.7 million shares, compared to a daily average of just over 225,000.

A news release put out on July 25 spelled out that, under the terms of the agreement, Altairnano issued 37,036,807 common shares to EST at $1.5528 per share, providing $57.5 million in proceeds to Altairnano. Following the closing of this transaction, there are 69,452,487 Altairnano common shares outstanding.

On September 20, 2010, Altairnano announced that it had entered into the Share Subscription Agreement, as amended, under which Canon had agreed to purchase newly issued common shares of Altairnano, which resulted in EST owning 53.3% of Altairnano’s common shares, 49.8% on a fully diluted basis, immediately following the closing.

“While this transaction took considerably longer to close than expected, the Canon investment allows us to now focus on growing the business and creating shareholder wealth,” said Terry Copeland, Altairnano president and Chief Executive Officer.

Headquartered in Reno, Nev. with manufacturing in Anderson, Ind., Altairnano is a leading provider of energy storage systems for clean, efficient power and energy management. Altairnano’s nano lithium-ion titanate-based solutions are among the highest performing and most scalable, with applications that include complete energy storage systems for frequency regulation and renewables integration for the electric grid, and battery modules and cells for transportation and industrial applications.

Universal Forest Products Inc. (UFPI) higher on Q2 results

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

Universal Forest Products Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI) shares jumped 18.4% to $28.49 after the supplier of building materials late Wednesday reported second-quarter results. Volume for the stock topped 829,000 shares or eight times its normal daily average

Net earnings for the quarter were $4.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $13.7 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, for the same period of 2010. Profits in the quarter were negatively affected by severance and early retirement charges totaling $0.11 per diluted share after deducting income tax expense.

“These are challenging times, but we are positioning the Company for better results. We have cut costs and implemented plans intended to maintain our strengths and capitalize on our opportunities moving forward,” outgoing CEO Michael B. Glenn was quoted in a July 13 press release as saying.

“We’re maintaining a keen focus on costs and on prudent, conservative decision-making that will create opportunities for sustainable growth and success.”

Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Universal Forest Products, Inc. is a holding company that provides capital, management and administrative resources to subsidiaries that design, manufacture and market wood and wood-alternative products for DIY/retail home centers and other retailers.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) leaps on investment from Chesapeake Energy Corp

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Shares of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE) rose 11.9% to $16.88. The stock got a lift after Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) said Tuesday it would invest $150 million over three years to fund the development of liquefied natural-gas truck-fueling stations. Volume for Clean Energy stock was 7.7 million shares, or better than five times its daily average.

Moreover, Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts upgraded Clean Energy to buy from underperform. A release issued Tuesday stated that the investment is dedicated to help fund the development of approximately 150 LNG truck fueling stations at strategic truck-stop locations along major trucking corridors to form the backbone of “America’s Natural Gas Highway.”

Chesapeake is the sole investor in the transaction, and will make the investment in Clean Energy through its newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary, Chesapeake NG Ventures Corporation (CNGV).

“With the advent of new natural gas truck engines well-suited for heavy-duty, over-the-road trucking, it is time to build America’s Natural Gas Highway,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, President and CEO of Clean Energy in the same release. “The investment by Chesapeake will help us accelerate the development of this important fueling network.”

Based in Seal Beach, California, Clean Energy is the largest provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America and a global leader in the expanding natural gas vehicle market.

Kandi Technologies Corp. (KNDI) wins contract, stock ignites

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Kandi Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: KNDI) shares rose 27.9% to $2.34. The Chinese electric-vehicles manufacturer said it signed an agreement with Hangzhou Electric Vehicle Service Co. to work with it on a municipal government electric-vehicle pilot program. Volume for the shares totaled 757,000, or better than double its daily average.

A news release issued July 11 stated that Hangzhou., a professional service company affiliate of State Grid Corporation, is assisting the local municipal government in launching the 20,000 pure electric vehicle pilot program for Hangzhou consumers through the end of 2012. Hangzhou Electric Vehicle Service Co. also manages the local State Grid “Express Change” battery service network.

Under the agreement, Hangzhou Electric Vehicle Service Co. will ensure that the service network being built by State Grid will support Kandi’s technical requirement and infrastructure needs, while permitting efficient and effective operation of Kandi’s EVs.

The same release quoted Kandi CEO Xiaoming Hu as saying, “We are very pleased to announce our newest strategic partnership with Hangzhou Electric Vehicle Service Co. This cooperative agreement will form a solid foundation for consumers’ access to Kandi’s pure electric vehicles in the Hangzhou market.”

Kandi Technologies, Corp. is a manufacturer and exporter of a variety of vehicles in China, making it a world leader in the production of popular off-road vehicles.

Hot Topic Inc. (HOTT) sales gains drive stock higher

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Hot Topic Inc. (Nasdaq: HOTT) shares jumped 12.1% Thursday to $8.32. The teen retailer had a 0.4% gain in same-store sales when a decline was expected. Volume for the stock totaled 1.7 million shares, when a day usually passes with trades around 692,000.

On Wednesday, figures were released which showed net sales came in at $100 million in June. In addition, Hot Topic, Inc. announced today that on July 5, its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share payable on August 1, to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 18.

Management of the chain was not available for comment.

Hot Topic, Inc. is a mall and web based specialty retailer operating the Hot Topic and Torrid concepts. Hot Topic offers music/pop culture-licensed and music/pop culture-influenced apparel, accessories, music and gift items for young men and women principally between the ages of 12 and 22.

Torrid offers apparel, lingerie, shoes and accessories designed for various lifestyles for plus-size females principally between the ages of 15 and 29. As of July 2, 2011, the company operated 639 Hot Topic stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, 146 Torrid stores, and Internet stores www.hottopic.com and www.torrid.com.