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Venezuela opposition leader Gonzalez lands in Spain seeking asylum

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By Ana Cantero and Vivian Sequera

MADRID/CARACAS (Reuters) -Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez flew into Spain on Sunday to seek asylum, Madrid said, hours after quitting his country amid a political and diplomatic crisis over July’s disputed election.

Gonzalez – who has challenged President Nicolas Maduro’s declaration of victory – arrived at the Torrejon de Ardoz military base with his wife, Spain’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The exit of the 75-year-old – seen by the U.S., the EU and other powers in the region as the winner of the vote – came a week after Venezuelan authorities issued an arrest warrant for him, accusing him of conspiracy and other crimes.

“Today is a sad day for democracy in Venezuela,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. “In a democracy, no political leader should be forced to seek asylum in another country.”

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Instagram authorities had given Gonzalez safe passage in a bid to restore “political peace”. Spain’s foreign ministry said there had been no official talks with the Venezuelan government on Gonzalez’s exit.

Venezuela’s opposition say the July 28 election resulted in a resounding victory for Gonzalez, and published vote tallies online that they say show he won.

Maduro has dismissed all such assertions and says there was a right-wing plot to sabotage his government.

Gonzalez’s move to Spain marked another jolting shift in the fortunes of the former diplomat who came out of retirement and took over the candidacy in March, initially as a placeholder after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and then another replacement could not stand.

Machado confirmed on X that Gonzalez was now in Spain, adding he had fled to protect his “freedom, his integrity and his life”.

“The increasing threats, summons, arrest warrants and even the attempts at blackmail and coercion to which he has been subjected show that the regime has no scruples or limits in its obsession to silence him and try to break him,” she wrote.

Gonzalez would continue to fight for the opposition from Spain, while she would continue to do so within Venezuela, Machado said, and vowed that he would be sworn in on Jan. 10, 2025, when the next presidential term begins.

EMBASSIES, TALKS

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Spanish TV he had told Gonzalez “any person whose physical integrity or fundamental rights may be endangered would be welcomed in Spain and its embassy.”

He added that his relocation to Spain had been planned for days and the foreign ministry said Gonzalez’s asylum process would now start.

Gonzalez had sought refuge in the Dutch and then the Spanish embassy in Venezuela after the election, Dutch and Venezuelan officials said.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a letter to his parliament on Sunday that Gonzalez had urgently requested refuge in the Dutch embassy the day after the election.

“At the beginning of September, Edmundo Gonzalez indicated that he … wanted to leave and continue his fight from Spain”, Veldkamp added.

Spanish officials, including former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, linked to diplomatic relations in the South American country in the past, were involved in a week of negotiations with Venezuelan authorities for Gonzalez to leave the country, a source with knowledge of the talks told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

OPPOSITION PRESSES FOR MORE PROTESTS

That Maduro allowed Gonzalez’s departure despite the arrest warrant he was facing may soften some harsh recent international criticism of him.

Machado, though, remains subject of an investigation and has largely been sequestered at an unknown location since the vote, emerging only occasionally to lead rallies. Gonzalez’s departure came less than 24 hours after security forces surrounded Argentina’s former embassy in Caracas, now being protected by Brazil, where six opposition staffers have been sheltering since warrants were issued for them in March.

© Reuters. Edmundo Gonzalez, Caracas, July 28, 2024. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

Attorney General Tarek Saab, who met with Gonzalez’s lawyer this week and who has been one of the opposition’s most strident accusers, is set to hold a press conference later on Sunday.

The opposition is pressing for more street protests and international pressure for its victory to be recognized, but so far those tactics have borne no fruit, with military leaders lining up behind Maduro, and no stepped-up sanctions or other international action since the vote amid waning attendance at anti-government rallies.

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A-Mark Precious Metals extends credit agreement to 2026

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EL SEGUNDO, CA – A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ:), a leading wholesaler of precious metals, has amended its existing credit agreement, extending the facility’s termination date and modifying certain covenants. This development was formalized on Monday, with the company entering into the Tenth Amendment to its Credit Agreement.

The amendment pushes the termination date of the revolving credit facility to September 30, 2026, or an earlier date if certain conditions outlined in the agreement are met. This extension provides A-Mark with continued access to its credit line for nearly two additional years beyond the original termination date.

In addition to the extension, the Tenth Amendment also introduces changes to the covenants of the Credit Agreement. While the specific details of these modifications were not disclosed in the press release, such changes typically aim to adjust the company’s operational and financial flexibility within the scope of the credit facility.

A-Mark’s original Credit Agreement was established on December 21, 2021, and has since undergone several amendments leading up to this latest, the Tenth Amendment. CIBC Bank USA serves as the administrative agent for the lenders involved in this credit facility.

In other recent news, A-Mark Precious Metals has seen significant developments in its financial performance and business strategy. The company’s fiscal year results, ending June 30, 2024, reported a net income of $66.2 million, with diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.75.

After excluding a re-measurement gain from its investment in Silver Gold Bull, the diluted EPS was $2.15. Despite a 19% decrease in fourth-quarter revenues to $2.52 billion, A-Mark concluded the fiscal year with over $3 million direct-to-consumer customers and repurchased $22.4 million of its common stock.

Analysts from B.Riley and DA Davidson have shown confidence in A-Mark Precious Metals, raising their stock price targets to $44 and $47 respectively. B.Riley’s new forecast expects A-Mark Precious Metals to achieve an adjusted EBITDA of $31.6 million and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.91 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, up from its previous estimates. This optimism is based on the assumption of increased gold and silver pricing and improved sales volumes.

In strategic developments, A-Mark Precious Metals is contemplating expanding its market reach, potentially through a trading hub in Singapore. The company has also broadened its presence in Asia with the acquisition of LPM and increased its investment in Silver Gold Bull Canada.

Despite facing a 25% increase in interest expenses and a 54% decrease in full-year EBITDA compared to the previous fiscal year, A-Mark remains optimistic about potential M&A opportunities and maintaining profitability.

InvestingPro Insights

A-Mark Precious Metals’ recent amendment to its credit agreement aligns with the company’s strong financial performance and market position. According to InvestingPro data, A-Mark has demonstrated impressive growth with a 60.24% price total return over the past year and a substantial 46.43% return in the last six months. This positive momentum is further reflected in the company’s market capitalization of $1.03 billion.

InvestingPro Tips highlight that A-Mark’s stock price often moves in the opposite direction of the market, which could be advantageous for investors seeking portfolio diversification. Additionally, the company’s liquid assets exceed short-term obligations, suggesting a solid financial foundation that supports the extended credit facility.

While A-Mark suffers from weak gross profit margins, as noted by an InvestingPro Tip, the company remains profitable with a P/E ratio of 15.05, indicating reasonable valuation relative to earnings. This profitability, combined with the extended credit agreement, positions A-Mark well for potential future growth in the precious metals market.

For investors interested in a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers 13 additional tips for A-Mark Precious Metals, providing a more comprehensive view of the company’s financial health and market position.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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Camden National Corporation to Announce Quarter Ended September 30, 2024 Financial Results on October 29, 2024

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CAMDEN, Maine, Oct. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Camden National (NASDAQ:) Corporation (NASDAQ: ) will report financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.  A conference call and webcast will be held at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 hosted by Simon Griffiths, President and Chief Executive Officer and Michael Archer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer.

Parties interested in listening to the teleconference should dial into the call or connect to the webcast link 10 “ 15 minutes before it begins. Dial-in and webcast information to participate is as follows:

Live Dial-In (Domestic): (833) 470-1428
Live Dial-In (International): (929) 526-1599
Participant access code: 504894
Live Webcast URL:    https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/685424551

A link to the live webcast will be available on Camden National Corporation’s website at CamdenNationalCorporation.com  prior to the meeting. The transcript and replay of the conference call will also be made available on Camden National’s website following the conference call.

About Camden National Corporation

Camden National Corporation (NASDAQ: CAC) is Northern New England’s largest publicly traded bank holding company, with $5.7 billion in assets. Founded in 1875, Camden National Bank has 57 branches in Maine and New Hampshire, is a full-service community bank offering the latest digital banking, complemented by award-winning, personalized service. Additional information is available at CamdenNational.bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Comprehensive wealth management, investment, and financial planning services are delivered by Camden National Wealth Management.

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MESA LABS DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

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LAKEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Mesa Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:MLAB) (we, us, our, Mesa or the Company) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share of common stock. The dividend will be payable on December 16, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 29, 2024.

About Mesa Laboratories (NASDAQ:), Inc.

Mesa is a global leader in the design and manufacture of life science tools and critical quality control solutions for regulated applications in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical device industries. Mesa offers products and services to help our customers ensure product integrity, increase patient and worker safety, and improve the quality of life throughout the world.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain information that constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and present expectations or projections.   Forward-looking statements include statements relating to revenues and growth, operating results, profit margin pressure, industry conditions, economic conditions, demand, competition, the effects of additional actions taken to become more efficient or lower costs, risks related to the integration of acquired businesses, changes in legal and regulatory matters, the ability to generate additional cash flow, and any events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future. Generally, the words expect, anticipate, seek, intend, plan, believe, could, estimate, may, target, project, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements are based upon current information and expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those estimated or anticipated as a result of these risks and unknowns or other risks and uncertainties. For additional information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties that could affect these statements, and our business, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2024, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, to provide any updates, or to reflect the occurrence of future events.

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