Blue Star Foods submits application to list on NASDAQ, saw severe revenue drop in 2020

Miami, Florida, U.S.A.-based Blue Star Foods Corp. has announced that it has submitted a formal application to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ).
The application is subject to approval based on a number of factors, according to the company, which include meeting the minimum listing requirements – something the company said “it intends to satisfy.” During the application review the company’s common stock will remain listed on the over-the-counter market, under the symbol BSFC.
“We believe listing our common stock on the NASDAQ will improve liquidity, increase our corporate visibility in the financial markets, and create shareholder value,” Blue Star Chairman and CEO John Keeler said. “We believe that listing on the NASDAQ is a natural progression for the company and our shareholders.”
Blue Star announced in 2019 that the company was seeking acquisitions and investors in its company when it was made public. The company acquired Coastal Pride Company in late 2019, and earlier this year it confirmed it inked a term sheet to acquire Naniamo, British Columbia, Canada-based Taste of BC Aquafarms Inc., a recirculating aquaculture system operation specializing in salmon production. The company has since confirmed that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire the B.C.-based salmon farm, subject to certain closing conditions.
According to an 8-K filing by the company to the Unite States Securities and Exchange Commission (U.S. SEC), Blue Star will acquire all of the shares from the sellers – Taste of BC owners Steve and Janet Atkinson – for a purchase price of CAD 4 million (USD 3.2 million, EUR 2.7 million).  
“Following the acquisition, Taste of BC Aquafarms will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Star Foods Corp. but continue to be run by the existing owner/operators, the Atkinson family,” the company said.
As the company aims to be listed on NASDAQ, its filings to the U.S. SEC indicate that it saw heavy impacts from COVID-19. The company’s 10-K filing to the U.S. SEC indicates the company’s revenue for the 12 months ending in December 2020 decreased 40.8 percent to USD 14.1 million (EUR 11.7 million), compared to USD 23.8 million (EUR 19.7 million) in revenue over the same period last year. The company cited the impacts of COVID-19 for the sharp decrease in revenue.
“The current COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected our business operations, including disruptions and restrictions on our ability to travel or to distribute our seafood products, as well as temporary closures of our facilities,” the company said in the filing. “Any such disruption or delay may impact our sales and operating results. In addition, COVID-19 has resulted in a widespread health crisis that adversely affected the economies and financial markets of many other countries. As a result of COVID-19, the company has experienced a significant decrease in revenue in the year ended 31December, 2020 as compared to the year ended 31 December, 2019.”  

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Robinhood raked in $331 million from clients’ trading activity during the first quarter

Pavlo Gonchar | LightRocket | Getty Images

Robinhood raked in a record amount of revenue from customer trades in the first quarter of 2021, as the retail trading juggernaut nears its public debut.
The millennial-favored stock trading app collected $331 million in payment for order flow – the money brokerage firms receive for directing clients’ trades to market makers – in the first quarter of 2021, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission regulatory filing.

This compares with the $221 million Robinhood earned from payment for order flow in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the $91 million earned in the first quarter of 2020.
Robinhood and others in the online brokerage industry rely on what’s known as payment for order flow as a source of revenue in lieu of commissions. The pioneer of “free trading,” Robinhood’s business model hinges on the back-end payments, in the absence of commissions. 
Market makers, such as Citadel Securities or Virtu, pay e-brokers like Robinhood for the right to execute customer trades. The broker receives a small fee for the shares that are routed, which can add up to millions when customers trade as actively as they have this year.
Robinhood — which is expected to go public on the Nasdaq in the first half of 2021 — made $133 million in payment for order flow from equity trades, while $198 million came from options trading.
The boom in order flow coincided with record retail trading activity and new customer accounts across the industry.

The Silicon Valley start-up found itself in the middle of a firestorm in January amid the short squeeze in GameStop, which was partially fueled by Reddit-driven retail investors. JMP Securities estimates Robinhood added nearly 6 million new clients in the first two months of the year.
Payment for order flow is a common practice, but it’s often criticized for its lack of transparency. The GameStop trading mania shined a light on the revenue stream and many legislators scrutinized the practice. Main Street argued that it gives Robinhood reasons to incentivize more trading.
Over the weekend, legendary investor Warren Buffett said Robinhood has “become a very significant part of the casino aspect, the casino group, that has joined into the stock market in the last year or year and a half.”
Robinhood rebutted that “people are tired of the Warren Buffetts and Charlie Mungers of the world acting like they are the only oracles of investing.”

Become a smarter investor with CNBC Pro. Get stock picks, analyst calls, exclusive interviews and access to CNBC TV. Sign up to start a free trial today.

— With reporting from CNBC’s Kate Rooney.

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Texas Man’s Alleged Fake Electricity Tech Scheme Draws SEC Suit

A Texas man allegedly convinced investors to hand over $17.2 million for a purported wireless electricity transmission technology, then diverted most of the funds for other uses, the SEC told a federal court in the state.
Richard Randall told Wireless Power LLC investors their funds would go toward purchasing equity interests in “purportedly affiliated companies” involved with the new technology, then transferred around $16.6 million to other bank accounts of companies he controlled “almost immediately upon receipt,” the Securities and Exchange Commission told the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Randall worked with an unnamed “recently deceased…

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SEC names new chief economist

Jessica Wachter has been appointed the Securities and Exchange Commission’s chief economist and director of the division of economic and risk analysis, or DERA, the agency said Monday.
Ms. Wachter joins the SEC from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School where she has been a professor since 2003.
“I am honored to be joining the SEC and the dedicated experts within DERA,” Ms. Wachter said in a news release. “Sound economic and statistical analysis is critical to the SEC’s mission, and I greatly look forward to working with the team to inform decision-making at the agency.”
The SEC said Ms. Wachter is one of the leading academic researchers on financial markets and noted that she is also a research associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research.
“For centuries, capital markets have evolved by adapting to technological innovation and the emergence of new data sources,” SEC Chairman Gary Gensler said in the news release. “It is essential that we apply rigorous economic analysis to ensure that our policymaking, enforcement decisions, and examinations are informed by the data we have available to us. Jessica Wachter is an exceptional economist who has completed wide-ranging research on issues critical to the SEC’s mission. The Commission and the capital markets will benefit from her extensive experience and stellar track record in the field of financial economics.”
The SEC’s previous chief economist and director of DERA, S.P. Kothar, stepped down in January.

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Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest, Featuring Articles on the SEC’s Efforts to Help Underrepresented Business Founders and Investors, and the FCA Continues to Make ESG a Priority | JD Supra

BROKER-DEALER –
SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee to Discuss Opportunities for Underrepresented Founders and Investors –
On April 26, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that its Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet on Friday, April 30, to discuss solutions to increase access to capital for underrepresented founders and investors from smaller, regional funds. The meeting will include a presentation from the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation analyzing access to capital across demographic groups and geographies. The Committee will then deliberate on potential recommendations to improve equitable access to capital.
Please see full Newsletter below for information.

1 April 30, 2021 | Volume XVI, Issue 17 BROKER-DEALER SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee to Discuss Opportunities for Underrepresented Founders and Investors On April 26, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that its Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet on Friday, April 30, to discuss solutions to increase access to capital for underrepresented founders and investors from smaller, regional funds. The meeting will include a presentation from the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation analyzing access to capital across demographic groups and geographies. The Committee will then deliberate on potential recommendations to improve equitable access to capital. Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee Agenda SEC Press Release Upcoming Effective Date of FINRA Rules Regarding Brokers With a Significant History of Misconduct On March 10, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued Regulatory Notice 21-09 announcing FINRA’s adoption of new rules to address brokers with a significant history of misconduct and the broker-dealers that employ them, as discussed in the March 12, 2021 edition of Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest). Amendments to FINRA Rule 8312 (FINRA BrokerCheck Disclosure), which require FINRA to release through BrokerCheck which firms are “taping firms,” which are member firms with a specified percentage of registered persons who have been associated with disciplined firms in a registered capacity in the last three years, will become effective May 1. Regulatory Notice 21-09 Alex Oh Resigns From SEC; Melissa Hodgman Named Acting Director of Enforcement On April 28, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that Alex Oh resigned her position as Director of the Division of Enforcement. Melissa Hodgman, who had previously served as the Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement prior to Ms. Oh’s appointment, will return to such role. SEC Press Release DERIVATIVES See “CFTC Renews No-Action Relief for Entities Submitting Swaps for Clearing With DCOs Acting Under Exemptive Orders or No-Action Relief” in the CFTC section. 2 CFTC CFTC Renews No-Action Relief for Entities Submitting Swaps for Clearing With DCOs Acting Under Exemptive Orders or No-Action Relief On April 28, the Division of Data of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued a renewal of the temporary no-action relief available to entities (Relief Counterparties) that submit certain swaps for clearing by derivatives clearing organizations that operate pursuant to CFTC exemptive orders or staff no-action letters (Relief DCOs). CFTC Letter No. 21-12 extends relief available to Relief Counterparties from requirements to terminate original “alpha” swaps and report swaps between the Relief Counterparties and the Relief DCOs, as well as for counterparties from reporting certain primary economic terms data fields for swaps intended to be cleared by a Relief DCO, each subject to fulfillment of certain conditions discussed in the letter. This relief was first issued in 2016 (Letter No. 16-85) and renewed in 2018 (Letter No. 18-03). CFTC Press Release UK DEVELOPMENTS UK Treasury Committee Publishes Report on Net Zero and the Future of Green Finance On April 22, the House of Commons Treasury Committee (Committee) published a report on net zero and the future of green finance in the UK (the Report) along with a press release. The key recommendations proposed by the Committee to achieve net-zero in the UK by 2050 include: • labeling financial products clearly for consumers to assess their climate impacts and make choices accordingly; • preventing greenwashing of financial products to combat the potential to mislead consumers; • recommending the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) should consider undertaking additional FinTech challenges to encourage innovation and tackle any remaining regulatory barriers that discourage innovative ‘green’ financial products from coming to market; • efficiently incorporating revised remits by the FCA and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to include climate change; • reporting the proportion of pension holders who remain in default funds and the extent to which those funds are compatible with the aim to net-zero; • issuing the UK’s first green sovereign bonds (or ‘green gilts’); and • advising the government to outline principles on which the UK will fund its transition to net zero. The Report Committee Press Release FCA Webpage on Climate Change and Sustainable Finance On April 23, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a new webpage on its strategic approach to climate change and sustainable finance. The FCA explains it will continue to broaden and deepen its sustainable finance strategy, which is based on the themes of transparency, trust, and tools, as set out in its previous feedback statement (FS19/6). The webpage highlights: • the work of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and a new webpage on climate-related reporting requirements; 3 • the Climate Financial Risk Forum which has published a number of guides, covering topics such as disclosure, scenario analysis, risk management and innovation; • the FCA’s ongoing work on investor stewardship issues through numerous publications and its work with the Financial Reporting Council; and • the FCA’s international work on regulatory initiatives to collaborate and share experiences, such as the Sustainable Finance Taskforce under the International Organization of Securities Commissions. This publication follows the Chancellor’s March 2021 remit letter to the FCA about how the FCA should consider the government’s commitment to achieve a net zero economy by 2050 in its work. FCA webpage on climate change and sustainable finance FCA webpage on climate-related reporting requirements FS19/6 FCA Consults on Changes to Conduct and Organizational Rules Under UK MiFID On April 28, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a consultation paper (CP21/9), alongside HM Treasury, on changes to the conduct and organizational rules in the UK Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II): research and best execution reporting. The consultation proposes to: • change the inducements rules on research to broaden the list of permitted minor non-monetary benefits to include investment research on small and medium-sized enterprises with a market cap below £200m and fixed income, currencies and commodities research, so that they would not be subject to the inducements rules; • change how the inducements rules apply to openly available research and research provided by independent research providers; and • delete the rules imposing obligations on execution venues and investment firms to make RTS 27 and RTS 28 best execution reports. The proposals on research rules apply to one of the most controversial parts of the MiFID II overhaul of securities regulations. The UK, which has a vast number of asset-management firms affected by the rules, was a strong supporter of unbundling when the MiFID II research rules and inducements rules were originally drafted before Brexit. The consultation closes on June 23. FCA Consultation 4 For additional coverage on financial and regulatory news, visit Bridging the Week, authored by Katten’s Gary DeWaal. For more information, contact: FINANCIAL MARKETS AND FUNDS Henry Bregstein Wendy E. Cohen Daniel J. Davis Gary DeWaal Kevin M. Foley Mark D. Goldstein Jack P. Governale Christian B. Hennion Carolyn H. Jackson Susan Light Richard D. Marshall Paul McCurdy Fred M. Santo Christopher T. Shannon Robert Weiss Allison C. Yacker Lance A. Zinman Krassimira Zourkova +1.212.940.6615 +1.212.940.3846 +1.202.625.3644 +1.212.940.6558 +1.312.902.5372 +1.212.940.8507 +1.212.940.8525 +1.312.902.5521 +44.20.7776.7625 +1.212.940.8599 +1.212.940.8765 +1.212.940.6676 +1.212.940.8720 +1.312.902.5322 +1.212.940.8584 +1.212.940.6328 +1.312.902.5212 +1.312.902.5334 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] UK DEVELOPMENTS Carolyn H. Jackson Nathaniel Lalone Neil Robson +44.20.7776.7625 +44.20.7776.7629 +44.20.7776.7666 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] * Click here to access the Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest archive. Attorney advertising. Published as a source of information only. The material contained herein is not to be construed as legal advice or opinion. ©2021 Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. All rights reserved. katten.com CENTURY CITY | CHARLOTTE | CHICAGO | DALLAS | LONDON | LOS ANGELES | NEW YORK | ORANGE COUNTY | SHANGHAI | WASHINGTON, DC Katten refers to Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and the affiliated partnership as explained at katten.com/disclaimer.

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Jessica Wachter Named SEC Chief Economist And Director Of The Division Of Economic And Risk Analysis

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Jessica Wachter has been appointed Chief Economist and Director of the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA). Wachter joins the SEC from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where she has been a professor since 2003.

“For centuries, capital markets have evolved by adapting to technological innovation and the emergence of new data sources,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. “It is essential that we apply rigorous economic analysis to ensure that our policymaking, enforcement decisions, and examinations are informed by the data we have available to us. Jessica Wachter is an exceptional economist who has completed wide-ranging research on issues critical to the SEC’s mission. The Commission and the capital markets will benefit from her extensive experience and stellar track record in the field of financial economics.”
“I thank Chyhe Becker for her leadership of DERA as Acting Chief Economist and look forward to our continued work together,” added Chair Gensler.
“I am honored to be joining the SEC and the dedicated experts within DERA,” said Ms. Wachter. “Sound economic and statistical analysis is critical to the SEC’s mission, and I greatly look forward to working with the team to inform decision-making at the agency.”
Jessica Wachter is one of the leading academic researchers on financial markets. She holds the Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs Chair of Quantitative Finance at the Wharton School and is a Research Associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research. Prior to Wharton, she taught at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Her research focuses on behavioral finance, capital markets, and financial crises. She previously served on the boards of the American Finance Association and the Western Finance Association and as associate editor of the academic publications Review of Financial Studies and Journal of Economic Theory. Ms. Wachter graduated with an A.B. in Mathematics magna cum laude and a Ph.D. in Business Economics from Harvard University.

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SEC’s Peirce On Crypto Ambitions, GameStop’s Lessons – Law360

Law360 (May 3, 2021, 11:48 AM EDT) — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Hester Peirce is “totally fine” with her “crypto mom” nickname if it conveys her desire to provide clarity to a sector of the market she’s passionate about.Hester Peirce In the second installment of this two-part interview series, Peirce not only riffs on the nickname earned following her dissents on key crypto cases, but maps out her regulatory goals for the digital assets, including her recent safe harbor proposal update, and how she plans to work with Chairman Gary Gensler to achieve them.”I hope it’s an area we can work on together,” Peirce said.

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Torchlight Provides Update on Proposed Business Combination Timing

PLANO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 3, 2021 / Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRCH), an oil and gas exploration company (“Torchlight”), today announced that Torchlight and Metamaterial Inc. (“Metamaterial”) have agreed to extend the date by which Torchlight must give notice of and call its special meeting of stockholders (the “Stockholder Meeting”) in connection with the previously announced business combination transaction with Metamaterial (the “Arrangement”) to May 10, 2021. Torchlight and Metamaterial also agreed to extend the date by which Torchlight must hold the Stockholder Meeting to June 11, 2021, and the outside date for the Arrangement to June 18, 2021. Torchlight is waiting for the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to clear its preliminary proxy statement in connection with the Stockholder Meeting and the Arrangement which it most recently filed with the SEC on April, 21, 2021. Torchlight believes the agreed extensions will provide enough time to clear the definitive proxy statement with the SEC, set a record date for the Stockholder Meeting, and mail the definitive proxy statement to Torchlight stockholders of record as of the record date.Torchlight’s definitive proxy statement will announce the meeting date and record date for the Stockholder Meeting. The record date to determine the Torchlight stockholders that will receive the previously announced dividend of Series A Preferred Stock, which may entitle its holders to receive dividends in connection with the sale of Torchlight’s oil and gas assets after the consummation of the Arrangement, will be determined after the Stockholder Meeting is held.About Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc.Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. (TRCH), based in Plano, Texas, is a high growth oil and gas Exploration and Production (E&P) company with a primary objective of acquisition and development of domestic oil fields. Torchlight has assets focused in West and Central Texas where their targets are established plays such as the Permian Basin. For additional information on Torchlight, please visit www.torchlightenergy.com.Story continuesForward-Looking StatementThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are “forward looking statements.” These statements may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “strategy,” “goal,” or “planned,” “seeks,” “may,” “might”, “will,” “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “should,” and similar expressions, or the negative versions thereof, and which also may be identified by their context. All statements that address operating performance or events or developments Torchlight expects or anticipates will occur in the future, such as stated objectives or goals, our refinement of strategy, our attempts to secure additional financing, our exploring possible business alternatives, or that are not otherwise historical facts, are forward-looking statements. While management has based any forward-looking statements included in this release on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those risks and uncertainties described in or implied by the Risk Factors and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 18, 2021 and our other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto, or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.Additional Information and Where to Find ItTorchlight will prepare a definitive proxy statement for Torchlight’s stockholders to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed Arrangement. The proxy statement will be mailed to Torchlight’s stockholders. Torchlight urges investors, stockholders and other interested persons to read, when available, the proxy statement, as well as other documents filed with the SEC, because these documents will contain important information about the Arrangement. Such persons can also read Torchlight’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, for a description of the security holdings of its officers and directors and their respective interests as security holders in the consummation of the transactions contemplated in connection with the Arrangement. Torchlight’s definitive proxy statement will be mailed to stockholders of Torchlight as of a record date to be established for voting on the Arrangement. Torchlight’s stockholders will also be able to obtain a copy of such documents, without charge, by directing a request to: John A. Brda, President of Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc., 5700 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 3600, Plano, Texas 75093; e-mail: [email protected]. These documents, once available, can also be obtained, without charge, at the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).Participants in SolicitationTorchlight and its directors, executive officers and other members of their management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Torchlight stockholders in connection with the Arrangement. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Torchlight’s directors in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on March 18, 2021. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to Torchlight’s stockholders in connection with the Arrangement will be set forth in the proxy statement for the Arrangement when available. Information concerning the interests of Torchlight’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of Torchlight’s equity holders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement relating to the Arrangement when it becomes available.ContactDerek GradwellPhone: [email protected]@torchlightenergy.comSOURCE: Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc.View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.

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Meet the Brevan Howard-backed, ex-SEC chair Jay Clayton-advised asset manager hoping to gain regulatory approval for the first sustainable crypto ETF

Bitcoin’s energy use and environmental damage have raised concerns among ESG-minded investors.
Asset managers are scrambling to find a way to make crypto investing sustainable.
One River, advised by ex-SEC chair Jay Clayton, thinks it’s found a solution in carbon offsets.
See more stories on Insider’s business page.

As interest in cryptocurrency has surged, so, too, has its associated energy use.
Bitcoin, which consumes more energy than Argentina, now uses 80% more energy than it did at the start of 2020, a Cambridge study found. Asset managers are scrambling to reconcile investor appetite for crypto and sustainability, two trends that are at odds because of the environmental harm associated with mining cryptocurrency.
One River Asset Management, a $2.5 billion hedge fund backed by Brevan Howard, believes it has found a way to bridge the gap.
As of April 30, One River manages $600 million of client assets in funds dedicated to bitcoin and ether — including capital from the billionaire Alan Howard, the founder of Brevan Howard. The firm has created a novel index to enable it to offer carbon-neutral versions of these same crypto funds, said Sebastian Bea, One River’s head of sales and strategy.
The index estimates the carbon expenditure per coin of its crypto holdings, which allows the fund to buy both crypto and the requisite amount of carbon offsets to cancel out any mining emissions.
Bea said the decision to develop a carbon-neutral crypto fund came “directly from client feedback,” as some investors have expressed interest in crypto but have found its environmental effects to be a “stumbling block.”
Investors whose assets are invested in One River’s bitcoin and ether funds are in the process of electing whether they’d like to move their money to the carbon-neutral equivalents, which are expected to be available to them in May.
Investors who choose to participate in the carbon-neutral funds are set to incur the pass-through cost of the carbon offsets based on their market price, which is around 0.1% of the cost of each coin. One River will not charge any incremental fees for the strategy, Bea said.

Bea said the new crypto strategies come in tandem with a firm-wide initiative to buy offsets against emissions from its everyday operations, for which One River itself will pay.
Bea, who prior to One River spent eight years with BlackRock’s hedge-fund business, said the firm plans to file for approval of a bitcoin exchange-traded fund in early May. The Securities and Exchange Commission has already denied over a dozen applications for crypto ETFs.
The firm brought on Jay Clayton, a former SEC chairman, as an adviser last month. Clayton was at the helm of the securities regulator when it rejected bitcoin ETF applicants and cracked down on unregistered coin offerings.
Carbon offsetting is far from perfect, but One River said ‘trade-offs’ are worth it
Bea said that energy consumption across the crypto network is expected to increase over time, as mining each incremental coin requires more energy. Despite this, he said that investors have shown a clear interest in crypto.
“There is a cost to doing this,” Bea said of crypto mining. He added that investing in digital assets requires a trade-off, like the decision to drive cars or fly in planes, as opposed to riding horses.
“We’ve always elected to at least consider options that are in some ways better, but in some ways worse,” Bea continued.
The process of carbon offsetting, which allows an entity to emit carbon by funding a reduction in carbon emissions elsewhere, can be controversial. Critics question its efficacy, pointing to the lack of transparency and poor track record of some past carbon-offsetting initiatives.
Bea said One River is focused on ensuring compliance within the offset projects it purchases. The firm struck a deal with carbon credit platform Moss to buy the offsets that make its crypto funds carbon-neutral. Moss’ offsets are backed by its MC02 tokens on the blockchain, which Bea said encourages transparency.

Ultimately, One River leans on Moss to ensure the offsets are effective, Bea said. He said the firm is still building out its network of carbon-offset providers.
One River is creating a sustainable crypto fund because it sees a clear business opportunity, particularly among investors who are aware of the environmental, social, and governance implications and want to use crypto as a hedge against inflation.
“If you’re going to hold bitcoin for 10 or 15 basis points a year, if you could offset your emissions for that asset, we think that clients are going to make that decision,” Bea said.
Bea said the carbon-neutral index constitutes a “first attempt” to address the environmental effects of crypto mining, and that the firm will continue to evolve its offering based on market feedback.

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Altimar Acquisition Corporation Announces Effectiveness of Registration Statement and Special Meeting Date for Proposed Business Combination with Owl Rock Capital Group and Dyal Capital Partners to form Blue Owl Capital Inc.

NEW YORK, May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Altimar Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company (the “Company” or “Altimar”) (NYSE: ATAC), announced today that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), has declared effective its Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), which includes a definitive proxy statement/prospectus (the “Proxy Statement”) in connection with its previously announced proposed business combination (the “Business Combination”) with Owl Rock Capital Group (“Owl Rock”) and Dyal Capital Partners (“Dyal”) to form Blue Owl Capital Inc. (“Blue Owl”).  Altimar also announced that it has set a record date of April 23, 2021 (the “Record Date”) and a meeting date of May 18, 2021 for its extraordinary general meeting (the “Special Meeting”) to approve the Business Combination.
The closing of the Business Combination is subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.  All required approvals from Owl Rock and Dyal stakeholders have been obtained. The Business Combination is expected to close promptly after the Special Meeting.
“We are pleased to reach this critical milestone in the transaction process, and with approvals from Owl Rock and Dyal stakeholders, look forward to successfully completing the proposed merger, as planned,” said Tom Wasserman, Chairman and CEO of Altimar Acquisition Corporation.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the various travel and other restrictions in place, the Special Meeting will be held virtually and Altimar shareholders can attend the Special Meeting using the virtual meeting instructions set forth on their proxy cards.  If any Altimar shareholder does not receive the Proxy Statement, that shareholder should contact their broker or contact Innisfree M&A Incorporated (“Innisfree”), Altimar’s proxy solicitor, for assistance, toll-free at (877) 456-3463 (banks and brokers can call collect at (212) 750-5571).  Altimar shareholders who have questions or need assistance in voting their shares are instructed to call Innisfree at (877) 456-3463.
Altimar shareholders can register for the Special Meeting by visiting the following link: https://www.cstproxy.com/altimarspac/sm2021/. Only Altimar shareholders with valid control numbers from their proxy cards may submit questions. Altimar shareholders will have the opportunity to submit questions both in advance of the Special Meeting and during the Special Meeting, in each case upon receipt of their proxy cards and the control numbers set forth therein. All questions should be submitted via the chat box on the virtual meeting page on the link listed above. Questions submitted in advance of the Special Meeting and during the Special Meeting will be addressed during the Special Meeting as time permits and at the sole and absolute discretion of Altimar.  Questions will be addressed in the order received. Altimar shareholders who need assistance submitting questions should call Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, Altimar’s virtual meeting provider, at (917) 262-2373.
About Altimar Acquisition Corporation
Altimar Acquisition Corporation is a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Altimar Sponsor, LLC, an affiliate of HPS Investment Partners, LLC, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. For more information, visit www.altimaracquisition.com.
About Owl Rock Capital
Owl Rock Capital Group, together with its subsidiaries, is a New York based alternative asset manager with approximately $27.1 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2020. Owl Rock’s platform consists of multiple investment funds and products including business development companies. Owl Rock is comprised of a team of seasoned investment professionals with significant and diverse experience from some of the world’s leading investment firms and financial institutions. Owl Rock’s relationship-oriented approach to investing seeks to provide companies with sizeable commitments to facilitate transactions and support their growth needs with certainty, speed and transparency throughout the entire investment process. For more information, please visit us at www.owlrock.com.
About Dyal Capital Partners
Dyal Capital Partners seeks to acquire minority equity stakes in and provide financing to established alternative asset managers. With over a decade of experience transacting with institutional financial firms, Dyal has completed over 50 equity and debt transactions and manages approximately $23.8 billion in aggregate capital commitments as of December 31, 2020. Central to Dyal’s success is our Business Services Platform (the “BSP”). The BSP is a team that provides strategic support to underlying management company partners in various areas, primarily including capital strategy and advisory services. Part of Neuberger Berman, the Dyal team is located in New York, London, and Hong Kong.
Important Additional Information about the Business Combination and Where to Find It:
In connection with the Business Combination, a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which includes a definitive proxy statement of Altimar with respect to the Special Meeting. Altimar’s shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read the Registration Statement and combined proxy statement/prospectus contained therein and any documents filed in connection therewith, as these materials will contain important information about Blue Owl, Altimar, and the Business Combination. The Proxy Statement will be mailed to Altimar’s shareholders who were holders of record as of April 23, 2021.  The documents filed by Altimar with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by Altimar may be obtained free of charge from Altimar at www.altimaracquisition.com. Alternatively, these documents can be obtained free of charge from Altimar upon written request to Altimar Acquisition Corporation, 40 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019, Attn: Secretary, or by calling 212–287–6767.
Participants in the Solicitation
Altimar and certain of its respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Altimar, in favor of the approval of the Business Combination. For information regarding Altimar’s directors and executive officers, please see Altimar’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2021 and as amended on April 22, 2021. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement. Free copies of these documents may be obtained as described in the preceding section.
Non-Solicitation
The disclosure herein is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed Business Combination and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Altimar, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a definitive document.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Altimar are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements regarding the proposed Business Combination and expectations regarding the combined business are “forward looking statements.” In addition, words such as “estimates,” “projects,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “future,” “propose,” “target,” “goal,” “objective,” “outlook” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Altimar’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include: the inability of Altimar to complete the proposed Business Combination with Owl Rock and Dyal; the risk of delays in the expected timing of the closing of the proposed Business Combination with Owl Rock and Dyal; the risk that Altimar shareholder approval of the proposed Business Combination is not obtained; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, the amount of funds available in Altimar’s trust account following any redemptions by Altimar’s stockholders; changes in general economic conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; the outcome of litigation related to or arising out of the proposed Business Combination, or any adverse developments therein or delays or costs resulting therefrom; the ability to meet the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards following the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; costs related to the proposed Business Combination; those factors discussed in Altimar’s annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2021 and as amended on April 22, 2021, under the heading “Risk Factors”; those factors discussed in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Risk Factors” and other documents of Altimar filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. Altimar does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact:
Altimar Acquisition Corporation[email protected] 
SOURCE Altimar Acquisition Corporation

Related Links
http://www.altimaracquisition.

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Cushing® NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund Announces Distribution

DALLAS, May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Cushing® NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund (formerly known as the Cushing® Renaissance Fund) declared its monthly distribution of $0.2132 per common share for May, 2021. The distribution will be payable to common shareholders pursuant to the table below:

 
Ex-Date

 
Record Date

PaymentDate

DistributionAmount

Return of CapitalEstimate1

5/14/21

5/17/21

5/28/21

$0.2132

100%

1The return of capital estimate is based on the Fund’s current anticipated earnings and profits for the fiscal year and does not include a projection of gains and losses on the sale of securities which may occur during the remainder of the year. It is currently anticipated, but not certain, that approximately 100% of the Fund’s distribution will be treated as a return of capital. The final determination of such amount will be made and reported to shareholders in early 2022, after the end of the calendar year when the Fund determines its earnings and profits for the year. The final tax status of each distribution may differ substantially from this preliminary information.

The distribution shall be paid on the payment date unless the payment of such distribution is deferred by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon a determination that such deferral is required in order to comply with applicable law or to ensure that the Fund remains solvent and able to pay its debts as they become due and continue as a going concern.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company with an investment objective of seeking a high total return with an emphasis on current income. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of equity and debt securities of infrastructure companies, including: (i) energy infrastructure companies, (ii) industrial infrastructure companies, (iii) sustainable infrastructure companies, and (iv) technology and communication infrastructure companies. The Fund will invest no more than 25% of its Managed Assets in securities of energy master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) that qualify as publicly traded partnerships under the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SZC.”
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Investments in the Fund involve operating expenses and fees. The net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate with the value of the underlying securities. It is important to note that closed-end funds trade on their market value, not net asset value, and closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset value.
Future distributions will be made by the Fund if and when declared by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, based on a consideration of number of factors, including the Fund’s continued compliance with terms and financial covenants of its senior securities, the Fund’s net investment income, financial performance and available cash. There can be no assurance that the amount or timing of distributions in the future will be equal or similar to that described herein or that the Board of Trustees will not decide to suspend or discontinue the payment of distributions in the future.
ABOUT CUSHING® ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP
Cushing, a subsidiary of Swank Capital, is an SEC-registered investment adviser headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Cushing serves as investment adviser to affiliated funds and managed accounts providing active management in markets where inefficiencies exist. 
Contact:

More from this section

Blake Nelson
Cushing® Asset Management, LP
214-692-6334
www.cushingasset.com
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.
This press release contains certain statements that may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are “forward-looking statements.” Although the Funds and Cushing believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the company’s reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required by law, the Funds and Cushing do not assume a duty to update this forward-looking statement.
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cushing-nextgen-infrastructure-income-fund-announces-distribution-301281939.

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Dynagas LNG Partners LP Announces Filing of Form 20-F With the SEC

ATHENS, Greece, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dynagas LNG Partners LP (the “Partnership”) (NYSE: “DLNG”), an owner and operator of LNG carriers, today announced that on April 29, 2021, it has filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “Annual Report”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).The Annual Report is available through the Partnership’s website, www.dynagaspartners.com.Alternatively, unitholders may also receive a hard copy of the Annual Report, free of charge, by request to Capital Link, Inc., using the contact details provided at the end of this press release.About Dynagas LNG Partners LPDynagas LNG Partners LP. (NYSE: DLNG) is a master limited partnership which owns and operates liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers employed on multi-year charters. The Partnership’s current fleet consists of six LNG carriers, with aggregate carrying capacity of approximately 914,000 cubic meters.Visit the Partnership’s website at www.dynagaspartners.comContact Information:Dynagas LNG Partners LP Attention: Michael Gregos Tel. +30 210 8917960Email: [email protected] Relations/ Financial Media: Nicolas Bornozis/Markella Kara Capital Link, Inc. 230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536 New York, NY 10169 Tel. (212) 661-7566 E-mail: [email protected] StatementsMatters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.The Partnership desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “expected,” “pending” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.Story continuesThe forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, examination by the Partnership’s management of historical operating trends, data contained in its records and other data available from third parties. Although the Partnership believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Partnership’s control, the Partnership cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Partnership’s view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipping capacity, changes in the Partnership’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Partnership’s vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Partnership disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

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GCM Grosvenor Responds to SEC Guidance Relating to Warrants

CHICAGO, May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — GCM Grosvenor, Inc. (NASDAQ: GCMG) (or the “Company”), a global alternative asset management solutions provider, today announced in a Current Report on Form 8-K that in response to recent guidance issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12, 2021 (the “SEC Statement”) related to accounting for warrants issued by special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”), the Company will restate its previously issued consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (the “restatement”) by filing an amended annual report on Form 10-K with the SEC. The restatement will relate to the treatment of the Company’s warrants, and it will have no impact on the Company’s previously communicated non-GAAP earnings metrics for 2020 or guidance for 2021, including fee related earnings, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income.

Consistent with market practice, the Company was accounting for the warrants as equity on its balance sheet. After reviewing the SEC Statement and consulting with its advisors, the Company intends to restate its 2020 consolidated financial statements such that the warrants are accounted for as liabilities and marked-to-market each reporting period. As a result of the restatement and the increase in its stock price from November 17, 2020 through December 31, 2020, the Company expects to recognize incremental non-operating expense between $10 million and $15 million for fiscal year 2020. The Company anticipates based on the change in its warrant value that the first quarter 2021 non-operating income will be between $10 million and $15 million.

First Quarter Earnings Call Information

The Company also announced that it plans to release its results for the first quarter 2021 on Thursday, May 13, 2021.

Management will host a webcast and conference call on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 11:00am ET to discuss the results and provide a business update. The conference call will be available via public webcast from the Public Shareholders section of GCM Grosvenor’s website at www.gcmgrosvenor.com/public-shareholders and a replay will be available on the website soon after the call’s completion for at least seven (7) days.

About GCM Grosvenor

GCM Grosvenor (Nasdaq: GCMG) is a global alternative asset management solutions provider across private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and absolute return investment strategies. The firm is in its 50th year of operation and is dedicated to delivering value for clients in the growing alternative investment asset classes.

GCM Grosvenor’s experienced team of approximately 500 professionals serves a global client base of institutional and high net worth investors. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Seoul.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the expected impact of the restatement of the Company’s financial statements on our 2020 financial results and 2021 guidance. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including the completion of the audit of the Company’s restated financial statements; the historical performance of the Company’s funds may not be indicative of the Company’s future results; risks related to redemptions and termination of engagements; effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business; the variable nature of the Company’s revenues; competition in the Company’s Grosvenor’s industry; effects of government regulation or compliance failures; market, geopolitical and economic conditions; identification and availability of suitable investment opportunities; and risks related to the performance of the Company’s investments.  You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company on March 12, 2021 and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Financial Disclosure Advisory

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has not audited or reviewed the estimates contained in this press release regarding the impact of the restatement on our historical financial results. All estimates contained in this press release are subject to change, possibly materially, as management completes the Form 10-K/A and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm completes its audit of the Company’s restated financial statements.

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