Barnes Group Inc. - B STOCK NEWS

BioArctic AB (NASDAQ Stockholm: BIOA B) has announced the upcoming release of its second quarter report for April - June 2024 on August 29, 2024, at 08:00 a.m. CET. Following the report's publication, the company will host an audiocast with teleconference at 09:30 CET on the same day. CEO Gunilla Osswald and CFO Anders Martin-Löf will present and discuss the quarterly results, followed by a Q&A session. Investors, analysts, and media are invited to participate via webcast or teleconference. The webcast will be available on-demand on BioArctic's corporate website after the presentation.

ETQ, a Hexagon company, has appointed Prashant Darisi as Chief Product Officer. Darisi will manage the product roadmap for ETQ's quality management system (QMS) software platform, ETQ Reliance®. His responsibilities include expanding the software into new areas leveraging AI and predictive quality analytics, as well as integrating QMS with connected worker capabilities.

Darisi brings over 20 years of experience in executive positions, having previously served as Vice President and General Manager at Everbridge. He has expertise in enterprise SaaS products, AI/ML strategy, and product management. ETQ CEO Vick Vaishnavi expressed confidence in Darisi's ability to drive product strategy that will benefit customers globally, especially as ETQ explores integration opportunities within the Hexagon environment.

BioArctic AB's partner Eisai announced the approval of Leqembi (lecanemab) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The approval is based on the successful Phase 3 Clarity AD study, where Leqembi met its primary and key secondary endpoints. Leqembi is the first approved treatment shown to reduce disease progression and slow cognitive decline by targeting amyloid-beta aggregates in the brain.

In the UAE, 4.09% of those over 60 have dementia, with Alzheimer's being the most common cause. Leqembi is already approved in several countries, including the U.S., Japan, and China. The antibody was originally developed by BioArctic, based on research by Professor Lars Lannfelt. Eisai is responsible for clinical development and commercialization, with Biogen commercializing in the UAE.

Helzberg Diamonds, a renowned US jewelry retailer, has partnered with Proximity, creator of the award-winning Retail Super-App, to enhance customer experience. The collaboration aims to empower sales associates with a clienteling platform that delivers hyper-personalized service across all touchpoints. Launched in summer 2024, the platform connects customer data and uses innovative technology to power personalization and provide endless aisle capabilities.

The partnership is expected to transform customer engagement, drive repeat purchases, and increase in-store efficiency. Proximity's CEO, Cathy McCabe, expressed excitement about forging deep connections with customers and cultivating loyalty. Brad Hampton, CEO of Helzberg Diamonds, highlighted the opportunity to accelerate their digital transformation while maintaining the human touch that sets them apart in the industry.

ETQ, a Hexagon company, has unveiled the latest version of its ETQ Reliance® NXG quality management system (QMS) software, featuring a new Inspection Management app. This innovative solution automates and streamlines the quality inspection process for discrete and process manufacturers. The app enables:

- Automation of processes
- Reduction of paperwork
- Real-time visibility into quality operations

Key benefits include always-current prescriptive inspection guidance, automatic linking to quality events, a flexible inspection plan framework, and comprehensive data reporting and analytics. The Inspection Management app aims to mitigate the cost of poor quality, ensure compliance at scale, and maintain customer trust.

Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRD-A, CRD-B) reported its Q2 2024 results, with revenues before reimbursements at $314.2 million, down from $324.6 million in Q2 2023. Net income attributable to shareholders increased to $8.6 million from $8.4 million last year, with diluted EPS at $0.17 for both share classes, unchanged from Q2 2023. Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose to $0.25 from $0.24. The company added $23 million in new business, with a robust pipeline.

Segment Results:

• North America Loss Adjusting: Revenues of $76 million, slight decline; operating earnings up to $4.9 million.
• International Operations: Revenues up 7.3% to $102.3 million; operating earnings rose to $5.7 million.
• Broadspire: Record revenues of $97.1 million, up 11.3%; operating earnings surged to $15.1 million.
• Platform Solutions: Revenues fell 40.8% to $38.8 million; operating earnings down to $1.5 million.

Company's debt rose to $233.8 million, with cash and equivalents at $46.7 million. Cash used in operations was $8.3 million for H1 2024, versus $27.2 million provided in 2023. No CRD-A shares were repurchased, but 230,861 shares of CRD-B were repurchased for $2.1 million.

ETQ's global survey, The Pulse of Quality in Manufacturing 2024, reveals alarming trends in product recalls and promising developments in AI adoption. Key findings include:

- 73% of respondents experienced a product recall in the past five years, with costs reaching up to $99.9M per recall in the U.S.
- 47% plan to use AI in the next two years, while 33% are already using it
- 85% report that most or all plant floor workers have access to electronic devices
- 61% attribute up to half of product recalls to supplier issues
- 48% report 11-20 safety incidents annually

The survey, conducted by Censuswide, polled over 750 quality leaders across the U.S., U.K., and Germany. It highlights the growing role of frontline workers in decision-making and the strategic approach manufacturers are taking towards quality management.

BioArctic AB's partner Eisai reported that Leqembi® revenue more than doubled in Q2 2024, reaching JPY 6.3 billion, a 120% increase from Q1 2024 (JPY 2.8 billion). This resulted in a royalty of approximately SEK 43 million for BioArctic. Eisai leads Leqembi's development and regulatory submissions globally, with Eisai and Biogen co-commercializing the product. BioArctic has commercialization rights in the Nordic region and is preparing for joint commercialization with Eisai pending European approval. BioArctic's Q2 2024 report will be published on August 29, 2024, at 08:00 a.m. CET.

BioArctic AB's partner Eisai presented three-year data for lecanemab (Leqembi®) at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2024. Key findings include:

1. Increased patient benefit: Lecanemab reduced clinical decline by -0.95 on the CDR-SB scale after three years, up from -0.45 at 18 months.

2. Maintained safety profile: No new safety concerns observed over three years.

3. Early-stage patient improvement: 51% of patients with no or low tau showed improvement after three years.

4. Continued biomarker impact: Lecanemab positively affects biomarkers throughout treatment.

5. Tau spread reduction: Treatment slowed tau accumulation across brain regions.

These results suggest lecanemab's potential as a disease-modifying treatment for early Alzheimer's disease, with increasing benefits over time.