WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeuroMetrix, Inc. (Nasdaq:NURO) today reported that it will be both exhibiting and sponsoring a diabetic neuropathy symposium at the 28th Annual Meeting of NEURODIAB held in Rome, Italy September 4-7.Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication of diabetes, affecting over half of people with diabetes. It causes significant morbidity including pain, increased risk of falling in the elderly, and is the primary trigger for diabetic foot ulcers which may require lower extremity amputations. Early detection of neuropathy allows for earlier clinical intervention to help mitigate the effects of neuropathy on both patient quality of life and cost of care.

NEURODIAB is the annual meeting of the Diabetic Neuropathy Study Group of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) where thought leaders share ideas and scientific findings on diabetic neuropathy. NEURODIAB is considered the most important annual event in the field of diabetic neuropathy.

The symposium, The Quest for Early Diagnosis of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, features three of the most prominent leaders in the field of diabetic neuropathy research. Dr. Peter Kempler from Semmelweis University in Budapest will chair the symposium and Professor Solomon Tesfaye from the University of Sheffield, and Dr. Bruce Perkins from the University of Toronto will present. Both Professor Tesfaye and Dr. Perkins have extensive clinical experience with the DPNCheck^® technology and will be sharing their thoughts on DPNCheck’s role in improving diabetes care.

“We are pleased to participate in NEURODIAB and sponsor this symposium,” said Shai N. Gozani, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of NeuroMetrix. “This symposium explores the importance of advanced technology for improving patient care and we are excited that DPNCheck’s role will be highlighted within this prestigious conference.”

*About DPNCheck*

DPNCheck is a quantitative nerve conduction test that is used by physicians and health care professionals to evaluate systemic neuropathies such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or DPN. It is designed to be used at the point-of-care to objectively detect, stage, and monitor DPN. The device measures nerve conduction velocity and response amplitude of the sural nerve, a nerve in the lower leg and ankle. These parameters are recognized as sensitive and specific biomarkers of DPN.

*About NeuroMetrix*

NeuroMetrix is an innovation driven healthcare company combining neurostimulation and digital medicine to address chronic health conditions including chronic pain, sleep disorders, and diabetes. The company's lead product is Quell^®, an over-the-counter wearable therapeutic device for chronic pain. The company also markets DPNCheck, a rapid point-of-care test for diabetic neuropathy, which is the most common long-term complication of Type 2 diabetes. For more information, please visit NeuroMetrix.com.

NeuroMetrix, Inc.
Thomas T. Higgins, 781-314-2761
SVP and Chief Financial Officer
neurometrix.ir@neurometrix.com

Source: NeuroMetrix, Inc. Reported by GlobeNewswire 6 hours ago.

· *EUR/JPY rallied to a high of 130.85 from a low of 129.58 as markets turned highly positive.*
· *There is not too much more to be expected from Wall Street for the rest of the day.*
· *Eear** should be left to the ground for further trade headlines given that Canada and the US are in today *
· *Keeping an eye on European yields is key at this juncture.*

EUR/JPY rallied to a high of 130.85 from a low of 129.58 as markets turned highly positive. EUR/JPY is currently trading at 130.58 while USD/JPY pulls back to 111.64 from 111.83 highs and EUR/USD bulls meet resistance in its recovery from European session lows. 

European bourses were mixed with the positives:

· German DAX +0.3%;
· French CA C+0.3%;
· Italy MIB +0.6%;

and the laggards:

· UK FTSE -0.7% (lower despite bid in commodities (CRB index strong at 193.29), hit by sterling strength on positive Brexit noise);
· Spain IBEX -0.2%.

However, Wall Street bulls have been far more committed so far. The NASDAQ is up 0.82%, S&P 500, +0.52% and the DJIA is higher by a relatively modest 0.27% at the time of writing. The moves have been spurred on by US Q2 GDP updates in at 4.2%, compared with a 4.1% estimate as well as progress in trade talks and strong corporate results. For the month of August, the Dow is up 2.8%, the S&P is up 3.4%, and the Nasdaq is up 5.5%.

Meanwhile, there is not too much more to be expected from Wall Street for the rest of the day as volumes will be light in the holiday season and in the absence of earnings and data for the rest of the day. Instead, the political overhang in European politics and ear should be left to the ground for further trade headlines given that Canada and the US are in today - Canada’s Freeland said that the US and Canada agreed to meet at 5pm ET today to review. However, both Freeland and PM Trudeau said that the details of their negotiations were not going to be made public. Additionally, Trudeau said that deal could be possible by this Friday - so there could be some sound bites during today an tomorrow, but nothing particularly concrete by the sounds of things.  

*Watching yield spreads from here, upside potential in the euro still*

EUR/USD has made a recovery back to 1.17 the figure from the European lows of 1.1651 but remains short of the cloud top at 1.1720 as rates push back in favour of the dollar, capping progress and repeated failures below the cloud top may embed a top to August's rally as we draw in for a close to the month. This, in turn, should weigh on EUR/JPY that had otherwise broken up through the cloud top at 130.10 like a knife through butter. However, in terms of the EU/US swap 10yr spread, the market has eroded up through the 2017-20018 downtrend and the 55-day ma and eyes are set om the 200-day ma at -1.858. So keeping an eye on European yields is key at this juncture - watching EUR/USD 1.1790's on such positive moves in EU yields that may come of further stabilisation on European politics - eyes on Italian September budget proposals. 

*EUR/JPY levels*

EUR/JPY has broken the 2018 downtrend line at 130.50 and now eyes the 50-W SMA at 131.52 on a break of recent highs at 130.85. Then the July high at 131.98 come sin to play. On the downside, analysts at Commerzbank would allow for dips to now hold at circa 129.00-128.50 before another leg higher being seen. Reported by FXstreet.com 5 hours ago.

Do you go on holiday during the summer? For some, it’s convienient because of the school schedule. And there’s a general slowdown in August – emails get returned later, three day weekends get turned into five day weekends. It’s a mental slow down, so why not a physical slow down?   Italy has been ... Reported by Lainey Gossip 4 hours ago.

The Italian football club Rimini, which plays in the Italian Serie C division, has sold a portion of the team’s shares in exchange for cryptocurrency.The first-of-its-kind acquisition was made by Heritage Sports Holdings (HSH), a sports investment company based in the United Arab Emirates. Contrary to initial reporting by various outlets, the club’s shares were not purchased with bitcoin. Instead, representatives used Quantocoin (QTC), a Gibraltar-based cryptocurrency, to buy out roughly 25 percent of the team’s shares. One of the project’s partners, Pablo V. Dana, is a partner and shareholder at HSH, as well.

The announcement came by way of Rimini’s president Giorgio Grassi. In a press release, he states:

“Negotiations with this group have been ongoing for a couple of months. Heritage Sports Holdings, with its partner Quantocoin, will try to bring to the team and to the city new ideas and synergies from the sporting, brand image and technological point of views. Heritage Sports Holdings’ participation is innovative in view of its crypto payment system and its use of blockchain technology.”

HSH was founded in 2013. The company operates as both a facilitator in football teams’ acquisitions and as a direct investor in ventures related to football in both Asian and European countries. Other clubs owned by HSH include Union Deportiva Los Barrios, a Spanish football sixth division team, and Mantova football in Italy. HSH also owns Gibraltar United, one of the first football clubs to pay part of its players’ wages in digital currency.

Rimini is an old club with a troubled history. The organization filed for bankruptcy in 2006, even after playing Juventus at Stadio Romeo Neri, a highly anticipated match that ended in a 1-1 tie. The group later faced several problems, including the exits of several board members, which led to Rimini vanishing from the playing field and being re-founded three times.

With the team now back in the league, Grassi announced the cryptocurrency purchase, which is the first of its kind for any professional sports team.

“This acquisition will enter the history of football, bringing a very important resonance to the city of Rimini. In recent weeks, Heritage Sports Holdings has shown great interest in the Rimini brand and in our innovative approach to football. The new members appreciated the transparency of Rimini F.C., its economic sustainability, its territoriality, its commitment to the world of solidarity, and the critical mass that our world expresses with all its affiliated companies.”

The cryptocurrency industry has made a presence for itself on the international football scene. In addition to today’s news and Gibraltar United’s crypto salary option for its team, eToro recently entered in a partnership with the English Premier League in an effort to bring cryptocurrency to the league’s payment structure.

This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. Reported by Bitcoin Magazine 5 hours ago.

Chicago’s Popular Shortcut Now Powered by Waze Beacons, Eliminating Navigation Blackouts

CHICAGO, Aug. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beginning this Labor Day weekend, Chicago drivers will experience seamless navigation through the city’s five miles of multi-level streets, powered by a new collaboration between SpotHero, Waze, and the City of Chicago. Through this partnership, the two mobility companies will install more than 400 Waze Beacons devices which deliver Bluetooth-enabled connectivity where GPS signals can’t reach. The initiative aims to put an end to underground signal blackouts.SpotHero and Waze share a mission to improve mobility. Previously, drivers using Waze or other GPS services would lose reception on Chicago’s lower roads, hindering their ability to navigate to their destination accurately. This loss of connection creates driver confusion and can lead to traffic crashes and congestion. Extending connectivity underground remains a challenge in tunnels and underground roads worldwide, and until now for Chicago’s Lower Wacker Drive, Lower Lower Wacker Drive, Lower Columbus Drive, Lower Michigan Avenue and other locations.

It’s a challenge that Waze engineer Gil Disatnik first encountered in 2014 after he lost GPS signal driving through a Boston tunnel and missed the turn to the airport. After months of developing a solution, Disatnik launched the Waze Beacons Program in 2016, and it is now live domestically in Boston and Pittsburgh as well as internationally in Brazil, France, Italy, Israel and Czech Republic. Worldwide, more than 3,000 Waze Beacons have been installed on 46 miles of tunnels and roadways, and have powered connectivity for millions of drivers.

SpotHero and Waze are uniting together to bring the power of Waze Beacons to Chicago, improving connectivity, mobility and public safety. Waze Beacons installation began on Monday, August 27, 2018, and is expected to be completed by Thursday, August 30, 2018.

“Our mission at SpotHero is to empower drivers to get everywhere, easier,” said Mark Lawrence, co-founder and CEO of SpotHero. “Through the launch of this innovative partnership, we’re excited to make driving and parking along Chicago’s lower roads more connected, reliable and convenient. As a Chicagoan at a locally-grown company, I’m energized by the shared commitment from Waze and the City of Chicago to improve mobility for everyone in the City.”

"The Waze team and I are pleased to bring the Waze Beacons Program to Chicago, one of the first U.S. cities to adopt the technology,” said Gil Disatnik, Head of the Waze Beacons Program. "The benefits of seamless navigation can now be enjoyed underground by Waze users. Waze Beacons technology is open and free to use by any other navigation app should they choose to, furthering Waze's goal of empowering everyone to outsmart traffic together."

“The City of Chicago is committed to being a leader on innovative transportation investments that improve mobility, safety and the quality of life for our residents,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel, City of Chicago. “Chicago is home to a thriving tech industry, and it’s great to work with local startup SpotHero and with Waze who are working to help make everyday life easier for Chicagoans and visitors alike.”

The beacons, which will be installed and owned by the Chicago Department of Transportation, do not collect data. They emit a signal that can aid navigation apps like Waze, and are available for use by all developers looking to make it easier and safer to get around Chicago.

*About SpotHero *
SpotHero envisions a world where people get everywhere, easier. The company connects mobility leaders, vehicles and drivers with the largest network of off-street parking in North America through its HeroConnect platform, a parking API and SDK, and provides the connective tissue to exchange data and payments. SpotHero is also the leading parking reservation service with more than 20 million cars parked and the most app downloads nationwide. This full ecosystem approach makes parking facilities future-proofed, cities more accessible, and the world more connected. Founded in 2011, SpotHero is headquartered in Chicago and has raised $57.5 million in funding. To learn more, visit www.spothero.com.

*About Waze*
Waze is where people and technology meet to solve transportation challenges. It's a platform that empowers communities to contribute road data, edit Waze maps, and carpool to improve the way we move about the world. Thanks to its passionate community, Waze is able to partner with municipalities and transit authorities to reduce traffic and congestion—leveraging current infrastructure while impacting city planning. Waze also works closely with tech and automotive brands to reimagine what transportation looks like today. 

A world with better transportation doesn't have to be in the distant future. By harnessing the full power of community to reverse negative trends in transportation now, Waze can create a world where traffic is history.
                                                                                                                                         
*Media Contacts:*
Lindsay Rand
SpotHero@launchsquad.com
617.945.1915

Andrea De Vos
andrea@spothero.com
646.306.4810 Reported by GlobeNewswire 4 hours ago.

Italy hopes for a breakthrough by the end of this year in the investigation into the death of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Egypt, Italy's deputy prime minister said during a visit to Cairo on Wednesday. Reported by Reuters India 3 hours ago.

Naomi Watts is pretty in pink as she hits the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony and the First Man screening held during the 2018 Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on Wednesday (August 29) in Venice, Italy. The 49-year-old actress, who is a first-time juror, was joined at the event by her fellow [...] Reported by Just Jared 3 hours ago.

Ryan Gosling is sharp in a white suit while hitting the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony and premiere screening of his film First Man held during the 2018 Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on Wednesday (August 29) in Venice, Italy. The 37-year-old actor was joined at the event by his co-stars Claire [...] Reported by Just Jared 2 hours ago.

Venus Williams beat Italy's Camila Giorgi 6-4 7-5 in the U.S. Open second round on Wednesday to set up a possible third-round match against her younger sister Serena. Reported by Reuters 3 hours ago.

NEW HAMPTON, N.Y., Aug. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Balchem Corporation (NASDAQ:BCPC), through its wholly owned subsidiary, Balchem Italia S.r.l., today acquired Bioscreen Technologies, S.r.l., a small privately held manufacturer of encapsulated and fermented feed nutrition ingredients, headquartered in Bertinoro, Italy. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Bioscreen manufactures high-performance encapsulates and fermented products that deliver value-added solutions to an international animal nutrition and health customer base. Launched in 2005, Bioscreen has focused on developing and marketing new and improved technologies to meet customer needs.

Bioscreen’s existing business will be integrated within Balchem’s Animal Nutrition & Health business segment. The Animal Nutrition & Health segment provides a growing portfolio of encapsulated nutrients, choline products and chelated minerals including ReaShure^®, NitroShure^TM, AminoShure^®, NiaShure^TM, PetShure^TM and KeyShure^®. With a focus on improving productivity and profitability, this segment is leading the charge to meet the nutritional needs of ruminants, monogastrics and companion animals.

“We are very excited to bring Bioscreen’s manufacturing, technical and commercial capabilities into our company. While Bioscreen does not bring significant existing business to Balchem, this acquisition provides a European manufacturing platform for Balchem’s encapsulated nutrients and will allow us to accelerate our growth within Europe,” said Jonathan Griffin, Vice President and General Manager, Animal Nutrition & Health.

Griffin added, “The addition of local European manufacturing capabilities for our encapsulated products, to our existing European Choline manufacturing footprint, further strengthens our ability to bring a broad range of health and nutrition solutions to our European customers.”

*Segment Information*
Balchem Corporation reports four business segments: Human Nutrition & Health; Animal Nutrition & Health; Specialty Products; and Industrial Products. The Human Nutrition & Health segment delivers customized food and beverage ingredient systems, as well as key nutrients into a variety of applications across the food, supplement and pharmaceutical industries. The Animal Nutrition & Health segment manufactures and supplies products to numerous animal health markets. Through Specialty Products, Balchem provides specialty-packaged chemicals for use in healthcare and other industries, and also provides chelated minerals to the micronutrient agricultural market. The Industrial Products segment manufactures and supplies certain derivative products into industrial applications.

*Forward-Looking Statements*
This release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect Balchem’s expectation or belief concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Balchem can give no assurance that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove correct and various factors could cause results to differ materially from Balchem’s expectations, including risks and factors identified in Balchem’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. Balchem assumes no duty to update its outlook or other forward-looking statements as of any future date*.  *

Contact:           

Terry Coelho, Balchem Corporation
(845) 326-5600 / tcoelho@balchem.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 3 hours ago.

*Record Annual Sales, Backlog and Bookings Levels *
*Sales Over $20.0 Million for Third Consecutive Quarter*

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Aug. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- *Perceptron, Inc. *(NASDAQ: PRCP), a leading global provider of 3D automated metrology solutions and coordinate measuring machines, today announced fourth quarter and full year results for its 2018 fiscal year (period ended June 30, 2018). 

*FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (in millions, except per share data)*
                         
    *Three Months Ended June 30,*   *Twelve Months Ended June 30,*
    *2018*   *2017*   *Change*   *2018*   *2017*   *Change*
                         
Sales   $ 23.6   $ 22.3   $ 1.3   $ 84.7   $ 77.9     $ 6.8
Net Income (Loss)     0.8     0.2     0.6     3.7     (0.2 )     3.9
Diluted Income (Loss) per Share   $ 0.08   $ 0.03   $ 0.05   $ 0.39   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.41
                                       

Fourth quarter fiscal 2018 results compared to fourth quarter fiscal 2017:

· Fourth quarter consolidated net sales were $23.6 million, the Company’s highest quarterly revenue ever and an increase of 5.8%, compared to the fourth fiscal quarter one year ago
· Consolidated gross profit was $9.0 million and gross margin was 38.1%
· Fourth quarter reported and recurring operating income totaled $1.8 million
· Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was $0.8 million, up significantly compared to net income of $0.2 million in the prior-year quarter
· Fourth quarter diluted earnings per share was $0.08, compared to $0.03 per share in the fourth fiscal quarter one year ago
· Bookings totaled $19.9 million
· Backlog was $47.5 million, a record high for year-end backlog for the Company
· Cash and short-term investments totaled $6.7 million at June 30, 2018

Full year fiscal 2018 results compared to full year fiscal 2017:

· Full year consolidated net sales increased 8.7% to $84.7 million compared to $77.9 million in fiscal 2017
· Year-to-date consolidated gross profit increased $4.3 million to $32.0 million
· Consolidated gross margin was 37.8%, an increase of 220 basis points over the prior fiscal year
· Full year reported operating income totaled $4.9 million and recurring operating income was $5.5 million, representing increases of 172% and 53%, respectively, when compared to the same period in the prior year
· Net income increased dramatically, growing by $3.9 million to $3.7 million for fiscal 2018
· Fiscal year 2018 diluted earnings per share also improved significantly, achieving $0.39, compared to a loss of $0.02 per share in the prior fiscal year
· Bookings increased 3.1% to a record $87.2 million for fiscal 2018

New revenue recognition rules:

· The Company is adopting the new revenue recognition rules outlined by Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 on July 1, 2018, utilizing the modified retrospective transition method 
· As a result of these new rules, the Company expects to record a positive net transition adjustment to retained earnings in the range of $1.8 million to $2.3 million 
· Included in the net transition adjustment is a gross revenue adjustment of approximately $3.9 million to $4.2 million

First quarter and full year 2019 guidance:

· Revenue for the first quarter is expected to be in the range of $18.0 million to $21.0 million, partially impacted by the revenue recognition rules that the Company is adopting as of July 1, 2018
· The Company expects revenue growth for the full year of fiscal 2019 to be in the mid-single digits

David Watza, President and CEO, commented, “We are very pleased with the strong financial results we were able to achieve throughout this fiscal year, as we experienced record sales, strong profitability as well as record bookings and record backlog levels for 2018. Fourth quarter results were also record setting with over $23 million in net sales.

“As a result of this record year, we are well positioned to continue to invest in our strategic plan. Our strong balance sheet and cash flows allow us to focus on developing unique and disruptive products, which we believe will enable us to expand our business and capture additional share of our addressable market.

“By maintaining a consistent focus throughout this year, our team has done a phenomenal job and expanded our technical expertise with the addition of Helix^®[evo], as well as AccuSite™ , this past year, which contributed to our record performance,” continued Watza.  “We expect to identify and develop additional opportunities to further expand our addressable market within the automotive field, and other industries longer-term.  We believe this strategy will provide Perceptron with long-lasting, sustainable growth.

“As a reminder, effective July 1, 2018, we have prospectively adopted the new revenue recognition rules. This one-time adjustment immediately strengthened our balance sheet as we recognized approximately $3.9 to $4.2 million of revenue, netted by the associated costs, which was recorded directly to retained earnings.” Watza concluded,  “Looking ahead to our first quarter of fiscal year 2019, we expect revenue in the range of $18.0 million to $21.0 million, which is partially impacted by those newly adopted rules, and affirm our previous guidance of mid-single digit growth in our top line results for the full year fiscal 2019.  If we had remained on the old revenue recognition rules, our revenue guidance would have been $19.0 to $22.0 million for our first quarter of fiscal year 2019.  Our longer-term aspirations continue to aim for sustained high single-digit revenue growth and double-digit earnings growth.”

*Highlights of Operations*

 
*INCOME STATEMENT KEY METRICS **(in millions, except per share data)*
                           
      *Three Months Ended June 30,*   *Twelve Months Ended June 30,*
      *2018*   *2017*   *Change*   *2018*   *2017*   *Change*
                           
  Americas Sales   $ 8.6     $ 10.0     $ (1.4 )   $ 34.7     $ 30.3     $ 4.4
  Europe Sales     9.2       7.9       1.3       33.5       32.1       1.4
  Asia Sales     5.8       4.4       1.4       16.5       15.5       1.0
Total Sales   $ 23.6     $ 22.3     $ 1.3     $ 84.7     $ 77.9     $ 6.8
                                                 
Gross Profit   $ 9.0     $ 8.5     $ 0.5     $ 32.0     $ 27.7     $ 4.3
  Gross Profit as a percent of sales     38.1 %     38.1 %             37.8 %     35.6 %      
                                                 
Operating Income   $ 1.8     $ 1.0     $ 0.8     $ 4.9     $ 1.8     $ 3.1
  Operating Income as a percent of sales     7.6 %     4.5 %             5.8 %     2.3 %      
                                                 
Net Income (Loss)   $ 0.8     $ 0.2     $ 0.6     $ 3.7     $ (0.2 )   $ 3.9
Diluted Income (Loss) per Share $ 0.08     $ 0.03     $ 0.05     $ 0.39             $ 0.41
                                                 
Recurring Operating Income   $ 1.8     $ 2.1     $ (0.3 )   $ 5.5     $ 3.6     $ 1.9
  Recurring Operating Income as a percent of sales   7.6 %     9.4 %             6.5 %     4.6 %      
                                               

Perceptron generated record net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, increasing $1.3 million, or 5.8%, versus the same quarter in the prior year, and reflecting increases in Europe and Asia regions.  The Europe region was up due to increases in In-Line and Near-Line Measurement Solutions, Value-Added Services and 3D Scanning Solution, partially offset by a decrease in Off-Line Measurement Solutions.  The year-over-year improvement in the Asia region was primarily due to increases in In-Line and Near-Line Measurement Solutions and Off-Line Measurement Solutions, partially offset by decreased sales of 3D Scanning Solutions.  The decline in the Americas region was primarily due to decreases in the In-Line and Near-Line Measurement Solutions as well as the 3D Scanning Solutions, partially offset by an increase in sales of Value-Added Services and Off-Line Measurement Solutions. 

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, gross profit as a percentage of sales was flat compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the mix of the Company’s revenue and the timing of certain expenses in cost of goods sold under applicable accounting rules as well as increased warranty costs.  

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, SG&A, Engineering and R&D expenses were up $0.7 million, primarily as a result of planned strategic investments in several engineering, research and development initiatives, increased employee-related costs including a higher bonus accrual due to improved financial results, partially offset by lower legal and audit fees, a decrease related to specialized supplies utilized in development of our products and lower advertising and marketing costs.                         
    *Three Months Ended June 30,*   *Twelve Months Ended June 30,*
*BOOKINGS (in millions)* *2018*   *2017*   *Change*   *2018*   *2017*   *Change*
                         
*Geographic Region*                        
Americas   $ 8.2   $ 8.6   $ (0.4 )   $ 35.0   $ 39.2   $ (4.2 )
Europe     9.3     7.6     1.7       36.1     29.4     6.7  
Asia     2.4     2.5     (0.1 )     16.1     16.0     0.1  
Total Bookings   $ 19.9   $ 18.7   $ 1.2     $ 87.2   $ 84.6   $ 2.6  
                         
                         
                       
*BACKLOG (in millions)* *6/30/2018*   *3/31/2018*   *12/31/2017*   *9/30/2017*   *6/30/2017*  
                       
*Geographic Region*                      
Americas   $ 19.8   $ 20.2   $ 18.0     $ 21.1   $ 19.5  
Europe     19.0     18.9     19.6       18.0     16.4  
Asia     8.7     12.1     10.9       9.8     9.1  
Total Backlog   $ 47.5   $ 51.2   $ 48.5     $ 48.9   $ 45.0  
                       

Fourth quarter bookings were $19.9 million, an increase of 6.4% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.  The increase in booking activity was primarily due to increases in In-Line and Near-Line Measurement Solutions, partially offset by declines in 3D Scanning Solutions.  The increased booking activity in Europe was driven by increases in In-Line and Near-Line Measurement Solutions, Value Added Services and 3D Scanning Solutions, partially offset by decreases in Off-Line Measurement Solutions.

Revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 exceeded bookings by $3.7 million, which resulted in a decrease in backlog to $47.5 million at June 30, 2018.  This is the highest backlog level at a fiscal year end in the Company’s history. As the levels of bookings and backlog typically fluctuate from quarter to quarter, management does not necessarily consider these metrics to be indicative of the future operating performance of the Company.

*FINANCIAL POSITION *

Cash and short-term investment balance was $6.7 million at June 30, 2018, down from $7.8 million at March 31, 2018 and up from $5.3 million at June 30, 2017.  At June 30, 2018, the Company did not have any bank debt outstanding, down from outstanding balances of $1.5 million at both March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017.

*Quarterly Investor Call and Webcast*

Perceptron, Inc., will hold its fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2018 investor conference call/webcast, chaired by David L. Watza, President and CEO, on Thursday, August 30, 2018, at 10:00 AM (EDT). Investors can access the call at:

Webcast investors.perceptron.com on the Event page
Conference Call 877-317-6789 (domestic callers) or

  412-317-6789 (international callers)
Conference ID 10122079

A replay will be posted to the Company's website after the conference call concludes.

*About Perceptron^®
*Perceptron (NASDAQ: PRCP) develops, produces and sells a comprehensive range of automated industrial metrology products and solutions to manufacturing organizations for dimensional gauging, dimensional inspection and 3D scanning. Products include 3D machine vision solutions, robot guidance, coordinate measuring machines, laser scanning and advanced analysis software. Global automotive, aerospace and other manufacturing companies rely on Perceptron's metrology solutions to assist in managing their complex manufacturing processes to improve quality, shorten product launch times and reduce costs. Headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, USA, Perceptron has subsidiary operations in Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom.  For more information, please visit www.perceptron.com.

*Safe Harbor Statement
*Certain statements in this press release may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including our expectation as to our fiscal year 2019 and future results, operating data, new order bookings, revenue, expenses, net income and backlog levels, trends affecting our future revenue levels, the rate of new orders, the timing of revenue and net income increases from new products which we have recently released or will release in the future, the timing of the introduction of new products and our ability to fund our fiscal year 2019 and future cash flow requirements.  Whenever possible, we have identified these forward-looking statements by words such as “target,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aspirations,” “estimates,” “prospects,” “outlook,” “guidance” or similar expressions.  We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for all of our forward-looking statements.  While we believe that our forward-looking statements are reasonable, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  Because these forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are subject to change, actual results could be materially different.  Factors that might cause such a difference include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those listed in “Item 1A – Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017 and of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any obligation to publicly update or alter our statements whether as a result of new information, events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report or otherwise. 

--- Financial Tables Follow ---

                 
                 
*PERCEPTRON, INC.*
*SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA*
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)
                 
*Condensed Income Statements*   *Three Months Ended*   *Twelve Months Ended*
    *June 30,*   *June 30,*
    *2018*
  *2017*
  *2018*
  *2017*

*Net Sales*   $ 23,594     $ 22,351     $ 84,693     $ 77,947  
*Cost of Sales*     14,573       13,790       52,693       50,178  
*Gross Profit*     9,021       8,561       32,000       27,769  
*Operating Expenses*                                
Selling, General and Administrative Expense     4,848       4,552       18,469       17,347  
Engineering, Research and Development Expense     2,318       1,909       7,980       6,826  
Severance, Impairment and Other Charges     -       1,057       603       1,777  
*Operating Income*     1,855       1,043       4,948       1,819  
*Other Income and (Expenses), net*                                
Interest Expense, net     (44 )     (52 )     (181 )     (264 )
Foreign Currency and Other, net     (311 )     (95 )     (278 )     (293 )
*Income Before Income Taxes*     1,500       896       4,489       1,262  
*Income Tax Expense*     (728 )     (635 )     (773 )     (1,430 )
                                 
*Net Income (Loss)*   $ 772     $ 261     $ 3,716     $ (168 )
                                 
*Income (Loss) Per Common Share*                                
Basic   $ 0.08     $ 0.03     $ 0.39     $ (0.02 )
Diluted   $ 0.08     $ 0.03     $ 0.39     $ (0.02 )
                                 
*Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding*                                
Basic     9,553       9,426       9,469       9,382  
Diluted     9,691       9,487       9,579       9,382  
                                 
                                 

 

*PERCEPTRON, INC.*
*SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA*
(In Thousands)
       
*Condensed Balance Sheets* *June 30,*   *June 30,*
  *2018*   *2017*
  *(Unaudited)*    
Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 5,830   $ 3,704
Short-Term Investments   877     1,572
Receivables, net   32,143     31,943
Inventories, net   13,829     11,466
Other Current Assets   1,327     1,953
*Total Current Assets*   54,006     50,638
           
Property and Equipment, net     6,613       7,377
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, net     11,805       11,866
Long-Term Deferred Income Tax Asset     1,055       9
Long-Term Investments     725       725
*Total Non-Current Assets*     20,198       19,977
           
*Total Assets* $   74,204   $   70,615
           
Line of Credit and Short-Term Notes Payable $   175   $   1,705
Accounts Payable     7,592       8,280
Deferred Revenue     8,691       8,485
Reserve for Restructuring and Other Charges     675       1,113
Other Current Liabilities     8,705       8,572
*Total Current Liabilities*     25,838       28,155
           
Long-Term Taxes Payable     450       969
Long-Term Deferred Income Tax Liability     1,717       871
Other Long-Term Liabilities     601       785
*Total Long-Term Liabilities*     2,768       2,625
           
*Total Liabilities*     28,606       30,780
           
*Shareholders' Equity*     45,598       39,835
*Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity* $   74,204   $   70,615
           
           

*Non-GAAP Financial Measures*

While Perceptron’s results under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) provide significant insight into our operations and financial position, Perceptron’s management supplements its analysis of the business using “Recurring Operating Income” and “Recurring Net Income”.  These are non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP measures, provides incremental insight into the underlying factors and trends affecting our performance. However, it should be viewed as supplemental data, rather than as a substitute or an alternative to the comparable GAAP measure. The table below presents reconciliations of each non-GAAP measure to Operating Income and Net Income, respectively.

 
*PERCEPTRON, INC.*
*Additional Information Regarding Special Items Impacting*
*Reported GAAP Financial Measures*
(Unaudited, In Thousands except per share data)
                 
    *Three Months Ended*   *Twelve Months Ended*
    *June 30,*   *June 30,*
    *2018*   *2017*   *2018*   *2017*

                 
*Operating Income, as reported*   $ 1,855   $ 1,043   $ 4,948   $ 1,819  
                           
Severance, Impairment and Other Charges     -     1,057     603     1,777  
                           
*Excluding special items,*                          
*Operating Income would have been*   $ 1,855   $ 2,100   $ 5,551   $ 3,596  
                           
*Net Income (Loss), as reported*   $ 772   $ 261   $ 3,716   $ (168 )
Valuation Allowance on DTA     -     -     -     568  
                           
*Excluding special items,*                          
*Net Income would have been*   $ 772   $ 261   $ 3,716   $ 400  
                           
*Income (Loss) Per Common Share -** *                          
*Diluted, as reported*   $ 0.08   $ 0.03   $ 0.39   $ (0.02 )
                           
Diluted Income Per Share due to Valuation                          
Allowance on DTA   $ -   $ -   $ -   $ 0.06  
                           
*Excluding special items, Diluted Income*                          
*per Share would have been*   $ 0.08   $ 0.03   $ 0.39   $ 0.04  
                           
*Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares** *                          
*Outstanding, as reported*     9,691     9,487     9,579     9,382  
                           
Dilutive Effect of Stock Options     -     -     -     44  
                           
*Excluding special items, Weighted Average*                          
*Common Shares Outstanding*     9,691     9,487     9,579     9,426  
                           

Contact:
Investor Relations
investors@perceptron.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 3 hours ago.

Sara Sampaio and Izabel Goulart are stunning in show-stopping gowns while hitting the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony and premiere screening of First Man held during the 2018 Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on Wednesday (August 29) in Venice, Italy. The Victoria’s Secret models were joined at the event by Barbara Palvin, [...] Reported by Just Jared 1 hour ago.

BOONE, Iowa, Aug. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kansas State University and Topcon Agriculture are collaborating to develop tools and systems to advance precision agriculture and support farmers.
By working with the university, Topcon Agriculture aims to develop product concepts through gathering requirements, drafting specifications and conducting market research as well as to test products in the lab, on the university farm, and around the state leveraging K-State’s unique knowledge in the domain and using K-State Research and Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station facilities.

“The strategic advantage of using our combined resources for product development and testing is paramount as Topcon Agriculture is squarely focused on creating value for farmers, dealers and original equipment manufacturers. We encourage farmers to ‘Grow without Limits,’” said Brian Sorbe, VP Sales and Marketing for Topcon Agriculture.

“Topcon is globally taking an increasing tactical interest in university partnerships, similar to this great step with K-State. We believe that the intersection between sensors, data, and action are within our grasp, and progressive universities like K-State are in a unique position to help us achieve this,” said Fabio Isaia, CEO of Topcon Agriculture. “For example, we see K-State as one of the most important partners of TAP, our Ag Platform, and we look forward to developing together value-added services for our customers.”

“Our facilities and research strengths are an excellent fit for Topcon’s business,” said Ernie Minton, interim dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension.

 Minton said researchers are interested in working with the company because of its broad, interdisciplinary approach and involvement in many areas that are highly relevant to Kansas producers.

“Partnership with Topcon Agriculture demonstrates our commitment to keeping Kansas producers up-to-date. Precision agriculture offers new tools that will help farmers prosper as they work to feed the world’s growing population,” Minton said.

Kansas State University emphasizes industry collaboration and has seen an 80 percent increase in the number of industry-funded projects in the last five years. The university has successfully pursued master research and service agreements with a number of industry partners. 

“Partnership with Topcon Agriculture aligns with our strategy to engage in collaborative research with industry,” said Peter Dorhout, vice president for research. “We are committed to strategic, enduring alliances to ensure that some of our applied research results in technology transfer and real-world applications that boost the Kansas economy,” he said. 

“The research collaborations established with Topcon are the beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership, and we look forward to expanding the relationship to advance innovation in precision agriculture in Kansas and beyond,” said Rebecca Robinson, director of economic development at the Kansas State University Institute for Commercialization. 

 

*About Topcon Agriculture Group
*Topcon Agriculture Group is a division of the Topcon Positioning Group, headquartered in Livermore, California, USA (topconpositioning.com). The global Topcon Agriculture Group (topconagriculture.com) headquarters is located in Turin, Italy, with its North American regional headquarters in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Topcon Agriculture Group provides advanced IoT connected field and farm management solutions for aftermarket and OEM customers in the agriculture industry, integrating high-precision hardware, software and data to bring efficiency and enhance productivity to every phase of the farming operations. Its brands include Topcon, Digi-Star, RDS Technology, and NORAC. Topcon Corporation (topcon.com), founded in 1932, is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (7732).

*Attachment*

· Topcon

CONTACT: Staci Fitzgerald
Topcon Positioning Group
+1 925-245-8610
CorpComm@topcon.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 2 hours ago.

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Venus Williams beat Italy's Camila Giorgi 6-4 7-5 in the U.S. Open second round on Wednesday to set up a possible third-round match against her younger sister Serena. Reported by SBS 13 minutes ago.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is dapper while attending the photo call for his latest film The Aspern Papers held during the 2018 Venice Film Festival at Sala Casino on Thursday (August 30) in Venice, Italy. The 41-year-old actor was joined at the event by his co-stars Vanessa Redgrave, Nicolas Hau, Alice Aufray and Jon Kortajarena, as [...] Reported by Just Jared 8 hours ago.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Authorities in western Greece have arrested two people for allegedly trying to smuggle 71 migrants out of the country on a U.S.-flagged yacht. The Greek merchant marine ministry said the yacht was stopped in the Gulf of Patras following a tip-off. The vessel is believed to have been heading for Italy. […] Reported by Seattle Times 8 hours ago.

Jeff Goldblum happily poses with his co-stars Tye Sheridan and Hannah Gross, and director Rick Alverson at the photo call for their film The Mountain held during the 2018 Venice Film Festival at Sala Casino on Thursday (August 30) in Venice, Italy. The story follows the young Andy (Sheridan), who is employed by Dr Wallace [...] Reported by Just Jared 7 hours ago.

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