Asensus Surgical to Join the Russell 2000® and Russell Microcap® Indexes

Rhea-AI Summary

Asensus Surgical, Inc. (ASXC) announced its inclusion in the Russell 2000® and Russell Microcap® Indexes, effective June 28, 2021. This follows the annual reconstitution of the Russell indexes, which rank stocks by market capitalization. The company highlighted that this milestone may enhance its visibility and appeal to investors, with CEO Anthony Fernando expressing optimism about the benefits for stockholders. The Russell indexes are used for benchmarking by a significant amount of institutional assets, totaling approximately $10.6 trillion.

Positive

• Inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index may increase visibility and investor exposure.
• Supports company strategy to create value for shareholders through transformative surgical technology.

Negative

• None.

Asensus Surgical, Inc. (NYSE American: ASXC), a medical device company that is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and the patient to pioneer a new era of Performance-Guided Surgery™, today announced that the company will be added to the Russell 2000® and Russell Microcap® Indexes at the conclusion of the 2021 Russell indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the US market opens on June 28, according to a preliminary list of additions posted June 4.

Annual Russell indexes reconstitution captures the 4,000 largest US stocks as of May 7, 2021, ranking them by total market capitalization. Membership in the US all-cap Russell 3000® Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the large-cap Russell 1000® Index or small-cap Russell 2000® Index as well as the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

“We're thrilled to be a part of the Russell 2000 Index and believe that our inclusion will increase our visibility and exposure to investors,” said Anthony Fernando, President and CEO of Asensus Surgical. “This milestone is a testament to our hard work to create value for our stockholders through our strategy and bring the Senhance System’s transformative technology to surgeons, hospitals, and patients globally.”

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $10.6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell’s US indexes. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider.

For more information on the Russell 2000® Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, go to the “Russell Reconstitution” section on the FTSE Russell website.

About Asensus Surgical, Inc.

Asensus Surgical, Inc. is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and patient to pioneer a new era of Performance-Guided Surgery by unlocking clinical intelligence for surgeons to enable consistently superior outcomes and a new standard of surgery. This builds upon the foundation of Digital Laparoscopy with the Senhance Surgical System powered by the Intelligent Surgical Unit™ (ISU™) to increase surgeon control and reduce surgical variability. With the addition of machine vision, augmented intelligence, and deep learning capabilities throughout the surgical experience, we intend to holistically address the current clinical, cognitive and economic shortcomings that drive surgical outcomes and value-based healthcare. Learn more about Performance-Guided Surgery and Digital Laparoscopy with the Senhance Surgical System here: www.senhance.com. Now available for sale in the US, EU, Japan, Russia, and select other countries. For a complete list of indications for use, visit: www.senhance.com/indications. For more information, visit www.asensus.com.

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally.

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $17.9 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives.

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance and embraces the IOSCO Principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and customer partnerships as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering.

FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group.

For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements regarding our future plans and goals which constitute "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 and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations and include whether our inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index will increase our visibility, value and exposure to investors. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with Asensus Surgical's business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which we filed with the SEC on March 11, 2021. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the origination date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210608005241/en/

FAQ

What does Asensus Surgical's inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index mean for investors?

Asensus Surgical's inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index may enhance the company's visibility and attract more institutional investors, potentially leading to increased stock liquidity and value.

When will Asensus Surgical be added to the Russell Microcap Index?

Asensus Surgical will be added to the Russell Microcap Index effective June 28, 2021, following the annual reconstitution of the Russell indexes.

How much assets are benchmarked against Russell indexes?

Approximately $10.6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell's US indexes, indicating their significant influence in investment management.

What is the significance of the Russell 2000 for small-cap stocks like Asensus Surgical?

The Russell 2000 Index is a widely recognized benchmark for small-cap stocks, and inclusion can enhance credibility and attract fund flows to the company.