5:57 am Shanghai... -2.42% (FXI) :  

5:57 am On The Wires (:WIRES) :

• Xura (MESG) announced its partnership with Wikot, a digital marketing agency.
• OSIsoft, a global leader enabling operational intelligence, today announced the signing of a global reseller agreement with SAP (SAP). As part of the agreement, SAP will resell the OSIsoft solution as the SAP HANA IoT Connector by OSIsoft.
• Magic Software Enterprises (MGIC) announced that Segafredo Zanetti France, a major subsidiary of coffee giant, Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, has deployed a mobile direct store delivery app powered by Magic's Enterprise Mobility Solution.
• Ericsson (ERIC) partners with Far EasTone, one of Taiwan's tier-one operators, for a pre-commercial software-defined infrastructure trial. Adopting Ericsson HDS 8000 solution, the co-development will enable Far EasTone to optimize its datacenter operations through increased utilization, and build a competitive public cloud infrastructure.
• TestPlant announced that The Carlyle Group (CG) has acquired a majority shareholding in the company. Carlyle is investing in partnership with the existing management team, which will continue to build and support the innovative test solutions that have led to the company increasing its revenues ten-fold over the past five years.
• Hortonworks (HDP) announced that Arkena is using Hortonworks Data Platform to provide its media customers with an advanced analytics platform to deliver content to OTT customers through its content delivery network. The Apache Hadoop-powered platform enables Arkena to better serve customers' needs for real-time data analysis 
  

4:51 am On The Wires (:WIRES) :

• Emerald Oil (EOX) and two of its wholly owned subsidiaries closed the sale of a portion of the Company's undeveloped leaseholds in Montana and North Dakota, consisting of approximately 9,750 net acres, as well as certain production from non-operated wells, for $9.75 million. The Company used all proceeds to repay outstanding borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility. 
• Brown & Brown (BRO) and the principals of BayRisk Insurance Brokers announced that Brown & Brown Insurance Services of California, a subsidiary of BRO has acquired certain assets of BayRisk. BayRisk provides a wide range of property and casualty insurance products and services, including specialty programs for mobile food service vendors, restaurants, technology companies, apartments and recreational marine, to clients throughout California. The company has annual revenues of approximately $2.5 million.
• Qualcomm (QCOM) and TDK Corporation announced an agreement to form a joint venture to enable delivery of RF front-end modules and RF filters into fully integrated systems for mobile devices and fast-growing business segments, such as Internet of Things, drones, robotics, automotive applications and more, under the name RF360 Holdings Singapore
  

4:02 am Gold Standard Ventures reports new drilling finds key west-northwest extension to higher grade within Lower Breccia Zone (GSV) :

Co announced assay results from three core holes at the North Bullion deposit on its 100%-owned/controlled Railroad-Pinion Project in Nevada's Carlin Trend.

• Two of three holes returned significant intercepts that expand the gold mineralization to the northwest.
• Results are highlighted by 12.4m of 3.53 grams gold per tonne (g Au/t) within a thicker interval of 74.4m of 1.68 g Au/t in hole RR13-13.

4:00 am AEGON N.V. provides strategy update and 2018 financial targets; launches EUR400 mln buyback (AEG) :

Co announced targets for a group return on equity of 10% by 2018 supported by:

• Reducing annual operating expenses by EUR 200 million by the end of 2018
• Additional investments in digital capabilities and expertise of EUR 50 million per annum above the current level to further support the organic growth of the business
• Aligning accounting policies with inforce management, specifically related to UK deferred acquisition costs and accounting for reinsurance contracts as part of business exits.
• The retrospective adoption of these accounting changes as of January 1, 2016, is expected to decrease shareholders' equity by EUR 1.3 billion increase underlying earnings before tax by approximately EUR 20 million in 2016

Capital and cashflow - Aegon's solid capital position and cash flow generation provide the foundation to accelerate capital returns to shareholders. Today's main announcements on capital and cashflow are:

• Group Solvency II ratio as of December 31, 2015, of ~160% - in the upper-end of the 140-170% target range
• Capital returns to shareholders of over EUR 2 billion in the period 2016-2018 dividend pay-out ratio of 50% of free cash flows by 2018
• Aegon announced will repurchase EUR 400 million worth of common shares in 2016, of which a first tranche of EUR 200 million will be repurchased before March 31, 2016.
• Dividend: Proposal to increase the 2015 final dividend per share to EUR 0.13 bringing the total 2015 dividend per share to EUR 0.25, a 9% increase over the 2014 dividend

3:54 am CGG launches ~EUR350 mln rights offering (CGG) :

CGG launches a capital increase via an offering of preferential subscription rights to existing shareholders, for a gross amount of ~350 million.

• The net proceeds of the issuance will be used to reinforce the shareholders' equity of CGG and improve its liquidity as it finances its Transformation Plan.
• The net proceeds will therefore be used principally to cover the shortfall in the consolidated net working capital of CGG of approximately $175 million for 2016 and, secondly, to finance its activities, which will permit CGG to reduce its reliance on drawings under the Group's revolving credit facilities.

3:52 am Gilead Sciences and Galapagos receive FTC clearance to close global partnership on Filgotinib (GILD) :

Galapagos NV (GLPG) and Gilead Sciences (GILD) announced that the Federal Trade Commission provided early termination of the waiting period for the global partnership agreement on filgotinib. The deal is expected to close by the end of the month.

• Upon closing, Galapagos will receive an upfront license fee of $300 million and Gilead will make a $425 million equity investment in Galapagos by subscribing for shares at a price of 58 per share. After the issuance of the shares, Gilead will own ~15% of the outstanding share capital of Galapagos, depending on the $/ exchange rate at closing.
  

3:48 am Public Storage prices 11 mln depositary shares at $25.00 per depositary share (5.40% Cumulative Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, Series B) (PSA) :  

3:46 am Titan Pharma and Braeburn Pharmaceuticals receive FDA recommendation for Probuphine (TTNP) :

Titan Pharmaceuticals and partner Braeburn Pharmaceuticals announced that the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA voted 12 to 5 in favor of approving Probuphine, the first long-acting, subdermal buprenorphine implant for the maintenance treatment of opioid addiction, in stable patients receiving 8mg or less per day of buprenorphine.

• The Committee's vote followed presentation and discussion of data regarding Probuphine's efficacy, safety, and risk-benefit profile.
• The New Drug Application (:NDA) for Probuphine was resubmitted to the FDA in August 2015, and accepted by the FDA in September 2015.
• A target agency action date has been set for February 27, 2016.

3:44 am Kayne Anderson redeems $30 mln redemption of its Series E MRP shares (KYN) :

• Holders of record as of January 15, 2016 of the Series E MRP Shares will receive the regular monthly dividend payment amount on February 1, 2016. On February 12, 2016, holders will receive the liquidation preference per share of $25.00, plus accumulated but unpaid dividends.

3:42 am Arch Coal (:ACIIQ) confirms interim approval of $275 mln in DIP financing; mining operations and customer shipments to continue in the ordinary course (:ACI) :  

3:34 am W.R. Grace to offer $525.0 mln aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2023 (GRA) :  

3:33 am W.R. Grace's Board approves plan to to separate Grace's Construction Products segment and Darex Packaging Technologies business to form GCP Applied Technologies (GRA) : The planned separation, which is expected to be generally tax-free to Grace's U.S. shareholders, is expected to be completed on Feb. 3, 2016.

3:32 am Penn Virginia commences NYSE delisting; expected to trade on OTC Pink sheets (PVA) : Penn Virginia announced that it received notification from the NYSE that the NYSE had determined to commence proceedings to delist the Company's common stock as a result of the NYSE's determination that the Company's common stock was no longer suitable for listing on the NYSE based on "abnormally low" price levels. The NYSE also suspended trading in the Company's common stock effective immediately.

3:30 am Rubicon Minerals intends to delist from NYSE (RBY) :  

3:28 am Scorpio Bulkers reports Scorpio Services Holding has purchased 338,436 common shares at an average price of $4.64 per share previous announcement on Oct 1, 2015 (SALT) :